“Because I’ve prayed for that, too.”
When she said it, I thought we were heading into a discussion about the power of
prayer and faith, but Jamie tossed yet another curveball at me.
“How about after college? What do you want to do then?”
“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “Maybe I’ll be a one-armed lumberjack.”
She didn’t think it was funny.
“I think you should become a minister,” she said seriously. “I think you’re good with
people, and they’d respect what you have to say.”
Though the concept was absolutely ridiculous, with her I just knew it came from the
heart and she intended it as a compliment.
“Thanks,” I said. “I don’t know if I’ll do that, but I’m sure I’ll find something.” It
took a moment for me to realize that the conversation had stalled and that it was my turn
to ask a question.
“How about you? What do you want to do in the future?”
Jamie turned away and got a far-off gaze in her eyes, making me wonder what she
was thinking, but it vanished almost as quickly as it came.
“I want to get married,” she said quietly. “And when I do, I want my father to walk
me down the aisle and I want everyone I know to be there. I want the church bursting with
people.”
“That’s all?” Though I wasn’t averse to the idea of marriage, it seemed kind of silly
to hope for that as your life’s goal.
“Yes,” she said. “That’s all I want.”
The way she answered made me suspect that she thought she’d end up like Miss
Garber. I tried to make her feel better, even though it still seemed silly to me.
“Well, you’ll get married someday. You’ll meet some guy and the two of you will hit
it off, and he’ll ask you to marry him. And I’m sure that your father will be happy to walk
you down the aisle.”
I didn’t mention the part about having a big crowd in the church. I guess it was the
one thing that even I couldn’t imagine.
Jamie thought carefully about my answer, really pondering the way I said it, though I
didn’t know why.
“I hope so,” she said finally.
I could tell she didn’t want to talk about it anymore, don’t ask me how, so I moved on
to something new.
“So how long have you been coming to the orphanage?” I asked conversationally.
“Seven years now. I was ten years old the first time I came. I was younger than a lot