Miracles Do Come True

It is a day not unlike any other Sunday. I finally got up when mom hollered, for the third time, to get my tail outta bed or I was gonna miss going to church with her. I wouldn’t mind that so much, but that also meant I’d have to do any and all chores dad saw fit for me to do. So, church it is.

After a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, I put on a flowery skirt and white blouse then run a brush through my hair. I dab on the tiniest bit of rouge, but that’s the only makeup I like to wear. No time for more anyway ‘cause mom’s honking the horn. I rush out to the car and see Mom’s wearing my favorite powder blue dress, polished white shoes, and a huge smile. Her hair is perfect, and she will be the most beautiful woman at church today. As we pass the Landes’ she starts humming Have Thine Own Way Lord but I don’t think she realizes it. I’m anxious to get there and hang out with my friends before sunday school starts. Adam Hacket is hanging around outside. Geez. I avoid him by sneaking in the back way. He wants to go out with me, but I don’t like him like that. Ewwww. He’s so goofy looking.

I run into Luanna, my best friend, coming out of the bathroom. We sneak into the nursery to avoid Adam, and so we can have ten minutes alone to talk about our favorite subject, boys, before heading downstairs for sunday school. What else are 13 year old girls gonna talk about? The sunday school lesson goes on fooorrreeevvveeeerrrrr. At 9:45 Luanna and I jet out of there so we can get ready for choir. The rest of the choir is already in the choir room finding a robe that somewhat fits.

We line up according to sections: bass, tenor, alto, soprano. I'm a soprano and mom’s alto. Mom hangs back with the sopranos so she can talk to me before we go up. She tells me something that I have wanted to hear for years. I can’t believe what she is saying. No way! It can’t be. She can tell by the look on my face I don’t believe her. Her smile reaches all the way up to her eyes. I throw my arms around her and tell her how excited I am. We catch up with the rest of the choir but are the last ones in. Mom moves in front of the entire line of sopranos to take her place with the altos. I take my seat next to Luanna, grab her hand, and lean over to tell her what mom just told me, but the pastor starts a prayer. After his rather lengthy welcoming prayer, we stand and sing Just A Closer Walk With Thee.

Once we’re done and everyone is seated Pastor welcomes all the moms because it’s mother’s day. He asks everyone who is a mom to stand up. Almost every lady in the church stands. Pastor asks the moms with just one child to sit down. Several of the youngest ladies do. Then on and on up the line. Mom’s with two or three, like Luanna’s mom, Jackie. She and mom are good friends too. Mom sits down next since there are four kids in our family. The rest goes relatively quickly as one by one they all sit down. The lady with the most children, seven, gets a red rose.

Then, pastor asks for all the expectant mothers to stand. I know of a few ladies in the congregation that are pregnant, and they stand up. One of the deacons takes a rose to each of them. Then, pastor turns to look at the choir, winks at mom, and very slowly she stands up. I hear a few gasps and watch as nearly every jaw in the room drops. There is dead silence until one of the ladies next to mom stands and congratulates her by giving her a big bear hug. Luanna turns to me and hugs me as well.

“I can’t believe it,” I tell her.

Luanna asks, “Um, how old is your mom?”

“Super old. 40 I think,” I feel bad 'cause I’m not exactly sure.

I look at mom and her face is starting to glow deep red. She hates all the attention, but I also know she is excited about this baby. Sophie Smith walks up to the choir seats and embraces mom with a long, gentle hug. As she returns to her seat, tears are rolling down her face. Gloria Maggs is next in line, then Pat, Jackie, Luanna’s mom, and the hugs go on and on. Everyone’s making a fuss. Once all the kerfuffle dies down, we all take our seats again.

We listen to pastor pray for the expecting mothers. He says an extra special prayer for mom that this baby will be safe and born healthy and happy. He reads from scripture but I don’t hear a single thing he says cause I’m only thinking about how great being a big sister is going to be. I begged mom for a baby sister for years and years. Never in a million years did I think I would get my wish. As we head home, I sit right next to mom in the car. Usually I sit on the passenger’s side, but I really want to be next to her today. When we get home, we find the biggest bowl we’ve got in the house and fill it full of popcorn. I grab mom a glass of ice-cold milk and bring it to her on the couch. She plops her popcorn inside the milk. Gross. I smother mine with butter and Johnny’s Seasoning salt. We sit together under the crocheted blanket that’s all kinds of oranges and yellows. We talk about what’s coming up in the next months, and she tells me how much extra help she’s gonna need around the house.

“I can do it mom. No problem,” I tell her earnestly.

“I know you can honey. I love you,” mom whispers.

“Love you so much mom.”

In minutes she is gently snoring next to me.