It was soon after the start of great depression. The year was 1930. The weather was drab and so were the lives of people around. Those who had lot of money and were considered to be rich, even a year ago, were now penniless. There was nothing to say about those who were poor even before, for they continued to be so poor even now. When misfortune strikes, neither does it look at the status of people nor at their lifestyle.
Cottonville was a small speck in the map, somewhere down south. With few hundreds as its population and farming as the main occupation for those who were willing to work.The life in the town was very normal, no different from any other poor neighborhood.There was a small manufacturing unit, employing handful of people, but when the things were going bad to worse, the owner decided to shut the shop and call it a day. He had managed to run the shop when the situation was not so bad, a few years back, but this time, he was at his tether's end.
Wendy's father Bill was working in the shop and so he was laid off when the shop got closed. Since there was no other work available and he did not know anything other than what he was doing in the shop, he had to stay back at home. He was happy initially, for getting such a long vacation, after years of hard labor in the shop.
But when the greenback stopped arriving at the end of the week, reality struck him in the face. He was dejected and unhappy. He did not know what to do. One day he went to meet his long time buddy Joe but the story was not very much different at Joe's home either. For few days, he was roaming around the streets in search of any odd jobs, but since nothing came up, he stopped searching anymore. He was not one to tramp around the country in boxcar in hope of finding work. Hunger, poverty, and a desire to support the family were the common denominators that had affected various people differently. Bill was not sure, by leaving home, he would be able to find work elsewhere. Since men were expected to provide for their families, it was humiliating to have to ask for assistance.
He could not blame anybody, for poor people were doing their own odd jobs, for they cannot afford to ask somebody to do it and pay for the labor. It was hard to get hold of enough to buy a sack of flour and so everyone made their own breads, cooked their vegetables, bottled their fruits, raised their gardens, did their own cooking and pastry, pies, whatever. There was too much bread, too much wheat and corn available in the country. But there was no money to go around to purchase these. Ironically, still people prayed for their "daily bread".
Nobody seemed to be smiling. Hollow cheeked men and women in dirty tattered clothing-it was so haunting-looking like they haven't had a meal in weeks. Most families made their clothes out of feed sacks. The faces had no prospects, no hope. Dust storms forced many farmers to give up their land. They had absolute freedom, for they had nothing to lose. Many people ended up sleeping in a shelter for the unemployed and eating in soup kitchens elsewhere. Cottonville had neither shelters nor soup kitchens at all.
There were no more proud people in Cottonville. Coolidge had left and Hoover has just occupied the White House a year ago. Due to his astute policies, Cottonville is now a Hooverville- a glorified but decrepit shantytown. African Americans suffered more than whites, since their jobs were often taken away from them and given to whites.
Even in good days, the wages of Bill were not sufficient to meet both ends. He was a responsible father and good husband and he spent most of the time with his family when he was not at work. But now things were different. His wife Jill was ill most of the days, possibly having caught some germ while working in the back yard. Since they lived in the poor neighborhood of the village, and health care involved gargling with salt water when the throat was sore or using herbal poultice when the brow was burning with fever. Every household used Lifebuoy carbolic soap for washing their body or their hands at the end of the day after strenuous work. For they have seen the advertisement stuck in the village shop harping everyone to use the soap for healthy bodies.
Jill was coughing all the time. Bill was afraid to go to the village doctor, for he was afraid of hearing the diagnosis, afraid of the list of medicines the doctor may prescribe and such other things. After all now the expense is a drizzle only, but once he starts going to the doctor, then it will be outright a downpour. Has he not heard, "when it rains it pours". He was in a dilemma. He had married her about twelve years back and is still greatly in love with her. She was so lovely, charming and quick witted. But now the whole thing is missing- he was not sure when this thing happened, for he was thinking over his own problems for the last few months and forgotten to notice the difference in Jill.
Even Wendy was different. She was such a cuddly girl with cascading golden locks, which shone when she hoppped around. Bill used to think, whether her hair was golden or the sunlight was shining in its full glory thus creating an illusion. Wendy never stood steady; she was all the time in motion, such a hyperactive girl. Even in the school, she was the darling of her class. The teachers liked her, for she was intelligent, warm, had a hearty laugh, surely chip of the old block and was quite studious. Now she was morose, and she was not going to the school any more, the school having been closed. Whether they closed the school, because no children were coming to the school, or the other way round is highly debatable. Why bother about the school, she thought, when there was not any food to be had even once a day unlike thrice a day earlier. Wendy was a girl and still a kid. So Bill could not say, "Go fend for yourself. I cannot afford to have you any longer", like some others who did tell their boys.
Bill had reached a stage when he was not sure whether he was walking or staggering due to dizziness. Fortunately, there was no Queen Mary Antoinette in these days, he thought. For was she not the one who said to the people "if you do not have bread to eat, eat meat" or something like that before the French revolution erupted. He remembered those good old days when he was in the school, and he was fond of history and Mrs Catherine the history teacher. He was in Middletown those days. Middletown was a bigger place than Cottonville and had a few good schools.
Bill started drinking to forget his problems. Really he was never serious about drinking. He had to take care of the family and he was a gentleman. He had to watch his step and watch his words in those days. He was a good Catholic and never failed to attend the church even one Sunday. Father Hernandez had a soft corner for him. A well educated man fallen into bad times but still honest and god fearing. The best part is Bill's daughter Wendy. She had such a good voice. It was really unearthly. Father would have loved to ask Wendy to be the lead singer, but she was so small.
But now Bill had no worth. He was not alone, at least in these dire circumstances. He was a commoner. Nobody was worried about what Bill was doing. Sometimes he was found lying drunk at the side of the road. Somebody would carry him home. Father Hernandez thought it was high time that he helped Bill. Of course he couldnot offer any monetary help. The church was short of money, but rich in love and grace. Bill was a sheep, sure of his flock, but was going astray, and he cannot see that happen.
The pastor went to Bill's house one day in the morning, when even a veteran drunkard was most likely to be sober. Bill was surprised to see the father at home. He turned around and gazed at Jill's bed. She was snoring and sleeping peacefully. So nothing was wrong with her. He looked at the pastor enquiringly. The pastor grinned and said, "Are you not asking me to come in?" Bill replied, "Sorry, Father, come in".
Then pastor started speaking in a soft voice and told the story of Jesus as if Bill was not aware of it. But the season was Lenten, and one does not tire of hearing Our Lord's story any number of times at any time. The pastor said, "Remember Bill, when Jesus had to endure twelve stations of the Cross so that the prophecy may be justified, , how can we throw up our hands and remain dejected even after a small trial or tribulation. The Son of Man died for our sins, and ascended into heaven, so that we may have ever lasting life. So stop worrying and start living. Pray ands seek his mercy and grace. You were one of the flock, and possibly dearest to God, and I would not like to see you go astray. Even the younger son after wasting away the fortunes given by his father, returned home. So never it is too late. Dont you remember "...he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee ".( Deuteronomy 31:6).
The deep-toned voice of the pastor was pleasant and soothing to the ears, and even to the thoughts. Bill could see a glimmer of light peeping in his mind's eye. The darkness was gradually disappearing, and the whole being was filled with light, so bright that, in spite of closing his eyes, he can still feel the pleasant warmth and brightness with a tingling sensation all over the body.
The pastor at a glance could detect that Bill was saved. Had he not seen so many Bills? This was nothing new, but every time a person was helped and saved, invariably, the pastor used to wonder at the amazing healing power of faith. No doubt, He loves every body, and does not expect you to do anything other than believe in Him. The only way we can show our belief and faith is through prayers and penance, trust Him and and accept as our Savior.
( Did no angel come and tell the Father- just like the Son had to endure the twelve stations till his crucifixion and before His resurrection and ascent to the heaven- that the people had to endure twelve years of agony before they were redeemed from the Depression ?)
Bill felt like a new man. He started walking towards the house of the village doctor.
... if any man will come after me,let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily... ( Luke 9:23)
...he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)
