Finding Hope (2 page)

Chapter 2

The Forgotten Plains

Pillars
of light pierced distant trees as the parched landscape stretched out to the horizon. It was a time of challenge, a new era where society was being redefined. Spirals of air danced across the crackled ground with beauty and delicate touch. The town of Impel, Kansas stood in the distance like a weathered granite rock among the forgotten high plains. Rusted steel snarled from city limits devouring the white washed, empty power station. Main Street pointed east and meandered along to the center of this once quaint and thriving town. Decaying trash from busier times clung along the concrete where families once lived their careless lives.

The sidewalks were busy with people shuffling about, each driven with conviction and purpose. Laughter of youth in the distance brought no happiness to the expressionless faces of the people who remained. Polished among the crumbling town, the only hardware store stood like a beacon. A
finely painted sign sat outside offering assorted treasures inside. Rain gear, propane, and medical supplies it advertised, all at the lowest price for the next hundred miles. In pale sun-soaked letters on the front window spelled the words, "Cal’s Hardware".

Crying filled the immediate surroundings. Not cries of fear warning of dang
er, but something more fatigued like the cries of an animal without hope. Above the hardware store stood several small apartments with sheets and towels blocking the last sunlight of the day. Trickling out from inside one of the small rooms, the sounds wept forth.

“Would you l
ike more water or food,” Hope Brennan asked her six year old boy who was huddled in pain on the couch. “You got to get something in your belly if you want to grow up strong,” she urged with a smile only a mother could give. Caressing his thinning hair, Hope sang a soft song. She kissed his warm, damp forehead, holding her tears deep inside her secret place.

The tiny room was filled with memories of family and happiness. Picture
s hung like stories on the wall showing trips to the ocean and summer days filled with joy. Among the smiling images, there were a few missing chapters. The uneven color of paint on the walls emphasized the absent picture frames. Although the clean and tiny room looked abandoned, a few pieces of well-kept furniture made this place home. It was neat and orderly standing in contrast to the disarray of life outside.

Carefully standing up, Hope walked to the kitchen to rinse the hand towel she had been using to cool her son. A voice from the other room broke the silence.

“Is Julian asleep?” the voice quietly asked.

“Yea
h, I think his fever is finally getting better,” Hope responded as she walked back to the only bedroom in the tiny apartment. “He seems to be getting stronger every day,” she continued sitting down next to her longtime boyfriend and Julian’s father, Thomas. “What cha reading,” she asked playfully.

“I’m just looking to see if there’s any work in Colby. Stuart was
sayin' that there are a lot of people movin' through the area and that work is easy to find. They’re even talking about rebuilding the ol’ rail,” Thomas said in a hopeful tone. “Just need to figure out what our next move should be.”

Thomas was a strong, good man. He was the kind of man who would help a stranger just as quickly as a lifelong
friend. Not a college man, Thomas made himself valuable through hard work and always doing the right thing. People trusted Thomas. A man of his word, he always came through when needed.

“Remember that time in Topeka? T
he water park when Julian was just a baby?” Hope asked snatching the newspaper. “I can still taste all that pizza. It’s been so long since we’ve had pizza. Mmm…hot, cheesy, pizza! If you could have anything right now, what would it be?” Hope asked with eyes shining in fantasy.

“Any
thing, huh? I’d love a handful taffy ― salt water taffy ― like we got in Atlantic City. Oh, and a sloppy joe!” Thomas said as his mouth began to water.

“Yea
h, taffy and sloppy joes - that would be amazing!” Hope giggled clutching the worn and tattered couch pillow.

Thomas stood from the couch as his body popped and cracked
reminding him that he was nearing his fortieth birthday. “I’ll be right back, gotta pee,” he said with a childish grin.

Walking into the bathroom, Thomas caught a glimpse of his image in the mirror. “
Ahh, I gotta get more sleep,” Thomas whispered as he pulled at his face to reveal his kind eyes. Splashes of silver were beginning to grow around his temples and receding hairline, but his skin remained tight and youthful. The gray dusting was hidden well among his sun bleached hair which stood as a thick, curly pile upon his boyish face. “What’s next Tom? Got to figure this out,” he said turning to relieve himself.

The bell chimed a friendly tune as the outside door opened up into the hardware store. “Good Morning Helen. How’s my dear friend today?” the woman inquired with a distracted smile.

“Any word yet on those seeds I ordered? I’m ready to get out in the garden and the pantry could use refreshing.”

“No, nothing yet,” Helen said.
“Haven’t gotten any deliveries in five days now. We’re starting to run low on many things. How’s your boy up in Lincoln? Is business picking up for him?”

Mrs. Avery voice cracked awkwardly as she answered, “Well things are getting better. His wife and kids are doing well, and the school has re-opened. Last I heard, the kids
' grades were exceptional.” Leaning in close to Helen, Mrs. Avery continued, “I’m a bit concerned though because I haven’t seen a letter from him in over a month. I wish I could be with them. They’re just so far away.”

“I’m sure everything’s fine. Things in Nebraska have always been stable. Life just gets busy,
ya know,” Helen said lightly patting Mrs. Avery’s shoulder.

“Did you hear about the girl in
Clearview? She went missing the night before last,” Mrs. Avery explained with a worried look on her face, “She was helping a family friend with some preserves and never made it home. It’s was a two mile walk, but she never showed up later that night.”

“Are they out looking for her?” Helen asked with concern.

“I don’t know, but how horrible is that? Her family must be sick with fear,” Mrs. Avery whispered.

“Well, l
et me know if you hear anything,” Helen said grasping Mrs. Avery’s hand.

“You know I will,” Mrs. Avery said with a comforting smile.
“Anyhow, I need a couple things if you have them,” she continued. “I need aspirin, more fertilizer, and I have two jackets that need mending. Do you think that’s possible?” Mrs. Avery said trying to remain upbeat.

“Well, we have the granulated nitrogen, but the aspirin will be a week or so,” Helen said. “And the jackets should be ready
in four days. Hope’s been busy and has several items to mend.”

“I understand. She’s does such a great job with everything she repairs. Just let me know when they’re ready for me to pick up. By the way, how’s Cal?” Mrs. Avery asked with genuine interest.

“He’s better, still a bit tired, but then again, who isn’t?” Helen said with a chuckle. “Well say hi for me. We’ll have you two out for supper when he’s feeling better,” Mrs. Avery said as she turned to leave.

“Will do,” Helen said. “You have a safe day
, and I’ll see you soon.”

Helen gathered up the jackets and walked to the attached store room. “We’ve got two more for
ya Hope,” Helen said with affection.

The store room was
bare with only a few supplies remaining. In the corner of the clean and almost empty room stood a small table with a sewing machine on top of it. Sitting, working hard at the small table, Hope looked up and smiled at Helen. “Just put them on the shelf. I should be able to get them done by late tomorrow afternoon,” she said.

“Thanks again for all your hard work. I’m always hearing how good you are,” Helen explained as she patted Hope’s shoulder. “Are you still planning on going to the town social? People sure would love to hear you play.”

Hope stood up with her eyes bright and youthful and took Helen’s hand. “Hopefully Julian will be feeling better soon because I’ve been looking forward to social for a while now,” Hope said smiling. “Thomas and I sure could use a night out together.”

Hope had been playing guitar since she was young girl growing up in Ocean City, Maryland. Her father, a dear but unconventional man, had a passion for the world and all things it contained. Constantly seeking meaning, he’d focus obsessively on whatever caught his attention until he grew tired of it. It wasn’t that he was undisciplined, it was simply that he felt his time was short and there was so much beauty in the world to consume.

One thing very important to him was music. He had filled Hope’s childhood home with all sorts of musical instruments. He had become a proficient guitar player and also dabbled in percussion, piano, and anything else he could tune and made noise. Even though her father was unable to stick to anything, he was able to succeed in life because he saw things differently than most, which made him valuable to all. She loved her kind father who sparkled with unique individuality.

Hope will always remember the countless hours she spent with him playing music. They would play deep into the night. When Hope would make a mistake, her father would look up kindly. With his peaceful green eyes, he’d signal her to try again. He’d slowly and carefully strum each string until she was able to reproduce the gentle sounds. As the strings sang out, they drifted along, riding the melody and harmonies together.

The Mountain Goats were her father’s favorite band, and she had learned many of their songs note for note. This band’s music was the perfect match for her father’s gentle spirit. Singing about life and loss, with philosophical and biblical themes, The Mountain Goats wriggled their way into her father’s soul. And now they defined a large part of who she’d become. These meaningful and emotional moments with her father played out night after night. That is, until the day he died without warning from congestive heart failure when Hope was only thirteen years old.

Time slips by slowly in the small town of Impel. Days blur together as people struggle to meet their most basic needs. Food, water, and fuel consume their daily activities like obsessive animals gathering all they can. The sun rises and sets as the same schedule is repeated, day after day.

“Good afternoon Mrs. Cleary. What a beautiful sunny day we have today,” said Thomas as he inspected the fresh produce before him.

“It sure is Tommy. It’s gorgeous. S
ay how’s your boy Julian?” asked Mrs. Cleary.

“Some days are better than others. It’s the fevers that worry us most. I heard that whatever he has is still floating around getting people sick,” Thomas said with warm, sullen eyes. “You always have the best produce,” Thomas added
trying to change the subject. "How do you keep the quality so high? Look at these tomatoes, so perfectly ripe.”

Mrs. Cleary, feeling proud of all her hard work boasted, “It’s all about picking only what I need to sell.” Mrs. Cleary prides herself on her abilities in the garden. She
wakes up each morning to gather her vegetables while the day is cool and the morning dew is still thick. She then carefully stocks her little cart and heads to town ready to feed the people she’s known her whole life.

“Tonight I’m going to make a special dinner for Hope. We’ve been struggling
, and I think this will add some normalcy back into our lives,” Thomas explained. “Yes, a special meal.”

Thomas grabbed
a few assorted vegetables and a couple packages winter wheat. “Tommy, wait right here. I have something special for you. Hank owes me a favor. Hold on just a second,” Mrs. Cleary whispers while playfully fluttering her wrinkled, bright eyes. She turned and walked down the block into Hank Wilson's lumber mill. Moments later she emerges with a small sack and a glowing smile. “Here, take this. Fresh caught this morning. I heard Hank talking about it just thirty minutes ago and since he owes me, they’re yours,” she remarked in a firm but loving tone.

Thomas opened the sack full of ice and buried inside sat two beautiful rainbow trout. Dazzling arrays of color splashed along the
fresh fish sparkling in the warm and promising sunshine. She then handed Thomas a true treasure ― a bottle of red wine.

“Take this too. Y
ou kids deserve a little fun,” she said squeezing his forearm.

Thomas was overwhelmed by the kindness and the amazing gesture. He began to cry. “It’s just so hard,” Thomas said trying to wipe away his spilling eyes. “We want Julian to get better, but we don’t know what else to do.”

“Have you heard anything ‘bout when the doctor will be back?” Mrs. Cleary asked.

“That’s just the thing. H
e was supposed to be back last Tuesday. I guess he has many people he needs to see,” Thomas said. “Hope and I feel paralyzed as we wait. Just the thought of not being able to help is killing us.”

“Tommy, I miss your mother every day. She was like a sister to me. You know you can come to me with anything,” said Mrs. Cleary.

Thomas, clearly moved by the outflow of affection, put on a brave face and said, “I appreciate that so much. Look at me over here. I’m a mess. Anyway, I should probably get back to my dinner. Thank you so much for your kindness. This will surely make a difference.”