Read Online For Sure & Certain by Anya Monroe - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anya Monroe
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help your classmates had.”
“Being smart and understanding test prep books don’t really matter when people are choosing a group member, do they?” Abel remembered picking volleyball teams back at the Singings he attended at home. The youth would gather for their weekly evening together, and before sitting on benches for rounds of songs, they would play volleyball. Teams weren’t just chosen based on physical ability, a chance to play next to a pretty girl trumped winning. He didn’t know the rules here.
“If all else fails, and no one wants to be in our group, we can offer them my stash of edibles.”
Abel smiled tightly, knowing it would be easy if it were as simple as that.
***
Back in the dorm room, the landline rang for the first time. “Abel, it’s for you,” Lacey said in surprise. “It’s your brother.” No one had called for Abel since they had moved in together a few weeks ago, and Lacey only used his cell. Abel grabbed it, filled with worried, not expecting a phone call from his family.
“Hello? Eli, is everything okay?” Abel asked.
“Ja, bother, ‘tis.” Eli’s voice was easy and light and Abel’s heartbeat slowed, grateful everything was okay at home. “But I was calling for your help, I could really use it.”
“Must be mighty important for you to use a telephone.”
“Tis a business call, I’m not breaking the Ordung.” Abel assumed as much, the Ordung was the governing book in which the Amish built their lives around.
“I didn’t say you were, just surprised is all, your voice sounds different through the wire.”
“You really want to talk about my voice, or do you want to know why I’m calling?”
“Get on with it then.” Abel smiled, hearing his brother’s voice was more comforting than he’d expected.
“The shearing for this weekend is a mess. Dad’s not saying it, but I know he’s overwhelmed.”
“I left instructions, Eli.” Abel had spent weeks detailing the shearing that needed to take place this weekend. It was a big job and one he’d overseen last year as it had been his idea to purchase the second flock that had a wool yield, in addition to the sheep flock they always kept for meat. “Dad did it for decades without me, surely he can manage on his own again.”
“Not for such a large band, he grew up with maybe a hundred sheep to shear. Your new system has a thousand.”
“Did he ask you to call?”
“Not in as many words, but Mom was more clear. She’s worried about him, Abel, we all are.”
“You shouldn’t worry, you have enough on your plate with the baby coming and the farm.” Eli worked for his wife Sarah’s family, and planned on taking over when her father retired.
“Ja, and I know nothing about the sheep, not besides feeding the ewes.”
“Ack, I don’t want to be a burden.” Abel should have prepared himself for a phone call like this, but he hadn’t, and now his plans were going to change to accommodate his family. His selfish ambition tore at him; it shouldn’t be so hard to want to help the people you love. But it wasn’t his first nature, it never had been.
“It is a burden though. Even with the hired hands here this weekend, Dad needs his son. He needs you.”
“I can come Friday after class. I’ll be there.”
“That’s right gud, it will give Dad relief.” Eli paused. “There’s another thing Mom asked about, but I know it’s not business, so maybe we should wait to talk this weekend.”
“Just say it, Eli, you know you’re gonna.”
“Esther’s moved to Ohio, to stay with her cousin. She up and left last week, your sister is a mess over losing her dear friend. Apparently word is you and her are over? But how can that be?”
“Tis true.”
“But I thought you and her were making plans, planting celery come spring.”
“Nah, I ended it before I came to school, it wouldn’t be right of me to string her along. I wish her well, she’s right good, just not right good for me.”
“Being smart and understanding test prep books don’t really matter when people are choosing a group member, do they?” Abel remembered picking volleyball teams back at the Singings he attended at home. The youth would gather for their weekly evening together, and before sitting on benches for rounds of songs, they would play volleyball. Teams weren’t just chosen based on physical ability, a chance to play next to a pretty girl trumped winning. He didn’t know the rules here.
“If all else fails, and no one wants to be in our group, we can offer them my stash of edibles.”
Abel smiled tightly, knowing it would be easy if it were as simple as that.
***
Back in the dorm room, the landline rang for the first time. “Abel, it’s for you,” Lacey said in surprise. “It’s your brother.” No one had called for Abel since they had moved in together a few weeks ago, and Lacey only used his cell. Abel grabbed it, filled with worried, not expecting a phone call from his family.
“Hello? Eli, is everything okay?” Abel asked.
“Ja, bother, ‘tis.” Eli’s voice was easy and light and Abel’s heartbeat slowed, grateful everything was okay at home. “But I was calling for your help, I could really use it.”
“Must be mighty important for you to use a telephone.”
“Tis a business call, I’m not breaking the Ordung.” Abel assumed as much, the Ordung was the governing book in which the Amish built their lives around.
“I didn’t say you were, just surprised is all, your voice sounds different through the wire.”
“You really want to talk about my voice, or do you want to know why I’m calling?”
“Get on with it then.” Abel smiled, hearing his brother’s voice was more comforting than he’d expected.
“The shearing for this weekend is a mess. Dad’s not saying it, but I know he’s overwhelmed.”
“I left instructions, Eli.” Abel had spent weeks detailing the shearing that needed to take place this weekend. It was a big job and one he’d overseen last year as it had been his idea to purchase the second flock that had a wool yield, in addition to the sheep flock they always kept for meat. “Dad did it for decades without me, surely he can manage on his own again.”
“Not for such a large band, he grew up with maybe a hundred sheep to shear. Your new system has a thousand.”
“Did he ask you to call?”
“Not in as many words, but Mom was more clear. She’s worried about him, Abel, we all are.”
“You shouldn’t worry, you have enough on your plate with the baby coming and the farm.” Eli worked for his wife Sarah’s family, and planned on taking over when her father retired.
“Ja, and I know nothing about the sheep, not besides feeding the ewes.”
“Ack, I don’t want to be a burden.” Abel should have prepared himself for a phone call like this, but he hadn’t, and now his plans were going to change to accommodate his family. His selfish ambition tore at him; it shouldn’t be so hard to want to help the people you love. But it wasn’t his first nature, it never had been.
“It is a burden though. Even with the hired hands here this weekend, Dad needs his son. He needs you.”
“I can come Friday after class. I’ll be there.”
“That’s right gud, it will give Dad relief.” Eli paused. “There’s another thing Mom asked about, but I know it’s not business, so maybe we should wait to talk this weekend.”
“Just say it, Eli, you know you’re gonna.”
“Esther’s moved to Ohio, to stay with her cousin. She up and left last week, your sister is a mess over losing her dear friend. Apparently word is you and her are over? But how can that be?”
“Tis true.”
“But I thought you and her were making plans, planting celery come spring.”
“Nah, I ended it before I came to school, it wouldn’t be right of me to string her along. I wish her well, she’s right good, just not right good for me.”
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