Station No. 19

Rosa’s active imagination was still looking for clues regarding Charles’ mystery visitor on that blustery November night. She had been so consumed with trying to piece together the bits of information she had collected that she missed her stop on the train. Rosa created quite a stir when three stops later, on a rather crowded train, she insisted that the conductor reverse the train and take her back. As kind as the conductor was being, considering an impossible request, Rosa grew agitated and promised a scathing letter to his superiors. It was of no real consequence, however, as Rosa simply got off the train and caught another one back to her desired stop — at no charge. By the time she got home, she had forgotten her plan to make a formal complaint and was back to her sleuthing.

She was beginning to see more and more clues. A package left on Charles’ doorstep in brown paper with no return address; Charles being dropped off at his house by a car Rosa had never seen before; and another visitor — this time a woman.

The package actually did have a return address, on the back, and was an early Christmas present sent by Charles’ parents for John and Jess. The car was a limosine Charles had hired to take him to a job interview because it was still against doctor’s orders for him to drive a car. The woman who visited was Jason’s wife, who was helping around the house.

Rosa was completely lost in her mystery world, and liking it. One day, when she stopped in to Jason’s cafe to buy more tea, she saw Jason and Charles huddled over a table in the corner.

At first, Charles had not seen Rosa because his back was to the door. Then he noticed Rosa’s bee’s nest hairdo and ill-fitting clothes reflecting in the window which was acting as a mirror in the fading daylight. He acted busy hoping Rosa would not come over and talk to him.

“Charles,” she called, dashing his hopes. “Charles.” She was using that high-pitched tone of voice, the kind which stops the other conversations in a room and draws attention to itself.

Charles turned, waved as he took a swig of coffee and felt anger rise within him. He tried to put on a good face when she approached him and attempted to strike up a conversation. He was obviously uncomfortable, but Jason saved the moment when he suddenly appeared and handed Rosa her tea and asked for her money. She fumbled for it, then realized she had left her purse at home and left in embarassment to get it.

When she returned to pay, Charles was gone.

Rant

Irene Q has a bit of skill at venting her spleen. While the reactions have run the gamut, i'll add mine for what it's worth. i think she hits the nail on the head in many respects, always needing to guard against pride and misusing her words.

Her experiences in the Body have been at best disappointing and at worst, shameful. She continues to process the whole thing and try to hear God in it all and that is good. My take on it is not that she is being malicious or judgmental.

As someone who has been on both sides of the issues she is examining, i think the reality is that Irene's points often get too easily dismissed as either sour grapes or self-centeredness. She has legitimate points and they need to be addressed, not simply glossed over by leaders who are actually giving "spiritual" responses such as "don't judge," when in actuality they simply don't want to listen.

As i said, i've been there and done that on both sides of the issues she mentions.

Wonderfully Made

Yesterday we had an ultra sound of the baby, now at 19 weeks old. It is amazing the clarity of the picture; a real technological advance. Even in the past 5 years, since we had our first, the quality of the picture and the ability to distinguish what is actually in the womb astounded me. There can be no doubt, it is a baby, a human life. The resolution of the picture was clear enough we could see the joints of the fingers, all 4 chambers of the heart beating and the distinctions along the entire spine.

At one point, the baby rolled over and put up its right hand as if to wave _ it was very cool. This is our third child, but after yesterday's ultra sound, it may as well be our first, i am in awe once again.

i really hope that technology continues to advance to the point we can see more and more of the development of life.

Tea

i mentioned several posts ago that i would provide the link to the Wayne Tea Salon when the site was up and running. For the moment, this is a rudimentary web page, which is still under construction. There are, however, directions available at the site, as well as a place to sign up for email notification of special events.

Meteor Shower

It was well worth it to get up early to watch the meteor shower. It was a bit chilly on the hills of Valley Forge at 4 am, but given the fact that these chances are rare, i'm glad i did it. i will pay the price later today when i can hardly see straight because i am so tired. Being out there reminded me of the greatness of God of which the Psalmist spoke in Ps. 19. Indeed the heavens declare the glory of God.

Another thought hit me as i lay on the cold ground. The Continental Army which fought the American Revolution must have been made up of some very sturdy men. They camped in Valley Forge through a cold, cold winter without the benefit of fleece and down coats and all the rest.

i was wearing all sorts of warm layers, and on a night which was not as cold as the winter that group endured, and i cannot imagine what they went through.

Station No. 18

Jason and Charles talked long into the night. Meanwhile, next door, Rosa’s imagination was in flight as she wondered who the visitor could be and what they could be doing over there.

The men covered all sorts of topics, the way friends often do; drifting from serious thoughts and issues to those which were completely unimportant, yet entertaining in their own right.

Rosa, who had been very close to retiring for the night, kept the watch. Her excitement precluded any such rest, and at one point she even paced in her bedroom. She also stayed near the window, however, thinking she might see something which would be important to remember if the authorities had to be called. She had watched enough detective dramas, and read her share of cheap mystery novels.

The actual conversation between Jason and Charles was entertaining and enlightening, but bore absolutely no resemblance to anything running through Rosa’s mind. Charles told Jason that soon his disability would run out, and then he was not sure what he was going to do about work and money; how would he provide for the kids? Charles admitted that the pain was not only getting the better of him physically, but it was affecting his entire disposition and he didn’t like inflicting that on his kids.

Jason was not surprised to hear things were difficult for Charles and the kids, he had been suspecting that life was hard lately. He had stopped by on the spur of the moment, on his way home from the cafe, hoping he might catch Charles with a little time on his hands. Jason was curious about the evening of the car accident, and wasn’t sure how to bring it up. As it turned out, he didn’t have to.

Charles lifted his beer to his lips, but then stopped himself, put it down somewhat hastily and just started telling the story of the night of his accident. He had been extremely irritated, although he could not remember what exactly had set him off.

“It didn’t help things that she,” he gestured with his head towards Rosa’s house next door, “was being a pest about chopping wood in dress shoes.” Charles said he knew her questions that night were not strange, actually, he just was not in the mood to deal with her.

At that point, Jason actually rose from his seat and went to the window and peered out at Rosa’s house. Rosa, ever diligent at the window, now roughly two hours after Jason’s arrival, saw a figure in the window and immediately grew nervous that something bad was imminent. She lifted the phone to call 9-1-1, but paused, thinking she might need more information to report anything to the authorities. Rosa had to admit to herself in that moment that she rather liked playing the detective.