Page 10 - Good News December2006 paper

ess was a precocious she took a quarter from her jar Daddy can't pay for it, so I want
eight-year-old when she and banged it on the glass to use my money.
Theard her Mom and Dad counter. That did it! "How much do you have?"
talking about her little brother, "And what do you want?" the asked the man from Chicago.
Andrew. pharmacist asked in an "One dollar and eleven cents,"
All she knew was that he was annoyed tone of voice. "I'm Tess answered barely audibly.
very ill and that they complete- talking to my brother from "And it's all the money I have,
ly lacked money. Chicago whom I haven't seen but I can get some more if I
They were going to move to an in ages," he said without need to."
apartment complex the follow- waiting for a reply to his "Well, what a coincidence,"
ing month because her Daddy question. smiled the man. "A dollar and
didn't have the money for the "Well, I want to talk to you eleven cents - the exact price of
doctor's bills and they could no about my brother," Tess a miracle for little brothers." He
longer afford to stay in their answered back in the same took her money in one hand
house. Only very costly sur- annoyed tone. "He's really, and with the other hand he
gery could save Andrew and really sick... and I want to buy a grasped her mitten and said,
there was no-one to lend them miracle." "Take me to your home. I want
money. "I beg your pardon?" said the to see your brother and meet
She heard Daddy say to her pharmacist. your parents. Let's see if I have
tearful Mother with whispered "His name is Andrew and he the kind of miracle you need."
desperation, "Only a miracle has something bad growing That well-dressed man was Dr
can save him now." Tess went inside his head and my Daddy Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon
to her bedroom and pulled a says only a miracle can save specializing in neurosurgery.
glass jar from its hiding place him now. So how much does a The operation was completed
in the closet. She poured all the miracle cost?" without charge and it wasn't
change out on the floor and “We don't sell miracles here, long before Andrew was home
counted it carefully. Three little girl. I'm sorry but I can't again and doing well.
times, even. The total had to be help you," the pharmacist said, Mom and Dad were happily
exactly perfect. No chance softening a little. talking about the chain of
here for mistakes. "Listen, I have the money to events that took place.
Carefully placing the coins pay for it. If this isn't enough, I "That surgery," her Mom
back in the jar and twisting on will get the rest. Just tell me whispered, "was a real miracle.
the cap, she slipped out the how much it costs." I wonder how much it would
back door and made her way to The pharmacist's brother was have cost?"
a nearby pharmacy. She waited a well-dressed man. He Tess smiled. She knew exactly
patiently for the pharmacist to stooped down and asked the how much a miracle cost... one
give her some attention but he little girl, "What kind of a dollar and eleven cents... plus
was too busy talking to some- miracle does you brother the faith of a little child!
one. need?" A miracle is not the suspension
Tess twisted her feet to make a "I don't know," Tess replied of natural law, but the opera-
scuffing noise. No reaction. with her eyes welling up with tion of a Higher Law...
She cleared her throat with the tears. "I just know he's really http://www.all-creatures.org/
most disgusting sound she sick and Mommy says he stories/miracles.html
could muster. No good. Finally needs an operation. But my (Debra Stitt, QEagle@aol.com)

nce upon a time, there was an island you."
where a number of interesting personali- Love decided to ask Vanity who was also
Oties lived, including Happiness, passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please
Sadness, Knowledge, Vanity, Richness, and help me!"
Love. "I can't help you Love. You are all wet and might
One day it was announced that the island would soil or damage my boat," Vanity answered.
soon sink away. So all repaired their boats and Sadness was close by so Love asked for help,
left. "Sadness, please let me go with you."
Love wanted to persevere until the last possible "Oh... Love, I am so sad that I need to be by
moment. When the island had almost vanished myself."
completely, Love decided to ask for help. Happiness gaily sailed past Love too, but she
Richness was passing Love in a grand boat. was so happy that she did not even hear when
Love said, "Richness, can you take me with Love called her!
you?" Suddenly there was a voice, "Come Love, I will
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of take you." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed
silver in my boat. There is no place here for and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the
elder his name. When they arrived on dry land,
the elder went his way. Love, realizing how
much he owed the elder, asked Knowledge,
another elder, "Who helped me?"
“It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help
me?”
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and
answered, "Because, only Time is capable of
understanding how great Love is."
- Author Unknown