Evelyn Dillard & Curious Case of Dorothy McBride Prologue

The storm had that year on Adam and Evelyn Dillard’s wedding anniversary. The snow had covered Mizpah with a soft white substance that spread down the hillside, across the winding landscapes and landed on the streets of Beth Aven in droves. Grateful Gospel Church was covered in drifts, as the snow poured over the roof of the great structure, down the bell tower and rested on the edge of the silver bells as they toiled the hymn, At the Cross.   Snow spilled over the angelic stained-glass windows, stacked across the wide lawn, buried the cars in the parking lot, and covered the wide marble steps leading to the great doors of the Temple.  There, a woman dressed in a black overcoat, climbed. An ugly black bird flew above the woman and the bird appeared to patiently wait as the woman managed one step after another, with a determined look on her face.

There was a crowd of faithful parishioners inside of Grateful Gospel Church, those who decided to face the bitter cold and risk life and limb, in the name of Jesus.  Ushers and Deacons, Sunday school teachers, and music directors rushed about wearing damp coats and mushy boots as the made preparations to protect the house of God.  

Momma and Aunt Sandra were in the foyer with First Lady Evelyn Dillard, they were giving the directions while the Ministers and his staff discussed the plans for service in his office.  First Lady was standing near the entrance to the sanctuary and speaking with the janitor, Jack Mayberry and his assistant Larry Adams, about the steps.

“Mr. Mayberry,” Lady Dillard replied, “if you could be so kind, let Larry help you with the steps.”  Lady Evelyn, put a peaceful smile on her face, and flashed pleading eyes.

Mr. Mayberry wiped the sweat from his brow and look over at Larry, he was putting on his jacket and getting ready to go back outside.  He nodded his head, “I'll take the front, and you get the back.”

Larry agreed. Satisfied Mr. Mayberry set to put his mop away and take up his shovel.  He was a bright, yellow man and every wrinkle on his tiny face confirmed his ripe age of 70, but he seemed to be as fit as a fiddle as he tossed the mop across his shoulder, “No disrespect, Madam First Lady, but you let me and Larry handle the mopping and the shoveling, you should go sit down.”  He said and he glanced at her belly.

“I keep telling her,” Momma chimed in.  Mommy smiled at her daughter. 

“I’m doing just fine,” Evelyn replied.

“I know you’re fine dear,” Momma said, “but you should have stayed home today with all this snow.”

Evelyn wanted to stay home that morning, didn’t want to deal with the snow, but Minister Dillard insisted she come to the church with him.  The baby wasn’t due for another two weeks, it was their first child, and he was nervous.   He had his good friend, Dr. Tyndale at the church in case Evelyn went into labor unexpectedly.

 “I would’ve went crazy home alone," Evelyn saidl

“Well, at least go upstairs and sit down some place," Momma said.

“Don't worry, the Minister going to get tired coming to the balcony to look for you," Aunt Sandra replied.  Aunt Saundra was by the coat-closet assisting the choir with their coats.  They were a bunch of teenagers from the neighborhood group home, and they were loud.

  “Has he cancelled service yet?”  Mommy asked Evelyn.

“I believe he has, but I’ll go up to make sure.”

“Ok, then I can call the radio station,” Sandra returned.

“And update the phone message,” Momma added

“Sounds like a plan,” Evelyn started. 

Evelyn was just about to head up the balcony steps when her attention was diverted to the doors of the church.   Those doors were rarely opened, and although they were unlocked during service hours, most entered through the side doors.  When the heavy wooden doors opened most people turned around to find out what parishioner didn’t follow protocol.  As the doors slowly dragged a heavy gust of wind followed, and caught up in the midst of the wind was a frantic black bird.

 “A Bird,” Sandra cried out, she was astonished, but she managed to leave the closet and rush to Evelyn. 

“Mercy me,” Momma yelled, she cried out as if she had seen a ghost.

Every stood still, she watched as the fowl circled the foyer.   A confused raucous ensued.  The choir rushed down the hall, giggling and laughing, and others ducked or ran away from the path of the black bird.  The bird was on a mission, it soared toward the cupola, past the chandelier, up to the skylights.  It crossed from one side of the ceiling to the other, and crashed the angelic covered windows with bangs.

Evelyn braced herself, and glanced up toward the balcony.  She hoped the Minister would come to see what was happening, but he never came.

When the bird was within reach, Mr. Mayberry picked up the mop he’d carried and started waving it about, Larry who was headed out the back door turned around with a shovel and started swinging it like a bat.  But the bird escaped every time. 

Finally, Mr. Mayberry positioned himself in front of First Lady Dillard, and he started to swing.  He was determined to knock the black bird out, “Get ready to open the door,” Mr. Mayberry yelled to Momma and another woman that stood with horrified glares on their faces, near the door.

Larry made haste to the door to assist.   All the while the first lady stood frozen, even when the creature started to fly in her direction.  She wanted to duck, but couldn’t move.  Mr. Mayberry slung his mop around like a mad man, and after several more swings and misses, he managed to swat the bird and kknock it to the floor.

By this time Larry had made it to the front door and helped Momma open the large wooden doors of the church.  When the wounded bird took flight and flew out the front door.

At that very instant the commotion died down. The church members regained their composure, took on the demeanor of saints.  One by one, they turned and stared at the old woman, she had entered right after the bird.  Had slammed the doors shut.  She had remained calm while the bird flew about, had watch the bird fly towards Evelyn, and the little lady moved out the way when Momma and Larry opened the door.  There she stood in the middle of the foyer with a slick grin on her face, looking directly at First Lady Evelyn.  

The woman’s turban covered her entire forehead, and the collar of her heavy black coat hid her neck, and chin, making her almost unrecognizable.  But Evelyn knew by that look in her eyes, who she was.  There was no doubt, it was Dorothy McBride.

 “Dorothy McBride,” Evelyn said.  The first time she said the name to herself, the second time she spoke the name out loud, as if she couldn’t believe the lady stood before her.

“My, My,” Dorothy McBride said, shifting her gaze away from Evelyn and focusing on the crowd.  “It’s only a bird.  You people still afraid of birds.  They God’s creatures too, you know.”

Aunt Sandra was offended, looked over the woman with an irritated gaze, “Just a bird?”  She said.  “That bird almost attacked our first Lady.”

“Don’t be silly,” Dorothy McBride returned.  Her tone was sharp and direct, “ain’t no bird got that much sense.  It just wanted to get out doors, that’s it.”  Ms. McBride let out a chuckle and she glared at Evelyn with a piercing scowl. 

 “It’s nice to see you Eve, you look beautiful.”

“Nice to see you again, Mrs. McBride,” Evelyn managed. 

Evelyn extended her hand, with a smile on her lips, but despair in her heart.  She wished Adam would come down.  She asked him long ago, if they were required to pay a price for their marriage, but Adam assured all that was required was paid that night.  There was no debt owed.

Murmurs spread about the foyer, as people started to recognize the old woman.

 “You were Evelyn’s patient, years ago,” Momma said.  “You were at the wedding.”

“She’s the one from across the street,” Sandra agreed.

One by one, the parishioners realized, Mrs. McBride, was the mean old lady that lived across the street.  The same woman that brought a black bird into the church years before.  Larry remembered the day she brought another black-bird into the church.  He remembered the way Mrs. McBride had ran around laughing like a witch, while everyone else took cover.

“You brought a black bird in here long time ago,” he said.

Those who remember that day shouted in agreement with Larry, and the crowd turned evil eyes on Mrs. McBride.  Mrs. McBride returned their stares with a smile.  She was focused on Evelyn, unaffected by the rumblings of others.

“Let’s all calm down,” Evelyn said after a minute.

“She does these things on purpose,” Momma said.

“That was a long time ago.  Mrs. McBride is our friend, let’s show her respect.”

Evelyn walked over and put her arms around Mrs. McBride.  She was worried, but figured whatever the debt, surly it could be paid.  With side eyes, Evelyn glanced up at the balcony.   No Adam. It surprised her they hadn’t heard all the commotion, hadn’t come out of the office, but then she realized the church bells still rang.

They were so busy rushing around, Evelyn didn’t notice they still played, At the Cross.  

“Mr. Mayberry,” Evelyn managed, “the bells are still ringing.”

Mr. Mayberry and Larry turned their attention away from the haggard woman to the bells.

“No problem, I’ll turn them off,” he said.  He made haste down the hall, Larry on his trial.

Momma and Aunt Sandra went back to tending to church business of hanging up coats, and after a few moments things returned to the normal.  Evelyn was relieved and she took the opportunity to try and get away from Mrs. McBride.

“I need to speak with you and your husband,” Mrs. McBride replied into Evelyn’s ear.

“Why, of course,” Evelyn returned.   Let me go upstairs and get Adam, we’ll go into my office to talk.

She was about to head up the steps, when Adam emerged from his office.  He stood on the balcony and searched about.  Evelyn was sure he was searching for her, and when their eyes locked she knew he saw her grief and understood her fear after his eyes rested on Mrs. McBride.   Without haste, his foot hit the bottom step.  Adam weaved past Jack Mayberry, around Momma and Aunt Sandra.  He was a only few steps away from Evelyn, within reach of her grasp, when Mrs. McBride touched Evelyn’s protruding belly, and Everything went black.