The Amish Teacher's Dilemma and Healing Their Amish Hearts by Patricia Davids (all ebook reader .txt) 📕

She hadn’t thought of that. If Bishop Schultz took Gene’s side she would have no choice but to return home. Her job would vanish and her relationship with her family would be strained. Tears pricked her eyes again. Was her stubborn pride worth a rift with her family? She had aunts, uncles and cousins who would side with Gene because they believed that family came first.

Danny put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug. “A lot can change in a month. Maybe the good Lord will decide you belong here.”

“Maybe. I’m going to write to Gene anyway.” She wasn’t going to lose hope.

“Will you tell Willis that you have been ordered home?”

Eva shook her head. “Not yet. He has been such a good friend to me. I will miss him more than I can say.”

“He seems like a fine man.”

She stepped to the sink and splashed water on her face. “I have a lot to do and not much time to do it in.”

Would she be able to face Willis without breaking down? She had to. For his sake as well as for hers.

That evening she wrote a lengthy letter to Gene explaining why she needed to stay in Maine and continue teaching. She didn’t mention Willis or how moving away from him and his wonderful family would break her heart.

After a troubled night’s sleep, Eva was ready to face the day, determined to enjoy what was left of her time in New Covenant if Gene’s mind wasn’t changed by her letter. The three children arrived in time for breakfast but Willis wasn’t with them. Eva was grateful for the reprieve. She wasn’t sure she could keep from crying. She made cinnamon rolls as a special treat for the children. A few minutes before eight o’clock, Harley left to go wherever Harley went. Eva, Otto, Danny and Maddie all went over to the schoolhouse.

She put Danny in charge of shelving the books and making note cards and note card holders so she could keep track of who had the books checked out. At least her books would be here if she was forced to leave. She prayed the children would find some solace in knowing she cared enough to leave her most prized possessions in their care.

“When is the first day of school?” Danny asked. He was on the floor thumbing through some of her books for the older students.

“It starts tomorrow at eight o’clock,” she said, wondering if she was ready. “When will you be leaving?”

“The middle of the week.”

She walked outside and returned a short time later with a shoebox lid. It held an inch of sand in the bottom. She sat down at her desk. “Otto, can you come here, please?”

He came over, looking at her with suspicion. “Ja, Teacher?”

“I know that you have had trouble reading and writing in school. Your records from you last school show it. I’ve consulted with some other teachers and we believe you may be suffering from dyslexia. It’s a condition that makes it very hard to learn to read or write. We can’t say for sure that you have it but there are tests that can tell us for certain that you do. Would you be willing to be tested?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. I should ask Willis.”

“That’s a good idea.” She held up the little box. “In the meantime, I would like you to practice writing some letters in this sandbox instead of with paper and pencil. I want you to spell sand one letter at a time.”

She scooted over to make room for him. “Come sit beside me. I’ll help you.”

“Is this the test?”

She smiled to reassure him. “Nee, this is a way to make learning easier for you.”

“Why write them in the sand?” Danny asked.

“With dyslexia, a child’s ability to identify a sound when they see the letter is impaired. This lets you see and feel the grains of sand as you work. It helps a different part of your brain remember the letter. Want to try it, Otto?”

Otto shrugged but he sat down with the box beside her desk. Eva smiled at him. “Let’s start with the letter S.” She drew it for him and she let him trace it over and over through the sand.

While Otto was doing that, she took Maddie to the bookshelf and allowed her to pick out a book for herself. She eagerly chose one and opened the book but there were words along with the pictures. She looked up at Eva. “I can’t read this.”

“I’ll help you read it,” Danny said.

“Are you as excited for school to start as I am? Can you believe it starts tomorrow?”

“I’m gonna walk to school. I don’t think Willis is ever going to shoe my pony.”

Eva felt she should defend him. “He’s had many things to do. Some that you don’t know about. He has to work hard to make enough money so you can eat and have a place to live.”

Maddie mulled that over and nodded. “I guess my pony can wait. Will you remind him?”

“I will.”

They had a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along with fresh apples and some of the leftover cinnamon rolls. It was a little before four o’clock when Willis walked in the door.

Eva’s heart expanded to fill her chest at the sight of his grimy face. Tears sprang to her eyes but she blinked them away. She didn’t want to ruin any of their time together.

He looked around the room. “Where is Danny?”

She smiled. “He is out at the barn helping dig the post holes for the corral fence.”

“Sounds like tough work. I should go help.”

“Before you go I have something I want to show you.” She handed him the flyer. He looked at it and turned it over once. “So?”

“This man sells hand-forged hardware and brackets for the kitchen cabinets that they make in their shop. He buys his lumber from Bishop Schultz. You should ask