Date Posted:17:41:11 08/22/01 Wed Author: Mudrunner Subject: Something to pass along
Tess was a precocious eight year old when she heard her Mom
>and
>> > Dad
>> > * >> > > > talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was
>that
>> > he
>> > > >>was
>> > > >> > > very
>> > * >> > > > sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving
>to
>> > an
>> > * >> > > > apartment
>> > * >> > > > complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for
>the
>> > > >>doctor's
>> > * >> > > > bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save
>him
>> > now
>> > > >>and
>> > > >> > it
>> > * >> > > > was
>> > * >> > > > looking like there was no-one to loan them the money. She
>heard
>> > > >>Daddy
>> > > >> > say
>> > * >> > > > to
>> > * >> > > > her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a
>miracle
>> > can
>> > > >>save
>> > > >> > > him
>> > * >> > > > now."
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from
>its
>> > * >> > > > hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on
>> the
>> > > >>floor
>> > > >> > and
>> > * >> > > > counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be
>> > > >>exactly
>> > * >> > > > perfect.
>> > * >> > > > No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back
>> in
>> > > >>the
>> > * >> > > > jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door
>and
>> > made
>> > > >>her
>> > > >> > > way
>> > * >> > > > 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief
>> > sign
>> > > >>above
>> > * >> > > > the
>> > * >> > > > door.
>> > * >> > > > She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some
>> > attention
>> > * >> > > > but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to
>> make
>> > a
>> > * >> > > > scuffing noise.
>> > * >> > > > Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting
>sound
>> > she
>> > * >> > > > could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her
>jar
>> > and
>> > > >> > banged
>> > * >> > > > it on the glass counter. That did it! "And what do you
>want?"
>> > the
>> > * >> > > > pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to
>> my
>> > > >>brother
>> > * >> > > > from
>> > * >> > > > Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages, "he said without waiting
>> for
>> > a
>> > > >> > reply
>> > * >> > > > to
>> > * >> > > > his question.
>> > * >> > > > "Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered
>> > back
>> > > >>in
>> > * >> > > > the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick... and I
>want
>> to
>> > > >>buy a
>> > * >> > > > miracle."
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > "I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > "His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside
>his
>> > > >>head
>> > * >> > > > and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how
>much
>> > does
>> > > >>a
>> > * >> > > > miracle cost?"
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > "We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I
>> > can't
>> > > >>help
>> > * >> > > > you," the pharmacist said, softening a little.
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough,
>I
>> > will
>> > * >> > > > get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped
>> down
>> > > >>and
>> > * >> > > > asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does you
>brother
>> > > >>need?"
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > "I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I
>just
>> > know
>> > * >> > > > he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my
>> > Daddy
>> > > >> > can't
>> > * >> > > > pay for it, so I want to use my money".
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > "How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > "One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly.
>> > "And
>> > * >> > > > it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need
>> to.
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > "Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and
>> eleven
>> > * >> > > > cents-the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He
>> took
>> > > >>her
>> > > >> > > money
>> > * >> > > > in one
>> > * >> > > > hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said
>> > "Take
>> > > >>me to
>> > * >> > > > where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your
>> parents.
>> > > >>Let's
>> > * >> > > > see if I have the kind of miracle you need."
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,
>> > * >> > > > specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed
>> > without
>> > > >> > charge
>> > * >> > > > and it
>> > * >> > > > wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events
>that
>> > had
>> > * >> > > > led them to this place. "That surgery," her Mom whispered.
>> > "was a
>> > > >>real
>> > * >> > > > miracle.
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > I wonder how much it would have cost?"
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one
>> > dollar
>> > * >> > > > and eleven cents ...... plus the faith of a little child.
>> > > >> > > >
>> > * >> > > > A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the
>> > operation
>> > > >>of
>> > * >> > > > a higher law...... (A TRUE STORY)
