The Bold Woman

The year was 1895 in Dromore, Ireland. America had been teeming for over a century and almost everyone yearned to travel there. Among the dreamers was a young girl named Jennie-Lynne. Jennie-Lynne lived with a wealthy family, she had many siblings and two good and righteous parents. Though her parents had a bit of a temper, they had the biggest hearts and the sharpest minds.

Being just over the ripe age of 16, and the oldest of her siblings, Jennie-Lynne often found it her responsibility to tell her younger brothers and sisters what to do. She did her best to rule over them in kindness, mercy and justice — but when her younger brother Daniel stuck his wet hard candy in her hair it all went out the window. However, Jennie-Lynne knew if she yelled in anger her father would come down and snap at her. So she found another way to seek her revenge on little Daniel. 

One evening after Daniel had drawn a picture and went to her seeking validation, she said rationally and relatively calmly, but with seething behind each word — “Would you just leave me alone! I don’t want to see your pictures! Why do you have to be so annoying!?” Though part of her was extremely and genuinely annoyed by Daniel — in her heart she loved that he drew and that he wanted to show it to her. She immediately felt awful as she watched her brother walk shyly away with his head down. But she had done nothing wrong, it was only fair. After all, he came and asked her what she thought — and she simply just told him. It was his fault for asking her when she was already upset. Jennie-Lynne often said what was on her mind — it was her greatest strength and her greatest weakness too. 

Jennie-Lynne walked away justified. Little did she know her angel mother, Loretta, had been watching the whole exchange from the archway. When she noticed her mother out of the corner of her eye she stopped and stared at her in shock. Jennie-Lynne quickly put on her game face and tried to hide her utter shame. Her mother simply said to the little brother before he left the room, “Well that was rude wasn’t it? That probably hurt your feelings. It would’ve hurt mine.”

Jennie-Lynne thought indignantly, What about my feelings?! However, Jennie-Lynne knew she had a choice. She could either admit to herself that she had been rude, or she could continue thinking she was justified given the nastiness of her little brother. It was hard to have a mother that expected so much of her — but Loretta was also the reason Jennie-Lynne was so strong. 

As she walked through the archway, she ran to her room. But really, where does Jennie-Lynne go? There was nowhere she could run away to where she could escape her big feelings. So Jennie-Lynne did the only thing she knew she could; she opened her closet, closed the door and fell to her knees. She poured out her heart to God. The one who could never misunderstand her. Jennie-Lynne was heard. 

JENNIE-LYNNE WAS AT SCHOOL the next day. She shared a small classroom with many of her siblings. And all the other children there felt like siblings as well. Jennie got no break from leading. 

Two boys sat by her brother Daniel. She watched as they whispered mischievously. Jennie-Lynne knew they were up to no good. Jennie-Lynne had a way of just knowing things about people. She watched the boy behind Daniel lean down subtly when the teacher turned her back; he began to tie Daniel’s unloose shoelace to the leg of his chair. 

Jennie-Lynne sprung up and smacked the boy hard across the back of his head. The teacher turned and with familiar anger in her eyes — she said, “Jennie! Out NOW!” Jennie-Lynne was unfortunately now well acquainted with the feeling of being misunderstood. But what hurt the most is that the teacher who she was supposed to be able to trust seemed to take pleasure in breaking her. This teacher's name was Caren Elizabeth Tuck. She was purportedly a caring woman. But to Jennie-Lynne she was cruel. 

But Daniel was safe and that’s really all that mattered to Jennie-Lynne. As Ms. Tuck ripped into her outside the school room, she saw Daniel through the doorway. The yelling faded to the background as she watched him notice his untied shoelace and realize what had happened. Daniel looked back at her; she saw in his eyes that he understood her. He smiled with gratitude and laughed gently. Jennie-Lynne was heard. 

AFTER THE SCOLDING FROM Ms. Tuck she went and sat back down. The day passed by slowly for Jennie-Lynne, she was excited to tell her mother what had happened. She hoped she would be proud of her for defending her brother. 

That’s when they heard a rap at the classroom door. Ms. Tuck went back and opened it up to find Jennie-Lynne’s father standing there. After a few brief words Ms. Tuck turned to look at the children. Jennie-Lynne saw something in her eyes she had never seen before; compassion. She called the children together and led them to their father in the hallway. She respectfully shut the door allowing them privacy. 

John, Jennie-Lynn’s father, was a strong and capable man. He was smart and well respected by all. However, standing before her now he seemed small and weak; Jennie-Lynne knew something was wrong. 

“Your mother is very sick,” John uttered. This the children knew — she had been sick for what felt like weeks now. But Loretta had continued on with her life as if nothing was happening, so the children didn’t worry. “A doctor came by this morning and we learned that your mother won’t be getting better.” Father’s voice faltered and broke slightly. “I wanted you to come home and spend as much time with her as you can. She may only have days left.”

The children began weeping. Tears began streaming down father’s face and he embraced his children. They hurried home to see their mother. Jennie-Lynne was shocked and afraid, but remained strong for her little siblings and her father. 

Jennie-Lynne and her siblings came home to find her mom cleaning Jennie-Lynne’s room. They all hugged her tightly. 

EVEN THOUGH THE DOCTOR forbade Loretta from working around the house or leaving her bed, Loretta couldn’t be bothered. She continued just the same as before. However, about a week later things began to change. Mother started losing a lot of her strength, she had less and less energy. She left her bed less, and slept a lot more. Loretta was so extremely tired. Her body ached to the bone all the time, and her head pounded with a constant painful throbbing that made it hard to see. 

Weeks later Jennie-Lynne walked into her mother’s room. It was late and her father was asleep in a chair next to the bed. Jennie-Lynne woke her father and told him to go to sleep. John slumped up off the chair and kissed them both on the head and went to another room where he had been sleeping now for some time. 

Mother’s breathing was labored. It was hard for Loretta to even speak now. Jennie grabbed her hand and stayed up all night. When her mother seemed to stop breathing Jennie-Lynne gently but firmly whispered, “Not yet. Please not yet.” Loretta would resume her breathing. Jennie-Lynne was heard. 

The next day all the children gathered around her bed and listened to the last breath leave her body. As they each took their time to hug her sweetly and say their last words, they all swore they could smell ever-green pine on her skin. 

JENNIE-LYNNE TOOK OVER MOST all of the house duties. She cared for her grieving siblings and father like she knew her mother would expect of her. This role aged Jennie well beyond her actual years. The sadness and responsibility that weighed most constantly on her shoulders made them stronger. Her arms and hands were now cursed or blessed to always be busy. The only way she wouldn’t be crushed by the weight of her burden was to always be reaching out with love to everyone she could. 

Not long after, John remarried to their teacher, Ms. Caren Tuck. And though she proved to be a much more compassionate mother to the children than she was a teacher — her cruelty towards Jennie-Lynne got much, much worse. 

After months of abuse Jennie-Tuck was clearly no longer welcome in the home. Here she was again, being kicked out. Her sense of betrayal and sadness was greater than anyone could understand. 

ONE MORNING AS JENNIE-LYNNE helped prepare breakfast she heard John tell Caren about his sister in America. It didn’t take much time for Jennie-Lynne to decide to pack all that she had (which wasn’t much) and set off to America to live with her aunt. 

She grabbed the doll her mother had made for her as a child and left early the next day. Jennie-Lynne set sail for Ellis Island.

Upon arrival she lived with her aunt for a time. Eventually she met and was married to a handsome miner in Colorado named, Thomas. Thomas’s father died when he was young, and his mother was a lot like Jennie-Lynne and Loretta. Yet he often found himself misunderstanding Jennie-Lynne just like everyone else. But unlike everyone else, he showed Jennie-Lynne that he would always be there. Jennie-Lynne was heard. 

ONE LATE EVENING AFTER a long day of work and caring for her now many children. Her daughter bolted past her in the kitchen, and in a huff climbed the stairs to her room. Jennie-Lynne had heard yelling from the other room and knew her daughter was dealing with some big feelings. She went and knocked gently on the door of her daughters bedroom and asked to be let in. After a long pause her daughter opened the door. Her eyes were red and she had on her game face. 

Jennie-Lynne sat on the bed and shared her wisdom with her daughter. She said what was one her mind. And she thought of all the times her mother had given her that gift as well. She finally understood herself a little better. Jennie Lynne was heard. She hugged her daughter tightly and swore she could feel her mother’s arms wrapped around her too.