Miracle/Friendship Ball

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 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
encounter. That did it! "And what do you want?" the
pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm busy
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 neurosurgery. 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

I know you'll keep the ball moving! Here it goes.
Throw it back to someone else who means something to you!

The Friendship Ball
A ball is a circle, No beginning,no end.
It keeps us together
Like our Circle of Friends
But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of
friendship
You've granted to me.
Today I pass the friendship ball to you.
Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you.

MY OATH TO YOU...

When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.
When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears.
When you are worried.....I will give you hope.
When you are confused.....I will help you cope.
And when you are lost.....And can't see the light.
I shall be your beacon.....Shining ever so bright
This is my oath.....I pledge till the end.
Why you may ask?.....Because you're my friend.

Alda Ellis is the author of the
Friendship ball.
Alda Ellis has the story copyrighted
and included in her book, Always Friends.
This year is her ten year anniversary.
go to Aldasforever.com for more info ; - )
Thank you Alda Ellis for what you have given me & others

Contact information
Mark James
phone 516-835-9996
my email is dannsirs@yahoo.com