The Old Barn (standard:other, 2947 words) [4/4] show all parts
Author: Kenneth Nash	Added: Mar 19 2006	Views/Reads: 2487/1866	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Parts Five, Six,and Epilogue

(Part Five) 

The year was 1899. 

Jacob Tobias had just turned 50 years old that month. Arielle was now 50
also. He sat on the front porch of the farm house and looked out at the 
old barn. It had been eighteen years since they arrived at the Ol' 
McCauley place. 

“Seems like only yesterday... I remember how excited we were to have our
own farm. Rachel loved to spend time in that barn. Yes, she did get the 
pony she wished for the first day we got here. And she became a very 
good rider at that.” 

Jacob loved the evenings, listening to the sound of the breeze blowing
through the oak, hickory, and willow trees. 

Rachel had completed her medical training and was a physician at
Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. 

Aaron had returned to Pittsburgh three years after Rachel left for
school. He studied under Rabbi Tobias' tutoring until the Rabbi died. 
Aaron was in his first year of teaching at the shul his grandfather 
taught for over forty years. 

Jacob and Arielle were proud of their two children, and looked forward
to their visits back to the old farm. 

The year that Aaron moved away, several Jewish families settled in and
around Hickory Ridge. Most of the children went to school in town, but 
several of the parents asked Jacob if he would teach the children 
Jewish studies. 

The little school was built and served not only a place of study but,
also, a place to worship together. Jacob loved the new job. He and 
Arielle were happy to be able to worship with other families of their 
faith. 

It was a hot summer afternoon. Jacob and Pastor McPherson sat on the log
they fished from on the bank of Willow Creek. Jacob felt the soft 
breeze blowing in from the water. The cool breeze offered a welcome 
respite from the searing, humid temperature. The air felt heavy with 
moisture as he fanned his face with the straw hat that showed the wear 
of many hot summers. 

“Jacob, you and Pastor McPherson are going to die of heat stroke sittin'
out there on that creek bank. Besides you know you're not going to 
catch any fish in this heat.” Jacob could hear the words of Arielle and 
Mrs. McPherson as the two men grabbed their cane poles. “Now, Mrs. 
Tobias,” Phillip McPherson would reply, “We didn't say anything about 
‘catchin', we said we wuz goin' fishin'.” 

Years of tragedy and hardships, joy and laughter, had bonded the
friendship between Jacob and Phillip. 

“Jacob, I was thinking,” began Pastor McPherson, “I think you ought to
let me tell ‘the story' next Passover. After all, I am the eldest, even 
if it is only by six months.” 

“If I agree he'll just back out like he's has been doing for the last
five years,” mused Jacob. “Well, now,  that sounds alright to me, after 
all, you let me tell the story that Sunday morning, about Abraham 
breaking up his father, Terah's, idols after he found the true God,” 
Jacob replied. 

There was only silence...Jacob glanced over at his friend, the preacher
was leaning back against the hickory tree, his old dusty, “everyday” 
black hat pulled low over his eyes. He was snoring softly.  Jacob 
chuckled and realized his last remark had fallen on deaf ears. The tip 
of the sleeping preacher's cane pole was in the water and the cork 
bobbing quietly in the calm water of the eddy that pooled at the edge 
of Willow Creek. Splash, the cork submerged under the water. Jacob 
gently shook his fishin' buddy's shoulder. “Phillip wake up you gotta 
bite!” 



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