Read Online Pink Flamingoed by Steve Demaree - Free Book Online Page A

see my folks for a
few days.”
    The foursome continued to talk for a while and then
Cora went to the kitchen and cut a piece of blueberry pie for everyone.

A Lot Like Christmas
     
     
    Amy and Brad came up with excuses to visit each other
every day. Cora smiled as she anticipated each visit, while secretly wishing
she could install some type of device to alert her each time either of them
left his or her nest. Frank listened to Cora say, “if only I could be a fly on
the wall,” many times that week. While Cora wanted to install a detector,
Melanie, on the other hand, wanted to install traps to keep the lovebirds
apart.
    Neither Amy nor Brad worked hard in December, but
their time together was somewhat limited because Brad agreed to be part of a
three man team who installed Christmas decorations. Brad, Scott, and Frank
assisted any neighbor who wanted outside lights and decorations but could not
do the work themselves. Amy helped some, but was relegated to ground work, as
was Kenny. The chauvinists prohibited Amy from climbing ladders, so she spent a
great deal of time with Cora. That was fine with Cora. Cora pumped Amy for
information about her budding relationship with her new neighbor. Another thing
that made spending time inside with Cora easier on Amy was that she could not
stand to see Brad dangling from high up on a ladder.
     
    +++
     
    On December 10, the second Sunday of the month, the Aylesford Place community made a pledge to make a difference at Christmas.  Pastor  Scott
reminded them that making a difference began with a loving heart, and offered
to open the church for community prayer at 9:00 o’clock each morning. He was
pleased at the large turnout the next day.
    He reminded his neighbors of the people who might have
to do without at Christmas, and told them of an organization that vowed to
feed, clothe, and give gifts to needy families. He could not believe the
response he received. Frank and Cora, Amy, Brad, and Allison each agreed to
take one family each. So did Kathy, speaking for herself and Jim, who was once
again on the road calling on customers. Even Harry, without any prodding from
Ethel, surprised everyone by taking a family, even though he knew it was a
commitment of several hundred dollars. Both Melanie and Lady Catherine asked if
they could go in with another family, so Pastor Scott agreed to take a family
with them. When Doc Ramsey heard what they were doing, he asked if he could
give money and have someone buy his gifts for him. He would like to have
purchased them himself, but he still had his daily practice. Pastor Scott asked
if they would like to go together as a group after prayer time on Wednesday
morning, and everyone agreed. Not only did the group agree to shop for those in
need before they shopped for their own family, but all of them agreed that they
would not use credit cards for any Christmas shopping. Everyone wanted January
to be as pleasant as December.
    When Cora and Frank returned home from Monday’s time
of prayer, planning, and fellowship, she asked Frank if it was okay with him if
she invited a different neighbor to lunch each day. Many years of marriage told
her what Frank’s response would be. They agree to invite the first neighbor for
Thursday.
    After getting a hospitality commitment from Frank,
Cora made a phone call. Ray and Doris Orthmyer were willing to sponsor a
family, as well. Doris would put a check in the mail.
     
    +++
     
    When the group arrived for prayer time on Wednesday
morning, the buzz could be heard outside the church. Everyone was excited about
doing something for someone he or she did not know. They would not hurry
through their prayer time, but they would rush out soon afterward. They could
give up the time of fellowship at church. They had all day to fellowship with
one another.
    The group arrived at the mall and located the booth
that contained names and descriptions of needy families. Two volunteers stood
behind a table, pleading looks on