The conclusion to a short story, The newborn
Elizabeth Ann's story
It was a beautiful summer day in Chicago. The streets were alive with people rushing to catch the subway. The vehicles on the interstate coming into the city were bumper to bumper.
On a quiet street away from all the buzz, stood a beautiful old gothic church, St. Mary's.
A newborn baby girl had just been placed on the steps with a note attached to a blanket. " I'm sorry. Please take good care of her. Her name is Elizabeth Ann. "
Standing across the street behind a row of tall green shrubbery, a young girl was softly crying and saying her final farewell.
A young nun novice, Carolyn was the first to see the basket on the church steps, As she approached, she heard a soft cry. She quickly picked the baby up, taking it and the basket inside. All of the other nuns came running to see the baby. They were so pleased that Carolyn was the first to find the baby.
They all knew Carolyn's story so well, she had struggled with her decision to become a nun. She loved children and was hopeful that someday she would have a child of her own, but the strong stirring to dedicate her life to God's work was more powerful.
They all took the baby to show Father Franklin, explaining how they found the baby on the church steps.
Carolyn spoke up quickly, asking, " Can we keep the baby? " He answered by asking,. " Do you mean here at the church instead of our orphanage? " Carolyn said, " Yes " Father looked at her and saw happy tears welling up in her eyes. Father Franklin was also fully aware of her struggles between the church, marriage and a child of her own. He then pondered, " Had the baby been given as a gift from God? "
Together they all went to the chapel to pray, asking God's blessings on the baby and her birth mother.
The next week was frantically busy, fixing a nursery, painting the wall a soft baby pink. The perishioners joined in by furnishing the nursery with everything a baby needed. Carolyn was especially happy about the pink rocking chair. She knew she would be spending many happy hours rocking and singing to Elizabeth Ann.
One day about a month later a young girl appeared at the church, going into the chapel to kneel and pray. Father Franklin noticed she was crying and went to her asking, " Is there anything i can help you with? " The young girl tearfully told him she was the mother of the baby left on the church steps, only giving the baby up because her parents vowed to disown her if she kept the baby and didn't return to college to finish her education.
Father told her about sister Carolyn and the joy they all felt having the baby. The young mother, Susan was overjoyed and felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from her young shoulders.
Father told her that she was welcome to come see Elizabeth Ann anytime. Susan thanked him and walked back to the nursery to watch her baby sleeping peacefully.
Suddenly she felt a soothing tranquility enter her heart. For the first time, in a long while, she felt clean and hopeful for a bright tomorrow. She knew for certain her baby would be loved and nurtured by this loving family.
As she was walking away from the church, she looked back and saw Carolyn holding the baby and gleefully waving goodby.
Comments
H Ruby, an interesting challenge here. How do you want this done, just carry on the story here in comments, or with separate hubs like in Frank's challenge? I have some ideas.
A woman climbed the steps to pray inside as usual and then saw the basket. She stopped to look inside of it and immediately fell in love with the baby. Then she carried it inside and walked up to the front but waited until the father finished his prayers.
Change the baby girl to a baby boy and you have my story. :) Nice work with so few words, Ruby!
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Jodah, just write it anyway you choose. This is my first to do this so bare with me. Whatever your idea is, go with it. Thank you so much...
To me, this was incredibly beautiful!
I thought it was you, for a moment. Only the names don't match. Or do they? LOL
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Hello Kevin. Who couldn't love that baby? I love your response. Thank you so much.
Father Marcus finished praying with "Amen", made the sign of the cross and stood up. He saw one of his parishioners Alice, holding a basket. He didn't see what was inside at first...but then was surprised when he heard a soft cry.
He didn't know what to say at first, but assumed it must have been Alice's grandchild or niece she was looking after. The father smiled and bent over the basket, "What a pretty child" he exclaimed.
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Hello Bill. I know your story. I am so sorry. I also know that you are contented and a happy man. I've always wanted to ask if you ever found your birth mother. Thank you my friend..
How wonderful, Ruby! I will contribute to this great challenge tomorrow. Will you be adding to the story context in the hub?
“Father, I found this darling bundle on the steps just outside. I think she was left here intentionally. I didn’t see anyone else standing around, but there was this slip of a young girl who looked so forlorn, watching me from across the street. What should we do, Father?” asked Alice.
There are people Ruby who would look in the basket and just keep walking. Then there are those who might fall in love with it but could not afford it.
Kevin
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Manatitan no it is not me. I just thought it would be fun for everyone to write their version of why or how this happened. Thank you for a beautiful comment.
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Beautiful Jodah. I love how you've brought Alice into the story. Bravo..
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Genna, great addition to the story, now i'm waiting to see what Father will do. Cheers!
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Kevin, i know that is true. Thank you again..
I think that you should finish the story. It's a great platform from which most of us can take off. Still, it feels kind of special, Ruby. I'm touched!
Hello Ruby. I do not want you to think I did not stop by. I have trouble with these multiple author stories, I can never figure out where to bring the story in such a short distant of one contributor. My hat is off to you and your challenge.
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manatita, I was just trying something new. I enjoyed Frank's challenge so much, but his was poetry, probably what i should have done. I haven't a clue about finishing this. I will have to put my thinking cap on. lol..You are special to tell me you were touched. Thank you so much..
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Hello Mike. I think poetry would have been a better challenge. I agree, it is difficult to follow. You know me, always trying something new. Thank you for stopping by.
The father replied, "We can mention at mass on Sunday whether anyone wishes to claim it as theirs."
"But Father," said Alice, "Today is only Monday. Plus someone may say it as theirs but how do we know?"
"That is true", spoke the Father softly, "I guess on Sunday before I mention it I will preach about speaking the truth."
Suddenly the sunny sky gave way to angry dark clouds. The old church bells wrung, and the gentle rains came, she was too weak from pain and hunger, but she steadied herself and waited as the church doors opened. The mist evaporated as it hit the hot pavement causing smoke. She needed to see who was picking up her baby and she slowly stepped into the street. In just seconds a car shot out of the smoke as if it were fired out of a cannon... The last words that entered her mind was Find Elizabeth-Ann a good home...
Father Marcus and Alice heard the screech of tires from the street outside. They placed the basket down and raced out of the church to investigate. A horrific scene assailed their eyes. The car had tried to brake too late and struck the young woman crossing the road. The crumpled body lay on the bitumen, arms and legs protruding at strange angles, as the car that had stopped for a moment, now sped off. The priest ran over to the young woman's body...
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Kevin, Frank, Jodah I am thrilled. Thank you.
Jodah, i'm sorry but way to go...:) LOL
...Father Marcus made a sign with his left hand while holding the cross in his right and began praying. When he finished his prayer and stood up, he noticed that Alice had tears in her eyes.
"Why are you crying?", he asked. She replied, "This was the girl who was watching me carry the baby into the church. The BABY! We left it alone! Father, can you do something for me?"...
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Frank, Kevin....I'm is awe! Go baby go..........
Hey, Ruby, everybody else seemed stuck so Frank, Jodah and I...
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I know. lol..I guess some people don't care for challenges. I really do. I think i found a lot more creativity when following Frank's poetry.
Ruby, I almost missed this one, another brilliant challenge, "alas i'm far to brain dead right now to do it justice"..Frank, Kevin, Jodah, you guys are on fire. :)
I thank you Jo, as I am sure do the others, I cannot resist a challenge - to a degree. (I would not be a lion tamer, LOL)
"Yes of course Alice, but first let me call the police", Father Marcus said taking out his cell phone. "You should go check on the baby", he said as he dialled 911. He could not believe the events that had just unfolded and was shaking his head. He would never question the Lord, but he sure worked in strange ways.
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Hello Jo, jump in when your brain is rested. lol Great fun...
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Oh Kevin, a lion tamer lol..Oh my, Father Marcus is calling the police. What's this about the Lord working in strange ways?
Well, I meant things like parachute jumping, etc. Lion tamer just popped into my mind at the time.
I looked back, I cannot see when I said anything about 'the Lord working in strange ways'. When was it Ruby?
Kevin
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Kevin it is just above, you didn't say it, Jodah did.
Sounds like a great opener to a bigger story. Great job!
Hey Ruby, I posted another comment but it didn't appear...said it was waiting your approval...where Father Marcus said The Lord worked in strange ways, so you read it...lol
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Oh Jodah. I am sorry. I was waiting on someone to add to your piece. I'm afraid this is not working like it should have. I think it would have worked better if everyone would've wrote on their own page like we did with Frank's poetry. What the heck, i'm learning and it's fun. Why don't you start a challenge and we will respond on our own hub. What do you think? Thank you so much..
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Hello epbooks, i do think it could be a good story. Thank you for coming by.
This is a challenge I started awhile back but didn't really take off like I wanted. I tried to resurrect it after Frank's first challenge but got no replies. Perhaps if I asked people to add to it by creating their own hubs, but I thought they would have to go to less trouble to add to the story in comments. Check it out and see what you think.
I guess it was not entered yet earlier when I was here. I even looked under Frank's and John's entries and I did not see that one.
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Jodah, i just read your story. It can go many directions. I will give it a try. Not tonight but soon. Thank you for the invitation
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Kevin, I can't remember if it was here or not. Jodah has a hub he's listed above, read it and see what you think. I will write an ending for this hub. Thank you so much for joining in. I think we're all learning and it's been fun. I think it will work better if we write our response on our own page and link it to Jodah's page. We'll see how it goes. I really appreciate how you've joined in to make this story. Thank you so much...
I loved the beautiful ending! I wish they were all that peaceful and happy!
I love stories with a happy ending. Beautiful!
I love this Ruby, what a great story! I am useless at challenges, and just prefer to read other peoples! lol!
Very nice and satisfying ending to the story Ruby. A little different to where us men were taking it... :). Well done. Pity the challenge didn't work out as you planned, but you ended up with a good short story anyway.
I love the ending Ruby. It is in the direction in which I would have gone had I written the entire story but I did not. I knew that it was high hopes that it would end that way but someone heard me. LOL You came through in the end somehow.
One part which I do not understand though is how the original mother checked on the baby when she was killed in John's entry?
Kevin
I think you'll find Kevin, that Ruby decided to finish her own story..apart from our additions....so it didn't have to follow on from ours. Notice that the names of the people changed too.
I know that Ruby wrote it but I did not notice that the names changed John. I had been wondering why everybody was seeing the ending and I was not - I searched the posts and I could not find it. By the time that I found it up there I only wanted to read what everybody was commenting on.
Kevin
Yes I wondered the same at first...thought I'd missed something, then I found it.. :)
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Hello epbooks, so glad you enjoyed. Thank you...
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Helo Blosom, so happy you liked the happy ending. Thank you..
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Hello Nell. I fully agree. This has been a difficult task. I love challenges but not from me. I will not start anymore, but i will join in to write. Thank you so much..
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Thank you Jodah. Somehow it just didn't work. I had a difficult time getting it featured, but it is now. I want to especially thank you for all of your inputs, they were great. Blessings my friend...
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Hello Kevin. It is difficult to explain. Hubpage wouldn't feature it, i guess we all were going in different direcions, which is what you do to a challenged hub, you write your own version. Anyway i especially thank you for sticking with the story. I'm so glad you liked the ending.
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Thank's again Jodah and Kevin. I think it is all straightened out and it is now featured. I will never attempt this challenge type of hub, but i will always join in others. I absolutely loved Frank's poetry challenge. I hope he will write another one. I think poetry is the best way to go instead of a story. Take care my friends. Hugs...
This was such a heartwarming and beautiful story Ruby. Thank you fr sharing it with us. :)
Wow!! Ruby an extremely beautiful ending! The characters and conversations flowed so well!! I do hope you wrote the end as well, but if not, whoever did achieved much. I feel it is all your style and extremely beautiful.
You can sell this as a short story or build a larger plot to turn it into a book. I am very proud of you. Much peace.
Wow--some gruesome alternative endings here--But so entertaining to read--and I think you should do this again Ruby! Loved it!
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Hello Caroline, so glad you liked my story. Thank you..
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Manatita. I wrote the story. There just wasn't enough inputs. I think poetry would do better than a story in a challenge situation. Hubpages would not feature it until i wrote the conclusion. You are so generous . Thank you so much..
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Hello Audrey. Is that you? You are beautiful! I'm happy you liked my story. I loved writing it. Thank you...
This did turn out well in the end Ruby, you got it featured as a nice short story. Well done.
I could have done it, AE. Still, my heart wanted you to. I'm so glad you did. Keep on keeping on my sweet friend.
Glad for the happy endings for all. It is a beautiful story of hope.
My dear Ruby, you are surely the most positive thinker I know. A true idealist. You have created a dream with this conclusion, an awesome hope to hold on to in this world occupied by too many rigid and narrow-minded religious people. I bet in reality most men in Father Franklin's position will even regard a baby as a distraction from God.
Lovely story!
Ruby, beautifully done.:)
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I finally got enough inspiration to write a conclusion to this story. Thank you Jodah for sticking with the story. I really appreciate your continued effort. You are a true hubber pal. Cheers my friend..
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manatita your encouragement always inspires me to write. Thank you kindly for all you do and say to help/guide your hubber friends to excel. Cheers my friend...
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truthfornow, happy you enjoyed, love your comment, hope is a wonderful feeling. Thank you....
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Oh Martie i'm sure in reality your comment is true. She would've been placed in the church orphanage. I like to rise above the strict hierarchy of man's law and write about how it should and could be if we truely followed God's ' golden rule ' ( Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. ) So simple, yet we still hate and are full of greed. Thank you my dear friend, be well and happy.
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Thank you Jo for coming back to read the conclusion, so glad you enjoyed...
A beautiful heart warming story. Looking forward to reading many more!Voted up.
Oh...Ruby you have awakened another memory of when I lived and worked in Chicago. Your story is touching. Is it from facts? Are you talking about St. Mary's on Hermitage Ave?
You have got my mind in a whirl, thinking about this baby girl. Will she stay or have to go?
Love your challenge.
Blessings to you my dear friend.
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Hello Vellur. So glad it was heartwarming for you. Thank you for the vote up....
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Hello Shyron. It is pure fiction. I have never been to Chicago, although it's only about three hundred miles from me. I hate big cities. It's just a thought that came to me when i read the note on the internet. Thank you so much.
Many blessings to you dear friend...
very touching story. many blessings to the baby and her mothers.
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Hello Ruchi Urvashi. Happy to meet you. Glad you thought my story was touching. Blessings to you....
Dear Ruby,
I feel like I have discovered a buried treasure sandwiched in all these beautiful comments...
This tale tugs at my heart on every level and makes me believe in "happily ever after'...You are a born story teller! Voted UP and UABI.
Love you and have a peaceful day, mar
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Oh my, you are making my head so big, i won't be able to wear my bonnet, but that's ok, i'll buy a bigger one. lol..Putting all kidding aside, thank you for always cheering me on. You are a sweet friend, and i treasure you. Love you too. Hugs..
A very heart touching story. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you Susan. Happy it touched your heart....
Make that baby severely handicapped and run with that one. We might learn a lot about ourselves by doing so. Why not? When considering an abortion of what a severely handicapped baby might mean in terms of daily, lifelong care, many prospective moms and dads are opting to....... and there is the background for the basket on the church steps. The baby, Elizabeth Ann, was born, but given away for someone with more love to give.
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Hello Perspycarious. Nice to see you. This is pure fiction, but it happens often, whether it's a young girl or a mother with a house full of unwanted children. The story could could've gone several directions. Hubpages wouldn't feature the first part, too short, so I wrote the conclusion so they would feature it. Thank you so much. I like your idea, " She was given away for someone with more love to give. "
The sweetest and heartwarming story I've ever read. Thank you for the story. I held back some tears.
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Hello onetouchnewlife, nice to meet you, your comment touched me. Thank you so much...
I came back to re-read this and re-live memories. I respectfully disagree with Perspycacious, Elizabeth Ann was not given away for someone with more love to give. No one could give more love than the mother of the baby, she loved her baby so much she gave her up because she loved her to someone who needed someone to love.
Beautiful story.
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Hello Shyron. When a woman gives a baby up doesn't always mean that she didn't love that baby, in fact, many times she loves the baby so much she wants the very best for that child, and there are so many young women who are poor, or had the baby out of wedlock and no place to turn. My thoughts on this are, ' walk a mile in my shoes before you judge me ' I was working in emergency one day when a woman came in, bleeding profusely, she had attempted to abort her fetus , using a hanger. She had seven children, one right after the other, she was poor. I felt for her, I also felt for that baby lost, but I did not judge her then and I do not now. Some people are so quick to judge when they know nothing about the circumstance. Bless you Shyron, you have a heart. Thank you for that...Hugs my friend..
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