2009-2010 RuralVoices Youth Contest

“Rural Kansas…Working Together” - Essays

Haylee Steffen

"Hello Mrs. Sweeten!" exclaimed the blonde little girl peeking her head around
the door.

"Oh, yes darling, I'm right in here. Make sure to shut the door on your way in,"
replied the tiny elderly woman knitting in the living room. Ten year old Naomi visits
Mrs. Sweeten every Tuesday after school. They play games, bake, take walks, and grow with each other in friendship. Mrs. Sweeten's zeal for life inspires Naomi with
enthusiasm and peace, and Naomi's friendship blesses Mrs. Sweeten more than she could ever express.

Following the death of Naomi Peter's grandmother six years ago, her father took a
job causing the family to move to a small farming-town in Kansas. With no siblings to play with, Naomi spent more of her time roaming through the fields finding new and exciting bugs and creatures she never knew about from living in a big city. While still moving boxes and rearranging furniture in their new house, the Peters were greeted by a cute little old lady at their doorstep, Mrs. Sweeten, who came bearing a beautifully made plate of homemade cinnamon rolls to welcome her new neighbors. The thought of a new friend pleased Naomi greatly. Ever since meeting her, Naomi has fallen in love with the darling old woman.

Rushing off the bus after school, Naomi skipped merrily upon the porch of her
elderly friend's house. A plate of cookies and a glass of lemonade or chocolate milk
generously prepared by Mrs. Sweeten await the spunky, blue-eyed schoolgirl. The two ladies talked about the day's happenings over their afternoon snack. Naomi always enlightened her gray-haired friend with the latest adventures that had taken place in the classroom, playground, or music class that day. Often she taught Mrs. Sweeten the newest song her class had learned, and in return Mrs. Sweeten taught Naomi the songs of her childhood; the two songbirds filled the country air with sweet harmony.

While they sang and ate, Mrs. Sweeten stitched away at a quilt, pillow, socks or
mittens. In time, Naomi learned how to sew and knit as well. The wise seamstress told her how important it was for a young girl to learn how to sew, and Naomi took her at her word, following her example. Over a quilt square, Naomi heard of the experiences of Mrs. Sweeten's childhood. She was a farm girl with all brothers, so she learned to carry her own weight. "I sure enjoyed babying those newborn calves," told Mrs. Sweeten, "even when it was snowing for days on end, I faithfully trooped toward the feeding barn to feed those frozen little calves." The retired school teacher told many stories of her elementary days. "Right after I graduated college I came back to teach at the same school I grew up in. I had dreamed of teaching since I was six. Now, Naomi, make sure your stitches stay even." Passing the seam-ripper to her young apprentice to fix her mistake, Mrs. Sweet continued to tell stories. Her favorite part of her whole year was at the county fair. She also told funny tales of her ornery students bringing animals in from recess and playing tricks on the principal. Naomi's laughter warmed Mrs. Sweeten's heart and reminded her of her own grandkids too far away to visit.

Not many years following their acquaintance, Mrs. Sweeten needed to move into
a nursing home. Although the fragile woman hated the idea, she was comforted with the thought of Miss Naomi coming to visit. And indeed Naomi visited. Instead of taking the bus home, Naomi simply walked from school to the nursing home to make weekly visits.

The walls of the nursing home didn't hold back any of the usual ventures the two friends made. They made crafts together and then blessed Mrs. Sweeten's new neighbors with their hand-crafted gifts. The two girls, young and old, although not neighbors anymore, continued to sing, bake cookies, and take walks through the flower garden together, but now at a much slower pace than before, due to Mrs. Sweeten's age and health. Naomi now helped Mrs. Sweeten by performing odds and ends around her small apartment, such as changing light bulbs and feeding her cat named Winks. With every returning visit Naomi grew to love the elderly friend more. She noticed how even in her old age Mrs. Sweeten never lost joy, friendliness, and enthusiasm for life. Mrs. Sweeten told her she did this because she wanted to make the most of every day she had left on the Earth. She encouraged Naomi to do the same by repeating, "Have a great day, the choice is yours" to Naomi whenever she felt down-trodden.

After spending so much time with her aging comrade, Naomi became more and
more like Mrs. Sweeten. She placed in her life the same beliefs and morals that Mrs.
Sweeten lived by; she spoke with grace, was quick to listen and slow to interrupt, and treated others, no matter how little she liked them, with respect and kindness. Naomi also grew to memorize the ways of cooking and baking as well as the recipes to her favorite treats. Mrs. Sweeten had become a grandma figure in Naomi's life. Naomi promised to never wear pink with red and carry extra napkins in her purse just as her beloved mentor did.

On the plains of Kansas, the youthful child never had a chance to grow bored, for
she always knew to use her time wisely, just as Mrs. Sweeten had taught her. Mrs. Sweeten helped the blossoming young girl with homework, gifts for her friends, and art projects. The neighborly grandmother remembered her elderly neighbor, Miss Ruby, when she was a schoolgirl and how much fun she had experienced on long summer days with her. She thanked God for her own sweet confidante, and hoped to employ the same position for this tender little girl. Mrs. Sweeten thought she had simply taken a plate of cinnamon rolls as a house warming gift, but instead was truly receiving a gift for her self, the gift of friendship.

As the years grew longer and their friendship developed stronger, Naomi ripened into a beautiful young women. Mrs. Sweeten could now see part of herself in the vibrant teenager. Although Naomi's schedule turned busier, her Tuesday afternoon visit remained steady until one week Naomi could visit her faithful friend no longer. As Naomi lay on her bed looking through all the birthday cards sent to her from Mrs.
Sweeten as well as the pictures of Mrs. Sweeten and herself baking, sewing, and laughing, tears rolled down her rosy cheeks. A mound of tissues formed around Naomi as she reminisced over wonderful, warm afternoons in the garden with her friend.

"Naomi, if you plant the seed, water it, care for the young sprout, and show love to these flowers, then your garden will look like a beautiful array of colors in an Eden." Naomi could now see how she ultimately had learned to not only grow blooming art pieces in the garden, but also vibrant murals of friendships. She realized that the spirited woman that she grew up with now resided in a better place, and she longed to visit with her once more on her front porch overlooking the wheat fields.

Even though the days of gardening and holding Mrs. Sweeten's tiny, wrinkly hands in her own on walks were over, Naomi held Mrs. Sweeten dear in her hurting heart. Naomi once felt like a little, lonely girl, but the friendship of her loving neighbor stretched her to new points and gave her the feeling of loving a home.