Authors: Mary Christner Borntrager

Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Juvenile Fiction, #Religious, #Christian, #test

Andy (11 page)

BOOK: Andy

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Page 87

16
The Big News

It was splashed all over the front page of the town's weekly paper. The headline read "Local Youth Catches Big Fish!"

The account started with a flourish: "Joey Swartz, son of Lester Swartz, hooked the Big One in Fish Rock Creek. Old Salty (as he was known to all) finally met his match. The bass measured twenty-three and a half inches and weighed in at eight pounds, the biggest fish ever caught in this neck of the woods.

"Joey said he has sold the fish to Ben Howland, owner of the hardware store under the town clock. Howland plans to have a taxidermist mount Old Salty and put him on display in the store above the fishing tackle. Under the Big One will be a bronze plaque with the date of the catch and Joey Swartz's name."

On another page an article gave the details of how Joey Swartz landed Old Salty. It told of the mighty fight the fish put up, and it explained Joey's strategy in

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bringing him in. Still another article was on what the mighty fisherman usedkind of bait, type of equipment, weight of line, and on and on.

A picture of the big bass was displayed on the front page. Next to the picture was a statement that said Mr. Swartz declined having his picture taken as it is
verbodde
(forbidden) by the Amish, and Joey was a member of that church.

"I wonder," Andy quipped, after reading the glowing account, "whether it would be more sinful for Joey to have his picture taken or to have the pride he carries."

"Andy, be careful what you say. Are you sure you're not jealous?" his dad probed him.

"Sure, I wanted to catch Old Salty, but for a different reason."

"Don't tell me you still think the Swartz boys will carry out that silly bet they made?"

That is exactly what Andy thought. Evidently his dad didn't know those boys. Perhaps he was giving them the benefit of the doubt, as he often advised Andy to do. But why can't he ever believe me? Andy mused.

The Sunday following the big news, that was all the youth talked about before and after church services. Joey Swartz's chest was puffed out, and he strutted importantly.

Joey even pushed his hat to an angle, rakishly to one side, which also was forbidden by the church. But this was Joey's day, and he would bask in the attention while he could.

Andy was sick of all the fuss. Only one thing lifted

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his spirits. His sister Esther wanted to take Aire Mast along to the singing with them again that evening.

Andy soberly agreed and tried to hide his delight. Esther would likely have another ride homewith Louis? He suspected that they were seeing each other regularly now. That meant that Aire and Andy would be by themselves on the trip back from the singing.

Shep was happy to see Andy come home from church. He followed his master all during evening chores. During the week the dog had run behind the mower in the fields. He liked to chase after rabbits and other wildlife flushed out as the hay was cut. By evening he was one tired dog.

But church Sunday was different. Everyone was gone, and it was lonesome. He lay on the new hay and slept most of the day away. Now he jumped around Andy's legs, frisky and wanting to play.

"Come on, Shep," Andy protested. "I'm in a hurry to get these chores done. I'll play fetch with you another time." He reached down and patted the soft furry coat.

That evening Aire was ready when Andy and Esther pulled up to her gate.

"Are we late?" Andy asked.

"No, I just came to sit on the porch swing when I saw your buggy turn the corner."

Andy let Esther and Aire carry on the talking until they arrived at the farm home that was hosting the young people's gathering.

Joey and his buddies were at the singing but did not even come inside. They thought it more fun to rehash the account of catching Old Salty. Each time Joey told

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the story, the exploit grew more glorious.

With Ezra, Joey, Johnny, and Noah out back, Andy again sang unhindered. The only unpleasant encounter with them was upon leaving.

As Andy stopped at the yard gate to pick up Aire, in the darkness, Johnny called out,
"Die Fettkessel
(lard kettle) express is leaving."

Uproarious laughter followed them out the farm lane.

"Ich dauere selli Buwe
(I feel sorry for those boys)," said Aire.

"They'll bring
Druwwel
(trouble) upon themselves." Andy tried to sound wise.

As they turned onto the road, Andy decided to change the subject. "Sure is a nice evening. Dad says he thinks we're in for a hot summer."

"Ya, our garden is coming along well. Of course, Mom believes in planting according to the zodiac signs. Does
your
mother do that?" Aire asked.

"She plants everything by the moon or signs. I don't pay much attention, though. Dad says he plants in the ground, not in signs." They laughed together at that remark.

"Mom is real strict about planting potatoes in full moon and cucumbers in the sign of the fish," Aire added.

"Speaking of fish," Andy put in, "did you read the write-ups about Joey Swartz and his catch?"

"I did, and even if I hadn't, I sure heard about it after church today," Aire answered.

"What do you think about it?" Andy asked. "I just hope Joey doesn't let this go to his head. He walked

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around pretty
grossfeilich
(stuck-up) today.''

"Ya, I noticed that, too. His sister was bragging and telling around that he had a bet going with someone that he'd catch that fish."

Aire could not understand why Andy gasped as though shocked. He tensed up, and she wondered if she had said something out of order.

"What is it? Did I say something wrong?"

"No," Andy assured her, "you didn't say anything wrong. It's just that I can't understand that Joey."

He did not tell her that he knew what the bet was. Andy wanted this evening to be an enjoyable one, and he would not spoil it by telling Aire of his fears.

As soon as he got home, Andy looked for Shep. The dog bounded from the barn to meet him. After unhitching and putting his horse in her stall, Andy talked firmly to Shep.

"You stay in the barn, you hear? Don't wander off our place to chase after rabbits or anything. Shep, I hope you understand."

Andy latched the barn door securely and went to the house. There he spent a restless night.

What would happen now? Would Johnny really carry out his bet?

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17
Who's to Blame?

Two months passed, threshing was over, and the excitement concerning the big fish story had quieted down. Andy was beginning to feel more hopeful.

Perhaps Johnny Swartz would not keep his bet. Or perhaps Joey, as a baptized member of the church, would release his brother from his promise to kill Shep.

"Take the
Wagge
(wagon) into town, Andy, and get the horses shod. Bring some chicken feed and treated posts along home," directed Jake. "I'd go myself, but I have to work on my tax papers.

"We need four corner posts by the east pasture. Something has been working on the wood, and they're rotting out. I suspect it's termites, so I want well-treated posts."

Andy liked taking the sorrel team. Shep ran around in circles as his master got the team and wagon ready. He followed Andy out the drive and down the road.

Page 93

When Andy discovered that Shep was trailing along, he ordered him to go home. Shep kept on following. It wasn't like him to disobey.

Andy stopped the team and spit out harsh words: "Git! Git on home!"

The dog hesitated a bit.

"Go on, Shep!" Andy shouted as he pretended to throw something at him. This was totally out of character for his master. The dog turned back and slunk toward home with his head hanging down and his tail between his legs.

Andy felt badly about his tone of voice and his dog's reaction. Yet he knew it was for Shep's own good. When I get home, I'll make it up to him, Andy decided.

But when he got home, no Shep came running to meet him. He must be hiding in the barn, sulking because of the way I sent him home, Andy thought.

He called Shep, but his dog did not come. He began to look for him, continuing to call, but still no dog appeared. Andy became alarmed.

"Dad," he asked, "have you seen Shep? I can't find him."

"I haven't seen him since this morning when you were getting ready to leave. He ran around like he was full of all the pep and vigor in the world."

"He followed me down the road a ways. I had to tell him several times to go home. I'm afraid I spoke too roughly to him.

"The last I saw, he turned and walked slowly toward our place. Do you think he's hiding from me? Or worse yet, maybe he ran away."

"No, my guess is he flushed a quail or rabbit and

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took off into the woods," suggested Jake with a chuckle. "You know how he likes to explore. I think he'll be snooping around Fish Rock and the woods. Give him time; he'll come home."

But Shep didn't come home, not that day nor the next, nor even the next. By this time, Jake suspected something was amiss. He went with Andy along the creek bank and through the woods, hunting and calling. All was in vain.

"I just know that Johnny Swartz made good his bet," Andy agonized. "I'm of a mind to go over there and beat up on him.
Ich kann ihn nemme
(I can take him)," he boasted angrily.

"You'll do no such thing, Andy," Jake declared. "To begin with, we have no proof that Johnny had anything to do with Shep's disappearance."

"Well, what do you expect? Do you think Johnny will come, bringing Shep to our front door, saying, 'Here he is. I killed him'?"

"Of course not," Jake replied. "But we don't know where Shep is."

"I've got a pretty good idea," Andy muttered. He was angrier than he'd ever been.

For the first time in Andy's life, he didn't care to eat. His appetite had left him. It had now been a week since Shep was gone.

Andy was supposed to disc the field bordering the creek to get it ready for planting winter wheat. He had worked several hours when he noticed a pair of vultures circling just above the trash pile. As his team came closer, the vultures drifted higher in the air, waiting.

Page 95

Andy was determined to see what the fuss was about, so he stopped his team to take a look. But he was not ready for what he saw. There lay his beloved dog Shep, with evidence of a clean shot through his head.

Andy couldn't bear to look. He turned away with tears blinding his eyes and said, "Oh, Shep, I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to scold you. Why did this have to happen?"

He stumbled back to the disc and his patient team. Somehow he kept working until the sun was high overhead and it was lunchtime. Lunchwho can eat? he wondered bitterly.

"Dad, I found Shep," Andy said.

"I told you we'd find him. Where is he?"

"He is down at the edge of the rail fence, shot clean through the head, thrown on the trash pile like so much junk."

"No," gasped Lizzie.

Esther was shocked, too, and so was Fannie, who was home for the fall harvest season.

"Ya, and I know who did it," Andy told them. "It was Johnny Swartz."

"I've told you before, Andy, we can't blame people unless we have proof. We'll go bury Shep right after lunch, and then tonight I'll go and have a talk with Lester Swartz and his boys."

"That won't do any good, Dad. Those boys have told the untruth before. Do you really think they'll admit it if they are to blame?"

"I don't know if they are or not. All we can do is our own part."

BOOK: Andy

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