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Monday, February 23, 2015

"A Love Story"

       A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar, from its hiding place, in the closet.
       She poured the change out on the floor, and counted it carefully. Three times,even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chances here, for mistakes.
       Carefully, placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to Rexall's Drug Store, with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
       She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy, at the moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.  Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally, she took a quarter from her glass jar, and banged it on the counter. That did it.
       "And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked, in an annoyed tone of voice."I'm talking with my brother, from Chicago, whom I haven't seen in ages,"he said, without waiting for a reply to his question.
       "Well, I want to talk with you, about my brother," Tess answered back, in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a Miracle."
      " I beg your pardon?"said the pharmacist.
       "His name is Andrew, and he has something bad growing inside his head, and my Daddy says only a
Miracle can save him, now. So how much does a miracle cost?"
       "We don't sell Miracles, here, little girl. I'm sorry, but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, his voice softening a little.
       "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If is isn't enough,  I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs?"
       The pharmacist brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down, and asked the little girl, "What kind of Miracle does your brother need?"
       " I don't know," Tess replied, with her eyes welling up with tears. I just know he is really sick, and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."
       "How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.
       "One dollar and eleven cents,"Tess answered, barely audible. And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more, if I need to."
       "Well, what a coincidence", smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents...the exact price of a Miracle, for little brothers."
       He took her money with one hand, and with the other hand, he grasped her mitten, and said,"Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the Miracle you need?"
       That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in Neuro-Surgery. The operation was completed, free of charge, and it wasn't long until Andrew was home and doing well.
       Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events, that had led them to this place. 
       "That surgery," her Mom whispered, was a real Miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"
       Tess smiled.  She knew exactly how much a Miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents...plus, the Faith of a little child.
      ~  In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.  We can only hope that we, or someone near to us, like Tess, will have the Faith of a small child. For this is the true price of a Miracle.
~ Unknown
~ Beannaichte'
23 February, 2015
@beannaichte.twitter.com

2 comments:

  1. 5 MARCH, 2012
    Dear Mary K. Burke,
    Thank you, for making the time, to read this story.
    I am glad that you enjoyed it. Your comment is most welcomed!
    Warm Wishes,
    ~Beannaichte'!
    Alicia O'Hara

    ReplyDelete