Growing Up in Lancaster County (20 page)

“All right then; I’ll be back soon,” Grandpa said.

“Take your time. I can manage fine,” Rachel called as Grandpa left the greenhouse.

Rachel drew in a deep breath, enjoying the fragrance of the flowers and plants growing on one side of the greenhouse. Several vases filled with cut flowers smelled equally nice.

Someday, when I’m grown up, I’d like to own a greenhouse just like this
, Rachel thought as she grabbed the watering can and turned on the faucet.
I think tending flowers and plants would be a whole lot more fun than getting married and taking care of babies
.

Rachel began watering the plants closest to her. The door opened, and Audra entered the greenhouse, carrying a small paper sack.

“Hi, Rachel.” Audra smiled. “I went up to the house looking for you, but your grossdaadi said you were out here.”

Rachel nodded. “I’m watering plants for him while he takes aspirin for his achy muscles.”

“He said I should tell you that he’ll be a few more minutes because he has to go to the phone shed to make a few calls.”

Rachel shrugged. “No problem. I’m getting along fine.”

“Jah, I can see.” Audra held out the paper sack. “Since we couldn’t go out to celebrate your birthday last night, I wanted to come by and give you your present. Hallich gebottsdaag, Rachel.”

Rachel smiled as she set the watering can down and took the sack. At least someone had given her a birthday gift. She set the sack on the counter and opened it. Inside was a book about a cat named Sam, along with a gray cloth mouse.

“The book’s for you,” Audra said. “And I thought Cuddles would like the mouse ‘cause it’s filled with catnip.”

“Danki,” said Rachel. “I’m sure we’ll both enjoy our treats.”

Audra leaned on the edge of the counter. “I heard your mamm had a baby girl yesterday.”

Rachel nodded. “Hannah is coming home from the hospital sometime today.”

“I’ll bet you’re real excited.”

Rachel moistened her lips. “Well, I—”

“If I had a baby sister, I’d be excited,” Audra said.

Rachel motioned to the plants she’d been watering. “Being here in the greenhouse—that’s what excites me!”

“I guess it would since you like flowers so much.” Audra moved toward the door. “I’d better go. My mamm needs help cleaning the house, and I told her I wouldn’t be gone long.”

“Okay. Danki for coming—and for the gifts.” Rachel followed Audra across the room. “If we ever go for supper to celebrate my birthday, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay. See you later, Rachel.”

Audra scurried out the door, and Rachel picked up the watering can. She’d only watered a few plants when she heard a commotion outside.

Woof! Woof!

Meow! Meow!

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Meow!

Thinking Cuddles and Buddy must be playing in the yard, Rachel set the watering can down and opened the door. “What’s going on out here?” she hollered when Cuddles zipped past the greenhouse. “Why aren’t you in the barn with your busslin, Cuddles?”

The cat turned and darted into the greenhouse.

Woof! Woof!
Their neighbor’s collie dog, Chester, bounded in behind the cat. Well, at least it wasn’t Buddy causing trouble this time.

Cuddles jumped onto the table where some new plants had been set, and Chester swatted at her tail with his paw.
Woof! Woof! Woof!

Meow!
Cuddles leaped off the table and jumped into a hanging basket full of petunias. The basket swung back and forth. Chester barked, and Cuddles laid her ears back and hissed.

Rachel knew she wouldn’t be able to get Cuddles out of the petunia basket until Chester was gone, so she grabbed the collie’s collar and led him toward the door.

Woof!
Chester jerked free and raced to the back of the greenhouse with his tail swishing.

“Come back here, you crazy mutt!” Rachel hollered. “You’ll knock something over if you’re not careful!”

Rachel had no sooner said the words when—
thunk!
—Chester smacked a pot of pansies with his tail and it toppled to the floor. The pot broke and dirt went everywhere!

“Oh, no! Now look what you’ve done!” Rachel groaned. “You’re a cute dog, but you’re as rowdy as Jacob’s hund!”

Rachel lunged for Chester, but he darted away. Round and round the greenhouse they went, Chester barking, Cuddles meowing, and Rachel shouting.

Thunk! Crash!
Chester knocked another pot of pansies to the floor.

“You’re in big trouble now!” Rachel dashed to a faucet with a hose connected and turned on the water. She pointed the hose at Chester and shot water in his face.

Woof! Woof! Woof!
Chester zipped out the open door.

Rachel slammed the door behind him and drew in a deep breath. She needed to calm down. She needed to check on Cuddles.

After turning off the water, she hurried to the hanging plants and looked up. There was no sign of her cat in the petunia basket!

“Cuddles, where are you? Come here, kitty, kitty!”

No response. Not even a faint meow.

“You can come out of hiding now, Cuddles. That mean old dog is gone. Go back to the barn and take care of your kittens. They’re probably hungry.” Rachel walked up and down the rows of plants, calling for Cuddles. She was about to check behind the counter when her wild-eyed cat leaped over a tray of vegetable plants sitting on the floor.

“No! No! You’ll wreck the—”

Meow!
Cuddles leaped into the air and
—floop!—
landed on top of a struggling cherry tomato plant, squishing it!

Rachel gasped. “If Grandpa sees the mess you and Chester made, he’ll be upset. I’d better get this cleaned up before he comes back.”

Just then, the door swung open. Cuddles darted outside, right between Grandpa’s legs. “I’m back!” Grandpa said as he entered the building. “How’s everything going?”

Before Rachel could tell Grandpa what had happened, his bushy eyebrows rose high and he pointed at the broken pots and dirt all over the floor. “What in all the world happened, Rachel?”

“I—uh—heard a commotion in the yard, and when I opened the door, Cuddles ran into the greenhouse. Then the neighbor’s collie darted in after her.” Rachel drew in a quick breath and pointed to the plants Chester had knocked over. “He was worse than Buddy. I had a terrible time getting him outside.” She pointed to the tomato plant. “When I did get Chester out, Cuddles jumped on this and smashed it.”

The wrinkles in Grandpa’s forehead deepened, and his cheek muscle quivered. “I’m very disappointed, Rachel. I thought I could depend on you to take care of things while I was gone. I didn’t think I’d come back and find a mess like this!”

“I–I’m sorry. I didn’t expect the dog to run in here and make a mess.” She grabbed the broom leaning against the wall. “I’ll clean everything up, and I’ll work extra hours in the greenhouse until I’ve made enough money to replace the ones that were ruined.”

Grandpa leaned against the workbench and folded his arms as Rachel swept up the dirt. She could almost feel him watching her. He probably thought she didn’t know how to clean the mess. Did he think she couldn’t do anything right?

A few minutes later, Grandpa touched Rachel’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. This was obviously an accident. It wasn’t your fault.” He took the broom from her. “Let me finish sweeping while you look for your cat.”

Rachel hugged him. “Danki, Grandpa.”

He patted her head. “I was young once, too, you know. And I never liked being scolded for something that wasn’t my fault.”

Rachel smiled. She was glad she had such an understanding grandpa. She looked forward to spending more time with him in the greenhouse this summer. And she hoped no cats or dogs ever got into the greenhouse again!

L
ater that afternoon, Rachel sat at the kitchen table thinking about what she might cook for supper. Her mind began to wander. She thought about Cuddles and how she wished she could keep all six of her kittens. She knew Mom would never agree, though. If she were lucky, she might be allowed to keep one kitten.

She thought about all the work she’d done and wished she could run to the creek. She’d be happy for just a few minutes—long enough to slip her feet in the water and get cooled off. It was so hot and muggy; Rachel felt she deserved a break.

Rachel was about to go to the greenhouse and ask Grandpa if she could go to the creek for a while, when she heard a horse whinny. She rushed to the window and saw Esther’s horse and buggy coming up the driveway.

When Rachel stepped onto the back porch, Esther smiled and waved.

“Wie geht’s?” Rachel called as she ran out to Esther’s buggy.

“I’m doing well. How are things with you?”

Rachel shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

“Just okay?”

“Jah.”

“You look droopy. Do you feel all right?”

“I’m not sick—just tired from working so hard.”

“What have you been doing?” Esther asked.

“I fixed breakfast and lunch, did the dishes, picked up the house, and helped Grandpa in the greenhouse.” Rachel sighed. “Now it’s time for me to start supper. If I can think of something good to fix, that is.”

“It does sound as if you’ve had a busy day,” Esther said as she unhitched her horse from the buggy.

Rachel motioned to the house. “If you came to see Mom, she’s not here. She had her boppli yesterday.”

“I know about the baby. When we got back from the farmers’ market our answering machine had a message saying that Mom had a baby girl named Hannah.” Esther smiled. “Is Mom coming home soon?”

Rachel shrugged. “Pap went to the hospital after breakfast, but they’re not here yet. You can come back later if you want.”

“No need for that; I’m planning to stay. In fact, I came to make supper for the family. Rudy will join us when he’s finished working.” Esther reached into the buggy and pulled out a cardboard box. “I also came by to give you a birthday present.”

“Oh, what is it?”

Esther set the box on the ground. “Why don’t you open it and see?”

Rachel knelt down, opened the flaps on the box, and gasped when she saw what was inside. It was a shiny new skateboard, just like the one she’d put in layaway at Kauffman’s store last summer!

Rachel’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Esther. “I never expected to get another skateboard—especially not one so new and nice. Danki, Esther.”

“You’re welcome. I knew you gave Audra your skateboard after you accidentally broke hers, so I thought you’d like to have a new one.” Esther bent and hugged Rachel. “I’m sorry for not getting the gift to you on time, but I want to wish you a happy birthday now, little sister.”

“It’s okay,” Rachel said. “With Hannah being born on my birthday, I think everyone in the family forgot about me. I wish Hannah had been born on a different day.”

“Women don’t get to choose the day or time their babies will be born,” Esther said. “I’m sure you were disappointed that you didn’t get to have supper out, but I don’t want you to think everyone forgot about you.”

“I know you didn’t, or else you wouldn’t have given me the skateboard.”

“That’s right, and I’m sure Mom and Pap will give you something besides a baby sister when she gets home from the hospital and is settled in.” Esther reached into the buggy again and pulled out a paper sack. “In the meantime, I brought everything we’ll need for supper. So if you can carry this sack and your skateboard, would you take it to the house while I put my horse away?”

Rachel nodded. “I can manage both. When you come inside, I’ll help you make supper.”

“Wouldn’t you like to try your new skateboard?”

“Maybe later. The only good place I have to skateboard is in the barn, and it’s too stuffy in there right now.” Rachel blew out her breath so hard the ties on her
kapp
[cap] floated up. “With all this hot weather, I feel like a wet noodle.”

Esther chuckled. “Then why don’t you go to the creek and cool off?”

“What about supper?”

“I can manage on my own.” Esther squeezed Rachel’s shoulder. “I’ll ring the dinner bell when I need you to come and set the table. How’s that sound?”

“It sounds real good. Danki.” Rachel smiled at Esther. “See you later then.”

Rachel took the sack of groceries to the kitchen and rushed to the barn to put away her new skateboard.

“Where are you going, pretty bird?” she sang as she sprinted for the creek. “Where are you going, pretty bird? I am going to my tree, I am going to my tree, I am going to my tree, sweet Rose.”

After getting such a nice birthday gift from Esther, Rachel felt better about life. When Esther had suggested she go to the creek, she felt loved and appreciated. Maybe things weren’t as bad as she thought. Maybe when Pap brought Mom and the baby home from the hospital, they would have a birthday present for her to open.

Rachel sat on a big rock by the creek. She dangled her bare feet in the cool water and wiggled her toes. After working so hard all day, she was glad to sit and relax. She felt even better to know she didn’t have to fix supper this evening.