TO LIFE
by Lamplighter
Part two of three
The following morning, Charity arrived at Eagle Mountain determined to make a difference in Mrs. Eberhardt's life. She still wasn't sure how she would do it, but she was going to try. Charity kept remembering the warmth she felt in her body and soul as she had snuggled in her old faded quilt, and she wished Mrs. Eberhardt had something like that for herself. Her determination led her up to Mrs. Eberhardt's room just before lunch, where she found herself knocking at her door. When Mrs. Eberhardt saw that Charity was coming to visit, she stiffly invited her in and offered her a cup of tea, amazed that someone was actually there, standing at her door, just to see her. Charity accepted the offer and entered the room.
"Why, Mrs. Chance!" Mrs. Eberhardt began. "I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure of your company before. What a pleasant surprise!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Eberhardt. And, please... it's Charity."
"Well, then, if you please, it's Lillian," she replied. "Excuse me for just a moment, dear, and I'll bring us some tea."
Lillian left the room briefly and returned bearing a small tray containing two pearl-blue china cups with saucers and some Earl Grey tea. The aroma of bergamot filled the room as the teabags steeped in the hot water. "I must say, Mrs. Ch- I mean, Charity - I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of a visit from you before. Is everything okay?" Cautiously, Lillian lifted her eyes to meet Charity's gaze. "To what do I owe this honor?"
"Well, Miss Lillian, I'll be honest. I've been concerned about you." Lillian stiffened slightly, but Charity knew that if she stopped now she wasn't going to accomplish anything at all. Her face warmed, and she continued on gently. "Miss Lillian, it seems like I never see you go out from Eagle Mountain or join up with any of the other ladies, and, even though I've seen you smiling I can't help but wonder if you aren't feeling kind of lonely? I thought I'd come visit you and get to know you, if you will allow me to... Everybody needs a friend, don't we?"
"Well, my goodness..." Lillian said. "I don't think I've had anyone noticing whether I'm even breathing for a spell! How - I mean, why - I mean, what on earth made you think of me? I'm okay, really! I've been on my own ever since my husband passed on twenty years ago! Honestly, I'm doing just fine." Lillian stared into her cup of tea, at a loss for anything more to say. It left Charity feeling a bit uneasy, but she was determined to draw Lillian out, to let her know she was cared about, and to let her know her company was desired. How would she accomplish this?
Struggling to find some connection with Lillian, Charity slowly looked around the room for clues. Then she realized that it was filled with beautiful handcrafted items, including several afghans and a quilt.
"Miss Lillian, I see you have some beautiful pieces around this room! Just look at those afghans, and that quilt! Where ever did you find that quilt!"
Grateful that the attention had moved away from her self-imposed solitude, Lillian told Charity that she had made that quilt herself, and the afghans as well. Charity was astounded, and told her so. Who would have thought that Miss Lillian had ever made anything so lovely? She knew that she, herself, had certainly never even dreamed of making a quilt with her own hands. It took incredible talent. It took skill and creativity, and Charity considered herself lacking in all of these areas. She couldn't even imagine the amount of time that must have gone into making that quilt! Charity stood up and crossed over to Lillian's sofa. She pointed to the quilt, asking, "May I?" "Certainly!" Lillian replied.
Charity picked up the quilt from the back of Lillian's sofa and admired the delicate stitchery. It was a Flying Geese quilt, in jewel-toned reds and blues on a muslin background. The quilting was intricate, and each goose feather lined up perfectly in series with the next. Each point was crisp and perfect, and you could sense the pride that its creator took in her work. It was a masterpiece. Awestruck, she thought of the quilt her mother had made for her, and of the warmth it had offered to her each time she wrapped herself in it. All at once Charity had an idea.
"You really made this?" Charity ventured, "yourself? My mother used to quilt. I never learned how, but I have the quilt she made for me when I was just a baby..."
"You never learned to quilt?" Lillian asked. "Why ever not? It is so simple... when I was a girl, my mother used to have her friends over once a week and they would sit and quilt together. They would talk and laugh, and when it was all said and done, they had a beautiful quilt for someone to take home." Lillian paused and sipped her tea, then continued. "When I was old enough they let me join them every week. I would watch them, even try to copy them! And the stories they would tell..." Lillian's voice trailed off and she seemed to look directly into the past, while suspending her cup of tea inches from her mouth. Her face softened, and the lines around her eyes turned upward as a gentle smile crossed her lips. Suddenly she started, snapping out of the past as she remembered that Charity was still in the room with her. She turned and looked Charity straight in the eye and said, "I simply cannot believe your mother never taught you to quilt! Didn't you ever want to learn?"
Charity thought for a few moments, and answered honestly. "You know," she said, "I never really thought about it. I mean, I've had this incredible churndash quilt that my mother made me, and I always loved it so much. It warms me up, inside and out. But I never really thought about doing it myself! Doesn't it take a long time?"
"Oh, honey, yes it does!" Lillian laughed, gently setting her teacup down on the saucer in front of her. "It can take a very long time! But when a quilt is done, you have something precious that money certainly cannot buy! You have love. You have passion. You have a work of art that you can actually use!" Lillian laughed again. "Have you really never thought of learning to quilt? I simply cannot imagine that to be true!"
"No, Miss Lillian," Charity answered, "I don't think I ever have thought about it - until now. Would you be willing to teach me? I would really love to learn now. Would you?"
Charity watched Lillian's face brighten and marveled at the fire that was suddenly in her eyes. It was as though she was transformed, like she had something she was really looking forward to. Oddly enough, Charity found herself looking forward to it, too. Who knows, she thought, maybe I need this too...
Lamplighter
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