Growing Up in Lancaster County (39 page)

Rachel’s face grew hot. “Well, I—”

“I brought some cards that the scholars made for Jacob.” Elizabeth reached into her buggy and pulled out a paper sack. “If he’s feeling up to company I’d like to come inside and give them to him.”

Mom gave Elizabeth a peculiar look over the top of her glasses, but then she shrugged and said, “Jah, sure. You’re welcome to come inside.”

Elizabeth handed the sack of cards to Rachel, and then she tied her horse to the hitching rail.

Rachel wished she could take the sack out to the fire pit and burn it, but she knew she’d be in trouble for that. There was no getting around it: Mom was about to find out that Rachel had been eavesdropping and gossiping again. That didn’t bother her nearly as much as knowing that Jacob’s health was getting worse every day, and that he might not be with them much longer.

With a heavy heart, Rachel followed Mom and Elizabeth into the house. When they entered the kitchen, Elizabeth placed the paper sack on the table in front of Jacob, put one hand on his shoulder, and said, “I have a surprise for you, Jacob. The scholars made you these get-well cards.” Tears welled in her eyes. “We’re all very sorry to hear how sick you are.”

Jacob’s eyebrows shot up. “Huh?”

“Rachel told us about it. She said you weren’t in school today because you’d gone to the doctor’s.”

Jacob opened the sack and pulled out one of the cards. There was a picture of a big, shaggy red dog on the front. The inside of the card read:

Jacob scratched the side of his head and gave Mom a questioning look. “Am I sick and don’t know it?”

Mom shook her head. “Ach no, Jacob! I don’t know why the scholars think you’re sick, unless—” She looked over at Rachel and frowned. “Did you make up some story about Jacob being gone from school today because he’s sick?”

Rachel shifted from one leg to the other. “I—uh—didn’t make up the story. I—I was just repeating what I heard you say to Aunt Karen the other day.”

Deep wrinkles formed in Mom’s forehead as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. “What exactly did you hear me say to her?”

“You said Jacob was very sick and that he might not make it.”

“That’s what Rachel told me at school today,” Elizabeth said.

Mom gasped.

Jacob groaned and dropped his head to the table.

“Karen and I weren’t talking about
our
Jacob,” Mom said. “We were talking about my cousin, whose name is also Jacob. Cousin Jacob lives in Kentucky, and he’s very sick.” She pushed her glasses onto the bridge of her nose and squinted at Rachel. “For your information, Jacob went to see the dentist today, not the doctor.”

Jacob lifted his head from the table.

Rachel covered her mouth with her hand. She was sorry to hear about Mom’s cousin but relieved to know that Jacob wasn’t sick.

Mom shook her finger at Rachel. “See the trouble you’ve caused by eavesdropping and then running off to school and gossiping about what you
thought
you’d heard? That’s how misunderstandings get started, you know.”

Rachel stared at the floor as she slowly nodded. “I–I’m sorry. It was just a big mistake.”

“You should have asked me about what you’d heard instead of jumping to conclusions,” Mom said.

Tears coursed down Rachel’s cheeks. “I know that, and I promise I’ll never do it again.”

Rachel leaned over and hugged Jacob. “I’m glad you’re not sick.”
Sniff! Sniff!
“I hope you’ll stick around for a very long time.”

He nodded and grinned. “I’ve gotta stick around, or else who would be here to tease you, little bensel?”

Rachel poked Jacob’s arm. “I’m happy you’re sticking around, but if you’re going to keep teasing me, then I think you should know that I’ll tease you right back.”

Jacob took a drink of milk and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “That’s not such a big surprise, but I can deal with it.”

Rachel took a seat at the table and pushed the paper sack closer to Jacob. “You may as well look at the rest of your get-well cards, don’t you think?”

Jacob nodded and rubbed the side of his face. “I may not be sick, but my mouth’s kind of sore from being open so long at the dentist’s. Maybe the get-well cards will make me feel better.”

Mom handed Rachel a glass of milk, and Rachel took a big drink. From now on she would never intentionally listen in on anyone’s conversation. If she accidentally heard someone say something she didn’t understand, she would ask questions, not jump to conclusions!

Recipe for Rachel’s
Homemade Bubble Solution

¼ cup liquid dishwashing detergent

¾ cup cold water

5 drops of glycerin (available at most pharmacies)

A few drops of food coloring (if you want colorful bubbles)

Measure out the detergent, water, and glycerin into a container with a cover and stir gently. Note: The longer you let the mixture set, the larger the bubbles will be and the longer they seem to last.

H
a! Ha! I beat you home!” Rachel Yoder shouted as she raced into the yard ahead of her brother Jacob.

“Grow up, Rachel,” Jacob said when he caught up to her. “It doesn’t matter who got to the house first.”

“
Jah
[Yes] it does!” Rachel bounded up the porch steps. She didn’t tell Jacob, but she figured if she got to the kitchen before he did, she’d get first pick of whatever snack Mom had waiting for them. If Jacob got there before she did, he’d probably eat more than his share and leave her with just a few crumbs.

Rachel jerked open the back door and rushed inside. She dropped her backpack in the utility room and raced into the kitchen. Her brows puckered when she saw that no snack was on the table. She glanced around. No food was waiting on the kitchen counter either.

Rachel scratched the side of her head. “Now that’s sure strange.”

“What’s strange?” Jacob asked, stepping into the room.

“Mom’s not in the kitchen, and no snack is here for us.”

“Maybe she’s in her room with the
boppli
[baby].” Jacob took off his straw hat and hung it on a wall peg near the door. “We’re not helpless, Rachel. We can get our own snacks, you know.”

Rachel shook her head. “What if we eat something Mom doesn’t want us to eat? What if we eat something she’s planning to serve for supper? We’d be in trouble if we did that, and you know it.”

Jacob grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl sitting on the counter. “I’m sure Mom won’t care if we have a piece of fruit.”

“No, I suppose not.” Rachel took a banana and headed for the back door.

“Where are you going?” Jacob asked.

“Out to the greenhouse to help Grandpa!” Rachel called over her shoulder.

“Don’t you think you’d better do your homework and get your chores done first?”

Rachel shook her head and kept walking. She could do those things later on.

Rachel found Grandpa in the greenhouse, snipping the leaves of a large, leafy plant. “
Wie geht’s
[How are you]
?
” she asked.

“I’m good. How was school?”

“It was okay, but I’m glad to be home. I was anxious to get here and work with you. It’s a lot more fun than being in school.”

“I’m always glad to have your help in our little greenhouse,” Grandpa said.

Rachel smiled. She felt good to hear Grandpa refer to the greenhouse as
ours
and not
his
. “Have you had many customers today?” she asked.

He nodded. “This morning I was so busy I could hardly keep up. The business has slowed down a little this afternoon though.”

“I’ll be glad when I’ve graduated from school and can be here all day to help you,” Rachel said.

He nodded. “That will be nice, but in the meantime, you need to study hard and learn all you can while you are in school.”

“I know.” Rachel glanced around. “What do you need my help with today?”

“I was planning to fertilize some plants but haven’t gotten around to it yet.” Grandpa motioned to a shelf full of geraniums across the room. “You can do that now if you like.”

“Sure, Grandpa.” Rachel had fertilized plants before, so she knew just what to do. She hurried to the back room and took out the bottle of liquid fertilizer. She squeezed several drops into a jug of warm water, carried it into the other room, and began the process of fertilizing the plants. She’d only gotten a few of them done when the bell above the greenhouse door jingled and Mom stepped in. Her forehead was wrinkled, and she didn’t look one bit happy.

“Jacob said you didn’t do your homework or any of your chores before you came out here,” she said, peering at Rachel over the top of her metal-framed glasses.

Rachel swallowed hard. “I—uh—was planning to do them later—after I finished helping Grandpa in the greenhouse.”

Mom slowly shook her head. “You know you’re not supposed to come out here until your homework and chores are done. When are you going to grow up and start acting more responsible, Rachel?”

Rachel’s cheeks felt as if they were on fire as she stared at the floor and struggled not to cry. She didn’t like it when Mom scolded her. It made her feel like a baby. “I—I just like being here so much, and I—”

“I know you like being here.” Mom’s voice softened a bit. She touched Rachel’s chin, raising it so Rachel could look at her face. “However, schoolwork and chores come first. After those things are done, you can work in the greenhouse. Is that clear?”

“Jah,” Rachel mumbled.

“What was that?”

“I said, ‘Jah,’ Mom.”

Grandpa stepped forward. “Rachel was in the middle of fertilizing some plants for me, Miriam. Is it all right if she finishes them and then goes up to the house?”

Mom nodded. Then she turned to Rachel and said, “Oh, by the way, I was changing your little sister’s
windel
[diaper] when you and Jacob got home from school, so that’s why there was no snack waiting for you. You can have some cookies and milk while you do your homework.”