Short Fiction: The Fifty-Dollar Honey Bee
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
~Psalm 22, 23-24~
In front of the meetinghouse, Leah McCory stepped out of a large steel station wagon and into the baking heat of the summer sun. Since her father and fiance were both stationed at the airbase thirty miles down the highway, it fell to twenty-three-year-old Leah to offer an arm to her grandfather as he pulled himself out of the car. After all, Leahās mother was in no shape to help at the moment and the oldest of the four boys was only in middle school.
āThanks, honey,ā the old man said, taking his granddaughterās hand as the rest of the family got out of the vehicle.
Since the last helicopter had fled Saigon two months beforeāin late April 1975āLeah hadnāt seen much of either her dad or her fiancĆ©, Danny Turin. Before Danny had even had his first hour of flight time, though, Leahās father had navigated surveillance aircraft during the early days of the Vietnam War and her grandfather had fought in the Pacific before that. The strain of responsibility was nothing new for women in the family.
āLook at that dog,ā Leahās grandfather said, pointing out a long-haired mutt across the street as they walked up to the church. āBoy, he must be hurting today in this sun.ā
Leahās grandmother had endured a lot of strain, and joy, in seventy-three years on earth but her heart had finally given out earlier that week, suddenly and without warning.
āYou know, I really need a dog,ā the old man said to his granddaughter, absent-mindedly.
Inside the church, the ward missionaries greeted Leah and her grandfather in the foyer and then welcomed her mother, three younger brothers, and all the cousins, nieces, uncles, and other family members who made their way to the chapel over the next thirty minutes. Eventually, the missionaries found seats in the chapel themselves, and the service began once the casket was wheeled in with the family behind it.
After the bishop spoke, Leahās mother said an opening prayer in between tears, shared her testimony of Christ, and then sat back down.
In between hymns, Leah told a story about her time as a missionary in Rome and a cousin compared their grandmotherās gardening to a parable from the New Testament.
When it was her grandfatherās turn to speak, the thin old man collected himself, letting a smile escape from under his neatly trimmed mustache.
āThank you, Bishop,ā he said from the pulpit, nodding to Bishop Haskell. āThank you for everything youāve done, for everything all of you here, today, have done. And thank you for not having us sing āNearer My God To Thee.ā That hymn always got to me and I appreciate you letting me keep a bit of my dignity so far this morning.ā
Leahās grandfather went on to tell the story of how he had met his wife almost seventy years before, how, yes, she had loved her garden like their grandson had said, and how as husband and wife theyād loved to tease each other throughout the decades.
āIf any of you want to come to the house afterward, you can help me dig out the old badger trap I made to scare her, back before the war,ā the old man said. āFor those of you too young to remember, itās not a real badger trapāI can explain the whole apparatus better at a more opportune time. Better yet, ask the bishop. I let him bring it in to show and tell when he was a boy.ā
The bishop smiled from his seat. The Badger Trap, as Leahās grandfather referred to it, was a spring steel animal trap about the size of a dinner plate that the old man had rigged to come within four or five inches of snapping shut but to stop just short of wrapping its steel jaw around whatever object had released its spring.
Leahās grandfather would set the trap and, when an unsuspecting onlooker asked if that actually was an animal trap sitting on the floor or the coffee table or on the bus, the old man would say, “Oh, yeah, but it doesnāt work anymore,” and then smash his hand onto the trigger. At worst, it only resulted in a light bruise or pair of scratches for the old man and a jump scare for his target. Of course, as a diabetic in his seventies, cuts and bruises werenāt such a joke for the old man anymore.
āHey, donāt blame me for what happened,ā Leahās grandfather said to Bishop Haskell. āYour dad told me to bring the trap to that school. He was a cop; I did what he said. Back then practical jokes were different, you could scare old folks, pregnant women…you know, the only person who didnāt get scared of that badger trap was my granddaughter.ā
The old man turned to Leah and asked her why she didnāt panic when he played the joke on her.
āBecause Grandma warned me about what was going to happen,ā the young woman said, brushing some hair out of her face.
āYeah, it really annoyed your grandmother when Iād do stuff like that. When nobody was looking sheād give me a sock on the nose, afterward,ā Leahās grandfather said, looking down at the casket that held his wife, who was dressed in her white temple clothing. āNo, Iām just kidding. But sheād always get me back, sheād always have her revenge.ā
The old man looked back over the congregation.
āWhen we were young sheād do whatever it took to get me to chase her,ā he said. āIād be on the grill and sheād pour water down my shirt and run away laughing. Iād look over and sheād be hiding behind a bush or something, peeking out at me. One time she knocked me off a step ladder. I mean, Iād play games but that woman was just merciless.ā
A few members of the Ward laughed knowingly. Meanwhile, in the hallway outside of the chapel, someone was stealing a pair of twenty-dollar bills.
āI guess I could be pretty inappropriate at times,ā the old man said. āAnd now…nobodyās gonna give me a sock on the nose anymore. Not for a little while, at least, until I pass through the veil, too. Leahās grandmother always said that she was gonna pass over to the other side before me and I didnāt believe it. She was two years older than I was and made me a child bride when I was seventeen, you know?ā
Except for a few titters, the room was quiet.
āI know I shouldnāt feel this but Iām feeling alone, right now,ā the old man said. āIām not proud of it but when I…when I found her on the ground in the garden and she was gone I…I didnāt know what to do. Iāve known what to do since I was this high.ā
The old man held a hand to the height of his hip.
āI didnāt know what to do because she was already gone,ā he said. āThere wasnāt anything to do anymore. And I just thought of the Savior all of a sudden. I thought of the Atonement and how no unclean thing could be in Godās presence after the Savior took on all of our sins and how, for the first time in his life, even Christ felt alone in Gethsemane and then Golgotha.ā
The old man dabbed his lips with a handkerchief from his vest pocket.
āI felt unclean, then,ā he said. āAnd I thought of Christ on the cross. And I know the Savior was referencing a Psalm, but he still said, āFather, why have you forsaken me?ā Father, why have you abandoned me? Itās what I was thinking. And I hurt, there in the garden, just holding her hand. And I started to weep. I donāt think I wept since I was a young man, maybe this high.ā
Again, Leahās grandfather held a hand to the height of his hip.
āBut I was grateful,ā he said. āI was grateful for the power of the feeling that washed over me. God let me feel a little bit of what Christ must have felt in Gethsemane and I got to know my Savior a little bit better then, because of that feeling in my chest.ā
The old man put both hands on the pulpit, bracing himself.
āSee, this is why I didnāt want them to play āNearer My God To Thee,āā he said. āIt was the Spirit taking hold of my heart and letting me know that I was still alive, that there was something bigger than me, something overpowering in this universe. It was God. ā
The old man blew his nose but his voice was steady and his eyes were dry.
āGod was there. And if God was there, my wife was with Him,ā he continued. āAnd that meant she wasnāt alone. None of us is alone. I hope you all feel that. I donāt have much more to add to that so Iām just gonna close. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.ā
Instead of taking his seat behind the pulpit, though, Leahās grandfather slowly walked out of the chapel and his granddaughter darted up to go after him, as solemnly as she could. Leah still wasnāt used to wearing high heels and nearly tripped as she headed out into the hallway. Although the wedding was only a few months away, Leah McCory was more used to boots than a pair of pumps. Behind her, the service continued, and outside, in the parking lot, Leah found her grandfather leaning against the station wagon.
āGrandpa?ā she asked, approaching him slowly. āGrandpa, are you okay?ā
āI was looking for that dog,ā the old man said. āYou remember that shaggy one we saw on the way in?ā
āYeah, I remember it, Grandpa,ā Leah said.
āI guess he wandered off somewhere,ā the old man said. āIād like a hunting dog, again. I know Iām too worn out for a horse but maybe…maybe I could train a dog again.ā
āSure, grandpa,ā Leah said. āWeāll get you a dog, okay?ā
āGirl, donāt talk to me like Iām senile,ā the old man said, sharply. āI just wanted a hunting dog again. I was thinking of the dog I had when I was your age, that doesnāt make me incompetent. Come on, letās go back inside.ā
āIām sorry, Grandpa,ā Leah said. āEveryone will be out soon anyway to go to the cemetery.ā
āThen letās stay out here for a minute, okay? Just for a minute,ā the old man said.
The tall, thin man and the thin, short woman stood in the lot together, quietly, for some time. The dry breeze tugged at her long, brown hair and played in his coattails, like a mischievous child.
āYou know, itās the best feeling in the world to see the whole family together today,ā Leahās grandfather said. āI canāt imagine where Iād be if I couldnāt see all of you kids growing up together. I think everything else I ever did would have been a waste if you all hadnāt been here with me, today.ā
After a pause, the young woman spoke.
āYou taught me a lot of good things, Grandpa,ā she said, hugging the gaunt old man. āYou taught me a lot of good things.ā
āHelp me find that badger trap when we get home, okay?ā the old man said, patting his granddaughterās hand.
Back inside the meetinghouse the service had ended and Leahās mother sent one of the boys out to the parking lot so that the old man could join the pallbearers.
The graveside service and burial were simple affairs and afterward the family and close friends returned to the meetinghouse for a Mercy Meal that the sisters of the ward had prepared and laid out in the cultural hall while the mourners were still at the cemetery.
Back inside the church, Leah noticed a quiet commotion in the hallway, outside of the bishopās office. She gave her grandfatherās hand to her mother, who seemed to be doing better now.
āMake sure he eats something, okay?ā the young woman said. āIāll be right there, just give me a minute.ā
A number of brethren were talking in hushed tones with the bishop and Leah gently inserted herself into the circle to ask what was going on.
āItās nothing, please, Sister McCory,ā a counselor said, smiling feebly. āPlease, be with your family.ā
āTell me whatās going on,ā Leah said. āI canāt go be with them if I know somethingās going on.ā
The brethren looked to the bishop who then told Leah that one of the sisters had been robbed of forty dollars.
āIt was during the service, apparently,ā Bishop Haskell said. āSheād gone to use the restroom.ā
āWho?ā Leah asked.
āSister Brandt,ā the counselor said.
āJennifer Brandt was here?ā Leah asked, taken aback. The two young women had gone to school together. After graduating and then kicking around the town for a few years, they had both gone on missions. Jennifer had gone home early, though, to marry a bartender from Salt Lake City. The couple had broken up a month before anyone could even reply to the wedding invitations and Jennifer hadnāt been very active in the Church since then.
āApparently when she put her purse down on the sink it had two twenties in it and when she picked it back up again there was only a dollar left,ā another counselor said.
āWhy did she leave her purse on the sink?ā Leah asked.
āLeah, please, you donāt need to worry about this right now. Iām asking you, go be with your family,ā Bishop Haskell said.
Leah nodded to leave but then turned back to the men.
āWhat do you mean there were two twenties in Jenniferās purse and then there was only a one-dollar bill?ā she asked.
āWhat do you mean?ā the first counselor asked.
āYou mean the thief made change?ā Leah asked.
āThatās just what Sister Brandt told us happened,ā the Bishop said. āShe was probably mistaken and had forty-one dollars in her purse. Leah, this isnāt the day for you to worry about petty things like this. Let the Spirit be with you.ā
āOf course, Bishop,ā the young woman said. āJust, please make sure my grandfather doesnāt hear about this, okay?ā
The brethren nodded and the young woman made her way back to the cultural hall. Inside, a collection of friends orbited Leahās family. On her way in, though, Leah passed Jennifer Brandt. Jennifer asked if the family was doing okay and if there was anything she could do to help.
āI think weāre going to be okay,ā Leah said. āEveryoneās just taking it one day at a time.ā
āListen,ā Jennifer started, āyou didnāt see anyone out in the hallway when you went after your grandfather, after his talk, did you?ā
āNo,ā Leah said. āNo, I didnāt see anybody.ā
āSee, itās just that someone took some money out of my purse today and Iād really like to know who did it so, if you think of anything, could you just let me know?ā Jennifer said. āAgain, if you need anything, please just let me know okay?ā
Jennifer headed back out to the chapel and Leah found her mother.
āWhat did that girl want?ā Leahās mother asked as the twins played around their legs.
āJennifer Brandt? Itās nothing, Mom,ā Leah said.
Leahās mother said that Jennifer had asked her something about money and that it had felt quite rude, given the circumstances.
āMom, sheās gone, okay?ā Leah said.
The mother and daughter spoke about the service briefly and then a couple of second-cousins walked up to the two women to offer condolences. Leah thanked them and went to check on her younger siblings.
Across the hall, the Nunez twins, two earnest and bright-eyed young boys who lived next door to the McCoryās were talking with her oldest brother about summer camp.
āItās pretty cool,ā her brother said. āWe get to make campfires and throw a tennis ball at anyone who talks after lights out.ā
Leah drifted in and out of similar, disjointed conversations for the next hour. She didnāt feel like eating, even though the food looked delicious.
āOh, yes, my Jonathan is just home from Brazil,ā one woman said to Leahās mother. āHeās gained so much weight, I barely recognize the boy!ā
āLeah was the other way,ā Mrs. McCory said, her spirits obviously lifting with the company of her friends. āShe lost so much weight she looked like another person when she got home. Look at her, sheās still a skeleton!ā
Leah smiled respectfully but joined a different conversation before long.
āOh, Leah, you should have heard it!ā an Aunt said to her. āJenniferās cousin from out of town was asked to give the closing prayer and she sang Ave Maria!ā
āShe sang āAve Mariaā?ā Leah asked.
āWell, it was something like that,ā the aunt said, and then turned to another woman. āSusan, did that girl Abbey sing āAve Mariaā or am I mistaken?ā
āIt was just a verse, I think. She just spoke it, but it was nice,ā the other woman said.
Around that time Leah saw her two youngest brothers, the six-year-old twins, chasing each other through the crowd and went after the boys to calm them down. Taking their hands, she led them back to her mother who, in turn, asked if Leah had seen her grandfather.
āI donāt see him,ā the young woman said, scanning the crowd. āHold on, Grandpaās at the dessert tray. He didnāt take his insulin yet, did he?ā
After separating the old man from the cookies, sharing more stories with relatives, and saying goodbye to friends, Leah, her mother, grandfather, and the four boys eventually piled into the station wagon and went back to the McCory home. Danny and Leahās father had both left messages on the answering machine but couldnāt say when theyād be allowed to leave the base.
That evening, after her grandfather had gone to bed, Leah took her fatherās truck into town to spend some time by herself. She drove aimlessly up and down the grid of streets until she eventually came to the gas station where a couple of her friends worked.
Before going inside, Leah pulled up to the automatic car wash, put the Chevy in neutral, and let herself get pulled into the swirling mist of water and green foam of the machine. As the drum roller brushed up and over the roof of the cab, Leah let out one sharp, frustrated scream, composed herself, and waited for the conveyor belt to carry her out of the car wash.
Parking in front of the store, she went inside to see if Amanda Barnes and her brother Joey were working that night. Only Amanda was on shift, mopping the drink aisle. The two young women hugged, Amanda apologized for having to work that day, and after catching up, they started talking about the old days in high school.
āJennifer was at my grandmotherās service today,ā Leah said. āShe almost made a scene. I was…so irritated.ā
Amanda stared forward, propped against her mop, and then looked down at her feet. Leah and Amanda had been friends since the nursery days and they couldnāt hide much from each other.
āWhat?ā Leah asked.
āJennifer…she came in here this afternoon,ā Amanda said. āShe was pretty mad and, um, she was honestly saying some pretty messed up stuff.ā
Leah asked what the other woman had said and Amanda told her that Jennifer had been suggesting that someone from the McCory family had taken the money out of her purse.
āShe said that you and your grandfather were the only people she saw in the hallway after the money went missing,ā Amanda said.
āYou have got to be kidding me,ā Leah said.
āLook, sheās just jealous of you and Danny,ā Amanda said. āNobodyās taking her seriously and itās not going to have any effect on you, okay?ā
āYeah, Iām not doing this today,ā Leah said. āIām not letting this evil inside me. Itās gonna be good. Things are going to get better from now on. This has been a stupid week and itās turning around, right now, because Iām turning it around. So, like, letās talk about good stuff. How far along are you now, four months?ā
āFive,ā Amanda said, rubbing her belly through the gas station smock. āEphraim said I could leave work after the second trimester and Iāve totally got senioritis to get out of this place.ā
āAmanda, oh my gosh!ā Leah said, smiling.
āMoneyās gonna be tight but Ephraim said he doesnāt want me to have to worry about cleaning bathrooms or pumping gas. I mean, Joey does all the gross stuff whenever heās on shift with me but heās been sick so Iāve been covering for him,ā Amanda said.
āHowās Ephraim doing out at the oilfield?ā Leah asked.
āHeās good. Like I said, cash is kind of tight if I stop working but Ephraim got a promotion and heās feeling pretty good about that so Iām not going to argue,ā Amanda said. āWe canāt all marry astronauts, sweetie.ā
āItās going to be a long time before Danny is an astronaut. I mean, you know, it might never happen, but heās got the Physics degree, heās flying the B-52ās, heās doing everything right,ā Leah said. āItās his dream and even if he doesnāt get into the program heās doing well enough for me. Iām so jealous.ā
āOf what?ā Amanda asked.
āOf you! I want to be a mom, too,ā Leah said, smiling.
āI know itāll happen. Youāll have a little one running around before you know it,ā Amanda said. āDid you guys have any trouble getting a reservation at the temple?ā
āOh, it was fine. Itās not as busy in the Fall. The weddingās only a few months away now,ā Leah said.
āOctober 5th?ā Amanda asked.
Leah smiled, said yes, and Amanda started counting on her fingers.
āOkay, so, if you get married in October you should have a fat little baby in your arms by July of next year, then, right?ā Amanda said.
āI hope so,ā Leah said, smiling. In school, Jennifer Brandt had always teased Leah by calling her āMomā behind her back, mocking her modest clothes and responsible demeanor. Of course, Leah had been forty pounds heavier in school, too, and that hadn’t made things easier, either.
Leah and Amanda hugged again, Leah bought a club soda for the ride home before leaving, and was asleep within the hour.
The next morning, after getting the boys up and making breakfast for the family, Leah kissed her grandfather on his head and took the truck back into town. There wasnāt a cloud in the late morning sky, as was common in that part of Utah, and as Leah turned onto Center Street she committed once again to be positive and humble and kind that day.
At the stoplight, she closed her eyes and said a quick prayer.
āHeavenly Father, just let me rise to the challenges you give me. Donāt let me be a bad person and donāt let me hold onto anger. Please give me something positive to do today and let me contribute something,ā Leah said. āI say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.ā
The light had turned green while her eyes were closed and, flustered, she eased off the clutch and into first gear. It wasnāt long before Leahās prayer was answered.
Having spent nearly all of her twenty-three years in town, Leah recognized just about every face on every street. People who were just visiting tended to stand out. Of course, the girlās ripped tights and neon top also made her stand out to Leah as well.
Brushing the long brown hair out of her face and straightening her posture, Leah pulled the truck over to the side of the road and cranked down the passenger window.
āAbbey!ā she said, from across the cab. āHey, Abbey, itās me, Leah! Thank you so much for coming to the service yesterday!ā
Jennifer Brandtās cousin from out of town said āhelloā awkwardly and looked down the street, as if she wanted to keep walking.
āDo you need a ride somewhere?ā Leah asked. āIt is gross out today! Itās so hot. Come on, let me give you a ride.ā
āNo, itās okay, really,ā the girl said. āThanks but Iām okay.ā
āIām just on my way down the street to get some ice cream. Theyāve got these blueberry cheesecake shakes at Reidelās Creamery that are awesome,ā Leah said. āRight down the street, come on, letās each get one. Iāll buy.ā
āWhat, at the place just down there?ā Abbey asked, pointing down Center Street. The girl was at least a few years younger than Leah, maybe more. She was probably still in school.
āYeah, Reidelās, the place a few blocks down,ā Leah said.
āYeah, fine, okay,ā Abbey said.
The girl got in the Chevy and Leah drove them three blocks to Reidelās Creamery, parked the truck, and took Abbey by the hand to the counter.
āI mean, itās not the fanciest place but, seriously, tell me this shake isnāt the best,ā Leah said.
She ordered ice cream for both of them and, after the drinks came out, Leah asked Abbey if she was okay if they walked while they ate.
āItās a big thing they always did in Italy, getting ice cream and taking a walk while you eat,ā Leah explained. āI mean, they usually do it later in the day and not at, like, noon. We couldnāt be out that late when I was over there but weād get ice cream whenever we could.ā
āYou were in Rome for your mission, right?ā Abbey asked. āYou said that at the funeral. What was that like?ā
āIt was kind of hot and dirty,ā Leah said. āBut it was also so amazing just to see all the architecture and the sights. Honestly, everyone was pretty committed to Catholicism, though.ā
āYeah,ā Abbey said. āI bet.ā
āTelling everyone that theyād have to give up wine and coffee was usually a fairly quick deal-breaker for most people, too,ā Leah said, then paused.
āWhat?ā Abbey asked.
āYou know, your cousin ended her mission early but she actually converted half a dozen people in that time,ā Leah said. āI didnāt convert anybody. So, donāt worry, youāre probably pretty safe if I couldnāt even convert anybody when I was actually trying for eighteen months.ā
āI donāt know, maybe I could just convert long enough to spend a couple years in Europe on vacation and then convert back,ā Abbey said.
Leah smiled and asked the girl where she would go if she could go anywhere in Europe.
āI donāt know, probably Paris, I guess. Anywhere but here,ā Abbey said.
āWell, hey, the shuttle out of town is pretty cheap right?ā Leah said, pointing to the sign on top of the Honey Bee bus depot across the street. āWhat is it, like not even fifty bucks to get to Vegas?ā
āI donāt know,ā Abbey said. āI donāt know, maybe Iād like to see the Riviera, the Mediterranean. Not like thatās ever gonna happen.ā
āOh, donāt say that!ā Leah said. āHow old are you, seventeen?ā
āSixteen,ā Abbey said. āSeventeen in October.ā
Leah smiled, maternally.
āSo, what, youāre just visiting your family for the Summer?ā
āI guess. I mean, I donāt know,ā Abbey said. āThings arenāt that awesome back home in Vegas.ā
āDo you like it out here, in the country?ā Leah asked.
āNah, not really,ā the girl said. āMy mom just didnāt want me around, once school was out, and Jenniferās supposed to be, like, the successful, positive influence on me or something. As if when I started to drink I didnāt get the bottles from Momās liquor cabinet.ā
āYou know, when I was eighteen, when I was just getting out of school, I was a mess,” Leah said. “l mean, Iād cry all the time and I didnāt like myself. And I didnāt have contact lenses and my mom still cut my hair, it was a mess.”
The dry summer wind blew down Center Street as Leah and Abbey drank their shakes.
“I was a mess when I was way older than you,ā Leah said, finishing off her shake and throwing the cup in a trash can. āBut when I went on my mission a lot of that changed because it had to change. I had to be responsible for myself. I think Iām the only person who ever spent eighteen months in Italy and lost weight.ā
Abbey looked interested, or at least more interested than she had when Leah had first parked her dadās truck.
āReally, I feel a lot better about myself now,ā Leah said. āEverybody seems to be really happy for me, too. But, you know, I lost like forty pounds because I didnāt eat. I mean, Iām not the tallest girl in the world so when I say forty pounds, I mean forty whole pounds.ā
āHowād you do it?ā Abbey asked.
āMostly sardines on crackers,ā Leah said. āYou have no idea how many sardines and crackers I ate. It wasnāt good, I just basically starved myself. It was actually really bad for me, mentally and physically. It might have been why I got gallstones.ā
The streets were mostly empty but Leah still looked behind her to see if anyone was behind them.
āAnyway, I remember, like, eight months into my mission I had this big meal over at an investigatorās house and it was a really big deal that I actually ate everything,ā Leah said. āThings were kind of getting better around that point. I didnāt know what I was doing but, I mean, I kept going. And when my mom made cakes and stuff for Danny, back home, and heād send me these really brief, formal thank-you cards I knew that I had to be positive. Because he was back here, finishing up school and going into the Air Force. I knew I couldnāt bother him with my pathetic little problems. I mean, I didnāt want him to accidentally drop a bomb or start a war or something.ā
āDannyās like six years older than you, right?ā Abbey asked.
Leah said that yes, he was.
āWhat, when you got back you guys just started dating?ā Abbey asked. āI mean, how did you ever get that guy? I donāt mean it likeā¦ā
āI know what you mean, itās fine,ā Leah said. āOur families were close for forever, since before any of them were baptized, and we knew each other growing up. Itās not like we hung out or anythingāhe was graduating high school when I was barely in middle school. He was always studying or working or doing stuff for the Church and never actually dated much. A lot of it changed when I got back from my mission. Iād changed a lot, I guess.ā
āYou mean you were skinny, now,ā Abbey said.
āWell, it wasnāt just that,ā Leah said. āI knew what I wanted. I just acted like his wife, right from the beginning. I turned into his sidekick and Iād just do whatever I knew needed to be done. Plus his mom was Italian and Iād just gotten back from Italy so that was my hook, too. I just brought him food and I cleaned up his place and I took his mother to the doctor and before long he just proposed to me.ā
āWow,ā Abbey said, absent-mindedly.
āI never waited for him to ask me to do anything,ā Leah said. āHe wouldnāt have asked me anyway, heās too sweet. I was just real nonchalant and never acted like anything was a big deal. Just, like, āoh, hey, Iāve gotta get over to the DMV today but hereās some pork chops I made last night. Let me know if your mom needs help with choir on Sunday, okay? See ya later.ā I just did it for a while and I think it came off as really confident to him. Even though I was just doing it because I felt like I hadnāt made anything happen in my life up to that point. Like, I really needed to start making some progress.ā
āI donāt know, that seems kind of dangerous to me,ā Abbey said.
āMore dangerous than stealing your momās alcohol and getting drunk?ā Leah asked.
Abbey didnāt say anything.
āAbbey, see, the whole reason why I wanted to marry Danny was because he wasnāt the kind of guy who was going to be an idiot over me,ā Leah said. āHe was a convertāhe found the Church, searched out God, converted his whole family. He wasnāt going to throw that away over a girl. Thatās what I respected about him.ā
āIt just doesnāt seem like it would work,ā Abbey said.
āYeah, but it did,ā Leah said, reminding herself not to get frustrated. āIt did work. When you ask for what God wants, your prayers do get answered.ā
āYou never catch him looking at other girls?ā Abbey asked.
āI never catch him lying to me,ā Leah said. āHonestly, itās the other girls who are more of a problem.ā
āLike my cousin Jennifer?ā Abbey asked.
Leah sighed.
āJennifer is not making things very easy for me right now,ā she said to the girl. āIt bothers me, deeply, that she acts the way she does. You know, on my mission, a lot of people tried to use my faith against me. So, wanting to be a better daughter of God, even if youāre not always better that day, becomes something you really have to hold onto and protect and just keep nestled in your hands like a bee that landed on your palm but might sting you.ā
āI know you try to be nice but you donāt like my cousin very much, do you?ā Abbey asked.
āJennifer doesnāt seem to care that her actions reflect on all of us. It hurts me, badly, that in order to be an honest person, I have to take your side over hers,ā Leah said. āShe made covenants, and you didnāt. Sheās twenty-three, youāre sixteen. She and I know the bond that we share, as daughters of God, and you donāt know all of those things. And you robbed her at my grandfatherās funeral.ā
Except for Leah and Abbey, the street was empty. As the woman watched her, the girl began to cry.
āI want to go home,ā Abbey sobbed. āIām so alone here.ā
Leahās expression didnāt change.
āThe sign above the bus depot said shuttles to Las Vegas for thirty-nine dollars,ā she said. āYou took what you needed from your cousinās purse to buy a ticket and you gave her the dollar that you didnāt need. Thatās what happened, isnāt it?ā
āYou donāt know what itās like!ā the girl said.
āBut that is what happened, Abbey. Isnāt it,ā Leah said.
āYou donāt know what itās like,ā the girl said, pausing. āWhen did you know I did it?ā
āI got a feeling, a prompting, not long after it happened,ā Leah said. āAccording to Jennifer, she suspected my grandfather and I, which was obviously ridiculous. Our friends from the ward arenāt perfect but I canāt see too many full tithe-payers stealing at a funeral service. At the very least, they live here and the damage wouldnāt be worth forty dollars. I mean, it could have happened, it could have been some little kid from the primary.ā
A dog walked by, panting in the road.
āBut then one of the sisters told me youād sung āAve Mariaā when you were asked for a closing prayer,ā Leah said. āThat sounded strange, reciting Schubert. But, you see Abbey, I spent eighteen months in Italy. I know another prayer, a very common one in Catholicism, that a sister from Utah might not be familiar with. āAve Maria, Gratia plena.ā Hail Mary, full of grace. You said a Hail Mary, asking for a prayer for the sinners.ā
āI just wanted to go home,ā Abbey said. āI kind of wish I didnāt get that ice cream now.ā
For a moment there was quiet.
āWell, you called to God for help so you canāt be all bad,ā Leah said, smiling slightly. āIām just glad it was for a bus ticket home, at first I thought you needed drugs.ā
āSo, what are you going to do to me now?ā the girl asked.
āAbbey, I donāt want to hurt you, I want to help you,ā Leah said. āIām not going to tell Jennifer. But I know what you chose to do. And if I know what you did then God definitely knows what you did. It was in his house, Abbey. I donāt want you to have to carry that sin when youāre so young.ā
āFine,ā the girl said and threw a pair of wadded up bills to the ground. They were damp from her palm but fluttered in the light breeze.
āLetās put it in an envelope and put it in Jenniferās mailbox, okay?ā Leah asked. āI know what this money meant to you. You can pick up the forty dollars, Abbey. Iāll buy you an envelope from the post office.ā
Silently, the woman and the girl walked back in the direction of the truck. After getting an envelope from the post office they turned down the 200 South block and headed toward the Brandt house. After dropping the envelope in Jenniferās mailbox, Abbey turned to Leah, who gestured that they keep walking.
āSo, what happens next?ā Abbey asked.
āItās not my place to tell you what to do,ā Leah said. āIām not the bishop. I donāt know, maybe you should write another letter, Abbey. Maybe you should let the bishop know.ā
āAnd then what?ā the girl asked. āIām not getting arrested over this.ā
“I’m not positive but Iām pretty sure itād be up to Jennifer to press charges or not. Regardless of my feelings about her, I canāt imagine sheād try to have her sixteen-year-old cousin locked up for forty dollars, which sheād just had returned to her,ā Leah said.
āSo, then, still, what happens next?ā Abbey asked.
āI donāt think you can really know whatās gonna happen,ā Leah said. āBut if you mail the bishop a letter instead of dropping it in his mailbox, itāll take a day or two to get over to 800 West. The Haskellās live on 800 West, just so you know. And thereās a Honey Bee shuttle headed south each night.ā
Leah held out a fifty-dollar bill toward the girl. Abbey took the money.
āWere you going to tell Jennifer if I didnāt give you the money?ā she asked.
āNo, of course not,ā Leah said. āBut I didnāt know if you were gonna freak out or not when I caught you, to be honest.ā
āSo, why did you give me the money for a ticket?ā Abbey asked.
āBecause youāre worth fifty dollars to me, Abbey,ā Leah said. āYouāre my sister, even if you donāt know it. Itās not that long ago that I was in a bad place, myself. And your soulās worth saving for fifty bucks. Come on.ā
Leah gestured back toward the truck, where it was parked on the side of the street. As Leah got in, she spoke to Abbey through the window.
āHaving said all that, itād be a real mistake to not let the bishop know what happened,ā Leah said. āYouāve come this far and owned up to it, donāt harden your heart now. Thereās no excuses, now that youāve admitted youāre not actually a bad person. Remember Lotās wife. Of course, youāre actually going towards Sodom, now, but I think the metaphor holds.ā
āWait, are you telling me that I shouldnāt send the letter?ā Abbey asked.
āWhat?ā Leah said.
āYou said Iām going towards Sodom,ā Abbey said. āIs this a trick or something?ā
āLas Vegas. Youāre going towards Las Vegas. It was a metaphor,ā Leah said. āDefinitely tell the bishop. Iām not doing reverse psychology on you.ā
āOh,ā the girl said.
āDo you want to come over my place for lunch?ā Leah asked.
āNo, IāI think Iāll just go back to the bus station, okay?ā Abbey said. āI mean, after I go to the post office. And after I get my bag from Jenniferās place.ā
āI think my grandfather would like to see you again before you leave,ā Leah said.
āNo, look, Iāll tell the bishop what I did but I, I canāt. I just canāt right now,ā Abbey said. āListen, I heard you talk at your grandmotherās funeral. I know how important religion is to you. And I do see it, okay? I see what youāre trying to do. I see that Godās watching me.ā
āIām glad, Abbey,ā Leah said. āA broken heart and a contrite spirit, thatās all it takes to be forgiven.ā
Abbey paused before asking the next question.
āListen, do you know the missionaries in Las Vegas?ā the girl said.
Leahās face brightened.
āLook, Iām not saying that I want to be a Mormon,ā Abbey said. āI just, I know itās important to you and I know youāre a nice person. And I donāt know a lot of nice people. And I donāt want to fall back in with the people I used to know. I might have to go home but I donāt want to go backward, you know?ā
āYeah, I know. Thatād be nice,ā Leah said, as she went through her purse for a card with the city’s mission contact information on it.
āThanks,ā Abbey said, as Leah gave her the card. āJust donāt check up on me, okay?ā
āDonāt worry,ā Leah said. āItās not gonna be any of us down here checking in on you. Take care of yourself, Abbey.ā
Leah put the truck in first gear and did a u-turn to head back home. As she pulled up in front of the house, the station wagon was gone but Leah did see a Dodge in the driveway. After parking, she ran inside as quickly as she could, smiling.
Danny Turin and her grandfather were sitting at the kitchen table, catching up.
āYou know, you picked a good one here,ā Leahās grandfather said after hugging her, pointing to Danny. āAnd you, Dan, you did okay, too.ā
Leah hugged Danny as he got up to take some dishes to the sink.
āGet off of me!ā he laughed and pretended to threaten her with a saucer until she let go.
As she sat down on the couch, next to her grandfather, the old man put his hand in hers.
āYou know, you remind me a lot of your grandmother, when she was your age,ā the old man said. āIām glad they named you after her, Liahona.ā
āThanks Grandpa Ethan,ā Leah said. āIs there anything else you need?ā
āActually, there is,ā the old man said and winked. āA surprise. Ask your fiance about it.ā
Upstairs, Danny led Leah to her grandfatherās room and opened the door.
On the floor, there was a large box wrapped in paper.
Leah paused.
āThatās the badger trap, isnāt it,ā she said, finally.
āYeah, but, that was just your grandpaās surprise,ā Danny said. āMineās better, everyone can keep all their fingers. So, howād you like to move to Colorado?ā
āWhat are you talking about?ā Leah asked.
Danny told her that heād been accepted to a Ph.D. Physics program in Boulder.
āOh, my gosh! Honey,” Leah said, jumping up and down. Whenever she was around Danny, her movements became exaggerated.
āOne step closer,ā Danny said, smiling. āOne more line crossed off the list.ā
āYouāre going to be an old man by the time you get into space,ā Leah said, wrapping her small arms around her large, solid fiancĆ© and shaking him.
āLook, if six or seven or eight years down the road Iāve got my Ph.D. and Iām teaching, and weāve got a bunch of kids running around, and our familyās strong…you know, it wouldnāt be the end of the world if NASA never looked at my file.ā
āYouāre not really giving up already, handsome, are you?ā Leah asked.
āLook, letās just get through this decade and see where we stand, okay?ā Danny said.
āYeah, sure. Hey, could you bring the Badger Trap downstairs so Grandpa can see me open it?ā Leah said. āHeās a sweet old man and I donāt want to take a smile away from the guy.ā
āYour grandpaās a character,ā Danny said.
āYou havenāt even heard most of his stories,ā Leah said. āAsk him about the time he saved Constancy from a man-eating mountain lion when he was this high.ā
Leah held a hand up to her hip, imitating her grandfather.
Danny picked up the wrapped package and asked his fiancƩe to get the door for him.
āJust donāt trip down the stairs,ā Leah said.
āIām not going to trip down the stairs,ā Danny said.
āColorado, huh?ā Leah asked.
āItās only a ten-hour drive home if you go through Wyoming,ā Danny said, carefully making his way to the first floor. āOr a ninety-minute flight. But weāre probably not going to be able to afford a flight for a few years at this rate.ā
āThereās always the Honey Bee Line,ā Lead said, thoughtfully.
The author has given you permission to print one copy of this story for your own personal, non-commercial use, available as a printable PDF in our Freebies section.
Bob Ciarrocchi is a husband, hopes to soon be a father, and currently holds the calling of Ward Mission Leader. Before he knew anything about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he ran a business engraving gold and silver plates but wasnāt as successful as any of the Nephites. Now he designs things on a computer and then builds them out of wood, metal, and plastic. He enjoys camping with his wife. Read their conversion story here.