Growing Up in Lancaster County (52 page)

Rachel picked up the tweezers and pulled the splinter right out. “There now, is that better?”

Jacob nodded and blew out his breath. “Danki. You did a good job with that, little ben—” He stopped speaking, gave Rachel a crooked grin, and said, “Guess I can’t call you a little bensel anymore. Especially since you’ve been acting so grown up lately. From now on I think I’ll just call you my ‘little sister.’ How’s that sound?”

Rachel smiled. “Sounds good to me. In fact, I feel really good about it.”

Henry came into the room then and flopped into the chair on the other side of the table with a groan.

“What’s wrong?” Rachel asked.

“I’ve got a
koppweh
[headache],” he mumbled as he put his head in his hands.

“No problem; I’ll get you some aspirin.” Rachel jumped up, scooted over to the first-aid cupboard, and took out a bottle of aspirin. “Here you go,” she said, handing it to Henry. “This should take away that koppweh.”

Henry looked up at her and smiled. “Danki. You’re sure growing up, Rachel. You’ve been a big help around here lately.”

“I hope so,” she replied.

The teakettle whistled, and steam rose from the spout. Rachel hurried over to the stove. “I’m making a pot of tea this morning because we’re almost out of coffee,” she said just as Mom and Pap entered the kitchen. “Will that be okay?”

“It’ll be fine,” said Mom as she hobbled across the room with her crutches.

Pap pulled out a chair for her. “I wish I didn’t have to wear this cumbersome cast,” Mom said with a frown. “I feel so helpless, and I’m not much use to anyone right now.”

“You only have a few more weeks to wear your cast,” Pap said. “Then you can have your old jobs back.” He grinned at Rachel. “I’ll bet you’ll be glad when that happens, huh?”

Rachel shrugged. “I haven’t minded helping.”

Pap patted Rachel’s back while he looked at Mom. “Our Rachel’s sure growing up; don’t you agree?”

Mom nodded. “She’s been a big help to me around here since I broke my leg. She does most of the chores without even being asked, and I appreciate it.” She smiled at Rachel and winked. “Why, it won’t be long until you’re a young woman, ready to make a home of your own.”

Pap gave Rachel’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Even when you do become a woman, you’ll always be my little girl.”

Rachel grinned and went back to her job of cracking eggs. The thought of always being Pap’s little girl didn’t bother her at all. In fact, she kind of liked that idea.

Waaa! Waaa!

“It sounds like Hannah’s awake,” Mom said. “Would someone please get her for me?”

“If someone will take over cracking the eggs, I’ll get Hannah,” Rachel said.

“Hand me the bowl, and I’ll crack the eggs,” Mom said. “That’s one job I can easily do from a sitting position.”

Rachel set the carton of eggs and the bowl on the table in front of Mom; then she hurried from the room.

When she entered Mom and Pap’s bedroom, Hannah was in her crib, kicking her feet and hollering like crazy.

Rachel stepped up to the crib, and to her surprise, Hannah stopped crying, reached her chubby arms out to Rachel, and giggled.

She’s growing up
, Rachel thought.
Just like me
.

Directions for Making Rachel’s Pressed Flowers

Things you will need:

Flowers

Newspapers (black and white sections only)

Scissors

Heavy books

Colored pens or pencils

Corrugated cardboard

1. Place flowers between 10 sheets of newspaper. (Note: Put down 5 sheets of newspaper with no flowers on them; then put flowers on 5 separate pieces of newspaper and add more pieces of blank newspaper to the top. The blank newspapers act as blotting paper to take the moisture out of the flowers.) You can put several flowers on one layer, but make sure the flowers don’t touch.
   

2. Place a piece of corrugated cardboard over the newspaper. For each set of flowers you want to press, add layers of newspaper and cardboard.
   

3. Place several books on top of the stack of cardboard and newspaper.
   

4. Write down the date you begin pressing the flowers and keep them in a warm, dry room for about 3 weeks. Remove the books and gently separate the flowers from the newspaper. If the flowers feel stiff and dry, they’re ready to use. It’s a good idea to keep your flowers inside the newspapers with cardboard between them until you’re ready to use them. Pressed flowers can be used to decorate bookmarks, postcards, stationery, or scrapbooks. Be creative and have fun!
   

W
ANDA
E. B
RUNSTETTER
is a bestselling author who enjoys writing historical, as well as Amish-themed novels. Descended from Anabaptists herself, Wanda became fascinated with the Plain People when she married her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. Wanda and her husband live in Washington State, where he is a minister. They have two grown children and six grandchildren. Wanda and Richard often travel the country, visiting their many Amish friends and gathering further information about the Amish way of life. In her spare time, Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, reading, stamping, and having fun with her family. Visit Wanda’s Website at
www.wandabrunstetter.com
and feel free to e-mail her at
[email protected]
.

A
DULT
F
ICTION

Lydia’s Charm

White Christmas Pie

I
NDIANA
C
OUSINS
S
ERIES

A Cousin’s Promise

A Cousin’s Prayer

A Cousin’s Challenge

S
ISTERS OF
H
OLMES
C
OUNTY
S
ERIES

A Sister’s Secret

A Sister’s Test

A Sister’s Hope

B
RIDESS OF
W
EBSTER
C
OUNTY
S
ERIES

Going Home

Dear to Me

On Her Own

Allison’s Journey

D
AUGHTERS OF
L
ANCASTER
C
OUNTY
S
ERIES

The Storekeeper’s Daughter

The Quilter’s Daughter

The Bishop’s Daughter

B
RIDES OF
L
ANCASTER
C
OUNTY
S
ERIES

A Merry Heart

Looking for a Miracle

Plain and Fancy

The Hope Chest

C
HILDREN’S
F
ICTION

Rachel Yoder—Always Trouble Somewhere Series

The Wisdom of Solomon

N
ONFICTION

Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Cookbook

Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Cookbook Volume 2

The Simple Life

A Celebration of the Simple Life

Look Out, Lancaster County!

Join Rachel Yoder on a series of adventures with this story collection written by bestselling author of Amish fiction Wanda E. Brunstetter. Four stories under one cover will provide you with unlimited entertainment and laughs along the way as you accompany Rachel to church (along with some unwelcome frogs!), encounter trouble with the name “O-R-L-I-E” (and a face full of freckles), and even sled into an icy-cold creek (brrr!).