A Place Called Eden

by R. H. Hull

  Rebecca released Jacob’s hands and rushed around the corner and into the front door of the store. Her father was there helping a customer, “Where have you been? I was going to look for you. I needed your help waiting on our customers!”

  “I needed to go outside to get some fresh air, father. I must have spent more time then I intended. I apologize.” Rebecca with a silent sigh of relief took over the duties that her father had left for her, and asked the customer if she could assist him.

  Chapter 14

  The remainder of the weekend passed slowly, although Rebecca spoke with Sarah at church on Sunday morning. Sarah wanted to know details of the meeting with Jacob on Saturday, but Rebecca could not discuss them when so many of her parent’s friends were nearby. She did tell Sarah quietly that she and Jacob had a good talk. She then looked down at her shoes, somewhat embarrassed, as she told Sarah that she and Jacob held hands behind her father’s store, and had also looked into each other’s eyes while they talked.

  Sarah sighed romantically as she told Rebecca how brave she was to have been with Jacob while the possibility of her father discovering them was so great! Rebecca had to admit that she was afraid, but she wanted Jacob to know that she cared for him, and so she had stayed with him for as long as she dared. Thankfully her father had not gone outside to look for her.

  What Rebecca had not told Sarah was something that she felt deep inside of her. Somewhere, deep within her soul, even at her young age of 18 years, she had already chosen Jacob to be the young man who she would someday, somehow marry. But the question was, how could that be when her father refused to allow her to even be seen with him? Even though Rebecca knew that she was technically “of age,” she also knew that in order to continue living in their home, she must still obey her father. How could she continue to be forced to talk to Jacob in secret? How could a relationship be established when a boy and girl cannot see each other openly? Would Jacob simply forget about her if they could not be together without fear of being seen together?

  What could she do? What could she say? She felt very much alone in attempting to resolve the conflict between her feelings for Jacob, and the bias that her father continued to hold against anyone who was not a part of their Mennonite Order.

  Since she had been the only female born into her family, she had been well protected from ‘the world’ by her parents. But, from what she had observed, ‘the world’ was not much different from her own except for their religion’s belief in pacifism, and their resolve to live a simple life with none, or very few, of the luxuries of “the world.” Rebecca felt that she was of a new generation of Old Order Mennonite, and felt that it was time to accept ‘the world’ as part of their world.

  In looking at all aspects of her situation, Rebecca resolved that she would see Jacob because to her it seemed right for her to see him, and that she would convince her parents that she possessed the maturity and the courage and the ability to resolve issues that were beyond her years! She would do whatever necessary to assure them that seeing Jacob was the right thing to do, and that it would not hurt the reputation of her family if they were seen together. After all, his family had been farming in their community and had been constructive members of their community for a number of generations—over one hundred years! That should mean something! But, how would she do these things? That was a primary question. Her reasoning sounded right to her, but convincing her father that it was right and good to see Jacob would undoubtedly be another matter!

  When Monday morning arrived, Rebecca completed her regular morning tasks around the house, and proceeded to make her lunch to be eaten at school, hopefully with Jacob. Although she was able to drive on her own and had obtained her driver’s license the year before, she was still riding with her brother Tom since his was the only vehicle available to them.

  Tom was now 20 years of age, had graduated from high school, and had entered the Wheatland, Kansas Community College, where he was majoring in General Agriculture. After two years and graduation, he would become a partner with his father, and hoped to expand their farming operation by increasing its acreage of wheat, other saleable crops, and cattle.

  While driving to the town of Wheatland so that he could drop Rebecca off at high school, Tom noticed that she was again rather quiet, and not her typical chatty self. He asked her if anything was wrong, and she assured him that, “No,” nothing was wrong. However, she felt that she could confide in Tom, and so mentioned that Jacob had stopped by the General Store on Saturday morning. They had talked outside in back of the store so that their father would be less apt to discover them, and then told him that she was going to meet Jacob during the lunch hour that day.

  Tom remained quiet for a moment, and then advised rather sternly that she was now ‘playing with fire,’ since if anyone who knew their father saw them together and informed him, she would be in big trouble. Rebecca told Tom that she had thought of that, but was willing to accept the risk since she very much wanted to talk with Jacob. Tom remained silent for the remainder of the drive to school, except to say that Jacob seemed like a fine young man. He said nothing more.

  Tom stopped in front of Wheatland High School, let Rebecca out of the pickup truck, and sat momentarily as she walked up the sidewalk toward the school. He noticed how gracefully she walked. It seemed that she had grown up so quickly. He realized how womanly she appeared, how she had matured both in her mannerisms and in her physical appearance. He then drove slowly away toward his community college to get ready for his classes.

  As Rebecca entered the high school building, Sarah ran toward her and grabbed her arm! “You are meeting Jacob during the lunch hour? I’m asking one thing of you! I want you to tell me everything that happens—everything! Don’t leave anything out!” ‘Chatty’ Sarah couldn’t seem to stop talking! “You seem so calm, Rebecca! How can you be so calm? I would be a nervous wreck! So, I’ll see you when school is over, and will walk with you to Tom’s truck. You can tell me everything then! Okay?” Sarah smiled her mischievous smile, winked at Rebecca, ran to her locker, and then quickly on to her first class.

  Lunch time finally arrived, and after leaving her classroom Rebecca stood by her locker momentarily waiting for Jacob to arrive. She saw him walking toward her down the long hallway. He seemed to be walking so slowly, although she realized that he probably wasn’t. It wouldn’t look appropriate if he was hurrying. So, she waited until he finally arrived.

  “Did you bring your lunch?” he asked. Mine is right here. Rebecca noticed the enormous paper sack that he was carrying at his side.

  “Is that all yours?!” Rebecca asked, smiling at Jacob.

  “Yep, I call it my noon snack—not what I eat when I am home and my mother cooks my lunch!”

  “It looks like a lunch for two!” Rebecca remarked.

  “Oh yeah?” Jacob replied, smiling back at Rebecca. “Just wait till you see what I have in here!” as he patted the large brown paper bag.

  Rebecca and Jacob walked quickly to the back of the high school, and sat on the steps on the south side of the building. The warm sun bathed that side of the building, and so the concrete steps had been warmed naturally by the sun. It was a pleasantly quiet place away from the other students who brought their lunch to school. For a moment while they settled down and removed their lunch from their paper sacks, both Rebecca and Jacob were silent, simply enjoying the warmth of the sun and the pleasure of being alone together.

  Finally, Rebecca began talking, “Jacob, remember on Saturday when you suggested that I speak with my mother and Tom, and that perhaps they would be willing to speak to father about us?” Jacob acknowledged remembering that part of their talk, while Rebecca continued. “Well… It won’t work. I know my mother. Even though she doesn’t feel as strongly against my seeing you as my father does, she obeys him without question. That is how women of our heritage and her generation were raised—to obey their husband without question or comment. And, my brother only tells me what he thinks I w
ant to hear. He also too frequently acts and talks without thinking, and he would probably give me advice that could get me into trouble with my parents. No…I cannot do that. I will have to act on my own.”

  “Well then,” Jacob responded, “We will have to do what we feel is best for us in whatever way we can. We can be together, but we will have to be together where we will not be seen by members of your—I mean our community, or…” and his eyes brightened with a new thought, “or perhaps in ways in which it will appear that you are with a member of your Eden River Mennonite Order!”

  Surprised at Jacob’s last comment, Rebecca inquired, her eyes open wide, “How can we do that? Your car is one that is obviously not one that would be owned by members of my church—the chrome, the shiny hubcaps and bumpers, the antenna of your radio since we are not allowed to have a radio in our cars, and the red color of your car are all ‘of the world.’ And, the way you dress, and the fact that you have no whiskers on your chin as do the other young men of my church who are your age. There are so many differences that you would cause you to stand out as one who is not a member of our church, and therefore, easily recognizable as such!”

  “I can change that!” Jacob said with absolute certainty. “I can do it, if it means that we can be together. But you will have to tell me all that must be changed.”

  “It may be too much,” Rebecca replied. “I’m afraid of what your family would say, what your friends would say. What would you say to them about the changes in your appearance, and the changes in the appearance of your car?”

  Jacob thought for a moment and then said, “I will tell my father and mother that I want to go out with you on dates, and that you have said that you would like to also. But, in order not to draw undo negative attention by those who are members of your Mennonite Order, I am going to make a few changes in how I dress, remove the collar on a couple of my shirts, change the appearance of my car, and I’m going to grow whiskers on my chin. The whisker part will take some time, but it will be okay. Trust me.”

  Rebecca replied, “But, if you drive to our farm, my father will refuse to allow me to see you—he has said so. He told me that the subject is closed!’ There is no way on earth that he would allow me to get into your car!”

  Then Jacob replied in all seriousness, “Then, we will have to meet. Since I will make changes in my car, my clothes and my face, if others see us in my car, they won’t think anything of it other than wondering who the Old Order Mennonite young man is you are with. I do have a question, though. Do you think that your friend Sarah would be willing to help us, or will she be afraid? She would have to be brave since she would be risking her life in your community in many ways—her place in her family, her membership in your church, her other friends!”

  “I haven’t thought about that possibility, Jacob. I don’t know if I could bring myself to ask her to help us, asking her to place herself in such a position, at such risk by all that you just mentioned. I need time, Jacob. Let me think about what we have talked about. Give me time, and I will let you know what I feel is best. Today is Tuesday. I will let you know on Friday.”

  Jacob nodded in assent, “Then, I will see you in school on Friday,” he replied hesitantly. He was, in his own mind, afraid that Rebecca would decide that it was not worth the risk to continue to see him now or in the future.

  Chapter 15

  Rebecca rode home with her brother Tom after her school was over for the day. She felt empty and afraid. She needed someone to talk to, and knew exactly who that was. So, as soon as she arrived at home, she went directly to the kitchen, picked up the telephone receiver and called Sarah. Rebecca told her that she needed to see her as soon as possible. In response, being the good friend she was, all Sarah said was, “Where? Tell me where you want me to meet you?” Rebecca said that Sarah would have to drive the two miles to her house to pick her up since their family car was being used by her mother, and she was not allowed to drive her brother’s pickup truck. Sarah confirmed that would be right over.

  Rebecca hung the receiver back on the phone and waited for Sarah. She thought about the issues she would share with Sarah. Sarah always seemed to have good ideas. She seemed to think clearly about problems, and could come up with positive, or at least workable solutions. Plus, she generally offered good advice. So, Rebecca looked forward to explaining the situation in which she had found herself.

  In about 10 minutes, Sarah pulled into the long gravel driveway of the Yoder farm and up to the back-yard gate. Rebecca was waiting on the back steps of her house. Her mother was not at home, so Rebecca had left her a note to let her and her father know that she was with Sarah and would be home by 5:30 p.m. When Sarah drove up to where Rebecca was sitting, stopped the car and began to open the door, Rebecca was already opening the passenger side door, and then jumped into the front seat next to Sarah.

  “Wow!” Sarah exclaimed, “You are an anxious thing, aren’t you? This must be important!”

  “You had better believe it is!” Rebecca replied.

  But, as Sarah pulled away from the gate, back down the long driveway and made a right turn down on the gravel road, silence was all that she heard.

  Finally, Sarah broke the silence, “Okay, what is it? There must be a problem you need to talk about. Is it still Jacob? Has your father changed his mind, or is there still a problem there?”

  Sarah continued to chatter until Rebecca stopped her by suddenly saying with feeling, “Yes, yes, no, and, yes! is the answer to all that you have just said and asked.”

  *“Yes, there is a problem I want to talk about. Yes, it is about Jacob. No, my father has definitely not changed his mind. And, yes* there is still a problem!”

  “Well,” Sarah inquired, “Have you and Jacob talked?” Rebecca affirmed that they, indeed, had talked, and that the problem is the outcome.

  Sarah thought momentarily, and then asked whether the problem was Jacob’s unwillingness to work with her to solve the problem?

  “No,” Rebecca said in return rather forcefully. “That is not the problem. Jacob is willing to go beyond all that I imagined that he would!”

  “Example?” Sarah asked.

  “For example,” Rebecca replied, “He said that he would be willing to change his car to match what is required by our church and community by painting it a dark plain color, painting the chrome bumpers and trim the same color—either black, dark brown or dark gray, removing the hubcaps, removing the collars from his shirts, and growing chin whiskers so that he can drive into our community without being noticed. He said that he was willing to do all of that so we can be seen together without as many questions being asked.”

  Sarah, again, remained quiet for a moment. Her response startled Rebecca somewhat, “I have come to the conclusion, Rebecca, that Jacob obviously loves you very much! The level of commitment that he is apparently willing to make can only mean that you are loved by him!”

  “I have thought about that,” Rebecca said almost without hesitation as she stared straight ahead, “But, we are too young for that level of commitment, even though in my heart,” she paused momentarily as though hesitant to continue, “I have already chosen Jacob to be my future husband. But, for now, all that we want is the opportunity to be together—to talk freely, and I want Jacob to be able to hold my hand without fear that we will be caught and chastised in some way!”

  Rebecca continued while tears began to fill her eyes, “That is all that we want! Jacob is now almost 19 years old, and nearly ready to go to college. I am now 18 years old, and in our community and our Mennonite Order, I am a woman who is of marrying age. But, even in light of that, I am not even allowed to talk in private, or even talk at all with the young man I want to be with, and who wants to be with me! It just doesn’t seem right! My father seems to be forcing me to only see the young men of our church most of whom are related to me in some way—either cousin or second cousin, and I would not consider becoming serious with a relative! I have learned too much in school sci
ence and health classes about the genetic dangers of relatives bearing children! And besides that, there is no one there who I want to be with! It is as though he wants me to be with young men who I do not want to be with, with no other choices, just so that I will please him!” Rebecca began to sob quietly, using the hem of her long dress as a handkerchief.

  Rebecca looked at Sarah through tear filled eyes, “That is why I wanted to see you Sarah. I want to ask you for your help, that is if you are brave enough to help me. But, before I ask you, and if I ask you, and if you say ‘yes,’ I will be afraid for you since you will be risking your relationship with your family, your other friends, and your standing in our church.”

  “Now,” Rebecca said seriously with an almost mysterious tone to her voice, “Do you want to hear what I will ask you to do?”

  Sarah felt nearly frightened. She had never heard Rebecca talk so seriously before. But she was likewise excited and anxious at this mysterious turn in Rebecca’s demeanor. “Wow! This must be something beyond anything I have ever been involved with! Is it wicked? Is it deceitful?”

  “Deceitful, perhaps,” Rebecca replied, “but mostly dangerous for the risks I mentioned to you.”

  Sarah then asked the question about which she was almost afraid of the answer, “What do you want me to do?”

  Rebecca paused and finally confessed, “I’m not quite sure. I have never disobeyed my parents—my father, and if I ask you to help me do what I want to do, I will be disobeying them, particularly deceiving my father, and I am sure that you would be disobeying the beliefs of your parents, and your devotion to doing what is right and good.”