“Grumpy old Mr. Johnson came and said he wouldn’t pay Willis because his potato digger wasn’t fixed so my brother had to finish the job. He’s always working. He’s sorry he couldn’t come back and take care of you.”
“It’s only a minor bump. He shouldn’t worry about me.”
“Can I ask you about school?”
Eva nodded and winced at the pain in the side of her head. It dawned on her that her students weren’t some vague group of well-behaved children. They were going to be real kids like Maddie with questions Eva might not have the answers for; then what? Here was her first test. “Ask me anything you want.”
“Can my friend Bubble sit beside me?”
Eva pondered the question. What would the school board say if she asked for a desk for an imaginary child? She smiled at the thought. “What grade will you be in?”
“The first grade. We’ve never been to school before, but my brothers Otto and Harley went to school back home before Mamm and Daed went to heaven.”
A wave of pity for the little girl swept through Eva. “I’m sorry. That must have been a very sad time for you and your brothers.”
Maddie sat beside Eva on the bench and stared at the floor. “It was. Bubble cried a lot, but she was happier when Willis said we could come and live with him.”
“I’m glad she is happier. And did you cry a lot?”
“Not too much. Our old bishop said it was Gott’s plan for them and not to be sad.”
“It’s okay to be sad. Gott understands that we miss the ones we love.”
“He does?”
Eva nodded. “The Lord knows everything in our heart and he understand our grief.”
Maddie put her arm around her imaginary friend. “Did you hear that, Bubble? It’s okay if we cry. Not right now. Maybe later.”
Eva slipped her arm around Maddie. “If we have enough desks for all the students Bubble can sit beside you. Otherwise, she can stay here on this bench during school hours. Does that sound acceptable?”
“She says it is.”
What an adorable child. “How long have you lived with Willis?”
“I don’t know. A lot of days.”
Days, not months or years so her grief was recent. “Were you here in the winter when it snowed?”
“Nope. The snow was mostly gone when we came. Willis says we will see a lot of snow before Christmas. Maybe even before Thanksgiving. It can snow up to the roof sometimes. I like the snow, don’t you? I like to catch snowflakes on my tongue.”
“I do like the snow.” Eva wasn’t so sure about snow that was roof high. She would have to invest in a good snow shovel.
“Otto says he hates school. I won’t hate school. I think it will be wonderful.”
“Maybe Otto won’t hate it if I’m his teacher.” Or maybe he would. How would she know if she was doing an adequate job or not?
“Will you tell Otto he’s stupid if he gets something wrong?”
“Oh, nee. That wouldn’t be nice.”
“Otto’s last teacher told him he was stupid. Daed and Mamm were mighty upset.”
Eva filed that piece of information away. It sounded as if Otto’s former teacher wasn’t patient or kind, but it was possible Maddie had misunderstood. “What does Harley think of school?”
“He says it’s okay as long as he gets to play baseball.”
“I’m sure we will play lots of ball.” That was something she hadn’t done since she was fourteen. Even then she wasn’t good at it. She’d spent most of her recesses reading.
“My brothers don’t help Willis much. He works and works all the time. He never has time to put shoes on my pony so I can go riding. Otto is always mad that he had to leave his friends in Ohio, and Harley disappears into the woods for hours without telling me where he is going. Bubble gets mighty put out with them sometimes.” Maddie gave a long-suffering sigh.
“I can see why.” Eva was tempted to laugh but managed to keep a straight face.
“You do?” Maddie smiled brightly.
“Absolutely. Bubble is very perceptive for someone so young.”
“I don’t know what that means. Bubble says Willis needs a wife to help him.”
Eva laughed. “Bubble may be right. Especially if Willis is a bad cook.”
The outside door opened and Willis came in. Maddie jumped off the bench. “I have to go.” She darted past her brother and ran outside.
He shook his head and crossed the room to where Eva was sitting. “How’s the bump?”
“Much better. Danki for the ice.” She handed the bag and towel to him. “Your little sister is delightful.”
His expression grew wary. “She is an unusual kid.”
Eva chuckled as she got to her feet. “She is that. I met Bubble and I enjoyed talking to her. She’s a fountain of information.”
His eyes narrowed. “About what?”
“Oh, everything. I really must be going. I have a lot to do before school starts next month. Goodbye.” She pinned her kapp to her hair as she headed for the door.
“I’ll get that chair fixed for you,” he called after her.
Eva went down the steps and chuckled all the way to her new house a few hundred feet south of the school. Poor Willis Gingrich had his hands full with his siblings if Maddie was to be believed. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Willis standing on the steps of the school, watching her. An odd little rush of happiness made her smile. She raised a hand and waved but he was already striding toward his workshop and didn’t wave back.
She went into her new house that had been sparsely furnished by the school board and church members. Eva had arrived in New Covenant by bus two days ago. Bishop Schultz and his wife had graciously allowed Eva to stay in the teacher’s home until after her interview. Now she wouldn’t have to repack her things. She was home.
At a small cherrywood desk she pulled out a sheet of paper and sat down to write
