Read Online More Than Words: Stories of Hope by Diana Palmer, Catherine Mann, Kasey Michaels - Free Book Online
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hardmy life is, when I can help someone else, I feel as if I’ve helped myself, too.”
“That’s very true,” Mary said.
She introduced Sam and Matt, and they unloaded the last of the food. The women gathered around, impressed by the fancy food and anxious to taste it. When Mary and the men left, the women were already dishing it up in the small kitchen.
“That’s all I have tonight,” Mary said. “I’ll call some more restaurants, and maybe Bev can suggest another volunteer or two.”
“You know there’s a food bank around here, too,” Matt suggested. “They might like to have some of this restaurant chow.”
“Already got that covered,” Mary murmured. “I’m planning on giving them a call tomorrow.”
“If you’ll give me some names,” Matt said, “I’ll make some calls for you.”
“So will I,” Sam volunteered. “I’m sure Bev won’t mind letting me use the phone.”
“But how are we going to manage this?” Mary wondered aloud worriedly. “It’s taken us two hours to give away what we had, and that’s just from five restaurants. Besides that, the truck was full when we started.”
“We’ll need another truck,” Matt said. “Maybe a van.”
“Where are we going to get one?” Mary asked.
“I’ll make some arrangements,” Matt said.
She smiled at him. “You’re a wonder.”
“Oh, I’m in good company,” he replied, glancing from Mary to Sam with a grin.
When they dropped Sam off at the shelter, along with the truck, Matt put Mary into his sedan and drove her to Tammy’s house. Mary was uneasy until they were back in the car with John strapped in his car seat in the back of Matt’s car, and on their way out of the neighborhood.
As they passed Mary’s old house, she noticed that there were two cars in the driveway and that the For Rent sign had been removed.
“What is it?” Matt asked, sensing that something was wrong.
“I used to live there before I was evicted,” she commented sadly as they passed the old house. “Those must be the new tenants.”
“I don’t know how you’re handling all these changes,” he said with admiration. “You have three kids to support, a full-time profession and spending all your nights handing out food to people.” He shook his head. “You’re an inspiration.”
“I’m getting an education in the subject of people,” she told him. “It’s a very interesting subject, too.”
He smiled in the rearview mirror at the baby. “You have great kids,” he commented.
“Thanks,” she said shyly. “I think they’re pretty terrific. I could be prejudiced,” she added with a grin.
He laughed. “No, I don’t think so. Where are we going?” he added.
She realized that he didn’t know where they lived. “It’s that old motel next to the new Wal-Mart superstore,” she told him.
He glanced at her. “Al Smith’s motel?”
She laughed. “You know Mr. Smith?”
“Do I,” he laughed. “We were in the military together, back when the Marines were stationed in Lebanon and the barracks were car-bombed. Remember that, in the eighties?”
“Yes, I do,” she said.
“Two of my friends died in the explosion,” he said. “Smith was in my unit, too. He’s good people.”
“I noticed,” she said, and explained how kind he’d been to her family while they were adjusting to the new uncertainties of their lives.
“He’s that sort of person,” he agreed. “He’s done a lot of good with that motel, taking in people who had nowhere else to go and trusting them for the rent. I don’t know of one single person who’s skipped without paying, either.”
“He’s been great to us,” she said.
“So it would seem.”
He pulled up at the door of their room and got out, opening Mary’s door for her with an old-world sort of courtesy. He helped her get John out of his car, and carried the car seat into the room for her as well.
“Hi!” Bob called, bouncing off the bed to greet Matt. “Did you bring
“That’s very true,” Mary said.
She introduced Sam and Matt, and they unloaded the last of the food. The women gathered around, impressed by the fancy food and anxious to taste it. When Mary and the men left, the women were already dishing it up in the small kitchen.
“That’s all I have tonight,” Mary said. “I’ll call some more restaurants, and maybe Bev can suggest another volunteer or two.”
“You know there’s a food bank around here, too,” Matt suggested. “They might like to have some of this restaurant chow.”
“Already got that covered,” Mary murmured. “I’m planning on giving them a call tomorrow.”
“If you’ll give me some names,” Matt said, “I’ll make some calls for you.”
“So will I,” Sam volunteered. “I’m sure Bev won’t mind letting me use the phone.”
“But how are we going to manage this?” Mary wondered aloud worriedly. “It’s taken us two hours to give away what we had, and that’s just from five restaurants. Besides that, the truck was full when we started.”
“We’ll need another truck,” Matt said. “Maybe a van.”
“Where are we going to get one?” Mary asked.
“I’ll make some arrangements,” Matt said.
She smiled at him. “You’re a wonder.”
“Oh, I’m in good company,” he replied, glancing from Mary to Sam with a grin.
When they dropped Sam off at the shelter, along with the truck, Matt put Mary into his sedan and drove her to Tammy’s house. Mary was uneasy until they were back in the car with John strapped in his car seat in the back of Matt’s car, and on their way out of the neighborhood.
As they passed Mary’s old house, she noticed that there were two cars in the driveway and that the For Rent sign had been removed.
“What is it?” Matt asked, sensing that something was wrong.
“I used to live there before I was evicted,” she commented sadly as they passed the old house. “Those must be the new tenants.”
“I don’t know how you’re handling all these changes,” he said with admiration. “You have three kids to support, a full-time profession and spending all your nights handing out food to people.” He shook his head. “You’re an inspiration.”
“I’m getting an education in the subject of people,” she told him. “It’s a very interesting subject, too.”
He smiled in the rearview mirror at the baby. “You have great kids,” he commented.
“Thanks,” she said shyly. “I think they’re pretty terrific. I could be prejudiced,” she added with a grin.
He laughed. “No, I don’t think so. Where are we going?” he added.
She realized that he didn’t know where they lived. “It’s that old motel next to the new Wal-Mart superstore,” she told him.
He glanced at her. “Al Smith’s motel?”
She laughed. “You know Mr. Smith?”
“Do I,” he laughed. “We were in the military together, back when the Marines were stationed in Lebanon and the barracks were car-bombed. Remember that, in the eighties?”
“Yes, I do,” she said.
“Two of my friends died in the explosion,” he said. “Smith was in my unit, too. He’s good people.”
“I noticed,” she said, and explained how kind he’d been to her family while they were adjusting to the new uncertainties of their lives.
“He’s that sort of person,” he agreed. “He’s done a lot of good with that motel, taking in people who had nowhere else to go and trusting them for the rent. I don’t know of one single person who’s skipped without paying, either.”
“He’s been great to us,” she said.
“So it would seem.”
He pulled up at the door of their room and got out, opening Mary’s door for her with an old-world sort of courtesy. He helped her get John out of his car, and carried the car seat into the room for her as well.
“Hi!” Bob called, bouncing off the bed to greet Matt. “Did you bring
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