“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24
Joanna jumped out of her sleep at the rooster’s crow. She sighed heavily as she sat up in her bed, wiping the sweat from her brow. She had, once again, been bombarded with frightening nightmares. When will they ever go away? She thought.
The dreadful man, by whom she was kidnapped, seemed to haunt her almost nightly. She saw herself riding with him in his truck again, but this time she was wearing the boys clothing that he had given her. He drove her out to a small, decrepit old house in the middle of nowhere. They got out of the truck and she looked around. She realized that there wasn’t a single soul around for miles – she could scream, but nobody would hear. He took her arm roughly and they walked to the house and...that’s when she woke up, thankfully. She did not want to find out what would happen next, had her dream continued. It was too frightening. Tears filled her eyes and she began shivering. Oh, Gott, please help me. Thank you that it was just a dream. It was just a dream, she reminded herself.
She took a deep breath, and then managed to compose herself. Somehow, she had to push these ugly thoughts out of her mind. She was safe at home now, wasn’t she? She arose quickly from her bed and donned her purple dress, black shoes and stockings, black apron and white prayer kapp – after pinning her hair up. It was only a little after five o’clock on Saturday. Today I’m going to visit Naomi Fast and start my new job. That was something positive to think about. And if Chloe can go with me, she’ll be able to earn money for her family, too. Yes, this will be a gut day.
After breakfast and chores were completed, Joanna took her new green scooter from the barn and headed toward the Esh house. Her parents had given her the scooter as a birthday gift last year. I hope Chloe’s mamm will allow her to go with me, she thought. As she rode into the Eshes’ driveway, she saw Stephen, Chloe’s only brother, in the field. She felt sorry for him. Since he was the only boy in the family, he had it pretty rough. There was a lot of work to do around the Esh farm and Peter Esh often hired other young Amish men to help work in the field. Daniel Esh, Chloe’s grandfather, helped out some, but he was getting up in years. Even though Chloe was a tomboy, she seldom worked in the fields. Her father didn’t want to burden the women folk in his home, as he felt the responsibility to provide rested on his shoulders. Joanna hoped the Esh family would be blessed with another boy, for Peter’s and Stephen’s sake.
Although Chloe sometimes played with Stephen, he still didn’t have someone especially close to him. And even though he and Levi Hostettler seemed to be pretty gut friends, Joanna sensed he had no one that he could really confide in. Someone he could share his deepest, darkest secrets with and know they would never tell a soul. That’s how it was with her and Chloe, and that’s how she wanted it to stay. But perhaps boys didn’t need that kind of companionship?
Joanna quickly parked her scooter and walked up the steps to the door. Just as soon as she knocked, the door flung open revealing Chloe’s mother. Mary Esh looked rather piqued. “Hullo, Mary Esh. How are doing today?” Joanna asked politely.
“I’m feeling a bit tired today, but I’ll get by,” Chloe’s mother answered.
Oh no, Joanna thought to herself. She probably won’t want Chloe to go. She forged ahead anyway. “I’m starting my new job today delivering honey and I was hoping that Chloe could come along. She would be back by dinner time. After what happened at the mud sale, I-I’m afraid to go anywhere by myself,” she pleaded. Oh, how she detested bringing up that wretched day!
Mary paused, sensing the poor girl’s distress. “I think I can get along without her today,” she answered compassionately. She turned from the door, inviting Joanna inside.
Mary went to the bottom of the stairs to summon Chloe. “Joanna wants you to go with her to her new job. You may go if your chores are done,” she told her daughter as Chloe hasted down the stairs.
“I just finished them, Mamm.” Chloe smiled brightly, and then turned to her friend. “And I would love to go with you, Joanna. Let me get my scooter.”
“Denki, Mary Esh,” Joanna called, as they headed out to the barn. She wanted to tell her congratulations on her boppli, but that was not their way. Pregnancies were usually kept quiet until it was too obvious to keep secret anymore. Joanna felt privileged to be one of the few privy to the wonderful news.
While Joanna waited for Chloe to get her scooter, Abigail Esh walked up to her. “Joanna, may I go with you and Chloe?” she asked softly.
“Sorry, Abby, not this time. Chloe and I are starting a new job,” Joanna replied. It was hard not say yes to sweet little Abby. She was little for six, had beautiful green eyes that bored right into you, strawberry-blond hair, and a smile that brightened the world.
“Abigail, go see if Mamm needs help with Ruthie,” Chloe suggested. “I found my scooter. We’re off now, jah?”
“Jah,” Joanna answered. “Goodbye, Abby. I’ll see you when we get back, and then maybe we can swing, okay?”
The young girl’s eyes brightened. “Denki, Joanna!”
Joanna and Chloe waved goodbye to Abigail and took off in a hurry. The girls rode through puddles and around rocks. The beauty of the countryside was everywhere. The trees seemed to scream, ‘Look at me’ as they modeled the first faint flowers of spring. Joanna loved Paradise. It was where she was born and where she desired to stay forever.
“Let’s race, Jo,” Chloe challenged. Not waiting for an answer, she took off ahead of Joanna and dirt flew into Joanna’s mouth, hitting her in the face.
“Chloe, stop! Ya got me all dirty,” Joanna hollered after her friend.
Chloe stopped and waited patiently for Joanna to catch up with her. When Joanna did sidle up next to her friend, she was panting. “I guess racing was a bad idea,” Chloe remarked and then giggled. “It looks like you’ve been making mud pies – and eating them too!”
Joanna couldn’t help but laugh also. “Thanks to you. Ach, I must look a sight.” She attempted to wipe the caked mud off of her face, only smearing it in the process.
“Jah, sorry about that,” Chloe answered, removing a handkerchief from her sleeve. She helped Joanna clean her face and then they continued on to their destination at normal speeds.
I’m glad Naomi Fast is so nice. I’m going to like working for her. Joanna thought, as she and Chloe found the address and went into the driveway. At least she doesn’t live too far from my house. Chloe tapped on the door and Joanna waited to see her reaction.
“Hello, Joanna,” the familiar voice greeted her at the door. “And this is your friend Chloe, right?”
“Naomi Fast?” Chloe asked in disbelief.
“I do believe we have met already, Chloe.” Naomi smiled, and then gestured with her hand. “Come on in, girls.” She led the girls to the small sectional in her living room. “Let me get you some lemonade and you can sip on it while we go over your delivery schedule for the day.”
“How many customers will we be delivering to today?” Joanna asked, taking note of the mostly plain furnishings. Naomi’s place wasn’t much different from her own home. She did have electric though, but there wasn’t a television in the room like she’d once seen inside an Englischer’s house. She’d heard most Englisch homes contained the wicked devices.
“You only have ten for this morning. I figured I would start you out slowly, and then as you get the hang of it, I’ll add more customers to your route. Most of them are around here, so you won’t have to go too far just yet.”
“That sounds gut,” Joanna said.
“And I’d like the two of you to join me for lunch when you’re done,” Naomi insisted.
“That would be wunderbaar,” Joanna exclaimed, looking at Chloe, who agreed.
“Here is your list of customers. You have the Starks, which will be just down the street on the left-hand side; the Alcorns, which are across the street from them; the Kleins, the Hamms, and the Tuftses, which all live on Miller Road. I’ve written all of the addresses down in case you get mixed up. I’m pretty sure you know where the rest of the customers live – the Yoders, the Bontragers, the Zooks, the Millers, and the Gingriches.”
“Jah, we know where they live.” Chloe confirmed the names of the Amish that lived in their church district.
“Then it looks like you’re all set,” Naomi said.
Joanna and Chloe proceeded to take the honey and carefully loaded the amber filled jars into the front baskets of their scooters. In no time, they were off to deliver the honey to the names Naomi had written on the list. As they collected the money from each sale, Joanna placed it into an envelope and stuck it into her apron pocket.
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Rumspringa, or the running-around years, typically begins when Amish boys and girls in the community turn sixteen. At this time, they are allowed to explore the outside world and then eventually decide if they want to be baptized and officially join the Amish church.
A young man’s parents usually provide him with his own courting buggy in which he can begin to court a young woman. He will ask her permission, and then she’ll let her beau drive her around in his buggy after Sunday night Singings – a special time when young folk gather together to sing, play games, and fellowship.
Likewise, at this age a young woman may receive a hope chest to store things that she’ll use when she gets married: special quilts, tablecloths, tea sets, etc. Courtships are kept secret in the Amish communities. Sometimes the parents don’t even know who their son or daughter is courting until just prior to the publishing, or public announcement, of their upcoming wedding. The wedding will normally take place within a few weeks after it’s published, typically after the fall harvest.
Isaac Fisher and Rachel Esh rode past an open meadow in Isaac’s new courting buggy. A gentle breeze flowed through the buggy bringing with it the delightful fragrances of spring flowers.
“How do you like it?” Isaac asked, gesturing to his new rig and attempting to quell the pride that threatened his being.
Rachel pulled her eyes away from the two butterflies flitting in the sunshine near a copse of trees. Perhaps they are a match...I wonder if Isaac and I are a match as well. She glanced over at Isaac and caught his smiling eyes under his straw hat and her heart leaped. “Jah, ‘tis nice, Isaac.”
Isaac attempted to calm his nerves, taking a deep breath. It wasn’t easy riding with a girl a year older than him. Most likely, she’d already attended many singings and Isaac had no idea how many young men she’d already ridden home with, especially since the girls in their district were allowed to attend singings at fourteen. At this very moment, he didn’t like that allowance. Why couldn’t their girls start attending singings at sixteen like they did over in Bishop Bender’s district? He wiped a sweaty palm on his trousers trying to summon enough courage to ask this beautiful woman to be his steady girl. “Rachel, I was hoping to ask you to go to the singing with me on Sunday.”
“Are you hopin’ to ask me, or are you asking me?” Rachel teased.
“Ach, quit teasing, Rachel.” Isaac smiled. “I’m nervous enough as it is.”
Rachel giggled. “I thought that might be why you’ve been so quiet. Jah, I will go to the singin’ with ya, Isaac,” she replied, blushing.
Isaac took a relieved breath and gently caught Rachel’s hand. “Gut.”
“What’d you name your new horse?” She quickly changed the subject, lest her cheeks become brighter than the tomatoes she and Mamm canned last harvest. He’s holding my hand!
“I was thinkin’ of naming her Racer because she used to be a race horse. I couldn’t come up with anything else. Unless you have any suggestions...” Isaac smiled at his girl.
Rachel pondered for a moment, assessing the large creature. “Well, she is black...how about Midnight?”
“I’d say Midnight fits her right fine with her shiny black coat and the star between her eyes. I like it. How do you like that, Midnight?” On cue, the horse snorted her reply, as if agreeing to the name. “Midnight it is.” Isaac laughed along with Rachel, as they rode merrily through the countryside.
“You want to see how fast she can run?” Isaac asked, eager to try out his new horse.
“We can go a little faster, but I don’t want to go full-speed. She looks like she can run a pretty fast clip,” Rachel replied apprehensively.
Isaac clicked his tongue and slapped the reins. Midnight took off a little quicker than he’d expected. Isaac pulled on the reins, but Midnight did not slow down.
“Whoa, Midnight,” Isaac called to the horse. Midnight began to slow until they drove near a leftover puddle from the last rain. The horse spooked at the sight of her reflection in the water and took off again. She abruptly veered to the right, which caused the buggy to swing into the other lane. Rachel hung on for dear life, while Isaac attempted to gain control of the frightened mare. The oncoming car slammed on the brakes, but could not stop...
<><><>
At about 11:30, Joanna and Chloe returned to the Fast residence. “You girls finished the route a little quicker than I’d expected. I hope you didn’t run into any problems,” Naomi commented.
“Nee, we didn’t,” the girls said, reassuringly. “There was one customer though, Elsa Klein, that wanted us to stay and talk awhile. After about ten minutes, we told her we needed to get back.”
“Sometimes I feel sorry for the elderly woman. She doesn’t have any relatives to care for her, so she lives all alone there. She says the honey helps with her arthritis – she mixes it with apple cider vinegar and water, and then drinks it down. I try to visit her once in a while,” Naomi replied.
“Perhaps we can visit her sometime, too,” Joanna voiced her thoughts. “I guess living in an Amish community has its advantages. Our elderly people always have someone to care for them, even if they have no relatives living. We feel it is our responsibility to take care of them, like the Bible says.”
“That’s right. The Amish never put their loved ones in those homes for older folk,” Chloe chimed in.
“I think Ms. Klein would like it very much if the two of you visited her.” Naomi smiled.
Joanna thought she heard a baby crying. “Naomi, I think I heard something. A boppli?”
At first, Naomi looked puzzled. “Oh, you probably heard Katie. I guess she must have awakened from her nap. I’ll just set the soup on the table, so you girls can help yourselves already.” She quickly took three bowls and spoons from the kitchen and set them on the table next to the steaming pot of obviously homemade chicken noodle soup that smelled delightful. She then ran upstairs to her daughter.
“I didn’t know she had a daughter. Did you?” Chloe asked, sitting down at the kitchen table.
“I figured she had children because of the toys in the backyard. I’ve been meaning to ask her about that,” Joanna answered, as she dished out soup for the three of them.
Naomi walked slowly down the stairs leading a little girl with curly brown hair, caramel eyes, and little freckles that spotted her face. She looked like she was about two years old. “Honeybee, this is Joanna and Chloe, they are going to be delivering honey for me. Say hi, Katie.” Naomi prodded.
“Hi, Katie,” the little girl answered shyly.
The ladies laughed in unison at Katie’s innocent mistake.
“Honeybee – that’s such a cute nickname,” Joanna commented.
“And very appropriate too, with you being in the honey business. How many words does she know?” Chloe questioned.
“Well, not too many.” Naomi thought aloud, “Let’s see…she knows hi, bye, no, yes, food, and Mama. I think that’s it. But sometimes she jabbers on and I have no idea what she’s saying.”
“No, Mama. No,” Katie said, tugging at her mother’s dress and trying to pull her to the kitchen.
“Are you hungry, Katie?” Naomi asked.
Katie nodded.
“All right, I’ll get you some applesauce,” Naomi said, walking into the kitchen with Katie clinging to her calf-length, pink floral cape dress. She returned a moment later with a small bowl and spoon, which she gave to Katie who happily began to feed herself.
“I noticed the playground outside. Do you have other children too?” Joanna asked curiously.
Naomi sighed. “Well, yes and no. You see, I did have twin girls: Faith and Charity. They were about your age. As a matter of fact, the two of you remind me a lot of them. My husband David and the girls passed away last year in a terrible automobile accident. Our car was hit head-on by a drunk driver.”
Both girls looked at each other, then back at Naomi with sympathetic eyes. “Were you in the accident also?” Chloe asked.
“Yes, we all were. Katie and I were the only ones to survive. I guess God still has plans for us. Katie’s car seat went through the window and landed on the side of the road. She escaped with just a few scratches, miraculously. I was in the hospital for a while and I had to have surgery on my back. That’s why I decided to hire someone for the honey route. I’m not able to get around as well as I used to, and my blood circulation hasn’t been the same since the accident. I try to exercise some, but it’s not enough – my hands and feet still fall asleep often. The doctors can’t help me, either.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your husband and daughters,” Joanna offered her condolences with tears in her eyes, “...and your health problems.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that,” Naomi said in a comforting tone, “but I’m not upset about it. I do miss them, but I take comfort in knowing that I’ll see them in Heaven someday. God has already used the accident for good.”
“What do you mean by that?” Chloe quizzed.
“Well, at the funeral there were several family members and friends that came to the Lord.”
“You mean, they go to your church now?” Chloe looked at Joanna to see if she understood what Naomi was saying.
“No, I mean that they got saved. They are now on their way to Heaven.” Naomi explained further, “When a person believes in Jesus Christ and trusts Him alone to save them, they are born again.”
“But I don’t understand...” Chloe looked confused. “I thought you had to be Plain to go to Heaven.”
“Let me show you what the Bible says.” Naomi took her King James Bible out of her purse and opened it to John 3:16. “‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Does it say anything in this verse about being Plain?”
“No, it doesn’t. It just says that you have to believe in God’s Son,” Chloe answered. “But I heard that it’s prideful to say you’re going to Heaven.”
“It can’t be prideful because there’s nothing that you can do to get to Heaven. It’s only through God’s free gift that we can get there, like it says in Ephesians 2:8-9. Please don’t take my word for it. Study God’s Word for yourselves. If you want, I’ll give you a list of Bible verses to look up,” Naomi offered.
“We would like that. Jah, Chloe?” Joanna said, as she took her last bite of soup.
Naomi quickly wrote down some verses off the top of her head from John, Romans, Ephesians, Galatians, Titus, and Revelation. “When you girls come back again, we can discuss the verses and any other questions you have.” She handed each of them a piece of paper.
The three of them stood up from the table and the girls offered to help with the dishes. Naomi declined the help and insisted the girls enjoy a chocolate chip cookie in the living room, while she cleaned Katie up. “You know, I was hoping to get to know you girls better today, but it seems like you’ve learned more about me.” She laughed.
A loud screeching noise, followed by a boom brought their attention outside. The girls jumped up from the couch and hurried to the door to see what had happened, with Naomi close behind. “Nee, it looks like a buggy accident!” Chloe cried.