Read Online Going Home by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online Page A

Even as the words slipped off her tongue, Faith wondered if her prediction would come true. Melinda had worn fancy dresses, blue jeans, and shorts ever since she’d been a baby, and wearing plain dresses all the time would be a difficult transition.
    “Here’s the last towel, Mama. Now can I go swing?”
    “Maybe after lunch.” Faith was relieved that Melinda hadquickly changed the subject. Maybe the child would adjust after all. She seemed to enjoy many things on the farm—spending time with Aunt Susie, playing with the barn cats, helping Grandpa milk the cows, swinging on the same wooden swing Faith had used when she was a little girl. In time, she hoped Melinda would learn to be content with everything about her new life as an Amish girl. In the meantime, Faith would try to make her daughter feel as secure as possible and show her some of the good things about being Plain.
    Faith was determined to make this work for Melinda and equally determined to get back on the road as soon as possible. Mama was already pressing her about taking classes so she could be baptized and join the church. Faith didn’t know how much longer she could put it off, but for now she had convinced her mother that she needed more time to adjust to the Amish way of life. She’d been gone a long time and couldn’t be expected to change overnight. Not that she planned to change. Whenever Faith had a few moments alone, she practiced her yodeling skills and told a few jokes to whatever animal she might be feeding. Soon she would be onstage again, wearing her hillbilly costume and entertaining an approving audience. Around here, no one seemed to appreciate anything that wasn’t related to hard work.
    Faith hung the last article of clothing on the line, picked up the wicker basket, and took hold of Melinda’s hand. As much as Faith wanted to go back on the road, she had to stay awhile longer—to be sure Melinda was accepted and had adjusted well enough to her new surroundings. Besides, despite several phone calls Faith had managed to make from town, she hadn’t foundan agent to represent her yet. Without an agent, her career would go nowhere. On her own, all Faith could hope for were one-night stands and programs in small theaters that didn’t pay nearly as well as the bigger ones.
    “Let’s go to the kitchen and see what we can make for our picnic lunch, shall we?” Faith suggested to Melinda, knowing she needed to get her mind on something else.
    The child nodded eagerly, and the soft ma–a–a of a nearby goat caused them both to laugh as they skipped along the path leading to the house. On the way, they tromped through a mud puddle made by the rain that had fallen during the night. Faith felt the grimy mud ooze between her bare toes. She’d almost forgotten what it was like to go barefoot every summer. It wasn’t such a bad thing, really. Especially on the grass, so soft and cushy. It was good to laugh and spend time with her daughter like this. No telling how many more weeks she would have with Melinda.
    When Faith and Melinda entered the kitchen a few minutes later, they were greeted with a look of disapproval from Faith’s mother. “Ach, my! Your feet are all muddy. Can’t you see that I just cleaned the floor?”
    Faith looked down at the grubby footprints they had created. “Sorry, Mama. We’ll go back outside and clean the dirt off our feet.” She grabbed a towel from the counter, took Melinda’s hand, and scooted her out the door.
    “Grandma Stutzman’s mean,” Melinda said tearfully. “She’s always hollering about something or other.”
    “It might seem so, but Grandma just wants to keep her kitchen clean.” Faith led her daughter over to the pump. Shewashed their feet and dried them.
    “Can we still take our lunch down by the pond?” Melinda questioned.
    “Sure we can.”
    “And Susie can come, too?”
    “If Grandma says it’s all right.”
    Melinda’s lower lip protruded. “She’ll probably say no