An Amish Family Christmas. Marta Perry
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started it,” Seth said quickly.
“Did not,” William retorted. “He did.”
“Did n—”
“Stop.” She halted the repetition of blame. “Were you arguing over the baseball?” Some of the older boys had been tossing it around before the trouble started.
Seth nodded. “It went toward him, and he wouldn’t give it back.”
“I was going to throw it.” William glared belligerently. “You didn’t need to grab.”
“So, you were both wrong,” she said. “That is not how we settle disputes in our school. You know that. You’ll both stay after school and wash the boards for me today.” She knew that would make an impact. While the girls vied for the opportunity to clean the chalkboards, the boys hated the job. For some reason she didn’t understand, they’d decided it was unmanly.
“Yah, Teacher Susannah.” Seth edged backward, and when she didn’t say anything more, he hurried back to his interrupted recess.
William took a few steps, his expression hostile, then stopped. “Are you going to tell my daadi?”
Susannah’s heart softened. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
The expression that swept across his face couldn’t be missed. Disappointment. Why was the boy disappointed? Relief would be more natural, wouldn’t it?
Jaw set, William turned away, contriving to knock the books off the nearest desk as he did so.
“Perhaps I should ask your father to come in,” she said, watching for his reaction.
William shrugged. “He can’t. He’s busy working all the time.”
Susannah surveyed the boy thoughtfully. That surely wasn’t true, but she had a feeling William thought it was. Possibly this attitude was a hangover from what must have been very difficult times. Toby had been working in a factory, he’d said, so he wouldn’t have been able to take time off during the day very often.
Most Amish, if they could manage it, preferred to farm or run a home-based business so that the family could work together. Toby apparently hadn’t had that choice, and with a sick wife and no relatives close at hand, he’d probably had little time for anything else.
“It might be different here,” she suggested, concerned that she might be venturing too far into personal territory.
William shook his head, pressing his lips together. “Can I go?”
She nodded, feeling helpless, and watched him leave the room with a swagger probably designed to tell anyone who saw him that he didn’t care about getting into trouble with the teacher.
She really didn’t want to have any further private conversations with Toby, but she was afraid she’d have to.
The opportunity arose when Toby came to pick up his children from school. After a look at his son, busily washing the chalkboards, he walked out of the schoolhouse and approached Susannah where she stood on the steps, waving goodbye to her scholars.
“I take it William is in trouble already.” He stood at the top of the steps, looking down at her.
Susannah went up a step. Toby had quite enough of a height advantage on her already, without adding any more. “I’m afraid so.”
He looked as if he was bracing himself for the news. “How bad?”
“Not bad at all.” She smiled to lessen the sting he was undoubtedly feeling. No parent wanted to hear that his child hadn’t behaved properly. “I thought a session of washing the boards together might be good for both Seth and William.”
Toby put one hand on the porch post, looking as if he’d like to pull it loose and throw it. “Fighting?”
“Just pushing each other. There’s no need for you to say anything more to him. I can deal with what happens at my school.”
“I’m sure you can.” His glance held a hint of surprise. “You’ve changed, Susannah.”
“I’ve grown up,” she corrected. “We both have.”
He blew out a sigh. “I don’t know. Grown-ups are supposed to have the answers, aren’t they? I don’t seem to have any.”
“No one does. We just muddle along and do our best to live as God wants.”
She’d had every intention of keeping her conversations with him cool and impersonal, and here they were, talking like old friends again. Like people who’d known each other so long that they barely needed to use words.
“What can I do, Susannah?” He was looking at her, his eyes so honest and pleading that she knew she had to help him, no matter the risk to her heart.
“I’ve been giving it some thought,” she said carefully. “It seems to me that Anna just needs a bit of time and patience to ease her transition to her new life. As for William...” She had to proceed slowly. She didn’t want to add to Toby’s burdens, but he seemed to be the key to the boy’s difficulties. “Perhaps if you could spend more time with him—”
“Do you think I don’t know that I’m to blame?” The quick flash of anger seemed to be directed more at himself than at her. “That’s the main reason I moved back here. I want William to have the kind of relationship with me that I had with my daad, working together, enjoying each other....” His voice trailed off.
“I know,” she said softly. “I thought perhaps if you volunteered to help with the Christmas program, it would be a start. William could work with you building the props and getting the classroom ready. And Anna would find reassurance in having you close at hand during part of her school day.”
And what would she find in having Toby in her classroom, seeing him often, trying to manage her rebellious heart?
But Toby’s face had already brightened at her suggestion. “That’s a fine idea, Susannah. If you’re sure you can stand having me around so much, that is.”
She couldn’t force a smile no matter how hard she tried, but she nodded. “Gut. That’s settled, then. We’ll start work on the program on Monday afternoon.”
“I’ll be here,” he said. He started to turn toward the classroom and his kinder, and then stopped, looking into her face. “You’re a kind person, Susannah. I won’t forget this.”
His fingers brushed her hand, and awareness shimmered across her skin. No. She wouldn’t forget, either.
* * *
Susannah sat beside Becky in the buggy on Saturday, struggling to find the best way of telling her friend she was going to be working with Toby. There didn’t seem to be any.
Becky was bound to disapprove, and Susannah could hardly blame her. After all, it was Becky who’d seen her through that terrible time after Toby left.
Back then, Susannah had managed to keep her calm facade in place with other people. That had been prideful, most likely, but it had seemed necessary. She hadn’t wanted to burden her parents or Toby’s with her hurt. It was only with Becky that she’d felt free to expose her inner grief and pain.
They were pulling into the parking area at Byler’s Book Shop, and she still hadn’t managed to bring up the subject. Byler’s, like most Amish businesses, was located right on the family farm—a square, cement-block building to house the store, run by Etta Byler, with the help of various sisters and cousins.
Becky parked the buggy at the hitching rail, and they both slid down. “I love having a reason to visit the book shop.” Becky was smiling in anticipation. “I think I’ll get a book for each of the twins for Christmas. After I help find the materials for the program, of course.”
“You can do all the browsing you want,”