shrugged.
“You’re welkum to watch,” the older man said. “There are extra coverings in the barn. We don’t want you to get stung. Bees notice dark-colored clothing, not this light stuff.” He turned to the younger man. “Aaron, take Joshua and get him set up. Danki.”
Joshua nodded and then glanced back at the pasture where Hi-C was waiting. He suspected he’d been sent out there just to give him something to do. If the Schwartzes had been really serious about wanting to turn that pasture into a field, they would have been out there working, too. As long as he had something to show for his time, he’d be fine.
And this would be an opportunity to get to know the Beilers better. Maybe find out a bit more about what made Annie tick.
It certainly wouldn’t hurt anything to get on her daed’s good side.
***
Later that evening, Annie gulped and looked around at the expressions of condemnation on the faces of the parents whose children she taught. They’d each had a chance to shoot accusations that ranged from petty grievances, such as the rail breaking off of the stairs—even though no one had fallen, and the board was responsible for maintenance—to complaints that she’d allegedly given one of the scholars a meat pie for lunch but had not offered anyone else anything. Meanwhile, the little girl who’d taken the pie food hadn’t had a bite to eat at the noon meal. So, of course, Annie had given her all she had—and gone hungry herself. Hardly grounds for dismissal. She’d explained away every issue as it was brought up, but she’d still felt the collective condemnation.
This next item on the table, though—she knew it could be serious. Her throat was dry, but she didn’t dare reach for the pitcher of water on the table, afraid she might choke on even the smallest sip.
When every parent had voiced his or her complaint about the infamous field trip, the oldest member of the school board, Samuel Brunstettler, studied her with eyes narrowed.
“What have you to say for yourself, Annie Beiler? Why would you take the scholars on a field trip, and to see a Civil War battlefield, of all places?”
He made it sound as if another destination might have been acceptable. But the meat of the matter was, she’d taken the students without obtaining their parents’ permission.
Annie shifted on the wooden chair but couldn’t find a comfortable position. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement in the doorway to the other room. Turning her head ever so slightly, she saw Joshua standing there, leaning against the doorframe. How long had he been watching? She hadn’t noticed amid the barrage of accusations. Now, it was impossible not to notice that his gaze was locked on her.
She swallowed and looked at Samuel Brunstettler. “We were studying American history. Wars are a big part of that, but they’re foreign to most of us, as conscientious objectors. I thought it would be worthwhile for them to see a battlefield up close. Wilson’s Creek isn’t that far away, and the war museum there is really interesting. I think the scholars learned a lot.”
“About fighting?” Samuel Brunstettler grunted. “About war?”
Annie shook her head. “The museum had some interactive displays about how both armies moved, but we mostly read about the generals and other officers who served during the war. We also walked around the grounds of the haus that was turned into a field hospital for the injured solders.”
“And you stressed what?” Seated across the table from Samuel Brunstettler, Bishop Sol fingered his beard and eyed her sternly. She wasn’t sure why he was present. He wasn’t on the school board. Maybe they figured she’d need some counseling after this.
They might not be wrong.
“I explained the two sides—the reasons they were fighting, why they believed what they did. We also discussed how they might have found an
“You’re welkum to watch,” the older man said. “There are extra coverings in the barn. We don’t want you to get stung. Bees notice dark-colored clothing, not this light stuff.” He turned to the younger man. “Aaron, take Joshua and get him set up. Danki.”
Joshua nodded and then glanced back at the pasture where Hi-C was waiting. He suspected he’d been sent out there just to give him something to do. If the Schwartzes had been really serious about wanting to turn that pasture into a field, they would have been out there working, too. As long as he had something to show for his time, he’d be fine.
And this would be an opportunity to get to know the Beilers better. Maybe find out a bit more about what made Annie tick.
It certainly wouldn’t hurt anything to get on her daed’s good side.
***
Later that evening, Annie gulped and looked around at the expressions of condemnation on the faces of the parents whose children she taught. They’d each had a chance to shoot accusations that ranged from petty grievances, such as the rail breaking off of the stairs—even though no one had fallen, and the board was responsible for maintenance—to complaints that she’d allegedly given one of the scholars a meat pie for lunch but had not offered anyone else anything. Meanwhile, the little girl who’d taken the pie food hadn’t had a bite to eat at the noon meal. So, of course, Annie had given her all she had—and gone hungry herself. Hardly grounds for dismissal. She’d explained away every issue as it was brought up, but she’d still felt the collective condemnation.
This next item on the table, though—she knew it could be serious. Her throat was dry, but she didn’t dare reach for the pitcher of water on the table, afraid she might choke on even the smallest sip.
When every parent had voiced his or her complaint about the infamous field trip, the oldest member of the school board, Samuel Brunstettler, studied her with eyes narrowed.
“What have you to say for yourself, Annie Beiler? Why would you take the scholars on a field trip, and to see a Civil War battlefield, of all places?”
He made it sound as if another destination might have been acceptable. But the meat of the matter was, she’d taken the students without obtaining their parents’ permission.
Annie shifted on the wooden chair but couldn’t find a comfortable position. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement in the doorway to the other room. Turning her head ever so slightly, she saw Joshua standing there, leaning against the doorframe. How long had he been watching? She hadn’t noticed amid the barrage of accusations. Now, it was impossible not to notice that his gaze was locked on her.
She swallowed and looked at Samuel Brunstettler. “We were studying American history. Wars are a big part of that, but they’re foreign to most of us, as conscientious objectors. I thought it would be worthwhile for them to see a battlefield up close. Wilson’s Creek isn’t that far away, and the war museum there is really interesting. I think the scholars learned a lot.”
“About fighting?” Samuel Brunstettler grunted. “About war?”
Annie shook her head. “The museum had some interactive displays about how both armies moved, but we mostly read about the generals and other officers who served during the war. We also walked around the grounds of the haus that was turned into a field hospital for the injured solders.”
“And you stressed what?” Seated across the table from Samuel Brunstettler, Bishop Sol fingered his beard and eyed her sternly. She wasn’t sure why he was present. He wasn’t on the school board. Maybe they figured she’d need some counseling after this.
They might not be wrong.
“I explained the two sides—the reasons they were fighting, why they believed what they did. We also discussed how they might have found an
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