“What do you grow here besides snowdrifts?”
She smiled. “Potatoes. Maine is the third-largest producer of potatoes in the United States. Broccoli grows well in the cool climate as do many other vegetables.”
“As long as you don’t get an early freeze.”
“That’s true of farming in Ohio or almost anywhere.”
“I guess you’re right about that.”
The main highway followed the curve of the river and after another mile Fort Craig came into view. Bethany turned off the highway into a residential area at the outskirts of town. The elementary school was located in a cul-de-sac at the end of the street.
As she drew the horse to a stop in front of the school she noticed several of the classes were out at recess. She stepped down from the buggy and caught sight of her sister, Jenny, playing with several other girls on the swings. Jenny spotted her and ran over. “Sister, what are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to speak to Ivan. Did he get on the bus with you this morning?”
Jenny shook her head. “Nee, he said Jeffrey’s mom was going to bring him to school.”
“And did she?”
“I don’t know. Sister, I have wunderbar goot news.”
Bethany crouched to meet Jenny’s gaze. “Have you seen Ivan today?”
Jenny screwed up her face as she concentrated. “I don’t think so. You should ask his teacher.”
Bethany stood upright. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”
“Don’t you want to hear my news?”
“In a minute.”
Jenny’s happy expression faded. Michael got out of the buggy. He took several stiff steps. “I just need to stretch my legs a little.”
“Who is that?” Jenny asked in a loud whisper.
Bethany was inpatient to find Ivan but she made the introduction. “This is Michael Shetler. He’s a newcomer. This is my sister, Jenny.”
He nodded toward her. “I’m pleased to meet you, Jenny. I’d love to hear your news.”
“You would?” Jenny asked hopefully.
“Sure. It must be important. You look ready to burst.”
Jenny smiled from ear to ear. “I got picked to be in the community Christmas play. I’m going to be the aerator.”
Bethany looked at Michael. He returned her questioning gaze and shook his head slightly. Jenny was bouncing up and down with happiness.
Bethany smiled at her. “That is wunderbar. What does the aerator do?”
“I get to tell everyone the Christmas story in English and in Pennsylvania Dutch while the other kids act out the scenes. Ivan is going to sing a song by himself.”
From the corner of her eye, Bethany saw Michael rub a hand across his mouth to hide a grin. Bethany was afraid she’d start laughing if she looked at him again. Learning English as a second language was difficult for many Amish children who spoke only Pennsylvania Dutch until they started school. “I’m sure you will make a goot narrator if you practice hard.”
“I’ll practice lots and lots if you help me.”
“You know I will.”
“I need to have an angel costume, too. I’m going to be an angel aerator.”
“Angel narrator,” Michael corrected her in a gentle tone.
“Narrator,” Jenny replied slowly. He nodded and she grinned at him.
Bethany patted her sister’s head. “We’ll talk about it when you come home from school this evening.”
“Okay.” Jenny took off to rejoin her friends.
“Cute kid,” Michael said, still grinning. “How many siblings do you have?”
“Just Jenny and Ivan. Excuse me while I check on him.” Bethany headed through the front doors of the school. She found the eighth-grade room and looked in through the open door. Ivan wasn’t in his seat. His best friend, Jeffrey, was missing, too.
A bell sounded in the empty hall, startling her. The boys and girls in the room filed to the back to gather their coats, mittens and hats from hooks before rushing past her to get outside. After the last child exited the room Bethany stepped inside. “Ms. Kenworthy, may I have a word with you?”
The teacher looked up from her desk. “Miss Martin, of course. Do come in. I was just getting ready to write a note to you.”
“About Ivan?”
“Yes. I hope he is feeling better. He’s missed almost an entire week of school. I have a list of homework assignments for him to complete and hand in when he returns.”
Bethany’s heart sank. “My brother is not sick at home.”
“I see.” Ms. Kenworthy opened a desk drawer and pulled out a sheet of notebook paper. “Then I assume you did not write this note?”
Bethany removed her gloves, took the note and quickly scanned it. It informed Ms. Kenworthy that Ivan would be out of school for a week due to his illness. It was signed with her name. Bethany sighed heavily and handed the letter back. “I did not write this. It is not my signature.”
Ms. Kenworthy took the letter and replaced it in the drawer. “I thought it was odd that Jeffrey was the one who delivered it to me and not your sister. Do you know what Ivan has been doing instead of coming to school?”
“I wish I did. He doesn’t confide in me these days.”
“He was close to his grandfather, wasn’t he?”
The understanding in the teacher’s eyes allowed Bethany to unburden herself. “They were very close. Since Elijah’s death Ivan has refused to talk to me about what’s troubling him. He’s changed so much. I was hoping he might have confided in you.”
“I am deeply sorry for your loss. Elijah was well liked in this community.”
“Thank you.”
“Your brother’s grades were not the best before your grandfather passed away. Since that time, he has earned nothing but Fs for incomplete work. Even when he is here he seems withdrawn until someone speaks to him. Then he’s ready to start a fight over nothing. Unless he does extra-credit work and turns in his missing assignments, I’m afraid he is going to flunk the semester. I know that according to your religion this is his last year of education, but I still have to follow state guidelines. That puts me between a rock and a hard place. If he flunks the semester, he’ll have to attend summer school.”
Bethany shook her head. “Ivan will be needed on the farm this summer. I don’t see how we could spare him even a few hours a day.”
“In that case he will have to repeat this grade next year. Talk to him. Try to make him see what’s at stake.” She removed a folder from another drawer. “Give these assignments to him. Hopefully he can finish most of them over the weekend.”
“I will. Thank you.” Bethany was angry with Ivan for his deceit, but she was more disappointed in herself. Where had she gone wrong? How had she failed him? She tried to be a parent to her siblings but without her grandfather’s help she didn’t know how to reach Ivan. Maybe letting him return to Pennsylvania would be for the best.
Except that it didn’t feel like the right solution. She loved her brother. She