BACK TO E

BACK TO E-BOOK

Some Pass By....

A Love Story Judith Bronte

Table of Contents

One - The Good Samaritan . . . page 3

Two - Open Thine Hand Wide . . . page 9

Three - 'Throwaway' . . . page 17

Four - Safe Refuge . . . page 22

Five - Exodus . . . page 29

Six - A Stranger's Shame . . . page 37

Seven - Still Waters . . . page 41

Eight - One of Life's Surprises . . . < page 50

Nine - The Open Hand (Epilogue) . . . > page 57

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter One

The Good Samaritan

"A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell

among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded

him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there

came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he

passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was

at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the

other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came

where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on

him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil

and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an

inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he

departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and

said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest

more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these

three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the

thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said

Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

~ Luke 10:30-37 ~

The busy city awoke to Monday morning, ready to face another

hectic week of work and life. Like most city dwellers on such a

weekday, Hannah Anderson started off on her daily trek to the

office. Hannah had spent the weekend with her parents in the

country, something she always did, for she was never so happy

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

as when she returned home. The love she felt from her parents,

would tide her over to the next weekend. Unlike most people,

Hannah never disliked Mondays. It just meant she was one day

closer to Saturday, and her parents. It was with these thoughts,

that she walked down the sidewalk, on her way to work.

However, when Hannah came to the stoplight, her thoughts

changed course. This day had started like most others, but

somehow, something felt different. Then it came to her. Hannah

looked around for the panhandler who had chosen that place as

his spot. She had grown accustomed to his silent presence at the

stoplight. She would greet him with a smile and drop lose

change into his cup. The man would nod and look down, never

saying a word. Hannah had observed his long, unkempt brown

hair. She had noticed his beard reached the top of his faded blue

jacket. She saw he always wore the same pair of worn sneakers

- ones with duct tape wound about them, to keep the soles in

place. To her horror, she had even observed he never wore

socks, no matter how cold it was outside. Ever since Hannah

had moved to the busy city five months ago, her pity grew for

the panhandler at the stoplight.

But today, the spot where he always occupied, stood empty.

Every day, without fail, he had always been there. Hannah

looked at the other people that waited at the stoplight. Most of

them she recognized, for they too, made the same route to

work, every day. As the light turned green, Hannah saw none of

them had noticed the missing member of their daily gathering.

She looked at her watch. Yes, she had a little time before work.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

For the first time in months, Hannah did not cross the street

with the others when the light turned green. Instead, she

searched the side walk on either side of the stoplight. It was

then, she saw a dark alley separating two tall buildings near the

panhandler's spot.

By nature, Hannah was not intrepid. However, her concern for

the stoplight panhandler, and her desire to not be late for work,

propelled her forward in action not typical of a generally,

thoughtful young woman. In her haste, though, she remembered

to pray before entering.

"Safety is of the Lord," she reminded herself. She wrinkled her

nose, for everything smelled of foul odors, and rotting trash.

Cardboard boxes were piled up high against trash cans; a small

stream of water ran down the black asphalt. Hannah slowly

walked to the end of the alley.

As she turned to leave, Hannah noticed a huddled form

crouched between two trash cans. She gave a sudden start, but

the form did not move. It did not seem to be aware of her

presence at all. Hannah took a step closer, careful not to make

any noise. As dark clouds softly parted overhead, a ray of light

fell upon the huddled form's face, revealing the stoplight

panhandler. His eyes were closed, and his arms were wrapped

around his torso. The faded jacket was no longer blue, but

soaked in a dark red substance. Alarmed, Hannah knelt down

beside him on the damp asphalt. Hannah bent down and put her

ear up to his chest. His heart was beating, but it was very faint.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

This man was dying. Hannah jumped to her feet, and dashed

out of the dark alley. She had to find a telephone, quickly.

No one noticed the young woman as she frantically ran down

the streaked gray sidewalk, searching for a pay phone. Across

the street, she spotted a secondhand bookstore. Hannah quickly

crossed the street, forgetting to look before she did so. A yellow

taxi screeched to a halt, narrowly missing Hannah. The driver

stuck his head out and yelled at her in a language she did not

understand.

"Sorry!" Hannah called back. She opened the bookstore door

and ran to the counter. "May I use your phone? It's an

emergency!" she hurriedly asked an old man sitting by the cash

"Just so as it's not long distance," he replied grumpily. Hannah

nodded as she grabbed the telephone receiver. Her fingers

trembled as she dialed 911. To her disbelief, the number was

busy.

"Please, God, make them answer!" she urgently pleaded. The

old man opened his eyes again, curiously observing her anguish

as one would passively watch television. Hannah's heart

pounded loudly in her ears. The sound reminded her that with

every passing moment, the stoplight panhandler lost more

blood. "Don't let him die, God!" she prayed outloud. After what

seemed to Hannah to be an eternity, a voice answered.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"This is 911 emergency. How may I help you?" asked a

woman's voice. For a moment, Hannah's tongue glued to the

roof of her mouth.

"Please get an ambulance to the corner of Jefferson and

Madison right away! There's a man in the alley... he's lost a lot

of blood!" Hannah pleaded frantically.

"Stay calm. An ambulance is on it's way," the woman's voice

assured.

"Thank God!" exclaimed Hannah. The emergency dispatcher

asked who she was, and then hung up when the sirens were

within hearing distance. Hannah dashed out of the bookstore,

heedless of the oncoming traffic, and stood at the entrance of

the alley. An ambulance pulled up beside the curb, it's red lights

flashing.

"Over here!" she called. Two men jumped out of the ambulance

and followed Hannah down the alley. She watched as they

unwound the limp arms of the stoplight panhandler.

"It's a knife wound," she heard one of the men say. When a

policeman tapped Hannah on the shoulder, she jumped.

"Were you the one who called 911?" he asked.

"Yes, I was," replied Hannah, nervously.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"Did you know him?" the policeman asked, pointing at the limp

form being lifted onto a stretcher.

"No."

"How did you find the body?" he asked. Hannah felt faint. The

walls of the alley began to spin around her.

"I was walking..." she began. Suddenly, everything became

black.

"[She] that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD;

and that which [she] hath given will He pay [her] again."

~ Proverbs 19:17 ~

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter Two

Open Thine Hand Wide

"He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath

mercy on the poor, happy is he."

~ Proverbs 14:21 ~

When Hannah opened her eyes, she found herself lying on a

stretcher, with sirens screaming loudly in her ears.

"Do you feel better?" asked a voice. At the foot of her stretcher

stood one of the emergency workers who had arrived in the

ambulance. The stretcher suddenly bumped against the wall. It

was then, Hannah realized she was in an ambulance.

"I'm all right. You can let me out right here," she said pointing

to a window.

"I think it would better to have a doctor examine you first," he

explained.

"But, I'm late for work," she protested. The man did not hear

her, for he was busily engaged with a person in the stretcher

beside hers. To Hannah's surprise, it was the stoplight

panhandler. A clear hose had been placed over his mouth,

pumping oxygen into his still unconscious body. The

emergency worker turned his eyes to a little monitor with a

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

jumping green line. Hannah lay quietly on the stretcher.

Suddenly, the green line stopped jumping, and a flat line took

it's place. The emergency worker grabbed two white discs and

placed them on top of the panhandler's chest. His body jolted

upward and then slammed back down onto the stretcher. He

continued to do this until the green line began to jump again.

"He almost died, didn't he?" asked Hannah.

"His heart stopped beating. But, for now, it's working again,"

the man said, sitting down. Soon after, they arrived at the

hospital. The doors opened, and the stoplight panhandler was

lifted out. Hannah climbed down on her own two feet. A rush

of activity surrounded her, as nurses rushed the unconscious

panhandler into the hospital. Hannah was led inside, and

checked over to make sure she was really all right. Then, the

police had her answer some questions. She told them what had

happened.

"If I were you," warned the police officer who had been asking

her the questions, "I would stay out of dark alleys. Especially, if

you are alone."

"But, it's Providential I did, this one time," smiled Hannah.

"It's just another transient," shrugged the officer, tucking the

clipboard he had been writing on, under his arm. "If this one

lives to be discharged, he'll be out on the streets again. Bums

like him die everyday." The police officer checked his clipboard

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

one more time, and walked away.

A sick feeling crept over Hannah. She navigated her way to the

main exit, and quickly left the hospital. Hannah looked up at

the sky. Usually, the air was filled with smog, but a gentle

breeze sent out from God's heavenly chamber had carried the

man-made poison away. Hannah gratefully thanked God for the

safety He had given her that morning.

"Lord, safety does come from You," she prayed thankfully. In

spite of the pure air and the warm sunshine, Hannah's heart was

crying.

She arrived at work

The policeman's words echoed in her mind.

"Just another transient." A crowd of people exiting a nearby

building, shook Hannah from her uneasy solitude.

"Two hours late," she thought, glancing at the time on her

watch. With a quick step, Hannah rejoined the route to work

she had abandoned earlier that morning.

"There you are!" exclaimed Jenny, her voice betraying relief, as

Hannah sat down at her desk. "Mr. Hanley has been asking for

you every ten minutes..." Jenny's voice was cut short as the

office door beside Hannah's desk, opened. A man glared

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

impatiently at her from the doorway.

"Miss Anderson," he said severely, "I see you have decided to

join us, after all." Mr. Hanley ran the back of his right hand

over his dry forehead, a habit he practiced often, especially

when impatient. "Miss Anderson, did you finish the report?

Because, if you did, there is a large room of very busy people,

waiting to read it." Mr. Hanley's voice grew louder with every

word he spoke.

"I finished typing it last night, Mr. Hanley," she replied calmly,

holding out the report, "even though it was not due until

Wednesday." Jenny shrank back at Hannah's unintimidated

demeanor. Mr. Hanley snatched the four hundred and sixteen

page report from Hannah's hand, and walked quickly to the

elevator, no doubt, on his way to the large room filled with very

busy people. A sigh of relief came from Jenny as the elevator

doors closed, leaving them in peace.

"Why doesn't he terrify you, I'll never know," she remarked.

Hannah started her computer and immediately went to work.

Jenny slowly walked back to her desk on the other side of the

room. She knew Hannah hated to talk while working, but her

curiosity was building every minute.

"Hannah, why did the police call Mr. Hanley?" Jenny's question

startled Hannah from her work.

"I guess, they were checking up on me," she said thoughtfully,

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

more to herself than to Jenny. Upon hearing this, Jenny

wheeled her chair from across the room and planted it beside

Hannah's desk. Hannah laughed outloud. "There isn't much to

tell, Jenny. Someone needed help, so I called the police. I told

them who I was, but I guess, they called Mr. Hanley to verify

it." Hannah stopped, as if there was nothing more to tell.

"Who needed help?" asked Jenny, curiously.

"There was a panhandler who stood beside the stoplight on the

corner of Jefferson and Madison," began Hannah reluctantly. "It

appears he was stabbed, or something, so I called the police.

When they began to ask me questions, like an idiot, I passed

out." Hannah had to admit that it did feel good to talk about it.

"Next thing I know," she continued, "I'm in an ambulance with

the stoplight panhandler. They said I had to go to the hospital

and be examined, and to answer a few questions. Then, half

way there, his heart stops!"

"Who's?" asked Jenny, trying to keep up with Hannah's fast

paced narration.

"The stoplight panhandler's. The emergency worker got it

beating again, but the policeman said it didn't matter." The

flood of emotion that had been slowly welling inside Hannah's

heart, could no longer be held at bay. She began to cry. Jenny

put her arms around her.

"Oh, Jenny! He said 'bums like him die every day!'"

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"But, it's not your problem," she comforted. "People like them

are on the streets because they refuse to work, or they're

alcoholics, or drug addicts." Hannah pushed Jenny's comforting

arms away. "Why should it matter to you?" asked Jenny,

puzzled by her friend's behavior. "Since when did it matter so

much? We pass by people like them on the streets everyday."

"Yes, we do, don't we?" Hannah said in a half-whisper. "Just

like the priest and the Levite in the story of the good Samaritan.

We look, and pass by on the other side."

"Well, what are we supposed to do?" cried Jenny, growing

impatient with Hannah. "People like them are everywhere! We

can't very well help all of them!"

"No, we can't. Jesus said, 'ye have the poor with you always.'

But, He went on to say, 'whensoever ye will ye may do them

good.'"

"People like them deserve what they get, Hannah!"

"We all deserve what we get, except when it comes to mercy.

Mercy is something we are not worthy of, and yet receive.

Remember Jenny, 'for God so loved the world, that He gave His

only begotten Son'. If that's not mercy, I don't know what is."

Jenny remained silent. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with

all thy heart... and thy neighbour as thyself," quoted Hannah,

thoughtfully.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"And just who is my neighbor?" retorted Jenny sarcastically.

Hannah stared at her friend in disbelief.

"Why are you so bitter? I've never known you to act this way

before." Jenny groaned, and folded her arms.

"Hannah, you're still new to the city. You've lived here, like

what... all of five months? Two years ago, I was walking home

from a late night at the office. A panhandler approached me on

the street, and asked for any loose change I could spare. I gave

him the money, and then he raped me. So, now when I see a

homeless man begging for money, I turn the other way. I hope

they suffer- every last one!" Hannah sank down into her chair.

"I'm sorry you were hurt, Jenny. But, not every homeless man

on the street is a rapist." Jenny turned her head away, but

remained beside Hannah's desk. "If only..." began Hannah in a

voice brimming with compassion, "if only, you could have seen

the man who stood at the corner of Jefferson and Madison. If

only you could have seen the thread bare clothes he wore, the

absence of happiness in his eyes, and the look of humiliation

that crossed his face every time I put money into his cup. When

I saw him huddled beside the trash cans, his life slowly ebbing

away, I felt sorry for him. God gave me the opportunity to have

compassion on someone I pitied." Hannah looked at Jenny.

"'For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I

command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto

thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.' God said

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

that in Deuteronomy, chapter fifteen. Open your hand wide, as

well as your heart, Jenny." The tears that were glistening in

Hannah's eyes, now also glistened in Jenny's. Jenny reached put

her hand, and Hannah took it in her own. Jenny was about to

speak, when the elevator doors opened and Mr. Hanley stepped

into the room. He saw the tears in both Hannah and Jenny's

eyes.

"Ladies," he said in a voice of mock condescension, "well may

you both weep, for the office is at a stand still while you

gossip!" Mr. Hanley stormed past them, and shut himself up in

his office. Jenny gave Hannah's hand one last squeeze, and

wheeled her chair back to the desk across the room. Hannah

turned back to her computer, but found that her trembling hands

could not type.

"Today would be a good day to organize the files," she thought.

So, that's just what she did.

"The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low,

and lifteth up."

~ 1 Samuel 2:7 ~

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter Three

'Throwaway'

"The poor is hated even of his own neighbour:

but the rich hath many friends."

~ Proverbs 14:20 ~

"I credit my success to hard work and advice my father gave

me. 'Son, the difference between a hero and a fool, is success.

A fool takes a chance, and fails. While the hero takes a chance,

and succeeds.'" Mr. Hanley leaned back in his chair, and lit a

cigar. "Excuse me, would you like one? They're Cuban," he

said temptingly. The reporter shook her head politely. "Well,"

Mr. Hanley shrugged, "you never know, these days."

Hannah quietly shut the door while Mr. Hanley finished his

interview. It had been three days since Hannah had last seen the

streetlight panhandler. Even though her job demanded so much

attention, Hannah found herself wondering how he was doing.

"Why don't you visit him in the hospital?" urged Jenny.

"I would feel awkward," Hannah protested. "I don't know him.

I'm not his friend or his family."

"I'll go with you," Jenny offered. The offer was tempting.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"Do you really think it would be all right?"

"You saved his life. It's natural for you to want to know how

he's doing," reasoned Jenny.

When lunch break finally arrived, Hannah and Jenny made their

way to the hospital.

"I would like to visit the man who was brought here three days

ago, with a stab wound," explained Hannah to the nurse at the

front desk.

"What's his name?" she asked, mechanically. Hannah looked at

Jenny, and Jenny looked at Hannah.

"I don't know," replied Hannah feebly.

"The ambulance picked him up on the corner of Jefferson and

Madison," intervened Jenny. The nurse typed something into

her computer, and shook her head.

"He was discharged yesterday."

"After two days in the hospital!" cried Hannah.

"It is not this hospital's policy to take in patients who are not

covered by life insurance, or no visible means of

compensation," replied the nurse. "I'm sorry, but that's the way

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

it is."

"Thank you," said Jenny, tugging on Hannah's arm. "Come on.

Let's get out of here," she whispered. Hannah slowly walked

through the entrance of the hospital, stunned by what she had

just heard. "The hospitals are crowded to overflowing," said

Jenny, seating Hannah on a bench. "It was in the newspaper.

Hospitals cannot afford it anymore."

"Why couldn't they have transferred him somewhere that

could?" asked Hannah.

"I don't know."

"I have got to find him," determined Hannah, "before he dies."

Hannah looked at her surroundings. The city was enormous.

People passed by Hannah's bench, criss- crossing each other's

path, intent on their destination. None of them smiled. Hannah

had never noticed that before. She searched the crowd, looking

for someone who wore a smile. A siren echoed through the tall

skyscrapers, and faded beneath the noise of the city. Sitting

there, she felt as if the world were in a dream-like state,

desperately fighting to awaken from the nightmare it was living.

"God," she said, looking up, "please, don't let him die. 'I am

poor and needy; yet the LORD thinketh upon me: Thou art my

help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.'"

"Where do we start?" volunteered Jenny.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Hannah shook her head. "It's too dangerous. I'm sure your

husband would protest, and besides, you have your baby to

think of." Jenny stroked her stomach. Even though she was not

showing, her baby was due next month. "Thanks for the

thought, though," said Hannah.

"Are you going alone?" asked Jenny timidly. She had always

admired Hannah's bravery, especially when it concerned Mr.

Hanley.

"When you return to work, call up Greta. She owes me a favor,

and will fill in for me," said Hannah, looking into her friend's

concerned eyes, "and pray." Jenny reluctantly left Hannah, and

returned to work. "She'll be all right," thought Hannah. "Greta

can stand up to Mr. Hanley. Jenny will be fine."

After a few moments of thoughtful prayer, Hannah decided to

check the homeless shelters first. 'First Hope Baptist Church

Shelter' was the closest one located to the hospital. The small

building dwarfed in comparison to the office building where she

worked. Pastor Mark, the pastor of 'First Hope', led Hannah

through rows of cots and sleeping bags, each one sheltering a

person. In most places, the beds were so crowded together, that

it was impossible to pass.

"It's early for bed, isn't it Pastor?" asked Hannah in a low

whisper. Pastor Mark nodded.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"Yes, but if they don't claim a bed early, by evening, there's no

more room. About how old is your friend?" he inquired.

"I'd say, somewhere in his twenties," replied Hannah, guessing

outloud. Pastor mark shook his head sadly.

"He's probably a runaway or a throwaway."

"A throwaway?" repeated Hannah.

"A 'throwaway' is someone who has been literally thrown away

by his family, or by an institution." Pastor Mark led Hannah

outside. "If you really want to save your friend, get him off the

streets. I have seen it many times before. At first, they fight

with both hands to survive. But, as the years go by, the will to

live slowly fades." Hannah thanked him gratefully. Pastor Mark

watched as Hannah walked away, continuing her search

elsewhere.

"The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded

spirit who can bear?"

~ Proverbs 18:14 ~

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter Four

Safe Refuge

"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he

that honoureth Him hath mercy on the poor."

~ Proverbs 14:31 ~

As the day wore on, Hannah searched dozens of shelters with

no success. No one had seen any one fitting the streetlight

panhandler's description. Weary of walking, Hannah rested on a

park bench.

"Are you looking for Daniel?" asked a voice. Hannah looked up

and saw a young teenage boy standing before her. His hair and

clothing was styled after the fashion of the homeless youth that

Hannah had seen so frequently that day. Contrary to his tough,

adult manner and expression, Hannah was amazed to hear the

voice of a child. He scratched his arm, squinting intently at her,

as if to impress her of how important he was.

"Who is Daniel?" she asked. For one split second, her question

took him by surprise. His face relaxed, and Hannah saw a little

boy.

"You want to see him or not?" he replied impatiently.

"Yes, thank you," said Hannah. Even though this person might

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

not be the streetlight panhandler, this was the first person she

had met all day that claimed to know him. The boy led her

down a street or two, and then made his way to a tall underpass.

Hannah slowed her pace when she saw other homeless youth,

mostly comprising of young adults, come forward to meet her

guide. Hannah quietly looked at the young group. Three men

stood talking with her guide, while the others just stared back.

A blonde headed woman with a tattoo on her arm, stepped

forward and looked Hannah over. Unlike the boy, she glared at

Hannah with an intense hatred.

"Never mind her," said the boy, grabbing her by the arm, and

walking her to the dark side of the underpass. While a strong

stench greeted her nose, Hannah's eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Before her lay the streetlight panhandler. His eyes were closed,

and his chest was slowly rising and descending. Hannah

immediately knelt down beside him and inspected the wound,

careful not to remove the dresssing the hospital had applied.

The doctors had sewn the wound shut, but some of the seams

were not holding. No doubt, because he had been forced to

move before it had sufficently healed.

"Will he live?" asked the boy, standing over her, his voice

betraying a twinge of concern.

"He needs to go to the hospital," Hannah replied, thoughtfully.

"But they were the ones who kicked him out!" yelled the boy,

indigantly. Daniel's eyes slowly opened, and looked about.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

When he saw Hannah sitting beside him, he froze.

"Look, he's awake," observed the boy. Hannah looked down.

When her eyes met his, he quickly looked away.

"Are you in much pain?" she asked gently. Daniel did not

respond.

"He can't hear you," spoke up the boy. "Daniel's deaf. He can

read lips, though." Hannah looked sadly at the face who tried so

hard to turn away.

"Mikey!" shouted one of the men. The boy left Hannah and

Daniel, and talked again to the three men. Hannah watched as

Mikey returned, shaking his head.

"Spider says Daniel must go," said Mikey, relaying the

message.

"But," protested Hannah, "he shouldn't be moved right now. He

could die!" Mikey glanced nervously over his shoulder.

"Lady, if you don't get Daniel out of here right now, he could

die anyway." Mikey squatted down and whispered, "Daniel

tried to break up a fight, and someone stabbed him. If that

person finds he didn't die, he'll finish the job!" Mikey looked at

Daniel's still averted face. "I told him not to butt into other

people's problems. Look at the thanks he gets for trying to help

someone!"

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"I'll need your help, Mikey," said Hannah, making a makeshift

bandage to apply pressure to Daniel's wound. Hannah slowly

sat Daniel up, and placed his arm around her neck. Mikey

followed her example, and gingerly stood Daniel up on his feet.

By the weight that she had to support, Hannah could tell Daniel

was very weak. The three slowly made their way through the

crowd, and away from the underpass.

"Where are we going?" asked Mikey. Hannah had been

wondering that herself. Mikey's question made up her mind.

"To my apartment. I'm afraid if I take him back to the hospital,

they'll discharge him again," replied Hannah. The sky was

quickly growing black, and Daniel's steps were becoming

smaller and smaller.

"Hold on, Daniel, we're almost there," encouraged Hannah,

momentarily forgetting that he was deaf.

After what seemed to Hannah, an eternity, they reached their

destination. Hannah unlocked the door and turned on a light.

Mikey helped Daniel inside.

"Close the door!" he warned. Hannah quickly obeyed. "Where

do you want him?" he grunted, buckling under the weight of

supporting Daniel all by himself.

"Over there, in the bedroom," directed Hannah. Daniel

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

collapsed on the bed, and immediately passed out. Mikey sat

down on the bed beside Daniel, trying to recover his breath.

Hannah went into the bathroom, and opened the medicine

cabinet. Mikey stuck his head in.

"I'm going," he said. As he turned to leave, Hannah caught hold

of his arm.

"Don't you want off the streets, too?" she asked. Mikey

wrenched his arm free.

"I choose to live the way I do. On the street, I'm free!" Mikey's

face was sincere.

"Perhaps," thought Hannah, "because he hasn't known anything

else." The boy looked at Daniel. "He is such a fool. Look what

happens when you care!" Before Hannah could stop him, Mikey

disappeared angrily through the door, and back to the streets he

called home. The boy had left the door open, swaying in the

night air. Hannah shut it, and made sure the locks worked. She

could not help remembering what she had heard Mr. Hanley say

that very morning, in an interview. "The only difference

between a hero and a fool, is success. A fool takes a chance,

and fails. While the hero takes a chance, and succeeds." Hannah

shook her head in disagreement. "A hero is a hero becuse he

cared enough to try," she reasoned. "After all, 'Greater love hath

no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'"

Hannah returned to the bedroom, and found Daniel still

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

unconscious. Whether he was sleeping or not, she could not

tell. Hannah grabbed the first aid book her mother had given to

her, upon learning that Hannah was going to work in the city.

She could her her mother saying, "I told you so," as she opened

the heavy volume. Since a doctor had already treated the

wound, the only thing she could find to do was to keep him

warm. Hannah picked up a warm blanket, and covered Daniel

up.

She felt uncomfortable about being left alone with a stranger.

Especially one bigger than she was. After some thought, she

decided to sleep over at Mrs. Weinberg's apartment, one door

down the corridor from her own. From there, she could come

and check up on Daniel every hour or so and make sure he was

all right. With that settled in her mind, Hannah picked up the

telephone and called Mrs. Weinberg. She asked her if she could

sleep over that night, without explaining the reason why, for it

was not her intention to scare the elderly woman by the events

of the day. Mrs. Weinberg was happy for the company, and

insisted that she stay as long as she wanted.

There are people in this world that I refer to as tender-hearts.

Mrs. Weinberg was one such person. She had experienced the

joy of a newlywed, only to experience the sadness of a widow,

three weeks after her wedding. She never remarried. Now, at

the age of sixty-two, she made her living by baby-sitting other

people's children while they worked.

Hannah checked Daniel one more time, and then left her

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

apartment, making sure the door was locked. Before Hannah

fell asleep, she petitioned God to help all the people who had

aided her that day.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

~ Matthew 5:7 ~

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter Five

Exodus

"Blessed is [she] that considereth the poor: the LORD will

deliver [her] in time of trouble."

~ Psalm 41:1 ~

Every hour, Hannah would wake up, and check Daniel. This act

of mercy was made even more amazing by the fact she woke up

on her own, unaided by an alarm clock. All night, Daniel slept

fitfully, first tossing to one side, then to the other. Hannah was

very alarmed he would loosen his stitches. Many times, she

would say a prayer for Daniel, and remind God of His

promises. For one so weak, Daniel amazed Hannah how often

he could kick off his blanket. But every time, Hannah faithfully

covered him again. Finally, the sun's rays peered between the

skyscrapers and announced to the city dwellers that a new day

had begun.

Hannah stretched out on Mrs. Weinberg's sofa. It had been a

long night. Providentially, the elderly woman had remained fast

asleep the entire night, and did not hear Hannah coming and

going. Hannah got up and returned to her apartment. Since the

night had been bitterly cold, Hannah made some oatmeal and

sat down to eat at the small table in the kitchen.

It had not occurred to her, however, that the enticing smell had

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

awaken her guest. A small noise made Hannah look up from

her breakfast. Daniel stood in the bedroom doorway gazing at

her. But, the minute her eyes met his, they immediately looked

down. Hannah got up from her chair. She held out her hand, so

that they might shake hands.

"Hello, Daniel," said Hannah. Daniel did not look at her, so he

could not tell she was speaking to him. Hannah, realizing this,

stepped into his eyesight. "Hello," she repeated. Instead of

responding, he turned his head away. Not to be deterred,

Hannah gently took his arm and helped him in the direction of

the table. Daniel reluctantly allowed her to guide him. Hannah

dished up another bowl of hot oatmeal and placed it upon the

table before Daniel's eyes. The look of humiliation that she had

witnessed on his face so many times before, returned. Instead of

eating, he just sat there. Finally, hunger became to hard to

resist. Daniel picked up his spoon and began eating. Hannah

solemnly observed he didn't thank God before eating his meal.

Before Daniel could finish his breakfast, the room began to

swirl around him. Hannah saw this, and helped him back to the

bedroom. After he laid back down, she covered him up, and left

the room, closing the bedroom door behind her.

During the night, and especially upon seeing him stand up,

Hannah had made a few observations. Daniel's hair had been

washed when he stayed at the hospital, but his long beard

remained. Also, she had observed that the faded blue jacket he

always wore, was missing. Suddenly, she remembered that the

emergency workers had cut it off trying to inspect his wound.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Hannah glanced at the time. In a half hour, she would be late

for work. Hannah washed her face in the kitchen sink, for the

bathroom was in the bedroom, and she did not want to disturb

Daniel by her presence.

"Why doesn't he look at me when I'm trying to speak to him?"

she wondered. "I guess it's because I'm a stranger, or maybe he

just doesn't like accepting help from a woman." At any rate, she

was going to help, whether he liked it or not. Hannah had

worked too long and hard to help him, to be dissuaded so

easily. She smoothed out her hair, and made her clothing look

as if she had not slept in them. Before Hannah left, she wrote a

small note and placed it on the table. It read: "Help yourself to

anything in the refrigerator. You are welcome here." She signed

it, and then quietly left the apartment, making doubly sure that

the door was indeed locked.

When she arrived at work, Jenny took her aside and asked a

million questions at once. Then she noticed Hannah's tired face.

"Hannah, what happened?" her voice filled with concern. Mr.

Hanley opened the office door, and demanded they get to work.

Jenny immediately obeyed. Her questions would have to be

answered later.

"Miss Anderson, please step into my office," ordered Mr.

Hanley. Hannah obeyed. Mr. Hanley's office walls were

crowded with plaques honoring him for his sizable donations to

various charitable organizations. Hannah grimly noted this as

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

she sat down in the chair he offered. "Miss Anderson, I

received a telephone from a Pastor Mark of 'First Hope Baptist

Shelter'. He said you had been searching for a friend of yours,

and mentioned in passing, that you were my secretary. That's

how he knew to look up this number," explained Mr. Hanley.

"This Pastor Mark expressed concern upon your wandering

about from shelter to shelter, an opinion with which I agree."

Hannah was mildly surprised by Mr. Hanley's show of concern

for her safety. He lit another Cuban cigar and leaned back in his

chair. "Just who is this friend of yours, that you would risk life

and limb for?" The personal nature of the question angered

Hannah.

"Mr. Hanley," she said getting up from the chair, "I do willingly

answer any questions you have that are pertinent to my job

here. Anything else, I refuse to answer," she replied evenly. Mr.

Hanley's mouth formed a wide smile. He rolled his Cuban cigar

between his fingers.

"Very well said, Miss Anderson. That's what I like about you.

You don't take it from anyone, including me." The look on his

face chilled Hannah to her very core.

"May I go now?" she asked.

"Not just yet, Miss Anderson. Don't worry, I will not molest

your tender senses," he added with his usual voice of mock

condescension. "I have a business proposition for you. As you

know, our company has reinvented it's image. 'Family values' is

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

our new motto. However, if I am to sell it, I must look the part.

In short, I need a wife. You're good looking enough to fill the

part and bold enough to stand beside me and hold your head up

with Hanley pride! What do you say? Is it a deal?" Hannah

stood riveted to the expensive carpet lining his office. "I know

what you're thinking," he reasoned. "What's in it for me? Right?

Well, that's easy. Not only will you be the most envied woman

in America, you can also be one of the wealthiest. You've seen

my financial situation. I'm one of the ten wealthiest men in

America. You can have anything!" Mr. Hanley's voice

resonated with greed. "Whatever you want, whenever you want,

I always say!" He took another puff of his cigar. The sick smell

emanating from his cigar nauseated Hannah. For a brief second,

she knew how Jesus must have felt when Satan offered him the

riches of the world, if only, He would bow down and worship

him.

"Never," came her reply. Hannah quickly exited his office and

gathered her belongings from her desk. Mr. Hanley stood in the

doorway, livid with anger.

"How dare you refuse me!" he shouted. Jenny shrank back. "Do

you know who I am? I know women who would KILL to have

the opportunity that you so effortlessly rejected!"

"Then ask one of them, Mr. Hanley, for I shall not." Hannah

turned to leave. "I'm sorry to leave you alone, Jenny, but I

quit."

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"You're fired!" screamed Mr. Hanley at the top of his lungs,

unknowingly dropping ash from his expensive cigar onto his

expensive carpet, and burning an expensive hole. Jenny was too

timid to remain in the office alone with Mr. Hanley. She

quickly grabbed her purse and ran after Hannah.

"Hannah! Please wait!" she called. Her friend looked up,

surprised to see shy Jenny standing beside her. "I was going to

quit when the baby was born anyway," she smiled. When they

hugged, Jenny could feel Hannah tremble. "Poor thing," she

whispered. Hannah and Jenny left Mr. Hanley's office building

as quickly as they could. Even though the sun felt warm on her

face, Hannah could not stop trembling.

"Oh, Jenny, I'm going home. I am so tired," she confided. Jenny

glanced at her friend as they walked.

"Did you ever find the streetlight panhandler, Hannah?" As they

strolled down the street, Hannah confided yesterday's events to

her friend. Jenny's eyes grew wide. "What will happen to

Daniel when you leave?"

"I've already thought of that. I'll take him with me. It's not

exactly safe for him to stay in the city right now. Besides, he

will be able to recover more peacefully at my parents' house in

the country. They have a spare room. They won't mind."

Hannah looked at her watch. "It's a three hour drive. If I get

started before eleven, I'll be home late this afternoon." The busy

crowds pushed past the two somber friends.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"Be careful," warned Jenny. "I sincerly doubt Mr. Hanley will

do anything, for he would hate the media catching wind of his

rejection. All the same, 'my Father worketh hitherto, and I

work'. Don't take any unnecessary risks. Stay off the side roads.

Stick to the main highways. And keep Daniel out of sight.

Which reminds me, if he's as hurt as you say, how will you get

him there?"

"I'll make a bed in the back seat of my car. That way, no one

can see him from the windows," replied Hannah, showing that

she had been reasoning along the same lines.

"Leave as soon as you can, Hannah. Before Mr. Hanley has

time to recover from your insult." Hannah nodded in approval.

"I'll miss you. May God's angels guard you both." Jenny hugged

her friend, and then watched as Hannah disappeared into the

crowd. "Lord God," Jenny prayed silently, "protect the tiny

exodus."

"I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt... unto a land

flowing with milk and honey."

~ Exodus 3:17 ~

"And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed

unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee,

and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to

whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me,

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

all shall be Thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get

thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the

Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."

~ Luke 4:5-8 ~

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter Six

A Stranger's Shame

"The shame of my face hath covered me."

~ Psalm 44:15 ~

Hannah did not remember walking back to her apartment that

morning. She only knew when she finally reached it. The door

was still locked, and Daniel still lay asleep on the bed. Silently,

Hannah began to pack her belongings into her suitcases. Then

she piled them into the trunk of her car. One more thought

occurred to her. It would not do to have her parents see the wild

looking man asleep in the next room. She ran down the street

and bought Daniel some new clothes. She made it a point to get

him socks.

When she returned home a half hour later, Hannah looked

inside the bedroom. Daniel lay flat on his back, his head turned

towards the window. Hannah stood there for a moment and

watched as he gazed out the window. It was true he could not

hear sound, but his eyes seemed to listen for him. He could feel

the quiet and stillness surrounding him. Hannah stepped inside

the room. Daniel caught her movement and looked up. She

placed the new clothes on the foot of the bed, along with a

razor.

"These are for you," she said hesitatingly. Daniel refused to

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

look at her. She stepped into his eyesight once more. "We're

going to leave here as soon as you get cleaned up, Daniel." He

turned his eyes away, but not before he had read her lips. Not

knowing this, Hannah left the room, closing the door behind

her. She sat down on the sofa, her arms hugging her knees to

stop them from trembling. Even though she felt it might be

dangerous to stay, Hannah refused to leave without Daniel. He

was still too weak. She prayed to God and pleaded for courage.

She soon fell fast asleep, for the hard night had only added to

her exhaustion.

In the bedroom, Daniel was feeling ashamed of himself-- a

feeling that he often had. He hated pity, but it stung even more

to have her feel sorry for him. Every time he looked into her

eyes, he became acutely aware of his shame. Daniel closed his

eyes and tried to remember his parents. His memory of them

had dimmed over the years. When he was seven, his vivid

memories of them were all he had left. Now that he was older,

very few of them had survived. However, he could remember

the grave look on his teacher's face when she told him that his

parents had been in an accident. Daniel could remember the

nurse carrying him away when the doctor had told him they

died. A tear rolled down his cheek and disappeared into his

long brown beard.

When Daniel was eight, the system failed to place him in a

foster home. Therefore, he was left in the care of a state run

institution. Maybe it was because he was deaf, or maybe, it was

just because the system that had been placed there to educate

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

him for a productive roll in society, was too bogged down by

the sheer number of abandoned and abused children. When

Daniel turned eighteen, he was discharged from the institution

that had been his only refuge for ten years. Ever since, his

home had been the streets. He looked at the pile of clothing

Hannah had placed at the foot of the bed.

"She was always kind," Daniel thought to himself.

Hannah slept peacefully on the sofa, until someone tapped her

on the arm. A handsome stranger stood towering over her. She

quickly grabbed a lamp from off the stand beside the sofa.

"Who are you?" she shouted, brandishing the light fixture over

her head. Daniel took a step back, surprised by her reaction.

When their eyes met, he quickly looked away. "Daniel, is that

you?" asked Hannah in disbelief. Since he had not looked at her

to read her lips, the question went unanswered. It's no wonder

Hannah was so surprised. Without his long brown beard, and

the dirty smell she had grown so accustomed to, Daniel looked

nothing like the streetlight panhandler she had pitied every day

for five months. She observed, however, that the expression in

his eyes and his reaction to her remained unchanged. His

aversion to her eyes was making it very difficult to

communicate. "I feel like an internet connection," she laughed

outloud, knowing Daniel could not see her. "We're always

communicating at an unknown rate!" Hannah shook her head, "I

know-- lame joke," she muttered, but smiling nonetheless.

Suddenly, Hannah remembered the time, and looked at her

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

watch. It was a little after eleven.

"Come on, Daniel," she said, taking him by the arm. She helped

him outside to the car, and opened the door to the backseat,

motioning for him to get in. Daniel carefully did as he was told.

He soon made use of the pillow and blanket she had placed

there. Next, Hannah returned to her apartment and locked the

door. Then, she went next door to Mrs. Weinberg's apartment

and said goodbye. Daniel waited in the car, feeling very much

like a dependent, helpless baby. It was near the truth, however,

for he was still very weak. When Hannah returned, she started

the car and followed Jenny's advice by staying on the main

highway.

While Daniel slept in the back seat, Hannah tried to imagine

what her parent's reaction would be when they saw her

passenger. She knew she had to tell them the truth, but how was

she to go about it, without frightening her parents? The closer

they came to her home, the more uncomfortable Hannah

became.

"At least he cleaned up nicely," she consoled herself. Her

parents would not have to see Daniel looking like the streetlight

panhandler. As she drove, Hannah tried to imagine the

questions that would undoubtedly follow her unexpected

arrival. "Please, God," she prayed, "HELP!"

"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer."

~ Proverbs 15:28 ~

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter Seven

Still Waters

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me

beside the still waters."

~ Psalm 23:2 ~

At two o'clock, Hannah pulled up to her parent's driveway. She

looked in the back seat. Daniel had slept for the entire car trip.

After saying another prayer, Hannah quietly opened the car

door. Since Daniel was asleep, she decided it would be best if

she prepared her parents before waking him up. The white, twostory

farmhouse sat serenely atop a small hill, as if it had

climbed up there, just to be nearer to the sky. Around the

farmhouse, Mrs. Anderson had planted large flower beds,

splashing the green hill with vibrant colors of the rainbow.

Hannah breathed in the pure air, and took in the beauty of the

surrounding green pastures. In the distance, she saw the old

cattle fence, now broken down and unused, but looking very

picturesque, nonetheless. Every weekend, Hannah would drive

here to be with her parents.

Hannah realized that she was stalling, so she gathered up her

courage, and went inside. Mrs. Anderson looked up from her

easel when Hannah entered the living room.

"Sweetie! You're a little early this week, aren't you?" she asked,

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

quickly glancing at the calendar to confirm the day of the week,

lest she was mistaken.

"Where's Dad? I need to talk to you both," she asked, kissing

her mother on the cheek. Mrs. Anderson looked at her daughter

seriously.

"Is anything wrong, Dear?"

"No, Mom. I'm fine. It's just..." Hannah paused, unsure what to

say. "I'll go get Dad," she broke off, running to the back of the

house. Mr. Anderson was in his small workshop, as Hannah

guessed, working on a rocking chair for his wife. He greeted his

daughter with pleasant surprise, also repeating the same

questions Mrs. Anderson had asked. "Dad, could you come into

the house? I need to talk to you and Mom together." Sensing

the urgency in her voice, Mr. Anderson followed Hannah back

to the house.

"Well, Mother, it looks like Hannah Elizabeth is about to break

some bad news," he said, sitting down on the sofa beside his

wife.

"I don't think it's very bad news, Father," Mrs. Anderson

replied, patting her husband's knee. Hannah stood in front of the

couch, facing her parents.

"First of all," she began, careful of how she chose her words, "I

am all right. I don't want to alarm you two by the story I'm

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

going to tell. God has been with me every step of the way.

When I moved to the city five months ago..." and from there,

she told her parents Daniel's story. For now, she left out Mr.

Hanley. They remained silent until she finally sat down. Mr.

Anderson was the first to break the silence.

"You say he's outside, asleep in the back of your car?" he

asked, half unbelievingly. Hannah nodded.

"He slept all the way here. I'd like to put him in the guest room

downstairs, until he's well. Then, maybe I can find him a job."

"Is that all you know about him, Beth? That he's been on the

streets for an unknown period of time?" Mr. Anderson got up

from his seat on the sofa. "How did you know he wasn't going

to hurt you? I'm sorry, but that was a foolhardy thing to do." He

placed his hands on his hips and shook his head.

"I know how all this sounds," said Hannah. "If I were you, I'd

say the same thing. In fact, I'd probably lock my daughter in her

room until she had better sense. But, if you were in my place,

and had seen what I saw, I cannot help thinking you wouldn't

have done something similar to what I did. Daniel isn't

dangerous. He is a kind person, who's lived in a cruel world."

"He did try to break up a fight, Father," reminded Mrs.

Anderson.

"True enough," he sighed, "I want to be fair to the man, but we

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

must judge him by his fruit. Did you really follow that boy...

what was his name again? Mikey? did you really follow Mikey

under a dark underpass?" Mr. Anderson asked, hoping that

maybe he had misunderstood his daughter. Hannah nodded,

wondering herself, how she could do something so dangerous.

Mr. Anderson ran his fingers through his hair, and sat back

down on the sofa. "Mother, we taught our kids to act upon the

leading of the Holy Spirit. While I would not encourage

everyone to follow strangers under dark underpasses, if you are

led of God to do it, then so be it!"

"You've always been a good girl, Hannah," smiled her mother.

"When you were a child, you always brought home the oddest

hurt animals." Mr. Anderson laughed heartily.

"I think we should thank God for protecting our daughter,

Father," suggested Mrs. Anderson. Together, they bowed their

heads and thanked Jehovah for His protection and peace.

Afterward, Mrs. Anderson helped Hannah prepare the

downstairs guest room.

The downstairs guest room had two windows, one facing North,

and the other facing East. When the house was originally built,

a door was added under the stairway that opened to the guest

room. When Hannah was a little girl, this room had always

been a favorite place to play during rainy days.

"Hannah," asked her mother, as they left the guest room, "do

you know if Daniel is a Christian?"

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"I don't think so, Mom."

"Then you are not in love with him, I hope?" Hannah was

surprised by her mother's frankness.

"No, I am not. Did something I say or do, make you think

otherwise?" asked Hannah, curiously.

"You don't act like you are in love, no. But, there is something

that you haven't told us yet. Am I correct, Hannah?" Hannah

smiled in amazement at her mother's perception.

"There is something, yes. But, it has nothing to do with

Daniel." Mother and daughter sat down together on one of the

bottom steps of the staircase. Hannah then told her mother

about Mr. Hanley.

"I'm glad you turned him down, Honey," smiled Mrs.

Anderson. "So, you are home to stay?" she asked, hopefully.

"For now, Mom."

"Well, that answer will do... for now," replied Mrs. Anderson.

"I don't see Daniel in the back of your car, Beth," announced

Mr. Anderson from the front door.

"Don't worry," replied Hannah, getting up from her seat on the

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

staircase, "he couldn't have gone far." She stepped onto the

porch beside her father and scanned the countryside.

"Why do you think he walked off, Beth?" asked Mr. Anderson.

"I never know why he does anything. I'll go look for him," she

said, stepping down from the porch, "he shouldn't be walking

around."

"Do you want any help, Beth?" Mr. Anderson called out after

her. But Hannah did not hear her father's question. She was too

busy scolding herself for leaving Daniel alone. The pasture

surrounding the small hill, revealed for miles, that it was empty.

However, there was a pond a few feet away from the base of

the hill. Thick foliage crowded around it, drinking up the

abundant water supply. It was the only place Daniel could be.

Hannah followed the little path that led to the water's edge.

There, she found Daniel, silently standing beside the still water.

His eyes were fixed upon the fish that would occasionally

disturb the glassy surface, creating soft ripples. Hannah let out a

sigh of relief, and stepped forward to look into the pond also.

Daniel saw Hannah's reflection on the water, and turned to

leave. But, as he did so, he winced with pain. Hannah looked at

his shirt. Blood soaked the area around his wound.

"You shouldn't be walking around, Daniel," scolded Hannah,

taking no notice of whether he read her lips or not. "Come on,

we need to get you to the house." Daniel slowly made his way

to the front door of the farmhouse, pushing aside Hannah's offer

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

of assistance. He was determined to make it on his own power.

Mr. Anderson welcomed him on the porch.

"Hello, Daniel," Mr. Anderson greeted, holding out his hand.

To Hannah's surprise, Daniel accepted her father's hand,

shaking it politely. "You are welcome here," Mr. Anderson

added, showing him inside the living room. Mrs. Anderson

appeared from the kitchen and smiled warmly. The safe

atmosphere of the house was in stark contrast to the violent

streets he had been so accustomed to. For the first time, Hannah

saw Daniel smile. Hannah also observed that when her parents

spoke to him, he looked directly at them, not averting his eyes

like he so frequently did with her. She was happy he was

treating her parents so nicely, but Daniel's double standard

annoyed her.

Hannah went to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and

retrieved more bandages. When she returned, Daniel was seated

on the couch, while her parents sat in their armchairs facing

him. Hannah sat down beside Daniel and unfolded some

bandages.

"That little walk he took, opened the wound again," Hannah

said, directing her comment to her parents. They watched as

Hannah lifted the edge of Daniel's shirt to apply more gauze.

He immediately stood up, refusing her help. "Fine," said

Hannah, throwing down the gauze, "bleed to death. See if I

care." Upon witnessing this, Mrs. Anderson got up from her

armchair and picked up the gauze from Hannah's lap. She lifted

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Daniel's shirt and applied it over his preexisting bandage.

Daniel did not protest, but patiently waited until Mrs. Anderson

had finished.

"Did you two eat lunch?" she asked, looking directly at Hannah

for a reply, her expression revealing displeasure. Ashamed of

her words, Hannah looked down and shook her head. Mrs.

Anderson returned to the kitchen to fix them lunch.

"Don't you think you owe Daniel an apology, Beth?" asked Mr.

Anderson, solemnly.

"He doesn't read my lips when I speak, anyway." As she said

this, Hannah looked in Daniel's direction. He had silently been

following the conversation, but now that Hannah was looking

directly at him, he quickly turned his head. "See what I mean,

Dad?"

"Whether Daniel listens to you or not, is his choice. Treat him

the way Jesus would do, and set a good example, Beth,"

admonished Mr. Anderson. Hannah looked at Daniel.

"I apologize," she said. The apology went unheard, for his head

was still turned. Hannah sighed.

"Patience, Beth," smiled Mr. Anderson. Hannah smiled in

return, and went to the kitchen to help her mother. Mrs.

Anderson looked up as her daughter walked into the kitchen.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"I apologized, Mom," said Hannah penitently.

"Be gentle with him, Hannah," warned her mother. "I believe

Daniel can be hurt more easily than you think."

"The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all

men, apt to teach, patient... if God peradventure will give them

repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."

~ 2 Timothy 2:24-25 ~

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter Eight

One of Life's Surprises

"The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have

spread a net by the wayside."

~ Psalm 140:5 ~

At nine o' clock in the morning, the next day, Hannah was

awakened by her mother.

"Sweetie, I know you wanted to sleep in, but there's a reporter

downstairs, asking for you." Hannah immediately woke up.

"A reporter?" she repeated. She began to search her mind for a

reason. Mr. Hanley was the only reason she could think of.

Hannah put on her terry robe, and followed her mother

downstairs. Mr. Anderson was sitting in his favorite armchair,

and reading the morning newspaper. Daniel was resting on the

sofa, where Mrs. Anderson had made a kind of makeshift bed

for him, so he would not have to stay in his room all the time.

When she walked down the steps, everyone, including Daniel,

looked up. A smartly-dressed woman got up from Mrs.

Anderson's armchair and approached Hannah.

"Hannah Anderson?" she asked, holding out her hand, in a

friendly like manner.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"Yes?" replied Hannah, shaking the offered hand.

"I'm Victoria Jackson of the 'Daily Report'. Are you familiar

with the 'Daily Report', Hannah?" she asked, taking out a tape

recorder.

"I don't read tabloids," replied Hannah, evenly.

"Well, then," she smiled, "good thing for me five million other

people do. You don't mind if I record this interview, do you? Of

course you don't," she replied, answering her own question.

"Would you prefer to sit, or stand?" Hannah could not help

comparing that question to an executioner asking his victim if

he would rather be blindfolded or not.

"I'll stand." She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on

her.

"Hannah," began Victoria, "did you, by any chance, read the

newspaper this morning?"

"No, I did not. As you can see," said Hannah, referring to her

terry robe, "I just woke up."

"Then you did not hear of Tom Hanley's marriage?"

"So that's what this is about," Hannah thought. "I thought just as

much."

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"No, Victoria, I did not."

"Does this come as a surprise?" asked Victoria. Hannah looked

into her eyes. She saw the ease with which Victoria tried to

entrap her in her own words.

"Life is just full of surprises," replied Hannah.

"Doesn't this come less than a day after you turned down a

proposal of marriage from Tom Hanley?" she asked. Mr.

Anderson looked at his daughter in surprise.

"Is that so?" replied Hannah, raising her eyebrows. Victoria saw

that she was not going to cooperate.

"If you want it the hard way, Hannah, you're going to get it,"

she warned. Daniel's face tightened. "There's a rumor going

around that a bug was placed in the office of Tom Hanley,

taping both him and his private secretary," she said, pointing at

Hannah. "I already know everything," she smiled.

"Then why ask me these questions?" asked Hannah, gripping

the banister.

"We like to confirm our stories, firsthand," Victoria explained.

"Since when?" retorted Hannah. "I don't believe you are here to

confirm anything. If what you say is true, then to publish

anything that was recorded without knowledge of the parties

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

concerned would be breaking the law, am I right, Victoria? You

can't use the tape-- if there really is one." Victoria's jaw grew

tense.

"If you talk, we could make it worth your while," she said

temptingly.

"I'm not interested," answered Hannah, entering the living room

and accepting a cup of hot tea from her mother.

"Not even half a million dollars?" she asked. Hannah looked at

Victoria over the rim of her cup.

"If you really believe I rejected a proposal of marriage from one

of the ten wealthiest men in America, why do you think I would

accept your offer?" Victoria shut off her recorder.

"I think you know the way out, Miss Jackson," said Mr.

Anderson sternly. She grabbed her coat, and walked to the

door. But, before leaving, she swung around sharply.

"Don't think you've won!" she threatened, "Not by a long shot!"

Hannah listened as Victoria drove away, and took another sip of

tea. In spite of her bravado, Daniel saw the cup tremble. Mr.

Anderson looked at his daughter, incredulously.

"Did you really turn down THE Tom Hanley? The one we see

on all those commercials? Was he very mad?" asked Mr.

Anderson.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"He didn't exactly click his heels for joy, if that's what you

mean," replied Hannah, setting down the cup, for her hands

could not hang on to it any longer.

"Sounds like there's going to be trouble," observed Mrs.

Anderson.

"I'm sorry I brought you into this mess," Hannah said, verging

on tears. Mrs. Anderson opened her arms and hugged Hannah

lovingly.

"It's in God's hands," Mrs. Anderson reassured. Daniel got up

from his bed on the sofa, and returned to his room. The picture

of a mother comforting her child, brought back a flood of

memories Daniel thought he had forgotten. He hugged the bed

and wept. Hannah noticed Daniel's abrupt departure and walked

over to his shut door.

"It sounds like he's crying," she said, surprisingly. Mr.

Anderson motioned for her to come away from his door.

"Beth, sit down," he instructed. Hannah sat down on the sofa.

"You are surprised to discover that Daniel has feelings, Beth? I

think I know why he does not look at you when you speak to

him." Hannah leaned forward. "To you, Daniel is someone you

rescued from the streets. You saved his life by taking him in. I

am proud of you for that. It shows a merciful heart, and God

delights in mercy. But," he went on, "you treat him like a child.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Daniel knows that he owes you more than he can ever repay.

By your attitude towards him, you remind him of his own

shame." Mr. Anderson paused, "There is one thing more I think

you should be aware of. Your mother and I saw it the first time

we saw Daniel, but you, apparently, have not noticed it. That

poor man is in love with you, Beth." Hannah shook her head,

disbelievingly.

"You have to be mistaken. Daniel doesn't even like me," said

Hannah.

"Beth, I have been married for forty years. I could recognize the

love in his eyes when he looks at you, a mile away! But," he

continued solemnly, "this is a dangerous situation. A man, who

as far as I know, is not a Christian, is in love with you. It would

be very easy for you to love him in return. That is why, your

mother and I think it would be best if you went away." Hannah

looked up at her mother, who was standing beside her husband's

armchair.

"I'm sorry to send you away, especially with all the media

trouble, but it is the right thing to do," exhorted Mrs. Anderson.

"But I don't love Daniel," replied Hannah.

"This is best, Hannah," said Mrs. Anderson. Hannah accepted

her parent's advice. After all, she had been the one who took the

job with Mr. Hanley's office. Look at the trouble she was in

now!

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

"I'll go back to my apartment. It's probably best that I leave

anyway. I don't want any more reporters bothering you guys

again. Besides," she added on a happier note, "Jenny's baby is

due soon. I think her husband will appreciate my keeping her

company while he's at work." Hannah got up from the sofa. "It's

strange," she observed outloud, "I feel like the whole world has

changed in one morning."

"Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee."

~ Proverbs 2:11 ~

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Chapter Nine

The Open Hand

(Epilogue)

"I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto

thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land."

~ Deuteronomy 15:11 ~

It was Providential that Hannah had not yet unpacked her

luggage. Mr. Anderson helped carry it back out to Hannah's car.

Mrs. Anderson hugged her daughter.

"May God keep you safe, Sweetie," Mrs. Anderson prayed.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait until Daniel wakes up, and

let him know you're leaving, Beth?" asked Mr. Anderson,

closing the trunk of the car.

"If what you told me about him is true, then it's best I leave

now," Hannah replied. Mr. Anderson hugged his daughter. As

she got into the car, Hannah saw Daniel looking at her from one

of the guest room windows. "Good bye, Daniel," she

whispered. "I hope I haven't hurt you." She started the car, and

drove away.

For the next three hours, she followed the ribbon of highway

back to the city. Her apartment had remained exactly as she left

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

it the day before. Hannah picked up the lamp she had

threatened to throw at Daniel, and put it back on the stand.

When she went into the bathroom, Hannah found his old

clothes, neatly folded, on the floor by the trash can. Tears came

to her eyes.

"Please, God," she pleaded, "don't let me hurt him!" Jenny

wiped the tears from her eyes. The whole apartment reminded

her of the quiet streetlight panhandler. Hannah left the

apartment complex, on her way to visit Jenny. When she neared

the corner of Jefferson and Madison, Hannah noticed her father

standing beside his car. He didn't see her. As Hannah was about

to get his attention, she saw Daniel standing beside the

streetlight, just as if he had never left. Hannah stood, frozen to

the sidewalk. Daniel saw her and came near, his face solemn.

Daniel began to speak, his voice slow, and undefined, but very

understandable. "When I was eight, my parents both died in a

car accident. They both were Christians. That day, I cursed

God. For many years, I hated Him for what He did to me. I was

slow, and could not hear. Everyone cast me away, or passed me

by, as if I were trash." Hannah opened her mouth to say

something, but Daniel motioned for her to stop. "Then, five

months ago, you started stopping at this stoplight. You always

had a smile for me. I fought to survive each day, just to see

you." Daniel's voice was wavering, but he continued anyway.

"When I was dying in the alley, I knew it was my last chance to

get right with God. That day, He forgave me," said Daniel,

quickly brushing aside his tears.

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

Tears began to run down Hannah's cheeks. She tried to stop, but

could not.

"I made you cry," said Daniel, rebuking himself, thinking he

had frightened her. "You go back to your family, where it's

safe. It's your home, not mine." Her tears fell even faster.

Daniel looked for help from Mr. Anderson, but He only smiled,

and turned away.

"Why didn't you speak to me before now?" she asked. Daniel

looked down at the pavement.

"I was ashamed of my voice. Someone told me once that it

sounded like a monster. I didn't want to scare you."

"You have a very pleasant voice, Daniel," she reassured. But,

Daniel had not heard her, for his eyes still looked downward.

Hannah tapped him on the shoulder, and repeated herself. For

the first time, he did not avert his eyes from hers. And then,

Hannah understood why. The look of love in his eyes was

unmistakable. His eyes spoke so much more than his words

could express. A surge of hope flooded Daniel's heart.

"I am nothing, and I have nothing to give you, Hannah. The

only thing I can offer you is my heart, and you have that

already. I don't suppose you could ever love me?" he asked, not

allowing himself to hope too strong. As Hannah listened to

Daniel, she could feel herself falling. Hannah held out her hand

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

to Daniel.

"Open your hand wide, Daniel. I'm falling in love, and I need

you to catch me." Daniel grabbed her hand and held onto it

tightly.

"I won't let go, Hannah," he said firmly, "by the grace of God, I

won't let you go." Mr. Anderson smiled widely as he saw

Hannah and Daniel walk towards him.

"Just after you left, Beth," Mr. Anderson explained, happily,

"Daniel came to me and began to speak what God had put in his

heart. While he talked, your Mother jammed me into my coat

and insisted that he and I drive after you. And," Mr. Anderson

smiled, "by the look of you two, I guess there will be a happy

ending after all." Hannah kissed her father on the cheek.

Just as the happy trio was about to get inside the car, to return

home, a limousine pulled up. A black tinted window rolled

down, and Mr. Hanley's face appeared.

"I was just on my way to see you, Miss Anderson," he said,

climbing out of his limousine. "I understand Victoria Jackson

tried to interview you!" he laughed. "That woman is dangerous!

She could make my pastor confess to the assassination of

President Lincoln, if she had the mind." Mr. Hanley lit a Cuban

cigar. "I like to keep my enemies in front of me, and not

behind, Miss Anderson. It's harder to stab someone in the back

that way." Daniel held on to Hannah's hand tightly, lending her

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

his strength.

"I don't carry a knife," replied Hannah, evenly.

"I am glad to hear that, Miss Anderson. The story will never be

published. I didn't want a public lawsuit, so I bought the 'Daily

Report'." Mr. Hanley inspected the handsome man holding

Hannah's hand so devotedly. "So, this is the bum you turned me

down for. I pass by no-accounts like him everyday. What on

earth could he give you that I could not?" he asked.

"A pure heart," she promptly replied.

Mr. Hanley smugly rolled the Cuban cigar between his fingers.

"Miss Anderson, you are a fool." With that, Mr. Hanley

climbed back into his limousine and drove away.

"Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is

perverse in his lips, and is a fool."

~ Proverbs 19:1 ~

Hannah looked up into Daniel's loving face. The clouds

overhead parted, shining down a ray of pure sunlight. Daniel

looked up.

"Hannah," he said, his voice filled with wonder, "God is

smiling!"

"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the

"Some Pass By" by Judith Bronte

righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

~ Psalm 37:25 ~

"The King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto

you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these

My brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

~ Matthew 25:40 ~

"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto

him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed

mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou

likewise."

~ Luke 10:36-37 ~

THE END

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws