attention to her before — she relished the honor. She thought about how it made her feel — important and accepted — when Bryce asked her to go to the homecoming dance. Then she thought about forensics and how much she wanted to win medals at the competitions. Her conscience twinged. Was it possible school happenings were giving her a sense of self-importance?
Her whole life, she’d been taught that serving God first was the only way to find true contentment. She’d truly believed going to high school was an answer to prayer, and the deacons wouldn’t have approved it if they’d thought itwas against God’s will. But somehow she needed to figure out if the things she was doing at the school — all of the things, from learning in the classes to participating in extra activities — were pleasing to God. She had much to think about.
“Katy?” Aunt Rebecca called from the front of the store.
Katy jumped off the stool and peeked through the doorway into the display area. “Yes?”
Aunt Rebecca pointed to Mrs. Penner and Mrs. Tieszen, who waited by the cutting table. “Would you help them, please?”
Even though Mrs. Penner was Caleb’s mother, Katy liked the woman. Caleb resembled his mom with his red hair and freckles, but most of time he didn’t act like her. Mrs. Penner was one of the nicest people Katy knew. How had she ended up with a son like Caleb? Katy flashed a smile and moved quickly to the table. “I’d be glad to.”
Mrs. Penner placed a bolt of ecru cotton strewn with tiny green ivy vines on the table. “Five and a half yards, please.”
Katy set to work measuring the fabric.
Mrs. Penner fiddled with a spool of thread while she watched. “It’s good to see you, Katy. No forensics tournament today?”
Katy flipped the bolt several times, freeing more fabric. “There’s one in Minneapolis today, but I thought I might be helping Mrs. Graber with wedding preparations, so I didn’t sign up to go.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I know you enjoy competing, and I’ve heard you do very well.”
Katy sent her a quick look — could Mrs. Penner thinkKaty had been boasting about her accomplishments? But she smiled sweetly. Katy swallowed a relieved sigh. “Thank you. I do enjoy it, and my teacher has been very encouraging.”
“That’s nice.”
Mrs. Tieszen stood listening to their conversation, her eyes looking round and owlish behind her thick glasses. “So you’ll continue on at that school after this year?”
Katy had only been given permission for her sophomore year, even though she hoped to go all the way through to earn her high school diploma, and maybe go to college. But after her conversations with Aunt Rebecca and Caleb, she needed to do some deep soul-searching. Dad had told her he trusted her to make the right decisions, but she knew she’d need help in choosing the right thing.
She answered carefully. “I’m praying about what is best for me.”
About next year, and this year’s homecoming activities.
Mrs. Tieszen nodded, satisfied. Mrs. Penner beamed in approval. And from across the room, Aunt Rebecca looked up and smiled. Their responses to her statement warmed her and let her know she was on the right track.
God, I’ll be asking. Please give me answers I can understand—and accept.
Chapter Eight
The morning passed quickly with lots of activity and shoppers. Aunt Rebecca finally released Katy at one o’clock to run next door to the little café to eat a hamburger for lunch. When she’d finished eating, she ordered an extra one and took it to Aunt Rebecca. Aunt Rebecca accepted it with a grateful, tired smile.
“Thank you. I haven’t had a single soul come in since you left. Maybe we can hope for a quiet afternoon. After our busy morning, we’ve earned it.” She sank onto a stool and unwrapped her hamburger. Bowing her head, she prayed, and then looked at Katy. “While I’m eating, would you mind straightening the fabric bolts on the back shelves? Mrs.
Her whole life, she’d been taught that serving God first was the only way to find true contentment. She’d truly believed going to high school was an answer to prayer, and the deacons wouldn’t have approved it if they’d thought itwas against God’s will. But somehow she needed to figure out if the things she was doing at the school — all of the things, from learning in the classes to participating in extra activities — were pleasing to God. She had much to think about.
“Katy?” Aunt Rebecca called from the front of the store.
Katy jumped off the stool and peeked through the doorway into the display area. “Yes?”
Aunt Rebecca pointed to Mrs. Penner and Mrs. Tieszen, who waited by the cutting table. “Would you help them, please?”
Even though Mrs. Penner was Caleb’s mother, Katy liked the woman. Caleb resembled his mom with his red hair and freckles, but most of time he didn’t act like her. Mrs. Penner was one of the nicest people Katy knew. How had she ended up with a son like Caleb? Katy flashed a smile and moved quickly to the table. “I’d be glad to.”
Mrs. Penner placed a bolt of ecru cotton strewn with tiny green ivy vines on the table. “Five and a half yards, please.”
Katy set to work measuring the fabric.
Mrs. Penner fiddled with a spool of thread while she watched. “It’s good to see you, Katy. No forensics tournament today?”
Katy flipped the bolt several times, freeing more fabric. “There’s one in Minneapolis today, but I thought I might be helping Mrs. Graber with wedding preparations, so I didn’t sign up to go.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I know you enjoy competing, and I’ve heard you do very well.”
Katy sent her a quick look — could Mrs. Penner thinkKaty had been boasting about her accomplishments? But she smiled sweetly. Katy swallowed a relieved sigh. “Thank you. I do enjoy it, and my teacher has been very encouraging.”
“That’s nice.”
Mrs. Tieszen stood listening to their conversation, her eyes looking round and owlish behind her thick glasses. “So you’ll continue on at that school after this year?”
Katy had only been given permission for her sophomore year, even though she hoped to go all the way through to earn her high school diploma, and maybe go to college. But after her conversations with Aunt Rebecca and Caleb, she needed to do some deep soul-searching. Dad had told her he trusted her to make the right decisions, but she knew she’d need help in choosing the right thing.
She answered carefully. “I’m praying about what is best for me.”
About next year, and this year’s homecoming activities.
Mrs. Tieszen nodded, satisfied. Mrs. Penner beamed in approval. And from across the room, Aunt Rebecca looked up and smiled. Their responses to her statement warmed her and let her know she was on the right track.
God, I’ll be asking. Please give me answers I can understand—and accept.
Chapter Eight
The morning passed quickly with lots of activity and shoppers. Aunt Rebecca finally released Katy at one o’clock to run next door to the little café to eat a hamburger for lunch. When she’d finished eating, she ordered an extra one and took it to Aunt Rebecca. Aunt Rebecca accepted it with a grateful, tired smile.
“Thank you. I haven’t had a single soul come in since you left. Maybe we can hope for a quiet afternoon. After our busy morning, we’ve earned it.” She sank onto a stool and unwrapped her hamburger. Bowing her head, she prayed, and then looked at Katy. “While I’m eating, would you mind straightening the fabric bolts on the back shelves? Mrs.
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