This week has been a crazy one but I managed to get a little written tonight in between work and a concert. We headed to a nearby town to listen to the Grascal bluegrass band. They were amazing of course! So here is the next clip of the story. Hope you have a great Sunday!!!
This was a question that only Marie could answer and Victoria nudged her friend’s elbow. “We were headed toward the small country church just a few blocks from here.” Marie waited long enough to see the recognition in Philip’s face and then turned her head away once again. Victoria smiled sheepishly, attempting to apologize for Marie’s strange behavior. The trio remained silent for the remainder of the ride and once Philip pulled up in front of the church and helped both girls down, Victoria felt the need to break the silence. “Brrrr!” She rubbed her arms up and down and stomped her feet. “Mr. Sheldon wasn’t it?” she addressed the young man in front of her who responded with a nod. “Thank you for saving me from freezing this morning. Marie is more accustomed to the cold but I have been spoilt with being by a fire on most days this cold.” The statement was appreciated and Victoria marveled at how his entire face lit up when he smiled. “You’re most welcome!” It was this statement that alerted Marie to the need to be polite. “We both appreciate it, Mr. Sheldon. Will you be attending the service this morning?” The smile that was once in place suddenly disappeared and he shifted his gaze toward the church door. “I don’t think so.” He then turned toward his buggy and climbed aboard. “Thanks again.” Victoria waved politely as he drove away wondering at his sudden change of attitude, but there was no time to ponder because Marie had already headed toward the front porch steps so she had no choice but to follow.
~ ~ ~
Philip pushed his horse as hard as he could without tearing the wagon apart. He knew it wouldn’t help him escape what had just transpired, but he did hope that he could begin to breathe again. Would he be in the service? The question sent a strange sensation of anger and pain through his heart. He knew that he had to get out of there before he made a fool of himself. It didn’t take his horse long to start breathing hard and Philip pulled back on the reigns. “Woe boy!” He had arrived at the one place he knew to go in order to gather his thoughts. Right here in the silence of the cemetery, Philip had sorted through how he would survive the hardships of life. He had asked himself many times why life was even worth living but somehow, he always found something to keep him going. After tying his horse to a tree limb, he made his way through the rows of grave markers. Each had a name, a date of birth, and a date of death. Not enough to really hold a memory but at least their family would have something to remember; something to mark that their family member had lived on this earth. The same could not be said for his parents who had taken their lives by plunging straight into the river. Philip often questioned his parent’s actions. Suicide had to be the most selfish act of all acts. His parents found some twisted romance in dying together but apparently never considered the son and daughter they had left behind. If he had been older, he would have made sure that he stayed with his sister. They were toted from place to place until the day when someone came to take his little sister with them. He tried to be brave as she packed her suit case. Before the two had been taken from their home, Philip had taken his mom’s favorite locket which contained a picture of his mom and dad. He had placed the necklace around his sister’s neck just before she left. “Don’t forget, don’t ever forget.”
Philip suddenly realized that he had spoken the words out loud as he had done so many years ago. He could trace his lack of belief in God to that very point in his life. The pain that came from the events throughout his life could never be allowed by a God who was to love and care for his creation. Even if God did exist and care for him, Philip could not bring himself to love and respect someone so harsh. Since the day his sister was taken from him, he had learned to get through life with his own skill, power, and determination. If others chose to believe a God like that, they were more than free to but Philip chose to stay as far away as possible. He sighed as he turned back to where his horse waited for him. Wasting the day away with hopeless thoughts would never benefit him, so he decided to head back to town and get busy with something productive.
~ ~ ~
Marie had angled herself in the pew and patted the seat next to her for Victoria to have a seat. She knew that her behavior was deplorable but Victoria had no right accepting a ride from a total stranger, and especially one that was a man. Her mother would have had heart failure if she had known what they had done.
Copyright © 2004 by Valencia Shove
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