Andy (7 page)

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Authors: Mary Christner Borntrager

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

BOOK: Andy
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Page 57
Andy snorted, throwing the can as far as he could.
Joey could see he was riled. The back of Andy's neck began to turn red.
"There's an old trash pile in the corner of the rail fence," Joey observed. "We could surely find something there."
"You find it, then. I'll get the poles."
Each went his separate way. Joey rummaged around in the trash and returned with a battered kettle. He was glad the lid had been pitched out, too. Although it was warped, it fit well enough to keep the bait from drying out.
In a short time they dug enough night crawlers and put them in the kettle with a little moist earth. Then they were on their way.
"Does that dog have to come along?" Joey asked. He still felt uncomfortable around Shep.
"He doesn't have to, but I want him to." Andy picked up the best pole and called, "Come on, Shep. Let's go."
They fished for thirty minutes, catching a few blue gill. Then Andy hooked him! Old Salty put up a fight.
When Joey saw the struggle Andy was having, he pretended to help bring the big fish in. Andy resented this and resisted with all his might.
In the excitement, Shep thought Joey was fighting Andy. The dog made his move, knocking both boys to the ground. He stood guard over Joey.
In all the confusion, Old Salty swam away.
"Nau guck
(now look) what you made me do. You made me drop my pole. Now Old Salty is gone. I could have brought him in, but you had to mess things up.
 
Page 58
You wanted to make it look as if you caught him."
Even though he was now fourteen, Andy was almost in tears.
"Just get your dog away from me, and I promise I'll never bother you again at fishing or anything," Joey begged.
"I feel like making Shep pin you down all day. If you tell everyone that I really had Old Salty on the line, I'll make Shep let you go," Andy bargained.
"I will. Really, I will," Joey agreed.
That ended the fishing, but Joey was more determined than ever to keep his bet with his brother. In spite of Jake Maust's admonition, he now wished he
would
catch Old Salty. It would be worth Johnny's bet.
Indeed
,
it would!
thought Joey as he rubbed his leg where Shep had nipped him.
 
Page 59
11
Billy-Goat Surprise
One Sunday a year later, church services were to be held at the Lester Swartz home. Andy dreaded the teasing he often received after church dismissed.
The Amish serve a simple noon meal to those who care to stay. It is a good chance for fellowship and catching up on all the latest news.
Andy's parents generally stayed. They were well-liked and had many relatives attending.
Andy would have preferred to leave right after dismissal and spend time with the animals at home, especially if there were baby lambs, calves, chicks, or even piglets to pet and care for. He struggled with his temper, but he had a place in his heart for helpless and small thingsa special tender place.
He was planning to leave for home as quickly as possible after church and a quick bite to eat at the Swartz place. It was within easy walking distance of his home, so Andy decided he could leave anytime.
 
Page 60
Several boys his age had another idea.
"Hey, Andy," called Ezra Miller.
"Die Gees sin ausgebroche
(the goats have broken out). We need all the help we can get to herd them back to the barn. How about helping us?"
Andy was rather wary because these same boys played tricks on him at times. "No, I'm going home," he told them.
The fellows knew how to make him change his mind. "Ach,
daer ist zu fett zu schpringe
(this one is too fat to run)," mocked Noah Yutzy.
"He is afraid of
den Geesbock
(the billy goat)!" laughed Adam Chupp.
That was all it took. Andy's dander was up, and he took the challenge. "I'll show you I'm not afraid. Where are those goats?"
"Follow me," Noah said, leading the way.
Andy should have known by the smirks on their faces that they were up to no good. Instead, he thought,
You don
'
t accuse Andy Maust of being a sissy and get away with it
.
I
'
ll prove them wrong
.
Down by the creek the goats were contentedly nibbling grass. That was exactly where they were supposed to be, but Andy didn't know that.
"All right, boys, chase them over toward the creek," Ezra called out. "I'll show you a good trick."
Andy suspected something was up, but he didn't know what.
"If Billy attacks, run for the creek. I'll take care of him then," Ezra promised.
It wasn't long until the billy goat went for Noah.
"Kumm do riwwer
(come over here)!" yelled Ezra.
 
Page 61
Noah was a swift runner. He went straight for Ezra, and so did Billy.
''Schpring weck
(jump aside)," shouted Ezra, giving Noah a shove. The old goat was already charging as Noah hopped out of the way. Ezra threw himself on the ground, and Billy went over him, headfirst into Fish Rock Creek.
"Es is wild
(it's wild)!" exclaimed Adam.
How the boys laughed! Andy had to admit it looked funny. Yet he knew it was cruel, and he started for home.
"Wo gehst du
(where are you going)?" Ezra asked.
"Home," Andy replied. "I don't think those goats broke out. You just said that."
"Aw, come on. We're just having a little fun. Why don't you try it?"
"No. It's not fun for the goat. What did he ever do to you? I'm going home."
"Buwe
(boys)," Ezra declared, "Andy here is afraid of an old goat."
"Ya, you could say old Billy got his goat!" quipped Adam.
"Oh well,
der Maus ist zu fett
(the mouse is too fat). He couldn't outsmart old Billy," Noah mocked Andy to the other boys.
It was too much. Andy would show them.
Billy had come out of the water, but he was still shaking his head and stamping angrily.
"Yaagt ihn do riwwer
(chase him over here)," Andy told the boys.
"Oh, no," protested Ezra. "He's angry. If we try to chase him, he'll turn on us. You get his attention, and
 
Page 62
he'll come all right." The boys stood a safe distance away and waited.
Andy began to make loud noises and waved his arms. He soon had the goat's attention. As Billy came charging, Ezra yelled, "Turn your back, Andy, and hit the ground when I tell you to."
Andy turned his back to Billy, but Ezra never told him when to drop down. Billy hit his target, and Andy flew headfirst into the water.
"Hey, Andy," Ezra groaned, "I forgot to tell you to hit the ground. How did you like the billy-goat surprise?"
Andy knew by the way the boys were laughing that Ezra hadn't forgotten. It was all planned and set up to duck him in the creek.
A strong temptation seized Andy. He wanted to run every one of those boys down and thrash them good. Even though he was sopping wet, he felt hot with anger. Why did they always pick on him?
He made his way out of the creek and headed toward home. If he had a chance to meet those boys alone, one by one, he would even the score.
"Andy," said Jake that evening, "were you down by the creek after church today?"
"Ya, Dad."
"Did you tease Lester's billy goat?"
"Sort of."
"What do you mean, 'sort of'? Either you did or you didn't."
"The other boys made me do it, Dad."
"They can't make you do anything. I want the truth, Andy. What happened?"
 
Page 63
As Andy told the whole story, once more his anger welled up within.
"It would be best if you could ignore those fellows. Especially when they're up to mischief."
"How did you know I was at the creek?" asked Andy.
"We heard some of the boys talk about your billy goat surprise, as they put it. And Mom saw your wet clothes on the line when we came home. Andy, if you wouldn't let it bother you so when you are teased, I believe it would stop. They pick on you because they know you'll get angry."
Jake put his hand on Andy's shoulder. "Son, we'll pray for you to gain victory over anger. It won't be easy, but it's possible."
Andy felt ashamed. He needed to be alone, so he took a few apples and went to the barn. Eating and being with nature and animals had a soothing effect on Andy.
As he listened to the contented sounds around him, Andy reflected upon the day and his dad's words. Let the boys laugh about his billy-goat surprise. Someday he would surprise them all. Wait and see!
 
Page 64
12
Horseshoe Cave
It was a nippy Sunday afternoon. Autumn was fast drawing to a close. The Maust family had spent all day at home since it was not their church Sunday.
"Dad," Andy proposed after dinner, "I'd like to go to Horseshoe Cave before winter sets in."
"Ach, Andy, why don't you stay home and read the Bible a while? It's three miles to the cave. What do you want there?"
"Just to do something different. I might find some Indian arrowheads. Enos Byler's boys found real nice ones. Besides, I can easily walk there and back before chore time. I did read the Bible a while this morning."
"Can you remember what you read?" Lizzie quizzed him.
"Well, something about God."
"That takes in a lot, Andy," said Jake. "God is clear through the Bible. In fact, the Word is God. Look it upJohn, chapter 1, verse 1."
 
Page 65
"If we don't remember what we read, Andy, it doesn't do us much good," Lizzie told her son.
"Well, I can't read or understand the German too well, so sometimes I switch over to the English. Is that
letz
(wrong)?"
"No, it's not, but we must not forget our mother tongue. The
Deitsch
(Pennsylvania German) helps to hold us together. For generations our people have tried to preserve it and keep the plain Christian life. Some even gave their lives for it. They were burned at the stake, beheaded, thrown to the lions, and"
"Oh, now I remember," Andy interrupted. "I read the story of Daniel in the lions' den. That's what made me think of the cave. Now may I go?" He wondered how asking for hiking permission brought on such a conversation.
"What do you say, Mom?" Jake asked his wife.
She wished that he wouldn't leave the decision to her. "Ach,
ich weese net
(I don't know). Are you sure you'll be back by chore time?"
"Ya, Mom, I will."
"Take Shep along, then," his dad advised, "and don't go too far into the cave. Be sure the flashlight has new batteries."
"Ya, Dad," Andy agreed. Yet he was thinking,
They act like I
'
m a child
.
After all
,
I
'
ll be sixteen in a few months
.
Before leaving, Andy made sure he had some food to take along. He made a few sandwiches and took some meat scraps out for Shep. The dog wolfed them down, then stood looking inquiringly at his master.
"Come on, boy," Andy called. "You and I are going exploring."

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