It was a cold night in January, 2008 and David knocked on my door around midnight. He seemed anxious and a bit in a hurry.

"What are you doing here so late, you woke me and my dad up?"

"Deanna, I'm so sorry, and Miguel I am so sorry, I know I scared you, I only have a moment, it won't take long anyhow. I was wondering Deanna, if you still had that jacket of mine, you know, the black leather trench coat my uncle Robert gave me?"

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry, you must be freezing out there without a coat to wear. You left in such a hurry the last time you were here I just put your coat in the closet. Here, let me get it, you can come in you know, I don't bite."

A strange look came upon his face, his eyes dimmed for a moment, and he seemed somehow sad. I asked, "What's wrong David?"

"Nothing, I'm just in a hurry...that's all. The jacket, please."

I looked around as if I could find the source of his unrest in my living room and suddenly noticed our shrine of Mary that my father built recently. David had never been one to conform to any one belief or religion and I know that religion in general was a harsh topic for him having been disallusioned by exploring too many belief systems on his own.

"OK, I'll get your coat."

I opened the closet and there was his coat, soft as a lambskin and butter right in front of all the others. I touched it, I couldn't help but do so, it was so supple and inviting.

In truth I had worn it a few times since he left it here. I wasn't yet sure if that spoke of my like for him or the coat itself. Somehow, I felt safe when I wore it, and confident like I could take on the world. I knew the coat wasn't magic or anything, blessed, well, that was something I wasn't sure about yet, I wanted to tell David a story about this coat, a very special one about a hidden pocket I discovered in the layer right on the left above the heart.

"David, I have something to tell you."

"Yeah, is my coat ok, did you lose it? Ah man don't tell me you..."

"NO no, I have it right here, it's ok, I wouldn't lose your coat David, your my freind, like a brother to me. You know I take care of your things and don't let them get ruined."

"Yeah, I know, sorry, I have been going nuts trying to figure out where I left it and then it dawned on me I left it here that...night."

"David, please come in now, I need to talk to you, just for a little while, it won't take long ok. Please, we can talk in my office, and I can show you my new painting I got from Olivia."

"Olivia is painting again? That's great."

"Yeah, well, its because of your coat."

"What do you mean, its because of my coat?"

"I'll explain, come with me."

He stepped into the door gingerly like as if stepping on a boobytrap. I felt for him having been where he was now and I was even more certain I had to tell him about his uncles coat now and not after he takes it back.

He sat on army green office chair and I sat on my black cushioned one. I knew I had to make it quick because the green chair was not at all comfortable and so I began with, "Do you want anything to drink, coffee, hot cocoa, anything?"

"No, I'm fine, can we just..."

"Yeah, yeah, ok, Well, David, you left your coat here for three weeks now, and I could not get a hold of you for that three weeks. That night when we were all watching a movie, you got a phonecall. I remember, you looked shocked, and angry and so hurt, all at once, and I didn't know what to do. You left so quickly, you made us all worried about you. I am sure whatever reason you left is your own business, but I have to say David, when I saw you leave, I feared something bad would happen to you. So I prayed that night for you, that whatever you were going through you could get through it in one peice and ok."

"Well thank you, I appreciate that, but what does this have to do with my coat and why Olivia is painting again?"

I smiled, my heart began to fill with a warmth and my eyes began to tear.

"Are you ok? I didn't mean to make you cry, you were that worried about me?"

"yeah, b-but it's not just that, um, David, you remember how your uncle Robert's will dissappeared after the funeral?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I was wearing your coat one day, its a nice coat, and I only wore it to a meeting for my wellness group. You know the one on Mondays. Well, I got it caught on the chair I was sitting in when I was leaving and I thought I had torn it on the inside, well, when I looked in a panic, I discovered a secret pocket in your uncles coat."

He took the coat and said, "Show me."

I took the coat from him, and opened it up, within the pocket I took a business card out and handed it to David.

He read it, and looked at me, and than read it again, looked in back of it, and than said, "What the hell is this, some kind of joke?"

"No David, its no joke, believe me, there is nothing funny about this, and you should take it seriously, as seriously as I did, and Olivia. She has been commissioned to paint the pieces for the entire building of Montoya Inc. We went there when I found the card to be sure it was a real buliding. Your uncle gave you his business, that is your business card, with your name on it. David, he loved you very much. There is a number on the card, call it, your uncles lawyer wants to speak to you as soon as possible."

He sat in shock, he couldn't move, couldn't breathe, and I sat and smiled and thanked God with my heart.

Than a tear slid down his face and I said, "Oh David, I am so happy for you."

He rose from his chair in a rush and hugged me saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"No problem sweetypie. I just thank God you came back for your coat. It has blessed us all. Your uncle was a good man, and a kind man. He was a gracious christian and a giving human being. He helped me see things in a better light many times sweety and even though you don't want to believe it I am sure, even you helped me see things in a new and better light many times, by being my friend."

"Thank you Deanna, I don't know what to say now." 'sniff, sniff ' hahaha" You have no idea how much this, how much this means, to me, WOOW!!! Oh my gosh, I can't believe this, this is the, the best thing that has, Ever happened to me."

"That night, the phone call, that was my landlord, I was being evicted. I lost everything Deanna. Because of some mistake and switch up with my name and some other guy who was a criminal. I have been put in jail, I have been hounded by the police and my lawyer didn't have a clue half the time...and, I got out of jail today. They caught the guy... I didn' t have anywhere else to go, all I kept thinking about, was my uncles coat, and I just kept walking, and before I knew it, I was at your door. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know, please, anything at all."

"Pray for me, that's all I ask, just pray for me sweety."

"Why, is something wrong, are you ok?"

"I'm fine sweety, but I don't only want you to pray for me, but the people I am going to help, because your company, supports volunteer work overseas, I leave tomorrow."

"Oh my gosh, oh man, I had no idea, oh Deanna, girl, damn I'm gonna miss you. If there is anything I can do to help pay anything or, I'll call this lawyer tonight ok, and oh my gosh, wow, wow. you are amazing."

"Here, use my cellphone." My dad said coming up behind him.

***********************************

Update,

"Dear David

The school here going strong. I have 100 students, whom I teach in differant age groups all week long. Your prayers are not going unanswered my freind. The food has been coming regularly. We have fresh water now thanks to the new volunteers you sent our way. The medicine has helped a great deal and I have seen more smiles today than I have seen in months as I announced a new playground to be built nearby. Oh and David, I love you too. I look forward to your visit in two weeks.

With love,

Your Deanna.






written by Veronica Garcia on January 15, 2009

thanks sweety, you are appreciated. hugs