Phoebe's Gift

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Phoebe stepped closer to David and ruffled Wesley’s hair. “Shall I fix you some breakfast?”

  Wesley didn’t move. He appeared to be in shock after being left alone with two strange Amish people. She would be petrified herself in such a situation. But they had all week to get to know Wesley better. Who knew what great things the Lord had in mind for all of them? Hadn’t goot things come about before? She was confident they would arrive again this week, even with only one child in their care.

  “Are you sure you’re not hungry?” she tried again. “And we have ponies in the barn.”

  Wesley didn’t look up. “Your Aunt Millie’s coming,” David muttered, and Phoebe glanced toward the north. Sure enough, a buggy had appeared and turned into the driveway.

  Aunt Millie had said nothing at the Sunday services about a morning visit. What could her aunt want? David didn’t say anything, but he hurried down the walk as Aunt Millie came to a stop.

  “Are you okay?” Phoebe inquired of Wesley. “This is my aunt visiting, and we all drive a horse and buggy.”

  Wesley still didn’t respond. Phoebe reached for his hand. “Do you want to come with me? We have to say hi to my Aunt Millie.”

  Wesley’s hand moved and slipped into Phoebe’s. Finally there was a response. She slowly moved down the walk with Wesley by her side. Aunt Millie waited for them in the buggy while David held her horse’s bridle.

  “Goot morning,” Phoebe greeted her.

  “Goot morning,” Aunt Millie responded as she hopped out of the buggy. “Who have we here?” She gave Wesley a bright smile.

  Wesley stared but said nothing.

  Phoebe mouthed, “I think he’s scared. He stutters.”

  “Oh,” Aunt Millie responded. “Did I come at a bad time?”

  “I don’t think so.” Phoebe brightened. “I believe Wesley might be hungry. Maybe you can help with breakfast?”

  Aunt Millie mouthed the words this time. “And draw him out of his shell?”

  Phoebe nodded. “Do you have the time? I don’t know why you came over, but—”

  “I’ll make the time,” Aunt Millie assured Phoebe. “Come,” she addressed Wesley. “Surely all little boys like to eat hot breakfasts right off the stove?”

  The first smile flickered on Wesley’s face.

  “See, you are good for him,” Phoebe said in Pennsylvania Dutch.

  Wesley gave her a strange look.

  “Sorry,” she told him. “I didn’t say anything bad about you.”

  Aunt Millie smiled at him. “We speak another language, but don’t worry. This is a safe place, and Phoebe takes goot care of little children.”

  “Shall we go then?” Phoebe led the way toward the house in answer to her own question. “So why did you stop by this morning?”

  “I just had to check on you.” Aunt Millie made a face. “Nothing in particular, but with Eugene’s arraignment in court this morning, it seemed like the right idea. Trouble always comes in bunches, it seems.”

  “You don’t think so,” Phoebe responded with a quick glance toward Wesley. Aunt Millie was overreacting. “He’s harmless enough,” she said in Pennsylvania Dutch.

  Aunt Millie whispered in the same language. “Englisha children have been known to burn down houses before. I’ve heard the stories.”

  Phoebe forced a laugh. “You came over because of that?”

  “I know I’m silly.” Aunt Millie sighed. “My nerves are raw with Eugene’s problem, and now you have a child in your care who stutters. Maybe I do have some reasons for concern.”

  “Lots of Amish boys stutter,” Phoebe told her. “But we need to stop talking about him in a language he doesn’t understand.”

  “Don’t worry about us,” Aunt Millie said in Wesley’s direction. “We are just chattering away.”

  Wesley’s face didn’t register any emotion.

  “Let me get David,” Phoebe suggested. “We can eat together and figure this out before you leave. That way, you don’t have to worry.”

  “That’s a great plan.” Aunt Millie appeared relieved.

  “I’ll be right back,” Phoebe told them before she hurried toward the barn.

  She left Aunt Millie bending down in front of Wesley, speaking gently. “In just a moment Phoebe will be back, and we’ll have breakfast cooking on the wood stove with smoke curling…”

  Phoebe moved out of earshot and pushed open the barn door. “David!” she called.

  “What is it?” he asked, appearing suddenly in front of her.

  “Breakfast,” she told him. “Why don’t you come in, and we can eat together. Aunt Millie is worried about Eugene’s court date this morning, and we have a scared child on our hands who has a stuttering problem. You would be goot for him.”

  “I think your aunt has charmed him.” David grinned, having stepped to the barn door to peer out.

  Phoebe joined him and agreed. “I think she has. So are you coming?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve had breakfast.”

  “David.”

  “I can’t this morning, Phoebe. Please?” he begged. “Wesley will be okay. Millie will figure out something.”

  She changed the subject. “I’m assuming Ruth ended her relationship with Ethan.”

  “I don’t know,” he replied. “She wouldn’t talk all weekend, but she came in early on Friday night. Well, before midnight.”

  “Thank You, dear Lord,” Phoebe whispered toward the heavens.

  “She’s hurting, though,” David added. “We should pray for Ruth. I don’t think her battles are over.”

  “I know.” Phoebe sobered and gave his hand a quick squeeze. “But that was a brave choice she made.”

  “If she did,” David cautioned.

  “We should still pray,” Phoebe told him. “And I should go help with breakfast. Looks like we have a long week ahead of us, but the Lord will help us.”

  “You should go.” David motioned toward the house, where Aunt Millie stood on the front porch with Wesley’s hand in hers.

  Phoebe gave him a gentle smile. “So maybe a pony ride is what he needs after breakfast.”

  “Go,” he said. “I’ll have them ready.”

  “I love you,” she whispered, and he smiled.

  Phoebe made her way back up the walkway with a brief glance over her shoulder. David was troubled because of his sister, as he should be. She would walk up to the schoolhouse this afternoon and speak with Ruth. That was the least she could do. Too much sorrow was not goot for anyone. Sharing would lighten Ruth’s load, even if she wasn’t willing to open fully to anyone about her troubles.

  Phoebe entered the house to find Wesley ensconced at the kitchen table with a hint of a smile on his face. Aunt Millie had kept up a constant chatter from the sound of things. “These are eggs.” She pulled one out of the carton. “And this is bacon.” Aunt Millie displayed a sliced piece.

  Wesley had to have seen these items before. This was her aunt’s way of keeping the tension out of the air.

  “How are you doing?” Phoebe asked Wesley.

  The hint of a smile faded.

  Phoebe pulled out a chair to sit beside him. “Did you know the man who dropped you off, Wesley? His name is Ethan Thompson.”

  There was a slight shake of the head.

  “Do you know Mrs. Broman? Have you met her?”

  Again the shake.

  Phoebe reached over to lay her hand on his. “I want you to know that you are very welcome in our house for the week. This is my Aunt Millie, and I live here alone. She came over to check on us, and she is staying to help with breakfast. The man outside is David. He comes up each day to help out. He’s a very nice person.”

  Aunt Millie made a face at her as the bacon splattered in the pan.

  “Well, he is.” Phoebe tried for a lighthearted tone. “And your breakfast is the exact thing we need to begin a wunderbah week.”

  Wesley didn’t show any emotion, but Aunt Millie smiled. “Thanks. That’s kind
of you to say.”

  Phoebe gave her aunt a quick glance. Last week had taken a bigger toll on her family than she had suspected. Aunt Millie was usually a bundle of confidence. Praise was the last thing her aunt usually needed.

  Phoebe stood to slip her arm around Aunt Millie’s shoulders. “I’m so sorry for what happened last week. Should we pray for a goot outcome from the court date this morning?”

  Aunt Millie glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. “It’s at ten.” She gave a little gasp and buried her face in Phoebe’s shoulder for a moment. “Sorry to be so overcome, but if there is a jail sentence by the time this is all over…we’ve never had a Lapp child in jail before.” Aunt Millie ended in a whimper.

  “Dear Lord, help us,” Phoebe prayed quietly.

  “Amen,” Aunt Millie echoed. “I feel better already being in Mamm’s house. She was such a praying woman, and you’ve so taken after her. The courage you have, Phoebe.” Aunt Millie glanced at Wesley and then quickly looked away to crack open an egg. “Thanks for reminding me about prayer. One can so easily forget when real trouble strikes.”

  “Wh-wh-what? Who is in jail?” The stammering voice came from the kitchen table.

  Both Phoebe and Aunt Millie turned to give him kind smiles.

  “You poor child,” Aunt Millie cooed. “It’s okay.” She lifted his chin to look at him. “My nephew is the one who will be in court today. He did a very wicked deed last week and stole someone’s car. He—” Aunt Millie’s voice broke, and she sat down beside Wesley. “It’s hard on all of us, thinking about Eugene going to jail.”

  “So-so-so, he got ca-ca-caught?” Wesley asked.

  Aunt Millie stroked his face and drew him close. “It doesn’t matter if Eugene got caught or not, dear. It’s the stealing that was very bad. That’s wrong whether anyone finds out or not.”

  Wesley didn’t appear convinced, but he remained silent.

  “Breakfast is almost ready,” Aunt Millie told him. “Phoebe already ate, but I can always use some more. Shall I eat with you?”

  Wesley nodded, his smile broader this time.

  “How about pancakes?” Aunt Millie asked him. “Shall I make you some?”

  “Th-this is g-good enough,” Wesley said.

  Aunt Millie gave him another hug. Phoebe turned to leave the kitchen, but she paused when Aunt Millie’s footsteps followed her.

  “I just had the perfect idea,” Aunt Millie whispered in Phoebe’s ear. “Come over for supper at our place tonight, and bring Wesley with you. We all need comforting after this horrible court date, so I’ll invite Homer and Noah and their families. We’ll find peace in one another’s company and encourage our hearts together. That would also do Wesley wonders, I’m thinking.”

  Phoebe gave Aunt Millie a hug. “I knew there was a reason you came over this morning. The Lord had His hand guiding us all the time.”

  “Yah, He did,” Aunt Millie agreed. “And now I’d best get back to Wesley.”

  “I’ll be in the barn when you’re done,” Phoebe told her. “Wesley might be ready for a pony ride after your wunderbah mothering this morning.”

  Aunt Millie was already halfway to the kitchen, so she didn’t respond to the praise even if she heard it. Phoebe slipped out of the house to find David busy in the barn running a brush over the ponies.

  “Wesley stutters badly,” she told him.

  He winced. “The poor boy.”

  “Maybe we can help him this week,” she suggested. “Although I don’t know where to begin.”

  “We can pray,” David replied, smiling.

  Phoebe nodded. “Aunt Millie has invited us to supper tonight at her place. I think you should come.”

  “I will.”

  “I’m glad you’re with me this week, David, walking through these problems.”

  “It is an honor, Phoebe,” he said, smiling again.

  THIRTY-TWO

  Phoebe paused to squint into the late afternoon sun. She waved toward the pasture, where David had his hand on Wesley’s back. The boy appeared expertly balanced on the pony, and David grinned and waved back. This was not Wesley’s first ride of the day. David had worked for hours to reach this point. Wesley had bonded so well with Aunt Millie this morning and with David once Aunt Millie had left that Phoebe had kept her distance. Too much pressure wasn’t goot, and a relationship with David seemed the proper next step. She would have plenty of time as the week progressed to nurture her friendship with Wesley.

  Phoebe waved one last time before she headed south and turned left at the junction. She stopped in at the phone shack and called the number Mrs. Broman had left her to report on the evening outing with Wesley.

  “Yah,” she told the secretary who answered. “I am taking Wesley to my aunt’s place for supper. Not for overnight, just an evening visit.” She paused, listening to the woman on the other end of the call. “So no problem then? Thank you.”

  Phoebe stepped out of the shack. Schoolchildren filled Peckville Road ahead of her, so she had timed the visit perfectly. Ruth could probably use a short break to catch her breath after a long day of classes.

  Phoebe smiled and nodded to the schoolchildren as they passed her. Most of them were on foot, but an occasional buggy trotted by filled with youngsters. Young John was outside the Yoders’ barn when he hollered out, “How’s it going there, Phoebe?”

  “Goot!” she answered. John was a friendly fellow, due to begin his rumspringa soon.

  Phoebe’s face clouded as she headed up the schoolhouse lane. Would John end up like Eugene—in trouble with the law? The boys were close to the same age. Surely some new trend had not been established by Eugene’s transgressions. So far, there had been no word yet on the morning’s court proceedings.

  Phoebe pasted on a smile to knock on the schoolhouse door.

  “Come in,” Ruth called out.

  Phoebe entered. She closed the door gently behind her. “How are you doing?”

  Ruth leaned back in her teacher’s chair. “I’m just a little tired.” She had dark rings under her eyes, so she was obviously understating things.

  “I thought I’d run up and say hi. We have a new boy this week. His name is Wesley. David is giving him a pony ride right now.”

  “That’s goot.” Ruth attempted a smile, but the effort failed.

  Phoebe paused a moment before saying, “Ethan dropped him off this morning.”

  Ruth’s face darkened, and she focused on the papers in front of her.

  “How are things between you?” Phoebe ventured. “I’m assuming…”

  “We’d best not discuss that,” Ruth snapped. “The less said the better.”

  “It can be hard, doing the right thing.” Phoebe stepped closer. “I’m sorry for how this must be hurting you.”

  Ruth raised her head. “I appreciate your concern, Phoebe, but we shouldn’t talk about this. I’ve already said too much.”

  “I know you must feel awful, Ruth, so don’t take this the wrong way, but with the choice you made last week, the worst should be over.”

  “How do you know what my choice was?” Ruth’s words were clipped.

  “David said you came in early that night. I’m sorry if that’s interfering, but I was concerned, as was he.”

  “Considering that your lives were on the line, I can understand that.” Sarcasm dripped from her words.

  “The Lord would have taken care of us,” Phoebe assured her. “That’s what I told David.”

  “You did?” Ruth’s face softened. “It seems as though you and I were on the same page. I told him much the same thing. There’s nothing a Lapp can’t weather, or a Yoder.” Ruth’s gaze moved across the road, toward young John as he drove his team of horses into the back field.

  “Eugene had his court date this morning, Ruth. No one is above failing. You should know that.”

  “Knowing it and having the community believe it are two different things. Maybe I can snag me a Yoder for a boyfriend.” Ruth’s laugh was b
itter. “As if that is going to happen.”

  “I am really sorry about all this,” Phoebe tried again. “I know it’s not right the way things have been, but…” She stopped. There was no reason to belabor the point.

  Ruth took a deep breath. “Yah, I know. I am the community’s schoolteacher. Be thankful.”

  “I didn’t mean to chide you.”

  Ruth was silent for a moment. “I didn’t go out with Ethan on Friday night because he didn’t come by to pick me up, Phoebe. That’s not very virtuous the last time I checked.”

  “Oh!” Phoebe rushed forward to stand by Ruth’s chair. “He jilted you?”

  Ruth gave a muffled choke. “Something like that. But you should be happy.”

  “Not over an awful thing like that. Let me give you a hug.” Phoebe leaned over to pull Ruth into her arms.

  “I don’t need that,” Ruth objected.

  “It’s all I have to give.”

  “I’m not making any promises about the future,” Ruth mumbled. “I tried calling him twice from the phone booth, and he wouldn’t answer.”

  “The Lord will bless you someday with a real love, Ruth. I just know it.”

  “That’s easy for you to say.”

  “Not really. The road hasn’t been easy with either the farm or with following Grandma’s dream. And poor Wesley this morning. You should hear him try to talk.”

  Ruth wiped her eyes. “I know. I shouldn’t pity myself.”

  “I’m not trying to make you feel bad. Why don’t you come with us to Aunt Millie’s tonight? She’s having family over to comfort one another after all our troubles. I’m sure the community’s schoolteacher would be welcome.”

  “And if I wasn’t the teacher?”

  “I would have you come along even if you weren’t a schoolteacher, Ruth. Didn’t Grandma feel that way about you?”

  Ruth blew her nose before she answered. “Okay. That is true, and you are so much like her. Why not? I’ll come.”

  Phoebe gave Ruth another hug. “Thank you. And now, can I help you with something? I’ve taken up some of your time, and I don’t need to be back just yet. David has things under control.”