Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: WORTHY (11/29/24)
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TITLE: Bitsy's Bowl | Previous Challenge Entry
By Tracy Nunes
12/05/24 -
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Yep, this bowl was just right for Mama to keep them in when she slept at night. Or in the day too, seeing how she was in bed most days now. Bitsy hoped by making it, Mama would feel better somehow.
“Mama’s the best mama in the whole wide world.” As she worked, things she’d love to buy Mama paraded across her mind.
She shaped the bowl tenderly until it was as smooth as a baby’s bottom, as her Grandma Maude would say. Thinking of her made Bitsy remember the hour. She wiped her arm across her sweaty lips. She’d best be finishing. Grandma didn’t take kindly to slowpokes for supper, even if she did shoo Bitsy out the door at sunrise. With Mama’s care, Bitsy didn’t want to add to Grandma’s worries. She finished the bowl and set it on a flat, smooth limestone to bake in the sun. She quickly gathered nearby mulberries, putting them in her apron pocket. Later, she would crush them and stain the bowl purple, Mama’s favorite color.
She ran up to the kitchen door, eager to tell Grandma her plan to make Mama feel better. Swinging open the screen door, she burst into the kitchen expecting Grandma to order her out the door to wipe off her muddy boots. But the kitchen was empty and silent with no food on the table. The breakfast dishes lay in the old farm sink. Bitsy started to holler for Grandma but the eerie stillness put its silent hand over her mouth.
She turned to the stairs but ran back, took off her boots, and put them outside the door, removing her apron as she did. She crept up the stairs trying to avoid the squeaky bits. As she got to the top, she heard the hushed tones of Grandma and Daddy. Grandma was sniffling.
When she got to the door, Mama was sleeping and Daddy was staring out the front window at the hay field, quiet tears rolling down his stubbled cheeks. Her foot hit a squeaky board and they both turned to her with more sorrow in their eyes than she could bear. Everything stood still.
Finally, with one hand in his overall pocket, the other wiping his face, Daddy came gently over from the window. She’d never known Daddy not to make a stir when his solid frame walked through the second floor. Her eyes questioned him. Daddy knelt before her on his knees, drawing her onto his lap.
“Bitsy…” He stopped, cleared his throat, and started again.
“Elizabeth, Mama is all better now. God took away all her sufferin’ and pain. Even right now, she’s feastin’ on the best food she ever ate. She’s dancin’ and smilin’ like she was a young filly…” he stopped and gulped real loud like he was trying to swallow food that hadn’t been chewed.
Looking at Mama lying there, Bitsy knew what he meant. Mama told many stories about parties in heaven when God’s children went home. Daddy’s big arms cradled her for hours as she wailed for her sweet Mama.
Two days later, on a beautiful mountain morning, Mama was laid to rest. Before they lowered her, Bitsy laid the bowl and earrings by her hand. Daddy knelt beside her,
“Sweetheart, maybe you should keep them earrings to remember Mama.”
“No! Only Mama deserves them earrings!”
“You know what, Bitsy? I’m thinkin’ that bowl you made her would be more precious to her, even if them earrings was pure rubies. And Mama would be right proud to know that you wore them.”
The thought of Mama not having her earrings made Bitsy cry anew. But Daddy’s words rang true. Finally, she picked up the earrings. They felt strangely warm.
“Mama, this bowl has all my love in it forever,” Bitsy cried. “I promise, I’ll wear your earrings and make you proud.”
And Elizabeth did just as she had promised and thought of Mama celebratin’ in Heaven every day.
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