Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: HANDIWORK (01/14/21)
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TITLE: Priscilla's Premonition | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shanta Richard
01/20/21 -
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An unique bond of love united old Mr. Watson and the young child Priscilla. Maybe it was because they missed their loved ones. Watson, now retired, had been an art teacher in the local school. His two sons had married and moved to different states. His wife had passed away a few years ago and he had moved into a Senior Housing. Priscilla's parents were missionaries in a remote village in Africa. As it was not a safe place for Priscilla, she lived with her grandmother in the same Senior Housing in an apartment right below Mr. Watson. Every evening the two of them would go to the nearby park to enjoy nature. In autumn they loved to watch the changing colors of the foliage.
Winter came early that year and the trees started shedding their leaves prematurely. The unusual weather affected Priscilla, and she fell ill with cold, cough and fever. She lost her appetite and became weak. Lying on her bed, she sadly watched the leaves fall off the maple tree outside her window. One day when Mr. Watson visited her,she said, " Mr. Watson, those falling leaves talk to me. They say that when the last one falls I will go to heaven".
"Oh, no," said Mr. Watson. "You cannot go. Leaves don't talk. You will be well before the last leaf falls " he assured.
"There is only one leaf out there and if it doesn't fall in the storm tonight I'll believe you," she said.
When Watson came back he looked out of his window and saw that he could reach the branch with the single leaf with his walking stick. He decided to gently pull the branch into his room and tie the leaf securely to the branch. And Priscilla's premonition would not come true. Unfortunately, even as he pulled the branch in, the leaf fell off outside. Watson put his head between his hands and sat down to ponder his predicament.
He had to think and think he did till he remembered his talent - he was an artist, he could draw. He took out his artist's box and found a piece of canvas, a pencil, paint and brushes and set to work. Although his hands shook, he was able to paint an exact replica of the leaf which he securely fastened to the branch. As he eased the branch out of his window the wind picked up and the storm arrived.
The next evening after the storm, Watson was overjoyed to see his handiwork still hanging proudly from the branch. When he went down to see Priscilla, he found her sitting in her bed, bright eyed and cheerful.
" Look , Mr. Watson, the leaf is still there. She talked to me too. She said they I have to stay here grow up and go to Africa to work with Mom and Dad."
" Yes dear, you have to live," he said and kissed her.
Eventually when his time came Mr. Watson died and went to heaven. The Angel at the gate welcomed him and asked about his life. Watson replied that he had used his God-given talent of art for a living for his family. He had taught art to children and helped them to appreciate God's creations.
The Angel looked at him and asked, "And......?"
Watson considered for a while and said, " Once I used my talent to paint a leaf and gave a child hope to live."
"Well done ," said the Angel, " Enter into the joy of your Master."
This is a fiction
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