Ivy ran as fast as her two feet could carry her, but not fast enough to escape the feeling that now seemed to leap from the pit of her stomach up to her throat. Afraid. Alone and afraid is how she felt. David, her only sibling and treasured brother, had just announced at the dinner table that he would be moving almost seven hundred miles away. At the end of the month, he would pack up his things and head to a college in Massachusetts where he would stay for at least four years. People might have thought it strange that this new stage of life for David was such a terrible thought to Ivy. But, in the midst of her circumstances, she had built her security on him, rather than on God. Ivy knew deep down that it wasn’t wise, but she had been quite comfortable with the way things were.
Her bare feet continued to pound the ground before her as thoughts swirled through her head. All of a sudden, her eyes blurred, as if a shadow passed over them. She couldn’t see the log before her nor anything else. The jagged tree limb seemed to reach out and grab the hem of her dress, causing her to collapse to the ground with a thud. Hot tears crept out of the corners of her brown eyes, and slid down her cheek. She wiped them away and tried rubbing her eyes to gain some clarity, but her vision refused to cooperate.
Ivy heard the sound of the screen door knocking against its wooden frame and hurried footsteps coming her direction. A figure emerged from the dim glow of the lanterns on the front porch, and David’s hands reached out to help her. “David I’m…,”she started.
“It’s alright,” he said. “Are you okay?”
“I think so… I… couldn’t see. I think my eyes are getting worse.”
“Can you see me now?” David asked
“Yes, a little. It’s coming back again.”
David took hold of her smooth hand in his rough one, “Well I’m here. Just because you can’t see me, doesn’t mean that I’m not here for you.”
“Thank you,” Ivy said wiping away a tear.
“Come on, let’s talk about this. I’ll help you to the swing.”
David pushed Ivy on the swing in the calm evening air, and the two said nothing for a long time. At last, David broke the silence.
“You know what stars make me think of?”
“What?”
“They make me remember how big God is, and how small I am. That He has a plan for each one of us, and a path for us to walk. I feel like our paths are entering a new curve, or going uphill for a time. I’ve prayed a lot about this decision. Part of me doesn’t want to go because I know it will be hard, but I feel like God keeps telling me to take a step of faith. It’s the next part of his plan. You see Ivy, it’s the next part of His plan for you, too.”
“I understand, and I’m excited for you. But, nobody understands me like you do. If you make it into Medical School, you could be gone a long time. What if something happens to you? David I’m scared… what if my eyesight…”
“Ivy, as much as I would like to, I can’t be your security. Only God can fill that void in your life. I’ll be back to visit, and we will share more good memories together in the future. Besides, you might be surprised by the people that God puts into your life.”
Each day seemed to pass slower than the last one for Ivy after David left. Yes, the days lingered. She felt alone, and her eyesight faded with the autumn leaves, casting shadows of fear and doubt. Though it did not appear to her that anything good could come from her circumstances, Ivy had a glimmer of hope that God could still work. She knew that she was small, and that there was no way of knowing the Master’s plan.
***
The door of the school house swung open with great force carried by the wind. The boys coming through the door paid no mind that it would have knocked Ivy over if it weren’t for Alexander. He stepped right in front of Ivy, deliberately shielding her. Surprised to feel his hand on her shoulder, Ivy flinched.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s Alexander.”
“No, that’s alright,” Ivy smiled at him. “It’s not you… I don’t see very well these days, so a lot of things startle me. Thanks for your help!” He tried to think of something else to say, but Ivy was already across the room walking towards the sound of the other girls.
“Hello, Ivy,” said Elizabeth
” Hi, how are…”
So, where is your brother?” another girl interrupted.
“David? Oh he moved to Massachusetts a few weeks ago.”
The girl’s voice sounded disappointed. “But why would he do that?” she asked.
“For school. He hopes to become a doctor.”
“That’s too bad,” Elizabeth said.
“Yes, it has been hard. But, I think I can still come Saturday to help you set up for Grace’s picnic.”
“Oh, well I’m not sure if we…”
“Plans might have changed. We’ll have talk about it and let you know… see you later Ivy!” Elizabeth said.
“Sure,” said Ivy.
The girls left as abruptly as they’d come, leaving a trail of whispers for Ivy to follow.
“Can you believe her brother moved?”
“No,” Elizabeth said.
“I really only invited her so that David would come.”
“I wonder where Ivy got that dress?” said one of the girls.
“Did you see those funny glasses she’s wearing?” giggled a third girl.
A tear threatened to sneak out, but Ivy held it back. I can hear you, you know. she thought to herself. Of course, now I’m really alone. My ‘friends’ only liked me for David, and now he’s gone. Lord, what would you have me do? Everything I tried to hold on to is slipping away. What do You want to teach me? Please Father… make me willing for You to work. Remembering her surroundings, Ivy began shuffle towards the edge of the room.
Her face felt hot with embarrassment, and the last thing she wanted was to draw more attention to herself. Blinking her blurry eyes, Ivy reached for the wall. Instead, she felt a thin hand tighten around hers. Instantly, she felt safe. It must have been a strange sight. Tall slim Annie, wearing a determined grin, and casually making conversation as she moved past people. And on her arm, she held the bewildered Ivy.
“No, we’re fine – Ivy and I were just wanting a little fresh air is all.” Annie smiled as they walked past the girls. The cool fall air greeted them when she opened the door of the schoolhouse.
“Ivy, it’s Annie Birch.”
“Hi Annie, I wondered if it was you. Thank you for helping me… I haven’t seen you in a while. I’m sorry we never planned anything together, I did want to.
“I understand,” said Annie. “We’ve been busy too.”
“Why did you help me? You don’t have to feel sorry for me, you know.”
“Well I am sorry, but that’s not why I helped you, Ivy.”
Ivy’s face wore a look of surprise.
“You looked like you needed a hand and a friend. I sure know I do. We’ve only lived in North Carolina for five months, and I don’t know many people here.”
“But, why me?” Ivy questioned. “Wouldn’t you rather be friends with Elizabeth or Alice?”
“They’re nice in their own way, but they’re not like you. I think you and I could be kindred spirits. Besides we are neighbors!” Annie smiled a little. “What do you think, would you like to give it a try?”
Ivy held out her hand, and Annie held out hers. After they shook hands, the two walked arm in arm back into the schoolhouse.
The next few weeks were not without struggles, but they were some of the sweetest that Ivy had ever known. When she was forced to let go of everything, it was then that God filled her with Himself and even brought her another blessing- Annie.
They had many adventures together, and sometimes Alexander would come along. He also saw something in Ivy, just as Annie did. Ivy was beginning to realize that her true friends looked past who she was on the outside, and looked in.
***
One afternoon, Annie came home with Ivy after school. They sat underneath David and Ivy’s favorite oak tree.
“Fall is beautiful isn’t it Annie? What does it look like from your eyes?”
“It is lovely. The trees look golden, and red, and there are beautiful leaves all over the ground! I wish you could see it like I do.”
Ivy sighed, “Me too. Do you like to swing?”
“Oh, I love it! I’ll push you first!”
“Okay! You know Annie, I can’t see fall like you do. But I can feel it. I can feel the wind, and sunshine on my face. I can touch the leaves, and smell the air, and I can hear you beside me, telling me all about it. What more could I need!?
“You see Ivy, that’s why I like you. How do you see things like that?”
“Well, I think the world looks different from the inside looking out.”
Ellie June 