“I feel good about giving away some of our favorite things,” Mattie said.
“Jah. The pocketknife has a nice inscription etched into the blade that reads: ‘Soar high, like an Eagle.’ That might help ’em to feel hopeful.”
“I’m sure it will,” Mattie agreed.
Mark had a good feeling in his heart. It was much better to give than receive.
A week later, on a Friday afternoon, Mattie was up at the entrance to their driveway because she’d spotted a few more wildflowers blooming on her way home from school. Ironweed was a hardy plant, and it was about the only thing still blooming this time of year. After Mattie had picked a few stems, she went over to the empty produce stand to sit and work on the flowers before she gave them to Mom. The air had turned cooler recently, and now it really felt like winter was on its way. Even though it was sunny today, the warmth didn’t seem to be breaking through as it had only a few short weeks ago.
Mattie pulled the collar of her jacket up around her neck as she took a few leaves off the lower part of the flower stems and snapped off the bottoms. She’d seen Mom do that the last time she’d surprised her with a bouquet of wildflowers. Soon it would be Thanksgiving, but Mattie doubted there’d be any flowers left by then, so she was glad she’d noticed these ironweeds that were still blooming.
As she worked on the wildflowers, something shiny caught her eye, lying over by their mailbox. She laid the flowers down and walked over to the object. When she discovered what it was, she smiled and reached down and put it in her apron pocket.
That evening after silent prayer, Mom and Dad thanked everyone for the help they’d given to the English family who’d lost their home to the fire. The older boys had given all their free time to help with rebuilding the house, and Mark and Mattie were unselfish in giving up their favorite toys to the children who’d lost all of theirs.
“Oh, and Mattie, I want to thank you again for providing our beautiful centerpiece for the table this evening,” Mom said, smiling at Mattie.
“Ern weed,” little Ada spoke up.
The whole family smiled, and Mattie was amazed that her little sister actually remembered the name of the flower she’d picked, even if she couldn’t say the word exactly right.
“You’re right, Ada. That’s ironweed.” If she’d been sitting near Ada, Mattie would have tweaked her little nose. Ada was so cute, trying to sound all grown up.
Mom reached over and tugged gently on one of Ada’s flaming red braids. “It seems we may have another girl in the family who loves flowers.”
Everyone smiled at Ada while she giggled and pointed at the flowers.
“Can I say something?” Mark asked in a serious tone.
“Of course you can,” Dad answered with a nod of his head.
The rest of the family looked at Mark, as though curious and wondering what he was about to say. It wasn’t like Mark to ask when he wanted to say something. He usually just spoke right up and said whatever was on his mind.
“Actually, I have two things,” Mark stated. “First, I’ve been studyin’ up on the Heimlich maneuver. That’s what saved Grandma Miller’s life, ya know—the day she choked on the hot dog. I think it’d be wise if we all learned how to do the maneuver, in case we ever need to use it. Now, after reading all about it, I think I could do it.”
“First aid is a good thing to learn,” Dad agreed, “because you never know when you might have to use it.”
“If it wouldn’t have been for that guy Tony, who knows what could have happened to Grandma?” Mattie added.
“Okay now, I have somethin’ else to say,” Mark announced, his face turning red.
“What is it, son?” Mom asked.
“I just wanna say that it felt really good to give up somethin’ of mine that I really liked but could do without to make someone else happy.” Mark’s face turned redder. “I don’t really miss that pocketknife I found along the road or the marbles I gave up either. Those can be replaced one day, I guess.”
Mattie smiled, feeling pretty good herself. “That English family lost everything, but they still have each other, and that’s what’s most important.”
“You’re so right, Mattie,” Dad said. “God blessed those people in a special way. Objects can be replaced, but family can’t.”
All heads bobbed in agreement.
“I’m hungerich,” Perry suddenly spoke up.
“Before we eat, I have a little surprise for Mark,” Mattie said. “Now, close your eyes and hold out your hand.”
Mark did as Mattie asked.
Placing the object in Mark’s hand and closing his fingers around it, Mattie said, “You can open your eyes now.”
Mark’s eyes popped open, and he stared at his hand with a look of surprise. Did he realize what she’d put in there?
“Well, what is it?” Russell asked.
“Jah. Don’t keep us in suspense any longer!” Ike said with a chuckle.
Mattie held her breath as she watched Mark slowly open his fingers and stare at what she had placed in his hand.
“My glicker!” Mark squealed. He was obviously very pleased that his prized marble had been found. “Where did you find it, Mattie?”
“Well, this afternoon after I picked those flowers for Mom and went over to the produce stand to fix ’em up, I noticed something shiny lying by the mailbox. When I went to take a closer look, I couldn’t believe what I discovered. There it was—just like that—your favorite glicker—the one you’d lost in that pile of leaves.”
Mark grinned and gave Mattie a quick hug. “Danki, Mattie. Getting my favorite glicker back just made my day.”
Mattie couldn’t get over how good it felt to surprise her twin brother. It was almost like she were receiving the surprise instead of Mark.
“I don’t know about you, Alice,” Dad said, looking at Mom, “but I’m sure pleased with our kinner. God has rewarded us over and over again, and tonight is just another example of that.”
“Those are my exact thoughts as well, Willard,” Mom said, smiling widely. “I’m so happy to see the joy our children have experienced in learning what it’s like to be generous and not selfish.”
“Mattie,” Ike said, “I’ll bet you feel just as rewarded, surprising Mark with his marble, as he did receiving it.”
All Mattie could do was to nod her head because it was too hard to speak around the lump in her throat.
Mark reached over and squeezed Mattie’s hand. “I’m glad I have a twin sister like you.”
“What about me? I haven’t done nothin’,” Perry said with a pout.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that, son.” Dad patted Perry’s shoulder. “Look how brave you were when you had to have stitches. You sat there, being brave again, when the doctor removed them the following week. And don’t forget how you looked after Ada when your mamm was busy cooking food to share with the English family who’d lost everything.”
“That’s right,” Mom agreed. “We all played an important part in helping the people who went through such a tragic event. No matter what the role was, we did it as a family to help another family in need.”
That seemed to pacify their little brother, and the whole family laughed when Perry said, “Okay, now, would somebody please pass the smashed taters?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER is a bestselling author who enjoys writing historical, as well as Amish-themed novels. Descended from Anabaptists herself, Wanda became fascinated with the Plain People when she married her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. Wanda and her husband live in Washington State. They have two grown children and six grandchildren. Wanda and Richard often travel the country, visiting their many Amish friends and gathering further information about the Amish way of life. In her spare time, Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, reading, stamping, and having fun with her family. Visit Wanda’s Website at www.wandabrunstetter.com and feel free to e-mail her at wanda@wandabrunstet
ter.com.
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