Be sure to read Part 1 & 2 first!

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Click to read Part 2

I look back again and I also see…. Opal.

Opal was an elderly woman.  I met her down the street and around the corner from Ramon’s home.  As I was walking out to her house, I saw that the door was open.  As I got closer, I realized that there wasn’t any door at all!  In fact, the windows contained no glass either.  This house was completely open to the elements.  I saw a figure sitting inside.  I called out a “Hello”.  A small, frail hand raised and summoned me inside.

Sitting in the shadows of a corner, on an old and worn out sofa, was a slight elderly woman wearing oxygen tubes.  I sat down next to her, introduced myself and offered her a free home Bible study.  Opal accepted.  I came to her home once a week.

Now, Opal really didn’t care what I shared with her or what we talked about.  She simply wanted company and I readily obliged.  Sometimes I’d bring a friend with me.  On those occasions I’d prep them on what to expect if it was their first time visiting.

“Wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty.  Don’t make any plans for immediately afterwards because you are probably going to want to shower and change your clothes before going anywhere else.  Also, don’t load up on food or water before we go.  I’ve never had to use their toilet and I’m not sure I’d want to.

When we get to her house, there isn’t any door, so we are just going to say “Hi” as our way of knocking.  It may take a few seconds for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.  There’s no glass in the windows so they have heavy fabric covering all of them.

There’s only a small sofa and chair in the house, feel free to sit where you feel most comfortable.  Opal’s husband may come in and join us, if he does, that chair is his seat.

Don’t mind the scruffy old dog that may meander through, he’s completely harmless.”

If my friend were on the taller side, I’d also advise that they watch their head.  Hanging sporadically here and there from the ceiling were ribbons of dark yellow fly paper, crusted over with the carcasses of winged insects big and small.

In all of this, Opal always sat at the end of the sofa furthest from the front door, in the shadows where the living room and kitchen wall met.  Her oxygen tank sat between the sofa and the wall, tucked out of view for the most part.

Opal didn’t talk an awful lot.  I could see the effort she took to breath and hear how winded she became when she did speak.  Fortunately for the both of us, I was a chatterbox and she seemed to enjoy my chatter.

When her husband did join us, it was only for a short time and he usually seemed to be coming in to observe Opal and make sure she wasn’t in need of anything.  If she was, he would quietly minister to her needs, then gently stroke her head, cupping her cheek before leaving the room.

One day I arrived to the house and Opal wasn’t there.

…..To Be Continued – Check back next week for Part 4 of my story.