The Mockingbird's Song

by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Kristin Billerbeck, Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Birdie L. Etchison, Pamela Griffin, Joyce Livingston, Tamela Hancock Murray

“It wasn’t just about the tools either,” Dennis said. “I wanted to invite you and your sister to go for a ride with me tomorrow afternoon to look for birds.”

  “Oh, jah, that’d be great. Count me in.” Henry gave a wide grin.

  Sylvia placed her hand on his arm. “Henry, I told Mr. Weaver we couldn’t go because we have company and will be spending the day with them.”

  “No problem,” Ezekiel was quick to say. “I doubt you’ll be gone more than a few hours, and you’ll be with us the rest of the day.”

  Henry’s head moved up and down. “See Sylvia… Ezekiel said it’s okay.”

  Sylvia felt like she was a fly caught in a sticky trap. If she agreed to go birding with Dennis, what would the rest of her family say? Could they be as agreeable as Ezekiel, or might they think she ought to be with them the whole day?

  Dennis waited for Sylvia’s response, wondering if he’d made a mistake by asking her to join him Sunday afternoon. He didn’t want to appear pushy, but Sylvia had been on his mind ever since their first meeting. Seeing her wearing a dark green dress today let him know her year of mourning and black clothes had been set aside. However, it didn’t mean she no longer mourned the death of her loved ones. That took time—possibly years. Dennis knew that firsthand. Even now, whenever he thought about his father’s death, depression could set in. He was glad he’d let his guard down and shared the incident with Sylvia and her brother. Just talking about it had relieved some of his emotional pain.

  “I would enjoy looking for birds with you.” Sylvia’s comment pulled Dennis’s thoughts aside. “But would you mind very much if I went out to the greenhouse right now and talked to my mamm about it? I need to see if she’s willing to—”

  “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’d like to walk out there with you and meet her. It would also be nice to have a look around. I’d like to see what all you have available.”

  “Sure, that’d be fine.” Sylvia led the way, and when they entered the building, she suggested that Dennis look around, while she spoke to her mother, who was currently with a customer.

  “No problem.” He smiled. “I would like to meet her before I leave, though.”

  “That’s fine. I’m sure there will be time for it when she’s between customers.”

  “Okay then, I’m off to wander around.”

  With raised brows, Ezekiel looked at Henry. “Is there something going on between Sylvia and that man?”

  Henry squinted. “What do ya mean?”

  “Is he lookin’ to court her?”

  Henry thumped Ezekiel’s arm. “’Course not. What a dumm question.”

  “It’s not dumb at all. I have a hunch from the way that fellow eye-balled our sister that he has more than looking for birds on his mind.”

  Henry grunted. “Are you kidding me? He barely even knows our sister. Besides, Sylvia’s not looking to be courted by anyone. She still loves Toby. I’ve heard her say so many times.”

  Ezekiel glanced toward the greenhouse. “That may be, but the bird-dog expression on his face made me think about the way I felt when I first met Michelle.” He thumped Henry’s back. “There’s an interest, all right, but it may only be wishful thinking on his part, because you’re right—Sylvia’s love for Toby went deep.”

  “Well, if you feel that way, then why’d you say it was okay for us to go birding with him tomorrow afternoon?”

  “Because, little brother, Sylvia has been too serious since Toby, Dad, and Abe were killed. She deserves to have some fun, and so do you.”

  Henry kicked at a clump of grass with the toe of his boot. “I have fun when I’m with my friend Seth.”

  “Jah, well from what I’ve heard, Seth is not a good influence on you.”

  Henry crossed his arms and gave a huff. “Is that so? Who told you that?”

  “Never mind. The point is, you shouldn’t hang around with a fellow who might try to steer you in the wrong direction.”

  “None of my friends have control over me. I’ll have you know I can think for myself.”

  Ezekiel held up his hands. “Now don’t go getting your feathers ruffled. I just felt the need to give you a word of caution. I know what it’s like to be sixteen, and even when I got older, there was a time when I caused Mom and Dad all kinds of heartache.”

  “Ya mean when you bought a truck and thought you might not wanna join the church?”

  Ezekiel nodded. “But God got a hold of my life and showed me otherwise, and I’m sure glad He did.”

  “What’s God really done for you, Brother?” Henry’s tone had an edge to it. “He let Dad, Abe, and Toby die, and He could have stopped the accident from happening.”

  Ezekiel put both hands on his brother’s shoulders. “God gives everyone a free will, and if you’ll remember, all three men wanted to get ice cream for Mom’s birthday, even though she didn’t want them to go.”

  Henry stared at the ground. “I remember.”

  “When they made that decision, they had no idea what their fate would be, but it was their choice, and perhaps even their time to leave this earth.”

  Henry slowly shook his head and walked off toward the greenhouse.

  Ezekiel bowed his head. Heavenly Father, please open my brother’s eyes to the truth and help him come to terms with what happened. Blaming You for something that was an accident is not helping him recover from the anger he feels. Please help me to set a good example for him, and grant Henry peace of mind and the desire to serve You.

  Dennis stopped to look at primroses and a few other early spring flowers. Then he moved on to check out some of the outdoor items, such as birdbaths and solar lighting.

  A birdbath might be a nice touch to my yard, he decided. Even though Sylvia’s house didn’t belong to Dennis, he still thought of it as home. Giving the birds that came into the yard a nice place to drink and bathe seemed like a good idea. He also planned to hang several bird feeders and houses. These would increase his chances of seeing a good variety of birds.

  Dennis had made the complete tour of the greenhouse when Sylvia came up to him and said her mother was fine with her and Henry going with him Sunday afternoon. “She would like to meet you, though,” Sylvia added. “And so would my sister, Amy.”

  “I’d enjoy meeting them too.”

  Dennis followed Sylvia to the front of the building, where a middle-age lady and a younger woman who looked close to Sylvia’s age stood behind the checkout counter.

  When Sylvia introduced Dennis to her mother and sister, he shook their hands. “This is a nice place you have here. There’s a good variety of items for sale. And speaking of which… I want to buy one of your birdbaths today.” He looked at Sylvia. “I’d like to put it in the front yard, near the big maple tree.”

  “That’d be nice.” She smiled, although it seemed a bit forced.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  She shook her head. “As long as you’re living there, feel free to put whatever you like in the yard and also the house.”

  “Danki, I appreciate that.” Dennis walked back to where the birdbaths were located and brought the one he liked up front to pay for it. He then visited with the three women until two more customers came in. “I’d better get going. It was nice to meet you, Belinda and Amy.”

  “We enjoyed meeting you as well,” Amy said.

  Belinda nodded and moved down the aisle behind the people who had come in.

  When Dennis walked out with the birdbath, Sylvia accompanied him.

  “Hey, what have ya got there?” Henry asked, stepping around the side of the building.

  Dennis chuckled. “You mean you work here and have never seen a birdbath?”

  Henry snickered. “’Course I’ve seen ’em. Just wasn’t expecting to see you carrying one out of the greenhouse.”

  “I’m gonna put it in my front yard, and hopefully it’ll lure in more birds.” He started walking toward his horse and buggy and was pleased when Sylvia went with him.

&nbs
p; Since the birdbath was in two pieces, he placed them both on the floor in the back of his buggy. “Is three o’clock a good time for me to pick you and Henry up tomorrow?” he asked.

  “That should be fine.”

  “Okay, great. I’ll see you then.”

  When Dennis pulled his rig out of the yard a few minutes later, he found himself whistling—not a tune to any song he knew—but the whistle of a young male mockingbird’s song. He could hardly wait until tomorrow afternoon.

  “What are you looking at, Virginia? You’re not spying on the neighbors, I hope.”

  She whirled around to face her husband, nearly dropping the binoculars she held. “For heaven’s sake, Earl, don’t sneak up on me like that. You nearly scared me to death.”

  He rolled his eyes and moved closer to where she stood at the living room window. “What were you looking at?”

  “Just watching the King family and their guests. There’s a group of them, and they climbed into two buggies and headed out down the road. I’m surprised you didn’t hear the horses clomping their hooves on the pavement.”

  He shook his head. “I was in the bathroom, and the only thing I heard was the water running while I showered.”

  She glanced out the window again. “There’s more horse and buggies coming down the road now, so tell me you can’t hear those.”

  “Oh, I hear ’em all right.” Earl peered out the window. “Looks like a whole procession.”

  “I wonder where they’re all going.”

  “Probably church. From what I understand, the Amish worship in one another’s homes every other Sunday.”

  Virginia lifted the binoculars for a better look. “Now that I think about it, there has been a string of Amish buggies going down the road on Sundays about this time of day, twice monthly.” She lowered the binoculars and turned to look at Earl. “I wonder why they hold their worship service in people’s homes instead of a church building. That seems strange, doesn’t it?”

  “It does to us, but I’m sure to them it’s normal.” Earl moved away from the window and motioned for her to do the same. “Come on, Virginia, that’s enough spying for now.”

  She frowned. “What else do I have to do that’s exciting?”

  “Why don’t you put on a sweater and we’ll take a Sunday drive?”

  “Where to?”

  “I picked up a map the other day of covered bridges in the area. We could check those out.”

  “Okay, I’ll get my sweater and meet you in the car.” Virginia wasn’t the least bit interested in looking at covered bridges, but it would be better than sitting home all day, listening to Earl snore up a storm when he fell asleep watching television.

  Holding her children’s hands, Sylvia entered the barn on Mary Ruth Lapp’s property, where church was being held. She took a seat on a backless wooden bench, between Amy and their mother. They would both help keep the children quiet during the three-hour service.

  Sylvia glanced at the men’s side of the room, and noticed that Dennis wasn’t there. Then she remembered that because he now occupied her old house, which was in another church district, today would be his off-Sunday. When Sylvia saw Dennis later today, if she didn’t forget, she would mention that he’d be welcome to visit this church on his in-between Sundays.

  She reached up and adjusted her head covering ties. Listen to me—all worried about Dennis. I barely know him, so why should I be concerned about where he attends church?

  Sylvia thought about how she and Toby used to visit her parents’ church whenever possible on their off-Sundays. Afterward they would go to Mom and Dad’s house to visit and share a meal. Those were such happy times, although Sylvia had taken them for granted. She had believed that she and Toby would grow old together, raising their children, and someday becoming grandparents.

  Thinking about all she’d lost caused Sylvia to choke up as she held Rachel firmly on her lap. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes when she saw Allen holding his grandma’s hand. How sad that her son was missing out on the joy of being with his Grandpa King and didn’t see Grandpa and Grandma Beiler nearly enough due to them living in another part of the state.

  At least my kinner have a grandma, an aunt, and one uncle who all live close by and will have a positive influence on them.

  Sylvia glanced at Henry sitting beside his friend, Seth. I hope my younger brother will put aside his curiosity with worldly things and set a good example for Allen and Rachel. I’d hate to think otherwise.

  Sylvia’s thoughts were pulled aside when the first song from the Ausbund was announced. She swallowed past the thickening in her throat and forced herself to sing along.

  Ezekiel rubbed a sweaty palm down his pant leg. As a guest minister, he’d been asked to deliver a sermon this morning, and he couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous. I hope what I plan to say will be beneficial to someone here today.

  Ezekiel had grown up in this church district and known many of the people for most of his life. It seemed strange to be put in a position where he’d be preaching to folks who’d known him during his running-around days. I know people who go astray can return to the faith and be a good example to others. Ezekiel hoped once again that he could prove this in the way he had cleaned up his own life and settled down.

  He lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck, also wet with perspiration. Can this congregation see me as a minister now, or to them will I always be the unsettled young man who’d once been dissatisfied with the Plain ways? Will they take me seriously and listen to what God has laid on my heart?

  Ezekiel would be preaching from the Book of Habakkuk on the topic of faith and trust in God during difficult times of unimaginable loss. The verses had helped him during unsettling times, and he hoped someone in the congregation would be helped by them today as well.

  As he stood to deliver his sermon, Ezekiel gave a quick glance at the women’s section. Michelle offered him a reassuring nod, as did his mother.

  Lord, he prayed, let the words that come from my mouth be Your words, not mine.

  As Ezekiel delivered his sermon, tears welled in Belinda’s eyes. If Vernon was here right now, he would be so pleased to hear his once-wayward son preaching God’s Word.

  She glanced across the way to see if Henry’s attention was where it should be. He sat with both elbows resting on his knees, and his chin cupped in the palms of his hands. Belinda couldn’t tell what her teenage son was thinking, but she had a feeling he was bored and would probably tune Ezekiel’s sermon out. Henry’s thoughts might be on the time he and Sylvia would spend with Dennis Weaver this afternoon. He’d certainly mentioned it enough times since the plans had been made. Even Sylvia had brought up the topic this morning. Belinda felt a bit concerned by Sylvia and Henry’s fascination with a near stranger.

  Turning her attention back to Ezekiel, Belinda struggled to keep her tears at bay as he read several verses of scripture. One in particular, Habakkuk 3:18, spoke to her heart. “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

  “The prophet Habakkuk predicted that difficult times were on the way,” Ezekiel declared. “Things sometimes get worse before they get better.” He paused, as if to collect his thoughts. “How do we deal with unexpected financial problems, serious health issues, or the death of a loved one? Habakkuk stated that we need confident faith and trust in God, who is the source of our strength and salvation. In the end, we who trust Him will not be disappointed. When we go through difficult circumstances, God not only meets our needs, but He teaches us to encourage others when they are faced with a crisis.”

  When Ezekiel ended his sermon and returned to his seat, it was all Belinda could do to control her swirling emotions. Her husband, a son, and a son-in-law had been taken from them a year ago, and they had faced uncertain times concerning the greenhouse and whether their earnings would provide for them ever since. Vandalism and a threatening phone message had occurred, but nothing serious had happened, and no one had been
hurt. Belinda had much to be thankful for, and like Habakkuk she could rejoice in the knowledge that during the past year, God had been with them and met all of their needs. Her only hope was that the rest of the family could see that and rejoice in the Lord too.

  A sense of anticipation welled in Dennis’s chest as his horse and buggy approached the Kings’ place. Today had been his church district’s off-Sunday, so he’d slept in this morning and spent the rest of the morning reading a recent issue of Birds and Blooms magazine. Tomorrow, Dennis would begin training a new horse his friend James had bought at an auction recently. Thanks to James’s referrals, Dennis had two more people’s horses he would begin working with soon. Dennis had already determined that he liked it here in Lancaster County, and unless something unforeseen came up, he planned to stay and make this area his permanent home. Whether he would continue renting from Sylvia or eventually buy her place remained to be seen.

  Who knows, Dennis thought as he turned up the Kings’ driveway. If Sylvia doesn’t want to sell her place, I might end up buying some other home with enough property for all my needs.

  When Dennis pulled his horse up to the hitching rail, he spotted two young children—a girl and a boy—on the front porch. They appeared to be fairly close in age. Dennis figured the children belonged to Sylvia’s brother, Ezekiel, and his wife. He wondered if they had any other children besides these two.

  Dennis had no more than gotten out of the buggy when Henry came running toward him. Sylvia followed, only at a slower pace. They both carried binoculars in their hands.

  After greeting him, Henry got in the back of the buggy, and Sylvia rode up front. Then Dennis backed the horse away from the rail and headed off down the driveway.

  Dennis gave Sylvia a sidelong glance and noticed that she sat stiffly in the passenger’s seat, looking straight ahead. He cleared his throat. “I’ve been on the lookout for a hund, but so far I’ve come up empty-handed.”

  Sylvia remained quiet, but Henry spoke up. “You’re tryin’ to find a dog? Why not a puppy?”