Pink Flamingoed (7 page)

Rachel informed her parents that she had gotten them a
computer and cell phones and that someone would be by to teach them how to use
their new toys.

“Is this going to cost me anything?”

“Harry!” Ethel hollered through the phone.

“You’re right, Mom. Same old Dad. No, Dad. Part of my
Christmas present to you is that I’m paying for your monthly Internet service
and your cell phone charges. Plus, I’m paying for someone to come by and teach
you how to use your new gifts. You should receive a call tomorrow.”

“Honey, do you really think your dad and I’ll be able
to use them?”

“Mom, if I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t waste that much
money, now would I? Don’t worry. All of them are easier to use than you think.”

Rachel talked to her parents for almost an hour. She
got caught up on all that they had been up to and told them about everything
that was going on in her life. She gave them her e-mail address and her cell
phone number and told them that she expected to hear from them by e-mail and
cell phone, just as  soon  as  they learned how to use them. Then, Rachel told
her parents goodbye and the three of them expressed their love for each other.

The next morning Ethel called Cora to tell her about
their Christmas presents from Rachel. She found out that not only were Frank
and Cora getting a computer for Christmas, but so were Barney, Bertha, and Ray
and Doris Orthmyer. All of them would be able to keep in touch with the
Orthmyers by e-mail while the Orthmyers were in Florida.

+++     

“Hello.”

“Rachel, this is Mom. I’m calling you on my new cell
phone. Dad’s in the other room now sending you an e-mail. He thinks he’s hot
stuff. Oh, honey, I think we’re going to love our presents. Thanks so much for
caring enough to want to stay in touch.”

“And thank you so much for putting up with me while I
was growing up.”

“What are you talking about? You were never a problem.
You were a piece of cake compared to your dad.”

“Yeah, I guess I’d have to agree with you there.”

“Well, honey, I guess I’d better let you go. Call me,
and be sure and check your e-mail. You’ll have at least two messages if I can
get your dad off the computer.”

+++

Brad sat in the living room wrapping the presents he
bought for his family. When the doorbell rang, he jumped up, hurried to the
door, and smiled when he saw Amy.

“Come in,” Brad said, grinning from ear to ear.

“I’m going to be leaving tomorrow, so I just came over
to tell you goodbye. Oh, and I brought you a little something to remember me by
while I’m gone.”

Amy reached out and handed Brad a wrapped present.

“Do you want me to open it now?”

“Please do.”

Brad tore into the paper until he came to a box sealed
with tape. Then he took out a pocketknife, cut the tape, and opened the box.
“Why, it’s beautiful!” Brad exclaimed. Brad stood there holding a photograph of
a fall scene of a forest, emblazoned with leaves of gold, red, and orange. A
path led through the trees. Sunlight cut through the branches and lit the path
below. Embossed in gold across the bottom of the picture was the scripture
verse Psalm 119:105.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my
path,” Brad read. “One of my favorite Bible verses. The lamp unto our feet
shows us where we are now in relation to where God wants us to be and the light
unto our path shows us where He wants us to go. Thanks, so much. I’ll hang it
in a prominent place. And now, I have something for you, so that you will not
forget me while you’re gone. I was going to bring it over later, but I’ll give
it to you now.”

Brad laid down the framed photograph. He walked over
and picked up a wrapped present from under the tree.

“I hope you like it,” he said, as he handed it to her.

“I’m sure I will,” Amy said, as she carefully
unwrapped the gift to find one of Brad’s books. “Oh, I love it. I forgot to
tell you, but   I  went  to  the  local  bookstore  to  see  if they carried
any of your books, and they had sold out the day before. Plus, the lady said
that I was the third person that day who had come in looking for your books.
She wants you to come in. She’d love for you to do a book signing sometime.”

“Boy, some publicist you are,” Brad teased Amy. “Open
the book.”

Amy opened the book and read what Brad had written
inside the cover.

“To Amy, the most wonderful, beautiful, and incredible
woman I have ever met. Brad Forrester, Matthew 22:39.”

Without thinking, Amy threw her arms around Brad’s
neck and gave him a big hug. Even though they were infatuated with one another,
this was the first time they had done any more than hold hands.

As Amy stepped back, Brad took her hands in his and
asked, “Amy, would you mind if I gave you a goodbye kiss for good luck?”

“You mean like a peck on the cheek, or maybe a couple
of those come-close kisses the way the Hollywood set does?” Amy asked
teasingly.

“No, that’s
not
what I mean,” Brad responded in
a mockingly gruff tone.

“Well, then,
sure
. I thought you’d never ask.”

The two embraced and gave each other a lingering kiss
and then stepped apart and looked into each other’s eyes.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Brad said.

“And I’m going to miss you just as much,” Amy replied,
not bothering to hide her tears.

+++

The next morning, as Brad was enjoying his breakfast,
the doorbell rang. When Brad answered the door, he found Amy standing there.

“I just wanted to say goodbye again, and to see if I
could have another kiss for good luck before I left.”

Brad stepped out onto the porch, picked up Amy and
twirled her around, and then planted a kiss on her lips.

“I didn’t mean here, on the porch,” Amy said, as soon
as she regained her composure. “What if someone saw us?”

“Well, from the way this neighborhood has been trying
to get the two of us together, I’d say they’re rejoicing right now.”

“You mean Cora.”

“Primarily Cora, but I expect everyone but Melanie
wants us together.”

“Cora already knows about yesterday. I stopped by and
told her last night.”

“Did you give her a blow-by-blow description? By the
way, what did she say?”

“She just reached out and hugged me and gave me a kiss
on the cheek and made me tell her all about it.”

“Just what I said, a blow-by-blow description.”

“Did anyone ever tell you that you have a knack for
making things sound so romantic?”

“What can I say? Some of us are gifted in certain
areas.”

Amy laughed, and then reluctantly said, “Well, I’d
better be going.”

“Goodbye, you most wonderful and beautiful woman.”

“You forgot incredible.”

“And incredible. Be careful, and call me when you get
there. Okay?”

“Yeah, and let me give you my parents’ phone number in
case you need it. And can I have your parents’ number?”

“Have you told your mom about us, yet?”

“I’m still trying to decide whether or not to tell Mom
I have a new neighbor, let alone that my neighbor is a handsome man.”

Brad laughed. Amy had told him about the subtle hints
her mother   kept   dropping  about  how  all  of  her  friends  had grandchildren.
Amy had two sisters. Neither of them was married, either. Amy was the oldest,
but her mother would have settled for grandchildren from any of her children.
Amy and her sisters had playfully made a pact that the first one to get married
would say nothing to her mother until a week before the wedding. Of course,
they were kidding. Or were they?

+++

Harry went to bed excited. When the thump of the
newspaper hitting the front porch woke him, Harry eased from the bed, stumbled
across the floor until his foot hit the leg of a chair, then hopped and fumed
as quietly as possible, careful not to wake Ethel. Not used to hopping on one
foot, he nearly fell, only saving himself by latching on to the door facing.

“Is that you, Harry?”

“No, it’s a burglar. Go back to sleep and I’ll let you
live.”

“Okay, Mr. Burglar. There’s no need in your taking the
computer. It quit working last night while I was on it.”

“It what!” Harry yelled.

“Harry, go back to sleep. The computer will be there
when you get up.”

“But what happened to it, Ethel?”

“Nothing, Harry. But do I need to get you a nightlight
so you won’t bang your toes and wake me up?”

“That’s okay, Ethel. I promise I’ll wait until
daylight from now on.”

Christmas Eve arrived and the average age of those
present on Aylesford Place increased. Brad and Amy had already left town to be
with family. Melanie, who was an orphan, had left on a skiing trip with her
friend Michelle. Each year Melanie dreaded Christmas, because everyone seemed
to have someone, except her. So, when she found out Michelle had no one either,
they planned a trip together.

Allison was the only young, single adult who made it
to the church service on Christmas Eve morning. Allison’s family lived in an
adjacent county, and Allison was leaving after church to go spend Christmas Eve
night with her parents.

There was always an evening Christmas Eve service at
The Church on Aylesford Place. Christmas Eve was on Sunday, so the evening
service was the second service of the day. When time came for the evening
service, many gathered for an hour to hear a short message from Pastor Scott,
to sing a few Christmas carols, and to wish their neighbors a Merry Christmas.
Only three children attended the service. All named Armbruster.

That night, when Pastor Scott got home from the
service, he went to his office, knelt and prayed.

“Lord, if it be your will, please send our church some
more children.”

+++     

Frank and Cora held hands and talked as they walked
home from the Christmas Eve evening service.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Frank said, aware that
his wife was thinking about something.

“You’ve always been able to read me like a book,
Frank. I was just thinking. It’s no secret that both of us are disappointed
that God never granted us any children, but in a way He has. It’s  been only a
couple of days, but already I miss Amy and Brad so much. It sounds silly that
I’m missing someone I’ve only known for a couple of weeks, but I’ve already
come to think of Brad as part of the family. I’ve thought of Amy like a
daughter ever since she moved in, and now I’ve come to think of Brad as my
son.”

“I don’t think it sounds silly, dear. I feel the same
way as you do. You know, we never know what God’s thinking. We aren’t smart
enough to understand how He works, but maybe, just maybe, God is trying to tell
us ‘Frank and Cora, I didn’t keep children from you. All I did was keep you
from having to get up in the middle of the night to change all of those
diapers.’ That reminds me. Did you think to give the Armbruster kids their
Christmas presents?”

“I gave them to Nancy yesterday. I think she’s going
to let them open them before they go to bed tonight.”

“Cora, you’re a jewel.”

Cora took her free hand and patted Frank on the arm.

“Perhaps you’re right, Frank. Maybe God didn’t want to
limit us to just a few children. At least God allowed me to spend all of these
years with you, and that means so much.”

“And it means so much to me, too, Cora. I thank God
for all of the wonderful years He has given us together and all of the
wonderful people He has brought into our lives. Hopefully, He’ll give us many
more years together, more friends to spend them with, and more children to
spoil.”

“Yeah, maybe some day we’ll get to spoil Amy and
Brad’s kids. Frank, we don’t have to get up early in the morning. How’d you 
like  to go home and sit in the dark and hold hands and watch the lights on the
Christmas tree flicker off and on and think about all that God has given us
over the last thirty-five years?”

“I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do,” Frank
said as he turned and planted a kiss on Cora’s cheek.

+++     

Christmas morning arrived at the Armbrusters a little
earlier than Scott or Nancy wanted. The Armbruster children joined forces and
knocked at their parents’ bedroom door at 7:02.

“Mom! Dad! Are you up?”

“We are now,” their mother called back rather
groggily. “Be out in a couple of minutes.”

Scott and Nancy went to the bathroom to wipe the sleep
from their eyes and returned to put on their robes. Then Scott grabbed  his
Bible, because every Christmas morning he read the Christmas story and then the
family discussed it before anyone opened his or her presents. The Armbruster
children realized the real meaning of Christmas. Each of them looked forward to
the family tradition of reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning. Scott
and Nancy particularly enjoyed this time, because they realized more than their
children did that this tradition would not go on forever. After the family
finished their devotional time together, the children dashed off to their
gifts. Each of the Armbruster children seemed pleased with what he or she
received, but none more so than Jill who received two more of Brad Forrester’s
whodunits. Scott and Nancy watched their children for a few minutes, until a
call of “I’m hungry” reminded Nancy of what else she needed to do.

Scott too left the children to themselves in order to
help his wife prepare a big breakfast. Nancy made sure that everyone was
stuffed before they left the table because it would be some time until   any 
of  them  ate  again.  Each  Christmas,  the  Armbruster family went to the
shelter to feed the homeless so that they could remember to thank God for all
that He had given them.

Scott reminded his family and his church that all Christians
should do three things. They should take time to read the Bible, learn what it
says, and develop and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ. They should
take time for fun and fellowship, and they should reach out in service to
others. He made sure he practiced what he preached.

+++

Every year, on Christmas morning, Frank and Cora made
it a habit of praying for their neighbors before they opened their presents
from each other. Both prayed, but Cora, who had a heart for people and a desire
to fix each one’s problems, prayed longer. She prayed longest for those who
needed the most prayer, and for those closest to her. She thanked God for Brad
and Amy, asked him to bless their new relationship, then thanked Him for the
wonderful husband He had given her, and for her pastor and his family.

She prayed for Melanie who grew up without many of the
things most people take for granted, and asked God to give Melanie more
patience. She prayed for Lady Catherine, who might or might not be with Norman, and she prayed for the withdrawn woman in the cold, dark house behind the wall.

Around 11:00, Cora called Harry and Ethel. She got a
busy signal. After trying every five minutes for the next forty minutes, she
walked down the street to see if anything was wrong. Nothing was wrong. Ethel
could not keep her “little boy” off the Internet.

“Say Ethel, how would you and Nimble Fingers like to
come up later?”

“Well, it all depends if I can get him off the
Internet.”

“Well, how about it, Harry?”

“Oh, okay, Cora, but only for a little while.”

Harry had had his computer for only a few days, but he
was turning into a computer junkie. The man who showed Harry how to operate his
computer made the mistake of telling Harry about Google. Harry was developing a
routine. Like most people on Aylesford Place, Harry believed in “early to bed,
early to rise.” While Harry got up at 6:00 a.m. most of the year, he slept
until 7:00 in the winter. Harry started each day by spending time in Bible
study and prayer, but by 7:30 he was ready to get on the Internet. He stayed on
the computer until Ethel called him to breakfast. After gobbling down his
breakfast, he returned to the Internet where he remained until it was time to
watch
The Price Is Right
. As soon as Harry realized Bob Barker would retire
some day, he decided to tape each show, with plans to watch them again after
Barker retired. He decided at the time that
The Price Is Right
would not
be
The Price Is Right
without Bob Barker. After watching Barker, he and
Ethel ate lunch. Then, it was Ethel’s time on the computer, because Harry
usually took a short nap after lunch. This made him well rested for his
afternoon search of the Internet, which lasted until supper, which Ethel timed
perfectly, so they could watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy together. Harry
was usually in bed by nine, so he managed to stay off the computer at night.
That might change if someone tells him about chat rooms.

+++

Behind the wall in her self-made fortress, Mrs.
Peabody sat alone in the dark on Christmas morning. She thought back to the
phone call she had received the day before. She was glad she agreed to receive
a visitor even though it was awkward for her. It had been a long time since she
had welcomed a visitor. Years.

Although her house remained dark on Christmas Morning,
and once again Mrs. Peabody spent Christmas Day alone with no company  and  no 
presents,  her  heart  was a little lighter because one person had thought of
her at Christmas and stopped by to visit on Christmas Eve.

+++

The telephone rang just as the Forrester family was
finishing a big Christmas morning breakfast.

“Hello,” Mr. Forrester said.

“Is there a Mr. Holmes there?” asked the voice on the
other end of the line.

“Well, yes, I believe there is,” Brad’s dad said. “Is
this Dr. Watson?”

“So, he’s already told you?” Amy asked.

“Yes, Amy, he’s told us all about you. By the way, I’m
Bill, Brad’s dad. He’ll be delighted that you called. Just a second and I’ll
get him for you.”

Bill Forrester put down the phone and stepped into the
dining room, with a quizzical look on his face.

“Brad, did you have some medical tests done?”

“No, why?” his son asked, wondering what his dad was
talking about.

“Well, I was wondering because there’s a Dr. Watson on
the phone to speak to you.”

Everyone laughed as Brad sprang from his chair and
almost knocked it over in his haste to get to the phone.

“Merry Christmas, Dr. Watson!”

“And a Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Holmes. I love
you!”

“And I love you, too.”

“Did you tell your mom about us?”

“No, but I told my sisters and swore them to secrecy.
As it turns out, my youngest sister met someone, too.”

“Does that mean you’re off the hook, and we don’t have
to see each other any more?”

“Bite your tongue. Just wait until I get home, Mr.
Holmes.”

Brad laughed.

“I’ll be sitting on your porch waiting for you.”

After a few minutes of catching up, Brad hung up and
returned to the smiling faces that surrounded the dining room table. Each face
looked at him. He would have a good time sharing more about Amy with his
family, and he knew each of them would be happy for him.

Amy, on the other hand, lowered the phone into its
cradle, careful to be as quiet as possible. Hopefully, her mother did not miss
her and would not question her on what she had been doing. She would tell her
mother about Brad, but in time. She contemplated telling her mother after she
got back from the honeymoon, if there was to be a honeymoon. No, if things
progressed with Brad, Amy would tell her mother before that, but from a safe
distance, by phone. That is unless Amy’s mother sprang from the dark ages and
got an e-mail address.

+++

Jill lay in her bed, unable to go to sleep. Christmas
Day. It had been exciting for her. She had received two more of Brad’s
whodunits. Her parents bought her new clothes. But none of that was what kept
Jill awake long into the night Christmas night. What kept her awake was how her
family spent the rest of their day, after they left the house.

Jill thought of the countless homeless people she had
fed that day; their tattered clothes, their unkempt appearance, the fact that
none of them looked her in the eye. Before Jill’s dad insisted that they serve
the homeless on Christmas Day, Jill thought of homeless people as drunken old
men who did nothing to improve their condition. Jill had no idea that there
were homeless women, as well as men. And today, for the first time, Jill had
served a homeless boy who looked to be around her age. Jill had tried not to
stare,  but  sometimes she could not help it. She noticed how some of the
homeless reacted to their Christmas presents. All they received  were a pair
gloves, a pair of socks, and a knitted scarf, but most of these people were so
grateful. Jill noticed that some had cried, and some had prayed. She watched
how some had used a small piece of a roll to sop up the last of the gravy. They
left nothing. Jill wondered how many of them questioned when their next meal
would be. Her family had not discussed their mission afterwards. They had not
needed to. At least, the experience had humbled her. But what about Kenny? Had
he been touched? And was Mallory old enough to realize what had happened?
Mallory’s awareness exceeded her age. Jill thought Mallory understood. And
Kenny had not tried to tease his sisters. He even did some work. Should she, Jill,
being the oldest, discuss this with her siblings? Or should she leave that to
her mom and dad? And should she bring up what they had done the next time she
visited with some of her neighbors? All of her neighbors were adults. Would
they misunderstand and think she was bragging about what her family had done?
She didn’t think so. Her neighbors were caring people.