The Miracle at Maple and Musgrove

 

The Miracle at Maple and Musgrove

By James Wesley

In all of his years of gaming, Keith had never seen a more dedicated player than Jonah. You see, Keith ran a small game shop on the corner of Maple and Musgrove. Oh, it was a sight to behold. The game shop had every type of game you could imagine. Board games, dice games, number games, word games. Easy games and hard games, puzzles and thinkers. Nearly every day, several children gathered around the game shops display window to look over the pride and joy of Keith’s vast collection of games: Hokum. The game was fairly simple. All you had to do was beat all the other players to the ‘Finish’ space. But a series of trick cards made the game difficult and challenging, even for the expert gamer. Keith himself was a master at Hokum. He was so confident in his playing abilities; he promised all of his customers a free game of their choice… IF they could beat him at his favorite game. He had a few challengers, but no one had beaten him yet. One such challenger was Jonah Johansen. Jonah came everyday to Keith’s game shop at the corner of Maple and Musgrove to play Keith at Hokum, in hope of winning and choosing his prize. And today was no different.

 
 

The shop bell rang, and Keith made his way towards the door. There stood Jonah, ever-present skateboard tucked under his arm. Jonah came from a strong Christian family, and Keith frequently saw them at Sunday Church, and volunteering at community events. He was also Keith’s only daily visitor.                                                                                                              “Well, hello there, Jonah.” Keith said with a jolly smile. “Ready for our little game?” Jonah propped his skateboard up against the shops’ door frame and gave his wavy black hair a flip.                                                                                                                                                       “Sure, Mister K.” Keith’s eyes twinkled, and a smile emerged from his big white beard.

“Please Jonah, call me Keith.” Now Jonah smiled.

“Mister K, when I beat you at Hokum, I will have earned the right to call you by your first name.” Keith laughed his loud, jolly laugh.

“Right you are, my friend! Please, take a seat.” Jonah and Keith made their way through the piles of games that dotted the shop to their special game table, the same one they had played at since the beginning. Jonah took out his seat at the table, the same one he always sat at, and Keith took his. Keith cleared a Monopoly game off the table, revealing a Hokum game, already set up. A brown token and a green token sat on the wooden ‘Start’ square. Keith’s favorite color was brown, Jonahs was green. Keith smiled again. “I suppose you know the rules.” Jonah nodded.

“And I know something else. Today is the day I’ll finally beat you!” Keith chuckled.

“We’ll see about that.” Keith reached out an old, weathered hand, and picked up the dice. He tossed the dice into the air. They fell down on the game board, and the game begun.

Jonah skated home after yet another defeat at Keith’s game shop.

“How does he do it?” Jonah asked himself. A grey truck rolled past Jonah, and the driver waved. Jonah waved back, even though he didn’t know the man. Jonah continued skating down the sidewalk. He passed a Salon, the Grocer, the Fire Station, and the Library. He turned out onto the street, and made it to the other side just as a red car flew by behind him. He cruised down the sidewalk. He passed the Gas station, a series of apartments, a Greenhouse, and another Salon. What was it with those things, anyway? There had to be at least six in town. How did they all stay open? Jonah was pondering this troublesome question when he rolled up to his light-blue painted house. He jumped off the skateboard, and flipped it into the air with his heel. He tried to catch the airborne board with one hand, but he had to use two hands to prevent it from hitting the ground. He glanced around to see if anyone had witnessed the spectacle, tucked the skateboard under his arm, and opened the white gate that led to his yard. He walked past a beautifully trimmed and landscaped lawn. Amongst the perfect blades of grass lay a small ball. Jonah kicked it, a toy of his dog, Napoleon. Jonah walked up to his door, set the skateboard down on the porch, and walked inside.   He flipped his wavy black hair, and knelt on the ground and patted his knees.

“Napoleon!” Jonah called. A tiny white lap dog scampered down the wooden hallway. His nails clicking against the oak paneling, Napoleon lost control and slid the final three feet into his best friends’ arms. Jonah hugged Napoleon close to his chest. The dog happily licked Jonah's face. “Good boy, Napoleon!”  Jonah tried to shove the dog off of his face. He set Napoleon down, and stood up. He walked down the hall, Napoleon on his heels, until he came to the door to his father’s office. Jonah's father was a journalist, for the local newspaper, and Jonah hoped  one day to become one himself. He opened the door to the study, and was greeted by a cloud of smoke.

“Morning, Jonah,” His father said, obscured in a cloud of cigarette smoke. “Have time to read my newest story?” Jonah coughed.

“Sorry Dad, maybe later?” Jonah coughed again.

“Don’t tell your Mother!” his Dad shouted as Jonah closed the door. Jonah now headed for the kitchen, waving the smoke from the air best he could. He entered the kitchen and was instantly drawn up into a strong hug from his Mother.

“A little early to be cooking Lunch, isn’t it Mom?” She shook her finger.

“Your cousin is coming over in three days, and between the two of you, you eat faster than I can cook! Thought I’d get a little head start.” Jonah smiled. “How was Keith today?” Jonah shrugged.

“Happy to see me, as usual. He beat me again.” His Mom tweaked his cheek.

“You’ll beat him yet. Now, can you go and play up in your room for a bit? It’s hectic down here.” Jonah kissed his Moms forehead.

“Alright, Mom.” Jonah bounded up the stairs, Napoleon on his heels. Both boy and dog raced for Jonahs room, and both boy and dog flopped down on Jonahs bed. Jonah’s room was covered in posters of his favorite band, V3. Jonah out on his headphones put on the newest by V3, “Where the Streets Have A Name,” and grabbed his nearby laptop. Napoleon settled down next to the computer, and Jonah stroked the dogs’ ears while the laptop booted up. Now, Jonah was an aspiring author. He had an idea on his mind now, in fact. He opened up a blank word document, and wit his dog looking over his shoulder, wrote. “Every city needs a superhero. The hero of Pine Heights was none other than the super-powered Napoleon…”

 
 

Early the next morning, Jonah got dressed, grabbed an almond granola bar, and raced outside. He snagged his skateboard from its place on the porch, and ran onto his yard. He un-did the gate latch, and set the skateboard down. The shrill sound of Napoleon barking from his bedroom window made Jonah look up. He waved at the dog, and kicked off the sidewalk. Jonah flew past the salon, the greenhouse, the apartments, and the gas station. He looked both ways, than crossed the street. Past the Library, past the Fire Station, past the grocer, and past the other salon. There it was, at the corner of Maple and Musgrove. Keith’s Game Shop. Jonah picked up his skateboard, gave his wavy black hair a flip, and entered the game shop. What he saw surprised him. Keith was talking to a young woman. The young woman’s little boy was waddling about the store, looking at the games.

“I’ll talk to the Grocer, see what I can do,” Keith was saying.

“Oh, thank you, Keith! I owe you so much!” The woman said. Keith smiled.

“You owe me nothing. I just wish I could do more. Here,” Keith said, handing the woman a plastic bag full of food.

“Thank you so much, Keith,” the woman said. The woman turned around with tears in her eyes. Meanwhile, the young boy had been exploring, and found a toy quite fascinating too him. Jonah watched the boy play with the Jacob’s ladder. He seemed so happy! Jonah hardly remembered being that young, but he doubted he had been that joyful. The young mother came and took the toddlers hand.

“Look Mommy,” the boy said, holding up the Jacob’s Ladder for her to see.

“That’s cool, Sammy! But I can’t afford it, you have to put it back. Come on, now.” The boy’s smile disappeared, and he dropped the Jacob’s Ladder on the shelf and followed his Mother. Jonah looked for Keith, but he had gone to the back of the store. The young boy and Mother left the shop. Then, Keith appeared.

“Jonah, there you are. Ready to play?” Jonah nodded, and once again, the two made their way too their game table, as they did every day.

“Who was that?” Jonah asked, once they were seated.

“Who, Lindsay? I probably shouldn’t say anything, you know.” Jonah leaned towards Keith.

“Please? Maybe I can help.” Keith smiled, but there was no twinkle in his eye.

“Lindsay is a single Mom, and she’s raising that child by herself. She doesn’t have a job, and little food. Practically, all she can afford are the necessities of living. And her boy, I don’t know what is going to happen to him. He can’t grow under those conditions. I’ve been helping best I can, but it may not be enough.” Jonah sighed. Their story was a sad one. Jonah didn’t feel like playing Hokum today.

“Well, Mister K, we can pray, can’t we?” Keith smiled a weak smile.

“So we can, boy.” Both men bowed their heads in prayer, and closed their eyes. Keith brought his folded hands up to his forehead and set his elbows on the table; Jonah set his in his lap. Both prayed for Lindsay and Little Sammy, and their futures. Jonah prayed they would receive happiness. When both were finished, they unfolded their hands. Keith rubbed his hands. “Now, too our game.” Maybe Keith was distracted by Lindsay, maybe Jonah had been empowered by prayer. No matter the reason, Jonah, on that day, beat Keith at Hokum.

 
 

“Ah, good game, Jonah!” Keith exclaimed. Jonah smiled triumphantly.

“I knew I could, Mister K!” Keith held up a finger.

“It’s Keith, now, friend.” Jonah smiled. “Keith.” Jonah paused.

“Is it okay if I pick up my game tomorrow? I have to think about it, too many choices.” Keith laughed.

“Sure thing, Jonah! Come back with your decision tomorrow. Remember, you can only choose a game once.” Jonah nodded.

“Thanks a lot, Mis- Keith.” Keith smiled as Jonah left the game shop. On the way home, Jonah dreamed. He had finally beaten Keith at Hokum! Now, he had a chance to pick a free game. What would he choose, HOW would he choose? Scrabble? Chess? Rummy? Hokum? Jonah dreamed the whole way home. He dreamed past his father’s office, past the kitchen, up the stairs, and into his room. Once inside the confines of V3 land, Jonah told of his great accomplishment.

“Napoleon, I beat Keith! I won at Hokum!” Napoleon barked excitedly, understanding Jonahs’ joy.

“And, I get to choose a game at the store tomorrow!” Jonah said. Then, he went back to dreaming. After dreaming the rest of the day, through Lunch and through Dinner, Jonah, lying in his warm bed, Napoleon at his feet, a cricket outside, and Bini, the lead singer from V3 looking down at him, knew what game he was getting.

 
 

When Jonah walked into the game shop, Keith was ready for him. One copy of every game Keith owned was out on the counter. Board games, dice games, number games, word games. Easy games and hard games, puzzles and thinkers. But Jonah had eyes for none of them. He scanned the games until he found what he wanted, at the edge of the display, behind a game of Charades. He held out his prize too Keith.

“This is the one,” Jonah said. Keith blinked in surprise.

“Really? I had expected something big, you know? Are you sure that’s the one you want? You can only get a free game once.”  Jonah nodded.

“I thought about it, Keith, and I made up my mind. This is what I want.” Keith shrugged.

“It’s all yours, Jonah.” Jonah smiled.

“Thanks, Keith.” Jonah headed for the door. He stopped, and looked over his shoulder. “Keith?” he asked.

“Yes?” the old man said.

“Is it okay if I stop by tomorrow to play Hokum? For old time’s sake?” Keith smiled his twinkling smile.

“Sure Jonah. I would like that. I’d like that a lot.” Jonah smiled, flipped his wavy black hair, and left the game shop on the corner of Maple and Musgrove.

 
 

Young Sammy was playing outside in the small yard owned by his Mother. She was in their equally small trailer home, cooking a small meal. Sammy loved Lindsay. Sammy was tossing rocks at a tree, bored stiff, when a small paper bag sailed over the cheap fence set up around their small yard. Sammy crawled over the poorly-kept lawn to the bag. He opened the bag out of curiosity. He squealed with joy. Inside the bag was a Jacob’s Ladder, and a note. The young boy took the Ladder, and began playing with it, laughing all the while. Of course, the young boy couldn’t read, but there is a note. What does this note say, you’re wondering? Here, I’ll tell you.

 
 

“Hey there, Sammy. You don’t know me, but I know you. I saw you playing with this earlier. I thought you might like one. I picked it up at the Game Shop. I hope this brings joy into your life. Tell your Mom she is being prayed for by two friends of mine. I hope you have fun!

-Your Guardian Angel”

          

As the young boy squealed with delight and played with his new toy, a certain boy with wavy black hair jumped on his skateboard and skated away from the trailer park, a smile on his face.