No Shadow of Turning

“I can’t believe this! I knew this was going to happen!” Marshall was upset as he clutched the telegram. “It has to be one or the other.” “What?” “Either you cannot believe this or you knew this was going to happen.” “Don’t be so logical Thom. This is terrible. I’ll have to go right away” “It will take at least two weeks to get all of my travel papers together, Marshall.” “I know Thom. Would you mind if I went ahead? You can come as soon as your papers are ready.” “Yes I mind. We just got back from our honeymoon … but I know this is important. You need to go!” Marshall read the telegram that they had just received on their return from two wonderful weeks in Mombasa, at a beautiful coastal resort, with clear blue waters and white sand beaches. ‘Sorry missed wedding stop Hope honeymoon wonderful stop Grandpa very ill stop Please come quickly stop Sorry, love Grandma stop’ “This must be very serious.” Marshall read the telegram once again. He could not remember Grandpa being sick or Grandma signing anything alone. “Oh Marshall, I wish we were going together and it was for a pleasant visit.” “I know. You just hurry up and come as soon as you can. I'm going to need you.” “To do what?” “I don't know, but I know now that I have always needed you, I just didn't know it.” “I know what you mean.” Kathombi’s voice cracked, as a tear rolled down her face. “You'll come as quickly as you can? No long home visits!” “No long home visits.” “Okay, then. I've got to call the assistant director of the project and arrange to let him take over, while I'm gone. Then, I'll have to call and get a ticket,” Marshall said as he dialed the number. By the end of the week, Marshall was on his way via Paris, New York and Onterio to Riverside, California. It was both home and a place of the unknown. So exhausted from all the emotion of the wedding the honeymoon and now news of his grandfather’s illness, he slept fitfully most of the twenty-four hour journey. As the car slowed, Marshall looked up to find himself at the brightly lit and polished tile entrance to the hospital. “I’ll let you out here, while I go park the car. He’s in room 251” “Okay, thanks.” As Marshall walked up to the lobby doors, his legs seemed to became a little weak. The entrance door automatically swished open and he found himself directed to the elevators by the information desk attendant. A crisp elevator bell announced the second floor and he exited. Just outside the elevators a sign indicated that room 251 was to the left. Marshall hurried down the hall to room 251. He paused in front of the door, took a deep breath, then opened the door and entered the room. There was a single bed surrounded by various wires, beeping monitors and Grandma seated at the side leaning with her head on the bed. She had become so thin. Grandma wearily lifted her head at the sound of Marshall’s entrance. “I don’t think he wants breakfast just now…” she said, initially thinking it was a nurse. She turned to look and when she recognized that it was him, she stood as Marshall rushed across the room to hug her. “Oh Marshall,” she said with great relief. As they embraced tears filled both of their eyes. “Thank God you’re here. Your Grandpa … well he’s been asking about you.” Her ever-present handkerchief appeared to wipe her tears away. Marshall had to settle for the back of his hands. “Now,” she cheerily said, “I’m going to get some coffee. I promised your Grandpa that as soon as you arrived, I’d get something to eat. Mrs. Dixon was going to bring something.” “Yes, there was a picnic basket on the back seat,” confirmed Marshall. “Well, I’ll go find her in the waiting room.” “Okay … Okay, Grandma you go rest.” He sounded so hollow to himself. Grandma touched his elbow and he looked full faced at her. She questioned him with her eyes deeply probing into his. As a child, when she gave him that look, there was nothing he could hide from her. Even now, Marshall thought, she can tell how afraid I am. There was something a little different in her look as well. He could see that she was disturbed somehow…fear? Hurt? He was not sure. “Grandma…?” “Now Marshall,” she patted his arm comfortingly, “you just sit right here in my chair and keep your Grandpa company. I’ll be right back.” “Okay.” She then turned to Grandpa and tenderly spoke, “Joe, look! Marshall’s here.” For the first time Marshall gazed down at Grandpa. He had lost so much weight! His face was a little swollen and … he looked so tired. His eyes opened slowly and a smile formed mostly on half of his face. “Son,” he whispered, “you made it.” “Yes Grandpa, I’m here.” Marshall sat down as Grandma slipped quietly out of the room. “Son, I wanted to tell you, once more, how much I love you and how grateful I am that you have been such a wonderful son.” “Oh! Grandpa, you save your strength. We can talk about this later…” “Marshall …” “No Grandpa, you’ll get better and … Kathombi is coming … soon … and she’s got to meet you and…” “Quiet child!” he whispered. “But Grandpa … I can’t lose you now.” Marshall pressed his tear stained face to the bed. “Marshall…, you are not losin’ me. Over the years…, I put all of my best parts in you; in your memory…; in your heart…; in the way you think and make decisions…; most important in how you believe…. Marshall, the only part of me going away … is the parts you don’t need … and the parts I can’t use any more…. In fact, that one of the reasons … I’m lookin’ forward to havin’ the body God promised me.” A weak smile played across half his face again. “In a little while … I won’t know what it is to have sadness or rheumatism…. I only wish … well that I didn’t have to leave your Grandma … but even that’s taken care of … Marshall you will take care of her … won’t you … just like I would have … or even better?” Marshall lifted his head and swallowed the lump in his throat. “Yes Grandpa. I will,” he promised. “I am no Joseph Bernard Johnston, but I will do my best, and I have Kathombi to help me.” “That’s more than I could have asked for,” he sighed and seemed to sleep. “Grandpa …? Can’t you wait to meet Kathombi?” “Marshall, I don’t think I’ll be here that long. Will you tell her I love her?” “Yes, but… you haven’t met her.” “You chose her with God’s help didn’t you? That’s all I need to know.” Tears were running down Marshall’s face now freely. “Grandpa I love you. Thank you for finding me the best mom and dad in the world.” Grandpa chuckled, “Looks like we both did well on that deal. There could have been no one I would have been prouder to send to Africa to represent me. And all the help you’re plannin’ for the people .… Marshall?” “Yes Grandpa? “Go get your Grandma.” “Okay. Okay, I’ll be right back!” Marshall darted from the room frantically into the hall, nearly running right into Grandma. “Oh Grandma, he told me to go get you.” “Come Marshall” she commanded as she grabbed his right hand and they entered the room. She didn’t let go of his hand as she stood quietly by the bed and gently touched Grandpa’s left hand. For a second Marshall though that he should go around to the right side of the bed, but Grandma squeezed his hand at that very moment. “She’s holding my hand just like she used to when we would cross the busy traffic filled streets in town when I was a little boy…. She’s afraid,” Marshall squeezed her hand, to encourage her. Grandpa placed his hand gently over Grandma’s. He also squeezed her hand to encourage her. “Martha?” he whispered. “We didn’t sing our song this mornin’. Can you help me Marshall, I’m so tired?” Grandma started without hesitation, in her clear soprano with ‘How Great Thou Art’. Grandpa’s tenor was barely audible but Marshall joined to make the balanced duet, ‘Great is Thy faithfulness’. Marshall closed his eyes and was transported to one of the worry free mornings of long ago. Just as he was singing the chorus … “t