12/13/12 Return to Scribbleworks Publications
“I wasted too much of the day and you're
late for work. No more of this for now. We'll check tonight.”
Frank nodded in agreement. Ellie nodded
back.
“Now go to work. You'll be lucky if you
still have your job.”
Ellie pushed him to the front door. She
handed him his coat, scarf, and derby and shoved him outside. Frank protested.
He tried to tell her he had a few days off but then the door shut on him before
any good words even passed his lips. Not knowing what to do next, he decided to
go to work anyway.
Ellie stood with hands on her hips going
over what was said. She walked into the parlor and studied the poor man's box
from the doors threshold. She spoke out loud to know one but herself. “I never
thought Frank to be a fool before this. We'll see tonight what this gentleman
thinks he’s doing with Frank's mind. We'll fix this real quick.”
Later in the afternoon, Ellie was walking
home down the main street carrying some groceries for their evening meal. An
overcast sky threatened snow again with a cold wind nipping at her cheeks. Looking
down to brave the cold, she didn't watch where she was going. She bumped into
someone and it startled her. To her surprise it was an old school friend. They
chatted briefly and the woman asked about Frank's brother, who was a friend of
hers from years back. Ellie shared that he and his family went to Europe on business
in March and were due back at Christmas. They said their good bye’s and wished
Christmas spirits between them. Using her gloved hand to shelter her face from
the cold wind, she went back to the day's chores.
That night after dinner they sat without
speaking in the parlor with expectant fear in their hearts. Once again the room
was quiet with anticipation. Frank feared that his sandman wouldn't show.
Ellie feared that if he did arrive, by
whatever way possible, her husband never knew how it happened, would she
believe such tall tales? They sat many hours without saying more than a few
words. When both of them started nodding off Ellie stood groggily.
“I can't believe I wasted my whole night
again waiting for this tall tale of yours to come true. I should of trusted my
instincts. You can stay here but I'm off to bed.”
Angrily she turned and slowly shuffled her
feet off to their room. Frank followed her to the stairs but couldn't bring
himself to say anything in his defense. What was he going to do? He watched her ascend the stairs second guessing
himself. He turned back to the parlor to pick up the empty mugs of tea they
left behind and to extinguish the lamp. When he crossed the room to get his mug
from the table near the window he realized that he passed Ellie's mug without
picking it up. He turned to grab it and the sandman was sitting in the same
chair Ellie had not moments before.
“Hello Frank. I was wondering when she was
going to go to bed. Boy it's nice to sit in a warm chair once in a while."
The Sandman shifted his bottom to gain a better position. His box lay flat
under his feet like a very short ottoman.
“Do you know how long it's been that since
I’ve even been this close to warm? Of course, there was that time when I was
too close to that fireplace back in 1249. That was a hot one. But that's
another story for another time. Come, sit. Let's talk.”
A disgusted look spread across Frank's
face. “Why didn't you show up just a few minutes before? Now she thinks I'm
crazy!”
He plopped himself into the seat he
occupied a few minutes ago, mug still in hand sighing heavily.
“Frank, Frank, Frank. As I had said before,
she will not believe you. You shouldn't have told her just yet. In time all
things will be understood. This is no different. God's gift was given to both
of you but my box was to be revealed to you and only you. No one else can see
me or hear me. Therefore, God wants you to carry out the task at hand because
he feels you're strengths are what's needed, and that you are capable of seeing
it through. Faith my boy, have faith. Tomorrow afternoon you will return to the
orphanage….”
“No.” Frank shook his head. “I can't.
Ellie will not hear about going back after all this. This is not like getting a
pet where I go out, pick one up and bring it home as a surprise. She has to be
there and I can't put her through that pain again."
The old man sat in silence at the
statement. He could not believe what he was hearing. Frank was going to give
up. He was finding it too hard to do what was right. The old man looked up
beyond the ceiling to a higher place. He closed his eyes.
“Are you refusing God's gift?” He asked
with his head still looking up to the heavens and his eyes closed.
“No, but I can't hurt Ellie again.”
“Then you would let this child die because
she would hurt for a few hours? How does one balance such loss against a little
pain without showing selfish reasons? In every life there is pain Frank. I can
promise you, payment for that little pain will be so bountiful that it shall be
forgotten minutes afterward. Faith Frank, have faith in what I say. Go tomorrow
afternoon and be rewarded. This is God's wish.”
Frank looked him in the eyes.
“Alright, I’ll try.”
“No Frank, there is no try. If you believe
and follow my direction then you will succeed. Now go off to bed. You have a long
day ahead of you tomorrow.”
Frank stood and his eyelids grew very
heavy.
“Okay.” Frank said. He crossed to the door,
mug in hand pausing.
“Sleep. Yes, very sleepy.” Frank reiterated
before he went off to bed.
The sandman continued to sit in his warm
seat.
“Yes, get some sleep. I'll stay here awhile
and warm up some more.” He adjusted his bottom again.
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