“I agree,” said Mattie. She took Grandma’s hand, and they all headed inside, where they were greeted by Mom, Dad, Ada, Perry, Calvin, Russell, and Ike.
“It’s so good to see you,” Mom said, giving her parents a hug.
“It’s nice to see you, and I’m sorry we’re so late,” Grandma said. “I hope we didn’t hold up supper tonight.”
Dad shook his head. “My folks aren’t here yet, so we’ll wait awhile before we start eating.”
Mom glanced at the clock above the fireplace. “They really should have been here by now.”
“You’re right,” Dad agreed. “I wonder what could be taking them so long. They don’t live that far away, and I figured they’d be here long before this.”
“Maybe you should go over to their house and see if something’s happened,” Mom suggested. There was a worried frown on her face. “They might have run into a problem and need help with something.”
Dad gave a nod. “That’s a good idea. I’ll hitch my horse to the buggy and go over there right now.” He looked at Ike, who’d been standing near the fireplace warming his hands because he’d just come in from the barn after feeding the horses. “I’d like you to go with me, son,” Dad said.
“Sure, okay. I’ll get my jacket and stocking cap, and we can be on our way.” Ike hurried out of the room, and Dad followed.
Mattie wished she could have gone, too. She was really worried now. What could be keeping Grandpa and Grandma Miller? Was there a problem with their horse or buggy? Did someone get sick? Oh, she hoped nothing had happened.
Since their other grandparents had just arrived, the rest of the family visited with Grandpa and Grandma Troyer and got caught up on what they’d been doing lately. Grandma said she’d been busy baking a lot of goodies for the holidays, and Grandpa said he’d been busy making several Christmas presents.
“Hey, we heard you got a new filling in your tooth,” Grandpa said to Mattie. “Can I take a peek in there?” he asked, leaning close to her face.
“I had a bad toothache, but the dentist put a filling in it.” Mattie opened her mouth so Grandpa could see. “It didn’t hurt much at all.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Grandpa said, peering at Mattie’s mouth.
“That’s because they numbed up her tooth,” Mark piped up.
“I guess we can be thankful that nothing more serious has gone on since the last we saw you,” Grandpa said, giving Mattie and Mark an extra hug. “Thankfully I haven’t had any more falls since that hose wrapped around my foot, either.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” Mark said.
Mattie nodded in agreement.
After they had visited awhile longer, Mom and Grandma excused themselves and headed for the kitchen to check on the meal and heat up the fritters they would also have with supper. Meanwhile, Grandpa listened to what Calvin and Russell had been up to lately.
Mattie excused herself and went upstairs to her room. Going to the window, she couldn’t believe how hard it was snowing. She loved having snow for Christmas but wished it hadn’t started snowing until everyone arrived safely. I hope Dad and Ike will be okay, she thought, pressing her nose to the glass.
Now Mattie was really worried. She not only feared for Grandma and Grandpa Miller but also for her dad and oldest brother.
Please, God, take care of Dad and Ike, as well as Grandpa and Grandma Miller, she silently prayed. And thank You for bringing Grandpa and Grandma Troyer safely here.
Mattie hoped her prayers would make it all the way up through the snow to heaven. Closing her bedroom door, she went back downstairs to be with the family while she tried to leave her worries behind.
While they waited, Mark suggested they play a game with Ada and Perry. They’d just taken seats around the kitchen table to play Chutes and Ladders when Mattie heard sirens in the distance. She shivered. Oh no. Could Grandpa and Grandma Miller have been in an accident?
CHAPTER 9
Thinking Alike
“It’s your turn now, Mattie. Quit daydreaming and play the game.” Mark gave his sister’s arm a nudge.
“I’m not daydreaming,” Mattie said. “I was thinking about Grandma and Grandpa Miller.”
“I’ll bet you’re worrying again,” Mark said.
“I can’t help it. If Grandpa and Grandma Troyer made it all the way from Burton with so much snow comin’ down, then Grandpa and Grandma Miller should have been here hours ago.” Tears welled in Mattie’s eyes. “I just know something bad must have happened, especially since Dad and Ike aren’t back yet, either.”
“You don’t know that,” Grandma Troyer said, joining Mark and Mattie at the table where they sat with Ada and Perry. “Have you ever heard the old saying, ‘No news is good news’?”
Mattie shook her head.
“Well, until we know why your other grandparents aren’t here, there’s no reason to worry.” She gave Mattie’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It might be something really simple, you know.”
“Like what?” Mattie asked, looking up at Grandma, hoping to hear some comforting words.
“I’m not sure,” Grandma said. “Maybe they got busy doing chores and lost track of time.”
“That could be,” Mark spoke up. “I remember one time last summer when Grandpa Miller was supposed to pick me up to go fishing, he got busy workin’ on a crossword puzzle and wasn’t watching the clock. By the time he remembered and came to pick me up, it was time for me to do my evening chores.”
“Did you have to cancel the fishing trip?” Grandma asked.
Mark shook his head. “Nope. Grandpa helped me finish my chores, and then we went fishin’. Since it was summertime and didn’t get dark till late, we had plenty of time to fish before I had to go home and get ready for bed.”
Mattie’s face relaxed a bit. “Maybe that’s what happened today. Grandpa might have started working on another crossword puzzle.”
“You could be right,” Mark said. “Or maybe Grandma got busy working on one of her quilts.”
“You know, children, worry is sort of like a rocking chair,” Grandpa Troyer called from across the room, where he sat on the sofa with Perry and Ada on either side of him. “It gives you something to do but doesn’t take you anywhere.”
Mark and Mattie looked at each other and snickered. Sometimes Grandpa had an unusual way of saying things.
Just then, Mark heard the whinny of a horse. He jumped up and raced over to the window. Mattie did the same.
“They’re here!” she shouted, jumping up and down when she saw Grandma and Grandpa Miller climb out of Dad’s buggy.
The whole family rushed to the door and greeted them as soon as they stepped inside.
“Are you both okay?”
“Where have you been?”
“How come you’re so late?”
Everyone spoke at once, bombarding Grandma and Grandpa with questions, until Grandpa Miller held up his hand and said, “One question at a time, please.”
“Are you all right?” Mom asked.
Grandpa nodded and gave Grandma a sly little grin. “We both sat down to read a book this afternoon and ended up falling asleep.”
“I guess we were more tired than we realized,” Grandma Miller said. “We’re glad our son came to get us, because if he hadn’t, we might have slept right through the night.” Her forehead wrinkled. “We’d have been very disappointed if we’d awakened in the morning and realized we’d missed spending Christmas Eve with our family.”
“You’re here now, and that’s all that matters,” Mom said, giving Grandma a hug.
Mark put his arm across Mattie’s shoulders. “See, you were worried for nothing.”
Mattie nodded. She was glad all four of their grandparents were here. Now, without worry, she was ready to celebrate Christmas.
The following morning after breakfast, everyone was ready to open their Christmas presents. Grandma and Grandpa Troyer had spent the night, and so had Grandma and Grandpa Miller. Now every
one was gathered in the living room to exchange gifts.
Mark was pleased when Mom and Dad gave him a fluorescent vest to wear whenever he rode his bike or had to walk along the side of the road. Mattie got one, too, and so did Calvin and Russell.
“It will make you more visible to drivers and keep you safe when you’re walking near the road,” Dad said.
“What does visible mean?” Mattie asked.
“Noticeable,” Mark was quick to say. “That way cars can see us better.”
All the children received some kind of toy or game from their grandparents, and Mark was especially pleased with the puzzle that had pictures of cats, which he’d received from Grandpa and Grandma Miller. It was supposed to glow in the dark after it was put together, and he could hardly wait to see that.
Mattie got a small loom for making pot holders, and they both received a new pair of gloves Grandma Troyer had knitted with soft but warm yarn. Mattie’s gloves were blue and Mark’s were brown. Those would definitely keep their hands from getting cold during the winter months. And even though the twins already owned a pair of gloves, it was always good to have a spare. Besides, the ones Grandma had made them were much nicer than their store-bought gloves.
The whole household was alive with energy, and everyone smiled when Ada and Perry opened up the stick horses Mom had made for them, using old broom handles and dark material from a pair of Dad’s old trousers. She’d also used some yellow yarn for the horses’ manes and felt cutouts for their eyes. A rope halter had been sewed at the end of each of the horses’ heads so the children would have reins to hold on to while they pretended to ride their horses.
Ike surprised Mark with a ceramic plate, normally used to put under a flowerpot to keep the water from seeping out. This plate was green, and Ike told Mark he thought it would make a good pool to put near the frog house in Mattie’s small garden. Mark couldn’t agree more. Come springtime, his frog would have its very own pond.
Ike had also given Mom and both grandmas a box of chocolates, so Mark was glad he’d made them each some wind chimes instead.
Everyone seemed to like what Mark and Mattie had given them, too, and Mom said she was amazed at how creative each of the twins’ gifts had been. “You both put a lot of time and effort into these gifts you made for each of us,” she said, giving Mark and Mattie a tender squeeze.
“Jah,” Grandma Troyer agreed, wiping a tear from her cheek. “We’ll certainly treasure what we received from everyone today.”
Now it was time for the twins to exchange gifts with each other, while the rest of the family looked on.
“Here ya go.” Mark handed Mattie her present.
“And here you go,” she said, giving Mark the gift she’d made for him.
Mark was surprised when he pulled out a garden plaque made from plaster of paris with rocks of various sizes and some colorful marbles stuck around the outer edges. “That’s exactly what I made for you,” he said, pointing at Mattie’s gift as she removed it from the paper sack.
She giggled. “I guess we were thinking alike on these two gifts.”
“Great minds think alike,” Dad said with a smile.
Mark turned to Mattie and said, “Maybe we can put our plaques in your little garden near the frog pool. We can either lay them in the dirt or prop them up with a large rock behind ’em.”
Mattie smiled. “That’s a good idea, Mark.”
“Why don’t we sing a few Christmas carols now?” Grandma Miller suggested. “Christmas wouldn’t be the same without carols.”
Everyone nodded at that.
The first song the family sang was “Joy to the World.” Mark smiled to himself, thinking about the joy of Jesus’ birth. When the baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem all those years ago, He was God’s gift to everyone in the world.
That night, as Mattie lay in her warm, comfortable bed, with a smile on her face, she thought about this wonderful day. Even though it had started out with many worries, the day ended up being practically perfect.
Both grandparents had arrived safely; they’d had lots of good food to enjoy together; everyone liked the gifts she and Mark had made; and they’d even had a white Christmas.
Once again, Mattie had been worried for nothing, and she knew she should have put her trust in the Lord.
Thank You, dear Jesus, Mattie prayed, for giving us a wonderful Christmas and for keeping my family safe. Thank You for blessing us with the beautiful snow, and please keep everyone safe in their travels tomorrow. Most of all, dear Jesus, thank You for today, when we celebrate Your birthday.
Mattie’s eyelids grew heavier as she thought about all her gifts. Each one was special in every way. She was even excited about the ceramic plate Ike had given Mark for his frog. Mattie knew that Mark’s frog would enjoy keeping cool in the water during the hot summer days. She also thought maybe some of the birds that came into the yard might like getting a drink or taking a bath in that little pool. Many times on the way to school, she and Mark had seen birds splashing around in puddles along the road after a heavy rainfall. She figured they might do the same thing in Mark’s little frog pool.
As Mattie’s eyes finally shut, her last thought was about what kind of flowers she would plant around the frog pool to give it some shade. Maybe she’d put in a small shrub or several of her favorite flowers. In any case, it would be wonderful to have something to look forward to in the spring.
Today was so much fun, Mark thought as he lay in bed. He felt good about how wonderful the day had turned out.
Mark listened to his parents and grandparents visiting downstairs. Their muffled voices and joyous laughter matched his own feelings as he fluffed up his pillow and snuggled under the covers.
Mark liked all the gifts he’d received today and was glad everyone liked what he’d made them, too.
Grandpa Miller had surprised Mark and Mattie when he’d given them two straws with a long piece of string put through the end of each one, along with a bottle of homemade bubble solution. Grandpa had shown them how to make huge bubbles with this simple creation.
After all the gifts had been opened, everyone had gone out to the porch to watch Mark and Mattie dip their straws and string into the soapy water, and then stretching each straw, and making the string really tight, they’d waved it in the air, creating huge bubbles. They were the largest ones Mark had ever seen. He and Mattie had fun seeing who could make the biggest bubbles. Everyone had been quite impressed when Mark made a bubble that looked like a caterpillar, with one big bubble and a bunch of smaller ones attached. The funny thing was, Mark hadn’t even been trying to do that. It had just happened.
Mark snickered, reflecting more on Grandpa Miller’s simple but fun gift. His two cats and Mattie’s dog had enjoyed jumping up at the bubbles and making them pop.
Mark thought some more about how this night had ended. Before going to bed, he’d looked out his bedroom window and realized it had stopped snowing. Then he’d looked up and seen a beautiful, bright star among the smaller ones that filled the night sky like sparkling diamonds.
“I’ll bet that was the Christmas star,” Mark whispered, snuggling deeper into his pillow. “I wonder if that could have been the very same star in the Bible days that guided the three wise men to the place where Jesus was.”
As Mark grew tired and more relaxed, he pictured the star in his head and was reminded of what today was really all about. Before falling asleep, he whispered a prayer. “Thank You, Lord Jesus, for blessing us in every way, not only today but all year long.”
CHAPTER 10
Misunderstandings
“Can we make some pumpkin kichlin this morning?” Mattie asked her mother one Saturday in January.
“Not today,” Mom said. “I’m taking Ada and Perry to the Shoe and Boot Store in Charm. Their feet have grown, and they need new winter boots.”
“How about when you get back? Could we bake the cookies then?” Mattie asked.
Mom shook her head. “I’m s
orry, Mattie, but I need to clean Ada’s room this afternoon. After that, I’ll be taking Ada and Perry over to Grandma Miller’s so I can help her clean house.”
“So Ada and Perry will be spending the whole day with you?”
Mom gave a nod.
Mattie frowned. “What am I supposed to do here all day by myself?”
“You won’t be alone. Calvin and Russell will be at home, and your daed and Ike are out in the wood shop, so if you need anything, just let them know.” Mom patted Mattie’s arm. “You can do whatever you want while I’m gone. Just don’t try to do any baking. It wouldn’t be safe for you to turn the oven on when no grown-ups are in the house.”
“I won’t,” Mattie promised. She wished she was older and could turn the oven on by herself. She wished Mom wasn’t too busy to help her bake cookies. She wished Mom would spend time with her today instead of with Ada and Perry.
Even though Mattie knew it wasn’t really true, a little voice put a thought in her head. I wonder if Mom loves Ada and Perry more than she loves me, Mattie thought as she ambled out of the kitchen and tromped up the stairs to her room. She didn’t ask if I wanted to go with them to the Shoe and Boot Store, or even to Grandma Miller’s house. I’ll bet she’d rather spend the day with my little sister and brother instead of me.
Mark took his sled from the barn, eager to try it out now that there was plenty of snow on the ground. First, though, he was going over to his friend John’s to see if he’d like to go sledding. Mom had said it was okay for him to go, so he grabbed the rope on his sled and headed down the path toward his best friend’s house.
Sure hope John’s able to go sledding with me, Mark thought as he tromped through the snow in his rubber boots. He’d made sure to wear his new vest, too, so he could be seen easily by any cars going by. Now that the weather was colder, Mark didn’t wear his straw hat anymore. Instead, he wore a knitted stocking cap on his head. On Sundays, though, when he dressed up for church, Mark wore a black felt hat, just like Dad and his brothers.
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