The Mark of One Good Man

By Tammy Shaffer

It is mid August, 2020…

I started this book exactly 10 years ago.

I haven't touched it at all for the last 4 years, since March 12, 2016.

The outdated computer it is saved on was frozen, so I couldn't open any of my documents.

I thought of just taking the computer to someone who could wipe out the memory and try to sell it for a few bucks.

Then I received a text from a friend that I hadn't heard from in over a year asking me if my phone number was still the same and that she needed to talk to me about my book…

I am not kidding…

I texted her back that I hadn't worked on it in a long time and was even thinking of deleting it.

She said she had been praying recently and my book kept coming up and wouldn't leave her mind.

My totally awesome son- in- law was able to unfreeze my computer and saved my book on a flash drive for me.

I called my friend back because I had to connect with her and remind her what my book was about. 

She got chills. 

I called another friend, who told me that I just experienced what she calls a "God Wink".

All I can say is that my book isn't perfect, but it contains a lot of things that are going on in this world right now today.

 This totally blows my mind since I started writing it 10 years ago because of a vision that I had.

I hope you enjoy my "God Wink" and find the peace and happiness that you deserve.

I am very thankful that I can share this message with you.

Much love and many blessings to you,

Tammy

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tammy Shaffer
• Release date: Dec 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393824381

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

"He will swallow up death in victory;

and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces;

and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth:

for the Lord hath spoken it.

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God;

we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord;

we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

~Isaiah 25: 8-9

It was a hot, sunny Indian Summer afternoon in late September,1933. Tony was 11 years old and had a nickel burning a hole in his pocket. The local parish was holding its annual rummage sale; he was hoping to convince his mother to let him go.  

Please, Ma! Please! I won’t stay long, I promise. I just want to see what they have and to spend that nickel I’ve been saving, Tony pleaded with his mother.  

Not getting any response from her, Tony nudged the small quiet boy beside him while whispering to him; Go on, tell her you want to go too.

Little Thomas shrugged his shoulders and said, Ok.

Walking up to his mother who was busy canning some apple butter, he tugged on her skirt and asked so sweetly, Tony said he would take me with him Mommy... Can I please go? I promise I will be a good boy.

Francesca looked down at her precious son’s beautiful blue eyes and reluctantly agreed. I will let you go this time, but Antonio, you keep a close eye on little Thomas... You hear me?

Make sure you hold his hand when you cross the thoroughfare...

Tony grunted back to her in agreement and trotted outside. Little Thomas was already having trouble keeping up with him.

Tony noticed his mother was looking out the window at both of them, so he stopped, walked back and grabbed little Thomas’ hand in his, making sure his mother saw the gesture.

When she turned away, he pulled hard on little Thomas’ arm and dragged him along behind him.

Come on you! We need to get there before all of the good stuff is gone... Hurry up already!

Little Thomas did the best he could, but his little legs and big feet kept tripping over things on the ground.

Finally, after a few blocks, they reached the thoroughfare. It was always a busy place. Cars, buses, trucks, many different kinds of vehicles were all in a hurry to get where they needed to go. No one observed the speed limit, so that made it harder for anyone to cross the street. There weren’t any crosswalks back in those days or even a stoplight anywhere nearby.

Tony grabbed little Thomas’s hand and ran out into the traffic. Dodging three cars and a bus, they were able to make it to the other side. Good thing his mother didn’t see that... He would have gotten a beating for sure!

Little Thomas was panting behind him, almost in tears. He was so scared of the traffic, but he loved his big brother and always tried to be just like him.

They walked up to the front of the church and saw signs directing them to the back courtyard where the rummage sale was going to be held.

Come on Thomas, we’re almost there!

Little Thomas toddled along behind him, as fast as his 5 year old legs would carry him. I’m coming, I’m coming!

When they turned the corner at the back of the church, they saw at least one hundred cardboard boxes out on the courtyard lawn!

Tony quickly ran from box to box, forgetting about little Thomas for the time being.

Little Thomas stopped to look at a box of books. He picked one up and looked at the title. The Holy Bibble he said... I wonder what kind of book this is," he thought.  

He looked inside of the book and noticed his name right away. Hey, Tony! he yelled. My name’s in here! His brother looked back at him and said, Yeah, yeah, I hear you!

Thomas couldn’t read all the words, but he wondered what kind of book could be written with his name in it. Was it about him? He wondered...

Just then Tony yelled over at him. Hey, come on, hurry up! I found some really cool stuff back here. You got to see this!

Little Thomas dropped the book on the ground and ran over to his brother Tony.

A man in a white tunic reached down, dusted off the Bible, and put it back on top of the box of books. He had a sad look on his face and wiped a tear away from his eye. He kept following the two boys, not that they noticed. They were too busy investigating what Tony had found!

Look, Thomas, is this the neatest thing you have ever seen or what? Tony was so proud of the small model plane kit he had found!

It hasn’t even been opened, Thomas! I can go home and put this together to make a cool war plane!

Are you sure it’s only a nickel? Thomas asked.

Yeah, I’m sure... Tony answered. The box has 5 cents written on it. So, I have just enough money to buy it!

Can I help you put it together, Tony? Can I please? little Thomas pleaded with him.

No, but you can watch. And maybe I will let you hold it when I am done...

Ok, little Thomas said. It was better than nothing he thought.

After Tony paid the church lady his nickel, he turned to leave.

Little Thomas had stopped to look in another box of stuff.

Come on, we need to get home! I don’t need Mother to get mad at me and take this plane away from me... Now hurry up!

Little Thomas ran up to him and grabbed hold of his hand. It would be harder to cross the road now, lots more cars it seemed, and he had the model plane box in one hand and his little brother’s hand in the other.

Tony saw an opening in the traffic, and he said, Come on, we can make it!

Pulling hard on little Thomas’ arm, they ran out into the heavy traffic! At one-point little Thomas stumbled but didn’t fall all the way down because of Tony’s strong grip on his arm. When they got to the other side, Tony noticed that one of little Thomas’ shoes had fallen off and was laying in the middle of the road. Tony told him to stay put while he went back to get it.

He left little Thomas on the side of the road and ran back to get the shoe. His mother would really beat him if he came home without the shoe, that is for sure!

He bent down to pick up the shoe when he heard a bang and a screeching of tires! Before he turned around, he felt a pain in his stomach... He already knew something bad had happened.

He looked back to where he left little Thomas on the side of the road. There was a truck there, and it had slid on the loose gravel. There was a lot of dust in the air, so Tony couldn’t see little Thomas...

Tony started running, dodging one car and then another one. He made it to the side of the road and saw his little brother sitting in a bunch of weeds. He looked ok, just very dirty from the dust. He walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder.

Hey kid, what just happened? Are you ok?

Yeah, I think so, little Thomas said. As he was rubbing his belly... A small stream of blood started to drip from the side of his mouth...

Oh, wow, Thomas you are bleeding!  Did that truck hit you?

Tony looked back at the truck, and the driver had gotten out and was yelling at the driver of a yellow taxicab. The truck driver yelled something about the guy in the taxi cutting him off.

Little Thomas said, I don’t feel so good, Tony. I want to go home and see Mother...

Ok, well let’s get your shoe back on, Tony said as he bent over to put on Thomas’ shoe.

Little Thomas looked over to his left and said, Oh my, Tony, do you see that man there? He’s dressed all in white... He looks like the sun!

Tony stopped and looked around. He didn’t see anybody there. What are you talking about Thomas? Who do you see?

I don’t know who he is, Tony, but he says he’s here to take me home... I don’t want to go with him, Tony, I’m scared...

Tony reached down and picked up his brother and held him tightly. He felt his ragged breathing, and he knew he had better get him home quickly. He dropped the model plane box and started running. He carried little Thomas all the way home and didn’t stop for anything.

Running up the front steps he started yelling, Mother, Mother, please help us!

Francesca’s breath caught in her chest when she saw the two boys. They were both covered in dirt and little Thomas was pale and bleeding from his mouth... 

What happened to him? Why weren’t you watching him? Go out to the garage and get your Father. Now! she yelled.

She laid little Thomas down on the couch and held him close. Oh, my baby, my little baby. What happened to you?

She never got an answer from him. Just as Tony and his father ran back into the house, they heard her screaming...

No! Not my baby!!! No, please God, no!!!!

Tony’s father reached down and grabbed Tony by the back of his shirt.

Boy, what did you do to him?

Nothing, Pa. I swear. We was crossing the street and his shoe fell off, and I went back to get it. He was fine when I left him on the side of the road. It happened so fast; I didn’t know what to do...

A little while later, his father had Tony take him to where the accident happened.

The truck was still there, and the driver was getting a citation from the local policeman.

He walked up to the driver of the truck and punched him in the mouth... Are you the one that killed my son?

What? I didn’t kill anybody, Mister. I just blew a tire when this stupid cab driver cut me off!

I didn’t hit no kid...

Where was he, Tony? His father yelled at him!

Where was he when you left him to go get his shoe?

Tony pointed to the clump of weeds. I’m not sure exactly where I left him, but I found him in these weeds here.

Laying right beside the weeds was the model plane kit which was now covered in dust. His father walked over and picked it up. This yours? he asked Tony.

Answer me, is this yours?

Yes, Tony whispered...

His father threw it on the ground and stomped on it...

The truck driver stood up and rubbed his chin. Listen Mister, I am really sorry, you have to believe me...

Oh, I believe you. It’s not you that I blame anyway...

He reached down and grabbed Tony by the shirt again.

My son and I have to go home now and take care of some business.

The policeman walked up and asked him if he wanted to press any charges on the truck driver.

What for? he answered. He was just doing his job...

He looked down again at Tony, and for the first time in his life Tony knew real fear... He honest to God thought his father was going to kill him right there!

He did get the whipping of his life when he got home, and he had the bruises to show for it for weeks after.

His mother wasn’t the same after the funeral. She didn’t talk much, but she did start taking Tony to church every Sunday. She said it made her feel closer to little Thomas.

One afternoon on the way home from church, Tony finally got up the courage to tell her about what his brother saw before he died.

Mother, Tony said, I never told you this, but little Thomas saw some man all dressed in white come up to him while he was sitting on the side of the road by me. It was right after the accident.

He said he wanted little Thomas to go with him, that he was going to take him home. Mother, do you think that man was Jesus?

Francesca stopped in her tracks and bent down to look Tony in the eyes... Are you telling me the truth boy? Or is this some kind of thing you came up with to make me feel better?

She was so upset that she shook him hard by his shoulders until he started to cry... I’m not lying Mother, I am not! I didn’t know who that man was, but now hearing about him in church, I think that was Jesus, Mother. It had to be Him.

She pulled the crying boy to her and started crying with him... Oh, Tony, I have to believe it was Him... That He’s taking care of my little Thomas now...

Thank you for telling me, Tony... I love you so much son!

Tony went to church every Sunday with his mother until he was drafted into the military. Over the years, his faith in God grew strong. His faith saw him through many tough times, including when he buried his mother and his father. He was 29 years old. They were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and the hotel they were staying in caught fire. There were no smoke alarms, so no one got out in time. Most died in their sleep. He hoped his parents did. At least they died together.

That was the same year he met Maggie at a church fellowship dinner. She was so small and dainty, a child herself at 17. He was 10 years older, but he couldn’t help himself. It was love at first sight!

Her father was very gruff about it all.

Why date my daughter, just marry her you fool...

So, they did. After only a few dates, they were married... It would last until Maggie passed away in her sleep one night.

She had an undiagnosed heart defect that took her without any warning. She didn’t suffer at all, or so the doctors said. She gave Tony the happiest years of his life and the most beautiful daughter in the world!

Julie was the apple of his eye and always by his side. He worked hard to support his little family. It was hard cause times were so tough. He worked both in a coal mine and in a steel mill. They were dark, dirty, rank, sweaty places that always made him wonder if that was what hell really looked like. He had no idea that someday he would find that out for himself. 

CHAPTER 2

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;

yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

~Isaiah 41:10

A single drop of water slid slowly down the window as the heavy metal door on the huge oven slammed shut. It resembled a tear on the gray dingy window. That was it; the last one here was gone... The old man’s hands were shaking, and his shoulders slumped as he sobbed openly. He could not contain his grief. The United States was forever changed, and its abundant way of life was most likely over. He had seen the horrible effects firsthand. Lost three of them himself. He still couldn’t sleep at night. Always seeing their faces, remembering their smiles and laughter. How they had looked before the pain hit them. Now there was no release from his own agonizing pain.

He was a Christian, so he prayed every day for God to take him home, too. He had lived way too long and had seen too much to keep carrying on. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw the sun or even the last time he smiled or laughed out loud. He forgot where he was for a moment, and as he heard a familiar voice calling his name, he remembers:

The little boy was running up