Everything and What Not: Short Stories

By Cobus van der Merwe

In these short stories, I would like to tell you about some of those little strangers that were fortunate to have been received by God-fearing, love-able parents, and had great success during their stay on this globe. Each story deals with some very interesting experiences that prove that life is probably still the best thing ever invented.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 24, 2005
• ISBN: 9781465320773

Cobus van der Merwe

About the author Cobus van der Merwe is married to Reta Rood. They have three sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren. He is a native of South Africa , a descendant of 1652 Dutch Settlers to the Cape Of Good Hope, and is now a U.S. Citizen. He is an electrical engineer , a viticulturalist ,does jail ministering and is an inventor recognized by Who's Who of American Inventors and Who's Who World Wide.

Book preview

Everything

and What Not

Short Stories

Cobus van der Merwe

Copyright © 2005 by Cobus van der Merwe.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Preface

Pride Precedes the Fall

Rider in the Night

Unsung Heroes

Beauty for Ashes

Black Friday

The Murderer of

Bloody Gap

Fillies

Its Homicide, Not Suicide.

The Orphan’s Story

The Little Heroine

The Prowler on the Prairie

A Holocaust.

A Century Old Secret.

Man and Horse Challenge the Stormy Ocean

The Altruistic Physician

A Dream Come True

Other books by this author

To Do Or Not To Do. ISBN 0-9649944-0-2

The 82 Sins Of The Church ISBN 0-9649944-1-0

The Lost Tribes Of Israel and The Jews ISBN 0-533-14339x

Preface

All over the world every moment of the day brand-new human beings enter this world. Without exception they are all strangers and not one of them has applied for citizenship of the land they have entered. These strangers arrive in this world with neither passport nor I.D. card. Not one of them asked to be sent here.

Some are more privileged than others to be born to wealthy parents, while others are born into poor families, but they will invariably be loved just the same. Yet others are less fortunate to be born with some defects, and consequently face an uncertain time in this world. All these brand-new human beings come into this world as complete strangers without any knowledge of the language spoken or the customs of their new custodians. The very first thing they do is to kick up a racket, which is only stopped with a good drink of milk.

Then there are those that do not make it because the receiving mothers decide to kill them whilst on their way even months before they arrive. Because of the cruel inhumanity of such barbaric mothers they are killed for convenience sake, notwithstanding the fact they have ordered and arranged for them to come. When they kill them they call them by the Latin term fetus as if that would negate the fact that this human being is a living soul. According to their reason, no murder was committed. These murders are committed according to the law passed by unscrupulous liberal judges on the Supreme Court of the USA, supported by the Godless left in congress, elected by the Godless left in the population. None of those unborn babies will ever have an opportunity to show what they could achieve, how they could please God and parents. The Almighty Creator will judge their executors, and their doom is sealed.

In these short stories, I would like to tell you about some of those little strangers that were fortunate to have been received by God-fearing, loveable parents, and had great success during their stay on this globe. Each story deals with some very interesting experiences that prove that life is probably still the best thing ever invented.

Enjoy it, The author.

Pride Precedes the Fall

John Duncan, a self made man through hard work as a coal miner, had just sold his share in the mining conglomerate for two million dollars. His biggest worry now is what to do with so much cash. His wife Anne wants him to invest the money in a secure way where it can yield interest for them to live on. All their lives they have been poor and now this. She had a talk with a financial adviser who came up with quite a few smart ideas. Fifteen year old Andrew, their only child, suggests at dinner table, Dad, I think you and I should both go to college and study medicine. Three more years and I will graduate from high school. Dad, you made ninth grade, which means that you and I are even and can graduate simultaneously. It will take three years pre med. just think of it dad, then four years medical school and two more years’ internship. Then we will both be doctors. We can set up a family practice. Just think of the many sick people that we will be able to help. I am sure that the interest yielded on your investment of two million will cover all our living expenses as well as our academic expenditure. How about it dad? And what’s more, Mom should join in and study for what ever she wants to be. May be a nurse. Hey ma what say you?

John stares at his teen-age son, smile and says. Andrew, you are a smart boy. I believe with all my heart that you have the ability to become a good doctor. But as for me, no, I don’t have your kind of brain. I was not made for that. Ever since I dropped out of high school I was not up to much. I had a hard time keeping a job because I lacked education. I worked here and there, never for longer than three months just to get fired again. I have even gambled away all of my weeks wages at the casino. That went on like that for well, until I met your dear mother. She straightened me out. Yap, you can safely say that your father was a rolling stone without direction. I had no parents to guide me. After my father died in that coal mine explosion and my mother died of the flu, I as a fifteen-year-old had to work for a living. Then I got mixed up with the wrong type of friends and nearly landed in Hell. If it were not for your mother by goalies, I don’t know what would have become of me.

Everybody was quiet for a while then Anne broke the silence. I was only sixteen when your father came to our house and asked grandfather if he could court me. Grandfather, who himself married grandmother when they were only sixteen, looked your daddy up and down and asked him whether his intentions were honorable. He asked your daddy what sort of work he does. Your daddy started telling him of his worldwide experiences and how he got fired time and again, and how he gambled. Grand daddy was quiet for what felt to me like eternity. He stood standing at the window looking out on the porch where the two men were in conversation, Then Grandfather coughed a few times and said, Young man, I think you are a smart boy that can achieve a lot in this life. I appreciate your candor. However, at this point in your life I don’t believe you should even think in the direction of courting a woman. But, I have a proposition for you. At that point I thought your dad would just say thanks and run away. But no, not your father. My estimation for him just shot up when he responded, Thank you sir, I will do what you tell me to do, and I can assure you I will do it to the best of my limited abilities. Then grandfather stood up and said, You know son, you have just convinced me you are the right man for Anne, but not just yet. You will have to prove what you can do."

Anne Duncan lets a few tears trickle down her rosy cheeks, which she wipes away with her pinafore. Andrew moves impatiently around and sits right next to his mother. Go on Mom, what happened then? Grandfather told your father to come and see him the following evening at six. That night I just kept spinning around in my bed till after midnight. I remember praying that God would make a way for me to know what He wanted me to become. I remember asking Him to let me dream about it. I even put the Bible under my pillow. At this point John unsuccessfully tried to steer the discussion in another direction. All that is history, and I don’t think it’s your business Andrew to know all our private affairs. After all, I worked hard all my life, and was just lucky to have sold my coal claim for all this money. It only shows you that if a man is born poor, he is supposed to stay poor. Now that we have all this money we don’t know what to do with it. Now come on John, this story is important for our son to know. He can learn a lot from our past. You see if you want to know the road ahead, ask them that are coming from there. That is what my grandma always said. I remember her saying this, is a Chinese proverb. Listen son, John went on. One thing I practiced ever since your Ma and I got married, is never to argue with a female. Agree with everything, then go ahead and do your thing your way.

Anne proceeded with her story. That famous evening I took position behind the curtain once more. You see your grandfather sat on his rocking chair every evening at sunset, staring over Powel Valley. He always said, ‘I was born in this valley and I wish to be buried there under that maple tree.’ It was only three years after he met your father that we buried him and grandmother there under that old maple tree. My father worked all his life in that coal mine of Burt Moore. Mr. Moore was very fond of Grandfather. When father went to war, that is, the First World War, Mr. Moore kept his job open till he came back from the army.

Andrew can not contain himself any longer. But mom, what happened that famous evening? Well, you see, as I say, I took my position behind that curtain at exactly ten to six. My mother showed up, and I signaled her to hush. She understood and just smiled. When that old wall clock struck six, your daddy came through the garden gate. Grandfather stood up and said. ‘That’s my boy. I like that. You are exactly on time. My father always told me to be late for an appointment is to insult the person you have the appointment with.’ Come on Andrew take a seat. How did the job go today? Everything went fine sir. I just feel like I now have something to live for. I have never before enjoyed a coal mine as much as today. John, said grandfather. I am not a rich man, but I have saved enough money to pay for one of those new claims that Mr. Moore has surveyed off. I studied the topography today and decided on a claim that I believe should yield big. I bought it in your name. Tell me, if I’m wrong. Your name is the same as your late father isn’t it? O sir. Yes sir. John Maxwell Duncan sir. O sir, am I dreaming? Please kick me sir. I don’t know what to say sir. Thank you sir, thank you sir. I will repay you the price that you have paid for it plus interest. Oh, I had no idea that people can be so generous mister Bailey. Grandfather wiped a few tears then hugged your father. By then I couldn’t control my emotions. I ran to grandma and sobbingly told her." Once again Anne finds it hard to control her emotions.

The three of them sat quietly for a while. Then Andrew breaks the silence. Mom, I really would like to know more. I would like to enter this wonderful story in my diary. Anne continues while John excuses himself and goes for his daily stroll down to the corner shop to buy his paper. Because he is now a potential investor, he studies the stock market performances. He can no longer invest in his own mine, because that has become a non-entity private corporation with a single owner. A heading that catches his attention; "The economic boom will continue for the rest of the decade and even into the thirties. This tells him that he should give stocks strong consideration. When he comes back home the other two were still sitting at the dinner table. Well, have you finished your story of yesteryear? Andrew jubilantly declares the end of the dialogue. Dad, I am fortunate. Thanks to your hard work and mom’s help, I don’t have to be ashamed anymore. What were you ashamed of anyway? Of being poor and of living on the wrong side of the railroad track. And having to work in that dirty old coal mine like you did for all your life dad. Anne jumps in to end this discussion before it leads to a serious confrontation. Now Andrew, the Bible says that pride precedes the fall. Whatever we have is accredited only to the Lord. Always remember that. It is getting late, let’s go to sleep. Tomorrow is another day. Thanks mom and dad for everything. Good night mom, goodnight dad.

Sunday the Duncans are in church as usual. Anne makes sure they don’t talk about their newfound fortune, nor do they wear any new cloths just yet. They have decided, at least for the time being, to continue driving their dilapidated Chevy auto that John had gotten from Mr. Moore when he had bought a new one. They feel very self-conscious as if everybody is staring at them. Duncan listens intently as the pastor preaches on the subject of wisdom. He quotes Proverbs 21:20 There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendith it up. John Duncan gets the message. It was designed expressly for his situation. When church lets out, Pastor Sheffield takes position in the vestibule, shaking hands with his parishioners as usual. John shakes his hand and says, Pastor, will you please visit us some time? The fatherly old gentleman gives his warm smile and says, but of course John. In fact I believe that my annual visit to you all is due just this week. God willing I will see you, how about tomorrow afternoon say at four. I believe you have retired, is that correct? Not really pastor. Well, see you then.

On their way home it is Anne that comments on the sermon; You know John, That message was for us. You are so right Anne, it confirms my frugal approach to this whole thing of riches. Andrew, I want you to keep quiet about us selling our claim and this new riches business and what not. We will invest our money and I will go to school with you and God willing also become a doctor with you. Andrew jumping on the back seat shouts Yippee. I promise to keep the secret pa.

Anne answers the knock on the front door, Good afternoon pastor, do come in, are you doing well? Good day Anne, and the peace of the Lord Jesus be with this house. I am doing well thank you Anne, and Mary sends her regards, and apologizes for not being able to accompany me. She had to go and visit old Mrs. Swanson, she has been under the weather now for quite some time and they don’t seem to understand her illness. They had taken her to a specialist in Roanoke last week, and are still awaiting the results. Please take a seat pastor, John will be here any minute. I am going to put the kettle on to make you some tea, I know you are fond of English tea. We never really drink it, but save it for you. I appreciate that madam, you are always so thoughtful. Anne pauses a while at the kitchen door then says, Pastor, John will be back shortly, he went down to the garage to have the Chevy greased. He believes in regular maintenance. He says that that is the life of the automobile.

John comes whistling down the garden path, and enters the front door with his usual, Halo, halo, anybody home? O hallo pastor, I am glad to see you. The two men shake hands and inquire the usual how are you doing etc." Sometimes you wonder whether people really mean it. Anyway it is a good habit to show interest in other people. Pastor Sheffield is a very sincere man of God. He unselfishly spends a lot of time with the sick and the needy. Not minding what denomination they belong to. Anne has prepared the tea and cookies on the dinner table and invites them to come and have it.

Pastor speaks first. What’s on your mind John? "Well, you see pastor, I have a really difficult decision to make. At the time Anne and I got married, I promised my late father in law never to sell my claim that he had given me. I had worked it for about five years when the other owners and I formed a conglomerate. There were twenty