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science so I could be a nurse—or a doctor!”
    Leah laughed at her sister’s growing ambitions. It didn’t seem right to keep a girl like Ada from learning everything she wanted to learn. What if she did have the ability to become a doctor? Why should Ada have to give that up just to fit in with all the past ancestors? As for herself, she could think of many things more dangerous and sinful than wanting to study the Bible in a language she could understand.
    Without stopping to think, Leah blurted out, “I know Maem and Daet wouldn’t like it, but I might call Naomi Schrock so I can go to the Bible study on Tuesday.”
    Ada turned rounded eyes to her sister. “You’ll get in trouble if they find out, Leah.”
    “I know, but I want to go just once, to see what it’s like—after that, I won’t go anymore.”
    Ada thought for a minute and then grinned. “Me, too.”
    Leah immediately shook her head. “Now Ada—”
    “No! I want to go, too, Leah.”
    “I’ll get into trouble, for sure, if I lead you astray right along with me.”
    “We may as well be in trouble then, for no matter what we do, if we’re even thinking of going, we’re already in hot water. Being rebellious is a bad thing, you know.”
    “Rebellious? Who said anything about that?”
    “That’s what it’d be, Leah. Wouldn’t it? That’s how Maem and Daet and, for sure, Bishop Miller would see it.”
    She stopped talking. Leah didn’t think going to a Bible study should be called rebellion. That seemed too strong a word for what she wanted to do.
    Another example of a senseless rule.

    Once Ada and Leah finished chores, Maem called them in to help prepare dinner. “Girls, can one of you bake the pie crusts so I can fill them after supper? Joe-Ida sent a good amount of berries to me today. Won’t a piece of pie taste gut later? And I need someone to peel these potatoes so they can be boiled and mashed.”
    Leah placed the pie crusts in the oven, then perched on a stool near her mother. She glanced at Ada, and her sister winked. She’d guessed what Leah was about to do.
    “ Maem , remember when I told you the Schrocks have a Bible study at their house?”
    Busy with her work, Maem nodded distractedly.
    “Um … I was thinking … that is … I was wondering if it’d be okay for me to go—just this once—on Tuesday?”
    “Me, too,” Ada jumped in.
    Maem stopped what she was doing and looked first at Leah and then at Ada. She shook her head in disbelief and frowned. “Why are you bringing this up? You know what Daet and I said about that, Leah—and you, Ada! Since when do you know anything about this … this Englisher Bible study?” Her cheeks reddened below furrowed brows.
    Maem placed her hands on her hips. “No more about this now. Get the idea right out of your heads and don’t dare bring this up with your Daet. I’m done dealing with this, and I suspect Martha has been talking to you again, Leah. And one more thing—”
    Maem pointed at her. “You have things you don’t like about our ways—things you want to do that the Ordnung forbids. Go ahead then, do your rebellious acts if you have to, but don’t include your younger sister.” She glared at Leah and stomped out of the kitchen.
    Leah’s face blazed, humiliated by Maem ’s unusual outburst. She dropped her gaze to her shoes, trying very hard to control the now familiar resentment uncurling in her heart.
    She glanced up at Ada. Her younger sister was peeling potatoes, cheeks slightly pinker than normal, but showing no apparent qualms. How did she did do that? How did she not lose her temper at Maem ’s lecture?
    Leah turned away and left the kitchen abruptly. She had to get out of there before she said something she’d regret. For now, she’d drop the idea of going to the Bible study, but in her heart, the longing still burned.

    The following Sunday, the community gathered at the Masts’ farm for services. Leah saw no sign there may have been trouble with