Faith Restored

By Charles T. Gayhart

In the pursuit of her dream, confusion and disappointment are at Faith's every turn. She hungers for the right contentions, yet spirituality and emotions entangle her feelings. Joel, a young attorney, residing in the small town of Applewood, Tennessee, respectively wants to have no serious relationship with anyone this early in his career. Faith's friends and neighbors devise a plan but are unsure of the results.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098034030

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Faith Restored

Charles T. Gayhart

Copyright © 2020 by Charles T. Gayhart

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Surprise Visit

Friday Church Dinner

Singing Duo/Mystery Guest

Shop Around/New ’65 Mustang

Annual Gospel Gathering

Amusement Park

Spring Sprung/Easter Hunting

Gordon and Thelma’s Anniversary

Spring

Family Chain Prayer

Nursing Home Job Opening

Straight and Narrow

To Snowy and (Dut) Justine.

Two best mothers for a sister or brother.

Introduction

Faith pursues her dream only to find disappointment and confusion at every turn. Faith emotionally and spiritually entangles her feelings, yet she hungers for the right contentions. Joel is a well-respected young attorney who wants no ties to serious relationships. Friends and neighbors try to help Faith in a divine way living in the small town of Applewood, Tennessee.

Nine characters:

Faith Richards

Joel Billings

Bertie Matthews

Robert Matthews

Thelma Williams

Gordon Williams

Justine Richards

Snowy Hart

Truman Hart

Chapter 1

Surprise Visit

I don’t know what I’m going to do with these shoes? Faith stated.

What’s wrong with them? They look fine to me, Bertie said.

Bertie Matthews is Faith’s best friend and has been for years. Faith Richards is a tall, blue-eyed, blonde woman, slender build at the young age of twenty-five.

These shoes are just too cheap looking. The color blue is all wrong. They don’t look right with this red dress, replied Faith.

In the town of Applewood held on a Friday night a month was a singing in the Church of Pentecostal. Members of the church would meet around six o’clock in the evening to help prepare food. The church members usually ate before the singing started which was around eight o’clock. Sometimes, the various groups would sing as late as one o’clock in the morning, but it all depended on how many people showed up for church.

This particular night happened to be the one that Faith sung her song. This night was like any other Friday night except, this time, Faith had a change of heart.

Bertie asked Faith, How come you’re not up there singing like you generally do?

Oh, I don’t know, I guess I’m depressed or something, she said.

Faith decided to help serve the food instead. As she warmed the hotdog chili, an angelic voice spoke to her. When she turned around, there stood the man of her dream’s, or so she thought.

The gentleman said to Faith, How much are those hot dogs each?

Faith, feeling as if being in a stupor, said, Are you talking to me?

He said, Yes, ma’am.

As her voice trembled, trying to muster enough words that they’re free, the young man paused.

I’ll take two, please, with only chili.

Her hands shook as she handed the man his food. She stared uncontrollably as he walked out of sight. Her heart was beating rapidly. She, somehow, knew that he’s the one for her. Her knight in shining armor as they say.

It happened so fast that she had to pinch herself to see if she was dreaming or awake. Out of nowhere came the love of her life. Love at first sight. She thought she heard footsteps heading toward her, and the first thing she thought was that it’s him. Faith couldn’t see inside the building where the singers were because her little room awkwardly blocked the entrance. Faith anxiously awaited the arrival of the footsteps only to find out that it was her friend, Bertie.

Oh, it’s only you, exclaimed Faith.

I’m glad to see you too, responded Bertie with a halfheartedly grin.

Sorry, but I thought you were that guy.

What guy? replied Bertie.

Oh, you wouldn’t believe it if I told you.

Go ahead, tell me if you wanna.

Well, okay, said Faith. It’s like this, I was warming up the hotdogs, minding my own business when out of the blue, walked in Mr. Right!

Now, how do you know he’s Mr. Right if you’ve never met him before?

I just do, answered Faith.

Please, Bert, you’ve got to help me find him please, please, please!

All right, calm down, Faith, you’re falling apart over somebody you don’t even know. I guess I’ll try to help you. What does he look like?

Well, let me see, he’s tall with dark-black hair.

Faith, you’ve just described me, have a minute to think.

She said, Okay, here goes. He’s wearing black trousers and a dark-brown vest. He’s soft-spoken but with a deep southern draw. Now, what say you, Bertie?

Hmm, he shouldn’t be too hard to spot out.

I’m gonna close up here, so which way are you going Bert?

I’ll go over there to the right, and you go to the left.

Hey Bert!

What?

Don’t look too obvious, or you might scare him off.

Relax, I’ll casually stroll around while keeping an eye out for him.

Twenty minutes quickly ticked by when Faith decided to give up the search. She reluctantly walked back to the stand with her head drooped down.

Five minutes later, Bertie returned. Did you see him, Faith?

No. How about you, Bert?

No, not me either.

I don’t understand where he could have gone. He just couldn’t have been a figment of my imagination, could he?

No, silly, you know better than that. Listen, Faith, I do happen to have some good news though.

What is it?

I just happened to hear some folks talking about a new member by the name of Joel Billings, but that’s not all.

What do you mean that’s not all, Bert?

He’s rich.

He’s what?

You heard me, he’s rich, Faith. The talk is that he’s an attorney downtown, he’s one of the good guys.

I don’t know about that, besides, if he’s the one I’m looking for, then, I’m not after his money, only him.

Whatever, but it sure don’t hurt to have a nest egg if you hope to fly!

The singing ended around 11:30 p.m. All the church members and friends shook hands before going on their own way.

The next morning, around ten o’clock, the sound of knocking could be heard on Faith’s door. It was Thelma.

Hello, Thelma, is there something wrong?

May I please come in for a minute? asked Thelma.

Sure, come on in and have a seat.

It was obvious by the look on her face that she was troubled about something.

As her story unfolded, Faith’s heart went out for her. Thelma is in her early eighties with all her children raised. She has a grandson, Michael, who she recently adopted.

Michael’s mom was killed in a car accident, and Thelma took on the responsibility of raising five-year-old Michael. Thelma and Faith became friends two years ago at a church social. Thelma lives two blocks away from Faith on Cedar Street.

I need to talk to somebody, anybody.

You can feel free to talk me anytime you want to, said Faith.

"Bless you! This morning, I walked little Michael to the bus stop. While we were waiting for the bus to arrive, I heard a screeching sound like tires squealing, I grabbed Michael’s hand and pulled him to toward me.

"Michael jumped into my arms, crying, ‘Granny, help me.’ Well, I lost it right there. I broke down crying myself. Anyway, I told him everything’s all right. I decided then and there that from now on, I would drive him to school myself. Gordon agreed to help me if I need him to.

"All I can see is flashbacks of my daughter in the car wreck with little Michael in shock. Sometimes, I feel like giving up, but I know I can’t. I have to make it for Michael’s sake and mine. Dear Lord, please help me cope with my worries and please give me the strength that I need to make it one day at a time.

I’m sorry for bothering you, Faith, with my problems, but I do enjoy talking with you.

That’s okay, you’re not bothering me. I’m your friend and you’re mine. I know if I have a problem or just want to talk, then, I trust I can come to you, responded Faith.

That’s right! I’ll always lend an ear.

In the small town of Applewood, Tennessee, everyone either pretty much knows most or knows someone who had heard of them. It’s October 30, 1996; one day before Halloween. There’s a ring at the doorbell at Faith’s home.

The UPS man has a package for Faith. Hello. Can I help you? Faith said.

"Yes, ma’am, are you Faith Richards? said the UPS man.

Yes, I am.

I need you to sign here at the bottom of this form, if you would please.

What’s in it?

I don’t know ma’am? We’re not allowed to open packages, said the UPS guy.

She signed the form and took the package inside. I wonder what it could be? Faith’s mind raced back-and-forth as the saying goes. I bet it’s books. No, who in the world would send me books? I know, it’s records, no, it’s shoes. Oh, I don’t have the foggiest. Duh! she thought. Why don’t I just open it and find out what the mystery is. Just as she reached for the package, a thought entered her suspicion. What if it’s from that handsome looking Joel. What confused her was that the package had no return address or name on it. Faith, feeling eager, began tearing into the package with both hands. To her disappointment, she saw it was only tennis shoes. She wondered why did she receive shoes? Aggravated and confused, she placed the shoes underneath her bed and thought no more of it.

Halloween day had arrived and what a beautiful day it was. The Lord had blessed that particular day with temperatures in the sixties. The sun hung overhead like a picture in the sky what few clouds there were had resembled soft and fluffy pillows floating ever so gentle across the calm blue sky.

I think I’ll go over to Granny’s house and see what she has planned for today, thought Faith. Granny is eighty-one years young; Granny is the wife of Gordon Williams who is eighty-four years young himself.

Granny, better known as the Banjo-Pickin’ Granny by her nearby fans had a gift for playing instruments. She and her family would play on the local TV station where she was becoming somewhat popular. Some of the instruments she played were the guitar, mandolin, and, of course, the Banjo. She became acquainted with the banjo from her pappy when she was a young girl. Granny lives the next block from Faith, so they knew each other pretty well.

Faith dreaded going over to Granny’s not because of her but because she had to pass by her dog. The dog was inside the gate. Granny (Thelma) was her real name. Anyway, Faith had learned that Granny’s dog, Lucky, likes candy. Lucky was a powerful large half chow and half shepherd dog. She could easily hurt someone if she chose to even while she was in a playful mood. So far, she never hurt anyone, but that wouldn’t hold true if a cat wandered inside the gate.

Faith walked close to the gate and soon enough low, and behold there she came—Lucky—for her. Lucky knew anytime Faith came to the gate that she would have a treat for her. Bark for me, Lucky, she replied.

When Lucky barked, Faith would reach over the gate with a piece of striped mint candy. She always said, Easy Lucky, then the dog would take the candy from her hand and into her mouth ever so gentle as if it was broken glass. But not really.

While Lucky chewed the candy, Faith would use the opportunity to walk upstairs to Granny’s. Granny came to the door.

Watcha gonna do today, Granny? asked Faith.

Nothing. Why? What are you gonna do?

We have a singing tonight at six o’clock at Buckhorn church if you wanna go.

Well, I was gonna stay home and pass out the treats to the kids, but Gordon likes to do that anyway. I guess I’ll go, she added.

Seven o’clock came, and Granny left with Faith to the singing. They took Gordon Jimmy. Granny had all kinds of candy left for Gordon to handout. Gordon loves to watch the children smile and giggles as they wore their costumes asking for candy.

Gordon saw car lights illuminating through his curtain windows.

Knock, knock, trick or treat, said the little children with their costumes of Batman, clowns, and a host of others.

Here you go, young’uns. Here, sweetie, hold out your bag, and I’ll give you something special, happily replied Gordon. I’ve been saving these caramel peanuts for myself, but since I’ve got plenty, I think I’ll give that to you instead. It was getting late and most of the kids were back home by now.

Another light shown through the windows. Gordon opened the door to see this time it was Granny.

You should have went with us, we had a good time.

Well, that’s good, and I also had a good time. We had quite a few kids this year.

Did you give all the candy away? Granny raised her eyebrows.

No, we got some left, he said.

That’s good, she said. She didn’t eat much, but she did enjoy snackin’ on Sugar Daddies. I wish you could have heard Faith sing tonight, Gordon. I’m telling you, she got into the spirit of the Lord, and you should had seen all the people clapping, said Granny.

When Faith sung ‘He Touched Me,’ I could see a glow on her face that I haven’t seen in a long time.

Did she see than man down there?

No, she said, as she quivered her bottom lip.

Gordon insisted that the man must not go to church or singings a lot.

Three weeks passed by with no sighting or whereabouts of Joel. Faith’s friends notice that she is becoming depressed by the way she mopes around. Bertie, Robert, and Thelma devise a plan on setting up as possible blind date for Faith.

Faith, what’s wrong? You haven’t went out a singing in two weeks, proclaimed Bertie.

I’m not feeling well. I think it’s something I ate that don’t quite agree with me.

Do you need to go to the hospital? Bert asked.

No, I’ll be all right.

If you don’t mind me askin’, then, what have you eaten today?

I remember eating pickles, nachos, and chicken TV dinner.

"No wonder, you don’t feel good, Faith. All that salty food and not to mention that combination is enough to make me sick.

What’s the reason you’ve missed a couple weeks church? Have you been sick for weeks, Faith?

I ain’t been sick a lot, just tired. Some days, I don’t even feel like getting out of bed.

Well, no wonder, just look at those dark-colored blinds in this room, you need some light in here. Let me open these blinds. Now, don’t you feel better? You need to get out of this house as soon as possible, Bertie suggested. I know.

Know what? Faith asked.

Let’s go over to my place.

What for?

So you can be around people, myself, at least. I just want to get you out somewhere, so you can start feeling better.

Faith tugged and mumbled with Bertie, but she finally gave in. Bertie and Faith left for Bert’s house. When they arrived, Robert Matthews (Bertie’s husband) and Thelma met them