Look Out, Lancaster County

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “What’s ‘martyr’ mean?” Rachel asked.

  “A martyr is a willing victim who suffers for a cause,” Mom replied as she continued peeling potatoes. “People who martyr themselves often do it to make others feel sorry for them.”

  Rachel thought about that a few seconds. Was she acting like a martyr by not wanting to blow bubbles by herself?

  “You’ve been grumpy and out of sorts ever since Mary moved away,” Mom said. “I think what you need to do is go out on the porch, blow a few bubbles, and thank God for all the good things He’s given you.”

  “Jah, okay.” Rachel went out the door, took a seat on the porch step, and opened the jar of bubbles. She dipped the bubble wand inside, pulled it back out, and blew. A colorful bubble formed. When she waved the wand, the bubble sailed across the yard.

  Rachel made a couple more bubbles, and was about to put the lid back on the jar, when Cuddles darted out from under the porch and pounced on a bubble that hovered just above the ground.

  Rachel blew another bubble—and then another. As fast as she made each bubble, Cuddles popped it. Rachel laughed.

  This is kind of fun, Rachel thought. In fact, she was actually having a good time. She hadn’t laughed this much since Mary moved away.

  She closed her eyes. Dear God: Thanks for Cuddles, and bubbles, and all the good things You’ve given me.

  Rachel’s eyes snapped open when Cuddles bounded up the steps, pranced over to the bubble jar, and—thunk!—swatted at it with her right front paw. Splat!—the bubble liquid spilled out of the jar and all over the porch.

  Rachel groaned. So much for a fun time of blowing bubbles!

  She closed her eyes and thought about all her troubles. She had trouble with Audra, trouble with Jacob, trouble with Buddy, and now trouble with Cuddles.

  She sighed deeply. I used to have some friends, but they seem to be disappearing as fast as Cuddles popped my bubbles. I wonder if I’ll ever have any friends again. I wonder if my life will always be full of popping bubbles and all kinds of troubles.

  Chapter 10

  In the Doghouse

  The following Saturday morning, after Rachel finished feeding the chickens, she saw a big truck pull into their yard. She figured maybe Pap had ordered some farming supplies, so she walked past the truck without paying it much attention.

  “Hey, little girl,” the driver said as he and another man climbed out of the truck. “Do you know where we’re supposed to put this trampoline?” He jabbed his thumb toward a large cardboard box in the back of the truck.

  Rachel tipped her head and looked at the box. “Trampoline?”

  He nodded. “That’s right. I need to know where we should set it up.”

  “There must be some mistake.” She shook her head. “I’m sure no one here ordered a trampoline. I think you must have come to the wrong address.”

  The man studied the piece of paper in his hands. “Is this the home of Levi Yoder?”

  Rachel nodded.

  “Then this is the right address.”

  Since it wasn’t Christmas or anyone’s birthday, Rachel was sure it was a mistake. She was about to head to the house to tell Mom about the delivery when Grandpa came out the back door, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Is that the trampoline I ordered?” he asked, motioning to the back of the truck.

  The deliveryman nodded. “Are you Levi Yoder?”

  “No, I’m Noah Schrock. I’m the one who ordered the trampoline.”

  Rachel’s mouth dropped open. “You ordered a trampoline?”

  Grandpa nodded. “Sure did.”

  “Who–who’s it for?” Rachel squeaked. “I mean, it’s nobody’s birthday, and it’s not Christmas, so—”

  “It doesn’t have to be a special occasion for me to give a gift, and this gift is for everyone in the family.” Grandpa pulled his fingers through his long beard and chuckled. “Well, anyone who’s able to jump on the silly thing.”

  Rachel’s heart went thump-thump-thump! “That would be me!” she said excitedly. “I’d love to jump on the trampoline!”

  He smiled and patted the top of her head. “I figured you might.”

  The delivery man cleared his throat real loud. “Where do you want us to put the trampoline?”

  Grandpa looked at Rachel, and Rachel shrugged. “Pap’s out in the fields with Henry and Jacob. Should I go ask Mom?”

  Grandpa nodded.

  Rachel raced into the house. “Mom, guess what?” she hollered when she entered the kitchen where Mom sat at her sewing machine. “Grandpa bought us a trampoline!”

  Mom looked up and smiled. “I knew he was going to. I just didn’t know when it would arrive.”

  “How come you never said anything?” Rachel asked.

  Mom rubbed the bridge of her nose, where her glasses were supposed to be, then she pushed them back in place. “He said he wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “It’s a surprise, all right.” Rachel’s head bobbed up and down. “The deliverymen want to know where they should set up the trampoline.”

  Mom tapped her finger against her chin. “Let’s see now…. Between the barn and the garden might be a good place.”

  “All right, I’ll tell the men where you want it.” Rachel raced for the door.

  By the time the men had the trampoline set up, Jacob, Henry, and Pap had returned from the fields for lunch.

  “Look what Grandpa bought for us.” Rachel pointed to the trampoline. “I can hardly wait to try it out!”

  “It’s very nice,” Pap said, “but you’ll have to wait until after lunch to jump on it.”

  Rachel wished she could jump on it now, but she knew better than to argue with Pap. If she did, he might say she couldn’t jump at all.

  “I think I’m going to take my faceless doll to jump on the trampoline,” Rachel said to Mom when lunch was over and the dishes were done.

  Mom squinted at Rachel over the top of her glasses. “Do you think that’s a good idea? What if the doll falls off the trampoline and lands in the dirt?”

  “That won’t happen because I’ll be holding onto her.”

  Mom shrugged. “All right then. But do be careful.”

  “I will, Mom.”

  As Rachel passed the living room, she spotted Grandpa sitting in the rocking chair. His eyes were closed and soft snores came from his slightly open mouth, letting her know he was asleep.

  She scampered up the stairs to her room, hurried over to her dresser, picked up the doll, and raced out of the room.

  “Where’s Jacob? Is he going to jump on the trampoline with me?” Rachel asked Mom when she stepped into the kitchen.

  “I’m not sure what Jacob plans to do,” Mom replied as she picked up a broom and started sweeping the floor. “Your daed and Henry returned to work in the fields, but I think Jacob went out to the dog run to see Buddy.”

  Rachel wrinkled her nose. “If he’d rather spend time with that mutt than jump on the new trampoline, that’s fine with me.”

  “Be careful,” Mom called as Rachel scurried out the door.

  “I will.” Rachel hurried out to the trampoline.

  Using the step stool Grandpa put there before lunch, she set her doll on the trampoline and climbed up beside it. Her legs wobbled as she picked up the doll and stood. She sucked in a deep breath and held both arms out at her sides to keep her balance. She’d never been on a trampoline before, but she’d seen other children jumping on their trampolines. It didn’t look so hard. She was sure she could do it.

  Keeping both arms out at her sides as she held onto her doll, Rachel began to bounce slowly. Up…down…up…down. She picked up speed and jumped a little higher. Up…down…up…down… “Whee…this is sure fun!”

  Woof! Woof! Woof!

  Rachel glanced to the right and saw Jacob running across the yard with Buddy at his side. They were heading her way.

  “Oh no,” she mumbled. “Here comes trouble.”

  “Are you and your doll
having fun up there, Rachel?” Jacob asked as he approached the trampoline.

  She nodded and kept jumping.

  Woof! Woof! Buddy stood beneath the trampoline with his mouth wide open.

  “I hope you’re not planning to let that dog of yours on the trampoline,” Rachel said.

  Jacob shook his head. “Of course not. We’re just here to watch.”

  “Look how high I can go!” Rachel jumped so high her breath caught in her throat. Suddenly the doll snapped out of her hand. It flipped into the air, floated back down, and landed right in Buddy’s mouth!

  Rachel gasped.

  Buddy pranced off toward his dog run with the faceless doll’s body dangling from his mouth.

  “Jacob, get your dog!” Rachel hollered. “He’s got my doll!”

  Jacob took off after Buddy, and Rachel jumped down from the trampoline and rushed after him. They found Buddy lying outside his doghouse with the doll between his paws.

  Rachel gingerly picked up the doll and nearly choked on her words. “It–it’s all chewed up!” She shook her finger at Buddy as tears clogged her throat. “You’re a bad dog, and I’m very angry with you!”

  Buddy looked up at her and whimpered.

  “He didn’t mean to do it,” Jacob said. “When the doll flew off the trampoline, Buddy probably thought you were throwing him a toy to play with.”

  “I was not throwing him a toy!” Rachel scowled at Jacob and held up the mangled doll. “This is what happens when you let that flea-bitten animal run free!”

  “I’m sorry,” Jacob mumbled. “I didn’t know Buddy would chew up your doll.”

  Rachel burst into tears. “Mary gave me this to remember her by, and—and now it’s ruined!”

  “I said I was sorry. What more can I do?”

  “You can keep that dog in his pen where he belongs!”

  “He can’t be in there every minute of the day,” Jacob said. “It wouldn’t be fair.”

  “I suppose it’s fair that my doll’s chewed up?”

  Jacob pointed to the doghouse and said, “In, Buddy.”

  Woof! Woof! Instead of going to the doghouse like he was supposed to do, Buddy jumped up and raced across the yard like his tail was on fire.

  Jacob took off after the dog, waving his hands and hollering, “Come back here, Buddy! Come back here right now!”

  Rachel groaned and stomped to the house. “Look what Jacob’s dog did to my doll!” she wailed when she entered the kitchen and found Mom and Grandpa sitting at the table drinking tea.

  Mom’s mouth fell open, and Grandpa’s bushy gray eyebrows shot up when they looked at the mangled doll Rachel held in her hands.

  “How did Buddy get your doll?” Mom asked.

  “The doll slipped when I was jumping on the trampoline, and Buddy was standing nearby with his mouth wide open.” Rachel sniffed a couple of times. “The beautiful faceless doll Mary gave me landed in Buddy’s mouth, and he chewed it all up! Now the doll is ruined!”

  Mom pulled Rachel into her arms and gave her a hug. “As soon as I find the time, I’ll make you another doll.”

  Rachel shook her head. “It wouldn’t be the same. This doll was all I had to remember Mary. Now, thanks to Jacob’s big hairy bad-breathed mutt, my doll is gone!”

  “Sounds to me like Buddy’s in the doghouse,” said Grandpa with a shake of his head.

  “No, he’s not.” Rachel motioned to the kitchen window. “Look out there and you’ll see—Buddy’s running around the yard, and Jacob’s chasing after him.”

  “When I said Buddy was in the doghouse, I meant that he’s gotten himself in trouble.” Grandpa’s lips curved slightly upwards. “It’s an old expression that people use, Rachel.”

  Rachel didn’t like the fact that Grandpa thought this was funny. And she didn’t like Buddy or what he’d done to her doll!

  “You know, Rachel,” Grandpa continued, “it was your choice to take the doll outside on the trampoline.”

  “That’s right,” Mom said. “So you can’t put all the blame on Jacob or his dog. If the doll hadn’t fallen off the trampoline, Buddy wouldn’t have run away with it and chewed it up.”

  Rachel frowned. She didn’t understand why everyone was taking Buddy’s side. It wasn’t fair!

  With a strangled sob, she marched across the kitchen, threw the mangled doll into the garbage can, and rushed out of the room.

  Rachel entered her bedroom, flopped onto the bed, and cried into her pillow until there were no tears left. Finally she sat up, dried her eyes on a tissue, and went over to her desk. She pulled open the drawer, took out some paper and a pen, and wrote Mary a letter.

  Dear Mary,

  Today started out pretty good. A delivery truck came with a new trampoline Grandpa ordered for us. I thought it would be fun to hold the faceless doll you gave me while I jumped on the trampoline, but a terrible thing happened. When I did a really high bounce, the doll slipped out of my hand and Jacob’s dumm dog caught the doll in his mouth. Then Buddy ran across the yard, and by the time Jacob and I got to him, the hairy mutt had chewed up the doll! Now I have nothing to remember you by.

  Rachel stopped writing long enough to blow her nose. Telling Mary about the doll made her feel even sadder, but she thought Mary had a right to know what had happened.

  Swallowing against the lump in her throat, Rachel continued with the letter.

  I wish Jacob would get rid of Buddy. That dog’s been nothing but trouble since the first day he came to live here. He chases Cuddles, doesn’t come when he’s called, and he likes to jump up and lick my face!

  Grandpa says that when someone’s in trouble, they’re in the doghouse. Well, I can tell you this much—Buddy’s in the doghouse with me!

  Chapter 11

  Skateboard Mishap

  Ach, Mom, do I have to go?” Rachel groaned when she came downstairs Saturday morning. Mom said they would be visiting Audra and her mother.

  Mom glanced at Rachel over the top of her glasses. “I think you need to go and make peace with Audra, don’t you?”

  Rachel frowned. “I don’t see why. Audra doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her.”

  “Be that as it may,” Mom said as she moved to the stove, “when I met Naomi at the store the other day, she invited us to visit at their place today, so we’re going.”

  Rachel was tempted to argue, but she knew once Mom had made up her mind about something, there was no changing it. Feeling like something heavy rested on her shoulders, she began setting the table for breakfast.

  “How come you’re wearing such a big frown on your face this morning, Rachel?” Jacob asked when he entered the kitchen a few minutes later.

  “I’m not frowning,” she mumbled as she placed the glasses on the table.

  “Jah, you are.”

  “Am not.”

  He nudged her arm. “Then how come there’s a row of tiny wrinkles on your forehead?”

  Rachel reached up and touched her forehead. Jacob was right—there were some wrinkles there.

  Jacob went to the sink and turned on the water to wash his hands. “So how come you’re frowning, Rachel?”

  “She’s upset because she and I are going over to the Burkholders’ house after breakfast,” Mom said before Rachel could reply.

  “Mom wants me to make peace with Audra,” Rachel muttered.

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Jacob said. “While you’re at it, why don’t you stop by Buddy’s doghouse and make peace with him?”

  Rachel whirled around and scowled at Jacob. “I’ll never make peace with your dog. He’s nothing but trouble!”

  “You’re nothing but trouble,” Jacob shot back. “No, you’re bigger tr—”

  Mom clapped her hands. “That’s enough! I get tired of you two bickering all the time. It’s certainly not pleasing to God.”

  Rachel’s cheeks heated up. She didn’t like it when Mom scolded her—even when she knew she was wrong.

  “You’re awfully quiet,
” Mom said as she and Rachel traveled down the road in one of Pap’s buggies.

  Rachel shrugged. “There’s not much to say.”

  “What’s new at school?”

  “Nothing much. It’s the same old thing day after day.”

  “Are you looking forward to summer break coming soon?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Grandpa’s looking forward to building his new greenhouse.”

  Rachel perked up at the mention of Grandpa’s greenhouse. “Grandpa said I might be able to help in the greenhouse whenever I’m not in school.”

  “That would be nice.” Mom reached across the seat and touched Rachel’s arm. “Of course, you won’t be able to work in the greenhouse all the time. There will be chores at the house to do, and after the boppli comes I’ll need your help even more for a while.”

  Rachel frowned. She didn’t like the idea of having more chores to do. She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of Mom having a baby, either. But then, there wasn’t much she could do about that. She just hoped she’d be able to spend plenty of time with Grandpa in his greenhouse. She was sure working around all those flowers would be a lot of fun.

  “Here we are,” Mom said as she guided their horse and buggy onto the Burkholders’ driveway.

  Rachel spotted Audra’s mother sitting in a chair on the front porch, but there was no sign of Audra. Good. Maybe Audra’s not here today. Maybe she went to visit Orlie or something.

  Mom stopped the buggy in front of the hitching rail near the barn and climbed down. Rachel did the same.

  “I’m glad you were able to come,” Naomi said when Mom and Rachel joined her on the porch. She turned to Rachel and smiled. “Audra’s in the barn playing. Would you like to join her?”

  Rachel forced a smile to her lips and said what she knew Mom expected her to say: “Jah, sure.” She left the porch and walked slowly to the barn.

  She found Audra sitting on a bale of straw, fiddling with the string on a wooden yo-yo.

  “Jacob has one of those,” Rachel said, “but he doesn’t play with it much anymore.” She sighed. “He’d rather play with his dog.”