The Caretaker's Gift Chapters 8 and 9

Chapter Eight ? 2017 Mark Maloney

The last days of the contest...

For the last three evenings of the contest, Michael attacked his daily goal of knocking on the front doors of twenty houses. One night he only made it to sixteen, but on the other two nights he did twenty-one and twenty-three. Every evening he found people that had been thinking about subscribing but just had not gotten around to it.

Michael learned to ask potential subscribers what part of the paper they would read first if they had home delivery. This seemed to work best to get people interested in home delivery of the news. He didn’t try to sell the paper so much as just tried to find people who were ready to sign up, and just had not had the opportunity. He got pretty good at sizing up people after they learned about the free trial subscription. If their eyes opened up a bit or if they moved a little closer to him or opened the screen door, then he would just hand them the pen and the sign-up sheet. Often they would look at the names, realize some neighbors had subscribed, and sign without any further talk. Michael didn’t overdo it but really tried to listen to them, to respect their perspectives, and to give them his best and most honest presentation. He used the stones as a constant reminder of what was important in doing his work.

On Thursday night, his last day before turning in the canvassing folder, Michael was was tempted to stop early. The street he was working was many blocks from his home and the walk home to Magnolia Hill Street seemed to get longer at every step. Then an image of the old caretaker working in his garden popped into his mind. He could see Seph out there day after day and he figured if an old man could keep going, he could certainly knock on twenty doors tonight. He said the mantra Seph had taught him.

“I am Aware and Respect the Law of Giving to myself, to my family, and to God,” Michael said silently.

Michael felt energized. He took a deep breath and walked up to the next house ready to knock on another door. Just tell them my story and ask them if they want the trial subscription Michael repeated to himself. It’ s easy and they might say yes. If they say no, I’m no worse off and I’ll keep going.

Michael finished that night with a new record for the most subscriptions in one evening, nine new subscribers! The walk home seemed was effortless as he thought about telling his folks what a great night he had. He also let himself daydream a bit about winning the contest. He couldn’t wait to turn in his subscriber list.

Chapter Nine ? 2017 Mark Maloney

The Contest ends

Friday morning came early but Michael jumped out of bed with extra energy. First of all, it was Friday! Friday was every student’s favorite school day and Michael was no exception. To add to his excitement, this was the last day of the big contest. This afternoon he was turning in his canvassing kit along with his list of new customers for the Journal.

That morning, the hardwood floors were cold to his bare feet. Fall is here. He thought he might need a sweater this morning but didn’t want to carry it home after it warmed up. I’ll leave it home until it gets really cold, Michael thought to himself. He took a shower, ate a hurried breakfast with his brothers and sisters, kissed his mom goodbye and took off walking to school.

Today was an important and exciting day for Michael. He had made a decision to join in the newspaper’s fall canvassing campaign because he wanted to go the state fair. He then made a plan, organized himself, and with Seph’s help and the Seven Gifts in his leather pouch, he had worked his plan to the best of his ability and then some. But as excited as he was about finishing strongly in the contest, there was something bothering Michael that he needed to talk to Seph about when the contest was over.

“I think Seph made a mistake giving me the Seven Gifts,” Michael thought tonight. “I am not sure my faith is strong and I’m not that good. Seph’s good because he’s a Brother and he has served God his whole life. I’m just a kid. I go to church mostly because my parents take me. I still pick on my brothers and sisters, I get lazy, and I still have to work hard at being good. Maybe I should give back the stones? Do I really deserve them? Maybe Seph is wrong about me?”

Michael sincerely wondered if he was good enough to deserve the stones and the Gifts that came with them. The litany of the stones had crept into his head at the oddest times this week. He had to talk to Seph about it later.

After school on Friday, Michael got his bike and rode to the newspaper office by the Greyhound bus station. He politely turned in his folder to Mr. Moses. He watched the man add up his subscriptions and note how many there were.

Mr. Moses was looking at the names and said to Michael, “Purty good work heah, boy. Contest ain’t over till six o’clock, but it looks like you got twice’t as many as anyone else so far. Sure looks like you m’aht be goin’ to the state fair.”

Michael beamed up at Mr. Moses. He had worked hard. He also knew that Seph had given him something very special. It almost didn’t seem fair but he didn’t do anything that the other boys couldn’t have done.

Mr. Moses said, “Come back in the morning, boy. We’ll settle this up. You git ten cent for every three month ‘scription and you got a bunch. Good job, son.”