The Lady Across the Street: Part V

This story is something that I've wanted to tell for a long time. It's true. It's about a very random person during a very random part of my life, who had a huge impact on me, without doing anything huge at all. (Part I can be found here.)

The day that Mrs. Sands' nieces flew in was a day of anticipation. I helped Mrs. Sands get her home spic and span. My mom baked some treats and made some lemonade. We left Mrs. Sands alone before they arrived so that she could spend quality time with them, and retreated across the street to meet them later that day.

Meeting them was a little awkward, but it seemed appropriate to hug them. After all, we felt that their aunt was part of our family. They chatted about the trip. They commented on how much they'd missed their aunt. Mrs. Sands was quiet but smiling for most of the visit.

That night, one of her nieces came over to talk to my parents. They sat on our front porch together while I listened through my parent's bedroom window.

"The auctioneer will be coming tomorrow," I heard a voice say. "The auction will be Saturday. We'd like you all to come tomorrow morning. She has some goodbye gifts to give."

I was stunned. I hadn't thought about how the nieces would help Mrs. Sands. I'd never thought that she would be saying goodbye.

Tears were streaming down my face, and I hadn't even said the words to my friend yet.

Later my mom found me and realized what I'd overheard, she tried to explain.

But it didn't make sense.

I do not remember in the slightest what Mrs. Sands gave to me as a farewell gift. I avoided her over the next several days...not wanting to say goodbye.

For two days an auctioneer auctioned off most of Mrs. Sands' treasures. I walked around during the auctions, watching groups of people bid to own part of her life.

Finally the only thing left to sell, was her home. I knew she was inside the house while everyone stood outside to bid. I knew that soon it would be over. I wanted to give her a gift. I wanted to buy her house and keep it safe with all of her treasures. I wanted to find a way to help her overcome the disease attacking her mind.

But there was nothing I could do.

And then I thought of something. Something she'd taught me.

I made my way through the hundreds of people watching the auctioneer about to begin. I walked up the steps and past the beautiful porch swing. I opened the door and stepped inside to see a home bare of most of its possessions. Sitting on the couch, alone, was my dear friend. With nothing left to offer, I sat down next to her and slipped my hand in hers.

As the auctioneer's loud voice came in through the windows, I fought back tears and told her stories. Stories she'd told me about life. Stories she'd told me about love.

I held her hand as the bidding continued and my voice filled the void between us.

All too soon, everything was over. That night my family told Mrs. Sands goodbye with tears and gratefulness and she slipped out of our lives forever. It was only a few years later that we received word that she'd passed away.

How grateful I am that my mother and father sought to care for someone in need in our neighborhood. In doing so, I learned exactly what a ninety year old woman and a young girl could have in common. I learned more about the worth of an individual from Mrs. Sands than from any other person in my life.

I learned that small acts of service and kindness can be multiplied and magnified to create a legacy of love, wrapping around so many people, extending out from them, and living beyond a mere life-span.

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