God, Why Don't You Hear Their Prayer?

Rachel's favorite photo is of Mom and her friend Flo sitting on the front porch, eyes locked as they talked. Joan and Rachel sneaked around the outside of the house and snapped pictures. What they talked about we don't know. What do old friends say when one is dying? Did Mom talk about dying or did they talk about the weather, their kids and everyday things?

Rachel was so moved watching them that she later remarked to her friend Wendy Hopkins, "I hope when I'm dying I have at least one good friend to sit on the porch with me."

She and Joan said, "We'll come and sit on the porch with you."

Later Wendy returned with another friend, Jane and said, "We don't have to wait till you're dying to sit on the porch." So the three of them sat on the steps and didn't say much. Every once in a while Wendy would put an arm around Rachel's shoulder and squeeze. Rachel studied a crack in the steps and blinked back tears. She understood then it did not matter what Mom and Flo said to one another.

 God, Why Don't You Hear Their Prayer?