19
The annual Christmas supper for die Youngie was held on Tuesday, December twenty-second, at Bishop Mast’s farmhouse. His wife, Tessie, had strung up red and green paper chains over the doorways of their large basement, and handmade pinecone wreaths with red velvet bows hung in the windows all across one long wall.
Ellie was happy to double-date with Sol and Ruthann, who for some reason seemed especially pleased to welcome her and Menno along on the buggy ride. The four of them sat together at the table, too.
While they waited for others to arrive, Menno leaned forward and asked Sol, “Say, what would ya think of the four of us goin’ sledding on Deacon Lapp’s big hill tomorrow afternoon?”
“All right with you, Ruthann?” Sol asked.
“Sure, it’ll be fun.”
“I’ll bring our big sled,” Sol added.
Ruthann grinned. “We have a small one. Should I bring that?”
“We’ll only need two large sleds—one per couple,” Menno said. “I’ll bring ours.”
“And I’ll ask to borrow our family sleigh and pick the three of yous up,” Sol said. “Okay?”
Ellie looked forward to going sledding for the first time this season. And it was obvious how excited Ruthann and Sol were about it.
After the meal of savory meat loaf, baked potatoes, and cooked carrots had been capped off with a dessert of chocolate cake and ice cream, Ellie and Menno mingled for a while with her cousin Sarah Ann Hostetler and her date for the evening, Menno’s longtime friend Chester Riehl.
The bishop came over and asked Ellie about Evan. “I’ve written to him several times,” he told her.
“Evan mentioned that in a recent letter,” Ellie said.
“I don’t want him to think he’s been forgotten.”
“That’s gut of ya, Bishop.” Especially after everything you’ve undoubtedly heard about him.
Menno and Ellie wandered back to the spot where they’d sat at the table. “I wonder if ya checked the mail today?” Menno asked her, looking like he was trying to squelch a smile.
“I was busy getting ready for tonight,” she said, smiling. “Why?”
He had a mischievous glint in his eyes. “If somethin’ didn’t arrive today, then it will tomorrow.”
Since Menno only occasionally teased her, she enjoyed it all the more. “I’ll look forward to whatever ya sent.”
He chuckled under his breath, and Ellie could hardly wait to finish making her Christmas card for him.
Ellie had just finished making a big batch of fudge the next afternoon when she heard the mail truck. She hurried to the utility room and put on her coat and scarf, then rushed out to the road, eager to see if something from Menno had arrived. Sure enough, there was a package with her name on it.
Back indoors, even before removing her coat and scarf, she opened the box and discovered some floral stationery and two large Hershey chocolate bars with almonds, her favorite. Menno knows what I like!
After hanging up her coat and scarf inside, she made her way up the stairs to her room, where she found her homemade card for Menno and tucked it inside her shoulder purse. She looked forward to giving it to him in the horse-drawn sleigh later.
Ellie was glad to see her good friends when Sol arrived with Ruthann in the front of the sleigh and Menno waiting for her behind them. The horse’s harness was bedecked with large metal bells, and some were even attached to the front of the sleigh.
“Hullo, Ellie!” they called. She hopped in and sat next to Menno, who smiled when she handed him the card and a tin of her fudge.
As Menno read the card, they rode along, the bells jingling prettily.
“I love the sound of bells,” Ellie remarked.
“Aaron bought them and put them on,” Sol said over his shoulder.
“Tell him denki for all of us,” Ruthann said.
Sol nodded. “Aaron and I will take Leah out ridin’ in the sleigh with my parents one of the days she’s here for Christmas. Also, Dat’s older brother and family are plannin’ dinner at their place for all of us—my married siblings and their families. We’ll prob’ly take the sleigh that day, too.”
Ruthann spoke up. “Christmas will be the ideal time for your family to get caught up with Leah.”
Menno looked at Ellie. “Thanks for the card and the fudge,” he said quietly.
“Du bischt willkumm! Denki for the stationery and chocolate bars,” she replied.
“Chocolate?” Ruthann said from up front. “Did I hear someone say chocolate?”
Ellie reached into her carryall and handed a tin of fudge up to Ruthann, then one for Sol.
Ruthann practically squealed with delight and pretended to keep Sol’s tin away from him, but he just laughed.
Sol glanced over his shoulder. “What’s everyone else doin’ for Christmas?”
“Well, most of my siblings will be home for Christmas Eve supper,” Ruthann said, opening her tin and taking out a piece of fudge. “Afterward, we’ll all pull taffy.”
“What ’bout you, Ellie?” Sol asked as a light snow began to fall.
She could see him glancing at his tin on Ruthann’s lap. “My married siblings and their families will come over, but as yous can imagine, it’ll be a very different year.” She swallowed hard. Without Evan.
Menno reached over and placed his gloved hand over her mittened one. Surprised, Ellie glanced at him, and her face warmed in spite of the cold.
The tiny white flakes continued to drift down, making the atmosphere festive as Menno told of his immediate family getting together at noon on Christmas Day.
A few minutes later, Sol gave Ruthann packages to pass back to Menno and Ellie, keeping one for herself. Opening them, they discovered dark green homemade candles in jelly jars with narrow red ribbons tied around them.
“Ooh, these are nice,” Ruthann cooed. “Did you make these, Sol?”
Menno laughed at that, and Sol explained that they were his mother’s handiwork.
Ruthann held hers up and said, “It’ll make the Christmas table even more cheerful.”
“Be sure an’ thank your Mamm,” Menno said.
“Jah, from me, too,” Ellie added. “It’s so thoughtful.”
Sol suggested they all sing “Jingle Bells,” and he led out with a voice deep and clear.
Ellie observed the joy on Sol’s face as he smiled over at Ruthann, his voice rising into the crisp and frosty air, the sky as gray as goose down.
But her thoughts were elsewhere. She could still feel the weight of Menno’s gloved hand on hers. Will our relationship pick up now?
After baking pies and more cookies the next morning with Mamm and helping her plan the menu for Christmas dinner, Ellie took time to visit Leah with three dozen of her still-warm sand tarts along as a little surprise.
Leah’s mother’s eyes widened when Ellie placed the treats on the table. “I can never get them quite this thin,” Nan said, taking a bite and smiling. “You have a knack, Ellie.”
“They’re my Christmas gift to your family,” Ellie replied as Leah reached for a cookie, too. “And ’specially for Leah.”
“Denki, and I’ll be sure to share.” Leah took a bite. “Oh, yummy.”
“Sol certainly didn’t share the fudge you gave him,” Nan said, smiling.
“Jah, he took the tin to his bedroom and prob’ly hid it.” Leah laughed.
Nan went to the cupboard and removed a saucepan. “I’ll make some hot cocoa while you girls get comfortable by the coal stove in the front room.”
“Oh, that’ll be nice,” Ellie said.
Leah tied her Mamm’s apron in back for her, then led the way to the front room.
Thrilled to spend time with her friend again, Ellie sat with Leah on the sofa.
“Would ya like to go on a sleigh ride this evening?” Leah asked. “Sol and Aaron are takin’ the sleigh to the caroling with die Youngie. It’ll be a fun way for us to get there.”
“Sure.” Ellie recalled riding in the sleigh at Christmas with Leah and members of her family every few years. “For old times’ sake,” she said.
“We’ll come down an’ pick you up after supper,” Leah added.
“I’m glad we can spend some time together like this.”
“And tonight, too.” Leah had a big smile on her face. “Unless you’d rather go with Menno.”
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll see him there, but I don’t get to see you as much.”
Leah nodded. “Be sure to bundle up.”
“Okay, Mamm.”
Leah laughed. “Remember when I’d always remind ya to wear your mittens at recess when we were little?”
Ellie smiled. “You were like a big sister to me.”
“But not a bossy one, I hope.” Leah smoothed her black apron over her green dress.
Ellie giggled mischievously. “Oh, never that!”
“Okay, maybe a little pushy.”
Ellie laughed again.
The sleigh ride to the deacon’s home, where the youth were gathering, was extra fun as Ellie sat with Leah. Sol and Aaron were up front chattering in Deitsch as Sol held the driving lines. They were both dressed in black church clothes, coats, and felt hats, and Aaron had on his black earmuffs as well. He was teasing Sol because he’d left his at home “on purpose.”
Leah whispered that she thought Aaron was showing off for them.
“Maybe Sol wants to look nice for Ruthann.”
“Could be.” Leah adjusted her black woolen scarf at her neck. “I’m lookin’ forward to seein’ die Youngie again.”
“It won’t bother ya to see Josh, I hope.”
“Not at all.”
She’s over him, Ellie thought, glad for Leah’s sake.
“Say, Ellie, I’ve been enjoyin’ your fudge,” Sol said over his shoulder. “Denki.”
“Glad ya like it.”
“Sol’s still not sharing,” Leah said, laughing.
Aaron nodded emphatically.
Sol glanced over his shoulder. “Well, it’s my gift.”
“I’ll send some more for yous,” Ellie replied.
Aaron turned around. “Ya would, really?”
Ellie nodded. “Sure, it’s Christmas. All my favorite neighbors get some sweets!”
Leah giggled. “Can you believe these two, Ellie? Brothers!”
Ellie was amused, but it also made her remember how she and Evan bantered over trivial things. How she missed having him around for Christmas!
After a long day of clearing away clipped tree branches with his pitchfork and then burning them to thwart the spread of disease, Lyle was glad to simply listen to Elisabeth read Evan’s recent letter at bedtime. Every so often, her voice quavered and she would stop to gather herself before starting again, but he was mighty thankful, if not relieved, that Evan continued to write to them as well as to Ellie.
It amazed him how appreciative Evan sounded about receiving their letters. More like the way he used to be, Lyle thought, watching his wife’s dear face. According to Evan, the bishop had written him “yet another letter,” and so had Sol Bontrager and others.
God’s love comes in unexpected ways.
On Christmas Day, Ellie was eager to spend time with her family during Mamm’s wonderful noon feast. Dat had added all the leaves to the table that morning and brought folding tables from the cellar for the grandchildren old enough to eat without assistance. Ellie placed two red tapers in antique glass holders on the long trestle table, a small sprig of holly around the base of each candle. Then she set it for the twelve adults and kept space for a high chair.
Ellie helped Mamm prepare the side dishes—sweet potatoes mashed with cream and butter, cut corn, lima beans, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, tapioca pudding, chow chow, sweet and sour pickles, green olives, and two pies for dessert—pecan and cherry. All of this while the glazed ham roasted in the cookstove.
How many holidays will Evan miss? Ellie wondered, feeling twinges of sadness, as surely Mamm must be, too. All of us are feeling it.
When it came time for everyone to gather round the table, Dat placed young grandson Caleb on a Sears & Roebuck catalog in Evan’s usual spot. Then Dat bowed his head for the silent table blessing for a noticeably longer time than usual.
After the prayer, the adults passed the serving dishes around. The older children took turns carrying their plates and their younger siblings’ to their mothers, who dished up their food. Rudy and Lovina’s dimple-faced Mary, now nine months old, sat in the wooden high chair while Dawdi Hezekiah made silly faces at her to make her giggle.
The kitchen was overflowing with wonderful-good food, jovial conversation, and most of the dear people in Ellie’s life. Partway through the meal, she paused for a moment to look around and spotted Dawdi, his gray eyes gentle as he looked at her, as though sensing her thoughts.
Ellie doubted Dawdi would want to walk through the orchard in several inches of snow, so after her siblings and their families left around four-thirty, she headed over to his place. As she hurried up the porch steps, she noticed icicles dangling from the roof and sparkling like gems.
She opened the Dawdi Haus door. “It’s Ellie,” she said softly as she slipped inside.
“Was hopin’ ya might come over,” Dawdi said, sitting in his comfortable rocker near the black heater stove in the sitting room. “I’m movin’ a little slow.”
“Did ya have your nap?” Ellie asked as she hung her coat on one of the wooden pegs just inside the door. She headed into the warm room and sat on the sofa.
Dawdi chuckled. “Jah, this ol’ body had to recover after that feast.”
“I think I overate, too,” she said, going on to say she’d played with her nephews and nieces after the leftovers were put away and the dishes were done. “You should’ve stayed round for the songs we sang.”
“Did ya sing ‘The First Noel’?” he asked, brightening. “I like the story that one tells. Your Mammi said it was the first carol she learned in English as a child . . . ever so long ago.”
Ellie smiled, enjoying another of the family tidbits Dawdi liked to share.
“Jah, we sang all the verses, and ‘Silent Night,’ too. Evan used to say that carol made his eyes water.”
Dawdi chuckled. “I’d have to say it makes mine water, too.” He sighed. “It was a real nice time, seein’ everyone round your Mamm’s big table. But I guess I’m getting older . . . can’t miss my daily nap.”
“Far as I can tell, Dawdi, you’re the same as yesterday and the day before.”
“Nice of ya, Ellie-girl.”
She smiled, always at ease around him.
Dawdi blinked several times, like he was fighting back emotion. “May the Lord above keep watch over our Evan this day and always.”
“Amen to that,” Ellie whispered.