Bubble Troubles (14 page)

“We were worried about you two,” Mom said, looking at Mark and Mattie from across the supper table that evening.

“That’s right,” Dad said with a nod. “When you didn’t come home right away after school, we thought at first that the teacher might have kept you there because of the storm.”

“But Anna Ruth didn’t keep Russell and me,” Calvin said, reaching for the salt and adding some to the green beans on his plate. “So we told Dad that we didn’t think she’d kept you two, either.”

“How long were you looking for us?” Mark questioned.

“We didn’t start right away,” Dad explained. “We waited awhile, hoping you’d show up, but when it started getting dark, and you still weren’t home, we became concerned.” He took a drink of water. “So I hitched my horse to the buggy, and Ike and I headed straight for the schoolhouse.”

“That’s right,” Ike agreed. “But when we got there and saw that everyone, including Anna Ruth, was gone, we really got worried.”

Mark looked over at Mattie and said, “I guess even grown-ups and teenagers worry sometimes.”

“That’s true,” Mom put in, “but I try not to worry about every little thing.” Her forehead wrinkled. “However, something like missing children is enough to make any parent worry.”

“How’d you know to look for us in that old barn?” Mattie asked. “Did you see our footsteps in the snow and follow them there?”

Dad shook his head. “The snow was too deep to see any footsteps. However, when we found one of Mattie’s gloves stuck to a bush near the barn, we had a hunch you two may have taken shelter inside.”

“Remember, Mattie? I gave you the missing glove that we found, and you said how cold your one hand was,” Ike reminded her.

“Oh, that’s right. Maybe there was a reason I lost that glove. Maybe it was to help you find us.”

“You both made the right choice by going in the barn and taking shelter from the storm,” Mom added.

“That’s what we did, all right,” Mark said. “We thought we could wait there till the snow let up, but it got worse, not better.
Mir hen bang ghat
.”

“That’s right,” Mattie agreed. “We were afraid.”

“When we tried to push open the barn door, it was stuck.” Mattie wiped her mouth on a napkin. “I was really scared at first, but then we prayed and that made me feel a little better.”

“It’s always good to pray when we’re in a difficult situation,” Mom said. “When your daed and Ike were out looking for you, I was here praying, too.”

“God answered our prayers, and I’m glad we’re home where it’s warm and we can eat. Sure wouldn’t have wanted to miss supper.” Mark’s stomach growled, and everyone laughed. He didn’t care; he was just happy to be safe and at home with his family.

It was the perfect evening to go ice-skating, and Mark was really excited. After the heavy snowfall they’d had earlier in the week, the skies had cleared, and today had been bright with sunshine. Now, after the western horizon had glowed orange and pink, a few stars became visible as the night sky began to turn black. Someone had brought several torches, which they’d stuck in the snow around the pond. That helped to light things up well enough so they could all see. Some of the kids also had flashlights and battery-operated lanterns.

As Mark sat on a tree stump and laced up his skates, he watched some of the other boys already gliding on the ice. There was still a light covering of snow on top of the ice, but he could see where most of it had been shoveled off to one side.

“What do you think of this pond?” Ike asked as he stood and waited for Mark to finish with his skates.

“It’s a lot bigger than I expected.” Mark was really impressed, especially since the ponds around their home were so much smaller.

“I don’t get to come up here very often, but whenever my friend Wayne invites me, I try not to pass up the opportunity,” Ike said. “Wayne said this is a popular ice-skating spot, and from the looks of all the kids that are here, I think he’s right about that.”

Mark smiled up at Ike, feeling pleased that they could do something fun together. Since Ike had started courting his girlfriend, Catherine, several months ago, Mark didn’t get to spend much time with his big brother. “I’m glad you invited me to come along. Mom and Dad said if I got all my chores done today, I could go, so I hurried up and got ’em finished right away.”

“Let’s do some skating now,” Ike said as he stepped onto the frozen pond. “Our driver said he’d be back for us in two or three hours, so we don’t want to waste any time.”

Mark joined his brother and the others. Around and around the pond they went. This was great! Even with the other boys and girls skating on the pond, there was still plenty of room, and nobody seemed to get in anyone’s way.

“I’ll bet this
deich
is bigger than a skating rink,” Mark called to Ike as they chased each other around.

“You could be right about that,” Ike said with a wink. “It’s a very large pond.”

Mark noticed there weren’t many houses nearby, so he didn’t know who owned the pond. He also saw that at one end of the pond there was a huge stack of firewood, where smoke billowed slowly up as one of the boys lit a bonfire.

Mark was having fun making figure eights. It had taken a lot of practice, but last year he’d taught himself to skate backward, too. Tonight, as he glided back and forth across the ice, he was glad he hadn’t forgotten how to skate backward or make figure eights.

“I hope Mark and Ike will be safe on the ice this evening,” Mattie said as she and Mom did the supper dishes. “I’m worried about them.”

“Try not to worry so much,” Mom said, sloshing her sponge over one of the plates. “Ike has skated on that pond before, and I’m sure he will watch out for thin ice and make sure he and Mark don’t skate anyplace where it might be dangerous.”

“How come Russell and Calvin didn’t go skating with them?” Mattie asked as she reached for a clean dish to dry.

“I believe Ike invited them, but they said it was too cold, and that they’d rather stay home and work on a puzzle they had started the other day.” Mom drained the water from the sink. “That’s the last of the dishes now. As soon as you’ve finished drying them, you can do whatever you like.”

“Maybe I’ll go up to my room and make a few bookmarks with some of my dried flowers,” Mattie said.

Mom smiled. “That’s a good idea. It’ll keep your mind and hands busy, so you won’t have time to worry about Mark and Ike. Oh, and you should say a prayer for them, too,” she added.

After about an hour of skating with Mark, Ike joined some of the older boys who were getting a game of “crack the whip” started. All the players got in a line, each holding hands with the person in front of them, as well as the person in back. As they skated together, the person at the front of the line suddenly veered off in another direction, making everyone else whip quickly around. It looked like a fun game—especially for those at the tail end of the chain. They were lucky if they could hang on.

As Mark skated toward the other end of the pond, away from those playing the game, he thought he heard a noise.
What was that?
he wondered as he stopped to listen. But all he could hear was the laughter of the boys, who were obviously having a good time. Mark figured it was just his imagination. For some reason, though, Mattie’s warning to be careful tonight kept creeping into his brain.

Mark paused a minute and heard the noise again. This time the sound was very distinctive, and he knew right away what it was.
Click! Click! Snap! Crackle!

Skating quickly over to the group playing the game, Mark motioned to Ike.

“You should come join us!” Ike called. “Being whipped around is a lot of fun, especially if you’re the one at the very end.”

Mark shook his head and skated closer to his brother, being careful to watch for any areas of thin ice. “Did anyone check this deich to make sure it’s safe?” he asked. “I don’t see any houses real close, and I wonder if anyone owns the pond.”

Just then, Ike’s friend Wayne skated up to them. “Come on, Ike. You’re holding up the game. What are ya doin’ anyways?”

“I was asking my bruder if someone checks this pond to make sure it’s safe for people to skate on,” Mark said before Ike could answer his friend. He pointed to the left. “I was skatin’ over there and heard some cracking sounds. I think we should get off the ice before someone falls through.”

“You fellows aren’t scared, are ya?” one of the other boys, whose name was Melvin, asked, joining the threesome.

Mark put his hands on his hips and stared up at the boy. “I just wanna make sure the deich is safe for all of us to be on.”

“It’s perfectly safe, and I think you’re a chicken.” Melvin squinted his pale blue eyes as he looked at Ike. “Maybe you should have left your little bruder at home this evening. We don’t want him scaring everyone and makin’ them leave the pond because he thought heard a noise.”

“Chicken or not, I agree with my brother,” Ike stated, placing his hands on his hips. “Come on, Mark. Let’s get off the ice and go check on the fire to see if it’s ready for some roasting.”

Wayne joined Mark and Ike as they made their way over to the bonfire. Shortly after, a few more boys did the same, mumbling that they were hungry. Melvin, along with some of his friends, didn’t seem to care about eating, and they started a game of hockey.

“I’m really not a chicken,” Mark said, “but when I heard the ice crackin’, it made me naerfich.”

Ike squeezed Mark’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I understand. Besides, it’s definitely time for us to get something to eat.”

Another boy, whom Mark had never met before, joined the conversation as Mark and Ike started to remove their skates. “Don’t worry,” he said while putting a hot dog on the end of a stick. “I heard the cracking noise, too, but you spoke up before I got the chance.”

Mark felt better hearing that. There were several more boys around the bonfire now, too.

As they all stood closer to the flames, letting its warmth take away the chill, Mark couldn’t help glancing toward the pond where those other boys still skated. A shiver went through him as the night air suddenly felt colder. Was it because he had stopped skating and wasn’t as warm, or was it something else that made him tremble?

“I’m hungerich.” Ike smacked his lips and grabbed a hot dog. “It’s more comfortable here by the fire than it is out there on the ice—especially now that I’m cooling off. I worked up a good sweat when we were playing crack the whip, but I think I worked up an even better appetite.”

“But what about the cracking ice I heard?” Mark asked.

“Well, if there is any thin ice, then it’s safer for us here,” Ike said.

Mark nodded, and then relaxing a little, he held his hot dog over the coals, eagerly waiting for it to get done so he could eat. “Danki for inviting me along tonight, Ike. I’ve had a great time.”

Ike grinned and gave Mark’s shoulder a tap. “I’m glad, little brother. It’s been fun to be with you.”

After the hot dogs were roasted, they all made their way to an old log that was now being used for a seat. The hot dogs, chips, and pretzels were hurriedly eaten, and most of the boys had hot chocolate, too. Mark thought food always tasted better when it was eaten outside—especially after some vigorous exercise like ice-skating.

“Think I’m ready to roast some marshmallows now,” Wayne said, rising from his seat.

“We’ll join you in a few minutes,” Ike replied, eating the last of his chips.

Then, all of a sudden, at the far end of the pond, someone yelled, “Help! The ice broke! Help! Help!”

Mark looked at Ike, and Ike looked at Mark. Then everyone who’d been sitting on the log ran quickly around the edge of the pond toward the pleas for help. When they reached the other side, a few of the boys stood pointing at a spot not far from the end of the pond. There, hanging on to the edge of the broken ice, was Melvin, who had previously made fun of Mark. The bottom half of his body was submerged in the frigid, numbing water. “Help me,” said the whimpering boy, who’d earlier seemed so sure of himself.

While everyone stood with their mouths hanging open, Ike looked around. Not far from them were some hockey sticks, and he quickly grabbed hold of one. “Hang on!” Ike called to the struggling boy. “We’ll get you out!”