Mike and Louise Kerls were in their car driving from Anna Dell’s graduation celebration at the University of Missouri at Columbia. They were honored to see her receive her degree in Social Work. The sunlight followed them through the trees that lined the road into town, their home of Candlelight. Mike pulled the car to a quiet stop at the intersection at the entrance to town. Barber’s Bakery was sitting to their right, caddy corner from where they paused at the stop sign. Across the street stood The Lighthouse, the former Kerls’ Gas Station and Mini mart, with its tall eternal Christmas tree standing at the corner of the parking lot. Mike knew that Abe was working there, always diligent of the both sides of the store, mini-mart and thrift store.
As they looked straight ahead, the Candle Factory stood tall at the end of the road. A new building has been erected on the other side of The Lighthouse’s parking lot where Dell’s Farmer’s Market is established, across the street from the grocery store and next to the Candle Factory. It is a two-story brick fronted building that served many purposes. At street level, a non-profit organization called Going Forward, offers job training services for those in need. It has four classrooms and offices for counseling and other social services. The second-floor apartments are available for families transitioning to places of their own. In the basement, a gym, offering personal trainers, is open for use by anyone in Candlelight. The building is called Bright Lights.
“Which way do you want to go home,” Mike asked his wife. “The long way through town or the quicker way past Mary’s Memory Care?”
“Let’s go by Mary’s,” Lou answered him, leaning back in her seat. “I’m getting tired.”
“Right,” Mike replied as he turned the car right to head toward home. On the left, they pass the football field and stop at another stop sign As they slowly start forward again, the trees on their right display their leaves, early summer green, stand tall and show little movement as they pass the Candlelight High School on their left. The car, again, stops at yet another stop sign adjacent to Mary’s Memory Care and Retirement Center on their right and the Candlelight City Park on their left. Mike sighed as they slowly began again.
“What is it now?” Louise asked recognizing his sigh.
“Why are there so many stop signs on this road now?” Mike responded to her by asking a question. “I remember a time, not too long ago, where we could just fly down this road.”
“Well,” Lou began to answer him as they passed the park, the retirement center and were slowing for yet another stop sign. “One reason is that there are kids that run around here, and another reason is that new building over there.”
Mike looked where she was pointing. An additional building was being built next to Mary’s Memory Care. A big sign was posted on the roadside displaying a picture of what the new building was envisioned to look like, a four-story structure. It will also be a brick fronted building to match the other buildings on Main Street. The lettering on the sign said, “Coming in the Fall – Kristy’s Helping Hand – A Place to Stay the Night and Have a Meal – a Candlelight Fuller Fund Project”. Behind the sign the structure is well on its way to completion, the building standing tall with a half complete parking lot currently filled with trucks and vans, On the sides of the vehicles clever signs and logos displaying electric and plumbing contractors who were inside the building working away.
“Robert Fuller has really kept his word about improving this town. He has funded the thrift store at the Lighthouse. He has built Bright Lights and now Kristy’s,” Mike simply stated
“It is all a good thing and this entire town is improving, too,” Louise reached over and took his hand in hers. “What do you think Kristy would say?”
Mike turned left and then another quick left into the driveway at the first house on the right. They were home. The front door faced the park, the back door faced more trees and beyond that, a farm. He turned the key in the ignition to the off position and the engine silenced itself.
“I think she would say.” Mike started to sing, and Louise started to laugh. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her king.”
The End – Gregory Jenkins – Candlelight – July 1 – September 5, 2020
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