Mia's Journey

 by Abigail Creamer

Mia Hathaway darted across the busy San Francisco street to the place where she had been selling her mama’s handiwork for the past month. One hand clutched her little sister’s hand while the other held a basket of her mama’s embroidery.

            Mia chanced a glance at her basket to make sure nothing had fallen out. At the same time she hurried to the corner she usually occupied before the paper boy tried to steal it again.

            Once there she paused to catch her breath, letting go of her sister’s hand.         “Sit there against the wall, Rosie, and eat this.” Mia fished a slice of bread from her pocket and handed it to Rosie.

            “Thanks!” Rosie said, eagerly eating the bread.

            Mia bit her lip as she watched Rosie eat the bread. That was the last of their bread. Mia had split the rest of the bread they had between Mama and Rosie. I’d better sell enough embroidery to buy a loaf of bread today or we won’t eat, Mia thought.

            Mama had been growing weaker and weaker since Papa had died after falling into the San Francisco Bay a month ago. Mama had often been sick, but Mia had never seen her this bad off.

            Mia sighed. If only Papa hadn’t fallen into the bay and gotten sick. Then maybe Mama wouldn’t be so sick, and they wouldn’t always have to worry about having enough to eat. With Mama sick, Mia tried to sell the embroidery she had made, but she was running out of things to sell.

            Mia sighed again. Papa had finally gotten a steady job working on a ferry, but then one day he had fallen into the cold late February water. Two other men who worked on the ferry fished him out and took him home. He had been freezing cold. Mia had tried to nurse him back to health, but within a week he had died.

            Mia had cried until she couldn’t cry anymore. Mama had said everything would be all right.  She had said Papa was in heaven and one day they would see him again. Mama had also said God would take care of them, but Mia wasn’t so sure about that.

            Again Mia wondered, Was Mama right? Will God really take care of us? I don’t think He is. It was March now, and Mama was getting worse every day.           

Mia felt her stomach turn over. She was afraid Mama wouldn’t live much longer. Mama must feel the same way because a couple days ago she had told Mia to take an envelope to the newspaper. Although Mama had not said to, Mia had read the letter. She would never forget what it said; it was ingrained in her memory.

            The letter had read: Two girls for adoption! Would anyone want two girls, one age ten and one age five? I can no longer take care of them. If interested come to Number 18 Lincoln Street, ask for Marcella.

            When she had first read it, Mia had cried. She felt a deep feeling of sadness whenever she thought of it.  How can Mama give us to someone else? she thought for the millionth time.

            “Can I help, Mia?”

            Startled, Mia pulled herself from her thoughts. “Sure, Rosie. You hold the basket. I’ll try to get people to buy things.”

            Mia turned away from Rosie. Now, you keep out of your thoughts or you won’t sell anything and there’ll be no eating for you, she scolded herself.

            A young couple with three children passed by Mia and Rosie.

            “Ma’am!’ Mia called. “Sir! How would you like a fine piece of embroidery? Only five cents apiece!”

            The young woman stopped. Her blue eyes surveyed Mia and Rosie. Mia was astonished to see she had lovely dark hair and blue eyes much like Mia and Rosie. She held a child of about two years on her hip. The young man stopped too. He held a similar child who looked like him with brown hair and hazel eyes. A young boy of about four held his hand.

            “These are very pretty,” the young woman said. “Did you make them?”

            Mia shook her head. “No, Ma’am, my mama did.”

            The woman smiled and handed Mia a nickel. Rosie handed the woman an embroidered heart.

            “Thank you.” The woman looked as if she was going to say more, but the man said, “We’d better hurry, Andi,”and the couple walked off with the children.

            Mia and Rosie worked at the corner for the rest of the day. At the end of the day, they had made fifteen cents, not enough to buy bread. Mia held this carefully as she ran home, holding tight to Rosie’s hand.

            Mama lay in bed, looking more tired than ever. Mia almost gasped when she saw her. Mama’s face was terribly pale, and her breathing sounded raspy.  Mia had never seen Mama so sick.

            Mia pressed her lips together to hold back another gasp. She mustn’t scare Rosie.

            But Rosie knew something was wrong. “What’s wrong, Mama?” Rosie asked.

            Mama reached out and took Rosie’s hand in one of hers and Mia’s in the other. “Nothing’s wrong, Rosie. I’m going home.”

            “But, Mama,” Mia protested. “You are home!”

            But then Mia understood. Mama was dying.

            “No, Mama, no!” Tears dripped down her face as sobs wracked her body.

            Rosie, too, began to cry. “But, Mama, who’s going to take care of us?”

            “Hush, girls. Everything is going to be fine. You remember that letter I had you take to the newspaper, Mia?”

            Mia nodded, unable to speak.

            “Well I asked for someone to come take care of you.”

            “But no one’s here!” Mia cried out.

            “God will take care of you, girls. He’ll send someone.”

            “How do you know? Maybe He won’t take care of us!”

            “Yes, He will. You’ll never have to worry because God will take care of you. The Bible says a sparrow doesn’t fall to the ground without Him knowing. If He pays that much attention to a sparrow how much more attention do you think He will pay to you? He died for all of us. He loves us. He’ll take care of you, girls. Now listen, girls. Wherever you are always remember that God loves you and He’ll take care of you.”

            “I’ll try to, Mama,” Mia said through her tears.

            “I will too,” Rosie said.

            Mama smiled. “I love you girls.” Then she was silent.

            This time Mia didn’t restrain herself from gasping. Had Mama died? A scary feeling shot through Mia’s stomach. She pulled her hand from Mama’s grasp and felt for a heartbeat.

            Thud, thud, thud. Mia sighed with relief. What should I do? She wondered. I need to get help or the doctor!

            Mia tore out of the house and down the street. Tears blinded her way. She turned the corner at the end of the street and ran right into someone. Mia yelped, falling to the ground.

            A hand reached down to help her up. “Are you all right?”

            Mia looked up into the face of the young woman who had bought the embroidered heart that morning.

            “I’m fine,” she said, accepting the offered hand.

            Mia was surprised to see the man and woman she had sold the heart too. I wonder what they’re doing here. They don’t live around here, I know that.

“Is something wrong?” the man asked.

“Yes, Sir. My mama, she’s really sick. I think she’s dying. I was going to get the doctor.” Mia turned to the woman. “I’m sorry I ran into you, miss.”

“I can get the doctor,” the man offered. “Where do you live?”

When Mia told him, both the man and the woman’s face registered surprise.

“That’s where we were going,” the woman said. “I’m Andi, by the way. That man was my husband, Riley.”

“I’m Mia,” Mia said as the man left.

Mia led the way home. Rosie met them at the door.

“Mia! Mama’s awake again!”

Mia dashed to Mama’s bedside, hope in her heart.

“Are you Marcella?” Andi asked.

“Yes. Are you here about adopting my girls?”  

“Well, yes, but you don’t need to worry about that right now.”

“Yes, I do. I’m going to be with Jesus soon. My girls need a good home. What’s your name?”

            “Andi Prescott.”

            “Do you believe in Jesus and will you teach my girls to be like Him?”

            “Yes, Ma’am.”

            “Will you be kind to my girls and take good care of them?”

            “Yes, we will,” Andi answered.

            “Please take care of my girls then.”

            “I promise we’ll take good care of your girls.”

            “I believe you,” Mama answered.

            “Mama, please don’t go! We’ll never see you again!” Mia said.

            “You will if you believe in Jesus and ask Him to come into your heart,” Mama said. “Do you believe in Jesus, Mia?”

            Mia paused. Do I? I don’t know. I guess I don’t since I don’t think He’s taking care of us very well. But I do believe Jesus died to pay for my sins.

            “I-I-I don’t know,” Mia faltered. “I don’t know, Mama.”

            Mama’s breathing had become ragged and slow.

            “I hope someday…you’ll believe…both of you. I…love…you girls. Remember….what…I said.”

            Mama’s breath became more ragged and uneven until it stopped.

            Mia put her face in her hands as violent sobs shook her body. She could hear Rosie crying too.

            Mama had said God would take care of them, but Mia wasn’t so sure. God, she prayed silently. I don’t think you care about Rosie and me, but if you do please show me you do.

            The rest of the day and the next few weeks passed in a blur to Mia. Riley returned with the doctor. They had a funeral for Mama, and Riley and Andi adopted Mia and Rosie, and took them to their ranch outside of Fresno.

            Mia felt emptier after Mama died than she had after Papa had died. She felt like something was missing, and something was missing. She felt like there was no hope. She would never see her parents again.

            She understood that Mama had put the ad in the paper for her and Rosie’s own good. Mama hadn’t been giving them away she had been making sure they were taken care of after she died.

            Mia spent a lot of time crying with Rosie. Riley and Andi turned out to be very kind people. Andi told Mia and Rosie she knew how they were feeling because her father had died when she was Rosie’s age.

            Three weeks after Mama died Riley and Andi took them to church. The reverend spoke about Naomi and Ruth. Although the topic of the sermon was kindness, Mia was drawn to the fact that Naomi’s husband and sons had died leaving her and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, alone.  Even though it seemed like they had no one to care for them at first God had taken care of them.

            Maybe God is taking care of us after all, Mia thought. After Papa died, I sold Mama’s handiwork and I always sold just enough to buy a loaf of bread except for the last time and Riley and Andi happened to be coming to see about adopting us when I needed help. Wait a minute. Why would they want to adopt us when they already have three younger children?

            The question bothered Mia the rest of the morning. Finally, when the other children were napping that afternoon, Mia was able to ask Andi. “Andi?”

            Andi looked up from her book. “Yes?”

            “Why did you want to adopt Rosie and me when you already had three children?”

            “I saw the ad your mother put in the paper, and I felt a tug at my heart, so I talked to Riley about it. I told him I felt God wanted us to adopt you.”

            “If you hadn’t felt a tug at your heart, would you have adopted us?” Mia asked.

            “Probably not,” Andi said.

            Mia’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t help herself. God was taking care of us. Mama was right! It’s true! Oh, God, I’m sorry I didn’t believe. I do now. Thank you, God! Thank you for taking care of us even when everything seemed terrible.

            “Is something wrong?” Andi asked, concern evident in her voice.

            “No,” Mia answered. “Do you remember right before Mama died and she said we would see each other again if I believed in Jesus and asked Him to come into my heart?”

            Andi nodded. “Yes.”

            “Well, I believed Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins and then rose again, but I didn’t believe God would take care of us. I do now though.”

            Mia paused. She didn’t quite know how to ask Andi her next question. Finally, she just blurted it out.

           “Andi, I want to ask Jesus to come into my heart. Will you help me?”

            Andi’s face split into a wide grin. “Of course, I will!”

            After she prayed with Andi, Mia smiled. She felt joyful, and she had hope in her heart.

            Mama was right. God has been taking care of us this whole time, and someday soon I’ll see Mama and Papa again. Thank you, God, for giving me hope, and always taking care of me.