one finger. “Now to answer your first question: the wound isn’t real deep.”
“That’s good to hear. Do you know how the injury happened?”
He nodded. “I believe the squirrel had its foot stepped on.”
She frowned. “Who would do something that mean?”
“I don’t think it was done on purpose.” Dr. Franklin reached up to scratch the side of his head, where several streaks of gray showed through his closely cropped brown hair. “Tommy Curtis brought the critter in, saying he’d found it lying beside a maple tree near his school. I have a hunch Tommy may have accidentally stepped on the squirrel.”
“Will you keep it here until it’s better?” she asked.
He grinned. “I thought maybe you’d like to take it home until it’s ready to be set free, which should only be a few days from now, I’m guessing.”
Melinda nodded eagerly. “I don’t have many spare cages right now, but I did find an old one at a yard sale awhile back. I suppose I could keep him in that until his foot’s healed.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll give you some ointment to put on the wound, and you can take the squirrel home with you this evening.”
Melinda smiled as she donned her work apron. It felt good to know the doctor trusted her enough to care for the squirrel. Of course, if the animal’s injuries were serious, she was sure Dr. Franklin would keep it at the clinic. “Guess I’d better get busy with the cleaning,” she said.
“Before you get started, I’d like to ask you a question,” Dr. Franklin said, stepping around the front of the counter.
“What is it?”
“I was wondering if you’ve had a chance to think over the things we talked about a few weeks ago, concerning you becoming a vet.”
She nodded. “I have thought about it, but—”
“Have you looked at the brochures I gave you on the school of veterinary medicine I attended in New Jersey?”
“I did read through the information, and I’ve been thinking a lot about it.” Melinda pursed her lips. She had hidden the brochures under her mattress so her mother wouldn’t see them, since she wasn’t ready to talk to her folks about this yet. “The thought of becoming a vet is appealing,” she admitted. “But it would mean getting a college education, and that doesn’t fall in line with our Amish beliefs.”
The doctor’s eyebrows drew together. “I’ve lived in Seymour for several years and know most of the Amish in the area. Yet I still don’t understand all their ways.”
“We believe the Bible instructs us to be separate from the world,” she explained. “We’re not against basic education and learning from others, but our leaders feel that progressive education could lead to worldliness.”
He took a step toward her. “So you’re saying you’ve decided not to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” Melinda swallowed hard. Just thinking about leaving home made her feel jittery, and talking about it with Dr. Franklin behind her parents’ backs didn’t seem right. “There’s so much to be considered, and I haven’t been able to think it all through. I haven’t said anything to my folks about this yet, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to anyone.”
“I understand. It’s a big decision, so take your time, Melinda. I promise I won’t say a word to anyone until you’ve made up your mind and have told your family what you plan to do.”
She nodded. “When I do finally decide, I’ll let you know.”
Noah opened the door of Swartz’s Woodworking Shop, and the odor of freshly sanded wood tickled his nose, causing him to sneeze. He was glad the work he did at Hank’s Christmas Tree Farm didn’t require sanding. He stepped into the shop and discovered Gabe sanding the tops of some kitchen cabinets.
“Wie geht’s?” Noah asked.
“I’m doing all right. How about you?”
“Getting along fairly
“That’s good to hear. Do you know how the injury happened?”
He nodded. “I believe the squirrel had its foot stepped on.”
She frowned. “Who would do something that mean?”
“I don’t think it was done on purpose.” Dr. Franklin reached up to scratch the side of his head, where several streaks of gray showed through his closely cropped brown hair. “Tommy Curtis brought the critter in, saying he’d found it lying beside a maple tree near his school. I have a hunch Tommy may have accidentally stepped on the squirrel.”
“Will you keep it here until it’s better?” she asked.
He grinned. “I thought maybe you’d like to take it home until it’s ready to be set free, which should only be a few days from now, I’m guessing.”
Melinda nodded eagerly. “I don’t have many spare cages right now, but I did find an old one at a yard sale awhile back. I suppose I could keep him in that until his foot’s healed.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll give you some ointment to put on the wound, and you can take the squirrel home with you this evening.”
Melinda smiled as she donned her work apron. It felt good to know the doctor trusted her enough to care for the squirrel. Of course, if the animal’s injuries were serious, she was sure Dr. Franklin would keep it at the clinic. “Guess I’d better get busy with the cleaning,” she said.
“Before you get started, I’d like to ask you a question,” Dr. Franklin said, stepping around the front of the counter.
“What is it?”
“I was wondering if you’ve had a chance to think over the things we talked about a few weeks ago, concerning you becoming a vet.”
She nodded. “I have thought about it, but—”
“Have you looked at the brochures I gave you on the school of veterinary medicine I attended in New Jersey?”
“I did read through the information, and I’ve been thinking a lot about it.” Melinda pursed her lips. She had hidden the brochures under her mattress so her mother wouldn’t see them, since she wasn’t ready to talk to her folks about this yet. “The thought of becoming a vet is appealing,” she admitted. “But it would mean getting a college education, and that doesn’t fall in line with our Amish beliefs.”
The doctor’s eyebrows drew together. “I’ve lived in Seymour for several years and know most of the Amish in the area. Yet I still don’t understand all their ways.”
“We believe the Bible instructs us to be separate from the world,” she explained. “We’re not against basic education and learning from others, but our leaders feel that progressive education could lead to worldliness.”
He took a step toward her. “So you’re saying you’ve decided not to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” Melinda swallowed hard. Just thinking about leaving home made her feel jittery, and talking about it with Dr. Franklin behind her parents’ backs didn’t seem right. “There’s so much to be considered, and I haven’t been able to think it all through. I haven’t said anything to my folks about this yet, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to anyone.”
“I understand. It’s a big decision, so take your time, Melinda. I promise I won’t say a word to anyone until you’ve made up your mind and have told your family what you plan to do.”
She nodded. “When I do finally decide, I’ll let you know.”
Noah opened the door of Swartz’s Woodworking Shop, and the odor of freshly sanded wood tickled his nose, causing him to sneeze. He was glad the work he did at Hank’s Christmas Tree Farm didn’t require sanding. He stepped into the shop and discovered Gabe sanding the tops of some kitchen cabinets.
“Wie geht’s?” Noah asked.
“I’m doing all right. How about you?”
“Getting along fairly
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