© Copyright 2005 by Dr. Ley

Robert was having another of those weeks. The refrigerator was broken and the last time the repairman came over he told Robert that if it broke again he might as well use it for storage. It had been a good one, he had had it so long he really couldn't remember when he bought it. But now was a really bad time for it to break again. With the twins starting school next month, the money he spent to repair the car, and the monthly bills, he didn't know where the money was coming from. Many people at Church had offered several times to help him and his family, but he knew they needed their money as badly as he did. He had accepted some gifts of food, clothes and other things over the months. They seemed to come at just the right time, but this was different. For two days now they had used an old ice chest to keep the sparse collection of food from spoiling, but that couldn't go on much longer. Many people would have been depressed or deeply bitter to find themselves in his predicament. But Robert continued day after day, week after week to draw strength from his family. His family, the one he had gained when he accepted Christ, was a continuous source of renewal and hope for him. He knew that he was never alone, that his struggle was felt by others and he would never have to bear any of it on his own shoulders. Sometime though, he would become a little sad as he looked at the faces of his beloved twin girls Cheryl Ayne and Anna Marie. They looked to him for everything and brought such a mixture of joy and heart-rending longing. As he sat debating his next move, he remembered an old collection of baseball cards he had saved from his childhood. He found them carefully stored in a footlocker he bought at a yard sale. As he examined each one, he remembered the joy they brought him as a boy and the tremendous fun he had collecting them from stores, friends, and receiving them as gifts. They sure carried a lot of memories, memories of good times, of simpler times. But now, at this very moment, they were worth more than he ever dreamed. They were the answer to their problem.

With the money he had gotten from the pawn shop, he drove over to the hardware store to look at used refrigerators. They didn't own anything that was new, but everything they had was a treasure in its own right. Everywhere in their house could be found something collected from yard sales, second hand stores, and even the town's garbage dump. But, with some old fashioned hard work and a little patience each item more than served its purpose. To him, they were anything but poor, they were very fortunate. To him, everything they touched, everything they returned to usefulness, was a rare treasure. It was even exciting for him and his girls as they explored others' throwaways and discards to find another new priceless item to add to their meager furnishings. The fun they had restoring the beds for the twins was unmatched, and they both loved their newest addition. It had been a while since he visited the store, but he knew that once he saw it again he would remember. He knew about where it was and as he drove he made a game out of it for his girls. They loved playing games as they drove around looking for sales or things people had set out for junk. But today they were going to a real store. The excitement was like electricity filling the entire vehicle. As Robert pulled the old car into a parking place he announced that they had arrived. Now the treasure hunt would begin. Inside were beautiful new appliances lining each wall and just packed all in between.

Slowly they walked along amazed at the new gadgets found on each. Wow—it was amazing how much things had changed in just a few years. But what he soon discovered was that with the new additions and frills came a huge price tag. As they continued to look, and examined price tags, his heart began to sink. They could never afford these, he'd have to ask about their used ones. With a short look around he saw one of the employees walking toward them. As he drew closer both realized they were acquainted. Without the slightest hint of displeasure the older gentleman escorted Robert and his entourage to another room in the rear of the store. With assistance from the gentleman and his two girls, Robert quickly began to narrow down his choices. With only two possibilities left to consider, be checked the price of each. Price, more than anything else, would dictate the ultimate choice, but he wanted his girls to be in on the decision. After all, if it were going to be added to the family treasure trove, he figured everyone should have their say about it. But he became a little more discouraged after checking the price of the two models. Both refrigerators were still more than he could afford. As he turned to thank the old gentleman for his assistance, he noticed something over in the back of the store. There, almost completely hidden by things piled all about it, was an old refrigerator.

Only seconds after he spied the old thing, his girls both fixed their gaze on it and off they went. Excited about their find they danced about it almost falling over the debris that enclosed it. As he and the gentleman began to edge toward it the man said, "I didn't even think to mention it to you. We've had it around for some time. Each week it got moved further and further back and finally ended up back here. I don't even know if it works. Hal was the last one that worked on it and he's been gone for a long time. I think the boss is planning to throw it away. Even if he agreed to let you take it, I'm sure he wouldn't want to give you any sort of guarantee. If he did, mind you, it would be an "as is" type of transaction."

As unpromising as it sounded, Robert asked the man to see about it while he and his girls inspected it further. After the man walked away he turned to his advisors and asked their opinion. To his surprise they each danced with the prospect of gaining the old worn refrigerator. "Look at it." Cheryl began. "It's perfect. It looks lonely. Can we have it daddy, can we? We'll both help give it a bath and everything." You would have thought they were talking about getting a puppy or something. How could he refuse that enthusiasm? Even if it didn't work, he thought that for what he would probably have to pay for it there would be enough left to repair it. Nevertheless, it all depended now on the owner's decision.

A few minutes later the man returned and slowly walked over to Robert. As he approached Robert recognized the look. That solemn, distasteful, bad news kind of look was written all over his face. As the man handed the girls some change for a soft drink and looked for approval from Robert, he sent them to the other side of the store. Then with his hand on top of the old refrigerator he began to explain the answer from the owner. It seemed the owner was afraid of legal actions and the sort. The owner, as the man explained carefully, really wanted to help Robert, and offered a really great price for one of the other used units. He even was prepared to give them an extended warranty free just for their business in the future. Besides the man added, the owner said he remembered what it was like to be down on your luck.

Robert carefully considered the offer, a very tempting offer, but as always he had to be practical. As good as it sounded, he thanked the man and began to walk toward his girls. He knew they would be disappointed, but there were other places to go yet. Who knew, they might find something better some place else. After all, he hoped, they would enjoy searching again as much as they always seemed to. Before Robert could walk away, the man told him one more thing.

Wryly, he looked at Robert and said, "The boss told me to set the old thing outside today before we close. He also said that if someone were to come by and pick it up, well, he couldn't stop them. And, if they were to do something like that he sure hoped that the old thing worked, because he didn't know where parts could be found for it."

Then with a wink, the man began to clear the rubble from around the old fridge.

Robert collected his girls and along the way home explained that they had to wait to pick up the fridge. Then, trying to get them through the disappointment of the moment, he began to require their ideas for giving the old thing a new look. The ideas from the twins flowed like a raging river. Some were imaginative, some humorous, some even enchanting, but they settled on one that seemed better fitting for them and the old fridge.

When they got home, the girls pulled out the well used paint set they had gotten last week from an elderly lady at Church. Many of the paint tubes were almost empty, the brushes were almost worn out, and some of the colors were missing altogether. But there should be more than enough to do the job. Excitedly they gathered other materials. They looked for a pail and cleaning supplies. They searched and explored every box and bag in the small house. In the boxes the girls used for a dresser, they found lots and lots of decorations they could use. Oh it was going to be fun, it was going to be the best adventure they had shared so far.

After Robert was sure the hardware store was closed, he collected Cheryl Ayne and Anna Marie and off they went. This time he didn't have to search for the store. They drove straight to it and pulled around back. Telling the twins to wait in the car, he got out and looked for the old fridge. From where he stood he couldn't see it, so he walked on over to the other side of the store. There only minutes ago the old thing had rested, but it looked as though someone else needing a refrigerator had gotten there before them. What was he going to say to his girls? He couldn't lie to them, that was one thing he promised he would never do. If he couldn't tell them the truth he just kept things to himself. But he couldn't keep this to himself. Granted, they weren't stranger to disappointment, but he always tried to soften the blow. Somehow he had always found a way to help them understand and at the same time move forward. It was amazing to him how well they always seemed to meet every challenge with such positive outlooks. Part of that was due to his own refusal to give in and allow things to stop him from enjoying the simple pleasures of his life. He never really stopped to think about their misfortunes as misfortunes, he always chose to look at them as challenges and prospects for finding a new treasured experience. He treasured each and every experience he was allowed to share with his girls. Together they made quite a team.

After explaining what he had discovered, the two little lights in his life responded with a heart warming answer to the situation.

Anna Marie said, "Maybe the person that got the frigerator really needed it. We still have the ice chest at home. We can make our old one pretty and use it for something else."

Then Cheryl Ayne added, "Maybe tomorrow we can find another one that will be just as good."

Now how could he argue with that kind of logic or even that positive view of things? He just hugged them both and took them back home, singing old hymns as they drove.

When they arrived home again, Robert found a note taped to the front door.

In barely legible script it said, "Sorry we missed you. The door was unlocked so we took it to the kitchen. Hope it works for a while."

While he read the note the girls made their way into the house and in just seconds screams of joy began to fill the house. Convinced that their daddy had planned this as a surprise, they ran to grab his neck and thank him. He would often do things like that. One time he found a pair of lamps and, after cleaning and polishing them, placed them in the girls' room for them to discover. With them tugging at him and asking him to hurry, the girls led him to the side of the room they used for a kitchen. There, resting beside the old cast iron sink was the old fridge. Someone had cleaned it and it was already purring away. Eagerly they placed the eggs, bacon, and other food inside. Then, just as they planned the girls set about decorating it. With every stroke of the brush, with every loving addition of old oil paint, they began to transform the old worn surface into an original artwork. As Robert watched, he realized the gift his two girls possessed. It wasn't their joy and beautiful nature he was seeing, it was a different gift. They were really, actually, painting a masterpiece. It was so real looking, so beautiful, he was almost overcome. How had this remained hidden from him, he though he knew everything about those two. Genuinely intrigued, he watched as that old worn out refrigerator transformed into a tremendous collage full of meaning and life. With the last touches applied by those small hands, they all stood back and gazed in amazement at the wonder that stood before them.

It was truly a gift, a gift that somehow he would have to help them share. A gift, he was convinced needed to be encouraged and developed. He would strive to help them, he would find a way to do just those things. Even as wonderful as this was, there was something waiting even more amazing. There was something waiting for them to discover that even they would have trouble understanding, or believing.

The next morning Robert removed half of the eggs and the rest of the bacon for breakfast. While preparing them, he asked the girls to set the table and pour some juice for each of them. He was so proud of them, for many reasons. They were so industrious and had learned to do a great many things to help out. As soon as breakfast was over he would again drop them by Margie's on his way to work. He never talked about his work with the girls, but it was all he could find. He wasn't getting rich, but there usually was enough to meet most of their needs. At least it was honest work and he felt good every day as he returned home. There was just something about working hard and doing the best he could that made him feel good. Hopefully with his paycheck and the money from the cards, he would have enough to buy school supplies and groceries. But, that wasn't going to bother him right now. The morning was a special time for them and he wasn't going to dilute it with all that money nonsense. This was the time, as they sat together, to be thankful for what they had and for the blessings that seemed to continue to embrace their family. And today they had even more reason to be thankful, even if they didn't realize it yet.



After they left on their way to start another day, the old refrigerator just sat there humming along. During all the excitement not one of them had noticed the power cord or checked under the old machine. The power cord, frayed and worn from years and years of service lay hidden behind the fridge. Under it, now filled with lint, dust, and all kinds of accumulations there was a surprise. The compressor, which had locked up about five years ago, had been removed by Hal when he attempted to get the fridge ready for sale. Since he discovered how badly the compressor was damaged, and the other problems with the old thing, he set it aside for when he had more time. Occasionally Hal would spend a little time fixing small things but the search for a new compressor seemed fruitless. The old fridge had been around so long the prospect of finding parts, especially a compressor seemed very unlikely.

One day, out of desperation, he set an old compressor from a newer model under it, but didn't get a chance to install it. He figured that when, and if, someone bought it he could install the compressor then. In the mean time, he had lots to do to spend any more time working on that old crate. The store had just expanded and began to carrier more lines and products. It was all he could do now to keep up with his workload. As time passed, the old fridge just got pushed further and further back away from the other appliances. Before long it and it's missing parts were removed from the showroom floor altogether. Since only Hal knew about the missing compressor, eventually the one he had planned to install was used to repair another unit. The old fridge just became a collector of junk, more of a problem than anything else. Neglected, it just sat as more and more debris piled up around it.

For the next few days the morning routine for Robert and his girls continued. Each morning Robert removed half of the eggs and the rest of the bacon for breakfast. And each morning the girls took care of their chores as well. But what Robert seemed to overlook Cheryl Ayne and Anna Marie discovered the second day. After that, every morning they would giggle to themselves as they helped. To them it was quickly obvious that the old fridge was paying them back for giving it a home and just for loving it at all. They discovered that no matter what was put into the old fridge, it never ran out. If they put a glass of water in at night, drank it the next day, it was there again the next night. It didn't matter what they put in, the old fridge kept replacing it as they used it. The ten eggs they originally put in the fridge, for example, had made breakfast for them for several days, and there were still ten eggs in the fridge every morning. As the days passed the girls just accepted it, and even though they still giggled at their daddy for not realizing it, they just continued to love the old fridge. They figured that one day soon, if he didn't notice what was happening, they would sit him down and explain it.

When Friday came Robert asked the girls if they wanted to go adventuring again, like they did every weekend. But this time he thought a trip to the next town would be nice for a change. As soon as he suggested it Cheryl and Anna jumped and danced with excitement. This meant they would have the opportunity to explore maybe even newer and better places. Anyway, at least, they were going to get the chance to ride for a while and see something new. They just loved the way their daddy made everything an adventure. The best part to them was that they got to do something with him. It didn't really matter to much what it was, just as long as they did it together. The next morning the girls woke Robert up just like they did Christmas morning. After a short breakfast, they piled in the old car and began their trek to the next town. Along the way, the girls were sure, they would find wonderful places to stop and inspect new additions to the family treasure trove. It was a beautiful day and the three couldn't have been happier as they explored all the yard sales and flea markets along their route. It was going to be late that evening before they returned, but to them it was time well spent.

Two young men, desperately trying to evade the police, broke the glass in the back door of Roberts house. In just seconds they were inside, and still panicked, they searched for a place to stash the small brown bag. In their haste to get away they concluded that if they did get stopped by the police, it would be better if they didn't have the money on them. As they looked around, they figured the house was empty. There were only a few furnishings and the place looked like someone had packed up, moved out, and left the remaining items behind. The stairwell to the second floor had been closed off, probably they figured, because it had been condemned or something. As they surveyed the house for a hiding place for their bag, they heard a commotion in the back yard. Figuring it to be the police hot on their heels, they threw the bag into the old fridge, slammed it shut, and ran like mad out the front door. In their frenzy to avoid capture, they never bothered to notice the color of the house, its number, or anything that could help them find it again. Later, several blocks away, they finally stopped and slowly began to regain their senses. When they realized their blunder it was much too late. So they just chocked it up to stupidity and inexperience but were mainly just thankful that they hadn't gotten caught. The 120 dollars or so that was in the brown bag wasn't that important to them. Not nearly important enough to risk trying to find it again.

One of the officers, looking for the two boys, cruised by the house shortly after they left. As he rode by the front the officer noticed the front door open. With a call to dispatch other officers were on their way in minutes. Carefully they investigated the house, but they were too late. All they could do now was file a report and call back later to find out what had been stolen. From the looks of the place they figured the thieves had gotten away with quite a lot. After taking a few pictures, dusting for prints, and one last look around the police closed up the house the best they could and left. On the table, one officer left a note to call the department as soon as possible. For now, there was little more the police could do. There were many other areas to check and much more to investigate as they returned to their search.

Robert and his two girls arrived home well after dark. They were all tired from their adventure and were looking forward to spending the rest of the evening relaxing. After Robert opened the door, Cheryl ran straight to the old refrigerator and pulled out the pitcher of ice cold water. They were all thirsty and the thought of a cold glass of water was very inviting. Just before closing the door to the fridge, Cheryl noticed a brown bag lying on the shelf. Sitting the pitcher on the counter for Anna Marie, she reached back into the fridge and grabbed the bag. While Anna Marie began pouring the water, she opened the bag and squealed as she examined the contents. It was money, lots of money! The little brown paper bag held more money than she had ever seen in her whole life. Quickly she revealed the contents to Anna Marie and they both looked at each other and just giggled. Robert was standing by the table reading the note when Cheryl came up to him to hand him the bag. As he took the bag from her he asked where she had found it. With another giggle, she told him she found it in the old refrigerator. After a brief look around, Robert easily found where the two boys had entered the house. The window would have to be fixed, but first he picked up the phone and dialed the number for the police.

Shortly afterward and officer knocked on the front door. As Robert invited him in he noticed the officer seemed a bit old for that type of work. The man, who had white hair, a powerful but pleasant voice, and a beaming face, thanked Robert for calling and asked if he had any idea who the culprits were. After a few more questions, and as the officer slowly examined the bag, he told the Robert and the girls that most people wouldn't have bothered to mention the money. He told them that most people would have just kept the money and made a big deal about the break in. Anna Marie handed the old gentleman a cold glass of water explaining how thirsty she thought he must be after his long walk. She didn't miss much, for in fact there was no police car parked out front.

With a broad smile and twinkle in his eye, the old officer took the glass of water and thanked her for her kindness. Robert asked if he would like to stay for supper and invited him to sit for a while. Almost glowing the old officer graciously declined and said he had to leave. He explained that he had much to do, but would remember the hospitality and gracious invitation.

As he prepared to leave, he looked down at the twins and said, "Your father is an honest man. The world needs more people like him. He new exactly what to do with the money as soon as he saw it. I'll bet you are very proud of him and I'm sure he is proud of you."

Then he turned his gaze to Robert and said, "They are special. You have been blessed in many ways. I know you will always try to do the right thing for them and you. I think next week is going to be a very rewarding and giving week. See you later."

For the next few days little was mentioned of the break in. Robert and the girls just continued their lives and maintained the habits they had developed together. That is except for one thing. The girls had added a new, secret routine to their morning. Each morning while Robert was busy getting breakfast ready, either Cheryl Anne or Anna Marie would sneak a brown bag into their room. They were planning a big surprise for their daddy. But they had a problem, a twofold problem. When were they going to tell him and how were they going to explain it. They were both sure he was going to have trouble believing the truth about the old refrigerator. They were both still a little curious about why he hadn't figured it out already. Many times they just wanted to tell him, to show him how wonderful the old refrigerator was. But they kept hoping he would discover it himself, at least then when they told him the rest he would understand.

Another week passed, and just as the girls had built up the courage to tell Robert their secret, he came home with some news of his own. Excitedly he sat the girls down and told them he had received a promotion at work and held in his hand a large bonus check. As he waited for the girls to settle down, he asked if the girls would like to have a special supper. He wanted to invite some of the people in the church to share in his blessing. So he asked the two girls to change and get ready for company. He also explained that soon they would be able to open the upstairs and start using the whole house. That meant the girls would have their own room and they'd all be able to enjoy the whole house. After a short celebration Robert walked to the kitchen as the girls went to change for supper. Looking back over her shoulder Cheryl Anne noticed her father open the fridge and it looked like he was going to place the check inside.

After the two girls finished telling Robert the whole story they sat back and waited to see what he would do or say. Robert, kneeling down, hugged them both and thanked them for telling him everything. Then he explained that he had, on several occasions, felt something strange was going on, but didn't try to find out what it was. He admitted that even though he enjoyed every hour of every day with them, his job had really been on his mind much of the time. He also admitted that he sometimes worried about not being able to give them a better life. Then, with Cheryl Anne in one hand and Anna Marie in the other, they walked into the kitchen.

He looked down at them both and said, " I know a young family that sure needs a refrigerator. So what do you think?"

The next afternoon Robert helped the young man load the old refrigerator into a borrowed pickup.

And with his girls by his side said, "We hope you enjoy it as much as we did and that you are blessed as we were."




HEY! and don't forget to e-mail Dr. Ley if you have a comment!





Dr. Ley has also been published by He Touched Me by Publish America, Warriors of the Fantasy Realm by Heliographica Publishing, Dawson's Adventures in Ooh-Gah-Wah by New Global Publishing, Dawson's Christmas Adventure (ibid), The Sand Dollar (ibid), Tsinivari Mulo: The Hidea-Behind (still in publication), Dream Collector (still in publication) , The Linguist (contracted)



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