Even If They Don't Ride Horses Anymore
The Blue Box. Episode 9.
As the days went by with Jacob gone, Betty Lou would stop by the house most days to take care of the patch of flowers and vegetables that Jacob and little Jake had put in. It had been fun for both of them, happy times spent together, and a start to Jake’s farming future, along with helping tend to the farm itself. While Jacob was gone, Jake would come with Betty Lou most times and they would work together in doing what needed doing. Jake would also visit with his teddy bear and make sure the bear understood that he should make his grampa smile and never let him be lonesome.
One day as Betty Lou and Jake were finishing up, Jake suddenly started to cry. “What’s the matter Jake? What’s wrong dear?” Jake ran to Betty Lou and hugged her and said quietly, “I miss Grampa. I don’t think he’ll ever come back. He doesn’t love us anymore, I’m sure of it.”
“Oh Jake, that’s not true. He loves us very much. He didn’t want to leave us, but he has to take care of something that he just has to do. He promised he’d be back, remember. Has Grampa ever lied to you Jake?”
Jake nodded, “No ma’am, he’s never lied to me. I’m sorry, I just miss him so.” Betty Lou gave him a kiss and wiped the tears from his eyes and said, “Well, you know what? I miss him too, but I know he’ll be back because he loves us. So, let’s see what we can do to show him we love him too. Would you like that?” Jake looked at Betty Lou, thought a little, and then nodded his head and smiled.
“Let’s see then…I know. Let’s write your grampa letters and we can put them in the blue box and he can read them when he gets back and he will know how much we love him and missed him. You think that would be a nice thing to do for him?”
“Oh yes! Will you help me write the very first one?”
“Of course I will! What would you like to say?”
Each day went on like this one in writing letters to the one they loved that had gone away. It made Jake feel better, and Betty Lou too, and each day passed and the box got fuller and fuller of letters as if the box too was waiting for Jacob to come home. Betty Lou did watch the road most every day in the hopes of seeing Jacob returning, just as her note had said she would.
Previous Episodes. Even If They Don’t Ride Horses Anymore
Aunt Daisy & Caleb. Episode 1
July 4th, 1900. Episode 2
Keepsakes. Episode 3
A Better Way. Episode 4
Unfinished Business. Episode 5
Looking Down That Road. Episode 6
Not Looking Back Any More. Episode 7
The Wheels of Time Turn. Episode 8
