Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: ACT (05/05/22)
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TITLE: Hannah's Mother's day Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jane Nkau
05/12/22 -
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Two ladies waited with smiles on each side of the church door while Stella tossed the baby bag on her shoulder, snuggled the baby into her bosom, and walked toward the entrance. Her husband, Jim, had dropped them and drove off. One jumped and unyoked her from the baby bag, lead her to the red carpeted walkway through French doors, only opened for special occasions.
“Happy Mother’s day.” They said.
“Oh, thanks.”
Her eyes sparkled, flattered by the heavenly Mother’s Day décor, but she declined a front seat.
“I’m happy to sit here, close to the baby room, thanks.”
“Oh, I understand.” The usher said.
It was Stella’s first Mother’s Day as mom. Jim hadn’t returned from the old age home with the four seniors he collected each Sunday when the service leader ascended the stage, opened with prayer, and the choir sang. Stella’s eyes followed every footstep’s sound from the door to see if it was Jim when a woman’s reluctant walk on the red carpet caught her attention. The woman sat in the middle, three rows from Stella, with her head bowed and rubbing her hands. Stella’s heart drawn to this woman, felt like dark sadness enveloped her.
Jim moved the baby bag from the chair Stella had reserved for him.
“I didn’t see you come in. What took you so long?” She said.
The music was loud. Jim leaned towards her ear, giggling.
“Betty.”
“She looks stunning.” Stella said.
Jim rolled his eyes.
The choir sang, the preacher preached, a beautiful service and at the end, all mothers were to remain seated while the men prepared a special appreciation lunch. Stella’s eyes searched for the woman she saw earlier, whom she didn’t know, but felt drawn to. She wanted to talk to her, but how? Suddenly, she had an idea; her baby. Her heart pounded as she stood and stepped towards the woman.
“Hello.”
The woman nodded.
“Will you please hold him for me? I need the bathroom.”
Before the woman spoke, Stella had already disappeared, leaving her stunned.
Old Betty’s face froze. She excused herself from her company, left the Bible on the chair, handbag on the floor, and tailed Stella. She found her in front of the bathroom mirror and she smiled at Betty’s reflection.
“Hello aunt Betty, you look elegant and your…”
Betty interrupted with clenched teeth, “Stella, what’s wrong with you? How could you?”
“What did I do?”
Betty looked around and stepped closer.
“Why did you give Hannah your baby? The poor girl has just buried her baby boy.”
Dumfounded, Stella lowered her eyes and covered her face with her hands.
“I didn’t know Betty, I just… just felt led to do it. I don’t know her.”
“She’s my daughter’s friend. Three weeks ago, the poor woman went to hospital in labour, forty-four weeks pregnant, and came back home the next day, with empty hands, empty womb and a full hospital bag.”
“The baby?”
“Still born. Never been herself since. She spends hours in the baby room, on the rocking chair, sometimes wailing.”
“Can’t imagine, Betty.” Stella said.
She squirmed, and Betty shook her head.
“I asked my daughter to invite her and now you—”
“I’m sorry Betty, I feel terrible. What do I do now?”
Stella’s face, now red, swallowed hard as if a lump was in her throat. Voices and footsteps headed towards them, and Betty pivoted to the mirror to fix her hat. Stella forced a smile when they greeted. None spoke as they both paced out, with Betty in the lead. She stopped at the entrance and grabbed Stella’s arm.
“Look.”
“What?”
“The boy is sleeping, and she is looking at him with a smile.”
“Really, oh, I see. Maybe I should go sit by her.”
“Yeh, maybe.”
Stella set next to the woman.
“I’m Stella.”
“Hannah White.”
They shook hands and three years later, in a woman’s conference, both pregnant with their second babies sat next to each other. One act of obedience, though Stella didn’t understand, saved Hannah’s life. It opened a door for discipleship and friendship. Hannah had prayed for a sign on Mother’s Day, a sign from God.
“It is God who moved you, Stella. When you put that baby in my arms, peace came over me and I knew God would give me a son.”
Somehow, God orchestrated this because Stella had lost two babies before and fit to hold Hannah’s hand.
2Corinthians 1:4
James 2:14-17
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You used lead instead of led in the first paragraph - simple editing error. But this is so well written - I love the imagery you invoked.