Ciera Horton McElroy ‘But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.’ The word of the Lord.” “Thanks be to God.” They sat again. The sermon continued, but Nellie just stared out the window at the leper reaching out and crying. She sat there feeling stiff and hot as the sun climbed higher. Mother had been especially particular about how they dressed today, and Nellie was in her finest Mary Janes, and a dress that was pink with a white bow in the middle, and a matching satin ribbon in her short hair. Mother wore a blue and white dress with lace around the neck and a gold cross necklace. She had also donned her hat with the rolledbrim which tipped delicately to the left side of her face. Ron was getting too tall for his nice slacks, so Mother had asked Rita to take out the hem of the pant legs. Mother said it would be good for God to know that they were happy to be in church for Him. It would be good to look nice and respectable, to smile. Nellie wasn’t happy. But if sitting in a pink dress with a smile on her face would make Mother glad, then she would do it. When the service was over, the little organ lady began to play music and the congregation stood to mill around on cue. Janice and Judy, Nellie’s closest friends from school, came over to Nellie and chattered for a moment, their mothers trailing in measured steps. “I’m so terribly sorry to hear about what happened, Carol,” said Janice’s mother Ruth Hatfield, fanning herself with the church bulletin. “You must be in such a dreadful state.” “It’s been difficult but we’re managing, thank you.” Mother’s voice took on a defensive edge, but remained cool. Nellie tried to listen to what her friends were saying, but she could not help overhearing. “What a shame,” agreed Daisy Owen. She pulled on her white gloves. “At least you have children. Except I’m sure you’ll always look at them and see him.” “I love my children,” Mother’s voice raised. “They’re all I have now and they will always be precious to me.” “Well, let us know if we can do anything, really,” the woman smiled. “Come along now, Janice.” Janice bounced away. Judy stayed, playing with the ruffles on her skirt. “I saw the nicest thing the other day in a magazine, not sure which one, but it was a blue dress with a collar and the woman had dark hair like you, short like you, and she had your cheeks. Nellie, it looked just like you in ten
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Crab Orchard Review