Bubble Troubles (10 page)

Mark and Mattie were getting ready to go back inside when a car pulled in, and Grandpa and Grandma Troyer got out.

“Good, they’re here!” Mattie shouted. She tromped through the snow, and as soon as their grandparents got out of the vehicle, she gave them both a big hug. “I was getting worried and thought you’d never get here.”

Grandma patted Mattie’s shoulder, and she and Grandpa waved good-bye to their driver as he pulled out of the driveway. “We got a late start because our driver had an errand to run before he picked us up. But we’re here now, safe and sound.”

“What’s in there?” Mark asked, pointing to the cardboard box in Grandpa’s hands.

“Well, let’s see now … There’s Christmas presents, a few jars of cinnamon applesauce, and some of your grandma’s delicious fudge.” Grandpa smiled and winked at the twins. “And there might even be a few fritters for us to heat up later on.”

Mark smacked his lips. “Yum! Nobody makes corn fritters like Grandma Troyer.”

As they walked past the snowman, Grandpa stopped and asked if the twins had made it.

“We sure did,” Mark said with a nod.

“You did a fine job, but I think the snowman needs a little something else.” Grandpa removed the scarf from around his neck and draped it on the snowman. “There, how’s that look?”

“It completes the snowman,” Mark said, grinning up at Grandpa.

“I agree,” said Mattie. She took Grandma’s hand, and they all headed inside, where they were greeted by Mom, Dad, Ada, Perry, Calvin, Russell, and Ike.

“It’s so good to see you,” Mom said, giving her parents a hug.

“It’s nice to see you, and I’m sorry we’re so late,” Grandma said. “I hope we didn’t hold up supper tonight.”

Dad shook his head. “My folks aren’t here yet, so we’ll wait awhile before we start eating.”

Mom glanced at the clock above the fireplace. “They really should have been here by now.”

“You’re right,” Dad agreed. “I wonder what could be taking them so long. They don’t live that far away, and I figured they’d be here long before this.”

“Maybe you should go over to their house and see if something’s happened,” Mom suggested. There was a worried frown on her face. “They might have run into a problem and need help with something.”

Dad gave a nod. “That’s a good idea. I’ll hitch my horse to the buggy and go over there right now.” He looked at Ike, who’d been standing near the fireplace warming his hands because he’d just come in from the barn after feeding the horses. “I’d like you to go with me, son,” Dad said.

“Sure, okay. I’ll get my jacket and stocking cap, and we can be on our way.” Ike hurried out of the room, and Dad followed.

Mattie wished she could have gone, too. She was really worried now. What could be keeping Grandpa and Grandma Miller? Was there a problem with their horse or buggy? Did someone get sick? Oh, she hoped nothing had happened.

Since their other grandparents had just arrived, the rest of the family visited with Grandpa and Grandma Troyer and got caught up on what they’d been doing lately. Grandma said she’d been busy baking a lot of goodies for the holidays, and Grandpa said he’d been busy making several Christmas presents.

“Hey, we heard you got a new filling in your tooth,” Grandpa said to Mattie. “Can I take a peek in there?” he asked, leaning close to her face.

“I had a bad toothache, but the dentist put a filling in it.” Mattie opened her mouth so Grandpa could see. “It didn’t hurt much at all.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Grandpa said, peering at Mattie’s mouth.

“That’s because they numbed up her tooth,” Mark piped up.

“I guess we can be thankful that nothing more serious has gone on since the last we saw you,” Grandpa said, giving Mattie and Mark an extra hug. “Thankfully I haven’t had any more falls since that hose wrapped around my foot, either.”

“I’m happy to hear that,” Mark said.

Mattie nodded in agreement.

After they had visited awhile longer, Mom and Grandma excused themselves and headed for the kitchen to check on the meal and heat up the fritters they would also have with supper. Meanwhile, Grandpa listened to what Calvin and Russell had been up to lately.

Mattie excused herself and went upstairs to her room. Going to the window, she couldn’t believe how hard it was snowing. She loved having snow for Christmas but wished it hadn’t started snowing until everyone arrived safely.
I hope Dad and Ike will be okay
, she thought, pressing her nose to the glass.

Now Mattie was really worried. She not only feared for Grandma and Grandpa Miller but also for her dad and oldest brother.

Please, God, take care of Dad and Ike, as well as Grandpa and Grandma Miller
, she silently prayed.
And thank You for bringing Grandpa and Grandma Troyer safely here
.

Mattie hoped her prayers would make it all the way up through the snow to heaven. Closing her bedroom door, she went back downstairs to be with the family while she tried to leave her worries behind.

While they waited, Mark suggested they play a game with Ada and Perry. They’d just taken seats around the kitchen table to play Chutes and Ladders when Mattie heard sirens in the distance. She shivered.
Oh no. Could Grandpa and Grandma Miller have been in an accident?

“It’s your turn now, Mattie. Quit daydreaming and play the game.” Mark gave his sister’s arm a nudge.

“I’m not daydreaming,” Mattie said. “I was thinking about Grandma and Grandpa Miller.”

“I’ll bet you’re worrying again,” Mark said.

“I can’t help it. If Grandpa and Grandma Troyer made it all the way from Burton with so much snow comin’ down, then Grandpa and Grandma Miller should have been here hours ago.” Tears welled in Mattie’s eyes. “I just know something bad must have happened, especially since Dad and Ike aren’t back yet, either.”

“You don’t know that,” Grandma Troyer said, joining Mark and Mattie at the table where they sat with Ada and Perry. “Have you ever heard the old saying, ‘No news is good news’?”

Mattie shook her head.

“Well, until we know why your other grandparents aren’t here, there’s no reason to worry.” She gave Mattie’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It might be something really simple, you know.”

“Like what?” Mattie asked, looking up at Grandma, hoping to hear some comforting words.

“I’m not sure,” Grandma said. “Maybe they got busy doing chores and lost track of time.”

“That could be,” Mark spoke up. “I remember one time last summer when Grandpa Miller was supposed to pick me up to go fishing, he got busy workin’ on a crossword puzzle and wasn’t watching the clock. By the time he remembered and came to pick me up, it was time for me to do my evening chores.”

“Did you have to cancel the fishing trip?” Grandma asked.

Mark shook his head. “Nope. Grandpa helped me finish my chores, and then we went fishin’. Since it was summertime and didn’t get dark till late, we had plenty of time to fish before I had to go home and get ready for bed.”

Mattie’s face relaxed a bit. “Maybe that’s what happened today. Grandpa might have started working on another crossword puzzle.”

“You could be right,” Mark said. “Or maybe Grandma got busy working on one of her quilts.”

“You know, children, worry is sort of like a rocking chair,” Grandpa Troyer called from across the room, where he sat on the sofa with Perry and Ada on either side of him. “It gives you something to do but doesn’t take you anywhere.”

Mark and Mattie looked at each other and snickered. Sometimes Grandpa had an unusual way of saying things.

Just then, Mark heard the whinny of a horse. He jumped up and raced over to the window. Mattie did the same.

“They’re here!” she shouted, jumping up and down when she saw Grandma and Grandpa Miller climb out of Dad’s buggy.

The whole family rushed to the door and greeted them as soon as they stepped inside.

“Are you both okay?”

“Where have you been?”

“How come you’re so late?”

Everyone spoke at once, bombarding Grandma and Grandpa with questions, until Grandpa Miller held up his hand and said, “One question at a time, please.”

“Are you all right?” Mom asked.

Grandpa nodded and gave Grandma a sly little grin. “We both sat down to read a book this afternoon and ended up falling asleep.”

“I guess we were more tired than we realized,” Grandma Miller said. “We’re glad our son came to get us, because if he hadn’t, we might have slept right through the night.” Her forehead wrinkled. “We’d have been very disappointed if we’d awakened in the morning and realized we’d missed spending Christmas Eve with our family.”

“You’re here now, and that’s all that matters,” Mom said, giving Grandma a hug.

Mark put his arm across Mattie’s shoulders. “See, you were worried for nothing.”

Mattie nodded. She was glad all four of their grandparents were here. Now, without worry, she was ready to celebrate Christmas.

The following morning after breakfast, everyone was ready to open their Christmas presents. Grandma and Grandpa Troyer had spent the night, and so had Grandma and Grandpa Miller. Now everyone was gathered in the living room to exchange gifts.

Mark was pleased when Mom and Dad gave him a fluorescent vest to wear whenever he rode his bike or had to walk along the side of the road. Mattie got one, too, and so did Calvin and Russell.

“It will make you more visible to drivers and keep you safe when you’re walking near the road,” Dad said.

“What does
visible
mean?” Mattie asked.

“Noticeable,” Mark was quick to say. “That way cars can see us better.”

All the children received some kind of toy or game from their grandparents, and Mark was especially pleased with the puzzle that had pictures of cats, which he’d received from Grandpa and Grandma Miller. It was supposed to glow in the dark after it was put together, and he could hardly wait to see that.

Mattie got a small loom for making pot holders, and they both received a new pair of gloves Grandma Troyer had knitted with soft but warm yarn. Mattie’s gloves were blue and Mark’s were brown. Those would definitely keep their hands from getting cold during the winter months. And even though the twins already owned a pair of gloves, it was always good to have a spare. Besides, the ones Grandma had made them were much nicer than their store-bought gloves.

The whole household was alive with energy, and everyone smiled when Ada and Perry opened up the stick horses Mom had made for them, using old broom handles and dark material from a pair of Dad’s old trousers. She’d also used some yellow yarn for the horses’ manes and felt cutouts for their eyes. A rope halter had been sewed at the end of each of the horses’ heads so the children would have reins to hold on to while they pretended to ride their horses.

Ike surprised Mark with a ceramic plate, normally used to put under a flowerpot to keep the water from seeping out. This plate was green, and Ike told Mark he thought it would make a good pool to put near the frog house in Mattie’s small garden. Mark couldn’t agree more. Come springtime, his frog would have its very own pond.

Ike had also given Mom and both grandmas a box of chocolates, so Mark was glad he’d made them each some wind chimes instead.

Everyone seemed to like what Mark and Mattie had given them, too, and Mom said she was amazed at how creative each of the twins’ gifts had been. “You both put a lot of time and effort into these gifts you made for each of us,” she said, giving Mark and Mattie a tender squeeze.

“Jah,” Grandma Troyer agreed, wiping a tear from her cheek. “We’ll certainly treasure what we received from everyone today.”

Now it was time for the twins to exchange gifts with each other, while the rest of the family looked on.

“Here ya go.” Mark handed Mattie her present.

“And here you go,” she said, giving Mark the gift she’d made for him.

Mark was surprised when he pulled out a garden plaque made from plaster of paris with rocks of various sizes and some colorful marbles stuck around the outer edges. “That’s exactly what I made for you,” he said, pointing at Mattie’s gift as she removed it from the paper sack.

She giggled. “I guess we were thinking alike on these two gifts.”

“Great minds think alike,” Dad said with a smile.

Mark turned to Mattie and said, “Maybe we can put our plaques in your little garden near the frog pool. We can either lay them in the dirt or prop them up with a large rock behind ’em.”

Mattie smiled. “That’s a good idea, Mark.”

“Why don’t we sing a few Christmas carols now?” Grandma Miller suggested. “Christmas wouldn’t be the same without carols.”

Everyone nodded at that.

The first song the family sang was “Joy to the World.” Mark smiled to himself, thinking about the joy of Jesus’ birth. When the baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem all those years ago, He was God’s gift to everyone in the world.