Companions All
by: Will B
(Copyright 2007 by the Author)
Advisor: E Walk
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

 

About 8:30 the phone rang. Matt answered, and said “Hello, Joan, yes Gary’s right here. I’ll put him on. He handed the phone to Gary and went back to the living room to join Jake and Sarah.


The next thing they heard was Gary sobbing. “Nooooooo! Not Dad! Nooooooooo! There must be some mistake! NOOOOOO! NOOOOO!”

 

Chapter 4:

The Valley of the Shadow of Death


 

Matt dashed into the next room and found Gary standing as if turned to stone, and gripping the phone so tightly that Matt couldn’t get it out of his hands.

 

“What’s wrong, Gary? Tell me what’s wrong,” Matt pleaded.

 

Sarah and Jake also came into the room, and Sarah somehow managed to get the phone out of Gary’s hand and spoke into it.

 

“Hello, Joan? Sarah here. What’s happened? . . . Oh, NO! I’m so sorry . . . Are you all right? Do you have anyone with you? . . . Oh, Pastor Glendy and Al and Steve brought Jack and Peggy, and they are all there. That’s good . . . No, we’ll take care of Gary. I think he might be in shock right now. . . No, you stay there. . . . We’ll be over in the morning. GOOD NIGHT.”

 

All this while, Gary stood mute, not saying anything, not even sobbing any longer. He did, however, did allow Matt to lead him upstairs to their room, and get him undressed and into bed.

 

A few minutes later Sarah came up, followed by Jake. They knocked on the men’s bedroom door, and when Matt told them to come in. Sarah was carrying a tray with two cups of hot tea, and Jake had a bottle of whiskey.

 

“Gary, dear, I want you to drink this tea, and Jake has brought some whiskey. I think the tea and whiskey will help you to relax. It’s important for you to stay warm,” Sarah admonished him.

 

“I’ll see that he stays warm,” Matt said.


Jake motioned for Matt to follow him into the hall. “I have seen cases of people reacting like this,” he told Matt. “Once he can face the reality, his reactions may be extreme but it will be best if he can give vent to them. I know you’ll be with him, and that’s a good thing,” Jake said, and he gave Matt a hug. “I love you, son, now go and be with Gary.”

 

That night, Matt just held Gary, to let him know that he was there for him.

 

In the morning, Matt got Gary up, showered and shaved, and dressed, and after Sarah’s breakfast, the two drove to Joan’s house.

 

Gary was still quiet but he did respond to his Mother’s questions, and he listened as she and Pastor Glendy discussed the Memorial Service to be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church the following Wednesday. Tom and Joan had long ago decided that when their time came, they would donate their organs to whoever could use them, and what ever was left would “go to science.” Consequently, there would be no viewing, and no casket in the Church. Gary agreed to all of this, but it was if he was on a distant planet, communicating by radio.


At one point, Matt confided to Sarah that he was beginning to worry about Gary.


“Don’t worry, son, he will get through this,” Sarah said.

 

And He will bear you up

On eagle’s wings.

 

The day of the Service of Celebration was dark and gloomy. About 6:00 in the morning, a thunderstorm broke, and people were awakened to the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning.

 

When Matt and Gary and Sarah and Jake arrived at the church, the interior of the church was illuminated by candles and the chandeliers, but it was so dark that the images on the stained glass windows could hardly be seen. The circular window high over the altar was shrouded in shadow.

 

There was no coffin, but Peggy Johnson had helped Joan arrange a display of photographs showing Tom through childhood, adolescence, marriage and proud fatherhood.

 

There were many floral offerings, some sent by Tom’s co-workers, some by Gary and Matt’s co-workers, and a special letter that read: “Dear Joan and Gary, As you know, Jewish people do not send flowers at a time like this. We want you to know that we have arranged for 50 trees to be planted in the State of Israel, and each will have a plaque that reads ‘In Memory of Thomas Dixon, Loving Husband and Father.’ In Love, Sarah and Jacob Fishbein, and Matt Jenkins Fishbein.”

 

Matt and Gary joined Joan in the front pew. Sarah and Jake were going to sit a few rows behind, but Sarah asked one of the ushers to ask them to please join Matt and Gary and her in the front pew. Gary sat with his hands clasped in his lap, and his head bowed.

 

Jess Mercer was at the organ, playing softly. He played some of the hymns that Joan had requested, and he also played Pie Jesu and the In Paradisum from Faure’s Requiem.

 

Pastor Glendy walked to the pulpit, and asked everyone to join him in the opening prayer. He greeted Joan and Gary and said, “Today we celebrate the life and going home of Tom Dixon, and we cannot be truly sad because we know he is at peace, and with his God.”

 

Al Johnson stepped to the pulpit and read the 23rd Psalm.

 

Pastor Glendy introduced another clergyman who had joined him in the pulpit.

 

“Participating in today’s service is Reverend Chester Thompson. Chester.”

 

Chester Thompson stepped to the microphone, and said, “Joan knows who I am, but Gary may not remember. I married Tom and Joan at the 2nd Presbyterian Church in Baltimore some 28 years ago.” Joan looked up and smiled.

 

“And 26 years ago, I baptized Gary Dixon, although I am sure he doesn’t remember. I will tell you that he was a good baby. He didn’t cry at all, but sat up in my arms and looked around as if he didn’t want to miss a thing.”

 

The congregation chuckled quietly, and Gary did look up at the pastor and nodded.

 

“I want to thank my friend John Glendy for allowing me to take part in this service, and to deliver the homily. I take as my text the words from Psalms 27, verses 23-26: The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”

 

Pastor Thompson spoke briefly but movingly. Many heads in the congregation were nodding in agreement as he spoke of Tom’s love of his family, his friendships, and his love of his God.

 

When Reverend Thompson had finished, Jack Johnson came up to the microphone.

 

“My friends, as you know Tom was a member of a group called “The Companions.” We shared our love of music by singing in this choir, and by giving concerts at schools, hospitals, and retirement homes.

 

Each of us had his own favorite type of music, and Tom was fond of 19th century music of all kinds. Some of the Companions would like to offer this song in memory of Tom, and in the hope that it will bring comfort to his family and friends.”

 

Al, Steve, Pete, and Joe joined Jack.

 

Jack nodded to Jess Mercer, who began to play Sir Arthur Sullivan’s “The Lost Chord.”

 

Jack began the first verse:

Seated one day at the organ,
I was weary and ill at ease,
And my fingers wandered idly
Over the noisy keys.

 

Al joined in

I know not what I was playing,
Or what I was dreaming then;
But I struck one chord of music,
Like the sound of a great Amen.

 

Pete took up the melody

It flooded the crimson twilight,
Like the close of an angel's psalm,
And it lay on my fevered spirit
With a touch of infinite calm.

 

Joe now joined the group

It quieted pain and sorrow,
Like love overcoming strife;
It seemed the harmonious echo
From our discordant life.

 

Suddeny Gary’s shoulders began to shake.

 

Steve’s voice could now be heard

It linked all perplexéd meanings
Into one perfect peace,
And trembled away into silence
As if it were loth to cease.


 

Gary reached out and took his mother’s hand, then he took Matt’s hand.


 

I have sought, but I seek it vainly,
That one lost chord divine,
Which came from the soul of the organ,
And entered into mine.


 

Gary’s eyes began to tear up.


 

Now Jack alone finished the last verse

It may be that death's bright angel
Will speak in that chord again,
It may be that only in Heav'n
I shall hear that grand Amen.


 

As the last verse finished, Gary sobbed and sobbed. He turned to his mother who gave him a loving hug. Then he turned to Matt who held him, and just whispered, “That’s right, Gary, just let it out.”

 

As the music ended, the rain clouds outside parted, and the Sun shone through the windows. The circular window above the altar glistened and showed the empty tomb with the stone rolled away.

 

Yes, the stone was rolled away from the tomb and the stone that had been in Gary’s heart for the last few days was rolled away as well.

 

Pastor Glendy stood up, and pronounced the bendiction.

 

Joan and Gary, and Matt and Jake and Sarah moved to the narthex, where the family could greet all those who had come, and invite them to go to the church hall where the woman’s association had prepared a meal for people to sit, visit, reminisce, and unwind.

 

There were many people there some of whom Gary did not know. Uncle Ed Walk was there, as were Tom and Darryl, and Charles Anderson.

 

Just about everyone had gone down to the church hall, and the two pastors and Jess Mercer were making their way down the aisle.

 

Gary felt a tug on his pants leg, and he looked down and there was Tammy. Mrs. Heckman said, “Gary, we wanted to come, and Tammy said she wanted to ask you something.”

 

Gary knelt down .“What is it, Sweetheart,”

 

Tammy asked, “Mr. Gary, Daddy and Mommy told Timmy and me that your daddy was in heaven. Would you ask him to find our Mommy and tell her that we are safe and happy and we have a new Mommy and Daddy who love us very much.”

 

Now all of the adults were tearing up, but Gary hugged Tammy and said, ”Of course, I’ll tell him, but you know what? I think your Mommy already knows.”


He stood up, and Dave and Mary Heckman, said “Thank you.”

 

Timmy then took Gary’s hand and shook it in an 11year old’s manly fashion.

 

The two pastors and Jess then visited wiyth the family, and Joan and Gary thanked them for their words and music of comfort.

 

Gary cleared his throat and said, “Tammy, would you and Timmy come with me. I think we may be able to find some ice cream and maybe some other good things to eat?”

 

He took both children by the hand. Matt took Joan’s arm, and gave it a squeeze, and whispered, “He’s gonna be all right.”

 

“I know, Matt. Thank you for being with him,” Joan whispered back.

 

The entire group left the narthex and went down to join their friends in the social hall.

 

“Now the Day is Over”


 

“Matt?”

 

“What is it Gary?”

 

“I love you. You have been like a rock for me during the last few days.”

 

“That’s what we do for each other, my dear heart.”

 

“I know. Now come here and let me tell you how much I love you.”

 

Silence except for the sounds of two lovers kissing.. . . .

 

To be continued.

Feedback always welcome:     

My thanks to Ed, Jess, and Chester.

 

This was a very moving chapter. Thank goodness for children to brighten our day. E Walk


Posted: 10/19/07