Let’s ride

     The balloon was inflated and ready to go when they pulled up. After they were given some basic instructions, the sky was starting to change color on the horizon. They floated from town over Evie’s home place and hovered over Dillon’s. Teka was playing in her pen as if she knew they were watching. 

     Her dad sighed, “God does beautiful work.” 

     This year, the weather had been kinder than in years past. Leaves had color. God’s fall was breath taking. Red, orange, yellow, the colors glistened in the rising sun. A breeze made them appear to wave at the morning travelers. 

     Evie leaned into Dillon and he put his arm around her. In the moment, she was calm. This was peaceful. 

    “Dad?” 

     He turned to look at her. Tears streaming down his face. “Beautiful, hummin’ bird. Beautiful.”

     Dillon held her a little closer. He was dying inside. This, this was perfect. There were so many questions he wanted to ask her. One question was paramount on his mind. When he looked down at her, she was looking up at him, smiling. She was so beautiful. 

     He put his hands over hers. ‘So warm,’ Evie moaned in her mind. Suddenly, he was playing with her fingers. When she looked down at her hand, there was a ring on her finger. 

     “Are you sure?” She whispered.

     “I’ve been shore since I was 16.”

     When they kissed, her dad shouted. He stretched out his arms, shouting. 

Sunshine Valley

Fall

     For as long as Evie could remember, Sunshine Valley’s biggest event of the year was their Fall Festival. She and her dad wondered down street after street of homemade crafts, candies and farmers selling garden vegetables. It brought back such pleasant memories of her childhood. Dillon had to be at work at 7pm. He joined them at 3 to wonder with them.

     “I really didn’t think this was a thing.” He accepted the majority of a candied apple from her that had been purchased, sliced. “Eating them off the stick is half the fun.”

     “Then give it back.” She teased.

     “Nu. No backsies. It’s mine now.” He smiled, hungrily eating a slice with the included stick. She giggled. 

     At the end of town, a hot air balloon was tethered to the ground. Her dad asked, “have you ever been in one?”

     “No. Would you like to go?” Evie asked.

    Rebecca and Simon stepped up beside them. Simon asked, “how far up do you go?”

     “80 feet.” The captain answered. 

     “For how long?” Rebecca asked. 

     “10 minutes.”

     “Capacity?” Evie asked.

     “Three, plus me.”

     “How much would it cost to do a real flight?” Dillon asked. 

      The captain wrote on a piece of paper and handed it to Dillon. He showed the paper to Evie.

    “Dad, would you like to go on a real hot air balloon ride?” He grinned like a child. To Evie’s knowledge, to attend her wedding, was the only time her parents had ever flown. 

     They chose sunrise for their balloon ride. Evie handed the piece of paper to the Ledbetter’s. Rebecca couldn’t conceal a cough. 

    “Take $100.00 off that for 2 people.” The captain commented. 

     “No thanks.” Rebecca snorted. 

     “Dress warmly,” the captain advised. 

Sunshine Valley

Bible study

     Sara 2 took charge of setting up the Bible study group. Not everyone that wanted to participate had either a smartphone, a computer, or a social media account. It had to be organized the old fashion way. She put up a sign up sheet at church. And printed off material for their first class. She and Evie were talkin’ once, twice a week sometimes. 

     The first Bible study would be sharing your testimony. Getting to know each other. And handing out the first real lesson. The first one would be at Sara’s apartment. Room providing. Then they would decide if they wanted to move it around and how often they wanted to meet. Sara decided on snacks instead of a meal. 

     She about died when the first knock came to her door. It was Evie. She had showed up early to help with any set up. 

     “How many signed up?” She asked. 

     “10. I have seating for 6. Della is gonna bring some more chairs incase people show up that didn’t sign up. In all 15 people showed up. 

     “This is exciting,” Evie whispered. “A lot of people are here.”

     She gave a nervous giggle, “I know.”

     Rebecca and Simon showed up. Even Pastor Sam. And a lot of people Evie didn’t know. But that was a good thing. 

    Sara welcomed everyone to her home and what she prayed was the first of many Bible studies. It was made known that this was a Bible study and was not church. Everyone was welcomed regardless of religious standing. It was her goal to have them learn from each other and the Bible. 

    Everyone was asked to bow their heads in prayer as Bradley led the opening prayer. 

     Sara told them about a box she had sitting on the table. She asked everyone to put ideas down that they wanted to do a Bible study on in the future. And another box was on the counter, a blessing box. Each person could write down something they were thankful for and they could open the next Bible study with those. 

     Evie and Jack just sat there and listened as those that wanted to shared their testimony did. “God is good.” He said quietly, patted her arm. 

     “Yes, he is.” She smiled sweetly at him. 

     The testimonies shared were a mixture of stories; a drug addict, someone who was just lost in the world, a former criminal, a runaway. Stories were shared about how Jesus saved a marriage, a life, a family in crisis. Others still about that much needed job, a place to live, a much needed church family. 

     The group decided to move things around and meet at different homes. Snacks were perfect. They would meet once a month on the third Thursday of the month. The first Bible study would be about Noah and the flood. They were encouraged to tell their friends and make copies of the lesson. 

     Ginni, a friend of Sara’s offered to host the next one. 

     Bradley and Patty walked Jack home. Della and Evie stayed to help with the clean up. When they had finished, Sara plopped down on her couch with a great big sigh, “that was wonderful.”

Sunshine Valley

Dad talk

     Evie was at her dad’s house fixin’ lunch after she picked him up from church. He sat at the table watching her as she buzzed around the kitchen. “You remind me of your mother.” He said softly. 

     “Dad, I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.”

     “I know you and Lily didn’t see eye to eye.” He said with a smile. “Could an old man ask you sum-um?”

     She smiled, “my dad can ask me anything.”

     “Did you invite that boy for lunch?”

     Evie laughed, “I can’t believe that after all these years, you still call him boy.”

     “I was rootin’ for you 2 you know. But Lily fought me ever step. Dillon has grown into a fine man. He’s kind, strong, good heart.”

     “Let’s say we would have gotten married at 18 or 19, would he have been the same man that you are so proud of?”

     Jack smiled, “better. He loves you.”

     “He is my friend.”

     “Sit child.” She sat across the table from him. “He has been mopin’ ‘round here for the last 40 years. Women have tried to get close to him,” Jack shook his head. “None were you.”

     “Dad,” she sighed. 

     “Has he given you the envelope full of letters?”

     That question shook her for a minute, “recently yes.”

     “Tell me why keep them?”

    “Too lazy to throw them away? Forgot about them.”

     “When I brought Teka home, he volunteered to keep her.”

     “I’ve been wanting to ask you about that. How did you get her?”

     “I overheard your ex talkin’ at the last meet you went to. Thought it was a joint decision, way he talked. Little did I know then, it wasn’t.”

     “Thanks dad.” She smiled. “Yes, I did invite him to lunch. But he hasn’t answered me.”

     “Trust me, hummin’ bird, he loves you.”

     While her dad ate, she thought about the letters and the kiss. Oh my, even though it was a light kiss, it was consuming her thoughts. 

     Her dad brought her back around, “go marry that boy.”

     She gave a heavy sigh, “dad it’s not that simple.”

     “Yes it is, hummin’ bird.”

Sunshine Valley