A Plain Man (22 page)

“I do. Your old friend Albert.”

“Albert Sidley?” he asked, despite knowing only one Albert.

Following an affirmative nod, Caleb tried to remember his old pal. Albert had refused to write back after Caleb moved to the city. He had made no effort to get in touch since Caleb returned. Now that their district had split into two, the Sidleys attended preaching services elsewhere. According to Sarah, Albert's family lived in the most woebegone farm in the county after Mrs. Sidley died many years ago. No matter how many frolics the district scheduled to paint, repair, or restock the pantry, conditions returned to normal within a year or two. “What made you think of Albert?” he asked.

“
Ach
, that family is always in need of assistance. Recently I heard that the health of John Sidley has deteriorated, so I doubt things have improved for the boys.” Eli pushed up from the table and limped to the sink for a glass of water. Sitting for any length of time stiffened his
knees and hips. “If we're looking for people to help, the Sidleys were the first that came to mind. Once you focus on someone else's problems, yours won't seem so burdensome.” His voice dropped to a soft caress.

“I might be ready to take advice along those lines, but how do I begin? I haven't talked to Albert in years. Sarah said that when she stopped there to get my Cleveland address, Albert was downright hostile. He's angry that I moved away and never responded to the letters I wrote.”

Eli shuffled back to his chair with his water. “Those Sidleys were never easy to reason with or eager to accept the district's help. But maybe Albert will listen to you, Caleb.”

“You think one stubborn man might listen to another stubborn man?”

“Something like that.” A smile spread across Eli's face—an infrequent expression lately.

Caleb's mind wandered back to his schoolyard and teenage years. He'd gotten along well with Albert. They shared similar interests such as riding, fishing, and exploring the forested hills. One year they'd built a treehouse in the woods about midway between their two farms. Neither of them knew who'd owned the land and to this day, Caleb still didn't know. Carrying canteens, old quilts, and bags of snacks, they met at the treehouse to sleep under the stars on summer nights. While munching cookies, they would invent stories about early pioneers while they waited for deer to come browse the nearby berry bushes. Neither of them hunted deer after watching those gentle does and fawns. Even the bucks seemed trusting and timid—not exactly worthy opponents for high-powered rifles with night vision scopes.

Albert only went squirrel or rabbit hunting after that summer, and only when they needed meat for the stewpot. The Sidleys were always in financial straits. Either their small farm was too worn out to produce or his
daed
was too untalented or lazy to coax much from the soil. Caleb suspected John Sidley drank in secret, but Albert refused to talk about it. When Mrs. Sidley died giving birth to her fourth son, life on that hardscrabble homestead went from bad to worse.

Feeling a sorrowful pang of nostalgia, Caleb met his father's eye. “I'll go Monday after morning chores to see if there's anything I can do to help.”

“You'll find plenty if you're looking for holes to patch in the roof or fences to mend. That house should probably be torn down and a new one built. I'm hoping you'll look beyond the surface. Maybe you can give Albert something that will change the rest of his life.”

Caleb scratched a mosquito bite. “You mean teach him carpentry?”

“If he's willing to learn, but I wouldn't suggest that right after ‘hello.' Start with getting the Sidleys straightened around, but make sure Albert works with you. They have too much done for them and that could be part of the problem. Too many kind folks cleaning up the mess and sticking a bandage on their problems. Albert might slam the door on your good intentions, but it's worth a try.”

“I agree. He might be willing to learn after all these years. Sitting around feeling sorry for yourself gets boring after a while. I know it did for me up in Cleveland.” Caleb hadn't meant to divulge that detail, but it slipped out unintentionally.

Eli let the comment slide. “I plan to pay your wages for next week while you're at Albert's.”

His chin snapped up. “That's not necessary. If I'm no longer working for you, I shouldn't get paid.”

“You had planned to work another week before quitting. Besides, whatever help you give them relieves the district of its burden for a while. Believe me, you might discover the task more challenging than the Ashland office building, even in the middle of a labor disagreement.”

“A week, no more. I won't take charity if an Amish man is supposed to give without expecting anything in return.”

“One week,” agreed Eli. “Now I need to find out why my gourmet supper hasn't been started yet.”

“Maybe because
Mamm
is no gourmet,” Caleb joked, experiencing a level of compassion that had been as long absent as his father's smile.

On Sunday morning Josie repinned her hair for the third time, attempting to contain all stragglers neatly inside the bun.

“I don't understand why you're fussing so much,” said Laura. Her
schwester
had entered the bedroom they shared very quietly. “It'll be hidden under your
kapp
anyway.”

“I want to look nice at my first membership class.”

Laura flounced down on her twin bed. “But why bother? Unless a
special person
will be at the class.” She dragged out her words for emphasis.

Josie put on her head covering and studied her reflection in their small hand mirror. Her face was already tanned. She'd better switch to her wide-brimmed bonnet whenever working in the garden. “You're right about someone special. My best friend in the whole world will be there. If I get there early, I plan to save her a seat.” After a final perusal, Josie added a slicker of ChapStick, loving how it tasted like lemonade.

“Sarah isn't the Beachy I had in mind. Didn't you wear your favorite dress for Caleb?” She tugged the hem of Josie's apron.

Deciding that Laura wouldn't be easily put off, Josie sat down and took hold of her younger sibling's hand. “I'm not sure if Cal will show up or not. But if he does, I want to look my prettiest.”

Laura's eyebrows shot to her hairline. “Rumors are true—you are sweet on him.”

“I am.”

“
Mamm
hoped he was just a passing fancy,” Laura whispered into her ear. “A phase that you were going through.”

“She said that?” Josie was shocked that her mother would talk about such a personal matter.

Laura nodded. “
Jah
, but she didn't know I was listening.”

“You shouldn't eavesdrop. One day you might overhear something you wish you hadn't.”

“Aren't you afraid Caleb will get bored and move back to the city? Then you will have wasted precious courting time on a dead end. You're twenty-one, almost twenty-two.” She lowered her voice as though Josie's age were a big secret.

“I was at first, so I asked him. He assured me he wasn't leaving and
that he planned to join our church. I'm willing to take his word and give him a chance. For all I know Cal might chew with his mouth open or burp loudly in public. Then it won't make any difference if he gets baptized.” Josie walked to their bedroom door and grabbed her purse off the hook.

“Sounds like you haven't heard the news.”

Josie stopped in her tracks. “What news?”

“David told me James told him that Cal quit his job.” Laura joined her in the hallway.

“How could he quit? His boss is his father.”

“I don't know. Maybe it's just a rumor that isn't true. Let's go before everyone leaves without us. I just heard the buggy stop by the steps. We don't want
Mamm
to start yelling.”

“Indeed, we don't.” Josie followed her down the steps in a mood that was rapidly deteriorating. Caleb quit his job? As bad signs went—that one had to be the worst.

The buggy ride to the hosting farm was long and hot. Her brother kept bumping her shoulder while her sisters wouldn't quit chattering about nonsense.

Finally her father spoke in an unarguable tone of voice. “Silence. Let's prepare ourselves for worship by stilling our tongues and opening our hearts.” Josie had a few quiet moments to pray that she wasn't skipping merrily down a dead-end street like Laura suggested.

After
Daed
dropped them near the house, he parked the buggy in the recently mown hayfield. The Zook family held services outdoors in a spacious outbuilding. Since the benches had been delivered during the week, people clustered near the open door waiting to be summoned inside. Two lines—one male and one female—would soon form to fill the benches in an orderly fashion. Josie headed inside the house for her first of eight membership classes. She'd already chewed off her flavored lip balm, her dress was sticking to her back, and her face felt like she'd coated it with olive oil. But when she entered the kitchen, her heart skipped a beat. Scanning the rows of folding chairs that filled the room, she spotted Sarah and Caleb in the back row. Sarah lifted her hand in a wave, while Caleb pointed at the empty seat between them.

Bishop Beachy cleared his throat. “If you would sit down, Miss Yoder, we're ready to start.”

Josie hadn't noticed him standing with his Bible clutched to his
mustfa
vest. “
Guder mariye,
Bishop.” She hurried to the chair before another late arrival grabbed it.

“What took you so long?” asked Sarah near her ear.

“It's about time,” said Caleb. “I was ready to let the swarm of single women fight over that chair.” The two siblings whispered simultaneously.

Josie grinned at both of them until her face cramped. Any attempt to form words in her current state of mind would only result in an embarrassing squeak.

“
Welcum
, young people,” the bishop greeted after clearing his throat. “You have come because you wish to learn the meaning of
Gelassenheit.
Our
Deutsch
word means many things, including resignation, composure, long-suffering, collectedness, calmness of mind, inner surrender, victory over selfishness, and detachment. My favorite definition is ‘quietly residing in Christ.' If it is your wish to be baptized and join the church, then rise to your feet and repeat after me.”

Every person in the Zook kitchen stood and repeated after the bishop. “I am a seeker desiring to be part of this church of God.”

Eli gestured for them to sit. “We will begin each class with that statement of intention. If at any time you choose not to continue, you can come back next year. There is no shame in waiting. This is the most important decision of your life, and shouldn't be entered into without considerable contemplation.” When no one got up to leave, the bishop began his first lesson.

Josie had known Sarah's father her entire life. But today he wasn't pushing them on the tire swing or comforting Sarah after she scraped a knee or got stung by a bee. The bishop was all business. He didn't crack a smile until they solemnly filed out to join their parents in church.

“Try to be on time next week, Josie,” said Eli. “I would hate for you to miss a single minute of my instruction.”

“I will, Bishop,” she said as she walked by.

Sarah was waiting for her on the path, but Caleb had already entered the barn with the other men. “What did my
daed
say?”

“Be on time in two weeks.” Josie shivered as they walked toward the open doors.

“Don't worry. He always liked you.”

Josie had no chance to ask Sarah if Laura's rumor about Caleb was true. With the service underway, they slipped in silently without dillydallying. When preaching concluded several hours later, they both had to help the women set out lunch. After she placed her cornbread with the other desserts, Josie stood behind the table as men moved through the buffet.

Caleb appeared second in line, preceded by his pal, James Weaver.

“Cal, James, how about a slice of cold roast beef?” Rebekah Beachy materialized out of nowhere with a long-handled fork.

“
Jah,
please.” They both held out their plates.

Rebekah slapped a slice on her
bruder'
s plate without hesitation, but searched for the most succulent piece in the roaster for James. “This one should cut with your fork,” she purred, adding a ladleful of brown gravy.

“Say, Josie,” said Caleb. “I see potato, macaroni, and cucumber salads, but my heart was set on four-bean.” He brought the forward movement of hungry men to a dead stop.

“Not today, Cal. Please select from the bounty the Lord has provided.” Josie flourished her hand over the assortment of side dishes. “I will make some for our next gathering.” Smirking, she spooned marinated beets next to his beef and focused on the next man.