A Cousin's Challenge

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Ella breathed a sigh of relief. Every time Jake came around, she felt flustered. She wished she could make him stay home, but knowing Jake’s pattern, he’d probably be back in a few days to buy more doughnuts or bread.

  Ella had just started to clean up the mess she’d made from the gingerbread when the back door swung open and Mama stepped into the room. “Was that Jake Beechy’s buggy I saw leaving our place as we were coming in?” she asked.

  Ella gave a quick nod. “He came by for some baked goods.”

  “Again? Seems like he was just here a few days ago.” Mama gave Ella a knowing look. “He’s been coming around a lot lately. Is there something going on between you two?”

  Ella shook her head. “The only thing going on between me and Jake is a lot of tension.”

  “Maybe you feel irritated whenever he comes around because you’re attracted to him.”

  “That’s lecherich, Mama. There’s nothing about Jake that I’m attracted to.”

  Mama gave Ella’s arm a little squeeze. “It may not be as ridiculous as you think. I didn’t like your daed all that well when we first met, either.”

  “I didn’t just meet Jake. I’ve known him since we were kinner.” Ella plopped her hands against her hips and frowned. “Der Jake is en lidderlicher kall.”

  “Despicable is a very harsh word to be calling Jake. You need to think about the way you speak of others, Ella. I doubt that Jake’s as bad as you make him out to be.” Suddenly Mama’s eyes filled with tears. “Before your daed and I started going out, there were times when he irritated me to no end with his teasing.”

  “What’d he do?”

  “Well, when we were young and still in school, he used to poke me in the ribs to make me giggle, and it hurt. And whenever he came over to visit my bruder, he used to sneak upstairs to my room and put straw in my bed.” Mama chuckled. “I didn’t realize it back then, but he only did those things to get my attention. It wasn’t until we were teenagers that I began to realize your daed wanted to take me out.”

  “And you still wanted to go out with him after all the mean things he’d done to you when you were a kinner?”

  “Oh, jah. I had a big crush on him, even though I didn’t like most of the things he’d done. I knew he’d grow up someday, and I hoped when he did that he’d see me as a woman he could love and not just as someone to tease.” Mama reached for a paper towel and blotted the tears clinging to her lashes. “I miss your daed so much and would give anything to have him here teasing me right now.”

  As Ella reflected on her mother’s words, she felt a prickly sensation creep up her spine. She’d had a crush on Jake when they were children, but she’d never admitted it to anyone, not even her cousins. She’d never told a soul about the promise Jake had made when he’d walked her to school, carrying her books, either. She’d thought he liked her as much as she liked him. She’d thought he had really meant it when he’d promised to take her for a ride in his buggy when he turned sixteen. But no, the first time Jake took a girl for a ride, it had been Loraine, not Ella.

  She shivered despite the warmth in the bakeshop. Jake was a liar; he wasn’t to be trusted.

  “Are you all right, Ella?” Mama asked. “You look umgerennt.”

  Ella blinked. “I’m not upset. I was just thinking.”

  “About what?”

  “It was nothing important.” No way could she tell Mama what she’d been thinking. Ella touched Mama’s arm. “I should have asked right away. How’d it go at the doctor’s?”

  Mama shrugged. “Okay.”

  “Did he run any tests? Does he know why you’re so tired and shaky?”

  “Calm down, Ella. You sound like a screech owl.”

  Ella hadn’t realized her voice had risen. “I’m sorry, Mama. I’m just worried about you. You’ve been feeling poorly far too long.”

  “The doctor thinks I either have hypoglycemia or diabetes. He’s scheduled me for some blood tests on Friday.”

  Ella hoped Mama had hypoglycemia rather than diabetes, because she knew it could be controlled by a change in her diet. If Mama started eating regularly instead of picking at her food, and if she made sure she ate the right kinds of food, then hopefully, she’d feel better in no time.

  ***

  When Lonnie pulled his horse and buggy into the schoolyard, several children were heading for home, including Sylvia and Irvin. Irvin waved, and Lonnie waved back then signed to Irvin, “Have a good afternoon.” He was pleased that he knew how to sign enough words to make sentences now. As his lessons with Jolene had continued, he’d begun to feel more confident that he’d soon be talking easily with his hands without feeling self-conscious or unsure of himself.

  Lonnie’s folks were taking signing lessons from Jolene as well, which made it easier for Lonnie to communicate at home. Mama had caught on so well that she and Lonnie could carry on a conversation without her having to write everything down.

  Lonnie started across the yard and saw Eunice heading that way on her bike. She halted when she saw him, turned the bike around, and took off down the road. Lonnie shrugged. He could never figure out why Eunice did any of the things she did. She was nothing like Jolene, that was for sure.

  When Lonnie entered the schoolhouse, he nearly bumped into Fern, who was coming out the door. Her face colored, and she signed, “Sorry.”

  “Me, too,” Lonnie signed back. He was glad Jolene had been teaching Fern and some of the children in her class how to sign. It made it easier than trying to read people’s lips. Even so, he knew the day was coming when he’d have to rely on lip reading more than signing in order to get a job that took him outside his home.

  Sure wish there was something I could do besides work with Pop’s hogs. Lonnie grunted as he tromped up the steps to Jolene’s classroom. I wonder how hard it’s going to be to find a job once I start seriously looking.

  Lonnie knew he could continue helping Pop with the hogs for as long as he wanted, and even though things seemed to be better between him and Pop, raising hogs wasn’t the kind of work he cared to do. He needed something that was more of a challenge—not that pigs couldn’t be challenging at times. What he wanted was something fun, something he’d really enjoy.

  When Lonnie entered Jolene’s classroom, he found her sitting at her desk, looking over some paperwork. She didn’t look up, so he assumed she hadn’t realized he’d come in. If she’d been able to hear, he would have cleared his throat loudly. Under the circumstances, he figured the best thing to do was to tap her on the shoulder.

  He walked slowly up the desk, and when his hand connected with Jolene’s shoulder, she jumped. He jumped, too, because for some unknown reason, a jolt of electricity had shot up his arm. He shrugged it off, attributing it to the fact that there must be static electricity in the air from the cold weather they’d been having.

  Jolene patted her flushed cheeks and signed, “Are you ready for another lesson on lip reading?”

  Lonnie bobbed his head, feeling suddenly nervous and shy in her presence. It made no sense; he’d been alone with Jolene several times and had never felt like this.

  “Before we begin our lesson,” Jolene signed, “I’d like your opinion on something.”

  “What do you need my opinion on?” Lonnie asked, hoping he’d understood what she’d said and had signed the right words.

  “This is kind of lengthy, so I’m going to write it out.” Jolene picked up the tablet on her desk and wrote: I know you and Andrew have become friends, so I hope you won’t repeat what I’m about to tell you.

  Lonnie shook his head and signed, “I won’t repeat.”

  Jolene smiled and continued to write. As you might know, Andrew has recently begun going out with Eunice Byler.

  Lonnie shrugged in reply. Who Andrew went out with was none of his business.

  From some of the things Andrew has said to me, I know he has more than a passing interest in her.

  “Maybe so,” Lonnie signed.

  I’m
afraid Eunice might not be right for Andrew.

  “How come?”

  Because she likes to gossip. I spoke with her yesterday, and she told me some things that were none of my business—things that, in my opinion, didn’t bear repeating.

  Lonnie frowned, and he spoke out loud. “I’m not much of an expert on love, but I think Andrew’s smart enough to know whether Eunice is right for him or not. Of course, I misjudged Carolyn and thought she was the one for me.” He groaned. “One thing’s for certain. I’ll never fall in love again.”

  “How do you know?”

  “It’d be hard for me to trust another woman not to hurt me the way Carolyn did. Besides, what kind of husband and father would I make when I can’t hear?”

  Before Jolene could comment, Kyle Beechy rushed into the room. His lips moved fast as he waved his hands. Lonnie had no idea what the boy was saying.

  ***

  Seeing the urgent look on Kyle’s face sent a wave of panic through Jolene. She put her fingers to her lips to shush the boy. “Slow down, Kyle. I’m not able to read your lips when you’re talking so fast.”

  The color in the boy’s blue eyes darkened like the night sky. “Irvin’s been hit by a car. He couldn’t hear it coming. I tried to warn him, but he couldn’t hear me, either.” Tears gathered in the corners of Kyle’s eyes, and he blinked several times. “You’ve gotta come with me, Teacher. I think Irvin might be dead!”

  Jolene jumped out of her chair, grabbed her coat, and raced down the steps behind Kyle. When she opened the schoolhouse door, a blast of frosty air stung her nose.

  As she ran along the shoulder of the road behind Kyle, the frigid air caused her throat to ache from breathing too deeply. She turned once and saw Lonnie sprinting behind them. He caught up to her in a few long strides.

  When they came upon the scene of the accident, Jolene’s breath caught in her throat. A car was parked along the shoulder of the road, and a young woman stood beside it, tears streaming down her face. Several children, including Sylvia, were gathered around the small form lying on the ground near the car. Irvin was still breathing, but blood seeped from a gash in his head, and he wasn’t moving.

  In the whirlwind of confusion, one thing was clear: The boy was hurt and needed immediate medical attention.

  CHAPTER 30

  “Stop crying, and tell me what’s wrong,” Jake said when he arrived home from Ella’s and found his little brother sitting on the back porch, bawling like a wounded heifer.

  Kyle looked up at Jake and choked on a sob. “Ir-Irvin’s in the hospital. He might even be dead, and—and it’s all my fault!”

  Jake’s forehead wrinkled. “What are you talking about?”

  “If I knew how to sign, I could’ve warned him.”

  Jake set the sack full of bakery items on the porch and took a seat beside Kyle. “Tell me what happened.”

  Kyle gulped and sniffed a few times as he poured out the story of how Irvin had been hit by a car, and how he’d run to the schoolhouse to get help.

  “Did you push Irvin in front of the car?” Jake asked.

  Kyle shook his head.

  “Then why do you think the accident was your fault?”

  Kyle swiped at his tear-stained face. “I ... I was teasin’ him about not bein’ able to hear, and he started runnin’ real fast. He must not have been watchin’ where he was goin’, ’cause he ran in front of the car. I called out to him, but of course, he couldn’t hear my warning.”

  “That’s terrible, and I’m real sorry to hear it, but there’s one thing I don’t understand.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Since Irvin can’t hear, and you haven’t learned how to sign, how’d he know you were teasing him?”

  Kyle’s shoulders shook as he hung his head. “I ... I poked him a couple of times. Then I guess he read my lips when I said he was a dummkopp who can’t talk right and acts like a boppli.”

  Jake clenched his fists. “How many times have you been told not to tease?”

  “A lot.”

  “And yet you keep doing it?” Jake glared at his brother. “What makes you keep teasing Irvin when you know it’s wrong?”

  Kyle leaned forward, letting his head drop into his hands. “I-I’m mad at you, and since I can’t say what I want...” His voice trailed off as sniffling and hiccups took over.

  Jake placed his hand on Kyle’s head. “How come you’re mad at me?”

  Kyle mumbled something about Jake leaving, but Jake could only make out a few words because the boy was crying so hard.

  “Sit up, dry your eyes, and tell me what’s on your mind,” Jake said, gently patting Kyle’s back.

  Several seconds went by before Kyle finally lifted his head. “I’m mad ’cause you moved to Montana. And—and then you keep comin’ back.”

  “You don’t like it when I come home?”

  “It’s not that—it’s just that when you’re gone, Dad’s real cranky and moody. Mom cries a lot, too.” Kyle gulped in a quick breath. “Then whenever you come back, Dad’s crankier than ever, and Mom makes over you like you’re her favorite son. I wish you’d make up your mind ’bout where you’re gonna live and then stay put once and for all. Maybe if you decided to stay in Montana, Mom and Dad would accept the idea and stop frettin’ over you all the time. Or better yet, if you stayed here, we’d all be happy.”

  Kyle’s words jolted Jake to the core. He knew Mom and Dad weren’t happy about him living in Montana, but until this moment, he’d had no idea it had affected his little brother so, or that Kyle had been carrying all this pent-up anger toward him.

  Jake knew he’d have to work on improving his relationship with Kyle. He also needed to make a definite decision about whether he should stay in Indiana or return to Montana. Right now, though, they needed to find out how Irvin was doing.

  ***

  “Why are you getting home so late?” Mom asked when Jolene entered the kitchen. “It’s way past time for supper, and I was beginning to worry.”

  Jolene slipped off her heavy woolen shawl and hung it over the back of a chair. “Irvin was hit by a car after school, and I stayed with him at the hospital until his folks got there.”

  “What happened? Is Irvin badly hurt? Is he...”

  Mom’s lips were moving so fast that Jolene couldn’t keep up. She held up her hand. “Please, one question at a time.”

  “Sorry. Sometimes I still forget that you’re reading my lips.”

  Jolene motioned to the table. “Let’s have a seat, and I’ll tell you about it.”

  They both found chairs, and Jolene explained how she’d ridden in the ambulance with Irvin while Lonnie went to notify his folks. Then when Irvin’s folks arrived at the hospital, Jolene had stayed with them until they’d gotten some word on Irvin’s condition. Jolene drew in a deep breath. “We were so relieved when the doctor came out and said Irvin hadn’t been critically injured, although he did require several stitches in his forehead, and his collarbone is broken.”

  Mom shook her head slowly. “It’s a miracle that boy wasn’t killed. What was he doing in the street, anyway?”

  “I’m not sure. Kyle Beechy’s the one who came and got me, and he was so upset, I couldn’t get many details from him.” Jolene paused and licked her dry lips. “With Irvin being deaf, I’m sure he didn’t realize the car was coming.”

  “Is it any wonder that I worry when you take the horse and buggy out?” Mom touched Jolene’s arm. “If a car honked its horn to warn you that it was passing, you’d never know it.”

  “I’m very cautious whenever I go out on the road. I watch my side mirrors and look over my shoulder often when I’m in the buggy. The rest I leave in God’s hands.”

  “You’re right, of course; we need to put every part of our lives in God’s capable hands.” Mom gave Jolene’s arm a gentle squeeze. “But I’m a mudder, and I guess it’s just my nature to worry about my kinner, no matter how old they are or how cautious they might be.” She glanc
ed toward the door then looked back at Jolene. “Someone’s knocking, so I’d better see who it is.”

  Mom hurried from the room, while Jolene remained at the table. A few minutes later, Mom was back with Jake at her side.

  “Do you have any word on Irvin?” he asked, taking a seat beside Jolene. “My little bruder’s really worried about him.”

  Jolene explained everything that had transpired at the hospital.

  “Kyle blames himself for the accident,” Jake said, “because he was teasing Irvin, and then Irvin ran into the road in order to get away from him.”

  “I don’t how many times I’ve asked Kyle to stop tormenting Irvin,” Jolene said, shaking her head. “Will he never learn?”

  Jake’s solemn expression lightened a bit. “I think he’s finally learned his lesson. Right before I came here, he told me that if Irvin lives, he’ll apologize for all the teasing he’s done. He even said that he wants to get to know Irvin better, and believe it or not, he’s now willing to learn how to sign.”

  “That’s good news, and you can let Kyle know that Irvin will live, because his injuries are not life threatening.” Jolene’s shoulders lifted and then fell as she released a deep sigh. “Maybe God will take this near tragedy and bring something good from it.”

  CHAPTER 31

  It had been two weeks since Irvin’s accident. Due to the broken collarbone, when he returned to school he wore a sling to keep from lifting his arm, and there was still a red mark on his forehead where he’d been cut, but otherwise he looked pretty chipper. Even more amazing, it appeared as though Irvin and Kyle might actually become friends. When Jolene went downstairs to give Fern’s class another signing lesson, Kyle had surprised her by participating. He’d even invited Irvin to sit beside him. By the time class was over, Kyle had learned how to sign a few words, including the word friend.

  “Guess what, Teacher,” Sylvia signed when she and Irvin entered Jolene’s classroom after their lesson downstairs.

  “What?”

  “It’s snowing!”