The Little Sparrows (34 page)

Lance watched as three couples paused to talk to Jimmy, and each couple passed on when they heard him stutter and lisp. By then the light of hope in Jimmy’s eyes had vanished.

A fourth couple stepped up. They both bent down closer to Jimmy’s eye level, and the man said, “Hello, there. My name is Howard Wells. What’s yours?”

Fear was evident on Jimmy’s face as he met the man’s gaze. “J-Jimmy Kirkland.”

“How old are you, Jimmy?”

The child held up five fingers once again, but refrained to give his verbal answer.

“Five? Is that how old you are, Jimmy?”

Jimmy nodded.

The woman smiled. “I’m Jeanne Wells. Are you nervous, honey?”

Jimmy nodded, his eyes avoiding contact with hers.

Jeanne cupped his chin in her hand and tilted his face
upward. “You don’t need to be nervous with us, honey. We love children, and we want to take one home today to live at our house. Tell me what your favorite food is.”

Lance felt sorry for the child as he finally had to speak more than his name.

Jimmy licked his lips. “I—I like j-jutht about any k-kind of f-food, ma’am.”

Jeanne’s brow furrowed. “Do you like soup?”

“Uh-huh.”

She looked at her husband, then back at Jimmy. “Say it for me: ‘I like soup.’ ”

“I—I l-like th-thoup.”

Standing erect, Jeanne met her husband’s hard gaze. “He’s a precious boy, Howard. He can’t help he has this impediment.”

Howard pulled his lips tight. “Yeah, but—”

“Being Christians, we can be such a blessing to this child, Howard. Remember how we’ve prayed ever since we knew this orphan train was coming? And we prayed this morning before coming here that the Lord would guide us to the child He had chosen for us. I believe this is that child, honey. I want to take Jimmy home.”

Jimmy’s heart jumped in his chest at her words.

Lance kept his eyes on the couple as Howard shook his head vigorously. “Jeannie, do you realize the problems we’re facing if we take him?”

“God can overcome problems, dear. I really believe this is the child we are to take home with us.”

Howard looked down at the boy, then at his wife. “I really doubt that it’s supposed to be him. I say let’s go back and talk to Freddie.”

While this discussion was going on, Lance saw that Jimmy’s face showed the familiar fear that he was going to be rejected, that
Howard Wells was going to win out.

Lance whispered, “Lord, I want Your will to be done.”

Suddenly the discussion was over, and Howard wheeled and moved back up the line to one of the older boys they had talked to earlier.

Jeanne bent down to Jimmy’s level again. “I’m sorry, honey.” With that, she turned and followed her husband to the older boy.

Jimmy began to whimper, and instantly Lance had him in his arms.

The boy wrapped his arms around Lance’s neck and wept, with his tears moistening Lance’s face. While holding Jimmy and speaking words to comfort and encourage him, Lance saw Howard and Jeanne Wells talking to Tabitha Conlan, who was making notes on her clipboard. It was evident that they were taking the older boy.

Jimmy was still in Lance’s arms a few minutes later, when the Wellses walked away with the older boy, along with a number of other foster parents who were taking orphans with them.

Lance let his eyes run the line and he could tell that the choosing in Sacramento was over.
Lord, You could have let Mrs. Wells convince her husband to take Jimmy home with them if You wanted to. But You didn’t. The next stop is home. Are You going to let Carol and me have him?

T
he four sponsors and Rachel Wolford gathered at the spot on the depot platform where the two orphan coaches connected.

Laura Stanfield’s attention was on Lance Adams as he held little Jimmy Kirkland in his arms.

Gifford raised his voice and said, “All right, children, it’s time to get back aboard the train. Things went well, as you can see. Fourteen orphans were taken into foster homes. We now have seven of you left: four boys and three girls. I have no doubt that all of you will find homes in San Francisco. Let’s get aboard.”

Laura was still watching Lance and Jimmy as Lance carried him toward the boys’ coach.

Holding the boy close, Lance said, “Jimmy, I’m sure someone in San Francisco will take you, even as Mr. Stanfield just said.”

Jimmy looked at Lance through a film of tears. “Y-you live in Than F-Franthithco, Mithter Adamth. Pleathe. Won’t y-you t-take me? I want t- to g-go to y-your houthe and l-live with you.”

Once again, Lance relived that day in March when he suggested the idea to Carol that they adopt a child, and the way she looked at him and spoke in return. There was no way he could know at this time if God had done a miracle in Carol’s heart and
changed her attitude about it. “Jimmy, I really wish I could take you home, but I can’t.”

“B-but nobody h-hath taken me in the other t-townth. Nobody will t-take me in Th-Than Franthithco, either.” He choked on a sob. “N-nobody wanth me ’cauthe I talk f-funny.”

Laura had heard Jimmy’s words. She moved up to meet them, and Lance stopped. Laura caressed Jimmy’s cheek, wiping away tears. “Jimmy, honey, I’m sure there’ll be someone in San Francisco who will take you. You’re a sweet little boy, and they won’t care how you talk.”

Jimmy shook his head. “No th-they won’t. N-nobody wanth me ’cauthe I thtutter an’ lithp when I t-talk.”

Laura’s throat constricted. “Don’t give up, Jimmy. I’m sure God has someone who lives in San Francisco who will take you.”

Jimmy sniffed and knuckled tears from his eyes. His lower lip quivered. “M-Mithter Adamth liveth in Th-Than Franthithco. I w-want him to take me, but he c-can’t.”

She said to Lance, “I’ve noticed that you two have become pretty close.”

Lance nodded. “That we have, Mrs. Stanfield.” Then he said to Jimmy, “Well, little pal, I’d better get you aboard.”

Laura pinched Jimmy’s cheek playfully. “It’ll be all right, honey. You just cheer up now.”

Lance smiled at her and headed for the front platform of the boys’ coach. “See you later, Mrs. Stanfield.”

As Lance mounted the steps, he sensed a strange stirring in his heart and mind. If asked to describe it, he would be at a loss to do so, but it was as real as could be.

He placed Jimmy down on the seat, patted his cheek, and said, “I’ll see you later, little pal.”

Jimmy grabbed his hand and looked up at him with pleading eyes.

“What is it, Jimmy?”

“M-Mithter Adamth, if thomebody in Than F-Franthithco doeth take me an’ let m-me live with th-them, will y-you come an’ thee m-me?”

The conductor’s final call for boarding echoed past the window.

Lance swallowed hard. “I sure will, Jimmy.” With that, he hurried up the aisle toward the front door of the coach, leaving behind a brokenhearted little boy who desperately wanted to be his foster son.

When Lance stepped out onto the coach’s platform, he found Laura Stanfield waiting for him. The engine’s whistle sent a shrill message into the air, and the big engine’s wheels spun on the tracks. The train lurched forward, with the couplings between cars giving off a series of thumping sounds.

As both Laura and Lance grasped the railings to steady themselves, she said, “Could I talk to you, Mr. Adams?”

“Of course, but—”

“You can pass through the girls’ coach to get to yours.”

“Oh. Okay.”

The train was rolling slowly out of the railroad station.

“Mr. Adams, I don’t mean to interfere in your business, nor to be nosy, but could I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Well, since you and Jimmy have become so close, and he has spoken his desire to go home with you, isn’t it possible for you to take him?”

Lance moved his head back and forth. “No, it isn’t, Mrs. Stanfield. You see, there are some circumstances that make it impossible. Circumstances that only God could alter.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. It’s just that—well, that precious little boy seems to love you very much, and even though I tried to show a positive attitude about his being chosen in San Francisco, I’m
actually afraid he will be the only one left when the choosing is over. I’d hate for Jimmy to have to go back to New York and start over. That would be terribly devastating to him. Then when the Society puts him on another train, he will have to go through all of this again.”

Lance lowered his head. “Yes. I know.”

“Mr. Adams, Gifford and I would take Jimmy if our situation was different, but traveling on these orphan trains is how we make our living. It wouldn’t be right for us to take Jimmy in then leave him weeks on end with someone else.”

“Of course not. And if our situation was different, I’d take that little guy in an instant. You see, Carol—my wife—is unable to bear children, and she has an aversion to the idea of our adopting a child. Somehow she feels she would not have the fulfillment of being a mother unless she could give birth to the child. I must admit that I don’t understand it, but I certainly can’t get off the train with Jimmy in my arms and say, ‘Here, Carol, whether you like it or not, I’ve brought you a little boy to raise.’ ”

Laura shook her head. “Of course not.”

“Believe me, Mrs. Stanfield, I wish it were different. I’ve really developed a strong attachment to that little boy and would love to take him home and be his daddy, but I can’t violate Carol’s right to live her life in the way that will make her happy.”

“I understand that,” said Laura. “Is your wife meeting you at the station in San Francisco?”

“Yes.”

“It’s only two hours to San Francisco. Is it all right if between here and there, I pray that the Lord will change Carol’s mind?”

A smile tugged at the corners of Lance’s mouth. “It sure
would
be all right! I’ve been praying the same way, myself. Like I said, only God can alter these circumstances.” Even as he spoke, Lance was aware of the strange, indescribable stirring in his heart
and mind. Was this stirring coming from the Holy Spirit?

“Well,” said Laura, moving toward the platform of the girls’ coach, “I’ll let you get to your coach, and I’ll take a seat in here and start praying.”

Lance followed her onto the rocking, swaying platform, then moved ahead and opened the door for her, allowing her to enter first. Laura chose a seat at the rear of the coach and sat down.

Lance smiled. “I don’t know how to thank you for your concern for Jimmy. Pray hard, okay?”

“I sure will.”

Lance hurried through the girls’ coach. As he was moving up the aisle toward his seat in his coach, the same strange stirring was in his heart and mind.

He sat down and glanced at the countryside as the train headed southwest toward San Francisco. While he kept his eyes on the grassy, rolling hills, suddenly Laura’s words to Jimmy a few minutes ago echoed through his head:
“Don’t give up, Jimmy. I’m sure God has someone who lives in San Francisco who will take you.”

“M-Mithter Adamth liveth in Th-Than Franthithco. I w-want him to take me, but he c-can’t.”

A lump rose up in his throat and he felt tears forming at the back of his eyes. The strange sensation was still within him, tugging at his very being. He thought of his prayer in Cheyenne when Jimmy had once again been rejected by prospective foster parents and begged him to take him home with him.
Dear Lord, I can’t make a move to take this precious child until You show me that it’s what You want for sure. Please help me. I have no way of knowing if You have done a work in Carol’s heart. You can do a miracle, I know it. You did it for Abraham and Sarah, and gave them a son when it looked impossible. Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Lance tried to swallow the lump; the tears were now welling
up in his eyes. “Lord, this feeling inside me … is it You speaking to me?” He ran splayed fingers through his hair. “Are You telling me that You
have
done a work in Carol’s heart? Are You telling me that You are working on a miracle in our lives like You did for Abraham and Sarah and gave them a son even when it seemed impossible?”

The stirring in his heart and mind grew stronger as his last seven words echoed through his head:
a son even when it seemed impossible … a son even when it seemed impossible … a son even when it seemed impossible
.

He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked around to see if any of the passengers were looking at him.

He took his Bible out of his briefcase. As he turned to Genesis 18, his own words were still emblazoned on the walls of his brain—
a son even when it seemed impossible
.

He focused on God’s words to Abraham in verse fourteen. “Is any thing too hard for the L
ORD
? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

His eyes brightened as he thought of a related passage. Quickly, he turned to Genesis 21 and let his eyes fall on the first two verses: “And the L
ORD
visited Sarah as he had said, and the L
ORD
did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”

Lance smiled. “At the set time. At the appointed time. Lord, is this stirring inside me Your way of saying You had it planned all the time that Carol and I would have a son and his name is Jimmy?”

His mind went back to that day when the train pulled out of Cheyenne: He was gazing through the window at the vast Wyoming prairie as a small herd of antelope splashed across a
stream not far from the tracks. He recalled his prayer at that moment:
Heavenly Father, I’m looking to You for this miracle. You gave Abraham and Sarah a son when it seemed impossible. Is anything too hard for You? No. It is not. Help me to trust You as You work it out
.

He bent his head down and looked at the floor. “Lord,” he whispered, “I know what’s going on inside me. You are speaking to me about Jimmy. I want to take that precious little guy home with me to be my son. You have a set time … an appointed time to complete Your plan. I don’t know if You have dealt yet with Carol. You know that You will have to speak to her heart so she will want Jimmy as her son too.”