Here are four short stories.
A Sandpiper To Bring You Joy
Dark Candle
Death Of Innocent
Mother's Red Dress
"Hello," she said. I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother
"I see that. What is it?" I asked, not caring.
"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand." That sounds good, I
"That's a joy," the child said.
"It's a what?"
"It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy." The bird went
"Good-bye joy," I muttered to myself, "hello pain," and turned to walk on.
I was depressed; my life seemed completely out of balance.
"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.
"Ruth," I answered. "I'm Ruth Peterson."
"Mine's Wendy... I'm six."
"Hi, Wendy."
She giggled. "You're funny," she said.
In spite of my gloom I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle
"Come again, Mrs. P," she called. "We'll have another happy day."
The days and weeks that followed belong to others: a group of unruly Boy
"Hello, Mrs. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"
"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.
"I don't know, ...you say."
"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.
The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is."
"Then let's just walk." Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of
"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.
Strange, I thought, in winter. "Where do you go to school?"
"I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation." She chattered little
Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in
I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, "I'd rather be alone today."
"Why ?" she asked.
I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought, my
"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."
"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and-oh, go away!"
"Did it hurt? " she inquired.
"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself.
"When she died?"
"Of course it hurt !!!!" I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in
A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there.
"Hello," I said.
"I'm Ruth Peterson. I missed your little girl today and wondered where
"Oh yes, Mrs. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much.� I'm
"Not at all-she's a delightful child," I said, suddenly realizing that I
"Wendy died last week, Mrs. Peterson. She had leukemia. Maybe she didn't
Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. My breath caught.
"She loved this beach; so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.� She
I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something, anything, to say to this
"I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I muttered over and over, and we
"The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less." Life is
This weekend, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all
His best efforts proved fruitless unavailing, however, and the child died.
Then one night he had a dream. He was in heaven, and witnessing a grand pageant of
Just then he awoke from from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and it's
As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece.
How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon.
Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared.
They had called me home
When I saw the dress, I said
"I've never worn it," she slowly said.
I sat by her bed
"What do you mean Mother?"
"Maybe somdday you'll get to them.
"You did - - everything a mother could."
"Oh, Millie, Millie, it was not good - -
"Your father in the other room,
"And you children - -
"I look at how some of your brothers
"Except last year when I got that red dress.
"Oh Millie - - I always thought if you take
"And I'm telling you , Millie, if some miracle
It hung there in the closet
Her last words to me were these:
I promised.
A Sandpiper To Bring You Joy
She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live.
I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the
world begins to close in on me. She was building a sandcastle or something
and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
with a small child. "I'm building," she said.
thought, and slipped off my shoes. A sandpiper glided by.
gliding down the beach.
followed me.
Scouts, PTA meetings, and ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning
as I took my hands out of the dishwater. "I need a sandpiper," I said to
myself, gathering up my coat. The ever-changing balm of the seashore
awaited me. The breeze was chilly, but I strode along, trying to recapture
the serenity I needed. I had forgotten the child and was startled when she
appeared.
her face. "Where do you live?" I asked.
girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was on other things.
When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day.� Feeling
surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.
no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and
felt like demanding she keep her child at home. "Look, if you don't mind,"
She seems unusually pale and out of breath.
God, why was I saying this to a little child?
myself. I strode off.
Feeling guilty, ashamed and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to
the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn looking young
woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.
she was."
afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please, accept
my apologies."
meant it. "Where is she?"
tell you."
seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days.
But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly..." her voice faltered. "She
left something for you ... if only I can find it.� Could you wait a moment
while I look?"
lovely young woman. She handed me a smeared envelope, with MRS. P printed
in bold, childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues-a
yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully
printed: A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY Tears welled up in my eyes, and a
heart that had almost forgotten to love opened wide. I took Wendy's mother
in my arms.
wept together. The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my
study. Six words - one for each year of her life - that speak to me of
harmony, courage, undemanding love. A gift from a child with sea-blue eyes
and hair the color of sand -- who taught me the gift of love.
NOTE: The above is a true story sent out by Ruth Peterson. It serves as a
reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life
and each other.
so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas, can make us
lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a momentary
setback or crisis.
means, take a moment ... even if it is only ten seconds, and stop and
smell the roses.
The Dark Candle
By Odain
A man had a little daughter--an only and much beloved child.
He lived only for her, she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness
resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man
possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health.
The father was totally irreconciliable. He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself
away from his many friends refusing every activity that might restore
his poise and bring him back to his normal self.
all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless
line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed, angelic tot carried a
candle. He noticed, however, that one child's candle was not lit.
Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl.
Rushing towards her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly,
and asked, "How is that your candle is the only one not lit?"
"Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out again," she said.
effects were immediate. From that hour on he was no longer a recluse, but mingled
freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would
his little darling's candle be extingushed by his useless tears.
DEATH OF AN INNOCENT
I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead.
I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom, as everyone is driving out of
sight.
Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet.
I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road, the
other car didn't see me, Mom, and hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say,
the other guy is drunk, Mom, and now I'm the one who will pay.
I'm lying here dying, Mom. I wish you'd get here soon.
There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a short time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank and I will die.
I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying and all he can do is stare.
And when I go to heaven, Mom, put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave
Someone should have told him, Mom, not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive.
Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always
there.
I have one last question, Mom, before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive, so why am I the one to die?
MILLIE'S MOTHER'S RED DRESS
It hung there in the closet
While she was dying, Mother's red dress,
Like a gash in the row
Of dark, old clothes
She had worn away her life in.
And I knew when I saw her
She wasn't going to last.
"Why, Mother - - how beautiful!
I've never seen it on you."
"Sit down, Millie - - I'd like to undo
A lesson or two before I go, if I can."
And she sighed a bigger breath
Than I thought she could hold.
"Now that I'll soon be gone,
I see some things.
Oh, I taught you good - - but I taught you wrong."
"Well - - I always thought
That a good woman never takes her turn,
That she's just for doing for somebody else.
Do here, do there, always keep
Everybody else's wants tended and make sure
Yours are at the bottom of the heap."
But of course you never do.
My life was like that - - doing for your dad,
Doing for the boys, for your sisters, for you."
For you - - for him. Don't you see?
I did you the worst of wrongs.
I asked for nothing - - for me!"
All stirred up and staring at the walls - -
When the doctor told him, he took
It bad - - came to my bed and all but shook
The life right out of me. 'You can't die,
Do you hear? What'll become of me?'
" ' What'll become of me?'
It'll be hard, all right when I go.
He can't even find the frying pan, you know."
I was a free ride for everybody, everywhere.
I was the first one up and the last one down
Seven days out of the week.
I always took the toast that got burned,
And the very smallest piece of pie."
Treat their wives now
And it makes me sick, 'cause it was me
That taught it to them. And they learned,
They learned that a woman doesn't
Even exist except to give.
Why, every single penny that I could save
Went for your clothes, or your books,
Even when it wasn't necessary.
Can't even remember once when I took
Myself downtown to buy something beautiful - -
For me."
I found I had twenty dollars
That wasn't especially spoke for.
I was on my way to pay it extra on the washer.
But somehow - - I came home with this big box.
Your father really gave it to me then.
'Where you going to wear a thing like that to - -
Some opera or something?'
And he was right, I guess.
I've never, except in the store,
Put on that dress."
Nothing for yourself in this world
You'd have it all in the next - - somehow
I don't believe that anymore.
I think the Lord wants us to have something - -
Here - - and now."
Could get me off this bed, you could look
For a different mother, 'cause I would be one.
Oh, I passed up my turn so long
I would hardly know how to take it.
But I'd learn, Millie.
I would learn!"
While she was dying, Mother's red dress,
Like a gash in the row
Of dark, old clothes
She had worn away her life in.
"Do me the honor, Millie,
Of not following in my footsteps.
Promise me that."
She caught her breath
Then Mother took her turn
In death.
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