Smicksburg Tales 1,2 & 3 (Amish Knitting Circle, Amish Friends Knitting Circle & Amish Knit Lit Cirlce ~ Complete Series: 888 pages for Granny Weaver Lovers and 30+ Amish Recipes

by Karen Anna Vogel

  Jenny giggled. “Like we do after Oma makes a big supper?”

  Roman squeezed Jenny. “Jah, something like that.” He looked over at Lizzie. “I’m feeling like a bear in summer: mighty hungry.”

  “Well, let’s eat then,” Lizzie said, trying to be cheerful.

  “Jenny, you go help the twins wash up. I want to talk to your mamm.”

  Jenny spun around and skipped into the house. Roman came and sat next to Lizzie. “No progress?”

  Lizzie found Roman’s arm around her a great comfort. “Every word I say, she challenges. Sometimes I think she needs disciplined.”

  “You think she’s doing it intentional… spiteful –like?”

  “Sometimes I do.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I need peace in my home…I’m not used to this.”

  “It’s a season, I think. Your daed’s not happy living with Fannie, either. We’re all just adjusting.”

  Lizzie looked over at Roman as he bent down to kiss her. She reached for the back of his neck and pulled him closer. Such sweet kisses were stolen throughout the day, and she treasured every one. When she was in Roman’s arms, all fears that Jenny would never accept her seemed to fall off like the blossoms on the trees. He pressed her closer to himself and she found herself lost in this loving moment, until the screen door opened and Jenny ran over to them, gawking…again.

  ~*~

  Jeb, Granny, and Nathan bowed their heads in silent prayer, and then Granny passed the fish to Nathan. “You caught a big one this morning.”

  Nathan grinned, light blue eyes twinkling. “Jah, but there’s so many fish, hard not to catch one.”

  “It’s a wunderbar goot hole,” Jeb said. “And puts food on the table.” He cleared his throat. “Be praying for Lavina. She had an awful run-in with her daed and old boyfriend.”

  “She went up to Troutville?” Nathan asked, concern etched on his face.

  “Nee, they came here, for a reconciliation meeting, but they had no intention of reconciling.”

  “What happened?” Granny asked.

  “Her daed said he wanted her to go home and marry Christian, of all things. And take the twins back…be a family.”

  Nathan pushed his chair out and ran to the peg to retrieve his hat. “I need to see Lavina.”

  Jeb motioned for him to sit down. “Nathan, she’ll be here tonight for knitting circle.”

  Nathan slowly put his hat back on the peg. “Is she okay?”

  “She’s a strong one. That old boyfriend of hers is a poor excuse for an Amish man. They’ll be getting another warning. Most likely be put out.”

  “Shunned?” Granny asked. “For wanting to have Lavina go home?”

  Jeb swatted at the air. “Nee, they aren’t listening to their bishop or ours. And her daed isn’t protecting her from a man who…”

  “I know,” Nathan said. “Doesn’t deserve such a girl.”

  Granny patted the table and told Nathan to sit down. “I know her daed was abusive, but are yinz saying her boyfriend was too?”

  “Jah. Started to seduce her when she was fourteen and he was eighteen, and her daed knew. The English have laws against that.”

  Granny shoved her fork into the fish. “That’s two years younger than Becca. That’s despicable.”

  Jeb took some bread from the basket. “Pray for Lavina, and sing like a coffeepot.”

  “Sing like a coffeepot? What’s your meaning?” Nathan asked.

  Jeb’s eyes softened. “Maryann has changed. She’s so tender now. Lavina was so upset after they left, and Maryann came over and said, when troubles come, sing like a coffeepot.”

  Granny furrowed her brows. “Like a tea kettle, Love. When you’re up to your neck in hot water, sing like a tea kettle. Coffeepots don’t sing.”

  “Jah, you know the meaning.”

  Granny looked over at Nathan, and shrugged her shoulders. Jeb knew that Amish proverb well and could quote hundreds by heart. She feared the weight on Jeb’s heart was dragging him down. He’d been gone most of the day doing some type of ministry. She’d spent many days alone due to his calling. Maybe Janice wasn’t going through the change. Maybe being an elder’s wife was getting to be too much for her.

  “Have another meeting with the elders tonight,” Jeb sighed. “Folks having lots of problems of late.”

  “But you’ve been gone most of the day,” Granny protested.

  Jeb cocked his head. “Deborah, this has happened before. What’s wrong?”

  “Opa, maybe she’s afraid you’re wearing yourself out.” Nathan put his hand up. “Not saying you’re old, but just worn out. Working in the rocker shop and farming…”

  “We don’t farm. Only have a few animals and sheep…and a big garden.”

  “The English call that a hobby farm. Saw it in a magazine at Punsxy-Mart.” Nathan snickered. “Farming’s not a hobby though.”

  “It is to me,” Jeb said. “And I love it. Quit treating me like I’m as old as dirt.”

  Granny gasped. “We’re not. I’m only two years younger.” She patted his hand. “Just think you spend too much time in the ministry.”

  Jeb withdrew his hand and glared. “I chose the lot, Deborah. What’s come over you? In all our years of marriage, for the first time, you seem resentful of me being an elder.”

  “Am not. Just concerned.”

  “Nee, I know you.” He looked over at Nathan. “We’ll talk about this later.”

  She nodded, and tried to smile at Nathan.

  ~*~

  Granny grabbed a basket to house her freshly baked blueberry muffins. She looked at the bottom of the basket to see Nathan Weaver, Age 10 written in black marker on the bottom. She held the basket tight. Nathan was so undone after hearing Lavina had such a bad day, that he reacted by wanting to comfort her. How he reacted told her everything. She held the basket out and looked at the natural colors of bent wood with the wood dyed blue. Nathan was so good with his hands, but she worried about his heart. He was too compassionate. Too caring. Did he not realize the extra weight Lavina would bring into a marriage, if he pursued this girl? Cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you. First Peter 5:7, Granny forced her racing mind to shout. She would not worry about Nathan. God was in control.

  She heard the screen door open and Granny could tell she’d been crying. “Lizzie, is it Jenny again?”

  Lizzie took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Patience. Roman said to have patience. Jenny remembers her mamm.”

  Granny admired Lizzie’s respect for Roman. She didn’t know if she could be so patient with Jenny. It was six weeks since the wedding and Jenny seemed to be getting more contrary. Maybe she needed disciplined, given a talking to, but Roman didn’t want anything said.

  “Any more ideas? The poem isn’t working out.” Lizzie helped take the blueberry muffins they’d made together and put them in the basket.

  “You remember how Abigail pressed flowers. Why not do that? Jenny might warm up to something her mamm did.”

  “Goot idea. I’ll try that. The girls made me cards of some of Abigail’s pressed flowers, remember?”

  “Jah, that was sweet.”

  Jack barked out on the front porch and Granny peeked through the window. It was Janice with a packed church van. What on earth? Only Colleen and her kinner had decided to join, not all the girls at Forget-Me-Not Manor. She wouldn’t have enough muffins. She watched as Colleen got out of the front seat and slid the door open. Ruth, Ella, Suzy and Lavina got out. Granny sighed with relief. Janice had picked up the girls.

  Nathan ran from the side of the house and grabbed Lavina’s hand. They quickly walked off, back down the driveway. Granny ran to the other window to get a better view as the dirt road turned a little to the side of the house. Nathan had his arm around her and she had her head tilted on his shoulder.

  “Mamm, what are you looking at?” Lizzie asked. “You look worried.”

  Granny spun around. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” She made h
er way over to the screen door and welcomed her guests.

  Colleen’s eyes moved rapidly around the room. “It’s so cute in here. So simple.”

  Granny patted Aurora’s shiny brown hair. “Looks like you’ve brought some books. Can I see them?”

  Aurora lifted the little books up to Granny. “Let’s see. We have Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.”

  “Maybe Jenny could read them to her,” Lizzie said, walking over to Aurora. “Would you like that?”

  The little girl nodded, and Lizzie took her by the hand, leading her outside to meet Jenny.

  “Sorry I’m a little late,” Janice said, “but I didn’t realize it would take so long to pick everyone up.”

  “Everyone? Where’s Fannie?”

  “Sick,” Ella said. “Melvin took her to the new doctor in town.

  “What’s her symptoms?” Granny asked.

  “Dizzy spells and fatigue.”

  Granny held on to the side of the counter. The same symptoms Maryann had before being diagnosed with cancer. She took the glass pitcher of iced peppermint tea and poured herself a glass, but her hand started to shake, so she sat down.

  “Deborah, what is it?” Suzy asked.

  “Nothing…”

  Ella sat next to Granny. “She’ll be fine. Dizzy spells and fatigue are common. She does not have cancer.”

  “Jah, I’ve been having dizzy spells and fatigue too,” Ruth chimed in. “But I know why.” She patted the front of her black apron. “I’m pregnant.”

  Ella squealed and ran to Ruth. “I knew it! You have that glow about you.”

  Everyone made their way to Ruth to give her a hug. Granny looked up with misty eyes. God was blessing this dear woman with another kinner, another life really. Her marriage seemed as right as rain now, all because Ruth decided to forgive, and Luke accepted church discipline. And Jeb had a big part in helping them reconcile.

  Suzy cleared her throat. “I only have two hours and this is only our second lesson.” She looked around at all the women. “Sorry I had to cancel last week, but I didn’t think Mollie would make it…”

  Janice put an arm around Suzy. “We understand. When our kids are grown, pets can become like children.”

  Granny nodded. “Let’s sit outside. All new cedar furniture made by Nathan and Roman.” She grabbed the basket of muffins and asked Janice to get the iced tea and paper cups. Then she ran back inside to retrieve her knitting supplies.

  Suzy told the women to go into their groups according to skill level. “Where’s Marge?”

  “I figured she’d drive her own car, since she lives down the road,” Janice said.

  “I’ll have to go check on her tomorrow. She was awful excited about coming.” Granny took a long strand of pink yarn to cast on her needles. “Actually, she’s been looking mighty tuckered out.”

  “Luke and I stopped in today. I’m teaching her how to bake in her new stove,” Ruth said. “Janice, she said she’d like to go to your church.”

  “She’s more than welcome,” Janice said.

  “But her husband’s an atheist…”

  “That would make him a fool then,” Janice said with a grin.

  “What do you mean?” Ella asked.

  “Only a fool says in his heart, there is no God. That’s in the Bible.”

  “Where?” Ruth asked.

  Janice opened her large Vera Bradley purse and held up a small silver item. “I can find anything on my electronic Bible.”

  “Oh, I’d love to have one,” Suzy sighed.

  Granny felt like shaking her head, but didn’t. Her well-worn Bible had real pages, underlined in special places. She still read her mamm’s Bible and often read her notes. Why did the English have to do everything so fast? If you can’t find a Bible verse, you could look it up in a concordance.

  Janice slapped her knee and chuckled. “I found it. Psalm 14:1. David wrote it, but listen to it in the Message Bible:

  Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air; they poison rivers and skies; thistles are their cash crop.

  “Now that sounds serious,” Janice said, slowly, as if deep in thought.

  “That’s not in the Bible,” Ruth said. “Doesn’t even make sense…”

  Janice was silent as she read it again, and then looked up. “What’s bilious mean?”

  “Sickly,” Granny quipped.

  “Okay, so sickly and bloated with gas?” Janice asked. “Now I’m more confused.”

  “Maybe it means they’re empty. Gas doesn’t take up space?” Suzy said as she showed Ella how to cast on again. “I’d feel totally empty without God.”

  Ruth nodded in agreement. “Jah, empty.”

  Granny noticed Ella was being too quiet. Ever the Bible reader, she could have quoted the King James Version of this verse easily. “Ella, something on your mind?”

  Ella’s eyes locked with Granny’s but she didn’t speak.

  “What is it, Ella?”

  “Zach lost his job.”

  Granny gasped. “Over working on Sunday? There’s laws against that.”

  “Zach told me he wants to farm…”

  “But you don’t have more than twenty acres,” Ruth said. “How will you do that?”

  “He wants to visit Marathon…New York…”

  “Ach, nee!” Granny blurted. “You’d be so far from us.”

  “I know,” Ella said, a tear making its way down her cheek.

  “Is Marathon far?” Colleen asked sympathetically. “I mean, New York isn’t far…”

  “It’s far in a horse and buggy,” Suzy said. “They’ll have to hire drivers just to visit.”

  “Oh,” Colleen said, turning toward Ella. “I’ll pray for you.”

  Granny’s throat was starting to ache, trying to swallow this grievous news, but Colleen’s gentle way warmed her heart.

  “Is there anything I can do?” Colleen continued.

  Ella looked aimlessly ahead. “Come and help me with my twins so I can put up a lot so we can make it for a long while.”

  “What’s ‘put up’ mean?”

  “Ach, canning and preserving. Tending the garden and getting things to the root cellar –”

  “You have a root cellar?” Colleen beamed. “I’d love to see one.”

  Janice smiled. “Colleen, you know all the girls have to volunteer at Forget-Me-Not. I think helping Ella counts.”

  “Really? Oh, I’d love that!”

  Ella leaned toward Colleen. “I think the Lord may have sent me an angel. Danki. Now all Zach and I need is a way to make twenty acres produce enough for a family…”

  Granny jumped when she heard Jenny yelling. She and Lizzie quickly got up and went to the other side of the porch. “What’s wrong?” Lizzie asked.

  Granny saw Jenny’s eyes, round with fear. “What on earth?”

  “Oma, Aurora said this book is true and wouldn’t stop. So I shouted.”

  “But you know the story isn’t true, jah?” Lizzie asked. “And Aurora’s only four, not knowing the difference between make-believe and what’s real.”

  Jenny stomped her foot and glared at Lizzie. “But part of it is true…” Jenny turned to Aurora and then tore past them, out of sight.

  Granny shook her head and asked Aurora if she could see the book. Snow White. She took Aurora’s hand and brought her to her mamm. “Colleen, this book really upset Jenny. Do you know why?”

  Colleen set down her needles and stared at the book. “Well, there is a wicked stepmother in it. She tries to kill her stepdaughter.”

  Granny felt the blood drain from her as quick as a flash flood.

  Lizzie gasped. “Why would anyone make up such a story? And why would Jenny say part of it was true?”

  Granny touched Lizzie’s knee. “Jenny’s only used to farm stories. She’ll be fine.” Granny took her needles and counted three knit stiches, and then three purl. She’d thought she’d learn to make socks and caps easily, but Suzy had
insisted on making scarves first. Well, homeless people needed scarves, too.

  She counted three knits again and her mind started to wander back to Jenny. How fiercely she looked at Lizzie. Maybe she did need disciplined. It wasn’t fair to Lizzie to be treated so, and this behavior wasn’t tolerated among the Amish. Granny looked up over at Lizzie, and could tell she was grinding her teeth again. Ach, Lord, help her. She’s concerned about her daed, too.

  ~*~

  Lavina put her nose into the bouquet of wildflowers Nathan had picked for her as they walked. Summer was a time she’d always relished. Christian and her daed were too busy out in the fields to see them much, and she spent many long days with her mamm. Her dear mamm….

  Nathan led her to a large tree stump. “Sit down, Lavina.” He sat next to her. “I feel a wall between us. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I told you about my daed and Christian coming down….”

  “It’s something else, though.” He took off his straw hat and fidgeted with the rim. “Do you miss Christian?”

  Lavina wanted to laugh at such a preposterous thing, but felt like she couldn’t move. She’d never thought about Christian in a long while. “Nee, I don’t miss him.”

  “How come I’m not convinced?” Nathan said, softly.

  Lavina turned to see hurt in Nathan’s eyes. “I feel…guilty.”

  “About what?”

  “Not seeing my mamm. Leaving her alone to care for the younger ones. Summer’s such a busy time.”

  “Why not go up and visit? Just because you live here doesn’t mean you can’t have a work frolic with your mamm, jah?”

  Lavina felt her throat constrict. “I’m…I’m afraid to go home…”

  Nathan leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Don’t go alone. Take my oma with you. She loves to put up most anything from the garden. Makes the best jelly.”

  Lavina rested her head on Nathan’s shoulder, needing strength. “Sometimes I think your oma doesn’t approve of me. Would like to see you court someone else.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Nathan kissed the top of her head and leaned his head against hers. “Oma just wants God’s will. She may have a time warming up to it, but her soul kneels before God.”