Inspirational Fictional Writing

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Irma’s Miracle

At exactly nine P.M. Jan’s phone rang, interrupting her train of thought. Why didn’t I unplug that crazy telephone before I started this article? I just never learn.

“Jan, can you come over right now? The director of Pine Haven just called. I don’t know what to do. If anything happens to her I’ll never forgive myself!?

“Mom, calm down. Now tell me what’s going on”. Jan knew her mother’s nerves were easily rattled these days. Why did this have to happen to our family? It’s just so unfair.

The decision to place her grandmother in the special care home had been tough on everyone. But Jan’s mother had suffered too much pain already. How much more could she handle?

“Your grandmother has been missing for almost an hour Jan. They have a search party out looking for her, but it’s nearly dark What if she’s headed for the river? I need you Jan, I need you!”

Her mother’s distraught plea ripped her heart out. Pulling on her coat, Jan grabbed her keys and flew from the office. Deadlines would wait. Family came first.

Weaving in and out of traffic, Jan pictured her mother, frantic with worry, pacing through their century-old home. Jan’s brother, his wife and 3 children had recently perished in a house fire. Now Irma blamed God for cursing her mother with Alzheimer’s disease. How could a loving God be so cruel?

Jan pulled her Honda Civic into the drive and ran to the front door. “Have you heard from Pine Haven yet? Have the police called?” Jan wrapped her arms around Irma and felt her frail body tremble with sobs.

“I’ve been a faithful wife and a good daughter and mother”, Irma cried. “Why me Jan? Why this family?

“Mom, I have no answers. I’m sure everything possible is being done to find Grandma”. Jan led her to the worn sofa. Irma was on the verge of breaking down and she needed more that her daughter’s comfort. She needed a miracle!

As if thinking it would make it so, the phone rang. Jan answered and held her breath.

“Irma, is that you?”

“No Dad, it’s Jan. Any news about Grandma? Mom is sick with worry”.

“I’m on my home”, John Greer told his daughter. “The police have a couple of tips on sightings and they’re doing all they can. Tell your Mom to hang on. Tell her I love her and I’ll be home in ten minutes”.

As Jan hung up, she turned to pass on the message to Irma, but she had disappeared. Jan found her in the kitchen, clutching her grandmother’s photo. The two women were strikingly alike. Their petite stature, silver hair and laughing eyes endeared them to everyone they met.

“This woman was the strongest and bravest woman I’ve ever know”, Irma said, as the tears fell on the picture. “She raised ten children, delivering all but two at home. Her family meant everything to her. Now she doesn’t even know one of our names”.

As Jan struggled to hold her own tears in check, she heard her father’s voice in the front hall.

“They’ve found her Irma. They’ve found her. She’s alright. She’s very confused and weak, but she’s going to be okay”.

“Who found her John? Was it the police?”

John smiled as he looked lovingly into his wife’s eyes. “Irma, a ten-year-old boy spotted her on the river band as he was delivering his newspapers. He called for help, a jogger dialed 911 on his cell phone. God was watching over her Irma. You have to believe that”.

Maybe tomorrow Irma Greer would give thanks. Tomorrow she would count her blessings. Tonight, it was enough to see her mother, Sarah Lutes, safely ticked in her bed at Pine Haven. Tonight Irma would hug the woman who had given her life.