Shelter from the Storm. (Chapter 26)

Shelter from the Storm. (Chapter 25)

Shelter from the Storm. (Chapter 24)

Special Notice.

Greetings,

I have decided to go to a comic format on my storyblog Newberry
as I enjoy illustrating more then writing so from now on the rest of
this story, 'Shelter from the Storm' and all stories following will be
all-comic stories. I sincerely hope you enjoy them. Thanks and
God bless.

In Christ,

Zach Donaldson

Shelter from the Storm. (Chapter 23)

In the ICU unit at County General Hospital, Ralph Morgan lay
in a coma, the result of an explosion of a mobile home that sat
next to his own mobile home. The trailer that had exploded was
the home of Reba Hobbs, the mother of Julie Benson and Alex
Hobbs, the two young children now in the foster care of Gary
and Vera Canfield.
 Outside the room where Ralph Morgan lay, Nurse Cindy Hunt
and fellow nurse Angie McGowan were talking to one another
at the nurses station.
 "Does your ex-husband have your son for the weekend?" asked
Angie  while she kept her eyes on the monitors of the occupied
patient rooms.
 "Oh, yes," Cindy answered as she took notes from a monitor
she was looking at,  "though I don't know if they're having much
time together as Frank's had patrol duty this weekend."
 "Really?" Angie responded.
 "It was his turn to work the weekend shift."
 "Oh."
 "And speaking of kids, he's been involved somewhat with a
case concerning the two kids of Reva Hobbs. She got arrested
for drunk driving you know.  Frank was the one who arrested
her."
"You mean Reva Hobbs the housekeeper?" Angie's eyes lit up
as she turned around to face Cindy.
"That'd be her." Cindy replied.
"Oh, my. So who's looking out for her kids?"
"They're in the foster care of a local family. From what I hear, the
folks who have them are the ones that drive a church bus that takes
them to a church they go to. Newberry Community Church."
 After completing her notes, Cindy went to the room where Ralph
Morgan lay to check up on him. Though still in a coma , he was in
stable condition.
 Angie McGowan had just thought of something when she heard
Cindy Hunt mention Newberry Community Church. It occured
to her that one of the hospital clergy members was the pastor of
that church. Yes, she remembered now, Hal Shumway.
 She remembered him when he was in the ICU the last time
visiting a cardiac arrest patient along with the patient's wife and
daughter.
 Angie remembered hearing only pieces of Hal Shumway when
he was consoling his family, and while Clergyman Shumway was
not flowery in his speech as compared to the other clergy, he sure
spoke with compassion. Angie had also noticed that the woman and
her daughter, although shaken by the condition of the heart attack
victim, also seemed reassured of the victim's recovery, because
sure enough, he did survive and recover.
 Cindy Hunt returned to the nurses station after checking up on
Ralph Morgan and said to Angie, "Mr. Morgan is stable but still
in a coma."
 "At least he's stable," Angie said, "I actually heard that explosion,
too!"
"So did I,"  Cindy added, "Only thing was, it wasn't his trailer, but
the one next to his that blew up."
"Did they ever find out what caused it?"
"I haven't heard, it's still being investigated.  Frank was at the scene
as well."  Cindy went back to her seat to continue tending the monitors.
 "I hope no one was in the trailer when it happened," Angie went on.
 "They didn't find any bodies in it, and it was totally destroyed."


 As the services at Newberry Community Church were drawing to a
close, Pastor Hal Shumway gave a closing prayer and dismissed the
service with a 'God bless you' to the congregation.
 In the pew where Mac Davenport and Karen Williams sat, Karen
turned to Mac as they both rose up from the pew and asked, "You
really liked my singing, Mac?"
 "I sure did, Karen," Mac answered, "it was quite a pleasant surprise."
 "Thanks,"  Karen smiled,  "Shall we talk about it over lunch?"
 "Most certainly, dear lady." Mac said, mimmicking the manners
of an English gentleman not unlike that of Wilfred Templar; Mac's
fellow greeter.
 "Is the Country Skillet okay?"  asked Mac.
 "That's beautiful."  Karen had been thinking of the time that
she and her mother went there with the Canfields the first time
they visited Newberry Community Church.
 "Great."  Mac then saw Tommy Hunt, son of  Newberry Police
Officer Frank Hunt, with the Canfields and decided to talk with
them before leaving.
 "Excuse me, Karen," Mac turned to her, "I need to talk to the
Canfields for a minute."
"Okay," she smiled.  She knew how close Mac and the Canfields
were.
  Mac looked to Tommy Hunt and asked him enthusiastically, "Well,
Tommy, how did you like your visit at our church this morning?"
 "It was great, Mr. Davenport," Tommy answered happily. "I like
the Sunday School class. We're building a model of the Tabernacle."
 "Outstanding! I'm glad you liked it!"
 Tommy went on. "We still have more to do on the model, and I want
to come back and help finish it."  Tommy looked down as if unsure.
Mac stooped to Tommy's height and said to him, "Why we would be glad
to have you back, son."
Gary leaned downed and said, "His parents are divorced and he's concerned
he might not be able to come back."
Mac looked up at him and replied, "I see."
 Karen looked on Tommy with concern and thought,  Aww, bless his heart.
 Mac then turned back to Tommy and said with cheerful assurance, "Now
don't you worry about a thing, little guy. We're going to pray for you as well
as your mom and dad."
 "Thanks, Mr. Davenport," Tommy replied.
 "Mac then put both hands on the boy's shoulders and said to him,  "I happen
to know both your mom and dad.  I believe that deep down they'd want you
in church." And with that Mac reassured him with a wink then rose back up
and patted the boy on the head.
 "We'll pray for you, too, Tommy," Brian added.
 "We all will,"  Dawn put in.
 Mac spoke to Tommy one last time with, "As you head out, Jenny's got a
little gift and candy for you."
"Thanks," Tommy smiled and then he acompanied the Canfields out to the
area of the hallway just outside the sanctuary. There at the tract rack, Jenny
Garrett, another greeter of the church's welcome ministry came over to Tommy
and handed him a Bible book marker and two spiritual hard candies; gifts that
were given out to first-time child visitors.
 "Thank you for visiting us, Tommy,"  Jenny smiled at him, "Come back and
see us and God bless you."
"Thanks," Tommy answered while taking the gifts Jenny handed to him.  The
Canfields then headed to the coat room to get their coats and left together
with the folks who rode the church bus heading out right behind them.


Mac and Karen headed out of the sanctuary after conversing with Karen's
parents as well as a few other members, holding hands as they headed to
the coat room. When they got there, Mac, ever the gentleman, helped Karen
into her coat, a white faux-rabbit fur jacket which she only wore to church or
special occasions.
 Karen turned to Mac as she buttoned her jacket and said, "I felt sorry for
that boy Tommy, the way he looked down at the floor."
 "I know,"  Mac replied, "but I have faith he'll be back."
 "You seem really sure he will,"  Karen said as she slipped on a pair of black
 Isotoner stretch leather gloves.
 "Karen,"  Mac said.  "I happen to know both his mom and dad."
 "Oh."
 "Let's talk about it at the Skillet."
 "Ready when you are, Mac."
  Mac and Karen again both got hold of one another's hand as they headed
out the door and to Mac's 1966 Mustang.


This concludes Chapter 23.

Shelter from the Storm. (Chapter 22)

The sanctuary of Newberry Community Church was filling up as Mac rang

the church bell to signify the beginning of the Sunday morning service.

In the fifth pew on the left, Karen looked back and smiled as she heard

Mac ring the church bell, as she had heard long before she and her parents

attended the church. Karen turned back around to face the front, then focused

her eyes upward and smiled dreamily.  It fascinated her that she was falling in

love with the man who before she never knew and yet she could always hear
him; figurativly speaking, anyway. She became lost in that thought when a
voice snapped her daze.  

"Karen?" she heard Mac suddenly, "Are you all right?"

"Oh,"  Karen said, startled. "Mac!  Sorry, I was in a daze."

"Everything all right?"

"Oh yes."  Karen that patted the empty space next to her in the pew she
sat in to motion Mac to sit down beside her which he did.

 Mac had to tell her something and he seized the opportunity before the
service began.

 "Karen," Mac whispered to Karen,  "What are you doing after church."

"Not a thing," Karen whispered back in answer.

"I'd like to get together with you after church if that's all right with you."

"I'd love that."

"We'll discuss where after the service. The service is getting ready to start."

"That's fine, Mac."  

 The service began with prayer and then the offering.  After those were out

of the way Pastor Hal Shumway gave this announcement,  "This morning
we have special singing. Karen Williams has a hymn she wishes to share
with us."  He motioned for Karen to come foreward.  "Karen, please
come on up."
 Mac got up and out of the pew to let Karen out and as she made her way
toward the pulpit Mac thought to himself,  She has a singing talent, too?
Karen's parents looked toward Mac and just grinned which made Mac
wonder, What else hasn't she told me?
 Mac turned to where Karen stood at the pulpit and addressed the crowd
with "Good morning everyone," into which the congregation replied with
the same words. Karen then announced,  "This morning I"m going to sing
 'Servant's Heart.'  It's an old Ron Hamilton tune and it's also in our
hymnals if you would like to follow along."


 A couple of pews back from where Mac sat, the Canfields along with
Julie, Alex, and their newfound friend Tommy Hunt got out their hymnals
from the slots in the back of the pew in front of them, with Brian helping
Alex and with Dawn helping  Julie and Tommy find the page. Brian and
Dawn knew the hymnals almost like they knew their bibles and shared
it accordingly. When everyone got to the page of the hymn that Karen
was going to perform, they saw Karen look up and nod toward the
sound room where Tim McCann, the sound system operator, kicked on
the karoake system that would provide the backup music as Karen sang.

The intro music began as Karen stood ready to begin the vocal arrangement.
 When on cue, she began with a soft and almost angelic voice:


                "Make me a servant like you, dear Lord
                       Living for others each day
                 Humble and meek, helping the weak
                      Loving in all that I say

                 Give me Lord, a servant's heart
                Here's my life, take every part
                Give to me a servant's heart
                Help me draw so close to You
               That Your love comes shining through
               Give me Lord, a servant's heart
               Give me Lord, a servant's heart


            Make me a witness like you dear Lord
                 Sharing the love of the cross
              Sharing the word, till all have heard
                  Sharing whatever the cost


             Give me Lord, a servant's heart
             Here's my life, take every part
            Give me Lord, a servant's heart
            Help me draw so close to you
           That Your love comes shining through
           Give me Lord, a servant's heart
           Give me Lord, a servant's heart."



 When Karen finished there was clapping with Mac
the first to stand while clapping with those close by
him joining him then immediately the whole congregation.
Karen called out a "thank you" before she stepped down
and back to the pew where Mac and her parents were sitting.
Mac got up from the pew to let Karen back in, a look of
amazement on his face as Karen walked past him and to her
spot in the pew.
 Karen noticed the look of amazement on Mac's face and
when he sat back down next to her, she leaned toward him
and whispered, "You look surprised.  Good. I wanted to
surprise you."
 "I must say that I am," Mac whispered back,  "I must also
say that you have a beautiful voice. You did a great job."
"Why thank you, Mac."
"Just what else haven't you told me yet?"
 "We'll talk about it after church, okay?"
 "Sounds good."
   The next thing they both knew, Mac's left hand and Karen's
right hand moved toward one another and then they were
holding each other's hand and giving side glances to each
other.

 This concludes Chapter 22.

Shelter from the Storm. (Chapter 21)

While the Sunday School classes were in session, Tommy Hunt sat with
Brian, Dawn, and Julie in the small classroom.  Alex was in another class
for younger children.  While waiting for the class teacher, which was taught
by Kenny Baker and his wife Linda; Brian, Dawn, and Julie discussed with
Tommy about the church and the class.
 "You'll like Mr. and Mrs. Baker," Brian assured Tommy,  "They make the
lessons fun to learn."
"You'll like this lesson, too,"  Dawn added,  "Today we're going to build a
model of the Tabernacle."
"Cool."  Tommy grinned.
 "And it won't be just for this day's class, either,"  Julie put in,  "Mr. Baker
said it would take at least two more Sundays to complete."
"Will we do painting on it, too?"
 "Yes," Brian answered,  "That's the fun part."
 Ah, cool!" Tommy responded happily,  "I like to build
models, too!"
 "You know the man you met outside, Mr. Davenport?" Brian
mentioned, "He still builds models too.  He likes the old cars."
"That's what I build,"  Tommy said excitedly,  "My dad got me
in to it."
 "Because of that," Dawn stated,  "he heads our pinewood
derby races, along with our dad."
 "When do you have those?"
 "In the late summer every year."
 "We actually had it last week this time," Brian added, "because
Mr. Davenport got hurt rescuing a man from a wrecked car so
it was delayed."
 On hearing what Brian had just said, he remembered his dad
talking about an accident and a man getting hurt while pulling a
another man out of a car that crashed into an electrical pole.  He
heard that the car caught fire when the wires from the pole came
down.
 Tommy was still thinking about the accident he heard about from
his father when Kenny and Linda Baker came in with a large flat
box and a kit containing painting and hobby tools.  Kenny started
the class with prayer then proceeded with the lesson which was
the teaching and then the assembly of the Tabernacle kit.


As 10:15am rolled around, Mac resumed his greeting duties as
did Wilfred and Jenny. As Mac stood by the front entrance he
saw Karen Williams coming back from the women's Sunday
School class, which was held in the fellowship hall next to the
church.
 Karen walked over to Mac and began with, "After hearing about
what happened at the trailer park where Julie and Alex used to
live, I thought I was going to go into shock."
 "I understand, Karen," Mac replied, "I knew from where I saw
the glow from the fire where it was."
"And I thanked God that the kids were safe with the Canfields."
"That makes two of us, Karen."  Mac looked at his watch and
saw that it was time to ring the church bell.
 "Excuse me Karen", Mac said, "Time for me to ring the church bell."
"Oh, please do,"  Karen answered, "I always love hearing it."
 As Karen turned to walk to the sanctuary Mac stopped her and asked,
"Is it alright if I sit with you during the service?"
 "Why, Mac," Karen smiled in surprise, "you know you're welcome anytime."
  She lightly punched him on the arm playfully and added with, "Don't be so
modest."
"It just seemed like the thing to ask."
 "Oh lighten up, Mac Davenport," she chuckled,  "I know all about you."
 "Karen, you're scaring me," Mac said in mock fright.
"Good, then I'll see you in there."
  Wilfred and Jenny were observing the playful banter between Mac and
Karen.  Jenny remarked with, "I think they're falling in love with each
other."
"It does appear to be heading in that direction, dear Jenny,"  Wilfred
replied, smiling in the direction where Mac and Karen were.


This concludes Chapter 21.