Second Chance

LHOP inspired fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Part 6

John hadn't said a word since he came back from his visit with Mary. He walked in, went to his room and closed the door. Grace knew it was a bad sign. She thought John had been crying. Isaiah and Grace had agreed to leave him alone for a while, but worry soon overtook her.

Graced knocked on his door and opened it without waiting for a response. John was at his writing desk. He didn't bother to turn around to see who had come in. Grace walked up behind him. John felt one of his mother's hands in his hair and the other resting gently on his shoulder.

"John," Grace began. "I'm worried about you. You haven't spoken to anybody since you came home. Will you please talk to me?"

John stood up from his desk and faced his mother. Tears had formed in the corners of his eyes. He dared not blink, for the tears would start flowing like a waterfall and he wasn't sure he could stop them. Grace brushed the back of her hand across his young face.

"John, just because you're a man now doesn't mean you don't get hurt."

John hugged Grace and let the tears flow. Mary came to his mind. He wondered if she hated him. She was so cold and callous - not like the Mary he knew and loved. Perhaps that Mary was lost to him forever…just like his dreams.

After the river of tears had run dry, John stepped back from Grace and motioned to her to sit on his bed. He sat down next to her, finally ready to talk. John told his mother about the visit and how it ended. Grace shook her head and thought a few moments before offering some motherly advice.

"You know John…Mary is a very frightened and angry young woman right now. That's one of the reasons Charles and Caroline sent her to the blind school."

John nodded as Grace continued. "Mary, like you, thinks all her dreams are lost…" John looked up at his mother. She still knew him so well.

"But if she goes to the blind school and learns how to help herself, she'll find that her dreams are only delayed a little while."

"How can she be a teacher when she's blind?"

"I don't have all the answers John, but I do know that God wouldn't give Mary and her family a burden greater than they can handle."

John's attention turned to the part of his conversation with Mary that was bothering him the most. "Do you think she was right?" John asked.

"About what?"

"When she said I never believed in us?"

"I don't think so. She's hurtin right now. That's why she got angry and said those things. You were trying to make her accept that she's blind. She's just not ready yet."

"Do you think she could still love me?"

"Only Mary knows for sure. But if you're meant to be together, then you will be. Trust me."

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

Charles looked out the window from his seat on the train. This was the most difficult trip he had been on. At least he was on his way home to his loving wife – she would understand.

Mary had begged Charles not to leave her at the Burton School for the Blind. She wrapped her arms around him and pleaded with her father to take her home. Charles had pried her arms away, told Mary he loved her and left the blind school, hoping that Mary didn't hate him.

It was the director of the school that had encouraged a quick goodbye – to make it easier on both of them. But Charles hadn't found it any easier. His baby girl was still in a strange place, with people she didn't know and couldn't see.

As the train chugged along, Charles' tortured soul longed for his wife's assurance that he had done the right thing.

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

Mary had been in Burton for two weeks. She felt she learned more in those two weeks than she had in the fifteen years of her life. It was still hard for her to accept being blind, but the more she learned, the less scary the outside world became. She hoped one day she would be as confident around others as she had been when she was sighted.

Her teacher, Adam had become her confidant. She trusted him with her fears and sometimes even her hopes. Adam always listened carefully and seemed to have the right words to reassure her. It was like he understood those fears. But Mary knew only another blind person could fully understand.

A voice broke through her thoughts. "Mary?"

"Yes, I'm here Adam."

"It's dinner time. Can I walk with you to the dining room?"

"Yes please," she smiled.

Mary walked over to Adam and they continued along the corridor. Adam's hand brushed Mary's and her heart skipped a beat. She felt that old familiar feeling of butterflies in her stomach - like she used to have when she was with John Jr. or Seth. It seemed so odd that she should feel that way. All during dinner she was distracted. She was conscious of Adam next to her – the smell of his clothes, the scent of his soap, the gentle way he spoke and the laughter in his voice. She had never noticed before.

Adam turned towards Mary and asked, "What was your favorite subject in school Mary?" Deep in her thoughts, Mary did not answer him.

"Mary? Mary are you okay?" Adam asked in a worried tone.

"Wh… what?" Mary turned towards the sound of his voice, embarrassed that he had caught her daydreaming.

"I said…what was your favorite subject in school? But since I'm boring you I'll just let you eat in peace," Adam teased.

"I'm sorry Adam. I was just thinking abut something."

"Good things I hope."

"I think so," Mary answered, not sure what to say.

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

Laura and Carrie were on their way home from school when Mrs. Foster called to them from the Post Office. "Oh Laura, Carrie can you come here a minute?"

As Laura and Carrie got closer they saw Mrs. Foster had an envelope in her hand. Mrs. Foster smiled when she handed it to Laura. When she stopped to look at the postmark, Laura saw that it was from Burton, IA.

"Oh thank you so much Mrs. Foster. I can't wait to get home so Ma and Pa can read it!"

"You're welcome Laura. Give your folks my best."

"I will," Laura smiled back at her.

The girls ran home as fast as they could. When they saw their Pa coming out of the barn they yelled, "Pa! Pa! A letter from Mary!"

They all rushed inside so that they could read it together. Ma was given the honors. She opened the envelope with a hair pin and removed the letter. As she unfolded it, she saw Mary's fine penmanship. Her hand caressed the page and a tear fell down her cheek.

"Well what does it say?" Charles asked.

"Dear Family,

It's been over two weeks and I have learned so much…"

Caroline read the letter twice and then folded it back into the envelope.

"Oh Charles, I can't believe it. She's learning to read and her writing is so straight. That ruler makes her penmanship as fine as ever."

"She sounds happier too," Charles said, relieved.

"Yes she does. We made the right decision in sending her there."

Charles nodded. "At least now I'm finally sure."

"I can't wait until she can come home," Caroline said as she hugged her husband. She went into her bedroom and put the letter in the trunk that she kept at the foot of her bed – the one filled with important things.

That night after supper, Pa played his fiddle. He played joyful songs to celebrate the good news that the letter from Mary had brought. Pa's fiddle sang the old familiar tunes that the Ingalls family loved so much. The little house on the prairie was filled with happiness. It almost let them forget that Pa was leaving in the morning to go find work.