Chapter 7 - Page 87 - Jim's Promise

They each had memories to share, laughing over the happy ones and growing quiet over the sad ones. Some of their memories included Jim, who sat in his chair across from them.

   After a while, Thamish noticed Rhasha and Jim looking at one another and realized that they wanted to be alone. He told Robbie to go get some sleep. Robbie kissed his sister and returned to bed. Thamish and Thasha kissed their daughter and went to their bedroom. Jim suspected neither Thamish nor Thasha would get to sleep.

   Jim and Rhasha sat on the edge of her bed and held each other’s hands. Finally, Jim released Rhasha’s hand. He picked up his guitar and began to sing. “This little light of mine, Lord, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, Lord, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, Lord, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

   Smiling at her surprise, Rhasha began singing with him. She’d learned all the songs Jim sang to her every night.

    “Jesus gave me light, now I’m gonna let it shine. Jesus gave me light, now I’m gonna let it shine. Jesus gave me light, now I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine,
let it shine.”

   In their bedroom, Rhasha’s mother heard her daughter’s beautiful voice singing and began to cry.

   “Everywhere I go now, I’m gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go now, I’m gonna let it shine. Everywhere I go now, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

   When they finished singing, Jim leaned his guitar against the wall and kissed Rhasha. He moved his chair next to her bed, so they could go to sleep. Rhasha laid down on the bed and slid to the opposite side. She pulled on Jim’s arm, inviting him to join her.