NANCY ANDTHE BABY SAT ON THE PARK BENCH FOR OVER TWO HOURS AS THE SHOPPERS PASSED BY. She didn’t speak to anyone, because she was homeless, and the baby needed a change of diaper. They would kind of hold their breath as they passed. Looking, not at her but around and even over her. They probably assumed that the smell was coming from her. She just sat and smiled and rocked her baby when it started to cry. She wasn’t begging for food or money. Just sitting and enjoying the sun on her face.
When the baby wouldn’t stop crying, she knew it was time for the little one to eat. Nancy pulled the last bottle of formula from the little bag. Holding the baby close to her, she began to allow the baby to feed. She looked happy and seemed in good spirits, if you didn’t look too close at her. She hummed and sang softly as the baby finished the last bottle. Laying the blanket over her shoulder, and then lifting the baby up to her shoulder, she burped him by gently patting his back. Wishing she could have something to eat also, she began to rock the baby to sleep. Nancy knew that she would probably have to put him up for adoption, tomorrow. She could no longer afford to feed him. Without a home address, she couldn’t receive the monthly aid from DCFS, or the health care notice. She was going to miss the baby.
He had been a comfort to her since the day she saw that lady dump it in the trash can last August. She heard the noises coming from the bundle the lady had dropped. She didn’t know what it could be that was making the noises. As she walked closer to the trash can, she heard the baby crying. She pulled the baby out of the trash and asked God to help her take care of him. When she went to the doctor to have him checked out, the nurse had registered her into the new mother clinic. The nurse hadn’t asked her any questions except whether it was a boy or girl. The clinic had let her come for free appointments for a complete year. God had brought her a place to live and a source of food, since she had found the baby. All of those things were about to change because the old custodian of the building, where she had been staying, had died.
Last week the new custodian had propositioned her in regard to being nice to him and his friends. Because she wasn’t paying any rent for the apartment, he thought she could be used. She wasn’t going back there ever. She wouldn’t allow him to catch her alone in the building. That’s why she had been sitting so long on the bench. She did not have any place to go. Nancy wouldn’t beg for food or money and the baby needed to eat and be cared for daily. So, she knew it was time to give the baby up. She was so hungry. She had no food for herself or the baby. The baby was finishing the last bottle. She had almost lost herself in self-pity when that man with the great smelling sandwich had stopped to eat his lunch on the bench next to her about twenty minutes ago. Watching him as he sat there eating his sandwich with chips and a drinking a nice cold drink. She had almost lost her control and asked him for some food. He had looked over at her and the baby with their meager possessions. He had been very pleasant, complimenting the baby and talking with her. He sat talking with her for over 10 minutes, while he ate his lunch. He didn’t even wrinkle his nose at her or the stinky baby. He talked about how busy he had been at the office today.
“I just got a chance to run out for lunch,” he said. “The morning rush has been so heavy I did not even get a chance to glance up to check the clock. The phone kept ringing and I am the only one in the office.” Then he had suddenly looked at his watch and jumped up. He had not finished his lunch, but he said softly, “Have a nice day and God will bless you and the baby.”
Nancy replied thank you and may He bless you, too. Nancy turned to the baby, which was sleeping so nicely now that it had been fed. She knew it was time to change the baby while he was being quiet. Laying him down on the bench, she looked in the little brown bag she used to carry the baby’s thing. No more diapers in the bag. A frown took over her face, her body slumped, and she knew she could not wait until tomorrow to turn the baby over to the hospital.
Looking up she saw the nice man coming down the street. He seemed to be in a hurry again. He had a couple of bags in his hand. He must have gone shopping. That might have been the reason he had left so quickly. As he got closer, she noticed that one of the bags was from the Wal-Mart in the mall. He was also carrying a bag from the sandwich shop where he had gotten that delicious smelling food. Expecting him to zoom past her, she put her head down pretending she was busy looking in the brown bag. Suddenly he was standing over her, putting the bags on the bench next to her. “I forgot why I had made the mad dash for lunch just now. “Is the baby sleeping? I heard him starting to cry when I left earlier. I realized it was rude of me to sit here eating in front of you and not offer you some of my sandwich. Especially since you and the baby have been out here all morning. Once again, it was a pleasure talking with you. Have a great day!”
The man stood up and walked away back to the busy mall entrance. “Hey mister, you forgot your packages.” No, I didn’t. Nancy, those are for you and the baby.” She started to protest, but he kept going, waving as he walked thru the revolving door. Opening the smaller of the two bags, she found a sandwich, fries and a cold drink. The receipt had a note on it that said, “Don’t give up God is with you, always!” Nancy sat still for a moment. She said a prayer of thanksgiving and asked God’s blessing. Lifted up the sandwich and began to eat her first meal of the day. The sun seemed to shine a little brighter. A gentle breeze blew as if to dry her tears of joy. Having finished the sandwich and the fries, she was sipping on the last of the drink when she remembered the other bag. It was a big plastic Wal-Mart bag. Inside she found a baby bag, two face towels and a bath towel.
The baby bag was filled with baby diapers, lotions, wipes and shampoo. She transferred the empty bottles from the brown paper bag to the new bag. She said, “Now you can have a bath little one.” Picking up the baby and the bags she headed for the train station to give him a bath and a fresh diaper. The baby laughed as Nancy rinsed his little bottom in the sink. She said I have got to give you a name, since I will be keeping you. I don’t know just what it will be but, you will need a name to take you through life. God loves you and so do I, but other people will need to call you by a name.
It came to her as she rolled him in the towel to dry him. How about Timothy?” We need to find another place to live, Tim.” She had decided to call him Timothy. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make a home for you. While dressing Timothy, she began noticing how tight the clothes had become. Timothy was growing again. He needed new shoes also because he would be walking soon. Maybe the gift card she had found under the diaper would help to resolve the problem. God had truly blessed her this day and she would not forget to thank him, daily.
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