CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
A STORY WITH A HAPPY ENDING
The four friends had reached a clearing behind which a clump of treespartially camouflaged a quaint little cottage. By this time Graham wasfeeling quite thirsty and thought it would be a good idea to knock onthe cottage door and see if he could obtain a nice drink of water. Thecottage was surrounded by a garden full of flowers and a white picketfence, and it was all so pretty it could have come right out of a fairytale. Graham knew full well that no evil person could possibly reside insuch a picturesque place, so he boldly opened the gate and walked alongthe little winding path to the front door, where he knocked loudly.
A minute went by with no response, whereupon Graham knocked again, butthis time quite a bit louder.
"Why don't you just knock my door down?" said a voice behind him. Grahamabout jumped out of his skin as he spun around to see a very kindly ladywith a twinkle in her eyes approaching from the back of the house. "Iwas pruning my roses in the back garden," she continued, "when I heardwhat I thought must be a very rude person banging on my front door. Igather you must be here on a very urgent matter."
"Well ... not exactly," Graham said rather sheepishly. "I was feelingvery thirsty and thought that perhaps I might be able to obtain a drinkof water"
"Hmmm, I think that can be arranged," replied the lady. "And what aboutyour friends?" she asked, looking rather curiously at Telly and a littlenervously at the Lion and Tiger.
"Oh, Telly here is an electrical-mechanical person and is not verypartial to water. But if you could wipe his face with a damp cloth,he'll not only look better and be able to see better, but I'll be ableto see his television programs better. Would you like to watch one now?"
The lady was more than a little confused by this invitation, but sheobliged by spraying some glass cleaning liquid on Telly's screen andwiping it with a dry cloth. "Ouch! That stuff stings my eyes!" Tellyprotested loudly. But he was happy that all of the dust had been removedfrom his screen.
"How about the lion and tiger?" asked the lady. "Would they like adrink? They don't bite, do they?" Without waiting for an answer, thelady led them to the back of the house, where a well was located. Shehauled up a bucket of ice-cold, crystal clear water, which Graham took along drink of from a ladle which she handed to him. The Lion and Tigersaid they were not thirsty, but the Tiger asked politely if there wereany fat babies residing with her. Graham coughed and choked as the waterwent down the wrong way. Fortunately, the noise drowned out the Tiger'squestion, and the lady did not hear him ...
With his thirst more than satisfied, Graham proceeded to introducehimself and did his best to explain his current situation and Telly'sunique abilities. The lady replied that her name was Dore and that shewas both an artist and a storyteller. She then went into the house andbrought out several unique pen and ink drawings, as well as somebeautiful watercolors, which everyone greatly admired. She lookedintently at the Hungry Tiger and said he was a magnificent animal andthat she would like to sketch him. The Tiger could not resist smirkingat the Lion, who just rolled his eyes.
"Now," continued Dore as she sketched away, "I'll tell you one of mystories if you like."
Graham and his friends nodded vigorously. After all, they all loved tohear stories. Everyone sat down on the soft velvety grass by the well asDore proceeded to tell the story. She had no sooner started when lots oflittle animals appeared as if from nowhere and gathered around tolisten. They somehow knew that there was nothing to fear from the Lionor the Tiger.
"The title of my story," said Dore, "is 'Helen's Smile.' I hope you likeit:
Today was a special day. Not only because the sun was shining, butbecause he felt good. It had been a long time since he had felt so good.He sat in his chair on the porch as he had done every single daythroughout winter, summer, fall, and (his favorite time of the year)spring.
He was a people-watcher all right. No question about that. And almosteveryone in town had to pass his house on the way to the train station.He liked that. He knew who worked in the city, who was late, and whowent in early. You could tell a lot about people by the schedules theykept. This was a particularly beautiful day. Fall nipped the air, and itfelt crisp to the skin. The leaves were just hinting at the change incolors. He liked this time of the year almost as much as he likedspring. The heat of the summer had a way of sapping a man's strength.Fall was different; there was something about the cool air that made hisblood surge through his body. Food seemed to taste better, and the airsmelted especially clean. The women seemed to look prettier than ever.Yes, sir! This was a good time of the year. His name was Clive, and hewas only twenty-seven years old. He had never really lived in the usualsense of the word, but he was wise beyond his years. People always wavedand said "Hi" to him, but few approached him. They knew he was ahandicapped person because he was always in his wheelchair, and youwould think people would want to chat and be cheerful around him so hewould feel good, but few ever did. It was his face that bothered them.It was deformed. This was a source of great pain to his mother, whoalways carried a cloak of guilt about her. His eyes were set very farapart and bulged. Many of the children on their way to school called him"Frog." They'd shout, "Hey, Froggy-Froggy! Hey, Mr. Frog!" and make loudcroaking sounds. They never knew the pain it caused him. A few children,however, were far more sensitive and loving and would wave and smile andsometimes come right up to him and say, "Hi, Clive. How are you today?"This made him feel happy again.
Clive's mouth was large and hung loosely at the ends. Somehow nature hadforgotten to give him all his facial muscles. For all his many emotions,his face only reflected one. To watch him try to smile was painful. Hisshriveled body was even sadder to observe. This day, Clive sat andwatched Helen pass by. He thought she had to be the most beautifulperson in the world. Surely a prettier girl could not exist. He watchedher intently, as he had done for the past six years. She walked by anddid not look his way, as usual. She always knew he was there. She hadsneaked a peak at him once and was so repulsed that she could not bringherself to look again. Yet she knew how he felt about her. She couldfeel it as she walked by. At first she felt afraid passing by. She eventried taking a different route to the station. But after a while shefelt silly. So she passed his house with her head held high and her eyesstraight ahead.
As the years passed, she found out about the "cripple" who sat on hisporch all day. It was a sad story: Apparently, the father couldn't copewith a deformed baby, so he deserted the family. The mother was a simplecountry-girl. She was forced to take in wash and to clean other people'shouses. But she managed to support herself and her deformed child. Shewas a quiet woman who minded her own business. She rarely spoke. But shecould polish silver and furniture like no other person and so she hadplenty of work. In time, she was able to afford her own house. They hadlived in that house on Mulberry Street for twenty years. It was alwaysclean and neat. On rare occasions, Helen saw the mother shopping. Themother was so thin and gaunt. How did she manage to lift that son ofhers?
As Helen passed the house that bright fall morning, she wondered if theman could stand up or walk. "Helen! Helen! You look so pretty today!"The young woman stopped dead in her tracks. Who spoke? She looked aroundher. No one that she could see was there--except the person on theporch. Was it him? No ... It couldn't be. She had heard that he knew howto speak, but that he was very difficult to understand. But this voicewas pleasant and articulate. Very masculine, too. _Is someone hidingbehind a bush? No. I'm being silly_, she thought. _I must have imaginedit._ She looked around one more time, yet carefully avoiding looking atthe figure on the porch.
"Helen, why do you always ignore me?"
Again she stopped. This time she did not look around. She knew. "Yes.You are right. It is me. I have finally gotten up enough courage to talkto you. It has taken me years. Can't you turn around just this once andsmile at me? It won't hurt you. You are so lovely, more lovely than eventhe moon, the stars, and all the flowers in the world. Today I am goingto die. Yes!
Really! I am so happy. It is such a special day. I knew Iwas going to die three days ago, and I prayed to God that, before Idied, I could just see Helen smile. He gave me the 'gift' of speakinginto your mind for just this one special day. And He promised that Icould speak articulately if what I said came from the heart. I know youcan hear me. Please. I love you so much ... Won't you turn and smile atme? Just this once?"
Helen stood rooted to the spot. She knew she was experiencing somethingabnormal. She was frightened. _How does he know he is going to die?That's impossible! But it's also impossible to hear a voice inside yourhead, and I know I'm hearing it! Oh, God! Dare I do it? Can I look athim? He's so ugly--so unbearably ugly! But how sad. It was a beautifulthing he said to me. What if I do smile? Will he expect me to smileevery day? No! I can't do that. Next he'll ask me to come up to theporch and chat. I couldn't bear it. I couldn't!_ Yet her heart went outto him. _What loneliness he must feel. I'll smile just this once, andthen tomorrow I'll take the other route_. She gathered all her willpowerand slowly turned around, smiling. At that moment she could feel atremendous surge of love radiate towards her and envelope her entirebeing. The sun was shining so brightly that it momentarily blinded her,so she really couldn't see his face, but nevertheless she kept smilingfor a moment or two. Then she turned and continued on her way.
It was now several weeks since she had changed her route. By now she wasconvinced that she had only imagined the voice. Yet she could not bringherself to walk down his street again. It was another glorious day.Helen had the day off and was going shopping. She was standing at thecheckout counter when she felt a light touch on her arm. She turned anddrew in her breath. It was HIS mother!
"Hello," said the mother in a soft voice. "I don't want to trouble you,but I just want to tell you something I promised my son before he died."
Helen's heart skipped a beat. "He died?"
"Yes, dear. He died several weeks ago. He had been sitting out on theporch as usual when he called out to me and told me you had smiled athim. Dear, you made him so happy. He asked me to tell you something.Then he slumped over and died. Just like that. Don't feel sad, dear. Itwas a blessing. He did not believe that death was the end. He believedthat he would receive a fine new body."
"What did he say?"
The mother looked up at her, the most pleasant smile crossing her face."He said to thank you for your smile. And to tell you that someday hewill meet you again and it will be a different story. Your smile madehis life worthwhile, and he died a very, very happy man."
Helen felt a sadness creeping over her. _It was only a smile_, shethought. _Now I am sorry I didn't smile before. It was such a littlething for me to give. But from now on I will smile more often. I'll doit for him_. "Thank you for telling me," she said aloud. "Your son musthave been a good man in his heart. If there is anything I can do, pleaselet me know." They both smiled at each other, for each knew that she hadfound a new friend.
The End"
"What a lovely story," Graham said. "Don't you think so, Telly?" heasked, turning to his friend. But Telly was crying like a baby. Tearswere flowing in gushes down his screen and splashing off his metallicboots.
Dore produced a wad of tissues and dried his eyes. "You're likely to geta short circuit," she said. "By the way, I'd be delighted to have youjoin me for supper before you continue on your journey." With that,everyone went inside, with Telly asking question after question. Aftersupper, everyone went out to the porch to talk. Graham sat on one ofthose swinging seats and became lost in thought as he swung gently backand forth. "Penny for your thoughts?" said Dore, sensing that the boywas a little sad.
"Oh, I was just wondering if I will ever find a way to get home. I thinkOz is a very interesting place, with lots of incredibly wonderful people(except for that old Witch), but I am getting very homesick, and I missmy family terribly. Not only that, but they are probably worried sickand have probably called the police about their missing child."
"Well," replied Dore, "you just happen to be in the right place ... Yousee that old well where you quenched your thirst? Well, it's a wishingwell. A real, true wishing well. And if you throw in a coin and make asincere unselfish wish, your wish will come true instantly. Of course,you only get one guaranteed wish, but if you make a second wish, youhave an eighty percent chance of that coming true, also."
Graham immediately perked up as Dore's words sank in. Then he becamecrestfallen as his eyes fell upon Telly's forlorn face, not to mentionthe disappointment reflected in the faces of the Cowardly Lion and theHungry Tiger. He had made a wonderful new friend in Telly and was justgetting to know the others, and now they were going to beseparated--perhaps forever.
Dore, quickly realizing what the situation was, offered her condolencesbut assured Graham that if he were to make that second wish with greatsincerity, there was a very good chance he could come back for a visit.With that, Graham shook hands with everyone and gave them each a bighug. He then threw a penny into the well as he made his two wishes. "Iwish to go back home," and "I wish to come back to Oz someday for avisit." Then, as he waved goodbye to everyone, he slowly becameinvisible, only to reappear for a second, then slowly disappear again.This happened two or three times as Dore explained to Telly that themagic was working all right but that Graham's mixed feelings on thematter were delaying the final teleportation. Just then, there was alarge black shadow overhead and a sudden WHOOSH! as a projectile whizzedpast Graham's head. Back and forth it went, to reveal none other thanthe Wicked Witch on her broomstick, grabbing for Graham as she passedhim.
"SO, LITTLE MAN. THOUGHT YOU'D ESCAPE FROM ME, EH? I DON'T THINK SO, MYFINE FEATHERED FRIEND!" She wailed like a banshee as she finally grabbedhim by the shoulder and shook him as he desperately tried to escape. Inthe distance Graham fancied he could hear his mother's voice callinghim.
"Graham! Graham!" His eyes--which had been shut tightly as the Witchshook him--opened to see with great surprise his mother's face as shealso shook him. "Wake up! Wake up! Don't you know it's twelve midnight?And you haven't even done your homework! Your father will be havingserious words with you in the morning, young man. Now, up to your roomimmediately!"
Graham had not been expecting to come home to such a tongue-lashing, buthe was very happy to finally be back home after so many harrowingexperiences. Ever since he had first been abducted to Oz, he hadconsidered it his mission to get home again. The wishing well had madeit possible.
But as Graham turned out the light beside his bed that night and laidhis head against his pillow, he began to think over the events that hehad experienced in Oz. Of course he had wanted to get home to hisfamily. It only made sense that he would. He was only twelve and heneeded them. Not only that, but they would be worried sick. He had madea sensible wish. Or had he? As he lay on his bed, it occurred to him thathe might have used his penny to wish away the wicked witch and save Oz.A feeling of guilt began to gnaw at him. Had he actually used his pennyto desert his friends when they needed him most? He realized then what aselfish act that had been. _Not entirely selfish_, he thought. _I wasthinking of my family as much as myself_. But he knew that he was makingexcuses and that he should have wished more wisely. As he slowly driftedoff into a troubled sleep, he saw images of the Cowardly Lion, theHungry Tiger, Telly, Jeanne-Marie, MacDonald Lindsay, Dore, and manyother Oz folk pass before his eyes.
The following day, Graham's mother was sorting the boy's dirty clothesfor the wash when she noticed an ink stain on his shirt pocket. Shechecked the pocket and found a piece of paper with some kind of smudgeddrawing and words below the sketch that she could not make out withouther reading glasses. It looked like, something ... speare. Without athought, she crumpled it up into a ball and threw it in the trash.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
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