Thomasville

The Walk Home

The Neilson family walked home from the service. Carolyn and David maintained a distance between themselves and their children so that they could discuss Pastor Brady without the fear of little ears overhearing.

Carolyn whispered to her husband softly: The poor man has been wasting away ever since Diana died. Now that everyone is moving to the city to find work, the man looks like he is a hair width from death. If that son of his were of sound mind and could take care of himself and his father, maybe the situation would be different. As is, I think he would be better off sending him to an asylum. David shook his head; We both know he would never do that. He needs to be dealt with, David. What is going to happen to him when his father dies? A fully grown man who can not speak, feed, or dress. He will have to be sent to a facility eventually.

The couple called their children back to them as they passed the taproom. A drunk man stumbled out and leaned against the building for support before beginning to heave and retch. Then came Billie charging out of the building and bounding down the street. He almost knocked over the other man as he fled the scene in the opposite direction.

Carolyn was startled and scandalized. I was wondering where he was. Now that I know, I can not stand to even look at him. He is such an embarrassment. Nettie and Will need to reign him in or kick him out. What if his behaviour starts influencing Jack? David sighed; He is only nineteen. He will learn moderation and restraint. The apple never falls far from the tree. Young people who have just gained freedom do not know how to manage themselves properly.

What about those other men then, David? Most of them are married men with families at home. They never grew out of it. They are always complaining about losing their money and livelihoods. Maybe I would feel more sympathy for them if they were not spending the remainder of their assets on intoxicants. I pity their wives and children.

What are intoxicants? Asked their daughter Lilly; They are the tools of Satan, Lilly. Replied Carolyn, and I never want to go near them. Lilly feigned agreement but was still burning with curiosity. Are they why we are not allowed to talk to cousin Billie anymore? She asked, but Carolyn ignored her. You girls go ahead up the path and play now, mind your dresses.

If only it were so easy to convince the men in town to put down the drink of the devil, laughed David. It would be easy if they stopped selling it, she responded haughtily. Like it or not, Carolyn, at the moment, that dingy saloon is the only thing bringing money into the town.

Carolyn looked up the path to spot her children and was immediately horrified. She had hoped the girls would manage to keep their Sunday dresses clean for once. As the mother looked at the dirty outfits, she felt an ungodly amount of rage rise within her. If the clothes got ruined, they would not have the money to buy new ones until next Christmas. She disliked doing the laundry, especially in her current state. Leaning forward made her feel nauseous and, the smell of the soap gave her headaches. She had explained this to the girls many times, and they did not seem to care.

If I had treated my mother this way, she would have whipped me raw, thought Carolyn. The young mother had considered the merits of corporal punishment, but had decided against it. Although she was agitated, the idea of causing her daughter physical pain caused her to tremble.

David noticed his wife's blank gaze and grabbed her hand, pulling her back into reality. David, I feel anxious about Pastor Brady's retirement. Imagining another person taking his place makes me feel so strange. Then again, Pastor Brady has always been the soft-spoken type. Perhaps this new younger man might be more firebrand. God willing, he may be able to get this town in order. I fear leniency would make the situation worse. Even respectable men and women are drinking, smoking and using illicit substances. Yesterday, I heard Margaret Browning has been buying opiates from Mr. Lee. I have always considered Margaret Browning to be an upstanding woman and a superior mother. I fail to understand how a woman could justify debasing herself in such a way; Especially when she has so many impressionable children running around. Elisabeth is using laudanum to ease the pain of her gout, and I told her that rest and prayer would do her the same amount of good. She smirked at me and accused me of lecturing her. People need to understand that this is unacceptable behaviour for Christians. We should be seeking salvation and healing from the Lord, not Elmer Lee and his commodities.