Discover Smith Mountain Lake
WINTER 2016
13
12
YOUR TREES ARE IN GOOD
HANDS WITH
ETHAN’S!
E
VERY
T
REE
H
AS
A
N
EED
SERVICE.
540 489 TREE
8733
FREE ESTIMATES
Call & find out how much
you can save on tree
service with Ethan!
TREE
&
STUMP
SERVICE
• 540-489-TREE (8733)
• Tree Removal
• Tree Pruning
• Stump Grinding
• Leaf Removal
• Pressure Washing
• Vista Pruning
(For a better lake view)
ETHAN’S
Anna was 8, and Elizabeth, or “Bitty” as they called
her, was two.
Infants and toddlers, which were the easiest to place
in foster homes, were also the most difficult cases
for Maya. Being the younger of two children, she had
never been around babies. While nothing tugged at her
heart more than a neglected infant, they invariably
reeked of urine and vomit. They always seemed to
have crusty, runny noses, and they drooled constantly.
Unlike an older child, with whom you could reason and
lead by the hand, infants needed to be picked up and
held against you. They only understood the language
of love. As soon as you picked them up, they tried to
put their sticky hands in or near your mouth, or rub
their slippery, glistening noses on your blouse. Or even
worse, they spit-up curdled milk on your shoulder.
Born into a life of privilege, Maya had been expected
to seek a business career in an office, where she could
meet a nice, upwardly mobile Jewish boy, get married
and have a family. Yes, she had been taught to help the
poor, but that could be done by hosting a fund-raiser
at the country club. Her parents had never hesitated
to do their part for charity, but that did not mean
actually going into crowded, bug infested tenements,
where even armed police feared for their own safety.
It was the first day of Hanukkah. She would be seeing
her parents this evening, but she would not be telling
them about this visit.
“Ben and Anna and Bitty you are all going to go with
me for a ride so why don’t you bring along a favorite
toy or two?”
“Where are we going?” Ben had lost his shyness. Fear
replaced shame. “Why do we have to go?” He turned
toward his mother. “Make them leave, Mom!” Maya
had brought an assistant from her office, along with a
uniformed policeman.
“Ben, I need you to be strong so you won’t frighten
your sisters. Your mother needs some help with you
children right now, and this is just for a visit. Do you
understand? You will still see your mother again soon.
You will just be visiting friends of mine for a while.
There will be other boys there your age, and many
things to do. There is a ping pong table, and television,
and lots of books to read...”
She nodded toward the policeman, and he reached out
and took Ben’s hand, leading him toward the door.
Anna began to cry.
“It’ll just be for a while baby,” her mother said, lighting
a cigarette with shaking hands. “Mama will come get
