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Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
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could use your help in the kitchen. You know how upset she gets when you spend too much time taking care of your critters.”
Melinda knew all too well how Mama felt about her animal friends. She’d never seemed to mind a couple of pets hanging around, but when Melinda had started bringing home creatures that lived in the woods, her mother had become less understanding.
“I won’t be but a few minutes,” she promised.
“Okay. See you at supper.” Papa Noah lifted his hand and went out the door.
Chapter 7
M elinda couldn’t remember when she’d been so excited about one of her birthdays as this one. It wasn’t turning nineteen that excited her so; it was knowing she would be able to spend the evening with Gabe.
“I wonder what he’ll give me,” she murmured as she stepped into a freshly ironed, blue cotton dress in preparation for the big event. She was sure it would be something he’d made. Gabe could take any plain piece of wood and turn it into something beautiful.
The twittering of birds outside Melinda’s open window drew her attention outdoors. At least she knew that Cinnamon, the squirrel Dr. Franklin had put in her care, wasn’t chasing any of the birds. This morning, she’d let the critter out of his cage for a bit and later caught him trying to eat at one of the bird feeders. After that, she’d put him back in the cage, and he would stay there until his foot was healed and she could set him free in the woods.
A warm breeze coming through Melinda’s bedroom window made the dark curtains dance. She drew in a deep breath and headed downstairs, excited that her guests would be arriving soon.
Outside, she discovered Papa Noah lighting the barbecue. He’d set up two large tables with benches, and Mama had covered them with green plastic tablecloths.
“It looks like we’re about ready,” Melinda remarked to her stepfather.
“Now all we need is our guests,” he said with a chuckle.
“They’ll be here soon, I expect.” Melinda took a seat on the end of the bench closest to the barbecue grill, where she could feel the heat already rising from the hot coals. “Where’s Grandpa Hertzler? I thought he would be out here already.”
Papa Noah blew out his breath with a puff of air that lifted the hair off his forehead. “I’m not sure what to do about him.”
“You mean his forgetfulness?”
“Jah. I reminded my daed this morning about your birthday party, but when I went over to his side of the house a few minutes ago, I found him asleep in his favorite chair.”
“Maybe he’s just feeling tired.”
“I thought that at first, but when I woke him and suggested he get ready for the party, he gave me a bewildered look. He didn’t seem to have any idea what I was talking about.”
Melinda frowned. “It’s hard to understand why some days he seems pretty good and other days he barely knows who we are.”
“Your mamm made him a doctor’s appointment in Springfield. I’m hoping they’ll run some tests that will help us know what’s wrong.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“I hear a buggy rumbling up the driveway,” Papa Noah said, glancing to the left. “Why don’t you go see who’s the first to arrive?”
Melinda stood. “Jah, okay.”
When she rounded the corner of the house, she was greeted by Gabe and his parents, Stephen and Leah Swartz.
Gabe offered her a friendly smile. “Happy birthday, Melinda.”
“Happy birthday,” Gabe’s folks said in unison.
“Danki.” Melinda motioned toward the house. “Papa Noah has the barbecue fired up, and Mama’s in the kitchen. So feel free to go out back or inside, whichever you like.”
“I believe I’ll go in the house and see if there’s anything I can do to help Faith,” Leah said.
“And I’ll head around back and find out what kind of meat Noah’s grilling,” Stephen put in.
As soon as Gabe’s folks left, he stepped up beside Melinda. “You sure
Melinda knew all too well how Mama felt about her animal friends. She’d never seemed to mind a couple of pets hanging around, but when Melinda had started bringing home creatures that lived in the woods, her mother had become less understanding.
“I won’t be but a few minutes,” she promised.
“Okay. See you at supper.” Papa Noah lifted his hand and went out the door.
Chapter 7
M elinda couldn’t remember when she’d been so excited about one of her birthdays as this one. It wasn’t turning nineteen that excited her so; it was knowing she would be able to spend the evening with Gabe.
“I wonder what he’ll give me,” she murmured as she stepped into a freshly ironed, blue cotton dress in preparation for the big event. She was sure it would be something he’d made. Gabe could take any plain piece of wood and turn it into something beautiful.
The twittering of birds outside Melinda’s open window drew her attention outdoors. At least she knew that Cinnamon, the squirrel Dr. Franklin had put in her care, wasn’t chasing any of the birds. This morning, she’d let the critter out of his cage for a bit and later caught him trying to eat at one of the bird feeders. After that, she’d put him back in the cage, and he would stay there until his foot was healed and she could set him free in the woods.
A warm breeze coming through Melinda’s bedroom window made the dark curtains dance. She drew in a deep breath and headed downstairs, excited that her guests would be arriving soon.
Outside, she discovered Papa Noah lighting the barbecue. He’d set up two large tables with benches, and Mama had covered them with green plastic tablecloths.
“It looks like we’re about ready,” Melinda remarked to her stepfather.
“Now all we need is our guests,” he said with a chuckle.
“They’ll be here soon, I expect.” Melinda took a seat on the end of the bench closest to the barbecue grill, where she could feel the heat already rising from the hot coals. “Where’s Grandpa Hertzler? I thought he would be out here already.”
Papa Noah blew out his breath with a puff of air that lifted the hair off his forehead. “I’m not sure what to do about him.”
“You mean his forgetfulness?”
“Jah. I reminded my daed this morning about your birthday party, but when I went over to his side of the house a few minutes ago, I found him asleep in his favorite chair.”
“Maybe he’s just feeling tired.”
“I thought that at first, but when I woke him and suggested he get ready for the party, he gave me a bewildered look. He didn’t seem to have any idea what I was talking about.”
Melinda frowned. “It’s hard to understand why some days he seems pretty good and other days he barely knows who we are.”
“Your mamm made him a doctor’s appointment in Springfield. I’m hoping they’ll run some tests that will help us know what’s wrong.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“I hear a buggy rumbling up the driveway,” Papa Noah said, glancing to the left. “Why don’t you go see who’s the first to arrive?”
Melinda stood. “Jah, okay.”
When she rounded the corner of the house, she was greeted by Gabe and his parents, Stephen and Leah Swartz.
Gabe offered her a friendly smile. “Happy birthday, Melinda.”
“Happy birthday,” Gabe’s folks said in unison.
“Danki.” Melinda motioned toward the house. “Papa Noah has the barbecue fired up, and Mama’s in the kitchen. So feel free to go out back or inside, whichever you like.”
“I believe I’ll go in the house and see if there’s anything I can do to help Faith,” Leah said.
“And I’ll head around back and find out what kind of meat Noah’s grilling,” Stephen put in.
As soon as Gabe’s folks left, he stepped up beside Melinda. “You sure
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