“Don’t you turn your back on me!” Ida exclaimed, dogging his every step, “What is that supposed to mean, David? Are you so unhappy with me as a wife that you’ve had to drown yourself in this?” Grabbing for the bottle of whisky, she held it up in his face, “Do you have to hide whisky out here in this barn so you’ll have something to turn to when you’re sick of dealing with me?”
David couldn’t take it any longer. Grabbing the bottle out of her hands, he flipped it upside down, pouring all the contents on the barn floor. Tossing the empty glass bottle aside, he reached out and grabbed his wife by the arm, shaking her as he asked, “There! There you go! Are you happy now? You just made me pour it out and waste it all. There you go!”
“David,” Ida’s eyes were starting to fill with tears, “Let go of me, David! You’re hurting me!”
Every time she tried to flinch, David tightened his grip. Gritting his teeth together, David yelled, “Are you happy with me now?” Letting his emotions get the best of him, David lifted his hand above her face.
“David!” A voice yelled out. But this time it wasn’t Ida.
Looking up in surprise, David was met with the bishop and church elders standing only a few feet away watching the entire scene unfold before them.
Chapter Three
As soon as David saw the church leaders, he released his grip on his wife. He looked down at the tops of his black boots, unable to meet their stares over the weight of his shame.
“Ida,” the bishop took a deep breath, obviously struggling to compose himself, “Are you all right?”
Reaching up to wipe at tears, David could hear the tremble in her voice when she whispered, “Jah, I’m fine. I need to get in the house to check on Lucas.”
Pushing past the crowd of Amish men, Ida hurried away.
Of course, she’d leave. She wouldn’t leave when David wanted her to but, as soon as she was faced with something unpleasant, she was quick to turn and make her escape. Even in his humiliation, David had to let out a snort when he thought about the irony of it all.
“David,” Bishop Pete let out a deep sigh, “We need to talk. Let’s make our way to the house and visit with Ida for a few minutes.”
Going to the house was the last thing that David wanted to do, but he knew he would have to submit to the church leaders if he didn’t want to face the bann. When they reached the house, Ida assured them that Lucas was still sound asleep in his bed.
Bishop Pete motioned toward the empty kitchen table, “Why don’t you have a seat?”
Ida stood in the shadows, wiping her eyes and trying to gather her composure.
“Would anyone like some tea and pie?” Ida managed to ask, her voice still shaky.
Bishop Pete shook his head, “No, Ida. We’re all fine. We don’t just want to talk to David – we want to talk to you, as well.”
David felt himself flinch as his wife pulled a chair out beside him. If she hadn’t pestered him so much, the church elders wouldn’t have seen such a hideous outburst! David didn’t want her near him.
Bishop Pete was silent for a few moments before asking, “Ida, are you all right? Do you need anything?”
“Do you need a doctor?” One of the more outspoken elders pressured.
Ida shook her head quickly, “Ach, no! Goodness, I’m not hurt...just shook up is all.”
Bishop Pete was the next one to ask, “Does this happen regularly, Ida?”
Ida was silent before asking, “Does what happen?”
“Does your husband beat you?” Someone else asked boldly.
David felt like crawling under the table and hiding. It would be just like Ida to lie and say that he did. She was always out to make him seem like a bad husband.
“No,” Ida announced firmly, “Not at all. David has had a lot of stress...and he’s seemed different since his mom died. We’ve always argued over the drinking, but never like this. Today was the worst things have ever been.”
“How much does he drink?”
Ida shrugged, “I do not know.”
“David,” Bishop Pete leaned forward and studied David across the table, “how much are you drinking?”
David leaned back in his seat and let out a deep breath, “Maybe once a week,” he shrugged, “Drinking is not against our Ordnung, Pete.”
“I know the Ordnung better than anyone,” Pete returned, “David, we came out here because some of the elders mentioned you were harsh with Ida this morning. I wanted to talk about it and see if we could help.”
David grimaced inwardly when he remembered grabbing Ida’s hand after the church service that morning.
“After what I just witnessed in the barn, I think it’s safe to say that we truly have a bad situation developing here.”
David fought the urge to jut out his bottom jaw in defiance as he tried to find the courage to stare the community leader in the eyes.
“It’s got to stop, David,” Pete announced firmly, pounding his fist against the table, “Before this turns into something nasty, it has to end. From here on out, you are not to react to your wife in anger. I don’t know what is going on with you, but you need to work it out between yourself, God, and Ida. You are not to put a hand on Ida or Lucas unless it is done in love.” Letting out a deep breath, Bishop Pete added, “And, regardless of how little you are drinking, it’s obvious it’s causing problems with your family. From now on, you are to buy no more alcohol and you are to drink no more alcohol.”
David slowly nodded his head. What else was he supposed to do?
The bishop went on to explain that if David refused to go along with their agreement, he would face serious consequences for his behavior.
When the church leaders left, David refused to eat and
