The Mockingbird's Song

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

  “I already told her that Jared and I won’t be here,” Amy said.

  “Oh, okay.” It’s hard to believe that this fall we’ll be adding another member to our family. Jared will be a nice addition. Sylvia gazed out into the yard. Although I’m feeling more alive these days, it would take a miracle for me to find the same kind of bond with another man that I had with Toby.

  “Dennis is here!” Wearing binoculars attached to a leather cord around his neck, Henry bounded off the porch and raced over to the hitching rail as Dennis’s horse and buggy came up the driveway.

  Sylvia opened the screen door and called: “Henry and I are leaving now!”

  “Okay, I’ll have supper waiting when you get back,” Mom responded from the living room.

  “I’ll see you two later.” Sylvia smiled at Amy and Jared, grabbed her binoculars and notebook from the wicker table, and hurried down the porch steps. It was hard to believe the thought of bird-watching could have her feeling so enthusiastic. If I’m being honest, maybe there is more to it than just excitement over the birds we might see.

  “I can’t believe we were fortunate enough to see a female northern harrier hawk today,” Dennis said as they headed back to the Kings’ place that evening.

  “Think I’ve seen one before, but I thought it was an owl,” Henry chimed in.

  “Its face does have a distinctive owl-like look,” Dennis admitted. “It’s actually one of the easiest hawks to identify.”

  “Why is that?” Sylvia questioned.

  “For one thing, harriers glide just above the ground while searching for food.”

  “What do they eat?” Henry asked.

  “Snakes, insects, mice, and small birds. Another interesting fact about the harriers is that they used to be called marsh hawks because they hunted over marshy areas. The female harrier, like we saw today, has a dark brown back with a brown-streaked breast, large white patch on its backside, and narrow black bands across the tail. The tips of its wings are black, and it has yellow eyes.”

  Henry tapped Dennis on the shoulder, from where he sat in the back seat. “Do the males look like that too?”

  “They have the same yellow eyes and black tips on their wings, but the male’s body is silver gray and its belly is white.”

  “I can’t get over how much you know about birds,” Sylvia commented. “I bet you could write your own bird book.”

  Dennis laughed. “I’ve taken plenty of notes about the birds I’ve seen, but I don’t have what it takes to put it all together in the form of a book.” He snapped the reins to get his horse moving quicker. “And as much as I know about training a horse to pull a buggy, I wouldn’t try to write a book about that either.”

  Sylvia smiled. “We all have different things we’re good at, but it doesn’t mean we could write a book about them.”

  “Very true.” Dennis had to force himself to keep his focus on watching the road ahead and making sure his horse behaved. All he really wanted to do was look at Sylvia. She was a beautiful woman. What a shame she’d lost her husband at such a young age.

  I wish there was something I could do to offer her comfort. Dennis also wished he had the nerve to ask Sylvia to go out for supper with him one night this week. If her brother wasn’t sitting behind them, no doubt listening to every word being said, Dennis would ask her right now. Maybe he would have the opportunity sometime before the evening was out.

  When they pulled up to the hitching rail at the King home, Henry hopped out and secured Dennis’s horse.

  “I hope you like cold, fried hinkel, because that’s what my mamm said she’d be serving for our supper this evening,” Sylvia said as Dennis walked between her and Henry.

  He grinned. “Definitely. I mean, who doesn’t like fried chicken, warm or cold?” All week Dennis had looked forward to having some home cooking. The bland sandwiches he’d been eating for lunch, or the so-so canned soups for supper paled in comparison to this.

  “My brother Abe didn’t care for hinkel,” Henry said. “Fact is, he wasn’t a chicken eater at all.”

  “Did he like eggs?” Dennis asked as they neared the porch.

  “Yep. He liked ’em just fine.” Henry’s voice lowered. “I sure do miss my bruder.”

  “I’m sure you do.” Dennis gave the boy’s shoulder a squeeze. “It’s never easy when you lose someone close to you.” He glanced at Sylvia, wondering if she would say anything, but she was silent. No doubt she still missed her husband, brother, and father. A person never really got over a tragedy like that, although in time the pain became less raw and more bearable to deal with. Maybe a distraction from time to time could help them both to better cope with their losses.

  Dennis looked up at the gutter on the front of the house and noticed the drain spout had come loose. He stepped under it and pointed. “Sometime tomorrow, with the aid of a leeder, I could put that back together.”

  “It’s up there pretty high. Are you sure you want to do it?” Sylvia asked.

  Before Dennis had time to answer, Henry jumped in. “I could help by holding the ladder for you, Dennis.”

  “That’d be great. I’d appreciate your help if you’re available when I come over.”

  “I’ll bring the matter up to Mom,” Sylvia said.

  “That’s fine. It shouldn’t take me long at all.” Dennis moved toward the front door.

  When they entered the house, Sylvia’s mother came into the living room, and he shook her hand. “Danki for including me in your supper plans this evening.”

  “You’re welcome.” Belinda smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. No doubt she still grieved for her deceased family members. Either that, or Dennis figured Sylvia’s mother might not care much for him.

  But how can that be? he wondered. This is only the second time we’ve met.

  “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the kitchen and finish setting things out for our meal.” Belinda hurried from the room.

  Sylvia invited Dennis to take a seat on the couch, before excusing herself to help her mother. “We should have supper on the table soon, so just sit and relax with Henry. I’ll call you both when the food’s on the table.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Dennis sat on the couch, and Henry seated himself in an overstuffed chair. This is a nice house. It’s bigger than the home I’m renting, but I don’t need a place this big.

  “I sure had fun birding with you and Sylvia today.” Henry looked over at Dennis and grinned.

  “I enjoyed it too.” Henry’s a good kid. I bet he could use a big brother in his life.

  “I’m always watchin’ for different birds in our yard.” Henry clasped his hands around one knee. “Birding’s a lot more interesting than takin’ care of ieme.”

  “Are you a beekeeper?”

  “Not by choice. It was my brother Ezekiel’s job before he and his fraa moved to New York. After that, Abe took it over. When he died, I got stuck with the bees.” The boy wrinkled his nose. “Can’t tell ya how many times I’ve been stung.”

  “Don’t you wear protective clothing?”

  “Course I do, but sometimes those pesky insects find their way to my skin.”

  “It’s a good thing you’re not allergic to bees.”

  Henry bobbed his head. “That’s for sure.”

  “Don’t you also work in the greenhouse with your mother and sisters?” Dennis asked.

  “Jah, only Sylvia doesn’t work there ’cause she…”

  Henry stopped talking when two young children darted into the room. The little girl hid behind the chair where Henry sat, but the young boy walked right up to Dennis and said in Pennsylvania Dutch: “Who are you?”

  “My name is Dennis Weaver. Was is dei naame?”

  The boy pointed to himself. “Allen.” Then he pointed at the chair where the girl hid. “That’s Rachel.”

  The child peeked out from behind the chair, her brown eyes growing large as she stared at Dennis. Then just as quickly, she ducked back again. />
  “Are these children your little brother and sister?” Dennis looked at Henry.

  Henry shook his head. “No, they’re…”

  At that moment, Sylvia entered the room. When she approached the couch, the little girl came out from behind the chair and shouted, “Mammi!”

  Dennis’s jaw dropped. He had no idea the children were Sylvia’s. She’d never mentioned anything about being a mother.

  Sylvia bent down and picked Rachel up. Then she took hold of Allen’s hand. “These are my kinner, Allen and Rachel.”

  “Your son greeted me already, but your little girl hid behind the chair until you came in.”

  “Rachel is shy around new people, so don’t let it bother you.” She kissed the girl’s dimpled cheek.

  Dennis reached around and rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t realize you had children, but then since you were married, I guess it should be no surprise.”

  Sylvia smiled. “If you’ll come with me to the dining room, supper is on the table.”

  Dennis stood, and both he and Henry followed Sylvia and her children out of the room.

  Moments before they bowed their heads for silent prayer, Sylvia noticed Dennis looking at her children. Allen sat on a booster seat at the table, and Rachel had been seated in the wooden high chair Sylvia’s father had made. She’d spoken to her mother about the loose downspout near the front porch, and Mom said she was fine with Dennis fixing it for them at his convenience.

  After the prayer and while Mom passed the platter of chicken around, Sylvia watched her brother’s face light up when Dennis spoke to him. She thought about how well Henry and Abe had gotten along in the past. No doubt Henry still missed him and needed a big brother who lived close by. No wonder he seems so drawn to Dennis, since they share the same hobby.

  If only Toby, Dad, and Abe could see how much the children have grown, Sylvia thought before closing her eyes. Although her prayer was a short one, she managed to ask God to keep her family safe, and to be with Dennis as he settled into the community.

  When Sylvia opened her eyes, she was surprised to see Dennis looking once more at Allen and Rachel. She wondered if little ones made him nervous, or perhaps he wished he was married and had children of his own.

  As they ate their meal, Dennis and Henry struck up a conversation centered around birds. Sylvia wasn’t surprised, since Dennis knew a lot about birding, and Henry wanted to know more. As a matter of fact, so did she. Studying birds and writing down specific things about them was a nice break from household chores, cooking, and taking care of her children. Not that Sylvia minded those things. It was just nice to do something out of the ordinary that she found fascinating.

  Although Sylvia would never admit it out loud, she enjoyed being with Dennis. It was too soon to say whether she could develop strong feelings for him or if he felt anything for her, but if Dennis should invite her to go bird-watching with him again, Sylvia would definitely say yes.

  Dennis paced, shuffling through the straw scattered across the floor in front of his horse’s stall. It would be two weeks tomorrow since he’d had supper with Sylvia and her family. The food had tasted good, and he’d enjoyed spending time with Sylvia and her children, as well as Henry.

  But her mother, who’d been less than friendly toward him, had excused herself and gone to her room soon after they’d finished eating, saying she’d developed a headache. He hoped she hadn’t used it as an excuse.

  A day later, Dennis and Henry fixed the downspout, and soon it was back together. The two of them talked more about birding. Henry was easy to talk to and full of curiosity.

  Since that day, Dennis hadn’t spoken with Sylvia or Henry. Between training three new horses and struggling with his fear of commitment, Dennis had decided it would be best for both him and Sylvia if he didn’t see her socially anymore. That, of course, would mean no more outings to do bird-watching. With the decision made, it was probably for the best that he hadn’t asked her to go out with him.

  Or maybe, Dennis told himself as he made another pass by his horse’s stall, I should set my concerns aside, follow my heart instead of my head, and take a leap of faith.

  Virginia made a face at herself in the bathroom mirror. What’s up with my hair? It doesn’t want to cooperate, and the graying roots are starting to show. I need to see a hairdresser, that’s for sure.

  Virginia turned off the bathroom light and headed for the kitchen. I could sure use a cup of coffee right now. She was glad to see that there was still enough in the pot Earl had started for himself before he left for work, and he’d left it on warm for her.

  She grabbed a mug, and in the process of pouring coffee into it, some spilled onto the counter. Virginia pulled a paper towel off the cardboard roll and wiped it up. “No wonder I spilled it,” she muttered. “The traffic on the road out front has increased again, and it’s made me edgy. Wish we’d never moved here. Don’t know what Earl was thinking, buying a place in the country.”

  Virginia’s cell phone rang. She tossed the damp paper towel in the garbage and picked up her phone. When her friend Stella’s number showed in the caller ID, Virginia wasted no time answering. “Hey, Stella, how are you doing?”

  “I’m fine. How are you?”

  “Except for being bored out of my mind, I’m okay.”

  “Have you made friends with anyone in the area yet?”

  “Nope. Not yet.” Virginia picked up her mug and drank the rest of her coffee.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I’d hoped you would have made a friend or two by now.”

  Virginia heaved a sigh. “Even if I had any friends in the area, I wouldn’t like living here.”

  “I enjoyed my time there when I came to visit. It was fun going over to the greenhouse across the street too.”

  Virginia’s gaze flicked upward. Fun for you maybe, but not for me.

  “Are you going to plant a vegetable garden this year?”

  “I don’t think so. We can get all the produce we want at the local farmers’ market.” Virginia moved over to the kitchen window and looked out at the backyard. “Earl’s working part of the day, so while he’s gone I may go outside and do a little work in the flowerbeds.”

  “That should make the time go quickly,” Stella said. “Fresh air and a little exercise are good for a person too.”

  “Yeah, I suppose.” Virginia shifted the phone to her other ear. “Say, Stella, not long ago, Earl and I ate supper at a restaurant in Ronks. While we were there we saw our neighbor, Amy King, and her fiancé, Jared. They spotted us and came over to our table. And you know what the best part was?”

  “I haven’t a clue.”

  “Jared invited us to their wedding, which will take place this fall.”

  “How nice. Are you planning to go?”

  “Maybe so. Would you like to come along?”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “Nope. I’m tellin’ the truth.” Virginia couldn’t help but smile. This was one sure way to get Stella to come back for a visit.

  “Wow! Once you know the exact date, let me know and I’ll cancel anything I may have scheduled. I wouldn’t miss going to an Amish wedding for anything. I’m so excited right now, you could knock me over with a feather.”

  “Glad to have made your day, my friend, and I already know the date. It’s the first Thursday of October. I just need to wait for a formal invitation.”

  “That’s great! Now what were we talking about earlier?”

  “I seem to have forgotten, Stella.”

  “Oh. Now I remember. It was about you working in your flowerbeds. You should go over to the greenhouse and see what kind of plants they have. You might find something that would look nice in your yard.”

  Virginia’s jaw clenched. Truth was, she’d prefer to do any shopping for plants at the new greenhouse across town. But she couldn’t let on to Stella how she really felt, because if her friend knew the way she felt about the Amish family across the road, she’d probably
say Virginia was prejudiced.

  “Umm, Virginia, I’d better go. I have another call coming in.”

  “Oh, okay. I’ll talk to you again soon, Stella. Bye for now.”

  When Virginia clicked off her phone, she went out to the utility porch and grabbed her gardening gloves, some hand-clippers, and a shovel. At least her friend would likely come to visit again in the fall, which made Virginia happy.

  Now maybe a little time spent outdoors would help her work off some of her stress.

  “Would you look at these beautiful daffodils in bloom? I think they’re prettier than ever this spring.” Sylvia’s mother gestured to the flowers adorning the flowerbed near the front porch.

  Sylvia, deep in thought, hung a pair of Allen’s trousers on the line and gave a brief nod.

  “You seem distracted this morning,” Mom said. “You haven’t spoken more than a few words since we came outside with the laundry basket.”

  “Sorry, Mom. I’ve just been thinking, is all.”

  “About what?”

  “Nothing in particular. Just thoughts about life in general.” No way would Sylvia admit that she’d been thinking about Dennis and wondering why she hadn’t heard from him since he’d come over to fix the downspout. They’d had a pleasant time when they’d gone birding and he’d joined them for supper—at least Sylvia had, and Dennis had mentioned going bird-watching again. It seemed strange that he wouldn’t have at least called or come by. Could training horses be keeping him that busy?

  “Daughter, did you hear what I said?”

  Sylvia turned abruptly when Mom bumped her arm. “Uh…no, sorry, I did not. What was it, Mom?”

  “I wondered if you’d have time to make up some hanging baskets for us to sell in the greenhouse. You made some lovely ones last year, and they sold quite well.”

  “Of course, I’d be happy to make more. I enjoyed using my creativity, and I’ve been thinking about some new ways I could arrange some flowering plants this year.” Sylvia picked up a towel from the laundry basket and gave it a snap before hanging it on the line. “I’ll get started on them as soon as all the laundry is hung.”