Remember in LISA, BRIGHT AND DARK (1969), how narrator Betsy gushes about Mary Nell Fickett: "she used to LIVE in California!"? This book (1968) is abRemember in LISA, BRIGHT AND DARK (1969), how narrator Betsy gushes about Mary Nell Fickett: "she used to LIVE in California!"? This book (1968) is about her time there when she was 14, narrated by her 12-year-old brother Michael.
Mostly, Mary Nell is siding with the neighbors and her minister father's congregation about her parents' idea to adopt a little Black boy. Michael isn't sure how he feels about the situation, but once little Edgar Allan arrives, all Michael sees is a cute, smart, happy preschooler. Michael's preschooler brother Stephen sees a playmate (and a new occupant for his recently-vacated high-chair), and their 5 1/2-year-old sister Sally Ann sees another younger kid she can teach like she's been teaching Stephen. But the congregation and neighborhood are thinking: "Oh, those Ficketts! What are they thinking?"...to which Reverend and Mrs. Fickett respond: "Oh, you neighbors, what are you thinking about what we're thinking?...Because maybe that's why the Lord is leading us to do this."
I like Mrs. Fickett's view that "you can only hope to understand [God] by seeing where He is and where He ISN'T"; also "where He isn't is often more interesting and tells us more about Him and His ways than where He is" (p.8).
1968. 55 years ago.
P.S. It's Edgar ALLAN; look at the pic of the cover. What's with the HORRifying dis-R-E-S-P-E-C-T?...more
