The Hawaiian Quilt

by Brunstetter, Wanda E. ; Brunstetter, Jean;

  Mandy’s mouth nearly watered, thinking how good everything looked. No doubt it would taste equally yummy.

  “If anyone would like Spam instead of sausage, I’d be happy to bring some out.” Makaio’s prominent cheekbones rose. “I kinda like the stuff.”

  Luana poked her husband’s arm and chuckled. “Don’t let him fool you. My man is addicted to Spam.”

  “I especially like it with scrambled eggs and rice,” he added. “My dad likes it, too. He raised me on it.”

  “Thanks anyway, but I think I’ll pass.” Mandy averted her gaze. Although she wasn’t a picky eater and was willing to try many things, she’d never gotten acquainted with Spam until she’d tried it on the cruise ship during breakfast their first morning. One glance and one sniff was all it took for her not to like it. She didn’t understand how anyone could eat the stuff. Then again, she thought, some people might question my taste for seafood.

  “Did you both sleep well?” Makaio asked.

  “Oh yes,” Ellen replied. “It was good to sleep in a bed that didn’t feel like it was swaying back and forth.”

  “I have a question.” Mandy held out the small statue she’d discovered. “I found this under the dresser in our room and wondered what it was.”

  “It’s a tiki,” Makaio explained. “One of our previous guests must have bought it from a gift shop and left it in the room. Guess we missed seeing it there when we cleaned.”

  “Do the little statues have a special purpose or meaning?” Ellen asked.

  “Well, some who live on our island believe if a totem such as this has been carved with a scary expression, it will keep away evil spirits.”

  “Others with a friendlier appearance, like the one you’re holding, are thought to bring good luck,” Luana added. “Of course, as Christians we don’t believe in such superstitions.” She held out her hand. “Unless you want to keep the tiki, I’ll dispose of it, because I don’t feel comfortable keeping it around. I wouldn’t want anyone to get the impression we worship idols or even believe in the fantasies surrounding the carvings.”

  Mandy was glad the Hawaiian couple didn’t believe in such things, and she gladly handed the tiki to Luana.

  “If everyone is ready, we can eat breakfast now.” Makaio then asked if anyone objected to him saying a prayer before the meal.

  The guests all shook their heads. Even though she was used to praying silently, Mandy had no objections to a prayer spoken aloud. She was glad the Hawaiian couple were Christians and remembered seeing a Bible lying on the coffee table while walking through the living room last night. It eased some of Mandy’s inner tensions and gave her a sense of peace.

  “Dear Lord,” Makaio prayed. “We thank You for this food and the hands that prepared it. Bless the meal, and may it bring nourishment to our bodies. Thank You for the opportunity to make new friends and get reacquainted with those we have met before. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”

  Mandy felt certain Makaio and Luana were devout Christians, not only because of the heartfelt prayer he’d given, but from the scripture verse on a plaque hanging above the buffet at the other end of the room. It quoted Hebrews 13:2: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” She had a feeling every visitor who came to this bed-and-breakfast was treated special—as though they were an angel.

  Middlebury

  Stepping around mud puddles, Miriam headed down the driveway to the phone shack to check for messages. She’d meant to see if there were any this morning, but it had been raining so hard she’d waited. Even now, at one o’clock in the afternoon, the rain fell, although it had been reduced to a drizzle. She was glad there’d been no more snow, but they’d had rain for the last several days, leaving the yard a mess. She looked forward to spring when the weather warmed and she could be outside in her garden. Miriam longed to see budding trees and flowers opening their petals. She glanced at one of the maples in their yard and frowned. Like all the rest, it was barren of leaves. The birds sitting on its branches looked as miserable as she felt. None of them even chirped a tune.

  Miriam moved on. When she approached the phone shack, she shook the rain from her umbrella and stepped inside. The blinking light on the answering machine signaled messages waiting. She took a seat in the folding chair and clicked the button. The first message was from Gideon’s mother, asking if Miriam needed any more thread. They had an overstock of both black and white, which would be on sale for half price.

  The next message was from Miriam’s driver, saying she would be free to take her to the chiropractor’s later in the week. Good to hear. With the pain I’ve had in my neck the last few days, I need to go in as soon as possible.

  As Miriam listened to the beginning of the third message, she smiled. It was from Mandy.

  “Hi, Mom and Dad. I wanted to let you know Ellen and I missed the ship last evening. We are staying at the Palms Bed-and-Breakfast, in the town of Kapaa, on the island of Kauai.” Following a short pause, her message continued: “Barbara and Sadie are on the boat, heading for the Big Island, but I have no way of contacting them. Unfortunately, I lost my cell phone, which is why we were late and missed the ship’s departure.” Another pause. “Don’t worry about me, okay? Ellen and I have a nice place to stay until we’re able to book passage home. Ellen has called her parents, too. If Barbara should call, please let her know we’re okay. Oh, and if you could please call Barbara and Sadie’s folks and tell them what’s happened, I’d appreciate it. I’m going to give you the phone number for the B&B so you can contact me. When you call Barbara’s mamm, would you please ask her for Barbara’s cell number? It was programmed into my cell phone, but I didn’t write it down. Oh, and don’t forget about the time difference here when you call me back, because I’m five hours earlier than you are in Indiana. I need to let you go for now, so Ellen can call her folks. I hope to hear from you soon. I miss you all. Please give my love to everyone.”

  Miriam wrote down the phone number her daughter gave for the place they were staying, and then she listened to the message a second time to make sure she hadn’t missed any information. Without listening to any of the other messages, she called and left messages for Barbara’s and Sadie’s parents. Immediately after, Miriam dialed the number for the B&B and brought her hand to her forehead. It’s no wonder I didn’t want Mandy to go on that trip.

  Kapaa

  “We’ve had many people at our B&B, but no one quite like Mandy and Ellen,” Luana said after she and Makaio returned to the kitchen. “I’ve heard about Amish people but never imagined we’d have the chance to meet any. They’re nice young women, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, they seem to be. They sure dress different than other people here on the island, though.” Makaio opened the refrigerator and removed a pitcher of guava juice. “I put some pineapple juice on the table earlier, but maybe our guests would like some of this.”

  Luana smiled. Her husband thought of everything this morning. “I can’t help but wonder if the Lord may have brought Mandy and Ellen to us for a reason.” She lowered her voice, to be discreet.

  He tipped his head while squinting his dark eyes and leaning in closer to her. “What reason?”

  “I’m not sure, but I feel like they are supposed to be here. It’s as though God brought them to us for a purpose.”

  “Maybe so. You’ve had feelings about certain other guests in the past.”

  “I’ve also been thinking, since the girls have only the clothes on their backs, after breakfast, I’ll see if they’d like to go shopping to look for a few modest dresses, some sleeping attire, undergarments, and sandals.”

  “Good idea. They sure can’t wear the same dress every day they’re here.” Makaio started for the dining room but turned back around. “How long do you think they will stay?”

  Luana was about to respond when the telephone rang. “I’ll get it. You can go ahead and take the juice in to our guests.” She reached for the phone and pi
cked up the receiver. “The Palms Bed-and-Breakfast.”

  “Hello. This is Miriam Frey. Is my daughter, Mandy, there?”

  “Yes, she is. I’ll go get her.” Luana set the receiver on the counter and hurried to the dining room. “Mandy, your mother’s on the phone. If you like, you can take the call on the extension in the kitchen.”

  Mandy jumped up, dashed into the kitchen, and eagerly grabbed the phone. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Ach, Mandy, it’s so good to hear your mundschtick.”

  Tears welled in Mandy’s eyes, blurring her vision. “It’s good to hear your voice, too. I guess you got my message.”

  “Jah. I called as soon as I heard it.” Mom sniffed. “Are you and Ellen all right?”

  “We’re both fine. Makaio and Luana Palu, the owners of the B&B where we are staying, are nice Christian people. They welcomed us with open arms.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. Being stranded in a place where everyone is a stranger has to be frightening.”

  “We were scared at first, but not anymore.” Mandy switched the receiver to her other ear.

  “How’s the weather there, Mom?”

  “Cold and rainy.”

  “I don’t miss the colder weather. It’s eighty degrees here on Kauai.”

  Mom sighed. “Must be nice. I’m anxious for spring to come and bring warmer weather.”

  “Did you get ahold of Barbara’s parents?” Mandy asked.

  “I left a message for the Hiltys, as well as the Kuhns, but it could be awhile before I hear anything back. When I do and they give me Barbara’s cell phone number, I’ll be sure and call you again so you can get ahold of her.”

  “Good. She and Sadie are probably worried about us.”

  “I imagine they would be. It’s hard to believe they’ll be coming to Middlebury without you and Ellen.” Mom paused. “What can your daed and I do on this end to get you home again?”

  “Nothing yet. I’ll need to find out when another cruise ship will be coming this way from Los Angeles and how much it will cost for Ellen and me to make the journey. It should be cheaper this time, Mom, because it will only be one way.”

  “It will be less, and if you need money for your ticket, we’ll see what we can do.”

  “Danki, Mom. Tell Dad and the rest of the family I said hello. I’ll call you again soon.”

  Mandy remained in the kitchen a few minutes after she hung up the phone, thinking things through. It took her a year to save enough money for this trip to Hawaii. Could her parents afford to pay for her ticket home?

  Chapter 9

  The Big Island

  I’m glad we brought our sweaters along, because the breeze blowing here isn’t helping things.” Sadie pulled hers closer and fiddled with one of the buttons. “It’s much cooler up here by the Kīlauea Volcano than in Hilo, where our ship docked.”

  “The cooler temperature feels kind of good.” Barbara pointed to the lava tube up ahead. “I’m glad we were able to come. I mean, how often does a person get to see an erupting volcano, much less be so close to one?” She spoke excitedly.

  “You’re right.” Shuffling her feet, Sadie pressed her lips slightly together. “It’s too bad Ellen and Mandy couldn’t be with us today. They’re missing out on this experience, not to mention the unusual scenery. There is no way we can adequately tell them about this, except for the pictures and postcards we’ll bring home.” She paused. “Have you tried calling Mandy again?”

  “I’ve called three times again this morning. All I ever get is her voice mail.” Barbara frowned. “I can’t figure out why she doesn’t answer her cell phone. It’s usually stuck to her like glue.”

  “Maybe the battery is dead. Or perhaps she has it muted or in vibration mode.” Sadie stepped around a fallen branch on the path. “But with all the messages you’ve left, she really should have called you back by now.”

  “I agree, and my fear that something bad happened to them is increasing by the minute. I’ve been praying for their safety.”

  Sadie nodded. “I’ve been praying for them, too, so let’s try not to worry. Since there’s nothing we can do, we ought to make the most of our day.”

  As they walked up the trail, Barbara’s cell phone rang. “Maybe it’s Mandy.” She reached into her tote bag and withdrew the phone. “Hello. Oh hi, Mom. How are things going? You did?” Barbara turned to face Sadie and gave her a thumbs-up.

  “What’s going on?” Sadie asked as she stepped aside from the path.

  “I’ll tell you as soon as I hang up.”

  While Barbara continued talking to her mother in Pennsylvania Dutch, Sadie studied one of the brochures their tour guide gave them during the bus ride. According to the brochure, two active volcanoes were on the Big Island—Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Kīlauea was the more accessible of the two, which was why the tour guide had brought them here.

  Since Sadie and Barbara had stopped walking while Barbara talked to her mother, the others in their tour had gone ahead and were probably making their way through the lava tube already. Sadie was eager to go, but equally anxious to hear what Mrs. Hilty had to say, so she waited patiently.

  Barbara looked at her expectantly. “Sadie, would you write down this number for me?”

  “Sure.” Sadie took a notebook and pen from her purse and wrote down the number Barbara told her.

  After a bit more conversation, Barbara finally clicked off the phone. “I’m so glad my mamm called. The good news is she heard from Mandy’s mother. The bad news is Mandy called her to say she and Ellen missed the boat and are stranded on Kauai.”

  “Which is exactly what we suspected.” Sadie clasped her tote tightly. “How in the world did they miss the boat? Why weren’t they paying attention so they could get back to the ship on time?” She shifted her weight to the other foot.

  “Apparently, Mandy lost her cell phone and, after spending too much time looking for it, when they arrived at the port where our ship had been docked, it had already left.” Barbara rubbed the side of her face, where a mosquito had bitten her. “Now our two friends are staying at a bed-and-breakfast, and Mom got the phone number from Mandy’s mamm.”

  Sadie was relieved Mandy and Ellen were okay, but she also felt a bit irritated. If they’d gone on the tour to see the beautiful canyon with them, this would never have happened. All four of them would be here right now, preparing to see the volcano’s crater at the Kīlauea Visitor Center.

  Kapaa

  Luana smiled with anticipation as she entered one of the dress shops at the Coconut Marketplace with Mandy and Ellen. It felt nice to be able to help the girls out. The garments here were much brighter, with bold prints, than what the young Amish women normally wore. She hoped they wouldn’t be offended by her suggestion to wear one of the dresses sold in this store.

  “There’s certainly a lot to choose from, isn’t there?” Mandy reached up and touched a dark purple dress. “They’re so beautiful.”

  Luana looked at Ellen, who stood off to one side, eyes wide. She’s probably never seen dresses like this before.

  “I’m going to try this one on.” Mandy took down the purple dress. “Ellen, have you found one you like?”

  Slowly, Ellen shook her head, looking back at her friend with a bewildered expression.

  “How about this one?” Luana pointed to a pretty blue muumuu. Like the purple dress Mandy chose, this one was also long enough to cover most of her legs.

  Ellen hesitated at first, but finally removed the dress from the rack. “I suppose I could try it on.”

  The store clerk showed the girls to the dressing rooms. While they tried on the dresses, Luana looked at her cell phone to check for any messages. Seeing none, she made a mental note of the other places she wanted to take Mandy and Ellen. Unfortunately, the marketplace didn’t have shoe stores anymore, but Sole Mates on Kuhio Highway had plenty of sandals and flip-flops to choose from. Luana would stop there on the way back to the B&B. For underwear and sleeping attire, they would v
isit another clothing store near Kapaa.

  When Mandy stepped out of the dressing room, Luana’s breath caught in her throat. The deep purple offset by Mandy’s chestnut hair and brown eyes was stunning. Of course, the stiff white cone-shaped bonnet on the young woman’s head looked out of place with a muumuu. I wonder how Mandy would look with her hair down and a hibiscus or plumeria flower behind her right ear. When we get back to my house, I’ll look and see if I have some nice scarfs the girls can wear over their hair instead of their white bonnets.

  A few minutes later, Ellen exited the dressing room. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and she kept her gaze to the floor. The blue dress she wore was lovely, but Luana sensed the poor girl felt uncomfortable wearing a garment such as this.

  “You both look so nice.” She smiled. “Are your dresses comfortable, and are those the ones you would like?”

  Mandy nodded enthusiastically, but Ellen barely moved her head up and down.

  “All right then, if you want to change back into your Amish clothes, I’ll pay for your dresses and we can be off. There are some other stops we need to make.”

  “Oh, no.” Mandy shook her head. “You don’t have to pay for our dresses. We both have money.”

  Luana held up her hand. “Save it toward your tickets home or anything else you may need. I want to buy the dresses—it’ll be my treat.”

  Mandy took a seat at the desk in the room she and Ellen shared at the B&B and opened her journal. Before starting to write, she thought about their friends. Sadie and Barbara are probably seeing something interesting today. I hope they take pictures. I can’t wait to check out all the photos from our combined trip when we’re all back home.

  Refocusing on her journal, she began to write:

  It was fun shopping with Luana today, but the dress I bought feels a bit strange—almost like a nightgown. It’s called a muumuu. Mine is a dark purple with pretty lavender flowers. Luana said they are called plumeria. The room Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are staying in here at the bed-and-breakfast is called the Plumeria Room. It has a king-sized bed and private bath. Ellen and I share our bathroom with guests in the Gardenia Room. After tomorrow, no one will be staying there for a while, so we will have the bathroom all to ourselves.