“Vanilla, but your mamm has plenty of chocolate syrup for you to pour over the top.”
“Are there strawberries, too?” Mattie questioned.
“Jah, I have plenty of strawberries.” Mom patted Mattie’s hand. “I also made you and Mark a birthday cake.”
Mark smacked his lips. “Yum. Can we have our dessert as soon as we’re done eating supper?”
“When I was your age I could eat a big meal and then gobble down my dessert right away,” Grandpa Miller said. “But now that I’m older if I eat too much it goes right to my waist.” He chuckled and thumped his stomach, while wiggling his bushy gray eyebrows. “So it’s best if I wait and let my supper settle awhile before I eat anything more.”
Stella looked over at Mattie and giggled. Mattie was glad her friend could be here to help celebrate her birthday. She hoped she’d be invited to Stella’s for supper when her birthday came, because Stella was the best friend she’d ever had.
Mattie glanced over at Mark and frowned. He was licking the melted butter from his corn on the cob that had dripped onto his fingers. Doesn’t he have any manners at all? she thought as she wiped her mouth and hands on a napkin.
“When can Mattie open the gift I brought her?” Stella asked, looking at Mom with a hopeful expression.
Mom smiled at Stella. “As soon as we’re finished with supper we’ll do up the dishes, eat our dessert, and then Mark and Mattie can open their presents.”
“I can hardly wait for you to open my present,” Stella whispered to Mattie. “I hope you’ll like what I got you.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will.”
As they continued to eat their meal, the grownups talked about their gardens, farming, Dad’s work in his woodshop, and also some things that had been going on in their community. Mattie had just finished her meat loaf, and was about to ask for another biscuit, when a knock sounded on the front door.
“Now I wonder who that could be? Our front door is seldom used by anyone except for strangers or some of our English neighbors,” Dad said as he pushed back his chair and stood. “Guess I’d better go see who’s come a- calling.”
When Dad left the room, everyone resumed talking.
“Would you please pass me the basket of biscuits?” Mattie asked her brother Calvin. She could eat Mom’s delicious homemade biscuits every day of the week.
Mark asked for another biscuit as well. As Mattie handed him the basket and then reached for the butter, Dad reentered the kitchen with a big grin on his face. A few seconds later, Grandma and Grandpa Troyer stepped into the room behind him.
Such commotion there was with Grandpa and Grandma’s surprise arrival from Burton. Mark and Mattie squealed with delight; Mom shed a few tears, and there were lots of hugs and kisses going around.
Once the excitement calmed down, Dad added two more chairs to the table and Mom got out two more place settings. Grandma Troyer had even brought some of her delicious corn fritters, and also a pecan pie.
“We can’t have a celebration without my fritters,” Grandma said with a radiant smile. Corn fritters were Grandma’s specialty, and the whole family was never disappointed whenever they went to Burton, because Grandma always made a big batch of tasty fritters.
Sitting around the table, everyone, especially the twins, wanted to hear all about how Grandpa Troyer was feeling.
“My arthritis has been doing better the last few days.” Grandpa grinned as he stroked his bushy gray beard. “So this afternoon I looked at your grandma, and said, ‘Let’s hire a driver to take us to Walnut Creek, ‘cause I don’t think we should miss Mark and Mattie’s birthday party.’” He looked across the table and winked at Mattie, and then Mark. “After all, it isn’t every day that two of our grandchildren turn nine.”
Mattie smiled, and so did Mark. “It’s great to have you here,” they said at the same time. Having Grandpa and Grandma Troyer here was a wonderful surprise!
Once supper was finished, Mom and both grandmas washed and dried the dishes, and the men headed outside to the porch to visit. Mattie and Stella went upstairs to play, while Mark took John out to the barn to see the kittens.
“Would you like to hold one of them?” Mark asked after he’d led John over to the box where Lucky’s kittens were sleeping soundly.
John eagerly bobbed his blond head. “I kinda like the black one with four white paws.”
“I call that one Boots,” Mark said, gently picking up the kitten and placing it in John’s lap. “That’s the one I plan to keep.”
John looked a bit disappointed at first, but then while stroking Boots’s head, he smiled and said, “I figured Mattie and Stella would come out here, too.”
“Nah. Mattie doesn’t like cats, and I’m not sure about Stella.” Mark took a seat on the bale of straw beside John.
“I can’t imagine anyone not liking cats. Just listen to this little one purr,” John said, looking down at Boots.
“Well, Mattie doesn’t. But that’s okay, ‘cause I don’t like her hund Twinkles either.”
“How come?”
“That mutt’s a real pescht. She’s always underfoot and likes to nip at my leg.”
“She’s never nipped at me. Maybe she wants some attention and can somehow tell that you don’t like her.”
Mark nodded. “You’re right about that, because I don’t give her any attention.”
“Maybe you should. You might learn to like the dog if you spent more time with her.”
Just then Lucky leaped into Mark’s lap. “You want a loyal pet, get a cat.”
“I’d sure like one,” John said. “Think I could have one of Lucky’s busslin?”
“Don’t see why not. She’s got five of ‘em, and Mom says we can only keep one, so that means we’ll have to find homes for the other four.” Mark motioned to the box, where the rest of the kittens lay curled up sleeping.
John smiled. “I’ll ask my folks and see what they say. If they say jah, which one can I have?”
“Any but Boots.” Mark pointed to a white kitten with black on the tip of its ears. “How about that one?”
John gave a nod. “That’s fine with me. Think I’ll call him ‘Tippy.’ ”
The boys sat for a while, petting the cats. Then John said, “That sure was a surprise at supper when your other grandparents walked into the kitchen behind your dad.”
“It sure was.” Mark was glad God had answered his prayers about Grandpa Troyer. It was so good to have both sets of grandparents here to help them celebrate their special day. Mark knew he and Mattie weren’t the only ones happy to see Grandpa and Grandma Troyer this evening. He’d seen the look of joy on Mom’s face when she saw her parents enter the room. Her eyes had been filled with happy tears, and for a while she couldn’t say a word. She’d jumped up and ran to her folks; then all three of them had hugged for a long time.
The boys continued to visit until Ike came out to the barn and told them that it was time to go into the house for cake and ice cream.
Mark put Lucky and Boots back in the box, and then he and John hurried toward the house. He was eager to eat some of that cold homemade ice cream and tasty cake.
When the boys entered the house, Mattie, Stella, and all the family were already gathered around the kitchen table. Mark and John took their seats, and then after Mom set the chocolate cake with vanilla icing on the table, everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to the twins. Next, Mom cut the cake and gave everyone a piece while Dad dished up the ice cream.
“Umm … this looks appenditlich,” Mattie said as she spooned some strawberries on top of her ice cream.
“You’re right, it is delicious,” Mark said after he’d poured chocolate syrup over his, and taken a bite.
“This is really good, too.” Grandma Troyer smiled as she ate a piece of cake.
“Danki.” Mom reached over to pat her mother’s hand. “Oh, we forgot to put your pecan pie on the table.”
“Well, since we’ll be spending the night, how about if
we save the pie for tomorrow’s dessert?” Grandma suggested. “Everyone seems to be enjoying the cake and ice cream, and that’s probably more than enough.”
“I think you’re right about that,” Mom agreed.
After Mark had gotten all the ice cream he could get with his spoon, he picked up the bowl and licked the rest of the ice cream out.
Mom frowned. “Don’t be so rude, Mark. Where are your manners this evening?”
Mark’s face heated. “Sorry, Mom. It just tasted so good I wanted to get every drop.”
“Why don’t we all go into the living room now, so Mark and Mattie can open their gifts?” Dad suggested after everyone had finished their cake and ice cream.
The twins didn’t have to be asked twice. They hopped up from their chairs and scurried out of the kitchen.
When they’d all gathered in the living room, Mark and Mattie took seats on the sofa, while the others found places to sit, and Mom passed out the gifts.
The first present Mom handed Mattie was from Stella. Mattie tore the wrapping off the box, and seemed pleased to find a new baby doll inside.
“It’s to replace the one Ada ruined,” Stella whispered.
Mattie smiled and gave Stella a hug. “Danki. It’s wunderbaar.“
“I think it’s wonderful, too,” Mom said. “Since I wasn’t able to get all the ink stains off your old doll’s face, it’s good that you have a new doll to replace it. Maybe we should give the ruined one to Ada to play with.”
Mattie nodded and hugged the new doll to her chest.
After that, Mark opened the present John had brought him. It was a baseball mitt. Not so great for someone who didn’t like to play ball, but he smiled and said, “Danki, John.”
Next, Grandma and Grandpa Miller gave Mattie a drawing tablet and a box of colored pencils, and she seemed pleased. Mark got a new fishing pole, which he really liked.
“Danki,” the twins told their grandparents.
Then, Grandma and Grandpa Troyer handed Mark and Mattie the gifts they had brought along for them.
“What’s this?” Mark asked as he looked at the brightly painted clay pot that was inside the box he opened.
Grandpa Troyer laughed and winked at Mom as he explained that he’d heard about the frog Mark had put in the sugar bowl. “This is one of your grandma’s old flower pots,” he said. “As you can see there’s a chunk of it missing around the top of the rim.”
Mark gave a nod, although he didn’t understand why they would give him such a strange gift, or what it had to do with the frog he’d put in the sugar bowl.
“One time when I was browsing around the garden center at our local hardware store,” Grandpa went on to say, “I saw this cute little frog house they had for sale. You put it in a flower bed or around the bushes by the house, and apparently it attracts frogs. It’s supposed to be a place for them to hide during the heat of the day.” Grandpa continued by saying that when he caught Grandma getting ready to throw the old broken pot away, he’d looked it over real good, turned it upside down, and realized it could be used as a frog house. “The missing chunk on the rim of the flower pot makes a perfect doorway for a frog, or even a toad to enter.” Grandpa grinned widely. “So with some paint to touch it up, Grandma and I decided that it would make the perfect gift for you, Mark—especially after hearing about your little frog incident.”
Everyone agreed it was a unique and appropriate gift. Mark said he really liked it, and thanked them both.
Then Grandma Troyer handed Mattie her gift. It was a beautiful pot of bright yellow mums. “There’s no better way to feel close to God than to find a lovely spot in the yard that you can call your own and plant some flowers He’s created for our enjoyment,” she said, giving Mattie a hug.
“Danki, Grandma.” Knowing how much Mom enjoyed tending the flowers in her garden, Mark figured Mattie would have fun finding her own little spot to dig in the dirt, too.
“Remember now, Mattie,” Grandpa Troyer said, “don’t tell anyone else about your mums.”
“How come?” Mattie questioned. The rest of the family seemed to be waiting for his answer as well.
With a twinkle in his eyes, Grandpa Troyer announced, “Well, because ‘mum’s the word!’ ”
Mattie giggled. “Oh Grandpa, now I know where Mark gets his teasing from.”
They all had a good laugh about that.
“Okay, now, Mark and Mattie, it’s our turn.” Dad motioned to the door. “Your mother’s and my gift is waiting for you outside, so let’s all go out there and see how you like it.”
Everyone hurried out the door, and when they stepped onto the porch Dad pointed to a strange-looking bicycle in the yard. It was bigger than any bike Mark had ever seen, and it had two seats, two handlebars, and two sets of pedals.
Mark looked at Mattie, and she looked at him; then they both looked at Mom and Dad. “What’s that?” they asked at the same time.
“It’s a bicycle built for two.” Mom smiled widely. “It’s a secondhand bike that we saw advertised in the local newspaper for a reasonable price. Since we couldn’t afford to get two new bikes, we decided to get one bike that you could ride together.”
Mark couldn’t think of a thing to say. Mattie didn’t say anything either. They just stood there staring at the unexpected gift with their mouths hanging open.
“Hop on and try it out,” Grandpa Miller said. “It should be a lot of fun.”
Mark sat on the front seat. Mattie took the back. Mark pedaled. Mattie just sat there.
“You both have to pedal,” Grandpa Troyer said.
Mark pedaled. Mattie pedaled. The bike swerved to the left, then to the right. They pedaled and weaved back and forth some more, until the bike toppled over. The twins fell on the ground with a thud.
“Are either of you hurt?” Mom asked with a worried expression.
“I’m fine, but that sure wasn’t fun,” Mattie mumbled, picking herself up.
“I’m okay, too.” Mark kicked at a stone beneath his feet. “Think I’d rather ride the bike by myself.”
“It just takes practice,” Mom said. “Put your heads together and figure it out.”
“That’s right,” Dad agreed. “You need to think alike and work together to make the bike go. Just remember, two heads are better than one.”
CHAPTER 12
Mattie’s Decision
For the next week, Mark and Mattie practiced riding their new bicycle, but they couldn’t seem to work together so the bike wouldn’t wobble all over the place, and it either went too fast or too slow. When Mark rode up front, Mattie didn’t pedal hard enough and he had to do all the work. When Mattie rode up front, she didn’t steer right and the bike vibrated and went crooked. The other day when they’d ridden their bike to school, Mattie had been up front, and she’d pedaled so fast that Mark’s hat flew off his head. Even some of the flowers Mattie had attached to the basket at the front of the bike had blown off. Mattie was a reckless, crazy driver; that was for sure!
“I don’t like the bicycle built for two,” Mark told Mattie one Saturday morning, after breakfast. “Mom said we should keep practicing, but I’m not going to ride it today.”
“That’s fine with me,” Mattie said with a nod. “Anyway, I’d rather do something fun, and riding that silly bike sure isn’t fun.”
“Think I’ll go out to the barn and play with Lucky’s busslin. Want to come?” Mark asked.
She shook her head. “No thanks. I have better things to do than get my hands all scratched up by those frisky little kittens.”
“Aw, it doesn’t hurt that much,” Mark said. “You just need to know how to handle them.”
“I don’t want to handle them, ‘cause I don’t like katze. Think I’ll go find Twinkles.” Mattie hurried away.
Mark shrugged and headed for the barn. If Mattie preferred to play with her irritating dog instead of petting the cuddly kittens, that was fine with him.
When Mark stepped inside the barn, he
nearly bumped into Calvin.
“Russell and I are goin’ fishing again.” Calvin motioned to the fishing pole he held. “Wanna come?”
Mark shook his head. “Not today. Think I’m gonna play with the busslin awhile, and then I may read a buch.”
Calvin shrugged his shoulders. “If you’d rather read a book than go fishing that’s up to you, but I thought you’d wanna try out that new fishing pole Grandpa gave you. I’m sure Grandpa’s eager to hear how you like it.”
“Some other time,” Mark said. “I don’t really feel like fishin’ today.”
“Suit yourself, brainiac.”
Mark frowned. “It’s bad enough that some of the kids at school call me that; I don’t need you saying it, too.”
Calvin ruffled Mark’s hair. “Don’t get yourself all worked up; I was only teasing. The kids who call you brainiac are probably jealous because studying comes easy to you, and you get better grades than they do.”
“They could get good grades, too, if they studied more,” Mark said. “I tell that to Mattie all the time, but she thinks she doesn’t do well because she’s dumm.”
“She wouldn’t think so if she studied harder instead of daydreaming all the time.”
Mark nodded. “I agree.”
“Well, guess I’d better see if Russell’s ready to go. We’ll be at the Raber’s Pond if you change your mind about fishing.” Calvin gave Mark’s shoulder a squeeze and hurried out the door.
Mark went over to the box where the kittens were kept and found them all sleeping. He didn’t want to disturb them so he left the barn and went up to his room to get a book. Then he went back outside and flopped on the grass, listening to the cicadas singing noisily in the trees. With the cool weather that was just around the corner, Mark knew he wouldn’t be hearing the annual cicada much longer. But for now, like all summer long, he’d enjoy the noisy insects as they sang their loud buzzing song from sunup to sunset. At night, when the cicadas quieted, the katydids and crickets took over. It seemed there was always some sort of bug sound during the summer and early fall months. Since they were back in school again, it was nice to have a lazy day like this when he could read or just watch the clouds as they drifted across the sky.
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