At
the next meeting, "I have big news to announce," Shirley Hill told the group.
"I'm adopting a child. You remember last month in Burbank the parents of an
eight year old girl were shot to death by the son. I'm adopting the child. She
is Mexican, and her name is Doria. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.
She is such a precious child." "Congratulations," everyone told her. "When can I
meet her?" Albert asked. "she is with my mother now. You can go with me to pick
her up when we leave here tonight." "How long does it take to adopt a child?"
asked Charles. "A social worker makes home visits for three months, then I go
before a judge for permanent custody."
"I have big news too," said Albert.
"I have just been hired as the assistant professor of physics at the California
Institute of Technology. ("A wise man will hear, and will increase learning."
Proverbs 1:5a) "Congratulations," exclaimed the Captain. "Will you move or
commute?" asked Shirley and Shirlie Jean at the same time. "Commute at first,"
he replied. "Let's play scrabble now," said Charles.
During the game
Albert made the word "love" on the board. Shirlie Hill added the letters "m" and
"e" to the word. "Just joking," she laughed. Then she removed the two letters
and made the word "unloved."
Christmas was a busy time for
everyone. The five decided not to meet for scrabble during December and the
first two weeks of January. Charles invited Milly, "Will you go to the church
Christmas party with me?" and they went together and had a wonderful time.
Albert and Shirlie Jean were still dating. The nurse worked long hours
at Saint Mary's, and the science teacher started his new job. Slowly their
relationship started to cool down. At the same time Albert would occasionally
visit at Ms. Hill's home, because Doria, the little Mexican girl had won
Albert's heart. Doria called him "Uncle Al." And Albert called her "Princess."
"Do you have to leave now, Uncle Al?" she would beg him to stay longer, but his
visits never lasted over an hour. Albert bought her a large white stuffed polar
bear for Christmas. "His name is 'Albert," Doria named it.
Ms. Hill sat
and watched "her daughter" play a computer game with Uncle Al," or Uncle Al
helping Doria with school work, or making ice cream, or listening to Albert tell
Doria a Bible story. His visits were short, but very special for Doria. "Uncle
Al is nice, Mother," Doria said.
"Those that be planted in the house of
the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our GOD. They shall bring forth fruit
in old age." Psalm 92:13-14
The group never all met together again for
scrabble. Charles and Milly grew closer over time. Will marriage be in their
future? "Albert, I'm thinking about asking Milly to marry me? What do you think
she will say?"
Albert never knew how Shirley Hill felt about him until a
few minutes ago. Doria asked him, "Why don't you ever kiss Mother, Uncle
Al?"
"Well, Princess, she might not want me to."
"Oh, but YES she does!"
little Doria exclaimed.
The games ended, but not life.
Never give
up.
It's "never too
late."
Return to Index
