Look Out, Lancaster County Page 29

  Mom shook her head. “I think you had enough candy earlier, don’t you?”

  “I guess I did.” Rachel thought about the stomachache she’d had after eating too much candy. As bad as her stomach had hurt, it didn’t compare to the pain she’d felt when she’d hit the ladder and broken her arm. She wouldn’t have had that stomachache if she hadn’t eaten too much candy, and she wouldn’t have broken her arm if she hadn’t climbed the tree.

  Mom kissed Rachel’s forehead. “I’ll let you look at your valentines while I go to the kitchen and heat some soup.”

  “Okay, Mom.”

  Grandpa sat at the end of the sofa. “Would you like me to rub your feet while you read your valentines, Rachel?”

  “Jah, sure. That would feel good.” Rachel nestled against the sofa cushions and took a drink of water. It was nice to be treated special. Maybe the next six weeks wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  That evening after supper, Rudy and Esther showed up.

  “You’re right on time,” Pap said, winking at Rudy. “I was about to begin cranking the ice cream.”

  Rudy chuckled. “Then you’ll need another pair of strong arms to help.”

  Pap nodded. “Usually Rachel gets the first chance to crank, but since she only has one good arm and needs to rest, we men will have to do the cranking ourselves.” He smiled at Rachel, who sat on the sofa with Cuddles draped across her lap.

  “How do you feel?” Esther asked. “Does your arm hurt much?”

  “A little, but the medicine the doctor gave me for pain helps.” Rachel yawned. “It also makes me sleepy.”

  “Don’t fall asleep yet,” Mom said. “The ice cream will be ready to eat soon.” She motioned to the kitchen. “That is, if our men ever start cranking.”

  “I guess we’ve had our orders.” Grandpa smiled at Pap. “If you don’t mind, Levi, I’d like to be the first one to crank.”

  “Don’t mind at all.” Pap patted Rachel’s knee. “Don’t fall asleep now, you hear?”

  She grinned. “I won’t, Pap.”

  When the men left the room, Mom sat in the rocking chair, and Esther sat on the couch beside Rachel. She touched Rachel’s cast. “Rudy and I were sorry to hear about your accident. It’s a good thing this happened to you during the winter.”

  “Why’s that?” Rachel asked.

  “If it had happened during spring, summer, or autumn, you wouldn’t have had the snow to break your fall.” Esther’s forehead wrinkled. “You could have been hurt worse.”

  “I guess that’s true.” Rachel glanced at her cast and sighed. “I wish I hadn’t been foolish enough to climb that tree. I guess that’s what I get for being so impatient.”

  “Sometimes we learn lessons the hard way,” Mom said.

  Rachel nodded. “Grandpa says I should practice self-control instead of trying to be in control.”

  “Grandpa’s right,” Mom agreed.

  “Changing the subject,” Esther said with a smile. “I have some good news for you, Rachel.”

  “What’s that?” Rachel was always eager to hear good news.

  “Rudy and I are going to have a boppli.”

  Rachel’s mouth dropped open. “Really? When will the baby be born?”

  “Early October.”

  “That’s just a few months after Mom’s supposed to have her boppli.” Rachel looked at Mom. “Did you know Esther was expecting a baby?”

  “Jah. Esther told me a few days ago, but she asked me not to say anything, because she wanted to tell you.”

  Esther smiled. “Are you happy about becoming an aunt, Rachel?”

  “I’m happy if you are,” Rachel replied.

  “I truly am, and so is Rudy. He hopes it will be a buwe, but I’m hoping for a maedel [girl].” Esther continued to talk about how she couldn’t wait to become a mother, and how much fun it would be when her baby and Mom’s baby were old enough to play together.

  Mom’s voice blended with Esther’s, and soon Rachel noisily yawned as her head lulled against the pillows. In a few months, I’m going to be a big sister and an aunt. Her eyes shut. I wonder if the babies will be boys or girls.

  “Wake up, Rachel! The ice cream is ready!”

  Rachel’s eyes snapped open, and she sat up with a start. Jacob’s face was a few inches from hers. “Don’t scare me like that,” she said.

  “I wanted you to know the ice cream’s ready.”

  “You didn’t have to yell.”

  “How else could I wake you?”

  Mom nodded toward the kitchen. “Jacob, why don’t you help Pap dish up the ice cream? Then you can bring it in here for us.”

  “Jah, okay.” Jacob scurried out of the room.

  A few minutes later, he returned with two bowls of ice cream. He handed one to Rachel and gave one to Mom. Rudy came in next, with two bowls—one for him and one for Esther. Then Pap and Henry arrived, each carrying their bowls of ice cream. Finally, Grandpa showed up with two bowls. He gave one to Jacob and kept one for himself.

  “This looks appeditlich,” Rachel said, smacking her lips. She placed the bowl on her lap, and using her left arm, dipped the spoon into the creamy ice cream. “Yum. It is delicious!” She took another bite, and then another. The ice cream tasted so good, she couldn’t eat it fast enough.

  Zing! Rachel dropped the spoon into the bowl and gasped as she grabbed her forehead.

  “What’s wrong?” Mom rushed over to Rachel. “Does your arm hurt again?”

  Rachel drew in a deep breath and shook her head. “It’s not my arm. I—I had a brain freeze.”

  “That’s because you were eating too fast,” Henry said. “I always get that when I eat ice cream too quickly.”

  “I’ll take smaller bites,” Rachel said.

  When Rachel finished her ice cream, she was going to ask for a second bowl, but changed her mind. She remembered how her stomach had hurt after she’d eaten too much candy, so she knew it would be better if she stopped eating before she made herself sick.

  “This has been nice,” Rudy said, “but it’s getting late, and it’s time for Esther and me to head home.”

  Esther nodded. “I’m sure Rachel is ready to go to bed.”

  Rachel yawned. She could barely keep her eyes open.

  Rudy and Esther gathered their coats and said good-bye.

  “Is it all right if I go to the barn and say goodnight to Buddy?” Jacob asked as Mom gathered everyone’s empty bowls.

  “You’ll need to go to bed soon, but I guess you can go to the barn for a few minutes,” Mom replied.

  Jacob raced for the door, and just as his fingers touched the knob, Mom called, “Before you go to the barn, please go to the chicken coop and see if there are any eggs.”

  Jacob’s forehead wrinkled. “How come?”

  “Your daed used the last of our eggs to make the ice cream,” Mom said. “I’ll need more for breakfast.”

  Rachel listened to see what Jacob would say. She knew he didn’t like to collect eggs.

  To Rachel’s surprise, Jacob smiled and said, “Sure, Mom, I’ll get those eggs right away.” He rushed out the door.

  Mom turned to Rachel and said, “It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?”

  Rachel nodded and pointed to her cast. “A long and painful day.”

  “Things will get better as your arm begins to heal.” Mom stroked Rachel’s cheek. “And the medicine the doctor gave you will help with the pain.”

  Rachel stared at the fireplace across the room. Orange and red flames lapped at the logs as they crackled and popped. Her eyelids grew heavy again, and she started to doze.

  “Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll help you get ready for bed,” Mom said, tapping Rachel’s shoulder.

  Rachel nodded and stood. She and Mom were almost to the stairs when the back door opened, and Jacob burst into the hallway. His face was red as a cherry, and gooey, broken eggshells covered his jacket.

  Mom’s mouth dropped open. “Ach, Jacob! What happened?”
>
  “I was in such a hurry to gather the eggs so I could get to the barn to see Buddy that I forgot to carry an egg basket to the chicken coop.” Jacob drew in a breath and blew it out quickly. “I tried to carry the eggs inside my coat, but then I slipped on a patch of ice and all the eggs broke.”

  “Are you hurt?” Mom asked with concern.

  Jacob shook his head. “Just the eggs.”

  Rachel chuckled. “Guess I’m not the only one in the family who gets in a hurry to do things.”

  Jacob turned to Mom and said, “I’m sorry. Maybe I can find more eggs in the morning.”

  Mom nodded and pushed her glasses to the bridge of her nose. “This has been quite a day. I hope both of my kinner have learned a good lesson.”

  “I have,” Rachel and Jacob said at the same time.

  “Jacob, you’d better clean up while I help Rachel get ready for bed,” Mom said.

  Jacob scurried to the bathroom as Rachel and Mom headed upstairs. A short time later, Rachel snuggled beneath the cozy quilt on her bed. She was almost asleep when the bedroom door opened and Grandpa poked his head into her room. “May I come in?”

  “Of course,” Rachel replied.

  “I wanted to say goodnight.” Grandpa stepped into the room, bent down, and kissed Rachel’s forehead.

  She smiled up at him. “I love you, Grandpa.”

  “I love you, too, Rachel.” Grandpa moved to the window and lifted the shade. “It’s snowing again. If we get another blizzard, you may not be able to go school tomorrow.”

  “That’s okay.” Rachel smiled. “I guess I can’t do anything about it. I think I’m learning my lesson, Grandpa. When I try to be in control, I mess things up. The weather is out of my control. And so are many other things.”

  Rachel yawned and closed her eyes. “I’m thankful that God’s in control of everything.”

  Recipe for Mrs. Yoder’s Shoofly Pie

  2 (8 inch) unbaked pie shells Filling:

  1 cup molasses

  1 cup hot water

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  2 eggs, beaten

  ½ cup brown sugar

  Crumb Mixture:

  2 cups flour

  ¾ cup brown sugar

  ⅓ cup butter

  ½ teaspoon nutmeg

  ½ teaspoon cinnamon

  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine molasses, hot water, and baking soda in bowl. Add eggs and brown sugar. Divide half the mixture equally into the unbaked pie shells. Mix the ingredients for the crumb mixture in a separate bowl. Sprinkle half of crumb mixture over filling in each pie. Add second half of filling to pies, and sprinkle last half of crumb mixture over top. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce heat to 350 for 50 minutes. Recipe makes two 8-inch pies.

  New Beginnings

  Dedication

  To the students and teachers at the Pleasant Ridge School in Shipshewana, Indiana. Thanks for letting me visit with you!

  Glossary

  ach—oh

  bensel—silly child

  boppli—baby

  bruder—brother

  danki—thank you

  daed—dad

  dochder—daughter

  dumm—dumb

  gaul—horse

  gemmummelt—mumbling

  grossdaadi—grandfather

  grossmudder—grandmother

  gut nacht—good night

  hochmut—pride

  jah—yes

  kapp—cap

  kichlin—cookies

  kinner—children

  kumme—come

  lecherich—ridiculous

  mamm—mom

  midder—mothers

  millich—milk

  mudich—spirited

  mupsich—stupid

  naas—nose

  naerfich—nervous

  narrisch—crazy

  reider—rider

  rutschich—squirming

  schmaert—smart

  schnell—quickly

  schpeckmaus—bat

  schweschder—sister

  verhuddelt—mixed up

  wunderbaar—wonderful

  Duh die katz naus.—Put the cat out.

  En aldi grauns—An old grumbler

  Es dutt mir leed.—I am sorry.

  Fege.—Run about.

  Kanscht seller gaul reide?—Are you able to ride that horse?

  Schpiele gern—Like to play

  Was fehlt dir denn?—What’s the matter with you?

  Was is do uff?—What’s the matter here?

  Wie geht’s?—How are you?

  Chapter 1

  Saying Good-bye

  Plunk! Plunk! Plunk! Plunk! Ten-year-old Rachel Yoder dropped four dirty spoons into the sink full of soapy water. Mom had gone outside to hang some laundry on the clothesline and left Rachel to wash the dishes. Doing dishes was not one of Rachel’s favorite things to do on a sunny spring morning. She’d much rather be outside playing with her cat, Cuddles; riding on her skateboard in the barn; petting their old horse, Tom; or looking at the colorful flowers blooming in Mom’s flowerbeds.

  Rachel looked out the kitchen window and spotted Grandpa Schrock working in the garden. Even pulling weeds would be better than doing dishes!

  At least I have two hands I can use to do the dishes, Rachel thought. When she’d broken her arm a few months ago, she’d learned to do some things using only one hand. She was glad her arm had healed and she didn’t have to wear the uncomfortable cast anymore. And she was glad this was Saturday and she could go outside to play after the dishes were done.

  On the other side of the yard she saw Pap and her seventeen-year-old brother, Henry. They were building a dog run for her brother Jacob’s dog. Jacob was twelve years old and was sometimes nice to Rachel, but most of the time he just picked on her. Now that spring was here and the snow had melted, Pap decided it was time to get Buddy out of the empty stall in the barn. The big, shaggy, red dog had slept there since Orlie Troyer gave him to Jacob a few months ago.

  Buddy had been nothing but trouble ever since he’d come to live at their place. Rachel thought he deserved to be locked up. During the winter, when Jacob kept Buddy in the empty stall, Buddy jumped over the door and escaped several times. Rachel was glad the hairy mutt wouldn’t be able to escape from his new dog run with a sturdy wire fence around it.

  Rachel washed all the silverware and looked out the window again. She saw Jacob step out of the barn. Buddy was at his side, wagging his tail and nudging Jacob’s hand with his nose.

  Rachel frowned as she thought of all the times Buddy had licked her hand or face with his big slimy tongue.

  Swish! Swish! Rachel ran the sponge over one of their breakfast plates as she continued to stare out the window, where she saw Buddy and Jacob in the backyard, playing with a ball.

  Jacob tossed the ball across the yard, and Buddy raced after it. Jacob clapped his hands to call Buddy back, but Buddy didn’t come. Instead he rolled the ball with his nose, and then he took off in the opposite direction. Jacob sprinted after the dog, hollering and waving his hands.

  Rachel grunted. “Mupsich [stupid] dog never does come when you call him.” She thought about the whistle Jacob bought so he could train Buddy. But blowing the whistle never made the dog come when he was called. Buddy had a mind of his own. Rachel didn’t think he could ever be trained.

  She sloshed another dish around in the soapy water, rinsed it, and placed it in the dish drainer. I hope Cuddles isn’t in the yard right now. If Buddy sees my cat, he’ll probably forget about the ball and start chasing after her.

  Rachel grabbed the frying pan Mom had used to make scrambled eggs for breakfast and dropped it into the soapy water. Woosh!—several bubbles floated into the air. One landed on Rachel’s nose. Pop! She giggled and wiped it away then started scrubbing the frying pan.

  The rumble of buggy wheels and the clip-clop of a horse’s hooves pulled Rachel’s gaze back to the window. When the horse and buggy came to a stop
near the barn, Uncle Ben stepped down, followed by Aunt Irma, and Rachel’s cousins—Mary, Nancy, Abe, and Sam.

  Rachel saw Mom drop a towel into the laundry basket and hurry over to greet them. Grandpa set his shovel aside and headed toward Uncle Ben’s buggy. Pap and Henry put their tools down and joined them. Jacob stopped chasing after Buddy and headed that way, too.

  Rachel scoured the frying pan once more and quickly dried it and her hands before putting it away. Then she flung open the back door and raced outside. “What a surprise! I didn’t know you were coming over today!” she called to Mary.

  Woof! Woof! Buddy raced around the side of the house, leaped into the air, and slurped his wet tongue across Rachel’s chin.

  “Yuck! Your breath is bad!” She pushed Buddy down with her knee. “Get away from me, bad breath Buddy.”

  Buddy whimpered and slunk toward the barn with his tail between his legs.

  Rachel hurried over to Mary, but when Mary turned to face her, she wasn’t smiling. “We—we came to give you some news,” she said.

  Rachel looked over at her cousins, Nancy, Abe, and Sam. They weren’t smiling, either. Only Uncle Ben and Aunt Irma were smiling.

  “What’s going on?” Rachel asked. “What news do you have?”

  Mary’s chin trembled, and tears gathered in her eyes. “We’re gonna move away.”

  “Moving where?” Pap asked before Rachel could voice the question.

  “To Indiana,” Uncle Ben said.

  Rachel looked back at Mary, and Mary gave a slow nod. “It’s true.”

  Everyone began to talk at once.

  “Why are you going to Indiana?”

  “How soon do you plan to move?”

  “Is your place up for sale?”

  “We’ll surely miss you.”

  Rachel stood there, too numb to say a word. Mary couldn’t be moving. She had been Rachel’s friend since they were little. Oh, what will I do without Mary? she silently moaned.

  Pap held up his hand. “We can’t all talk at once. Let’s ask one question at a time, and then my bruder [brother], Ben, can answer our questions.”