That next week had flown by Micky went to the park early Saturday morning to have his run. When he arrived, she wasn't by the tree; however, when he finished with his run and stopped by a park bench to sit and catch his breath, he looked over and she was sitting there with her pen and notebook again. His heart started to race and he tried to slow down his breathing so he could talk to her. He used his towel and wiped off his face and chest. Then he walked over to the tree. "Hey there, happy Saturday." he said.
"Yeah, what's so good about it?" she snapped.
"Well, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and we woke up today and are blessed with another day of living." he replied.
"Yeah so what, who cares," she said taking her pen and paper and turning around to the other side of the tree.
"What on earth is wrong with you today, Elaine?" Micky asked in a soft, comforting voice.
"Buzz off and leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you today, tomorrow, or any day again." Elaine replied.
"What did I do to you?" Micky asked.
"Nothing, just leave me alone." Elaine said getting up from the ground and running away from him.
He wondered what was wrong with her and if she would be okay. He followed behind her and saw her sit down under another tree. He watched from a distance and saw her crying quite a lot. He did not like to see any woman cry.
He wiped his face and chest again and then walked over closer to the tree. "Will you please talk to me, Elaine? I am worried about you." he said in a soft voice.
"You don't know me well enough to be worried about me. Buzz off." she snapped again.
Micky pulled out a piece of paper from his back pocket and wrote down his telephone number and put it on her notebook and said, "This is my phone number at my apartment. I'm available if you need a friend. Call me day or night. I don't mind."
He then walked away from her and finished his run back to his car and left. Elaine looked at the piece of paper and then shoved it into her purse. She then went back to crying hysterically again.
~~~~~~~
After his shower at this apartment and getting dressed, Micky sat in his chair, turned on the TV, and had a nice cold Coca-Cola. "Ahhhh" he said as he took his first sip. "This is heaven." he said.
He flipped through the channels on the TV and found an old TV show that he loved to watch. He reclined his recliner back and then enjoyed the show. He laughed and laughed like crazy.
Suddenly his phone started to ring. He reached over to his right and pulled it off the coffee table, "Hello, this is Micky."
"Hello, is this George?" a quiet voice said.
"Yes, this is George, also known as Micky, who is this?" he asked.
"Um this is Elaine from the park. He gave me this number and told me to call him any time." she said.
"Yes, hello Elaine. It's me." Micky said.
"Micky?" she asked her voice quivering on the phone.
"Yes, Elaine, what is wrong?" he asked.
"I'm lost." she replied. "I don't know where I'm at."
"Are you in your car?" he asked.
"Yes, I went for a drive in the country, and now I have no idea where I'm at." Elaine replied crying.
"Okay sweetie, just calm down and catch your breath. I'll help you." he said putting back on his shoes and lowering the chair down.
"What exit did you get off at?" he asked.
"I don't know." she replied. "All I know is I'm staring at a white building with a steeple on top and it says something about Grazer Farms. I've never heard of it before and there are no cars around anywhere. I'm still in my car, but I'm scared to try to drive anywhere for fear I'll get even more lost."
"No, stay there. I know right where you're at. Don't move, ok?" he said.
"I won't Micky. Please hurry." she said.
"I will sweetie, don't worry. I'll hurry." Micky replied and hung up the phone. He grabbed his cell phone, programmed her phone number into his phone from the Caller ID system, grabbed his keys, ran out to his car, jumped inside, and drove off.
He took the exit to Rainbowville and then jumped onto Main Street from there and headed North. He drove out of town for about 20 minutes and then arrived in front of Grazer Farms. He saw a car near the end of the street parked underneath a tree. He drove over next to it and saw that it was her car.
He parked his car and got out of it, and she cried, "Oh Micky, I'm so scared. I don't know where I'm at here."
He put his arms around her and said, "You're okay sweetie, I'll help you. You're not that far lost." She clung to his arms in terror and cried and cried. "I'm going to get in the passenger side and sit with you until you calm down, ok?"
Micky let go of her and walked around to her passenger side of her car. It was full of bags and food wrappers, but he climbed inside anyway and sat with her. "I was so scared, Micky." she cried lifting her arms up to him again. "I'm still new here and I don't know all of the areas." she cried putting her head on his shoulder and just letting her tears flow down her cheeks.
He patted her back and said, "It's okay, you're just fine sweetie. Just fine. Just calm down and take a few deep breaths for me please, ok?"
He watched as she took some deep breaths, but he could still see the panic in her eyes. "Shhhh, calm down sweetie, you're just fine. Honestly, no one will hurt you."
"I can't drive my car. I'm too terrified." she said over and over again. He knew she was still in an extreme panic and was working herself into a tizzy.
"I'll call some friends of mine and they will come out here and take my car back and I'll drive yours, ok?" he asked. "Okay," she replied crying and crying. Micky got into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone and dialed his friend from the band, Mike. He had kept in contact with Mike after they broke up. "Hey Mike, it's Micky. How are you?"
"Hey Mick, just great. How about you?" he asked.
"Um well I kind of have a huge favor to ask of you and Peter." he said.
"Sure what is it man? We're both home." Mike said.
"Well a new friend of mine who is new to the area was lost and I came to help her out. But she's too panicked to drive and I'm wondering if you can come out here, and drive my car back to her house while I drive hers back?" Micky asked.
"Sure man, where are you at?" Mike asked.
"Grazer farms over off the Rainbowville exit and then turn onto Main Street heading north. We're the two cars near the edge of the road. You'll see mine and I'm sitting in hers with her. She's terrified and I don't think she's going to be able to drive back."
"Okay, got it. We'll be there in half an hour. Can you wait until then?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, we'll be here. Thanks Mike. I really appreciate this." Micky replied.
"No problem, shotgun, see you soon." Mike replied hanging up the phone. "C'mon Pete, we need to go help Micky and his new friend out."
"Okay Mike," he replied walking out to the car with his friend.
"They are coming to drive my car back and I'll drive yours, ok?" Micky asked.
"Okay, thank you," she said in a sad voice still clinging to his arms. "Just relax and breathe, Elaine. You are just fine. No one will harm you." he said over and over again.
________________________________________________________________
A half an hour went by and Elaine was still holding onto Micky's arms so tightly. She had fallen asleep, but wouldn't let him go. Micky saw Mike and Peter driving up and waved at him. Mike parked the car and him and Peter changed positions and Mike walked over to see Micky. "How is she?" Mike asked.
"She's asleep, but she's still terrified." Micky replied.
"Where is she from?" Mike asked.
"I don't know." Micky replied. "We only just met last week at the park."
"What is her name?" Mike asked.
"It's Elaine. She's a very sweet older woman, who is a devout Christian woman, goes to Church, teaches Sunday School, and she lives in the apartments near mine." he replied.
"For only knowing her a week, you sure do know a lot about her." Mike replied taking the keys from his friend.
"She's a good person, Mike. I have never met anyone like her," Micky replied.
"Elaine, sweetie, I'm going to move you over to the passenger side of your car so I can drive, ok? Mike and Peter are here to drive my car back." he said in a very soft voice. He unwrapped Elaine's fingers from his arm and lay her back in the seat.
He walked around the car to the driver's side, picked her up and carried her back to the passenger side setting her carefully down and attaching her seatbelt.
She woke up startled a minute and he said, "It's okay, my friends are here and they're going to drive my car back and I'm going to drive yours. Just go back to sleep." Her eyes rolled back up in her head and she went back to sleep.
Micky walked around to the driver's side and told Mike, "Drive my car and follow me because I'm not exactly sure which building she's in."
"Okay Mick, we'll be right behind you." Mike replied jumping into Micky's car and Peter waiting in their car. Micky started the car and Christian music came on the radio. He adjusted the volume a tiny bit and then drove off with Mike and Peter trailing behind in the cars.
When they returned back to the apartment complexes, Micky drove slowly looking for all the Tangent apartments. He saw six buildings labeled Tangent Apartments and he had no clue which one she was in.
He parked the car by the curb a minute and asked, "Elaine, sweetie, we're back at your apartment now. Which one is it?"
"452." she said.
"What was that sweetie? I'm sorry I didn't understand you." he said in a gentle voice.
"4520, number 12" she said slower and more comprehensible.
"Thank you sweetie." Micky said.
Micky left Elaine in the car for a brief moment and told Mike, "Park my car right here by the curb and then you and Peter can head back. I'm going to park her car and get her up to her apartment, and then I'll drive back over to mine when I know she will be okay."
"Thanks for calling us Micky." Mike said. "Sorry your friend got lost, but I'm glad you knew where she was at."
"Yeah, when she said Grazer Farms I knew right away. I love that place, but they are closed for two weeks now." Micky replied.
Mike parked Micky's car by the curb on the street while Micky parked Elaine's in her parking spot. Mike ran the keys back up to Micky and said, "Doors are locked."
"Thanks Mike," Micky said. "I appreciate it so much."
"No problem, shotgun, glad you found your missing friend. She seems sweet." Mike replied.
"Yes, she's very sweet," Micky replied. "Thanks again and tell Peter I said thank you as well."
"I will, shotgun, goodbye." Mike yelled.
"Bye," Micky replied.
"We're home now sweetie," he said to Elaine. She opened her eyes and was very groggy. "You want me to help you up to your apartment?"
"Yes, please," she replied.
He made sure her lights were off, opened the door, locked the driver's side, walked over to the passenger side, helped her to stand up, got her purse, locked her car door, and took her into the building to her apartment.
When he opened the door, he walked in and the apartment was spotless. Nothing like her car. But it was very clean and brightly painted colors on the wall. He looked around and saw pictures all over that she had drawn of certain things. He thought to himself, "She's an artist too."
He helped her to the couch and she stretched out on it and went back to sleep. He knew she was terrified and wasn't mad at her for going to sleep. He left her keys on the table, made sure her door was locked, wrote her a note leaving his phone number and his address, and then left her to sleep a peaceful afternoon.
________________________________________________________________
That next morning, Micky arrived at Church early and she hadn't arrived yet. He got his hymnal ready and then sat there praying before the service had started. He heard footsteps walk in, a gentle purse drop, a program open, hymnal marked, and then he heard a whisper, "Hey you."
He lifted his head and she was sitting in front of him. "Hey," he said.
"I got your note and I wanted to thank you so much for helping me out yesterday. I was so frightened." she said smiling at him.
"It's okay, I'm glad I could help you." Micky replied. "And, I'm really glad you felt comfortable in calling me as well."
"You're one of my only friends here besides for the children here at Church. I'm not really close to many people. I just moved here six months ago from Massachusetts, so I am still adjusting to so many things." she said smiling at him. "It's very different here than there."
"I'm sure it is." he replied. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Yes, thank you so much. I was wondering if you might hang around after Sunday School today because I would like to take you out for breakfast as a 'thank you' for helping me yesterday."
"Sure, I have no plans for today," Micky replied. "But please know, you do not have to treat me for breakfast."
"It's not a treat. It's my blessing to you because you blessed me yesterday by helping me, taking my car back to the apartment, for helping me into my apartment, and most of all not taking advantage of me because I was sleeping." she replied. "Most men would not have been so nice."
"Well, I'm definitely not most men and I would never take advantage of a woman like that." he said.
"Thank you again," she said smiling at him and then walking up to the altar to have her private prayer time with the Lord.
After the service was over with, Elaine walked up to Micky and asked, "Would you like to help me with Sunday School today? The kids would love to meet you."
"You sure you don't mind?" he asked.
"I'm positive," she replied smiling at him.
He followed her down to her Sunday School classroom and watched as she took out her supplies for the class and set them up before the children arrived. "Sit here and wait for the kids, ok? I have to use the ladies room." Elaine replied.
"Okay, sure." Micky said sitting down in a little person's chair and waiting. He looked around the room and all of the neat projects she had completed with the children.
Suddenly the children walked in the room and one little girl screamed, "AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh someone stole Miss Nelson. Mommy, mommy, Miss Nelson disappeared." She ran to her mother and clung to her.
The mother looked at Micky and asked, "Miss Nelson?"
"She's in the ladies room. I'm just a visitor today." he replied.
"Natalie, Miss Nelson had to go potties, just like you have to go potty in your diapers. No one stole Miss Nelson."
Elaine walked out of the bathroom, smiled, and said, "Is that my Natalie?"
"Miss Nelson, Miss Nelson," Natalie screamed running towards her. "I thought someone had stolen you away from our class."
Elaine put her arms around Natalie, picked her up, and said, "No sweetie, I had to pee pee." Natalie giggled and said, "Pee pee." She gave Elaine hugs and kisses.
Elaine walked in the room and the kids were staring at Micky with evil eyes. "Children, this is my friend Micky and he's going to be helping me with class today. I have not been stolen by the evil Satan monster. I'm here. I had to use the restroom. Give Micky a hug and tell him, 'good morning.'
The kids all walked up to Micky and one by one gave him a hug and said, "Morning icky."
Elaine told Micky, "Some of them aren't too good with speech yet and can't say the names all the way. Don't take offense."
"It's okay." he said smiling as he hugged the kids.
"I'm sorry I thought you stole Miss Nelson," Natalie said giving Micky a hug.
"It's okay, you're forgiven." he said to her and she smiled at him.
"Okay kids, today I thought we would bring out the Jesus story again and then watch Part 3 of the video that we never completely finished yet. Then I thought you could all share with Micky and I about what you did this week to celebrate Jesus, ok?" she asked.
"Yes Miss Neese." one little boy said. Elaine bent down and picked him up and said, "Micky, this is Jay Jay and he is my youngest. He's only in pre-school; and, as you can see, he can't say a lot of words yet, but he's a cutie; aren't ya Jay Jay?"
"Yes Miss Neese." he said smiling at her.
She carried him over to his chair and put him down. "Okay everyone, let's start the Jesus story. Can everyone raise their arms and say, "We love you Jesus."
The little kids all raised their arms and said, "love you Jesus." in the best possible way they could talk. Micky's heart melted watching Elaine with all the children. There were twenty in her class and they were just the sweetest things ever.
Elaine pulled up two big people chairs and told Micky, "You and I sit in big people chairs."
He took his spot on a big people chair and she started to tell the children, "Okay here's the story, so let's be really quiet and listen, ok?"
"Yes Miss Nelson." Natalie said smiling at her.
Everyone listened as Elaine read the story about Jesus' birth and how he came about. They all just stared at Elaine. Micky could tell they were concentrating really hard on listening. He got the biggest kick out of one of them who was holding their hands up praising the Lord. "Miss Neese, Miss Neese," he said.
"Yes Nicholas, what is it?" she said.
"I had the poopies Miss Neese. Poopies." All of the kids just looked at him and then smiled. Micky smirked at Elaine and Elaine said, "Come on Nicholas, we will change your diapers. Micky, please watch the kids for me."
"Yes, I will." he said.
Elaine took Nicholas into the bathroom and he giggled. "I poopied." he said.
"Yes I can see that Nicholas." she said changing his diaper.
When they returned back to the room, Micky had all the kids sitting on the floor in a circle and he was continuing reading the book where Elaine had left off. She was impressed that he had taken charge and continued on. She walked over to him and sat back down in the chair and just listened. All the kids looked at Micky so contently.
After the story was over with, Elaine told the kids, "Stay on the floor with Micky, and I'll start part three of the video."
They all watched her with content and some of them were jumping up and down they loved the video portion of their class.
When the video started, Elaine put down their little pillows and a lot of them curled up with their pillows and watched the video. She sat next to Micky and whispered, "Sometimes during video portion, they take a nap. I don't mind. They work hard here on the days no video is shown."
"You are so good with them," he said smiling at her.
"Thank you. I love teaching them about Jesus." she replied smiling as she looked around at all of them watching the video.
When the video was over with, Elaine turned back on the lights and all their little eyes opened brightly. She said, "Very good everyone. That was an excellent Part 3. I am so proud of all of you that watched the entire video with me and Micky. You little ones I hope you had a nice nap."
After she collected all their pillows, they sat at the table and Elaine asked them, "So tell Micky and I how you celebrated Jesus this week."
Natalie raised her hand and said, "We prayed at the table for our meals."
"That's wonderful, Natalie. Anyone else want to share?" she asked.
"We had a prayer before our little league game," Joshua said.
"Really Joshua? That's lovely," Elaine said.
"Yes we prayed we would kick the other team's pants." Joshua said smiling at them.
"I see," Elaine said and then asked, "Anyone else want to share?" wanting to change the subject really quickly.
"My momma went to her Doctor and we prayed over her for a good result." Damian said.
Elaine looked at him and asked, "Is your momma sick, Damian?"
"The stork is coming to visit our family." he said.
Micky looked at Elaine and asked, "Stork?"
"His mother is expecting a baby," Elaine whispered. "They refer to it as the 'stork'.
"Ahh, I see." he replied.
"That's lovely Damian. Are you excited about being a big brother?" she asked.
"Yes, me and my sister are happy. We hope it's a good result." he said.
"Yes, I hope so too," Elaine replied.
Just then the timer went off and Elaine said, "Well children, I hope that you all have a very safe and blessed week. Give me and Micky a hug and kiss, please."
All the kids walked over and gave Elaine and Micky a hug and a kiss. "Will we see you next week, Sir?" a little one asked him.
"Possibly." Micky replied.
"Good," he said giving him another hug. "I like you."
"I like you too." Micky replied.
The parents came to pick the kids up and Elaine asked Damian's mother how she was feeling.
"Oh he told the class I'm sure, didn't he?" she asked.
"Yes, the stork is coming." Elaine replied.
"Yes, well I'm doing really good and the baby is good. I am just having a lot of morning sickness, that's all. My husband is on massive overtime at work, so it's just me and Damian and his sister. I haven't even had time to paint the nursery yet." she said.
"When are you due?" she asked.
"Not for six more months yet, I'm just so drained already." she replied.
"God will provide for you, Nancy. He always does." Elaine replied giving her a hug.
"Thank you for blessing our children, Elaine. They love your class so much." she replied.
"You're welcome. I love them too." Elaine replied. "Let me know if you need anything, Nancy. I'm in the book under EG Nelson."
"Thank you, Elaine. I will. God Bless You Always." Nancy replied giving her a hug and kiss and then leaving with Damian and his sister. They waved "Bye Miss Nelson." Elaine waved back at them.
She turned around to Micky who was pushing in all the little chairs and helping to pick up the room. "I'm famished, how about you?" she asked.
"Yes, me too. They are a cute bunch of kids." he said.
"Yes, they sure are." Elaine replied. "They sure are."
Chapter 1
Chapter 3
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