Beth

As the sun rose higher in the sky it became much warmer. I checked my phone. 32 degrees, 100% humidity. It smell like snow was in the air as I made my way onto the deck. I had to get away from people in black masks. They creeped me out. I felt as if I were in some Zombie Apocalypse movie. I'd play the weak, vulnerable mousy girl who accidentally walked into danger. Or worse, I'd try to help some fallen old women and she'd growl and eat me.

Why is my imagination running away with itself? Am I worrying for nothing? I faced the sunshine as the boat made its way to Manhattan. I'd catch up with Jo and Amy in Penn Station and together we'd catch the LIRR to Lindenhurst. I missed my sisters. We are stronger together than apart--especially with our mother gone.

A woman exited the cabin coughing uncontrollably.  She looked Asian, Vietnamese maybe? I could hear people yelling at her. "You brought this disease here! You filthy foreigner. We don't eat bats in America!"

I heard a voice outside of myself yet in my own head. "It's time to be brave. Would you give me a cup of water?"

I reached into my bag and pulled out a water bottle. I crossed to the woman who hid her face with her black furry mittens.  "Hello." I handed her the bottle. "A sip of water might help." She appeared to be close to my mother's age.

Still covering her face with one mitten she carefully took the water and slowly nodded. I don't think she spoke much English. "My name is Beth. What's yours?"

She took a few sips of water. "My name Liang."

I asked her where she was from but she looked frightened to tell me.  "It doesn't matter... Do you have family here?"

"Uh... family... yes. Brooklyn?"

"I see... You should see a doctor about that cough." I mimicked a person coughing.

"Yes, cough bad. No sleep." She turned to lay down on a white bench. "I rest. Thank you, miss."

It reminded me of a line from one of my favorite movies: The Wizard of Oz.  I mumbled the line. "Poor kid. I hope she gets home alright."

Silently I prayed for Liang as I continued reading my mother's journal.

Dear Future Reader,

It's always darkest before the dawn.

Though the sorrow may last for a night, joy comes in the morning.

We want to live pain free lives don't we? Yet most of us won't make it out of here alive. One way or another grief and pain find us all.

Oh mom, I could use a bit of cheering up right about now.

You are the one who needs to do the cheering. What can you draw that will help someone else? Don't draw selfishly but draw divinely.

I took out my notebook and crayons and drew. Once finished I reached into my Mary Poppins-like bag and pulled out a warm fuzzy blanket and laid it over Liang. She smiled at me. "May God bless you."

Now I'm no Mother Theresa but drawing a blanket for a stranger felt a 1000 times better than drawing the clothes and purse I presently wore. Could I do both?

Gifts can be used for evil or good. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Heavenly lights who doesn't shift and change as we do. He's as steady as a rock. I whispered, "Help me to be steady like you Lord."

Dark clouds began rolling in from the North as an overwhelming sense of dread enveloped me. I checked on Liang. Her coughing had subsided. She had turned as pale as the bench she was laying on. "Liang?" I nudged her. "Can you hear me?" She didn't move. "I'm going to check your pulse now."  It was slow but steady. She must have fainted. I called 911. "Meet us at the pier... She's a petite middle aged Asian woman."

By the time we docked there were 8 healthcare workers in white hazmat suits sporting scary black ventilated masks. I waved goodbye to Liang and wondered if I could have done more.

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