Cousin's Challenge

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Ella sniffed and dabbed at her eyes. “I appreciate that reminder.”

  “I thought I’d go to the Blue Gate for lunch today. Would you like to join me?” Katie asked. “It might lift your spirits a little.”

  “Danki for the offer, but I’ve been gone quite awhile and need to get home and check on Mama. When I left home this morning, she was still in bed and hadn’t eaten any breakfast.”

  “I’m sure it’ll take some time for her to come to grips with your daed’s death.” A look of sadness passed over Katie’s face, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. “When Timothy died, I thought my life was over, but now I have Freeman, and we’re very happy.”

  “Are you suggesting that my mamm will fall in love and get married again?” Just the thought of Mama being with some other man made Ella’s skin prickle.

  Katie shook her head. “I’m not saying that at all. I just meant that in time the pain won’t be so intense and your mamm will be able to laugh again.”

  Ella sighed. “It’s not just Mama grieving over Papa that worries me. She’s struggled with health issues ever since Raymond died, and stress seems to make it worse.”

  “I know what you mean about that. One thing you need to remember is that God doesn’t want you to worry. He wants you to trust Him in all things.”

  “Sometimes That’s easier said than done.”

  “One of the scriptures that helped me the most when I was having panic attacks is Isaiah 41:10: ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’”

  Tears sprang to Ella’s eyes despite her resolve to remain in control. “Danki for those words. I’ll try to remember.”

  ***

  As Jake neared the Yoders’ place, he rehearsed what he was going to say to Ella. He hoped she’d be cordial when he offered his help. After their encounter during the volleyball game, he wasn’t sure what to expect.

  Maybe I won’t have to talk to Ella, Jake thought. Maybe she’ll be busy with something and her mamm will answer the door.

  As Jake turned his horse and buggy up the Yoders’ driveway, a giant puddle came into view. When the water splashed up, his horse whinnied and tossed its head.

  “Aw, quit acting like a boppli,” Jake hollered. “You’ve been through plenty of mud puddles before.”

  The horse whinnied again and plodded up the driveway as if he was in no hurry to get where they were going.

  “I’d have been better off if I’d left you at home and driven my truck today,” Jake mumbled. To keep the peace at home he’d parked his truck behind the barn and had been driving the horse and buggy most places. If he had to travel any farther than fifteen miles, he used the truck, regardless of how Dad felt about the vehicle. He also used it whenever he had to go anywhere to shoe a horse. It was easier and cheaper than hiring a driver to haul him and his shoeing tools around.

  Jake didn’t understand the way Dad carried on over him owning a truck. Many young people in their community who hadn’t joined the church owned cars and trucks. Jake figured Dad’s irritation had more to do with his having moved to Montana than it did with him driving a motorized vehicle.

  When Jake entered the Yoders’ yard, he spotted Charlene hanging clothes on the line. He stopped the horse, tied it to the hitching rail, and sprinted across the yard to join her. “Is your mamm at home?” he asked.

  Charlene nodded and motioned to the house. “She’s in bed, though, and I don’t want to disturb her.”

  Jake figured after the ordeal Verna and her family had just been through she was probably exhausted, but it did surprise him to hear that she was still in bed this late in the day. “Is Ella here?” he asked.

  “Huh-uh. She went to Shipshe to look for a job.”

  “Won’t she continue to work in the wind chime shop?”

  Charlene shook her head. “Not with Papa gone. We could never keep the place going on our own. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “Actually, I’m here to help you.” Jake cleared his throat a couple of times. “I mean, I was wondering if you need my help with anything.”

  Charlene gave a slow nod and pointed to the barn. “The horses have been fed already, but their stalls need to be mucked out.”

  “No problem. I’ll take care of that right now. When I’m done, if there’s anything else you need me to do, just say the word.”

  “That’s so nice of you, Jake. There’s a lot we could use help with around here.” Charlene smiled sweetly. “I think my sister’s wrong about you.”

  Jake was on the verge of asking Charlene to be specific about what she’d meant but changed his mind. He already knew what Ella thought of him, so he didn’t need to hear whatever Charlene might say that would confirm the fact. Instead of asking any questions about Ella, Jake headed determinedly for the barn.

  ***

  As soon as Ella pulled into her yard, she spotted a horse tied to their hitching rail with an open buggy parked nearby. Who’d be using an open buggy in this chilly weather? she wondered.

  She glanced around the yard but saw no sign of anyone. A line full of clothes flapped in the breeze, so Charlene had done what she’d been asked and gotten the laundry done. She must be inside, visiting with whoever had come to pay them a call.

  Ella unhitched her horse, Pet, from the buggy and led her to the barn. When she drew near the horse’s stall, she halted. Jake was inside, spreading fresh straw on the floor.

  “What are you doing here?” Ella’s voice came out in a squeak.

  “Came to help out.” Jake reached for Pet’s bridle and led her into the stall before Ella could respond.

  She flopped onto a bale of hay inside the stall and stared at the floor. “Who said we needed your help with anything?”

  “Charlene did. When I told her I came to help, she said the stalls needed to be mucked out.”

  “We can manage the chores on our own, Jake.”

  His boots stopped in front of her, and she was forced to look up. “Not to worry; I’ll help whether you want me to or not because I know things have to be really hard for you right now.” He stepped forward as if to comfort her, but she leaned away.

  Jake grunted and took a step back. “What’s your problem, Ella?”

  She lifted her hand in exasperation. “Don’t you understand? We don’t need your help!”

  “Sure you do.” He moved close to the stall door and made a sweeping gesture of the barn. “Lots of chores need be done here, not to mention other areas around your place.”

  “We’ll get them done without your help.” Ella’s cheeks burned like fire. No one had ever been able to get under her skin the way Jake did.

  “Look, Ella, I just want to be your friend.”

  “Jah, right. False friends are like dandelions—they’re found everywhere.”

  Jake held his palms down, as if trying to calm a nervous horse. “I’m not a false friend.”

  Ella tapped her foot as her impatience mounted. “Just leave, Jake. I’m getting tired of saying this. We don’t need your help! We can manage on our own!”

  Jake didn’t budge. As he stared at her, the silence between them grew thick like a heavy blanket of fog.

  After several moments of deafening quiet, Ella spoke again. “If you won’t leave, then I will.” She stood up so quickly that she lost her balance. Thunk—she bumped her head on Jake’s chin.

  “Yeow!” they both hollered.

  Ella grimaced and rubbed the top of her head. “The last bump you gave me is barely healed, and now I’ve got another one!”

  Jake stuck out his tongue and swished it from side to side. “Why don’t you watch what you’re doin’, Ella? You made me bite my tongue!”

  “Sorry,” they said in unison.

  Jake reached out as if he might touch her, but then he quickly jumped back. “Are—are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. You’d be
tter go now, before any more damage is done.”

  He shook his head and folded his arms. “I’m not leaving. I started a job, and I aim to finish it.”

  Ella exhaled a puff of frustration. “Fine then, do whatever you like!” With her back straight and her head held high, she left the stall and walked out of the barn.

  ***

  Jolene glanced at the clock on her classroom wall. The school day would be over soon, and she felt frustrated because there was so much more she wished to teach. Both Sylvia and Irvin had been quite attentive today. She was pleased at how well they were learning to read lips. As she’d prepared her lesson for the children, she remembered what her aunt had taught her about a deaf person being very alert to the expression of people. Jolene knew she’d have to remember to make her facial expressions be one of the ways she communicated with the children. When she said, “Sit down” or “Pay attention,” it had to show on her face.

  Today she had worked on voiceless consonants: h; wh; p; t; k; ca; co; cu; ck, which to her surprise, the children had seemed to understand quite well. A few minutes ago, she’d given them each an easy-reading fiction book. They seemed quite content, and Sylvia even giggled when she read something humorous.

  When Jolene saw Irvin chuckle, she was even more surprised. She left her desk and went to see what he thought was so funny.

  Wearing a big grin, Irvin looked up at her then pointed to a page in his book and said, “There are many black cows, but they all give white milk.”

  “Good job, Irvin.” Jolene signed as she spoke. She smiled and patted the top of his head. It was so good to see that he was not only learning, but actually seemed to enjoy being in school. Now if she could just get through to Jake’s brother Kyle. When she’d given Fern’s class another lesson on signing this morning, Kyle still hadn’t participated. But at least he hadn’t made any trouble. She guessed that was something to be grateful for.

  When Jolene dismissed Irvin and Sylvia to go home a short time later, she reached into her desk and pulled out a hand mirror. Lonnie would be coming by for another lesson today, and since she was sure Ella wouldn’t be here, she decided to work with Lonnie on lip reading.

  Jolene had just placed the mirror on her desk when Eunice entered the room.

  “Hello, Jolene. I was wondering if you could do something for me.”

  “What’s that?”

  Eunice’s cheeks colored. She leaned on Jolene’s desk, as if needing it for support. “Well, you see...” She paused and moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I’d like to learn how to sign, but I don’t want anyone to know about it—especially Andrew.”

  “How come?”

  The crimson color that had splashed over Eunice’s cheeks deepened. “I ... uh ... want it to be a surprise. Would you be willing to teach me to sign and not tell anyone?”

  Jolene didn’t understand Eunice’s reason for wanting to keep it a secret, but she nodded and said, “If you’d like to come by here on Friday afternoon, we can begin then.”

  “And you won’t tell anyone?”

  “It’ll be our little secret.”

  A look of relief flooded Eunice’s face. “Danki, Jolene.”

  Eunice turned and was almost to the door when Lonnie stepped in. Jolene didn’t know whether Eunice had said anything to him or not, because Eunice’s back was to her now.

  When Eunice left the room, Jolene moved aside so Lonnie could sit at her desk. Then she smiled and pointed to the blackboard, where she’d written him a message: Today, we’re going to begin learning how to read lips, since you’ll need that in order to communicate with others who can hear.

  Apprehension flickered in Lonnie’s eyes. “Not sure I’m ready for that.”

  Yes, you are, she wrote. If you’re going to communicate with hearing people, then you need to be able to read lips. How many times had she told him this already? Was he just being stubborn, or didn’t he get it?

  “I stopped by to see Ella today and suggested that I do Charlene’s job of putting the wind chimes together so Charlene could tune and cut the pipe,” Lonnie said, suddenly changing the subject. “Ella said that won’t work because Charlene’s tone deaf and can’t tune chimes. She also said her daed’s business is in trouble and will have to close, so she’s going out to look for a job today.”

  Jolene grimaced. In these hard times, things were bad enough, but now with Uncle Rueben gone, Ella had a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. What she really needed was a job that would keep her at home where she could look out for her mother. But what kind of a job could it be?

  CHAPTER 25

  When Lonnie entered Freeman’s bike shop to see about getting a new tube for the flat tire on his bike, Jake was talking to Freeman. Not wishing to interrupt, Lonnie dropped to his knees and began to pet Freeman’s dog, Penny. Every time Lonnie visited the bike shop, the cocker spaniel was either sleeping on the braided rug near the door or making a pest of herself with the ball she kept dropping at the customers’ feet.

  Lonnie glanced over at Freeman and Jake and wondered what they were saying. Since Jake was turned toward him, he tried to read his lips. It was good practice to do so. Jolene had told him that during one of their lessons. Lonnie was no expert on lip reading yet, but he was pretty sure Jake had said something about Jolene. He kept watching Jake’s lips. Had he said something about asking Jolene out?

  Lonnie wondered if he should try to discourage Jolene from seeing Jake. While Jake seemed like a nice enough fellow, Lonnie had heard that Jake had trouble staying in one place. Lonnie was just beginning to get to know Jolene, and she seemed like a nice young woman. If she was interested in Jake, then she’d be hurt if he left Indiana.

  A few more customers entered the shop, and Lonnie began to feel uncomfortable about watching Jake’s lips. Guess it’s really none of my business what Jake says or does, he decided. I have enough of my own problems to deal with.

  Penny’s tail swished against Lonnie’s arm, so he turned his attention to her again. The dog’s mouth opened, and as she pressed her body against him, Lonnie actually felt the vibration of her bark. This surprised him, because until he’d lost his hearing, he’d taken for granted the things he could feel, taste, smell, and see. When he’d first found out he was deaf, one of his nurses had told him that his other senses would become stronger. He guessed she’d been right.

  The dog swished her tail again, snatched Lonnie’s stocking cap, and tore across the room. Lonnie couldn’t let the mutt have his hat; it had been a Christmas gift from Mom. He took off after the dog, waving his hands. “Give me back my cap!”

  Penny zipped to the left, and then to the right, with Lonnie right on her heels. Freeman stopped talking to Jake and got in on the chase. Round and round the room they went, until the dog darted in between a row of bikes. Lonnie made a lunge for his cap, which was still hanging from the dog’s mouth. He missed, and the bikes toppled over, landing on the floor.

  Lonnie’s face heated. “I’m so sorry, Freeman. I hope nothing broke.”

  Freeman said something, but Lonnie couldn’t tell what. All eyes seemed to be on him, which made him feel even more embarrassed than he already was. He leaned in between the bikes, grabbed his cap, and raced out the door.

  ***

  For the last several days Ella had kept so busy doing chores and trying to help Mama cope that she hadn’t had time to continue looking for a job. She’d gone to the bank the other day and now knew that it wouldn’t be long until they were out of money. They might have to start selling off things like she’d seen some other people do because of a job loss.

  Ella removed the tea kettle from the stove and took a seat between Mama and Charlene at the table. As much as she dreaded it, they needed to discuss a few things.

  “I need to tell you something, Mama,” Ella said as she handed her mother a cup of tea.

  Mama looked at Ella with a pained expression. “Not more bad news, I hope.”

  Ella swallowed around the
lump in her throat. She wished she didn’t have to tell Mama the truth about their financial situation. “I’m afraid it is bad news. After looking through Papa’s books the other day, I discovered that several wind chime orders had been canceled. Since then, I’ve been to the bank and discovered that we have very little money left in our account.” Ella blinked hard to keep her tears from flowing. “Between that and the fact that Charlene and I can’t run the shop by ourselves, I’ve come to the conclusion that after we send out the few orders we have, we’ll need to close the shop.”

  Mama sat staring at her cup. Ella wondered if she’d even heard.

  Charlene’s face turned crimson, and she slammed her hand on the table so hard that it jiggled their cups. “It’s not fair that we lost Papa so unexpectedly! Do we have to lose his business, too?”

  “Lots of things in life aren’t fair, but...” Mama paused and blew her nose on her napkin. “Mer muss ausbeharre bis ans end.”

  “Why must we bear it until the end, Mama?” Charlene’s eyes flashed angrily, no longer the calm young woman she’d been the other evening. “Why doesn’t God bring only good things to the people who follow Him?”

  Lines of strain etched Mama’s face as she reached over and touched Charlene’s arm. “God didn’t promise that His people would never suffer. Tribulations are part of living in this sinful world.”

  Ella marveled at her mother’s wise remark. Despite the grief Mama had been dealing with, she was ministering to her hurting daughter. Mama truly was a remarkable woman, and that made Ella even more determined to take care of her and the rest of the family. Until she found a job, Ella would find it difficult to be hopeful, but she knew for her family’s sake that she must remain positive.