Mother Judy
14
Everyone had gone home or upstairs to try and sleep by the time David pulled up at 12:30 and went on over to his house. A few minutes later he and Ashara came back and knocked on the door. "Lizzie sent me on home to let you know it won't be much longer. They ordered everyone out of the room about 20 minutes ago but Cora won't leave until it's over." "Ben wants the animals brought down and everything we can use taken out of the house, first thing in the morning; he asked we not let Cora go back there. I think he was afraid she might do something to finish things; you all know she's battling Cancer and the Doctor's give her less then a year. Personally I don't think she'll last 3 months without Ben but he doesn't want her doing anything out of grief to hurry it along." "The last thing he said before he lapsed into a coma was 'Yes, I'll tell them.' then I swear he looked right at me and said 'She says to tell everyone THERE'S NO TIME TO GRIEVE'." "Strange how 'The Goddess' always seems to be there isn't it, Preach; but She's right. I think he needs to be filled in on what's happened today don't you?." Ashara said with a sad smile. "Yes but would you mind doing it at your place, I think I need some time alone with The Mother. I'll be in the alter room if anyone needs me." ***** "Where is everyone?" I asked around 9:00 the next morning when I came out to find the main floor almost empty. "The men are all up at The Whitaker place and Starr was upstairs getting a room ready for Ms Cora. She's over at Mom's sleeping they got in about 5:00 and Kevin gave her a seditive to help her sleep. I imagine Lizzie's still in bed, so are Danny and Andy and the boys too probably. David and Mom are in The Chapel with Brother Ben and some of the others are in the Community hall answering questions; Starr asks that you join them for breakfast or lunch if you're feeling up to it." "Thanks, Penny." I said heading out the door. ***** The first thing I noticed when I walked in the Community Center was that the announcement board had been cleaned off; The were only 3 sheets hanging there. The first was an announcement that the private burial of Ben Whitaker would be tomorrow morning at 11:00 at the old Blackwell cemetary on the ridge. There was also a notice that a public Memorial Service would be held Saturday at 2:00 in his honor and that there would be a prayer service on Sunday Evening at 5:30 for anyone who had loved ones back East and for all those who had suffered or lost their lives in the recent disasters followed by dinner and an all night prayer vigil and ritual. The third sheet was a farewell and a promise that they would be in our hearts and our prayers to anyone who in light of recent events had chosen to return home to be with family members and loved ones. "How many are leaving? I asked when Starr walked up. "9 so far, 3 from the Coven including Penny, since the last she's heard from Quinn he wasn't leaving Boston until after finals. Most of them are concerned about being allowed to return." "Spread the word they will always have a home here physically and spiritually and that we'll carry them in our hearts." "We already have," Starr said. "Get something to eat and then join us." ***** Everyone seemed to be getting a late start Monday morning. Between the Crossing ritual Prayer vigil and the patrols that were now going out every night about half our people hadn't got to bed until almost dawn so other then the things that had to be done on schedule like milking and feeding and turning out the animals things were running anywhere from an hour to 2 behind their regular times. Some of us though handled our praying and grief in a different way. ***** John Long Feather was conspicuosly absent all day as was the rest of his family along with several of the younger men and women and most strangely David, so when he came into the office around noon I asked about it. "Actually we were up on the ridge doing something but it's not quite finished yet so give us until tomorrow and I'll take you up there - say about sun down. I just stopped in to let you know we'll be gone until dinner." "Is that ALL you're going to say/" I asked "Yup for now anyway. By the way what are we doing about Trick or Treating for the kids?" "Ask Andy. He said he'd handle it and don't change the subject." "Already have!" he said laughing and going out the door ***** The next day went normally with no surprises. Starr and I spent the morning going over payroll and handling paperwork then I decided to take a short nap. About 5:00 David knocked on my door. "You want to eat before we leave Jo? We need to be on the ridge by the time the sun starts going down." ***** "Oh David it's beautiful. I was wondering what you had decided to do with those windows from the church but how did you change them to make them look so different." "First of all you haven't seen anything yet. Wait a few minutes until the sun starts going down, and second I didn't change them, 2 of the young people that were helping are art majors and they took the windows apart and actually made new ones using the pieces and sodder, they even cut pieces of regular glass and painted them when they needed to. There'll be 4 more across the road in the grave yard that will catch the sunrise, now hush and watch - any minute now you'll see something amazing." We watched as the sun began to decend: suddenly all 4 panals seemed to come to life and I saw the figures of the four entities that had appeared the day of the wedding glowing with a wonderous light. When both sides are finished we'll use any leftover pieces in smaller panals and just scatter them in stragetic places around the clearing then we'll have an unveiling. Until then they'll be covered with a tarp; you are the only one besides us who has seen this, it's your birthday present. John and the others are waiting for us to leave to cover them back up. ***** With the black out still in effect the townspeople had been invited to bring their children out to Sanctuary for a party and trick or treating on Thursday night from 6:30 until 8:00 so it was almost 10:00 by the time I got back to the house. I took a long bath and then poured a glass of wine and looked at my watch - 11:53 in 7 minutes it would be Halloween - Samhain, one of the Holiest nights of the year when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest and my birthday. I walked out on the porch and looked up at the sky. "Goddess, here's to another year." I said raising my glass. "By my watch you're 4 minutes early." Lizzie said walking up on the porch. The others followed right behind her. "Let's take this birthday toast inside where the wine is besides its C-O-O-O-L-D out here. Kevin said. "How did you know I'd be up? I asked while Lizzie was getting the glasses and something for the kids to toast with. "It's a tradition, every since anyone can remember you've toasted your birthday at midnight, besides your lights were on." Danny answered. "Don't worry Old Woman, we won't stay long, just wanted to give you best wishes and your presents." David said. "Lighten up boys," Lizzie said coming back into the room and passing around the wine glasses. "As the person in this room who has known you the longest I claim the right to offer the first toast. Jo, to you; one of my closet and dearest friends, you are truely a gift from The Goddess. Happy Birthday, my Sister. We love you." she said handing me a pair of gold hoops. The kids toasted next and then the boys and their wives so they could get the kids home to bed. Their gift was a family portrait. after that everyone else followed. ***** When everyone had finished and gone off to their own beds I put on some water for tea and settled back in my easy chair by the fire to read. I was still there early the next morning before daylight when I heard someone knocking - I'd fallen asleep reading. I quickly grabbed the lantern that usually hung by the porch and went to answer the door. It seems the people I was supposed to be expecting were early----Mother Judy had arrived. "Hello Ma-am. Are you Mrs Jorganson?" said a tall black stranger at the door. "I'm sorry to wake you so early but I think you are expecting us, I'm Brother Mathisson, Deacon of The Detroit Ebeneezer Baptist Church and I've brought Ms Judith Brown, she said you'd be expecting her." "She knows who you is, Her Goddess done tole her all bout us - we jus be a might early is all. But then I don' reckon she done hear bout no fires or them riots an such yet." said an old woman hobbling up on a walker and pushing past him into the house. ***** Within an hour everyone in Sanctuary knew about our guests and had been told there was to be an informal luncheon and gathering at noon to welcome them and hear the latest news on what was happening in Detroit and other major cities ***** I knocked on the door to my bedroom and entered to set a tray with tea and cakes on the table along with some clean towels. Asking if she'd like to take a hot shower and rest a while before the meeting began I opened the door to the Master bath. "Thank you Ms Jo but I be havin plenty time to res soon enuff and I reckin I wait fo later to be takin a bath but I sure would preciate it iffin I could wash up a bit befor lunch." When she hobbled back into the living room I tried to get her to tell me about herself but she was having none of it and making the point that I would know everything important at the meeting she said "We bes be gittin ober there" As we slowly walked over to meet the others, she made me promise I'd tell her about my home and as she put it 'how it made the transition from being the Fortress of a Transportation and Cattle Empire to becoming a Haven for the 'Children of All The Gods and Goddesses' when we got back to the house. We arrived just in time for lunch. ***** After almost everyone was through eating David stood up. "Most of you know this is my first church but before I was called to become a minister I fought for my country as a Marine, I served with some good men and became really close to a couple of them; one of them is Andy Baines our Sheriff which is how I ended up in Oakgrove and the other is Sgt Washington Abraham Brown the great grandson of Mrs Judith Brown that beautiful young woman sitting right there." "I remember the first time I met Ms Brown. We were on leave for Thanksgiving before being deployed and Abe had invited me to Detroit since I had no family of my own. This woman who I had never met welcomed me in her home like I was her son and now I have been given the honor of returning the favor." he walked over to where we were sitting and took Mother Judy's hand. "It's time Ms Brown, would you allow me to escort you to the podium?" "I reckin I'd be honored, Lt. Davey Carpenter." she said reaching for his arm. ***** "First off I sur nuff want all you all to know you needs to chip in and pay to git Davey's eyes checked cause he sur need glasses iffin he thinks I still young any where's cept in my heart. That be why they calls me Mother Judy cause I be ole,the oldes person any of them ever met I reckin; but you can tell that by lookin so us need to talk bout somethin else. "Us need to talk bout the world changin - not jus us here in Sanct-u-iry, or Amer-i-ka, but the whole world. People is gonna die; maybe lots of peoples gonna git real sick. Cities gonna burn, and goverments gonna fall. Things gonn git really bad an we needs to be ready. Ms Jo been talkin with her Goddess an I been listenin to my Sweet Jesus; They done tol us how; an now, it be time for us to teach you." ***** Mother Judy talked for almost an hour about what she'd seen and learned in her long life before she stopped, saying she needed to take a nap and would we please excuse her. She asked Pastor David and I to take her back to the house and we left as the gathering broke up. "You needs to figger out where you gonna put me so's you can git you bedroom back, sides I needs my privicy so's me an my Sweet Jesus can talk. How's bout that cabin ober yonder?" she said as she hobbled down the hall. ***** David and I were sitting in my office after Mother Judy laid down when Lizzie walked in. "Why don't you guys come out by the fire? Ashara's going to read the cards for everyone and I made hot toddies and brought apple cider and popcorn, besides it's snowing - actually snowing and the view from the window is gorgeous." "Penny, I'm glad you're still here . I was worried you had decided to leave anyway even after what The Goddess said especially when you weren't at work this morning." "I was going to but Mom decided to do readings at the Ancestor Ritual last night and the cards said NO ONE should leave Sanctuary until after the services on Sunday so we're all still here except for the 4 who left a few days ago. She'll tell you about it after she does readings for everyone who wasn't there last night." Ashara read David's cards first and informed him he would be married within a year and that his soulmate would appear in winter on foot but that he would need to help her find her way home before they could fall in love. Then she looked at the Kidmans who had just walked in; "I'd like to read for you next but my guide says I need to do a family reading if that's okey." They all agreed but warned her they didn't really believe in this kind of thing. After assuring them it didn't matter her guide said she should do the reading anyway she began and laid 3 cards in the center face down. "These cards represent the three adults and the order of the cards will show who the messages are for so in essense I'll be doing 3 readings in 1." "The first card is the 5 of wands, this has to be for you and your family Trisha, which explains why it's a minor instead of a major card and the number and suit tells me your husband is alive and well and that all 5 will soon be reunited." After turning a few more cards she finished Trisha's part of the reading ending it by saying they should be hearing something about Wes within the week. Then she turned over the next card which was a King of Swords. She looked at Joe. "I guess you're next." she said laying out 5 cards, the first was the 2 of swords. "Looks like I'm reading for both of you," she said flipping the third card which was the Queen of the same house. Their reading turned up a Jack of the same suit and several cups and after studying them a few minutes she said "you need to plan a Family reunion and we need to clear up some space I think your entire family will be joining us soon and I see buildings going up." "I'll be damned." Joe said "You're not going to believe this," Sue said but that's actuallly what we came over to tell you. Ed Hoffman was at the Halloween Party last night and he gave us a note from Little Joe that one of our drivers had brought down on his last trip to Oakgrove saying he had decided with conditions the way they were he and his crews were finishing up what they could and closing the business. His final job would be packing everything up and bringing it down here along with some of his people and to tell you he hopes you can find places for everyone to sleep until we can get housing built." "Of course we can but let's finish the readings first. Starr how about you?" ***** "Jo. Jo? Hey, Earth to Jo." David said reaching over to take my hand. "Ms Jo don be needin no reading we both dun got our messages personal from the All Mighty." answered Mother Judy who was sitting by the fire. "So's I reckin that's it for now. you youngins dun played out in the snow enuff for one day so's how bout I tells you an them other chillins a story bout when I were your age an we lived a lot like you all is now, ceptin we didn' have no sun catching thingies an such while the grownups go in that there office an figur out how they gonna git my little house ready cross that there crick an takes care of the res them folk what comin. Firs tho you all needs to go an eats your dinners iffin you ain't dun spoil you appetites with candy an such." ***** "Mother Judy would you like to go over to the kitchen with us and have some dinner, the snow has stopped and the boys have cleared a path. Or do you want me to bring you something back." David asked as we were all leaving. "I reckin I'd relish sum them chicken an dumplins an sum bicits iffin you would; I hear they mighty good, but you bes be hurryin cuz you all gots lot to talk bout an that snow ain dun." ***** "Okey so we already know it's going to happen whether we think it's a good idea or not. Mother Judy and Jo both have seen it. Now all we need to do is figure out how to accomplish it." Mike said that evening. "She seems to think it's taken care of already and all I was shown was a vision of her sitting on the porch watching a young black man and a woman with blonde hair crossing the bridge towards her holding onto a little girl and that was sometime in the spring or summer because the kids were playing in the creek. I guess we can insist that she have someone stay with her - there are plenty of single women who probably wouldn't mind." "Power won't be too much of a problem either. We can run a wire from the main house with a little effort. There's already a big fireplace and a wood burning stove in the cooking area and we can cover the bridge itself with something non skid." said Kyle. "I'll get with Joe in the morning and see what we can come up with - there's plenty of furniture and I'm sure we can find everything she'll need." "As for someone to stay with, her why not ask Cora, they can help each other and Cora needs something to do; she's just seems to have given up. I think she might do it; especially if we make her think we need her. We could even use her furniture and stuff if it would help. Beth said " "Sounds like a plan, can we manage to get the two of them together in the morning so we can let them know? Now any thoughts on our other guests." Andy said. ***** "Well the Kidman's are no problem, Joe assures me with some slight rearranging and a couple hours work they have everything covered, and we still have 7 empty trailers and 2 campers if we need them. The outside stairs and porches to the second and third floors can be finished completely in a couple of days if the weather cooperates and that would give most everyone access to and from the rooms up there without going through the house. I'm not sure how many rooms are available but we can get a count in the morning." David said. "Just have whoever does the count make sure they leave a few for emergencies and my tired old bones when they don't feel like driving home in the dead of night." Mike added "Which lately seems like almost every night," Starr quipped. "And there is plenty of room still in the bunkhouse for singles, we can even put men and women both there if we have to by putting in some doors instead of curtains and a couple partitions and we can always build thanks to the Kidmans" I added. ***** "Looks like we're okey for a while then: Andy when's your last day as Sheriff?" I asked going on to the next subject. "Officially a week from Monday but Brian's already taken over. We used the situation to hire and train some more people including a liazon officer between here and his office and he's running unapposed so I am done. I have until the 15th to turn the apartment over to the new sheriff but as everyone knows that's a done deal too and Beth is packing the last of her stuff this weekend; the house is finished except for the painting and little stuff and we're going to do that ourselves." "Great what else?" ***** "According to the internet before the grid went out the last of our orders were shipped so hopefully at least some of it will make it here we may have to make room for the drivers though given everything that's going on and thanks to Bob's help the stores will be ready." Ashara said. "I thought we already got stuff in," Penny said, "I know I gave some invoices to Starr. "We did and you did but your Mother convinced me we should order some more." Starr said. "Bob says its none of his business but if anyone's interested we could probably get a deal from several of the shop owners in Oakgrove even if we can't come up with a lot of cash right now because of the blackouts. A lot of them are tired of trying to guard their shops night after night and they're losing money. They would probably be willing to take a note of promise or even a consignment arrangement maybe even donate it. The town owes you a lot he says." White Eagle added. "Andy since you're retired now do you think you might check into that, take Bob with you maybe we can work out something." "Will do boss lady" ***** The next day dawned bright and sunny and everyone was busy. Lizzie and some women were upstairs making up beds and preparing rooms. Others were doing the same thing in the trailers. Bea who had taken over as housekeeper was doing her regular work. While Kyle supervised the work on the stairs, Ed was in the bunkhouse putting up partitions and installing doors just in case and Joe was in the cabin with a couple of men getting it ready. Still others were rearranging the seating area in the Community Hall to make more room for the expected arrivals while White Eagle, Ashara, and Bob were pulling out and checking every article of clothing in the store and in storage before moving it over to the clothing annex, placing it in storage until Spring, or discarding it. Penny was helping them. The children were clearing paths in between snowball fights and building snowmen and a couple of others were running trucks with snow plows on them up and down the roads. Mike had fired up the smoke house early that morning and they had just finished butchering a pig. Starr was helping clean up because she'd said she and Mike needed to talk so I decided to walk over to the cabin. To my surprise both Mother Judy and Cora were there. ***** "You don needs to look so suprized, you dun know everthing was gonna be alrigh. We tells you all bout it later but righ now us gotta make sur this job dun righ, her Mr say Cora be almos bossi as I is an iffin we don do this together we gonna have problems. so you bes be gittin out the way iffin you dinna come to work. an take Lil Davey here wit you, him no good for real work." Joe just looked at me and shrugged his shoulders as he moved a rocking chair closer to the fire on Cora's orders.
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