Right on Top

Nashville - The man in the wheelchair came early to get everything at the end of the assembly line arranged just so. A few minutes later, the boxes would come down the conveyer and when they left him, they would be taped and sent to the big trucks. The food, water, and other supplies would support a family of four for several days. His was the last thing to go in - right on top. He came early. He didn’t want to hold things up.

Gulfport - One after another, the National Guard directed the eighteen-wheelers from Nashville into the church parking lot. Exausted volunteers on forklifts unloaded the boxes from the trucks. Others, just as tired, smiled and put the boxes in cars. Hundreds of cars each day, cars filled with hollow-eyed, depressed people. The box helped but more important was the smile, the hug, and the listening ear.

Long Beach - Pick-up trucks pulling borrowed trailers driven by the newly arrived volunteers brought the boxes from Gulfport. They made a huge stack covered with tarps. “Lord, hold back the rain.”

Bayside Park, Waveland - Door-to-door, “We have food and cleaning supplies. Can we leave some with you?”

“Yes and thank you so much.”

Or;

“No, but thank you. We have some crackers and soup. Our neighbors need it more than we.”

Or;

“What is in the box?” The couple, obviously of Middle Eastern origin, had already cleared out the trailer and raked the yard. It actually looked pretty good. Even the tent under the tarp was neatly arranged. The new chainsaw was being troublesome and he was visibly frustrated. She came to meet the three men with the boxes.

“Let’s open it and see.” The pocket knife made quick work of the packing tape and the lid flipped back.

“Ahh!” Her sharp intake of breath surprised the man.

“What? Toilet paper?” he thought.

“Mine got wet and for days I have tried to dry it but I had to throw it away today. Now I have a new one. A Bible!”

Nashville - The man in the wheelchair came early to get everything at the end of the assembly line arranged just so. His was the last thing to go in - right on top. He came early. He didn’t want to hold things up.