Silver Bells
2002
As told by Jan Meehan

Dark.

I slowly open my eyes,
Peer around the room,
but there is no one there.

Settling back to sleep,
I hear it again.
A voice.

“Jan.”

Not fully awake, I answer,
“Who’s there?”

“It’s me, Ralph.”

I am confused, scared,
Amazed.
“Ralph? Ralph Untener?
But...but...you’re...
I...went to your funeral last week...”

“I need you to do me a favor.”

I am speechless,
Astonished by the impossible voice

“I need you to buy a bell
And give it to Ruth
With this message:

Ruth,
Whenever you are sad or lonely,
Just ring this bell and remember
An angel has his wings.”

* * *

Too tall
Too shiny
Too fancy
Too dull

Ah, here’s a perfect bell.
I pick it up and look at the price tag.

Sixty-nine dollars.

And ninety-five cents.

I put it back down.

“Next store,”
I mutter to myself
As I head out the door.

Five stores later
I am ready to give up.

Heading toward a discount shelf
At the back of the shop,
I spy a perfect little silver bell.
What is this doing back here
with all this junk?
I think.

Hardly daring to hope,
I turn over the price tag.
$5.00, it reads.

Clutching my treasure,
I make my way up to the clerk.
“Five dollars?” She is surprised.
“It was thirty-seven yesterday.
That’s quite a markdown.”
But she rings it up anyway.

The total comes to $5.32.
Looking into my purse,
I have $5.35.

* * *

Pulling up in front of Ruth’s house,
I pull out the tiny package
And hastily scribble a note.

Ruth,
I’m sorry for the loss of your husband
He will live on in our hearts.
Whenever you are sad or lonely,
Ring this bell and know
An angel has his wings.

In loving memory of my grandpa, Ralph Untener, March 16, 1929 - May 31, 1993. Thank you for the silver bell and for the gift of faith.