Chapter Four

Eddie was devastated when he was informed by the Chaplain that little Carol had been diagnosed with influenza. Eddie requested to be allowed to see little Carol. The Warden of the institution allowed Eddie to see Carol, but he had to be in the custody of law enforcement and the family had to pay all expenses.

Eddie knew his family did not have the money for him to see Carol. Sunday when Eddie went to church, he talked to Ms. Daisy. Ms. Daisy had become like a second mother to him. Eddie cried as he longed to see Carol. He knew if he could see her everything would be all right. He could comfort her. Carol needed him now more than ever. Ms. Daisy called the Warden and asked what needed to be done for Eddie to see Carol. Mr. Holmes collaborated with the Sheriff department in Decatur County. Ms. Daisy arranged for Mr. Holmes to take Eddie to see Carol.

Mr. Holmes and Ms. Daisy picked Eddie up from the prison and took him to see Carol. Eddie was granted a two-day furlough. He had to be back at the prison in 48 hours. Mr. Holmes would have to be with Eddie the entire time he was away from the prison. Ms. Daisy asked to go with Eddie to be there to support him and to address every need that Carol had. Eddie arrived at his house. Little Carol was lying in the bed running a high fever. Eddie reached down to hug Carol she was wet from sweat. Carol had been wrapped up in quilts to try and break the fever. Eddie was scared to wake her. Eddie wanted so much to talk to her. Eddie wanted to let her know he was there.

Ms. Daisy reached down and laid her hand on Carols head and started praying. The laying on of hands is a religious practice. Faith healing is the practice of prayer and gestures such as laying on of hands that are believed by people to elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing. Believer asset that the healing of disease and disability can be brought about by religious faith through prayer. Ms. Daisy believed that the Lord could heal Carol. Jesus told his followers to heal the sick and stated that signs such as healing are evidence of faith. The apostle Paul believed healing is one of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit.

By his stripes we are healed. These stripes were administered by whipping the bare backs of prisoners whose hands and feet were bound, rendering them helpless. The phrase “by His stripes we are healed” refers to the punishment Jesus Christ suffered- flogging and beatings with fists that were followed by His agonizing death on the cross- to assume Himself all the sins of all people who believed Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me” John 14:6. The power to heal was never in the gifted person himself/ herself. The power to heal is from God and God alone. God still performs miracles. God still heals people. God can still intervene through a miracle.

After Ms. Daisy prayed for Carol, she opened her eyes and saw Eddie was there. Carol then went back to sleep. Eddie did not have the opportunity to talk to her while she was awake. All Eddie could do was lay in the bed beside her waiting for her to wake up. Anna came to visit to check on Carol. When she knew Eddie was there. Anna wanted to talk to him. She walked into the room where Eddie was lying beside Carol. Anna wanted to talk about the killing of Jim. Eddie became upset and told her not to talk about it with Carol in the room.

Anna asked Eddie to step outside and talk to her. She wanted to know what really happened that night. Eddie was angry and did not want to leave Carol for even one minute. Mr. Holmes heard the conversation and asked Eddie to talk to her. She may be able to provide information to clear his name. Ms. Daisy sit with Carol while Eddie was in the other room Ms. Daisy promised to get Eddie immediately if Carol woke up.

While Anna and Eddie were talking in the other room. Mr. Holmes stood outside the door and heard everything that was said. Anna asked Eddie to tell her everything that happened that day. He told her mama had received a letter from his grandparents. They were coming to visit the next day. He is the provider for the family. His granddaddy loves to eat rabbit. He went into the corn field that night with his BB gun to kill rabbits for dinner. While in the field he heard two shots. He thought Jim was shooting at him. He panicked and shot the BB gun one time across the field. After he shot the BB gun he went home.

Eddie looked at Anna and requested that she tell him everything that happened that day. Anna began to cry. She believed Eddie but did not know how to help him. She never believed Eddie would be sent to prison. He was only a child. Anna did know who killed Jim. Anna began to tell Eddie about the day. She woke up that morning and four men she did not know were talking to Jim in the living room. When she walked into the room, Jim instructed her to make coffee for the guest. Anna went into the kitchen and made coffee. When she returned to the room with the coffee the men were gone. She had no idea who they were.

While listening to the radio Jim heard a noise outside. He walked out the front door to see what was going on outside and was shot. Anna ran to Jim, and she could not save him. She was afraid. She stayed with Jim until the police came. She was afraid to look around in the yard. Anna did not see anyone that night. They next day she was informed by the Deputy that Eddie had been arrested for the murder of Jim. This provided a place for Mr. Holmes to start investigating. He had to find out who the men were that visited Jim that morning.

It was time for Eddie to return to prison. Carol still had not wakened. Eddie did not want to leave her. He no other choice but to return to the prison. Eddie cried as they drove away in the car. He hoped Carol knew he was there. When Eddie arrived back the prison the Chaplain was waiting to see him. Eddie dropped to his knees and began to pray. “Please let Carol be all right. Lord if you take me in her place I will gladly go. Lord my life is worth nothing I am a murderer. Carol has her whole life ahead of her. Please I am begging you, I will do anything please don’t take Carol.” He reached down and rubbed Eddie on the back. Tears came to the eyes of the Chaplain as he heard Eddie praying. The tears were soon gone. The Chaplain told Eddie he did not understand how it happened. When he left the house, Carol woke up. It was a miracle Carol was healed. Carol was healed by the divine intervention of the Lord. All the doctors had only given Carol 3 days to live. The furlough Eddie was granted was a death bed visit. The doctors examined Carol and could not understand how she pulled through. The only explanation. It was a miracle from the Lord. Eddie was ecstatic as he heard the news.