Friday, October 14, 1910
Paula was in the kitchen when she heard a strange cacophony of approaching noises. She looked out the window and saw a 1910 Model T approaching in a very peculiar manner. It would run a few feet and then jerk to a stop. The car struggled to make it into the driveway. She stepped out on the porch to investigate the matter.
The car eventually came to a halt. Crystal got out and ran to the front of the car. She screamed.
Paula shifted her eyes. "Ok."
"I am losing my ever-loving mind! Paula, my life was heavenly until my husband discovered technology. Now he has a phonograph and I have a headache because he turns it up loud enough to make the average man go deaf at one hundred paces.
We have a telephone and now I have teenage girls calling me at all hours to blab on and on about their love life or lack thereof.
We have electrical appliances. I insist on them remaining unplugged because I heard someone say that if they are plugged in the house might burn down.
And finally, he buys this stupid automobile and he says, 'Watch me. It's so easy anyone can operate it.'
Well guess what? I don't know how to drive it.
Why can't we ride in the wagon?
Why must I combat this infernal machine?
Do I ever get a nice relaxing day?
No! Because I am the preacher's wife and I am required to be onstage as everyone's emotional dumping ground twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week."
She screamed once more and then kicked it.
"And why did I just kick the radiator while wearing my new shoes?"
Crystal took a moment to collect her thoughts. She turned towards the house.
"Good morning Paula. Good morning Mildred."
Mildred tried to hide her snickering. Paula struggled as well.
Crystal shook her head. "Go ahead; let it out; this situation is funny."
They all enjoyed a hardy laugh.
"So, Crystal, what brings you out here this morning?"
"I, um, wanted to show you the new shoes I bought at Lucille's yesterday. Perhaps you can help me remove my foot from the radiator and you can get an idea of what they might have looked like as a set."
Mildred raised her hand. "I got it."
Paula said, "I'll go in the house and get you a cup of coffee."
Mildred happily helped her.
Crystal flopped down on the front porch of the steps. She looked regretfully at her new shoes. One with a missing toe and the other covered in a smelly black fluid.
Mildred rubbed her left shoulder. "Sssh, it's alright."
Crystal trilled her lips. "This is not one of my better moments. My guess is you now want to run away as fast as you can from the very notion of church."
Mildred chuckled, "Are you kidding me? Crystal, this is the only time I've seen you be human.
You're a preacher's wife but you're still a woman like me and Paula. We all put our dresses on the same way."
Crystal sighed. "Thank you. I always feel like I have to be above the fray, but, I'm vulnerable to frustrations like any other woman. I love Sam. I really do. He has ways which drive me batty at times, which is to be expected when you've been married to someone for twenty-three years." She growled, "I am so old."
Mildred leaned down. "What if you were sixteen again?"
"Do you mean what would I change? Well the first thing would be…."
"No, no, no. I don't want to have that discussion because that would only make you more agitated. My question to you is: What if, for one day, you were sixteen-years-old and you had unlimited funds and you lived in this town? What would you do? Where would you go?"
Crystal mumbled, "Do we have time to go to Paris?"
Mildred giggled, "I don't think so."
Paula came out of the house and handed Crystal a mug of coffee.
She took a sip. "I would go to the Sear's store in River City and buy some new shoes. These were the only pair Lucille's had left. Or better yet, I'd go to that store on Colorado Boulevard behind the Sear's. It's called….?"
"Fleishman's Fashions for Women?" Paula replied. She sat down with them on the steps.
"Bingo! I would go to Fleishman's and buy a pair of chestnut fancy suede pumps made by Debenham and Freebody. Paula and I admired a pair last month but, well, it was more elegance than I can afford in the rational realm. Not even Peggy Watson could get those."
Mildred turned to Paula. "What if, for one day, you were sixteen-years-old and you had unlimited funds and you lived in this town? What would you do? Where would you go?"
Crystal said, "We don't have time to go to Paris." 
Paula tilted her head. "How'd you know?"
"I know you."
Paula thought for a moment. "I'd go canoeing in Lake Roselyn. That's not too far from Fleishman's actually; a couple of blocks.
The only reason Michael gets in a boat is to go fishing. He'd never want to just glide across the water on a pretty day and enjoy the stillness and calm of the experience. Me, I'd love it."
Mildred said, "I would go to a day spa and have a deep back massage."
Paula nodded. "Emily had one of those when she went to Helena, so did Lynn Watson. They both loved them."
"I used to get a massage every few weeks before Jake was born, but, after he came along, things changed."
Mildred made a monkey face. "Forget the past. I'm sick of it. One of the reasons why I kept getting into trouble is because I was mired in regret and guilt. I want to focus on the here and now.
If I were sixteen with unlimited funds and I lived in Eagle Creek, I would take a roller dancing class."
Crystal raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"It's dancing except you’re on roller skates. I love to roller skate."
Paula said, "The River City Roller Rink on Kelly Street has instructors. They would teach you." Paula swished her mouth. "I'd almost be tempted to do it if…." She looked around. "Nah."
Mildred asked, "What? What's stopping you?"
Crystal shook her head. "I just killed an automobile."
Paula shook her head. "I have things to do around the house."
"Paula, I'm the one who helps you around the house. Whatever it is we could do it tomorrow."
Paula popped her lips. "Armando Hernandez is learning how to fix automobiles. He asked Michael for a loan so he could build a garage. There are only a dozen or so cars in town now, but that is going to change eventually. More drive through everyday on their way to Plentywood or Quincy or Outlook. He wants to be prepared.
Armando would fix your radiator, Crystal, and my guess is he would charge next to nothing."
Mildred put one hand on Paula's shoulder and one hand on Crystal's shoulder.
"You two ladies have been so kind to me and Ross and Jake. Please, let me show you my appreciation."
Paula and Crystal looked at each other. They both had big smiles.
"If the car still runs we could drive it downtown. You could drop it off at Armando's while I go to the bank, talk to Michael and use our car to go to River City."
Crystal stood up.
Mildred stood up.
Paula stood up.
They joined hands. "Siiiiiiiiiiixteen!"
A couple of minutes later, they were in downtown Eagle Creek. Crystal dropped off the steaming car at Armando's blacksmith shop. Paula went to the bank. Mildred went to the bakery.
Paula came by a minute later in the Conrad's car. She opened the door for Jean.
"Hop in."
Jean huffed, "Waddle in, you mean. In two months I am giving birth to a calf."
Mildred sat in the back. They drove to Armando's.
Crystal got in. "Armando is more than happy to make the repair, remove the shoe and never tell Sam."
Paula laughed. "He is a doll." She turned to Jean. "Any difficulty getting away from Will?"
Jean shook her head. "We don't have any catering tomorrow. All the cakes are done. Sarah will be in the bakery when school's out. He can manage on his own, but that was not the deciding factor. I gave him The Look."
Crystal asked, "What's 'The Look'?"
Jean snapped around and presented her with a menacing glare.
Crystal cringed.
"This means, 'Pregnant lady wants it now.'"
"Yikes" said Mildred. "That's a very good look."
"It got me out of a citation from Julius last week." She spoke in a dullard's voice. "You're not supposed to sweep from the store front out into the street. I'll have to…." She gave The Look. "He slowly backed away."
Paula said, "You have a gift."
Mildred said, "Ok, we've got a car, friends, and an entire afternoon. All we need is unlimited funds and that's where Ross comes in. Paula, drive us to the Lassiter construction site."
As they drew near, they could see Ross standing outside of a temporary construction office looking into a theodolite atop a tripod surveying some of the land on the future city and matching it with some paperwork.
When the car pulled up he gave them a friendly wave and went back to his paperwork.
Mildred said, "Wait right here."
She got out of the car and walked towards Ross.
Jean whispered, "Come on Mildred, score the big money, you can do it."
Crystal shook her head. "He'll give her $10."
Jean cackled, "$10? She'll get a stack of cash and… she'll kiss him."
"Kiss him?" Crystal asked. "Jean, they've been divorced for seven years they've only begun speaking to each other two months ago she's not going to kiss him."
Jean said, "I'm right about this one."
Crystal shook her head. "I never lose at anything."
Mildred spoke with Ross for a minute. She pointed to the car. He nodded and reached in his pocket.
Jean whispered, "Come on, Ross, loosen up that wallet."
Paula laughed. "Fantastic!"
Mildred was very grateful. Ross was happy that she was happy. They both did awkward steps unsure if the joy warranted a friendly handshake or more. They finally agreed to shake hands.
Mildred stepped away.
Ross returned to his paperwork.
After a few steps Mildred spun around marched towards him, threw her arms around his neck and they kissed.
The ladies clapped and cheered for her.
Mildred broke the kiss and scurried back to the car.
Ross mouthed: "Wow!" and returned to his paperwork.
"Ok, what should be our first stop?"
Jean replied, "Tate's Soda Shop, I want a chocolate malt."
Paula shrugged. "It's 10 am."
Jean gave her The Look.
"Ok, ok, Tate's Soda Shop post haste."
They drove to Tate's Soda Shop. They talked the whole way there. When they arrived, Paula let Jean and Crystal out while she and Mildred parked the car.
When Paula and Mildred reached them, Jean was tapping on the glass door. 
"10:31 am! Your sign says you open at 10:30!"
A clerk ran to the door and unlocked it. "My apologies."
Jean headed for the first table. They took their seats and began looking over the menus.
Mildred asked, "Crystal, you really won the cross country race at the Independence Day celebration this year?"
"I beat Gene Kennedy and Arnold Westbrook. There was nothing on the sign up sheet which said that only men could compete. I ran track in high school and college. I jog ten miles every morning."
Paula added, "She also won the watermelon eating contest."
Crystal shrugged. "I never lose at anything."
Jean cocked her head. "Really?"
Crystal nodded. "Really."
Fifteen minutes later, Jean was letting two streams of chocolate malt flow from the sides of her mouth. A crowd of admirers was cheering her on. She finished the malt and slammed the tall glass on the table.
She smiled. "That was eight."
Crystal looked exhausted as she stared at the empty glasses. She wiped her mouth and nodded to the soda jerk.
The crowd cheered. Money was exchanged.
Mildred asked, "You really think you can down number eight?"
Crystal nodded. She loathed the approaching dessert being carried through the crowd like a prized trophy.
She groaned when she put her dime on his tray. He placed the tall, cold glass in front of her. "Number 8."
Crystal rolled her eyes. She grabbed the glass with both hands and downed it as fast as she could.
"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!" her audience cheered.
She knew her yellow blouse would never be the same again Chug, that didn't matter, she didn't want Jean to win.
After almost losing consciousness she slammed the glass on the table and whispered, "You know we could just declare it to be a draw."
Jean shook her head. "And disappoint the gamblers? That wouldn't be right. Your exact words were, 'I never lose at anything'. Are you willing to concede defeat?"
Crystal winced and whimpered, "No."
Jean smiled. She signaled the soda jerk. "Number nine please!"
The crowd went wild. More money was exchanged.
Crystal whispered, "You'll choke on it."
Jean replied, "I'll savor it." She placed her dime on the waiter's tray and took hold of the glass.
"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"
Mildred was amazed: "And Jean's almost got it… and… done."
Jean placed her ninth empty glass in front of her and presented Crystal with a catty smirk.
Crystal waved to the soda jerk. "Yup, number nine please."
As the ever burgeoning crowd milled around the restaurant Paula advised them. "I know this is exciting folks but you should probably clear a path towards the powder room."
The waiter chuckled as he took Crystal's dime and placed her chocolate malt on the table.
Crystal sarcastically mocked his laugh.
She reluctantly took hold of the glass with both hands.
"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"
Crystal's glass was three quarters of the way empty when she got a horrified look in her eyes.
The crowd parted like the Red Sea.
The chocolate malt glass slipped from her hands, landing in her lap. Mildred took the glass away as Crystal leapt from the table and bolted to the lavatory.
Some cheered, others booed.
Jean was thrilled to have such accolades, she reveled in triumph. It was one of the greatest days of her life.
Ten minutes later, Paula, Jean and Mildred waited patiently for their sullen comrade to exit the ladies room at Tate's Soda Shop. Eventually, a defeated and significantly deflated Crystal emerged. She flopped into her chair and buried her head in her folded arms.
The ladies immediately stood up. Paula tapped her shoulder. "Come along; let's find a new blouse for you."
Crystal shooed her away. "No! Leave me here to die."
Mildred and Paula hooked their arms around her and stood her up. Jean led the way to Sear's and then Fleishman's. The new blouse and especially the new shoes did lift her spirits.
Looking somewhat more fashionable, they headed to the River City Roller Rink.
Jean, Paula and Crystal watched Mildred's roller dancing lesson from the snack bar.
Paula said, "If I were sixteen and I had that young man as an instructor I'd never want to leave."
Crystal nodded. "Tall, dark and handsome."
Jean squirted mustard on her pickle and said, "Look at the way he glides so effortlessly."
"I can't believe I'm going backwards!" said Mildred anxiously.
"Don't worry, I've got you" replied Donald, her instructor who was skating backwards with her.
She held on to him tight as they rounded the turn. 
"Looking good" said Crystal.
"Slightly envious," mumbled Paula.
"That maneuver reminds me too much of how I got into my delicate condition," Jean commented.
"Mrs. Watson, I'm going to put my hands on your hands and do a quick spin so I can face you. Are you ready?"
"Yes" Mildred squeaked.
"One, two, three" he effortlessly spun around. He took hold of her hands.
"See, it's almost like I'm pushing you." They began a light sway.
She smiled. "I'm doing it! I'm actually doing it! I'm dancing on the roller rink!"
They made two circuits around the rink.
Donald said, "Ok. I think you're ready for it."
"I dunno."
"But I know." He held up her right hand. "You can do this."
Mildred was still uneasy as they neared the snack bar. She turned to her friends.
"Sixteen! Sixteen!" they yelled. "You can do it!"
"On three, Mrs. Watson. One, two, three. Spin."
"Ahhhhh!" she closed her eyes. When she opened them she was still upright and facing her instructor.
"A perfect pirouette!" she was bedazzled.
Donald began clapping, her friends clapped too.
Mildred was astonished.
Donald skated in front of her. He kicked his right leg behind and bowed down almost to the floor.
"Madam, you soar like the wind."
Mildred ran her fingers through her hair. "Maybe I can at that."
An hour later, the ladies were at Lake Roselyn. Mildred was in the front of a canoe, Paula was in the back.
"Are you certain you won't come with us?" asked Mildred.
"Still too woozy."
"Still too pregnant."
Paula laughed. "Suit yourself."
They effortlessly glided out into the lake.
Soon they were in their own peaceful oasis.
"This is so lovely" said Mildred. "Ross and I went canoeing once when we were dating. He sang this pretty song in French. Well, actually, he just made up the words, but, it was French enough."
Paula smiled. "I understand that."
A light wind produced oscillating ripples on the otherwise silent waters. The canoes sailed in a S pattern. They headed for the bank. The cottonwood trees created an ethereal canopy as the shadows danced and illuminated the lake.
"Thank you, Paula."
"For what?"
"For all of this. For a second chance with Ross and a second chance with Jake."
"You've worked hard."
"I never thought I could be this serene again."
"It takes effort. You have to know when to let go of the conflict and embrace the love of life and SNAKE!"
Mildred turned around and screamed.
Both women instinctively stood up. The canoe began to pitch wildly which served to only increase the level of hysterics.
"Ladies? Please remain calm" said a nice young man who maneuvered his canoe next to theirs.
He picked the now terrified green snake up with his oar and placed it comfortably on the shore line.
Paula and Mildred used their oars to grab hold of a tree trunk jutting over the lake. They brought the boat alongside the shore line. They jumped off and took a moment to catch their breaths.
They heard clapping.
"Bravo! Bravo!" said Jean and Crystal as they laughed.
"I am only here to entertain," said a graceful Paula.
Mildred asked, "Where is the nicest and nearest spa?"
Thirty minutes later, they were at the Canyon Spa at the Excelsior Hotel on Boardwalk.
Crystal and Jean enjoyed manicures and pedicures.
"I feel so naughty!" exclaimed Paula as she and Mildred waited for their masseuses to arrive.
"There is nothing untoward about this, Paula. Both of our masseuses are women." 
Paula hemmed and hawed. "I dunno."
"People have been getting massages for thousands of years. Keep the towel tight to your chest and lay down face first on the table and then drop both sides of the towel. Like this." Mildred demonstrated.
Paula sighed. "Alright. If you can do it, so can I."
Paula laid face first on the massage table. Mildred rang a little bell.
A female voice came from beyond the door. "Ready?"
"It's now or never," Paula mumbled.
The door opened. "All set Mrs. Conrad?"
"Amanda?"
"That's me. This is my co-worker Terry."
Paula shrieked: "That's a man!"
"Being blind I'll have to take your word for it, although that explains the deep voice and lack of gossiping."
Paula shook her head. "Oh no, no, no, no, no. I am not about to…" she rose up.
Terry averted his eyes.
"Ahhh!" she dropped back down.
Amanda and Mildred were laughing.
Paula mumbled, "If I were sixteen, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to avoid looking at me."
Amanda patted her back. "That's ok, Mrs. Conrad. Terry's seen it all before."
Terry shrugged and began working on Mildred.
"This is a real treat for me, Mrs. Conrad. I've been wanting to pay you back for the kindness you showed me."
"What kindness?"
"You raised a wonderful daughter. Because of her influence I have a new life ahead of me. Oh, I almost forgot." Amanda turned to Mildred. "I'm an old friend of Mrs. Conrad's. And, just so you won't wonder, I'll tell you what happened.
Three years ago, I was shot in the face by a robber. The wound left me without eyes or a nose. It's much less shocking for people if I wear this mask. Hardly anyone's ever seen my face, not even Terry here."
Terry nodded.
Amanda returned to Paula.
"O my! What is that you're pouring on me?"
"Hot Myrrh. For a dollar extra I can add gold and frankincense."
Paula appreciated the joke.
"Are you enjoying the blind school?"
"I love it!" Amanda exclaimed. "I live in a dormitory with girls my own age, all blind. My teachers and most of the school administrators are blind too. It helps to have someone who can understand you so well.
We do more than take classes together; we socialize with other blind citizens in the community. You would not believe how many people think that life is over when they lose their vision. It's truly disgusting because they choose to listen to their doubts and fears instead of moving on with life.
On Friday nights, in the gym, we have a dance anyone can come if you're blind: student or not.
I always enjoy the band but I am all feet when it comes to the dance floor.
I've started taking lessons from a fellow student named Wallace. He is tall. The dark and handsome part I can only guess about."
"And your grades?"
"As and Bs I only failed one class… photography."
Paula giggled. "You have the best attitude."
"Only because I've had the worst attitude in the past until I rid myself of those shackles. And I owe it all to your daughter and a little guy named Jake."
Mildred raised up her head.
Paula said, "Well, I know the story, but I doubt if my friend would be interested…."
"No!" Mildred pleaded. "Amanda I'm very interested."
Amanda turned to her. "I don't think we've met."
Mildred shook her hand. "My name is… Linda. I'm from Boise. Please, tell me about the story."
Amanda shrugged and returned to Paula's back.
"I grew up in Eagle Creek. I knew everyone in town. I was in love with a local boy named David Clementine. We had the world on a string and at the risk of sounding overly vain; we were the most attractive couple in town.
One day, three years ago, when I was sixteen; my dad announced the family was moving to Sioux Falls. He wanted to open a jewelry store. He'd been co-owner of one in River City and he felt like it was time to go out on his own. His brother in Sioux Falls could get him a building for a song. We would live in the apartment upstairs.
The night before it opened, a robber struck. He shot and killed my daddy and then pointed the gun in my face."
Mildred's heart sank.
Amanda sighed. "They say that revenge is sweet and I did get some satisfaction hearing the murderer gargle for air as he swung by a rope, but, it wasn't sweet at all. Justice had been done but, my face was gone, my daddy was dead. Nothing changed for the better.
I spent the next three years hating life. I hated the robber, justifiably so, but it didn't end there.
I hated my mother who had to treat me like a baby all over again.
I hated my kid sisters. Now I was the one who needed tending to.
I hated my friends from Eagle Creek who stopped writing and forgot about me.
I hated any one in Sioux Falls who dared show me kindness. I didn't want their charity; I only wanted my face.
Three years passed. I was in total darkness.
When my mother learned that the ladies salon in Eagle Creek had closed she decided to move me and my two sisters back to Montana. Our house was empty. She could have her old salon up and running in no time.
Mother would work. My sisters would go to school. I would be… furniture: hidden in the back room.
I was surprised to learn the town hadn't changed all that much. I was heartbroken when I heard that David, the boy I had longed to marry, had married someone else and even had a baby on the way.
My existence was a waste of space, I thought. No one would ever love me again.
But at that time, I did not know about the wonderful things God had in store for me. The Lord, I soon discovered, has a plan and a schedule for all living things and that's where Jake comes in.
Jake wasn't from Eagle Creek but from Billings.
His mother had a difficult labor, tremendous pain. She was treated, rightly so, with morphine. But, well, too much of a good thing left her an addict.
She was very attentive to her baby, as all mothers are but the terrible tastes soon gripped her. She started leaving Jake alone. At first she would just step out while he napped. She would go get a fix and be there when he woke up.
Jake's father was a developer. The job demanded most of his time, so he saw his wife and new son only occasionally. As each day passed, Jake's mother burned for another fix.
She took to smoking opium. There were plenty of locations in the big city to feed her habit. She had a seemingly endless stream of money from her pre-occupied husband.
One day, Jake's father came home early. He was furious because Jake was there but his mother was gone. His private detectives found her the next afternoon. She'd spent the entire night in an opium den consorting with the dregs of humanity at the cost of her only child.
Jake's father was beside himself. They argued. She apologized and the matter was resolved for a time. She really tried her best to get away from the dealers but the cravings over powered her.
Jake's father found her again. She pleaded to come back. This went on for years. A series of nannies would come and go.
Mom would get clean. Dad would stay home. Work would demand his presence. The sirens would beckon. Jake would be left alone.
To combat his loneliness, Jake began drawing.
The first drawings were simple stick figures: a man and a woman holding hands, a smiling child happily dangling between them one hand holding on to father and the other on to mother.
As the time progressed, his art became more complex. He would cry for his momma. She wouldn't be there."
"He must have hated her" Mildred mumbled.
"No. He missed her. Even as a little boy, Jake knew his mother was sick and it was beyond her control.
When Jake was six-years-old, his father returned from a week long business trip only to find Jake alone. His mother had left four days earlier. Jake was a screaming, crying, starving mess.
His father called the police. Two days later, they found his mother.
Thirty days later, his father went to the jail in Billings and handed her divorce papers. He offered her a substantial amount of cash and train ticket to anywhere in the country if she promised to just disappear.
As awful as it sounds, she took the money and left.
When Jake found out about it he was devastated.
He ran away. When the police found him, he actually climbed a fence on a bridge and threatened to jump into the Yellowstone River.
Isn't that the most insane thing you've ever heard? A little six-year-old contemplating suicide?
His father promised to find his mother. He kept his promise. A month later he got a telegram, Jake's mother was in Butte.
They travelled to Butte and Jake was reunited with his mother. That day they made a compromise.
Jake's mother would remain away from her son for fifty weeks a year. For two weeks a year, Jake could visit with her provided she remains clean during those visits. His father would pay for her apartment, utilities, weekly food deliveries and a small line of credit at the general store. He was not about to support her habit, yet he realized that if he did not provide some means of assistance she would end up dead.
Jake didn't know what opium was- his father explained it the best he knew how.
Six months later, Jake and his father went to Butte. His father stayed at a hotel. Jake stayed with his mother.
They had a most wonderful visit.
Six months later they repeated the process.
His father would write periodically to make sure she remembered Jake's birthday and Christmas.
She would write back saying how she had turned her life around, found religion or some other lie. He would never send her extra money. Being an investor, he handled his funds shrewdly.
More years passed; Jake drew. He would write his mother each week and send her a new picture.
When he would come to see her, he would bring a framed picture. The next visit, the frame would always be gone. He knew what had happened to it but he never got angry with her. He loved his mother and never did anything to discourage her.
In all of his visits, she was sober and in her right mind. He never saw her intoxicated or in the company of nefarious fellows.
'If she could stay sober for two weeks a year, why not four weeks or eight or fifty more?'
Jake would ask these questions to himself. He knew that God made the world but that was a long, long time ago. Who knew if God was listening now?
Jake won several awards for his art. He sold his works to patrons and admirers.
To show how much he missed his father, he began turning his father's blueprints into colorful drawings of buildings. Houses, offices, churches: it all came to life through Jake's hand.
Jake's father used those drawings to help sell the idea of a new city that his company would build called Lassiter in the farmlands north of Eagle Creek.
When Jake was thirteen, his father told him he, without Jake, would be moving to a town called Eagle Creek. Jake's would be placed in a military academy in Billings. His father thought the small town, with its limited opportunities would not suit Jake.
Jake pleaded with his father to let him try to live in Eagle Creek. His father relented and Jake move into his uncle's house.
That first night, he heard his sixteen-year-old cousin Lynn say grace at supper. Afterwards, he asked her what she was doing. 'I was talking to God' she explained. He had never talked to God: she showed him how to do it. That night as he lay in bed, he talked to God.
He asked for his mother to be safe. He asked to have more time with his father.
He started to pray for himself but then he thought that maybe since he was hurting maybe he could help someone else feel better. His pain had served a purpose.
Because he was lonely as a small boy, he drew. His art brought him friends but more importantly it brought him a second chance with his father. He concluded it was that willingness to be flexible, to be supportive; to be creative was the key to happiness. Without ever opening a Bible, Jake had learned more about Providence in one night of prayer than most people learn in years of church.
That night, Jake prayed for a friend. He did not want a guy friend, someone with whom he could climb trees or toss a baseball; he wanted a girl friend. He did not want someone to kiss, necessarily; he wanted a woman who could provide the feminine touch which was missing from his life. He wanted a woman who could be compassionate, tender, loving, wise and kind.
He finished his prayer and drifted off to dreamland.
The next morning he decided to take a walk around his new hometown. At the schoolyard, he climbed a tree.
As he stayed up in the tree, a young lady happened to sit beneath that same tree and close her eyes.
Jake was instantly smitten. This was the most gorgeous girl he had ever seen.
She sat there on the tree trunk: serene, at peace with the world.
A minute later, she opened her eyes.
Jake swung upside down in front of her to say 'Hi' and she fell backwards.
He straightened up, dropped to the ground and casually remarked, 'You're beautiful.'
She recovered her dignity and warily took the compliment from the boy three years her junior.
Jake tried to talk to her. He introduced himself. She said her name was Sarah.
Sarah was friendly to a degree but she soon grew tired of him and left.
Jake was disappointed and began to walk back to his cousin's house.
The young lady thought she was being followed and by a spectacular coincidence, Sarah's destination was his Cousin Lynn's house. Jake was elated, Sarah had no choice but to spend time with him.
As it turns out, Lynn and Sarah had been academic and social rivals. Sarah had suffered a recent loss. She had prayed for a way to improve her life and she reasoned that making things right with Lynn was the most obvious answer. Additionally, when she was praying in the schoolyard, she asked God for a mission. Perhaps Jake was her mission. By showing loving-kindness to Jake, she could correct past misdeeds and brighten his future.
Jake and Sarah became good friends.
A short time later, I moved into town. When Sarah came to visit me that first time I was terrible to her. I called her every name in the book and wished her to never come my way again. To emphasize the blackness in my heart, I took off my mask and showed her the deep chasm where my eyes and nose once were.
Sarah was devastated. She fled my house and ran to Lynn. They cried together.
Jake, while spying on them, heard about the foul tongued blind girl and how she used to be wonderful. Jake said that he did not know much about God but he did know how God worked. God uses the worst things in life to bring out the best in people. Jake, even though he'd only known Sarah for three days, was convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that Sarah was to be an instrument of healing. I was there, Jake was there, Sarah was there at the right time and God was going to do something important in our lives and in the lives of others.
She asked Jake how that would happen. He did not have an answer. He only knew that it would happen.
Sarah went over every detail of our first visit. She relived every terrible word and the gut wrenching shock of seeing me without my mask. She remembered I had an extensive record collection. Sarah reasoned that I, like many blind people, enjoyed listening to books on record.
She thought that a book on record for me would be a nice gift but it would do little to ease my pain so she took the idea a step further. The next week, Sarah returned to visit with me, except this time, she brought along Jake.
I was so mad at her for treating me like a sideshow freak. I wished her more ill will.
Jake was terrified. Sarah told Jake to look at my record collection and start reading off the names.
I only wanted Jake to leave so I took off my mask hoping to frighten him away.
Jake read most of my music selection and then starting naming books on record.
Sarah put a special record she had made just for me by a friend at the Helena Society for the Blind: a novel called Romero the Pirate: A Tale of Forbidden Passions by Edith Browling. I was shocked! I had heard other women talk about that steamy tome in Sioux Falls but I never got the chance to hear it myself because the Sioux Falls Society for the Blind had deemed it to be obscene.
The reader had a deep, rich voice that made me… tingle. I was enraptured until Sarah pulled the needle off of the record. 
'Hey?' I yelled. 'Why did you stop it?'
Sarah said I would only get to listen to the record on one condition that I listen to another record first.
She then told Jake to stand in front of me and take off his shirt. Jake complied.
Sarah put my hands on Jake's back. She then put on the same deep baritone voice reading The Art of Message by Dr. William Harvey Kellogg.
For the first time in three years, I did something which I physically cannot do: I opened my eyes. I could be a masseuse. To be a masseuse you don't have to see, just touch.
Sarah said Jake would stay with me as long as I needed him and be a living tablet for me whereby I could learn about the various muscles and tendons. Jake and I spent many hours together listening to Dr. Kellogg and learning about each other.
He borrowed a record set from his preacher and I learned a new song, one that I had heard all of my life but I had never really considered what it meant.
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see.
To most folks, that's just part of a stanza in a church hymn but to me, the blind girl, and to Jake, the lost boy, that line meant the whole world because it meant that we could take hold of a living hope.
Jake and I continued learning. Jake remained enamored with Sarah and falling in love with her more each day.
One night Jake helped out with a special dinner for a friend of Sarah's. When they were alone, Sarah confessed that she was in love with a sweet, wonderful boy. Jake, being optimistic and profoundly naïve assumed that Sarah was talking about him. He tried to kiss her. She was outraged. When her friends Lynn and Emily made sport of the situation, Sarah was more livid. She grabbed Jake's right wrist, intending to punish him for the insult, but, in her wrath she nearly paralyzed his hand. He wailed in pain.
The girls took him to a doctor, who, in turn, took him to River City General. They performed surgery.
As he drifted in and out of consciousness, an unconscious part of Jake prayed and asked God to do what He does best; use the worst things to bring out the best in people. And the next day, when Jake opened his eyes he saw a living manifestation of God's love: his mother.
You see, Jake was lonely- he became an artist. His father worked too much so instead of putting Jake in the Billings Military Academy, he decided to give his relationship with Jake another chance and move to a small town.
Jake's mother, who had denied him the love he needed and who had abused her body with narcotics, was now the one in need of a home and a second chance in life. And in recent days she had been clean anticipating their next visit so when Jake's uncle contacted her she immediately hopped on a train and arrived in River City at exactly the right time.
As he lay in his hospital bed, he begged his mother to come back to Eagle Creek and stay while he recovered.
Jake reasoned that if his mother was in a small town, away from the temptations and pressures of city life, she could break free from opium permanently. She could make new friends who could study the Bible with her and show her that God loves her, warts and all. And as an added bonus, while Jake was healing his body and while his mother was healing her soul, his father might be willing to at least try to heal their marriage.
Jake prayed fervently. I prayed with him. And then he told me about the happiest day of his life.
The happiest day of his life was not when he met Sarah. It was not when he met me.
The happiest day of his life was August 21st, 1910, the Sunday he went to church and sat between his parents.
That Thursday, his cast was removed and his first request was to go show his healed hand to Sarah.
A week later, his parents were together to watch his baptism.
And what's so incredible is that Jake told me last night that he feels the healing is only just beginning. His pain is going to touch more people. He doesn't know how or when he only knows why: because God is love."
Amanda leaned in to Mildred. "Never forget that, Mildred Watson, Jake loves you because God first loved Jake and that love keeps growing more and more each day reaching people you may never meet."
Mildred's eyes were filled with tears. "How did you know it was me?"
"I recognized your voice from that church service I went to Eagle Creek a few weeks ago. I had not been to church in years, even before I had my face blown off. I didn't want to go that day but I made an exception because that was to be my last Sunday in Eagle Creek and Jake had asked me to be there and now I know why.
If I had said I recognized your voice and identified you as Jake's mother then there would have been no need for me to tell you the story. You've already heard it or, at least you thought you had heard it. But, you had only heard part of the story. You did not know my side of things.
You needed to hear my story because someday you are going to use it to help heal someone else. I don't know who, I don't know where and I don't know when, I only know why: because God is love."
Amanda put two fingers on her Braille watch. "5:00. I am off work."
"Mildred and I are here with Jean Clementine and Crystal Hines. Will you join us for dinner?"
"That does sound enjoyable, ma'am, but I need to catch the trolley back to the blind school. Remember my dance instructor, Wallace, tall, broad shoulders, he has to hold me tight while he teaches me?"
Mildred chuckled, "I was nineteen once, I understand."
"I really have to run. I hope you four have an enjoyable evening. Bye-bye."
Amanda left the room.
Three hours later, after dinner. Jean Clementine, Peggy Watson and Crystal Hines walked down to the Eagle Creek Swimming Hole to watch Paula Conrad baptize Mildred Watson, thereby sealing her ultimate second chance.
That night, as she lay in bed in her hotel room, Mildred Watson thanked God for many things:
A preacher's wife whose frustrations demonstrated to Mildred that she was not alone, a banker's wife in need of a little recreation on a lake, a pregnant baker who had a splendid sense of humor, a stranger in a boat who knew that a green snake was nothing to fear, a roller skating instructor who reminded her that confidence is always just one step away, and a blind masseuse who taught her that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
She wondered what the future held and took comfort in the knowledge that the love she felt would only keep growing like the ripples on a lake and reach distant shores in other times and places. She looked forward to the new day and rested in the bright hopes it would bring.
