Living Amish: Simple Pleasures (An Amish Love Story Series)

by Rachel Stoltzfus

  “Today, helping mamm out with the shopping. I am hoping I can get to Hope Township to check on a teaching position I’m interested in . . .” Ten minutes later, Hannah had done just a little more damage. Rachel was appropriately shocked and disgusted by the ‘news’ Hannah had just told her. “Please, Rachel, you have to keep this to yourself.”

  “Oh, I will . . . but I can’t believe that of Annie! Oh, will you look at the time. I need to get home so I can start on supper,” Rachel said as she hurried to buy her purchases.

  “I have to go, too. Jacob is probably done with his own errand,” Hannah said. “Remember . . .”

  “I will.” Rachel gave another head-shake of disgust.

  After driving to Hope Township, where Hannah learned she was high on the list of teaching candidates, she and Jacob returned home. Hannah wore a smile and allowed Jacob to pass it off to the news she had gotten about the teaching position. In reality, she knew that Annie’s reputation was already being shredded.

  ***

  One week later, Annie and her mother were buying groceries. Annie smiled at a former classmate, who looked unsmilingly at her and walked past without saying a word.

  Annie turned and looked at the classmate, stunned. Over the next several days, she grew more puzzled and hurt.

  “Mamm, I don’t know what’s going on! But I’ve been ignored by more people in the past week than I have in my whole life!”

  “It will come out eventually, Annie. More often than not, these people have been influenced by a lie. I know you’re a good person, and so do you. Just keep on doing the work you’re doing and we’ll find out what’s going on,” said Mrs. Fisher, giving her distraught daughter a firm hug.

  ***

  The “secret” Hannah told Miriam and Rachel had begun flying through Peace Landing, moving from person to person much the same as a flu germ would. Some who heard the gossip discounted it, knowing that Annie was more ethical than the gossip suggested; others were ready to believe it, if only to liven up dull lives. Those in the second group, not knowing or caring that the gossip was a lie, eagerly spread it to others. And, as usually happens with gossip, it reached the ears of someone involved with the family – Mr. Kopp.

  “What do you say?” he growled to his wife.

  “I heard that Miss Fisher has been talking about the Kurtz family seeing that Englisher therapist. It’s all over town, John! In the store. If it’s true . . .”

  “She has spoken of something she promised she would keep confidential,” said Mr. Kopp.

  “I hope you’ll find out what – or who – is at the bottom of this, John. I trust the Fishers. They are honest and humble,” said his wife.

  “Bah. Maybe so. But this news is spreading from some source, and the only ones who know about it should be Miss Fisher, the Kurtz family and me.” Mr. Kopp had completely forgotten about his conversation with Annie, when she came to him with the news that Hannah Lapp had somehow found out about her arrangements for the Kurtz children. “I am going to see her and find out what happened. We may have to look for another teacher.” Clapping his hat on his head, he drove to the Fisher farm, where he waited for Annie to return from that day’s school session.

  Chapter 3

  “Annie, do you remember when you were snubbed at the store? I think I know what happened . . . Mr. Kopp is here to see you, and he’s not happy,” Mrs. Fisher said in warning.

  “Mr. Kopp? Oh, no . . .” Annie dropped her books and lunch pail and ran into the kitchen.

  “Mr. Kopp. My mother told me . . .”

  “Sit, Miss Fisher. We must talk,” said Mr. Kopp.

  “What is it?” Annie said, feeling apprehension squirming in her stomach.

  “Why did you disregard my directive for privacy for the Kurtz children? It’s all over town that they’re seeing that Englisher therapist.”

  “But . . . but sir! I came to you and told you that Hannah Lapp had somehow found out about what I set up! I don’t know what you’re talking about, because I have said nothing to anyone. I know these things have to stay confidential, and I know why!” Annie wrung her fingers together, struggling to hold back hot tears. Now, the snubs she’d received began making sense.

  “Different community members are aware that the Kurtz children are working with a therapist. My wife told me! She heard it at the store in town.”

  Annie drooped her kapp-covered head. She was stunned. She didn’t know how it could have happened, given all the precautions she and Amanda Williams had taken.

  “Mr. Kopp, to protect their confidentiality, I had Amanda – my friend – meet with them at their farm, after school. I figured, after what Hannah had asked me, that it would be too risky for them to work at the school. Do you remember . . . that day that I came to you with my concerns?”

  “No. No I don’t. I don’t want to say this, Miss Fisher, but I almost believe you’re trying to lie to protect your position as the Peace Landing teacher. Continue teaching. We will be in touch with you in due time,” said Mr. Kopp.

  Annie was unable to help her mother with dinner preparations because she was so upset. Every time she thought about their conversation, she felt a wave of queasiness and began crying all over again.

  “Annie, you told him the truth. You’re an honest young woman and the truth will come out. Whoever is doing this, it will come out. Please come down for dinner,” said Mrs. Fisher.

  “Nee, mamm, denki. I can’t eat. I’m too upset and my stomach is very upset. I went to him! I told him what I found out!” Annie said, a wave of fresh tears engulfing her.

  After Mrs. Fisher had cleaned up the kitchen, she went upstairs to tell her that Jenny King was waiting for her downstairs.

  Annie reluctantly got up, washed her face, combed her hair and put her kapp back on. Downstairs, her pink nose and reddened eyes gave away her upset and Jenny’s eyes widened.

  “Annie, what’s wrong??” Annie explained the whole story and Jenny was just as upset.

  “You said you saw Hannah Lapp around the school house on that first day? Annie, do you know what kind of a troublemaker she is within Peace Landing? You may not know because you only recently came back from your ‘running-about’ time.”

  “N-no, I wasn’t aware of that. All I remember is that she was very upset that day after meeting when Mr. Kopp told me the teaching job was mine – and now, it may not be mine,” Annie said softly, succumbing to a fresh wave of tears.

  “I don’t like talking against anyone, but this sounds just like something she would do. If you promise me you’ll keep this to yourself, I’ll tell you what she’s done to others,” Jenny said quietly. She looked up quickly as Mrs. Fisher came in.

  “Would you like lemonade or cookies? Annie, you had no dinner. Try to eat something, please?” implored Mrs. Fisher.

  “Ya, I’ll try something,” Annie said, sighing.

  “Do you think it would help for your mother to hear this?” Jenny asked.

  Mrs. Fisher wisely stayed out of that question, allowing Annie to respond.

  “She was a teacher, so she knows the rules. Ya, I do. Mamm, Jenny is about to tell me how this news might have gotten out. Would you sit down and talk with us?”

  “Ya, denki,” said Mrs. Fisher.

  The three women sat around the large table and talked about Hannah Lapp’s transgressions. They talked about the gossip she had started against an imagined romantic rival and different rumors she had had a part in against former classmates. When they got to the current gossip making the rounds of Peace Landing, Mrs. Fisher listened very closely.

  “Yes, it is very important to keep the confidentiality of families receiving any extraordinary services. I know that Annie spoke to Mr. Kopp when Hannah asked her about the Englisher counselor – she was very concerned. When we went to town a few weeks ago, she was snubbed by several people, and now I think we know why,” finished Mrs. Fisher.

  Annie, now knowing what she did, was even more upset. I don’t want another situation
like I was involved in with Barbara Kurtz. She rubbed the spot on her thigh where her leg had been broken in a violent encounter with Barbara. All I want is to see Mark and teach. That’s not too much to ask! Why does Hannah want what she can’t have?

  “Annie, we will go talk to Mr. Kopp. Before we do, we’ll come up with some ideas to show that you didn’t break the confidentiality of the Kurtz family. It will be all right!” She smiled and gripped Annie’s limp hand.

  Annie gave her mother a faint smile. “Denki, mamm.”

  ***

  However, the next evening, Annie received a visit from the entire school board – all three members, after dinner.

  “Annie, the school board is here to talk to you. Just remember, stay calm and be honest,” said Mr. Fisher.

  Annie went downstairs, feeling a return of her queasiness and nervousness. Walking into the kitchen, she knew her nerves were showing.

  “Mr. Kopp, Mr. Zook, good evening. Hello,” she said.

  “Miss Fisher, we need to get to the bottom of this. We want to interview you and tell us everything that you remember happening.”

  “Ya . . .” Annie turned in surprise as her mother came into the kitchen, smoothing her kapp over her smooth brown hair.

  “Mr. Kopp, would you mind if I sat in on your meeting? I’d like to speak in Annie’s defense, if I could,” she asked.

  The school board members looked at each other and nodded.

  “Ya, you may, Mrs. Fisher. We only want to get to the bottom of this situation and make the best decision possible,” said Mr. Kopp.

  “Annie, explain what you told me about how Hannah found out about the Kurtz children seeing your friend,” directed Mrs. Fisher.

  “After the first day of school, I locked up and went to the barn to get in my buggy and come home. Hannah came to me from the road and asked me about the Kurtz children, and I told her I couldn’t say anything. That’s when I went to your farm, Mr. Kopp, because I didn’t know how she found out about the counseling,” Annie said truthfully.

  “Miss Fisher, are you aware she’s been hanging around the school? She’s applied for a position teaching outside Peace Landing, but until she hears anything, she stays very close to the school, listening to you teach,” said Mr. Zook.

  “No! No I wasn’t aware of that. Today is the first day I knew of this,” Annie said.

  “If you’ll allow me to speak out, I have something important to add. Hannah Lapp has a well-deserved reputation as a troublemaker. I’ve taught Hannah, and, in all the years she was my student, I figured out what lengths she’d go to to get what she wanted,” said Mrs. Fisher.

  Mr. Kopp leaned back in the chair and scrubbed his hands over his face.

  “Miss Fisher, I owe you an apology. I remember now that you did come to me with your worries. A farm emergency took me away from our conversation – do you remember the bull in my field?”

  “Ya.”

  “When Micah told me about that bull, I completely forgot about our conversation, and for that, I sincerely apologize. Your job teaching is secure – but we must ask you to ask your friend and Mr. Kurtz to move their counseling sessions outside Peace Landing. Perhaps in the next town over . . .”

  “Ya, I will! Denki, Mr. Kopp!” Annie smiled broadly, feeling the heavy weight lifting from her stomach and spirit. She sat straight, looking forward to the next day.

  Chapter 4

  The next morning, Hannah Lapp got up quickly and rushed through breakfast preparation and house cleaning for her family – she needed to get to the school house to see who had taken Annie’s place. She had been roaming throughout Peace Landing and learned that the school board had planned to visit Annie the day before.

  “Come on! You need to leave for school and I have housework to do. Go on!” she told her younger siblings. They looked strangely at her, knowing that they still had a few minutes before they needed to walk to school.

  Hannah released a sigh of relief when they had left. Gathering the dirty dishes, she quickly washed and dried them, putting them away. Making sure her kapp was settled on her head, she hurried to the school house, taking her usual roundabout way to get to the side window. Crouching down, she cocked her hear so she could hear the instruction taking place inside. After several minutes, Hannah’s jaw dropped.

  Is she still in the classroom? The way Mr. Kopp was talking, she was about to be fired! What happened? Hannah was stunned to the point that she nearly revealed herself as she quickly stood up to leave and go back home. At home, she was grumpy and had to fight not to take her mood out on her parents or Jacob. After lunch, she received a visit from the school board of the Hope Township school.

  “Miss Lapp, we have selected you to be our teacher, beginning after the Christmas holy day. You are replacing a teacher who has chosen to stay at home with her family. Here are the materials you need on your students. Study them and be ready to start school right after the beginning of the new year,” the school board president said.

  Hannah, knowing her parents were watching, pasted a less-than-enthusiastic smile on her face. “Thank you. I am . . . honored.” She accepted the small packet of information. “How many students will I be teaching?”

  “Eighteen. You have a good spread in the age and grade ranges. Come to the school before the beginning of the next year and I’ll introduce you to your students and the outgoing teacher, hmmm?” suggested the president.

  “Ya, I think I will. Denki,” said Hannah.

  ***

  The holidays were quickly coming up. Annie had planned a special Christmas play that all of her students would participate in – if the flu didn’t keep knocking first, one, then several more down.

  Annie, drinking hot tea at home, scanned worriedly through her roster of students, counting up the absences day by day. Today, she had marked seven children absent, leaving only ten in their seats. And of those ten, several were sniffling and coughing.

  “Mamm. I don’t know what’s going to happen with the play. I have almost half of my students out with the influenza!”

  “It’s that time of the year, Annie. Tell your students that, if they do not feel well, to stay home. They are spreading the illness just by coming to school, sitting near each other, sneezing, coughing and worse. Even if you are teaching only three or four students, it’s better than losing every one of them to the flu for a week or more. And you . . . how are you feeling?” asked Annie’s mother.

  “I’m fine – now that I’ve gotten over my own flu. As long as I don’t overdo, I’m fine. But the kids! I will do that, mamm. Denki.”

  The next morning, Annie handed out handwritten notes to each student healthy enough to be in school.

  “We are being hit hard by the flu this year. We have only eight students in here today and half of you are coughing and sneezing. I am going to ask you a question and I expect honesty . . . how do you feel right now, today?” She waited as the students looked at each other, puzzled.

  Sixteen-year-old Micah raised his hand.

  “Micah?”

  “Shivery. Weak and sick to my stomach.”

  “Go home. Take this note home and tell your parents I want you to stay at home until you are well. Anybody else?”

  Ben and Joseph Kurtz raised their hands. Annie wasn’t surprised – both were glassy-eyed and flushed. They went home as well. Five-year-old Mary leaned over and vomited before she could raise her hand, causing several other students to look away or gag.

  Fortunately, Mrs. Fisher had decided to stop by the school. She offered to take the sick students home, after helping Annie clean up the mess.

  Annie looked at her remaining students. She had four now apparently healthy students waiting for instruction. Sighing inwardly, she opened the classroom window more widely to get rid of the smell of sickness and began with her day’s teaching plans. After lunch, she looked up in surprise. Mr. Kopp was standing in the doorway.

  “Four students remaining, hmmm? Micah is at home in bed right now �
� thank you for asking them to tell you how they felt. He would have stayed if you hadn’t made him leave. When is your play?” he asked.

  “Three weeks. The students still have to . . .”

  “Get well. If this outbreak continues, there will be no Christmas play this year. There is no shame in this, Miss Fisher. You have no control over the flu. Keep me informed, if you would.”

  “Ya, Mr. Kopp. I will,” Annie said. After Mr. Kopp left, she finished the day’s instruction, pausing often to make sure that the four remaining students still felt healthy.

  “If you feel sick, please let me know and I’ll make sure you get home, understand?”

  “Ya, Miss Fisher,” the students all said.

  By the end of the day, she was down to three students – one of the 10-year-old girls had begun complaining that she ached and felt horrible. Annie, feeling the girl’s forehead, agreed. She went to the phone installed in the back of the school house and called the store to get the girl’s parents to come pick her up. Thirty minutes later, the father drove up and collected his daughter.

  “You are down to three students! What does that mean for this year’s play?”

  “If everyone is still out sick, I’ll have to cancel it,” said Annie. “It’s better that they get well, although I admit I’m disappointed.”

  “I agree. Healthy is better, although having the play would be ideal. You, Miss Fisher, stay healthy.”

  “Ya, I will. Denki.”

  The following day, Annie still had only three students, who all stayed healthy. Thinking back, she realized they had already had the flu.

  ***

  At the Lapp home, Hannah walked swiftly to the barn, braving the sudden cold temperatures. Inside, she saw Jacob working to inventory the feed for the farm’s livestock.

  “Jacob. I need your help,” she told her twin.

  “What is it?” Jacob asked absently, occupied by the counting.

  “You are still seeing Jenny King. She’s Annie Fisher’s friend. Get her to find out what’s happening in the classroom,” she demanded.