Amish Cooking Class--The Celebration

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “It’s okay. We had a picnic that evening, and afterward I was able to sit down with Randy and Marsha and look through a photo album that had belonged to their parents.” Heidi paused. “I believe it helped for the children to be able to talk about their mom and dad as they looked at all the pictures.”

  They chatted a bit longer, until Heidi said she should go back and check on the children.

  “Yes, I should check in with my family too.” Allie hugged Heidi once more, and they walked back inside together. “Please let me know how everything goes with the adoption.”

  Heidi nodded. “I certainly will.”

  Loudonville, Ohio

  “You kids are gonna have a great time here today,” Trent said as he pulled his newer-model truck into a large parking lot. He was glad the parking was free, because there was an admission fee for the event. The cost was minimal, however, and they’d probably be here most of the day, so he would get his money’s worth.

  “I like when you let us sit up front with you, Daddy.” Debbie grinned.

  “If I had some safety seats, you’d be sitting in the seat behind me. But the seat belts have you good and secure.”

  Kevin, who sat beside Trent, tapped his arm. “I forgot. What’d ya say is goin’ on here today?”

  “It’s the Great Mohican Powwow. We’re going to see all kinds of Native American events and activities.”

  “Like what?” Debbie peered around her brother, looking curiously at Trent.

  “There will be things like singing, dance and drum competitions, tomahawk throwing, fire starting, storytelling, flute making, and most likely lots more.” Trent wiggled his brows. “I found out about this event on the internet, and it said there would be over forty traders, artisans, and craftsmen.”

  “Will there be food to eat?” Kevin wanted to know.

  “Yep. There’ll be plenty of that.”

  “How come the Native Americans get together like this?” Debbie asked.

  “It’s a chance for them to sing, dance, renew old friendships, and make new friends too,” Trent explained. “It’s also a time to reflect on their ancestors’ old ways and preserve their people’s heritage.”

  Kevin’s eyes gleamed. “Can we get outa the truck now?”

  “In a minute, Son. I need to ask your sister a question first.” Trent leaned around Kevin so he could see his daughter’s face. “Did you take the envelope I gave you last Saturday to your mother?”

  She nodded.

  “What’d she say when she opened it?”

  “I don’t know, Daddy. I just handed it to her and said it was from you. Then I headed back to my room ’cause it was time for bed.”

  “Did your mom say anything about it the next day?”

  “Huh-uh.”

  Trent sagged against his seat. If the words Miranda had written on the card still meant something to her, surely she would have contacted him this past week. He would have to come up with some other idea now to win Miranda back.

  Walnut Creek

  Slicing a pineapple she’d purchased at the market yesterday, Velma sighed. She’d already been up a few hours after a fitful night of little sleep. She’d tossed and turned, done a lot of crying, and punched her pillow numerous times as well. So early this morning she’d risen from bed before the sun had come up.

  After sprucing up the living room and kitchen, while Peggy Ann and Eddie were still sleeping, Velma had gone to the living room, opened the drawer of an end table, and pulled out a dull white album that held her and Hank’s wedding pictures. Since they could not afford a professional photographer back then, Hank’s brother, who lived in South Carolina, had offered to take the pictures for them. A few weeks later, after the film was developed, her brother-in-law mailed them the pictures, which were inserted in a standard off-white album. Enclosed was also an envelope with the negatives, along with a card telling them the album and wedding pictures were his wedding gift to them. Velma remembered feeling grateful because his gift saved them a lot of money.

  Her mouth puckered as she bit into a slice of pineapple. So long ago. Velma heaved another sigh, flipping through the worn-out pages of the album. They were decent enough photos, and a few were exceptional. Years ago, Velma had intentions of purchasing an actual wedding album, picking out a few of the better prints, and having the pictures enlarged to put in a special keepsake album. After looking at many beautiful scrap books in the local card store, she gave up. There always seemed to be something more important to spend the money on, since the keepsake albums were not cheap.

  “Humph!” Velma mumbled out loud as she glanced around the small kitchen. “Like a lot of things I’d always hoped for, that wedding album never happened.”

  Looking at the pictures took her back in time. Except for the birth of her children, Velma couldn’t remember a happier moment than the day she married Hank. She sniffed and grabbed a napkin from the holder to wipe at a tear rolling down her cheek. Today was their twentieth wedding anniversary, and she’d be spending another one without her husband, since he was out on the road.

  The first couple of years of their marriage, Hank made sure to take the day off. He’d do something simple on their special day. Sometimes it was giving her a bouquet of cut flowers or some other sweet memento, along with a nice card. Velma still had every card Hank had given her. Sometimes they would start celebrating early and attend Fourth of July events around their hometown, with the evening ending in a stunning fireworks display. But as time went on, his romantic gestures waned, until their anniversary became like any other ordinary day.

  Things sure do change, Velma brooded. At times it really tore at her heart. Guess I should be used to it by now, though.

  Eddie chose that moment to come bounding into the kitchen, his brown hair uncombed and unruly. “Mornin’, Mama.” He grinned at her before getting the carton of milk out of the refrigerator, and then slid in his stocking feet all the way to the small pantry for his favorite box of cereal.

  Velma got up and put the album back, then went to the kitchen to get a bowl for her son.

  “Is cereal all ya want for breakfast? I can make an egg and toast if ya like, or even some pancakes.”

  “Nope, cereal’s fine.” Eddie winked one of his chocolate-colored eyes.

  “I’ll have cereal too.” Peggy Ann skipped into the kitchen.

  “Goodness.” Velma lifted her eyebrows. “You two are mighty chipper this morning.”

  After pouring milk on his cereal, Eddie handed the carton to his sister. “It’s Saturday, Mama, and our favorite cartoons are on.” He scooped up a spoonful of colorful crunchy puffs and put them in his mouth.

  Peggy Ann nodded while stirring the milk through her bowl of honey-flavored oats.

  “Okay, but you can only watch TV for an hour. Then I have some chores for you both to do.”

  Without argument, her children looked at her and nodded. That’s odd. Velma looked at her daughter, then her son. Normally they would fight me on doing chores.

  “You can take your bowls to the living room and set up TV trays, if you’d like to eat there. Also, here are some slices of pineapple to have with your cereal.” Any other time, Velma didn’t allow them to eat in the living room, but this morning, she made an exception.

  “Oh yummy.” Eddie took a slice of the fruit and had it eaten before he bounded out of the kitchen.

  “Thank you, Mama.” Peggy Ann put her pineapple slice on a napkin, then followed her brother.

  Velma got a bowl of cereal for herself and sat back down at the table. She could see the kids through the open doorway, sitting quietly, eating, and watching TV. I wonder if those two heard me crying during the night. It wouldn’t surprise me as loud as I got. Maybe that’s why they were bein’ so nice.

  Canton

  “I don’t see why I have to go with you today,” Kassidy complained as they headed to the home where Denise would be conducting an open house in the afternoon. “I’m old enough to stay by myself, you k
now.”

  Denise clicked her newly manicured fingernails against the steering wheel. “How many times must we have this discussion?”

  Kassidy said nothing.

  Some parents might be comfortable leaving their eleven-year-old at home alone for a good chunk of the day, but Denise wasn’t one of them. Besides, bringing Kassidy along would give her daughter something to do besides fooling with her cell phone. Denise still didn’t understand why Greg thought it necessary to give their daughter her own phone at such a young age. It would make more sense if Kassidy was older, and had a car or a job. As far as Denise could tell, the only thing Kassidy used her phone for was texting friends, taking selfies, and and sharing them with friends. Occasionally, she found her playing a game, but were those things reason enough to pay for the extra phone?

  “You know, someday when you grow up, you might decide to become a Realtor, so helping me at the open house today can be beneficial.”

  “I don’t see how, Mom. All I’m gonna do is just stand around. Good thing I brought my cell phone along so I’ll have something to do.”

  Denise shook her head. “You are not going to play on that phone today. In fact, when we get there, I want you to give it to me.”

  “What?” Kassidy groaned. “How come?”

  “Because it’s a distraction you don’t need. Today I’ll need you to keep an eye on the brochures I will have set out, and if the pile goes down, you can replace them with more from my briefcase.”

  “That’s gonna be boring.” Kassidy kicked the back of Denise’s seat.

  “You can also make sure the plate of cookies I brought gets refilled as needed.” Denise glanced in the rearview mirror. “And please stop kicking my seat. It’s distracting.”

  “Okay, whatever. What I wanna know is what are you gonna do the whole time during the open house?”

  “I will be answering the door and showing prospective home buyers through the house.”

  “That sounds like more fun than what I’ll be doing.”

  Denise released a puff of air as she turned up the driveway leading to the house with the For Sale sign. This home would also bring a good commission if she found a buyer willing to pay the full asking price.

  At least Kassidy wasn’t putting up too much of a fuss at this point. Denise parked the car. Maybe the scripture verse Heidi put on the back of a previous recipe card about children obeying their parents is getting through to my daughter. I wonder what verse Heidi will share with the class next week when we go to her house.

  Walnut Creek

  After lunch, Velma pulled weeds, while the kids gathered up their toys that were strewn all over the yard. Something strange was going on, but she wasn’t about to question anything. It was rare when the kids did what she asked without moping about it or suddenly making themselves scarce.

  Earlier, after watching their favorite cartoon, Peggy Ann and Eddie had actually cleaned their rooms and even removed the sheets from their beds so Velma could put fresh linens on.

  To the best of her knowledge, Hank wasn’t due home until sometime Monday. I’ll bet he doesn’t even call to give me an anniversary wish. As she pulled some stubborn dandelion stems out of the dry dirt, her thoughts went back to their wedding day.

  Velma had been nineteen when she walked down the aisle to the man she had fallen in love with. The man she wanted to make dreams, have children, and grow old with.

  Back then they’d started with nothing, and twenty years later, they still had very little. Except for having children, not many of their dreams had come true.

  “You’d think after this many years, we’d be further ahead in our life.” Velma stood up, wiping a dirty hand across her sweaty forehead. Her knee still hurt, but not as bad. Still, she was careful not to put a lot of pressure on it and cause more problems. They certainly couldn’t afford any unnecessary medical bills.

  Hearing a horn honk, as an unfamiliar car pulled into the driveway, Velma shielded her eyes from the sun and watched the vehicle come to a stop. She could barely see someone waving through the tinted glass.

  Wiping her hands on the back of her coveralls, Velma started walking toward the car, when a woman wearing sunglasses, and dressed in a stylish blouse with neatly pressed twill slacks, got out.

  “Velma!” The woman hurried in her direction.

  “Nellie!” Velma recognized her voice. “Is it really you?” Meeting her halfway, she smothered her childhood friend with a huge hug.

  “Oh, Velma, it’s been way too long.” Nellie’s voice caught. “But life gets in the way sometimes. I’m just glad you sent me your change of address when you and your family moved here from Kentucky.”

  “It’s wonderful to see you. I had no idea you were coming.”

  “Sorry, I should have called, but I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “I’m surprised, all right. So glad I’m home today.” Velma took Nellie’s arm and steered her to the plastic resin picnic table under their one and only tree. “My, my… Just look at you. Except for your hair being styled a bit shorter, you haven’t changed one bit.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.” A blush crept across Nellie’s cheeks.

  “Look at me. I’m a mess.” Velma quickly crossed her arms to hide her dirty hands. “Can I get you something to drink, or have you had lunch yet?”

  “Maybe something cold to drink. I stopped at a restaurant for lunch about an hour ago.”

  “Come inside with me while I wash these grungy hands, and afterwards I’ll make us some lemonade. We can come back out here and catch up with each other at the picnic table.”

  Nellie grinned. “Sounds wonderful.”

  After Velma mixed the lemonade and poured them each a glass, she and Nellie headed back out to the yard.

  “Come here, Eddie and Peggy Ann,” Velma called to her kids once she and Nellie got seated. “I want you to meet someone special.”

  When the children ran up to them, Velma introduced Nellie. “Peggy Ann and Eddie, this is my friend Nellie Burns.” Velma touched Nellie’s arm. “We grew up together when we lived in Kentucky, and were very close, almost like sisters. Nellie moved away before you two were born.”

  “Hello.” Peggy Ann grinned shyly.

  “Nice to meet ya,” Eddie said with a nod.

  “Well it certainly is nice to meet you both, as well.” Nellie reached out and shook the children’s hands.

  “Okay, you two, go on in and pour yourself some lemonade, and then continue with what you were doin’. Afterwards, you can relax; you both did a good job today.” Velma smiled as they ran toward the door, each trying to get inside first.

  After the kids went inside, Velma looked at Nellie. “I’ve thought about you often over the years. Wondered how you were doing. Did you ever get married again after Ted died?”

  Nellie shook her head. “I never remarried. I’ve been single so long now I’m sort of used to being on my own.” Nellie took a sip of her drink. “What about you? What’s happened with you since we last saw each other?”

  Velma lowered her head. “Not much to talk about. I’d hoped when Hank suggested we move here, things would get better for us.”

  “And they haven’t?” Velma saw pity in her friend’s eyes.

  “Nope.” Velma went on to tell Nellie about her two oldest children leaving home. “Most recently, our teenage daughter, Bobbie Sue, left a note and ran off with her boyfriend, Kenny, saying she plans to marry him as soon as she turns eighteen. Who knows—they’re probably hitched by now.”

  Nellie didn’t say anything but continued to listen.

  “Bobbie Sue’s boyfriend would not have been my choice for our daughter, but then it’s sorta fitting I guess. My parents didn’t approve of Hank either, but I still married him. You know the ole saying: what goes around comes around.” Velma stopped talking and sniffed. “Hank owns a semitruck and is gone a lot, so it’s been kinda lonely since we moved here. Other than an Amish woman who lives down the road, I haven’t
made any friends.”

  Nellie placed her hand on Velma’s arm. “I’m sorry. I wish I’d kept in better touch.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Velma released a lingering sigh. “To make matters worse, today is Hank’s and my wedding anniversary.”

  “I really should have called ahead. I hope I’m not in the way of any plans you and your husband have for today.”

  Velma shook her head. “Plans? What plans? Hank’s not here to help me celebrate, and he didn’t even leave me a card before he headed out on the road.” A lump formed in Velma’s throat, and she swallowed a couple of times, hoping to push it down.

  “That’s too bad.” Nellie gave Velma’s arm a motherly pat.

  “So, what brings you to Ohio? I’m sure you didn’t come here just to see me.” Velma asked, not wanting to talk about her husband anymore.

  “Well, I’m actually heading to Pittsburgh, where my son, Dale, lives. He and his wife, Kay, had a baby boy recently, and I’m anxious to meet the little guy.” Nellie smiled. “They want me to move there, and I’m seriously considering it. Being close to family will be better than living alone.”

  Velma nodded. “I hope it all works out.”

  “Same here.” Nellie turned her head in the direction Eddie and Peggy Ann were pointing at something in the yard. “Peggy Ann reminds me of you at that age.”

  “You think so?”

  “Definitely.”

  When a cloud floated over the sun, a moment of cool air passed through the leaves above them. Velma lifted her head toward the limbs overhead. The air felt so refreshing. Then she looked back at Nellie. “Ya know, even though me and Hank have had some struggles along the way, things could always be worse.”

  “Velma, I’m really sorry for all you’ve had to go through.” Nellie patted Velma’s arm again. “I wonder if there is such a thing as a perfect marriage. It seems everyone I know who’s married, even those who seem to have a good relationship, has something they’re dealing with—either in their marriage, with their children, or even the in-laws.”