Hope in a Bottle

Honorable Mention-Dec 2014 "Boy Have I Got a Story For You" Contest

Hope in a Bottle

         Her thick fingers awkwardly maneuvered the pink ribbon gently around the white paper. She struggled to tie it into a bow, but she was having a problem pulling it tight. When she finally got the bow just right, she smiled, happy with her accomplishment. She put the ribboned paper in the bottle, tightened the cap, and ran down to the shoreline. The fireworks display was in progress so she hoped no one would notice she was gone. She carefully placed the bottle in the ocean and watched it float further away with the movement of each wave and shouted, “I love you daddy. Please come home.”

         Jim Dawson lay face down in the sand on the beach behind the Sea View Motel as the sun rose on July 5, 1994. The week before, he had checked into the closest motel he could find in Lincoln City after leaving his wife and five-year old daughter, and hadn’t stopped drinking since. No matter how much he drank, the alcohol couldn’t numb the guilt he felt. He left his little girl because he couldn’t handle the fact that she wasn't perfect and never would be. He convinced himself that she would be better off without him; that she wouldn't have to see the grimace on her father's face. He knew she wouldn't understand the reason was because she had Down Syndrome; she would just think he didn't love her, but he did.

         As the rushing tide swept over his face, he awoke to a splitting headache. Still drunk from the previous night of partying, he sat up and brushed the sand and seaweed from his matted brown hair and wiped the sand and water from his face. His brown eyes were stinging and his vision was blurred as he glanced around the deserted beach.

         The sun was glistening on something. He wiped his eyes and focused. At first glance, it looked like any soda bottle, but he thought he saw something inside. He crawled over to the clump of seaweed where the bottle lay and pulled out a piece of white paper, wet and tied with a dirty pink ribbon. He carefully opened the note, which was obviously written by a child, with the words I love you daddy. Please come home.

         Jim thought about tossing it away, but changed his mind. It could be from Faith, he thought, but any child could have written it. He couldn't think about that now. His head hurt too much. He folded the note, put it in his wallet, and passed out again.

         Today was a very special day for Faith Dawson. Beth had always believed her daughter would graduate, but it had not been easy for either of them. No one, including Faith’s doctors, thought she would live very long, let alone graduate from high school, but Faith had proved them wrong.

         A gust of wind from the ocean lifted the tasseled graduation hat from Faith's head, tossing it into the air, along with most of the hats from her classmates. The rest of the Class of 2006 tossed theirs into the wind, and even though kites are usually flying on the windy beach in Lincoln City, Oregon, today there were flying hats.

         “I’m so proud of you, Faith,” Beth said as she hugged her daughter tightly and kissed her on the cheek. “Mommy, I can’t breathe,” Faith squealed, trying to break free.

         “Sorry. I’m just so proud of you,” Beth said as Faith wriggled free from her mother's arms and started running around trying to retrieve her hat.

         Faith ran over to Beth proudly carrying her hat. She smoothed out her white graduation gown and brushed the straight, brown hairs from her round face. She put the hat back on and announced, “I’m gonna say hi to my friends,” and with a big smile, her small brown eyes gleaming, she skipped away. Beth watched with concern as Faith ran up to each classmate and hugged them. Most were receptive and hugged her back, but some were not, and their repulsed expressions cut deep into Beth’s heart.

         “Children can be so cruel,” a soft, deep voice from behind said. Beth turned. “Dr. Morris. I’m so… Faith will be so happy you came.”

         He took Beth’s hand, smiled with his sexy, cocky smile and kissed her on the cheek. “I had to see my favorite patient graduate.” Embarrassed by the kiss and the way his emerald green eyes looked directly into hers when he spoke, Beth dropped his hand and abruptly turned around, seemingly looking for Faith. Jack Morris always made her nervous, but it was a good nervous - the kind that gives you goosebumps all over.

         “I’m sure she’s fine, Beth,” Jack said. “She seems to have a lot of friends.”

         Beth turned to look at him. “I know. I guess I’m being over protective,” she said as another gust of wind blew her long, blonde hair across her face covering the turquoise eyes that she always considered her best feature.

         “Maybe just a little,” he said. “She’s a wonderful girl and you should be proud.” He paused for a moment and took a deep breath. “I was hoping you’d let me take you and Faith to dinner tonight. I think a celebration is in order.”

         Trying not to sound too enthusiastic, Beth looked up at him and replied, “I think Faith would like that, Dr. Morris. I’ll ask her and call you.”

         “I look forward to it, and please call me Jack.” He smiled and walked away, his six foot two stature commanding looks from everyone. She smiled and a warm feeling surged through her slim body as she watched him stride through the crowds, turning the heads of wanton mothers and envious fathers along the way.

         “You like Dr. Morris,” Faith sang the words and Beth blushed.

         “Yes, I like Dr. Morris. He’s a good doctor. Now go get dressed,” Beth said as she patted Faith’s behind. “We have to meet him at the restaurant in forty minutes.”

         As they entered the seaside restaurant, Faith recognized him first. “There’s Dr. Morris!” she shouted, causing the other patrons to look and whisper words to one another. Beth was used to that, but it hurt just the same. Jack stood as they approached and pulled out a chair first for Faith and then for Beth. Dressed in a starched white shirt and casual slacks, his hair seemed blacker than usual.

         “You both look so lovely tonight and your dress is beautiful, Faith.” She smiled and fluffed up the full skirt on her pink dress. “Order anything you want. We’re celebrating your graduation,” he said cheerfully and Faith grinned and patted her hands together.

         As the evening progressed, Jack lovingly showed attention to Faith. Over the weeks that followed, they spent every weekend together and Beth could see that Jack truly cared for Faith. Beth knew she was falling in love and was sure Jack felt the same way. Everything was going so well, but she couldn't rid herself of the angst that something bad was going to happen.

         On a not-so-hot day in August, Jack suggested going to the beach. It reminded Beth of those beautiful summer days when Faith was young and they lived in a small house near the ocean. Faith had always loved the beach, but shortly before Beth enrolled her in school, they had to move closer to town where Beth worked. Faith missed it so much. “Yes, the beach. I love the beach,” Faith said.

         They found a clear spot closer to the motels, where there weren’t too many people, and set up the umbrella and laid down the blanket. Faith walked down to the shoreline and stared out at the ocean for several minutes. When she walked back to the blanket, her face was sad and her mouth was drawn downward. “This is where I sent Daddy a note in a bottle.”

         Beth tried not to look surprised and glanced over at Jack. “You sent Daddy a note?”

         “Yep, in a bottle,” she replied and sat down on the blanket. “I wrote I love you Daddy. Please come home. I tied a pink ribbon around it and put it in the bottle and put it in the water,” she said piercing her lips together to keep from crying. “But he never came home.”

         “I’m sure he’ll be back one day and he will be so proud of you,” Beth said, but she doubted he ever would. They hadn’t spoken since the divorce and when Faith asked where he was, Beth said he was overseas for a while. Faith never gave up hope that one day he would come back.

         On January 25th, Faith turned eighteen and Jack convinced Beth that Faith should take some secretarial courses. “She is maturing into a young lady and she is smart. You need to help her become more independent so she can lead as close to a normal life as possible.”

         “I don’t want her to get too independent. People can be cruel; you said it yourself, Jack.”

         “I know, but she wants to work. She wants to meet people, and you shouldn’t hold her back.”

         Beth knew Jack was right so she enrolled Faith in a secretarial program. Faith struggled through most of the course, but excelled in typing and spelling. Her teacher was impressed and found a job for Faith as a typist at the public library. When she received her first paycheck, Beth opened a checking account for her and Faith proudly showed Jack her checkbook and performed her typing skills at the typewriter.

         “If only those old doctors could see her now,” Beth gloated.

         Jim Dawson finished his AA meeting and returned to his downtown apartment. A recovering alcoholic since 2000, he opened a bottle of water and sat down at his computer. A small frame sat next to the monitor displaying the note he found in the bottle. He had hired an investigator to locate his ex-wife and daughter and today he was given an address. He spent over an hour writing and rewriting the note that he placed in the envelope. He sealed it with a kiss and a prayer that his daughter would forgive him.

         The note arrived in three days, and when Faith retrieved it from the mailbox, a big smile filled her face as she rushed back to the house.
“Mommy, I got a letter!” Faith yelled as she burst through the front door. She sat on the sofa and tore open the envelope as Beth walked in.

         “It’s from my Daddy,” she said as her eyes widened. “See, it says Jim Dawson. Sit down Mommy. I’ll read it to you.”

Dear Faith,

I’m sorry I haven’t written sooner but I’ve been away. I miss you very much and want to see you. I hope you want to see me too. Please ask Mommy to call me at 541-555-2338.

I love you,

Daddy

         “Oh Mommy, call him. I want to see my Daddy.”

         With some trepidation, Beth made the call the next morning. Jim explained what he had been through the last thirteen years and how he had stopped drinking and was sorry he never tried to contact Faith until now. He just wanted to see her. Beth told him all about her graduation and work and then made her decision.

         “Okay, Jim. Come for dinner tomorrow night at seven. But if you do anything to upset Faith, I’ll never forgive you and you’ll never see her again.”

         “Don’t worry. I’ll be there,” he said and hung up the phone.

         Beth asked Jack if he wanted to join them for dinner, but he declined. “I think Faith needs the time to be alone with her Dad. Call me when he leaves.”

         As promised, Jim arrived at seven, sober and nicely dressed, carrying a heavy package. Faith rushed to the door to greet him. She threw her arms around his neck and screamed, “I’m so happy to see you Daddy! Did you get my note in the bottle?” she asked.

         Jim smiled. “I sure did. It’s in a frame by my computer. Speaking of computers, I have a present for you.” He dragged it over to the sofa and Faith tore the paper to shreds. “It’s a computer!” she yelled and hugged him.

         “I heard you like to type,” he said. “How about I set up your computer and you help Mommy with dinner. After dinner, you can show me how fast you type.” Her face grew brighter with every word he spoke and Beth could see how happy she was.

         As Faith peeled the potatoes, she smiled and hummed her favorite song. Beth watched her and reveled in her daughter’s joy. Faith had matured into a woman and had overcome so many obstacles. It was amazing to Beth that she could feel such love for a father she hadn’t seen in thirteen years, but Faith’s love was unconditional. Jim was her Daddy and she never forgot him and she never stopped loving him.

Word count: 2184