FIRE

FIRE  By Tessa Harvey     Timothy focussed on his visitor with an effort. He noticed it was a really beautiful day, blue sky, fluffy white clouds, sunshine. The wind was slightly chilly, a reminder of changing seasons.     "Please come in," he ventured, "my housekeeper could get us a drink and some biscuits." "That would be lovely. I'm Sally Elliott."\         "Timothy Winslow." He led the way to the kitchen. The window was open and he could smell the honeysuckle climbing up a wooden trellis near the back door.     An elderly lady came in, smiled and put the jug on. "What drink would you like?" she asked. "I am Kirsty."         Drinks and shortbread biscuits were placed on a nearby table . Kirsty closed the kitchen window and took her cup of tea and biscuits outside.     "The Roberts family could do with prayer help and I wonder if you could help Bart? He needs a friendly bloke. Can you help, rabbi...

FIRE  By Tessa Harvey     Timothy Winslow dragged himself wearily along the passage to his front door. The knocking was not loud and demanding, more gentle but still persistent all the same.     He opened his strong front door and looked towards the middle-aged lady hovering on his worn door step.     "Excuse me," she said in a broad local accent, " are you a vicar or a cleric or some kind of pastor - minister person?"  Timothy blinked. Was that person playing a trick? "Actually," he replied politely, "I'm a rabbi," and waited for the reaction.      "Well, that 's nice," replied the lady, pleasantly, "I don't take any notice of that bogus news stuff. Anway, er... can I come in? I have a problem." Don't we all, thought poor Timothy, who had been up all till all hours keeping an elderly soul company until he passed to a better life - hopefully.      He had witnessed about God and salvation when he could. The old ...

FIRE  By Tessa Harvey     Much to his chagrin, everything in the house was changed around when he came back to the farm.     He now had a smaller bedroom while his wife and Joey had the larger room. At first he made no attempt to hide his anger. The male nurse pointed out that his wife was expecting another child and was still recovering from cracked ribs. He was also told it was up to him to have the relatively small operation to prevent more children.     He fought strenuously against this, using an endless litany of self-centred arguments, none of which prevailed.     After a few days, Bart realised that when he went out to look after the farm, no-one shadowed him. No resident nurse ( beyond a regular cursory check), no Mrs. Elliot who was now in almost permanent residence.     What came to bother him most of all was the attitude towards him of all his children, particularly that of his eldest son, Buddy. Slowly the man realised ...

FIRE  By Tessa Harvey     Bart came to and found himself lying in a high hospital bed. Something was very painful, tied high on his left arm. It was tight. It was dark, and then he remembered nothing for a while.     A male orderly was helping him bathe. His left hand would not work properly.     The staff in the ward treated him with disdain. Only after a few days was he sent to physiotherapist who got him to soak the hand in warm water and gave him exercises.     His wife Leanne visited. By now he was feeling very ashamed and asked about Joey, desperate to know if he had survived. Joey was home again, as was Leanne, but he had been a very sick little boy.     Humbly, Bart asked if he could go home. His wife hesitated. "it is only a trial leave for a few days. If you are not managing, you have to return. The doctors are concerned for our safety."     "Why?" Bart demanded, truculent once more. Leanne sighed and left.

FIRE   (CONTINUED) By Tessa Harvey     Ellie was very upset about her baby brother. A bird kept calling just outside the door. Distracted, the girl wandered outside to see what was wrong. Minnie (the cat) was watching a bird fluttering and calling. The young cat was interested, but just lazily watching.     Then she saw a baby bird on the fence. It was nearly fledged, baby fluff bits blowing in the wind. As soon as it saw Ellie, it went very, very still. Ellie knew baby birds do this in the nest, but now flight alone would save it. But how?     Creeping closer, she knew not to hold the bird. Fear kills so easily. Instead, she gently touched the toes, nudging them to unfurl.      Instantly it flew to the fruit trees nearby, the mother bird almost as close as a shadow, flying hard.     She turned back to see her teacher, watching quietly. She told how Jesus knew when even a sparrow fell to the ground. How much more will he care f...

FIRE  By Tessa Harvey     At the hospital, baby Joe was still in a critical care unit. His parents waited for news. Time dragged. Bart was slumped near his wife's bed. He had been so proud and happy when Buddy (Robert) has been born and also when his first daughter, Ellie captured his heart, wrapping her tiny fingers around his finger.     After three children, Leanne pleaded with him to have a vasectomy. She begged saying it was so much easier for him than for her with small very dependent infants. But he hadn't listened. He was proud of being a proper man.     As his thoughts focused inward, Bart was literally a prisoner in his world of self. He heard a rattle of the medicine trolley. Edging forward, he noticed a bottle of Mogadon. Moggies!     When he was ten, his dad had died in a farming accident. His mum was given some to help her. Suddenly he lunged forward, grabbing the bottle and pushing into the ward bathroom, locking the door. ...