Andy (8 page)

Read Andy Online

Authors: Mary Christner Borntrager

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

BOOK: Andy
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Page 66
The dog had no idea what exploring meant but willingly followed.
Before he reached the cave, Andy ate two sandwiches. He told himself that all this walking made him hungry again, and because he was so big, it took more to fill him.
The road he took was lightly traveled, and one Model-T was all the traffic he encountered. The driver of the car tooted his horn, and Andy waved back. Everybody was friendly in this farming area.
He did not recognize this man, but no matter. Anyone who showed kindness to him was considered a friend.
After an hour, Andy was glad to see the opening of Horseshoe Cave just ahead.
"Sure is dark in here, Shep," Andy remarked, stepping inside the entrance. "I'm not afraid, though. Lester's boys claim there are
Schpucke
(spooks) in here, but I don't believe them. Besides, Dad says there are no such things as
Schpucke
."
Slowly the boy and the dog descended farther into the cave. Sometimes Andy had to crawl to get through low openings.
"Hey, you know what, Shep? It seems to be getting lighter in here."
Andy's eyes were getting used to the change from the outside. Along the way, Shep was sniffing at any rocks or little rivulets and enjoying the adventure.
Andy spotted something shiny. He shone his flashlight on the biggest arrowhead he had ever seen.
"Look at this, Shep. Ain't it fine? Boy, wait till I show this to those Swartz boys. Ya, and to Ezra, Adam, and
 
Page 67
Noah.
No sie sei net so schmaert
(then they won't be so smart)."
He stuffed the arrowhead into his pocket and started to go deeper into the cave. Just then Shep made a low growl.
"Was is letz
(what's wrong)? What is it, boy?"
The dog's ears perked up. Andy knew he heard something or someone, but it was too far away to make out what it was.
There was a passageway off to Andy's left. He stepped into it and crouched behind a large boulder. Now he heard it, too. It sounded like a faint echo.
"Down, Shep," Andy whispered, pulling the dog close to him. He patted Shep gently and listened. Someone else was in the cave.
Andy and his dog waited. The voices came closer. Shep quivered, but Andy kept him under control.
Johnny Swartz, Adam Chupp, and Ezra Miller came around the corner of the main cave track. Andy glimpsed them and ducked down so they wouldn't see him. He recognized their voices.
Andy was just about ready to make his presence known when Ezra said, "Nah,
ich glaawe
'
s net
(I don't believe it). Fat Andy Maust hooked Old Salty? Why, a lot of us boys have been trying to catch him all summer."
"My brother Joey was with him, and he claims the fat mouse would have brought him in if he hadn't interfered. I'm glad he didn't catch him, though, because Joey and I have this bet going. If I catch him, Joey has to give me his bicycle. But if he gets him. . . . ."
Andy listened intently.
 
Page 68
"Ya?" asked Ezra.
"Well," Johnny stated, "I promised to kill that Shep dog that runs with Andy. None of us like him, and we decided. . . ."
Andy had heard enough! As soon as the boys were out of earshot, he took Shep, made his way to the cave mouth, and hiked home.
It was turning colder, and Andy hurried. He went over in his mind how he would report to his dad about the Swartz boys' evil plan to kill Shep.
During chore time, Andy had his chance to tell his dad about his afternoon of exploring and eavesdropping.
"Ach," said Jake, "those boys are all talk. Johnny wouldn't do such a cruel thing."
Andy wasn't so sure!
 
Page 69
13
Snow Boots
At last Andy turned sixteen. Jake had bought a nice horse and a used buggy for him. The buggy wasn't the best nor the horse the fastest, but Andy didn't care. Now he could leave church right after services were over. That would take care of a lot of the abuse from other boys.
He would be happy to go home and spend time with the farm animals. Andy also enjoyed being outdoors. Many people missed beauty in nature which did not escape his eyes. In fact, his sister Esther found the following poem in his pocket as she prepared to do the laundry.
GOD'S PASSING BY
Soft blows the wind 
     and stirs in the treetops. 
Gently the stream 
     flows murmuring by.
 
Page 70
Grass sparkles crystal 
     with morning's fresh dewdrops. 
Be silent and listen 
     for God's passing by.
Yes, he saw God in nature. Some people would consider Andy a sissy for writing such things, but his family thought it was nice.
He remembered the first-place poem for which the teacher gave him the Barlow pocket knife. The title was "Winged Flight."
Although the idea for the poem had come to him several years ago, Andy remembered it well. One night a large harvest moon was riding in the sky, and the weather had turned cold. On his way from the barn to the house, he heard and saw a flock of Canada geese. It inspired Andy to write the following:
                    WINGED FLIGHT
Wild geese are winging, their way they are winging, 
   Far to the south where warm breezes blow. 
A message they bring, to me they are bringing, 
   "Summer is over. We sense traces of snow." 
"Hurry," they call, to each other, there's calling, 
   Honking their way through the darkening sky, 
"Hurry, oh, hurry, ere snowflakes start falling," 
   Shadow silhouettes 'gainst the moon as they fly.
Fly then my friends, fly in V-shape formation 
   Out of my sight till I see you no more. 
But one, yes, the One who made all creation 
   Will bid you return when winter is o'er. 
So I'll dream, yes, I'll dream by my warm blazing fire,

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