Luella and Della Gabbert
Where my story begins.......
The setting sun meant it would be dark soon and six year old Luella wanted her mama. She could be a brat on occasion and Della mouthed a silent prayer that this wasn’t one of those times. She wanted mama too, but she choked back her tears and tried to help Luella change into her nightgown and brush her hair. One hundred strokes just as mama would do.
Both girls had dark chestnut colored hair just like daddys’ and it hung halfway down their back in curls. Every night Luella would sit in the floor at mamas’ feet while she brushed her hair until every tangle was gone and it was shiny and glossy, then mama would braid the long tresses and wrap it around her head before putting the nightcap on.
Della didn’t have mamas’ magic touch though and Luella wasn’t making this very easy. She whined and squealed as Della brushed the tangles from each strand.
“I want mama to brush my hair,” she whined as she tried to squirm away from Della’s reach. Della understood because she wanted mama too but she knew it was up to her to try to keep up some semblance of normalcy, and getting ready for bed was a routine they had followed every night. Luckily mama had taught her how to braid her own hair several years ago so she could handle this. Mama had taught Luella also but she had no desire to learn. She would have been happy to cut it all off, but that would never be allowed. Her long hair was just a nuisance as far as she was concerned.
After a while, Luella finally settled down and Della finished her hair and then tackled her own hair. As she brushed the tangled curls, she saw that Luella was starting to calm down a little. It was the end of a long eventful day. But one that left a lot of questions unanswered for the little girls. The reality of what had happened was beginning to sink in and an unbearable sadness washed over them.
As they sat on the edge of the bed, Della tried to comfort her, holding her in her arms, patting her head and rocking her back and forth as she sobbed uncontrollably. But Della, only a couple of years older than she, just wasn’t mama. As Della held her in her arms she tried to give her some measure of comfort but both knew as the hours passed and the room got darker and darker, daddy wasn’t coming tonight either. They’d hoped he would come in to say prayers and kiss them goodnight as he usually did. Maybe he could explain what was happening. Maybe he could assure them that everything was going to be okay. They needed daddy’s comfort so much right now.
They knew that mama had gone into labor the day before and something had gone terribly wrong. Aunt Kate had arrived yesterday and there was an air of excitement that the baby would be here soon. Both girls had looked forward to this happening because they had been helping mama prepare for its arrival for months. Mama had taught them both how to sew with the tiniest of stitches and the blankets and gowns were all made by their hands. Even Luella had learned to sew. The same cradle that daddy had made for Della and that Luella had used, was brought in and cleaned up for the new baby. Della had stitched a blanket and Luella had even made a tiny pillow just for the cradle. They were both so excited and Luella couldn’t wait to be a big sister. They were all hoping for a baby boy because daddy wanted a son.
Aunt Kate was there to help deliver the baby and even though it was a month early, she normally would have been able to handle the birth of the tiny baby. But nothing was normal. All day and all thru the night they heard mama cry out and after hours of screaming from excruciating pain, she still hadn’t delivered the baby. Aunt Kate could do nothing to help so daddy went for the doctor but by the time the doctor finally arrived, it was too late to help and both mama and the baby boy had died.
The girls weren’t allowed to see mama or the baby afterwards and were told to stay in their room. The house was so very quiet and when Aunt Kate brought them a bowl of soup for supper she simply said, “It’s over. It’s all over.”
They weren’t sure what that meant but after several hours they heard the arrival of a wagon and watched from the window as the undertakers wagon came and took mama and baby away. Della didn’t really know what had happened herself but it was left to her to explain to Luella and offer some sort of comfort.
“Mama and baby James have gone to heaven to be with the angels,” she said trying to explain to Luella when she didn’t really accept it herself. It was hard to soothe her little sister when her own heart was breaking, but it was a role she was used to. Luella was the baby and sometimes still acted as one.
“But why didn’t she stay here with us? We need her more than the angels do.” Luella sobbed. Maybe I am to blame, she thought. Mamas don’t just go away. Maybe if I weren’t such a baby. Maybe I could do better with my lessons at school and at home. I could help mama more with the chores and start doing things for myself.
And now daddy was acting strange himself. He had always been a good father and loved all his girls as he called mama and the two of them. But it had been several days since he had last tucked them in for the night and now he didn’t even seem to want to talk to them. Was he blaming them or mad at them? It could be that he didn’t want them anymore. And maybe he didn’t love them anymore. Was he going to leave and be an angel too?
They didn’t understand why he wasn’t holding them, but they knew daddy was just as sad as they were.
They listened as daddy and his sister, Kate, talked in muffled voices behind the closed door.
“I know it’s hard to accept this James, but you have to, for the girl’s sake. They still need you to take care of them,” said Kate.
“How can I take care of two little girls and work to put a roof over our heads? I don’t even want to live without Mary,” James cried. “I just don’t think I can do it. I don’t even know what to say to my little girls or how to comfort them when I feel so empty. Listen to Luella crying right now and I can’t even tell her it’s going to be alright. Nothing is ever going to be alright again.”
Kate knew there was nothing she could say to comfort him and nothing would change the events of the last couple of days, but she knew those little girls needed someone to take care of them. Her sons were grown now and she had recently remarried after being a widow for many years. So who better than her to give them the care they would need, at least until James got everything worked out so he could take care of them.
She loved her little brother and it broke her heart to see him in pain. She would do anything to help him, hoping he would find his way through this and keep his little family intact. But in the meantime,
“I know what you are going thru James and I wish I had the right words to say to you but nothing is going to change the fact that Mary is gone. I could take the girls home with me until you can get everything in order. But you have to go on with your life. You know they will be safe and taken care of until you feel it is time for them to come back home.”
By that time, the crying had stopped but the two little girls continued to cling tightly to each other, scared to let go as they realized that they were losing daddy too. Their world was changing and they had no idea what was going to happen. Eventually they fell asleep and were so exhausted they didn’t even wake up when daddy and Aunt Kate came in early the next morning. Bundling them up in blankets, they laid them in the back of Aunt Kate’s wagon. James hugged them tightly not wanting them to go, but he accepted that he was unable to give them what they needed right now. He brushed their hair back and kissed each on the forehead whispering that he loved them and he would see them soon.
Life for Luella was forever changed that day.
The setting sun meant it would be dark soon and six year old Luella wanted her mama. She could be a brat on occasion and Della mouthed a silent prayer that this wasn’t one of those times. She wanted mama too, but she choked back her tears and tried to help Luella change into her nightgown and brush her hair. One hundred strokes just as mama would do.
Both girls had dark chestnut colored hair just like daddys’ and it hung halfway down their back in curls. Every night Luella would sit in the floor at mamas’ feet while she brushed her hair until every tangle was gone and it was shiny and glossy, then mama would braid the long tresses and wrap it around her head before putting the nightcap on.
Della didn’t have mamas’ magic touch though and Luella wasn’t making this very easy. She whined and squealed as Della brushed the tangles from each strand.
“I want mama to brush my hair,” she whined as she tried to squirm away from Della’s reach. Della understood because she wanted mama too but she knew it was up to her to try to keep up some semblance of normalcy, and getting ready for bed was a routine they had followed every night. Luckily mama had taught her how to braid her own hair several years ago so she could handle this. Mama had taught Luella also but she had no desire to learn. She would have been happy to cut it all off, but that would never be allowed. Her long hair was just a nuisance as far as she was concerned.
After a while, Luella finally settled down and Della finished her hair and then tackled her own hair. As she brushed the tangled curls, she saw that Luella was starting to calm down a little. It was the end of a long eventful day. But one that left a lot of questions unanswered for the little girls. The reality of what had happened was beginning to sink in and an unbearable sadness washed over them.
As they sat on the edge of the bed, Della tried to comfort her, holding her in her arms, patting her head and rocking her back and forth as she sobbed uncontrollably. But Della, only a couple of years older than she, just wasn’t mama. As Della held her in her arms she tried to give her some measure of comfort but both knew as the hours passed and the room got darker and darker, daddy wasn’t coming tonight either. They’d hoped he would come in to say prayers and kiss them goodnight as he usually did. Maybe he could explain what was happening. Maybe he could assure them that everything was going to be okay. They needed daddy’s comfort so much right now.
They knew that mama had gone into labor the day before and something had gone terribly wrong. Aunt Kate had arrived yesterday and there was an air of excitement that the baby would be here soon. Both girls had looked forward to this happening because they had been helping mama prepare for its arrival for months. Mama had taught them both how to sew with the tiniest of stitches and the blankets and gowns were all made by their hands. Even Luella had learned to sew. The same cradle that daddy had made for Della and that Luella had used, was brought in and cleaned up for the new baby. Della had stitched a blanket and Luella had even made a tiny pillow just for the cradle. They were both so excited and Luella couldn’t wait to be a big sister. They were all hoping for a baby boy because daddy wanted a son.
Aunt Kate was there to help deliver the baby and even though it was a month early, she normally would have been able to handle the birth of the tiny baby. But nothing was normal. All day and all thru the night they heard mama cry out and after hours of screaming from excruciating pain, she still hadn’t delivered the baby. Aunt Kate could do nothing to help so daddy went for the doctor but by the time the doctor finally arrived, it was too late to help and both mama and the baby boy had died.
The girls weren’t allowed to see mama or the baby afterwards and were told to stay in their room. The house was so very quiet and when Aunt Kate brought them a bowl of soup for supper she simply said, “It’s over. It’s all over.”
They weren’t sure what that meant but after several hours they heard the arrival of a wagon and watched from the window as the undertakers wagon came and took mama and baby away. Della didn’t really know what had happened herself but it was left to her to explain to Luella and offer some sort of comfort.
“Mama and baby James have gone to heaven to be with the angels,” she said trying to explain to Luella when she didn’t really accept it herself. It was hard to soothe her little sister when her own heart was breaking, but it was a role she was used to. Luella was the baby and sometimes still acted as one.
“But why didn’t she stay here with us? We need her more than the angels do.” Luella sobbed. Maybe I am to blame, she thought. Mamas don’t just go away. Maybe if I weren’t such a baby. Maybe I could do better with my lessons at school and at home. I could help mama more with the chores and start doing things for myself.
And now daddy was acting strange himself. He had always been a good father and loved all his girls as he called mama and the two of them. But it had been several days since he had last tucked them in for the night and now he didn’t even seem to want to talk to them. Was he blaming them or mad at them? It could be that he didn’t want them anymore. And maybe he didn’t love them anymore. Was he going to leave and be an angel too?
They didn’t understand why he wasn’t holding them, but they knew daddy was just as sad as they were.
They listened as daddy and his sister, Kate, talked in muffled voices behind the closed door.
“I know it’s hard to accept this James, but you have to, for the girl’s sake. They still need you to take care of them,” said Kate.
“How can I take care of two little girls and work to put a roof over our heads? I don’t even want to live without Mary,” James cried. “I just don’t think I can do it. I don’t even know what to say to my little girls or how to comfort them when I feel so empty. Listen to Luella crying right now and I can’t even tell her it’s going to be alright. Nothing is ever going to be alright again.”
Kate knew there was nothing she could say to comfort him and nothing would change the events of the last couple of days, but she knew those little girls needed someone to take care of them. Her sons were grown now and she had recently remarried after being a widow for many years. So who better than her to give them the care they would need, at least until James got everything worked out so he could take care of them.
She loved her little brother and it broke her heart to see him in pain. She would do anything to help him, hoping he would find his way through this and keep his little family intact. But in the meantime,
“I know what you are going thru James and I wish I had the right words to say to you but nothing is going to change the fact that Mary is gone. I could take the girls home with me until you can get everything in order. But you have to go on with your life. You know they will be safe and taken care of until you feel it is time for them to come back home.”
By that time, the crying had stopped but the two little girls continued to cling tightly to each other, scared to let go as they realized that they were losing daddy too. Their world was changing and they had no idea what was going to happen. Eventually they fell asleep and were so exhausted they didn’t even wake up when daddy and Aunt Kate came in early the next morning. Bundling them up in blankets, they laid them in the back of Aunt Kate’s wagon. James hugged them tightly not wanting them to go, but he accepted that he was unable to give them what they needed right now. He brushed their hair back and kissed each on the forehead whispering that he loved them and he would see them soon.
Life for Luella was forever changed that day.
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