MIRACLE IN WHITE FALLS
In the nations heartland two days before Christmas; the worst snow storm of the century is about to hit the little town of White Falls.
With Christmas so close and with jobs scarce and money low; People do strange things without the thought of the consequences.
Thanks to an old man and a stranger the police Chef and a handful of others are about to understand just what a Christmas Miracle is.
This is a Christmas story that I wrote in 2005 and this year I decided to share it again
with everyone who wanted to take the time to read it.
PLEASE NOTE: Yes this story has a Christian theme to it as Jesus is the reason for Christmas
Merry Christmas from
Big Gun Productions and Matthew516Films
MIRACLE IN WHITE FALLS
Written by
Hank Hustus
Big Gun Productions © 2005/2009
Chapter I
Darkness would give way to the light of morning soon; but the sun would be hidden far
away from sight. It was going to be another bitter cold day in the nation’s heartland.
As the snow starts to fall again; a lone vehicle makes its way along through town on a
white and treacherous road.
The man driving has held the same job for the past fifteen years with the usual
promotions and now he is the boss…the big dog.
He has been on the road for about five hours. No one in their right mind would be out in
weather like this! Well; except two of the town’s snow plow crews and Jacob Balsam.
The plow-crews were winging back snow and spreading sand on the roads trying to get
ready for the storm that was coming.
Jacob passed old Joe’s service station on Mayfair road then he turned left and past the
local bank on Main Street. The temperature was hovering right around minus three
degrees. It was a “frost biting your nose off cold” that seemed to cling tightly around you
like a blanket of ice. The wind blew the sticky snow across the road sideways making
driving a little tricky. With the wind howling; it made the early morning feel even colder.
The air felt like small needles in your lungs making it harder to breathe.
A shiver went through Jacob as he slid the controls of the heater back and forth several
times hoping to get hotter air out of the old ford bronco. The heater seemed to have left
him behind on vacation; he could breathe out hotter air than the heater could put out. It
was really cold. Can’t expect much from a fifteen year old truck he thought. But, some
things were going well; Jacob had hot coffee in his thermos, a snack beside him, and
enough heat to keep the windshield clear plus; it was almost Christmas! The most
wonderful time of the year and it was tomorrow only one day away!
The windshield wipers were slapping away the snow to a familiar beat that makes you
think of a simple song and sub-concisely you start to sing along. Plat, plat…plat, plat….
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Jacob was humming to himself.
Jacob drove past the past the civil war statue and the White Falls city park.
The park has been an important part of the town’s festivals since it was commissioned
back in 1858. There was always something going on in the park all year long. But now it
was empty except for the 25 foot Christmas tree standing majestically next to the skating
pond. The tree was donated by Jacobs’s grandfather back in 1956. It is a beautiful sight;
with the fresh white snow clinging to its branches. And all lit up with over 10,000 lights
of yellow, blue, red and green. Throughout the years The Christmas tree has stood a lone
vigil in the bitter cold waiting for Christmas Eve. Jacob smiled to himself; he just knew
that this year Christmas was going to very special!
At the local plus-mart he shined the cruisers spotlight around the store front and
parking lot. There was no one around. The store was closed. No sir, no twenty-four hour
stores here! He turned onto 7th street and headed towards the office.
Jacob, a veteran police officer was promoted to police chief from sergeant three years
ago. A promotion he wished had not come along.
He is 45 yrs old. Around 5’10”: 185lbs: brown hair: brown eyes. He is the husband of
Etta Mae Vose Balsam, “Miss Etta” as she is known at the library.
Etta is five foot nine with a slender build. She has blond hair and blue eyes. She is the
head librarian at the school. She is on the P.T.A. and a member of the historical society.
She always finds time for family and she is the apple of Jacob’s eye.
He is the father of two children a boy and a girl.
Toby Jean (T.J.) is a16 year old tom-boy she is about five foot six with long blond hair
and blue eyes. She is the spitting image of her mother. She loves her family very much.
She gets straight A’s in school. She has good friends and she hates smoking, drugs and
alcohol. What she really wants is to be just like her dad. She wants to be a police officer.
Jacob Jr. (J.R.) is a typical 10 year old boy about five foot with brown hair, brown eyes.
He loves Sci-Fi movies. He delivers his weekly papers, plays video games and explores
the woods around the town. He really likes history and he does pretty well in school.
Their home is a nice log home on forty acres with five bedrooms and a full bath
upstairs and a master bedroom and bath downstairs. It has a large living room, kitchen,
den and a game room. There is a full basement where Jacob keeps his boat and other
men’s toys. The best part is it is all paid for Jacob smiles; he knows he truly is a blessed
man.
Jacob was almost out of the intersection when the police radio squawked and just about
jumped him out of his uniform and off the road!
“Chief, do you copy”?
Not much had been happening around this town for several days. The radio had hardly
been used. Jacob reached over and grabbed the microphone from the dash.
“10-4 dispatch I copy”.
“J.B.; the national weather service just updated the storm…what’s your 10-20”?
Jacob stopped the cruiser. “7th and Main; what is the update”?
The dispatcher continued; “the storm is much bigger than they thought!
It has stalled over our area, heavy snow will start within the hour and total accumulations
are expected to be in excess of two feet, with high winds dropping the wind chill to about
minus 52 below zero. Periods of total white outs, downed trees and power outages are
expected”.
Jacob hung his head.
“10-4 Larry, call the town garage and make sure they have enough people to work this
storm”.
“10-4”; “anything else”?
“Yeah, call the other officers in; we will need them to beef up patrols and to check in on
the elderly”.
“Right chief, dispatch out”.
This was not good news at all. The last storm they had like that piled up over four feet
of snow and drifts over seven feet. It snowed for three days. Then came the freezing rain
and iced up the whole county.
Several of the older people in town died due to no heat; it knocked out the power for
several days. Trees and limbs blocked the roads and the line crews worked around the
clock but it was almost a week before power was restored to the area.
Bud Coombs the police chief at the time died in a roll over up on stills hill road three
years ago. He was on night patrol when he came around a curve in the road; a jackknifed
tractor trailer was across the road, Bud hit his brakes, his cruiser started to spin and went
off the road rolling several times before landing on its roof. The trucker called 911 on his
cell phone. He then slid down the hill to help but he was too late, Bud’s neck had been
broken, he was dead at the scene. That’s how Jacob became chief.
Jacob went from patrol officer to sergeant to chief in 12 years with the force. He was
happy with his life and his job but, the town needed a police chief. No one knew the area
like chief Coombs did. Well, no one except Jacob. That’s one of the main reasons why
the mayor of White Falls appointed Jacob as acting chief. It was made it permanent a
month later.
Jacob is a man that cares for people. He is as honest as the day is long but, he will do his
job and up hold the law to the best of his ability. It meant a raise in pay and more things
to worry about. But, it just wasn’t the same without chief Coombs around. Jacob would
trade it all to have his hunting and fishing buddy back.
Jacob stopped in front of the police department. He got out of the bronco, locked the
doors and went up the steps. He opened the large glass front door and went inside. Larry
stood up from his desk. “Morning chief”!
“Morning Larry, I’ll be in my office for a few minutes”. Larry smiled, “yes sir” and sat
back down.
Larry Daily is about six foot. He has Dark brown hair and green eyes. He has been
Jacob’s friend since high school. He was a quarterback on the high school football team.
Then fresh out of collage He went into the army as an M.P. for four years. He came home
and started work at Joe’s service station then he applied to the police department. He
scored high and was sent to the academy. He married his high school sweetheart and has
three kids’ two girls and a boy.
Jacob came out of his office and headed towards the door. The phone rang; Larry
answered. “Police department; officer daily may I help you”?
“Yes sir just a moment”. Larry put the phone on hold. “J.B. line one”.
Jacob turned and stepped to the desk and took the phone
Larry pushed the button on line one. “Chief Balsam”. “Why yes Joe, I was by there about
ten minutes ago”…”yeah”...’ok’…’sure, I’ll let them know, ok see you later. Bye”.
Jacob passed the phone back to Larry. Old Joe ok? Larry asked as he hung up the phone.
“Yeah” “the snowplow went by and filled in the driveway to the pumps at the station, he
wanted to know if I would ask them to come back and clear it so he would not have to
shovel again”. “He says he feels compelled to open today”.
Larry smiled. “He’s opening on a Sunday?” He is a lonely man since his wife passed
way back in ’98”. “He sure did love his wife”. “Yeah” said Jacob…”he sure did”.
Chapter II
The clock on the night stand read seven-thirty. A twenty-nine year old Jon Gates sat in
the chair in his bedroom looking at his wife as she lay sleeping. After ten years Jon was still
in love with his wife. He and Ginger had seen good times along with the bad.
In previous years when Christmas morning rolled around the kids would come in and
jump on the bed waking them up. Thoughts of his kids’ faces on Christmas morning
when they ran to see what Santa left for them streamed through his mind.
Little Sarah six and Jimmy eight would run and jump on the bed and wake them up.
“DADDY! MOMMY!” get up! Santa was here! Come on! How magical and wondrous
those times were! They got so excited about everything! But, this year was different.
They were not going to see any wonderful presents under the Christmas tree.
Jon had worked at the fertilizer plant for the last eleven years. That’s where he met
Ginger. But due to company cut backs Jon had lost his job before thanksgiving. He had
enough money to pay the house payment up until the end of January but the electric
would be cut off after the holidays.
They burned wood for heat and had enough to last the winter but the freezer was getting
low.
He had been looking for work but no one could offer him a job not even the local burger
joint. Times were tough all over.
Jon got up and went into the living room and turned on the TV but all he got was a
snowy screen. He forgot; the cable had been shut off. “That’s just great”! Said Jon as he
shut off the TV. he looked at the Christmas tree. There was nothing under it except the
cat. “Nothing to give my wife either” he said as he headed for the kitchen.
He made a pot coffee. “Well at least we have electric still; anyway till the first.” Jon said
out loud. Jon sits down at the kitchen table puts his head in his hands. He prays for a
miracle and cries.
In the bedroom Ginger got up, brushed her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror. Not
bad for thirty-two! She thought to herself. She put on her favorite bathrobe then checked
in on the kids they were still sleeping. Then she went down stairs to the kitchen. She
stopped and saw Jon sitting at the table crying. She felt so badly for her husband. He was
a good man and a hard worker. He loved their children and there was not anything he
would not do for his family. Ginger slowly backed out of the room and cleared her throat
in the living room. Jon quickly sat up and wiped the tears from his eyes with his hand and
called out.
“Is that you Sarah,….. Jimmy”? “No” answered Ginger “it’s me darling”.
Ginger came into the kitchen. Jon saw that she had on her well worn purple bathrobe that
he bought for her five years ago. She needs a new one he thought. “Good morning”.
“Don’t know what is so good about it”! Jon said as he bowed his head.
“Well” said Ginger smelling the air. “You made coffee so I didn’t have to that’s good”.
She looked back at the living room. The cat didn’t eat the tree! That’s real good!
Jon looked up and smiled at his wife. only God knows how he much he loved Ginger!
Jon stood up and hugged his wife. “I love you” he said in her ear. “I love you too dear” she replied.
“Now go wake the kids and I’ll get breakfast started”.
Jon went to get the kids up as Ginger rattled the pots and pans. Well he thought; I will
find a way to get Christmas for them…at least I still have their love!
Chapter III
Old Joe Cooper sat at his kitchen table drinking coffee; smoking his big cigar and
watching the snow pile up outside his house.
Joe was an old man of about 70 years. He was a medic turned mechanic In World War II.
He served four years. After the war he went back to White Falls and started work at the
Mayfair Texaco station. He went into partnership with his father Joe senior and they
bought the station in 1948 and renamed it; “Joe’s service station”. His father died in 1949
and Joe had owned the service station since then. Five days a week just like clockwork
Joe would have the station open by eight am on the dot; Saturday was his day to go
fishing. And Sunday; that was Gods day. Nothing ever stopped Joe from going to church
on Sunday and nothing stopped his fishing; well maybe one thing comes to mind. Joe had
married the love of his life back in 1955.
Her name was Phyllis Malloy. It was love at first sight. She was passing through town
on the first of July 1955. It was a beautiful day when she came into the garage for gas in
her 1952 Buick; she never left. Joe took one look at her and knew she was the one for
him and she knew he was the one for her. He took her out for a picnic then to the Fourth
of July fireworks where he gave her his grandmothers’ ring.
Then on July fifth they got married at the station by the justice of the peace. They built a small two
bedroom house next to the station and they worked the station together all those years.
She ran the counter; she pumped gas, did grease jobs and oil changes and while Joe and ran the tow
truck.
On Saturdays they both went fishing and Sunday they both were in church. They
did everything together. They were always by each others side. Phyllis was diagnosed
with cancer back in ’97 and she died in ‘98. Joe sure misses her.
The black Glenwood cook stove was keeping the old homestead nice and warm as it
had for the past fifty years. Joe remembered the many meals his wonderful Phyllis made
over the course of their marriage. He could almost smell the biscuits and flapjacks.
Joe reached over and turned on the radio that was on the window sill.
Icicles were hanging about half way down the window from the roof.
The weatherman was calling for a lot of snow and high winds for today.
“Sure is a bad one coming” Joe said to himself. The silence was broken; “ding” “ding”
The mantle clock chimed seven a.m. “Yep” got to open the station in a while” Joe said
out loud.
He got up and added more wood to the fire then he poured more coffee into his
cup from the hot coffee pot sitting on the stove. He went over to the door and slipped on
his coat. “Got to get that heater fired up in the garage and make it warm and toasty”. He
still didn’t know why he felt so compelled to have the station open on a Sunday. He never
did but today something was very different. He put out his cigar and looked out the
window once again. “I sure hope the chief gets them snow plow men back here soon”.
Chapter IV
About seventy miles away on a winding snowy road an old Chevy with its wipers on
high tries to make its way through the snow that is piling up. The going is very slow.
Visibility is poor. In the car there is a man and a woman of Spanish decent. The woman
about twenty-five is in severe pain. She is with child. Her husband about thirty is doing
the best that he can to drive keeping the car on the road and to also help comfort his wife.
The couple moved here from New Mexico early this year in hopes of a better life for
their family. The woman’s mother and their two children are back at their apartment
outside of Des Moines. The old Chevy barely made the trip up here and now they need to
depend on it at least one more time to get them to a hospital.
Aurrghh! The woman lets out a scream! The man is scared to death. His eyes are wide
and he is not sure what to do. He makes the catholic sign of the cross and kisses his St.
Christopher medal. “I’ll get you help soon my loves please try to hold on!”
“That’s what you said ten miles ago!” the woman yelled.
The driver tries to wipe the windshield clear of ice as the heater does not work well.
The car swerves to the left but, the driver brings it back into the road and it swerves again
this time to the right and nearly goes off the road.
“That was a closer one” said the driver as he grabs the wheel with both hands again.
“But Roberto is good driver, no?” he says with a smile.
His wife tries to smile too. Suddenly Ka-boom! A tire blows and the car goes
into a spin again this time Roberto can not hold it and slams into the snow piled up along
side of the road and into a small tree!
Aurrghh! Cries the woman.” you call that driving?” “You almost killed us!” Roberto
hugs his wife. “I will fix the flat quick like a bunny” “you see”! “Don’t let baby out yet
ok”? His wife looks at him in amazement. “Sure, like I have a choice” she replied.
Roberto gets out of the car and he slips and falls into the wet snow. He gets up and
fumbles his keys and with the frozen trunk lock. The wind is cold and the snow makes it
hard to see. It stings his skin. He gets the trunk open and pulls out the spare and the jack.
The cold is taking away his breath, it stings his lungs. But, Roberto still tries to change
the tire. He must. He knows he can do it. All the while he is praying for a miracle.
Chapter V
Jacob pulls into parking lot of the town garage. He gets out of the cruiser and
goes in the garage. Inside it is nice and warm. It is a welcome feeling. He sees a truck
with its engine out and a snow plow sitting waiting for the truck to be fixed.
“Morning chief”! A voice comes from overhead. Jacob looks up and sees Ralph
Costner. He is the mechanic. Ralph is about sixty years old. He’s a short man of 5’2”
with white hair and about 200lbs. He has been at the town garage since nineteen-seventy. He
is wearing an old grease stained work shirt unbuttoned and untucked.
“Good Morning Ralph”. “Hey, I got a call from Joe, can you clear his driveway”? Ralph comes down the
steps and shakes Jacobs’s hand.
“Sure, got a plowtruck near him now”.
Ralph goes over to the radio. “Base to Clyde, you copy”?
“10-4”
“Remember when you plowed past Joe’s “?
The radio went silent.
“Damn” “I forgot. I’m on my way” “sorry boss”
Ralph keyed the mike.
“That’s ok Clyde thanks base out”.
Ralph turned with a big grin. “quick enough for ya’? “Yeah, very good” said Jacob.
“Thanks and Merry Christmas”. Jacob turned and left the garage and headed for the
cruiser.
Old Joe, Jacob thought. That old man has a heart as big as Texas. We take care of the
plowing in the winter, mowing in the summer and Joe sells Gas on credit to the town at
cost.
Jacob got back into the cruiser and pulled out of the parking lot and headed for home to
get breakfast.
Chapter VI
It was pretty busy in the kitchen of the Balsam home. Etta was making breakfast for
Jacob. Bacon, eggs and toast along with hot coffee was the menu for today. She was also
trying to bake Christmas cookies at the same time. T.J. was on the phone to one of her
girlfriends. The TV. was on the weather channel and they were talking about how big a
storm this was going to be. Etta looked out just in time to see her husband turn into the
driveway. She ran to the door and pushed the button to the garage.
Jacob turned into the driveway and the garage door started to open. “Great to be home,
at least for a few minutes.” he said out loud as he drove into the warm garage.
He got out of the cruiser and went into the house. He was greeted by a huge hug and a
kiss from Etta.
“Good morning”. Etta said. “Miss me”? With a grin Jacob answered with a big “yes”!
“What’s for breakfast”? Etta looked at him and said playing, “that’s all I am to you is a
waitress”? “If so, you can get that down at the diner”. “No I can’t” replied Jacob. Etta
looked surprised and with a twinkle in her eye she said “and why not”?
Jacob took his coat off and grabbed the coffee pot. “Because they are closed” Etta tossed
an oven mitt at him. “I love you too” she said.
Jacob looked up at T.J. she smiled and waived at him and kept her conversation going
on the phone.
“I have been listening to the weather channel” Etta said as she refilled her coffee cup.
“Looks like we may have a really bad storm this time” Etta said with a worried look on
her face.
Thoughts of the storm three years ago popped into her mind. “Yeah” said Jacob.
“I understand we may get a lot of snow and ice” he paused…”Don’t wait up for me”.
Etta dished out the breakfast. As she passed him his plate she looked at Jacob and said
“Please be extra careful today... ok”? Jacob paused the he piped up. “Yes Ma’m I sure
will!” trying to change the subject Jacob asked about J.R.
Suddenly! the door flew open and a blast of frigid artic air filed the kitchen.
J.R. had just come home from his paper route. He put his paper delivery bag on the floor.
“Boy! It is cold out there!” He stomped his feet and headed towards the living room.
“Wait just one minute young man” said his mother. J.R. stopped in his tracks. “I know”
he said. “My boots and coat” He sighed and turned around. He went back to the door.
His mother was still pointing the way. He removed his boots and coat then smiled as he
went along his way. “Thank you his mother said. Jacob looked up at his son as he went
out of sight. J.R. yelled back “morning dad”. “Good morning son”. Jacob replied.
Smiling; He looked at his wife and finished his coffee.
Jacob went upstairs and showered and put on a clean pressed uniform and headed back
to the kitchen.
“Gotta go honey” Etta turned around. “Are you wearing your vest”? She asked.
She was referring to his bullet proof vest. Jacob nodded yes and kissed his wife.
“Of course I am sweetheart, why”? Etta smiled and replied. Because I love you and I
want you home tonight.” She hugged him tight. “I will see you later” he said and went
out the door. Etta stood at the kitchen window. “Oh dear God” she prayed to herself.
“Please watch over my husband today”
Etta watched out the kitchen window as Jacob backed out of the garage and turned around
in the driveway. He flashed the cruiser lights on and off to say bye to his wife and drove
away.
T.J. came out to the kitchen. She had a worried look on her face. “What’s the matter
sweetheart”? Etta asked.
T.J. went to the window and looked out and stood there with her arms crossed.
“I didn’t have a chance to tell daddy that I loved him”. “I hope he will be alright out
there”. “Now darling, daddy knows we all love him” said Etta as she hugged her
daughter. “How about we pray for a miracle for him today ok”?
T.J. nodded her head and prayed with her mother.
Chapter VII
The snow was coming down harder now almost 4 inches an hour and the roads were
turning to be a real mess. There were a few cars on the road last minute shoppers and
some private plows. Thank God there have been no accidents reported today... Jacob
thought to him self. Then again it being the day before Christmas and on a Sunday some
of the folks would be out of town.
About ten a.m. Jacob drove by Joe’s station to gas up. He picked up the microphone.
“Dispatch I’m code G”
That was the code they used for the gas station.
“10-4 chief I copy” was the answer.
As he approached he saw the town plow truck just driving off.
Jacob pulled up to the pump and shut off the cruiser. Joe came out to give “full service” to the chief.
“Good morning chief! Filler up and check the oil” Joe said as he started to pump the
gas. “Morning Joe” Jacob replied. “I see they got you plowed out”.
“Yes sir they did a fine job of it too”. Joe stated.
“There’s hot coffee on inside chief” pointing to the office.
When Jacob opened the door of the station and stepped inside; the smell of hot coffee
and cigars filled his nostrils. It was like stepping back in time. He poured a hot cup of
coffee from the big coffee pot Joe always had going on the wood stove.
Jacob looked around the waiting area. It looked just like it did when he was growing up.
The same desk and counter had been in place as long as he could remember. And the same old cash
register was still on its tour of duty. Jacob let his mind wander. The smell of sixty plus
years of grease and oil filled his lungs. He could almost make out the sound of the Joe’s
tow truck letting a car down from the hook, the ringing of the service bell as cars pulled
up to the pumps. He could vision his friends on their bicycles riding up to get air for their
tires and buying “pop” as they called a coke.
The phone started ringing. And pulled Jacob came back to reality. Joe was just coming
in the door. He picked up the phone. “Joe’s service station” just the way he always did.
He paused. “No sir; I am sorry; ok bye” Joe hung up the phone.
“Poor guy” said Joe shaking his head. Jacob looked at Joe. “Who’s that Joe”?
Joe took off his coat and started filling out the information on the card for the police gas
account. “Some young fella’ lost his job last month and he has called here every day
asking if I needed any help.” Joe said. “I sure wish I could help him.” Joe looked up at
Jacob. “I would too if I only had a chance” “But I don’t have the business I use to.” Jacob
could see the despair in Joe’s eyes. Jacob patted Joe on the shoulder. “I know that Joe”.
Joe smiled “I checked the oil it was good and I also put the heater control cable back
on”. Joe looked at Jacob. “The heater cable?” Jacob asked. “The heater might put out
better now”. Jacob smiled big. “Thanks Joe”
Joe waved his hand at the chief. “Awe, don’t mention it; glad to help…makes me feel
useful again”. Jacob grinned. “What would we do with out you Joe”?
Jacob signed the slip and went back to the cruiser and started it up. The heater kicked on
and hot air was coming out of the vents. Jacob put the cruiser in drive and looked back at
the station. “May God bless you Joe Cooper” Jacob said as he drove away.
Chapter VIII
Snow had covered the Chevy but Roberto finally got the tire changed and was trying to
get the car out of the snow bank when a truck went by. Roberto tried to flag the truck
down but the driver just blasted his horn and sped past the stuck Chevy sending the cold
wet snow over Roberto. He slipped again and went back into the icy mess.
Roberto got back up and just looked down the road at the truck as it disappeared.
“I would have stopped for you” he yelled with tears in his eyes.
Roberto got back into the car and started it again to warm it up.
His wife was hungry. Between that the pains and the cold he knew he had to do
something quick.
He prayed once again for help. Suddenly his wife remembered that in the trunk she had a
Christmas cake wrapped up for the doctor. Roberto went back into the cold and opened
the trunk and retrieved the cake. He got back into the car. He opened the cake. He was
very glad that his wife insisted on honoring the holiday fruitcake tradition.
He and his wife shared a piece of frozen Christmas cake. Then an idea hit Roberto like a lighten bolt.
He took the fruitcake out of the pan and laid it in the seat.
“Roberto what are you doing”? His wife asked. Roberto held the pan up and grinned big
and laughed out loud. My prayer was answered! “What prayer”? his wife asked.
I have a shovel!
He jumped out of the car and used the cake pan to clear the snow from
under the car. All the while thanking God for his “shovel”.
After clearing the snow away from the tires Roberto climbed back into the car and put it in reverse.
The car started to move. “YES” he said loudly.
He put it into drive and the car moved again. After rocking the car back and forth a few times Roberto
was pleased when the old Chevy backed out into the road. His wife cried out “thank God!”
Roberto with his car on the road set out once again for the nearest town but soon the
radiator started to steam. Roberto looked at the temperature gage; it was climbing. Then
he saw a sign. He squinted and wiped the windshield again he could just make it out.
White Falls was only 10 miles away!
White Falls Roberto thought; I went the wrong way!
He looked over at his wife. ”A town is just ahead 10 miles my love”. He felt bad as he
did not know the area very well and with the blowing snow he couldn’t tell up from down
let alone a direction to go. Roberto tried to calm his wife by singing “deck the halls” but
he was so off key that his wife couldn’t help to laugh.
‘You’re a good husband Roberto I love you” his wife reached her hand out to his face.
“Even though you are a nut I still love you”.
Roberto smiled and sang even louder.
Chapter IX
J.R. was in his room playing video games when his mother walked in.
“What are playing today”? His mother asked. “Sin city” was his reply. Etta looked at the
screen then at her son with disapproval. “I wish you wouldn’t play those types of games
J.R.” she said as she gathered the dirty clothes.
J.R. put the game on pause, put down the controls down and shut off the TV.
“ok mom it’s off” he said with a sigh. ”For now” she replied.
J.R. looked at his mom. “Are you ok”? He asked.
His mom looked surprised. “Yes why”? She answered.
“Nothing, I just see you are worried about something that’s all”.
He said as he settled down on his bed with a comic book.
Etta looked at her son and smiled. “I’m fine I’m just concerned about this weather that’s all
dear” She replied as she left the room with the clothes.
She had lied. Something was worrying her; she was worried about Jacob out in this storm but she didn’t know why.
She knew Jacob had been in bad storms before but, this was somehow different. But she
knew she had to leave it up to God.
Chapter X
As the storm grew worse the roads were becoming harder to keep clear. The plow crew
had to keep the two trucks going all night and all day. As it was they were down one
truck with a bad engine. Any other time the snow would be quite beautiful but, today it
was a nightmare!
The snow that was blowing made it a total whiteout. The wind was relentless as it blew.
Sometimes the gusts were over forty-five miles an hour!
Back in his cruiser Jacob picked up the microphone.
“Chief to Dispatch do you copy”?
“10-4 chief loud and clear”.
“When will the other officers be on duty”?
“Around three p.m.”
“10-4 chief out”.
“Dispatch out”.
Two more hours before his relief gets here. This has been a lonely shift he thought.
Jacob drove past the bank; the temperature was only six above zero but with the wind-
chill it made it feel like forty below. Jacob thought about old Joe fixing the heater in the
cruiser. It made him feel even warmer.
Jacob sat in his cruiser at the corner on 5th and main watching some of the traffic go by.
Things were a lot different around here since the fertilizer plant started to lay off workers
back in sept.
White Falls was in trouble. This was not a tourist destination and it was not a big
industrial town either. The population was around thirteen hundred and that was going
down every month.
Jacob had hoped that the fertilizer plant would be bought out by a bigger company but,
the sale has not gone through yet.
The only hope left would be more grants from the state but there was no money in the
program until May of next year.
Several businesses had closed their doors and there was just no more work available.
Anyone who had a job had better cherish it. A lot of people moved to Des Moines and the bigger cities.
Jacob strained to see through the window of the cruiser, in the driving snow an outline of a person
walking could just barely be seen.
The person fell several times and got back up again. Jacob couldn’t make out who it was but
he was sure it was a man. Not a good day for anyone to be out in this weather; if he is
going to the store he was in for a surprise Jacob thought.
A plow truck went by and blocked his view of the lone man. When the truck passed he saw the man standing on the corner.
Jacob drove over to the man and stopped. He rolled down his window. “Are you lost”?
He asked. “No” said the man “I had to get out of the house for a few minutes from the
wife and kids” Jacob nodded. “Where do you live”? Jacob asked. “26 Crescent street” he
replied “You be careful sir” said Jacob “I will” said the man.
As Jacob drove away the man ran into the doorway of the store behind him. He looked around and
started to shake the vending machine. “Damn machine; give me the money”! He yelled and kicked the
machine but nothing happened. The man got very angry. He reached into his coat and
retrieved a large screwdriver and proceeded to pry open the lock. Finally after several
minutes he succeeded and money went all over the ground. The man picked up what he
could and ran away into the storm.
Jacob thought about the man. He drove past the houses on Crescent Street. There was
no number 26. It had been condemned and torn down two years ago. Jacob drove back to
the corner where he saw the man but all he found was a broken vending machine.
Just as Jacob reached for the microphone dispatch called.
“Chief; you copy”?
“10-4”
“We have a report of the laundry mat over on 6th street has been robbed.
“10-4 dispatch I have a vending machine at Coles that has been robbed too”.
“10-4 chief, dispatch out”.
Jacob headed to the laundry mat. When he arrived the owner was there to meet him.
“Chief; I came in this afternoon to do some repair and I found several machines that were
broken into”. Jacob looked around. “How did they get in”? He asked.
The owner pointed to the door. “Looks like a screwdriver might have been used” he said.
“Ok” said Jacob. “I’ll file the report; meanwhile don’t touch anything I’ll have another
officer come over soon” maybe get some prints”.
Jacob left the Laundry mat and started to look around town for the man he spoke with.
He sure looked familiar Jacob thought. I should have checked his I.D.
Jacob called in to the office.
“Chief to dispatch”
“Dispatch” Larry answered.
“Tell the officers to look out for a lone man wearing a black watch cap, black winter coat,
brown pants and brown boots approximately 6’.
“10-4”
“I last talked to a man on the corner of 5th and main fitting that description and when I
drove around again I found the vending machine had been broken into” “it might be the
same man that robbed the Laundry mat”.
“10-4 chief”
Jacob drove around to the Plus-Mart but the store was closed and no one was around.
He got out and checked the doors, they were locked. As the chief got back into the cruiser
and drove away. a figure in the corner of the lot across the street moved away from the
area and disappeared into the cold.
Chapter XI
Joe sat at his station waiting for any customers that might come along. The chief and
the plow trucks were the only ones he saw all day. And here it was almost two p.m.
Well he thought; no place else to go.
Joe hadn’t been anywhere since his wife had passed away in ’98. To him it was just
another day. He didn’t hate Christmas but, he just had no reason to want to celebrate it he
didn’t even decorate anymore.
Joe took a drink of his coffee and lit up a cigar and took a puff. “My; it sure is pretty”.
He said out loud.
He sat there watching the snow that had been falling all morning wondering when it
might stop when suddenly; the door opened and a man stepped in. He closed the door
behind him. He was dressed in an old leather jacket a watch cap and grubby brown pants.
Joe figured from his appearance that he might be homeless.
“Is it ok if I get warm”? asked the man. Joe smiled. It had been a long time since he had someone to
sit and talk to. “Sure thing” said Joe.
The stranger took off his hat. “Thank you sir, I didn’t mean to intrude on you; I can see
you are busy, I’ll just go”.
Joe stood up and touched the man on his coat. He could feel the coldness from the
leather. “Nonsense” said Joe I would love to have some one to talk to today”!
“Come on over by the fire and have some hot coffee” he said.
The man did what Joe had offered and sat in the chair next to the wood stove. He smiled as
Joe passed him a cup of hot coffee.” “Hey” said Joe I have a lot of chilly here, want
some”? the man stood quickly.
“Maybe I’d better just go” said the man. Joe put his hand on the strangers shoulder.
“Not without something in your belly mister, it’s cold outside”.
Joe passed the man a bowl and pointed to the pot of chilly.
“It’s ok, help yourself” Joe said.
The man filled his bowl and started to eat. Just at that moment Joe sat up to the “ding” of
the service bell.
“Excuse me, I’ll be right back”. Joe put on his coat and went out the door. He looked
over by the garage bay and saw an old beat-up Chevy setting there with steam rolling out
of the grill. It was Roberto, he was panicked. “Mister, can you help me”? That was his
plea. He continued with a deep Spanish accent. “My wife, she is with child and my car
she is broke”.
Joe opened the hood. It looked bad. “I think you cracked your block; the car is dead” Joe
said. “You ain’t going nowhere in this thing” he added. Joe turned and started walking
away. Roberto again pleaded. “But mister, please help… the door to the office closed behind
Joe as he went inside.
Inside Joe went to the wall and took down a set of keys that was hanging on a hook.
He went back outside past the Chevy and went around the corner. He opened the side
garage door and started his old wrecker and drove it around to where Roberto was
standing.
“Here take my truck” said Joe as he stepped out of the wrecker. “She ain’t pretty to look at
but the heater works and she runs real good, take your wife to the hospital”.
Roberto smiled and wiped his tears of joy from his face. "May God Bless you"
Joe helped the woman into the truck then stood and watched as the wrecker sped off into
the heavy snow. “Sure glad I gave ‘em my old truck. Joe looked at the old Chevy again.
their tires were shot too”. He said as he turned and walked back to the office.
He opened the door and stepped in.
“Yep at least the truck has new tires….” He stopped talking and looked around.
The stranger was gone.
The coffee cup was sitting on the desk empty along side the bowl which was also empty.
“Well, at least he had something warm in his belly” he said aloud.
Joe went back out side and tried to start the Chevy, it cranked really slow but soon it
fired up. Joe pulled the old car into the garage where his truck had been and closed the
doors to help keep the heat in.
Christmas Eve afternoon meant no customers so Joe decided to tinker on the old car.
He soon discovered that the block wasn’t cracked after all! It was only the bottom
radiator hose had a bad cut in it. “I can fix that” Joe said out loud. So he went to the parts
room and a couple of minutes later he came out with a brand new hose and put it on. It fit
perfect! While Joe was standing back looking at the car he saw that the tires were worse
than he had thought.
“Those tires ain’t going to get them any further” he said.
He went over to his wife’s old Buick and pulled the snow tires off and put them on the
Chevy. There were like new and he never drove the car anyway.
Chapter XII
Jacob just turned onto Mayfair road when he saw a man trying to get into a parked car
across the road from Joe’s service station. He drove up and as quite as he could and got
out of the cruiser.
“POLICE”! Keep your hands where I can see them” he said with his hand on his gun.
As he walked up to the car the man turned suddenly and pulled a gun and fired two shots!
BLAM! BLAM!
Jacob fell in the snow and the man ran across the street beside the garage.
Joe had just changed the oil on the car and started greasing when he heard two gun
shots! Joe dropped the grease gun and ran outside.
He looked across the street and saw the police cruiser. He ran over and saw Jacob laying
in the cold snow. He was shot in the shoulder and blood had turned the pure white snow a
deep red. Jacob looked up and saw Old Joe. “Joe, help” said Jacob.
“Easy chief” he said to Jacob. Let’s get you inside. Joe grabbed a clean rag from his
overalls. “Sure glad they brought clean rags yesterday” he said as he put pressure on the
wound. “Don’t you worry Chief…I was a medic in WW II” he said with a smile. He
pulled out a roll of duct tape and taped the rag over the wound. “They say duct tape can
fix anything" Joe smiled and proceeded to carry Jacob back to the station.
Once inside where it was warm Joe picked up the phone but it was dead. ” “I’ll call for
help on your radio” Joe said as he got up and went out to the cruiser.
Joe opened the bronco’s door and he could see that a bullet went through the door and the radio had
a big hole through it. “Well; guess that won’t work” he thought.
He went back into the station. He could see the chief was in terrible pain.
“I have pain pills for my back chief, you should take two, and it will help ease the pain”
he said as he reached into his pocket and retrieved the bottle. He got Jacob a cup of water
and he gave him the pills.
Jacob took the pain pills. ”Thank you Joe’ you could have left me out there”. “Never”
said Joe “I never left a man alone in war and I ain’t starting now”!
“Looks like the bullet passed right through you, I think you are going to make it chief”!
Jacob looked at the door.
“The guy who shot me may still be in the area Joe, better lock the door”.
Joe got up to lock the door when suddenly it flew open! And in burst a young man with a
gun! “Give me your cash old man…do it now”! He yelled.
The man was shaking and Joe figured that this was his first time at this.
“That’s the guy who shot me” exclaimed Jacob. Joe looked at the man. “Son” he said “
Why are you doing this”? “You need to put that smoke wagon away before you hurt any
one else”. The man was confused. “Shut up old man or I’ll shoot you too”! “Now give
me the cash”!
Jacob started to reach for his gun. The man pointed the gun at Jacob.
“Put that thing away chief” Joe said to Jacob. “We have one too many in here now”.
Joe turned his attention back to the man.
“Son, its Christmas Eve. If you need money, well here it is.
It ain’t much but it’s all I got”. Joe pulled out a wad of money out of his pocket and counted out one
hundred fifty dollars and handed it to the man.
At the same time Joe reached easy for the barrel of the gun.
The man released his grip on the gun and sank to his knees crying.
Joe took the gun from him and passed it to Jacob.
“All I wanted was some money to buy Sarah and Jimmy and my wife something for
Christmas. I lost my job last month; the car went back to the bank yesterday. I have tried
all over town to get a job, no one can help me…I even called you every day but no one is
hiring”. I even knocked over vending machines.
Joe looked at the man. “Son what is your name”?
“Jon Gates” he answered.
Joe continued. “We all get into a squeeze once in a while, the road gets hard sometimes
but, we seem to make it through.” Joe helped Jon to his feet and set him in a chair.
“Sometimes we do stupid things”. Joe said as he poured coffee for Jacob and Jon.
“Bein’ Stupid is one of the things that make us who we are but, coming in here with a
gun ain’t the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we’ll sort this whole mess out”
Jon looked at Jacob. “I am so sorry for shooting you sir” I was trying to pass you the
gun when it just went off when I turned around”… “I got scared and ran”
“Shut up and drink you coffee” was the answer.
Soon the sounds of sirens filled the air. Joe looked out and saw two police cars and an
ambulance pull up. Two officers burst through the door with their guns drawn.
“Chief”! “You ok”? Larry asked.
Jacob smiled. “Not bad for someone who just took a bullet”…”How did you find me”?
Larry stood proud. “GPS locator in your cruiser” he said. ”It was your wife’s idea”
The paramedics started working on Jacob.
The other cop approached Jon. “Who shot you chief”?
Jacob paused and looked at Joe. “I don’t know” stated Jacob. “The guy ran off into the
heavy wall of snow, he dropped his gun and Joe here picked it up and helped me”.
Joe and Jon looked puzzled at each other.
“This guy work here”? asked the officer.
“Yep” said Joe. “Just Hired him this morning, the boy lost his job last month”.
The paramedics loaded Jacob on the stretcher. Jon got up and leaned over Jacob and
whispered, “Why”?
Jacob looked at him and shook his head.
"Sometimes we all do stupid things, maybe just once in a while we need to step back and let God do
his miracles.
“Merry Christmas boy”…and you too Joe thanks for everything”!
The officers helped the paramedics take Jacob out to the ambulance. Joe closed the
door behind them. Joe looked at Jon. “Well, you got one heck of a break today young
man” that should help solve some of your problems”!
Joe went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a beautiful ring.
“Here you go son, something for the little lady at home” “I don’t think Phyllis would
mind”. “She told me it would come in handy some day”.
Jon just stared at the ring. It was the biggest diamond he had ever seen.
“I can’t take this” he said. “It means something to you”
Joe smiled and handed the ring to Jon. ”now it means something to you”.
“I got my memory, that’s all I need”.
Joe reached into the box again and pulled some left over promotion toys from the oil
company.
First there was a tractor-trailer then a doll that looked like Barbie. He passed them to Jon.
“Here is a little something for your children too. Jon began to cry again and handed back
the money he took from Joe. Joe looked at Jon and pushed his hand back.
“And what do you think you would buy Christmas dinner with”? “You keep that too” Joe
said. “Now get out of here and go home to your family”. Jon turned and opened the door.
“Thank you I have never been this blessed before in my life” he said to Joe.
Joe spoke up. “You want that job”?
Jon stopped and looked at Joe. “yes….Yes sir! I’ll be here bright and early in the
morning”. “No you won’t” Joe replied. “It’s Christmas…I’m closed”.
Jon left and Joe closed the door behind him he turned the closed sign around.
Joe turned to see the stranger standing before him.
“Where’d you come from”? Joe asked. “I thought you left”.
“I never left Joe” “I have always been here” the stranger answered.
“You say you don’t celebrate Christmas, Why”? asked the stranger.
“Well” said Joe.
“After my wife passed away, I just couldn’t see what the bother was all about”.
“Putting up a tree all alone just didn’t seem right”.
The stranger put his hand on Joe’s shoulder. “But you do celebrate Christmas Joe”.
“You gave me food when I was hungry; you gave me drink when I was thirsty”.
Joe looked at the stranger in awe.
The stranger continued;
“The woman with child:
She will bear a son and he will become a great doctor”
“The Policeman you helped:
Will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists”
“The young man who tried to rob you tonight:
Will make you the Godfather of his children and you will become part of his family.
“That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man”
Joe was shocked at what he heard from the stranger.
“And just how do you know all this”? Joe asked him.
“Trust me Joe; I have the inside track on this sort of thing”
“And when your days are done here on earth, you will be with Phyllis again”.
The stranger moved towards the door. Joe just stared at the man.
“If you will excuse me Joe, I have to go now”.
“I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned”!
Joe watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing
turned into a white robe. A golden light filled the room.
“You see Joe; it’s my birthday, Merry Christmas”.
Joe fell to his knees and replied, “Happy Birthday Lord”.
MIRACLE IN WHITE FALLS