A Simple Change by Judith Miller Page B

Sister Hanna if she will see to it.”

    After delivering my parents to his home and seeing to their comfort, Brother Herman gestured for me to follow him. “Come. I will take you to meet Sister Hanna and the other sisters who work in the Küchehaas . ”
    After I bid my parents good-bye, Mother waved me forward as Brother Herman strode across the room.
    He opened the door and waited for me to join him. “Your mother and father need to rest, but I am sure you want to see more of your new surroundings.”
    I did want to see more, and though I would have preferred to see it with my parents, I appreciated Brother Herman’s kindness. For a moment, our departure reminded me of the day my parents had taken me to boarding school. When they’d departed to return home, I’d felt as though I’d been marooned on a desert island. Though it hadn’t taken long for me to overcome the loneliness, I hadn’t forgotten those feelings. As an inkling of those same feelings attempted to take root, I pushed them aside and forced myself to focus on Brother Herman.
    â€œWe will go this way. It is a little shorter.” Taking long strides, Brother Herman escorted me away from his home. If he’d detectedany reluctance, he didn’t let on. Neither of us spoke until we neared a brick house that was larger than most of the others I’d seen. Brother Herman looked over his shoulder. “This is the Wieler Küche , where you will eat. We are going through the back door and into the kitchen, but when you come for dinner you will go to the front and enter through the women’s door. I am thinking your parents have already explained that the men and women sit at separate tables to eat their meals, ja?”
    When he arched his brows and waited for my response, I nodded. “Yes. But I don’t know which door is for the women.” There hadn’t been much time to learn about the rules on our journey, but perhaps once our family was reunited, my mother would feel well enough to instruct me.
    He smiled. “Just follow the other sisters, and you will be at the proper door.” He tapped on the kitchen door, stepped inside, and gestured for me to step forward. “ Guten Tag , Sister Bertha. This is Jancey Rhoder—the daughter of Jurgen and Almina Rhoder.” Brother Herman tipped his head toward me. “Sister Bertha is the Küchebaas .” He grinned at the wide-hipped woman. “She makes sure everyone gets plenty of gut food and that it is served on time.”
    â€œWith the help of the other sisters. Without them, I could not manage.” The gray-haired woman lifted an oversized metal spoon from a hook on the wall and lowered it into a kettle sitting atop the stove. She turned her gaze on me. “I remember your Mutter and Vater . Sister Mina was younger than I, but she could knit much better than girls twice her age.” She continued to stir the contents of the pot. “Does she still knit?”
    â€œYes, when she’s able. Her health hasn’t been good for more than a year.”
    â€œJa, I was sorry to hear.” She looked at Brother Herman. “Sister Jancey will be working in the Küche with us?”
    â€œNein. I brought her to meet Sister Hanna. The Rhoders will be living in the rooms below the Hetrigs.”
    Sister Bertha stepped to a door that led from the large kitchen to the dining room. As she walked into the dining room, I peered around her and noticed long tables with benches arranged along both sides. A wide aisle separated the rows, likely the dividing line between the men and women. Sister Bertha stopped beside a woman with rosy cheeks. Soon, the two of them drew near, and Brother Herman stepped forward.
    â€œGuten Tag, Sister Hanna. I would like you to meet Jancey Rhoder, the daughter of—”
    Sister Hanna bobbed her head. “Ja, ja, I know who she is. Brother Ernst told my Werner the Rhoders would be moving