by Mary Wingfield Bell
Chapter Seven -
Soon the splint was taken off of Winner's leg and the animal
quickly recovered. Now Jeff was convinced that his friends had
found something wonderful in the Bible Club that met often in the
old garage. The week following the old man's prayer for the dog
found Jeff ready to meet with the others in the LITTLE CHURCH.
Mr. Winterfresh introduced Jeff to the Lord Jesus and Jeff
received Him into his heart as had all the others of the gang
except Big Squirt. The old gang was changed into the new gang with
a new leader, Jesus. Wink's aunt said that it was now the LITTLE
CHURCH GANG.
The puppy, Winner, grew and grew. He was getting to be a big
dog. Jeff was allowed to keep him because he turned out to be a
nice obedient pet. When Jeff rode the bike, Winner always ran
behind. Mr. Winterfresh let Winner wait in his yard while the
children enjoyed the twice-a-week meetings. The boys and girls met
at the LITTLE CHURCH at 2 P.M. on Sundays and 5 P.M. on
Wednesdays. School would start soon, so the times had been set
accordingly.
Wink and his aunt spent time every night reading the New
Testaments their old friend had given them. They memorized verses
and asked each other Bible questions.
"The Bible is so alive," Aunt Gracie said. "I never realized
how much I was missing before I started reading the Scriptures.
Now-a-days she watched less and less television. Life was exciting
for her as she watched boys and girls learn the Word of God and
saw the change in their way of living.
Wink noticed that his friends were different. They never
mentioned stealing anymore and they rarely fought each other. From
reading the New Testament, Wink had a feeling that God was
speaking directly to him. Somehow he connected the Bible reading
to the dream he had one night that he had not forgotten. Perhaps
later he would understand what that dream really meant.
Wink's friend, Big Squirt, wasn't very happy about all the
kids going over to the old man's house and having a church in his
garage.
"Maybe I'll just find new friends," he said, but really didn't
mean it. Where could he find better friends? Having a dad who was
rarely home when he needed him and no mother to speak of, at all,
Big Squirt really needed the gang. Still he rode alone on his
bicycle. He was in such deep thought that he hardly watched where
he was going.
Because it was Sunday afternoon, all the others of the gang
were at the LITTLE CHURCH. Big Squirt was very lonely with no one
to talk to. He said "No" when the kids had asked him to come
along. "I'm going to ride away out in the country, probably past
Blue Lake," he said to himself. He pedaled very fast, gaining
speed all the while. Even on the curves, he did not slow down.
Suddenly from around a curve an automobile appeared and then
crash!
The car hit the bicycle hard, throwing it and Big Squirt
through the air. Big Squirt landed unconscious beside the road and
did not wake up until he found himself in a hospital bed with a
broken arm, broken ribs and a broken foot. He was wrapped in so
many bandages that it reminded him of the mummy pictures in last
year's history book. And he hurt so much, so terribly much. He
groaned a lot.
When Wink and his aunt arrived at their house after the LITTLE
CHURCH meeting, he decided to go see Big Squirt. When Wink rang
the doorbell, Big Squirt's father answered it. He was about to
leave for the hospital to see his son.
"Oh! That's awful!" Wink said upon hearing news of the
accident. "I must tell Aunt Gracie."
"Good heavens! How terrible!" his aunt said, obviously upset.
"Let's get over to that hospital and find out how he is." In some
ways she considered all the kids in the gang as hers. She loved
them so much.
On the way to the hospital she and Wink went into Fargo's Drug
Store and bought a crossword puzzle book and a mystery book for
Big Squirt to read.
When they walked off the elevator on the third floor of the
hospital, they saw Big Squirt's father in the lounge area.
"How is Sherman?" Wink's aunt asked.
"He is going to make it, but he got smashed pretty much," his
father sighed."Poor kid, I hate to see him in that condition. You
can go in to see him. He is in a private room -- 307."
"We'll go in now," Aunt Gracie said.
"Sherman, what did you do to yourself?" Wink's aunt asked
smiling.
In a shaky voice he answered, "I was f-feeling sorry for
myself because I was alone and forgot to watch on the curves."
"That's too bad, dear," Aunt Gracie said. "We are sorry. Now
you must eat well and do as the doctors and nurses say so you will
get well fast. We'll pray for you."
"We brought you something," Wink said, laying the books on the
bed.
"Thank you," the patient responded with a groan.
"Look! You can see the nice blue sky through this window,"
Wink's aunt said, trying to be cheerful.
"Oh-oh-oh! If I had gone to the LITTLE CHURCH with you I
wouldn't be here, would I?" Big Squirt said as he made an awful
frown.
"Probably not, but when you are well, maybe you will come,"
Wink suggested. "We had fun learning new songs and so much about
Jesus. He will make you well."
Sherman's father came in about then. "You got nice friends to
come see you so quickly." he remarked.
"Wink and Aunt Gracie are my best friends. Oh - h - h,
I hurt so much!" Big Squirt groaned. He could hardly stand the
pain.
"I'll get the nurse to give you something for that pain," his
father said.
"I think he needs to rest," said Wink's aunt. "We'll go now.
But we will be back."
Now Big Squirt was hurting so much he did not answer Aunt
Gracie. The two visitors quietly left the hospital room.
It was not yet dark when Wink and his aunt arrived home. He
decided to ride his bike around the neighborhood and let the guys
know what had happened to Big Squirt. Everyone felt sorry for
their friend.
"Oh! Oh!" was all Moon could say. It was hard to believe Big
Squirt was really in a hospital.
"If the big, dumb jerk had gone to LITTLE CHURCH with us, he'd
still be okay," remarked Rainbow, but inside she was really
hurting for him.
Rainbow, Daisy, Wink and Moon rode around their sub-division,
trying to think of something to do for their friend in the
hospital.
"I think I'll buy a get-well card and send it to him," Daisy
said.
"Why don't we make cards?" Wink suggested. "You can all come
to my house tomorrow."
On Monday most of the gang came to Wink's house to make
get-well cards for their friend. His aunt sat near the table to
help if anyone needed help. But each child had an idea for a
card.
Jeff drew a picture of a well and a bumble bee. He printed the
words BEE WELL SOON.
Wink made a card with a large letter U that resembled a
horseshoe. He printed WE MISS U GET WELL.
There were cards with pictures from magazines. Some of the
children drew stick people with flowers and animals.
Wink's aunt spoke, "Instead of making a card for Sherman I'm
going to bake chocolate chip cookies. Soon as you kids clear out
I'll begin."
Jeff left first to be with Winner; the dog had waited
patiently outside. Aunt Gracie liked Winner, but she did not want
dogs inside the house. Soon the others followed Jeff, and the
crowd was outside again. There was a stack of get-well cards in
the middle of the table.
"They do make a mess, but the kids are worth it," Wink's aunt
whispered to herself as she began to mix the cookie dough.
Late that evening she and Wink went back to the hospital,
carrying the get-well cards and the cookies.
Big Squirt smiled a wee smile from out of the bandages. He was
glad for the cookies and cards from friends but he still did not
feel much like talking.
Aunt Gracie spoke, "Soon you'll be talking up a storm when we
come to see you. We'll talk now and you listen."
Like the book?" asked Wink.
Big Squirt nodded yes. The lady and her nephew sat quietly for
a while, looking out the window. A nurse stepped into the room
long enough to take Big Squirt's temperature.
"How's he doing?" Wink's aunt asked.
"Oh, splendid! He is just very sore. Really, he is getting
along fine."
"I'm so glad," Aunt Gracie returned.
Soon Sherman's father was with him and Wink and Aunt Gracie
went home. On the way home they stopped to see Mr. Winterfresh. He
was delighted for their visit.
"You and the children have been bringing me such joy in my old
age," he said.
"You're as young as you feel," said Aunt Gracie.
"That's right," he agreed smiling. "I feel much younger than I
really am. The boys and girls are a part of that. They make me
feel younger than I am. But I must tell you, come Sunday I'll be
eighty-seven.
"Oh, no!" Wink's aunt responded, hardly able to believe that.
"I'm glad Wink wanted me to know you. Knowing you has brought me
Jesus - the greatest thing that ever happened to me."
"Don't you think it's time to go?" Wink asked after listening
to the two adults talk for about an hour.
"My, Yes!" his aunt replied. "I get chattering away and don't
know when to stop."
"I will pray for your friend Sherman," the old man said to
Wink and his aunt.
On the way home the two decided that something should be done
for Mr. Winterfresh's birthday.
"Looks like we'll be making cards again, said Wink. "This time
it's birthday cards."
"Good, and I'll bake an angel food cake," Aunt Gracie said.
"Maybe he will be surprised if everyone keeps it a secret."
"I'll tell the gang it's a secret. Anyone telling him will get
busted in his teeth." Wink smiled so his aunt would know that he
was teasing about the rough stuff. Wink really wanted to surprise
the old gentleman and hoped his friends would cooperate.
On Wednesday some of the children came to Wink's house. They
worked hard making cards and posters to give to Mr. Winterfresh.
"Wish my grandpa was a nice man like Mr. Winterfresh," Daisy
said. "My grandpa smokes like a chimney on the housetop. He is a
beer guzzler and smells 'ooky'. Oh, I hate to be around his place,
'cause he always smells like beer."
So does my mom," added Rainbow. "I run out of the house as
much as I can so she won't be breathing down on me. When I come
in, she's lying on the sofa watching those silly soap operas."
"Shucks! Wish everyone knew Jesus like we do," said Wink.
"What a good world this would be." He and the rest of the boys and
girls were drawing, printing, pasting and coloring. Wink drew a
picture of a man and printed HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST MAN IN A
MILLION.
Rainbow drew a basket and wrote beneath it, "This basket can't
hold all the wishes for your birthday." She signed the card with a
picture of a rainbow.
Marcia and Isabel made a picture on a posterboard of a white
garage with double doors. On top of the garage was a cross. Marcia
printed THE LITTLE CHURCH at the bottom of the poster. It was a
very nice picture. Everyone said so.
Wink did a lot of thinking while he worked. He watched the
others in happy conversation and noticed there was no cursing. No
one mentioned stealing. They were all having fun.
When Sunday came Wink and his friends went to the LITTLE
CHURCH and saw their old friend. It was his birthday but he did
not look any older.
Wink's aunt asked Mr. Winterfresh if refreshments could be
served before their meeting. She knew the boys and girls could not
contain their secret much longer. The angel food cake with
candles, was brought in.
"You got to blow out the candles and make three wishes,"
Rainbow told the old man.
"Sure," he answered. "I am going to tell you my wishes."
When the lights of the candles were out, he spoke, "I wish
that each of you will always go to church and learn more about
God." Tears trickled down the old gentlemen's face, but they were
happy tears.
One by one the children gave him cards and pictures, and he
put an arm round their shoulders.
"Sing us a song," Isabel said.
Mr. Winterfresh cleared his throat and sang a lovely song
about a land where he would never grow old.
"Tell us more about Heaven," begged Little Cube.
He told the children that there was nothing on earth, no
matter how pretty, as beautiful as the homes in Heaven and the
golden streets. Everyone would see and talk to Jesus there, which
was the best of all.