In the small tight knit mountain community of Wishram, tucked away in the Cascade mountains of
Washington State was no more then 20 weathered cabins. At the edge of this little town was the
railroad tracks of the only link over the mountains, connecting eastern Washington to western Washington.
Day and night long trains carrying box cars loaded with products, fuel, automobiles, lumber and grain
passed through. The only business in town, was the Ridge Top Cafe, a rest over stop for the train crews.
It was a chance for families to be reunited for a short time with their husbands, father's, brother's, cousins,
and grand father's! It was a time of laughter, hugs, and long kisses, before the engineer, blew the train
whistle three times! All those who gathered, and talked faster and more excitedly as they glanced at the
Union Pacific clock on the wall, shared a common bond. They were simple folks, good folks. The type
of people who lived and sadly died proudly. They asked little of other's, would give the shirt off their
back to help someone, and never complained. They took care of each other the best they could.
Perhaps you could call it fate, or just pure chance that in Wishram, two totally different individuals lives
would come together, and in that most unusual moment, one would live, and sadly, one would die!
Joshua, was 19, a tall lanky boy who had fallen on his head as a child many years before, and the injury
to his head left him with the mental comprehension of a 10 year old. City folks would have looked upon
Joshua as "The Town Idiot"; or, "The Retard"; but everyone here loved Joshua. To bring him happiness,
a sense of purpose, a sense of accomplishment, we gave him a tin star, that said Sheriff! With flashlight
in hand, and a smile, Joshua "Patrolled" the three dirt streets in Wishram, looking for danger.
Emily, though was not quite so lucky. She was just eight, and in all respects, could win the hearts of the
coldest, uncaring person. Her long golden blonde hair could almost reach her waist now. Her deep blue
eyes, could reach clear into your heart and find tears not yet cried! She was born crippled, from a birth
defect that affected her ability to walk. She could hobble with her cane, but it was always a "chore" for
her to get around! A chore she never once complained about in her short life. Her speech was slurred,
severely, and often times, we had to guess what she was trying to ask for, or to do! This was heart
breaking to Emily, and to all of us who waitied on her every need.
But you'd never find another twenty-one people of all ages who loved her more! It was clear to all of us
that Joshua loved her, and would never hurt her, but we were always careful to watch Joshua when he
was around her, because sometimes, Joshua had seizures, and, well; we weren't afraid of what he might
do, as much as worried he might fall on her, or knock something over on her. Wishram, had no Power
lines to bring us electricity. The railroad company supplied us with generator's and the fuel to run them.
We had no phones either, well, not the kind with a cord. But we did have cell phones. We had tv's, radio,
and though rustic by many a person's standard, we were happy. There was no crime, few disputes, and
each had their part to play in keeping everything going smoothly.
In the spring, the forest comes alive with vibrant colors, in the summer, days are lazy as deer shyly graze
near the meadow whiles eagles soar above the trees! In the autumn, the leaves look like they are on fire,
with colors of gold, red and orange, so bright, what you see just takes your breath away! In the winter,
well; it's just plain harsh, as we use long poled, make shift square shovels to push the snow off our roofs,
just to do it over time and time again!
But it was May right now, and no one seemed to have a care in the world. Engine #4216 would be arriving
in oh; maybe just under two hours, if they didn't encounter any landslides across on the tracks, or herd of
stubborn elk, refusing to step out of the way! The cafe was a buzz of excitement, because on the train, in
addition to the five regular crew, three more kin folk were aboard...all returning from Iraq! It had been
their first tour, and tears were flowing freely as the mother's, daughter's and, wives hugged each other, to
know they came back unhurt!
Even Joshua understood why this day was special to everyone. What we all didn't know was why this day
would also be one of sadness! The Ridge Top Cafe looked like a typical small town food place except for
all the railroad memorabilia displayed on the walls. Even the large clock behind Mary, the only waitress
was a scene of a train crossing the mountains. Near the door to the left, was a special area, made just for
Emily! It was near the window, and allowed her to look outside and see the world, her small world. We
always took delight, no matter how busy we seemed to be if we heard her trying to explain what she
suddenly had seen out "Her window".
A speech therapist had worked with Emily, oh, for maybe three years now, but she had reached a plateau,
so we were told, where progress was not made easily. I had faith though that she would become better with
her speech impairment, in time. You wouldn't think to find a common bond, between Emily and Joshua, but
there was, though none of us could quite tell you what it was. But there it was none the less. It couldn't be
ignored! It was seen and felt! While Emily's life was predictable, planned, and monitored, "for her safety";
Joshua's day was always filled with "responsibility"!
He had the job of making sure that there were no robber's, no fires, and that if there was something that
might cause an accident; that he would "ring" the bell on the cafe porch! The brass bell to the right of the
front door was the signal anyone in Wishram could sound, if there was a serious danger. I was glad to say,
few times was it ever heard. Most here, due to necessity, had four wheel drive vehicles, though nary a one
was new or expansive. We weren't hillbillies by no account. Just good folks living a good country life. Some
grew and tended large gardens and orchards, while other's raised chickens.
You might've labeled us homesteader's in a way, because we lived with country in our blood. On this particular
day, the cafe was filled with many, finishing up their breakfasts, and the eight stools at the counter and the three
tables were filled with chattering voices! Emily was sitting at her table by the window, an empty plate in front
of her, as she peered out the window. One of the things that brought her joy, was when she was able to catch
a glimpse of a doe and her two baby fawn's coming out into the meadow to graze. And when she saw them....
or thought she saw them, she would make it known for all to also see.
This morning though, the momma deer and her young'ins came out into the meadow not from their usual path,
but a rarely used one, almost out of Emily's view! But Emily did see them and her eyes filled with anxious
delight as she struggle to stand and lean over, straining to see! Her tiny hand was at the edge of the table for
support and her weight caused the table to flip over, and Emily fell to the floor, hitting her head, as blood
gushed onto her dress! Everyone was in a panic, people screaming as we rushed to her. Darlene ran to the
front porch pushing the door open with a bang as she shook the alarm bell. Beth was the one who had the
most knowledge about first aide and medicine, but she wasn't in the cafe.
I cradled Emily's head in my arms, as I held a towel against her forehead, watching the towel turn red. The
bell rang and rang and rang. a signal that whatever the problem was, everyone was needed, no matter what
they were doing or where they were. Joshua, was busy picking up some broken glass, from a bottle he had
found. When he heard the sound of the bell, he did, what he and everyone was taught to do...come running!
By the time Joshua had gotten to the cafe, many other's had reached the cafe steps before him, and you
could hear the paniced, frighted voices, you could hear a mother's crying. Joshua wiggled and nudged and
pushed his way through the croud of family and friends, until he could see part of Emily on the floor.
He was crying, just like many of the other's and he pushed forward harder, and then between two people's
feet he made his way through and saw Emily. He tried to reach out his hand to Emily, but someone pushed
it back, and told him "No, Joshua, Emily's hurt, you can't touch her right now". Beth had gotten to Emily's
side before Joshua and she was on her way back with a large first aid kit used for medical emergencies.
Something told Joshua to place his hand upon Emily's head, and he would not be deterred. He brushed
aside Harold's hand, he ignored the order, for him to stop, and managed to place his hand upon the blood
drenched towel on Emily's head!
Suddenly, the room was so quiet, a pin dropped could have been heard, as Emily's entire body emitted a
light as bright as the sun. It was a moment of comfort in everyone's mind, not one of anger or confusion.
Maybe it was just shock for all of us to see what was happening. I really can't tell you what we felt. I do
know the first noise I heard was the steps of Beth as she burst through the front door. Everyone, I found
out later, had moved or stepped aside until Beth had a clear path to Emily.
When Beth saw Joshua's hand upon Emily's head, and her body glowing, she stopped where she was, in
shock, in shock like the rest of us. Emily was awake now, and her face was looking into Joshua's eyes,
and she had a wonderful smile upon her face! Joshua though seemed to be dying! His arm was beginning
to shake, to slip, to weaken. Perhaps that was why Emily helped keep his hand on her head. I wish I
could tell you the happiness I saw in both their eyes at that moment, but no one could ever understand its
power or strength.
Emily's eyes began to fill with tears as she shook her head no, and tried her best to shout; "Please don't
go Joshua, please don't go"!!!! Tears were falling upon his shirt sleeve from his eyes as Joshua slumped
forward, and we watched the glow around Emily fade away! Beth rushed up to Joshua and she reached
around and felt his pulse. Anguish was written all over her face when she stuttered; Oh My God, Joshua's
dead"! She lay him gently upon the floor as other's made room for him. The room was deathly quiet, as I
leaned back and watched Beth take his hand off the towel, and she carefully looked under the towel. Emily
had a long gash across her forehead, but all that remained was the scar. Her injury had been healed,
unexplainably by... by Joshua! Everyone had witnessed something that wasn't possible, that couldn't be
explained! Joshua, in some supernatual or spiritual way had given his life, to heal Emily!
As if that in itself was not a miracle, blessed by God, what happened next was truely a miracle. As Emily's
mother held her in her arms crying, Emily looked up into her mother's eyes and asked; "Momma I'm okay,
please don't cry momma"! Emily had spoken her words perfectly and clearly for the first time in her life!
Something that made everyone's jaw drop to the floor. Emily placed her hand on her mother's cheek, and
once more asked her momma not to cry. With the love that grows between a mother and daughter, Emily
was held close and rocked in her mother's arms!
Someone had left the cafe in the mean time and returned with Joshua's favorite blanket, off his bed. It was
his Sheriff blanket, he received for christmas 3 years earlier by a deputy. It was placed over his body gently,
as tears flowed freely. Joshua is dead isn't he momma"; Emily asked? All Emily could do was shake her head
yes. He talked to me momma, the whole time he had his hand on my head momma". Everyone looked
confused at each other, as Emily's mother began to speak. Honey, Joshua never spoke a word, he just
looked down at you smiling". As Emily looked up at all the blank staring faces, she was adamant. "Joshua
was talking to me the whole time he had his hand on my head, I remember every word!!! He told me not to
be afraid, to not cry, because this was a special day for me, a day he wanted me to promise him I wouldn't
forget. Momma, I promised him... I promised him I wouldn't forget"!!!
Not a person in that cafe had heard Joshua or Emily speak a word. Yet for reasons no one could explain,
Joshua had given his life in a magical and mysterious way, in order to save the life of Emily. Slowly Emily's
mother helped her to her feet and the table and chair were placed upright. "You just sit down Emily and I
will get your cane for you"! The next words heard by all of us was..."Momma I don't need that old cane
anymore"!!!! If someone in that little cafe didn't believe in miracles, I swear they did at that moment, because
there Emily stood, stamping her foot on the floor. The same foot that had made her lead a crippled life since
her birth.
The world is full of Joshua's and Emily's! Times when one person touches the life of another, and sometimes
gives up their life in order to save another's!
© 2006 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)
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