CHAPTER 29
Once Mary had her own bed in her new bedroom at the Leigh’s home, things began to look and feel more like home for her. After all, Junior’s bed was half the size of her bed, and she was anxious to make the change. She had slept in the same bed for more than 10 years and it still slept like the best bed she’d ever owned. She was thrilled when Fred and Junior moved Junior’s bed out of the bedroom and moved her bedroom furniture into her new bedroom that following Friday evening.
That Sunday, Mary attended church with the Leigh family for the very first time. She felt rather strange sitting in church with them instead of with Bernice. However, as soon as Bernice arrived, she walked over to the family and sat beside the twins, just as if she had been doing it all the time. Mary was relieved.
In Prospect Methodist Church, Mary was known to get excited whenever the preacher’s sermon grew heated. By the time his voice reached a strong pitch and he walked from one end of the pulpit to the other, Mary too would begin her walk. She'd walk up and down the aisles, swinging her arms and walking her walk. Then she would let out a shout of spiritual revelation. She felt the spirit of God and she was not ashamed to show it. On that Sunday morning, the spirit visited Mary as it did every Sunday morning.
“Mama, you sho did shout this mornin’,” Junior said excitedly as they rode back home in Fred’s old Ford.
“Yeah, babe, I guess I did,” Mary responded. “When you feel the Lord spirit, ya gotta shout.” Then Mary turned and looked at Junior in the back seat. “When ya feel the spirit, you goin’ shout, too, watch an’ see,” she chuckled.
A few weeks after Mary moved into the Leigh home, she found herself faced with the twins’ birthday. They were going to be eight years old and Mary felt they needed something to make the day a special one for them. She was one of the best cooks in Leesville and she decided to bake the girls a cake. She also told Junior to clean the old ice cream maker so that they could have homemade ice cream. That meant Fred had to go up town to the ice house and buy some blocks of ice to chop up and use in the hand-turned ice cream maker.