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The next day, the ominous clouds had edged closer to the community. Temperatures dropped once again as the wind picked up.
Inside the community schoolhouse, Rebecca Yoder glanced outside several times, seeing the clouds moving closer and closer. Picking up some wood, she stoked the fire inside the stove, encouraging warmth to move to the farthest corners of the room.
“Okay, everyone, let’s move to . . . Wait here. Open your language books to the unit on parts of language and I’ll be right back,” she instructed. Wrapping her shawl more closely around her torso, she walked to the front door, where Bishop Stoltzfus waited.
“Bishop? Is something wrong?”
“Ya, there is. I’m sure you feel the cold and hear the wind. We have alerted the families to come pick up their children before lunch. Another storm is coming and it would be too dangerous to keep them here until the usual dismissal time,” said the bishop.
“Denki! Yes, I saw the storm coming up and I began worrying about getting the children home,” Rebecca said.
“Do you mind?” the bishop asked, gesturing to the head of the classroom.
“Nee, go right ahead,” said Rebecca.
“Denki. Scholars, please listen to me! We are sending your parents to pick you up now. Another blizzard is coming and it would be safer to release you now rather than try to wait until this afternoon. Allow Miss Yoder to set your assignments for the next few days. Listen close, now! Your parents will be here – good, I see some riding up already,” the bishop said, trying to speak cheerfully.
“Scholars, read the parts of language assignment. I am writing everything down. Please write these assignments down and have them ready to give to me once we come back to school in a few days. You will have language, math, Bible, science and history. Now, your parents are waiting. Bundle up, take your books home and don’t make them wait! I will see you when it’s safe to have class,” Rebecca said over the sudden bustle of children putting their jackets on and finding their books.
“And, do you have a way home?” asked the bishop.
“Ya. My horse and buggy are inside the barn,” she said.
“I will follow you home – it is on my way, so don’t worry about putting me out. I am responsible for you, since the school board president is home sick with flu,” said the bishop.
“Denki. I’m ready – I just want to get inside, where it’s warm!”
Outside, Rebecca gasped as she saw the heaviness of the glowering clouds. Even though they were filled with snow, they appeared to hold something much more substantial. Hitching her horse the the buggy quickly, she tossed her belongings in and got into the buggy with the help of the bishop. She followed him, trying to keep the wheels of her buggy in the tracks created by his buggy. The trip was slow, and she squinted against the cold, stiff wind. Finally, she saw her daed’s and mamm’s farm. Dimly, she saw the bishop turn and give her a vigorous wave. Waving back, she turned into the driveway and urged her horse to the barn.
***
Joseph and Sarah Beiler decided to take the opportunity to stock up on their depleted stores of food. As fast as they tried to go, they realized they were in a race with the storm, which was now almost on top of them.
“Sarah, let’s hurry! If we move quickly, we can beat this storm!” Joseph shouted over the shriek of the wind. He signaled to the horses to move fast – as fast as they could without going off the road. Breathing a sigh of relief, Joseph brought the horses and buggy into the barn. As they were unhitching the buggy, he looked up, seeing snow falling heavily, blown about by the stiff winds.
“We’ll both have to carry as much as we can . . . Miriam, here! Take some of the food! Let’s try to get everything into the house in one trip. Thank God I left the guide rope up!” Joseph kneeled, handing several bags to Sarah and Miriam. Grabbing what was left, he managed to close and secure the barn door, walking as fast as he could to the kitchen door.
“Mamm, I’m working on dinner. Do you want me to help put the food away?” she asked Sarah.
“Nee, daughter. Keep working on dinner. I will put things away while your father brushes Brownie and Red down. Joseph, hurry before this gets any worse,” she told her husband.
That evening, the storm was still blowing strong. With Miriam’s help, he fed and watered the stock, then they milked the cows, pouring the fresh milk into the milk machine. Looking up, he saw a large tree branch swaying wildly in the wind. Hearing a sharp krak, he grabbed Miriam’s shoulder, pushing her out of the way. Both father and daughter landed on their sides in a deep, freezing snowdrift.
“Come on! Now!” Joseph yelled. As he did, he grabbed Miriam’s gloved hand and pulled her along the rope.
This second storm was a repeat of the first, with heavy snow, howling winds and bitterly cold temperatures. Miriam, closed inside the house, peered restlessly out the windows, wishing the winter weather would ease. The first day wore slowly into the second. Miriam, working on her quilt, stopped sewing as she felt a sudden, dull headache, body aches and a heavy exhaustion slam into her. Rubbing her throat, she coughed against a soreness there.
“Mamm! I think I’m sick with the flu. It just hit me and I feel bad,” Miriam said.
“Come here. Ya, this is bad. You have a temperature. Upstairs, into your nightgown and I will bring some chicken broth to you. Go,” Sarah said with a sigh.
Miriam struggled to climb the stairs as the exhaustion and body aches conspired to push her to the ground. As she was putting on her long-sleeved nightgown, she clutched her stomach against nausea. Running to the bathroom, she lost her dinner. Coming out several minutes later, she swabbed sticky sweat from her face.
“Come on, sweetheart. To bed with you. I’ll give you small sips so you can stay hydrated,” murmured Sarah.
Miriam huddled under her covers, alternately freezing and roasting. She obediently took small sips of the tasty broth, shaking her head at her mamm when her stomach began to rebel. She dozed off after several minutes, sleeping restlessly, visited by fever dreams. After several hours she woke up, with her mouth feeling as dry as a withered stalk of corn. Wincing against her body’s soreness, she got up and went downstairs slowly, needing cool water.
“Miriam? Go back upstairs and I’ll bring what you need. The only place for you right now is under your covers,” Sarah commented.
“But, mamm, I am thirsty. And hot!” Miriam complained.
“And you’ll be freezing cold again too soon. Upstairs, now. I’ll bring water and some more broth to you,” said Sarah, bustling into the kitchen.
“Okay,” Miriam said, realizing the truth of her mamm’s words. She hunched over, folding her arms over her torso, feeling a sudden chill moving from the center of her body. “I’ll be upstairs.”
Upstairs, she slowly sipped water, allowing it to moisten the dry tissues in her mouth. Sarah held a small bowl of chicken broth with potatoes out toward Miriam. As she did, she spooned up some of the broth, offering it to Miriam.
“Ohh, so good! Denki, mamm.” Miriam said as her voice cracked.
“I’ll give you a little broth. You need nutrition, but not to be sick at your stomach again. I’m also leaving some water up here – just promise me that you’ll only take sips, you won’t try to guzzle it,” Sarah said in warning.
“Ugh, after this afternoon, I don’t want to try to guzzle, mamm. I promise you, I will be very careful. That’s enough. I feel full, anyway,” she said waving the spoon away.
“Good. Depending on how you do tonight, let’s see if we can add hot tea, more vegetables and a slice of bread to tomorrow’s menu,” Sarah suggested.
“M-maybe,” Miriam said, feeling her stomach roll at the suggestion.
“Take this for your fever. It’ll help you sleep more restfully as well – something you need,” Sarah said, holding out an ibuprofen tablet.
Miriam took it, then rested her head against her pillow.
“Denki, mamm. I think I’ll be able to sleep now,” Miriam said, feeling exhaustion roll over her again. Her long, brown eyelashes fluttered down against her flushed cheeks as she drifted off to sleep.
***
The next morning, Miriam was still asleep as Joseph and Sarah struggled to the barn against the strong, frigid wind. Sarah bent her head, trying to avoid the stinging pellets of snow. In the barn, she and Joseph tended to the livestock and fed the cows.
“I hope this storm won’t last for long,” she told Joseph.
“Ach, Sarah, I told Miriam that we are in for a very hard winter. I felt it the day before the first blizzard struck.”