but I don’t believe that is the right thing to do. Why? I believe this is what Da Hah wants for me…and for you. I would like to have Emma as my frau and for her to be your new mamm . But the truth is that Emma has not yet agreed to any of this.”
“Then Da Hah be praised!” Leroy said. “At least the woman has some sense in her head.”
“Leroy!” Jesse glanced sideways at his oldest. “That’s enough out of you.” Expressing themselves in a time of pain was one thing, but disrespect was another. Jesse would not tolerate his children being disrespectful. That could only lead downhill until they disrespected the church, next the ministers, and finally Da Hah Himself.
“I’m sorry,” Leroy said, dropping his head.
“Perhaps we will talk more about this later,” Jesse said, pushing away from the table. “I had hoped you would be a little more understanding about this matter, but even in my disappointment I still want you to express your feelings as we work through this. Emma apparently agrees with all of you except for little Joel. But we shall see. I have not yet been persuaded in my heart that Da Hah isn’t leading me in asking Emma to be my frau .” Jesse looked around the table, and they all had their eyes cast down…even little Joel. “Come,” he said. “Let’s go to the living room for the Scripture reading. It looks like we all need Da Hah ’s Word for the days ahead.”
They followed him and took their seats as he opened the big family Bible. He began reading in the book of Psalms, chapter forty. “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me…” A verse most appropriate , Jesse thought as he read on.
Chapter Eight
Katie finished the last of the breakfast dishes after the morning rush of chores. She pulled the plug on the drain and watched the water rush down in a small whirlpool. She looked away, her thoughts going to Mamm sitting in the living room. Mamm wouldn’t be waiting to read the Scripture like other families did each morning. People simply didn’t read the Scriptures out loud with no daett in the house. At least that’s what Mamm claimed. It hadn’t bothered Katie much before, but it did this morning. Her feelings were changing with the news of Jesse’s proposal of marriage. Could it be that someday soon the Scriptures would be read aloud each morning again? The thought thrilled Katie and made her even more hopeful that Mamm would change her mind about Jesse’s offer.
Mamm hadn’t spoken all morning, other than what was necessary to get the work done. But now she was getting ready to speak. Katie read the signs at breakfast. They were written on Mamm ’s face—the tense jaw and the sorrowful look in her eyes. Mamm had a soft heart, but when she believed something there was little chance of persuading her otherwise. Nor was there much chance of holding back a lecture once she’d decided it must be delivered.
Not that Katie hadn’t tried before. And on the subject of Jesse Mast, she felt she must. This was too important a matter to not weigh in. Perhaps Mamm thought this was only about her relationship with Jesse, but it wasn’t. Mamm might think she could take away her daughter’s job at Byler’s and life would return to normal, but she was wrong. It was too late for that. From now on, Mamm would need to consider Katie’s views on family matters. If not on Mamm ’s thoughts on Jesse Mast, then at least on matters pertaining to Katie’s life. It was, after all, her life—not Mamm ’s or anyone else’s. If she was interested in boys, Mamm would have to accept the fact.
At least Mamm didn’t know she’d spoken so casually with the Englisha boys at Byler’s. If she knew, Mamm would probably call on Deacon Elmer. Not that Deacon Elmer could do anything since he believed in rumspringa . With that choice taken from her, Mamm likely decided to take care of the problem on her own.
“Katie!” Mamm called from the living room. “I thought you
“Then Da Hah be praised!” Leroy said. “At least the woman has some sense in her head.”
“Leroy!” Jesse glanced sideways at his oldest. “That’s enough out of you.” Expressing themselves in a time of pain was one thing, but disrespect was another. Jesse would not tolerate his children being disrespectful. That could only lead downhill until they disrespected the church, next the ministers, and finally Da Hah Himself.
“I’m sorry,” Leroy said, dropping his head.
“Perhaps we will talk more about this later,” Jesse said, pushing away from the table. “I had hoped you would be a little more understanding about this matter, but even in my disappointment I still want you to express your feelings as we work through this. Emma apparently agrees with all of you except for little Joel. But we shall see. I have not yet been persuaded in my heart that Da Hah isn’t leading me in asking Emma to be my frau .” Jesse looked around the table, and they all had their eyes cast down…even little Joel. “Come,” he said. “Let’s go to the living room for the Scripture reading. It looks like we all need Da Hah ’s Word for the days ahead.”
They followed him and took their seats as he opened the big family Bible. He began reading in the book of Psalms, chapter forty. “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me…” A verse most appropriate , Jesse thought as he read on.
Chapter Eight
Katie finished the last of the breakfast dishes after the morning rush of chores. She pulled the plug on the drain and watched the water rush down in a small whirlpool. She looked away, her thoughts going to Mamm sitting in the living room. Mamm wouldn’t be waiting to read the Scripture like other families did each morning. People simply didn’t read the Scriptures out loud with no daett in the house. At least that’s what Mamm claimed. It hadn’t bothered Katie much before, but it did this morning. Her feelings were changing with the news of Jesse’s proposal of marriage. Could it be that someday soon the Scriptures would be read aloud each morning again? The thought thrilled Katie and made her even more hopeful that Mamm would change her mind about Jesse’s offer.
Mamm hadn’t spoken all morning, other than what was necessary to get the work done. But now she was getting ready to speak. Katie read the signs at breakfast. They were written on Mamm ’s face—the tense jaw and the sorrowful look in her eyes. Mamm had a soft heart, but when she believed something there was little chance of persuading her otherwise. Nor was there much chance of holding back a lecture once she’d decided it must be delivered.
Not that Katie hadn’t tried before. And on the subject of Jesse Mast, she felt she must. This was too important a matter to not weigh in. Perhaps Mamm thought this was only about her relationship with Jesse, but it wasn’t. Mamm might think she could take away her daughter’s job at Byler’s and life would return to normal, but she was wrong. It was too late for that. From now on, Mamm would need to consider Katie’s views on family matters. If not on Mamm ’s thoughts on Jesse Mast, then at least on matters pertaining to Katie’s life. It was, after all, her life—not Mamm ’s or anyone else’s. If she was interested in boys, Mamm would have to accept the fact.
At least Mamm didn’t know she’d spoken so casually with the Englisha boys at Byler’s. If she knew, Mamm would probably call on Deacon Elmer. Not that Deacon Elmer could do anything since he believed in rumspringa . With that choice taken from her, Mamm likely decided to take care of the problem on her own.
“Katie!” Mamm called from the living room. “I thought you
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