Samuel’s stern face relaxed. “I appreciate your honesty and I accept your apology, but you chose to do a foolish thing without thinking of others. Agnes Martin told me both your sister and your teacher were inside the building. What if that rock had struck your teacher or the broken glass had fallen on your sister? I know the loss of your parents must weigh heavily on your mind, Otto. Your move to our community was not your choice but one made for you by your brother. In all things joyful and sorrowful we must accept the will of Gott without question.”
Otto stared at the ground and didn’t reply.
“I spoke with the bishop and Leroy Lapp,” Samuel said. “We will meet with you tomorrow morning at eight o’clock to decide your punishment.”
A worried frown drew Otto’s eyebrows together as he looked up. “Is that necessary? I said I was sorry.”
“Our actions have consequences. It is important you learn that.” Samuel nodded toward Eva and Willis and then returned to his buggy and drove off.
Eva laid a hand on Otto’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Devouring wayward children is against the law. I’ll be there to make sure they remember that.”
Otto didn’t smile. Neither did Willis. It had been years since Willis had been called before the school board to explain his actions, but he still remembered the sick feeling in his stomach. As much as he wanted to spare Otto the humiliation, he knew he couldn’t.
Eva entered the school the next morning and found the broken glass had been picked up and the floor swept clean as Otto had promised. It wasn’t long before Bishop Schultz, Leroy Lapp and Samuel Yoder came in. They examined the window without speaking to her, muttering amongst themselves. She hadn’t been invited to sit in on the meeting but none of them objected to her presence. Finally, they moved a table to the front of the room, lined their chairs up behind it and sat down to wait. It was very reminiscent of her interview only days before. She wondered if poor Otto was as nervous as she had been that day.
She clasped her hands together. “I have a suggestion to make regarding Otto’s punishment if you are willing to hear it.”
“We’re listening,” the bishop said.
Eva explained her plan. The men listened in silence. When she was finished she sat on the bench under the unbroken window and waited.
Willis and Otto walked in at eight o’clock. Willis took a seat beside her. Otto walked over to stand in front of the school board with his straw hat in his hands. The men spoke to him in low voices. Willis leaned toward Eva. “Any idea what this outcome will be?”
“I did make a suggestion, but I don’t know if they will follow it. I don’t believe Otto meant any harm but destruction of school property is a serious matter.”
“He already dislikes school. This isn’t going to make it any easier on him. The families in this area are excited to have their own school. They’re not going to like that a newcomer broke out a window before the first day of class.”
“People will understand that such things happen,” she whispered.
“I hope so.”
The bishop gestured to Eva and Willis. They came and stood on either side of the boy. Willis laid his arm across Otto’s shoulders.
Samuel Yoder put his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers together. “The window must be paid for. We don’t feel it is right to penalize you, Willis, for something your brother did.”
Willis gave a half smile. “I’ll be happy to provide the labor to put a new one in.”
“That is acceptable. The school board has enough funds in the treasury to replace the window, but that money should’ve gone toward schoolbooks and supplies for everyone, Otto. Some children may go without because of your carelessness.”
“I can get a job and pay you back.”
“Where? There are not many jobs around here for a boy your age. Your teacher has come up with a plan we agree with.”
Eva smiled at Otto. “When school starts you will stay after each day for two months to sweep up, clean the blackboards, dust the erasers and take out the trash. At the end of two months we will consider the debt paid as long as you do a good job.”
She glanced at Willis. He nodded his approval.
“Are we settled, then?” Willis asked. “I’m behind in my work and I must get back to it.”
“Eva has an additional task for Otto today, but you may go, Willis.” The bishop stood up. “We all have to get back to our work. Let this be the last time we meet this way, Otto Gingrich.”
Otto nodded without speaking. The men filed out, leaving Eva alone with the boy. She squeezed his shoulder. “That wasn’t so bad.”
“I guess not. The bishop said you had something else for me to do.”
“When my teacher wanted to make sure I remembered something important she made me write it on the blackboard one hundred times. I want you to write, ‘I will respect school property’ one hundred times.”
“Now? Willis needs me to help in the forge today. I have to get going.”
He started to turn away but she clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I want it today. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will finish and then you may go help Willis.”
Otto shuffled toward the blackboard. She returned the chairs to their places and sat down at her desk and began to read through the first grade primer to see what she would be teaching.
“There’s no chalk. Guess I’ll have to do this later.” Otto headed toward the door.
“I have some chalk here.” She opened the top drawer and pulled out a box of chalk
