The GHOST and Charlie Dusenberry

PG. 42 TGACD R. ZEIS

“Prayer can be a powerful thing!”

Charlie Dusenberry listened to those words but had his doubts. Charlie, Susan, and DD sat in their usual pew at the small Episcopal church in Grande Forke. About 40 people were seated with the Dusenberry’s at the ten AM service. The priest, Donald Pointer, paced back and forth in front of the altar. Every now and then he would stop his pacing and lock eyes with his parishioners.

“There is no such thing as a silly or unimportant prayer. God hears your prayers and WILL answer you. It’s just that his answer may not be what you expected.”

Charlie thought to himself what good could praying do?

Father Pointer continued, “God knows what’s best for you. What you want…what you are praying for…may not be what is best for you. God knows what you need long before you ask for it.”

Charlie squirmed in his seat a little at that.

Pointer continued, “God may take someone out of your life, someone who down the road would hurt you. OR, He might put someone into your life, who you may or may not know, that can turn your life around for the better!” Father Pointer paused a moment…

“For example, let’s say you are a baseball player…”

“Now why did he go in that direction,” mumbled Charlie.

“It’s the bottom of the ninth and the bases are loaded. One out. You’re up with the winning run on third base. A hit wins the game. You want to win! You pray to God for a hit.” Again, Father Pointer paused and looked around his church. “But, you strike out! You think God has let you down!”

“Been there, done that,” thought Charlie.

“But what if God had known that if you hit the ball, you would have hit into a game-ending double play.” Pointer paused again and added, “That wouldn’t have been good.” Chuckles arose from the gathered parishioners.

“The next man at bat gets a hit and your team wins the game! Now, did God let you down?”

PG. 43 TGACD R. ZEIS

Father Pointer then ended his sermon with, “Be patient with God. He answers prayers on his time, not yours.”

After the service Pointer stood by the church’s front door to say good-bye to everyone. Charlie and his family shook hands with the priest and thanked him for the service. Charlie was about to leave when he suddenly stopped and turned to the priest.

“Why did you use baseball as part of your sermon?”

Pointer paused a moment before answering. “Well, I don’t really know. It sort of came to me all of a sudden. I love baseball and that may have something to do with it.” Another pause, “Did you like it?”

“Sure,” Charlie answered. “Thanks.”

“Why did you ask Father Pointer about that?” asked Susan as they walked to their car.

“I don’t know,” answered her husband. “It was just interesting that had to bring up baseball.” To himself, Charlie thought he couldn’t get away from the sport, even at church.

Arriving at their car, DD held open the passenger door for his mother as usual. Charlie smiled at his son for remembering to be a gentleman.

“Dad,” said DD as he buckled his seatbelt. “Are you going to be all right for our practice tomorrow?”

“I think so, as long as we don’t run out of aspirin.” Having said that, Charlie reached his left hand over to rub his right shoulder.

“I’ll give you a good rub down tonight,” Susan offered with a sympathetic frown. “I’ll make the boo boo go away.”

DD laughed at his father’s sour expression that was aimed at his mother. They always made funny faces at each other. “That must mean love,” thought DD.

“Dad, you know I can help with the fielding practice?”

“How’s that, son?”

“Let me hit the ball to our team. You can tell me where to hit!”

“Good idea, son! My arm thanks you,” smiled his father.

“Does that mean no boo boo rub down tonight?” asked Susan.

PG. 44 TGACD R. ZEIS

Charlie looked at his wife, “Oh no, you offered! No take backs!” Once again they made faces at each other. DD renewed his smiling.

The rest of the drive home was a pleasant one. They discussed what was on TV that night and what night was going to be the family night out at the movies. DD reminded his family that there was a new dinosaur flick coming out soon. DD loved them. Charlie admitted he liked them too.

As they pulled into their driveway Susan moaned, “Oh no!”

Both Charlie and DD asked at the same time, “What’s wrong?”

“I forgot we need milk and more ground beef for dinner,” Susan confessed.

“That’s OK,” replied Charlie. “You two go on in the house. I’ll go back out to the store.”

“I’m so sorry, honey,” said Susan. “I’ll have lunch ready for you when you get back.”

“Sounds like a plan,” smiled Charlie at his wife. “I won’t be long.”

Charlie waited until Susan and DD went into the house and then backed out of his driveway. The grocery store was only ten minutes away so this errand was an easy one. He thought he might also pick up some ice cream and give everyone a treat tonight.

Thinking to avoid any Sunday traffic, Charlie turned down fifth street. He smiled to himself. If he thought a couple of dozen extra cars exiting from his little town’s churches was traffic, he better not drive down to Dallas anymore!

It was partly cloudy, but the Sun broke through long enough to warm the day. Charlie was enjoying the drive so much he decided to roll down his window and breathe in the clean, Texas air. Fifth street brought him past the little league field.

And there it was again! Fog. Fog in the middle of a sunny day. It didn’t make any sense thought Charlie. Humidity felt fairly low. The sun had been out for a while. It should have burned away any fog by now.

Charlie pulled his car into the empty parking lot by the field. He was fascinated by this small patch of fog that seemed to get brighter by the second. In fact, Charlie had to turn away for a second it got so bright. He’d never seen anything like this before in his life.

Suddenly, the light dimmed and the fog began to swirl around as if a light breeze had begun to blow. Only, there wasn’t any breeze! While Charlie was contemplating this the mist disappeared…and a man appeared.

PG. 45 TGACD R. ZEIS

The man appeared so quickly that Charlie actually jumped in his seat. Strange as to what occurred, Charlie felt no fear. He thought fear would be a natural reaction to what he had just seen, but there was no fear.

Charlie felt compelled to open his car door and climb out. He had to find out if this man could answer some questions. Questions about the fog…and who the heck he was! Walking onto the field the stranger just stood there…and smiled.

As Charlie moved closer to the stranger he noted he was well over six feet tall and appeared to be in his mid-thirties. The man sported an athletic build. That led Charlie to again think this guy was a coach. However, as Charlie moved even closer he thought he might know this man. He looked very familiar.

The two men stood staring at each other for a moment. It was the stranger who broke the silence.

“Hello, son.”

“What?”

“Charlie, it’s me.”

Confusion welled up inside of Charlie. What did this man mean by ‘son?’ Did he know this man? Again, he had the feeling that he knew this man. The only thing Charlie could think of saying was, “Who are you?”

“I know this is strange. It’s strange to me too.”

Once again, Charlie asked, “Who are you?”

Again the stranger smiled. “Charlie, it’s me…your dad.”

Gus watched as his son’s facial expressions registered surprise, skepticism, and finally recognition. He could hardly believe he was standing here himself, so he couldn’t imagine what Charlie was going through.

What Charlie was going through could be summed up in one word, disbelief. Sure, he went through many of the things his father thought he was going through, but disbelief was now the dominant feeling. “My dad died years ago,” was all Charlie could manage to say at first.

“You’re right,” Gus agreed. “But it IS me. I guess you could say it’s a miracle.”

PG. 46 TGACD R. ZEIS

As much as Charlie’s mind revolted at what this man just said, he recognized his father. This was the man who taught him manners, signed his report card and pushed him to succeed in athletics. This was the man he loved and feared. But, he died years ago. Now, in front of him was a younger, fit version of his father. What was happening?

“You can’t be my father.”

“And yet it is!” Gus said. “You know it’s true. I’m a lot younger than when you saw me last. But, you KNOW it’s me.”

Charlie took a step back. So many things raced through his mind, but the only words that came out of his mouth were, “Why are you here?”

Gus smiled. “Finally we can get down to it. Relax. This is as strange to me as it is to you. I never thought I’d come back “down” here again. But, He said I needed to.”

“He?” Charlie said.

Still smiling, Gus said, “You know who He is.”

“You mean to tell me God sent you here? Are you supposed to be an angel or something?’

“An angel?” Gus laughed. “No, I’m no angel. You should see them. They are really something! I’m no angel, in fact, sometimes I’m surprised that He let me “up” there. You’ll see how special angels are one day.”

“You mean when I’m dead?”

“Well, yeah. But, I have it on good authority that won’t be for a while.”

“If you are really my father, what are you doing here? Why would God send you down here?” Charlie’s mind continued to try to find a logical explanation for this conversation with his father…a man who died.

“I’m here because you asked for help,” replied Gus.

“I never asked for your help…. Dad,” Charlie said.

“Well, you didn’t ask for me by name. You did, however, pray for help. At least, that’s what an angel told me.”

“An angel told you?”

PG.47 TGACD R. ZEIS

“Sure. You prayed for help and He thought I was the one to help you. Truth be told, I’m still wondering what help I can give you.”

Charlie shook his head side-to-side. Was this true? Did God really hear him ask for help? If this was true, what could his father do? “God, help me!” he breathed.

“That’s right, God help you,” offered Gus.

“So, what are you going to do?” asked Charlie.

“I don’t know yet,” Gus said. “For some reason, I only learn a little bit at a time what I’m supposed to do. I just learned that I was here for you. I was told it takes a while to adjust to being sent back “down.”

As if on cue, the fog started to return and a light appeared in the middle of it.

“I guess I’ve got to go,” said Gus as he turned to walk towards the forming mist.

“Go?” cried Charlie. “You just got here!”

“I know,” replied his father. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back. I’ll try to have more answers for you.”

The light from the fog got brighter and brighter. It was so bright that Charlie had to look away.

“Dad! We didn’t even shake hands!

Gus turned from the fog long enough to smile at his son. “I don’t know if that’s allowed.”

Without a sound the fog engulfed Gus and in a blink of an eye, it disappeared along with him.

Charlie didn’t know how long he just stood there looking around him. He was in a state of shock. Had he really just had a conversation with his dead father? And did his father return because of an answered prayer?

Slowly returning to his car, Charlie realized he had another big question to answer. Could he tell anyone about this? Should he tell anyone? He sat behind the wheel of his car for another few minutes as he tried to calm down. Then he almost said, “God help me.” But, he didn’t dare.