The Shunning (20 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Martha braced herself for the spanking she knew she deserved. If she'd talked to Levi and mentioned her suspicions to him sooner, then perhaps he could have dealt with Mary before this situation got so out of hand. She felt his hand leave her bottom and then held her breath as he started spanking. The swats weren't especially hard, and she suddenly realized that this was going to be one of Levi's very long spankings. He wanted her to have plenty of time to regret her behavior, and the heat and pain would build slowly, and she would not find sitting comfortable for days to come.

Levi slowly spanked Martha's bottom until it grew rosy red and then he started on her sit spots. He could tell the spanks hurt more on that sensitive skin, and he also knew that Martha was finally crying and letting go of the guilt she was feeling over Mary's behavior. It wasn't Martha's fault that Mary told such lies, but she felt guilty for her child's behavior. The spanking was meant to ease her guilt, and once the spanking was over, Levi intended to hold her and let her know how much she was cherished. He also intended to have firm words with Mary on the subject of putting her Mamm through such grief, especially as far as the
boppli
was concerned. Mary had some serious growing up to do, and he would be keeping an eye on her.

Martha's backside felt like it was on fire. The spanking had lasted so long and she feared it was never going to stop. She gave in to the tears threatening to spill, and once she was crying in earnest, Levi stopped spanking and gathered her in his arms and simply held her close. "I love you, Levi," she whispered.

"I love you, too, Martha." He kissed her, and then proved his love to her, not caring that it was so late he would have to be up in another three hours to tend the stock.

Martha didn't care that her bottom was burning; her husband loved her.

* * *

Levi thought it best that Samuel and Sadie accompany him and Mary to see the Bishop the next morning, but he did not insist they all ride in the same buggy. Sadie was still angry, and Mary was being extremely difficult, and while the Amish were non-confrontational and not given to violence, he wasn't so sure that Sadie was going to be able to resist giving her sister a good sit-down, and while Levi couldn't really blame her for feeling that way, he certainly wasn't going to encourage it. When Samuel told Sadie he would come to pick her up, Levi was pleased that he wouldn't have the two girls in the same buggy for the drive to the Bishop's house.

Once they arrived, the Bishop came outside to greet them, his eyes filled with curiosity as he saw that Samuel was with Levi and his daughters. "
Gudermariye, Levi."

"
Gudermariye, Bishop. My daughter Mary would like a moment of your time." Levi was filled with sadness and longed to spare his daughter censure, but she was responsible for a shunning and he could not protect her from the consequences. Part of growing up was accepting the consequences for your actions, and he feared that Mary was about to learn that lesson the hard way.

Mary burst into tears of shame and embarrassment, but her Dat simply stood there, saying nothing at all. He was ashamed of her, and so was Mamm. Sadie was angry and not speaking to her unless she absolutely had to. Samuel Hilty wouldn't even ride in the same buggy with her! Atlee and David were furious with her and Atlee told her she deserved a thorough switching. Everyone that she loved was upset with her and not one person thought that Samuel was the horrible person she did. Even Mark was disgusted with her! "I'm so sorry!" she finally managed to whisper.

"Sorry for what, child?" the Bishop asked kindly, still at a loss.

"I am responsible for the lies about Samuel Hilty. None of it is true. He did not deserve a shunning."

"You lied about Samuel? Why would you do such a thing, Mary? You have sullied this man's reputation." The Bishop's face reflected his shock.

"I did not think he would make Sadie a good husband." Mary knew her excuse for doing as she did would not be acceptable.

"What made you think that Samuel would not make your sister a good husband?" the Bishop asked in concern, willing to hear her out.

"He beats her for every little thing," Mary answered dramatically. "Dat claims it is because Samuel loves Sadie, but I think it is terrible and inexcusable!"

"Child, it is a man's responsibility to keep order in his home, and that includes disciplining his wife and children when necessary. Am I to understand that you intend to wed Sadie, Samuel?"

"Ja, Bishop," Samuel answered with a smile.

"And you agree to this, Sadie?"

"I do; I love Samuel."

"And you accept his discipline as an expression of his love for you?"

"Ja, Samuel does not beat me; he spanks me, and I have tried to explain the difference to Mary. But for some reason she has developed a dislike for Samuel."

"Mary, what you have done is seriously wrong. Your lies were meant to cause harm. When I heard that Samuel was keeping with Englisch ways I went to him and told him his behavior was not in keeping with the Ordnung of this district. I did not believe him when he acted as though he didn't know what I was talking about. I went to your Dat and insisted he forbid Sadie to see Samuel. When the rumors persisted, I was forced to talk to the Ministers and Deacon and we voted to shun Samuel. This is not something we take lightly, Mary. It is a last resort to attempt to bring a lost member back into the fold. Samuel has been living without our support for nearly six weeks now. How would you feel if you were shunned for something you did not do?"

"I wouldn't like it," she replied honestly. "But, I wanted to protect Sadie and keep her at home where she belongs!"

"Do you not trust your parents to decide if a man is acceptable for your sister?" the Bishop demanded. "I have known your Dat for many years, and I would trust him to make a decision for my own daughters and granddaughters. He is a good and fair man, Mary, and you are but a child. What are we to do with you?"

Mary felt tears running down her cheeks. Her Dat said nothing in her defense; neither did Sadie. No one seemed to understand that she had a side, too. Why should Sadie be permitted to marry and leave home and leave her behind to do the work of three people!

"Mary, if you were already baptized, I would ask you to kneel before the community and tell what you have done and ask forgiveness and a consequence would be decided upon. But, you are not baptized, and you are yet a child. Levi, how do you wish for us to proceed?"

"I would ask Samuel and Sadie to share their thoughts with us first," Levi surprised them all by saying.

Sadie looked up at Samuel and said, "I cannot be fair at the moment. I think you should speak for us, Samuel."

He nodded. "I would not see Mary held up in front of everyone and shamed."

"She would be forgiven, Samuel," the Bishop explained.

"I think the real problem is that Mary needs to forgive herself. She needs to grow up. I think she needs a good bletching, and some sort of punishment that lasts as long as Sadie and I were apart so that she realizes how long that time can seem."

Levi nodded. "That is basically how Mary's Mamm and I feel, Bishop. We have decided that Mary is not going to be allowed to start her rumspringa or to attend singings for another year. We feel she is too immature to be trusted to stay within the beliefs we have instilled in her. She needs longer to prove that she is grown up enough to accept a buggy ride home with a young man without thinking she has to marry immediately. We learned last night that she has been sneaking behind our backs and spending time with a young man who is too old for her at this time, and she is far too young to be seeing anyone seriously."

"Dat, no!" Mary pleaded. "I have looked forward to my rumspringa! You can't take it away from me just like that! I am old enough!"

"Your actions the last few weeks have proven otherwise, young lady. The horrid things you have said to your Mamm and to your sister, and your attitude concerning the new boppli has upset your Mamm, and I will not tolerate that sort of behavior."

"But Sadie can do as she pleases, right? She can work; I can't! She can court Samuel and get married and move out, and leave me with all the work! It isn't fair, Dat! And now you plan to take away my rumspringa? It is not fair!"

"I think it more than fair, child. I also think you need to think about standing up and telling everyone that Samuel is innocent of any wrongdoing. You need to ask forgiveness of Samuel, Sadie, your family, and the community. Levi, I hope you will require this of Mary this coming Sunday. In the meantime, Samuel, the ban is lifted from you... with my heartfelt apologies."

"Danki, Bishop," Samuel said with dignity, offering the man his hand. The Bishop smiled and shook hands, and then he shook hands with Levi.

"Do you wish to set your date while you are here, Sadie?" he asked with a wink. "I don't think it will be necessary for me to visit your Dat to see if he is in agreement since I already know that he is, and you might as well pick your date before it is snatched up."

Sadie looked at Samuel and then said, "Danki, Bishop. I know the date I would like." She told the Bishop and he said he thought it was available, and he checked to be sure, and then entered their names. Sadie was excited as could be. "Now Mama and I can start planning," she declared. "She will have the boppli by then, and be able to enjoy the day. "I will also have all of my family there, including my newest sister or brother!"

* * *

Martha cried when she learned the Bishop wanted Mary to stand up at Sunday's worship service and tell everyone that she lied about Samuel and offer her apologies. Mary insisted she wasn't going to do any such thing. Levi flat out told her she was going to do as she was told, regardless of whether or not she wanted to. He told her that she owed it to Samuel and to Sadie. Mary ran to her room, sobbing and claiming that he hated her.

"Do we have the right to force her to do something so humiliating, Levi?" Martha asked when they were alone.

"She has to accept the responsibility for her actions, Martha. I won't enjoy making her, but I can't let her off the hook. She must make this right."

When Sunday arrived, Mary came down a bit later than normal, but she was dressed for church, and there was no argument when Levi reminded her of her responsibility to the district. She merely nodded and silently helped her
Mamm
and Sadie prepare the baskets to take with them. Staying for the social part of the day was not going to be pleasant for any of them, but they were going to stay and face all of the talk and get it over with.

Mary spoke with the Bishop when they arrived, and when he called upon her, she walked up front and told everyone that the gossip about Samuel Hilty was all lies; lies she made up to keep Sadie at home and away from Samuel. She apologized to everyone, and to her parents and family, to Sadie, and finally, she apologized to Samuel.

Samuel felt sorry for Mary and wished that she didn't have to face a public declaration of her guilt and apologies. He rose to his feet when it was obvious she was done speaking and on the verge of completely breaking down, and he walked to the front and gave her a forgiving hug and a kiss on the forehead.

Mary looked up at him in surprise, and then she burst into tears of shame. "I really
am
sorry, Samuel," she insisted.

"I believe you and forgive you, Mary. Let me take you to your
Mamm
and Sadie," he said, taking her arm and walking her over to where her family was seated. To his pleased surprise, Sadie immediately put her arm around her sister and pulled her close on the bench. Sadie gave Samuel a tearful smile, and he couldn't wait until church was over so he could tell her how proud he was of her.

Sadie was thinking the same thing. If Samuel could offer forgiveness in such an exemplary manner, then she must do the same. Forgiveness was the way of the Amish, and it would only heal their family.

"I'm so sorry, Sadie," Mary told her, openly crying.

"I know, Mary. I forgive you, and I'm so proud of you for having the courage to say so in front of everyone."

Mary wondered if her sister would be so proud if she knew that Atlee cornered her in the barn the day before and gave her a
bletching
that made the one her
Dat
gave her feel like love taps! Atlee told her that he expected her to spare her family any more of her nonsense and take her medicine. He didn't release her until she was so sore she could barely move, and then he hugged her and cried with her. He talked to her as if she was an adult, and once the conversation was over, Mary had some small idea of the pain she'd caused Sadie... and her parents. He also shared his upset with Miriam, and explained how Mary's actions affected his relationship with his lady. Atlee asked her if she had any idea how many others were affected by her lies. She didn't, but he was able to tell her of several people... and she was shocked to learn that Samuel had been unable to sell any of the furniture he'd made for people. When a member is shunned, no one will do business with them. It is not permitted, and Samuel couldn't recoup the money he had invested in the orders. Mary learned more from Atlee than her parents would want her to know at her age, but she was truly thankful. She needed a firm scolding, and probably the spanking, too. She also knew that her brother did it because he loved her, and she finally understood what Sadie meant about Samuel. Mary was ashamed.

The Millers stood by Mary and let their actions tell others that she was truly forgiven. Several of the community came forward to hug her and tell her that they were proud of her for apologizing. She also noted that everyone was treating Samuel well, and she was relieved.