Acts 18: 8 – 10.
Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord,
together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians
hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul
one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do
not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to
harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
After thinking over the events of the past forty-eight hours, Kate put her head on the pillow and tried for a while to calm her breathing, yet she was unable to sleep. Kate had not done any undercover work before, and to make matters worse, she was already missing the internet and TV.
She lit the small kerosene lamp that rested on the homemade nightstand next to her bed, and reached for a newspaper. Sadly, the newspaper, entitled Hiwwe wie Driwwe, appeared to be in Pennsylvania Dutch or German. Kate had no way of telling the difference, but one thing was for sure; it wasn’t in English and that meant she couldn’t read it. It was a while before she lay back down and finally drifted to sleep.
In the morning, there was a knock on her door, and Kate woke to find she had left the lamp on, the flame sputtering on the soaked wick and most of the kerosene gone. She killed the flame and then went to answer the door.
“I let you sleep in this morning,” the kindly Martha said, “but you will need to be up on time from now on.”
Kate stole a glance out the window. The position of the sun, newly rising, told her it must be around six thirty or so. Sleeping in? What time did these Amish get up?
“My husband, the bishop, has told everyone that you’ve newly arrived from a New Order community in Ohio, that you had an accident, and need some help remembering many things,” Martha said. “We’ve had to tell them that you don’t even remember your own language, and can speak only Englisch.”
Kate nodded.
“We don’t have pockets, but I’ve sewn a pocket for your phone into your dresses.” Martha nodded to the dresses hanging on pegs.
Kate looked down; she was wearing a nightgown with a hem that slid across the floor when she walked. She couldn’t wait to get out of it, but she knew the dresses hanging on the pegs weren’t going to be much of a step up.
“Thank you,” Kate said.
Martha helped her into her dress and then tied her hair into a simple knot before affixing a white cap over her head. “This is called a prayer kapp; you must wear it at all times.”
“All the time?”
Martha shrugged. “You will be staying in a small grossmammi haus behind the haus of the Kauffman familye. I’ll drive you over there now, as soon as I show you how to dress, and fasten your kapp and bonnet. My husband thought that living in your own haus was the best thing to do, as then you won’t be around people all the time.”
Kate nodded, thinking that it was a wise decision.
“My husband’s told the community that they are not to ask you many questions, but they’ll be curious, as we don’t get people from other communities here as a rule. Remember to act demure and not too forthright. The young menner will be pleased to see a pretty young lady, so be careful not to lead them on.”
Kate made to protest, but Martha cut her off. “Sorry, that came out wrong. If a mann asks you on a buggy ride, refuse, as a buggy ride means you will be dating.”
“You’re kidding!” Kate was at once sorry for her outburst. “Oh, Martha, I’m so worried. I’m sure I’ll do something wrong. Your customs are so different from ours.” She bit her lip.
“Nee, you’ll be fine,” Martha said, waving one hand in dismissal. “Just refuse any offers from menner to go anywhere with them. Now the best advice I can give you is to watch people and do as they do. Some women don’t wear prayer kapps in their own homes when no one is visiting, but it’s best to be on the safe side, so I suggest you keep it on unless you’re sleeping. At least your hair is long. That’s good, as we don’t cut our hair.”
Kate bit her lip. “What’s a grossmammi haus? I figure haus means house, but what’s a grossmammi?”
Martha smiled. “That means grandmother. Don’t worry, Katie, you’ll get used to Pennsylvania Dutch words.”
“You speak Dutch all the time?”
Martha chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed. “Nee, it’s actually a dialect of German, and the word is Deutsch. Many years ago, when Englischers heard the word Deutsch, they thought it meant ‘Dutch,’ but in fact it meant ‘German.’”
Kate’s head was spinning. This was all so confusing and too much to take in all at one time. “How on earth will I ever remember all those words?”
Martha patted her knee. “Jah means yes, and nee means no. Just remember those two words, and just blame anything on the amnesia. Oh, and denki means thank you. That’s all you’ll have to know, to start with. You’ll pick the rest up fairly quickly, I’m sure, Gott be willing.”
Kate wasn’t so sure she would. She figured that Gott was God, so she repeated to herself silently, jah, nee, denki, Gott - jah, nee, denki, Gott, over and over again. She fought the crazy urge to run out of the house.