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The Family of Two

by Anne O'Donnell  
7/09/2023 / Short Stories

Sadie dressed Emmy in a yellow ruffle dress, chosen to match the new necklace purchased for her favorite doll. Bernice enjoyed bringing small gifts home to Sadie, and this one was sure to delight the child. Now where was that package? She placed Emmy on her pillow and made her way down to Uncle Tom’s library, where she found him passed out on the couch. Uncle Tom is always tired, Sadie thought as she meandered around the room eager to spot the package containing the necklace. She opened the closet, looked behind the door, checked the coat rack, and walked over to the desk drawer and pulled it open, careful to prevent the squeaky side from waking him up.

 

Moving some papers off to the side, Sadie uncovered a gold envelope with a name written on it, unsure of what it said. She stole a glance over to Uncle Tom, and took the envelope and scurried out of the room. When Bernice was done cooking dinner, she would ask what was in there that made Uncle Tom have to hide it.

She met Bernice in the kitchen making chicken dumplings and pulled up a chair, staring at the woman who had helped raise her since the passing of her parents in early March, 1918, who died from the flu outbreak that had ravaged the small town of Kissim, Virginia.

“Hey sugar, how’s my little dumpling doing today? Care to get your hands sticky and shape some of this dough? Pappy’s favorite, you know. He would eat these all day every day if he had his way!”

“Bernice, why does Uncle Tom always sleep on the couch? And why doesn’t he tell me stories anymore?” Sadie asked as she climbed up on the chair and reached into the bowl.

“You know the answer to that precious one,” Bernice reminded her. “Your uncle works very hard to feed us and buy us the clothes we want. Least I can do to honor him as chef is to stir up his favorite food. C’mon now, lots to finish before the kitchen stalkers come in with growling stomachs.”

Sadie knew her parents for five years before sickness tore the family apart and Auntie Elsie and Uncle Tom took her in as one of their own. They vowed before God to raise this young life to diligently observe God’s ordinances and walk in accordance with them. Bernice and Auntie were the only two people who brought comfort to Sadie when she wept tears of loneliness, aching to feel the warm hugs from Mamey and Pappy.

Before bedtime, Sadie took the envelope and tiptoed to Bernice’s room and poked her head in, noticing that Bernice held a tissue up to her eyes, wiping away some tears and holding back quiet sobs. The little girl touched Bernice’s shoulder and leaned against her, extending a hug of comfort in silence. Bernice caught herself and giggled softly, unable to hide the emotion of what she had found out about Uncle Tom. How was Elsie holding up, assuming she knew the worst of it?

Bernice swooped Sadie up on her lap and caressed her long curls, “My-my child, you look just like your Mamey. Watcha got tucked in those pretty little hands of yours? Something you brought me to see?”

Just then, Elsie called out to Sadie to come up for a bath, as it was getting dark, and time for little angels to curl up in their bed and drift off to the next dream. Sadie handed the gold envelope to Bernice and keeping a straight face said, “I found this pretty paper when I was searching for my necklace for Emmy. Uncle Tom has it hiding, but why? What’s inside Bernice?” Bernice promised to discuss it more tomorrow, and to run along and let Elsie tuck her in.

That night in the living room, Elsie broached the topic that had been weighing on her mind for the past week. “Tom,” she began, “I know about the hospital and what they require of you. The American Public Health Association is making unreasonable demands of you, and I know there is nothing I can do to stop them. I fear for our lives here, and want to make arrangements to stay with my sister in Arizona where the air is crisp and clean for Sadie, and of course,” turning to her dearest of friends, “Bernice, and myself. When the pandemic passes, I’ll want you to join us.”

Nodding his head in understanding, Thomas spoke up, “With 40,000 deaths recorded since the onset, and more added to the list every day, I fear for my own life too. My wards are for those in the isolation. I was going to ask if you would care to join forces and help me maintain high standards of cleanliness as it would promote a higher likelihood of preventing infections and save lives. The Prevention Committee is writing up the protocol, and I will know more tomorrow.”

Elsie could scarcely believe her ears. One hundred and forty-six of the two hundred beds in Thomas’s wards became full overnight, with the promise all would be occupied within hours. Elsie knew full well the hospital was short staffed and she had to face the reality of how she arrived at this place of doubting her ability to step out in faith to help others in need, when she herself faced her own fear of contracting the infection and therefore, putting at risk Sadie’s secure home life. Oh dear Lord, she prayed, help me know your will.

“Dr. Rosen has put out a bulletin to all attending physicians announcing required attendance to learn of the new flu serum he invented. While he stated that the serum doesn’t guarantee protection against the flu, it would surely not cause harm and hopefully bring a measure of safeguarding to those inflicted.

Elsie, I know this is hard for you, I have labored over this tirelessly and cannot come up with any other option than to fulfill the calling God has on my life to help those who cannot help themselves. I’m asking that you stand by my side as we dedicate our lives to the work of the Lord.”

Elsie’s eyes teared up. She felt trapped, and struggled to go before the Lord with a clean and pure heart. She never perceived herself as being cowardly, but this, it paralyzed her with fear.

“Thomas,” she cried out to her husband, “Oh, Thomas. I’m desperate! My heart can’t hold this conflict. I love you and can’t bear to see anything happen to you, or us!”  Desperate for what specifically, she could not vocalize; that the pandemic would disappear and free her to return back to normalcy, or desperate to find a way to say yes to her husband? Maybe both.

Bernice returned the envelope back to Thomas. “Our curious angel found this in your drawer while looking for Emmy’s necklace. She perceived it to be something secret since it was hidden below your other papers. The gold-leaf color intrigued her. Here it is, but I did not take any liberties to study its content."

Thomas reached out to grab hold of the envelope that landed on his desk the day before and tore open its content, revealing the lists of names of the diseased at the hospital. He took a deep breath and posed the inevitable question to his beloved wife, “Elsie, do you care to know more of what awaits us?”

By mid-morning the next day, Sadie had exhausted all attempts at finding Emmy’s necklace. “Bernice, Emmy is sad today. She can’t find her new necklace,” Sadie languished.

“Oh my darling girl, how could I be so forgetful,” Bernice bemoaned, “My mind has been a million miles away. Come with me.” Bernice opened the door to her closet and took out her shopping satchel. Bending low, she coaxed Sadie to reach in and pull out her long-awaited treasure for her doll. “Emmy will be so happy now,” Sadie exclaimed as she hugged Bernice with her six year old hug.

Bernice smiled. “But wait, I have a surprise for you too, precious girl. Dig a little deeper and tell me what you find.” Much to her astonishment, Sadie pulled out a larger version of Emmy’s necklace and with a squeal, placed it over her head. “See? We are twins now, joined together for always and always.”

Thomas arrived home after midnight, staggering through the door and collapsing on the couch. Elsie saw his blood-shot eyes and the weariness he succumbed to. “Deaths Elsie, too many deaths. No immunity. My soul is weary and troubled.”

September’s outbreak, as Thomas revealed, surged with a vengeance and was like lethal waves sweeping through the coastal cities and villages. Private homes, schools, and other building converted into makeshift hospitals and were staffed by young medical students and nurses. “Entire families are being wiped out Elsie”, Thomas lamented, cautious of the rising anxiety the news brought into the home.

The obvious became apparent leaving little time for Thomas and Elsie to make arrangements for Bernice and Sadie to leave town immediately on the next train west. This erupted a flurry of emotions within the tight knit family, as they had survived one ordeal after the next by clinging to God’s word and each other.

“Can I bring Emmy on the train ride Auntie Elsie? She would miss me too much if she stayed behind,” Sadie motioned to her cherished doll with the necklace. And with tears in their eyes, the family of four bid their farewells to one another, promising to pray for wisdom and guided protection. “God will not let us down,” affirmed Thomas as he took hold of Elsie’s hand. Looking at Bernice and Sadie one last time, he spoke with a deep reverence for His heavenly Father. “Pray fervently for us, and we will take joy in holding you up before the Lord God almighty as well, who made heaven and earth, and is watchful over all of our ways. To Him be the glory. My love goes with you.”

By October, Elsie and Thomas both exhibited symptoms of the virus, and Thomas was forced to take a retreat to rest and recover from his weariness. But time would not allow for it, and one crisp and breezy day, when the leaves so delicately floated to the ground, Thomas said good-bye to earth, and departed from all that he knew and held closest to his heart.

Elsie was beside herself fighting for her own life, sometimes gasping for air and passing out from the trauma of feeling so alone. She cried out one more time for someone to save her, and two days later followed her husband into glory. There is no rest for the strong of heart, Thomas used to chide, but now they both rested in the comforting arms of their savior, Jesus Christ. Home at last.

Bernice held Sadie’s hand as they descended from the train, looking in every direction for Elsie’s sister. She hoped Lucy would be able to spot her red, white, and blue hat above the heads, and no sooner had Sadie stumbled over her feet from the uneven stones scattered across the walkway, that Bernice heard a pleasant voice weaving through the crowd.

“Well, look at these two beauties,” Lucy called out after spotting the travelers. “Welcome to your new surroundings. And I do indeed cry for your misfortunes, how tragic this is for all of us.”

Sadie and Bernice settled into a somewhat comforting surrounding while rumors and reports of the virus continued to creep into their nerves and wreak havoc at the mention of probable deaths occurring in and around the arid mountains of Arizona. Alarm became a crisis of its own.

Having lived through their own traumatic experience of losing Tom and Elsie to the infectious virus, Bernice fought hard to distract themselves from stories circulating that described unimaginable devastation. “Only God can keep us safe,” Bernice reminded Sadie one afternoon as they walked along the boardwalk. He is the keeper of our souls, and we need always to trust whatever He finds fit to do.”

By the spring of 1920, the pandemic came to an end, as those that were infected either died or developed immunity. It had run its course. By God’s grace, the family of two survived the deadliest virus ever to hit the globe.

Traveling back home, Bernice learned which major cities experienced a small spike in flu cases, as they had not built up enough immunity. Thankfully, Kissim was in the clear.

Most stayed at home craving a return to normal living while others celebrated the end of the pandemic, but Bernice knew nothing could ever replace the life they once knew. She held Sadie’s hand, surrendering herself to God’s will for a future.

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

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