Road to a Miracle, a story of second chances

By Bob Smith

Those who knew him figured Jimmy Newton would never amount to much. In the first place, he was a mistake. His mother, Judy, got pregnant while a junior in high school. Few girls are ready for motherhood at that age, and she certainly wasn't. His father showed his interest by abandoning her before his birth. Fortunately, Judy's parents helped her through the ordeal. Grateful, but feeling the need for freedom, Judy moved when she could and took Jimmy with her. Attempting to make up for what she missed in school, Judy became loose and available. Jimmy met some of her friends at the breakfast table. Her "regulars" became his friends too. Judy's lifestyle during his formative years left Jimmy in the care of babysitters who had agendas of their own. They often parked him in front of the TV and entertained their boyfriends on the couch. In school, Jimmy ran with a rough crowd, often knee-deep in trouble. Enter Lou Jackson. In many ways, Lou was a godsend for both mother and child. Lou, with a checkered past himself, mentored Jimmy and put him on a better track, not necessarily the right one. His questionable message to the young man was-if you're going to be a crook, at least be smart about it. Utilizing some of the traits and lessons Lou taught him, Jimmy came up with some ideas of his own. Lou thought what he had in mind was a bit too complicated, even risky, but Jimmy was determined to proceed. Along the way, Jimmy met Charley, who heard the idea and encouraged him to proceed with it. Jimmy discovered later that his idea would not have worked at all, if not for Charley. And Charley was not who he appeared to be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781640796584

Book preview

Dedication

I dedicate this effort to Charlotte, my wife.

Over the years she has encouraged me and supported me.

She has saved my life, and makes my future bright.

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge several people who had a direct effect on the story you are about to read. Longtime writing associate and friend Wayne Arrington had considerable input into the story itself and the editing of it. Martin Moore assisted with the character development. Pegge Boogle made me aware of certain holes that needed filling. Educator and friend Ken French spent many hours at the editing table. There were many others who read sections of the book and offered suggestions, and I am grateful to all.

I am also indebted to my friends at Christian Faith Publishing for their suggestions and assistance in getting it right.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is coincidental.

The Road is often winding

The headwinds oh so strong,

But if you’re patient,

And adjust your focus

From you to those around you

Your miracle will be waiting

Around a future corner.

—Mark Richards

Chapter 1

Jim Newton’s office was on Industrial Boulevard, which runs parallel to Stemmons Freeway in Dallas. He stood with his associates looking out the window of their upstairs breakroom at Ford Auto Parts Depot, hoping to catch a glimpse of the president and first lady as they turned onto Stemmons in route to Market Hall. The president was to address the Dallas elite there before flying back to his home turf in Washington DC.

He was in town to drum up support for Democrats running in the upcoming midterm election. Since Texas was Lyndon Johnson country, many thought the trip was a mistake. Bobby, the president’s own brother, had been openly hostile to Johnson, and that didn’t sit well with Texans. The president acknowledged the tension, but thought Texans might look on the trip as conciliatory. And even if they weren’t excited about seeing him, he was sure they’d stand in line to see Jackie. It had worked for him in Paris.

Although his leaning was toward Republican, Jim looked forward to President Kennedy’s trip. He thought the president had done many good things while in office, particularly pleased with his handling of the Cuban crisis.

While it was true he wanted to see the president, and stood with his associates to do so, Jim’s mind was not on the president, his motorcade, or his successes in the White House. His mind was on the conversation he and his wife had on the previous evening. Something was bothering their teenage daughter. They had no idea what was troubling her, and Judy wasn’t ready to talk about it. Her mood change in recent days was dramatic. Both Jim and Linda noticed it.

What’s wrong with Judy? She’s been moping around like she’s lost her best friend, Jim said.

I have no idea, Linda said. I’ve tried talking to her, but she’s very tight-lipped. She insists nothing is wrong. Says she’s just not feeling well.

You think you ought to take her to see Ted? Ted Lindsey was an old friend and the family doctor.

If she doesn’t perk up soon, that’s exactly what I’m going to do, but I don’t know if it’ll do much good. It’s not like we’d be giving him much information to go on. ‘Just not feeling well’ is hardly enough information for a good diagnosis. If she won’t tell us her problem, she probably won’t tell him either.

Well, something’s got to give. It’s not like a kid her age to just shift from happy one day to down in the dumps with no end in sight. Jim paused, questioning himself. Or maybe it is . . .

We’ve got to find out what’s bothering her. If it’s something like a boyfriend problem, we can wait it out, but it could be something serious. Let’s talk to her tomorrow night when I get in from work . . . and not let her out of the room until she tells us what’s going on.

"We shouldn’t get too excited, Jim. I can remember just falling apart when Buster Braggs dropped me for Marsha Nash in the tenth grade. My world came crashing down around me."

Oh, really . . . I haven’t heard that story.

Actually you have, ’cause that’s the whole story. Ten days later, I was fine. Marsha and I were never close friends after that, but I got over it.

"I’d feel much better if I thought it was a boy problem. That damn Ricky Sanders, Jim said. I’d pay him good money to drop her. There’s no amount of money to get her to drop him. It seems like everybody except Judy knows he’s no darn good. He’s flunked out of school, rides that damn motorcycle around like some kind of sports hero, and has chosen to climb the ladder of success by throwing papers for a living. A boy problem would be an answer to prayer."

Don’t get your hopes up, Jim. He was over here when I got in from work, and there didn’t seem to be a problem. What concerns me most is that Judy will not talk to us about it. My mother knew everything on my mind.

And I don’t know why we’re surprised about her infatuation with Ricky. She’s puppy-dogged around after him since she was three years old.

Yeah, I know. And something else to mention tomorrow night . . . we should tell her we don’t want him hanging around the house when we’re not here. It doesn’t look good.

Sounds good on the surface, Jim, but all that will do is to drive them somewhere else not as safe as the house.

You’re right as always—damn it, he said, smiling.

Jim noticed a rustle in the breakroom. Everyone was rushing to the window. The president’s vehicle was speeding down Stemmons. Motorcycle escorts were leading the way, sirens blaring.

Many who knew the motorcade route had stopped on the service road to give a wave. The speed of the vehicle didn’t allow the president to acknowledge them. It seemed a snub of sorts. In a matter of seconds, everyone knew why the president’s car was in such a rush. They were rushing him to Parkland Hospital—the president had been shot.

The Newtons, like every other family in America, spent the next few hours, and into the weekend, in front of a television set, gathering every tidbit of news they could. The nation was in shock. In fairly quick succession, other tragedies occurred. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination. While Oswald was in custody, Jack Ruby, owner of a local strip club, took matters in his own hands. He shot and killed Oswald while he was being transferred to another part of the jail system.

Some thought he killed Oswald because of his admiration for Kennedy. Others thought he might have done so to prevent Oswald from implicating others involved—possibly high-ranking members of the mob. Whatever conclusion one drew, there was plenty to be concerned about, and the mood of a seventeen-year-old girl was overshadowed by events of the day. Conversation with Judy was pushed to the back burner. She was grateful for the additional time to get things straight with Ricky before she levelled with her parents.

Chapter 2

Because her mother had been prodding her for an answer as to why she was so droopy, Judy knew sooner or later she would have to discuss her problem with her parents. She felt as shocked and saddened as any other American about the assassination, but was grateful for any excuse that kept her from facing their questions. She was just not ready. Especially since she wasn’t 100 percent sure.

She dropped onto the sofa in front of the television set. Her eyes were on the screen, her mind was elsewhere. Who am I kidding? I missed my period. Morning sickness every morning.

With each passing day, symptoms became more pronounced. She prayed to God. It seemed the thing to do, a last resort.

Even as she prayed, she knew it was a waste of time. She had no relationship with God. She went to church because her parents insisted, and skipped when she could come up with a halfway decent excuse. Judy knew prayer had not worked for her in the past. Why would God pay any attention to me? I only pray when I’m in a bind.

Since God’s help was unlikely, Judy’s thoughts turned to how she could help herself. She was drawing a blank. Big decisions were coming down on her, and she was scared. Mostly, she feared the uncertainty. So far she had kept the secret to herself. She didn’t know how her parents might react or, for that matter, how Ricky might. No telling what he’d do. He should be supportive. It was his fault she was in this mess.

Judy cursed herself for allowing Ricky to make love to her without protection, and she cursed Ricky for doing it. It wasn’t that she didn’t know the chances they were taking . . . but she loved him. Passion always won out, and Ricky never carried protection.

She had heard of abortion. She knew what it was, but she didn’t know exactly what was involved. Whatever it was sounded spooky. She did know if she waited too long, it could not be performed. It had something to do with danger to the mother.

If abortion was the answer, she wanted it done soon so she could stop thinking about it. Judy did not favor abortion. Her reasoning had nothing to do with taking a life, but with fear of the procedure itself. What if something went wrong and she could never have children? She wanted children . . . one day, just not now. If she got no support from family or Ricky, Judy was going for the abortion, scary nor not.

Occasionally she pictured herself, Ricky and the baby in a family setting, happy and content. Even though that’s what she desperately hoped for, it was a hard sell. The picture was fleeting and dimmed quickly. Other pregnant women seemed to glow in the excitement of impending motherhood. Pregnancy was different for Judy. She felt helpless and alone. There was no glow. Without much luck, she tried to convince herself that things would be better when Ricky knew she was pregnant and supported her.

Chapter 3

Judy was two years old when the family moved into the Spanish Oaks subdivision. Located in Lancaster just south of Dallas, it was a little farther commute to Jim’s office, but the inconvenience was offset by better real estate values. The move was a big step for the Newtons, and taken primarily so Judy could have her own room.

She had not been around other kids. Her main playmate at this point had been a stuffed bear named Barney. She loved Barney Bear and carried him with her throughout the day. Barney had a place at the table when she ate and a place beside her when she napped. Barney’s ear was virtually worn off because it was in her mouth most of the time. Barney had only one eye due to a long-forgotten mishap.

Early on, the Newtons thought living next door to a family with a young son might be a real advantage, and it might have been so had Judy not become so enamored with him. If Ricky had been able to choose his neighbor, he would not have chosen Judy. She was a girl, and girls knew very little about baseball, fire trucks, and showed no interest in digging in the dirt. In the early days, Ricky was not sympathetic with her lack of interest or expertise in such things.

You throw just like a girl, he’d say. The parents thought it was cute.

In spite of the criticism, Ricky could do no wrong in Judy’s eyes. Interest in Barney dropped to near zero as infatuation with Ricky took over. As other neighbors moved in to the neighborhood, Jim and Linda tried to develop relationships with them, particularly those who had little girls. New friendship developed, but Judy’s choice of playmates remained Ricky. It seemed the more Ricky ignored her, the more interested Judy became. Because the parents were neighbors and friends, the kids were together more often. And when Linda took a job, Gladys offered to babysit. That solved one problem and created another. In this setting, Ricky and Judy were constant companions. They might as well have been brother and sister.

Judy’s young life was thrown into turmoil when Ricky marched off to school. She’d watch him as he walked to the corner to wait for the bus. She could not understand a system that would take Ricky from her. She pouted and cried. No explanation satisfied her. The situation did not improve when, two years later, she started to school. Although she waited for the bus with Ricky, once it arrived, he paid her little mind and sat with his friends. At school they were further separated by classes and lunch schedules. Judy did not like sharing Ricky, but she had no choice.

Judy was always popular with her classmates, but in junior high, she found a special friend in Clara Cameron. Clara was new to the area and was feeling the need for a friend when Judy reached out to her. They bonded immediately. Clara was a good listener. When they were together, the subject was often Ricky. Clara could understand Judy’s crush on him; several girls had similar feelings toward the handsome young man. His good looks and self-assured swagger were hard to resist. With so many vying for Ricky’s attention, Clara only hoped Judy did not get hurt in the relationship.

It was not until Judy began to mature in her freshman year that Ricky developed an interest in her. Judy could not have been more pleased. She had dreamed about being Ricky’s girlfriend since before first grade. There was little doubt that Ricky’s main interest in Judy was her tight-fitting sweaters and short skirts. She may have hoped for deeper feelings, but if that’s what it took, she was okay with it.

Judy was a pretty girl, and did not have to flaunt her sexuality, but it pleased Ricky, so she did. When she and Linda shopped together for school clothes, a battle often ensued. Even when Linda won, Judy would find a way to shrink the blouse or sweater to become more revealing.

Girls looked on her with envy, and boys did little to hide their appreciation, except when Ricky was in the vicinity. Ricky made sure everyone knew Judy was his lady, and to cross him would not be something he’d take lightly. Nobody crossed him.

Chapter 4

Ricky was a terrible student. Every year he was on the cusp of being held back. His flunking out was so inevitable he talked his parents into letting him drop out toward the end of his junior year. They weren’t happy about it, but they had little hope he would graduate with his class. The humiliation was not something they wanted to face.

When they purchased a Harley for him, it looked more like a reward than a punishment for dropping out. It was clear evidence their parenting skills left a lot to be desired. The cycle was purchased on the pretense that Ricky could get an afternoon job throwing papers. Ricky wasn’t so interested in the job, but he did get into speeding around town, leaning into curves, and punching the throttle a couple of extra times when stopped at a light.

Whether you liked Ricky or not, the sight of him speeding down the block, hands off the handlebars and reaching back to throw papers on both sides of the street at the same time was impressive.

When afternoon’s work was done, the Harley was often parked in front of Smitty’s Tavern. There was always action at Smitty’s, and even if he had not yet acted on it, Marsha, the afternoon bartender, had caught his eye. Ricky hung around the dive until he was sure Judy was out of school and had made it home. He always stopped by and often offered her a ride on the Harley. Against her parents’ wishes, Judy always accepted. She loved the closeness, and Ricky liked the feeling of her arms wrapped around him. More than anything, Judy liked the fact she had Ricky all to herself.

The route was always the same. The couple would ride down Main Street, pick up a couple of soft drinks at Minyard’s Cash & Carry, and head for the lake and Overlook Park a couple of miles west of town. In the afternoon, the park was virtually deserted. When the sun went down, the more secluded spots became crowded with teenaged couples feeling amorous.

Many points in this part of the park offered spectacular views, not that the kids who parked there were all that interested in the beauties of nature.

***

In one of her conversations with Clara, Judy mentioned some of her afternoon trips to Overlook Park with Ricky.

What do you guys do out there in the middle of the afternoon? Clara asked.

We just talk. Judy’s mischievous smile indicated more, much more.

Clara was quick to admonish her. Be careful, Judy. I’ve known girls who got into deep trouble on outings like that. Just be sure he’s got, you know . . . protection.

Judy nodded understanding, but said nothing—positive indication in Clara’s mind she was not protected.

Do your folks know you go out there with Ricky?

Oh, Lord no. They would have a walleyed fit. There’s no way for them to know. We are back at the house before they come in from work. They don’t want me riding with Ricky either. That’s the big reason we’re back before they get home. They find us sitting in the living room having a Coke and conversation.

Do you think you’re really selling that? My folks would see through that in a flash. Surely they know Ricky well enough to consider the possibilities.

Could it be that they trust me? Judy said in a huff.

"Yeah, my parents trust me too, but they’re not stupid. If Ricky Sanders spent time in my living room, I’d be looking for hidden cameras. They wouldn’t trust him as far as you could throw—well, you know. I’m not trying to make a big deal out of this. I just don’t want to see you hurt. It’s what best friends do."

I know . . . and thank you, but we know what we’re doing.

Just be sure after one of these outings, you’ve combed your hair and checked for bugs in your teeth before your folks get home, Clara joked.

Bugs in my teeth? She laughed. Gee, you really are looking out for me, aren’t you?

Chapter 5

If Ricky was a terrible student, Judy was the opposite. She had a wonderful time in high school. She excelled in all classes, and the teachers loved her. The fact she was elected to the student council and promoted to head cheerleader was clear evidence of favor with fellow students. Because she had Ricky, Judy felt she was the envy of most girls in her class. In the mind of the starstruck teenager, having him claim her as his was her greatest achievement.

A couple of Judy’s teachers noticed her involvement with Ricky. Having had him in previous classes, they could not understand her interest in him. He was egotistical, a little too smart for his britches, and was destined for nowhere. They could not understand how a smart young lady like Judy could be so enamored with such a loser. They tried, without being too explicit, to warn her. If she caught their drift, she did not respond.

Being such a small community, one of the teachers was a good friend of Linda. She spoke to her in confidence. I hope you don’t think I’m meddling, Linda, but you and I are good friends, and I’ve just got to share this with you. Judy seems involved with that Sanders kid. He’s no good . . . maybe the worst student I’ve ever had. He’s on a road to nowhere, and whoever chooses to marry him will end up at the same place. It just breaks my heart to see Judy so head over heels about him. Isn’t there anything you can do?

Jim and I feel the same way, and have tried to point her in a different direction. She’s headstrong and feels we just don’t understand. And is there anyone smarter than a kid that age? They think they know everything—

The teacher finished the sentence, But don’t have sense to get out of the rain.

Yeah, that too.

Judy could have had her pick of any number of boys in the class. She was pretty and smart. Without prejudice, Clara claimed her friend was the prettiest girl in school. The young men liked what they saw, but were careful not to pursue. In the first place, Ricky made it clear she was his girl, and even if others did pursue her, she’d pay them little mind. Any approach by another male was destined to end badly. Ricky was the jealous type. Although he felt comfortable straying outside their relationship, Ricky expected Judy to be true blue, and she was.

Judy was a good girl in most ways, but she had a devious streak. She came by it naturally. Some might say her parents forced her to be that way. When the conversation got around to Ricky, Judy spoke in half-truths, and many times told outright lies. She justified the lies because she felt her family was out of touch. Why can’t they just see in Ricky what I see?

Judy’s parents had a different view of Ricky Sanders. He’s on a course to nowhere, they said. They tried everything they could think of to convince her he was no good. The fact he dropped out of school was strong evidence they were correct. Judy chose not to see it their way. She was not stupid, but she was blinded by Ricky’s good looks and absorbed in his reckless ways.

The admonishment that Ricky Sanders was no damn good and would never amount to anything worthwhile fell on deaf ears.

Judy was pretty. Her complexion was blemish free, the color of mellow honey, and her soft brown hair, often worn in a bouncy ponytail, was a nice complement to her outgoing personality. Her slender body, shapely legs, and nicely formed breasts rounded out the package. With dark and flashing eyes, Ricky thought she could hold her own with the young movie stars of the day. The fact she matured early left other boys openly staring and the girls green with envy. Some girls tried padding, but the truth had a way of surfacing.

Ricky was a handsome hunk himself. He had the looks of a young Rock Hudson and the temperament of a reckless James Dean. Ricky combed his long hair straight back. His morning shower left the hair slightly moist and easy to manage. By midmorning, an unruly lock would fall over one eye, adding to his rugged good looks. Girls passing in the hall slowed to get a better look, some openly stared, hoping to make eye contact. His dark eyes, full of mischief, looked out over a well-formed nose and dazzling white teeth. He was handsome all right, and he knew it.

Fully half the girls in school had a secret crush on him, and some not so secret. Mary Schramm would have allowed him to take her on the front steps of the school building had he shown the slightest interest. Mary was crowned Queen Slut by some of her classmates, an undisputed title. She was not particular about who she was with or, in some cases, how many took turns.

The fact she was overweight, had crooked teeth, and was constantly picking at a face full of pimples did not deter those more interested in her availability than appearance. Of course she was no threat to Judy. If Ricky wanted action outside their relationship, he