A Simple Song by Melody Carlson

him on as an apprentice. Unfortunately, his uncle lived in a settlement about thirty miles away. Katrina didn’t like to imagine what she would do if Cooper went to live with his uncle. As sad as she would be to see him go, she didn’t know if she could be happy living so far away from her own family. It would take most of the day just to make the trip there and back. No, that was something she didn’t care to think about.

5
    Before long, Katrina and Aunt Alma were seated on the porch with old Mrs. Miller. They worked together on shelling a basket of spring peas as they made polite conversation about the weather, inquired after Mrs. Miller’s health, and heard her sympathy for Mammi’s passing. Then the old woman set the bowl of peas on a bench and leaned forward to peer at Katrina with great interest.
    â€œ Ja , it is like I told Cooper. You are very much like your grandmother. You remind me of her when she was young. Even the way you speak is like her.”
    Katrina almost mentioned the youthful image of Mammi on the record cover but stopped herself. Not only were photographs forbidden, but to reveal that Mammi had been a professional singer—well, that would be inviting trouble.
    â€œKatrina says you have a sister who knew my mother,” Aunt Alma began.
    â€œ Ja , my sister Martha took your mamm into her home.” She explained how Martha and her family lived in another settlement about thirty miles away. “Martha was still a girl at home back then. I had gotten married and was living righthere.” She smiled contentedly as she looked out on the green pastures and black-and-white cows.
    â€œIs that the same settlement where Cooper’s Uncle Earl lives?”
    Mrs. Miller’s pale eyebrows arched. “You know about Earl?”
    â€œOnly that he’s a good cabinetmaker.” Katrina felt her cheeks growing warm.
    Mrs. Miller nodded. “ Ja . Earl is Martha’s oldest boy. Been making cabinets for twenty years. It’s a good trade.”
    â€œI know Cooper would like to apprentice with his uncle.”
    â€œ Ja , but that is a long way from home. Too far to travel each day. Cooper would have to live there with Earl.” She peered curiously at Katrina. “It is not easy to leave your home . . . to live in a different settlement . . . but sometimes it is necessary.”
    â€œYou did it,” Aunt Alma said.
    â€œ Ja . But it is a sacrifice to leave your parents, your sisters and brothers—to leave them all behind and start a new life.”
    Katrina wasn’t sure if Mrs. Miller was trying to give her a subtle warning or simply reminiscing.
    â€œDo you remember much about my grandmother?” Katrina asked. “About where she had come from before she lived with your sister and your family?”
    â€œOh, ja , sure. She came from a neighboring district.”
    Katrina exchanged confused looks with her aunt.
    â€œAre you saying she lived in a settlement?” Aunt Alma asked.
    â€œ Ja . I can’t remember which one. I think it was up near Fryburg.”
    â€œSo my grandmother was already Amish?” Katrina asked. “I thought I’d heard she was English.”
    â€œNo, no. Your grandmother grew up Amish, but she went her own way for a while. About ten years, according to what Martha told me. But I never heard a word about it from Starla’s own lips.” Mrs. Miller shook her head. “Starla and I were friendly, but she never mentioned her past to me. Not once.”
    â€œBut she grew up in an Amish home?” Aunt Alma still seemed confused. “Up near Fryburg, you say?”
    â€œAs best I can recall.”
    â€œShe never spoke of family,” Aunt Alma said quietly. “I always assumed her people were English and she’d left them behind to live here.”
    â€œMartha might be able to tell you more about that,” Mrs. Miller said. “Although as I mentioned, she