Growing Up in Lancaster County (51 page)

Neigh! Neigh!
The horse jerked its head and pulled the buggy straight into a ditch!

Rachel gasped. “Oh no, we’re stuck!” She looked over at Sherry. “What are we going to do?”

S
herry clutched Rachel’s arm. “Can you get the horse to pull us out of here?”

Rachel leaned out the side opening of the buggy and groaned. “I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere in this buggy.”

“Why not?”

“Looks like the right front wheel is broken.”

“Oh great!” Sherry frowned. “Now what are we going to do?”

“We’d better get out and walk back home to get help.” Rachel didn’t really want to go ask for help. She knew she’d be in trouble for taking the buggy out, but she had no other choice. She wished she hadn’t taken Sherry’s advice and driven the buggy. She knew now that it had been a really dumb thing to do.

Rachel and Sherry climbed out of the buggy, and Rachel unhitched the horse.

“What are you doing?” Sherry asked.

“I’m taking the horse with us,” Rachel said. “We can’t leave him here by himself.”

“Oh, okay.”

As Rachel turned the horse around and started walking back toward the house, a feeling of dread filled her. She’d really blown it when she’d listened to Sherry’s bad advice. She hated to think of the trouble she’d be in, but she couldn’t undo what had been done.

The closer Rachel got to home, the more nervous she became. By the time the girls entered the yard, her hands were so sweaty she could barely hang on to the horse’s reins.

“Where have you been, Rachel, and what are you doing with that horse?” Pap asked as he, Henry, and Jacob came running out of the barn.

With a shaky voice, Rachel explained what had happened. She ended it by saying, “I’m very sorry, Pap. I know what I did was wrong.”

“You’re right about that.” Pap’s face was red, and a muscle on the side of his neck quivered like a bowl of jelly.

“You don’t even know how to drive a horse and buggy,” Jacob said. “It was sure a dumm thing to do!”

Tears welled in Rachel’s eyes. She didn’t need her brother’s reminder that what she’d done was dumb.

“It was my fault,” Sherry spoke up. “I’m the one who wanted to take the buggy ride.” She slipped her arm around Rachel’s waist. “I talked her into driving the buggy and said I knew she could do it.”

Pap looked at Sherry and slowly shook his head. “Asking Rachel to give you a ride was very bad advice.” Then he turned to Rachel and said, “You shouldn’t have listened to your friend, but I’m glad no one was hurt.”

Rachel swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m glad of that, too.”

“The boys and I will see about getting the buggy home now. We’ll talk about your punishment when we get back, Rachel.” He looked at Sherry again. “You’d better head for home, because Rachel’s done playing for the day.”

Sherry nodded and hugged Rachel. “I’ll see you some other time, Rachel.”

“Good-bye, Sherry,” Rachel mumbled.

As Rachel headed for the house, she determined that she’d never listen to anyone’s bad advice again. From now on she’d try to remember to think things through.

Rachel had just finished making some bologna and cheese sandwiches when Pap came into the house.

“Did you fix the buggy wheel?” Rachel asked.

Pap shook his head. “Had to replace it with a new one.” He plunked his hat on the counter and turned to Rachel. “I know that you realize you did wrong by taking the horse and buggy out by yourself. However, you need to be punished so you’ll remember not to do such a foolish thing again.”

She dropped her gaze to the floor. “Are you gonna give me a bletsching?”

“No, Rachel, but you will have to save your money and pay me back for the buggy wheel I just bought from Audra Burkholder’s daed.” Pap lifted her chin. “And you won’t be allowed to go anywhere but church and school for the next two weeks.”

Rachel nodded slowly. She wondered if she would ever grow up and quit doing things that got her into trouble. When she was old and gray, she might still be trying to stay out of trouble.

Pap rested his bearded chin on top of Rachel’s head and gave her back a couple of pats. “Now finish getting lunch on the table. The boys and Grandpa will be in soon, and I’m sure they’ll want to eat.”

“What about Mom?” Rachel asked. “Won’t she be coming home for lunch?”

“I don’t think so,” Pap said. “She told me before she left this morning that she planned to stay at Esther’s for most of the day.”

“Oh, okay.” Rachel reached into the cupboard, took out five plates and five glasses, and placed them on the table. Then she opened a bag of potato chips and put it on the table, along with a jar of dill pickles. She’d just started pouring apple cider into one of the glasses when Grandpa, Jacob, and Henry came into the kitchen.

“What’s to eat?” Jacob asked. “I’m hungry as a mule.”

“Rachel made some sandwiches.” Pap pointed to the sink. “After you wash your hands, we can sit at the table.”

The menfolk took turns washing at the sink while Rachel poured the apple cider.

They’d just sat down when the back door flew open and Rudy stepped into the kitchen, holding Hannah and looking quite upset. “Levi,” he said to Pap, “your
fraa
[wife] tumbled down our back porch steps, and I’m pretty sure her leg is broken.”

Rachel gasped. Henry and Jacob’s eyes widened. Pap and Grandpa jumped out of their seats.

“I’ve already called for help,” Rudy said, “and an ambulance is on its way. I came to tell you what had happened so you could call someone for a ride to the hospital.”

Pap grabbed his hat and started across the room. “I’ll do that right away.”

“I’m coming with you,” Grandpa said as he followed Pap out the door.

Rudy came over to Rachel and put Hannah in her lap. “I could have left her with Esther, but I figured she’s got enough on her hands looking after Ben.”

Rachel nodded and stroked her baby sister’s soft cheek. “I can watch Hannah. I’ve done it before, and I’m sure we’ll get along okay.”

Rudy hesitated a minute; then he rushed out the door.

Rachel looked at Jacob and Henry, hoping one of them would volunteer to help her look after Hannah. They just sat there, shaking their heads and wearing worried expressions.

“We need to ask God to be with Mom and help her to be okay,” Rachel said.

Henry nodded. “That’s all we can do right now, and praying for Mom’s a good thing.”

Rachel closed her eyes and bowed her head.
Dear God
, she silently prayed,
Please be with my mamm, and help her to be okay and not be afraid
.

It was almost time to start supper when Pap and Grandpa brought Mom home from the hospital, wearing her left leg in a cast. Mom hobbled in the door using a pair of crutches and sat on the living room sofa.

Rachel rushed over to Mom and sat down beside her. “Is your leg broken? Does it hurt very much? Will you be okay?”

Mom held up her hand and smiled. “Slow down, Rachel. I can only answer one question at a time.”

“Sorry, Mom, but I’ve been so worried about you.”

“We all have been,” said Henry as he took a seat on the other side of Mom.

“I broke my leg.” Mom motioned to her cast. “I’ll have to wear this for six weeks, but I’ll be fine.” She glanced over at Hannah’s empty cradle. “Where’s the boppli?”

“She’s in her crib taking a nap,” Rachel said. She reached over and grabbed Mom’s hand. “I know you won’t be able to do much for the next several weeks, but I promise to take over your chores, even if I have to stay home from school.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Pap said from where he stood across the room. “I’ll see if Grandma Yoder can come over during the day so you’ll only be responsible for watching Hannah before and after school.”

“And I’ll watch her on the weekends,” Rachel said.

Pap nodded. “Right.”

Rachel smiled. She felt bad about Mom breaking her leg, but she saw this as a new opportunity to show her family that she was growing up. She hoped God would give her the wisdom to make good decisions and help her stay focused on whatever jobs she was required to do.

That evening, after supper was over and Rachel had done the dishes, she sat at the kitchen table with some heavy notebook paper, pens, glue, and several of her most colorful pressed flowers.

“What are you doing?” Grandpa asked after he’d poured himself a glass of milk and taken a seat across from Rachel.

“I’m making Mom a get-well card,” Rachel said. “I’m going to take it in the living room to her as soon as I’m done.”

Grandpa smiled. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate the card.”

Rachel yawned. “I hope I can get it done before I fall asleep. It’s been a long day.”

“Would you like me to finish it for you?” Grandpa asked.

She shook her head. “If I’m going to give Mom the card from me, then I need to make it.”

“I guess you’re right about that.” Grandpa pushed his chair away from the table and stood. “I think I’ll go to my room and read awhile.” He yawned and stretched his arms over his head. “And then I’ll be going to bed.”

“Okay. See you in the morning, Grandpa.”

When Grandpa left the room, Rachel picked up two of the flowers and glued them to the front of the card. Then she added one more flower inside and wrote a poem. When that was done, she covered the card with contact paper, put it in an envelope, and scurried out of the kitchen. She found Mom in the living room, stretched out on the sofa. Pap sat in his recliner, and Henry and Jacob sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, playing checkers.

Rachel knelt in front of the sofa and handed Mom the card. “This is for you.”

Mom smiled and opened the envelope. “What pretty flowers,” she said. “Are they some that you pressed?”

Rachel nodded. “I wrote you a poem on the inside, too.”

Mom opened the card and read the poem out loud. “While your leg is broken and you’re waiting to get well, remember, if you need my help, just ring the little bell.”

“That’s a very nice poem,” Mom said, patting the top of Rachel’s head. “But what little bell are you talking about?”

Rachel jumped up and ran to the desk on the other side of the room. She opened the top drawer and removed a bell. She brought it to Mom and said, “I found this in the bottom of my toy box. I used it when Mary and I played school. When you need me for something, just jingle the bell, and I’ll come right away.”

Mom smiled and took the bell from Rachel. “Danki, that’s very thoughtful of you.”

“You’re welcome.” Rachel yawned noisily. “If you don’t need me for anything else, I think I’ll go to bed.”

“Your daed and brieder are here, so I’ll be fine,” Mom said.

Rachel bent down and hugged Mom. “Gut nacht, Mom. See you in the morning.”

For the next few weeks, whenever Rachel wasn’t in school, she kept busy doing the dishes, cooking meals, cleaning house, and taking care of Hannah. She worked hard and was very tired when she went to bed each night, but she was glad she could help Mom.

One Saturday morning, as Rachel started breakfast, Grandpa stepped into the kitchen and hugged her. “Growing up is hard work, isn’t it?” he asked.

She nodded and wiped her sweaty forehead with one corner of her apron. “That’s for sure, but I think I’m getting there.”

Grandpa smiled. “Jah, I think you are, too.” He turned toward the door. “I’m going outside now to bring in some more wood for the fireplace, but I should be back before you have breakfast ready.”

“Okay, Grandpa.”

Rachel hummed as she took a carton of eggs out of the refrigerator. She knew they’d be good and fresh, since she’d been checking each nesting box every day. No more rotten eggs would be brought into this house. At least not as long as Rachel was collecting them.

She was about to crack the first egg into a bowl when the back door swung open and Jacob stepped into the room. “I need Mom.”

“What for?” Rachel asked.

“I was helping Grandpa gather some wood, and I got a nasty
schliffer
[splinter] in my thumb.” Jacob frowned as he held up his hand.

“Mom’s not up yet.” Rachel motioned to the closest chair. “Sit down and I’ll get that old schliffer out for you.”

Jacob shook his head. “No way! I’m not lettin’ you dig around in my thumb and cause me all sorts of pain.”

“Ach, don’t be such a boppli.” Rachel marched across the room and opened the cupboard where Mom kept her first-aid supplies. She took out a needle, a pair of tweezers, a bottle of antiseptic, and a bandage. “Now sit down,” she said to Jacob. “I’ll have that schliffer out of your thumb in no time.”

Jacob looked like he didn’t believe her, but he sank into the chair and held out his hand.

“Hold still now,” Rachel said as she stuck the needle into Jacob’s thumb.

“Yeow! That hurts like crazy!” Jacob jerked his hand, and his face turned red.

“I never said it wasn’t going to hurt. I just said I could get it out, but you have to hold still.” Rachel gritted her teeth as she stared at the splinter sticking halfway out. She was glad she was wearing her glasses. Without them, she’d never be able to see that tiny piece of wood.