Welcome to end to the night. I'm Nari your guide on today's excursion down
a twisted path. Be careful not to get lost. Be it dark or
light, It's easy to lose your way. Are you ready, then let's
begin How does Your Garden Grow? Part? Two? The next morning,
Mary drove to the large d at Yourself store and picked out the materials she'd
need. She arranged delivery for the next day and headed home to prep the
ground for the first leg of the path. Between frequent checks on her mother,
Mary set to work. She hadn't told Colleen about her idea yet.
I want to see how long it takes before I get her hopes up too
soon, It might take while to finish. Mom will eventually see me out
here working through the window, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to
it. It was hot, dirty work, but Mary didn't mind. She
felt driven. She needed to make this happen for her mother. The next
day, the paving stones, sand, and other materials arrived. She splurged
and bought decorative yet natural looking stones for the path. As she surveyed the
load, she was pleased with how the pavers looked beautiful, functional, durable.
These were a great choice, if I do say so myself. Every
day, Mary made progress. Before too long, she was within sight of
Colleen through the bedroom window. Stepping back inside the house, Mary heard the
tinkling of the bell. Yes, mamma, what are you up to outside?
I saw you doing something out there? Are you building a flower bed?
Mary sat on the bed and held Colleen's hand. No, but I
do have a project going that I think you're going to like. Collein adjusted
herself in bed. I'm sure i'd like anything you did. What did you
have in mind? Mary filled Colleen in on her plans, and her mother's
face lit up. Oh, honey, that's an awful lot of work.
You're amazing. I think it will do you good to make trips outside.
It will be wonderful. And thank you for making the basswood tree the first
stop on the trail. Colleen wiped happy tears from her eyes. Now that
her mother knew of her plans, Mary was even more motivated to make the
path reality. It was exhausting physical labor, and some days she couldn't accomplish
much because her job demanded her full attention, but she continued making progress.
Colleen watched with anticipation. Through the bedroom window. Finally, Mary's footpath reached
the basswood tree. She walked inside and went directly to Colleen's room. Mamma,
are you ready to go for a ride? Her mother beamed, am
I ever, Let's take some sandwiches and drinks. We'll make a picnic out
of it. I love that idea. Mary helped her mother into the wheelchair
and pushed her through the house and into the kitchen. After packing a basket
of goodies to take with them, the two made their way out of the
house, down the ramp and on to the newly constructed path. Colleen clapped
her hands together. I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl. Mary patted her shoulder
and said, you're looking better already, mamma. Fresh air and sunshine never
hurt anybody. They stopped momentarily to look at the flower gardens. Then they
continued on their way to the basswood tree. Mary parked the wheelchair under the
basswood near the swing. Collin looked up at the canopy of leaves above her
and outstretched her hand towards a branch. Mary knew what her mother wanted.
She grasped the low hanging branch and pulled it down so Colleene could touch the
leaves. Her mother grasped the leaves and held them to her cheek. She
then kissed a leave and quietly said, hello, my dear old friend.
I've missed you so much. A tear trickled down her cheek, but her
smile was of pure joy. Colleen gently released the branch, and it bobbed
up and down above her. A breeze twirled the leaves on the tree,
and the two women laughed in delight. It feels glorious to be outside again,
Mary. We will do this every day. Mamma, are you hungry?
You know I am. I've barely felt like eating lately, but suddenly
I'm starving. Let's see what all you packed for us. Mary spread the
contents of the basket out. Let's see we have hammonds with sandwiches, sweet
pickles, chips, and cobbler. She then pulled two cold lemonades from the
basket. The two women ate, talked, laughed, and breathed in the
beauty of the day. Birds sang in the trees above them, and butterflies
and honey bees flitted wild flower to wild flower in the field around them.
Mary watched her mother regained some of the vibrancy she had in the past.
Seeing her mother's decline in recent years was an ache in Mary's heart. Colleen
suffered bouts of depression as her ability to live fully decreased, and Mary had
struggled not to let her own fears be too obvious for her mother. It's
not been easy realizing I'm not able to be me anymore. Mary. I
know, Mamma, you look wonderful today, though I feel wonderful. This
is the best medicine you could have given me. This is just the beginning.
I'll keep expanding the path and we'll come out here as often as you
want to. You know, under this tree is my favorite spot on this
land. It's special to me. I've missed it. You don't have to
miss it any longer. These limbs have watched over us through good times and
bad. They sat in silence, watching the trees sway and the grasses blow
in the breeze. Finally, Colleen needed rest. However, I'm getting sleepy
and I think it's time for my meds. Of course we can go in,
but I want to come out tomorrow. Colleen looked up at the basswood.
I'll be back to see you, my friend. She turned to look
at the tree one more time as Mary pushed the wheelchair down the path to
their farmhouse. Each day, the women set aside time to sit under the
basswood tree. The change in Colleen was noticeable. Suddenly the world seemed brighter
and refreshed. Mamma, I think even the flowers in the garden are looking
more vibrant these days. They aren't the only ones either. You're getting color
back in your cheeks, and you're eating more thanks to you getting me outside.
I was literally dying before. Now I think I'll put that off for
a while longer. She gave her daughter a warm smile. Weeks went by,
and sometimes they took strolls farther out as the path grew, but their
favorite spot was under the tree. Colleen sat in her wheelchair while Mary lounged
in the bench swing. One day, Mary's cell phone rang while they were
on an outing Yes. Hello. Mary's face fell and she whispered to her
mother, it's work. They need me to send them the Meyer proposal.
I'm sorry, don't be sorry. Go on, I'm going to stay here.
I'll be fine. Are you sure? Yes, I'll go take care
of business. Half an hour later, Mary returned. She stopped in horror
when she saw the empty wheelchair. Mamma, mamma, I'm coming. She
raced to the basswood tree and stopped in her tracks once she arrived there.
Mamma, you're standing how I don't really know. Isn't it wonderful? Mary
stared in disbelief. I was sitting in my wheelchair talking to our tree friend
and something told me to stand. I didn't dit first, but it told
me to stand, and I did. Mary rushed to hug her mother.
Mamma, this is incredible. You haven't walked in at least a year.
I've felt better and stronger ever since we started our daily walks. I not
only feel better, I am better. How long have you been standing?
Oh? Ten or fifteen minutes? It feels good to walk on the grass
and to touch the bark on a tree again, Mary, I don't understand
it any more than you do, but I'm better. Tears trickled down their
faces. Let's not wear you out. I think this is enough excitement for
one day. She helped Coleen back into her chair before they left for the
house, though they turned and stared at the basewood tree. The sun was
sitting on the horizon, and the branches were outlined in hues of pinks,
purples, and reds. Mary patted Colleen's shoulder and her mother's hand and met
hers with a squeeze. That evening, Mary sat with Colleen in her room.
Mamma, this is nothing short of a miracle. Colleen sat quietly for
a moment. I know it sounds crazy, but I think it's the plants,
the tree. But also, look at the plants in my room.
Mary. As I've grown healthier, so have they. Look at the ivy
plant. Its leaves were yellow and sickly. Now they're green and glossy.
And look at the others. The orchids have been blooming. They haven't done
that in ages. Mary took a good look around. Mamma's right. The
plants are thriving just like she is. I can't explain it, Mary,
but I think the plants are saving me. I don't understand it either,
mamma, but something wonderful is happening. You haven't appointment with Wilson on Tuesday.
Let's see what he says. But I think we need to keep our
suspicions about the plants between just the two of us. Oh lands, Yes,
girl, they'd be locking us up and throwing away the key. I
agree. While I feel better, let's see what the test results say about
me. They should have those within a few days after my appointment. Yes,
we will find out if the doctor see is the same improvement we do.
Colleen gently held a branch of for philodendron. Good night, my little
friends. Thank you, thank you for helping me. I love you all.
Mary stood in the doorway. Yes, thank you. She turned off
the light and quietly shut the door. The two continued to make their daily
trips to the basswood tree, and each day Colleen stood a little longer and
walked a little more. Mary, I practically feel like a kid again.
Colleene looked upward and smiled at the bright blue sky. As long as I
keep getting better, I'd like to start working in the flower gardens again.
Oh that would be so much fun. Some of my best childhood memories are
of us working in the flower beds, my little Mary. Mary. Quite
contrary, Colleen laughed, we still aren't sure how your garden grows. It
must be those silver bells and cockle shells, it must be. But I'm
not going to ask too many questions. All I know is that our plans
are thriving, and I'm thriving. On Tuesday, Mary drove Colleen to her
appointment. Hello, Mary, how have you been. They exchanged their gredients
and the doctor began his exam. How have you been feeling, Colleen?
She looked at Mary and then back at the doctor. Actually, I've been
feeling great. He listened to her heart, he took her blood pressure.
Could you put that into English? Please? Oh? Yes, sorry,
I'm just puzzled. Your idols are surprisingly good. Like I said, I'm
feeling much better lately. You certainly appear to be. I'll have the nurse
draw blood. We're also going to take a few X rays. We'll have
those results on Thursday. I'm renewing your prescriptions, and I want to see
you back here right away if there's a problem with the test results. Yes,
of course. The waiting game began. On Thursday, doctor Wilson called
her. I've got your test results in and there are some irregularities. I'd
like you to come by my office this afternoon so I can take a look
at you again. Mary soft Bear passed through her mother's eyes. As she
hung up the phone, Mamma, what did he say? He said there
were irregularities in my test results and that he wants to talk to me about
it this afternoon. At one thirty. What kind of irregularities? He didn't
say. I feel better than I have in years. I don't think this
is all in my head. I don't think so either, So don't panic.
Let's see what he has to say. At one thirty, doctor Wilson
rapped on the door to Examine three, where Colleen and Mary anxiously awaited him.
Come in, they said. Doctor Wilson walked in and sat down on
the stool by the exam table. He gave them a kind smile. He
looked at the chart and hesitated to speak. Yes, doctor Wilson, is
there bad news? Nope, it's not bad news. Perplexing news, but
not bad news. That's why I wanted to meet with you today. The
women stared at him in silent anticipation. I don't understand any of this,
and I had the lab double check their results. But your test came back
normal normal, famine or actually normal, actually normal. Your white count is
normal, your blood salts and kidney functions are normal. Your liver function is
perfect, and the X ration showed no trace of any tumors. I want
to run an MRI to look more closely, but according to these results,
I'm holding you're healthy. I don't understand it, but that's what the numbers
say. Mary and Colleen hugged each other. I knew it. I knew
I felt better. Mama, do you want to show him what you can
do? Doctor Wilson raised his eyebrows. Yes, watch what I've been doing
for the past week or so. She stood. His mouth opened, but
no words escaped him. Finally, he said, oh my god, it's
a miracle. Colleen. You had no more than six months to live.
The last time I saw you, you were bedridden. This is incredible,
isn't it. Mary made me a path to take me around our place in
my wheelchair. It must be the fresh air, because I felt better every
day since then. I seldom like to be wrong, ladies, but in
this instance, I'm glad my prognosis for you was mistaken. This kind of
improvement only happens once or twice in a career. I'm ordering the MRI,
but I really do think you're healthy again. The women left the office elated.
To celebrate, they went to their favorite Italian restaurant. Colleen ate every
bite of her meal and had a slice of cheesecake for dessert. In the
coming days, the MRI showed no sign of tumors, and Colleen's strength grew
steadily. Now she was able to walk to the baskewood tree, where she
and Mary sat in the swing and enjoyed the presence of the living world around
them. Looking up at the canopy made by the lovely tree, Colleen said,
I don't know how you did this, but you saved my life.
You and your plant friends. The tree's leaves fluttered even though there was no
wind. Thank you for saving my mamma. We both loved you our whole
lives, and you have given us a gift we didn't dream was possible.
The leaves fluttered again that night, as Coleen slept soundly in her bed,
a beam of light came through the window and illuminated the rubber tree plant.
The other plants of the room swayed and bobbed. The philodendron reached out to
Colleen and gently wrapped itself around her hand. In the yard, a beam
also fell on the basswood tree. It danced and moved its branches like the
arms of a symphony conductor. In the sky, the beam met the light
of a star that twinkled brightly. The basswood tree was here as a faithful
and loving servant. Spread goodness, give love when love is received, make
a difference here on earth, and so it did. Thank you for joining
me for this episode of the Into the Night Anthology podcast. Written by Caroline
Giamanco, narrated by Nari Quok, Theme music by Nico Rodriguez, all other
original music, sound design and editing by Omenhawk Studios. You can find our
links in the show notes. Into the Night is on your favorite podcatcher,
so make sure to like, subscribe and leave a five star review to help
other excursionists to join us. I'll see you next time, and remember,
whether in the shadows or in the daylight, all twisted paths lead you into
the night. Into the Night Anthology is a creative typo entertainment production.