The Homecoming

The Homecoming

“Cora, is it really you? Are these old eyes playing tricks on me?” Sophia said as she gazed into the eyes of the daughter she hadn't seen in six years.

“It's me Mama, I'm so sorry I left you and Papa. I hope you will forgive me.”

“Oh my darling girl. There is nothing to forgive. I'm just glad you are here. What kept you away for so long? Oh never mind that. Come in. Let me pour you a cup of tea. You must be hungry, I'll heat up some nice vegetable soup for you. Oh Cora, I don't know what to say. I can't believe you are standing here in my kitchen. Are you ill child?”

“I'm well Mama. I don't know where to start. Audrey came to see me. I don't remember the town we were in but I heard her call my old name. I had forgotten my name was Cora it had been so long since anyone called me that. I'm Sister Charity now. At least I think that's my name.”

“Cora, I'm going to call Doc Bailey. I want to make sure you are alright.” Sophia picked up the receiver of the telephone that was installed just a week ago. She gave the number for Doc Bailey's office to the operator and was connected. Doc's nurse told her he would be over to check on Cora.

“Doc says not to let her leave Mrs. Lynch. He is on his way.”

Doc arrived and was very gentle with Cora. He determined she was in good shape physically but wondered about her mental state. He called Sophia aside and said “I don't know much about emotional wellness. Cora seems to be in a bit of a daze. From just talking to her I don't think she was abused physically in any way. The way she describes this fellow, Brother Jeremiah, he has cast a spell over her. She has a desire to come home and be a part of her family again. I don't want to alarm you but I think Brother Jeremiah will be anxious to have Cora back. You may want to keep your doors locked for a while.”

“Thank you Doc. Mr. Lynch should be home soon. In the meantime, I think I'll load his old shotgun. Nobody is going to take my darling girl away from me again.”

Cora had gone upstairs to her old room. Her mother left it just the way it was the day Cora disappeared. She came down in one of her old dresses. The ring of flowers she had in her hair had been replaced by shiny barrettes.

“Cora, do you want to talk about what happened to you?”

“Yes, Mama, I think I'd like to talk about it but I'm not sure of all the details.”

“Let me fix you another cup of tea.”

“I remember seeing the men putting up the big tent one afternoon. A man was walking around shouting that we were all sinners and we needed to be saved. Audrey laughed and said the man was a con artist and was trying to take people's money. Sally and Maizy thought it was funny too. Audrey had to be home that night but Sally and Maizy wanted to go to the revival meeting and I said I'd go with them.

“We walked into the tent that evening and people were singing and music was playing. It was very loud and it sounded wonderful to me. Brother Jeremiah walked out on stage and he looked like an angel with his white flowing gown. When he spoke his voice was like a voice from heaven. I saw him make a man see who was blind and then he made a little boy in a wheelchair walk. I thought I was seeing miracles. He called all of us sinners up to the stage. I couldn't help myself, I got into the line and we were all singing Onward Christian Soldiers. That was always one of my very favorite hymns. As I walked by Brother Jeremiah he stopped me and told me to step aside. Sister Maude took my hand and walked me to another tent on the grounds.

“I was a little frightened but I couldn't seem to move to get back to Sally and Maizy. After the music quieted down, Brother Jeremiah came to me and asked if I would like to be one of his disciples. He said if I did become his disciple I would surely have a place in heaven through all eternity. He had such piercing eyes and I believed every word he spoke. I told him I would have to ask you and he said he already did and you said I should go with him.

“From then on, every time I asked about you and why you hadn't tried to see me he would look at me with those eyes and tell me you were happy I was with him and I should forget my earthly family because he was my family now. I thought you and Papa had given up on me and didn't want me anymore.

“Before long, he asked me to pretend to be mute and when he pushed my head and I fell down I was suppose to get up and sing. I didn't feel right about lying but he said it was what the Lord wanted me to do.

“Every few days we would move to another town. During the winter we went south where it was warmer and in the spring we would head back up north. This went on for a long time. I thought I was happy living that way because Brother Jeremiah told me I was.

“Then one day, I heard a familiar voice. She said she was my cousin Audrey. I was in Brother Jeremiah's tent that night after he pushed on my head and made me sing. She kept telling me stories about when we were children and our families and all the good times we had. I started to remember them but I didn't speak because Brother Jeremiah told me not to talk when other people were around. The big men who were always nearby made Audrey leave. I didn't want her to go because I wanted to hear more stories.

“I kept remembering the things she told me and then I started remembering other things. I remembered how you always had tea in the afternoon. How you would call me your darling girl. How Papa would light his pipe and read the newspaper after he got home from work. All these memories came back to me. I knew I had to see you again and when the train pulled into the station in Buffalo I got off and hid in the janitor's closet until the train pulled out again. I hitched a ride with a farmer who was delivering fresh eggs. He stopped at Carson's Market and I walked home from there.”

Sophia wanted to take that shotgun and hunt down Brother Jeremiah. She knew she wouldn't do such a thing but it did sound like a good idea.

Just then Burt Lynch walked in the door. He couldn't believe his eyes that his daughter was sitting at the kitchen table sipping tea.

After hugging her and breathing a sigh of relief, he listened as Sophia repeated the story she had heard.

“I'm getting the sheriff. We will track this man down and have him put away for the rest of his sorry life.”

“As much as I'd like that to happen Burt, Cora was 18 when she went with the man. In the eyes of the law she was an adult. He hasn't hurt her physically and I'm not sure mental anguish is punishable although maybe it should be.”

At that moment in the town of Lexington just outside of Buffalo, Brother Jeremiah was berating Sister Maude for letting Sister Charity slip away from them.

“Listen Jerry, I'm not her keeper. She is a grown woman and if she wants to get away from you I don't blame her. If I wasn't your wife I'd leave too. I'm getting sick and tired of traveling around with this group of hangers on. Charity was one of the nice ones. If you hadn't played games with her head she would probably be back in Buffalo married to some farm boy and surrounded by 3 or 4 children by now. Just let her go.”

“Charity is my golden goose. Do you have any idea how much money she can raise with that voice? Those suckers out there can't wait to part with their money once she starts singing.”

“How much is enough money. We could go live on an island somewhere and never work again. We have plenty of money. Your greed is going to get you in trouble. Well, I've got my own nest egg and if you insist on tracking Charity down, I am leaving you.”

“Go ahead and leave because I'm calling the boys in right now. I know exactly where she lives and I'm going to make sure I get my singing angel back. With you out of the picture, I might just make her the second Mrs. Jeremiah Hershey.”

Maude walked out of the room. She knew she wouldn't leave and she knew her husband wouldn't ever be unfaithful to her. He liked to say things just to rile her up. She wished he would listen to her and get out of the con business. She wondered if they hadn't gone too far. She knew people were donating their life savings. They had more money than they would ever be able to use. Maude was still young enough to become a mother. She wanted nothing more than to settle down in a nice little town and raise a couple of kids with Jerry.

Brother Jeremiah called in two of his thugs. He gave them the address where they could find Sister Charity with an order to bring her back to him.

Ace and Buck found the house where Charity was. They walked up to the door and knocked. They were met with two shotguns aimed directly at their faces. Charity was holding one of the guns and an older lady was holding the other.

“Ace get out of here and take Buck with you. I'm not going back and you can tell your boss to get himself another sinner. This one has been saved. The sheriff and my father are on their way to the big tent. I'm sure the sheriff can find some reason to put that man behind bars.”

“We're leavin' Charity. Don't shoot.”

“Ace, I'm tired of travelin' how about we see if we can get a factory job here in Buffalo. I understand the winters are pretty nice here.”

“I'm with you Buck. Let's let old Jerry face that sheriff by himself.”

The most the sheriff could do was convince Brother Jeremiah that it would be more pleasant for him to move on.

Jeremiah told his crew to start packing up. He wondered where Ace and Buck were with Charity and had a bad feeling when night fell and they still weren't back. Maybe Maude had a point. They could find a little place where it was warm all year. A couple of kids would be nice too. Anyway, he was getting tired of tambourine music.

Audrey Mackenzie picked up her mail at the post office. There was a letter from Cora. She couldn't wait to open it.

Dear Cousin Audrey,

How can I ever thank you for coming to see me at the revival meeting a few weeks ago. If you hadn't reminded me of all the wonderful times we had when we were young and the happy days with our families, I would still be traveling with Brother Jeremiah.

I am still trying to sort out the way my life took a turn but I do believe everything will be alright in the end.

Do you remember Elroy Perkins? He was that skinny boy who always followed me home from school. The years have been very kind to him. He is still unmarried. He said he was waiting for me to return. He is the local pharmacist now. He has asked me to marry him and I said yes. Doc Bailey thinks I should settle back into my life before I make any drastic changes. Elroy says he has waited for me this long and he can wait a few months longer. I hope you will plan to come to the wedding. I am anxious to meet your new husband.

Thank you again Audrey. Thank you for giving me back my life.

With Love and Affection, Your Cousin Cora

“Oh Mr. Parker,” Audrey said to Jackson on her way out the door. “isn't life just wonderful?”

The Revival

The Revival

“Look at this Jack. A tent revival right here in Camden Corners.” Audrey said to her husband of two weeks. “This handbill says we will be saved from our sins if we attend the meeting tonight. What do you say, shall we be saved or do you like all my sinful ways?”

“I like my vixen just the way she is.” Jack said as he caught her around the waist and nuzzled her neck.

“Seriously, I wouldn't mind going tonight. I've told you about my cousin Cora who went to a revival meeting and ended up joining the followers. Aunt Sophie hasn't seen or heard from her in over six years.”

Audrey Lynch was a nurse living in Buffalo. She had a crush on Dr. Grady Murphy and convinced her friend Elizabeth to join her on a trip to Camden Corners to inquire about nursing positions at the new hospital. The hospital hadn't been completed yet and they weren't looking for nurses at the time. Audrey had led her friend on a wild goose chase just to be close to the handsome doctor. Dr. Murphy had just finished his residency with Buffalo General and was meeting with Dr. McMillan about a position with his medical practice.

Elizabeth was not happy about being a pawn in Audrey's scheme but had no choice but to go along after a sudden snowstorm hit Camden Corners stranding the ladies.

To Audrey's dismay, Dr. Murphy only had eyes for her friend, Elizabeth. It wasn't long before Audrey switched her attention to artist, Jack Mackenzie.

“Everybody that comes into the gallery is talking about this revival meeting. I heard some fellow was walking through town telling everyone to come to the meeting and be saved. Shall I bring my tambourine?”

“I can just see you marching around a tent with a tambourine and being saved.”

“I've already been saved by you. You saved me from a life of loneliness,” Jack said with a laugh.

“You, Jack Mackenzie have never been lonely in your life. Some woman is always after you. Remember Daphne St. Marie?”

“Daphne who?” he laughed.

“Hush. I'd better get to the hospital. I'll see if Elizabeth and Grady want to join us tonight. Maybe we can get a quick supper at the pub before the big meeting.”

All of Camden Corners was abuzz with talk of the tent meeting that evening. Some folks had gone the night before and had seen a man cured of his blindness. The collection plates were overflowing but Brother Jeremiah asked that those attending tonight, bring more to help him carry on the Lord's work. Leland Harvey heard the bank was inundated with folks withdrawing their savings. He stood outside the bank and tried to discourage his former customers from taking out all their money but to no avail.

“That man is trouble,” he told his wife, Millie. “I'm afraid it's going to be a mighty sad winter for those who are giving money to that so called man of the cloth. I know Eb Mendenhall will be there with his deputies but the man isn't doing anything illegal, just immoral.”

Audrey and her friends arrived in time to get a seat fairly close to the stage. The music was playing and Audrey thought back to her cousin Cora.

Audrey had been invited to go to the revival with Cora and their friends. Audrey and Cora went to the same school. They both planned to begin nursing school the following month. They had talked about being nurses for as long as Audrey could remember. Audrey stayed home that evening to help her mother bake a cake for her grandmother's 75^th birthday party the next evening.

The following morning, the doorbell rang at 4:00 am. Aunt Sophie was standing at the door in her bathrobe. “Audrey, is Cora here with you? She never came home last night. Her friends said she went backstage at the revival and they couldn't find her after that. I'm so worried about her. She was always such a responsible girl.”

Audrey had never been so frightened in her life. Her cousin and best friend was missing. The people involved in the revival claimed they had not seen her. The police and sheriff's department were unable to locate any sign of her. It was assumed she had run away or had been kidnapped. How was it possible an 18 year old girl would disappear into thin air?

Brother Jeremiah was introduced by the man who was prancing through town calling everyone he saw a sinner. The music was so loud the chairs in the tent vibrated. Audrey and Elizabeth were getting into the spirit. Even Grady and an extremely skeptical Jack were tapping their feet. Brother Jeremiah had a booming voice that seemed to go right to the soles of Audrey's feet. She was beginning to see how a young girl could become mesmerized by the whole thing.

Brother Jeremiah called several folks from the audience up on stage. He began his ritual by restoring hearing in a young boy. Next a man in a wheelchair stood up and walked off the stage. The audience was cheering as Brother Jeremiah walked to a young lady who was with an older woman.

“Brother Jeremiah my daughter Charity has been mute since birth. Please wash her sins away so that she may speak.”

Brother Jeremiah put his hand to Charity's head and shouted to the heavens. Charity fell backward and was still.

Shouts could be heard through the tent. “Is she dead?” “Did he kill her?” Suddenly, Charity began to move. She stood tall, opened her mouth and started singing Onward Christian Soldiers in perfect pitch.

“Praise the Lord,” said Audrey.

Jack couldn't believe what he'd heard. “You aren't falling for that act, are you?”

“It's a miracle!”

“Audrey, what's wrong with you? It's a sham and you know it.”

“I know it's a sham. That's Cora. Charity is Cora.”

Charity was handed a tambourine and began dancing through the aisles as she sang. The woman who claimed to be her mother was emptying her pockets of dollar bills shouting thank you to Brother Jeremiah.

People appeared out of nowhere with collection plates in their hands. The plates were being filled to the brim. Jack noticed others with huge sacks emptying the plates and passing them around for more donations. He and Grady were appalled.

“Let's get out of here. I can't bear to watch this,” said Grady

“You two go ahead, I have to find Cora. Jack, will you come with me? She must have gone backstage. I can't believe she is a part of this abomination.”

“No, we will stay with you. Won't we, Grady?” said Elizabeth

The four of them headed backstage where they were stopped at the doorway by two very large men.

“My cousin is backstage, sir. Please let us pass. I must speak to her.”

“Sorry miss. Nobody goes backstage. Even a pretty little thing like you.”

Audrey began to shout, “Cora, are you back there? Where are you Cora? It's me your cousin Audrey.”

“There's nobody back here named Cora. Now get away from the door or I'll pick you up and carry you away along with your friends.”

Audrey didn't doubt for one minute that he would do just that.

Brother Jeremiah heard every word of the conversation outside the doorway. He remembered a starry eyed young girl coming backstage six years ago. She had the look of innocence. Just what he needed for his act. He took her under his wing. She was his best routine so far. She brought out the generosity in people. He wasn't about to let this cousin get anywhere near his prize disciple.

“Audrey, I think we'd better go home and try to figure out a way to see Cora. It's obvious these gentlemen are not going to let us back there.”

Audrey agreed and walked away. “Did you see the look on her face? She looked dazed. I wouldn't have recognized her had I not heard her voice. She always did have a beautiful singing voice. I don't know what to do Jack. I have to talk to her but I have a feeling those two goons aren't going to let me anywhere near her.”

On their way out of the park Audrey noticed there were several small tents in the background with one large tent in the middle of them. “I'll bet the big tent is for Brother Jeremiah and I wouldn't be surprised if Cora is sitting in that tent right now. The three of you go distract that huge man standing in front of the entrance. I'll see if I can get a peek in there.”

“I don't like this Audrey. I know you want to find your cousin but these men look very dangerous.”

“They won't hurt me. I don't think Brother Jeremiah would want the sheriff to find a beaten body on the grounds where he set up his tents.”

The three friends walked to the far end of the row of tents and started laughing and singing loudly. Just as Audrey planned. The man at the doorway walked over to see what the commotion was all about.

Audrey quietly walked to the entrance of the tent and sitting at a dressing table was her cousin.

“Cora, it's me Audrey.” she whispered.

Cora looked at Audrey with no sign of recognition. “My name is Sister Charity. I don't know anyone named Cora.”

“Oh dear, Cora, what has happened to you? You and I were best friends. Don't you remember what fun we had when we were just children? We used to go to the old swimming hole on Uncle Handley's farm. Remember we used to call him Uncle Handlebar because he had a handlebar mustache. At Christmas our papas would chop down Christmas trees for our parlors. They used to argue over which tree was the prettiest.”

Audrey kept talking about every old memory she could come up with but there wasn't any spark of recognition in Cora's eyes.

Brother Jeremiah appeared at the door and very quietly whispered in Audrey's ear that she had better leave and not come back.

Audrey turned to Cora and said “Your mama cries everyday not knowing where you are. We all still love you Cora.”

She glared at Brother Jeremiah and said “I am going to pray for you sir. I'm going to pray that you rot in Hell for what you have done to my cousin.”

She felt a familiar arm around her. It was Jack telling her she had done all she could and it was time to leave.

Audrey telegraphed her aunt that very evening telling her what transpired. She found it impossible to put a positive slant on the situation. She did tell her aunt that there was an announcement that their next stop would be in a small town outside of Buffalo a week from Thursday. If nothing else, Aunt Sophie would be able to see Cora.

Sophie was happy to hear her precious daughter was still alive. She was grateful to Audrey for trying to persuade her to remember her past. Sophie was counting the days until Thursday when she would see Cora again. She was prepared to face the fact that Cora may be lost to her forever. While sitting at her kitchen table sipping her afternoon tea, there was a gentle knock on the back door. She opened it to see Cora standing there.

“Mama, may I come home?”