Naomi’s Christmas

by Marta Perry

  Her tale of climbing on a chair to reach the top shelf gave Nathan a moment to wonder what on earth Seth Miller was doing here. When he’d left, folks had thought that he’d be like so many young men, running off for a few months of adventure before coming home, chastened, to take their place in the community again.

  But Seth had been the exception. He’d left the area, and the family had seldom heard from him. The occasional rumor had reached Nathan’s ears: that Seth was working out west, that he’d gotten an education, that he’d done well for himself, or what the world would call well, in any event.

  Seth hadn’t returned for his sisters’ weddings or his father’s funeral. Or for Ada’s funeral. He’d left all his responsibilities to other people. And now he was here.

  Seth favored his father, or at least what Nathan remembered of him. Seth’s hair had been light as corn-silk when he was a kid, but now it was more the color of wheat, cut short in what Nathan supposed was the latest style. His clothing was casual, like what the Englisch around here would wear—tan pants and a blue shirt. He looked smart and prosperous and as different as possible from the boy who’d run off. Why are you back? he thought again.

  Jessie had drawn close to Nathan, and she seemed to be studying her brother with a certain degree of caution.

  “Did you know he was coming?” he asked under the flow of talk.

  Jessie shook her head. “He just walked in. I didn’t even know Mamm had been in touch with him.” Her face settled into discontented lines. “She should have told me.”

  “I’m sure she would have, if she’d known he was coming,” he said, hoping to soothe her. No point in letting Jessie get upset and make her mother uncomfortable.

  “Ja, well, why didn’t you bring the kinder?” Jessie’s sudden switch to English and to annoyance with him took Nathan off guard, and she said it loudly enough to draw the attention of Emma and Seth, who looked at him questioningly.

  “Well, I…I wanted to be sure Emma was ready to see them before I brought the two of them tramping into a hospital room. You know how rambunctious Sadie can be when she’s excited.”

  “I’m glad you waited,” Emma said. “Not that I’m not eager to see them, but I want to be up and looking more myself when they come. No sense in scaring them. They had enough of that with seeing me lying on the kitchen floor.”

  Nathan nodded, grateful. That was how he felt, as well. “You tell me when, and I will bring them. Or Naomi will, if I can’t.”

  “They are moving me over to the rehab building tomorrow,” Emma said. “It will be more pleasant for the kinder to come there, ja? And it will be wonderful gut for Joshua and Sadie to see their onkel.” She clasped Seth’s hand.

  Nathan wasn’t so sure it was all that wonderful, but he nodded. Not much else he could do. Seth wasn’t under the bann, since he’d left before being baptized into the church, and there was no reason to keep his sister’s kinder from him.

  “How long will you be staying?” Nathan tried to keep his doubts from showing.

  “I’ll be here through the weekend, I guess. I was in New York on business when I got the message from Mamm, so I took some time off. I flew into Harrisburg and rented a car there.”

  Seth had explained more than he’d asked. Maybe he felt the need to justify his presence. Or his absence.

  Jessie caught Nathan’s arm in a quick, impulsive movement. “So you bring the kinder in by then,” she said. “Not Naomi.”

  There was an edge to her voice when she said Naomi’s name, but a glance from her mother seemed to keep her from saying more.

  “I’ll try.” He patted her hand. He wasn’t imagining her antagonism toward Naomi, but he suspected anything he tried to do about it would only make it worse. Maybe the excitement of having her big brother around would distract her from whatever bee she had in her bonnet about Naomi.

  Jessie’s antagonism. Seth’s return. Nathan shrugged his shoulders, as if he could shrug off how uncomfortable it all made him.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  It was very seldom that Amish children had an opportunity to perform in front of an audience. Naomi had never thought much about why, but it was probably because Amish children were taught to be humble, not drawing attention to themselves. That humility was an attitude that would serve them well their entire lives.

  But the standard was suspended for the Amish school’s Christmas program, and the community joined in support of the young scholars. Although Naomi had brought the children early, the lane going back to the white one-room schoolhouse was already lined with buggies.

  “Hurry, hurry, Naomi.” Sadie bounced on the seat next to her. “I want to see everything.”

  “So you will,” she said, pulling into the next open space. “We are in plenty of time, for sure.”

  One of the older boys came running to tend the mare. It was obviously one of his jobs for the day.

  “Denke.” She slid down, handing him the horse blanket for Sunny. Sadie and Joshua followed her quickly.

  “Komm.” She took their hands, and they walked toward the school. Joshua’s eyes were big with contained excitement while Sadie danced along, her feet seeming to skim the ground.

  Naomi slowed as they reached the steps to the porch. “Once the program starts, you must sit still,” she cautioned. Joshua didn’t need to hear it, but Sadie did. “It would not be polite to talk or move around then, ain’t so?”

  “Ja, Naomi,” Joshua said, and Sadie nodded.

  “Like in worship,” she said.

  “That’s right,” Naomi said, smiling. “Let’s go in and find seats.”

  That was easier said than done. The room was already crowded, and even with extra folding chairs set up, Naomi began to think they might have to stand.

  “Look, Naomi.” Sadie, wide-eyed, was staring at the chalkboard. It was decorated with a snow scene, filled with children sliding on a hill. “I can’t wait to sled ride.”

  “That will be fun.” Naomi trusted that Nathan’s protectiveness didn’t extend to keeping the children from enjoying the snow. “See the stars?” Strands of yarn reached across the room, bearing cut-out angels and many-pointed Moravian paper stars. That was something she could make with Sadie and Joshua. Talking about the symbols was a good way of teaching the children the meaning of Christmas.

  She spotted Leah Glick motioning to her from across the room, indicating a chair next to her. Clutching the children’s hands, Naomi began working her way through the crowd. Was she imagining it, or did conversation cease momentarily as folks saw her before resuming again?

  By the time she reached Leah, she feared her cheeks were burning. She slid into the chair and then realized she had displaced Leah’s stepdaughter.

  “Ach, I don’t want to take Elizabeth’s seat—”

  “Not at all. She wants to sit with the little ones,” Leah said, and indeed, Elizabeth seemed perfectly happy to gather Joshua and Sadie next to her along with Rachel Anna, Leah’s youngest, and Gracie, Leah’s little niece.

  Anna Fisher, Leah’s younger sister, was sitting in the next chair. She smiled a welcome, pulling a diaper bag over to give Naomi more space. She held her baby son on her lap, and it was her little Gracie who sat with Elizabeth.

  “Anna, how your little David has grown.” She had seen them at worship, of course, but it still amazed her how babies seemed to change to toddlers in the blink of an eye.

  “Eight months old now, and crawling enough to get into things,” Anna said, her blue eyes shining as she looked down at her son. He was reaching out as if to grab one of the stars that hung over his head.

  “He’s going to keep you running, for sure, with Gracie, too.”

  When Naomi leaned back again, she found Leah regarding her with what had to be sympathy on her face.

  “I guess I’m giving the sisters plenty to talk about,” she murmured, knowing Leah would understand what she meant about the attention she’d garnered when she’d entered with Joshua and Sadie.

>   “Pleasant Valley is a small place,” Leah said. “Everybody knows everything.”

  “And what they don’t know they make up.” There was a little bite to Anna’s voice, and she patted Naomi’s arm. “I understand. I haven’t forgotten the talk that went around when I came home.”

  True, that had been a wonder to the valley when Anna Beiler came home after three years in the Englisch world, and with little Gracie, too. Tongues had flapped for sure.

  “They mean well, for the most part,” Leah said, her voice soft under the chatter of the children. “It’ll be forgotten soon enough.”

  “Are they more interested in my disagreement with my daad or in my taking on Nathan’s kinder?” She imagined both topics were exercising folks’ tongues.

  Leah shrugged. “A little of each. You mustn’t let it trouble you. Everyone will soon be too busy with Christmas to think of anything else.”

  “I hope so.” She glanced at the children. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to bring them, if it led to their hearing something they shouldn’t.

  Well, it was too late to change her mind about it now. She glanced toward the front of the room where a cluster of young scholars had gathered around the teacher, probably getting some last-minute instructions. The program would start soon, and Leah was right. Afterward, people would be so busy talking about it that they surely wouldn’t have a thought to spare for her.

  “I know you’re happy with the family, but do you ever miss teaching?” She gestured toward the front of the classroom, looking at Leah.

  “I don’t miss the stress of coming up with a new Christmas program each year. Ach, I can remember I’d start working on it in July.” Leah smiled at the children in front of them. “Now the family takes up all my time and energy, and all I have to do is enjoy the program.”

  “Kinder have a way of doing that, don’t they?” Naomi said. Even when they were not your own, children could take over a woman’s time, energy, and love.

  Rachel Anna spun around, tugging on her mother’s skirt. “Mammi, tell Joshua I am,” she demanded.

  “You are what?” Leah asked, smiling at the little girl.

  “I am going to start school in another year. He says I’m not old enough.”

  “Not yet, you’re not,” Leah said. “But in another year, you will be.”

  “See, Joshua?” Rachel Anna turned to him with that determined little nod of hers.

  Naomi could see Joshua mulling that information over in his mind. He looked at Naomi, his frown a miniature version of Nathan’s.

  “Naomi, if Rachel Anna is starting next year, then I should have started this year, because I am a year older than she is, ja?”

  The question left her unprepared. True, she’d hoped to interest Joshua in school, but she hadn’t expected such a direct challenge. If she said anything in response that Nathan didn’t like—

  The teacher clapped her hands, and the room fell silent. Swept with relief, Naomi put her finger to her lips. Hopefully she’d have found a tactful answer by the time the program had ended.

  The youngest children came on first, their eyes wide with excitement. Nervousness showed in feet that couldn’t quite be still and in a reluctance to look straight at the audience, but they recited their Christmas welcome poem faultlessly. Naomi thought she detected relief on the teacher’s face when they reached the last line.

  The program went on with poems and recitations, every child in the school taking part. Sometimes they carried simple props, like the candle each child held for one reading. There was no mention of Santa or Christmas trees, of course. Each piece focused on the true meaning of Christmas or on the importance of giving and sharing in humble ways, just as Jesus had been humble.

  Naomi glanced at Sadie’s and Joshua’s faces. Sadie was watching, smiling and nodding. But Joshua—Joshua was rapt, leaning forward, his shining eyes focused on the children. Naomi could practically feel the longing in him to be up there participating.

  He is ready to be in school, Nathan. What can I do to convince you of that?

  The program moved from simple to complicated presentations, from the youngest children to the oldest. Whatever their poem or reading, the messages were consistent: humility, appreciation, thankfulness. They spoke the joy of the season in the simplest way and even Naomi, who had witnessed so many Christmas programs, felt the sweet message as if it were brand-new.

  Joshua wasn’t the only one with longing in his heart. She longed, as well. She longed to give Joshua and Sadie her very best for as long as she had them in her care. If she could do that, she would be content.

  The final recitation came to an end, and the applause was loud and long. Everywhere Naomi looked, faces were filled with happiness, and she felt her heart swell with gratitude that she was a part of this community.

  Once the applause died down, the refreshments were brought out. No Amish event would be complete without feeding people. That was certain-sure.

  “Can we go to the table for a cookie, Naomi?” Sadie tugged at her sleeve. “Please, please, please?”

  “Ja, but don’t cut in front of anyone. Wait, I’ll come with you—” But it was too late. Sadie had already scampered off through the crowd with Joshua right behind her, weaving their way between and around pairs of adult legs toward the serving table.

  As one of the grown-ups, Naomi had to behave with a little more circumspection. Leah was hugging her little stepson, congratulating him on a fine recitation. Gesturing to let Leah know where she was going in the din of chatter, Naomi followed the children.

  The crowd was thickest, of course, near the table, and now she couldn’t see Sadie and Joshua at all. Not that she was worried about them, of course, but she wanted to be sure that Sadie wasn’t letting her enthusiasm carry her away. Naomi stepped around a group of women and then froze when she heard the sound of her name.

  “…father walked right into the harness shop and told Bishop Mose what an undutiful daughter she was in front of everyone. I heard it with my own ears.”

  Mary Esch, of course. Nothing pleased Mary more than to have something negative to say about someone. And to as big an audience as possible. Sometimes Naomi felt embarrassed at having her for even a distant cousin-in-law.

  This time her audience was aware of Naomi’s presence. Maybe their sudden silence alerted Mary. She spun and stared right at Naomi.

  Maybe someone braver than she would have been able to snap back at Mary. Naomi could only stand there, wishing she could sink right into the floor.

  There was a rustle of movement behind her, and an arm swept around her waist. “It’s too bad you can’t put your ears to better use, Mary Esch.” Lovina’s voice was even, but her eyes sparkled dangerously. “Komm, Naomi, let us get some punch.”

  Naomi allowed herself to be led away, gratitude sweeping through her for her sister-in-law. Surely Lovina’s support would still the clacking tongues. But—

  “Lovina?” She struggled to get the words out. “Is it true?”

  Her sister-in-law didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. The pity in her face was all the answer Naomi needed.

  So Betty had been right. Daad had gone to the bishop about her.

  Naomi plunged one of the supper plates into the hot sudsy water. In hot water—that was as good a description as any of where she found herself.

  Daad had spoken to the bishop about her behavior. She’d said those words to herself several dozen times since they’d left the schoolhouse this afternoon, but she could still hardly believe it. No wonder she’d sensed a reaction to her presence at the program. Probably half the people there already knew what Mary had been so gleefully passing on, and if they hadn’t, they would by now.

  Too bad Mary hadn’t mentioned what Bishop Mose’s response had been. Nerves fluttered in Noami’s stomach. Would the bishop come to see her? If he made a formal call, accompanied by one of the other ministers, that visit meant he considered her behavior a serious breach of conduct.

 
; She picked up a towel and began drying the plates, looking absently out the window over the sink. It was dark out already, but she had a strong flashlight, and she didn’t worry about her safety, walking across the field to her little house. She’d be far more nervous walking along a street in town after dark.

  A squeal came from the living room, where Nathan had been reading to the children to settle them down before bedtime. It sounded as if the reading had turned into a game of some sort.

  Nathan came through the doorway, carrying Sadie under one arm like a sack of feed, with Joshua hanging on to his leg.

  “What has gotten into these kinder, Naomi?” he asked, laughter in his voice. “They want to put on a Christmas program instead of listening to a story.”

  “Excitement, that’s for sure.” She dried her hands, turning to smile at them. Sadie, upside down, was giggling helplessly. Joshua stood up very straight and held up an imaginary something over his head.

  “I’m a little Christmas candle,” he chanted, “shining my light for all to see.”

  Naomi’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s pretty close to what we saw today. Did you memorize the lines, Joshua?”

  “I just remember.” His eyes shone with the memory. “I want to do a program.”

  She thought quickly. “Maybe I can get hold of one of the poems,” she said. “You could learn it and say it for your grossmammi when you visit her. That would cheer her up, ain’t so?”

  “Ja, ja,” Sadie said. “Me, too.” Nathan set her on her feet, and she ran to Naomi and snuggled against her. “It was the best day ever, Naomi.”

  “I’m glad you liked it.” She smoothed back the hair that had been disarranged by their play.

  “It sounds as if the school program was a big success,” Nathan said. He leaned against the counter, as if ready to stay and chat.

  “Ja, it was. Everyone was so pleased with how well the scholars did. Especially their teacher, I think.”

  He grinned. “She probably had her hands full. I remember how excited we used to get when it came time for the program. Jumping beans, the teacher called us, remember, Naomi?”