all things remembered chapter two

Mother Ida was a wise woman, but at eighty eight she had right to be. It was said that as a child she spent times with God in heaven, went up there and walked around the place, told everyone who would listen what it was like and how she would one day return to heaven.  Those were many days long gone and she still was waiting for her chariot to come to take her home. Gwendolyn walked in with Brenda in tow, the two were at it as always. But all it took was mother Ida to look that look and whatever it was waited till you were away from her ears and sight.

Brenda greeted her grandmother with a warm hug and smile, Gwendolyn spoke and sat at the table across from the stove where mother Ida was cooking her Sunday dinner. Saturday was the traditional day for mother Ida to cook for Sunday. All her life she was raised to never cook anything on Sunday and at her age she refused to change her strong ways. Mother Ida cleared her throat and lifted her hand to heaven and God. She told them that she had a Word from God that Marvin was somewhere and in trouble. He needed a way back home and that he lost everything, but she wasn't sure how.

But even worst he was afraid, he was hurting, lonely starving, with not a cent to his name. Brenda looked at Gwendolyn then out the large kitchen window at the many acres that surrounded Mother Ida house. Grandpapa Willie was out back washing down the lawn furniture listening to his radio. Grandpapa Willie was a dedicated member of The Fellowship up high Baptist church. Both him and Mother Ida started there as little kids and grew up there, raised there and still attended.Grandpa Willie knew of Mother Ida gift and took it like a man honoring God. He loved and adored his wife of
seventy years. If there ever was love at first sight this was the prime example. The garden sent aromas of
promising meals through the acres of land. Gwendolyn ran out to fetch her grandpa and to help him with the
bushels of fresh vegetables he was bringing in.

Grandpa Willie was tall and lean, where as mother Ida was bellow his chin and small framed. Gwendolyn was
baby Mabel oldest child, next came David, and last was Marvin, his parents named him after Marvin Gaye.
Brenda was Willie J. oldest child and daughter by his wife of forty years. Brenda and Gwendolyn did not get
along, they fought on every hand, but stuck together when it came to outsiders. Brenda had seventeen
brothers on her fathers side and an older sister that her mother had when she married Brenda father. Her
sister was thirteen at the time, her father was buried aliv in a coal mine in the south, when the sister was
only three years old.

People said they heard the dying man wailing, moaning and cryingfrom under the ground. It nearly broke
Brenda mother heart, it was only God that brought her through. Willie Jr. was not what any one would say
God sent to her, but she still loved in him despite his short comings and indiscretions. Brenda felt the pains
of her mother by her father, but with little results and great effort she furthered the hurt and settled for the
notion most men were dogs.

Mother Ida was wise in all her doings, so she told her what God loved which was the truth. It hurt of course to
be told the reality of her faith, but some day she would thank mother Ida. After telling the rest of the family
what the Lord had revealed to her, mother Ida consulted Grandpa Willie. The two of them decided it would
be best to prepare to bring Marvin home.