Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: PAIN (04/21/22)
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TITLE: Soul Sisters | Previous Challenge Entry
By Arlene Baker
04/28/22 -
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“Turn up the lamp, Addie,” Nan ordered.
“I’m not your servant,” the 13-year-old snapped. “Do it yourself.”
“I will.” Peacemaker Patty, the eldest at 15 years old, set her work to one side before reaching for the kerosene lamp.
“Why are we doing this anyway?” Nan’s nose wrinkled as she held up her crumpled piece of fabric.
“For Mama.”
The four paused as each pondered her own memory of Mama’s departure. Struck with tuberculosis, the doctor had ordered her to stay in a sanatorium many miles from home. Papa had escorted her there. He would return soon.
“She promised …” Addie broke the silence. “She promised she would be back before we finished our work.”
They had decided to embroider their initials on large handkerchiefs to present to their mother when they would see her again. Each drew a fancy letter and set about with the colored threads. Once again, they bent over their work while the grandfather clock in the foyer ticked off many heavy minutes. Suddenly, it chimed out 9:30.
“Time for bed.” Patty stood with a lazy stretch.
“You’re bossy,” 11-year-old Inez complained. “Just because you’re the oldest, you think you can order the rest of us around.”
“I’m done.” Addie jumped to her feet. “My fingers hurt.”
“You prick them more than the material.” Inez laughed.
Ten-year-old Nan picked up the four squares and lined them up according to the girls’ ages.
“P-A-I-N,” Inez read.
“Pain?” Addie gasped. “How awful!”
“That’s all we know now.” Nan blinked away hot tears.
“Come, come.” Patty reached for her youngest – and most favored sister – to fold her into a fond hug.
“We can’t help what the letters read.”
“Awful,” Inez echoed.
“I’ll make us some hot tea,” Patty offered. “Then, we’ll make a game of this. To make good memories for Mama – not sad.”
Minutes later, the four sipped their hot beverage.
“The letters stand for our names,” Inez started. “We can’t change that.”
“No,” Nan whimpered. “We can’t.”
“This is true,” Patty agreed. “However, we can think of a nice word to go with each letter. I’ll begin. How about patience for P. Mama asked us all to be patient.”
“Oh, I like that!” Addie exclaimed. “What shall we decide for my name? What is good for A?”
“Anticipation,” Patty offered. “We can anticipate Mama’s return.”
“Ant…i…se…what?” Nan asked, her forehead creased in confusion.
“Anticipation.” Addie laughed. “It means, dear child, to eagerly look forward to something.”
“I want Mama!” Nan’s eyes filled.
“Sister, we all do.” Again, Patty gathered the youngest for a warm hug. “We all do.”
“So, what about I,” demanded Inez. “That’s a hard letter.”
The girls thought for many minutes.
“See?” Inez pouted. “I is a dumb letter.”
“I have it!” Addie clapped her hands. “Invitation.”
“That’s stupid.” Inez scowled.
“What do you mean, Addie?” Patty asked.
“Invitation. We invite Jesus into our troubles to help and guide us.”
“Could work,” Inez grumbled.
“Or, we could use intercessor,” Patty suggested.
“What is that?” the other three chorused. Patty straightened her shoulders with a grin. “It’s a word I learned in Sunday School class last week. It means a person who earnestly prays for another.”
“Wow.” Nan’s eyes widened. “I like it. Help me learn to say it, will you, Patty?”
“Of course, punkin.” She touched Nan’s nose. “Now, what shall we do for your name? What word shall we use for N?”
“Never!” Inez fairly shouted.
“Never?” The others looked baffled. “That makes no sense.”
“Never,” she repeated. “We will never stop asking Jesus to take care of Mama. And us.”
“We help Mama by being patient, as she asked,” Patty started.
“And anticipate her return,” Addie added.
“We inter…inter…”
“Intercede.” Patty smiled at Nan.
“Yeah, that.”
“And, never quit praying.” Patty threw her hands wide. “Let’s begin right now.”
“Dear Jesus…”
“We miss Mama.” A sniff from Nan.
“We want her home,” Inez said.
“So, we intercede for her now,” Patty murmured.
“And we’ll never stop!” the four sang. “Never!” Bright faces flashed happy smiles.
“Thank you, Jesus for taking care of our mama when we can’t,” Inez continued.
“Thank you for doctors and nurses who are helping her get better,” Addie prayed.
“Thank you for Papa.” Nan bounced on the balls of her feet. “And, bring him back soon.”
With light steps and merry voices, the sisters retired.
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