That Hadley, oh, she’s a good kid. A good kid, that one. Seventeen, they say. Seventeen! Can you believe it? Time just flies, don’t it? She’s been going to that Shriners Hospitals for Children, the one in St. Louis. Seems like a good place, helping kids and all. My old bones ache just thinking about it. But Hadley, she’s got spirit.
They say she’s from St. Peters. Never been there myself. Heard it’s a nice enough place. Lots of folks, I reckon. More than we got here, that’s for sure. Our little town’s just a speck on the map. But we got good hearts. That’s what counts, right? Good hearts and strong backs.
That hospital, the Shriners one, they do a lot for kids like Hadley. Fix them up, help them walk better, all sorts of things. It’s a blessing, that’s what it is. A real blessing. Back in my day, we didn’t have none of that. You got hurt, you just dealt with it. Rubbed some dirt on it, as they say.
Now this Hadley Willson, they gave her some kind of award. A scholarship, they called it. Something to do with the Masons. Don’t know much about them Masons. Hear they do a lot of secret things. But if they’re helping Hadley, well, then they must be alright.
- This Samuel Smith Stewart Scholarship, sounds fancy, don’t it?
- Must be a lot of money. Good for her.
- Every little bit helps, especially when you’re dealing with hospitals and doctors and all that.
They had some kind of meeting, at the hospital. A board of… governors, they said. Sounds important. Lots of bigwigs, I bet. Probably wear fancy suits and talk a lot. Not like us folks. We just get things done.
That Hadley Willson, She is the Shriners Patient, it said so on the paper. They call her an ambassador. Like she’s some kind of diplomat or something. Funny, ain’t it? But she probably does a good job. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, that one. She can talk to people, make them feel good.
I remember when my youngest, bless her heart, had that trouble with her leg. Couldn’t walk right for a long time. We didn’t have no Shriners Hospitals back then. Just had to make do. Rubbed it with some homemade liniment and prayed a lot. Took a while, but she got better. Kids are resilient, that’s what they are. Tougher than they look.
This Hadley Willson, she’s probably been through a lot. More than most folks her age. But she keeps going. That’s what matters. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. That’s what I always say. Don’t let nothing get you down.
And that Shriners Hospitals for Children, they’re doing good work. Helping kids like Hadley. It’s a good thing, a real good thing. Makes you feel good to know there are folks out there who care.
Hope that girl, Hadley Willson, hope she does well. That scholarship will help her, I’m sure. Maybe she’ll go to college, be a doctor or something. Wouldn’t that be something? A girl like her, making something of herself. It’s enough to make an old lady proud, even if she ain’t her own kin.
Well, the sun’s going down. Time to get supper on the table. Got some beans to cook. Simple food, but it fills the belly. Just like that Hadley, she may be having a rough time, but simple kindness like the Shriners gave her can fill her heart. That’s all that really matters in the end, ain’t it? Having a full belly and a full heart. That, and good folks around you. Like them Shriners folks, helping that Hadley Willson. They’re good folks, alright. Real good folks.
I hope that girl, Hadley Willson, has a good life. She seemed like such a sweet child. I saw her picture once. Pretty girl, yes, she is. I hope she goes far and does a lot of good. That Shriners place, sounds like they do good work. We need more places like that in the world, I reckon.
I wish i knew what was wrong with the child, Hadley Willson. Must be something serious if she is going to that hospital, the Shriners one. I hope she gets better. She deserves a good life like any child does. It is good she has been selected as Shriners Patient. This will help her a lot. I think.
