The Rosarium

Alex began to reflect on how it used to be before that dreadful day when God allowed all that she knew to be turned upside down.  Life for her was like a room filled with lighted candles, whose flames illuminated every corner with dancing, flickering light. But then suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew violently through the doors, extinguishing the flames, leaving her in darkness. Yet here was light again, Alex thought as she gazed into her mother’s twinkling eyes. Yes, there was truly light here. The light she remembered. The light she thought she would never see again, but desperately hoped would reappear. Here it was in her mother’s laughing eyes, and its radiance was covering her, and filling up her very soul with light and hope. For the first time, in a long time, Alex felt joy. “These people are kind of sweet for helping us," Alex was thinking. "Maybe Carterville isn’t so bad after all”

“Hi Honey,” Alex’s’ mother said brightly looking up as she poured more paper cups of lemonade.” Isn’t this just wonderful? How’s it looking out there?  I’ve been stuck in this kitchen all morning, and I’m dying to see how things are going.  I think the people of the town want to surprise me, so they are insisting that I don’t even look out of the windows until it’s almost dusk. I would hate to disappoint them, they’re being so nice. But it’s hard not to sneak a peek. Alex observed her mothers smile as she sweetly ruffled up the hair of one of the children gathering up the cups of lemonade.

Suddenly everyone’s attention turned toward the front doors as they flew open with a bang. Alex saw two men helping another man to walk into the house.  He was bleeding pretty badly from the left leg. Elizabeth saw the wound and immediately began to take charge.” Alex, get the bandages out of the bathroom and the disinfectant,” she ordered,” Get a blanket and pillows too.” “Rita,” she called to the lady who was helping her in the kitchen, “I’m going to need some clean towels, some soap and boiled water and get my husbands doctor bag in the office by the desk. I’m going to need those clean towels right now!” Elizabeth kneeled at the injured man’s feet, ripping her apron and applying the temporary tourniquet. “Ok, put the towels on the dinning room table and lift the man on the table. We’ve got to get that bleeding stopped now.  Elevate that leg and put those pillows under it.  I need to wash up.”

Alex was filled with pride and awe as she watched her mother go from the sweet lady in the kitchen, to this confident, medical practitioner.  Elizabeth knew exactly what needed to be done and she did it with the kind of expertise that only years of practice could provide.

“Well, that about does it Mr. Sommers.” Elizabeth was saying as she taped the last bandage in place. “You won’t be doing anymore here today.  In fact I’d like you to stay off that leg for at least a week and keep it elevated.  It was a very deep cut and I don’t want the bleeding to start again. You’re lucky it didn’t hit an artery. Take this penicillin in case of infection and this for pain. Don’t hesitate to call me if it starts to bleed again or if there are any more problems. You’ll need to contact your doctor, if you have one, and he can take out those stitches in a couple of weeks.”

“Thanks Mrs. Krantz! Harley Sommers said gratefully, “I barely felt the needle as you stitched me up. Did you say 10 stitches? Ah, I don’t have no doctor. Never needed one I guess. ‘Sides the nearest doctor is 15 miles away. Most folks here abouts just take care of ’emselves, but I’ll be back in a couple of weeks to let ya yank out those stitches. Al’ right?”

The men helped Harley off the table as the women gathered up the towels and pillows. Elizabeth wondered if her grandfather or grandmother had used this table this way before, and how many times.  She was glad Mr. Sommers was going to be all right. It was then that she remembered helping her husband at the Inner City Clinic in Chicago. Excusing herself, she hurried to the restroom to clean up. Now that Elizabeth was away from prying eyes, she allowed herself to feel the pain in her heart. Tears welled up and she began to sob mournfully. ” I miss you, Joseph  so much!  We were more than husband and wife, we were a medical team,” Elizabeth spoke softly aloud looking at her hands.“You were the hand and I was your glove. We worked together as one. Now, I’m just a glove without a hand.  I wish you could see how the town’s people have gathered together to help us.  I know it would make you so happy. This isn’t the Inner City of Chicago, but these people are just as needy of doctor’s care.  I’m going to see that they get the medical care they need.  I know this is what you would do if you were here.  I know this is what my grandparents would want.” Elizabeth stood up straight, squared her shoulders and wiped the tears from her eyes. She knew why God had moved them here now.  It wasn’t just they who needed the people of Carteville, but the people of Carterville needed them as well.

The sun was getting low in the Western sky. Elizabeth was excitedly awaiting the call of the hard working volunteers.

“Ma’am , my name is Henry, could you walk with me ?”, said a soft spoken elderly man who still had a full head of raven black  hair. He stood before Elizabeth holding his hat in front of him and looking down at the ground. “I want to show you your grandma’s Rosarium”  With her hands over her eyes, Elizabeth was led to where her grandmas beautiful rose garden used to be.  When she stopped, she was told to take her hands off her eyes and look. Where once only a memory of her grandma’s  Rosarium lay, now appeared the most beautiful garden she had ever seen. The walks and the stone fences were just the way she remembered it as a little child.  When she was a teenager her grandma was too old to give the garden the attention it needed, so the roses had grown wild over the fences and weeds had taken over. But this was the garden she had always imagined it used to be when it was at its best. Even the fragrance that filled the air reminded her of that time.  “But how could you know? Sputtered Elizabeth, “How could you do this in just one day?  Why would you do this for us?”

The soft spoken man looked up at Elizabeth with a sober expression. “How do you repay someone for your life and the life of your mother? When my ma gave me birth I started to come out feet first and then got stuck.  She was havin a pure terrible time and my dad were scarred she was ’goin to die.  He did'n know if I was a goin to make it either.  Your grandpa said there were other complications.  Well, your grandpa got me out OK , and then he stayed and slept in a rocking chair by  my momma’s bedside for three days, fore he said we was” out of the woods”. Your grandma took care of my other brother and sisters till my mom was able to get back on her feet again. Later we learn’t the hospital where he used to teach in St. Louis, was givin him a real big party at the same time. They’d invited over one hundred doctors and medical folk from all over the South and the Midwest. The hospital was ‘tenden to give him a big award!  But they sure was surprised when he never showed up to get it! , the elderly man chuckled. ”