Katie Opens Her Heart Read Free

they say. What with their jobs and all. But not too busy to stop by Mom’s place and load up on goodies. They even know the days I come down here. Figure that! And this from children who don’t even remember my birthday!”
    The woman stopped for a breath again just as Katie bagged the last pie. The total on the register was high, but the woman never blinked as she slid her Visa through the credit card processor. Katie waited until the woman moved away from the counter before she turned to the next customer.
    This one was an Englisha man about her age. He was tall, and his blue eyes twinkled as he smiled. Katie managed a quick smile as she ran his items over the scanner. Why was he looking at her that way? Katie wondered. Young, good-looking guys like this one never paid her any attention. Maybe he’s just having a very good day.
    “That was kind of funny,” he said. “The way she never let you get a word in edgewise.”
    Katie took a moment to look up before she answered. “Oh, I didn’t mind.”
    “You must be very patient,” he said. “I find people like her interesting. Do you find people interesting?” He sounded curious.
    Katie looked down and forced her hands to move, entering the amount for his sandwich manually. “Most people,” she finally managed, not looking at him.
    Esther Kuntz had fixed this sandwich only minutes ago at the deli counter. That would mean this boy had talked with Esther. He probably was still under the spell of her many charms. That girl could spew out words like water from the rock Moses hit with his staff. So why was this boy speaking with her, with plain Katie, who usually couldn’t get an interesting sentence out if her life depended on it?
    “You look like a person who is a good listener,” he said with a short laugh.
    Her voice barely a whisper, Katie asked, “Will that be all?”
    What a stupid thing to ask, she thought. Of course that was all he wanted. She was working the register, not the deli counter where customers often did want more. Esther would roll on the floor laughing if she saw this exchange. “No wonder you never get a date,” Esther would say. “Your verbal skills are on the level of a farm horse.”
    “I think this will do just fine,” the young man replied, acting like Katie had just said something brilliant.
    Katie took his offered money. The change came to a dollar ten, and she handed it to him.
    He smiled but didn’t move on. “Do you work here regularly?”
    “Most days.” Katie’s voice squeaked. “On weekdays, that is. Unless, of course, I’m sick, which is hardly ever. And sometimes on Saturdays.”
    “I’ve seen you here before,” he said, eyes twinkling again. “Well, have a good day. And maybe you will listen to me chatter sometime.”
    “Of course. I–I’d l–love to,” Katie stammered out.
    The young man left then, the double doors swinging behind him. Katie stood still for a moment. Had she really spoken to an Englisha boy? Had he actually noticed she existed? She turned to the next customer and began scanning her purchases. This woman didn’t seem to mind her silence. She paid with cash when Katie announced the total.
    As the woman left, Katie quickly glanced at Arlene. She was looking at her with a slight smile on her face. Ugh , Katie thought. Arlene had noticed the exchange with the Englisha boy. Did Arlene know him? It was possible. Arlene was in her rumspringa , and she seemed to know everyone in town—Amish and Englisha . Now there would be no end to Arlene’s teasing. Thankfully the customer line was still full at both of their registers, but this was bound to change soon.
    Sure enough, twenty minutes later the lines had died down. Katie knew what would happen.
    Arlene glanced around, and seeing no one approaching, sneaked over to whisper to Katie. “I can’t believe what I saw! You were chatting with Mark Bishop like he was your best friend.”
    “Who’s Mark Bishop?” Katie asked, trying to keep her blush