The Stone Wall

by Beverly Lewis

  “Well, I’m amazed that Gabe can juggle his own work and manage the retreat.” Anna mentioned that Peaceful Meadows offered a number of sessions three days a week. “The program has really grown since it started. It’s impressive.”

  Just then, the back door screeched open, and there was Glen, removing his work boots and walking stocking-footed into the kitchen. He stood there on Sadie’s big rag rug and removed his straw hat as his grandsons flew to his side, smiling up at him. Watching the boys greet their Dawdi with such joy warmed her heart.

  ———

  “Wanna catch some fish after dinner, Dawdi?” Marcus asked partway through the meal as Anna passed the tray of vegetables and dip around for the third time.

  “I’d best be catchin’ forty winks first,” Glen said, making them all chuckle.

  “But you can nap while you’re fishin’,” young Eddy teased. “Like this. See?” And he dropped his chin against his chest, eyes closed, and pretended to snore.

  “Now, how do ya know your Dawdi snores?” Sadie asked with a glance at Glen.

  “Don’t all men snore?” Eddy frowned as he looked at his brother, who elbowed him.

  “Nee,” Marcus said. “Our Dat doesn’t. He slept with us out in the tree house once and never made a peep.” Marcus reached for two more carrot sticks and a handful of celery, then spooned up a pile of dip.

  “Did ya stay up all night listenin’?” Eddy asked.

  Glen was chuckling now. “You two are wound up today. Not sure the fish’ll bite if you’re this rowdy.”

  “Oh, we can be still if we want to,” Eddy said, scooting forward on the bench, his eyes bright. “Ain’t so, Marcus?”

  Marcus nodded, still munching on his veggies and dip.

  “Well, I s’pose I’ll go along, then, since apparently I can snooze and fish at the same time.” Glen grinned as he reached for his tumbler of lemonade. “Wonders never cease.”

  “Jah, go an’ have yourselves a gut time,” Sadie said.

  “What’re yous plannin’ here?” Glen asked, looking at Sadie and Anna.

  “Well, we could work on some cheer-up cards,” Sadie suggested.

  Anna was quick to nod. “And afterward, I’ll go out and pick more strawberries.”

  “Speakin’ of berries . . .” Sadie rose and went to get the shortcake from the counter.

  Glen and the boys turned and watched her carry the dessert over on a clean tray. Then she and Anna spooned up a generous amount of whipping cream to top each helping. Finally, Sadie nestled the sliced strawberries atop the whipping cream.

  “Looks scrumptious,” Anna said, offering the first one to Glen.

  Eddy and Marcus picked up their forks but waited politely till Sadie sat down again before digging in.

  My delightful young cousins, Anna thought, pleased at the chance to get better acquainted with her Amish relatives. Surely Dat doesn’t have qualms about my spending time with these wonderful kinfolk, she thought. It’s not like I’m falling for an Old Order beau!

  Anna helped Sadie work on her encouragement cards once the kitchen table was wiped clean and the dishes were put away. It gave them a chance to talk while Glen and the boys were down at the fishing hole.

  At one point, Anna asked, “This may sound strange, but I keep wondering about something Mammi Eliza said when I was home last.”

  “If it’s on your mind, Anna, I don’t think it’s strange a’tall.”

  Anna thought that was sweet. “It’s hard to know if Mammi was thinking clearly, but she talked briefly about a stone wall—a spot she went to meet someone. It might have been a young man, ’cause she said he.”

  “Well now.” Sadie looked up just then, eyes focused on her.

  “I know there aren’t many stone walls in Lancaster County. Even one of my tour clients pointed out that New England has many more. He jokingly said that Maine’s number one crop is fieldstones. The second, potatoes.” She paused to push some batting gently behind the fabric of a robin-shaped design, then held it up for Sadie’s smiling approval. “I would love to know where that particular stone wall Mammi mentioned was located.”

  “Why’s that important to you?”

  She pondered this. “Maybe it’s a way to prove to myself that Mammi Eliza still remembers something from her past,” Anna finally said. “You know, still retains part of her former self.”

  Sadie nodded thoughtfully. “I see what you’re sayin’.”

  “And if it’s a genuine memory and I could find that stone wall, it would be yet another connection between her and myself,” Anna admitted, wanting to hold on to everything possible about her grandmother.

  “Do you wonder if it’s a fantasy . . . somethin’ only in her mind?”

  “I just don’t know.” Anna sighed.

  Sadie shared with Anna what little her parents had told her the night before.

  “I wish I could help more.” Sadie smiled sympathetically. “I really do.”

  “Oh, and I almost forgot! Mammi also talked about there being a very tall tree nearby. I think she meant it was near the stone wall, but I can’t be sure. And I don’t know what kind it was. Even if I did, that tree likely wouldn’t be around seventy years later.”

  “Well, there are plenty-a trees growin’ near some of the stone walls round here. Mostly black walnut trees.”

  Anna sighed again. “I don’t mean to press you with questions.”

  “Ach, you can ask anything ya like.”

  Anna smiled. “Mart told me that, too. He’s been so helpful preparing me for my touring work.”

  “This is the Mennonite fella who’s sweet on ya?” Sadie asked.

  Anna felt herself blush. “Well, I wouldn’t say that.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he knows a special girl when he sees one.”

  Anna’s heart warmed at the compliment. “Mart is every parent’s answer to prayer, I’m thinkin’.”

  “Is that right?” Sadie seemed to study her for a moment, then resumed her work, completing a teddy bear with a fabric bow tie. “Have ya told your parents of this fella’s interest?”

  “No. Anyway, Mart and I are just getting to know each other. Not dating.”

  “I see.” Sadie gave her a smile. “The more fellas you get acquainted with, the more you’ll know what qualities you’d appreciate in a mate.”

  Anna supposed she was right. “I enjoy talking to you, Sadie,” she said. “’Specially with Mamm and Wanita so far away.”

  “I’m glad ya do, and just know that what you tell me goes nowhere else.” Sadie pressed her pointer finger against her thin lips.

  “Denki,” Anna said and picked up some card stock with a cutout in the shape of a small wicker basket. “I kind of thought so.”

  They worked in silence for a while; the only sound was of the day clock’s measured ticking on the wall above them.

  A while later, Sadie said, “My sister-in-law thinks I should have at least fifty finished cards before she’ll take them to Saturday market to sell.”

  “Has she suggested a price?”

  “I’ll ask her,” Sadie said, shaking her head, “since I’m really not sure what to charge.”

  “Well, you make them much faster than I can. How long does it take?”

  “Gut point.” Sadie scrunched up her face and thought. “Maybe twenty minutes per card, give or take a few minutes.”

  Anna picked up one of Sadie’s finished ones and admired it. “It’s not just a card, though. It’s more like a keepsake.”

  “Do ya think so?” Sadie looked surprised as she glanced at the card in Anna’s hand.

  “I do. Which might raise the price a bit in customers’ minds.”

  Sadie laughed softly. “Well, I’ll ask Glen’s opinion on that.”

  Anna smiled and wondered if she would think that way, too, once she was married. Would she make her decisions only after talking to her husband?

  Mamm doesn’t always, Anna realized. Sometimes she makes up her mind, then tells Da
t what she’s decided. So, am I more like Mamm or like Sadie?

  Chapter 21

  The whole next week, whenever she had free time, Anna helped Sadie make the wonderfully creative cards, one of which she sent to Mammi Eliza. When she wasn’t doing that or working around the house, Anna was studying the side-walking instructions Dottie Stoltzfus had given her or reviewing the information she had for tours, making sure she was ready for each new set of clients, of which there were more than a handful, as it turned out. Anna even met a family from Germany who wanted to introduce their two school-age children to some of their Pennsylvania German relatives there in Lancaster. They especially enjoyed hearing Anna tell about the origins of the original Amish settlers.

  On Friday afternoon, while Sadie was gone from the house, Anna received a letter from Wanita. Anna was quick to open it and begin reading.

  Dear Anna,

  Thanks for your letter. I’m hoping you still enjoy your job there in Strasburg.

  I talked to Mamm about the prayer book journals you asked about, but she thinks they were discarded when Mammi Eliza moved over here. Mamm doesn’t recall the location of the house where Mammi stayed in Strasburg, either—understandable since she’s not very familiar with that area. And of course, till here lately, Mammi rarely ever talked about this. Frankly, the bits and pieces we have heard don’t make a speck of sense.

  The other day, in fact, Mammi was trying to tell me something about cutting asparagus, and how she put the bundles of stalks together in a rusty old wagon. But then she abruptly stopped talking and stared into space, evidently unable to finish the story. It must be frustrating when that happens, although I’m not sure she even realizes her memory is nearly gone.

  “Nearly gone?” Anna whispered, wishing she could be with Mammi more often.

  She placed the letter on the writing desk where she’d been sitting. Then she wandered out to the kitchen to make chocolate-chip cookies to surprise Sadie, who’d appeared rather glum the past few days since going to visit her sister Eva and Molly—something she’d done at least twice that Anna knew of. And naturally Glen likes cookies, too, to go along with his nightly ice cream.

  That’s when Anna noticed a check lying on the counter near the cookie jar, made out to Glen Flaud from her father. Dat’s kind to do this till I get my first paycheck, she thought, going around to raise all the windows high, from the kitchen to the front room, creating a nice breeze through the house.

  Next, she began to gather ingredients, still thinking about Wanita’s letter and how Mammi Eliza’s memory was further diminishing.

  While dropping the cookie dough onto the sheet pans, it crossed Anna’s mind to take some for the break room at the information center sometime. And soon, she caught herself daydreaming about Mart’s invitation to go to Hershey with him and a group of his friends tomorrow afternoon.

  He was grinning when he invited me, she remembered, having enjoyed his company very much.

  Saturday morning dawned with a mostly overcast sky, although here and there in the distance sunlight was already sneaking through as Anna rose. She was all set for a walk. She hadn’t neglected her morning quiet time while here, and just now she felt impressed to pray for Sadie’s elderly sister Eva.

  As was her usual way, Anna also tucked in a prayer for Mammi Eliza, who didn’t seem to realize all she was losing. Anna also asked God to give Wanita and her husband, Conrad, patience, grace, and understanding as they took care of Mammi.

  Dear Lord, it must be so hard for them and for the whole family, she added, thinking she really needed to see Mammi again soon.

  While receiving instructions from Dottie at Peaceful Meadows later that morning, Anna happened to see one of the children run over to Gabe. She remembered what Sadie’s grandsons had said about Gabe and his crew building the extraordinary tree house in their woods. As Gabe lifted the little fellow high into the air, both of them laughing, she wondered how he had come to have such a wonderful way with youngsters. Were some men just natural with little ones? These young riders were drawn like magnets to Gabe, often vying for his attention. It reminded Anna some of Wanita’s husband, Conrad; he seemed content that their house was always filled with many children, whether their own or foster children. Her sister was definitely blessed to have a husband who helped to lovingly bring their youngsters up in the reverence and ways of the Lord.

  The flowers near the birdbath looked so pretty as Sadie sprinkled them from her big white watering can. The can had been passed down from her aunt on her father’s side, and she had kept it for years in the little potting shed, using it all the time in the spring and summer. Sadie decided that, no matter what anyone said, she would not give up certain items as she and Glen aged. The watering can was one, for certain. True, it had seen better days, but she liked the feel of the smooth handle and the way water flowed evenly from the many holes. Better for flowers than using a hose, she thought.

  Glen wandered over from the turkey house and stood near. “Been wantin’ to talk to ya, dear,” he said quietly.

  “Oh?”

  He glanced at the sky, then back at her. “Now, I hope ya won’t misunderstand,” he said.

  Sadie wondered what could possibly be on his mind. “Go on.”

  “Well, seems like you’ve been spending nearly all of your free time with Anna lately.”

  “Jah, since she arrived, in fact.” She nodded, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. “Does it bother ya?”

  He shrugged and held her gaze. “I just thought you’d wanna pay more attention to your daughter-in-law next door, maybe,” he said, offering a smile now. “And your other family members, too.”

  Sadie hadn’t expected this, although Glen’s observation rang true. All the same, perhaps he didn’t understand her growing motherly connection with Anna or the joy it brought her. “Well, to tell the truth, I’m delighted that Anna seeks me out and shares as openly as she does.” It’s just what I need right now, she thought.

  He nodded without saying more and turned to go into the house.

  Glen enjoyed spending time with Anna, too, as I recall, Sadie thought. Glen had given Anna a tour of the turkey barn recently, showing her where, in March, the day-old poults were cared for in the large brooder. Those March turkeys would be ready for a summer harvest later this month. Soon, the new crop of tom and hen poults would arrive and go through the same growing process till Thanksgiving season.

  Sadie glanced toward the main farmhouse and inhaled deeply. Once it had been the home where she and Glen had lived and welcomed each of their precious babies, taking care to instruct them in the Old Ways of their forefathers and with daily readings from the Good Book.

  A house is a tangible thing built with wood or stone or brick, she thought. But it takes time and memories made to create a home.

  Sadie set down the watering can and walked over there for a quick visit with Marianna, heeding her husband’s suggestion.

  Chapter 22

  Anna returned to Flauds’ from Peaceful Meadows and took time to freshen up and change her clothes, preparing to go with Mart and his friends to Hershey. As she brushed her waist-length hair and redid the thick bun, she recalled the many things she had learned today. Dottie was pleased with her progress, and several of the volunteers had come up to Anna, even more friendly than before, saying how good it would be to have her on board as a side walker starting next Saturday.

  It’s going to be so much fun! Anna thought, setting the brush down on the dresser and realizing how often her thoughts turned to the therapy program. It occupied her mind almost as much as her work as a tour guide.

  “I’ve never been so invested in two completely different things,” she murmured, looking at herself once more in the hand mirror before heading out through the kitchen to the back porch. There, she waited for the church van to arrive, noticing that Sadie was nowhere around. She likely had gone to run an errand or to visit Eva.

  I need to keep helping make her cards for market, she thought
, eager to see Sadie reach the fifty mark.

  Just then, a white van turned into this side of the lane. Seeing Charlotte waving at her from inside, Anna walked down the sidewalk.

  The passenger door slid open, and Mart stepped out wearing tan khakis, light brown loafers, and a short-sleeved blue shirt.

  “Hi, Anna,” he said, brightening. “It’s great to see you again.”

  “I’m looking forward to Hershey,” she said, aware of the van filled with other young people.

  “It’ll be interesting,” he said as he offered to help her step in.

  She spotted a black umbrella tucked under the seat. Mart thinks of everything!

  Anna was glad to find a spot next to Charlotte, who was sitting directly behind Austin in the driver’s seat. Another fellow was up front with him. “I’m glad you’re coming with us,” Charlotte said, smiling sweetly.

  Anna nodded. “I’ve never been to Hershey.”

  “The whole town smells like chocolate,” one of the girls behind her declared, and everyone laughed, breaking the ice for Anna.

  The drive toward the highway took them past farmland—rows and rows of cornstalks and hayfields. And while the others talked quietly, Mart shared with Anna about one of his recent car tours for a family of six. “One child was deaf, so the mom sat beside her, translating everything I said into sign language. It was a first for me.”

  Anna turned slightly to watch Mart’s animated face. “It’s wonderful that the child could be so involved,” she said softly. “I’ve recently thought of keeping a notebook of all the different clients I have and their requests.”

  “And then someday, if you’re instructing new tour guides, you’ll have all of that at your fingertips,” Mart said.

  She was a little surprised at his response. It wasn’t likely, she hoped, that she’d be conducting tours here for a long time. The Beachy Amishwomen she’d known rarely pursued careers, so she, too, hoped to be married and be home with a family someday. Like Mamm . . .

  ———