Page 6 - Good News October 2018 paper

arl was a quiet man. He Carl's assailants stole his retire- As he struggled to regain his people attended his funeral, in
didn't talk much. He would ment watch and his wallet, and footing, he turned to see the tall spite of the weather. In particular,
Calways greet you with a big then fled. leader of his Summer tormenters the minister noticed a tall young
smile and a firm handshake, but reaching down for him. He braced man that he didn't know sitting
even after living in our neighbour- Carl tried to get himself up, but he himself for the expected attack. quietly in a distant corner of the
hood for over 50 years, no one had been thrown down on his bad church.
could really say they knew him leg. He lay there trying to gather “Don't worry old man, I'm not
very well. All we really knew was himself as the minister came gonna hurt you this time.” The The minister spoke of Carl's
that he had worked for the Gas running to help him. Although the young man spoke softly, still garden as a lesson in life. In a
Company and had won an award minister had witnessed the attack offering the tattooed and scarred voice thick with unshed tears, he
when he retired for never having from his window, he couldn't get hand to Carl. As he helped Carl said, “Do your best and make
taken a sick day in all his 51 years there fast enough to stop it. “Carl, get up, the man pulled a crumpled your garden as beautiful as you
with the Company. are you okay? Are you hurt?” the bag from his pocket and handed it can. We will never forget Carl and
minister kept asking as he helped to Carl. his garden.”
Before his retirement, he took the Carl to his feet.
bus to work each morning. As his “What's this?” Carl asked. The following Spring, as the ice
retirement approached and he Carl just passed a hand over his thawed in the yard, another flyer
grew older, the lone sight of him brow and sighed, shaking his “It's your stuff,” the man explain- went up. It read: “Person needed
walking down the street often head. “Just some punk kids. I ed. “It's your stuff back. Even the to care for Carl's garden.” The
worried us. He had a slight limp hope they'll wise-up someday.” money in your wallet.” flyer went unnoticed by the busy
from a bullet wound received in His wet clothes clung to his slight parishioners until one day when a
WWII. The bullet itself was still frame as he bent to pick up the “I don't understand,” Carl said. knock was heard at the minister's
lodged very near his spine. hose. He adjusted the nozzle “Why would you help me now?” office door. Opening the door, the
Watching him, we worried that again and started to water. minister saw a pair of scarred and
although he had survived WWII, Confused and a little concerned, The man shifted his feet, seeming tattooed hands holding the flyer.
he may not make it through our the minister asked, “Carl, what embarrassed and ill at ease. “I
changing uptown neighbour- are you doing?” “I've got to finish learned something from you,” he “I believe this is my job, if you'll
hood with its ever-increasing my watering. It's been very dry said. “I ran with that gang and have me,” the young man said.
random violence, gangs, and lately”, came the calm reply. hurt people like you. We picked The minister recognized him as
drug activity. How could we have Satisfying himself that Carl really you because you were old and we the same young man who had
known that a Miracle limped in was all right, the minister could knew we could do it. But every returned the stolen watch and
our midst? only marvel. Carl was a man from time we came and did something wallet to Carl. He knew that Carl's
a different time and place. to you, instead of yelling and kindness had turned this man's
Carl was in his early 70's when he fighting back, you tried to give us life around. As the minister
began what was to be a 15 plus A few weeks later, the three a drink. You didn't hate us for handed him the keys to the
years job of caring for the returned. Just as before, their hating you. You kept showing garden shed, he said, “Yes, go
gardens behind the minister's threat was unchallenged. Carl love against our hate.” take care of Carl's garden and
residence. He was then retired again offered them a drink from honour him.”
and his wife had died a few years his hose. This time they didn't rob He stopped for a moment. “I
earlier. When he saw the flyer at him. They wrenched the hose couldn't sleep after we stole your The man went to work and over
our local church asking for from his hand and drenched him stuff, so here it is back.” He the next several years he tended
volunteers, he responded in his head to foot in the icy water, as he paused for another awkward the flowers and vegetables just
characteristically unassuming tried unsuccessfully to fend them moment, not knowing what more as Carl had done. In that time, he
manner. Without fanfare, he just off. there was to say. “That bag's my went to College, got married and
signed up to do the weeding, way of saying thanks for became a prominent business-
watering and seeding of flowers When they had finished their straightening me out, I guess.” man in the community. But he
and vegetables that were planted humiliation of him, they saun- And then he walked off down the never forgot his promise to Carl's
each spring. He was well into his tered off down the street, throw- street. memory and kept the garden as
87th year when the very thing we ing catcalls and curses, falling beautiful as he thought Carl
had always feared finally over one another laughing at the Carl looked down at the sack in would have kept it.
happened. hilarity of what they had just his hands and gingerly opened it.
done. Carl just watched them. He took out his retirement watch One day he approached the new
He was just finishing his watering Then he turned toward the and put it back on his wrist. minister and told him that he
for the day when three gang mem- warmth-giving sun, picked up his Opening his wallet, he checked couldn't care for the garden any
bers approached him. Ignoring hose, and went on with his for his wedding photo. He gazed longer. He explained with a shy
their attempt to intimidate him, he watering. for a moment at the young bride and happy smile, “My wife just
simply asked, “Would you like a that still smiled back at him from had our baby last night, and she's
drink from the hose?” The tallest The Summer was quickly fading all those years ago, and then put coming home Saturday.”
and toughest-looking of the three into Fall. Thankfully, things had the photo back in its place. He
said, “Yeah, sure”, with a male- been quiet and uneventful. Carl pocketed his billfold once again “Well, congratulations!” said the
volent little smile. was doing some tilling and and went back to mulching his minister, as he was handed the
getting the rose beds ready for roses. garden shed keys. “That's won-
As Carl offered the hose to him, their winter mulch protection derful! What's the baby's name?”
the other two grabbed Carl's arm, when he was startled by the He didn't make it to the following
throwing him down. As the hose sudden approach of someone Spring to see those roses bloom It was Carl...
snaked crazilly over the ground behind him. He stumbled and fell again. He died one cold day after [TEARS IN MY HEART, James
dousing everything in its way, into some evergreen branches. Christmas that winter. Many Collins, Xulon Press, USA2007].