Redemption

As they neared the trail that led to the Planchet family house, David saw Cathy heading towards them. Recalling her fear that William was mad at her, the boy looked around.

“Grandpa,” he requested gently, “I know that you don’t love me anymore, but please be nice to Cathy, as she is afraid that you are mad at her.” Hearing this, the old man took on a stunned look, and started to say something. But, by that time, the girl was upon them.

“Hi,” she said tentatively, “Where have you been?”

“To the library,” the boy replied. Then he added, “You are just in time, we are going to go have lunch.”

“Oh,” the girl recognized uncertainly.

“I would like for you to join us,” William said brightly, “That way Ellen can repair your little coat.” Then, as the small framed child fell in beside them, the old fellow looked over at her. “Besides, I wanted to tell you what I saw the other day.” He then launched into a funny story about seeing Ricky walking around with his shoes untied. “I told him ‘Tie your shoes, you silly thing! That way you won’t trip so!’ Still, he kept a‘walking, and a’tripping. Finally, he said ‘I don’t know how!’ And I said ‘Well, it figures!’” By the time that they reached the house, he had brought the shy child to laugh openly.

Ma was happy to see the skinny little girl enter the house after her father. As well, she was stunned to see her father joking with the kids. As her son ran the books up to his room, she had a hurried, quiet conversation with the old man as Mary brought a plate of cookies into the front room.

Upon his return, David joined the little girl in eating cookies and drinking milk, as Mother looked her coat over. Then, when Grandma returned, she walked over and gave him a big hug. A few minutes later, Grandpa walked into the room and seemed to be drying his eyes.

“What happened?” The boy wondered in thought.

“Things just changed,” Click replied in subdued happiness. Then, in the face of his further wondering, she assured “Trust me: It’s good.”

“You know,” Mary mused as she looked at Cathy, “I think that I have enough material to make that little thing a dress.” Hearing this, the shy child took on a stunned look. Considering her ragged dress, Grandpa nodded brightly.

“Yeah, I’ll bet that you do!”

Lunch that day, was chicken soup. Although she was hesitant, Cathy finally agreed to have seconds. Then, they played their math competition, with William joining in to take on the role of the moderator and asking the questions. To David’s surprise, the old man was extremely good at it. Afterward, they sat listening to the adults tell stories of their childhood. Later, when Ma was through with the coat, Cathy looked it over with happy amazement.

“It looks like new!” She elated ecstatically.

“Well, if you have anything else that needs fixed, bring it by as I do not mind fixing your clothes for you,” Ma replied, looking deeply into her little eyes.

Before they left, Grandma asked her to come back the next day, so she could start on the new dress. Then David walked her home. The child was openly happy as they made their way down the road. At the end of the path to her house, she turned to him and smiled.

“Your family is so nice!” She told him in slight amazement.

“Well, remember that you promised to come around lunch tomorrow,” he reminded.

“I will,” she agreed, as she turned, and started up the path, “See you later! And thank you!”

“You are very welcome,” the boy replied as he started back home. He was halfway there when Click spoke.

“Such a nice little girl,” she decided in his mind.

When he got home, his mother called him into the front room. Upon his entering in, he found his grandparents there as well. When he sat down on the couch next to Ma, Grandpa looked at him.

“Davie, I want to talk to you, Son,” he said in a strangely thick voice.

“Alright,” the boy accepted uncertainly.

“You said something earlier that hurt me very much,” the old man explained. Then, he held up a pausing finger in the face of the boy’s attempt to protest. “Now, I can see that you didn’t mean anything by it. In fact, looking back over the last couple of days, I can see quite plainly where you got the notion.”

“What did I say?” David pleaded.

“You said that you knew that I don’t love you anymore.” Shaking his head slightly, he leaned forward to peer into his eyes. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he assured, “It is just that I have no idea of what that thing that you wear around your wrist is. Nor, am I certain of what it really wants, or plans to do. But, when you asked that I be nice to the little girl, I realized that underneath it all, you are still the same little Davie that you’ve always been-that I’ve always loved. So, if you trust her, I have no choice but to as well, because I trust you.” Pausing, he cleared his throat, and nodded, “So, I am sorry for being so cold to you for the last couple of days.” A silence lay over the room following this. Finally, the boy stirred.

“Click says that you have nothing to worry about,” he said, “Because she loves me too, and won’t let anything bad happen to me. In fact, I have to be healthy and happy so that she can be healthy and happy. So, as my family is the source of my happiness, she has to see to you being happy as well.” Pausing, he listened, then he added “And she says that she likes that you are so nice to little Cathy.” Nodding at this, the old man thought, and then he took on an interested look.

“Now, what’s this idea that she has?”

“Furniture making?” The old fellow gasped upon David’s relaying her plan, “But I don’t know the first thing about the trade!”

“She says that she will teach you,” the boy assured.

“Well,” Ma offered, “Surely it will be better than pushing a bunch of boxes around a warehouse.”

“But where will we get the money to start it?” Grandma asked uncertainly.

“She says that she will take care of that. All that she will need is for us to find her the wood to work on.”

“Well,” William said vaguely, “I know that the warehouse throws out broken skids-.”

“She says that those will do fine,” David assured quickly.

“But how will we sell them?” Mary protested in near befuddlement.

“At auction,” her daughter offered, “Or, we could take them to Lemmings’ Furniture and see if they would buy them-.”

“Or, we could sell them from here,” Grandpa mused. Then, looking at his grandson, he asked, “Where will she work-in the barn?”

“She says that the barn will be fine.”

“When does she want to start?” Ma asked with a slight trace of excitement in her voice.

“She says that she still needs to learn a little more. But, she says no more than a couple of days.” Hearing this, the old man sat considering the prospect. Then, looking up, he shrugged.

“What the heck?” He decided, “It can’t hurt to try!”