CHAPTER VI
My, how wonderful Dave felt, both physically and spiritually. He glanced at his watch. Jennie would be on duty at three o'clock. Perhaps she would come even a little earlier and stop by to see him. He could hardly contain himself as he waited to share the good news with her. He knew she would be thrilled to hear that her prayers and efforts had not been in vain.
His door opened, and Dr. Leary, the heart specialist, came in accompanied by a nurse.
"Good morning, Dave, you are certainly looking much better this morning," he greeted him.
"I'm feeling much better, Doc. In fact I feel wonderful."
Placing his stethoscope on Dave's chest, the doctor listened to his heartbeat. "Have you had any more chest pains?" he questioned.
"None whatsoever, Doc. I feel as fit as a fiddle. I think I'm well enough to go home."
"Oh, you do, eh? Well, we will have to see about that. After we take another cardiogram today, we will decide."
The morning passed slowly. Dave looked at his watch every few minutes, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jennie. When lunch was served, he ate heartily.
"A couple more hours and she'll be here," he thought. At two thirty, he began to watch the door but at three thirty, he still had not seen her. He tried to relax and take a much needed nap but was unable to.
A nurse came in at four to check his temperature. Dave had not seen her previously.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Maddox," she greeted in a cheery voice. "How are you feeling today?"
"Fine, thank you."
Before he could ask about Jennie, she had stuck the thermometer in his mouth. As soon as she removed it, he asked, "Where is Miss Taylor today? This is not her day off, is it?"
"No, I understand she is sick."
"Oh, is that right?" The look on his face revealed his disappointment. "Is she very sick?"
"I really don't know, Sir. They only told me she was sick and assigned me to work in her place. Bye now." And she was gone.
Dave did not feel very hungry when an aide brought his supper tray. He missed Jennie. He had very few friends because he had lived to himself since the death of his wife, and he longed to talk to someone and tell them of his newfound experience.
"Why not tell the aide who brought your tray?" an inner voice prompted.
"Why sure." His spirits lifted. "I hadn't thought of that. "
When the girl returned to pick up the supper tray, Dave was smiling. "I got saved this morning," he said bluntly.
"You got what?" She asked with a blank expression.
"I was saved. God forgave me of all my sins and gave me peace within," he smiled at her.
"Oh!" Her mouth gaped open, and she turned and hurried from the room.
"Hey! You forgot the tray," Dave called after her.
"Oh yes, I sure did," she giggled nervously as she returned, picked it up and hurried out.
Dave's testimony had not had the effect he had hoped for. Should he tell the nurse or keep quiet? When she came in, he decided to try another approach.
"Mind telling me your name?" he asked.
"First or last?"
"Both."
"Joy Blackman."
"Miss or Mrs.?"
"Miss," she replied with a smile.
"Miss Blackman, how well do you know Miss Taylor?"
"I've known her a long time. I would say I know her quite well."
"Has she ever talked to you about religion?" He was trying to lead up to a testimony.
"I think she tries that on everybody, but I am quite satisfied with my own religion. I don't need hers."
"Do you think she's a real Christian?" he ventured further.
"Oh, no doubt about that, but she takes her religion too seriously. I think she eats, drinks, sleeps, and lives religion. People get tired of hearing it all the time. Say-y, you sure are asking a lot of questions. You must really be interested in her. "
"I should be. She has prayed for me and dealt with me until I found God. I was just like you and thought I was tired of hearing about religion, but I am so glad she didn't get discouraged and give me up as hopeless. I have been so miserable and tired of life until this morning, when God came into my heart and gave me something to live for. I can't describe the newfound peace and joy I have. Compared to the awful unrest and turmoil that was in my heart, this is actually heaven. It has certainly changed my outlook on life." Looking her squarely in the face, he asked, "Are you a real born again Christian, Miss Blackman?"
"Now, listen, young man, I told you I was satisfied with my religion so don't be like Jennie and start preaching to me." Her face flushed and her eyes flashed. Leaving the room in a huff, she called over her shoulder, "Dr. Leary won't be in tonight but will see you early in the morning."
"Thanks," Dave called after her.
He pulled the sheet up around his neck and lay in silence. "Seems as if I'm doing more harm than good," he thought, but had he been able to see Miss Blackman head for the washroom to get control of her emotions and try to still her beating heart, he would have taken fresh courage. The witnessing of this new babe in Christ had had its effect on the young nurse in spite of her bold front.
The next morning as Dr. Leary checked him over, Dave testified again, "Doc, I've had a heart change."
"Yes, I think you have," he replied. "The cardiogram was good. In fact, I don't think I will need to hold you any longer. You may go home today."
"That's great news, Doc, that you are going to discharge me. But as for my heart change, I wasn't speaking of my physical condition. I was referring to a spiritual heart change, I was saved yesterday. I have peace in my heart where before I had nothing but turmoil and sorrow."
The doctor laughed in a pleased manner. "Dave, I would not have to ask you, to know who one of your nurses is. "
"Why?"
"Because there is a young nurse who works in this hospital by the name of Taylor, who prescribes religion to all the patients." With a twinkle in his eyes, he asked, "By any chance, have you met her?"
Dave avoided his question and asked the doctor one. “Do you think her prescription of religion helps?"
"I'll have to admit that all who accept her prescription seem happy and satisfied with it."
"Has she ever prescribed it to you, Doc?"
He threw back his head and laughed heartily, "Dave Maddox," he replied, "If you would go to every nurse, doctor, orderly, aide, cleaning woman, and janitor in this hospital and ask them the question you just asked me, I dare say every one of them would probably answer in the affirmative. If she hasn't talked to them about religion, it is because she hasn't had the opportunity. I tell you, that young lady literally lives her religion. I've never seen anything like it." Dave heard him add under his breath, Except maybe once."
"She must have quite an influence here at the hospital." Dave said, thinking of the influence she had had on his own life.
"I guess she is quite influential around here. Nobody doubts that she possesses what she represents, for you sense it when she is around. Several of my patients have been like you and have had that heart change you spoke of because of her testimony. It usually affects them physically as well as the other way. Of course, not everyone appreciates Miss Taylor. Some get mad at her and talk to her in a manner that would discourage most anyone, especially one as young as she. But she never gives up. I, for one, appreciate her consistent Christian life. There is something peculiar about her that makes one feel reverent in her presence. Why, I can't even smoke my cigar or use slang around her. Not that she has mentioned it, but her life demands respect. If I stay in her presence long, I begin to feel like a real sinful man, and realize I ought to do as you have done, Dave, and change my way of living." Dave detected a hunger in his voice, but the doctor added quickly, “I'm sorry, Dave, I should not have said so much. I was just talking right out of my heart without realizing I was saying so much, but the expression on your face somehow encouraged me to keep talkin
g." He dropped his eyes and said, "It's disconcerting."
"Please don't feel ill at ease, Doc, for you're talking to one who understands perfectly how you feel."
Dr. Leary put his hand under Dave's head and helped him to lift himself to a sitting position. "You can go home Dave, and if you keep this change of heart, I probably won't see you here again soon." Dave thought he saw a tear glisten in the doctor's eye as he added, "Pray for me sometimes. I suppose I need what you have. Good-bye for now and good luck!"
Before Dave could answer, he was gone and had closed the door behind him.
"Now, who would have supposed that old Doc Leary ever had a serious thought on religion?" Dave mused. "One never knows the longing of another's heart." He felt encouraged and purposed to pray much for him.
Back home, he felt as good as new. Mrs. Halloway had cleaned his apartment, and as soon as she discovered he was at home, she busied herself preparing lunch for him.
"Bless her heart!" Dave muttered. He had never liked her, but now with a heart change, he could see her good intentions.
"Thank you very kindly, Mrs. Halloway," he smiled at her as she handed him the tray. "M-m-m, this looks and smells delicious. I appreciate it so much."
"You're quite welcome, Dave," she answered with a warm smile. "When I heard you in here, I said to myself .... " She stopped. Dave had cut her off time and time again, even closing his door in her face.
Dave noticed her hesitation and guessed the reason. He felt ashamed of the way he had treated her. "Bless your heart, Mrs. Halloway. I was saved while I was in the hospital, and I feel I need to apologize for being so unkind to you on many occasions when you were only trying to be helpful. Will you forgive me for being so rude?"
Her mouth gaped open in astonishment. Dave laughed. "I see you're surprised, but I am truly sorry. Will you accept my apologies?"
"Sure, Dave, and I must go now." She backed from the room with the look of astonishment still on her face. "I'll pick up the tray later."
"What has happened to that boy?" Dave heard her mumbling to herself as she crossed the porch. "His head must be affected as well as his heart."
Dave chuckled and picked up his fork to eat the meal she had prepared. "At least, she didn't gab long today," he grinned to himself.
After eating his lunch, Dave picked up the receiver and dialed Jennie's number. He could hardly wait to hear her voice.
"Hello," an older lady answered.
"Is this the Taylor residence?"
"Yes, Mrs. Taylor speaking."
"May I speak to Jennie, please?"
"I'm sorry, Jennie is in bed sick. Who's calling please?"
"This is Dave, Dave Maddox. Will you tell her I called, please?"
"Sure, Dave. Jennie has spoken of you often. In fact, Brother Smith called and related some good news about you.”
"Yes, thanks to your daughter and to God, I am a saved man. Also, I'm indebted to Rev. Smith."
"Wonderful, Dave. Are you calling from the hospital?"
"No, the Lord touched my heart in two ways and I'm back home."
"Good! I'll tell Jennie you called."
"Thanks, Mrs. Taylor. Good-bye now."
"Good-bye, Dave."
Returning to work a few days later, Dave looked longingly as he passed Ninth and Chester, but there was no noticeable sign of life except the cat sunning himself on the doorstep. Finally, he decided to call again, but this time there was no answer. Maybe she was well and back at work. He would try again later, and perhaps her mother would be home and could give him the information he desired.
Before leaving for work the next morning, he dialed Jennie's number once more. He knew it was too early to call but he felt he had to know something about Jennie's condition.
"Hello." Her mother sounded sleepy.
"Hello, Mrs. Taylor. I'm sorry to disturb you so early in the morning but I'm anxious about Jennie. I tried to call yesterday but received no answer."
"Jennie's in the hospital, Dave. She kept getting worse so we thought it best to have her admitted."
"Oh. I'm so sorry. Is she allowed to have visitors?"
"Perhaps for a few minutes, but the doctor has ordered lots of rest. You know how Jennie is. She works her shift and then sits with those who need her on her off hours in order to try to win souls for God. She contacted a cold, and since her resistance is low, she can't seem to get rid of it. Her temperature was one hundred and two last night and She has developed a cough."
"Thanks for the information, Mrs. Taylor. I'll be checking on her."
Poor Jennie! He remembered the many off hours she had spent with Carol. He never had given it a thought at the time, but now he realized the sacrifice she had made.
After work, he ate, showered, dressed, and headed for the hospital.