Pewter Angels (39 page)

I
n the eight days
that followed his father’s departure, Aunt Darlene came over every night after supper as she had promised. At the beginning, Henry was skeptical that the novena would have any results, but as each day passed, he saw such faith in his mother’s eyes that he too began to believe that their prayers would be answered.

On the following Saturday, Henry was about to leave for work when the phone rang. His mom rushed to answer it.

“Hello? Yes, this is Mary. Oh hi, George.”

Henry’s hand had been on the front doorknob, but he stood there, unable to move as he eavesdropped. George? It must be his Uncle George who lived in Vancouver.

“I see,” his mom’s voice quavered. “And you’re certain he wants to come home? We can’t afford a plane ticket. Are you sure? We’ll pay you back. Oh, no, we couldn’t accept that. So, where is he now? I see. And you’re sure he wants to come home? Yes, yes, I’ll write it down. He leaves Vancouver at seven, or is that when he arrives in Regina? All right. Yes, someone will be there to meet him. Yes, thank you very much, George, for all your help—and we’ll pay you back. Oh, no, we definitely will. Okay, I’ll let Darlene know. Henry’s fine. Yes, it’s very cold here, around minus twenty-eight today. Oh my, that must be nice, just a light rain. Well, okay, George, thank you, again. Yes, we’ll be in touch. ’Bye, George.”

Henry’s hand slid off the doorknob as his mom hung up. It was the ninth day of the novena, and their prayer had been answered. He was stunned, unable to move. Although he had hoped, deep down he’d had his doubts. From the hallway, Henry heard his mom crying.

Henry had met Uncle George and his family once, about three years earlier when they’d passed through Regina on their way to the East Coast. It had been fall, and he remembered Uncle George saying how beautiful it was in Eastern Canada in autumn and that they just had to see it. He also remembered his cousin Jimmy and what a brat he had been.

How on earth had Uncle George gotten involved, and how had he found his dad in such a big city?

Henry kicked off his boots and walked towards the kitchen, but his mom was no longer there. On his way back to the front door he saw her on her knees in front of the sofa, her hands cupped together under her chin. She looked like a saint. He wanted so much to ask her the details, and put his arms around her and comfort her and share in her joy and grief, but then decided to just let her be. She was already being comforted by a far greater power than he.

He thought about his parents as he walked to work. He was glad his dad was coming home and yet he dreaded it. How would Mom treat him after what he’d done? How should he treat him? What would they talk about? What should he say? It seemed far too awkward to discuss and yet how could he just ignore it?

Then there was Jenny—not so much that he had yet to receive a letter from her—which he’d all but given up on—but his worry that she might be pregnant. Ever since Eddy told him that Pete might have raped her, Henry had an unexplainable uneasiness in the pit of his stomach. Even though Eddy and John didn’t think anything had happened, he just couldn’t shake his bad feeling.

He’d dreamed of Jenny the previous night, of her having sex with Pete, getting pregnant and soon giving birth. It sent shivers down his spine. Henry knew he didn’t have any facts to support any of it, knew Jenny hadn’t even
known
Pete, let alone liked him enough to do that, yet he was helpless to dispel those thoughts. He hoped he could talk to Mr. Engelmann about it all.

It was almost nine when Henry got to work and Mr. Engelmann was already on the phone, taking orders. There was a customer in the store and the delivery boys would arrive any minute.

Mr. Engelmann nodded at him when he came in, keeping his attention on the phone order. Henry was anxious to tell him what had happened. When they’d talked the other day, Henry hadn’t told him about the novena. It had felt a little silly and uncomfortable at the time. Still, Mr. Engelmann believed in prayer and Henry wanted to get his reaction. But it would have to wait. Saturdays were just too busy. He and the other delivery boys were run off their feet.

Around four-thirty, Eddy popped into the store.

“Hey, Hank, how’s it going?”

“Hi, Eddy. It’s been busy. What brings you here?”

“I was just visiting my cousin Ned on Reynolds Street. I ran out of smokes though and …” he trailed off as he realized Mr.

Engelmann had come in from the storeroom and had heard every word.

Mr. Engelmann knew Eddy, had sold him groceries on the odd occasion. When Eddy bought cigarettes, Mr. Engelmann assumed they were for his dad; he didn’t approve of teenagers smoking and drinking. Now it was clear he’d heard who the cigarettes were really for. He raised an eyebrow and Eddy jumped into the silence.

“Hey, look, Mr. Engelmann, with all due respect, I gotta tell you the smokes are for me. But I’m going to be straight with you. I’ve been smoking since Grade 7 and I’m not about to quit. My parents know I smoke, and I smoke right in front of them. In fact, my dad bums more smokes off me than my friends do.

“If you’re worried about my height being stunted or whatever, forget it. I had polio when I was two and the docs told my parents it would probably affect my growth. Well it did, but not my brains, and it sure hasn’t stunted my personality! So, there it is. If you don’t sell me the weeds, I’ll just get them somewhere else. So, what’s it gonna be?”

Without showing any expression, Mr. Engelmann looked Eddy straight in the eyes. When Henry detected an almost imperceptible nod, he knew Eddy would get his cigarettes. That was Mr. Engelmann’s way. If something touched his heart, it was clearly the direction he would follow.

“What brand, Eddy?”

“Black Cat,” said Eddy, eyes glued to Mr. Engelmann’s every move.

Mr. Engelmann took a pack of Black Cat cigarettes off the shelf and laid it on the counter. “That’s thirty-five cents, Eddy.”

Eddy reached into his pocket and laid down forty.

“Thanks, Mr. Engelmann.”

Henry held his breath as he watched, hoping Eddy wouldn’t tell Mr. Engelmann to keep the change—his boss might interpret that as a bribe and be offended. But Eddy, for once, kept his mouth shut. He was smart enough to know how Mr. Engelmann operated, too.

Mr. Engelmann rang in the amount and gave Eddy five pennies.

Eddy turned to Henry. “So, Hank, you going to the basketball game next week?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Good, should be a good game.” Then, true to his nature, Eddy peeled off the cellophane, removed the aluminum cover, crumpled the wrapper up along with the plastic and this time tossed it into the garbage beside the door rather than on the floor. He shook out a smoke, lit it and took a deep drag, tossing the match into the garbage as he opened the door to leave.

“I’ll see you there, Hank.” Eddy flipped up the collar of his jacket and went out, a trail of smoke wafting behind.

Mr. Engelmann didn’t look at Henry or mention Eddy. He simply went back to the orders to be filled, putting on his white apron and taking out a roll of fresh salami.

By five, Henry was wiped out even more than usual. He’d trouble keeping his mind on his work. He kept thinking about his dad’s homecoming that night. He was excited and nervous and worried. And Jenny. Always Jenny. He wasn’t living in the present, that was for sure.

Henry made two rush deliveries while both delivery boys were out. The store had been swamped all day and he still hadn’t had a chance to tell Mr. Engelmann about his dad. He hadn’t even had a chance to take a break with the other delivery boys, something he looked forward to every time he worked with them on Saturdays.

By five-thirty, both delivery boys had returned and Mr. Engelmann paid them. They thanked Mr. Engelmann and said goodbye to Henry on their way out. Finally, he and Mr. Engelmann were alone. He went to the storeroom and got his coat. When he came back, Mr. Engelmann was already doing up the sales for the day.

“You must be tired, Mr. Engelmann. Today was unbelievable.” “Yes, yes, Henry, I am a bit tired. This was one of our busiest days. All the promotions we are doing along with the delivery service is paying off, thanks to you.”

Henry acknowledged the compliment even though he wasn’t really looking for one. He only wanted to find a way to start the conversation.

“So, how are you, Henry? Tired, too?”

“Yeah, I am. How is Mrs. Engelmann today?”

“She seems a bit better, Henry, thank you for asking. At lunchtime when I went upstairs, she was up and reading in the chair in the living room.. She loves the sun and likes reading by the window with a blanket on her lap.”

“Can I tell you something before I go, Mr. Engelmann?”

Mr. Engelmann stopped what he was doing and looked at him. “What is it, Henry?”

“They found my dad. He was in Vancouver, and I think he’s coming home tonight on the plane at seven.”

When Mr. Engelmann didn’t answer, Henry continued. “I didn’t tell you the other day, but we decided to say a novena for nine days to pray that my dad would come back. Today is the ninth day, and first thing this morning, my Uncle George phoned and told us he’d found my dad and that he wants to come home.”

“That is very good, Henry. The Lord answers prayers, and now we need to pray even more that God heals your family and makes it stronger and better than was before.”

“That’s just the thing, Mr. Engelmann. How should we be when he comes home? I’m kinda worried about it.”

“Yes, yes, I understand, Henry. And I’m sure he is very nervous, too. He will feel ashamed and sorry for what he did. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive him and welcome him home.”

“Yeah, I want my dad home, and I think after our talk the other day, I can forgive him—although I’m still mad at him.”

“Yes, yes, that is natural, Henry, but keep trying, and pray for God to help you accept your dad and the mistake he made. We are all human, and as you go through life, you too will err many times and seek forgiveness from others and from God.”

“Yeah, I know, Mr. Engelmann. I just have to keep reminding myself of that. Well, I just wanted you to know.”

“Yes, yes, thank you for sharing that with me. It makes me very happy. I will pray for you all.”

Henry looked down and took a breath, but didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure if he should tell Mr. Engelmann his worries about Jenny. Mr. Engelmann looked so tired and, after all, he didn’t even know if it was true. It was just that he couldn’t shake this feeling …

“Is there something else you want to tell me?” his boss asked, demonstrating his uncanny knack for reading Henry’s mind.

“Well, there is,” Henry hesitated, “but we’re both tired. You know, it’ll keep until next week.”

“Are you certain, Henry?”

“Yeah, it’s okay. Thanks again, Mr. Engelmann. Good night.”

It was almost seven by the time Henry stepped out of the store and into the cold, clear night. Stars sparkled in a sky hosted by a full moon. Henry walked slowly, thinking about all that Mr. Engelmann had said. He was still amazed how quickly their prayers had been answered, and on the very day they had requested, too.

Would it work to get Jenny back? He had prayed about it many times, but never a novena. And he recalled Aunt Darlene saying, “Where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there in their midst.” Perhaps if his mom and aunt said the novena with him, his prayer would be answered too. Henry felt a flutter of renewed hope thinking about it.

He wondered if his dad was home yet, and what he would say. He was still worried about how to act. Well, maybe he would try to be natural, as if his dad had just come from work. In a few days things would be back to normal, wouldn’t they?

Henry thought he could forgive his dad, but he wondered if his mom could. What would his parents’ relationship be like? He wished he could have talked to Mr. Engelmann for a while longer. Everything would have been so much clearer then.

As Henry reached the front door of their house, nervousness made his guts clench. He didn’t want to go in. He didn’t know what to expect. If things were normal, his mom would be in the kitchen making supper, and his dad in the living room, reading the paper, but things were decidedly abnormal. Well, there was no help for it.

He opened the door and went in.

“Mom? I’m home!”

Henry waited for an answer, but there was none. He walked to the kitchen and found the oven set to warm and his supper inside.

There was a note on the table.

Hi Henry,

I put some supper in the oven for you. I’m going to the airport with Darlene and Ron to pick up your dad. We left early, just in case the plane comes in sooner than expected. We should be home between eight and nine o’clock.

Love, Mom

The note gave Henry goose-bumps and his gut clenched again. His dad was coming home. He really wanted everything to turn out okay. Henry opened the oven door and pulled out the tinfoil-covered plate. He sat down to a meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes and creamed corn. Appetite sated, he sat there, waiting. He looked at the kitchen clock, and watched the second hand tick its way around. It was five minutes to eight. He tapped his fingertips on the tabletop in time with the silent tick of the clock.