TheGift
哈蒂·梅·拉特裡夫/HattieMaeRatliff
Onemorningmyoldestdaughter,Rhonda,rushedinmyfrontdoor.「Mom,themostwonderfulthingjusthappened.」
Ismiled,rememberingRhonda』senthusiasmasayounggirl,whenshewouldcomebarrelingintoourhomewithnewsofherday.Now,asawifeandmotheroftwo,shecouldstillenergizearoom.
「Goodmorning,Rhonda,andagoodmorningtoyoutoo,sweetpea,」Isaid,pickingupmytwo-year-oldgranddaughter.「Let』ssitandhavecoffeeandcookies.Thenyoucantellmeallaboutyournews.」Turningaround,Ilookedatmydaughter.「Areyoupregnant?」
「No,Mom,」Rhondaanswered.Sittingwithhercoffeecupinhand,shesighedwithexcitement.「Mrs.Perkins,thedirectorofSaintFrancisSchool,toldmethismorningthatananonymouspersonispayingGreg』stuition.Mom,they』repayinghistuitionforthewholeyear.」
Rhonda』seyesf?illedwithtearsasshegrabbedmyhand.「Wasityou,Mom?Youanddad?」
「No,Iwishwecould,butitwasn』tus.」Isaid.
Rhondaandherhusband,Gilhadbothselectedtheroleofeducatorsfortheircareers.Irememberedwhen,asnewlyweds,theysetofffortheirf?irstteachingjobs,readytochangetheworld,onechildatatime,ifnecessary.
AfterRebekahwasborn,RhondaandGildecidedtotightentheirbeltsandliveononeincome.Rhondagaveupherpaidteachingjobandbecameafull-time,stay-at-homemom,reservingherteachingforherownlittleone.
Thiswasgreatfortheirchildrenbuthardontheirpocketbook.Gregshowedsignsofbeingagiftedchildandcouldreadattheageofthree.RhondaandGiltalkedatlengthanddecidedtosendhimtoaprivatepreschoolfortwodaysaweek.Theschoolwasexpensive,butitofferedgreatteacherswithsmallclassroomsandproducedgoodresults.Knowingtheywouldhavediff?icultypayingthetuitionalone,theyhadrequestedapartialscholarship.Thedirectorassuredthemthiswasacommonpracticeandthattheyhadseveralalumniwhohelpedoutfromtimetotime.NoonehaddreamedsomeonewouldpaythewholeamountofGreg』stuition.
Rhonda,stillholdingthenotefromtheschoolinherhand,said.「IjustwishIknewwhowassogenerous.」
「Rhonda,Ithinkthat,whoeverthebenefactoris,itmustbeimportanttothemtokeeptheiridentityprivate.「Givingherahug,Icontinued,「Countyourblessings.Andsomedayyoucandothesameforsomeoneelse.」
「Mom,you』resuchaPollyanna!ButIsurewouldliketoknow.That』salotofmoney.Iwroteathank-younoteandaskedMrs.Perkinstoseethatthedonorreceivesit.」
Severalmonthslater,neartheendoftheschoolyear,RhondawasdroppingRebekahoffatmyhousetospendacoupleofhourswhilesheransomequickerrands.Wesaidourgood-byesasRhondahuntedthroughherpurseforhermisplacedkeys.
「Shoot,Iforgottosignandreturnthis,」shesaid,retrievinganenvelope.Greghadbroughthomeapermissionsliptoattendaf?ieldtrip.Whensheopenedtheenvelope,asmallpieceofpinkpaperfelltothef?loor.
「What』sthis?」Iasked,pickingupthepaperandhandingittoRhonda.
Rhondascannedthepaper.「Mom,look,」shesaidastearsrolleddownherface.「ItwasChristie,ChristieLeeks.SomeoneintheSaintFrancisoff?icemusthaveputthisreceiptinGreg』senvelopebymistake.」Christiewasmakingmonthlypaymentsof$120forGreg』stuition.
ChristieLeekswasayounggirlwhohadbeeninRhonda』sf?irstdanceclassatthehighschoolwhereshehadtaughtf?iveyearsearlier.ChristiehadlivedintheMethodistHomeasawardofthestate.RhondaandGilhadtakenChristieandanotherstudentwholivedatthefosterhomeundertheirwings.TheyinvitedthemtotheirhomeforSundaydinners,bakedthembirthdaycakes,counseledandlovedthem.Aftertwoyears,RhondaandGilmovedtoanothercityandnewjobs.Theylostcontactwiththeotherstudent,whohadmovedoutofthecountry,butstayedintouchwithChristieovertheyears.RhondaandGileventraveledbacktoattendChristie』shighschoolgraduationandthenhelpedhermoveintoacollegedorm.
「Howcanshepayforthis?」Rhondaasked.「ThishastobeahardshiponherIknowsheisonlymakingstudentwages.Wecan』tacceptthis.Ihavetocallherandtellhertostop.」
「Rhonda,it』sobviouslyimportanttoChristieforyounottoknow.Youcan』ttellheryoufoundouthersecret.」