Katie's Forever Promise

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Katie sat up and grabbed Carolyn in a tight hug. “Yah, of course. I’ll be okay. Da Hah will see me through this.”

  “He always does.” Carolyn looked very wise as she wiggled out of Katie’s grasp. “Shall we run again?”

  “I think I’ve run about all I can for awhile,” Katie said. “But you go on, and I’ll watch.”

  Carolyn did, her figure soon small in the distance before she turned and raced back. Katie stood and led the way to the buggy. She got out the picnic basket, spread the blanket on the sand, and laid out the food they’d brought along. Carolyn bowed her head in thanks, and Katie did likewise, glancing up to see Carolyn already reaching for a sandwich.

  “Thanks for coming with me, Carolyn,” Katie said. “I like having you around.”

  “Anytime!” Carolyn mumbled, her mouth full.

  Katie unwrapped her sandwich and ate slowly as she watched the waves slide onto the shore. She would remember this day for a long time, she decided. This peaceful balm would heal much that hurt inside, giving her strength for the journey ahead.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  The night of the Christmas program found Katie sitting in the front row of the large classroom. The school desks had been pushed aside and replaced with rows of benches unloaded from a wagon parked outside. Up to this point, Katie had survived the stress of the past few weeks. The trip to the beach had certainly helped, followed by Carolyn’s frequent happy outbursts at home over the day they’d spent together. Now, in just a little more than an hour, the Christmas program would be behind her. Katie could barely wait. Skeptical glances had been coming her way all evening from several of the parents, apparently wondering whether the program she’d prepared would somehow be tarnished by her reputation.

  Gas lanterns hissed as they hung from the ceiling above her, and snow was beginning to fall outside. A few flakes already hung on the darkened windowpanes. The murmur of the gathered crowd rose and fell around Katie. Well, she’d done her best, and now the moment of truth had arrived. The children had practiced over and over every afternoon since the program was planned. Carolyn had even come over to help several times since she’d been the architect of the program. Maybe that’s why the evening had a prayer of a chance—that and Carolyn’s ever-cheerful presence.

  What would she have done without Carolyn? Katie had no idea. Ever since the Saturday at the beach, Carolyn had gone out of her way to spread good cheer and hope. No doubt this was Da Hah’s way of looking out for her. It almost brought tears to Katie’s eyes.

  Would Ben show up tonight? Katie wondered. The thought sent a sinking feeling to her stomach. Ben’s staying away was not doing her a bit of gut. All it had done was leave her heart cold and wounded and struggling along on its own.

  And now on Sunday mornings Mahlon Bontrager was making eyes at her from the men’s bench. Maybe he thought with Ben gone, the coast was clear? Surely she hadn’t given Mahlon encouragement, had she? She’d tried to comfort him over the loss of his frau, Lydia. And they had chatted like friends at Mabel’s wedding. But that hadn’t meant anything to her. Mainly she had wanted to get through the day, smarting as she was from Mabel’s rejection. But the situation was becoming obvious enough for Mamm to notice. Last Sunday she’d approached her in private and asked, “Is Mahlon Bontrager showing interest in you, Katie?”

  “How would I know?” she’d snapped.

  Mamm had persisted. “He looks interested to me.”

  Katie had shrugged. “Well, I’m not interested in him.”

  Mamm had let the subject lie, but the implication had been clear enough. Mamm thought Katie ought to show an interest in Mahlon…or at least consider the option. Mamm would certainly be happy if she did.

  And Mamm did have her own life as evidence that a woman could fall in love later even if not right at the first. Twice that had happened. First with Katie’s daett and then with Jesse. Mahlon would fit that mold like a button fit a buttonhole. Maybe she ought to give in? All it would take would be a few smiles sent in Mahlon’s direction, and he would be paying a visit on some Saturday night, even overlooking the mess she was in from the school board firing.

  Katie jerked herself out of her thoughts. Carolyn was pulling on her arm, whispering in her ear above the murmur in the room. “It’s time to start, Katie. You look like you’re in another world. Cheer up. It’s going to be great.”

  Katie smiled as she stood. She motioned for the schoolchildren to come forward, and the crowd quieted. “It’s time to start,” Katie began a bit nervously. “If everyone could find a seat, the children will show you what they’ve worked on so hard.”

  Katie sat down, certain that her face was as red as a beet.

  “You did fine!” Carolyn squeezed her arm beside her.

  The first-graders were all looking at her, and Katie nodded. They jumped up, nearly falling over each other, but they made it to the front without any further mishaps. They lined up like they had drilled so often and seemed to relax. Johnny led out in his strong voice, singing the song by John Morrison, “To Us a Child of Hope Is Born…”

  The others soon joined in—three girls in new dresses their mamms had made just for the occasion. Their voices didn’t carry as far as Katie had hoped, but they were as cute as buttons. Even the grins on Johnny and Pete’s faces managed to look joyful instead of silly. Ray Mast’s son, Troy, opened his mouth wide, singing with all his might. Despite his daett’s vote against her, Katie thought, Troy was the cutest little boy in her class. When the song was completed, Johnny moved the program into its second part by quoting from the second chapter of Luke. “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth…” Johnny even said the big words better than he ever had before, completing all of his verses without a mishap.

  The others did almost as well, but it didn’t really matter by then. Katie could feel the mood in the room turning decisively. The first-graders were winning everyone’s heart. Carolyn was wiggling with delight by the time all five finished with their parts and sat down again.

  The two eighth-grade girls went next with their poems, making a striking contrast to the little first-graders. Katie was ready to lean over and kiss both of Carolyn’s hands in thanks, but such a display would be completely out of the question. Carolyn would be getting a hug though, right after the program was over. There was no question about that.

  By the time the program wound down nearly an hour later, Katie knew her face was glowing.

  “That was the best ever,” Carolyn whispered, confirming Katie’s suspicions.

  Katie rose to join all the schoolchildren for the last scene, a rousing rendition of “The Praise Song,” sung to a fast Englisha tune.

  “Oh, Gott Vater…” they sang together with the adults soon joining in.

  Even Bishop Miller had a smile on his face as he sang along. That had been Carolyn’s last stroke of genius. The young folks sang this version in the Sunday-night hymn singings, but no teacher had ever used it at a school Christmas program.

  Katie glanced over at Enos. He didn’t look happy, but at the moment she didn’t care. She’d been through enough suffering because of him, and she was getting ready to face even worse in the days ahead. Enos had her forgiveness, but that didn’t mean she had to like him right now.

  Katie caught Mahlon Bontrager’s eye on the back row. He looked quite impressed, and she glanced away at once. It would be so easy to encourage him, to give in to what everyone would approve of. She was getting pressure not only from Mamm, but from the entire community who thought she needed a serious repair job to her reputation. Who better for the task, they were probably all thinking, than widower Mahlon Bontrager?

  And Mahlon was a decent man and pleasant to be around. But she wasn’t ready to think of him as her husband. Her love for Ben was still strong. Why else would his absence be hurting this much?

  The song ended, and Katie headed straight for Carolyn, giving her a hug right in front of the whole room. Katie whispered in her
ear, “You’re an angel, Carolyn. Did you know that? I can never thank you enough.”

  By then everyone was busy chattering up a storm, obviously impressed with the program.

  “You give yourself too little credit, Katie. You’re a gut teacher,” Carolyn said.

  “Well, not everyone thinks so,” Katie said. “Glad I have you in my corner, though.”

  “You’ll make it through.” Carolyn patted Katie on the back. “I know you will.”

  Katie nodded and turned to meet Mamm as she approached. They embraced, and Mamm whispered, “That was so gut, Katie.”

  “Thank Carolyn. She helped plan it.”

  “Yah, I know.” Mamm turned to give Carolyn a hug. “Both of you did so well.”

  “Thanks for the praise!” Carolyn said as she moved aside as more parents approached. Apparently Carolyn had endured all of the limelight she could handle. Mamm stayed, though, to shake hands with Ben’s parents, Leon and Lavina, who were the first in line.

  “That was so gut!” Lavina said, clasping Katie’s hand with both of hers. “You’ve done such wonders with Noah on his schoolwork. He just loves you as his teacher.”

  “Thank you,” Katie said, sealing her lips so as not to ask how Ben was doing. She didn’t dare ask right here in front of everyone.

  “Yah, you did gut.” Leon offered her a smile before they moved on.

  The line moved forward with Katie greeting parents and telling them how well their children were doing. And they told her how much their children loved her as their teacher. Had the tide turned? Was a miracle happening right in front of her eyes? Had Carolyn’s help in producing such a wunderbah Christmas program changed their minds about firing her after the holidays? Did she dare hope?

  Only Enos and his frau stayed away, hanging around in the back of the school. Clearly they weren’t pleased with how things had gone tonight. They must have hoped she’d make a dismal failure of herself and seal her own doom. Well, she wasn’t sorry to disappoint them. The Kuntz family deserved this.

  As the crowd began to thin, Ruth Gingerich pushed her way through, a thin smile on her face. This was the first time Katie had seen Ruth since the news hit the community of Katie’s firing.

  “Gut evening,” Ruth greeted her, still smiling. “That was a gut program tonight.”

  “Thank you.” Keep breathing, Katie told herself.

  Ruth shifted on her feet. “I hope there are no hard feelings between us about the rest of the term. I want you to know I had nothing to do with it.”

  Katie forced a smile. “I know.”

  “Katie, if you take my advice, you’ll dump that Ben Stoll and get yourself a fresh start. That’s the only way out of this.”

  Katie shook her head. “Nee, I can’t do that.”

  Ruth moved on, looking more sympathetic than Katie had imagined. She must be in worse shape than she thought if Ruth’s sympathies were stirred. Ruth left with one last concerned look over her shoulder.

  The room was emptying quickly, and Katie was preparing to leave when a man cleared his throat behind her. Katie jumped and whirled around.

  “Ach, don’t let me bother you.” Bishop Miller offered her his warmest smile. “I just wished to add my thanks for the evening, Katie. You did great considering you aren’t coming back after Christmas.”

  Could that maybe be changed? Katie wanted to ask. But even the bishop didn’t meddle in school affairs, and she would only embarrass herself.

  “Thank you,” she offered instead.

  “I also want to tell you how much I appreciate you and Ben taking my advice,” Bishop Miller continued. “Jesse told me Sunday that Ben’s staying away.”

  “That was more his decision than mine,” Katie admitted.

  Bishop Miller nodded. “And that’s how it should be, Katie. The man must lead, even when the way is hard.”

  Katie looked away. She didn’t agree, but there was no sense in a protest. It wouldn’t change anything.

  “I’m hoping Ben will stay true to his word when the trial comes up.” Bishop Miller looked sharply at her. “You pray for him, Katie. That’s what the young man needs. And courage.”

  “I do pray for him,” Katie said. “More than you know.”

  Bishop Miller nodded. “Then Da Hah will surely answer. Thanks again for the program. That was quite an up-building exercise for our young students.”

  Katie watched him take his frau’s hand and walk out the door. It was then that Katie began to gather up her own things. Taking one last look around, she wiped away the tears before turning out the lights. Waiting a few moments for her eyes to adjust, Katie found her way to the back of the school.

  “Goodbye,” she whispered into the darkness. “Goodbye, sweet schoolhouse. Take gut care of yourself.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  As if the weather were making an attempt to spread good cheer and the Christmas season’s spirit far and wide, the storm that brought in the snow on the evening of the Christmas program continued the following day, and snow was still falling on Christmas Day. Katie sat at the kitchen table warming her hands with a cup of hot chocolate. Carolyn was outside playing with Joel in the snow. The two seemed boundless in their energy. Katie had wearied after a few hours and left them to their snowmen with carrots for noses and red beets for eyes. Both items had been brought up from the basement root cellar, the use of which Mamm had allowed with a smile on her face. Mamm was glad Katie wasn’t moping around all day in her room, so a few vegetables were worth contributing to the cause.

  Mamm could have asked some of Jesse’s sisters over for Christmas breakfast, but after Mabel turned Mamm down, the heart had gone out of the plan. That and the shame they were all bearing over Katie’s firing from the schoolteacher job didn’t make for a festive atmosphere. Jesse even looked troubled this morning, as if the full weight of what had happened was settling in. Mamm had still fixed the full Christmas breakfast of pancakes and eggs with ham and bacon. But that was long past now, and the dishes were washed and put away. Jesse was with Mamm in the living room, talking in low tones, perhaps about the loss of her job and the humiliation she was suffering, Katie thought. She settled into her chair. The long afternoon stretched out in front of her, and the dark thoughts she didn’t want to face were pushing in. Tomorrow they could come, she told herself, but today she was going to keep them at bay.

  Leroy and Willis had left for a youth social not twenty minutes ago. They’d be playing games and pulling taffy at Bishop Miller’s place. She could have gone, but she couldn’t muster up the courage. Yah, she would have to face people eventually, but putting it off for now seemed the easiest and wisest choice. If she showed up looking anything but cheerful, that would only remind everyone of her fall.

  Katie’s concentration was broken as Carolyn and Joel went racing past the house, sounding as if they were running toward the road. Someone must be coming. Someone they knew well enough to invoke such a welcome. Katie leaped up and set the hot chocolate aside before dashing to use the mirror. She pressed a few stray hairs back under her kapp and straightened her dress. Whoever had arrived would have to accept her the way she looked.

  Mamm was out on the front porch when Katie came into the living room, and Jesse was nowhere in sight. A quick glance out the window revealed Mabel climbing out of Norman’s buggy. Jesse was holding the bridle of her horse, while Carolyn and Joel were crowding around and hanging on to Mabel’s hands. Norman wasn’t with her.

  Mabel’s head bobbed up and down a few times, as she said something to Jesse. He tied her horse to the hitching post and followed Mabel toward the house. Mamm met Mabel at the bottom of the steps, giving her a big hug,

  What should she do? Katie wondered. Meet Mabel at the door or flee upstairs? Mabel couldn’t have gut things to say to her. Not after avoiding her completely at the school program. It would be easier if she were out of sight, Katie decided, making a dash for the stair door. Thankfully the family had stopped to talk while on the porch. She
made it halfway up the steps before the front door opened.

  Slipping inside her room, Katie walked to the window to look outside. Norman’s horse, Bonnie, stood at the hitching post, her head hung low. So Mabel must have driven her hard coming over. What had made Mabel change her mind? She’d refused, after all, to come for Christmas breakfast.

  “Katie!” Mamm called up the stairs.

  Now what? Katie thought. Was Mamm going to rebuke her for running away? It wasn’t as if Mabel came to see her. With a sigh, Katie came away from the window and headed downstairs. Mamm was likely correct. She had to face the world someday, uncomfortable though it was.

  Jesse was standing beside a weeping Mabel, when Katie arrived at the bottom of the steps. Carolyn and Joel had vanished. Mamm had her arm around Mabel’s shoulder, pulling her tightly against her. Katie halted. Was Mabel having trouble with Norman’s anger again? It was too awful to imagine.

  As if she needed convincing, Katie heard the fury in Jesse’s voice.

  “We’re leaving right now. As soon as I can hitch up my horse.”

  “Jesse…nee…maybe you should wait,” Mamm pleaded.

  Jesse ignored Mamm and disappeared out the washroom door.

  “Oh, Mabel!” Mamm wrapped her arms around her daughter’s shoulders again.

  Katie stood frozen in place. What was she supposed to do? Mamm had called her, but this was none of her business. Beginning to retreat, Mamm’s voice stopped her. “Mabel wants to talk to you, Katie.”

  Why? Katie almost asked.

  “I want to tell you again how sorry I am, Katie.” Mabel answered the unspoken question teary eyed.

  “You came here to tell me that?” Katie asked.

  “Yah, and because I have nowhere else to go,” Mabel said, breaking into fresh sobs.

  Mamm pulled Mabel’s dress collar down to reveal black-and-blue marks. “And there’s more in other places.”

  Mabel looked away, tears streaming down her face.