The thunder and lightning were never so fierce this evening as if they both were upset over a terrifying event with each letting out remorse, or upset over a situation needing rectification. The narrow lane that led to Willow Creek exposed one solitary figure trying to make it home, which was just over the bridge. Bertha could hardly see the road as she tried to keep the stinging rain off her exposed skin and making it hard for her to breathe for the rain was as one solid mass.

            Her thoughts pondered over her ill fate in life. She never considered herself of much account because she was the Black Sheep of the family and things just did not turn out right; an outcast, divorced at 20, jobless at 21. This Georgia town of Pavo was her hell where she was an object of ridicule especially from juvenile hecklers Sam, Geneva, and Terry. These three formed a pact that whenever they saw her made a spectacle of calling her names, throwing eggs and rocks.

            She couldn’t understand why they made fun of her; she was still human even though she had been born with a deformity of a hair lip and one deformed leg. She was a very attractive young woman indeed with high intelligence and a heart of gold. Many times she had given her last so that someone would not go lacking. Because of her good nature it brought her into contact with John EP who worked at the dollar store. She had just purchased a blouse to complete her outfit when a little boy was crying because his mother could not buy him a pair of gym shoes. Bertha secretly told John Ep to take the money she was buying for the blouse and put it on the little boys shoes. She made it clear to John Ep not to let the mother know where the money came from but tell her that was an overage and he would ring the sale up for the gym shoes. Bertha was very joyful over this circumstance and John Ep was proud of her.

            Through time Bertha and John Ep got to know each other and fell in love and were married a few months later. It was a very good marriage at first, but as they began to socialize, it seemed as if Bertha was a misfit and drew unwanted remarks. Both felt the pain. Bertha having so much love for John Ep decided she did not want to let him continue with the abuse heaped upon her and the hurt John Ep had to endure. She got a divorce and let him go. It was a sad day when this happened as John Ep tried to commit suicide, but recovered.

            Bertha seemed to hate herself even more for these things stayed on her mind. Earlier today she had walked into town to see John Ep and was engrossed in thought when suddenly there was a sharp smack upside her head. She came immediately to attention as her vision catches Geneva laughing as Terry was reaching for another rock. Being in a bad mood over what she was going to tell John Ep, she was tempted to catch them and do serious damage, but she changed her mind as her favorite scripture came to mind, “Render evil for evil to no one, wrath is mine saith the Lord.”

            She wiped the blood off her ear with the back of her sleeve as tears rolled down her cheeks. She thought, “How could people be so cruel and hurtful. She hadn’t done anything to them and besides, they were just children between the ages of 10 and 12 years and how could they be like this?” With all the vile language by Sam, some God-fearing people made them leave her alone.

            She wanted to see John Ep one last time because tomorrow she was leaving Pavo for New York to start a new life. She had lost her job at Bob’s Hardware Store and the little money left was her ticket out of here. The store where John Ep worked would close at 7 p.m. and she had to hurry for it was nearing 6:15 p.m. and there was an overcast sky. She didn’t want to get caught up in a Georgia storm where rain fell so hard and thick making it almost impossible to breathe.

            She approached John Ep at the dollar store and told him what she was going to do by going to New York, getting a job and continuing her education. She had heard of a surgeon who could work on her birth defects and make her almost new. She promised him as soon as she got herself where she wanted to be, she would send for him and they could get remarried. He said, “Okay.” They both laughed and cried at the same time hugging and kissing one another farewell.

            As Bertha left the store it had begun to drizzle. She had expected to find Sam, Geneva, and Terry waiting outside to continue harassing her but they were gone. With quick steps she headed for home down Sheffield Lane. It was like a bottom bursting out of a bag when the rain suddenly came down and very hard. It was becoming harder and harder for her to breathe and see as she swiftly tried to hurry but slipped and skidded down Sheffield Lane. It was becoming washed out and she had to cross a wooden bridge at Willow Creek.

            The Willow Creek Bridge was over 125 years old built during the Civil War days with old timber that had begun to rot. Some planks had already decayed and fell into the creek. Hemp ropes and makeshift materials that could still hold human weight were tied together, making Willow Creek dangerous to cross. It was scary to cross the bridge with pieces falling into the water here and there. With each step, you had to be careful so as not to slip through the cracks as these very thoughts crossed Bertha’s mind. There was a spot ahead darker than usual; she attempted to slow down her stride as she realized it was an opening in the bridge. She slipped near the opening as her feet dangled over the edge.

            Bertha, trying to catch her breath and get her nerves back, heard a sound through the hole from the ravine below. As she backed away from the opening, the yelling became louder as the familiar voice reached her ears. At first thought, she was going to ignore the raspy voice that was Geneva’s. She was the chief instigator each time there was trouble. Now it was her voice first to be heard when they needed help from their trouble.

            The waters in the creek were rising fast as the darkness had blanketed the area so that seeing was almost impossible. Something had to be done quickly or they would drown. If she tried to go back to town for help, by the time they got back they would have drowned. She could just forget they were there and continue home. She thought to herself, could she live with herself if she let them drown without trying? The screaming had become frantic to the point where they could not be ignored. How could she help them when there were on tools and she could not see but a few feet ahead of her?

            Refocusing her thoughts and efforts, she spotted a rope that held up a post at the end of the bridge. She made her way there and untied it as planks splashed in the water below. Slowly, she crept to the opening in the bridge and told Terry to grab the rope as she lowered it. As she began lowering the rope, she told Terry, “Extend your hands upward to grasp it as it comes near you.” The children in the water had begun to panic and grabbed each other causing them to go under to the point of almost drowning each other. As the rope made its pass, they did not see it. The current was stronger and moving them out of range. She had to get their attention and fast or all would be lost. She removed her boots and tied them to the end of the rope and hollered below. “Whoever catches the rope must take it and tie it around all three waists. When you hear me give the signal, I will attempt to pull you up.” She lowered the rope and yelled, “Here is the rope, grab it and tie it around your waists.” The boots hit Geneva in the face and she screamed and grabbed Sam as Terry grabbed the boots. They were slowly moving downstream and Bertha hollered, “Let me try pulling up whomever has the rope.” As she tried to pull Terry up through the opening, more boards began to tear loose. Immediately Bertha told Terry to release the rope. Terry, thinking this was his opportunity for being rescued, did not release the rope. As Bertha continued to explain the situation, he finally let go of the rope.

            She had to try another strategy knowing this would be the last attempt. She walked down the bridge and looked over the railing and heard the splashing and yelling as the three were holding onto tree roots. With a soft gentle yet strong voice she told Sam, Geneva and Terry that they had to be strong because this would be the last chance they have of making it out alive. As Bertha leaned over the railing, she told them as she tossed the rope over the railing to them to immediately tie it around their waist. She tied the rope around her waist and with the booted end threw it over the railing as she told them below that it was on the way. Desperate hands were waiting as each caught the rope this time and with speed tied it around all their waists.

            Geneva, with a different voice toward Bertha told her they were secure. A million thoughts ran through Bertha’s mind and she prayed to God for help with what she had to do. What she was going to do tomorrow would never be and it hurt her to know that she would never see John Ep’s loving face again. It was in her heart that it is better to give than receive, and to love rather than hate. Even though these children had done her great harm, the most important thing in life is to live, love and obey Jesus and live a Christian life as she did.

            Bertha asked the children if they were ready and told them that as they reached the top rail to pull themselves over. She would use her body as a counterweight and told them to get ready as she jumped over the rail into the raging waters below. As she descended, they rose toward the bridge railing so they could grasp the rail and they did. Before Bertha reached the turbulent waters below, with a prayer and loud voice she cried out before the impact, “In the Name of the Father.”

            Sam, Geneva, and Terry never forgot that evening as Bertha saved their lives as well as their souls by sacrificing hers. From that day onward, all of them began to live a godly life and grew to become respectable Christian adults. On a yearly basis they pay tribute by memorial to let Bertha know that what she did was not in vain and they appreciate her each day for her unselfish sacrifice of her life for them.

            Most assuredly, God in Heaven was pleased with Bertha’s self sacrificing love and has reserved a place everlastingly in his Kingdom for she had lived a short life but a full life in his service and most assuredly heard her last cry, “In the name of the Father.”

 

© Tommy L. Thomas 2009