Growing Up in Lancaster County (23 page)

“At least someone still likes me,” Rachel mumbled as she moved away from the window and sat on the floor. “I used to feel like part of the family until Hannah came. Now, unless someone needs me for something, I’m ignored. I bet they love Hannah more than they do me. I bet they wouldn’t even know if I was gone.”

Tears streamed down Rachel’s face, and her nose started to run. “I’m only good for work, work, work. I should run away from home!” She choked on a sob. “If I went away and never came back, that would show them!”
Sniff! Sniff!
“But where would I go? If I went over to Grandma Yoder’s or Aunt Karen’s, they’d send me right home. I can’t go to Audra’s house because she’s in Florida.”

She turned away from the window. “Orlie’s folks wouldn’t let me stay there either, but I could walk over to Orlie’s and show him my new skateboard. I shouldn’t have to stay in this hot, stuffy house and do nothing but work!”

Rachel put the drawer back in the dresser, slipped on her sneakers, put on her kapp, and hurried from the room.

When she got downstairs, she cleaned her glasses at the kitchen sink and dried them with a clean dish towel. She figured she would be back from Orlie’s before Mom got home, but just in case, she wrote a note saying where she’d gone and left it on the table. Then she went to the barn, got her skateboard, and headed toward Orlie’s house.

As Rachel walked along, she was tempted to ride her skateboard, but then she remembered that Mom had warned her not to ride it near the road. So she carried the skateboard under one arm and walked in the tall grass near the shoulder of the road.

As Rachel trudged along, she thought about last summer, and how she and her family had gone on a picnic the day school let out. They’d had so much fun—until she’d fallen into the pond and had gotten her clothes wet and muddy. They’d also had several barbecues last summer, eaten a few meals at restaurants, played in the creek, gone to the farmers’ market, and made several batches of delicious homemade ice cream.

This summer it seemed that Rachel had done nothing but work. Even being in Grandpa’s greenhouse involved work, although she did enjoy that more than any other work. Rachel wondered if she would have any real fun before it was time to return to school.

She kicked a stone with her sneaker and grunted. It would be hard to go back to school and listen to the other scholars tell about the family trips and the other fun things they’d done. All Rachel would have to talk about was her new baby sister and how she was expected to do more work now that Hannah lived with them.

Beep! Beep!

Rachel whirled around as a blue convertible pulled onto the shoulder of the road. She recognized the blond-haired English girl in the passenger’s seat. It was Sherry. A teenage boy sat in the driver’s seat, but Rachel had never met him.

“Hi, Rachel,” Sherry called. “Where are you going with that neat-looking skateboard?”

“I’m heading to my friend Orlie’s house to show him what my sister gave me for my birthday,” Rachel replied.

“It looks nice,” Sherry said. “Have you tried it out yet?”

Rachel shook her head. “Where are you going? Are you headed to the farmers’ market?”

“Nope. We’re on our way to Hershey Park,” the boy said.

Rachel felt envious. “I’ve always wanted to visit Hershey Park,” she said, staring at the ground.

“Would your folks let you go with us?” Sherry asked. “We could drive you home so you could ask.”

Rachel looked up.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Her heart hammered in her chest like a woodpecker tapping on the trunk of a tree. She would really like to spend the day at Hershey Park, and she’d give almost anything to take a ride in a convertible.

She moistened her lips with her tongue as she thought. “My mom’s not at home right now, and my dad and brothers are in the fields, so there’s really no one to ask.”

Rachel thought about Grandpa. She knew he was working in his greenhouse. She also knew she should ask him before she went anywhere with Sherry and Dave. But since she’d left a note on the table saying she was going to Orlie’s, she didn’t think her family would worry if they came into the house and found her gone. Besides, she probably wouldn’t even be missed—unless someone wanted a chore done.

Rachel smiled at Sherry. “I’d be happy to go to Hershey Park with you.”

“Great!” Sherry motioned to the teenage boy beside her. “This is my brother, Dave. He’s almost eighteen, and he’s a really good driver.”

Rachel smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Same here.” Dave pointed to the back seat. “Climb in and buckle up. Then we’ll be on our way!”

Rachel climbed in, put her skateboard on the floor, buckled her seat belt, and removed her glasses so they wouldn’t fall off during the ride, which she was sure would be fast and exciting. She could hardly believe the very thing she’d dreamed about for such a long time was coming true. Not only was she going to Hershey Park, but she was about to take a ride in a shiny blue convertible!

Dave pulled the car onto the road and turned on the radio.

Rachel gasped as a gust of wind hit her in the face. It seemed like they were going awfully fast—much faster than their horse and buggy could go! Much faster than she imagined a convertible would go either.

The ties on Rachel’s kapp whipped around her face, and suddenly—
whoosh!
—the kapp lifted right off her head and sailed away with the wind. “Stop! My kapp blew off!” Rachel shouted.

Dave kept driving. Between the noise of the wind and the blaring radio, she knew he probably hadn’t heard what she’d said.

Rachel tapped him on the shoulder.

“What do you want?”

“My kapp blew off. We need to stop so I can get it!”

Dave shook his head. “There’s no way I’m stopping for your kapp. Besides, some car’s probably run over it by now.”

Rachel swallowed hard. When she returned home without her kapp, how would she explain things to Mom? She knew she’d be in trouble if she said she’d taken a ride in Dave’s car without anyone’s permission, but she also knew it was wrong to lie. If she got home before Mom, maybe she wouldn’t have to say anything about where she’d been. But what reason would she give for not wearing her kapp?

I’ll deal with it later, Rachel decided
.

“I’m sorry about your kapp,” Sherry called over her shoulder. “Do you have another one at home?”

“I do, but—” Rachel’s voice was drowned out when Dave turned up the radio. She leaned back in her seat, realizing she could do nothing about her kapp.
I may as well relax and enjoy the ride
, she decided.

As they approached the freeway, the car sped up. Rachel thought it was exciting to go so fast, but it was also frightening. She wasn’t used to traveling this fast. And that loud music put her nerves on edge. It was worse than Hannah’s crying!

By the time they pulled into the parking lot at Hershey Park, Rachel felt so jittery she couldn’t catch her breath. She slipped her glasses on and looked around. Cars and people were everywhere!

“We’ll ride the tram to the park,” Dave said. “It’ll be quicker than walking.”

Rachel’s heart beat faster as they sat near the back of the tram. She had finally ridden in a convertible, and soon she’d go on some exciting rides inside Hershey Park. What a fun day this was turning out to be!

The man driving the tram explained that Hershey Park opened in 1907 as a place for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Factory to picnic and have fun. He said it offered sixty attractions, including ten different roller coasters.

As they approached the park, their driver pointed to a large building. “That’s Hershey’s Chocolate World,” he said. “You can take a free ride inside the building that will show you how candy is made, and you’ll learn a lot of interesting information about the cocoa beans harvested in the jungles of Brazil.”

Dave grinned at Rachel. “If we have time, we might take a tour of Chocolate World, but I think we’ll probably stay busy going on all the rides inside Hershey Park. Besides, we can buy candy at the concession stands in the park.”

The mention of candy made Rachel’s mouth water.

When the tram stopped in front of the main gate, Rachel, Sherry, and Dave stepped out. “Now we need to purchase tickets.” Dave looked at Rachel. “I hope you brought plenty of money along, because there’s lots of good food in the park, not to mention all the souvenirs.”

Rachel’s mouth felt so dry she could barely swallow. She hadn’t even thought about needing money. Tears welled in her eyes. It didn’t look like she’d visit Hershey Park after all. It looked like she’d stay right here while Dave and Sherry had all the fun.

W
hat’s wrong? You look like you’re gonna cry.” Sherry touched Rachel’s arm. “I thought you’d be happy to be at Hershey Park.”

“I—I didn’t bring my purse, so I have no money.” Rachel choked back tears. “I guess I won’t be able to see Hershey Park after all.”

“It’s okay,” Sherry said. “Dave has plenty of money. I’m sure he’ll pay for all of us.”

“Oh, no, that wouldn’t be right. I couldn’t accept—” “It’s no big deal,” Dave said. “I’ll be glad to pay your way in.” He winked at Rachel. “And when you get hungry, I’ll even buy you some lunch.” Rachel smiled. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.”

When they entered the park, Rachel couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d never seen so many people in one place—not even at the farmers’ market!

Rachel’s stomach rumbled as they passed a stand selling hot dogs, and her mouth watered when she spotted a young girl eating pink cotton candy. Her nose twitched as they approached stands selling hamburgers, french fries, peanuts, and popcorn. All the delicious smells made her feel hungry.

As they walked on, colorful balloons caught Rachel’s attention. Then she saw stuffed animals in all sizes, wild looking hats, and shiny trinkets being given as prizes for games won on the midway.

“Never mind those things,” Dave said, leading the way toward the rides. “We’ve got more important things to do.”

Rachel heard laughter and shrill screams coming from the whirly-looking ride ahead. Being at Hershey Park was better than anything she could have imagined!

“Let’s go on some rides before we eat.” Sherry tugged on Rachel’s arm. “If we eat first, we might get sick when we ride all those wild roller coasters.”

Wild roller coasters? Rachel’s stomach flip-flopped. If riding a roller coaster might make her sick, she wasn’t sure she wanted to ride one.

“Maybe we should go on that!” Rachel pointed to a ride called the Lady Bug.

“No way!” Sherry wrinkled her nose. “That’s a baby ride, Rachel.”

“How about the Bizzy Bees or Frog Hopper?” Rachel pointed to one ride and then the other.

“You’ve got to be kidding!” Dave snorted. “We didn’t come here to go on kiddy rides!”

Rachel motioned to the carousel. “Can we go on that?”

“I guess so,” Sherry said with a nod. “I always enjoy riding the carousel.”

“Not me!” Dave shook his head. “I’m getting in line for the Sooper Dooper Looper roller coaster ride!”

“You go ahead,” Sherry said. “Rachel and I will ride the carousel, and then we might ride on the Dry Gulch Railroad. After that we’ll meet you in front of the Ferris wheel.”

Dave shrugged. “Sounds good to me. See you soon.”

Rachel’s excitement mounted as she stepped onto the carousel. She climbed on a shiny black horse and took the reins in her hands.

Sherry climbed onto a brown and white horse beside Rachel.

The music started, and the carousel went round and round—slowly at first—then faster. Rachel giggled as her horse moved up and down in time to the music. “This is so much fun!” she shouted.

Sherry nodded. “Just wait until we go on the Ferris wheel!”

Rachel couldn’t imagine that the Ferris wheel could be any better than this, but she was eager to try it.

When the carousel ride was over, the girls rode the train, modeled after an old steam-powered railroad. Rachel had never been on a train before, but she knew some Amish people who had ridden across the country by train.

“Are you still having fun?” Sherry asked when they stepped off the train.

Rachel nodded. “Oh yes! This is exciting!”

“I hope you don’t get in trouble when you get home,” Sherry said.

Rachel gulped. She wished Sherry hadn’t brought that up.
If Mom gets home before I do and reads my note, she’ll think I went to Orlie’s house. Maybe I won’t have to tell her I went to Hershey Park
.

Sherry nudged Rachel’s arm. “Did you hear what I said?”

Rachel nodded. “I’m having too much fun to worry about what will happen when I get home. I don’t want anything to ruin this exciting day.”

“All right then, let’s get over to the Ferris wheel and meet Dave!”

Rachel followed Sherry. Her excitement mounted with each step. She wondered if riding the Ferris wheel would be anything like swinging on one of the swings in the school yard.

Dave was there waiting when Rachel and Sherry arrived at the Ferris wheel. “How was the roller coaster?” Sherry asked.

Dave grinned, and his eyes sparkled. “It was awesome!”