March 28, 1934

John-Boy noticed John hadn't been encouraging Olivia like he previously had. He just remained silent. And Grandma had a completely different opinion.

Olivia hadn't made much improvement. The weather was still bitterly cold and there was no sign of spring anywhere.

Esther, John-Boy, and Jenny were in the kitchen.

"You heard it from Olivia, she said she's gonna start learning to use the wheelchair tomorrow. I'll bring it down from the attic. She's taking it well. She's just gonna have to completely come around to the fact that she's a cripple."

"WHAT?!" John-Boy shouted. He didn't raise his voice or speak up, he yelled. "How can you say that Grandma?! How in everything that is good and decent can you say that? Can you really believe this is God's will? CAN YOU REALLY BELIEVE IT?!"

"John-Boy, we aren't asked to like God's will, we have to accept it!"

"Well I'm not going to. There's strength in her legs! You saw it! YOU saw it like the rest of us!"

"John-Boy, just shut up! Just SHUT UP!" Grandma yelled, storming into the grandparents' bedroom and slamming the door.

John-Boy kicked the floor and ran outside.

Jenny was silent throughout the entire thing. She sat at the kitchen table and began to cry.

John came inside in a few minutes. He saw Jenny. "Jenny, what's wrong Honey?"

"Grandma and John had a fight. John ran out toward the homestead. Grandma slammed the door on their bedroom. Mr. Walton, they're so angry, they're so angry." She began sobbing.

"I'll go check on John-Boy, Honey. I'll go bring him home, I promise."

Jenny sniffled and nodded. "Thank you."

John went up to the homestead. Sure enough, he found John-Boy.

"I figured I'd find you here, Son." He said gently.

"Daddy, I just can't see how you can watch her like that." John-Boy said, becoming emotional. "And Grandma, how in God's name can she say those things?!"

"Son, I don't like it. But it's what we've got right now. It's reality."

"Oh come on Daddy. You too? That's all you're saying? That's what you're going with? That's like looking up at the sky and saying 'Okay Lord, this is your will!'" John-Boy shouted as he cried. But his voice softened. "I can't accept that, Daddy, and I don't know how you can accept that."

"Well you can shake your fist at the sky, you can yell. You can do anything, but is that gonna change anything?!" John yelled.

"Daddy, you listen here!" John-Boy shouted. "When I was a boy, I worshipped the ground you walked on and believed deep in my heart everything you told me." Tears covered both his cheeks and he put his hand behind his head as his voice quieted down. "But now I just can't believe a word you're saying to me."

"We're both hurting, Son." John replied gently.

"I've never hurt like this before." John-Boy was barely able to speak above the lump in his throat. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he stood there, shaking his head.

John stood by his firstborn and hugged him. "Let it out, Son. You've been so strong for your brothers and sisters, Jenny, your grandparents, your mama, and me. Now it's time someone be strong for you. Just let it out."

John gave his son a little squeeze, knowing that doing this to someone who was on the verge of tears would help them start crying. He knew his son would feel better after a good cry. John-Boy began sobbing, at first quietly, but slowly becoming louder and louder until he was bawling very loudly. His entire body shook with sobs. After about three minutes, he quieted down. John handed him a tissue.

"Sorry." John-Boy apologized for his loud sobs.

"Don't apologize, Son. You feel better, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"It was worth it hen. Let's go home Son."

March 29, 1934

While John and Zeb were in Charlottesville the next day, John-Boy and Ben were over at Yancy Tucker's working. During that time, the Baldwin sisters brought their father's wheelchair over. Olivia smiled politely and thanked them, even though she felt this was the worst thing anyone could do. Now there were two wheelchairs in the room! Olivia held back her tears until the Baldwin sisters left. She then began to cry. Esther saw the Baldwin sisters to the door.

"What happened, Grandma?" Elizabeth asked.

The Baldwin sisters brought over a wheelchair." Grandma replied. She then went upstairs into the grandparents' room and shut the door.

Elizabeth was about to cry. Mary Ellen hugged her.

"Mama will be okay, won't she?" Elizabeth asked.

Erin ran upstairs.

"I'll talk to her." Jenny said softly. "Stay with Elizabeth."

Mary Ellen nodded. "We just have to hope for the best, Honey." She kissed Elizabeth's forehead.

Jason and Jim Bob sat outside on the porch.

"Ben promised to help me with my math homework but he ditched me." Jim Bob said in disgust.

"Tell you what, if I help you with your math, will you help me sharpen the blades? John-Boy was gonna help me but he's gone as well."

"It's a deal." Jim Bob smiled.

Jason smiled and the brothers stood up to go in the house.

Mary Ellen came out. "Jason, the Baldwin sisters brought a wheelchair over, a wheelchair for Mama. Jenny's upstairs. Erin and Elizabeth are crying and she's trying to comfort them. Jason, I'm scared."

Jason, who had just turned 16 about six weeks earlier, searched for the words of comfort his 13-year old sister was looking for. But he was only a couple years older than her and was just as scared.

"Get Jenny, Erin, and Elizabeth. We can talk in the barn." He replied.

Mary Ellen nodded and went back in the house.

"Jason," 7-year old Jim Bob was scared as well.

Jason put a hand on Jim Bob's shoulder. "Let's go to the barn, little brother."

When the girls came out, Erin and Elizabeth were still crying. Jason sat with Erin. Jenny sat with Elizabeth. Mary Ellen put an arm around Jim Bob. They just talked and expressed their fears. The young people felt good laying their feelings on the line and sharing with each other. They all had the same concerns. Now they could help each other get through this crisis.