By Daniel “DG” Shipton
“Good afternoon Mr. Franklin,” the young minister said to the man nodding off in his wheelchair, ” I am Pastor John. I have come to visit you.”
“Well, hello. I know you don’t I, or do I?” The old man said looking a bit bewildered.
“No sir, at least not yet. I am the minister of your church downtown. I arrived only a few weeks ago. Maggie Smith told me about you and asked that I come to see you.”
The man nodded his head slowly, “Yes, Maggie is a good girl. She is my niece. I am sorry, but sometimes my mind doesn’t wake up quite as fast as the rest of me.”
“That is fine Mr. Franklin. You were not expecting any visitors.”
“Say, you have a fine church downtown,” the old man said, deep in thought, “My father and mother helped to build it, you know. That was before I was even born.”
No, I didn’t know, but that is good to know how much the church means to you and your family. Maggie said your wife Joanne passed away a few years ago. I am sorry to hear that. She said that you were both very involved at the church for many years.” the minister said trying to open the conversation and empathize with the kind man.
“It is nothing to be sorry for. Joanne was the most beautiful woman in the world. She fought cancer for several years, and it was a blessing for her to leave that suffering behind. She is far better in her peace now.”
“I see pictures of Maggie and her family here by your bed, and this must be Joanne,” the minister said pointing at a picture of an elderly woman in a very nice business dress.
“Yes. I told you didn’t I. She is the most beautiful woman to ever walk upon the earth,” Mr. Franklin said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.
“Do you have any children or grandchildren?”
Mr. Franklin’s smile faded, and a tear formed in his eye, “We had a son, Tom. He was a good boy. He was the quarterback for the Mustangs. They went all-state his senior year.”
“Yes, I have heard that the high school has had a winning team for many years. It sounds like you are quite proud of Tom. Does he live in town?”
Mr. Franklin was quiet for a few minutes, deep in his thoughts. He seemed to be fighting tears as he answered, “Tom was a good boy.”
Reverend Andrews knew something deeply painful was filling Robert Franklin’s heart, “Mr. Franklin. Robert, I don’t mean to pry. It is okay.”
“No. It happened a long time ago. Our Tom worked for the grocery store just south of the courthouse downtown. He started when he was fourteen, and Mr. Edwards was always telling his mother and I how proud he was to have Tom working with Him. By the time Tom was twenty he was helping Mr. Edwards run the store. He was engaged to Mary Henderson, she still goes to the church,” Robert stopped and thought for a minute and to take drink of water.
“It was a Saturday night. Tom was taking the night deposit from the store, and walking to the bank next to the courthouse. Two boys drove up, and jumped him,” tears formed again and Robert looked deep into the minister’s eyes, “The police said that he might have been killed with the first blow to his head. I sure hope that it true. I never let his mother see him. It was far too gruesome for her to see.”
“I am so sorry Mr. Franklin. I had no idea. I sure never intended for you to relive something so hard,” Reverend Andrews said, placing his hand upon Robert’s hands.
Robert took a deep breath, “I relive that time nearly every day. That was over forty years ago. I still can see it like today, but life comes with goodness and tragedy. I know Tom was a good boy. I know he was there to welcome Joanne when it was time for her to pass.”
“You are a very strong man Mr. Franklin, and you have sure had a lot of sorrow to bear. I am impressed with your calm nature.”
“I couldn’t do it without the peace of God in my heart.”
“Some people struggle and never recover from the tragedies of their lives. Your strength says a lot about you. I guess you are right in what you said, we all can use that kind of peace.”
“Yes, we do.”
“May I pray for you before I go? I promise to come visit again real soon,” Reverend Andrews asked.
After the prayer, Reverend Andrews left and visited with a couple of other congregants in the nursing home. He returned home impressed with Robert Franklin’s peace in the hard life he had lived. He went back several times over the next year, and never again brought up Robert’s son. Instead, he would share Robert’s love for baseball. While Robert had lived in the mid-west all of his life he had been an avid Yankees fan. Sometimes Robert would talk about Maggie and her family as they were they only living family that Robert had. Most of the time it was simply baseball.
“Good afternoon Robert,” Reverend Andrews said walking toward Robert’s table in the dining room.
“Well Pastor John, it is sure good to see you,” Robert said with a smile. He then turned to another man in the chair next to him, “Joe, I want you to meet my minister, Reverend Andrews.”
The old man lifted a hand and John shook it kindly, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Joe.”
“Well, there is a game today Pastor John, will you stick around to watch?”
“I might stay for a little while. Can I walk you back to your room, so you can watch the game?”
“Let’s do it. I trust your driving, and I sure want to see the game. See you later Joe.”
“You too, Bob,” the other man said.
Pastor John started to escort his old friend to his room down the hallway, as they passed the nurses station a nurse stopped them, “Mr. Franklin.”
“Yes?”
“You have a phone call, Sir.”
“A phone call? Who could be calling me? Maggie is the only one who ever calls, but she is at work during the day.”
“He said he was your son,” the nurse said bringing the phone toward him.
“My what?” Robert said, becoming nervous and agitated.
“What is it?” the woman asked, as she handed him the phone.
“Excuse me miss,” Pastor John said taking the nurse aside.
“What is it? You’re his minister I’ve seen you come in before.”
“You don’t understand miss. Mr. Franklin’s son was killed in a robbery over forty years ago. I think you can understand how this would be more than disturbing to him. Someone is playing a very sick joke or something.”
“I had no idea. But the man said he was his son. He knew what room he was in.”
Robert already had the phone to his ear, “Hello. Who is this?”
“Dad it’s me, Tom. I’ve sure missed talking with you.”
“Talking with me? I don’t know who you are. My Tom, he is dead.”
“Dad. I wanted you to know I am coming to see you in two days. We have a lot of catching up to do. I love you, dad. It will be okay.”
“I don’t know you. I tell you; my Tom is dead.”
“Just remain calm and everything will be fine dad. I am sure you will be happy when you see me. I’ll see you in two days. Good-bye.”
Robert sat quietly holding the phone in his hand, as the nurse carefully took it away, “I am so sorry. I had no way of knowing.”
Pastor John knelt next to Robert and took his hand, “Robert are you okay?”
“I don’t think so Pastor John. How does a man get a call from a boy who died over forty years ago?”
“Robert, I do not think this was your son, as you said he died over forty years ago. Your niece Maggie has even told me about this. I don’t know who it was on the phone, but it sounds like a very sick joke.”
“I would have to agree, Mr. Franklin,” the nurse said, “I am so sorry. If I had known about this, I never would have allowed this person to speak to you.”
“He’s coming to visit Pastor John. He’s coming to see me,” the old man said with tears running down his face, “I don’t know how, but he’s coming to visit in two days. In two days that is what he said.”
“Robert, this man couldn’t be Tom. You told me how he was beaten to death, while carrying the night deposit from the store so long ago. Maggie said it was an extremely hurtful time for you and your wife, and I am sure this is very disturbing,” John took Robert’s hand and looked deep in his eyes, “It is not possible for this call to have come from your son. I do not know who it was, but it simply could not be Tom.”
“I don’t understand it either, but it was Tom,” Robert said with confusion in his eyes, “How could he be coming, Pastor John?”
The nurse looked at Pastor John, “I will get the head nurse. We can give him something to help him relax. Again, I am so sorry for all of this.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” the minister said trying to calm the situation, “How could you know. You go get something to help him, and I will take him to his room and pray with him. Hopefully, it will calm him down. I’ll call his niece and see if she can stop by later.”
“I am sure glad you are here,” the nurse said.
John took Robert back to his room, prayed with him and stayed with him until the medication allowed him to drift off to sleep. He sat quietly watching the man sleep, and wondering about the phone call. Questions began to rise in his mind. Who would be sick enough to upset an old man in such a way? What could they hope to gain from him?
“Pastor John,” Maggie’s voice brought him back from his thoughts.
John rose to meet her at the end of Robert’s bed, “Maggie, I am so sorry to have disturbed you at work. This situation seems completely bizarre. I thought I would wait to be sure you were here and that you were alright before I head home.”
Maggie went to the side of the bed and held her uncle’s hand, “Pastor John I appreciate that you are here with me, but nothing makes sense. My cousin Tom was killed, forty years ago. I used to think Tom was the greatest person in the world. He would always come over to our house and play games with my brother and I even though we were several years younger than he was. When he died it hurt the whole family. Who could possibly do something so cruel to such a kind man as my uncle.?”
Pastor John placed his hand on Maggie and Robert’s hands as he looked across the bed at Maggie, “Is there anyone who would know your uncle’s history? Anyone who would think they had anything to gain by pretending to be Tom?”
“My brother David and my children are the only relatives that Robert has in the world.”
“David has no children?” Pastor Tom asked sitting in the chair beside the bed.
“No. He and his wife never had any children, and after she was killed in the car accident twelve years ago, he never found anyone who he could love as much as her.”
“David came to the church picnic a couple of weeks ago, with you and your family. He told me that he lives in Florida if I remember, correct?”
“Yes. He moved to Florida after his early retirement from his firm in Chicago three years ago.”
“He had been successful then?”
Maggie looked across the bed, “What are you insinuating Pastor?”
“I am not insinuating anything. I am merely trying to figure out a possible answer to this? Someone who knows the history of the family would need to have made the phone call. They knew the history and even knew Robert’s room number. If Robert were to die is there any estate that would drive someone to try something this crazy?”
“Maggie stepped back away from the bedside, “I live in his home, and have for nearly ten years. He had a lot of good investments that have taken care of him since he retired. I don’t know who he left everything to for sure, but he always told me that most of his estate would be for me and my family because we have always been there for him. David was never around much, so uncle Bob never felt that close to him.”
” It would stand to reason that if your brother had some sort of financial trouble he would try some way to get some resources. Do you think he could be capable of using some scheme like this to scare your uncle into giving him money?”
“He would know he could never get away with this. After all, I live here. He also knows that I oversee my uncle’s affairs. He couldn’t change the will or access the money without me. I would hope that he wouldn’t even be capable of something like this.”
“I am sorry Maggie I was not trying to sound like I was accusing your brother. I was just trying to think through who would do this, and why.”
Maggie was quiet for a few moments watching her uncle rest.
“Maggie, I am sorry for even suggesting this. Again, I just wanted to be sure. Like you said, it isn’t a possibility, because you are in charge of all of Robert’s affairs. I am sure that your brother wouldn’t do something like this. I will go now, but please let me know if I can help in any way. Again, I am very sorry.”
“You were right to ask. It may not be a complete impossibility in some extreme situation. I just can’t believe my brother would ever do anything like this. This whole thing is too weird. I have already asked the nursing home to keep anyone but you and myself and the staff from seeing him. Anyone who shows up her pretending to be Tom will be kept from seeing Uncle Robert. Will you help me to keep an eye on him?”
“I promise I will keep checking in on him. I will keep you and your family in my prayers during this time as well.”
“Thank you.”
John Andrews sat down in the chair in his living room the following evening. He had stopped to visit with Robert Franklin before coming home. He found Robert in bed and still agitated by the phone call. He continued to contemplate the situation. There had to be someone who would have reason or motivation to disturb a kind old man in such a mean way. It just didn’t seem to make any sense to John. He was so in-depth in his thoughts that he didn’t even hear the phone ring.
“John,” his wife Beth said to him holding the phone, “It is Maggie Smith on the phone. She said it was urgent that she speak to you.”
“Thank you, Beth,” John said taking the phone. “Hello, Maggie. What can I do for you this evening?”
“Oh, Pastor John it is terrible,” she said sobbing. “I was thinking about our conversation all the way home from the nursing home. I just couldn’t believe that my brother could be the one behind this whole thing, but the more I thought about it the more I had to be sure. I called to talk to him, and he wasn’t home. However, an old friend of our family who has been staying with him said that David had lost all of his money in some bad investments.”
“Maggie, I didn’t want to accuse anyone. I don’t think we should jump to any conclusions.”
“I was trying to remain hopeful, but our friend told me that yesterday David said he had some plan to get some money. He hasn’t seen him since noon yesterday. He has no idea where David went, or what he may be doing.”
“Maggie, it doesn’t mean that David is behind this. It might just be a coincidence.”
“No, you were right to ask me those questions yesterday. If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t even have thought about David,” Maggie said angrily.
“I am sorry that I put you through this, but I was just trying to help you. I still think we should be careful because we don’t want to jump ahead. We just need to be sure that Robert is kept safe.”
“That is the real reason for my call. My uncle said that the person on the phone said they were coming tomorrow. I cannot get the time off of work, and I know the staff is busy at the nursing home. I would just feel safer if someone I can trust were with him during the day.”
“It would be my pleasure. I will get there as soon as visiting hours begin, and I will stay until you can get out of work.”
“Are you sure Pastor John, I know you must be a busy person.”
“Maggie. I think that this is too important right now. I will call you if there are any problems. I promise I will stay with him.”
“Thank you so much. I think I will sleep better knowing you will be there tomorrow.”
“It is no problem. You get some rest, and I am sure all will be fine tomorrow.”
The next morning John arrived at the nursing home before visiting hours to be sure that he could be with Robert in case something happened. He hadn’t slept much during the night thinking about all of the events leading up to this day. He still wasn’t sure that David was the one who was behind the phone call, but it seemed the only logical answer.
The morning went by without any incident. John had sat with Robert watching game shows on the television, and then he walked him down to the cafeteria for lunch. After returning to the room Robert turned the baseball game on, and John settled in the chair next to the bed. At least the ball game was better than the game shows of the morning.
“Well, Pastor John, I sure appreciate you spending the day with me. I am sure you have a lot of other people to care for,” Robert said during a commercial.
“It is really no imposition. Like I told your niece, I am happy to help out.”
“She worries way too much about me. Whoever called me the other day was probably confused about who they were speaking to. It was probably just a coincidence,” Robert said in a calm manner.
“It could be, but If it eases Maggie’s mind to have me here today than it is worth it.”
“You’re a good man. Don’t you never forget that? I think I am ready to lie down. Could you go and get a nurse to help me out?”
“I would be happy to do that,” John said rising to his feet. He finally felt a little useful, as he walked down to the nurse’s station.
A knock came to the door, “Come in,” Robert said looking toward the door.
The door slowly opened and a young man of twenty years old stood in the doorway. He was wearing blue jeans, a red shirt, and a denim jacket. He had blond hair which just touched the collar of his shirt. He stood in the doorway looking at Robert, with a broad smile on his face.
Robert recognized the jacket, the shirt, and the hairstyle, “Tommy? Tommy is that you? Why your cousin and the pastor were so worried that this was some sort of joke. I was so stunned at your call? Where have you been all these years?”
“I’ve been waiting to see you again dad,” The young man said, still standing in the doorway.
“You don’t know how I missed you, boy? Your mother and I were heartbroken for years, but we never stopped thinking about you.”
“I know,” The young man came and stood next to Robert’s wheelchair.
“Tommy I am a bit confused. What is that you’re doing here? I was sure that you had gone after the robbery. I saw you in the hospital. I am sure.”
The young man knelt beside the old man and put his hand upon Roberts, “Dad I am sorry that you had so much pain for all those years, but it is time to put all that pain behind us forever. The time has come for us to go.”
“Go,” Robert said, “But where are we going.”
“Dad, mom is waiting for us to return. She misses you as much as you miss the two of us.”
“Tommy will there be any pain?” Robert asked knowing now why Tom had come.
“No dad, it will be very peaceful.”
John and the nurse returned to find the door open. They could hear the two voices as they approached the room. The closer they came the faster they walked hearing the discussion in the room.
“Well, there is nothing keeping me here. I am ready to go,” Robert said with a chuckle.
“That is a great dad. Just take my hand and come with me,” Tommy said taking the old man’s hand, lifting him to his feet. The two men walked past the nurse and John who were now standing in the door.
“Robert, are you okay,” John said walking toward the man, who was bent over in his wheelchair.
“Mr. Franklin. Mr. Franklin,” the nurse said kneeling next to the old man and checking his pulse.
“He’s gone, isn’t he,” John said realizing in his heart the impossible facts in front of him.
“Yes,” The nurse said with a tear in her eye.
“You could hear the voices when we came in, couldn’t you?” John asked hoping that he wasn’t just hearing things.
The nurse stood up and looked at the young minister, “I’ve been here many years, and I have seen some very unexpected and unusual things. I have learned that when it is time for someone to pass on it can sometimes be in some unique ways. Do you want me to call the family?”
“No. I will call his niece” Pastor John said holding his old friend’s hand just one last time, “It has been a pleasure getting to know you, Robert. I hope you and your family can now really be at peace.”
Shippy Woods 