Arlissa - Her Story - Day 55 -70

The trooper decided to follow along behind at a safe distance, so she wouldn't know he was ensuring her safety from Douglas. When he saw she was safely at home, he turned and headed for the O'Hanlon farm.

She parked her car and headed for the back porch to get the milk bucket. Blinky, the barn cat, met her at the edge of the porch, mewing and hungry.

"Blinky, you old beggar, why don't you catch some a' them barn rats instead a' waitin' fer me to milk old Minnie? I declare, you're jist a big lazy fella, that's what you are!"

Blinky just rubbed up against Arlissa's legs. weaving in and out, looking up and meowing. Then he would take a few steps and run back, repeating the action.

"Okay, jist wait a couple a' minutes. I got to wash my hands 'fore I milk old Minnie. Jist hold yore horses, now. Get on out to the barn! Scat!" 

Within minutes she was back out the kitchen door with the milk bucket and heading to the barn with Blinky mewing and running slightly ahead of her. 

She laughed and chattered at him, feeling carefree for a few minutes, like a young woman should. Entering the barn lot, she herded old Minnie into the stanchion and put the feed in front of the old cow, then moving the stool near the Jersey, she sat and began milking, first washing the udders with warm water. 

Blinky sat there, waiting and mewling. 

"Okay, here goes, catch it, catch it!!"

Blinky obliged by opening his mouth and catching the stream of milk. The act reminded Arlissa of the events of the evening that Benny and Rosie were with her. It brought the weight of the decisions she must make down on her shoulders again.

It was going to take some mighty tall praying to decide what to do about Granny and about the little boy, Benny. 

She needed to do some searching for insurance papers that Granny might have stored away. That would have to be done after she got through with her outside chores. She also needed to clean Granny's room while she had the chance. 

By the time she finished all her chores, she was really tired; she could hardly keep her eyes open as she swept the kitchen and living room. Maybe in the morning she would clean Granny's room and search for the insurance papers.

She decided to go on to bed and start fresh the next morning. 

The night was spent with restless tossing and turning. She thought she heard noises outside but that was just foolish thinking and the fact that she was alone in the farmhouse. 

The next morning, Arlissa was still tired and felt cranky to boot. She opened the front door to  see what the weather was going to be like and looked down on the steps to see a dead dove lying there. Had Blinky killed the dove and left it as a present for her? She had never known Blinky to kill a bird and not eat it. Cats do kill birds, she knew. But Blinky had never left her a present of one. Hmm. Oh, well, she thought.

Going back into the house, Arlissa knew she had to really get busy. There was no telling what the day would hold for her and Granny. After doing the farm chores, she sat down to a bowl of cereal and reflected on what she needed to do.

She had to clean Granny's room. The sheets needed washing; she could wash and hang them outside to dry; then she could put other clean ones on the bed. 

"I'll do that first," she told herself.

Grabbing a piece of paper from the drawer, she picked up a pencil and began writing, making her to-do list.

"I wonder if Granny has any insurance that I don't know about. What if she don't get better? No! I won't think about that... she's gonna get better; I know she is, cause she's a fighter!"

All kinds of thoughts were running through the young woman's head and she knew she couldn't - shouldn't - waste valuable time worrying about what couldn't be changed. Just take it one day at a time - that had become her mantra. 

Arlissa looked up at the kitchen clock and saw that time was soon going to get away from her. Jumping up from the kitchen chair, she ran into Granny's room and began stripping the sheets from the bed. She noticed Granny's worn Bible lying on the night stand and brought it to the kitchen table, as she carried the sheets to the washing machine. She would take the Bible to Granny later in the morning.

Adding the detergent to the sheets, she turned on the machine and started the process, then went back into the bedroom.

The clean sheets from Granny's bureau were soon placed on the bed and she spread the counterpane back on the bed and fluffed the pillows with the clean cases on them. Her mind was busy thinking about how she was going to care for Granny once she brought her home. 

"I need to go into town and talk to Mr. Stanton about my job. I may not even have one after not going in for a few days. He said I could take a few days off; but it's going to take more than a few days, it seems like. If only I could think of some solution. What am I going to do? It seems hopeless..." 

A tear rolled down her cheek as she thought of their plight. She looked around the room, searching for she knew not what. Her eyes lit on the half-open top drawer in the dresser. 

"Now, wonder why Granny left this drawer open? She's one of the neatest people I know about closin' drawers. She must a' been in a hurry when she was in here last. I'll jist shut it fer her."

As Arlissa put out both hands to shut the drawer, she noticed the rosewood box sitting in the corner of the drawer. 

"Hmmm. Maybe Granny keeps some important papers in that box. I've never seen her open it. I'll jist have a look-see, while I'm waitin' fer the sheets to finish washin'." 

Arlissa took the box from the drawer and was just getting ready to open it when the phone rang.

She placed the box on the bed and walked into the living room to get the phone.

"Hello?" She waited and then repeated the hello.

There was a click and then the dial tone.

She removed the phone from her ear and slowly replaced it on the cradle.

"Hmm. Must have been a wrong number. Oh, well." 

Just then the door bell rang. 

"Well, my goodness! What a busy morning this is! Wonder who this is?"

Going to the door, she was surprised to see Jake Tunstall, Rosie's stepfather, standing there. He was the very last person she would have expected to see today.

She dragged from somewhere inside a smile for him and asked, "Mr. Tunstall! Won't you please come in?"

He removed his cap, and holding it in both hands, came into the living room.

"I hate to be botherin' you at a time like this, with your grandmother in the hospital and all, but Zeb is on his way home and he has requested you be there this evening, if you can manage it. He knows of the situation and feels you should be a part of the discussion. So, if you would, it would be much appreciated. Helen has had some time to think about everything and she is going to be much calmer, I promise."

Arlissa sat down abruptly. All this had taken her by surprise; she had figured she would be outlawed from being anywhere near the O'Hanlon/Tunstalls home.

Slowly she nodded her head, unable to speak.

Mr. Tunstall reached down and shook her hand, then turned to go.

Suddenly she remembered to say, "Thank you, Mr. Tunstall. What time should I be there?"

"Why don't you come for supper around 6 p.m.?"

She replied, "Yes, yes. Okay, I'll be there."

Replacing his cap, he turned and went out, quietly closing the door behind him.

Arlissa remained in her chair thinking, wondering... until she heard the washing machine stop.

"Oh, my, gotta hang those outside so they can dry while I'm at the hospital today!"

She grabbed up the clothes basket and filled it with the sheets, got the clothespins and carried it all out into the back yard. After wiping the clotheslines, she proceeded to hang the sheets and pillow cases. Looking up, she saw it was going to be a good day for drying clothes. The rest of the laundry would just have to wait. 

Realizing the fact that the morning was getting away from her, she decided to leave soon for the hospital. The rosewood box lay forgotten on her granny's bed where she had left it.

As quickly as she could, Arlissa took a bath and dressed for her visit to the hospital. As she passed Granny's room, glancing in, she saw the rosewood box sitting on the bed and hurrying in, picked it up to return it to its place. Looking inside it would have to wait. 

She left the house, locking the door as she went. She was soon on her way, and didn't notice the shadow at the edge of the trees near her home.

"I wonder what the O'Hanlons are going to say this evening? I hope it ain't gonna be uncomfortable for all of us. i sure wish Rosie hadn't done this to us! I jist can't figure her thinkin'!"

Before long, the hospital came into view and she had parked her car. Within minutes, she was in Granny's room.

"Well, how you doin' this mornin', Granny? Oh, my, you done slipped way down in yore bed! Let me see if'n I can get you pulled up some."

Several tries didn't accomplish the task, and Granny was soon out of sorts, and began mumbling her objections. Finally, Arlissa rang for help. 

"What's the trouble in here?" asked the doctor, coming in the door. "Ms. Hinton, are you raising Cain in here again?" he joked.

The old lady gave him her lop-sided grin and he said, "Let's check you over this morning, eh?"

Arlissa could see her Granny eating up all that attention from the handsome doctor. 

After a few minutes of checking her heart, then her reflexes, the doctor spoke to both of them.

"Well, it looks as if, after some speech therapy, you are going to be going home, sweet lady," he said to Granny, with a charming smile.

Turning to Arlissa, he informed her that she was going to have some work cut out for her to do with her Granny as well. 

"I know you must have a daily job?"

With a nod from Arlissa, he told her she would most likely need to find someone to be with her Granny while she was working. Maybe a neighbor?

Arlissa could feel her heart drop within, knowing the chances of finding anyone who could look after her Granny to be quite slim. 

She nodded in recognition of his statement and looked at Granny, who looked worried. Granny also knew the chances were almost nil. 

"About one more week is all we can keep you, Ms. Hinton. You are improving each day, and we are glad to see that." 

Lifting her right hand, he squeezed it gently and she responded with a slight pressure. He smiled and nodded goodbye to them both.

Arlissa thought of the box and turned to her Granny.

"I have something to ask you about, Granny."

Just then, the nurse came in and said, "Time for our bath, Ms. Hinton!"

"Well, I'll go and give you some privacy, Granny. I'll be back in a little bit."

Arlissa left the nurse giving Granny a bath and changing the bed and decided to go outside for a while and sit under the trees to think. 

On her way, she happened to see Con Webster washing the windows. He turned and saw her. Hurrying over to her, he spoke as though he had not been angry the last time he saw her.

"Hey, Lissa! How's your Granny doin' today? Is she feelin' better?" 

She felt obliged to at least be polite to the guy, so she replied in the affirmative, and started on her way again.

He reached out and grabbed her arm, possessively. 

"Wait a minute! Don't run off! We're friends, ain't we?"

"I...uh...guess so... why do you ask?" 

"Well, if you ever are in trouble again, would you let me know? I know I could help you. Jist like I did fixin' your tire fer you. Okay?"

"Well, sure. Thanks again fer fixin' it. Now, I really gotta go."

"Where you headin'? Why you in sitch a hurry?"

"Uh, I've jist gotta go. See you later."

She hurried off, and left him watching her leave, grinning all the while. She could feel his eyes on her and it gave her the creeps. It was all she could do to keep from running. Arlissa turned once to look and saw him wave at her, smiling.

What was she going to do about Con Douglas? He was beginning to be a problem. Back in school he was just an annoying boy; now he was a man, bent on getting close to her. Granny had warned her more than once about him being dangerous to her. She had just thought he was a harmless person. Now she was fearful of his intentions.

"I'm jist gonna have to be careful about makin' him mad at me." 

She continued on her way outside to the park bench under the trees, where she had taken Granny the day before. It was a peaceful place and she could think.

Her mind wandered to thoughts about Rosie and little Benny. 

"I wonder what they will say about the whole thing this evening. Do I really want to take Benny on to raise? What do I know about raisin' kids, anyway? Does a paper give me the right to take him? What would God want me to do?"

So many questions and no quick answers to any of them. She sat there for the next thirty minutes and prayed, asking for guidance. When she looked up, the sun had gone behind the clouds and it looked like rain. 

"Oh, no! The clothes on the line! I gotta run home right now and get 'em inta the house!" 

She ran for the car.

He watched her as she ran for the car. He would soon have to leave her another "gift". He smiled to himself as she pulled out in a hurry. He knew she would soon belong to him.

Arlissa almost sped but remembered she couldn't afford a speeding ticket, and she didn't think the excuse of wet sheets would be well-received as a reason for speeding home.

She got home just in time to grab the sheets from the line and carry them in. They were still slightly damp, but she spread them out over the kitchen chairs and she was sure they would finish drying that way. Then she saw the Bible she had left lying on the table and picked it up to take to Granny.

Just then the phone rang. She picked up the receiver and spoke.

"Hello...hello..." 

No response except for the click of someone hanging up the receiver.

"Well, that is strange. I wonder who keeps calling and not saying anything."

Arlissa headed out again, carrying the Bible, after locking the back door.  

By the time she came into Granny's room this time, Granny was sitting up in a hospital version of an easy chair. 

One of their favorite nurses, Anne, was getting ready to put her into a wheel chair to take her to physical therapy. 

"Granny, I brought yore Bible in so you could have it to read while you're in here. I'll jist put it here on the tray so's you can reach it. I've got yore eyeglasses here in my purse, too. I'll put them with the Bible."

Anne said, "Would you like to come with us so you can see what they are doing with her? Then you will know how to help her when she gets home."

"Yes, I'd like that. Thanks." 

The three made their way down a couple of hallways, finally turning in to a large room with other patients already there. Arlissa looked around and saw all kinds of equipment in use. There were also items that were to be used to manipulate manually. Puzzles, pegs, and small items to be placed in their proper spaces. 

Anne took Granny over to a place where she could just sit and the therapist that would be working with her was introduced to her. 

"Ms. Hinton, this is Sam. Sam is one of our staff therapists. He is going to be helping you strengthen your legs and also help you begin to use your right hand. Please do your best to do what he tells you. This afternoon, our speech therapist, Mary, is going to help you with speaking again. I know you're going to work hard and you will improve. I'll see you after while. Okay?"

Granny gave her half-smile and nodded.

Arlissa stood to one side and watched as Sam placed a small weight on Granny's right ankle and began the work with Granny. 

"Now, Ms. Hinton, could I call you by your first name, just to be a little friendlier sounding and less formal?"

The old lady nodded and tried to tell him her given name, but it came out unintelligible. Frustrated, she tried again and again. Finally, Arlissa told him it was Flora.

"Okay, Flora. Now I've fastened a very light weight to your right ankle and I want you to do your best to lift your foot. Think about how we lift our feet. If you can lift it just a little bit, it will be great!"

She was able to raise it two inches.

He fastened a light weight to her left foot and then asked her to raise both feet together.

"We need to work on the strength in both your legs, because you don't want to lose the muscle tone in either leg while you are not walking."

Arlissa could see that Sam was going to be a great help to her Granny. She could see a ray of hope for their future.

Sam, the physical therapist, worked Granny as hard as she could take for about thirty minutes, and then took her back to the room with her granddaughter. 

"I'll see you again for about thirty minutes this afternoon, Miss Flora! Practice using that right hand to eat your lunch. Okay?"

Granny looked at him with a glint in her eyes that told him she was going to try, but was making no promises. 

He looked at Arlissa meaningfully and she nodded. Sam smiled at them both and left to get his next patient. 

It was lunchtime and Arlissa got a washcloth to wash her Granny's face and hands. 

"Do your best to wipe yore face and wash yore hands, Granny! They want you to do as much for yoreself as possible. Everything you can do gets you out of here much sooner."

Clumsily, the old lady did a fair job. Fortunately, her stroke was only a light one and she was going to be able to rehabilitate enough to be sent home soon. 

Anne brought in the tray, and placed it on the bed tray in front of Granny. 

It was all Arlissa could do not to jump up and help the old lady. She put a hand towel on Granny's chest so that not too much food would fall on the old woman's gown as she tried to feed herself. It was a painfully slow process, but Granny kept at it. Arlissa had to give her credit for her efforts.

When she had finished feeding herself, Granny sat back and sighed, looking pitifully up at the girl. Granny was worn out with the strain, but at Arlissa's words of praise, she did look a mite proud and gave her a smile in response. 

Her Granny was made of strong stuff and the girl could tell she wasn't going to give up. 

"I'll bet you'd like a little nap right now, or would you like to go down to the sun room and look out of the windows for a while? There's a garden out there and we can watch the birds. It is raining but it might clear up soon. I have some things I need to talk to you about."

The old lady looked at the bed with longing, and said something that sounded like rest. Arlissa rang for help and an intern came in to help put Granny to bed for awhile. The questions would have to wait, it seemed. 

Just then Anne came in and told them Granny would be going to speech therapy in about an hour, so Arlissa figured the rest was really necessary at the time being. 

"I'll be back in an hour then, Granny; you get some rest, okay?"

She kissed the old lady on the brow and picking up her purse, she took her leave quietly, heading for the cafeteria. 

Upon reaching the cafeteria, she purchased a sandwich and got a glass of water to wash it down. 

She had no sooner sat down than she looked around and saw the good doctor with his fiancee, who was looking as though she'd rather be anywhere else than here in the dinky cafeteria. 

Then, a few minutes later, Con Douglas came into the room and saw Arlissa, and headed straight for her. 

"Leave me alone, Con! I came in here for a little peace and quiet, not to be bothered by you!"

The good doctor heard the angst in her speech and slowly got up to intercede on her behalf, which did not please his bride-to-be. She grabbed hold of his sleeve to stop him. He jerked his sleeve out of her grasp and moved toward the couple who were having the altercation.

"Donald, you come right back here, now!" hissed his fiancee, Amalie Gardner.

The good doctor ignored her and continued on towards the altercation between Arlissa and the young man he had seen working around the hospital.

Con had her by the shoulder, and was leaning over her in a menacing manner. Just as she was getting ready to rise from her chair, Dr. Donald Winston grabbed hold of Con's shirt in the back and pulled him away from Arlissa. 

"Why don't you leave the young lady alone, as she requested?"

"Why don't you mind yore own business? We was jist havin' a little conversation here."

"Hah! I saw what it was. It seems the young lady doesn't want your attention. If you value your job, young man, you'd best go on and leave her be. If you don't, well, I'll just let you fill in the blanks. Now Get!"

Arlissa's face was flaming red by now, all the freckles showing on her pale skin. She not only was embarrassed by all the attention right here in public, but she felt she could have handled the situation without the good doctor's interference. 

She looked up to see the doctor's gorgeous fiancee looking at her as though she were a piece of trash littering the cafeteria. The woman had walked over when Con left and proprietarily taken the arm of Dr. Winston. 

Once again, he shrugged her off. 

This time he just gave her a look that sent her back over to their table. 

Turning once again to Arlissa, he asked if she were okay.

"Right now, in case you haven't guessed, I'm fumin' mad! You have no right to come over here and interfere in my business! I was gonna take care of Con Douglas! I've been knowin' him for more than fifteen years. I can handle him! Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to finish my sandwich! It looks to me like you got enough on yore hands." 

She looked over at his fiancee with those last words. 

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Hinton. I promise I won't interfere again." 

Arlissa knew she shouldn't have spoken to her Granny's doctor in that manner, but she was so angry, she didn't consider anything else. Her temper was always getting her into trouble, it seemed. 

She looked down at her half-eaten sandwich and suddenly was no longer hungry. Picking it up, she wrapped it in the paper bag and dropped it into the nearby trash, and returned the glass to the tray return in the cafeteria. 

As she left, she held her head high and didn't look in the direction of the doctor and his bride-to-be. She didn't see Con watching her departure. 

When she got back to Granny's room, not much time had passed and so she picked up the old Bible, and began to leaf through the pages.  It was Granny's personal Bible, so Arlissa had never looked at it very much, since she had her own from the time she was very young.

The old worn Bible of Granny's was heavy. She had a few clippings and other things in the leaves of the book. 

One item was a dried rose, pressed and faded. It had once been yellow, now you could barely tell what color it had been.

She flipped through some more pages and, in the middle of the book, she saw two pages that seemed to be stuck together. Now that is strange, she thought to herself. She carefully pried them open. They had once been glued, it seemed, but the mucilage had dried out over the years, and now they were opened.

The heading on one page said, "Births and Deaths"; on the other page, the heading was "Marriages".

Arlissa looked at the page headed Births and Deaths; she saw Eleanor Mae Hinton, b. Feb. 28, 1921; died September 5, 1942.
Arlissa Jane Hinton, b. September 4, 1942

Arlissa turned pale; she felt as though she were going to faint.

That couldn't be right! Whoever had entered that date for her birth had the year wrong! It made her a year older than what she really was!

That would make her the same age as Rosie! How could that possibly be? How could her grandparents have pulled the wool over her eyes in that manner?

She was going to have to ask Granny about this when Granny could talk again. It would be useless to ask her now. She wouldn't be able to answer Arlissa, and would only agitate the old lady. 

Her curiosity was about to drive her nutty, though. Who else could she ask? Who else would even know? Maybe the old doctor who had been the family doctor for so many years... She'd ask him!

Arlissa began to think over things that had taken place in her life...how much of it was real? How much had been a lie? All at once she felt she could not trust what anybody told her. How many people were in on the deception? 

Did her daddy even know she existed? Had he promised not to ever contact her? She felt her life falling apart at the seams, disintegrating, like an old rag that had been used over and over till it was only a remnant. 

Quietly, she placed the Bible back on the tray table and left the room, not knowing where she was heading, just away from this new truth. 

Walking as though in a dream, she headed for the front door of the hospital, her heart pounding and memories flooding through her mind. 

How many people knew she was fatherless? How many knew who he was? All she knew was that she had to find some answers; she was going to look for them now. 

It hadn't seemed to matter so much before; but now that she knew she had been lied to so greatly, she had to search.

She knew she wouldn't, couldn't, get them right now from Granny. 

The old graveyard where her Mama was buried- that's where she would head first. They never went there, Granny always told her to live and not worry about the dead. She said, waren't no use a' grievin' over them, wouldn't bring 'em back.

She knew it was in a remote part of their county; she might have to look for it. 

Climbing into her car, she started it up and decided to leave Amblin and head for Hickston, where their Doctor, old Doc McReynolds, had his practice. He was close to retirement, and she would be able to ask him what year she was born. 

Surely the doctor would tell her.

She drove along, not noticing anything around her, so she didn't see the car behind her. Arlissa was in a mental fog and driving on automatic.

Why had she been lied to? Was her father a criminal? Where else could she look for answers? Around and around in her mind went the questions...


She was undecided...she drove aimlessly into the little town of Hickston; would the doctor even be in...maybe he would be out on a call.

'Why am I hesitating?' she thought. 'Is it that I don't really want to know? No, no...that couldn't be it.'

She parked her car near the doctor's home, where he had his office. Going up to the front door, she knocked.

Hetty, the doctor's wife and nurse, opened the front door.

"Why, Arlissa Hinton, what're you doin' here? Ain't your Granny in the hospital right now? Are you sick, honey? Come right on in. Doc Henry is out on a call right now, but he should be back soon."

Dr. Henry McReynolds was known as and called Doc Henry by everyone who knew him, and he'd been around for a long time. In fact, he took over his practice from his father, who'd been Dr. William McReynolds.

Hetty was known to be better than a newspaper in spreading the news all over town; but right now, Arlissa wasn't thinking about that.

"I need to ask Doc Henry some questions about what year I was born."

"Why, honey, that's a strange request! You mean, you don't even know when you were born? Well, I never! Say, let me fix you a cup of coffee. You take cream, don't cha?" 

The old lady could see that she might get some more information out of the girl if she encouraged her to relax a little more. 

"You come right on in here to the kitchen and I'll fix us up some coffee. You look like you could use some a' my apple pie. I jist baked it a little while ago."

Putting her arm around Arlissa's shoulder, she guided her into the kitchen. It was no contest, because Hetty outweighed the younger woman by about 90 pounds and was experienced in persuading patients in cooperation.

As the old woman poured the coffee, she peppered the girl with questions.

"Now, it seems I heard something about your friend, Rosie O'Hanlon, passing away?? Poor little girl took her own life, I hear?"

"Yes, that's true."

"Wasn't there a little boy she left behind? I heard tell his name was somethin' like Bobby?"

"Benny. It is Benny, Ms. Hetty."

"I hear you're gonna get guardianship a' him?"

"I'd rather not talk about it...ain't nothin' decided yet."

"Ah, I reckon maybe his grandparents don't like that idea too much, hey?"

By this time, Arlissa was feeling hemmed in by the nosy woman and she decided it was time to go. 

"Please, I've got to go. I'm sorry, I don't have time to drink the coffee. Would you please have Doc Henry call me when he can? I've got someplace else I need to be this afternoon."

"Well, Arlissa, Honey, you come back anytime. Y' hear? Doc 'll be that sorry he missed ya."

She followed Arlissa to the door, and watched her with glittering eyes as she left. 

"Darn! I near about had some answers. Hmm. Don't know what year she was born. Now, don't that take the cake!"

She hurried to the phone.

Hetty McReynolds had no sooner picked up the phone than she heard a knock on the front door.

"Now what?" she fumed to herself, agitated at being interrupted from spreading the news she was eager to share.

She replaced the receiver and went to the door, surprised to see the subject of her news once again standing before her.

"Why, Sugar! Did you forget somethin'? You wanta' come back in?"

"Uh, no, Ms. Hetty. I need some information, please."

"Why, sure, Baby. How can I help you?"

"Well, I, er, I, uh, could you tell me how to get to the old graveyard out in the country?"

Ms. Hetty's ears perked up with that one...

"You don't mean the one out near Witch's Grove Holler, do you? The one that they quit usin' about fifteen years ago?"

"Yes, ma'am. That one. The one that's not used no more."

Ms. Hetty blanched visibly.

"Oh, now, I can't help you there! Why you wanta be goin' all the way out yonder for? Ain't nothin' out there you'd be needin', is there?"

"I'm jist lookin' for information, is all."

"Look, Honey. I'll tell Doc Henry as soon as he gets home. I promise. Please don't go out there, especially at this time a' day. You'll miss your supper. To be quite honest, you don't look like you can afford to miss any meals."

The old lady gazed at the girl's diminutive figure, wishing her own were not quite so ample.

"Oh! I jist remembered I gotta be somewhere around supper time. Thanks for remindin' me, Ms. Hetty. I gotta be leavin' fer sure now. Please have Doc Henry call me at the Tunstall house or at my home later on this evenin'. Thank ya for yore help, ma'am."

Arlissa turned and left the old lady with her mouth standing open, ready to ask another question.

"Well, now, that was a most interestin' bit a' news, I must say," she said to herself, shutting the door and heading once again for the telephone.

Arlissa climbed back into her car and  headed for the Tunstall/O'Hanlon farm.

As she drove along, Arlissa considered what she was going to do next. She knew she needed to get to the Tunstall/O'Hanlon residence soon. It wouldn't be long til suppertime, and she didn't want to be late for the meeting with them.

"I hope I won't have any trouble with Mrs. Tunstall when I get there. It's not like I wanted custody of Rosie's little boy; I didn't even know she was gonna do somethin' like she did. I woulda stopped her if'n I had. Oh, Rosie, why'd you go and do such a Tomfool thing as that? Killin' yoreself and signin' that little sweet boy over to me! Am I supposed to honor that piece a' paper? Does the law say I have to?"

Arlissa was still conflicted over the whole idea - now with Granny so sick - how could she possibly take over the care of a little boy? She still missed her friend; it was going to take a long time to get over the loss of Rosie, her throaty laugh, her sparkling eyes, and the only real girl friend she had ever had. 

The two girls used to theorize about how come they looked so much alike, and been born in different states. They had never really come up with an answer, though. Arlissa most likely would never know, she figured.

"My Ma never lived to tell me who my Pa was, and Granny sure ain't never told me, if'n she even knows. I reckon maybe it's one a them things I won't never know. But I sure can't help wonderin' about it, though."

Arlissa finally noticed the car behind her and peered closely into the rear view mirror.

"Now, what's that rascal doin' follerin' me? I'll jist pull over and see what it is he's after, anyhow!"

She drove her car over to the side of the road and left it in idle, waiting for the car behind to pass her. It did, and the driver parked his car sideways in the road to block her.

"Con Douglas! What in tarnation do you think you're a doin'? Why've you been followin' me? What's the idea of parkin' sidewise in the road?"

"Get out'n that car, Lissa! You'n me's goin' on a date right now!" 

"I reckon we ain't goin'!" shouted Arlissa and hit him with the door as he opened it, knocking him down. 

Then she gunned the motor and went around his car. He only thought he had her blocked in. 

He lay in the road for a couple of minutes. The suddenness of her reaction had taken him by such surprise, he just couldn't believe it! 

Jumping into his car, he was in such a hurry that he backed up and hit a tree in his haste, putting another dent into the back of the vehicle. It was already dented quite a bit, so another one didn't matter to him.

Quickly pulling out onto the road, his car skidded, trying to get a solid hold, then he straightened it, getting control of the car and was soon in hot pursuit of the other car.

Laughing to himself, he said, "You jist think you can get away from me. I'll get you yet, Miss High 'n Mighty! Think yore too good fer me! I'll jist show you!"

Arlissa was speeding for her life... and she knew it. Con Douglas was becoming bolder and she realized she wasn't going to be able to avoid him forever. 

"I reckon I'm goin' to have to talk to the Sheriff and see what I can do to stop Con from botherin' me."

She headed for the O'Hanlon farm and safety.

Just as she turned onto the road leading to the O'Hanlons, Con had almost caught up to her once again. 

She began honking her horn, persistently, frantically, driving as fast as she could go. 

It so happened that Zebulon O'Hanlon was out in the yard, talking to his stepfather. They were walking around and looking at improvements that Jake Tunstall had made since Zeb had last been there.

Upon hearing the honking of the car, they ran toward the road.

When they saw the cars speeding toward them, they jumped out of the way.

"Whoa!" shouted Zeb. 

Arlissa pulled up to an abrupt stop and jumped from her car.
 
"Help! He's after me!" She ran up to Zeb and pointed to the other car that had just pulled into the yard and was in the process of turning around.

However, he didn't make it, because the Sheriff pulled in behind him, preventing his escape.

The two drivers had not seen the Sheriff, who was parked along the road in a side road, waiting for speeders. He had seen the two speeding by, and was soon in pursuit. 

Sheriff Bradshaw parked his vehicle, got out, and hitching up his weapon belt, walked over to Con's car.

"Out, young man! Would you care to explain to me why you were speeding along after this young woman?"

Con shook his head in a negative manner.

Arlissa ran over and said, "I can tell you exactly why he was chasin' me, Sheriff! He was tryin' to grab me and force me to go out with him on a date. I already told him I wasn't interested in going nowhere with him, but he wasn't hearin' me!"

Zeb walked over and looked at Con. 

"Still trying to be the bully, I see! You always did want to be the boss of everyone, even in school. I remember you trying to push us younger kids around all the time. Now is the time to stop unless you want to wind up in jail like your older brothers did." 

Con looked up at Zeb and sneered. 

"I see you're still playin' like yore better'n anybody else, too, O'Hanlon! At least, my sister didn't kill herself, like yore's did. I'll get you one a' these days, too, Miss High 'n Mighty!"

"You want me to arrest Douglas, Miss Hinton? You want to bring charges against him?"

"No, Sheriff, I don't want no trouble. I jist want him to leave me be."

"Okay, Douglas, I'm going to move my car and you can leave, but you better stay away from this young woman."

"I oughta be bringin' charges against her. She caused me to get fired by that doctor! He went to my boss and he fired me! My mama's dependin' on me to take care of her and now, the only job I got is the one at the fillin' station. It's all her fault!"

"But..but..I didn't do anything!" Arlissa replied.

 "You just leave the young woman alone, Douglas. I'll be watching you!"

The Sheriff got into his car with that warning and moved it.

Con backed up his car, turning it around and left in a spray of gravel. 

Zeb realized that Con Douglas would not forget the whole incident. He was sure Arlissa had not seen the last of the determined young man.

Arlissa turned to Zeb and hugged him. 

"I'm so sorry about Rosie, Zeb. I'm going to miss having her as such a good friend. I wish I had known what was in her mind and perhaps I could have stopped her."

Zeb wrapped his arms around the girl and patted her shoulder. 

"Thank you, 'Lissa. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I know how much you loved her."

The Sheriff, observing the two of them, with the sunlight filtering into their hair showed just how much alike the color in each was. 

He was taken aback by the striking similarity even of their facial features.

Just then the front door opened and more people emerged from the house. It was the rest of the family and another person that Arlissa and the Sheriff had not yet met. Jake Tunstall was carrying little Benny, who was very quiet until he saw Arlissa. 

"'Lissa! Lissa!" Then Jake shushed him.

"What's going on out here?" Helen O'Hanlon Tunstall inquired.
 "What was all that horn honking while ago?"

Just then Zeb and Arlissa turned toward those who had just come outside. 

"Mom, it was 'Lissa here honking her horn for help. You remember Con Douglas?" 

At her nod of acknowledgement, he told her about the confrontation that had just taken place, then asked the stranger, a beautiful young woman to come over and meet Arlissa.

"Angela, come on over and meet one of our friends and neighbor, Arlissa Hinton. Arlissa, this is my bride, Angela Rae."

Zeb's smile was about a thousand watts in brightness, if it could be measured in such a manner. 

"I'm so very pleased to meet you, Arlissa. May I call you that?"

"Of course. I'm so very glad to make yore acquaintance as well, Angela."

"Please, call me Angie. All my friends do. I understand you and Rosie were friends?"

"Yes, for several years we were really close. Then... well, we kinda lost touch."

"Well, listen, you all! Supper is on the table and going to be cold if we don't get inside to eat it. We were just getting the table set when we heard the horn honking. Sheriff, why don't you come in and have a bite with us?" 

This last came from Jake Tunstall, fearing there might be some kind of trouble when they got to talking about little Benny after supper.

"Well, I tell you what, my wife has got supper on the table right about now, and she's gonna be that upset if I don't make it. But I'd be glad to come back and visit awhile later on this evening, if that's okay." 

The Sheriff had apparently got his drift.

(To be continued)  

Arlissa - Her Story - Day 43 -54

Arlissa got ready to go see Granny and knew she needed to tell Granny about everything that had happened. Should she worry her with all that, she wondered. She didn't want to upset her Granny, but when Granny came home would be too late to tell her. Nothing but to do except just out with it right off, but maybe just kind of ease into it slowly. Yeah, that's what she would do...just ease into it. 

She walked out to the car and prayed the car would start. It was temperamental about starting and Arlissa never knew if it would give her trouble or not. She had no sooner put her foot on the starter pedal than she heard the sound of a motorcycle. 

Laying her head on the steering wheel, she gritted her teeth. Not that pesky Bobby Joe Odom! Not now! Arghh! No, here he came, right up to the car window...looking in and smiling.

"What do you want?"

"Well, now, Miss Arlissa, I just came by to see if you might need some help with starting your vehicle. Seems like I remember yesterday you havin' some trouble with the old gal."

"It's going to do just fine, smarty pants! Just listen..."

She turned on the ignition and to her dismay only heard the click, click of an inactive battery. Her face turned a beet red and she jumped out of the car ready to do battle with the only handy object of her anger standing before her with a smirk on his face. So she let go and smacked him right on the nose with her fist.

"Whoa! Hey, listen!" The object of her anger grabbed her fist and held on. "I had nothing to do with the fact your car won't start. Let's take a look at it, okay? I was only teasing you a bit. Reach in there and release the hood."

She did so and he raised the hood on the car. 

Leaning over the car works, he noted a lot of corrosion on the poles of the battery. 

"I think maybe I see the problem here. Let me just clean off these places and see if that doesn't help." 

Taking out his pocket knife, he opened the large blade and cleaned the poles of the battery, then reattached the wires.

"Okay, now get back in and see if she'll start. Just had no way to get the juice flowing in the battery cells."

She turned the key again and it gave a low growl, but nothing more.

"Hmmm. You need it to be jumped from another car battery. Once that's done, you can drive it long enough to get the charge built up. You got a neighbor that would come over and give it a charge? How about the O'Hanlons?"

"Ha! Not much chance of that this morning. Nope. Ain't gonna happen. Right now, they wouldn't give me air in a jug."

Bobby Joe smelled a story but he couldn't say anything, except to ask about other neighbors. 

"Wait a minute. I got an idea. I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't go anywhere."

She simply looked at him as if to say, "How in the world would I get anywhere now?"

He headed off on his motorcycle and left her sitting in her car.

Arlissa waited and as she did so, realized that Bobby Joe didn't know about his friend, Zeb's sister being dead. She knew she had to tell him before the morning got any later. She determined to tell him as soon as he returned.

Fifteen minutes later, here he came leading a fellow driving a truck. Arlissa took a good look at the truck and driver. As he driver got out of the truck, she could see he was a burly fellow with a gap-toothed smile, which he was displaying with good humor. Realizing she didn't even know that person, she looked at Trooper Odom with a querulous look on her face.

He smiled back at her confusion, and explained. 

"He was driving down the road and I stopped him to see if he could help you. First I asked if he had jumper cables, then if he had time to help a lady in distress. Fortunately, he was willing, he was about the fifth person I had stopped."

"Howdy, ma'am. I'm more than happy to help you get your car charged and started. I admit I never had an idee that I'd get such a strange request when I left home this morning. Just wait till I get home and tell the wife and kids what I got to do this morning. I never turn down the chance to be of help anytime. Now, how about you get back in your car and we'll get this hooked up and charge that battery and get you on your way."

"Thank you, sir! l really appreciate your help. Could I have your name, please?"

"Ahh. My name don't matter. Jist glad I could be of help."

After a few minutes, the car battery had received enough charge to keep running, and the man shook Bobby Joe's hand and tipped his cap to Arlissa, got into his truck and waving his hand, he drove away.

"Bobby Joe, I can't thank you  enough for what you just did. But, I do have something I need to tell you that happened during the night last night. I wouldn't want you to think I neglected to let you know."

"Really? What about?"

"It's about the neighbors, the O'Hanlons. Zeb's sister, Rosie, has been my friend for a long time, and she came over to visit me last night with her little boy, Benny. She took her own life last night and I found her this morning and...and..."

She had told all this in one breath so she could get it all out, but then she broke down and began crying all over again. In no time, Bobby Joe had gathered her into his arms, where she collapsed against his chest. He held her for a few minutes and then she pulled back.

"I'm sorry! I'm gettin' your nice uniform all wet."

"That's okay. You can get my uniform wet any time you like, but I hate to see you cry."

Wiping her eyes, she got into her car and said, "I really got to go. My Granny's goin' to be wonderin' what happened to me.  And I gotta drive this car while it's got a battery charge. Thank you for helpin' me. Seems like anytime I need some help, there you happen to be. The O'Hanlons might enjoy a visit from you, bein' Zeb's friend and all. Bye now."

As she pulled out into the road, she realized she hadn't told him the reason she couldn't call on the O'Hanlons for help. Well, no matter, he would find out soon enough when he went to visit them. Then he would probably turn against her, too. Or maybe be caught in the middle?

Time would tell, she reckoned; in the meantime, there was Granny to explain it all to. She wondered just how she was going to ease into it, like she hoped she could without really upsetting Granny. Would Granny be able to deal with a long drawn out lawsuit, being sick and all?


Pulling into the parking lot, she was glad to be there and that she had found a parking spot not too far from the entrance. Hurrying out of the car, she headed for the door and was soon on her way into the building.

When she reached the desk, she was sure her Granny must be in room of her own by now, so when she inquired, she found that to be true. 

"Your grandmother is in room 215 A. So far she doesn't have a roommate. We didn't have room in the ward, so she was put into a semi-private room. We have a lot of people with the influenza in the ward."

After thanking the nurse, she headed for the elevators. Of course, they would have put her Granny in the Ward, because of their financial condition, she realized. As she rode up, she stewed over the whole situation. What were they going to do? She sure didn't want Granny worrying, and now... more problems. Thank you, Rosie! Well, they would just deal with things as they came. God would help them, she had to believe.

Putting a smile on her face, she exited the elevator and found Room 215.

Pushing the door open, she saw her Granny sitting up in bed, having lunch.

"Where you been, girl? You talked to the sawbones yet, to see when I can get outta here? It's costing us money, every minute I'm in here! I can sit around in bed at home, if need be!"

Uh-oh! Granny was in a snit, and this was going to take quite a bit of sweet-talking and diplomacy. What tack to take to approach this attitude? Granny in a snit was not a pleasant thing to watch taking place.

"Now, Granny! If you really want outta here, ya gotta calm down and not cause trouble. Besides, I got somethin' I need to talk over with you."

Walking over, she shut the door as though she wanted privacy, and not have anyone to overhear what she was going to discuss with the old woman.

Well, that calmed Granny's tirade, because if Granny had any one attribute, it was an everlasting curiosity. A big smile split her face and she was soon all ears and no sass. She sat up and said, "Tell!"

"Well, you know Rosie O'Hanlon..."

Arlissa was going to draw it out as much as possible to pull her Granny into the story. 

"Yes, go on...what about Rosie? What's that foolish girl done now? Is she back home?"

"Now, just a minute, Granny! If I'm going to tell you about her, you gotta keep eatin', cause you need that food to get stronger."

"Okay, okay.. see, I'm eatin'. Yum! Now, go on!"

The girl continued with her story.

"Well, I went over to her house yesterday. She has a little boy now, named Benito, but she calls him Benny. His father is not married to Rosie, and apparently got her hooked on drugs while she was with him. She came home with me and brought Benny with her."

The old lady sat back against the bed. "Well, I never!"

"I know, Granny. It's hard to get ahold of, but apparently true."

Sitting up again, "Tell me more, child! What happened when she got to our place?"

"Granny, you keep eatin' now!" She watched as the old lady took another few bites. The food was slowly disappearing. Good. 

"Well, I had a good time playing with Benny and Rosie didn't do a lot more talking. We had a bit of supper and Benny had played so hard, he got sleepy and we put him to bed on my divanette in my bedroom. Then Rosie and I sat and talked awhile before she went out on the front porch for awhile."

"What'd she do that for? Kinda bad manners if you ask me..but then she always was kinda flighty and fidgety, even when you girls was a lot younger. And on drugs??? She's got no business raisin' a little boy! How old is that pore little tyke anyhow?"

That was the way Granny was - she would take off on a tangent when she was listening to someone tell something. Her curiosity was a thing to behold. Arlissa wondered if she would ever get to tell a story the way she intended. 

"He's almost three, I believe. But that's not what is important right now, Granny. You see...you see..."

Arlissa was having trouble going on with the story because the enormity of Rosie's passing was choking her up again, and the tears began to fall.

"Oh, Granny, Granny... Rosie's dead! And she wanted me to raise Benny."

Through her tears, she heard Granny gasp.

Arlissa knew Granny was most likely upset, but that was to be expected. So she didn't look for fear she would not be able to continue. 

"I know, Granny. It's not a good situation. You see, but I gotta finish tellin' it before I lose my nerve. It ain't gonna be easy with us tryin' to raise that little boy. When the Sheriff told them that Rosie gave me guardianship of Benny, they was really mad and he called me and told me to not come over right away. Now I know that the only way I'd have any right to legally raise him is the paper she wrote out, me not bein' kin to him or anything. She took her own life, Granny! Right there practically right in front of me and I didn't know it. There...that's what I wanted to tell you."

As she turned to look at her grandmother, Arlissa's eyes widened. She had never seen Granny looking like that. Or sounding that way. Granny was trying to talk to her, but all that was coming out was all like mixed up and she had spit running down one side of her mouth. Her eyes were open wider than Arlissa had ever seen them, except when Granny was really, really upset or alarmed. 

She ran for the nurse. 

"Oh, help, help, please. Somethin's wrong with my Granny! She can't talk. Hurry, hurry!" 

Arlissa was wringing her hands, agitated beyond measure. When she had gotten the attention of the nurses, one of them ran back with her to 215. 

"Look at her! What's wrong with her, nurse? Why is she like that?"

The nurse took one look and immediately began working with Granny. 

"Okay, just try to relax, Ms. Hinton. You've had a stroke; the doctor will be in soon to help. In the meantime, let's get you comfortable and lying down. We know you can't talk right now. Don't worry, your speech has been temporarily affected by the stroke. We're going to work to get it back. Okay? Let's calm down now. I'm going to bring you an aspirin, it will help."

She removed the tray cart which was over the bed and got the old lady settled in the bed. Ms. Hinton was still trying to talk and getting more agitated by the minute. 

Arlissa stood by, helpless to do anything except try to assure her Granny that she was going to be okay and not to worry about anything. 

"I'll take care of you, Granny! You're gonna be okay. I promise! Now let's jist get you better. The nurse'll be right back with an aspirin. If she says it'll help, then it will. Aspirins are medicine, ain't they?"

She knew she was prattling along, but right now, that was all she was able to do. She began to pray. She knew God was right there with them and would help them through this. 

"Oh, Lord, please jist be with us, and help us know what to do to help my Granny. You made us, Lord! You know our bodies even better than we do. You know us from even before the time we were made inside our mothers. You knew we were goin' to be, before we was. I'm trustin' You, Lord, to help my Granny to be better, if'n it's in Your Will to do so. Thank You, Lord. Amen."

She had spoken aloud and then she looked at her Granny, who looked much more peaceful and settled. She had heard the prayer and prayed with Arlissa. It was her Granny who had raised her and taught Arlissa about God's love and care for them. 

The prayer was the best thing Arlissa could have done as she spoke it aloud. Not only was she speaking to God, but Granny heard and responded in faith.

The nurse returned then and had Granny sit up and see if she could swallow a sip of water. She did swallow and so the nurse gave her the aspirin to chew. 

"Now, just chew slowly and then take another sip of water. The doctor will be in in just a while. He had an emergency surgery that he is taking care of right now."

Turning then to Arlissa, she said, "She is much calmer now. What happened?"

"I spoke to another Physician, and He is helping too." Arlissa smiled.

"You did? Where? How?"

"I can talk to Him anytime and any place. So can you, if you want to."

The truth began to dawn on the nurse. She lifted her eyebrows.

"Oh, Oh! Yes, yes. Good." 

She was clearly taken aback and seemed rather embarrassed. Hmmm. 

"Well, I'll send the doctor in as soon as he gets to our desk."

Arlissa had a lot to think about, and sat down by Granny when the nurse departed. She took Granny's hand, and spoke.

"Now, Granny, you're gonna be jist fine, so don't you worry none. Okay? We're gonna get through this, I jist know." 
She smiled reassuringly and patted the old lady's hand. Granny just looked at her, wondering if her time had come.

Arlissa looked at Granny's mouth which drooped on the left side. She learned later that apparently the right side of the brain was the one affected by the stroke, and that was where speech control was located. She was going to learn quite a bit about the effects of stroke in the days ahead.

She had to wonder how long her Granny had, and how she could care for both Benny and her Granny at the same time. Then there was her job, too. What would they do for money?

Arlissa was fussing over Granny when the doctor came in. 

"Well, Miss Arlissa, seems like your sweet Granny was in just the right place if she was going to have a stroke." He smiled at both the old lady and her granddaughter.

"Now, let's check you over, Ms. Hinton."

He gently picked up her hands, one at a time and had her try to press against his open hand, testing their strength. Then he did the same thing with her feet. 

"Well, it seems we are going to have some therapy to go through with you, sweet lady. But I think we can get you up and moving one of these days soon. It's going to take some work on your part and Miss Arlissa's as well, once we get you ready to go back home. You do want that, don't you?"

The old lady stared at him as though he were the most ignorant man she had ever seen. Of course, she wanted to go home. 

"We still have to keep an eye on the heart as well as tending to your physical movement. You must do exactly as we instruct you, Ms. Hinton. Understand?"

Again, she stared at him with what Arlissa called her stony look that seemed as though she were looking right into the soul and knew what you were thinking.

"Ah...I guess you do. Okay. We're going to get your heart regulated and then we'll begin the exercises a few at a time."

He believed in leveling as much as possible with his patients and Arlissa appreciated that.

"Well, I need to go right now, I do have a few other patients to see yet today. I'll be back later on. Goodbye, Ma'am, Miss Arlissa."

She followed him out into the hallway. 'Oh, no, one of those who always followed the doctor outside the room to see if he would tell them any more in private.' he thought to himself.

"Doctor, please...Is my Granny gonna be okay?"

"Now, Miss Hinton, er Arlissa, we're going to do everything we can to get her back on her feet, but with strokes and at her age and in the condition of her heart, especially so, there are no guarantees. I can't make any promises, except to say we are going to do our best. I'm sorry I can't tell you any more than that." 

If he had been wearing a hat, he probably would have tipped it to her before he left. He smiled again, and turned to go. 

Arlissa went back into the room, and found Granny looking resigned. She couldn't tell Arlissa what she was thinking; she tried, but it only came out sounding like nothing either of them had ever heard, so she just gave up and lay back on the pillow, exhausted, tears of frustration leaking from her eyes. Reaching up with her left hand, she wiped them away and shut her eyes, turning her head away from Arlissa.

"Oh, Granny, what am I going to do? What am I going to do?"

Granny opened her eyes and looked at her dear granddaughter. She brought her left hand up to her chin, lifted her eyes, looked at the ceiling, and closed her eyes, moving her mouth the best she could. Then she looked at Arlissa again, and pointed her left hand to the girl.

Arlissa looked puzzled. What did Granny mean? 

Then it came like a revelation. "You mean you want me to pray?"

The old lady gave her a one sided grin, and nodded her head.

Well, at least Granny could still think clearly. Arlissa bowed her head and began to talk to the Great Physician.

"Dear Lord," Arlissa prayed. "Please help me to know what to do. You know the problems that are ahead of me 'n Granny. I can't do nothin' without your help. I'm dependin' on you, Lord, to help us through the times ahead. I ain't got no money to speak of, and Granny's goin'  to need lots a' help and care. Please let me know what the best thing is for us to do; help us through these days stretchin' out ahead of us. Guide me, please, in knowin' what to do about little Benny. Please, Lord, jist work it out in your own way. Me 'n Granny is goin' to turn it all over to you right now, Lord. I'm gonna try not to worry over it any more. Thank you, Lord, for listenin' to me. Amen."

The girl looked over at her Granny, who smiled. Arlissa was holding Granny's right hand, and felt the slight movement in her hand. Did she dare hope that Granny was getting movement back into her right side? She knew that with God, anything is possible. 

She would just wait and see, with hope in her heart. She watched as Granny drifted off to sleep. Then she turned to leave, but first she leaned down and kissed her granny's soft cheek. 

"Bye, Granny! I'll be back soon," she whispered.

Just as she was leaving, the nurse came in with a bag of fluid to hook up to Granny. The doctor had determined that Granny was dehydrated. He had asked some questions earlier and found that she had not been drinking enough liquids at home. Many times strokes occur where the patient is lacking in fluids. It seemed God was already at work to get Granny on the road to recovery. 

Arlissa really didn't know any more than she did about what to do concerning young Master O'Hanlon, but she was going to go home and consider her options. She also needed to get Granny's room ready for her home coming, whenever that was going to be. 

"Let's see, now, I need to change Granny's sheets on her bed, and I need to dust the furniture and polish it up real good, and maybe wash the curtains in that room. Make it smell nice 'n all. Sweep the floors and mop 'em; see if she's got any laundry needs doin'. Oh, yeah, and I need to go to the drug store and talk to them about my work hours; see if I kin get off a little more'n usual without losin' my job there. So much to take care of."

She was walking with her head down and almost ran into a boy she had known in school. 

"Whoa! Watch it, Lissa! You purty near mowed me down. Whar you a runnin' off to? What chu doin' here, anyhow?" 

"Con Douglas! I didn't know you was workin' here! You been janitorin' long?"

"Oh, jist since my daddy died. I needed a job and somebody told me about this place needin' somebody, so I applied and got the job. Say, you wouldn't be wantin' to maybe take in a movie sometime, would you?"

Con didn't make it difficult to say "no" to in the way he asked questions; for that Arlissa was grateful. 

"Gee, I'm sorry, Con, I jist can't. I jist got too much on my plate right now to even think about going to the movin' pictures. Thanks, anyway. I gotta be on my way, now. Bye."

She realized as she left him that she had not divulged why she was there, but figured he'd know when he mopped Granny's hospital room.

Right now she had a lot more on her mind than going out and having a good time.

Maybe she needed to see a lawyer about little Benny, but that could wait til she decided what she really wanted to do.

By this time she was out the front door of the hospital and heading for her car. Taking one look at the car, she burst into tears. 


The spare tire had gone flat. She had been afraid that would happen. Now what to do? She didn't really know this part of town, since it was not her town. 

Arlissa looked around. Would help come from somewhere? She saw no one who looked like they would offer any assistance. 

"I could really use the help of that irritating trooper right now," she remarked to herself jokingly. She was beginning to realize she needed friends more than she had thought. Arlissa was the kind of person who had always considered herself to be self-sufficient in all things. Hard learned lessons were becoming evident in her life lately.

She decided to go back into the hospital since she was stuck here without transportation. She had no one to call on for help: the O'Hanlon's were out of the question; she might as well just go back and spend some more time with Granny while she pondered on her quandary. 

As she entered, she missed seeing that the front entrance had just been mopped and also the sign that Con had put there for people to be careful. OOPS! She slipped in the wet tile floor and landed on her seat, arms akimbo, and a surprised look on her features.

Con, who had been mopping another part of the front entrance, ran over and began to help her up. 

"Lissa, are you okay?" He couldn't keep the grin off his face as he tried to help her up. 

She kept slipping until finally she said, "Just turn me loose and let me get up by myself, please."

He acquiesced, standing back to watch and she turned over to her hands and knees and ungracefully stood to her feet. 

"I'm sorry, Lissa. I did put a sign there, you know. Are you all right?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Just a bruised feeling in my ego."

"I don't understand. Where is your ego?" Con wasn't the brightest bulb in the pack. He had had a difficult time in school.

"Oh, it's where nobody can see it. Don't worry; it's not hurt too bad."

"Good. Well, I'm glad you're okay. Why did you come back in, anyway? Did you forget somethin'?"

"I have a flat tire. It was a spare that I had to use."

"I kin fix that for ya. I work at a service station when I ain't on the job here. How 'bout I fix it for ya? Might jist need some air in it. If'n it needs a patch, I kin do that, too. Okay? Make up for you fallin' on the floor here."

"Well, thank you, Con. You're a Godsend! I really appreciate it. I'll jist go down to Granny's room and wait."

"Yore Granny's here? What's wrong with her? I ain't been down all the halls yet. I didn't know she was in here."

"It's her heart. She jist had a stroke too. I'm hopin' she's gonna be okay, though. I gotta trust that she will be."

Arlissa left Con mopping the hall and felt his eyes watching her as she left. She knew he had always been sweet on her; she had to be careful not to encourage him. He could be dangerous, she knew. Granny had warned her.

Heading back into her Granny's room, she saw that the old lady was still sleeping, so she stepped quietly over to the window and looked out. The skies were looking gray, just the way she was feeling at the time. Her life looked as though it were falling apart; she didn't know which way to turn. 

"Lord, what am I going to do? Here's Granny all laid up; little Benny's future is all in a mess, and I seem to be right in the middle of it all. How could things be in such a muddle all of a sudden? Am I ever gonna find my way out of it all? What was Rosie thinkin' anyways, to give me custody of her little boy. And, what about his Daddy, anyhow? Won't he come a' lookin' for the boy? What then? Don't Daddies have rights above an old friend?" The burden seemed more than she could bear, and she felt the weight of it all bearing on her soul and spirit.

She seemed to hear a voice in her heart that said, "One day at a time, child. That's all we can do." 

Ah, Granny! That's what she was always sayin' to Arlissa as she was growin' up. It had been tough for Granny to raise Arlissa alone after Gramps passed away. 

She remembered Gramps and spending time with him. She loved playing around his feet when he was sharpening his hoes for gardening, or when he was sitting out under the big elm tree, taking in the shade in the middle of the day. Then one day, he was gone and left her and Granny all alone. 

"What are we gonna do, Granny? Without Gramps... it jist ain't the same. How are we gonna get along?"

"Jist one day at a time, child. That's all we can do."

Bless Granny and her wisdom. "Don't borry from tomorrow. Each day has got enough troubles of it's own. That's what the Good Book says, and it's mighty true, child. Now, you get on in and do yore homework. It ain't gonna do itself."

'Funny how those memories come back to us,' Arlissa smiled. 

She turned and looked at her grandmother resting quietly and smiled. Dear Granny! She was one tough old bird, so to speak. Hopefully, she would soon be well enough to take home. She knew Granny was made of strong stuff and would fight to recover. Granny would not want Arlissa to have to struggle to care for her. 

Just then the nurse came in with a tray for Granny. 

"Miss Hinton, I happen to have an extra tray. One of our patients went home this afternoon and the kitchen had already prepared a tray for them. Why don't you eat his supper, so it won't go to waste?"

"Oh, how kind! Thank you, nurse, I believe I will. I didn't have lunch today, and it will really taste good."

"Well, I don't know about tasting good, but it will fill the empty spaces." She smiled as she made the age-old joke about hospital food. "Also, when your grandmother wakes up, let your grandmother feed herself as much as she can do, because it helps her to get better."

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I will."

"I'll bring your tray right in."

Arlissa had just finished her meal when Granny awakened. The girl raised the head of the hospital bed so the old lady could sit up; then quickly got a washcloth and soaped it up so that Granny could wash her hands.

"Now, Granny, you need to eat something; get your strength up so you can go home soon. They won't let you out of here until they know yore gonna eat good."

"My right hand don't work good, Arlissy."

"The nurse said you need to be feedin' yoreself as good as you can, Granny. So jist try, okay?"

Granny picked up the fork with her left hand, but it was clumsy and she finally said, after a few bites, "I ain't hungry, nohow!"

"Oh, my, I hate to think of you in a nursing home, Granny! It'll be so sad. To see somebody else havin' to feed you everyday, when you coulda' done it yoreself, ifn' only you'd tried. But, I guess when a body gives up, that's what happens."

The old lady looked up, surprised to hear such words coming from her granddaughter's lips. How could she dare to speak to her in such a way, anyhow? It was - it was- well, it was just awful!

"You ain't a sendin' me to no nursin' home, missy! Jist you watch me eat this or die in the tryin'!" 

The old lady attacked the food with a vengeance, as though the fork was a weapon and the food disposition a war.

"Well, I vow! Granny, you are a'doin' it, ain't cha?" 

The girl smiled.

"I'm that proud of you! I knowed all the time you could do it!"

"Now, when do I get outta here?" The words were a bit garbled, but Arlissa got the idea of what she was trying to say.

"Whoa! Granny! Not in that big a hurry! But you gotta do what the doc says about exercisin' when they tell ya and yore leg and arm is gonna get stronger. They told me it could take a few weeks, but if'n you work at it, it could be sooner. But ya gotta feed yoreself, and try it with yore right hand some and it'll be stronger. Okay?"

She nodded her head, then said something that sounded like bathroom.

"They told me I had to get a nurse to help you with that, Granny. I'll ring fer one. Jist hold it, okay?"

Soon after they rang, a young nurse named Anne came in to help Granny. They placed her in a wheel chair and she was pushed into the bathroom where she was assisted to the commode.

When she came out, Anne suggested that they take her outside in the fresh air under some trees. When she got tired, Arlissa was to bring her back inside. 

Granny grinned her half-grin and nodded at the nurse.

"Yes, I like Anne, too." Arlissa replied.

Then she saw a tear stealing down Granny's soft, wrinkled face. 

"I know, Granny. It is beautiful out here, and I know you feel helpless right now, but it's gonna get better. I promise. And what don't get better, God's gonna give us the grace to get through. He promised that to us. Now let's jist enjoy the outdoors, okay?"

The old lady nodded and took Arlissa's hand, squeezing it in agreement.

"Granny, I was reminded a' somethin' today. You remember tellin' me time and again, 'jist take things a day at a time'? Well, we gotta do that now, right?"

The old lady looked up into her granddaughter's face, and gave the half-grin, her face brightening up visibly.

After they had been outside for about 40 minutes, Arlissa could see that Granny needed to be taken back inside, and proceeded to push her wheelchair in that direction. The doctor crossed their path and stopped them. 

"Ah, I see you are looking much better, Ms. Hinton! Fresh air can always help us recover. Miss Arlissa, you are looking a little more in control and that is good, too. How is your grandmother doing with her eating and speaking?"

"Pretty good and she is going to get even better, ain't ya, Granny?"

The old lady nodded her head in agreement and gave him her twisted smile.

He went on his way and they continued inside. 

Granny looked up at her and then in the direction the doctor had gone. 

"What? What are you saying, Gran?" 

Then the truth dawned on her. "Oh-h-h- no, Gran. Jist get that idea outta your head, he is engaged. You know what that means and he'd never look at me a second time. Besides, I don't want some high-falutin' fella as he is. I could never measure up, so jist ferget it!"

Just then Con came up from around the corner. Apparently he had overheard their last remarks.

"Well, what about me, then? I ain't no high-falutin' feller, and I always liked ya, 'Lissa. I got both yer tires fixed; how about goin' to the movies with me in turn for the gettin' the tires fixed?"

Arlissa looked at him with amazement in her eyes at his very audacity. She reached into her change purse which was in her pocket, and pulling it out, removed a five-dollar bill.

"I pay my debts with money, not favors! And don't you forget it!"

She stuffed the five dollar bill into his shirt pocket and continued with "Consider yourself paid for your trouble, Con Douglas! It was nice of you to fix the tires, but that's as far as it goes. And don't be askin' me again to go out with you, please!"

His face flamed red and she could see the anger in his eyes, but knew there was no changing the situation. He was just going to have to accept the facts. 

"Jist you wait, Miss High'n'Mighty! Jist you wait! You'll be needin' me some time and you'll have to beg 'fore I help you again! Maybe then I won't; then you'll see. You'll see!" 

He turned on his heels and left her standing open-mouthed as he walked away.

She heard Granny make a sound and turned to look at her. Granny just shook her head, with a look of fear on her face. She may have had a stroke, but she knew human nature, and was aware of the fact that Arlissa had made a dangerous person very angry. That could not be good.

Arlissa took the handles on the back of the wheelchair and continued the journey inside to return Granny to her room. 

After she got the old woman settled back in bed with the help of the nurse, she bade her good-bye and told her she would see her tomorrow and hoped she would rest good.

She reached her car and saw that Con had been true to his word and fixed the tires; so she headed home. 

The girl was almost home when she rounded a curve and saw a vehicle stopped along the side of the road, apparently in need of help. 

She stopped to see who it was. Just then along came none other than her trooper friend Odom.

Around from the other side of the parked vehicle came Con Douglas, grinning like a sheep-stealing wolf. He had not heard the approach of Trooper Odom; apparently he was intent on surprising Arlissa. 

"Con! What're you doin' here, anyhow? You left the hospital a while ago, before me. You been waitin' for me?"

"Uh, well, maybe...yeah. You sure you won't go to the movies with me, sometime? What about tomorrow night? I'll buy you some popcorn 'n' everything. I promise we'll have a good time. I won't try to kiss you 'er nothin' like that." 

"This fellow trying to bother you, Miss Arlissa?" 

Bobby Joe had just parked his motorcycle and walked over to the two of them. He could see there was some friction between them.

They both turned toward him. 

"No, we don't need you buttin' in on our talkin'. We're jist talkin' about Lissa goin' out with me. You can jist head on out the way you come in!"

"I told you several times, already, Con Douglas! I ain't goin' out with you, nohow, no way! Now scoot! I wouldn't go out with you if you was the last person in the world! Go! Go!"

She couldn't have been more emphatic with him if she had been standing over him with a baseball bat. Once again, his face burned with her rejection. 

"Jist you wait, Arlissa Hinton, jist you wait. You treat me like I'm somthin' you wouldn't wipe yore shoes on. Well, yore gonna get your comeuppance one a' these days when you're least expectin' it! You'll find out then!"

He got into his car and slammed the door shut so hard the glass rattled; he started the car and threw it into first, taking off with the spraying of gravel from the tires.

"Whew! That sure is one mad fellow, Miss Arlissa! Maybe you shouldn't have said all that stuff to him. He looks like he could be dangerous."

"Oh, poo! I'm not afraid a' him. He's all talk. He's been chasin' around after me ever since I was in grade school. Can't get rid a' him. Maybe he'll leave me be now."

"Hmmm. I don't know the man, but he's sure sweet on you and mad at the same time. That's a bad combination. Well, just you keep on your toes and don't dismiss his threats lightly. I just stopped to tell you that I did go over to visit the O'Hanlons today. They are quite upset with you, I can sure say for sure. They hired a lawyer today and they did contact Zeb. He is on his way home. It'll be good to see him again, but I hate it has to be under these circumstances. He told them he had some news for them, but wouldn't say what. It's been awhile since they saw him."

"They're mad at me cause Rosie signed a paper givin' me the job of raisin' her little boy. I didn't ask her to do that. I don't know what to do. I don't even know why she did it. Why would she give me the responsibility of raisin' her little boy? I ain't had no experience doin' anything like that. I don't want them mad at me! How do I choose the right thing to do?"

"Sorry. I don't know what I'd do! I can't advise anybody on what to do. Just follow your conscience, I guess."

"Well, I gotta go for now, and I have things to do at the farm." 

"Do you need me to follow you and kind of keep an eye on the farm this evening? I don't trust that fellow that was bothering you while ago. He knows where you live and that you're all alone, doesn't he?"

"Aw! I ain't worried. He's all talk, always has been! I've knowed him forever."

"Hmmm. Okay. If you say so, Miss Arlissa. Take care now."

She smiled and got into her car. He shut the door for her and she started up the car and left.

Bobby Joe stood looking at the car as it pulled out. He was still worried. 


(To be continued)