Look Out, Lancaster County
Page 40
Audra’s forehead wrinkled and she stepped through the doorway. “What is it?”
Rachel picked up the box and handed it to Audra. “Why don’t you open it and see for yourself?”
Audra placed the box on the small table near the door and removed the ribbon. Then she tore the tape off the box, lifted the flaps, and peered inside. “It’s a skateboard!”
“It’s the skateboard my brothers made for my birthday last year,” Rachel explained. “It’s to replace your broken skateboard.”
“No, Rachel,” Naomi said. “You can’t give away one of your birthday presents. Especially since your brothers made it.”
“It’s okay,” Rachel said. “I asked Henry and Jacob first, and they both said the skateboard is mine and I can do whatever I want with it.” She smiled at Audra. “I want you to have it.”
Audra’s eyes widened as she lifted the skateboard out of the box. “Danki, Rachel.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You can come over anytime you want and use the skateboard,” Audra said.
Rachel smiled. “I’d like that, but there’s something else I’d like even more.”
“What’s that?” Audra asked.
“I’d like you to be my friend.”
“I’d like that, too.” Audra motioned to the house. “Would you like to go up to my room and play?”
Rachel nodded.
Audra led the way, and Rachel followed her into the house.
When they entered Audra’s room, Audra turned to Rachel and said, “Why don’t you take a seat on the bed while I get something from my closet?”
“Okay.”
When Audra returned, she held a faceless doll in her hands. “This is to replace the one Jacob’s dog chewed up,” she said, handing it to Rachel.
Rachel’s mouth dropped open. “You—you know about that?”
Audra nodded. “I heard Jacob telling Orlie about it during recess one day.”
Rachel hardly knew what to say. “Are you sure you want to give me your doll?”
“I’m very sure.” Audra took a seat on the bed beside Rachel. “Whenever you come here to play we can take turns riding my new skateboard.” She patted the top of the doll’s head. “And when I come to your house, we can take turns playing with your new faceless doll.”
“You can jump on our new trampoline when you come over to my house,” Rachel said. “And I promise not to take my new faceless doll out to the trampoline when we jump.”
Audra giggled. “No, that wouldn’t be a good idea at all.”
Rachel smiled as she thought about the verse of scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, about two being better than one. From then on, Rachel would try to remember to be kind and forgiving. She was glad she’d finally found a new friend, for she and Audra had both been given the chance for a new beginning.