Adelaide jumped out of bed and threw open the drapes. Oh it felt so good to be able to take her time showering and dressing. It was Saturday, and as much as she loved her daycare charges, she knew in order to care for the children as she wanted to, she needed a day to herself. She sat by the window, enjoying the crisp December air. The sun shone brilliant on the newly fallen snow. Adi reflected on the events of the past few months.
Since that day in "Chuckie's Restaurant" when each of the family members had shared their ideas for their business ventures, and agreed on the name, "Out of the Shadows," Adelaide, Annie, Lily and Dad, had moved swiftly into a new phase in their lives.
Heavenly Sunshine Daycare is what the family had decided to call Adelaide's venture. Edwin, Adelaide's Dad, renovated the living room, making play pens to accommodate five children, the limit put on by the Social Services. At the next weekly therapy group Adelaide announced she was ready for her clients.
Helen was new to the group. She was a single mother who worked as a secretary for a lawyer. Her year old daughter had Down's syndrome. Gertie was a quiet, dreamy - eyed child, always smiling. At the therapy sessions, she would sit hugging her teddy bear. She showed no interest in walking or talking. She was content just to sit and watch the activities around her. When Adelaide heard Helen's story, she invited her to visit the house to see if she approved of leaving Gertie in her care. Helen was delighted and relieved, as she was new in town and knew very few people.
Jane had attended the therapy group for three months. Hers was a sad case Clara, fourteen months, had "shaken baby syndrome." Her husband was in jail for a two year term, having been convicted of shaking the infant when she was just two-weeks old. This had left Clara like a zombie, clasping her "blankie," her thumb in her mouth, showing no interest in anything. Jane's job, working at the local laundry, paid her minimum wage. Because of her husband's being in jail, the government helped pay for Clara's care. Jane was relieved when she heard that Adi had begun her "Heavenly Sunshine Daycare".
Adelaide's third client, eleven-year-old Geordie, suffered from muscular dystrophy, a disorder that weakens the muscles, not unlike Lily's symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS--involuntary contraction of muscles.) Geordie's mother, Fiona, had recently separated from her husband, because of his abuse. Fiona took the abuse for herself, but when he came home drunk and took his belt to Geordie, Fiona's adrenalin kicked in. With super strength she shoved her husband out the door, locked it, and called the police. They took him away to jail temporarily. Fiona laid a charge against him. He has a restraining order to stay away from Fiona and Geordie. The court case is still pending. Fiona went to an "Abused Women's" shelter. She found work, cleaning people's houses, but what was she to do with Geordie? Because of his handicap, he could not attend regular school. Fiona heard of the "Heavenly Sunshine Daycare" from a client, whose house she cleaned. Hope mounting and then diminishing when she thought of the cost, she visited the daycare. Adelaide was drawn to Fiona at the first meeting. Over tea the women discussed the possibility of Geordie attending. Fiona's hope rose and fell as the two of them talked. She knew that she could not afford to enroll Geordie. She confessed that as much as she would love to have her son attend, she just couldn't.
For two days Adelaide couldn't put Fiona and Geordie out of her mind. She had noticed, during the tea visit, that Lily and Geordie had bonded immediately. What could she do? Adi knew that Fiona wouldn't hear of her son attending, free of charge, and besides, that would be against the Social Services' regulations. She prayed a silent prayer for a solution, sharing her concern with her dad and Annie.
It was Annie who suggested: "Dad, Adi, what do you think about this? Hire Fiona--to help."
"Perfect! Thanks Annie." She hugged her little sister. Dad smiled a contented smile.
Adelaide arranged for Fiona to help at the daycare when she was free, and to clean her house once a week. Adelaide and Fiona became fast friends. That Fiona was ten years older than Adi made no difference to either of them.
For the time being, Adelaide decided that she would not seek further clients. She felt that if she were to take any more, each child would not receive the attention needed.
Lily's Project:In the weeks since Heavenly Sunshine Daycare had begun, Adelaide noticed great development in Lily. There was excitement in her eyes. Gertie and Clara, first to arrive, came shortly before seven. Adelaide would lift Lily into the babies' playpen. Her hands flailing, but her face like a sunbeam, Lily would hand each of the little ones a special toy -- a teddy bear for Gertie and a doll for Clara. It didn't matter to the babies that it was the same toy each day. Lily had been able to coax a smile from Clara--a virtual miracle. From Gertie, each day she would receive a wet kiss and a bear hug.
But Geordie was Lily's Special project: Geordie and Lily had several things in common: each had a similar disability, neither could talk, and each had a winning smile, spreading sunshine all around them. As soon as Geordie arrived each morning, Lily would let out a little squeal, tumble out of the babies' playpen, where she had been entertaining them, into her new scooter, especially designed by her dad, and would rush to the door, throwing her flailing arms around her new friend. Their reaction with each other was a joy to watch.
"Ed's Miles of Smiles Car Care" business was growing by leaps and bounds. He had posted his sign at the entrance to the Ranch, and had put a one-week ad in the rural newspaper. His cheerful nature and fair play soon spread throughout the area. Since he took on only cars and simple farm equipment, and since he lived ten miles or more from town, he was no threat to his former employer. He soon had more work than one man could handle, so he hired Thorntons' 18 year old son. Tim had just graduated from mechanical school, so was happy for the job.
Annie's Venture: Annie's arrangement to do animal care for neighbours, the Thorntons and the Stranges, proved to be a great success. Thompsons had since moved away. Annie boarded Tim Thornton's horse, Midnight, in the stall next to Thunder. Tim and Annie's mutual interest in horses drew them together. Annie considered Tim to be the big brother she had always wanted...Tiger, the ginger cat, in his wanderings brought home a mate that Annie named Missy. They produced 3 offspring. Annie came up with the idea of taking the kittens and Missy into the house during the day. "They might create a 'spark' in Clara's soul," she suggested to her big sister. She was right. Each morning when Annie takes the kittens and Missy into the house and puts them in with the children, the babies squeal with delight. Another new addition to Annie's venture is that she has added a few chickens to her "farm." Buffy, her border collie, and self-appointed shepherd to the horses, cats, and chickens, makes it his job to ward off any marauders, real or imagined, that might try to invade his domain.
Monday, December 13th:
Adi pulled back the curtain and gazed out the kitchen window. She smiled at the sun pouring his blessing on the "Out of the Shadows" ranch. She sank into a chair, relieved that the children were asleep for their afternoon nap. Just as she sat down to enjoy a cup of tea, she saw Annie riding Thunder up to the mail box. Out of breath, her sister burst excitedly into the kitchen, with a letter in her hand.
"It's from Granny, addressed to me." Lily and Annie shared a birthday, December 14th, tomorrow. Annie knew that Adi had been busy making two birthday cakes for her sisters. "Maybe it's a birthday card for Lily and me."
They hadn't heard from Granny since she left that day in a huff five months ago, just after their mother's funeral.
Annie opened the envelope. A one hundred forty dollar cheque dropped out of a birthday card. She read the card: "Ten dollars for each year of your life, my darlin' Annie. I want you to spend it on YOURSELF, to get whatever YOU want."
Annie picked up the envelope again, shaking it. "There's nothing in the envelope for Lily!" She threw the letter onto the table, bursting into tears. Rushing from the house, she jumped on Thunder and raced down the road.
Adi picked up the letter. Scanning the envelope, she searched for a card or some recognition of Lily. There was none--only a letter announcing that Granny would be arriving by train in a week and would be staying for the Christmas holidays. She dropped back onto the chair at the table, holding the letter and check in her hand, wiping tears from her eyes--tears for Annie, tears for Lily, tears for her dad, tears for herself. WHY? WHY? Why was Granny like she was? Why did she have no love for her son or herself, or Lily? WHY? She was glad the children were asleep. It was 4 p.m. They would sleep for another half hour.
Ed entered the house, his arms around his weeping daughter. Annie had galloped to his shop, dropped the reins and had run to him, sobbing. He threw down his anvil and jumped to her side, alarmed for fear something tragic had happened. Sobbing she told him about the letter, card and check. Her dad wiped his hands on his mechanic rag and led her to Thunder, helping her put him in his stall. Tim had already left work for the day. With his arm around Annie, Ed walked to the house where they found Adi with her head on her arms, at the table. She jerked her head up when she heard Annie and Dad come in, and on her sleeve, quickly brushed away her tears.
"So Granny is coming in a few days." Edwin gave a weak smile. He went to the table, gently pulling Adi to her feet. "Girls, it's time we had a talk. I've been keeping some 'mists from the past' from you. It's a long story, one I should have shared with you before this. But--" He glanced quickly to where the children were sleeping. "I think it best to put it off until the children have gone home."
"C'mon Annie." Ed put his arm around his daughter and led her from the house. "Let's get your chores done."
With Ed on Tim Thornton's horse, Midnight, and Ann on Thunder, father and daughter finished the neighbourhood chores and tended to their own farm chores in less than half the time it usually took.
By the time Annie and her dad returned to the house, the children were gone and Adi had a delicious hot meal on the table. Annie's mood had swung from gloomy to cheery. Tomorrow, she would be fourteen. And this evening she and her sisters would hear a story they had never heard.
Adi's mind was busy while she prepared supper. She remembered bits and pieces of her dad's and mom's life story from her mom, but she had never asked questions. She had always been so content with her life as it had been, and so happy helping her mom care for Lily that she didn't even think of what "had been"--until now. She could hardly wait for dinner to be finished.
c 2010 - 2011 Helen Dowd
ADELAIDE SERIES:
Story 1 - An Abrupt Landing
Story 2 - Out of the Shadows
Story 3 - Heavenly Sunshine
Story 4 - Reflections
Story 5 - Mists From The Past -I
Story 6 - Mists From The Past -II
Story 7 - The Birthday Surprise
Story 8 - Dad's Big Surprise
Story 9 - Further Surprises
Story 10 - Into The Light
Watch for further stories in the ADELAIDE SERIES at a later date. hmd