Sharing the Good News

That truck of Uncle Lynn’s seemed to glide down the roads back to the dairy farm. He didn’t need to take the milk truck home with him now. He decided he could drive his father’s truck to his new job that evening. Harley was at his uncle’s farm in no time at all, giving him the great news, and Uncle Lynn was as happy as Harley was for himself. Aunt Alice started to cry, which gave Harley a hint at what his mother’s reaction might be. He and Lynn climbed in the truck and headed north towards Grimes. As Lynn drove, he gave Harley a brief verbal tutorial on laying linoleum. Lynn has laid his kitchen, porch, and bathrooms with linoleum, so he could explain most of the details to his nephew. It didn’t sound too hard, except for all the time on his knees. Uncle Lynn said he would go to his basement and get out the knee pads he had purchased for himself when he did his floors and would let Harley use them.

The conversation made the trip home go quickly. They arrived in less than forty-five minutes, and Harley jumped out of the truck.

“I will see you tomorrow morning, sir,” shouted Harley over his shoulder, as he yanked open the screen door on the back porch and leaped up the two stairs towards the inside door. “Bright and early!”

Lena heard all the shouting and came out of the parlor into the kitchen. “What’s all the hollering about, Harley? Sounds like something crazy is going on!”

Harley could not contain himself. “It’s not crazy, it’s unbelievable, Mother! Mr. Flynn has found a job for me, and I start it tomorrow!”

“Wait, not another word,” said his mother. “Come out to the parlor and tell your father, also. We could really use some news like this, Harley! What in Heaven’s name has happened?”

Harley grabbed her hand and hustled into the parlor, dragging her behind him. He stopped in front of his father’s overstuffed leather chair and wrapped his arm around his mother’s waist, hugging her tightly.

“I have incredible news. I can still hardly believe it myself. Mr. Flynn knows someone who has a job for me, starting tonight.”

Harley dared not stop to barely even take a breath. He wanted to explain the whole story before his parents started asking questions.

“I can do this. It will be a lot of work, but it’s going to get me to Iowa City in January. That’s all I care about. I can still do the chores here, morning and night. I can still do the milk route with Uncle Lynn.” He took a quick breath.

“I can sleep in the afternoon. I start at the Ford plant at seven o’clock tonight. I will be laying linoleum floors for their new offices. They are not going to be an automobile factory any more. I can learn how to lay that stuff quickly; I know I can.” Harley took another breath.

“I’ll be done there at four in the morning, Mr. Flynn says. I can come home, do chores, and help Uncle Lynn work the milk route after that. I’ll need to drive the truck back and forth, but I’ll put gasoline in it. I will save all the rest of my money. What do you think?” Harley finally took a deep breath, and looked at his father, waiting for his reaction.

“Charley?” Lena asked.

Charley was looking out the front window, towards the narrow gravel road that passed by in front of the little white farm house.

He spoke in a measured tone. “I think you are going to wear a lot of gravel off that road out there, but if you end up in Iowa City, then I say ya oughta go for it, son. But you know, your mother will have the final say on this; she always does.” Charley gave Lena one of those familiar two-eyed winks.

“I say it’s a God-sent job, Harley. I can barely believe it. How can Mr. Flynn make something like this happen so soon?” asked Lena.

“Mother, he’s a successful business man. He knows a lot of people. This fella at the factory owes him a favor, and he’s using it to get me this job. I would love to have you meet him. He and his wife are just swell people!” said Harley.

“I’m sure they are, son. We’re not in their social circle, but I sure do want you to thank them for us all,” instructed his mother.

“Oh, I have thanked them over and over. He finally had to tell me to stop saying ‘thank you’ to him. I’m just going to show my appreciation by doing a great job there, that’s all I can do right now,” said Harley.

Charley spoke up again, “This is wonderful, Harley. Not a lot of good things been happenin’ to this family the past couple years. We’re still together, and now this comes to you. You worked hard for that money that got stole, and I’m glad you have a chance to earn it back. Really glad.”

Harley let go of his mother and stepped beside where his father sat. He leaned over and hugged Charley’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Dad. I will make you proud; I will,” promised Harley.

“We’re already proud of ya, Harley. So proud. Yer a good son, and we’re blessed by that every day,” said Charley.

His father wiped his eyes, but Harley couldn’t tell if it was just a rub, or if there was a tear there. He knew Charley was a strong, tough man, but the times had been pretty hard on him. He did not think one whit less of his father if it was a tear. He turned to hug his mother again, and she was wiping her face with her apron.

“It’s okay, Mother. It will all be okay, really,” Harley assured her.

“I know, Harley. That’s why I have these tears. I am so relieved. We are so blessed. Blessed by God, blessed by you, and blessed by the Flynns. Mightily blessed and so grateful.” Lena folded her hands in front of her tear-stained face and prayed, “Thank you, Lord.”

In the same breath, both Harley and Charley said, “Amen.”