Uncle Plats
Page 53
There was an uncomfortably long silence before Ann spoke. Then with tears in her eyes and a trembling voice she began to speak softly. “Bill, I want you and Zack to be happy. I think you should give carpentry a shot and I know Rebecca is happy to see you truly living again. But, you’re a free spirit, a free thinker, an adventurer, and I know in my heart that you would be settling for a small life on an Amish farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.”
“If Sarah has feelings for your son, pursue them, if she can’t bear to leave her family for an English life with you and you convert, I think if you became Amish you would eventually come to resent her for having to leave the great big world that you love so much, behind. I know that you are being faced with choosing an English life or an Amish life, but you could actually choose something that’s in the middle. Please don’t separate yourself from us, from the world Bill, I don’t think that’s what you truly want.”
“The truth is I really don’t want to be Amish Mom, you’re right about me. I do want it all, and I could have it all, except not the girl. Her mother is not well and she’s the oldest and a girl. If anything happens to her mother she needs to help her father. She’d never leave her family for an English life and I don’t think she wants to. She looks really happy,” Bill replied.
“Thank you guys for your honesty I love you all,” said Bill. “Hey, if you don’t mind I think I’m going to head over to the bar for a couple of drinks. I need a rumspringa of my own right about now. Roger, would you mind giving me a ride? I’ll take a taxi home. I don’t think I’ll be in any shape to drive.”
At the bar, Bill ran into a couple of English guys that he knows from Zook Cabins. He hung out with them and learned that one of them has an Amish wife and straddles the English/Amish life also.
Bill and Zack spent the rest of the weekend with Roger and Ann then returned to work with David on Monday.
“Good morning,” Sarah said as William and Zack sat at the table. She gave Zack a little hug and kiss on the cheek, saying I missed you terribly Zack but looked William in the eyes as she spoke. That single look made is heart skip a beat.
When they arrived at work, William asked David if they could talk for a minute. “Of course William,” David said. “Did you enjoy your weekend rumspringa, ha, ha, ha?” David laughed. “I could see that you are wrestling with a weighty decision. You are a man thinking about a big life change. Let me make this a little easier for you. I have already talked with the top manager and there is a job here for you paying English wages if you want it. He even said that a foreman or project manager position would be in your future if you continue to excel.”
William was thrilled, he felt like he just won the lottery. Thanking David profusely and promising not to let him down, he sheepishly said, “There’s one more thing David. I’m in love with your daughter but I don’t know if I could become Amish Mr. Shear. I think that I’ve seen too much of the world and want to experience more of it, traveling and being one of the good guys out there if you know what I mean. I think that I could in some small way help make the world a better place by being part of it and not separate from it.”
“That is an interesting point William, but I suspected as much, I think you would be a terrible Amish man, an abject failure at it, ha, ha, ha,” David laughed as he slapped William on the back in a fatherly way.
“During rumspringa, Sarah found it very difficult to return to Amish life. At the time, her mother was ill and I think she felt that she could not leave her mother. Miriam is not a strong woman, but she has an iron will, and I believe that she and I will grow old together. But I fear that Sarah will not leave her mother. You have my blessing to take Sarah for a walk or ride in the evenings and to see where your love goes but I fear your heart will be broken son. Now, let’s go get you a job,” David said as they walked in to work.
William was very quiet at dinner and Sarah looked as if she were swallowing glass with every bite. She was relieved when William asked her if she would take a walk with him after dinner. He was doing his best to tell her how he felt about his job, making log cabins, his life in the English world, Rebecca, Zack, his in-laws, and Amish life. She listened intently staring into William’s eyes, watching as every word left his mouth. She wanted him to kiss her, to stop talking, take her into his arms and kiss her, until she was slapped back to reality when she heard him say, “But I could never live as an Amish man.”
“But you seem so happy with this Amish life, how can this be?” Sarah asked. Then answering her own question, she said, “I understand William, I could not leave my parents after rumspringa. I liked the English life, but did not dislike being Amish, but my mother needs me.”
William felt his heart sink, his knees nearly buckled. He took a gulp of air and regained his composure. “I understand how you feel Sarah, and I respect your decision.”
“But you haven’t heard my decision, William.” said Sarah. “I have decided nothing. I would like to get to know you better. If I come to love you,” she said with a grin that showed her true feelings, “I will marry you and become an English woman, but I would like to live close to my parents so that I may help my mother. Is this acceptable to you William?”
William responded by grabbing Sarah in his arms and kissing her with all of the love and passion that he could muster.
THE END