DIXON and DINAH

by Danna Shirley

This was an assignment to use the following words (or any form thereof) in a story...

Feather     Decade     Weary     Light-Hearted

Alligator     False Teeth     Elevator

Emma and Bella were fun and light-hearted little rich girls who lived in a big mansion up the slope on high ground far away from the lake. Every morning they rode the elevator down to their playroom and scampered out to the backyard to greet their pet geese who waddled up to go swimming with them in their big pool.  

The girls had been warned not to approach the lake because Bruno, the alligator, lived down there and he didn’t like little girls.

Emma loved to watch Dinah preen herself as she prepared for her babies. The feathers, twigs, bark, and leaves made a soft and comfortable nest. Bella and Dixon would play tag running in and out of the trees.

The geese had been together over a decade now and were great parents with forty offspring to their credit. This was to be her ninth brood and she was excited for the day her little ones would arrive. They always returned to this section of the lake and were very careful to build their nest in a secret place far beyond Bruno’s roving eye.

Unfortunately, Bruno was always on the hunt. He was getting pretty tired, though, of skulking around looking for prey, only to lose them through his false teeth. He knew his days were numbered and food was getting scarce for an old and weary wanderer. He lay in the sun sleeping most of the day and would occasionally half-open an eye to get a glimpse of where Dinah had built her nest. This might be his last opportunity to feed on those delicious goose eggs.

 One bright and sunny day six little goslings finally broke through their shells and peeped for food. Bruno had fallen asleep on his favorite bank and missed the birth. They would always be safe from Bruno, however, for he was sleeping now and would never wake again.

Dixon and Dinah and their sweet little offspring lived happily ever after in their safe part of the lake. Eventually, they learned to waddle up to the pool too and go swimming with their best friends, Emma and Bella.

BUILDING THE JAMESTOWN

by Danna Shirley

            Returning after our five-year assignment in Japan back to our previous community in Vancleave, MS, we were excited to build our own home. That was not our immediate decision, however, for we had house-shopped in Gautier and Ocean Springs as well but found nothing to suit our taste. We were renting in Bluff Ridge subdivision (Vancleave) when we learned a lot on the next street was for sale. Amazingly, a corner lot in 1997 was just $25,000. It held beautiful tall pines and oaks and had a rolling slope toward the back.

            Our next step was deciding what to build and the floorplan we liked. Steel-framed homes were advertised and living on the MS Gulf Coast with hurricane threats every year made that a no-brainer. We attended a seminar with Tri-Steel Structures, Conyers, GA and learned how to construct using their product. We chose The Jamestown, a four-bedroom, two bath, 2380 sq ft design.

            Our rental house was catty-cornered to the lot we had purchased so it was possible to stretch a very l-o-n-g extension cord and use the power from our house to begin building. Eventually a power pole was installed to complete the project.

            Ron and I were excited to build our own home. We had two teenage sons and they had teenage friends who wanted to earn a little money. Just at the time we started clearing the lot, Ron’s employer began sending him to week-long conferences out of town. The building was slow for that reason and it took almost a year to complete our home.

            I wish I could say everything went smoothly and on budget but that was not so. Ron had marked off the footers with stakes exactly where he wanted them and then had to go out of town for a week. We don’t know w-h-o, but the stakes were moved and the footers were poured facing the corner of the lot. We wanted the house to face the street. The foundation had to be redug and repoured but we had to buy the supplies for the second time.

            Next we bought fill dirt to build up the back of the house which was on the slope. The steel was delivered and laid out on the ground for inspection. All the pieces were there…Hallelujah. My husband began a lesson in steel construction with our sons and their friends and the assembly began. There were no hammers and nails involved; we used drills and screws. I believe we used over 50,000 screws to complete the construction. I tried to do one screw and it shimmied off the stud because I didn’t have enough strength behind it to penetrate. My poor husband’s fibromyalgia flared up during this time and he was in such pain. I was glad we had those strong teenagers to work with us.

We chose brick, doors and windows, shingles and then found form and concrete workers, brick layers, tile layers, roofers, and Ron did the plumbing and electrical. With that done we shopped for the interior; cabinets, lighting, paint, showers and toilets, and finally plants and sod. Along the way I did cleanup; the screws that were dropped, the broken bricks, pieces of steel and lumber, in general just trying to keep the clutter from under foot.

Toward the end when the push was on to complete the job, I worked beside Ron all day Saturday and Sunday. I decided it wasn’t fair to leave him working while I trooped off to church for three hours. It didn’t take long for that mistake to rear its ugly head, along with our tempers. When I started cursing at him I knew it was time to go back to church.

Move-in was November 1998, two weeks after I began a new job at the Ocean Springs Fire Department. All was hectic and frantic to get it done before having to pay another month’s rent.  

After thirty years of marriage and numerous moves we wanted this to be our last home. We even joked about dying there. Ron died in our bed February 20, 2003. I moved to Bartlett, TN in October 2004 to be near my daughter and family. Hurricane Katrina struck the MS Gulf Coast ten months later. I called the man who bought our house and he said they didn't lose a shingle. I was so proud of my husband and sons. This steel-frame home was definitely the way to go. I hope I don’t have to move again but only God knows. I’ll go wherever He says.
                  

UNLEASHED POTENTIAL

Danna Shirley

My church entered into a 21-day fast beginning January 8, 2017. Several members were asked to write a devotional on the theme--Unleashed Potential to be read by the congregation throughout the fast. My thoughts focused on my failure in this area during an incident when I was a somewhat baby Christian. God can always teach us something whether during a peak time or a pit experience. Here is what I learned . . .

I was raised in the Methodist Church but don’t remember one thing I might have learned in all those years. I’m not blaming my childhood church for my lack of knowledge for I know everything is in God’s timing and my understanding was unfruitful at that age.

I quit attending church at sixteen and didn’t darken the door again on a regular basis until I was thirty-two. That’s when my husband decided we would attend First Assembly of God Church (Montgomery, AL). It only took three months of very positive and uplifting sermons and being in a worshipful atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to walk us down the aisle to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. A year later I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit at Cedar Lake Christian Assembly (Biloxi, MS) and stayed in that church for three years.

Then God messed with me, as He sometimes does with all of us. He didn’t leave me where I was comfortable and content. I was still a baby Christian when He put me in a Baptist church (Ocean Springs, MS) where my children were attending Christian school. I knew the leaders were apprehensive about my Spirit-filled background but I also knew I was being obedient to serve where God wanted me.

I stayed there a few years, working in the office and attending services. My contentment to be in this church diminished as time went on. I felt like He had put me there for a reason so there is where I had to stay, but I was becoming more and more disillusioned and unhappy. Finally a friend told me, “Just because God has moved you into this church, doesn’t mean He’ll leave you there forever. He gives us seasons in our lives and we have to know when our season is over.” That was my permission from God to move on. My season was over.

Everyone there knew the preacher’s heart just wasn’t in his calling anymore. There were whispers and concerns about this very thing and others were disillusioned as well. After God released me to leave this church, I attended one last time. The evening service, start to finish, was less than an hour. The preacher asked us all to stand in a circle and hold hands as he dismissed us in prayer. Before ending the service, however, he asked if anyone wanted to share, which was something he didn't do on a regular basis. 

This was my first experience of Holy Ghost goose bumps. A wave of heat washed over me and I knew God was prompting me to address the “condition” of this church; the lack of commitment, the gossip, the apathy, etc. but I refused to open my mouth. My thoughts screamed, "They won’t listen to me, they’re Baptist and they are already leery of me.” Some looked around the circle waiting. The preacher asked again. Another wave of heat hit me hard and I begged, “I can’t, Lord, they won’t receive what I have to say.” Of course I didn’t know what I would say but I knew God would give me the words if I would just open my mouth.

I don't know why the preacher again asked for someone to share except that God was waiting on me and giving me my last opportunity to obey him. Another heat wave but I refused. The preacher finally closed the service and it felt like cold water was poured on me, but it wasn’t the cool, refreshing water of God. I was pitiful and ashamed. I knew beyond a doubt I had failed the Lord, and I was most miserable. I went to my car and rested my head on my hands on the steering wheel and cried and cried and cried. I promised if I ever had another chance I would try not to fail Him again. I hope I’ve lived up to that promise…

Shortly after I left the church, the preacher resigned and started working in one of the casinos in Biloxi. I learned later he divorced. The congregation dispersed and the building was sold to another church that was just beginning. 

I don’t know if my silence that night was related to the end of the church but the incident has instilled in me to be more bold and obedient and to Unleash any Potential for ministry that God assigns. 

THE DEAD OF WINTER

by Danna Shirley

I sit on this park bench in the dead of winter. 

It's cold outside . . . and cold within. 

No beautiful leaves on the trees to shade me from the missing sunshine.

Where are the birds? They've flown south. They are smart--I am not!

Why am I sitting on this park bench in the dead of winter?

I will wait here for spring--when the birds return--when the sun shines again--when I can remove this coat and hat and gloves.

I am tired and weary and worn.

My husband's grave stares at me and I am lost in this cold winter of my life.

THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS (1959-1963)

Our class suggestion was to insert ourselves as a character into an old TV show. Here goes...      

I was a little scared to walk into English class in my new high school. Everyone looked me up and down as I found a desk on the front row. Mr. Pomfritt introduced me as Miss Angel Angelise, which always got whistles from the boys and eye-rolls from the girls. Of course I was no angel. Why did my parents give me that name? I could feel all eyes on the back of my neck. Then, of all things, he asked me to stand and tell everyone about myself. Egad!

In all my moves around the country there is one thing I’ve learned, face your fears head-on and get the upper hand right from the start. I stood and faced down my classmates as if I was a star on stage and they were my audience. I picked out the cutest boy in class and spoke directly to him in a sultry voice. He looked back with goo-goo eyes and I knew I had him hooked.

“Hello. My father is a visiting professor at the university so we move around a lot. I’m only here for one semester but I hope to make some good friends,” and I looked at the cute blond boy in the third row. He tripped over his feet and almost stumbled as he ran up to take my hand.

“Hi,” he grinned. “I’m Dobie Gillis and I will be your very good friend while you’re here in Central City.”

I smiled and batted my eyelashes. “Thank you, Mr. Gillis. I look forward to it.”

“May I show you around town after school and buy you a soda?”

Mr. Pomfritt cleared his throat. “That will be all Mr. Gillis. You can take your seat now.”

Dobie extended his arm and whispered in my ear as he escorted me back to my desk, “I’ll meet you on the front steps after school.”

I smiled sweetly and looked around the room. Every male eye was on me and all the girls sneered. I was not surprised. That’s the way it always was in a new school, however, there was one girl that really looked upset. She had to be Dobie’s girlfriend. I learned later her name was Thalia. I didn’t like having to deal with jealous girlfriends. I hoped this time it would be different.  

 Later, at lunch, I sought out Thalia for some friendly conversation. I didn’t want to be at odds with her or to break up a sweet couple. I had an idea. I would invite my cousin, Milton, to come for a visit. Jealousy could work both ways. Milton was handsome, smart, and broad-shouldered. I told him to zero in on Thalia and make her feel special.

Milton arrived on Thursday night and accompanied me to all my classes the next day. The girls made goo-goo eyes and the boys just sneered but he winked at Thalia and sat next to her. She, of course, was smitten and Dobie panicked at their quick connection. He didn’t even give me a glance as the green-eyed monster reared its head. Milton, however, paid no attention to anyone or anything around him but Thalia. Everything was working just fine.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” said Mr. Pomfritt. “We have a guest in class today. Miss Angelise has invited her cousin, Milton Armitage, to sit in with us. Mr. Armitage, would you like to say a few words?”

“Why, yes, thank you.” Milton was always polished and dressed in a sports jacket and tie. He walked to the front, unbuttoned his jacket, and placed his hand in his pocket. He looked like a teacher instead of a student. “Hello-o-o-o! It is my pleasure to be with you today. My cousin has told me how welcoming you’ve been to her in this new place so we would like to host a party at her house tonight and everyone is invited. I hope you can come.” There were oohs and aahs of excitement from the girls and back slaps by the boys. Milton grinned as if he’d just shared a secret and sauntered back to his seat.

“Thank you, Mr. Armitage. I’m sure you’ll be the talk of the school the rest of the day. Now, let’s get back to our studies.”

      **********************************

        Lunch period was a panic. The girls bombarded me with questions. What should they wear, or should they bring something, but mostly questions about Milton. I knew his presence would switch Dobie’s focus back to Thalia. I was not the jealous type. I had my eye on someone else. He looked kind of dopey and acted kind of silly but Maynard G. Krebs made me laugh and I needed light-hearted in my life right now. 

**********************************

        The doorbell rang and Milton and I answered together. It seemed the whole school had gotten word of the party. The yard looked like a parking lot and more and more kids poured in the front door and headed straight for the food on the dining room table. Dad disappeared into his study but I knew there would be no peace in his mind until everyone was gone.

        The Beach Boys played in the background and everyone found a dance partner. Dobie grabbed up Thalia and I could tell he was making everything right with her, as it should be. Milton surveyed the sea of girls and chose a cute young thing named Zelda. Maynard was still at the food table. I came up behind him and touched his shoulder. He jumped and turned to look at me.

        “Would you like to dance,” I asked.

        “I don’t dance,” he said matter-of-factly and put another morsel in his mouth.

        “I’ll teach you.” I put my hand on his shoulder. He gulped and put his arm around my waist. We danced and talked and laughed the whole evening. It was a grand party. By the end of the night Dobie and Thalia were back together, Milton and Zelda were an item, and Maynard G. Krebs had invited me to watch a double feature with him, The Monster That Devoured Cleveland and its sequel, Son of the Monster That Devoured Cleveland.

        All in all, it was a grand party.