The Courtship Basket

by Amy Clipston

  The trailer was spacious enough for their needs. It had an area in the center of the room for the students’ desks, and learning stations were situated around the room. Brightly colored photos of farm animals featuring the names of the four students hung on the wall in one corner. A colorful alphabet, complete with a pictured item illustrating each letter, was displayed on the wall above the dry-erase board. Large, open windows lined each wall, and an unusually warm, late-March breeze filled the room with the smell of spring and new beginnings.

  It had been only two weeks since she’d accepted her cousin Malinda’s invitation to start teaching there. After speaking to the parent committee and then observing the class, Rachel was finally ready to take her place at the front of the classroom with Malinda. Although she’d never imagined herself working as a teacher, Rachel quickly poured herself into learning the teaching techniques Malinda used for the students at this special school, which offered more one-on-one attention than the larger, one-room schoolhouses could offer.

  Rachel looked at the five small desks in the center of the room. A new student was going to join their class today, and she couldn’t wait to meet him. The school was for students who needed extra help, including children from different school districts in all of the Lancaster County Amish community, so Rachel wasn’t acquainted with the new student or his family.

  “I’ll have to make a name sign for John Lantz,” Rachel said. “Do we have more of those farm signs?”

  “Ya, we do.” Malinda pointed to a drawer unit near the desk. “You can write his name on one and his parents’ names on another picture. His parents’ names are in the file by our desk. I’ll get the animal pictures out for you.” She paused, frowning. “I wonder if you should only write his dat’s name. His mamm passed away.”

  “Ach, no.” Rachel shook her head. “That’s so bedauerlich.”

  “I know.” Malinda nodded. “His dat is very ill. His older bruder, Mike, is raising him.”

  “That has to be difficult for him.” Rachel crossed the room to the desk, picked up John’s file, and placed it on the table near the front of the room before flipping it open. She leafed through, finding each of his work papers from his previous teacher covered in red ink. “He’s really been struggling with reading and math.”

  “Ya, he has. I spoke with his former teacher, and she was hoping he could finish first grade with her. But she said he was struggling, and it was becoming a behavior issue. That’s why Mike and his father made the decision to move him to this school. John needs a lot of extra help.” Malinda took two farm animal pictures from the storage unit and then a black Sharpie from the cup on the desk. “Here. You can write the names.”

  “Danki.” Rachel found John’s parents’ names on the front of the folder. She wrote John Lantz on the picture featuring a cow and then stared at his mother’s name. She looked at the wall at the far end of the room where the other students’ and parents’ names were displayed. “I’m going write his mother’s name. I’m certain her memory is still a part of his life.”

  “I agree.” Malinda stood, and her gaze moved to the back of the room. She was a couple inches shorter than Rachel. Like Rachel, she had brown hair and brown eyes. “And we don’t want him to feel left out when he sees both of the other scholars’ parents listed there.”

  “Exactly.” Rachel wrote out Vera and Raymond Lantz as she pondered John. Her prayers went out to the little boy, who was only six years old. He didn’t have his mother, and his father was ill. No wonder he struggled in school. She silently vowed to be the best teacher she could be for him.

  Rachel took the tape dispenser from the desk and went to the back of the room. She taped the two farm pictures near the others. “I think we’re all set for his arrival now. I’ll make sure we have his books together.”

  “Danki. I’d like to try having the scholars read aloud today,” Malinda said as she organized a stack of papers on the large desk they would now share at the front of the room. “I think Lizzie is ready to read in front of the class. She’s becoming much more confident since I started working with her more. She showed a big improvement last week.”

  “I’m not surprised she’s improving so much. I could tell when I visited your class that you’re a really gut teacher,” Rachel said. Concern suddenly filled her. “I hope I will do as well as you do with the kinner.”

  Malinda gave Rachel an encouraging smile. “I have complete faith that you will be a wunderbaar teacher. I’m so thankful you agreed to come and help me with this school.”

  “Danki for asking me.” Rachel moved to the front of the classroom and arranged a stack of books for John as Malinda began to place math worksheets on the students’ desks.

  “How is Veronica doing?” Malinda asked.

  “She’s doing well.” Rachel set the dry-erase marker on the ledge in front of the board. “She and Jason moved into their new haus last week and she’s really froh. He’s going to build her a bake stand by the road so she can sell her pies when it warms up.”

  “That’s wunderbaar.” Malinda’s smile faded. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m fine.” Rachel needed to change the subject. She didn’t want to think about David or Sharon. Although it had been a month since the breakup, it was difficult enough seeing them together at church services and youth gatherings. Their happiness was apparent in their shining smiles and intimate whispers. Rachel’s belief that David loved her and was going to marry her had been nothing but a childish fantasy. He had been in love with her former best friend all along, or at least for a while now. The thought still caused her chest to ache, but the sting of the breakup had softened slightly.

  She turned toward the windows and saw a white van with an unfamiliar driver parked behind the schoolhouse. “I think our new student is here.”

  “Oh?” Malinda turned toward the window. “Ya, I think so. Would you like to go meet him? I met with his family last week, so he’s already met me. You can go introduce yourself, and I’ll get the other scholars ready for the day.”

  “That’s a gut idea.”

  Rachel stepped outside the trailer and walked down the steps to the small rock driveway where the van was parked. The back door slid open revealing a small, blond boy with bright blue eyes sitting by a man with the same blond hair and blue eyes. Rachel realized he must be Michael Lantz, John’s brother. A young woman with brown hair and brown eyes was with them, and Rachel wondered if she was a member of the family too.

  Rachel was ready to greet all of them, but the boy and man were engrossed in a conversation and were oblivious to Rachel’s presence.

  The young woman climbed from the van and smiled. “Gude mariye.” She gestured for Rachel to step away from the van so they could talk. “You must be Rachel. Malinda told me about you. I’m Marie, John’s cousin. I help take care of John and his dat.” She nodded toward the van. “John is a little naerfich. He wasn’t froh when Mike told him he had to come to another school, but we’ve been doing our best to encourage him.”

  “We’ll take gut care of him,” Rachel said. “Malinda and I are excited for John to join our class.”

  A flurry of activity and noise filled the air as children entered the schoolyard and filed into the two schoolhouses. Rachel nodded greetings at students before turning her attention back to Marie. She looked past her into the van, where John and his older brother were still talking. John’s little face contorted with a frown as he stared up at his brother. The boy looked determined to stay in the van.

  “Do you think I should help get John from the van?” Rachel offered. “Maybe I can coax him to meet the other kinner?”

  Marie craned her neck to look into the van. “Ya, that’s a gut idea. John argued with Mike and me during the drive here. It’s not just that he doesn’t want to go to this school. He thinks he should stay home and take care of his dat. I told him that’s my job, but he won’t listen.”

  Rachel shook her head as empathy washed over her. “That poor bu.
I promise I’ll do my best to make him feel comfortable.”

  “Danki.” Marie touched her arm. “Things have been difficult for him.”

  “I understand. Let’s see if I can help.” Rachel moved to the van. “Hi, John. I’m Rachel.”

  Mike and John both turned toward her, and she forced a smile despite their frowns.

  “I’m a new teacher,” Rachel said. “Today is my first day here, just like it’s yours. We can help each other. Would you like to be my helper today?”

  John looked skeptical, but Mike’s frown eased slightly. She studied his tense expression, and his eyes seemed to plead with her to help him get John out of the van.

  She looked back at John. “Would you like to walk in with me and meet the other students?”

  John gnawed his lower lip.

  “They can’t wait to meet you. Malinda told them you were coming this week, and they’re very excited.” Rachel held out her hand, and John stared at it. “I promise we’ll have fun today.”

  John turned to Mike. “You come too.”

  Mike pressed his lips together. “John, I told you. I’m already late for work.”

  John’s face crumpled, and alarm rang through Rachel. He was going to cry. She had to do something to encourage him to join the class—fast!

  “I have an idea,” Rachel chimed in. “What if Mike came to the door and watched you step into the classroom? He could see you walk to your desk and then say good-bye.”

  John thought about the suggestion and then nodded. “Ya, that’s gut.”

  “Wunderbaar.” Rachel held out her hand again. “Let’s go inside.”

  John took her hand and jumped out of the van. But then he unexpectedly released her hand and rushed toward the trailer.

  “Don’t run,” Marie warned. “You might fall.” She jammed her thumb toward the van. “I’ll wait here. Danki, Rachel.”

  “Ya, danki.” Mike sidled up to Rachel. “I didn’t know what to do. But he suddenly seems eager to see what’s going on inside.”

  Rachel looked up at him as he towered over her. He was taller than David, and she surmised he had to be close to six foot two. He was handsome with a long, thin nose and clean-shaven face. His eyes reminded her of bright blue hydrangeas she’d once seen at the grocery store, but they held both sadness and tension.

  “Gern gschehne.” She shrugged. “I’m just glad it worked.”

  “We had a rough start to the day,” Mike continued, cupping his hand to the back of his neck. “He fought with me all morning when I tried to get him ready, and then he begged me to ride in the van with him. He doesn’t understand that I have to get to work.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Rachel said. “Marie told me John wanted to stay home with your dat.”

  Mike sighed. “Ya.”

  “Mike!” John called from the doorway to the trailer. “Come see my desk.” He waved and then disappeared into the schoolhouse again.

  Mike gestured toward the door. “We’d better go.”

  Rachel followed him up the steps, and as they entered the schoolroom they found John already standing by his desk.

  “Teacher Malinda says this is my desk,” John said. He pointed at Peter King standing beside him. “This is Peter. He sits next to me.”

  “That’s gut.” Mike smiled and relief sparkled in his eyes. “I need to go now. I’ll see you tonight.”

  John nodded and then waved, for the moment at least, all hesitation gone. “Bye!”

  Mike turned to Rachel. “Danki.” His eyes held her gaze for a few moments before he nodded. “I really appreciate it.”

  “Gern gschehne,” she said. “I’ll write in his daily journal and let you know how each day goes.”

  Rachel watched him walk toward the door. As he stepped out into the sunlight, she turned toward her class and took a deep breath. Her teaching adventure was about to begin.

  “HOW WAS YOUR FIRST DAY?” MAMM ASKED AS RACHEL STEPPED into the kitchen later that afternoon.

  “It was gut.” Rachel dropped her tote bag and lunch pail on a kitchen chair and sat down on the chair beside it. “It was very busy.”

  Mamm brought a plate of rolls to the table, along with a butter dish. “Supper will be ready in about thirty minutes. Emily and I made a chicken casserole.”

  Rachel inhaled the aroma, and her stomach gurgled. “I worked up an appetite.” She grabbed a roll, pulled it apart, and began slathering it with butter.

  “Rachel!” Emily rushed into the kitchen from the stairwell. “I was just wondering how your day went. How do you like teaching?”

  “I liked it.” Rachel bit into the warm roll and considered the children. “A new student joined the class today. His name is John Lantz. His mamm passed away, and his dat is very ill. He’s only six years old and his bruder is raising him.”

  “Ach, no.” Emily’s eyes quickly shimmered with tears. “That’s so sad.”

  Rachel nodded. “His bruder and cousin told me John didn’t want to come to school today, so Malinda and I tried to make it fun for him.”

  “How did he do?” Mamm asked.

  Rachel frowned. “He had a difficult time focusing. I had to keep reminding him to stay in his seat and to follow instructions. I can see why his former teacher struggled.” Her thoughts turned to what Marie had told her. “His cousin said he wanted to stay home so he could help take care of his dat.”

  Emily sighed and shook her head. “Poor bu.”

  Rachel smiled determinedly as she remembered the sadness in Mike’s eyes. “Malinda and I will take gut care of him.”

  “I’m so froh you’re teaching,” Mamm said. “I know you’ll do a wunderbaar job. Malinda was so schmaert to ask you to help her with her class.”

  “And it came at the right time for you,” Emily chimed in as she swiped a roll from the plate. “You can focus all your energy on those kinner and give them the extra attention they need.”

  “Right.” Rachel took another bite of her roll and wondered how she could help John and his family.

  MIKE CLOSED THE BARN DOOR AND STARTED FOR THE LARGE, whitewashed farmhouse he’d lived in since birth. His boots crunched on the rock path leading to the house as he reflected on the day. His muscles ached from his long shift at Bird-in-Hand Builders creating wooden lawn ornaments, and he couldn’t shake the bleak mood that had been resting on his shoulders from the time he’d awoken this morning. He couldn’t stand arguing with his baby brother, but he had to get John to school.

  Why did John have to make things so difficult?

  Because he’s only six and doesn’t understand what’s going on.

  Mike’s inner voice stopped him in his tracks. He asked God daily for patience and strength while he carried the burden of raising his brother and caring for his father. He needed to continue to pray for both.

  His boots clomped up the back porch steps. He pulled open the door and entered the house through the mudroom, where he yanked off his boots and set them beneath the bench.

  “Mike?” Marie poked her head into the mudroom, her face filled with concern. “I was starting to get worried. You’re usually home an hour before this.”

  “I had some work to finish up since I was late this morning.” He stepped into the kitchen and inhaled the delicious aroma of meat loaf, which caused his stomach to rumble.

  Marie frowned. “Did you skip lunch again?”

  He shook his head as he sat down at the kitchen table. “I ate an apple and a couple of kichlin one of the other workers brought in.”

  She clicked her tongue like an irritated mother. “You need your strength, Mike. Have a seat and I’ll fix you a plate.” She crossed the room to the oven and pulled out a plate with a large piece of barbecue meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a roll. She placed the plate in front of him and then brought him a glass of water.

  “Danki.” He closed his eyes for a silent prayer and then smiled up at her. “I appreciate that you stayed late tonight. I don’t know what I’d
do without your help.”

  “Don’t be gegisch.” Marie waved off his words. “I’m froh to help.”

  “How’s mei dat?” Mike asked before forking a hunk of meat loaf.

  When Marie’s frown returned, his stomach clenched with apprehension. “He didn’t do well with the treatment today. The nurses said his blood pressure dropped, and they had to elevate his legs.”

  Mike dropped his fork with a clatter. “Why didn’t they call me? I would’ve rushed to the dialysis center to be there with him.”

  “Everything is okay.” Marie held up her hands as if to calm him. “When I went to pick him up, the nurse said he was okay. He just had to rest.”

  Mike pushed back his chair and stood. “I’ll go check on him.”

  “Mike, he’s fine,” Marie insisted. “He ate a little bit of meat loaf and then asked me to help him get ready for bed. He’s tired, but I really think he’ll be fine. You should finish your supper before you check on him. He’s sleeping. I just checked on him a few minutes before you got home.”

  Mike forked more meat loaf into his mouth. Although it was delicious, he wasn’t enjoying it. His stomach was too tied up in anxious knots. “How’s John?”

  “He’s gut.” Marie fingered a paper napkin. “He did his chores and then took his bath. He’s looking at books in his room.”

  “Did he say anything about school?” Mike pressed on between bites of mashed potatoes.

  “He didn’t seem to want to talk about it.” Marie stood and walked to the sink. “I’m certain he’ll be fine.” She lifted a dish from the drainboard. “It will take him a few days to adjust to the new school, but it will be fine. Rachel seems like a wunderbaar teacher.”

  Mike thought about the pretty brunette teacher as he speared a few green beans with his fork. She had treated John with patience and understanding, and she’d known exactly what to say to get him out of the van and into the classroom. So he was sure she could help his brother adjust to the new school and get him caught up with his reading and writing.