Smicksburg Tales 1,2 & 3 (Amish Knitting Circle, Amish Friends Knitting Circle & Amish Knit Lit Cirlce ~ Complete Series: 888 pages for Granny Weaver Lovers and 30+ Amish Recipes

by Karen Anna Vogel

  “How?”

  “Give me your cape and bonnet and I’ll show you.” He motioned for her to come into the kitchen. “Do you want some hot chocolate or anything?”

  “Nee, I just had some at your mamm’s and don’t want to get fat.”

  Roman narrowed his eyes. “Fannie, Mamm told me you’ve been looking at those magazines at Punxsy-Mart. I’ve seen the covers; can’t help it when you’re in the checkout line. No one looks like that.”

  “So she keeps telling me…”

  “Well, I think you’re pretty and don’t let anyone dampen that spirit of yours. Promise?”

  Roman thought she was pretty? Was he just saying that because he felt sorry for her? “Danki, Roman. No more glamour magazines.”

  Roman grinned and grabbed a paper off the basket that hung on the wall. “Look what the girls made you.”

  Fannie took the card covered with pressed flowers. On the top it read, Sisters Day. She opened the card to read:

  Dear Fannie,

  We see mamms taking their girls out on Sisters Day. We don’t have a mamm. Can you take us? We can’t drive the buggy. And you’re fun.

  Jenny, Tillie and Millie

  She held the card to her chest. “Those precious girls of yours. They’re going to make me cry. What an honor to be picked.”

  “You’re their favorite of all the women who go to the knitting circle. Glad they see more of you.”

  Fannie felt tears well up. “Well, I love them like my own, if I was married and had my own.” She forced herself to stop fumbling with words. She needed to recondition her mind like Granny said. She was a catch for any Amish man and would have her own kinner someday.

  “Well, where do I start cleaning?” she asked.

  “Ach, we fooled you. The card was a surprise.”

  “Why didn’t Granny just give it to me, or the girls?”

  “I don’t know. She told me to give it to you in private. Maybe she thought since I’m their daed?” He smiled at her broadly. “I think you’re just what my girls need.”

  Was it her imagination, or was Roman looking at her in a romantic way? She felt heat on her cheeks. “Want to look in Abigail’s hope chest?”

  “I was hoping you’d be with me again to look inside. It’s pretty unnerving. Do you have the time?”

  “I’ll make the time,” Fannie grinned.

  ~*~

  Granny thanked God that Ella could go to Maryann’s doctor’s appointment with them. Ella was a burst of sunshine in the dead of winter and Maryann seemed so glum. Suzy pulled her car up to the doctor’s office and said she’d be back soon; she had to get some groceries. Ella and Granny sat on either side of Maryann in the waiting room.

  “You know yinz are overreacting. I’m fine,” Maryann said. “There’s a billion things I could be doing today. It’s Tuesday – Laundry Day, remember?”

  “Ruth and Lizzie are helping with your wash,” Granny grinned. “Our knitting circle is a force to be reckoned with, jah?”

  “Jah, that’s for sure. But my baby needs fed.”

  Ella rolled her eyes. “Becca’s fourteen, not five. I remember helping my mamm bottle-feed babies. Store bought milk won’t kill your kinner.”

  “But Dan Miller’s against it, and he’s the best naturopath around.”

  Granny knew this was going to be a long, unpleasant visit to a much needed doctor’s appointment, but held her tongue. She looked at some of the others in the office. Some looked like they had the flu and fear shot through her. The flu at her age wasn’t good. Should she get a flu shot like Jeb encouraged her to do? Maybe Maryann’s demise of going to doctors bothered her, because she was the same. Nee. She’d lived to be in her seventies by good eating and not being idle.

  Soon a nurse called for Maryann and they followed her into a room where the doctor would see her. The nurse cocked her head. “Are you related?”

  “Nee,” Maryann said. “They made me come.”

  The nurse bit her lower lip, and Granny noticed she was trying to hide laughter. “You see other stubborn people here, too, don’t you, Nurse?” Granny asked.

  “Oh, yes.” She turned to Maryann. “You should be glad you have friends who care.”

  Maryann looked at the floor. “I’m afraid.”

  “Why?” Granny probed. “Is it because you’ve been hiding other symptoms?”

  “Jah, I have.”

  The nurse looked at Maryann’s chart. “Well, maybe it’s nothing at all. You’re raising eight children and that would be stressful. Giving birth to so many can deplete you of minerals. You may just need a supplement.” She turned to Granny and then Ella. “Let’s hope for the best. And ladies, you’ve made my day. It’s so nice to see friends who really care about each other. I live here and barely have time to see my sisters.”

  “Ach, have a Sister Day,” Ella encouraged.

  “Sister Day?”

  “Jah, don’t the English have a day where you just go out and catch up with your sisters?”

  The nurse pursed her lips. “No. But that needs to change, huh? Great idea.” She looked at her watch. “I’m on break soon. I’m going to email my sisters to see when we can put it on the calendar.”

  ~*~

  Self-pity threatened to choke Ruth. The Bishop was coming to talk to her husband, but Ella chose to be with Maryann instead of her. She needed Ella’s support. Two men against one woman would be unfair.

  She looked out at her birds to try to calm down. The mourning doves mated for life. Is that why they mourn? She put her hand on her heart. I am becoming so calloused towards marriage. Help me, Lord.

  She heard a buggy pull in and looked out to see Luke. Fury was etched into his face, and fear gripped her heart. When he opened the side door and marched in, leaving a trail of dirt and snow all over her clean floor, Ruth gripped the sides of her rocker, but said nothing.

  “This better be important to have me take a half day off at work.”

  “Jah, the Bishop said it couldn’t wait.”

  Luke collapsed in an Amish rocker across from her. “He needs to hear my side. I’m glad he’s coming. All your yackin’ is giving me a bad reputation. She will do him good and no evil all the days of her life…the Bible says that’s the woman’s lot. You nag too much.”

  Ruth wanted to slap him, but soon heard a buggy pull in. She went to her kitchen to put water in the tea kettle and looked at her basket to see chamomile on hand. Goot for my nerves. She heard Luke answer the door and turned to see the Bishop. Ruth nodded and looked deeper into his eyes. Did she see pity?

  “Would you like some tea to warm you up, Bishop?” she asked.

  “Nee. I have a thermos full of hot chocolate in the buggy. Let’s talk.”

  They all took a seat in the living room. Ruth sat on one side and Luke on the other. The Bishop asked them to sit on the bench together, so he could speak to them easier. He looked at Luke. “I’ve heard some disturbing reports of how you treat your wife.”

  Luke put both hands behind his shoulders and slouched. “Well, I’m glad you’re here, Bishop. Now you can hear my side.”

  “Your wife has bruises on her arm, is that right? To me, there is no other side!” the Bishop boomed.

  Luke shot up. “It says in Proverbs there’s two sides to a coin.”

  The Bishop groaned. “Sit down and tell me your so called side.”

  “Well, she’s a nag. Always pestering me…provoking me to anger, like the Bible says not to do. Fix this and do that, on and on, drip, drip, drip.”

  “About what?”

  “Getting indoor plumbing for starters. My mamm lived with a hand cranked pump, and she never complained.”

  “I made sure Sarah had a gravity fed spigot. She washes too many dishes and it makes her tired. I think a goot husband would want to help carry his wife’s burdens before anyone else’s.”

  “I don’t have money for all that plumbing. And that’s not the only thing. She burns so much food, we’re nearly starv
ed.”

  “Luke, I see something in Ruth’s eyes. She’s a nervous wreck and most likely is very distracted.” He turned toward Ruth. “Is that true?”

  She didn’t know if she should tell the Bishop about how tired she was, and how hard it was to focus. He might think something was wrong with her. But something inside her rose up; desperation. She needed help. “I’m, ah, tired all the time and forgetful.”

  “I’ve seen this before,” the Bishop said. “It’s too much stress, Ruth. Go to the doctors to rule out anything else, but stress and fear are written all over your face. Come here, child.”

  Ruth felt her chin start to shake, and then her body as she went toward the Bishop.

  “Can I see your arms?”

  “That’s not fair! She bruises too easy,” Luke shouted.

  Ruth rolled up her sleeves and held them out for the Bishop to see.

  The Bishop took her hands and fire came out of his eyes. He shot a look at Luke. “You have six weeks to repent, or you’ll be under the ban. You’re to love your wife, not abuse her.”

  “Show me in the Ordnung! We all agreed on those rules,” Luke yelled.

  The Bishop stood up and walked over to Luke and sat next to him. “Are you so daft to think our Ordnung is more important than what the Bible teaches? Nee, never. I married yinz, and you vowed to love and cherish and not be harsh with your wife. You broke an oath.” He took off his black wool hat and placed it next to him. “Jeb gave you a little book to read. Did you read it?”

  “Nee, I don’t need to. I know what I live with and –“

  “Luke! Are you saying you have no intention to repent? To get help from men like Jeb and Zach, who have goot marriages?”

  “Jah, that’s what I’m saying. I won’t have Ruth and her meddling knitting friends rule over me. This all started because of them and they yacked to their husbands.”

  “I’ll give you two days to reconsider. I have no other choice than to put you under the ban if you don’t change your decision.” He rubbed his temples. “I came prepared for the worst. Ruth is one of my sheep, and we all know a wounded sheep needs oil put on its bruises. I’m asking you to leave to give her time to heal.”

  “Nee, I built this house. It’s mine.”

  “I also know there are counseling centers in Lancaster. We feel you need help…with your emotions. We’re willing to pay any expense.”

  “Who’s we? Ruth and her gossiping knit pickers?”

  The Bishop coughed uncontrollably. Ruth ran to get him a glass of water.

  “Danki,” he said, taking a sip. “I promised Sarah I wouldn’t get worked up. My ticker isn’t too goot.” He looked up at Luke. “Our Gmay will pay for counseling for you.”

  “Ruth, your big mouth….your slanderous mouth…has everyone turned against me.”

  The Bishop put his hand up. “Only the elders know and they made the decision. You need help.” He turned to Ruth. “You and Micah are coming with me.”

  ~*~

  Samuel will always have a part of her heart? Roman read the words over again in disbelief, and then looked over at Fannie. “You’re right. She did have a boyfriend before me. Looks like he moved to Colorado when she was seventeen. She never told me about him.”

  Fannie sat on the floor beside him, sorting Abby’s embroidery thread and yarn. “She was human. Do you feel less guilty now for thinking of Lizzie on your wedding day?”

  Roman took a deep breath and got up and looked at the snow flying outside. “Jah, I do. It was silly of me to feel so guilty.”

  “Roman, I hope you don’t think I’m being nebby, but do you think you feel guilty because you’ve never stopped loving Lizzie?”

  “I loved Abby with all my heart…”

  “And now that she’s gone?”

  Roman looked again in Abby’s journal. Sometimes feelings never die. “I think a part of me will always care about Lizzie. My heart is free to love another…” He looked over at Fannie and thought of his Daed’s encouragement to give this girl a try. Maybe it just took a lot longer to have feelings that were steadfast and true. A house wasn’t built in one day and neither was love, like his mamm said. He’d let nature take its course. If he felt for Fannie someday, wunderbar, if not, there was someone out there to be a mamm for his girls…and to warm his heart like his dear deceased wife had done.

  ~*~

  Lizzie measured a pound of chocolate chips and took the bag off the scale to label it. She heard the door jingle and saw it was Fannie, who was simply radiant. Her green eyes danced as she came near the counter.

  “Lizzie, I stopped by on my way home to show you something.” She held up what appeared to be a coloring book. “It’s something Roman and I found in Abigail’s hope chest. A book full of patterns on how to make paper snowflakes, and some that Abigail made.”

  Lizzie felt the room spin and sat on the stool behind her. Any thought of Abigail’s hope chest made her ill. It used to be hers and she returned it when she broke off her courtship to Roman. Anger filled her, but Lizzie had learned to hide it by smiling. “So, why were you looking at Abigail’s hope chest?”

  “Well, Roman’s had his head in the sand for three years. I convinced him to open it and see what’s inside and he’s so glad he did. He found Abigail’s knitting loom, her pressed flowers, and now this book.”

  “That’s it?” Lizzie asked.

  “We’re going through it slowly. I’m taking this book home so I can practice making snowflakes with the girls. We’re celebrating Sister Day together.” She put her hand on her heart. “Those girls picked me to take them out. Can you believe it? They think I’m fun!”

  Lizzie felt like she was a pressure canner ready to blow its top off. She needed so badly to let off some steam. “Fannie, are you…ah…chasing Roman?

  “Chasing him? Lizzie, how degrading. I’d never chase a man.” She stomped a foot. “And even if I was, I am beautiful enough to get him. Do you think he sits home pining for you?”

  “Ach, I’m sorry Fannie. I don’t know what came over me.”

  Fannie’s eyes softened. “I do…”

  “What?”

  “You still love him, don’t you?”

  Lizzie willed tears to not form in her eyes. Roman had made his choice long ago and she was moving forward…with Melvin. Roman didn’t even attempt to stop their courtship, so she knew what happened years ago tainted him toward her. “I’m going to marry Melvin in early spring, before planting time.”

  “What? Do you love Melvin?”

  “He’s a goot man and he loves me.” Lizzie heard the door to the house open and saw her Daed and was relieved. Maybe he would change the subject.

  “Hi Jonas,” Fannie said.

  “Fannie, your smile’s a mile long. You look, well, radiant.”

  Lizzie listened in horror as Fannie spoke on and on about Roman’s kinner, but she seemed to light up more when she said Roman’s name. This was the confirmation Lizzie needed. Obviously Roman had his eye on Fannie, so she’d make a life together with Melvin. Love was growing slowly in her heart toward him….

  ~*~

  That night Granny sat in her rocker, dumbfounded. The doctor must think something’s wrong with Maryann to order all those blood tests. And Ruth was living at her mamm’s? Was Luke so hard-hearted, that after the Bishop offered to pay for counseling, he refused to get help or repent? If a man was shunned, his family couldn’t eat with him at the same table, but they weren’t separated. Apparently Ruth was in danger, or too afraid to live with such a man.

  She remembered when she was young and her goot friend got abused by her husband, but it was all hush-hushed. Since English women didn’t put up with such behavior, the Amish women were learning to open their mouths. On a rare occasion when an Amish woman was abused, she needed to speak up. Granny admired Ruth’s tenacity.

  She looked out into the night sky but saw no stars, only beautiful, chunky snowflakes. Granny leaned closer to the window. They melted in seconds, but
she couldn’t help but admire their shapes. She’d read that no one snowflake had the same pattern. It was to the glory of God, to show his handiwork.

  Granny closed her eyes and prayed:

  Dear Lord,

  Here I am again, casting my cares on you, because you care. Help Fannie see she’s as beautiful as these snowflakes. She’s your handiwork, too. And Lord, I just can’t stop worrying about Maryann. If there’s something wrong, I’m trusting that you’re in control and I cast my worry on you. But Lord, shake Luke up. Give him a whoopin’ from on high. Put your arms around Ruth and protect her. Help that husband of hers to find the root to his bizarre behavior, ‘cause I want to slap him silly. Amen.

  ~*~

  Granny put down Pride and Prejudice and looked over at Jeb, drooling over his Pennsylvania Field and Stream magazine. “I am not prejudiced against Fannie….old man.”

  “Who said you were?”

  Granny sighed. Was her husband’s memory getting that bad? “You did. Remember? You thought the book was about, well, being proud and prejudiced.” She leaned her head against the back of the rocker. “It’s a love story, like Jane’s other books, but when I pick it up, I still hear you accusing me of being prejudiced against Fannie.”

  “Well, you are, aren’t you?” Jeb looked over at the clock on the living room wall. “Don’t you have to get ready for company? Isn’t your knitting circle at seven?”

  “Jah, I just can’t move. Feeling so tired.”

  Jeb got up and put his lips on his wife’s forehead. “You’re hot. Maybe you caught something at the doctors yesterday. I’m getting the thermometer.”

  Granny closed her eyes and massaged her throat. She knew her glands were swollen but didn’t want to say anything. Fatigue washed over her. Soon she felt a thermometer being put in her mouth. After a minute, she heard Jeb tell her to get into bed. The knitting circle would have to be at Romans’.

  ~*~

  “Granny’s sick?” Lizzie and Fannie asked simultaneously.

  “Jah,” Roman said. “I’m having the knitting circle here.” He grinned. “I won’t be knitting, but Jenny will.” He turned to Fannie and smiled. “Could you teach her how to use Abby’s knitting loom?