Ollie had two days but knew that was far more time than she would need. All she had to do was pack hers and Mary's things in the blue carpet bag she had brought with her from Garner over four years earlier. She would say goodbye to a few people in the town; including her boarders, her Christian brothers and sisters from the church, the merchants from town, and of course, Maria and her family. These goodbyes, she knew, would be the most difficult part of all.
Friday came, Ollie had said her goodbyes. She had packed the carpet bag. She and Mary walked out the door where each of her boarders hugged them. They walked downtown for the last time. The Italian community had already started their Frinday night dance, even though it was only mid-afternoon. Many were just watching and listening to the band, but most couples were dancing.
Ollie just stood and watched for a few minutes. Mary, standing beside her mother, was clutching the doll she had received last Christmas. All of a sudden a strange thought entered Ollie's mind. I have no one to dance with.
She picked up the carpet bag which held her one dress other than the one she was wearing, one other dress for Mary, which was too small for her, a change of clothes for Molly, which Ollie had made from a worn-out dress, two sandwiches Maria had made for them and 37 cents. She had to sell everything else she had to pay off her bills. Then she took Mary by the hand, and together they walked out of Thurber, toward the setting sun.
"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say; here am I" Isaiah 58:9 (NIV).
