Cousin's Challenge (14 page)

When Ella entered the hardware store in Shipshewana, she spotted her friend Esther behind the counter. Forcing a smile, she stepped up to Esther and said, “I need a job. Is there anything available here right now?”

“I'm afraid not,” Esther said with a shake of her head. “I doubt we'll be hiring until spring, and That's only if the economic situation takes a turn for the better.”

“Oh, I see.” Ella swallowed around the lump in her throat. She was beginning to think she'd never find a job.

“Have you checked at any of the restaurants in town to see about working in the kitchen or waiting tables?” Esther asked.

“I've checked just about everywhere, for every kind of job.” Ella turned away from the counter. “I'd better go.” She hurried off before Esther could respond.

She'd just entered the corridor between the hardware store and the fabric store, when she saw Katie heading her way.

“I'm surprised to see you out shopping today,” Katie said. “I know your mamm took your daed's death pretty hard, and I figured you'd be home with her.”

“Charlene's staying with Mama so I can look for a job.”

“But you have a job selling wind chimes.”

Ella shook her head. “Even if Papa were still here, we'd soon have to close the shop.”

“How come?”

Ella explained about the canceled orders and Lonnie's offer to trade jobs with Charlene. “But you see,” she said, “even if Charlene could tune the chimes, we can't continue to operate if we can't find places to buy and sell our chimes.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose and blinked. She would not give in to her tears.

Katie slipped her arm around Ella's waist. “Are you okay?”

“I'm afraid I won't be able to find work and that I'll let my family down.”

“Whenever I get frightened and think I might have another panic attack, I remind myself that these are just feelings and that they'll soon pass. I know that the sooner I focus on God and His power, the faster I'll see relief from my fears.” Katie gently patted Ella's back. “God will give you the strength for each new day. Remember, you don't have to bear your burdens alone. Your family and friends are here to help in any way we can. One of the reasons we Amish survive is because we rely on God and one another.”

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 better 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.