Sing a Song, Daddy

 by Emma A. (ages 10-13)

Note: This story highlights Melinda (Andi’s sister) and Peter’s family.

 “It’s time to go to sleep, darling,” whispered Mama. She laid a soft hand on her three-year-old daughter’s smooth forehead and moved her fingers in a steady circular motion. She ran her fingers through Louisa’s golden hair.

When Louisa’s blue eyes finally closed, Mama reached over and turned down the lamp. Dark shadows danced across the wall. Rabbits, horses and antelope chased each other over the bed of the little girl close to her mother.

“Where’s Daddy?” Louisa asked sleepily.

“Did I hear my name?” Father’s slow footsteps sounded soothing in the ears of his daughter.

Mama looked up, her face full of love. “Peter, I think she wants you to sing to her.”

“Sing a song, Daddy.” Louisa pleaded, her soft blue eyes searching his face.

Father clasped his daughter’s hand and seated himself on the bed. Mama nestled close to him and waited. “Which song shall I sing, my dear?”

“Our song.”

Father cleared his throat and began their special song in his rich baritone.

 

I’m here with you when your world is crashing ‘round,

Even when things go so wrong I’m always here for you,

I’ll be by your side when the weight pulls you down.

Together we will overcome, we will get through.

You're the apple of my eye, the sweet little girl I adore.

Even when I’m old and broken I’ll always be here for you.

Oh, be strong, wait for the Lord and be patient,

He will be coming, for it is true!

He will be rescuing this little one,

Trust in His holy name and have childlike faith.

Louisa had fallen asleep, her hand clasped in her father’s.

Father released Louisa’s hand and stood carefully so as not to make the bed creak. He bent and tucked the quilt around her.

The parents slipped out of the room with a final glance at their daughter.

Mama smiled gently. “Oh Peter! God has blessed us so much with our Lousia Jane Wilson.”

Father nodded. “Amen, Melinda.”

 

         ****

Two years later

 

  “Mama! Look what James gave me!” Louisa squealed. The back door slammed shut, its echo bouncing off the white-washed walls.

  Mama looked up from her seat and gasped. “Lousia! Put that down right now!”

  A garden snake struggled in her daughter’s hands. Its long tongue snaked in and out, sniffing its new surroundings. Louisa giggled and thrust it in her mother’s face.

  Mama shrieked and jumped back. “Don’t do that! Put it out in the yard.”

  A hurt look came over the five-year-old’s face. “But Mama, James Blake gave it to me. He would be very mad at me if I released it.”

  James was the son of Cory and Jenny Blake and a regular companion of Louisa. He was two years older than her and always seemed to be in some mischief or another.

Mama shook her head decidedly. “When Mama says no, she means no.”

  “May I give it back to James?” Louisa begged.

  Mama seemed to waver. Louisa waited on tip-toes for her reply.

“If you take your brother, William, with you it’s fine.”

  “Hooray!” Louisa swirled around and held the snake up to her face. “Did you hear that, Wilber? You get to go back home to James!”

  The snake fixed its black, beady eyes on her face. Louisa laughed and skipped to the bottom of the stairs. “Will, Mama says you have to come with me to James’ house.”

  Her nine-year-old brother appeared. “Do I have to?” he groaned.

  Louisa nodded vigorously. “Caleb might be there.” Caleb was James’ older brother.

  William’s eyes lit up. “I haven't seen him in ages.” He clattered down the stairs.

  Brother and sister were soon on their way to the Blake’s home. Louisa called out cheerful greetings to every bird, human and dog they met along their way.

  They made it safely to the Blake’s and knocked on the door. James answered and welcomed them heartily. “C’mon Louisa! I wanna show you my hamster.”

  Louisa darted forward, then, as if remembering why she was here, hung back. “Wait, James. Mama told me I couldn’t keep Wilber and I have to return him.” She laid the snake into his hands and stepped back. “Mama doesn’t like snakes.”

  James’ face fell. “But you said you could keep him.”

  Louisa shrugged. “I would keep him if I could but I have to obey Mama.”

  James turned away, the snake dangling in his grasp. “I’m not ever going to give you a pet again.”

  Louisa swallowed and a cloud covered her sunny face. “Fine. I don’t want another disgusting pet from you.” She spun around and pulled William with her. “We’re leaving.”

  William laughed. “You two are stubborn and neither of you will back down.” He snorted. “I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

 

                                                              *****

                                              A year and a half later

 

  “Attention class! I would like all the second year students to come up to the front.”

  The room was suddenly silent and everyone was watching for who would go up first.

I guess I have to do it. Louisa gulped and slowly slid out of her seat. Her footsteps sounded louder than usual and her heartbeat thumped in her ears.

Miss Foster smiled at her and then looked over at the rest of the students. “Is there no one else?” she asked, surprised.

Louisa had been looking at the ground but now her eyes sneaked up. She caught sight of James’ laughing eyes. His face was pulled into a smirk. Louisa bit her tongue before angry words could shoot out.

She and James had not settled their former dispute. Instead, it had grown into a full-blown war. They no longer spoke of each other nor to each other. Louisa had been ready to forgive and forget, but then James embarrassed her in front of her friends by saying that she still slept with her dolly.

The whole school yard had erupted in laughter and Louisa fled home in tears. It had taken everything in Mama and Papa to convince her to go back to school. Louisa then promised never to talk to him again.

“Louisa? Are you listening?”

Louisa jerked back to the classroom. “No ma’am.”

The class tittered. Miss Foster silenced them with a sharp look. “I was saying that you are very brave to come up here first. Because you did that you are allowed to pick which subject we do first.”

The class groaned. “She’s going to pick spelling!”

“I hate spelling!”

“Why does she get to choose?”

  Miss Foster rapped her stick on her desk. “Silence.” She turned to Louisa. “What do you pick, my dear?”

  Louisa blushed. “Spelling, ma’am.”

  “Wonderful choice. Everyone, pull out your notebooks. Now let’s begin….”

  When it ended, Louisa came out as leader with no words spelled wrong, triumphing over even the older children. James scowled at her from his seat across from her. Louisa smiled to herself and threw him an indifferent look. A thrill of gladness came over her as she listened to the teacher. Won’t Mama and Papa be proud!

                                                                         

           ****

Later that evening

 

“That’s my girl!” Father exclaimed. He lifted Louisa into the air and twirled her around. “What a little scholar you are!”

Mama smiled from her seat at the table. “I’m so proud of you, Louisa.”

Louisa grinned. William mumbled around a mouthful of bread, “Did James congratulate you?”

Louisa’s eyes narrowed. Mama silenced him with a look and turned back to her daughter, changing the subject. “Would you like to sing your song?”

Louisa nodded eagerly, all thoughts of her brother’s comment gone. “Oh yes!

She began singing in a clear voice. Mama closed her eyes in bliss. Father grinned and sat back in his seat.

“He will be rescuing this little one, trust in His holy name and have childlike faith,” she finished, eyes shining with delight. The kitchen erupted with applause. Will leapt up and cried, “Hurrah for Louisa!”

Louisa blushed. Mama reached out and clasped her hand. “You did lovely, my dear. I wish—”

A knock on the door interrupted whatever Mama was going to say.

Father stood. “I wonder who that is? I hope it’s no one from the bank.”

A familiar voice came from the door. Curious, Louisa peeked around the corner. James was at the door talking to her father. She flushed and turned away quickly— but not before her presence was discovered. “Louisa?” James asked excitedly.

Louisa spun around and yelled, “Loser!” She ran up to her bedroom.

 

  ****

                                                                    Six years later

 

  “Silly thing!” Louisa laughed. At twelve-years-old she was growing up fast.

Her best friend Adeline was over for the day and both girls were talking on the floor. Louisa tossed her curly hair over her shoulder and looked around her room.

  Snowy curtains fluttered at the open window, welcoming in the breeze. A desk was situated snuggly in the corner. Papers were stacked neatly on top with the quill and ink nesting beside it. A small bed was pushed against the middle of a wall. A white quilt lay neatly on top with a fluffed pillow.

  “Where did James move to?” The question was abrupt and caught Louisa off guard.

  She sniffed and shrugged. “I don’t really care where he went but I do know that they moved back to Washington where his mother was born. I don’t know when they’ll be back.”

  Adeline leaned in closer, her brown eyes twinkling. “My brother says that you two liked each other when you were only five.”

  Louisa leapt up. “How dare he say that!” She ran to the window, her eyes filled with tears. I hate James! How dare he ruin my name by ever liking me!

  Adeline slipped up behind her. “Don’t be mad,” she whispered soothingly.

  Louisa took a deep breath. “Tell your brother—”

  “Louisa!” Mama shrieked. “Your uncle had an accident and is dying! We need to leave now!”

  Louisa gasped. No, Lord! No! Don’t let him die!

  She scrambled down the steps and dashed outside without saying good-bye to Adeline.

  Father, Mama and Will jumped onto their horses, which Father had bridled. Uncle Riley sat on a fresh horse which he had changed out after riding to tell the family. “We don’t have time to hitch the buggy. Hurry and let’s go,” Mama directed.

  Louisa jumped onto her horse’s back.

  They galloped towards Circle C Ranch. Louisa clung to her horse’s back and prayed, Let us get there in time, God.

                                                 

        ****

                                                  Circle C Ranch

 

  “Do you think my brother will make it?” Mama asked the doctor anxiously.

  The doctor held her eyes for a long time. “I’m so sorry, but… he has no chance of living. We have to give him to God.”

  Mama’s hand flew to her mouth and tears dripped down her face. Father wrapped his arms around her.

Louisa swallowed and glanced at Uncle Chad’s gray face. She watched his labored breathing. Each breath he had was a miracle, the doctor told them.

Louisa shivered to think how he had ended up so beaten and broken. A bull from the east pasture had charged him from behind. The bull had thrown him up into the air and ran over him before the hands could shoot the animal. They had carried him home and sent for the family and doctor.

Louisa looked at Mama and sighed. Mama must be hurting deeply. Imagine if Will were to die? She shuddered.

Each hour passed with Uncle Chad hanging between life and death. Grandmother would not eat; instead she insisted on wetting her son’s lips and holding his limp hand.

Mama and Aunt Andi sat on the edges of the bed, silently praying that their brother might be healed. Aunt Ellie was situated on the bed, her eyes fixed on her husband’s pale face.

Louisa rested her chin on her knees as she sat on the floor with her cousins, Susie and Thomas. Suddenly, a groan came from her injured uncle.

Everyone gasped and leaned in closer. Grandmother eagerly wet his lips and from those blessed lips came the most beautiful word Louisa had ever heard, “Mother?”

Grandmother pressed his hand. “I’m here, son.”

“Pray.” Uncle Chad closed his eyes again.

Maybe he'll recover, Louisa thought, a glimmer of hope rising. Aunt Ellie collapsed in tears of thankfulness.

Father began singing softly and Louisa immediately joined. The whole family listened in silence as father and daughter sang:

 

“Oh be strong, wait for the Lord and be patient,

He will be coming, for it is true!

He will be rescuing this little one,

Trust in His holy name and have childlike faith.”

 

 

****

Five years later

 

  “Do you remember that day when Uncle Chad was dying?” Louisa asked her mother one dark, rainy day.

  “Only too well,” Mother replied. “I’m so glad that God healed him.”

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Louisa looked up from her knitting, surprised. “Now who could that be?”

  “Maybe someone wanting shelter from the storm?” Mother suggested.

  Louisa shrugged and strolled to the door. She caught a glance of herself in the hallway mirror. Her blond hair was now to her hips and curly as ever. Her waist was so slim she didn’t need (or want) to wear a corset. Expressive, but still mischievous, blue eyes stared back at her.

  She pulled open the door. A man pushed past her, a heavy cloak over his head. Louisa stared. Finally she found her voice. “Polite men would wait until I invited them in.”

  “Would you consider me polite?” a deep, manly voice questioned. The dripping cloak was thrown back and James Blake stood before her.

  Louisa felt the old anger roll over her; but surprisingly it wasn’t as strong as before. She opened the door again and waved her hand. “And back outside you go, you impolite man.”

  James laughed and grabbed her hands. “How about a friendly hello?”

  “After what you did? Nope.”

  James grinned. “I’m back, Louisa. Back for your forgiveness.” He looked imploring at her.

  Louisa stepped back, shocked. He’s asking forgiveness after twelve years?! What should I do now? What would Jesus do?

  She took a deep breath. “I forgive you.”

  James gave a shout. He grabbed Louisa and swirled her around. “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”

  Louisa halted his merry dance and laughed. “You were too stubborn.”

  James pondered it, then shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Is that James?” Mother asked. “Bring him in here for a nice chat and a warm fire.”

 ****

        A year later

  “Ah, my little girl’s all grown up and getting married to the love of her life: James Blake,” Father said quietly, a teasing glint in his eyes.

  Louisa smiled gently. “Do I look okay?”

  Father laughed. “Okay!? You look so pretty that it’s hard to imagine you ever being a baby. You look like you’ve always been an attractive young woman.”

  Louisa blushed and took a last glance at her dress. The day couldn’t have been better. Only one thing was missing.

  “Sing a song, Daddy.”