A Merry Heart
Page 7
It took only five minutes for the children to gobble down their lunches and scamper outside to play for the remaining twenty-five minutes of lunch break. Games of baseball, Drop the Hankie, and hopscotch could be seen being played around the school playground, while some of Miriam’s scholars took turns on the swings and teeter-totters.
Miriam stood at the window, watching the children and wondering if the ache she felt between her temples would turn into another one of her pounding migraine headaches. The day was only half over, and already she felt physically and emotionally drained. At moments like this, she wondered if teaching was really her intended calling in life. She often ran out of patience, and when she felt as she did today, she wondered if her mother could be right about her needing to find a husband and get married.
What am I thinking? she chided herself. Even if I did want to get married, which I don’t, I’m not in love with anyone, and I’ll never marry without love or trust—both of which I don’t feel for Amos. She shrugged, deciding that her mood was only because it was the first day of school. In a few days when everything became routine again, she would be glad she was teaching school.
When a ruckus broke out in the school yard, Miriam’s thoughts came to a halt. She heard laughing and shouting, and when she went to the door, she saw several of the children standing in a circle.
Miriam hurried outside. “What’s the trouble?” she asked Kenneth Freisen, who stood nearby.
“The girls were blabbing again.”
Miriam pulled two of the girls aside. That was when she noticed Mary Ellen standing in the middle of the circle. Tears streamed down the child’s flushed cheeks, and she sniffed between shaky sobs.
“Mary Ellen, what is it?”
“It. . .it’s all right, Teacher Mim. They didn’t mean it, I’m sure.” Mary Ellen managed a weak smile, even through her tears.
“Who didn’t mean it? Did someone hurt you?”
“Aw, she’s just a little crybaby.” Kenneth wrinkled his nose like some foul odor had permeated the air. “She can’t even take a bit of teasing.”
Miriam eyed him with suspicion. “Who was doing this teasing?”
“It wasn’t me, Teacher. It was the girls. Like I said before, they like to blab.”
“Which of you girls was involved, and what were you teasing Mary Ellen about?” Miriam’s patience was beginning to wane, and the pain in her head had increased. She feared the dizziness and nausea that usually followed would soon be upon her, as well.
The cluster of students remained quiet. Not one child stepped forward to announce his or her part in the teasing.
Miriam frowned and rubbed her forehead. “All right then, the entire class shall stay after school for thirty minutes.”
“But, that’s not fair! Why should we all be punished for somethin’ just a few of the girls said?” Kenneth wailed.
“I didn’t do nothin’, and I’ll be sent to the woodshed for a bletsching if I come home late,” Karen Lederach whined. “My daed don’t like tardiness.”
“My mamm has chores waitin’ for me,” Grace Schrock put in.
Miriam looked at Mary Ellen. “Won’t you tell me now who’s guilty and what they said?”
Mary Ellen shuffled her feet a few times and motioned for Miriam to come closer. When Miriam bent down, the child whispered in her ear, “I’ll tell you in private what they said, but I can’t say who said it ’cause that would be tattling, and Pappy don’t like a retschbeddi. He’s warned me against being a tattler many times.” She smiled, but the expression never quite reached her tear-filled eyes. “He says the Bible tells us to do to others what we want done to us. I wouldn’t want someone to get me in trouble.”
Miriam took hold of Mary Ellen’s arm and led her inside the school building. Looking at the little girl’s sweet face brought a sense of longing to Miriam’s soul. She felt an unexplainable need to protect this child, and it went way beyond teacher to student. “All right, Mary Ellen. Please tell me what that was all about.”
Mary Ellen looked up at Miriam, and her chin trembled. “Some of the kinner noticed that I don’t dress like them.”
“What do you mean? You’re wearing the same Plain clothes as the rest of the girls in class.”
“Today I must have put my dress on backwards, and I never even knew it. That’s why some of ’em were laughing.” She bit her quivering lip. “But please don’t punish anyone on account of me, Teacher Mim.”
“I’ll worry about that later,” Miriam said, as she helped the child out of her dress. I should have noticed her dress was on backwards. What kind of teacher am I?
Once the dress was put on correctly, Miriam held Mary Ellen at arm’s length and scrutinized her. “You’ve set a good example for the entire class.” She tucked some stray hairs into the bun at the back of the child’s head. “I only wish the others would do the same.”
“I always try to do what’s right. It’s what God wants me to do.”
Miriam nodded, wondering how a child of Mary Ellen’s age could be so full of love and forgiveness, when she, an adult, struggled every day with bitterness and an inability to forgive.
Pushing the thoughts to the back of her mind, Miriam returned to the school yard to speak with her other students while Mary Ellen waited on the porch. “I hope you’ve all learned something today,” she said, shaking her finger. “No one will be required to stay after school this time, but if anything like this ever happens again, I will punish the entire class. I don’t care if you all have to go to the woodshed for a spanking when you get home. Is that clear?”
All heads nodded in unison.
“Now get back to your play. Lunchtime will be over soon.”
When Miriam stepped onto the porch, Mary Ellen smiled up at her. Miriam couldn’t help but offer a smile in return. She really is a dear little girl. Mary Ellen, the heartsome. Even in the face of difficulty, she still has a forgiving heart.
I
“It’s good to get out of that blistering sun awhile,” Henry said as he washed up at the kitchen sink. “I was sweating buckets out there.”
Anna placed a platter of sandwiches on the table, as he turned to reach for a towel hanging on the handle of the refrigerator door. “I’d figured you and Lewis would not only be hungry for lunch but needing some time away from the hot, humid weather.”
“And speaking of lunch, I’m hungry enough to eat everything on the table,” Lewis said, sneaking up behind his mother and giving her a squeeze.
She chuckled. “The Good Lord may have only blessed me and your daed with four kinner, but ever since you could eat solid food, you’ve been packing away enough for ten.”
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration, wouldn’t ya say, Anna?” Henry asked, joining them at the table. “It might have been better to say that our youngest son was born with a hole in his leg.”
“Puh!” Lewis waved a hand. “You’re both exaggerating.”
As soon as they were all seated, they bowed their heads for silent prayer. When Henry cleared his throat so the others would know he was done, Anna passed the platter of sandwiches around.
“I wonder how things are goin’ for our daughter at the schoolhouse today,” Henry said, snatching two bologna sandwiches off the plate, then handing it over to Lewis. “She seemed kind of naerfich today.”
“Miriam’s always a little nervous on the first day of school because she never knows how things will go with the scholars,” Anna said, reaching for the pitcher of goat’s milk and pouring some into each of their glasses.
Lewis bit into his sandwich and washed it down with a gulp of milk. “I remember when I was a boy attending the one-room schoolhouse. I always looked forward to the first day of school.”
Henry shook his finger at Lewis. “That’s because you couldn’t wait to tease the girls.” He reached for the bowl of cut-up vegetables and plopped two carrots and a handful of radishes onto his plate. “I’m surprised you haven’t honed in on one of them girls and gotte
n married by now.”
Lewis’s face turned red as a tomato, but he said not a word. Anna had a hunch he’d already found that special girl and was probably secretly courting her. Of course Lewis wasn’t likely to volunteer such information, and she wouldn’t embarrass him by asking.
“Maybe being back to teaching will make our daughter feel happier,” Henry said, bringing the subject back to Miriam again. “I hate seeing her so down-in-the-mouth all the time.”
“It is hard to see her that way,” Anna agreed. “Guess the best thing we can do is keep praying that God will heal her heart soon.”
“And bring her a man to love,” Lewis added around a mouthful of food.
The days rolled quickly by, and Miriam fell back into her role as teacher. She still had moments of frustration and tension, leading to her now-familiar sick headaches, but at least she was keeping busy and doing something she hoped was worthwhile.
One morning, Miriam told her mother that she would pay a call on Crystal after school had been dismissed for the day. It had been awhile since they had taken the time for a good visit, and she was certainly in need of one now.
When Miriam pulled her horse and buggy to a stop in front of Jonas and Crystal’s farmhouse, she saw Crystal outside removing her dry laundry from the clothesline. Miriam called to her, and Crystal turned and waved, then motioned for Miriam to follow her to the house.
Crystal deposited the laundry basket on a kitchen chair and pulled out another chair for Miriam. “It’s good to see you. You’ve been on my mind a lot lately, and also in my prayers.”
“Oh, really? Why’s that?”
Crystal shrugged and began to fold the clothes, placing them in neat stacks on the table. “I’ve been praying for your happiness.”
“Maybe it’s not meant for some people to be happy,” Miriam said, feeling a deep sense of sadness surround her heart.
“I don’t believe that for a single moment, and neither should you.” Crystal shook her head. “We’ve been taught since we were kinner that life offers each of us choices. God gave us the ability to choose what we will think and feel. He expects the believer to make the right choices, and He wants us to be happy and content with our lives.”
Miriam shrugged. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re happily married to a man you love deeply, and you have two beautiful little boys. How could you not be happy?”
Crystal dropped a towel into the basket, pulled out the chair next to Miriam, and sat down. “Please don’t be envious of my life. You can have the same happiness, as well.”
Miriam stood suddenly, knocking over her chair in the process. “How can you speak to me like that? I thought you were supposed to my friend.”
“I—I am,” Crystal stammered.
“Then please don’t talk to me as though I’m a child.”
“I wasn’t. I mean, I don’t think of you as a child. I was merely trying to tell you—”
“That I should marry someone? Were you thinking of Amos Hilty?” Miriam bent to pick up the chair, feeling more agitated by the minute. “Marrying Amos would not make me happy.”
“How do you know that?”
“For one thing, he doesn’t love me.” She released a deep sigh as she straightened. “I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: All Amos wants is a mother for Mary Ellen and, of course, someone to do his cooking and cleaning. Furthermore, I don’t feel any love for him.”
“Sometimes one can learn to love.”
“Did you have to learn to love my brother?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Can’t we please change the subject and just enjoy each other’s company?” Miriam went to the cupboard and removed a glass. She was beginning to feel another headache coming on and knew she should take some aspirin right away if she was going to stave it off.
“Of course we can change the subject,” Crystal was quick to agree. “I’m sorry if I upset or offended you. It’s just that I want you to be as happy as I am.”
“Please, don’t worry and fret over me. I’m doing fine without a husband, and who cares if I’m not truly happy anyway? I’ve come to accept the fact that life isn’t meant to be a bowl of sweet cherries. I. . .” Miriam’s voice trailed off when she heard a horse and buggy pull into the yard, and she glanced out the window.
“Who is it?” Crystal asked.
“It looks like Lewis. Mom knew I was coming by here on my way home from school, and she probably sent him over to let me know that she needs my help. It’s getting pretty close to suppertime, you know.”
Crystal glanced at the clock on the far wall. “You’re right. I’m surprised the twins aren’t up from their naps yet.”
Heavy footsteps could be heard clomping on the porch. The back door flew open, and Lewis burst into the room.
Miriam couldn’t remember ever seeing her youngest brother look so upset. “What is it, Lewis? You look as though you’ve seen something terrible.”
Crystal pulled out a chair. “Maybe you’d better sit down.”
Lewis shook his head. “There’s no time. “We have got to go schnell!”
“Go quickly where?” Miriam questioned.
“To the hospital.” Lewis’s voice quivered, and he seemed close to tears.
“The hospital? Is someone grank?”
“No one’s sick, Miriam, but I think Papa’s in bad trouble.”
“What kind of trouble? Did something go wrong in the fields?”
“He seemed fine when we went up to the house at noon, but later on while we were workin’ in the fields, he turned really pale, clutched at his chest, and then toppled right over.”
Miriam gasped, and Crystal waited silently as Lewis continued. “It took everything I had to get him into the wagon, and as soon as I got him up to the house, I went straight over to Ray Peterson’s place so we could call 911 for help.” He sucked in a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “The ambulance came soon after that and took Papa to the hospital. Mom rode with Vera Anderson in her van, and I went to let Andrew know and then came over here to tell you.”
“Wh–what do you think is wrong with our daed?” Miriam asked with a catch in her voice.
“I thought at first it might be the heat, but the paramedics said they thought it was his heart.”
“A heart attack?” Crystal’s mouth hung open.
Lewis nodded. “Where’s Jonas? He needs to know, too.”
“He’s still out in the fields with my daed, but they should be here anytime, I expect,” Crystal said. “If you and Miriam want to get a ride and go ahead to the hospital, I’ll send Jonas there as soon as he comes back to the house.”
“We’d better head out to the field and try to find Jonas now. He can ride with us.”
Miriam shook so hard, she could hardly stay upright. “I’ll leave my buggy here and ride with Lewis, if–if that’s all right,” she stammered, looking over at Crystal.
“Of course. You can get your buggy later on this evening or tomorrow morning.”
Lewis grabbed hold of Miriam’s hand. “Andrew’s on his way to the hospital already, and our other English neighbor, Alan Wiggins, said he’d drive us there, so we need to get Jonas and go now before it’s too late.”
“Too late? What do you mean, too late? Is Papa’s condition that serious?” Miriam felt the blood drain from her face, and tears pricked her eyes.
Lewis nearly pushed her toward the door. “I really don’t know, but Papa wasn’t conscious when the paramedics arrived.”
“Remember Papa in your prayers,” Miriam called to Crystal over her shoulder.
“Jah, I surely will.”
I
Nick gripped the steering wheel as he squinted against the glare of the sun streaming through the front window of his sporty new car. He was heading to Lancaster General Hospital to cover a story about an elderly man who had been beaten and robbed at a local mini-mart, and he wasn’t looking forward to it one bit.
He had tried to get out of the interview, but his boss wouldn’t take no for an answer. In fact, he had told Nick that if he didn’t do the interview, he could look for another job. So Nick was on his way to the hospital now, giving himself a pep talk, which he hoped would help conquer his fear.
If you’re afraid of something, then reach deep inside and face it head-on. Nick remembered his father reprimanding him for being afraid to ride his bike after he’d crashed and scraped up his knees. “Grit your teeth and get back on that bicycle,” Dad had instructed. “You’ll never conquer your fear until you do.”
Nick had spent the better portion of twenty-six years trying to be brave and attempting to do everything in his own strength. He’d pretty much succeeded at it, too, because not much caused him to fear. Except for hospitals, that is, and tonight, he was determined to combat that fear, as well.
He clenched his fingers around the steering wheel tighter and fought the wave of nausea that threatened to overtake him. “I can do this. I can reach inside myself and find the strength I need.”
Soon after Miriam and Lewis arrived at the hospital they learned that their father’s condition was quite serious. The doctors confirmed that he had suffered a massive heart attack. Miriam, her mother, and her three brothers stood around Papa’s bed as the doctor gave the shocking news that, because his heart was so weak, Papa would probably not survive the night, though they would do all they could for him.