A Cousin's Challenge

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Jolene and I decided we’d like to have lunch here today instead of at a restaurant,” Ella said. “It will be easier for us to visit without so many interruptions.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Loraine said. “Sometimes it can be awfully noisy at a restaurant.”

  “And since we won’t have to travel anywhere, it’ll give us more time to visit. Oh, and it’ll be easier for me to read your lips if you all look at me when you talk,” Jolene quickly added.

  “There’s some leftover chicken noodle soup in the refrigerator,” Aunt Verna said. “I’ll heat that up and make sandwiches to go with it.” She got up from the table. “I’ll get it started right now while you young women visit.”

  The sunlight streaming through the kitchen window spread a warm glow across the table. When Jolene took a sip of tea, she felt its warming comfort flow through her. It was nice to be with her cousins again. This was the first time they’d all been together since the horrible accident that had changed each of their lives in some way.

  “How does it feel to be home?” Loraine asked, touching Jolene’s arm.

  “It feels good, but I’m a little naerfich about teaching again.”

  “I don’t think there’s any reason for you to feel nervous. You were a good teacher before, so I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Katie said.

  “This will be different, though. The children I’ve come home to teach are deaf like me, which could be a challenge.”

  “What kind of challenge?” Loraine asked.

  “What if I can’t communicate well enough with the children? What if they don’t understand what I’m saying?”

  “You’ll do fine,” Ella said. “Just believe in yourself and ask God to help you.”

  Jolene sighed. “Since I lost my hearing from the accident, I’ve lost some of the confidence. I-I’m not sure I’ll fit in.”

  Aunt Verna turned from the stove and stood in front of Jolene. “You’re still the same person, so you’ll fit in just fine.” She patted Jolene’s shoulder and then hurried back to the stove.

  Feeling the need to change the subject, Jolene turned to Loraine and asked, “How are Wayne and Crist doing with their taxidermy business?”

  “Pretty well, but with jobs being scarce and money so tight, they’re concerned that folks might stop bringing things in to be stuffed. If that should happen, they’ll need to find some other way to make a living.” Loraine smiled. “I do have some good news to share with you.”

  “What’s that?” Katie asked.

  “Wayne and I are expecting a boppli. We’re hoping and praying that this baby will be healthy and I’ll be able to carry it to full term.”

  “That is good news,” Ella said. “I’ll be praying with you about the baby.”

  Jolene nodded, and so did Katie, although Jolene couldn’t help but feel a bit envious. She longed to be a wife and mother.

  “I’m so pleased that you’ll be here when Freeman and I get married in the spring,” Katie said to Jolene.

  Jolene smiled. “At least I won’t miss this wedding.” She turned to Loraine. “Sorry I had to miss yours, but Aunt Dorcas needed my help after her carpal tunnel surgery.”

  “I know, and I understand. We’re just glad you’re home now.”

  Aunt Verna peered out the kitchen window. Frowning, she turned to face them again.

  “What’s wrong?” Ella asked.

  “Not what, but who. Eunice Byler’s buggy is in the yard, and she’s heading for the house. She probably came by to deliver the soap I ordered from her awhile back.”

  “Don’t you want the soap, Mama?” Ella asked.

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then why are you frowning?”

  A rosy color flooded Aunt Verna’s cheeks. “Eunice tends to be quite the gossip. Once she gets going, it’s hard to make her stop.” She glanced at the stove then back again. “I hope she doesn’t expect an invitation to join us for lunch.”

  “Who’s Eunice?” Jolene asked.

  “She and her family moved here after you went to Pennsylvania,” Ella said.

  Katie grimaced. “Eunice used to have her kapp set for Freeman. I think she was very disappointed when he chose me instead of her.”

  When the back door opened, Jolene leaned forward, anxious to meet Eunice. All this talk made her curious about just what kind of person Eunice was.

  CHAPTER 5

  When Eunice stepped into the Yoders’ cozy kitchen, a tantalizing aroma wafted up to her nose. Her stomach rumbled, and she licked her lips. Maybe she would be invited to stay for lunch.

  “Guder mariye,” Eunice said, smiling at Ella, who sat at the table with Loraine, Katie, and a young woman Eunice had never met.

  “Our morning’s almost over, so I guess I’ll say good afternoon.” Ella glanced at the dark-haired woman who sat beside her. “This is my cousin Jolene. She’s been living in Pennsylvania for the last two years and has returned to Indiana to teach the two daab kinner who moved here a few weeks ago.”

  “Oh, you’re Andrew’s sister, aren’t you?” Eunice asked without looking at Jolene.

  Jolene gave no response.

  Eunice frowned and repeated her question.

  Still no reply.

  “Humph! Well, don’t answer me then,” Eunice muttered.

  “Jolene’s deaf. You have to look directly at her when you speak so she’s able to read your lips.”

  Eunice’s face heated. How could she have been so stupid? She remembered now that Andrew had told her about his sister losing her hearing in the accident they’d been in two years ago.

  Eunice knew that if she was going to get Andrew to be interested in her, she needed to get to know his sister.

  “Your bruder Andrew did mention that you’ve been living in Pennsylvania.” Eunice spoke slowly, emphasizing each word as she looked at Jolene. “I should have remembered that you’d lost your hearing.”

  “Did he tell you that I’ve come home to teach Sylvia and Irvin Troyer?”

  “I didn’t know that until Ella mentioned it just now.” Eunice shifted uneasily. It felt strange to speak to someone who couldn’t hear. It was hard to believe that Jolene could know what she was saying by reading her lips. “I hope that the Troyer children are well mannered and easy to teach. Fern and I are good friends, and she’s told me some stories about some of the more stubborn scholars she teaches.” She wrinkled her nose. “Makes me glad I’m not a teacher.”

  “I’m sure there are a lot of rewards in being a teacher.” Ella looked at Jolene. “Isn’t that right?”

  “Were you speaking to me?” Jolene asked.

  “Jah. I said that I’m sure there are lots of rewards in being a teacher.”

  Jolene smiled and nodded. “I’ve always enjoyed teaching.”

  Eunice looked over at Katie. She hadn’t said a word since she’d entered the room. She knew Katie didn’t like her, but did she have to be so rude? After all, Katie was the one who’d ended up with Freeman, even though he’d been Eunice’s boyfriend first. If anyone had a reason to hold a grudge, it was Eunice. Everything had been going just fine between her and Freeman until Katie came between them. She guessed it didn’t matter anymore, because Katie and Freeman would be getting married in the spring. Besides, Eunice had her eye on Andrew now.

  Eunice’s gaze went to Verna, who stood in front of the stove, stirring what smelled like delicious soup. The fragrant aroma beckoned her to sit awhile and enjoy the warmth of Verna’s kitchen. “What are you cooking?” she asked, moving closer to the stove. “It sure smells good.”

  “It’s chicken noodle soup,” Verna replied rather stiffly. “We’ll be having it for lunch.”

  Eunice hesitated, still hoping she might be invited to join them. When Verna said nothing, Eunice handed her the paper sack she held. “I brought the soap you ordered.”

  “Just put it on the table,” Verna said over her shoulder. “I’ll get my purse and pay you in a minute.”

  “Would you l
ike me to get your purse, Mama?” Ella offered.

  Verna shook her head. “That’s okay; I’ll get it. Just stay where you are and visit with your cousins.”

  Ella took a sip of tea and blotted her lips with a napkin.

  Loraine leaned closer to Katie. “Have you gotten any new stamps in the stamp shop lately?”

  Katie smiled. “As a matter of fact, we have. Last week’s shipment had...”

  Eunice rested her hip against the cupboard as she tuned out the conversation going on at the table. She felt like an intruder and wished Ella or one of the cousins would at least invite her to sit and visit.

  Eunice turned and glanced out the kitchen window, allowing her thoughts to wander. Sure wish I knew if Andrew was interested in me. I wonder if he’ll ever ask me to go out with him. If he doesn’t, I’ll need to look for someone else, because I sure don’t want to end up an old maid like Freeman’s sister, Fern.

  Tired of feeling left out, Eunice moved over to the table, pulled out the empty chair next to Jolene, and plunked down. When Jolene turned to look at her, Eunice smiled and said, “I don’t know if anyone’s told you or not, but I sell soaps and scented candles. Maybe you’d like to host a party sometime.”

  Jolene’s eyebrows drew together. “Could you repeat that, please?”

  “I sell candles and scented soaps. Would you like to host a party sometime?”

  “I—I don’t know. Starting Monday I’ll be busy teaching, so—”

  “You won’t be teaching all the time. You could host the party some evening or on a Saturday.”

  “I’ll have to see how it goes.”

  Eunice was about to say something more when Verna handed her the money she owed. “Here you go. Danki for bringing my order by.”

  “You’re welcome.” Eunice waited to see if anyone would say anything else to her. When they didn’t, she looked at Loraine and said, “Before I came here, I delivered some candles to Lydia Beechy. She said she’d gotten a letter from her son, Jake, who lives in Montana.”

  Loraine smiled. “That’s nice. I’m sure she was glad to hear from him.”

  “Didn’t you used to go out with Jake?”

  “Jah, but that was a long time ago.”

  “From what I’ve heard, Jake’s always been kind of wild.”

  Loraine shook her head. “He’s not wild, just free spirited.”

  “Maybe so, but I heard—”

  Ella cleared her throat loudly. “How many more deliveries do you have to make today, Eunice?”

  “Four, and then I need to go to Shipshe to pick up a prescription for my mamm.”

  “Is your mother sick?” Verna asked, turning away from the stove.

  “Not really, but she needs medicine for her high blood pressure.”

  Verna’s forehead wrinkled. “I didn’t realize she had high blood pressure.”

  “She just found out a few days ago, but the doctor said she should be fine as long as she eats right and takes her medicine.” Eunice drummed her fingers along the edge of the table. “Speaking of eating right, have any of you noticed how much weight our bishop has put on lately? Why, I’ll bet he weighs nearly—”

  “Oh my, look at the time.” Ella motioned to the clock. “It’s almost noon, so maybe we should get lunch on the table and see if Papa and Charlene are planning to join us today.”

  “I’m sure they will,” Verna said. “Neither one asked me to pack a lunch for them this morning, so I don’t think they’re planning to eat at the shop.”

  “What can we do to help?” Katie asked, pushing away from the table.

  “Why don’t you and Jolene set the table? Then Loraine can fill the glasses with apple cider, while Ella and I make the sandwiches.”

  Eunice clamped her teeth together. It was obvious that she wasn’t going to be asked to stay for lunch. They were clearly hoping she’d leave.

  With an audible sigh, Eunice pushed her chair aside and stood. “Guess I’d better get going.” She cast a quick glance in Jolene’s direction. “It was nice meeting you. I hope we’ll get the chance to get to know each other better.”

  Jolene gave a quick nod. Eunice figured she might not have understood what she’d said. Either that, or she was just plain rude.

  “Well, then, I’ll be on my way.” Eunice hurried out the door. It didn’t take a genius to know that her presence wasn’t wanted.

  ***

  Jolene shifted uneasily in her chair. Even though she hadn’t liked some of the things Eunice had said, she wasn’t comfortable with the way the others had treated her. It was as though they were anxious for Eunice to leave and weren’t interested in anything she had to say. Of course, much of what Eunice had said did seem like gossip.

  Ella looked over at Jolene and quirked an eyebrow. “What’d you think of Eunice?”

  “She seems nice enough, but she’s quite the talker,” Jolene replied.

  “Oh, she’s a talker, all right—either yammering away about nothing at all or spreading rumors and gossip.” Ella stuck her finger in her mouth, as though she were gagging.

  Katie nudged Jolene’s arm. “You’d better forewarn your bruder, because I have a hunch that Eunice has her kapp set for him.” “What makes you think that?” Jolene asked.

  “Didn’t you see the sappy look on her face when she mentioned his name?”

  “No, not really. I was concentrating more on trying to read her lips.”

  Loraine poked Katie’s arm and said something to her, but Jolene didn’t get what she’d said because she wasn’t looking directly at her.

  “Was Loraine saying something to me?” she asked, turning to Katie.

  Katie shook her head. “She was reminding me of how Andrew rescued Eunice when her buggy flipped over in a ditch several weeks ago. Ever since then, she’s been hanging around Andrew every chance she gets.”

  Ella touched Jolene’s arm. “I’d warn him if I were you ... just in case he has any ideas about going out with Eunice.”

  “Would that really be so bad?” Jolene asked. All three heads bobbed.

  “I don’t think Eunice would make a good sister-in-law—or a good wife, for that matter.” Ella’s serious expression caused Jolene to worry. If Eunice was as bad as her cousins seemed to think, then maybe she should say something to Andrew. Or would it be better to let him find out for himself what kind of person Eunice was?

  ***

  Lonnie whistled as he headed up the driveway with the mail in his hands. He’d received a letter from Carolyn and could hardly wait to read it. If she agreed to marry him, they’d be living in Indiana, since this was where Lonnie’s job was now. Carolyn made friends easily; he was sure she’d fit in and make new friends here.

  The tune Lonnie whistled became louder. It was amazing how finding the letter had improved his mood. It was enough to make him forget about the pain in his hand.

  The trees lining their driveway creaked as the wind picked up. Lonnie clung to the mail. Sure wouldn’t want Carolyn’s letter to blow away.

  He was almost to the house when his twelve-year-old sister Sharon rushed out the door with a panicked expression. “I’m in big trouble, Lonnie. Really big trouble!” She grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.

  “What’d you do now?” Sharon was the youngest in his family, and she always seemed to be in some kind of a fix. It had been that way ever since she was old enough to walk and talk.

  Her hazel-colored eyes filled with tears. “I—I spilled beet juice on my bed quilt.”

  “How’d you do that? Your quilt’s supposed to be on your bed, not in the kitchen.”

  “I wasn’t in the kitchen. I was cleaning my room and got hungry for a snack.” She blinked a couple of times. “I came down to the kitchen and fixed myself a bowl of pickled beets.”

  Lonnie’s forehead wrinkled. “Please don’t tell me you took the beets upstairs to your room.”

  “I know it was a dumm thing to do, but I set the bowl on my nightstand, and then I took a seat on my bed.
When I reached for the bowl, I bumped the lamp beside my bed. It jostled the bowl, and the next thing I knew there was a trail of beet juice on the edge of my quilt.” Sharon’s chin trembled. “Mom’s gonna pitch a fit when she and Pop come home from town and find out what I did. I’ll probably get a bletsching and be given extra chores to do.”

  Lonnie chuckled in response to her fears about getting a spanking. Although Sharon was a bit accident-prone, she rarely disobeyed. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d been disciplined harshly by either one of their parents. “I doubt you’ll get a bletsching, but you might be right about having to do extra chores.” Lonnie reached for the handle on the screen door. “Why don’t you try washing the part of the quilt that has beet juice on it?”

  “I tried that already, but the red’s still there.” Sharon’s nose began to run, mixing with her tears. She sniffed a couple of times. “You got any ideas what I should do, Lonnie?”

  He shrugged. “If it were me, I’d try putting some bleach or peroxide on the stain, and then I’d wash it really good.” She swiped at her tears with the back of her hand. “You think that might work?”

  “It’s worth a try. Maybe by the time the folks get home, you’ll have the beet juice out and your quilt will be good as new.”

  “But how am I supposed to get it dry in time? There’s not much sun today, and Mom and Dad will probably be here in a couple of hours. That might not give the wet spot on the quilt enough time to dry.”

  “Why don’t you drape it over the clothes rack and set it in front of the stove?”

  “I guess that might work.” Her lips turned up. “Danki, Lonnie; I appreciate your suggestion.”

  “No problem. That’s what big brothers are for.” Lonnie slipped Carolyn’s letter in his jacket pocket and handed Sharon the rest of the mail. “Put this on the table, would you? I’m going out to the barn to read my letter.”

  “Sure.” Sharon gave him another smile and scurried into the house.

  Whistling all the way, Lonnie hurried to the barn.

  As soon as he stepped inside, he lit a kerosene lantern and found a seat on a bale of straw. Tearing Carolyn’s letter open, he read it silently to himself: