Hymn of Praise

by Amy Clipston

  “You can just drop me off here,” Sharon said as Cal guided his horse up Alice’s driveway. “I don’t mind walking home.”

  “All right.” He halted the horse at the top of the driveway.

  “Danki for the ride.” Alice hopped out of the buggy and Sharon climbed out of the back.

  “Thanks, Cal.” Sharon waved at him.

  “See you all soon.” Cal winked and then guided his horse back to the road.

  Sharon started down the driveway. “Have a gut—”

  “Wait a minute.” Alice grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  Sharon squinted her eyes. “What are you talking about? You know I tell you everything.”

  “Uh-huh.” Alice folded her arms over her chest as she gave her a look of disbelief. “You and Jay were practically glued together today. When did he ask your dat’s permission to date you?”

  “What?” Sharon held up her hands. “No, no, no. We’re not dating. Besides, I doubt he sees me as anything more than a freind.” Though I’m hoping that could change.

  Alice snorted. “Please. I’m not blind. It’s obvious he likes you.”

  Sharon dropped her arms.

  “I can tell when you’re analyzing, Sharon. What’s on your mind?”

  “Why do you think Jay would want to date me after knowing me as only a freind for so long?”

  “Do you like him?”

  Sharon nodded. She might as well admit it. “Lately, I’ve realized I do. But, again, why would he like me after all this time?”

  “Why not?” Alice gestured at her. “You’re schee and sweet. And you know each other well. It actually makes sense. I’m sure he’s going to ask to date you. If you can imagine him as more than a freind now, why couldn’t he imagine you the same way?”

  Sharon swallowed a happy squeal at the thought. “I hope you’re right.”

  “You let me know when he asks.” Alice gave her a quick hug. “I’m excited for you. Have a gut week.”

  “You too.” As Sharon started down the road toward her house, she imagined being Jay’s girlfriend, and her stomach fluttered. If only Alice were right in her assessment of Jay’s behavior. Sharon prayed she was, but wouldn’t that be too good to be true?

  * * *

  Jay lost himself in images of Sharon’s pretty face as he sanded pieces of a lawn windmill in his father’s workshop two days later. The familiar sweet scent of wood and stain filled his senses as hammers banged, saw blades whirred, and air compressors hummed.

  He smiled to himself, unable to stop thinking about his conversation with Sharon at Andrew’s gathering. He had to work up the courage to ask her father’s permission to date her on Sunday after church. He couldn’t wait any longer—

  “Does that piece of wood you’re staring at hold the answers to your most complicated problems?”

  “Huh?” Jay dropped his sanding block and turned to face Cal, who was grinning. “What are you doing here?”

  Cal sat down on a stool. “I was in the area running errands and thought I’d stop by. So . . . tell me. What’s on your mind?” He lifted a fresh bottle of water from Jay’s toolbox and opened it.

  Jay shrugged and then opened a bottle of water too. “Nothing. We’re just busy.” He gestured around the shop crowded with carpenters. “As you can see.”

  Cal eyed him with suspicion. “Nice try.”

  Jay pulled up another stool and sat. He fingered his bottle of water, which crinkled in protest as he debated being honest with his best friend.

  “It must be gut if you can’t find the words.” Cal’s signature grin was back.

  “Fine.” Jay sat up straighter and cleared his throat. “Do you think Sharon would date me if her father gave me permission to ask her?”

  Cal blinked, then shook his head as if Jay had just slapped him. “You want to date Sharon?”

  “Does that come as a surprise?”

  “Well, you’ve known her forever. Why are you suddenly interested in her as more than a freind?”

  “Why not?” Jay set his bottle on his workbench. “She’s schee, sweet, easy to talk to, and a great freind. True, I hadn’t thought of her as more than a freind until just recently. She just seems different now.”

  “Sharon is the same maedel she’s always been.” Cal gave him a knowing look. “Maybe she’s not different. Maybe you are.”

  “Wow.” Jay laughed. “You’ve become quite the philosopher.”

  Cal shrugged as he drank more water. “I’ve always been one, but you never noticed.”

  “Do you think she’d go out with me?”

  “I think so. You two were getting along well at Andrew’s on Sunday.”

  “That means you noticed we were talking more.”

  “I did. But the only way to find out if she likes you that way is to ask her.” He finished the water and tossed the bottle into a nearby trash can. “Talk to her dat if you’re serious about asking her out.”

  “Of course I will. I would never go against our community’s rules.” Jay’s thoughts turned to his grandfather. “Mei daadi told me it’s important we keep our traditions and pass them on to the next generation. I’ll never do anything that would make him ashamed of me.”

  Cal stood. “Well, I’d better get going before mei dat thinks I ran off to Florida for the spring.” He shook Jay’s hand. “I’ll see you Sunday. Keep me posted about you and Sharon.”

  “Keep it a secret just in case she says no.”

  “Nah. I’ll rent a billboard out on Old Philadelphia Pike. Then everyone will know.” Cal gave a wink. “See ya.”

  Jay chuckled as his friend walked toward the showroom. He could always count on Cal to make him laugh.

  * * *

  “Welcome to our home. We’re so glad you came this evening,” Sharon told the group of six guests as they sat at two folding tables Friday evening. Her mother had suggested Sharon be their host for the evening.

  Sharon had spent the day helping clean and prepare for tonight’s guests, all the while imagining singing hymns for this group. She hoped they would want to join in too. She felt as though her soul overflowed with happiness when she sang. Not only did it put her in a great mood but it was her favorite way to pass time when she took care of chores. It made any task fun, even scrubbing floors and washing windows.

  “Let’s go around the room so you can introduce yourselves and tell us if you’ve visited an Amish home before,” Sharon said, following her mother’s lead.

  After the Englishers introduced themselves, Sharon, Ruby Sue, and Mamm all served the meal—barbecue meat loaf, green bean casserole, homemade bread, a lettuce salad, and Jell-O salad. Then they brought out slices of carrot cake and red velvet cake before delivering mugs of coffee.

  “Normally we answer questions now, but I was wondering if anyone would like to sing hymns first,” Sharon said.

  Mamm shot her a surprised look.

  “Oh, that would be nice.” A young woman with a pierced eyebrow said.

  “Great.” Sharon sat down on a stool. “What songs do you like?” she asked her.

  “How about ‘This Little Light of Mine’?”

  “I love that one too,” Sharon said, then began to sing. “This little light of mine . . .” Her heart danced with bliss as nearly everyone joined in.

  After they’d sung two more songs, the guests finished their desserts, asked a few questions, and then said good night.

  “How did it go?” Dat asked when he walked in from the family room.

  Mamm looked over her shoulder. “It went well.”

  “Did you hear? Sharon led another sing-along,” Ruby Sue announced as she gathered dishes.

  “Did you, now?” Dat asked. “I guess I was out in the barn.”

  “Ya, I did.” Sharon lifted a serving platter. “It was fun, but I think I like singing to people with mei freinden more.” She looked at Ruby Sue. “Although we could sing a duet when we host a supper.”
r />   “Oh. No. I’d be too naerfich.”

  “Why do you like singing with other people better?” Mamm asked.

  “It’s as if we’re making a bigger impact then. And I love feeling a part of a community when I sing with a group.”

  Mamm and Dat shared a look.

  “What did that look mean?” Sharon asked as concern skittered through her. Had she said something wrong?

  “It means we’re impressed by your commitment to serve the Lord with your gift of singing—and by encouraging your freinden to do the same,” Dat said.

  Sharon smiled. “Will you allow me to invite them to sing with me at these suppers, then?”

  Dat looked at Mamm, and they both nodded.

  “That’s wunderbaar.” Sharon clapped her hands. “I can’t wait to tell them about it on Sunday.”

  Chapter Five

  Standing in the Glick family barn after the church service, Jay shoved his hands in his pockets. Then he took them out and rubbed his chin as he watched Ira Lambert talking to Robert Glick.

  Conversations swirled around him as the other men of their congregation began converting benches into tables for the noon meal. Jay had spent most of the service envisioning himself asking Ira’s permission to date Sharon. In each scenario, Jay was cool and confident, knowing exactly what to say.

  But now his mind had drawn a blank. He had no idea what to say as his confidence deflated like a balloon.

  Taking a deep breath, he forced his legs to move forward and approached Ira and Robert.

  Ira finished what he was saying and then turned to him. “Hi, Jay. How are you?”

  “I’m well. Hi, Robert.” Robert nodded at Jay and then excused himself.

  Jay pointed to the barn door. “Could I talk to you in private?”

  “Of course.” Ira headed outside with Jay, and a cool spring breeze moved over them. “It’s a schee day, isn’t it? Not a cloud in the sky.”

  “It is.” Jay jammed his shaky hands into his pockets again and tried to recall the speech he’d rehearsed in his mind. What had he been going to say?

  “What do you need?” Ira’s smile was so easy and friendly. Sharon had indeed inherited her father’s sunny personality.

  “I want to discuss Sharon with you.”

  “Oh?”

  Jay swallowed. “I’ve known her since I was a little bu, and she’s always been mei freind. Lately, though, I’ve realized just how special she is, and I think God is leading me toward her in a new way. She’s a wunderbaar maedel.”

  When Jay heard a slight tremble in his voice, he paused to clear his throat. “What I’m saying is I want to get to know her better. May I have your permission to date her? I promise I’ll always treat her with respect.” He pressed his lips together as Ira’s eyebrows careened toward his thinning hairline, then a smile slowly dawned on his face.

  “I’m froh to give you permission to date my Sharon.” Ira’s expression was warm. “I have a feeling she’ll be froh too.”

  “Danki, Ira.” Jay shook his hand as relief flooded through him.

  Ira patted his shoulder. “Now, you go ask her.”

  Jay turned and spotted Sharon and Alice carrying platters of food toward the barn. Sharon looked so beautiful in that light-blue dress that always complemented her eyes, and her smile was as bright and welcoming as the azure sky.

  Sharon was everything he’d ever longed for in a girlfriend. But was Ira right? Would she give him a chance to be more than a friend?

  His shoulders tightened. He’d have to ask the Lord to not only give him the courage to ask Sharon to be his girlfriend but grant him the right words.

  Then, silently, he prayed.

  * * *

  Sharon left the Glicks’ kitchen with Alice and Darlene after they finished helping with cleanup. Her pulse ticked up when she spotted Jay close by, standing by his buggy with Cal and Andrew. He looked so handsome dressed in his black Sunday suit and his crisp, white dress shirt and black vest. The sun beating down on his head gave his light-brown hair a golden hue and made his brown eyes seem warmer. She smoothed her hands down her white apron and hoped she looked presentable.

  “So what are we going to do today?” Cal asked as they approached.

  Alice and Darlene turned toward Sharon as if she were the activity director for their friend group. Perhaps she was.

  “I heard a group is playing games over at Henry Lapp’s haus, but could we go sing for Earl Yoder instead? He’s been very krank with pneumonia, but mei mamm heard he’s starting to feel better. He might appreciate a visit.” Sharon met Jay’s gaze, and when he smiled, her body relaxed.

  “Visiting Earl is a great idea,” Jay said, his tone warm as his eyes stayed fixed on hers.

  Sharon felt captured in his gaze, just as if they were standing alone. She longed to discover what was rolling through his mind as his eyes intensely bore into hers.

  “What are we waiting for?” Alice announced, breaking through Sharon’s thoughts. “Let’s go. Earl lives only a few blocks away.”

  “Sharon, will you ride with me?” The direct manner he’d asked the question caught her off guard.

  “Ya,” she said. “I’d like that.”

  “Great.” He opened the passenger side door of his buggy, and she climbed in.

  She glanced at Alice, who winked at her before directing Darlene toward Cal’s buggy.

  In a few moments, Jay sat beside her as he led his horse toward the road. She sat up straight and once again smoothed her hands over her apron and dress as she tried to think of something to say. She was finally alone with Jay, but she was also tongue-tied. She glanced at his handsome profile and took in the muscle flexing in his jaw. Was he upset or nervous?

  She settled back in the seat and crossed her arms over her waist. “Was it still busy at the shop this week?”

  “Ya.” He kept his eyes on the road as he spoke. “Were you busy this week too?”

  “I was.” She angled her body toward his. “We hosted another supper at our haus for Englishers.”

  “Oh? How did that go?”

  “It went well. I started something new. Instead of answering their gegisch questions, at least right away, I led them in singing songs. I did that last week, and it went well. So I tried it again.”

  He didn’t respond. It was as if he were distracted by something. But what?

  Quiet fell between them, and the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves, whirr of the buggy wheels, and hum of the passing traffic filled the buggy.

  Sharon glanced at Jay again and found him gripping the reins with such force that his knuckles were white. She took a trembling breath and then searched for the nerve to ask him what was going on.

  “Is everything all right, Jay?” She’d managed to keep her voice steady—but barely.

  “Ya.” He sounded slightly hoarse as he kept looking straight ahead. “I talked to your dat earlier.”

  “You did?” She blinked as confusion took hold. “Why?”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed as he continued to study the road ahead. “I wanted to ask his permission.” He paused and licked his lips. “I was wondering if I could date you.”

  Sharon’s mouth dropped open. Had she heard him correctly? Or had she just imagined those words? Her heart seemed to trip over itself before exploding into a gallop. She wanted to speak, but she couldn’t find the words, and silence spread between them.

  Jay halted the horse at a red light and then turned toward her, his expression looking pained. “That was a mistake. I completely misread how you feel about me. I’m sorry.” He held up his hand. “Forget what I just said, and let’s just be freinden. I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable or—”

  “No, no, no!” She shook her head. “You’re misunderstanding. I’m just stunned. I didn’t think you thought of me that way, that you would want to date me. I just wanted to believe you would.”

  His expression warmed as his shoulders visibly relaxed. He reached over and took her hand in
his, and she relished the feel of his skin against hers.

  “Sharon, you’ve always been a gut freind, but lately I’ve seen you in a different light. And I find myself craving more than friendship with you. I’d be honored if you’d be my girlfriend.”

  “Actually, I’m the one who’d be honored.”

  His lips lifted in a smile. “Is that a ya?”

  “Ya.”

  “Danki.” He moved his thumb over the back of her hand, and she quivered at the intimate touch.

  A car horn tooted behind them, alerting Jay that the light had turned green.

  “Whoops.” He gave a little laugh as he guided his horse through the intersection.

  Sharon couldn’t stop smiling as they continued their short journey to the Yoder farm.

  When they arrived, Sharon and Jay met their friends by the front porch before climbing the steps and knocking on the screen door.

  Earl’s wife appeared. Wearing thick glasses and with a gap between her front teeth, Miriam had a friendly expression. Sharon guessed she was in her midfifties.

  “Hello there. What brings you here today?”

  Sharon glanced at Alice, who gave her a nod as if asking her to speak for them.

  “We heard Earl is better but still recovering, and we wondered if we could sing for him.”

  Miriam’s smile widened. “How lovely. Just yesterday he was saying he’d enjoy some visitors.” She beckoned them into the house. “Join us. I made a cheesecake this week, and I’d love to share it with you.”

  Jay held the door open, and Sharon followed Miriam into the family room. Earl sat in a recliner, covered in a blue-and-gray quilt with a Lonestar pattern. He looked weak, and his light eyes were rimmed with dark circles.

  “Earl, weren’t you just saying you were hoping for some company?” Miriam asked as she led them all to his side. “Well, here you go. Some nice young folks want to sing for you.”

  “Hi, Earl.” Sharon gave him a wave as she stepped closer to the recliner. “We hope to cheer you up.”

  Earl raised a hand and gave a tentative smile to Sharon and her friends. “How nice to see you all.”

  “How are you feeling?” Jay shook Earl’s hand.

  “A little better.” Earl coughed, and it sounded as if it rattled up from deep in his chest. “The medicine seems to be working. I’m not wheezing as much.”