The snow seemed to be falling down faster now. Standing in the darkness, the old lady just felt the snowflakes whirling around her, some springing at her and stuck on her face, melted into small waterdrops. She could even feel the chilliness of them.
But she didn’t feel cold, because she knew the God had been aware where she was and sent an angel to pull her out of this deadly hook—a real angel! What he had said to her was still echoing in her ears: ” If you do hope to pay me something, then just help someone who you think needs your help… …”
Then, she came to realize the angel had gone and she was alone again, in coldness and wilderness. She even felt the numbness in her legs and feet now—-she had been standing there quite a while now, with her thoughts drifting away….
She began to lurch towards the door of the car. It took her quite some efforts opening it with her almost frozen fingers. Slowly she reached the seat and sat in front the steering wheel. The engine bellowed, and the car began to move in the thick snow. It seemed Hunger and coldness attacked her by surprise and how she wished to be at her cozy home now! However, with the heavy snow, she had to drive more carefully than ever before….especially when she was alone on this winding road among the mountains…..
On the road, only two bright spots were moving slowly in the darkness…..
When she drove out of the mountains, it was almost one hour later. Cold and hungry, she drove a little faster so that she could arrive home earlier, although she knew it well that it did little help.. What she really needed was a place to warm herself a while and had something to eat. However, in such a faraway place, could she have any chance to find one?
She almost gave up when she saw dim light at the roadside faraway from her. It was barely noticeable but seemed so warm at such a cold night. Delighted with what she had found, the old lady accelerated the engine.
To her great joy, it was a small cafe. Though it was so late, the cafe was still open. She parked the car, and went inside. She was at once surrounded with the cozy warmth in the room. She saw a young lady behind the counter. She was in her early thirties, and smiling at her kindly.
” What can I do for you, ma’am? It’s very cold outside, I think you must be cold. Just sit beside the stove and keep you warm….” She said, walking slowly towards her. She moved a chair close to the stove and asked the old lady to sit there.
” Would you like a cup of coffee, ma’am? It will surely warm you up in such a freezing night! And I also have some cookies baked by myself, many friends like them very much. Huhhuh, I’m boasting, ain’t I?Wanna try some?” She grinned at her.
” Oh, I really appreciate that….By the way,….may I have your name, Ms?”
“Just call me Sarah,” the sweet smile appeared on her face again,” Just let me know if you need my help, ma’am.”
” OK, Sarah…” She was greatly impressed with her sweet and angelic smile, a smile she was so familiar that she seemed to have seen it somewhere else. Her eyes followed Sarah when she was cleaning the tables and chairs. In a few moments, Sarah stopped and patted her back with the back of her hand. The old lady could see sweat drippling down from her cheeks.
Then she suddenly noticed something special. She was carrying a baby! From her swollen belly, she could tell it was almost seven or eight months…. Oh, my God! How could she still work here when she was about to give birth to a baby? Was she having any trouble now? But, Sarah appeared so cheerful and happy when talking with her, as if nothing was happening. However, the old lady was almost certain that there must be something wrong.
That familiar voice echoed in her ears again,” If you do hope to pay me, just help someone who you think needs your help…….” Then she knew what she should do now……
“Sarah…?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
” Would you give me a slip of paper, and a pen?”
” Just a second,ma’am…….Here you are.”
“They are really nice cookies, I like them very much. Would you give me some more, Sarah?”
“Sure. I’m realy pleased to hear that…I will go get some more for you from the kitch. I’ll be back soon.”
…….
When Sarah came back, she found the lady had gone. On the desk was that slip of paper, with the pen beside it. She took it up and looked at it.
” Hi, Sarah! Thank you for your kindness. I can see you are meeting some difficulties even though I’ve not asked you. I can do nothing for you but leave some money here. Hope it will be of some help to you….Don’t ask me who I am, because an angel requested to do so. Take care.”
The letters on the slip gradually became blurred with her tears. Then she gazed at the money on the table for a moment, held it in hand slowly–it was five hundred dollars. She lingered into their bedroom, where her husband was lying there in bed, asleep. Walking over to the bed, she sat down quietly beside him.
Her eyes fell on his exhausted and tired face. The sight made her heart ache so much. She knew he was still worried about the financial problem. It seemed to have been torturing him a long time for his failure to find a better hospital for their coming baby. They could not afford it….Now, she was so delighted that God had sent someone to help them out. The lady was so kind and knew so well about our difficulty.
Bending down and looking at her husband in deep sleep, she said to him quietly,” Honey, don’t worry about it any more. God has sent her to help us….a real angel. Just take it easy, I love you, Steve…..”
…….
Outside the room, the snow had stopped, the ground was covered with a silver white. In the dark and cold sky, several lonely stars were twinkling…..What a wonderful night.
