A Life of Joy

by Amy Clipston

  Crossing the room, she snatched a pen, the letter, and her stationery from the desk and then sat with her legs crossed on the bed. Using the study guide as a lap desk, she began to write.

  Dear Katie,

  It was wunderbaar to hear from you. I apologize that it has taken me so long to write back. I’ve been so busy helping Trisha and taking care of the house that the days fly by too quickly.

  How are you and your family? How’s Aenti Rebecca? I spoke to her a few days ago, and she sounded gut. I was hoping that she was feeling better and more energetic and not putting on a show for me in order to quell my worries.

  I’m surprised and excited that Samuel finally asked Lizzie Anne to ride home with him. I had a feeling that he liked her, but I didn’t know how long it would take him to act on those feelings. I bet they both are very froh and excited to be together.

  Please don’t feel like the fifth wheel with Samuel and Lizzie Anne. They shouldn’t be alone until they are officially courting when Lizzie Anne is a member of the church. By then, I’ll be back home, and we’ll have each other at the youth gatherings. Besides, you’re a schee and sweet maedel, and I’m certain you’ll find a special bu soon too.

  Lindsay studied the words Katie had written about Matthew and bit her bottom lip while debating how to respond. While she was excited to see that Matthew missed her, the idea of becoming more than friends with him scared her. She thought back to the day that they had strolled around the pasture, and he’d made her the special necklace.

  She stood and pulled out her small jewelry box where she kept her special trinkets. Opening the top, she spotted necklaces and rings that her parents had given her and also a gold cross that had belonged to her mother. Lifting the top tray, she peeked into the bottom of the box, where she kept larger items, such as coins and broaches from her grandmother. She sifted through the items until she came to the little Ziploc bag that contained the dandelion necklace.

  She carried the bag back to the bed, placed it on the pillow next to her, and then she continued writing.

  I’m very touched to hear that Matthew misses me. Of course, I miss him too. Please tell him that I’ll be home soon, and I look forward to seeing him again. And Katie, I’m not jealous that Matthew gave you a ride home. You both are my dear freinden, and I trust you to spend time with him. Besides, he and I aren’t courting, and I understand that he is enjoying your company while I’m gone. I’m glad that you two can talk.

  Please give Emma and Junior hugs and kisses from me. I miss them so much! I’m so froh that you are helping Aenti Rebecca while I’m gone. Danki for taking gut care of her and the kinner.

  I must tell you what happened today at the nursing home!

  Lindsay launched into a description of her day, writing nearly three pages before a tap sounded on her door frame. She glanced up, finding Frank watching her.

  “Hi,” she said, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

  “Hi,” he said, folding his arms over his chest. “Trisha would like to speak with you.”

  Crumb Cake

  ½ cup sugar

  ¾ tsp cinnamon

  ½ cup chopped nuts

  ¾ cup flour

  3 Tbsp melted butter

  Combine dry ingredients. Work in melted butter until crumbs form. Add nuts. Sprinkle over top of coffee cake dough.

  19

  Lindsay stepped into the den and found Trisha eyeing her with a frown. “Yes?” she asked. “Am I in trouble?”

  Trisha laughed. “No, silly. You’re not in trouble, but you do work too hard.”

  “Excuse me?” Lindsay dropped onto the sofa. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “You work here all day during the week, study all night, and volunteer at the nursing home all day Saturday,” Trisha said. “You never have any fun.”

  Frank stood behind the recliner and touched Trisha’s shoulders. “She’s right.”

  “I do have fun.” She looked between them. “I like writing letters to my family back in Pennsylvania, and I love walking on the beach and swimming when I’m not studying. That’s fun to me. Plus, I only have a few more weeks before the GED test. I can’t stop studying.”

  “You can take a break from studying for one night,” Trisha said. “When was the last time you talked to your friends Vicki and Heather?”

  Lindsay shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s been a few weeks.”

  “Call them,” Trisha said. “See if they can go out to a movie with you or maybe go grab some ice cream.”

  Lindsay studied Trisha’s smile. “You’re serious.”

  “Serious as a heart attack.” Trisha nodded with emphasis. “You need to enjoy your youth.”

  “You’re only young once,” Frank chimed in.

  Lindsay blew out a sigh. “Fine. I’ll go call Vicki.” She retreated to her room and found Vicki’s number on a piece of paper lying on her dresser. As she dialed, she sat on the chair next to her desk.

  “Hello?” Vicki’s voice sounded into the phone.

  “Vicki?” Lindsay asked. “This is Lindsay Bedford.”

  “Oh, hey, Lindsay!” Vicki called. “How are you?”

  “I’m doing fine.” Lindsay studied the toes of her black sneakers while she spoke. “How about you?”

  “Great,” Vicki said as giggles and hoots sounded behind her. “We’re camping at the Outer Banks this weekend. There’s a group of us. I thought about calling you, but I knew you were tied up with your aunt. I’m sorry I didn’t invite you, but I assumed you couldn’t come.”

  “Oh,” Lindsay said. “I understand. I hope you have fun.”

  “What did you need?” Vicki asked.

  “I was just going to see if you wanted to catch a movie or something,” Lindsay said, feeling stupid for calling.

  “We’ll be back Sunday night,” Vicki said. “How about we get together next week?”

  “Sure,” Lindsay said with a shrug. “That would be fun.”

  “Cool,” Vicki said. “I’ll call you. Heather was just asking me if I’d heard from you. She’ll be excited to hear that you called. We’ll all catch a movie next week.”

  “Sounds good,” Lindsay said.

  “Take care,” Vicki said.

  “You too,” Lindsay said. “Bye.” She hung up and stared at the waves out the window. What made her think Vicki and Heather would be home on a Saturday night? Of course they were camping at the Outer Banks. They were all getting ready to leave for college, so it made sense that they were out having a great time before hitting the road for their new lives. But what would be Lindsay’s new life?

  “Do you need a lift somewhere?” Frank asked.

  Lindsay found him standing in the doorway looking hopeful. How sad that Frank was counting on Lindsay’s social life to perk up the evening.

  “No,” she said. “Vicki and her friends are camping at the Outer Banks this weekend.”

  “Oh.” Frank looked disappointed. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Lindsay forced a smile. “I have studying to do anyway.” She placed the phone on the desk. “Vicki said she’d call me next week, and we’d hit a movie or something.”

  He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Sounds good.”

  Lindsay finished up her letter to Katie, and after addressing the envelope, she grabbed her study guide from the bed, sat on the desk chair, and tried to concentrate on the material on the page. However, she couldn’t help but think about how her sister was dancing the night away in a club while Vicki and her friends were laughing and roasting marshmallows on a beach in the Outer Banks. Back home, her friends were probably at a youth gathering and also having a good time. Although she wasn’t jealous or resentful, Lindsay couldn’t help but think that she was missing out on something.

  Lindsay pursed her lips and considered that thought. No, maybe the issue wasn’t that she was missing out on something. Perhaps it was something more basic than that.

  She was lonely.

  She glan
ced down at the dandelion necklace. She wondered what Matthew was doing this evening. Was he at a youth gathering? Was he missing her too?

  The phone rang and she grabbed it from the desk.

  “Hello?” she asked.

  “Hi,” a male voice said. “Is Lindsay there, please?”

  Lindsay’s heart pounded in her chest. Was it Matthew? But it didn’t sound like Matthew’s voice.

  “This is Lindsay,” she said.

  “Hey,” he said. “This is Taylor Lane. How are you?”

  “Taylor,” she said, surprised to hear his voice. “I’m fine. How are you?”

  “I’m doing well.” Taylor hesitated. “I was wondering if you were busy tonight.”

  “Oh.” She paused, surprised by the question. “No, not really.”

  “Would you like to go to a movie or something?” he asked. “I thought you might want to get together before you head back to Pennsylvania.”

  “Sure,” she said. “What time?”

  “I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes,” he said. “Sound good?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “See you then,” he said. “Bye.”

  “Bye.” Lindsay hung up the phone, and her heart raced. She was going out with Taylor Lane. Was it a date? But she hardly knew him!

  She rushed to the mirror and brushed out her long hair and pulled it back in a ponytail. She then changed into a fresh blouse and jumper before heading to the den where Trisha and Frank were watching a movie.

  “What’s up?” Frank asked.

  “Taylor Lane is picking me up for a movie,” Lindsay said. She returned the phone to the base in the kitchen and then returned to the den, where Trisha stared at her, wide-eyed.

  “You have a date with Taylor Lane?” Trisha asked. “How about that!”

  “I don’t think it’s a date,” Lindsay cautioned. “I think it’s just a friendly outing.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” Frank said. “It’s good for you to get out and away from that GED book for one night.”

  Lindsay fiddled with her skirt while standing by the window. When a small pickup truck pulled into the driveway, she grabbed her purse from the coffee table and started toward the door. “Oh, Taylor’s here. See you later,” she said.

  “Have fun,” Trisha and Frank called in unison.

  Lindsay rushed down the stairs and out to the driveway where Taylor stood by his truck.

  “Hi,” she said, pushing her long ponytail off her shoulder.

  “Hi.” He gestured toward the truck. “Let me get the door for you.”

  She followed him around the truck, and he opened the passenger door. “Thank you,” she said as she climbed in.

  He went around to the driver’s side and jumped in. “Are you hungry?” he asked, buckling his seat belt.

  She shook her head. “Not really, but thank you.”

  “Are you in the mood for a movie?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “Sure. I haven’t been to a movie in a long time.”

  “Great,” he said. “We can head to the theater and see what’s playing in the next hour or so.”

  While he drove, he talked about work and the weather. She nodded and smiled, but her thoughts moved to Lancaster County, wondering what her friends were doing and what they would say if they knew she was riding in a truck with a boy and heading to the movies. Although she was happy to be out with Taylor, she missed her friends back home.

  Taylor steered into the parking lot of the theater located in Strawbridge Marketplace. After parking, they walked together to the ticket booth and studied the time listings.

  “So, what are you in the mood for?” he asked. “Action, animation, chick flick, or a comedy?”

  Lindsay tilted her head and twisted her lips while she considered the question. “How about a good comedy?”

  “I don’t know if it’s good, but it’s supposed to be a comedy.” He fished his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans.

  “Oh no,” Lindsay said, pulling her wallet from her purse. “I have money.”

  “Don’t be silly,” he said. “I can buy a ticket for my friend.”

  “I’ll pay for the popcorn,” Lindsay said.

  He smiled. “I’ll go along with that. Far be it from me to argue with a pretty girl.”

  Lindsay felt her cheeks flush as Taylor paid for the tickets. He held the door for her and they stepped into the lobby. After purchasing a bucket of popcorn and two sodas, they headed into the theater and sat in the center of a row.

  “How was your day?” he asked as he scooped a handful of popcorn from the overflowing bucket.

  “It was great, actually,” Lindsay said. “Something really exciting happened to me.”

  “Really?” He looked interested. “Tell me all about it.”

  She shared her story about Mrs. Fisher and how she was able to help her. He listened with interest showing on his face.

  “That’s really special,” he said when she was finished with her story.

  “Thank you,” she said before sipping her soda.

  “I’m glad that you’re enjoying our community project,” he said. “It can be rewarding when you help someone else.”

  “That’s very true,” Lindsay said. “My sister has really cut me down with her lectures about getting an education, but I feel like I made a difference in someone’s life and it didn’t take a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree to do it.”

  He looked confused. “Jessica makes you feel bad because you’re not going to college?”

  She frowned. “That’s an understatement.”

  “Why would she do that?” Taylor grabbed another handful of popcorn. “There’s no rule that says everyone has to go to college.”

  Lindsay chewed a mouthful of hot, greasy popcorn before she responded. “Tell her that. She thinks I’m wasting my life living among the Amish and not pursuing a degree. I don’t want to go to college, but I’m studying to get my GED. I’ll take the test in a few weeks.”

  “That’s fantastic.” He touched her shoulder. “Good for you!”

  “Thanks.” She shook her head. “I just hope I don’t flunk it. If I do, I’ll never hear the end of it from Jessica.”

  He gave her a look of disbelief. “You won’t flunk it. I think you’re smarter than you give yourself credit for.”

  “Thanks, but the test is really hard,” she insisted. “I’ve taken a few practice tests, and I’ve barely passed.”

  “But you passed, right?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Well, there you go,” he said, lifting his drink from the cup holder. “You can do it. Just have faith.”

  She chewed more popcorn and couldn’t help savoring the taste. Boy had she missed movie popcorn! There was nothing like it. She wondered if Rebecca would let her buy some of the popcorn that she could make on the stove.

  Lindsay turned her focus back to her friend. “Are you excited about college?”

  He shrugged. “I guess so. I’ve never been a fan of school, but I know I don’t want to work in retail for the rest of my life. I just don’t know what I want to do.”

  “You’ll figure it out,” she said. “Are most of your friends going away to school?”

  Sipping his drink, he shook his head. “I’d say a handful of them are going away, but there are a few who aren’t going to school at all. So, your sister’s rule that everyone must go to college in order to make a life isn’t true. You can make a life without college, but it may not be as financially stable. It all depends on what path you choose.”

  Lindsay nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I know that she wants what’s best for me, but I’m tired of her trying to make decisions for me. I think she feels like she has to take over for our mom, but she really doesn’t.”

  “What do you like best about living with the Amish?” he asked.

  “Family,” she said without thinking twice. “I love being a part of my aunt’s family and having the extended loving family in our c
hurch district.”

  She told him about the Kauffman cousins and also about Lizzie Anne and Matthew. She was about to share about the bakery when the lights dimmed and the previews began. Leaning back in the seat, Lindsay held the bucket of popcorn in her lap and lost herself in the movie.

  “Did you like the movie?” Taylor asked from the driver’s seat as the truck rumbled through the parking lot toward General Booth Boulevard.

  “Yeah,” Lindsay said with a nod. “It was really good. Very funny. It was nice to see a movie again.”

  “I guess movies aren’t allowed in the Amish community, huh?” he asked.

  “No,” she said. “No movies. No television.” Lindsay held onto her large soda, wondering why she thought she could finish a drink that big. She should’ve gotten the smaller size. “The Amish believe that movies and television can be a negative influence that takes the focus off important things, like God and family.”

  “Does that mean you’d be in trouble if your aunt found out you went to the movies?”

  She shook her head. “No, she wouldn’t be upset. I haven’t joined the church yet, so I can pretty much do whatever I want, within certain limits.”

  He glanced over at her. “Once you join the church, then you’re held to all of the rules?”

  “That’s right,” she said.

  “Are you planning to join the church?”

  She sipped the drink. “I’m not ready yet, but I think I will someday.”

  “I’m glad that you like it there,” he said. “I sometimes wondered how you were doing and if you were happy in Pennsylvania.”

  She studied his expression. “Really? You wondered about me?”

  He nodded. “I did.”

  They drove in silence. Taylor negotiated the twists and turns of Sandbridge Road while they made their journey out to the beach house.

  “Do you think you’d be up for another movie?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she said. “This was fun.”

  “Great.” He steered onto Sandfiddler Road and into the driveway of the beach house. “Thanks for coming with me. Movies are no fun alone.”