A Second Chance

By Dawn Natelle

I initially thought that Rachael wouldn’t be in this chapter, but she managed to worm her way in: Dawn

WEDNESDAY, June 15, 2016

Helen woke early in her hotel, basking in the afterglow of the wonderful night she had spent with Steve. It would be another hour before the breakfast buffet would open, so she just lay there, hugging her new husband. Steve, a policeman, was super fit, but apparently she had worn him out the night before. Helen could feel the energy from the Falls, less than a mile away from her hotel room, feeding her soul. She hadn’t felt that on other mornings, but then other mornings she hadn’t viewed the Falls in their natural beauty.

A half hour later Steve woke in the arms of his wife, who he considered the most beautiful woman on earth. Eventually they got out of bed and did their morning chores before dressing and heading down to breakfast. They each ate a large breakfast, remembering how they had missed lunch and dinner the day before. They headed out to their spot overlooking the Falls and sat down.

Helen again started the hand motions that erased all modern elements from her view, and this time Steve saw things disappearing. Soon they were alone with nothing but the Falls visible, surrounded by a lush primeval forest. They watched in a trance for hours, until Steve noticed someone approaching from several miles away, along the banks of the river. Soon Helen noticed her as well. It was an older woman: a native in traditional buckskin dress, walking towards them. She fit into the natural wonderment of the view perfectly, and finally walked up to them. As she got close, her eyes widened, and she looked around. It was clear that she now saw the Falls the way the young married couple did.

“How do you do that?” she asked in wonder. “You are seeing the Falls in the way that Manitou created it. It is so beautiful. So powerful.”

Helen smiled: “I don’t know how or why? I just learned how to erase the city yesterday, and felt a connection. I think it is God: your Manitou, that is doing it.”

“It is a wonder. I feel it too. I am blessed.” Just then the city popped back into view. The woman was wearing a normal dress, not buckskins, although she was clearly native. “Aww, it is gone.”

“But we had it for a while. One needs to cherish what they have, not mourn what is gone,” Helen said.

“You are wise,” the woman said. “I am Lisa Powers, from Brantford way. I am honored to meet you. You are clearly blessed by Manitou.”

“We are Steve and Helen Winslow,” Helen said. “We are here from Ingersoll, not far from Brantford.”

“Actually, I am from the reservation at Oshwegan,” Lisa said. “I say Brantford because more people know that city. I go to Ingersoll often. There is a little bakery there next to the library that I adore.”

“I know that place,” Helen said. “The family that run it are in my congregation. I am the youth minister of a Presbyterian church just down the road from there.”

“That bakery makes the most wonderful things,” Lisa said. “And they are good people too. I went about a month ago, and this really beautiful blonde woman was at the counter serving another woman. I was next in line when this other woman came in and tried to cut in front of me. When the girl at the counter said she would wait on me next, that woman went ballistic, calling me a dirty squaw, and insisting that she go next, saying she ‘knew people’. The girl just ignored her.”

“That sounds like Maria. Her husband owns the place,” Helen said.

“Well, Maria finally kicked the other woman out, and apologized for her racist rant. She had no need to apologize. There aren’t as many people like that woman now, compared to when I was young, but they still are to be found. Anyway the food I got was wonderful, and she gave me a discount. I went back the next week with three friends, and now we phone in an order from the reserve each week, and take turns picking it up. We usually spend about $100. And she still gives us the discount.”

“Maria and Geoff are good people,” Steve said. He looked at his watch. “It’s just after lunch. Have you eaten?”

“No,” Lisa said. “I was just walking down the river towards a place to eat when I met you. Thank Manitou.”

“Please eat with us,” Steve said.

“I’d be honored,” Lisa said.

“No, it is us who are honored,” Helen said. “We have been enjoying this wonder of nature, and realize that once all this belonged to your ancestors. We are privileged to be able to share it with you.”

Over lunch in the hotel, the Winslow’s learned that Lisa ran a small weekly newspaper in Oshwegan with her three sons. She was to call one of her boys to pick her up that afternoon when her newspaper came off the presses in nearby St. Catharines. She agreed to accept a ride back with the Winslow’s, who decided to check out of the hotel early and head back home. A detour to Oshwegan was only a few miles out of the way.

As they started the trip to the reserve, Lisa asked Helen if she would give a little talk to the people of the reserve. The local Anglican Church had been without a minister for over three months, and some people in the community were feeling abandoned by the church.

“Well, I am not Anglican, so I can’t preach in their building,” Helen said. “But I could say a few words: perhaps an outdoor service.”

“That would be wonderful. There is a beautiful spot along the river,” Lisa said. She then made about six calls on her cellphone, asking people to come. It was near four p.m. when Lisa directed Steve to the spot she had chosen. To Helen’s surprise, the six calls had resulted in over 1000 people now standing on the banks of the mighty Grand River, the largest one in the area, not counting the Niagara.

Helen had spent most of the trip thinking about what she would say, and had a good idea for a topic. The Grand also seemed to be feeding her in a similar, but less intense way to how the Falls had. She had no fears of speaking to a crowd, due to her preaching, but was a bit unsure how it would be received.

The event started with a smudging ceremony, where an elder took a smoldering rope of sweet grass, and used an eagle feather to direct the smoke towards all the people, including the Winslows. This was followed by four men, two beating drums, and two singing in the traditional language. The singers shook rattles made of deer bones and antlers.

Then Helen spoke for over a half hour, and quickly felt a connection with these people. She told them about the Falls, and how she had seen them the way the original occupants of the area had. She praised the history of these people: the Iroquois Six Nations who had moved to Canada after the rebellion in the United States had left them unwelcome there. She spoke of Joseph Brant, the Indian leader who had founded the Six Nations reserve, and the city of Brantford. She mentioned the Grand River, and its natural beauty that provided their people with a transportation route for those who wanted to maintain a link with their past through canoeing and fishing. And she mentioned Manitou, the god to these people, and a source of comfort for them.

When she finished, there was a gentle restrained applause that was long, although not loud, showing the people had appreciated the sermon. There was another traditional song, and four young girls performed a dance in elaborate pow wow costumes.

Finally there was a period of nearly two hours when most of those present greeted Helen, shaking her hand and thanking her for her sermon. Apparently the Anglican ministers of the past ignored the history and the culture of the First Nations people, and tried to fit the people into their own world-view. To have a pastor who seemed to understand them, and Manitou, was a treat and a delight. Several hundred people asked her to come back and become their minister. Finally only Lisa was left, with three young men who she introduced as her sons. Helen had noticed that one had been taking photos as she spoke.

“That went well,” Lisa said. “There is a small dinner at the community hall, and we all would like you to attend. Can you come?”

Lisa hesitated. She had been hoping to make it to the Wednesday dinner at her own church, but she now felt a bond with these people. “I would love to come,” she said. “We can head back to Ingersoll afterwards.”

“I would be honored if you would stay the night at my house. Colin is the only son remaining at home, so there is ample room. Don’t worry. We won’t kidnap you, though many of the people here would like us to keep you.”

“I would love to be able to come back,” Helen said. “I feel a connection with all of you. I preach in Ingersoll on Sunday mornings. Perhaps in the afternoon, or another day: Saturday?”

“Saturday’s would be fine,” Lisa said. “Manitou doesn’t require us to meet on any one day. It is the way of the Anglicans that forced us to meet on Sunday. If you could come for an hour or so each Saturday morning, we would be so pleased. We could meet outdoors when the weather allows it. The outdoor service today was so perfect, and much more the way of our people. And we could use the hall when it is poor weather.”

They soon arrived at the hall, which had over 200 people sitting to a traditional Six Nations feast with venison, root vegetables, pemmican, and succotash. Lisa stood before the meal and announced that Helen would return on Saturday for a morning service, and loud cheers and applause resulted. Helen then thanked the band for its hospitality, and said she would return every week as long as she was wanted.

----- - - ------- ----

Earlier that morning Gary went to the Ford dealership in Ingersoll to get a part for an old school bus the Army was refurbishing. Gary wanted it to be able to fix the old thing up so that they could pick up people for services, as well as other uses by other community groups. They had already gutted the old, uncomfortable school bench seats, and two Army members with upholstery experience were building more comfortable seats like luxury buses had.

In the dealership Gary stood for over five minutes at the parts counter, with no one coming to his assistance. Finally he walked into the shop, where he saw three mechanics working on cars.

The nearest was under the hood of a pickup, and Gary asked: “Where’s Hank?” The mechanic, who looked extremely harried, just pointed to a pair of legs sticking out from under a sedan.

“Hank?” Gary asked the feet, and soon the feet rolled out to show the parts and service manager, with a wrench in his hand.

“Oh, Gary,” Hank said. “Sorry for this, but we are just slammed today. One mechanic just up and quit yesterday, and another one was fired for stealing tools from the other mechanics. It wasn’t a good time to let him go, but if we didn’t the other three guys would have walked. You don’t steal a man’s tools. Besides, I think he was on drugs. His work certainly wasn’t to our standards.”

“Ouch,” Gary said. “I just needed to get a couple parts for a bus we are working on. Can you spare the time?”

“I’ll have to. I only need another hour on this car, getting the muffler fixed,” Hank said. “The big problem is over there. He pointed out the door where a semi cab was sitting. Wouthers Trucking want that back tonight, and I have no diesel mechanic. I was hoping that we could land the company as a regular client: they have over 20 trucks. But with Perry skipping out on us without notice we are going to lose that account.”

“Maybe not,” Gary said, making a call back to the shed, and speaking briefly. “I might have a mechanic for you. There are a couple guys I know that are working on the bus. One is a diesel mechanic, one just does cars. They don’t have papers that they can show you, but both are licensed, or were. They’ll be glad to help you out, even though it means my bus will only get weekend work.”

“If they are good, there will be a lot of overtime here until we catch up. Your weekend work might only be on Sundays.”

“If it works for you that will be fine. I know that Boots is great on trucks. I think he said he has Mack training.”

“That unit is a Mack. Most of the trucks at Wouthers are. When can they get here?”

“In about 2 minutes,” Gary said. He could see the truck from the shed pulling in.

The men were interviewed within minutes. Stone slid under the sedan Hank had been working on, and immediately convinced the boss that he knew what was wrong and how to fix it.

Boots went out to the Mack, and brought it into the service bay. He can drive a semi at least, a hopeful Hank decided. Then the man popped the hood and listened to the idling engine. He turned the ignition off and went to Hank outlining the four or five things that needed to be done on the engine.

“Can you fix it by five?” Hank asked.

“More like six, maybe seven at the latest,” Boots said.

“Let me make a call,” Hank said, and dialed up the trucking company. The owner agreed to a seven p.m. pickup time. The trailer for the semi was being loaded today, and the cab was needed for delivery in the early morning to meet a scheduled delivery in Winnipeg.

“Get to work,” Hank told Boots. “If you can get that unit to Winnipeg and back, then you are hired.”

“When I’m finished tonight, this truck will be good for another million miles,” Boots bragged.

Gary got his parts: free. After he left, Hank was happy to finally get to the paperwork that had been piling up on his desk. An hour later Stone brought the keys to the sedan in, and immediately picked up the next order form, without asking. Hank smiled. The man knew his stuff, and the sedan muffler had been so quiet that Hank hadn’t even heard the car leave the shop.

------ - ------ --

Across town Benji Wilson was at the house that his boss, Hans Vanereynd had just bought. Apparently the stairs to the second floor were toast. He got to the location, and found two men standing with a pile of lumber around them, along with some tools.

“Are you the lads that are going to help me?” Benji asked.

“Yes sir,” the older man said. He looked about 35. “I’m Stuart Huckergale, though everyone calls me Stu. The young lad is Jason Yellowstone, but we call him Snickers.”

“After the candy bar?” Benji said. The 25-year-old nodded. It’s the only addiction I have left. He pulled a bar out of his pocket.

The stairs were a mess. The men had to brace them up just to be able to use them. Getting good stairs would take all day, Benji reckoned. Once they got upstairs, he took a quick look around the apartment, and then called his boss to report in. Hans wanted an idea how much work was needed up there. Benji suggested it would be a full week with a crew. And Hans didn’t have a spare crew.

At the end of the day, eight o’clock that is, Benji was able to report to Hans that the stairs were in, unpainted, but safe enough to allow the building inspector to remove the condemnation order on the unit. He got off the phone and addressed the tired men who had worked through the day with him.

“Well boys, I have good news,” Benji said. “The boss is happy. And that is always a good thing. And you are good workers. Stuart, you know your stuff, even if stairs aren’t your thing. The boss wants to offer you a job as a full carpenter. You will need to get your papers renewed eventually, but we have lots of work before that. And Snickers? We’d like to offer you a job as a helper. It will be minimum wage, and you will work as hard as you did today. But after a year, you will be able to enter the Apprenticeship, and eventually you could be earning $35 an hour, which is what we are offering Stu. Are you interested?”

------- -- -- --

In the early afternoon Gary was organizing his Army for the evening dinner. The chef was already working on preparing the food with this several helpers. Gary headed up to the lobby to check on it, and saw an eerily familiar face. It was a young girl of about 16, holding a boy of four in her arms. Suddenly the image clicked, and Gary turned towards those praying. Even from the back he could recognize the woman praying next to a tall man. It was Heather, his ex-wife. So the girl must be: “Cassie?”

The girl looked up, and stared. “Yes, do I know you?” Just then her parents came back from the painting, and the mother took the baby, telling Cassie she should go and pray. The woman looked at the man who had been talking to her daughter, and suddenly a light bulb went off for her as well: “Gary?”

“Yes Heather,” Gary said, reddening. “I am so sorry for all I put you through.”

“Yes, I should think so,” the woman said. “This is my husband Ernest: my common-law husband. This is Gary, my first husband.”

“Cassie has become as beautiful as you are,” Gary said, glancing at his daughter as she prayed.

“She holds a lot of rancor towards you,” Heather said. “As do I. If I hadn’t just prayed at that painting I’d probably be wanting to claw your eyes out.”

“I deserve it,” Gary said sadly. “I ruined my life. Our lives. I was saved though, by an Angel, and she helped me get a job here. I am the maintenance person for this church.”

“We heard about that painting,” Heather said. “I never expected to see you here though.”

“Ask about the papers,” Ernest said in an aside to his wife.

“Oh. We had divorce papers put together a few years back, once I regained enough confidence in men to want to make Ernest my legal husband. But we need your signature to make them official. We have searched for you on the streets for a few years. Will you sign?”

“I don’t really want to,” Gary said. “Being married to you was the best part of my life. But you have moved on, and I guess I have too. I wasn’t hiding from you. I was living rough for a few years. I will sign your papers. Actually, there is a church dinner here tonight. If you four were to come and bring the papers, I will gladly sign.”

------ - --- --

In school that day, Rachael noticed at lunch the cafeteria staff had bowed to pressure, and were serving peas as the vegetable with the mystery meat. The hairnetted ladies also got some payback: whenever a student opted not to take a helping of the vegetable, they sang: “All we are saying, is give peas a chance.” Rachael smiled, and told Carly that this would help keep her speech alive for another day. There would be no singing on Thursday though: the advance-menu chalkboard announced that the menu for that day was Sloppy Joes, which did not include a vegetable. In fact, it was one of the favorite menu items, with many students who brought lunches opting to get the messy burgers. Only pizza days were more popular.

Friday the voting for Top Girl was to be held early in the morning, so lunch would not be a factor. Mr. Churchill told the girls that their video, along with that of the boys, would be shown at the assembly that morning. The girls (and boys) were asked to be on stage, so that they could ask any questions of the students. Rachael planned on asking Grandpa if she could bring his medal to class, so the students would have a chance to touch it and see it up close.

She also contacted the Legion, and said that they were ready for a showing of the video there anytime after Friday. The boys also agreed that their video could also be shown. Their show was only 22 minutes. With the long version of credits that the girls knew the Legion members would want to see, For Valor was 38 minutes long.

The president of the Legion said she would talk to the members, and find out what day they would show the videos.

------ -- --- ----- -

Mikki and Carly came to the church dinner that night. They had both gotten babysitting jobs this weekend from their work at the nursery on Sunday, and hoped to make contact with more parents by helping entertain kids while their parents enjoyed a relaxing dinner.

Rachael saw Ali Weller and her children at a table with Gary. Luke and his sister Annette were both eating quickly to be able to go off and play, but Ali barely got a bite in, since her baby was crying.

“She’s been fussy all day,” Ali said, nearly in tears as Rachael approached with her arms out to take the infant. The moment the little girl was nestled into Rachael’s shoulder, she stopped crying, and gently sobbed for a few minutes. Ali got out a bottle, and Rachael sat down to feed the child, allowing Ali to finally eat her dinner.

Gary had half finished his plate of the gourmet meal the Chef was providing when he saw a family arrive, and he got up and went to their table. There were several copies of documents to be signed, and when that was finished, he shook hands with the man, and hugged the woman and her daughter, although the daughter returned the hug only tentatively.

“I wonder what that is all about,” Ali said.

“No idea,” Rachael said. “Those people are new to me, although the girl looks like she might be in my high school next year. Or maybe she has finished. I don’t remember her from middle school, although I didn’t hang with the older students when I was in the junior years.”

Gary led the family to the serving line, and then returned towards his table. But part way there, he veered off to where Bobby and Luke were playing some game on the floor. Gary took a knee in front of Luke.

“Luke. You are the oldest male in your family, so I have something important to ask of you,” Gary said. “I want to marry your mother, and I am asking your permission.”

Both Bobby and Luke’s eyes got large. “Would that mean you would be my father?” Luke asked timidly.

“Yes it would, if you will have me,” Gary said.

“Yes, yes, yes,” Luke nearly shouted, and ran and leapt on the man, nearly knocking him over. He turned to Bobby and excitedly said: “I’m going to have a Dad, Bobby. A real Dad.”

Bobby hugged him and congratulated his younger friend. First Bobby had gotten a father in Geoff, and now it seemed Luke’s luck had changed and he had a father too.

“Run over and get your sister, Luke,” Gary said. “I want you two there when I ask your mom. Don’t tell her why. Let’s make it a surprise.”

Bobby and Luke went over to where Annette was coloring. “Come on Annette, you need to come with me,” Luke said.

“I’m busy,” the little girl retorted, with her tongue stuck out as she concentrated on coloring within the lines.

“Gary wants you,” Luke said.

“Gary? Okay,” Annette said, handing her crayon to one of the other girls and getting to her feet.

The brother and sister then came over to their mother, who with Rachael, was totally perplexed by what they had seen. First Gary had kneeled in front of Luke, and everyone in the hall heard the cry of ‘Yes, Yes, Yes.” Rachael suggested that Gary might have offered hockey camp to the boy, while Ali was completely confused. That was something Gary would normally have spoken to her first about.

When the kids were there, Gary got down on his knee. The hall suddenly became completely quiet as people started to guess what was happening.

“Alison Marion Weller,” Gary said seriously. “I have just discovered that I am to become freed of my other marriage. I haven’t had a chance to get you a proper ring yet, but would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Ali said, not realizing she was mimicking her son’s words. She also flung herself at Gary, who was ready this time and caught her in a fierce hug. Suddenly there applause throughout the hall, along with some cheering. Gary was beloved by the entire congregation, and Ali was liked by many who knew her and the stress she had been under after her husband had divorced her while she was pregnant with his baby.

Rachael was still holding the baby with one arm, as it sucked on its bottle, but used her other hand to pick up a fork and clink it several times on a glass. Others picked up on the sound, and soon the whole church was clinking glasses. Ali and Gary didn’t need any more prodding: they immediately kissed long and deeply.

Annette was more than a little confused, until her older brother said that this meant that Gary was going to be their father. She squealed in delight and immediately jumped in to hug Gary. He had spent a lot of time at their house over the past few weeks, and she loved the man, who often read stories to her and her bother in the big chair in the living room.

After the kiss was over, including a little kiss for Annette, Gary noticed that three people had approached. It was the Harpers: Ernest and Heather, and daughter Cassie.

“I think it is only appropriate that we are the first to congratulate you,” Ernest said. “May you have a long and stable marriage.”

“And the same to you,” Gary said. “This is my first wife, Heather, and the much better man she found to raise my beautiful daughter, Cassie. His name is Ernest Hudden and I am sure that they will marry soon.”

Then Cassie stepped up, and said: “Congratulations … Dad. I hope you find love with your new family.” Gary choked up at getting the title of Dad. He knew he could only be the second Dad to the girl, but it was more than he dreamed was possible after the way he had treated them while he was sick and alcoholic.

“Is he your Dad too?” young Luke asked. “Does that make you our sister?”

The teen tousled the boy’s hair and said: “I guess it does. I have one little brother now. It will be nice to have a bigger one like you. And your little sister is so cute.” Annette blushed.

Rachael handed her the baby, who surprisingly didn’t start to fuss. “She had the touch too,” Ali told Gary. “We will have to make her our number one babysitter.”

“I would like that,” Cassie said. “But we are family, so no money changes hands. I will do it through love.”

“You are such a fine woman,” Gary said proudly. “I wish … what had happened hadn’t … but your new father and mother should be proud at the way they raised you.”

---- - --- - -- --

That night Rachael prayed

Dear Lord

Thank you for so much today. You brought Gary together with his old family, and got him a new one. I think they are all going to be a big extended family. And Gary told me before the dinner that four of the army got jobs today. With Mike, that makes five in total. Not that there will be a lack in the Hobo Army. Eight more homeless people came in and prayed to the painting today, and have joined.

Amen