Life’s Expectations

Things Falling Into Place

Grace woke to loud banging outside.She got up from her make shift bed and stretched.Wow the day was already bright and beautiful.She wondered how long she had slept.She didn’t mean to sleep in,but she had.She had never gotten to sleep in.Grace’s mother would bang on the closet door to make sure she was awake,before she went to bed.Grace had to clean up while her mother slept all day.

Grace shook those thoughts away.She didn’t want to start her day like that.She got dressed and went downstairs.

“Good morning Gracey.The adults have been talking.Wait a minute.You forgot to put on your best garment child.Did you misplace it this morning?Or did someone steal it while you slept?”Miss Kay asked with a frown.

“Mam?”Grace asked confused.

“Your smile child.What’s going on?”Miss Kay asked.

Grace plopped in a kitchen chair and told Miss Kay what happened.

“Well,you march back up those stairs.You go back to sleep if you can.If you cannot then lay with your eyes shut and thank God for the good you have in your life.If you rise with a smile you come back down to this kitchen.Grab Salts breakfast before you go.”Miss Kay told her and she obeyed.

Grace got to her room gave the kitten her meal and laid back down.She closed her eyes thanking God for anything she could think of.She ended with a thank you for this beautiful day and her new family.She got out of bed and went back down to Miss Kay.

“Ok,much better. Now we adults have been talking.You need to finish your room and bathroom.All your stuff that was in the shed is in the living room.Cleaning supplies for the bathroom is in there.Miss Holly is gathering you some breakfast and bringing it to you.”Miss Kay said and went into the living room.Grace sat and waited.

“Good morning Gracey.I hope you slept well.I am glad you got some extra sleep,you must have needed it.Miss Kay told us how hard you worked last night.”Holly smiled putting Grace’s food on the table.She looked at it with a huge smile,she was starving.She had bacon,scrambled eggs,a blueberry muffin and a cinnamon roll.And of course a tall glass of milk Miss Kay had made her.

“I am so grateful to have a safe room ,but I tossed and turned a lot.My bed must have a rock in it.”Grace said rubbing her sore back.

“It’s got a pea in it little princess.”Mr Harpeth yelled from the hallway.

Grace looked confused.Holly just smiled.

“I will have to find the book for you. But we got a good surprise for you.Andy is taking it up now.”Holly said rubbing Grace’s shoulder.

Grace heard the commotion in the hallway.Holly waggled her finger at Grace when she started to get up.

“You sit her and eat.And take your time.Then you can clean up the kitchen for Miss Kay.She’s been working hard on dinner for all of us.”Holly told her and Grace nodded.

Grace ate slowly and enjoyed every bite.When she was done she washed the dishes and swept the floor.She mopped and wiped down the counters.After she was done she went and started on her bathroom,forgetting the surprise Holly had mentioned.She scrubbed every inch and it shined like a new penny when she was done.Grace washed her hands,then went to her room.

She was thoroughly surprised by seeing a real bed and a dresser.A curtain was in front of one of the dormer alcoves.She approached the curtain and pulled it back.There was a dress hanging on the bar that was hung in the window alcove.The window was covered with a thick dark material.

Grace came out of her closet and looked around.She actually had a bedroom.There were lovely pink curtains lying on the bed.The bed itself had a pink bedspread that had yellow flowers sewn on it.A big fluffy pillow with her teddy against it was at the head of the bed.Her slippers were on a rug on the floor beside the bed.

Grace went down and started bringing all her things to her room.She put everything away.She folded her clothes neatly placing them in the dresser.She hung clothes and put her shoes in a nice line under them.She put all her toiletries in her bathroom.She hung her towel on the towel bar.When she came out Holly was waiting for her in her room.

“Are you done?It looks very nice.Do you like it?”Holly asked.

“Yes.Thank you.And I love it!”Grace said wrapping her arms around Holly.Holly hugged her back tightly.

“ We need your help picking the paint,so come out back with me.”Holly told her.Grace nodded and followed.

Holly opened the back door wide and Grace looked out in shock.The yard was finished!Her porch swing was up,there was a tire swing in the large oak tree,the porch was painted and framed in.One side of the porch was fully walled in with windows and screen in the ones that opened.The bistro set was in a corner of the pink and white painted porch.She loved the pale pink and the white stenciled flowers on the porch.Grace thought it was very fancy.Yellow sheer curtains hung in every corner and in the middle of each section of the walls.She was surprised to see a farmhouse table and bench seats on the longest wall of the porch.A gorgeous crystal chandelier hung above it.There was a feast set on the table and fancy dishes set out as well.

“Go check the yard out.”Andy motioned toward the new screen door to the yard.

Grace walked through feeling like a fairy princess walking into her kingdom for the first time.There were bird feeders hung from branches.Hummingbird feeders were hung from poles on the outside of the back porch.There were even a few hung in the oak tree branches.Her shed was now pink with white trim and a flower box under the larger window.It even had a tiny porch with a single chair sat on it.

Grace cried with joy as she explored the space.They had brought the muscadine vines together and made a tunnel with chairs inside.She was amazed to see colorful bottles hung from the grand oaks branches and several wind chimes of all kinds.A turquoise bottle caught her eye and Grace fell to her knees crying.

They all rushed to her.Andy scooped her up,thinking she was hurt.Grace laid her head back against him and sobbed.He carried her to the picnic table under the oak and sat her down.Holly sat beside her and Miss Kay on the other side.

“Talk to us child,what happened?You were so happy.”Miss Kay said.

“Is something missing?”Andy asked.

Holly took her hand,”What did you remember Grace?”

“I saw a turquoise bottle hanging from a tree,not one like this.What was that pie you made us?”she asked Holly.

“Pecan?”Holly asked not sure.

“Yes, that was it.It was a Pecan tree.The bottle was hanging,blowing in the wind.My daddy told me he would always keep me safe,whatever it took.As long as he had breath in his body.I remember dark black clouds forming from out of nowhere.There was a loud sound and my daddy carried me into a dark hole.He handed me a flashlight and told me to stay put.That he would come back for me,but he never did.My mother just said he was gone,nothing else.And she would beat the daylights out of me if I asked about him.When I learned to read and found my birth certificate.I read it and it says he deceased.I asked my teacher what that meant.She told me and asked where I heard that word.I showed her.And told her that is what the paper says he is. I told her I didn’t want the paper anymore and she put it in her desk.I think the storm ate my dad”Grace sobbed.