Chapter 6 - Page 61 - Rhasha's Bed

   Jim stood up and looked down the road, as if he expected God to answer his prayer immediately. In the distance, he could see two black men walking toward him. They carried something between them, each one holding an end. As the men got closer, Jim could see that they were carrying a small bed, really nothing more than matted leaves laid across two poles. A young black girl lay on her right side on the matted leaves with her knees hanging over the edge.

   The two black men laid the bed holding the young black girl at Jim’s feet. Her body seemed lifeless. Loose, discolored skin covered the twisted bones of her thin arms and legs. He saw scabbed-over sores above her right eyebrow and below the left side of her lower lip. Her hair was thin and matted, her stomach swollen from hunger. As Jim watched, her sunken eyes opened slightly and a tear ran down the side of her face onto the mat.

   Jim dropped to his knees and covered his face with his hands. Tears ran through his fingers. The two men stepped to the side, out of Jim’s way. Jim knew there was something special about this girl. He gently slipped his hand under her head and bent down to kiss her on the forehead. A sick feeling came over him as he lowered the young girl’s head down to the mat.

   Jim stood up and put his hands together. He lifted his tear-filled eyes toward heaven. “Father,” he said, “how could you allow this young girl to suffer so?”

   Jim looked at the girl on the bed of leaves. “I’ve seen this girl before,” he whispered. He looked at the two men. “Is her name Rhasha?”

   “Yes, ” the taller man replied, “but how could you know that?”