The Alley

I had no idea where I was going, or what I was going to do ounce there, but I did know that it was something important. Speeding up my walk to a brisk trot, I felt the urge to turn a sharp corner. Whipping around it, I could feel something hold me in place. I was in a small alleyway, its sides marked colorfully with very old graffiti and a chipped mural. The other end of the alley turned a sharp left and kept going, I couldn't see the out. There I stood, not knowing where I was or why I was there, but knowing that it was going to be big. I hurt footsteps coming toward me at a slow pace, as if they were not sure where to go. I decided to move in the direction of the sound. As I turned the corner I found myself face to face with a very beautiful woman. We both stopped and stared at each other. We stood there for quite some time, neither wishing to break the silence, then the words started pouring out of my mouth like water out of a faucet. Questions of who she was and why was she here burst forth. Realizing that she was talking and I should probably shut my mouth, I did just that. But the problem was that she had come to the same conclusion as I had and had promptly closed those beautiful rubies that made up her mouth. A moment of silence, then the same thing happened, we stopped talking and more silence. She giggled. I nodded my head, giving her the go ahead to talk. Blushing, she asked me in a sweet tone, that seemed to melt my heart who I was and what I was doing there. I gave my name, bending in a bow, and stated the obvious. "I truly have no idea why I'm here, I just... felt like I should be here." I said, slightly sheepish looking her straight in the eyes, then without much thought I asked "And you, why are you here" She turned away and then back, now slightly red in the face. "I'm...well you see...oh dear...ummm...well, you see I'm lost." she looked at me when she said the last part, sending shivers up my spine. I was awestruck, but only for a few seconds, then my tour guide instincts kicking in. "Well, where do you want to go" I said, sounding an awful lot like the Cheshire cat. She explained her situation, including that she was new to the area and had no idea where to go, she also explained that the direction that she was given weren't at all specific. I smiled and suddenly found that I knew where she needed to go. I grabbed her hand and explained that I knew just the place. She let her hand be taken and followed me down the alley and out into the city. We walked about two blocks and found where she wanted to go. "Oh thank you," she cried and standing on her tippy-toes gave me a kiss on the cheek, I watched in slo motion as she entered the store and left me, stunned, on the sidewalk. 

The House

The dusty road wounds through the mismatched houses, looking much like a great serpent. My companion and I trudged forward, each step creating a puff of dust that eventually landed upon our much worn, newly polished shoes. Turning to another battered door we both lift our hands to knock as if we had done this a million times (which we had). Simultaneously we struck the hard wood, creating almost a defining crash that echoed through the misshaped hovel. We shouted “Aloh!” announcing our presence to anyone who lives in this dismal place. We waited for what seemed like an eternity, and just when we were about to turn and go the door opened and two bright eyes shone at of the darkness inside the shade. Standing in the doorway was a little old lady; whose face would put a prune to shame and a smile that could light up a room. She only stood to my waist and wore a lightly colored dress that was almost as wrinkled as she was. Her mocha colored eyes peered through glasses the size of the bottom of coke bottles and also wore a slightly messy bun that was typical of an old lady. She looked up at us with a toothless smile and then muttered in broken English “come in boys, I have been expecting you.”

Walking through the doorway, my companion stooped to get across the threshold. We blinked from the darkness and dust that filled the air, I looked around the room. The furniture was not much, simple wooden crates surrounding a small coffee table whose history had been etched into the wood. Atop the table was a simple electric lantern, fighting the darkness, and adding to the dismal scene before us. Attached to the walls with various nails and tacks were pictures of Christ and family member that must have long since passed away. The small old woman moistened with one wrinkled hand for us to sit down. Gingerly placing our massive bodies upon the delicate looking crates, we began to converse with this small women that had invited us into her home. She spoke in the rapid succession of a practiced tongue in a voice that sounded weary with age. Her eyes peered out from behind he glasses, twinkling with wisdom. As the conversation slowed I asked her why she was expecting us. She paused, her lips turning up in a pensive smile. When she finally spoke her words were barely audible and shaking slightly. She began to explain to us how she had lost her only son to cancer this past week and she was now alone. Her eyes weld up with tears as she spoke of the anguish she felt, and how she cried unto the Lord for help. Pausing, she pulled a handkerchief from a hidden pocket and dabbed her eyes.  She then told us how God told her that tomorrow she would have answers. She was told to look for the boys in White shirts ties. Glancing over at my companion I realized that he was crying, my companion who is the size of a baby elephant was crying. Then I realized that I was too. Leaning forward, tears streaming down my face, I asked her, in a voice whose power surprised even me, “What would you like to know”?

The Mouse

The door screeched open, protesting the sudden movement.  Peering into the dusty, sad excuse for an apartment, we could see the wreckage from the last companions that had stayed there.  Wrappers, broken bits of plates and a lot of mismatched socks were strewn all over the dirty, unkempt floor. Steeping in, my companion and I couldn’t help laugh at the seemly impossible task ahead of us. The floor screamed with every step we took. Our feet carefully avoided the debris surrounding us as we shuffled toward the doorway that leads to our bedroom. We carried our baggage high above the floor, so that it wouldn’t touch the nasty floor.  Then we heard the most dreaded thing any missionaries could hear, the squeak of a mouse. Almost comically simulations, my companion and I turned toward the sound. Staring at a hole in the misshapen wall, we saw two beady eyes staring us down, daring us to make a move. Dropping our bags we just stared, not wanting to give up the high ground. Without warning, my companion rushes at the wall with a fury that surprised even me. His yells of anger ricocheted off the walls as he barreled toward the hole. With a great crash he slammed into the wall creating a man sized dent and scaring off the mouse. Turning to me, he gave a bull like grunt and stormed off into the room. I held in a snicker as I followed after him, both of us leaving our buttered suitcases behind.

The Anouncement

Stopping the car right in front of that old battered and timeworn mailbox I looked over at my beautiful fiance. "Are you ready?" I asked cracking a smile "It's a madhouse in there."
"Have you met my family?" She shot back, a smile also gracing her lips, I just smiled back, she had no idea. I leaned over and gave her a quick peck and then got out of the car. I took a deep breath of the crisp arizona air, mixed with so many smells of the winter months. Looking up and down the old street brought so many memories of hot days and cold nights. I sure have missed this old street. The giant oak stood mighty and bare in the the neighbor's yard. I smiled again, it was good to be home. Racing around the car I opened the passenger-side door with a quiet squeak. She gracefully stepped out and shivered from the cold. "I don't remember it being this cold." she moaned as I rapped my fingers in her's. We slowly walked down the icy sidewalk toward the front door, garnished in a hand crafted wreath. It made me happy to see the plastic covering wrapping half the porch in a nice toasty hug and the wooden trees that stood as sentinels, guarding the the entryway. As I lifted my hand to knock the door swung open revealing my my father. He smiled and extended his hand for a handshake, his eyes twinkling. I walked right past the hand and enveloped my father in a huge bearhug. He wrapped his twig-like arms around me. " How you doin' Dad?" I asked when we separated. "Not now, you haven't introduced us" he said waving me off and turning to my fiance. But our conversation was cut short by someone small and pink running around the corner yelling "Bonpa!" Almost instinctively  my father bent down on one knee and extended his arms toward the little Munchkin. She ran right into those slender arms and wrapped her tiny ones around his neck, curly hair bouncing as she went. He lifted her to eye level and turned toward us. "I'd like you to meet your new aunt" my father said, flashing a mischievous smile and motioning to my bride to be. She blushed at the attention. "Dad" I cried, slightly taken aback but loving the exchange just the same. Without another word he turned and stowed away with the most ridiculous grin on his face. I looked down at my re faced fiance and had to smile. Taking her by the hand I guided her on what my Dad would call the 10 cent tour. The Christmas tree gleamed with multicolored lights taking turns glowing and then disappearing among the greenery. Ornaments sparkled for their yearly debut and everything seemed to be placed exactly where it was by some external grand architect. Beneath the tree stood an ever-growing pile of presents that seemed to call my name. Showing my fiance to her sleeping quarters, which so happened to be my old bedroom, brought back memories of anxiously waiting for my opportunity to open my presents. I was pulled out of my revelry by my mothers voice calling us all to the large dinner table laden with the most delicious array of food ever displayed. The Aroma wafting through the house was intoxicating and only grew in strength as we neared the kitchen. Rushing to my normal place at the table, I bobbed and weaved through limbs of various lengths pulling my helpless but laughing fiance behind me. I slid onto the small brown bench, the history of countless meals and art projects etched in its surface. Scooting as far as I could over, my lovely bride-to-be slid in beside me and then placed her fingers between mine. I gave her hand a squeeze and then we waited for the opportune moment to declare for a fact what everyone at the table already suspected. With everyone finally seated and a prayer said, the conversations commenced in boisterous tones. My fiance and I sat in silence, except for when directly asked questions, anticipating the moment for the conversation to lul. That time came and I arose with my glass of sparkling cider in hand. " A toast." I cried, looking down the table to my father who was balancing a toddler on one knee and entertaining another that was perched upon a highchair. He smiled at me and nodded his head, guessing what I was about to do and giving his approval. I cleared my throat and then said in a clear voice "a toast to my beautiful bride to be" a burst of sound erupted from the table as one by one my family lifted their glasses. I smiled and then took a long drink.

I'm Back

I stopped the car, leaving me in silence. I just stared out the window, my heart beating in my chest making it hard to ignore. I was nervous. I was nervous because I hadn't seen her for two years. Two very long years. I had changed tremendously, and I imagine that so had she. I took a deep breath in and opened the door. Shutting it with a click I hurried to her front door. my footsteps adding rhythm to the beat of my heart. it wasn't a very long path to the door, I probably traversed it in four steps, but it felt like a hike of a million miles. I got there and rang the doorbell. I heard shuffling behind on the other side, then jiggle of the handle. I watched the doorknob turn in slow motion. When  the door swung open I saw her standing there. It took a few second for to register what was happening, but then her face into a huge smile. "I'm back" I said simply. Then without another word I moved forward, enveloping her in my arms. We stood there for quite a long time, but our reunion was cut short by her father, he came around the corner with the question of who on his lips, but when he saw us he just smiled and nodded his head. We separated and I smiled down at her, she looked up at me with a face that asked so now what. "Sir, can I kidnap your daughter for a couple of hours?" He just nodded his head again, so I took her hand and lead her out to the car. We were going to have a fun time.