Redemption

Later, as they waited for dinner to finish cooking, they recalled the day’s events to Ma and the two grandmothers. It came as no surprise that they were ashen-faced by the end of the tale. As well, it seemed that Mary spoke for all of them.

“I am glad that I missed all of that,” She confessed, “I do not think that my heart could take it.”

“The scariest part for me was when the building collapsed,” the boy declared, “and Click did not answer me when I called her.”

“Well, I am sorry, David,” the illusion laughed, “But what could I do? I was rather busy trying to keep the dog from being crushed or scorched, while keeping enough air around the silly thing to prevent its suffocating!” Allowing a laugh to roil through the room, she added, “Besides, I was also busy praying . . . Harder than I ever had before!”

“I was looking at the flames,” Mabel said, “and all that I could think was, ‘How do we go on?’ Which, looking back, it seems odd that I felt that way. After all, I have only known you for little more than a day.”

“It’s not a question of how long you know someone,” Dale countered, “It is a question of how they have much they mean to you.”

“That’s true,” Will agreed.

“But, for me, my greatest failure today-,” Click began.

“Failure?” Grandpa echoed in scoffing disbelief.

“Was not preventing that wart’s hurting my dear little friend.” she concluded as the orb came to hang over Cathy, “The angel did not deserve that.”

“Speaking of which,” Dale wondered, “Does anybody know what the sheriff plans to do about that bilge-rat?”

“He plans to arrest him pending the testimony of the other children,” Mabel affirmed.

“A good thing that,” Ellen decided, “Because, if he doesn’t then I might just decide to serve him a heaping helping of knuckle-sandwich!”

“You’d have to wait in line,” Thelma argued gently.

“As would you,” Grandma Mary countered.

Later, after eating, David, Click, Dale and William walked Miss Thatcher back to her house. Then, it was back home, into a hot bath and on to bed.

“It’s been a long day!” He thought wearily as he lay back.

“But a fruitful one,” the alien agreed as she began to sort through the books in room’s corner. Then, suddenly, a burst of creaks, pops and whistles erupted in his mind. After it had subsided, she told him, “Say ‘Amen.’”

“Amen,” he thought. Then, curiously, he wondered “What was that?”

“I said a prayer of thanksgiving,” she replied, “After all, an aspect of believing is being thankful.”

The next day, Grandpa and Dale walked Cathy, Click and David to school. As if to confirm the trepidation of the adults, their travel was watched more than a few curious onlookers. However, the most that these offered were warm greetings. A couple came over to introduce themselves.

Upon reaching the school, they found another crowd waiting there. Most of these were parents of all the kids in the class, save of course, Ricky Greesome, who-they would later learn-was beginning his first day in the School for Delinquent Boys.

As David and Click’s image made their way toward the door, a group of people asked her to stop and say a few words. Immediately after that, another group began to barrage her with questions about the bible. Smiling gently, she shook her head.

“Now is not the time for speeches or biblical discussions,” she happily denied, “Rather, it is time for the little ones to go to school!”

Once inside, Miss Thatcher was dismayed to see the large crowd forming in the back of the classroom. Pointing out that she could never be expected to teach with such a large group present, she asked that all non-parents leave. When only a scattering left, she had to go through the crowd, asking whose parent each adult was. With her turning away the third person, many left voluntarily. Finally, she had eliminated all but the relatives of the children.

Later, when they had reviewed the lessons, the beautiful schoolmarm explained the table that the entity had made. Showing them the placards with their names engraved, she announced that whoever won the “Friday Challenge” would enjoy the honor of having their name displayed on the table, as well as holding the flag during the pledge of allegiance for an entire week.

“Then I had better buckle down and study hard,” Zak decided aloud, “Or else, my name will never get there!”

At this, one of the mothers protested that the contest would surely leave some of the students feeling left out. In response, the teacher shook her head.

“You are looking at the wrong side of it,” she countered politely, “And, you are setting a dangerous precedent for your child, because you are teaching them not to try. Sure, they may not win every week. But, the goal is that they give it their best effort.”

“But, the other kids are so smart!” The mother protested, “I don’t know if my little darling stands a chance.”

“Only if they do not apply themselves,” Click’s image countered frankly. Then, she explained, “You look at these children and see merely that: Children. I look at them and see blossoming minds. All of them-every one-have more potential than you can know. Granted, some may have to work harder than others do. Still, I believe that hard work always pays off. Look at Cathy. She is one of the most advanced students in the class. Is it because she was born smarter than the others were? Not necessarily. Is learning easy for her? Hardly. So, why is she so advanced? Because she wants to be. More, she wants it so badly that she will work hard to achieve it. Look at Ewing. He is a brilliant young writer. Was he born that way? No. He just fell in love with reading as a child, and decided that he wants to write stories that others can read. Therefore, he has worked very hard to gain the best understanding that he can about writing and vocabulary. Look at Sam. He is very quiet. Is he dumb? Hardly! He is just thoughtful and wants to know all of the facts before he speaks.” Gazing around the students before her, she smiled, “They are all splendid and I love each of them!”

With the two grandfathers’ return, Miss Thatcher announced that the class was taking a trip to David’s house, so the kids could watch the alien work. Hearing this, the parents asked if they could come along as well.

“Sure,” William allowed, “But, you’ll have to overlook the old place as we haven’t been able to start fixing it up yet.”

As they walked, the two old men talked to the entity about the woods’ prices, and the prices of fixtures. When they came to a general store, Dale ran in to buy some extra food. As he did, William explained to the group, “Lunch will be on us.”

Reaching the barn, the image vanished as David explained that it was just a projection of the entity. Some of the parents grew a little frightened when the bracelet left his wrist to become a metallic orb in the air, but they quickly forgot their fear when the little alien began to work. In fact, the more that they watched it, the more enthralled they became. A little later, the sheriff and a couple of deputies arrived. Edward Greesome had been arrested, Steve explained, much to the delight of everyone. Then, curiously, he looked at Grandpa.

“You don’t mind if we stick around, do you?”

“Not on your life!” The old man replied, “In fact, we are going to be having lunch in a minute and would love for you to join us!”

“Well, thank you. It is just that the boys and I wanted to watch her work.”

By the day’s end, Click had had to make three identical tables, as well as two similar nightstands and four differing shelves. This was because arguments repeatedly broke out among the mothers as to who would buy them. When the skids and lacquer started to run out, Atkins and his deputies took William in their wagon to get more.

“I think that I shall learn how steam engines work next,” Click decided as she began to plane off the corner of a plank.

“Why?” David wondered silently.

“To make a couple of steam-powered automobiles for Grandpa and Mr. Planchet,” she explained.

When they finally closed the barn that night, the family had sold over two hundred dollars’ worth of the furniture. As well, they had ten orders for special requests. Most of all, however, many in the town had taken a liking to the sincere little boy and his alien companion, which made them both very happy indeed.

“Well, if you, yourself, do not know where you are from, how can we be sure that we have nothing to fear from you?”

“Because, I know what love is,” the beautiful image replied. Pausing, she looked down at the skinny little girl, “And I have seen how important love is to a human’s wellbeing. As well, I have come to love others enough to know that they need and deserve all of the love that I can give them.”