know she’s been seen with a light in her bedroom window? Inviting boys up to her room?”
Leah shook her head, surprised and confused.
He nodded, smug to see he had surprised her and perhaps relieved she didn’t know about that part of Martha’s activities. “Yes. Evidently she had Abe up there.”
“Abe? Why put her lamp in the window for Abe? She could just tell him to come by. Were they—bed courting?”
“No. Well, I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. From what I’ve heard, I think they sat at the little window seat she has in there. But it’s not a good practice. I wouldn’t allow my daughters to do that.” Daet glanced at Maem and raised his eyebrows slightly. Maem momentarily turned her gaze away, her eyes scanning the fields across the road. A pink splotch flushed her neck at the top of her collar.
Leah knew a discussion like this was not something a good Amish mother expected to have in front of her husband. The girls usually learned about that part of life from whispered conversations with each other. Or worse, from the boys eager to teach them what to do. Leah had heard rumors for years about that, and about male family members who sometimes crossed lines with their sisters. Her stomach lurched. This entire conversation made her sweat. Suddenly, she thought of the advice one of her friends in school had been given by her mother about bed dating: keep your dress in place.
“We’re hoping the bishop can get to the bottom of this,” Daet continued. “If it’s true, then something needs to be done. But if she’s lying about this, Leah, it’ll not go well for her with the church.” His eyes held a glimmer of suspicion and disbelief.
So, what else is new? Leah squelched the ever-rising flame of anger in her. Why did she even bother telling Maem ? She knew Martha wasn’t lying, and if she added to Martha’s burdens, Leah would feel awful.
She stood, stressed and tense. “I have a lot to do in my room. I’d better get to it.”
As she went in the house, all she could think about was Martha. The possibility her friend might find out Leah had told her secret weighed heavy. And if Bishop Miller came down too hard on Martha or blamed her for the trouble, Leah doubted she’d be able to forgive herself. She wrung her hands, wondering if she’d done the right thing after all.
After supper, Leah went directly to her room to search for the pocket-sized New Testament the Gideons had given to each student in the Amish school. After much digging, she finally discovered it in the bottom of a box in her closet, alongside sixth-grade papers and books.
She stretched out on her bed and opened the book to the first page.
“Matthew 1:1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ …” She soon grew tired of reading the lengthy genealogy of Christ, and skipped to verse 18. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph …”
Halfway into reading through the book of Matthew, the life of Christ took on new meaning. She didn’t fully understand everything and wondered what it would be like to attend a Bible study where she could sit with others to discuss her questions.
Her eyes were gritty from reading in the dim light, so she lay the book aside and turned down the lamp.
As she closed her eyes, she wished the house had electric light to keep reading. She wanted to learn more, but mostly, Leah wanted to block out thoughts of Martha and what the bishop might or might not do.
She pondered the idea of contacting the Schrocks. Maybe Maem and Daet wouldn’t mind if she asked the English couple for advice. And if Leah did her best to follow the Ordnung , maybe her parents would also allow her to ask about counseling for Martha and about the Bible study for herself. She yawned. She’d think about asking them. Tomorrow.
Ada roused her the next morning, but Leah was groggy as her sister perched at the foot of the bed and started to chatter.
Leah shook her head, surprised and confused.
He nodded, smug to see he had surprised her and perhaps relieved she didn’t know about that part of Martha’s activities. “Yes. Evidently she had Abe up there.”
“Abe? Why put her lamp in the window for Abe? She could just tell him to come by. Were they—bed courting?”
“No. Well, I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. From what I’ve heard, I think they sat at the little window seat she has in there. But it’s not a good practice. I wouldn’t allow my daughters to do that.” Daet glanced at Maem and raised his eyebrows slightly. Maem momentarily turned her gaze away, her eyes scanning the fields across the road. A pink splotch flushed her neck at the top of her collar.
Leah knew a discussion like this was not something a good Amish mother expected to have in front of her husband. The girls usually learned about that part of life from whispered conversations with each other. Or worse, from the boys eager to teach them what to do. Leah had heard rumors for years about that, and about male family members who sometimes crossed lines with their sisters. Her stomach lurched. This entire conversation made her sweat. Suddenly, she thought of the advice one of her friends in school had been given by her mother about bed dating: keep your dress in place.
“We’re hoping the bishop can get to the bottom of this,” Daet continued. “If it’s true, then something needs to be done. But if she’s lying about this, Leah, it’ll not go well for her with the church.” His eyes held a glimmer of suspicion and disbelief.
So, what else is new? Leah squelched the ever-rising flame of anger in her. Why did she even bother telling Maem ? She knew Martha wasn’t lying, and if she added to Martha’s burdens, Leah would feel awful.
She stood, stressed and tense. “I have a lot to do in my room. I’d better get to it.”
As she went in the house, all she could think about was Martha. The possibility her friend might find out Leah had told her secret weighed heavy. And if Bishop Miller came down too hard on Martha or blamed her for the trouble, Leah doubted she’d be able to forgive herself. She wrung her hands, wondering if she’d done the right thing after all.
After supper, Leah went directly to her room to search for the pocket-sized New Testament the Gideons had given to each student in the Amish school. After much digging, she finally discovered it in the bottom of a box in her closet, alongside sixth-grade papers and books.
She stretched out on her bed and opened the book to the first page.
“Matthew 1:1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ …” She soon grew tired of reading the lengthy genealogy of Christ, and skipped to verse 18. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph …”
Halfway into reading through the book of Matthew, the life of Christ took on new meaning. She didn’t fully understand everything and wondered what it would be like to attend a Bible study where she could sit with others to discuss her questions.
Her eyes were gritty from reading in the dim light, so she lay the book aside and turned down the lamp.
As she closed her eyes, she wished the house had electric light to keep reading. She wanted to learn more, but mostly, Leah wanted to block out thoughts of Martha and what the bishop might or might not do.
She pondered the idea of contacting the Schrocks. Maybe Maem and Daet wouldn’t mind if she asked the English couple for advice. And if Leah did her best to follow the Ordnung , maybe her parents would also allow her to ask about counseling for Martha and about the Bible study for herself. She yawned. She’d think about asking them. Tomorrow.
Ada roused her the next morning, but Leah was groggy as her sister perched at the foot of the bed and started to chatter.
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