To the Editor:

The loveseat appeared to be in good shape, probably pretty costly in its day.

It had been on the side of the road for at least a week and it had not rained. Friday, about 6 p.m., on the way home from a busy day, I had noticed a few raindrops on the windshield and I knew rain was in the forecast. Some people I knew had just moved and needed some furniture. I had thought earlier in the week that I should stop and get this loveseat, but how? No truck, no one to help load it, and by the time I got home, forgotten!

But, yesterday, so there would be no regrets that it was ruined in the rain, I turned around and went back, pulled into the driveway of the vacant house, and proceeded to collect the cushions and roll the loveseat frame toward the trunk of my second hand Cadillac hopefully big enough to hold it! I was just pondering which end to try and lift first when a boy of about 10 or 11 appeared from nowhere and asked, “Do you need some help?”

“Oh, thank you, that would be wonderful! I was just praying that someone would stop,” I answered.

The young man and I picked up the piece up and juggled it a couple of different ways before it fit so we were convinced it wouldn’t fall out in the middle of Summerfield Road. He was very strong and determined, lifting his end higher than I could. I was impressed and so thankful!

I said, “Thank you and may God bless you. What is your name?”

He answered, “Terrell.” I asked if I could pay him a bit for helping me and he answered, “No, Ma’am.”

With that I gave him a hug and again said, “Terrell, thank you so much and may God really bless you. It was so much like Jesus for you to come and help me.”

The loveseat will go to the family who needs it soon, after the cushion covers are washed and one repaired. Does it matter that the family who needs furniture is of mixed races and go to a predominantly white church? Does it matter that I am a white woman in my 50s and Terrell is a young black man? It really does not matter, but I state these facts here to show there is good happening in Selma between the races. Thank you, Jesus, that walls are being torn down for the good of us all. And thank you Terrell. You are a hero!

Gail Box Ingram