A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME

A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME  By Tessa Harvey     At the thrift shop later in the week, Lucy found some good bargains. Taking them to the counter, she was confronted by an older lady, instead of the usual pleasant middle-aged ladies.     This lady had glasses shaped sharply and a voice to match. "You got some good bargains," she groused. Clearly the unspoken words were: you were crafty.     The woman held up each article. At the last item, a small pink and white crochet rug, she deliberately asked more than it was worth. Lucy paid. It was not worth the hassle.     She drove home, dispirited, missing her family, regretting saying she would be fine. Her cat greeted her at the door. Probably hungry, she thought, feeling tears welling as she fed him.     Sinking down into an armchair, her purchases strewn around her, Lucy wondered what life was all about now she was alone....     Her cat, Jimbo sniffed her bags, then leapt slig...

A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME  By Tessa Harvey JULY 2023     Lucy sat on the hard metal chair at the airport. She had said her final, thankful goodbyes. Her lovely family had gone to a land of better work prospects, and possibly more freedom to love their God.     Lucy hadn't wanted to tell them about her recently diagnosed heart condition. She felt that vital organ fluttering beneath her fingers. Unwillingly, shakily, she turned and watched as the plane turned to taxi down the runway/     Seven years ago, Sean , her beloved husband of forty years had died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Alive and laughing one minute, gasping soundlessly the next, then nothing. Jim had believed totally in God. He would have called his passing as going home.      The airport strummed with noise around her. Lucy could not let go of the hard chair. A large heavy-set middle aged man plumped down next to her. He oozed massively over the chair seat. Lucy tho...

A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME  By Tessa Harvey     Grandfather was silent. "I sensed a Presence," he whispered at last, "just as I did in the war trenches.....but my life is nearly over. That man spoke truth. My purpose now is done."     "Hey," Amy almost shouted, then glanced at the other patient who, now awake, was staring at them blankly. "You have wisdom, old man. Your son and I need this. You have memories. We need this memory. People do not learn from history. Most of all we need You." The old man smiled his gratitude and was instantly asleep.     Amy tiptoed away down the shadowy corridor. She heard snores and coughs, groans. The night staff glanced up. One smiled. "All ok, Mrs. Burns, she queried. Briefly, Amy recounted the incident of the man with the syringe. The ward staff nurse looked startled, almost disbelieving, Amy noted. But the other nurse seemed angry - at her. "We will alert security," he growled. "Don't ...

A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME  By Tessa Harvey      Amy sat with her father-in-law, Will. She was a strong looking lady. Her short dark hair was attrctively styled. She worked part-time at a hairdressers and loved the work and the time to chat with other adults of various ages and sometimes older children.     A neighbour looked after Ben when she was working. Eva had said, with six kids of her own, one more made not much difference! Ben loved going there. Three of the children were as yet, too young for school. There was another toddler like Ben and the two slightly older girls who mothered both boys - when they were allowed.     A nurse hovered near the doorway of the two-bed room in the hospital. Will was obviously in pain, but trying to hide this from Amy.     Something about the man's stance set an alarm bell chiming in the woman's mind. She prayed silently.     "Stop that!" the man suddenly spoke, 'stop talking to your God!...

A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME  By Tessa Harvey     Moira next door smelt the smoke first. She hobbled outside, grabbing her stick. Martha, across the way had a phone now and she hurried to alert her.     But before she could, Jim's car drove up and he banged open the door and raced straight inside. The smoke was thick and disgusting, cloying and terrible.     Sensibly, he pulled back, calling his wife Amy to get help. Moira, shakily, pointed her in the right direction. People were gathering. Lucy ran up with an old baby blanket. "Dad," she yelled, though he was standing right there, "tie it round your face. They showed us at school. Keep low," she added and began to cry. But Jim was gone, crawling. Dimly, he heard sirens, but was focusing all his strength on  locating his father. His mum had just died. Now this.     Swiftly, he reached his dad's chair. Flames were flickering, but it was smoke that had overcome his dad. He lolled, unrespons...

A TRUE STORY - LOST IN TIME  By Tessa Harvey     She saw now her mum was gone. Those had been her last words. Her last thoughts for Peggy..... As she left to call the doctor from a phone box, the wee girl across the road waved. Peggy had no idea the prayers her mum had prayed would lead to the child one day marrying a mighty man of God. A warrior.     1960     Elsie was sad. The stroke had robbed her of speech. She knew the end was near, but had no regrets really. Will had wanted more children at first, but not after Jim got so sick.     It had been a hard road for them both at the time. Doubts flickered like flashes of light in her mind. Was she good enough for God? Her two oldest grandchildren came in. Both had tiny balls of polystyrene decorating their pullovers. Inwardly she chuckled. In the Waiting Room there was some kind of display in a bowl surrounded by the pellets.     Her tongue felt awful in her mouth and came out a litt...