A Blessing for Miriam

by Jerry S. Eicher

  “What accident?” A chill ran down Miriam’s back.

  Betsy cleared her throat. “We haven’t heard much, but the man who was driving her hit a deer.”

  “Jonas, no doubt.” Miriam tried to breathe. “How bad is it?”

  “I don’t know.” Betsy hesitated. “They took her to the hospital. That’s all I know.”

  Miriam thought for a moment. “Would it be too much to ask if you’d go up to my parents’ place and ask them to call me in an hour? I’ll be at the same number they called me at before.”

  “Sure.” Betsy’s voice was kind. “I wasn’t going that way, but I have the time.”

  “Thank you so much.” Miriam hung up the phone. She waited a few seconds before she stepped out of the phone shack.

  Leroy met her with an expectant gaze.

  Miriam told him, “The car my sister Shirley was riding in last night hit a deer. I haven’t talked to my parents yet, so I don’t know how bad it is.”

  “A deer,” Leroy muttered and turned to go. A deer wasn’t much in Oklahoma, and how much damage could a deer do?

  To Miriam, Leroy’s attitude was clear, and hopefully he was right. But why had her parents called instead of written? A phone call wasn’t warranted for a mere fender bender. And Betsy had said Shirley was taken to the hospital. That could mean anything from a few scratches to…Miriam gasped as possibilities expanded in her mind.

  As she made her way back to the house, Miriam wished she’d said thirty minutes instead of an hour. She could have waited at the phone shack for that long. But that would leave Aunt Fannie and Uncle William up in the air. Better to give them the little information she had.

  Aunt Fannie met her at the front door with a concerned look. “Serious, is it?”

  “I don’t know.” Miriam swallowed the lump in her throat. “Shirley was involved in an accident last night and was taken to the hospital. I sent someone to tell Mamm I’d be back at the phone booth in an hour. After that I should know more.”

  Aunt Fannie gave Miriam a quick hug. “It’ll be okay, I’m sure. Shirley makes it through these things in one piece. Who was she with?”

  Miriam met her aunt’s look. “I didn’t ask, but I suppose Jonas Beachy. Who else?”

  “Maybe the Lord is speaking to her,” Aunt Fannie ventured. “I know Shirley was encouraged to live a godly life while she was out here last year.”

  Uncle William stuck his head out of the kitchen doorway. “Would someone fill me in on the news?”

  Wayne joined them. “I want to know too.”

  They were both dears, Miriam thought as she repeated the details of what she knew.

  “Maybe you should plan a visit home,” Uncle William suggested when she finished.

  Miriam drew in a sharp breath. “Then you think something serious has happened?”

  “Not necessarily.” Uncle William gave a quick laugh. “But I thought you might need an excuse to get away from us.”

  “Don’t tease her,” Aunt Fannie scolded. “Not at a time like this.”

  Uncle William sobered. “Sorry, but you still might consider a trip home, what with the wedding and all. You could use the time to plan things, even if Shirley’s condition doesn’t warrant a trip all by itself.”

  “That does sound like a good idea,” Aunt Fannie said.

  Miriam’s mind spun. “I’d have to take off from teaching school for at least a week—and more likely two. I couldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be fair to a substitute.”

  Wayne spoke up. “Sarah Mullet, the young woman who taught last term, might substitute. Sarah had her baby around Christmas. This is about the time she might want to get out of the house for a while, isn’t it?”

  “Don’t talk like that!” Aunt Fannie scolded him. “But maybe that would work. I’d even offer to babysit Lester for Sarah. I hold him sometimes at the church services, and he’s a little darling.”

  Miriam took a long breath. “I think we’d best slow down. We don’t know how bad the accident is. And you can’t do this for me anyway. It’s not right.”

  “You’d be doing it for me too.” Wayne had a slight grin. “I want our wedding to go off without a hitch.”

  “There you go.” Aunt Fannie was all matter-of-fact now. “The issue’s settled even before you talk with your mamm.”

  Miriam still hesitated. Visions of her schoolhouse and students filled her mind. “I don’t know. I like my teaching job, and unless Shirley’s really hurt…”

  “Spoken like a true schoolteacher.” Uncle William nodded his approval and looked to Wayne. “Now the two of us have to get back to work. Uncle William looked back at Miriam. “I hope Shirley’s okay, but regardless, I think you should visit Possum Valley, Miriam.”

  “Same here,” Wayne said.

  A horrible thought crossed Miriam’s mind as the two men left the room. Did Wayne want her out of the way so he could be with Esther unhindered?

  Aunt Fannie’s hand pressed on Miriam’s shoulder. “Shirley will make it, okay. Don’t look so worried.”

  “I hope so,” Miriam managed. She didn’t dare let on about her wicked thoughts about Wayne and Esther.

  “Sit down and eat a piece of pie.” Aunt Fannie’s voice was insistent. “It will strengthen you for whatever lies ahead. I’ll send William over tonight to speak with Sarah Mullet. That will make a better impression than if you go yourself.”

  Aunt Fannie cut a small piece of pie, and Miriam sat down to eat. The sweet pastry stuck to her throat, but she managed to swallow with a little difficulty. Aunt Fannie’s sympathetic eye was on her the whole time.

  “That’s better now.” Aunt Fannie patted Miriam’s shoulder when she finished. “Why don’t you help with the dishes until it’s time to leave for the phone shack?”

  Miriam nodded and the two women worked in silence. They still had several plates left to wash when Aunt Fannie motioned with her hand. “You’d better go now. It’s almost time.”

  Miriam tried to walk slowly but ended up in a run. Great concern for Shirley had washed over her. Miriam prayed while she waited for the phone to ring. “Dear Lord, help us all. I don’t know how bad things are or what You’re trying to tell Shirley, but help her bear the message and find You in all of this. Let the news be gut…”

  Miriam jumped when the phone rang. She grabbed the receiver. “Hello, Mamm?”

  “Yah, Miriam.” Mamm’s voice trembled. “I’m afraid I don’t have gut news to share. You’d best come home for a few days, if you can.”

  “What happened, Mamm?” Miriam clutched the receiver until her fingers hurt.

  “Betsy said she told you about the accident last night, so you know that.” Mamm’s voice paused. “Shirley’s at the hospital, but she’s not doing well—in her spirit, that is. Her head and face are in pretty bad shape too. The deer’s hooves went through the windshield on Shirley’s side. The doctors have done what they could, but they say there will likely be a lot of scarring and even more surgery later. I’m sure you can imagine how Shirley will feel about that. Can you come home for a few days? I know that’s a lot to ask with your teaching job, but Shirley needs you right now—even if she doesn’t realize it.”

  “Yah, Mamm, it’s already planned.”

  “Gut…”

  Miriam listened as Mamm continued with more details of the accident and the aftermath.

  Chapter Eleven

  The familiar Ohio countryside drifted past the Greyhound bus window as Miriam wrapped her shawl tightly over her shoulders. The next stop was New Philadelphia where Mamm, and perhaps Daett, would pick her up after the long bus trip in from Oklahoma. She looked forward to seeing her parents again, though the first precious moments would probably be overshadowed by Shirley and her injuries.

  Wayne had gone along for the trip into Coalgate to see her off. His smile had been warm as usual. Miriam even got the impression he wanted to sneak around the corner for a quick goodbye kiss. That hadn’t been possible with Aunt Fannie and Mr. Wh
itehorse along. But the thought had warmed her heart for the past two days on the bus. The glow had lingered until she’d reached Ohio. It had dimmed in the past few hours.

  Possum Valley was northwest of the bus stop, and the vicinity brought back memories of Ivan and Laura. Laura was Laura Mast now, and Miriam had no regrets about that. The memories were the problem. If one man—Ivan—had rejected her, why couldn’t it happen again? This time with Wayne and Laura’s sister, Esther?

  Miriam sighed. It was tragic that Shirley was in this accident, but perhaps some gut could come out of it. Maybe Shirley would learn to live a more godly life. And for good measure, maybe Miriam would deal with some of her memories of Ivan before her wedding in October. What an embarrassment it would be if she brought Wayne to Possum Valley to marry and all she could do was think about her past—and Ivan.

  Miriam peered through the window as the bus cruised through downtown New Philadelphia. Moments later it lurched to a stop. Right away Miriam caught sight of Mamm standing by herself beside the car of their neighbor, Mrs. Faulkner. Her family didn’t hire Englisha drivers unless they had to. Daett had strict convictions about such things, although Mrs. Faulkner was glad to help out when she could. Miriam grabbed her carry-on and joined two other passengers in the aisle as they made their way slowly off the vehicle. The bus driver waited at the bottom of the steps and then led them to the outside luggage compartment. Miriam paused to send a quick wave and smile toward Mamm.

  Mamm’s face stayed sober as she waved back.

  Miriam retrieved her large suitcase and headed across the parking lot.

  Ahead of her, Mamm opened her arms for a long hug and whispered, “Welcome home. It’s so gut to see you again.”

  “And you too.” Miriam held on to Mamm for a long moment.

  “Welcome back to Possum Valley!” Mrs. Faulkner’s cheerful voice greeted her from the driver’s seat.

  “It’s gut to be back.” Miriam tried to sound equally cheerful. She whispered to Mamm, “How is Shirley?”

  “We’ll talk about that later.” Mamm motioned toward the car’s trunk. “We have to get back. I helped Naomi prepare lunch for the men before I left, but baby Anna’s been fussy all day. The schoolchildren will be home soon too.”

  “Shirley’s home then?” Miriam guessed as she lifted her suitcase into the trunk that Mrs. Faulkner had popped open from the driver’s seat.

  “Yah, they let people go early nowadays.”

  After stowing her luggage, Miriam and her mother got into the backseat, shut the doors, and buckled up.

  “I’m awfully sorry to hear about your sister,” Mrs. Faulkner said, as she guided the car out into the street.

  “So how is Shirley?” Miriam tried again.

  Mamm looked out the window. “Shirley’s more troubled than anything. Health-wise she’ll be fine.”

  “Accidents can be so traumatic,” Mrs. Faulkner offered in sympathy.

  They rode in silence out of New Philadelphia and through the town of Dover. Miriam glanced over at Mamm. She knew Mrs. Faulkner was used to quiet Amish people, but the truth was that under normal circumstances there would be plenty of conversation going on right now. There was her wedding, and Wayne, and Shirley’s true condition to speak of, all of which Mamm apparently preferred to discuss in private.

  “Did you have a gut trip?” Mamm finally asked as Mrs. Faulkner drove up Highway 39 toward Sugarcreek.

  Miriam smiled. “It was okay—as far as Greyhound travel goes, I guess.”

  “Glad it was you and not me,” Mrs. Faulkner put in. “I don’t like buses. They smell funny.”

  Miriam gave a small laugh. She said to Mamm, “Aunt Fannie and Uncle William send their greetings. And Wayne does to. He saw me off at the bus station in Coalgate.”

  A trace of a smile played on Mamm’s face. “He sounds decent enough, but then we wouldn’t expect anything else from someone you like.”

  “Oh, my!” Mrs. Faulkner exclaimed. “Do I hear that special note in someone’s voice?”

  Miriam’s heart warmed as she answered. “Yah! I’ve been seeing Wayne Yutzy for some time.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Mrs. Faulkner hadn’t lost her enthusiasm. “Any wedding plans in the air yet?”

  Miriam chuckled, and Mrs. Faulkner joined in. She knew the Amish habit of secrecy when it came to weddings.

  “Well, distance makes the heart grow fonder,” Mrs. Faulkner said. “At least that’s what they say. So this Wayne fellow will be all the happier to see you when you return.”

  Miriam smiled. “I sure hope he will be.”

  Mrs. Faulkner continued. “Your sister will be just fine. I heard that Beachy boy has seen to it that she has the best doctors. And you know the Beachys have plenty of money, so everything will be the best it can be.” Mrs. Faulkner slowed down to pull into the Yoder driveway. “I have it from one of the first responders. The Beachy boy called his dad from the crash site, and they told the ambulance where to take your sister. Nothing but the best for those Beachys.”

  Miriam glanced at Mamm. “Is this true?”

  Mamm shrugged her shoulders. “I wouldn’t know. Daett did say all the hospital bills have been paid by someone.”

  Mrs. Faulkner continued undaunted. “Our children often do the strangest things, even the best of them, so don’t feel too badly.” She came to a stop beside the Yoder house.

  “I suppose so.” Mamm smiled tiredly. “What do I owe you?”

  “Just the usual.” Mrs. Faulkner fluttered her hand about. “You know I’m always glad to help your family.”

  “Thanks for the ride,” Miriam told Mrs. Faulkner while Mamm wrote out a check. Miriam got out and retrieved her suitcases. She waited at the end of the walk for Mamm. The sights and smells of home washed over her—the old barn with its sagging windows, the white house under the trees where she’d been born and grown up, the wafting scents of plants and animals. All of it seemed unchanged since last July. She was the one who had changed, and in ways she couldn’t put her finger on.

  She looked around again. She would bring Wayne here before too many months had passed, and they would say the vows in this house.

  After Mrs. Faulkner pulled out of the driveway, Mamm joined Miriam.

  “So much has changed since I left, and yet nothing really has,” Miriam said. “I can’t get my mind around it.”

  “You’ve grown up,” Mamm allowed, but she was obviously distracted. “Come, Miriam. You must see Shirley now. She needs your encouragement.”

  Miriam followed Mamm toward the house. She knew she must be strong even though she felt weak inside. Shirley had left Oklahoma last fall when she should have stayed where the Lord had put her to work on her problems. Here in Possum Valley, she’d managed to make things worse for herself. But none of that was what Shirley would want to hear right now. Miriam decided she needed to offer Shirley the same compassion she’d received. Had not the Lord sent her Wayne’s attention when she hadn’t deserved it?

  Miriam took the front steps with care. Under normal conditions, Naomi and Shirley would both be out on the porch by now, but the front door hadn’t even opened.

  Miriam was held back by Mamm’s hand. “Don’t act shocked when you see her. Remember, her face is covered in bandages. ”

  Miriam nodded.

  They both walked up the porch steps together. They entered the home, and Naomi peered out of the kitchen doorway with baby Anna in her arms.

  “Hi!” Naomi gave Miriam a little wave.

  Miriam wanted to rush over for her first peek at her new baby sister, but she quickly noticed Shirley lying on the couch in the living room. Bandages covered most of her face, and there was a look of dismay in her eyes. Miriam hurried to her side and knelt, taking her hand.

  Shirley jerked her hand back. “I’m not a little bobbli you need to fuss over.”

  “You don’t have to snap at her,” Mamm protested. “Miriam’s come all the way from Oklahoma to see you.”

 
I wish she hadn’t, Shirley’s hardened eyes said, though Miriam noticed they almost brimmed with tears at the same time.

  “I’m so very sorry about the accident.” Miriam took Shirley’s hand again, and this time her younger sister didn’t pull away.

  “So am I.” Shirley’s voice was bitter. “I’ll have scars across my face for the rest of my life.”

  “You can be thankful you have life at all.” Mamm’s voice was clipped. “And your attitude is disgraceful, Shirley. A gut-natured woman is what the Lord values. How your face looks doesn’t matter at all.”

  “That’s not true from where I sit,” Shirley protested.

  Mamm let the comment go.

  “We understand.” Miriam stroked Shirley’s hand. “And Mamm also understands. But maybe things aren’t as bad as you think.”

  “Sure they are,” Shirley complained. “I know that scars are scars, and the best doctors can do is make them less obvious. That’s what they said, Miriam. From now on I’ll always be the ‘Shirley who was in a car accident on her rumspringa and made ugly.’ Jonas is gone too. He won’t want to see me when I’m like this.”

  That’s a gut thing, Miriam thought, but she kept it to herself.

  Mamm grimaced and disappeared into the kitchen. Naomi also vanished with baby Anna. Clearly Shirley had gotten on both of their nerves since she’d arrived home from the hospital, and Miriam could see why.

  “You really must get yourself together,” Miriam tried to keep her voice soft. “Look at the blessings we do have…like a new sister in the house.”

  Shirley’s tears trickled down her cheeks. “That’s easy for you to say. And what’s a baby but another mouth to feed, which we can’t afford? All the while, you seem to get blessings dropped on your head all day long. You get a farm from Mr. Bland. We go visit Oklahoma, and everyone loves you. The perfect man snaps you right up. Of course you’ve got nothing to complain about. I’m the one who can’t do anything right. Look at me!” Shirley waved her hand across her face. “Miss Scarface. That’s what I’ll be. No man worth his salt will ever love me.”