David Nelson, Author & Cowboy Poet | PALS

Helping Victims from Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge Fires

Three Stories

By

David Nelson

12-5-2016

“I want to leave some for the others.”

I imagine there were fifty of us volunteers and probably thirty National Guardsmen who worked non-stop today in Pigeon Forge, TN. We sorted items from hundreds of boxes from at least two semis and many other box loads from people who brought items by car, truck and trailer.

At around 9:30 this morning, a frail, elderly and obviously shy woman stood in the doorway with her hands in the pockets of the heavy, tattered winter coat she wore because misting rain. Another volunteer asked if she needed help. I walked by as the lady straightened the old scarf she wore over her head.

She looked down at the floor. “Yes, I do need a toothbrush and some toothpaste and maybe I could get some soup if it would be OK.”

The volunteer wheeled one of the shopping carts we were using to move the donated items up to the old woman. The two of them somehow managed to maneuver the buggy between five- foot high stacks of boxes scattered around the large auditorium.

Several minutes later, I passed the two of them and noticed one tooth rush, one tube of toothpaste and two cans of soup in her cart.

The old lady looked again at the floor and spoke quietly. “No I don’t want to take any more. I want to leave some for the others.”

The volunteer assured the woman she could take all she wanted. The woman refused, stuffed the items into her large coat pockets and shuffled out the door. I lifted a box of items from under the canopy outside, turned and saw the woman disappear around the corner. I was told she lost everything she had in the fire.

She only took two cans of soup, a toothbrush and toothpaste. I wish I knew her name. My water-filled eyes blinked rapidly at the thought of what many of these people have lost.

“His name is Billy.”

In addition to the semis that were driven from Alabama and Indiana private citizens filled the parking lot of the old theater building. I walked out the door when a young mother carrying a plastic-filled bag with combs, soap and shampoo approached me.

“Excuse me, where can I put these things I bought?”

“I’ll take care of them,” I replied and smiled at the little girl who appeared to be maybe two years old. Next to her was a blond-haired boy who was maybe four years old.

The little boy extended his arm up toward me and I noticed the worn stuffed animal in his tiny grasp. “Here, Sir. His name is Billy. I want to give him to somebody.”

I got down on both knees to look directly into that little boy’s eyes. “You will make some other little boy very happy.”

He handed me that animal and gave me a hug. “Thank you,” he said.

They turned and walked away toward their car. I carried Billy down to the section marked “Children’s Toys” and placed him on top of a large box stuffed with animals. I wiped water from my eye and went back to work.

“Dolly wants to thank all of you for what you are doing.”

In the early afternoon I noticed other volunteers stopped their work and looked off to the far side of the room. I turned to see a handler with a majestic eagle perched on his left arm. Several of us walked over to get a close up view. It was a first for me.

I heard the handler say he was from the eagle sanctuary at Dollywood. He said, “Dolly wants to thank all of you for what you are doing.”

 I followed him outside and he graciously allowed me to have my picture taken with him and the bird. He looked at me and shook his head. “Isn’t it great when Americans come together.”

I nodded and said, “Indeed it is.”

The relief organizers need help seven days a week and I was told the need would be this way for months. The arsonist who started that fire may have taken lives, taken property and taken jobs away, but our spirit is strong and, yes, Americans have come together.