CHAPTER 17
On Sunday morning, Katy and Lil chatted as they passed a row of cars and headed toward the rectangular shaped—soon to be L-shaped—meetinghouse. A young couple directly in front of them reined in their tiny children, who had spotted the playground and had tried to veer off toward it.
“No. Maybe after church for a few minutes,” their mother corrected. “But it might be too cold.”
“And no talking in church today,” their father added. “Children are to be seen and not heard at times like this.”
Katy’s eyes, however, lingered nostalgically on the side lawn, now snowy and covered with worn playground equipment. There she and her girlfriends had often sung their ditties. She and Lil had always vied for control on the teeter-totter. Lil, who had weighed more at the time, had often kept Katy airborne at her protest. It had been an act, however, for Katy had always preferred the loftier position.
Now, at last, she hoped the contention was gone between them. She hoped the manipulative games were finished. She didn’t wish to be a fraud. She wondered if Megan could sense the change in their relationship or if they would revert back to their old behavior in her presence.
Wrestling with that disturbing thought, she tentatively glanced at Lil, who had moved on from the head chef’s ridiculous requests to describe a certain waiter’s distracting eyes.
“Speaking of distractions,” Katy cut in, “I hope when Megan comes over today, we don’t revert to our old style of bickering.”
At first Lil’s expression blanked, lost in the sudden twist of the conversation; then she smiled. “We won’t let that happen.” They entered the lobby, and Lil’s family called out to her. “Save me a seat, okay? I want talk to my mom.”
“Sure.” Inside the sanctuary, Katy veered to the left, where the women sat, to locate her favorite pew. Her sister, Karen, spied her and hurried over.
“Hi, sis. I miss you. The bed stays cold all night. And it’s no fun being outnumbered. I never realized how much you stuck up for me around the boys. And Mom hasn’t gotten me a new night-light yet. Anyway, she says I can sit with you, if you don’t care.”
“Yes, sit with us.” Katy clamped an arm around her sister’s shoulders and squeezed. “I miss you, too. After all, you are my only sister.”
“Exactly. Please come for dinner today. Mom said to ask you. Please. Please.”
“Oh I’m sorry. Lil already has lunch planned. Megan’s coming over.” At Karen’s crestfallen expression, she quickly added. “Tell Mom I’ll come next Sunday for sure.”
“Promise? It’ll be fun.”
“I promise.”
Lil and a few stragglers shuffled in. Brother Troyer and the song leader strode to the front, causing a hush to fall over the congregation. There was no raised platform. Void of stained glass or unnecessary grandeur, the architecture and interior were plain, reflecting the humble mind-set of the worshippers. But after the singing, the sermon was anything but ordinary.
“Sometimes an unrest blows across a congregation. Like the wind before a storm. Every generation or so, this happens. It has happened again. I believe it’s time to address some hard issues like submission and the prayer covering.”
If possible, the congregation became even quieter. “In the coming month, I will preach on husband-and-wife relationships, discussing how marriage symbolizes the relationship between God and the church. We will also review the scriptures on the prayer bonnet, which sets us apart from the world.”
Katy felt a jubilant little thrill and forced herself not to glance at Lil, whose face must have turned scarlet.
“Rumblings of discontent can destroy a congregation. We’ve already amended the custom from our Amish friends by allowing our women to take the strings off our bonnets. It’s time we take a fresh look at the symbol and explore its relevance to this generation. While it sets us apart from the outsiders, it’s starting to divide us as insiders. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but right below the scripture regarding the prayer bonnet, the Lord commands the church not to allow division over unimportant issues.”
Katy joined the collective gasp that roused and then hushed the congregation. Was he insinuating that the bonnet was an unimportant issue? Right before that, he had stated the matter was not to be taken lightly. She stirred uncomfortably.
“Some would argue that the covering’s not necessary because it was merely a custom in the apostle Paul’s time. Others may think it is appropriate for church and prayer but not everyday life. We’ll get into all that. And after the series is over, we’ll hold a meeting and listen to the congregation’s input. We’ll encourage the women to participate freely at this meeting. Afterward, a vote will be taken on how we will adhere to the custom. Then I pray that our congregation will abide by the decision, and we can move on at peace with one another. For if we are not at peace with one another”—he raised his arm toward heaven and lowered his voice to a near whisper—“how can we exemplify our Lord?”
Countless questions churned in Katy’s mind. Who had complained about the head covering? Was it possible the church would outvote something so vital? Her pulse sped, and her body threw off enough heat to warm the sanctuary.
She knew there were sects of Mennonites who had already abandoned the head covering, but she’d never dreamed the Conservatives would even consider it. Or wouldn’t they be Conservatives any longer? Would they move into a higher conference? Was that the ulterior motive of some, bringing televisions and regular clothing into the church, too?
She stared at the elderly preacher. Surely not while Brother Troyer was shepherding the flock. Tension crawled up the back of her neck. As the service wore on, she fought the urge to go out for fresh air. She rubbed her aching temples and glanced across the aisle at the clock near the exit sign.
Fifteen more minutes. She ran the scenarios through her mind again. And only when Karen nudged her, did she discover that she’d been leaning forward and staring at the men’s side far too long. But just before she straightened, she met Jake’s amused gaze. And he had the audacity to wink at her.
She straightened her spine and looked back at the preacher, then at the plain wooden cross that graced the wall behind the pulpit. Its larger counterpart marked the exterior of the meetinghouse as a house of God, but Katy wondered how pleased God was over the bonnet controversy.
The ride home from church was subdued, neither Katy nor Lil having the courage to bring up the bonnet issue and risk a potential argument. They talked about how good it was to see their families and agreed to spend the following Sunday with them. Lil was worried about her mom, who had been declining ever since the church fire. “I think she’s blaming herself, ashamed over all the trouble and expense the fire’s caused,” Lil explained. “Although even before the fire, Mom was acting depressed.”
“But nobody accused her?” Katy asked.
“No, but the fire marshal went to the house and questioned her.”
“Because she’s chairman of the hostess committee?”
Lil nodded. “Dad told me she felt like a criminal. He’s real worried about her. Dad seems more stressed than usual, too.”
“Maybe the sermons Brother Troyer has planned will help her.”
“No,” Lil shook her head. “I don’t think it has anything to do with their marriage.”
Katy fell quiet, not knowing how else to help. But she determined in her heart to pray for Mrs. Landis.
When they reached the doddy house, David was just getting out of his car, too. As soon as Lil parked, he strode toward them. Before she opened her door, she turned to Katy apologetically. “Do you care if I go on in and start lunch?”
Katy cast a reluctant look in David’s direction but relented. “That’s fine. I’ll be right in.” She swept her purse off the floor and stepped out of the car.
David waved. “Lunch ready? I’m starved.”
“Well …”
He chuckled. “Just kidding. I’m eating at Ivan and Elizabeth’s.�
� Before Katy could respond, he added cheerfully, “But I’m available for dessert.”
Katy placed her hand on her hip. “I’ll just bet you are.”
“So is that an invitation?”
Katy thought about the devil’s food cake that Lil had baked and hesitated, thankful when she recognized Megan’s car pulling into the drive. David’s gaze followed the blue Ford, then returned to Katy to wait for her answer.
She finally offered, “You can stop in this afternoon if you’re not afraid of the odds.”
“What odds?”
“Three to one.”
He watched Megan get out of the car. “You’ve got to be kidding. Those are great odds. Even if they weren’t, you should know better than to dare a guy.”
She countered, “It’s not exactly a dare.”
He flashed his dimple. “What is it?”
Katy shrugged, giving in to his good-natured teasing. “We’re just hanging out. Drop by if you want. Lil usually makes popcorn mid-afternoon.”
He chuckled. “You sure it wasn’t a dare?”
Katy smiled, not sure why he was laughing but finding his amusement contagious. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Thanks. Maybe another time.”
She waited until David had turned his back and rolled her gaze heavenward. She watched him stride toward Ivan’s, seeming more mysterious than ever.
Inside the doddy house, the smell of flank steak and honeyed carrots roused Katy’s appetite.
“Wow, look at this place. You guys are all settled in.” Megan made a slow circle of the combo dining and living area, then went through the doorway to the kitchen. “This is nothing like my dorm. You guys seem domesticated.”
Katy tied her apron. “We are.” Then she teased, “Hey, Lil, I’ll peel the potatoes if you pitch your own soda cans today.”
“Deal.”
Megan pulled potatoes from a bag and washed them in the antique kitchen sink. All the while, Katy could feel her quietly observing them. She peeled and plopped the potatoes in a black kettle.
After several minutes passed, Megan spoke her mind. “You guys have jobs and are making this happen. But what about me? What am I going to do after college?” It was a question they couldn’t answer since none of Megan’s job-hunting pursuits had ever been successful.
Once Megan had applied at the Plain City Laundromat, but when she had been offered a position, she had asked for time off to teach Bible school. They had hired someone else instead. She had checked out the recycle plant in Columbus, but thought the application process was too complicated just for a summer job. Her longest job had been delivery girl at a flower shop. But that fizzled when her allergies worsened.
Katy had hoped Megan would find her niche before she graduated, but Megan’s dreams flitted about butterfly-style, matching her personality. While she made the world around her a beautiful place, she flew from one pretty flower to another, never finding a place to employ her special talents. Katy wondered if butterflies ever remained still unless they were pinned to a collector’s board. She’d never want to destroy Megan’s spirit.
At present it was engaged in praising Rosedale’s mission opportunities. “In Nicaragua, people line up to get in the eye clinic,” Megan explained. “I was talking to a guy who went last year. He said they had cobblestone roads with palm trees and lizards in the hotels and papayas at every meal and dogfights that woke them at night.”
An image of Tyler’s science project popped into Katy’s mind.
“I can picture you there,” Lil said. “Let’s fill our plates at the counter so Katy doesn’t have such a mess to clean up.”
“Hey, thanks,” Katy said, giving her friend a little hip-to-hip bump, then forking a serving of tender meat onto her plate. “We can’t wait for you to join us here, green bean, but you need to go for your dreams. Maybe God’s destined you to be a missionary.”
“You think?”
The wistfulness in Megan’s voice touched Katy.
“I think you should try a mission trip. See how it goes.”
“Even if it keeps me from job hunting? From moving into the doddy house right after graduation?”
“We’re doing fine here,” Lil replied, shooting a meaningful glance Katy’s way. “Committing to a job is a tough thing. Especially a dead-end job. Maybe you’re not ready for that yet.”
It amazed Katy that Lil would release Megan from their vow so easily, and she wondered if Lil would have been able to do that if they hadn’t just had their big argument. They were changing, all of them. It blessed her. And she hoped it would continue for their betterment.
But she could only take a little change at a time. And the one happening at church was too dramatic. As they settled in at the kitchen table, where she and Lil had bared their souls with each other earlier in the week, Katy glanced at Megan. Striving to keep her voice sounding nonchalant, Katy ventured, “What’s the deal about the head covering? You guys know anything about that?”
“Not me,” Lil quickly replied.
“My dad says we’re losing some members to higher churches”—the girls all understood the Mennonite lingo for more liberal churches—“and that although it’s up to a husband to be a spiritual leader, the women usually have the most influence behind the scenes. Giving them a chance to express themselves on this matter might appease more of our members in the long run.”
“So it’s just an offensive tactic? There’s not really a group of dissenters?”
“I think there is, but Dad didn’t name any names.”
“Wow,” Lil muttered.
Katy said, “I’m glad Brother Troyer’s going to teach on the subject. Like he said, maybe it will help everyone see its relevance.”
“Or irrelevance,” Lil countered gently.
“Well it’s relevant to me,” Katy said in a softer tone than she normally would have used.
Megan eyed them carefully. “My dad says it could save the church, but it could also split the church. But if it does, then it probably would have happened some time, anyway. So it’s worth a try.”
Katy set down her fork. “This is awful.”
“Some churches require bonnets at services but allow the people to decide whether they’re worn at other times,” Megan offered.
Feeling the color drain from her face, Katy strained to keep her poise. “Is that what you think should happen, green bean? Is that what your dad thinks?”
Megan nodded. “Yes. It would be good if everyone agreed to disagree.”
Naturally. That had always been Megan’s goal. She and her family lived and breathed peace, the fiber that kept the Mennonite church grounded in its nonresistant stand. But Katy didn’t get it. “How can it be both ways when it clearly states in the Bible that women should cover their heads?”
“In church and in prayer,” Lil clarified.
“Maybe we need to hear all the teaching before we discuss this,” Megan suggested. Then she asked, “Is there dessert?”
“Devil’s food cake,” Lil said, seeming happy to change the subject, too.
But Katy thought keeping the peace came at too great a price. She didn’t want the elders to mess with her bonnet. Why, it was almost as sacred to her as her Bible.
CHAPTER 18
In her closet, Katy sighed and scraped hangers across clothes rods, searching through her wardrobe for something appropriate to wear to the ballet. When Addison had shown her the pink confection Tammy had bought her daughter for the performance, Katy’s heart had sunk to a deeper level in the downward ballet spiral of doom. Would they even allow her inside the magnificent theater, or would they turn her away at the door? Or worse, would they hand her a broom and point her to the janitor’s supplies?
Lil stepped into the closet. “What are you doing in here so long?”
“Barring a miracle, I’m still taking Addison to the ballet, and I don’t know what to wear. Do you have any ideas?”
“Yes! I do.” Lil dove into her side of the closet and ca
me out holding a black outfit. “Here it is. You can wear this.” She held it against her own form, doing the garbanzo dance.
Katy touched the slinky black skirt and its matching top. “It’s gorgeous. Where did you get it?”
Lil colored slightly and shrugged. “I had to attend a formal affair at school. Try it on.”
“Oh I couldn’t. It’s way too glamorous. You know I’ve never worn anything like it. No,” Katy protested.
“Is that what you’re going to say on your wedding day? There are certain occasions when you need to raise the … ah, notch a bit. You don’t want them turning you away at the door, saying, ‘Sorry, ma’am, the performance hasn’t started yet. Cleanup starts at 11:30. Come back then and don’t forget your bucket.’ ”
Katy burst into laughter. “I was thinking the exact same thing.” She held the skirt in one hand and the hanger with the top in the other. It is modest, except for …” She hung the skirt up and examined the top closer. “I’ve never worn this type of neckline before.”
“It’s not a low neckline. Try it on.”
Katy faltered, wondering what it would feel like to wear the slinky expensive fabric against her skin. She was thankful the color was basic black. With her dark hair, she’d probably just fade into a shadowy corner somewhere. Yes, every eye would be on Addison, and this might help her maintain a respectability, the invisible air she sought when operating in the outsider’s realm. “All right.”
Lil helped her slip into the dress. “We need a full-length mirror in here.” Impulsively, she said, “I’m splurging on one this week. Then you’ll have it in time for the ballet. I’ll get Jake to install it. I’ve got an idea.” She left and then toted a kitchen chair to the bathroom. “Climb up on this so you can see yourself in the mirror.”
Katy’s pulse slammed in her throat when she saw herself. Her figure had transformed into a pleasing hourglass. But the formal attire also maintained a sophisticated modesty. Lil urged, “Hold your hair up.” With a nervous giggle, Katy piled her hair atop her head. It flopped to the side, smashing her covering, but she’d fix that later. “Some red lipstick and my black nylons and nobody will ever notice you,” her friend teased, reading her mind. “It really makes your eyes smolder.”
Plain City Bridesmaids Page 16