Look Out, Lancaster County

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Grandpa’s in the barn and he hurt his back. He says he can’t get up, so he sent me to get help.”

  Mom jumped up from her chair. “Jacob, your daed and Henry are fixing some fences on the other side of the pasture. Run out there and get them right away!”

  Jacob grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door.

  “I’m going out to the barn to be with my daed,” Mom said to Rachel. “You can either wait here or come along.”

  “I’ll come with you.” Rachel followed Mom out the door, praying that Grandpa would be okay.

  Chapter 4

  Unexpected Company

  Rachel did what she could to help Grandpa Schrock feel better, like playing games with him and bringing him water and special treats like Mom’s ginger cookies while he rested in bed. The doctor said Grandpa pulled a muscle in his lower back and gave Grandpa some medicine for the pain. The doctor also told Grandpa to rest his back until the swelling went down. So every day after school, Rachel sat next to Grandpa’s bed and listened as he told her about the greenhouse he wanted to build in the spring. He hadn’t told Pap about the idea yet, and said he figured until his back got better, there was no point in mentioning it. Right now the best thing he could do was rest.

  Helping Mom take care of Grandpa made Rachel feel a little less lonely for Mary, and things were somewhat better at school now, too. Rachel took her paints to school the day after she’d taken her ladybug lunch pail. She painted a turtle on Aaron’s lunch pail and a butterfly on Phoebe’s lunch pail. When the others saw what a good job she could do, several asked her to paint their lunch pails, too.

  On Saturday, Rachel decided she would spend the morning visiting with Grandpa.

  Tap…tap…tap. She knocked on his bedroom door.

  No answer.

  “Grandpa, are you awake?”

  Still no answer.

  Rachel pressed her ear against the door. Zzzzzz…Soft snoring sounds came from Grandpa’s room. He was obviously taking a nap.

  Rachel headed to the kitchen, where Mom was busy making a shoofly pie. At least she hadn’t asked Rachel to help make it. The last time Rachel had made a shoofly pie she left out the sugar and put in too much salt. It tasted awful, and Jacob made sure Rachel knew about it.

  “Is it all right if I go over to Grandma and Grandpa Yoder’s house?” Rachel asked Mom. “I haven’t visited with them in a while.”

  Mom nodded as she rolled out the pie dough. “I’m sure they would like that. Why don’t you take some of the ginger cookies I made the other day? Those are Grandpa Yoder’s favorite kind of cookies, you know.”

  “I’d be happy to take some cookies along.” Rachel smiled. She knew Grandpa Yoder liked to dunk them in milk just like she did.

  A short time later, Rachel headed across the field toward her grandparents’ house, carrying a paper sack full of ginger cookies. She’d thought about bringing Cuddles along, but since Mary’s cat, Stripes, wasn’t there for Cuddles to play with, she decided it would be best to leave Cuddles at home.

  Rachel hadn’t been over to Grandma and Grandpa Yoder’s place since Mary and her family moved away. Aunt Karen, Uncle Amos, and their little boy, Gerald, lived next door to Grandma and Grandpa Yoder now. Rachel had avoided going over there. She didn’t want to be reminded that Mary lived in Indiana now, where Rachel would probably never get to go. It was hard not to be angry with Uncle Ben for taking Mary away. It was hard not to be upset with Mary for not writing Rachel any letters. Of course, Rachel hadn’t written to Mary yet either. She’d been waiting for Mary to write to her first.

  Maybe I’ll write Mary a letter when I get home today, Rachel decided as her grandparents’ house came into view. Then I can tell her about Grandpa Schrock’s sore back and my visit with Grandma and Grandpa Yoder. Since Mary and her family had lived next door to Grandma and Grandpa Yoder for several years, Mary would probably want to know how they were doing.

  Rachel stepped onto Grandma and Grandpa’s back porch and knocked on the door. Tap…tap…tap. When no one answered, she knocked again.

  Still no answer. Maybe they’d gone next door to Aunt Karen’s.

  Rachel frowned. She didn’t want to go over there, but she didn’t want to miss the chance of seeing Grandma and Grandpa, either.

  With a sense of dread, she stepped onto the porch of Mary’s old house and knocked on the door. Tap…tap … The door opened after the second knock.

  “Rachel, what a surprise! We weren’t expecting any visitors today,” Aunt Karen said with a friendly smile.

  “I came to see Grandma and Grandpa, but they didn’t answer my knock. Are they here?”

  Aunt Karen shook her head. “They’re not home. Grandpa took Grandma to town to do some shopping today. I don’t expect they’ll be home until late this afternoon.”

  Struggling with the urge to nibble on a fingernail, Rachel fidgeted with the ties on her kapp. “Oh, I see. Guess I’ll head back home then.”

  Rachel turned and started for the stairs, but Aunt Karen called out to her. “Won’t you come in and visit? I’m sure Gerald would love to see you.”

  Before Rachel could reply, Gerald stuck his head out the door. When he saw Rachel, his face broke into a wide smile. “Kumme [come],” he said, reaching his hand out to her.

  Rachel couldn’t say no to the cute little blond-haired boy with eyes as blue as a summer sky. She glanced at the sack of cookies in her hand and knew it wouldn’t be right if she didn’t share a few with her little cousin. “Jah, okay. I’ll come inside, but only for a little while.”

  Rachel looked at Aunt Karen and lifted the sack. “I brought some ginger cookies for Grandma and Grandpa Yoder. Maybe you and Gerald would like a few, too.”

  Aunt Karen smiled. “That’s very nice of you, Rachel.” She opened the door wider. “Let’s go to the kitchen and I’ll pour us some milk to go with the cookies.”

  “We’ll need to save some for Grandma and Grandpa, though,” Rachel added quickly as she followed Aunt Karen to the kitchen. “Ginger cookies are Grandpa’s favorite kind.”

  “Of course,” Aunt Karen said with a nod. “When they get home I’ll see that they get the cookies.”

  Gerald reached up and grabbed Rachel’s hand. “Kumme.” He pointed to the sack. “Kichlin [cookies].” Then he pointed to the refrigerator. “Millich [milk].”

  “All right, let’s have some cookies.” Rachel let Gerald lead her to the table. Once they were seated, she opened the sack and placed two cookies on a napkin in front of him. She gave Aunt Karen two cookies, and helped herself to two as well.

  Aunt Karen poured three glasses of milk and set them on the table. Then she took a seat in the chair next to Rachel.

  Rachel glanced around the room and noticed the way Aunt Karen had placed all her things. Even the battery-operated clock on the wall that made bird sounds every half hour made the kitchen look different. It was strange how much a house could change by having different people living in it. At least there aren’t strangers living in Mary’s old house, Rachel thought.

  “You’ll have to come back soon and bring your mamm along,” Aunt Karen said.

  Rachel nodded. “When she’s not busy or taking a nap.”

  “Your mamm’s expecting a boppli soon, isn’t she?”

  “Jah. It’s supposed to be born sometime in July,” Rachel said as she dunked a cookie in her glass of milk.

  “I imagine you’re looking forward to being a big sister.”

  Rachel only shrugged in reply.

  “Are you hoping the baby will be a boy or a girl?” Aunt Karen asked.

  “I guess it would be nice to have a little sister,” Rachel said.

  Aunt Karen smiled. “I’m hoping the next boppli we have will be a boy so Gerald will have a brother.”

  Rachel glanced over at Gerald. There was a dribble of milk running down his chin, and the floor underneath him was littered with cookie crumbs.

  I suppose that’s what I have to look forward to af
ter our boppli’s born and is old enough to eat by herself, Rachel thought. I just hope I’m not expected to clean up the mess.

  When they were finished eating, Gerald hopped off his chair, grabbed Rachel’s hand and said, “Gerald schpiele gern [like to play].”

  “I’ll be the gaul [horse] and you can be the reider [rider].” Rachel spoke to her cousin in Pennsylvania Dutch. Gerald only knew a few words in English and wouldn’t learn to speak it well until he attended school in the first grade.

  The toddler nodded enthusiastically, and Rachel squatted down so he could climb on her back. As she crawled around the kitchen on her hands and knees, Gerald hollered, “Fege [run about], gaul!”

  “Kanscht seller gaul reide [Are you able to ride that horse], Gerald?” Aunt Karen asked with a chuckle. “She looks pretty mudich [spirited] to me.”

  Gerald thumped Rachel’s side with his knee and kept hollering, “Fege, gaul!”

  Rachel was getting tired, and her knees started to hurt. She turned her head and was about to tell Gerald he had to get off when, whack!—his fist came up and punched her right in the eye!

  “Ach, my eye!” Rachel cried as she pushed Gerald off and clambered to her feet.

  Aunt Karen rushed forward. “Rachel, are you all right?”

  Rachel blinked against stinging tears. “My eye hurts!”

  “Let me take a look.” Aunt Karen’s forehead wrinkled. “It’s watering quite a bit, and the skin around your eye is starting to swell. You’d better take a seat at the table and let me put some ice on it.”

  Rachel sat down, and Aunt Karen scurried over to the refrigerator.

  Gerald plodded over to Rachel and reached out his hand. “Fege, gaul?”

  She pushed his hand aside. “Go away. It’s your fault my eye’s sore and swollen.”

  “I’m sure Gerald didn’t do it on purpose,” Aunt Karen said as she handed Rachel a small bag of ice. “Gerald, tell Cousin Rachel you’re sorry.”

  “Es dutt mir leed [I am sorry],” he said.

  Rachel held the ice against her eye as she clamped her lips together. She didn’t think Gerald was one bit sorry. He’d only said he was sorry because Aunt Karen had told him to.

  Gerald grunted then he let lose with a loud, “Wa-a-a!”

  Rachel ignored him.

  Aunt Karen peeked under the ice bag. “It looks like your eye is going to be okay, Rachel, and Gerald really wants you to forgive him.”

  Rachel knew what she had to do. Even though in her heart she hadn’t forgiven Gerald, she nodded and said, “I forgive you.”

  By the time Rachel returned home, her eye felt pretty much back to normal. As she rounded the corner of the house, she was surprised to see a horse and buggy tied to their hitching rail. Had Mom gotten some unexpected company?

  Rachel hurried into the house. When she stepped into the kitchen, she halted, horrified at what she saw. Audra’s mother, Naomi, sat at the table drinking a cup of tea, and Audra sat on the floor holding Cuddles!

  Mom turned to Rachel and smiled. “Audra and her mamm stopped by for a visit.”

  Rachel was frozen in shock. She just stood there staring at Cuddles, who purred loudly as Audra stroked her ear. Traitor! she thought. How could you cozy up to someone who doesn’t even like me?

  “Audra’s brother, Brian, is upstairs with Jacob. Rachel, why don’t you take Audra up to your room so you can play and get better acquainted?” Mom suggested.

  Playing with Audra was the last thing Rachel wanted to do, but she knew better than to argue with Mom—especially in front of guests.

  Rachel looked at Audra and fought the urge to bite a fingernail. “Duh die katz naus [put the cat out]. Mom doesn’t allow the cat to be in my room.”

  “How come?” Audra asked.

  “She just doesn’t, that’s all.” Rachel bent down and snatched Cuddles from Audra. Then she opened the back door and set the cat on the porch.

  Audra picked up her backpack off the floor and followed Rachel upstairs.

  When they entered Rachel’s room, Rachel took a seat on the end of her bed. Audra set her backpack next to Rachel. “I brought some things for us to play with,” she said.

  Rachel tipped her head. “You knew you were coming over here today?”

  Audra nodded. “Oh jah. Your mamm talked to my mamm when she saw her at the store last week. She invited us to come over and visit sometime soon. Mama thought today was as good a time as any, but then we got here and found out you weren’t at home.”

  “I went to see my Grandma and Grandpa Yoder, but they weren’t at home,” Rachel said. “So I visited with my Aunt Karen and her little boy.” Rachel chose not to mention that Gerald poked her in the eye. Audra might think it was funny or make fun of Rachel because she’d been down on her knees giving Gerald a horsey ride.

  Audra opened the backpack and removed a yo-yo, a set of jacks, some crayons, and a coloring book. “What should we do first?”

  Rachel stared at the things Audra had laid out on her bed. She wasn’t in the mood to play with any of them. “How about a game of Scrabble?” she suggested. Rachel was good at spelling and making big words. She figured she could win the game easily.

  “Jah, okay,” Audra said with a shrug.

  Rachel went to her closet and got out the Scrabble board. She placed it on the bed, and then she and Audra took seats on either side of the board. Audra went first, spelling the word flower. Using the letter F, going up and down, Rachel spelled the word farmer.

  They continued to play until Rachel spelled the word zephyr, using squares that awarded double points.

  Audra squinted at the board. “There’s no such word as zephyr. You cheated, Rachel.”

  “Did not.”

  “Did so.”

  “Did not, and I’ll prove it to you.” Rachel hopped off the bed and scurried over to her desk. She kept a dictionary in the bottom drawer and knew it would prove there was such a word as zephyr. She brought it back to the bed and opened it to the section for the letter Z. “See, it’s right here,” she said, pointing to the word. “Zephyr: The west wind. A soft, gentle breeze.”

  Audra pursed her lips.

  Ha! Rachel knew her unexpected guest couldn’t argue with the dictionary.

  “I don’t want to play this game anymore,” Audra said. “Let’s do something else.”

  “Like what?”

  Audra pointed to the dresser across the room where the faceless doll Mary had given Rachel sat. “I’d like to play with her.”

  “My best friend gave me that faceless doll before she moved away,” Rachel said. “I won’t let anyone play with it but me.”

  Audra thrust out her bottom lip. “Why not?”

  “Because the doll is special, and I don’t want it to get ruined.”

  “Please, Rachel. I just want to hold her,” Audra pleaded.

  Rachel shook her head.

  “I think you’re being selfish.”

  Rachel was about to respond, when Mom called from the foot of the stairs, “I’ve set some cookies and milk on the kitchen table. Anyone who would like some, come on down!”

  “Do you want some milk and cookies?” Rachel asked Audra.

  Audra nodded. “That’s sounds good.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  “You go ahead,” Audra said. “I’ll be down as soon as I put my toys in my backpack.”

  “See you downstairs then.” Rachel skipped out of the room and knocked on Jacob’s bedroom door.

  “Who is it?” he called.

  “It’s me, Rachel. Did you hear Mom say there are cookies and milk downstairs?”

  “Jah, I did. Brian and I will be down in a minute.”

  “Okay.” Rachel tromped down the stairs. She wished she didn’t have to sit in the kitchen and eat cookies with Audra. She wished Audra’s mother would say it was time for her, Audra, and Brian to go home.

  Rachel flopped into a chair.

  “Where are Audra and the boys?” Mom asked. />
  “They’ll be down soon,” Rachel replied.

  A few moments later Audra took a seat at the table, hooking the straps of her backpack around the back of her chair.

  Mom passed Audra the plate of cookies, and then she handed it to Rachel.

  S-c-r-e-e-c-h. The back door creaked open.

  “Levi, is that you?” Mom called over her shoulder.

  “No, it’s Jacob. Brian and I are going outside for a minute,” Jacob said, poking his head inside the kitchen door.

  “Don’t you want some cookies and milk?”

  “We’ll have some when we come back in. I want Brian to meet Buddy.” Jacob disappeared and the back door slammed shut.

  Mom and Naomi visited while they sipped tea and ate cookies. Audra dunked a cookie in her glass of milk and looked at the door. “Can we go home now?” she asked her mother.

  Naomi shook her head. “Not until Brian comes inside and has some cookies.”

  Audra fidgeted in her chair. She seems kind of nervous, Rachel thought. Maybe she wants to go home just as much as I want her to leave.

  Rachel kept looking at the clock. Five minutes passed. Then ten more minutes went by. Finally, the boys entered the kitchen and took seats at the table. They each ate five cookies and drank two glasses of milk.

  “I think it’s time for us to go,” Naomi said.

  Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. Finally.

  Audra’s mother gave Mom a hug and said Mom should come visit her soon. It was obvious that she and Mom were already becoming friends.

  It’s fine with me if Mom wants to have Naomi as a friend, Rachel thought as she watched the Burkholders drive away in their buggy. I just hope she doesn’t expect me to be Audra’s friend. I could never befriends with someone who accuses me of cheating at Scrabble.

  Rachel set her empty glass in the sink and walked up the steps to her room. She decided she would get her book on flowers and take it to Grandpa’s room so they could talk about the things he wanted to grow in his greenhouse.

  When Rachel entered her room, she opened the bottom drawer of her dresser and removed the book. As she shut the drawer, she glanced at the top of the dresser and blinked. Something was wrong. Something was missing.