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

He listened politely to her explanations but made no comment.

“That all sounds like a huge time commitment on both our parts,” he said.

She nodded. “Ja, it will take a lot of time. But I think Sam is worth it.”

He hesitated, looking skeptical. “I do too but I’ll have to think about it. I want to make sure I’m doing the right things for my sohn.”

“I understand but I’d like to get started as soon as possible. The longer we delay, the worse the situation might become. It would be ideal if Sam could stay an extra hour after school several days each week so I could work with him one-on-one,” she said.

Jesse frowned. “Since I’m alone and have to pick up Sam from school, that might not be possible. I’ve got my hands full already. Couldn’t you just send extra homework home with him? I can make sure he does it.”

She shook her head, thinking Jesse didn’t understand. “More homework won’t help Sam talk. He needs some intense interaction with other people. He needs to feel comfortable around us so we can help him speak and we need to provide opportunities to teach him how to speak again.”

Jesse stood there looking down at her, his eyes unblinking as he considered her ideas. She didn’t interrupt, allowing him time to digest and mull it all over in his own mind.

“I understand what you’re asking. Let me think about it. And danke for your help. I appreciate your efforts.” Turning, he walked away, heading toward the barn where the other men were lounging and visiting after their noon meal. Bishop Yoder and Dawdi Zeke hailed him over.

And just like that, Jesse was gone. Becca longed to call him back or chase after him to make him agree to her proposal. But something held her back. She felt almost desperate to help Sam. As if an unknown force were pushing her forward and her future happiness depended on it. But Jesse would have to decide. And she resolved then to offer a prayer to Gott that Jesse made the right decision.

Chapter Four

Becca set the last plate from supper into the dish drain. Sinking her hands into the hot, soapy water, she rinsed out the dishcloth before wiping down the counters and kitchen table. Supper was finally finished. Dawdi Zeke and Jakob were out in the barn finishing the evening chores. It was Monday evening and her mind whirled with all the lesson plans she still needed to review before school in the morning. Maybe she could grade some papers during recess tomorrow. And then she needed to assign some readings for the scholars to memorize for the end-of-year program. So much to do.

“Have you spoken to Bishop Yoder about Caleb’s behavior at school, yet?” Aunt Naomi picked up a glass to dry off with a dish towel.

Becca slid the butter dish inside the gas-powered fridge, giving an absentminded shake of her head. She had explained in detail the troubles she was having at school. “Ne, I’m not even sure he’s the culprit. I have no proof, just an instinct that he’s the instigator. I’ve already separated him and Enos Albrecht. When the two of them sat together, they seemed to egg each other on. Besides, what gut would it do to tell their eldre? The bishop would just think I can’t control the school.”

Abby Fisher, Jakob’s wife, stood across the room, cleaning and sorting the eggs Becca had helped her gather before dinner. Becca knew they would sell the eggs in town to help supplement their household income.

“It might help to tell them what’s going on. Then they could speak with their sons,” Abby said.

“Ja, the bishop wants the school to succeed,” Naomi added. “Especially since Caroline was injured in that horrible buggy accident last month. Without a teacher, we feared we’d have to send our kinder to the Englisch schools. It’s a blessing you were able to komm here so quickly. I’m sure Bishop Yoder would be mortified to know that one of his own kinder is causing so much trouble.”

Becca understood very well why the Amish didn’t want to send their children to the Englisch schools. She listened to her aunt’s advice, thinking over what she said. In the short time she had lived in this home, she’d become quite close to these two women and she valued their opinions. But maybe she wasn’t cut out to be a teacher. Though she enjoyed her profession, maybe she had made a mistake by coming here to Colorado. If she couldn’t even control her school, she wouldn’t be able to make teaching a lifelong career.

“I hope Reuben hasn’t been participating in any shenanigans.” Abby looked at Becca and paused, her forehead creased with concern.

“Ne, he’s been gut as gold. In fact, he tried to stop the trouble last week when I pulled the toy snake out of my desk drawer,” Becca said.

Naomi showed a relieved smile. “Gut! There was a time when Abby first came to live with us that I was mighty worried about his behavior.”

“Ja, I remember when I first came to live here, he put cracker crumbs between my bedsheets and dirt in my shoes.” Abby laughed at the reminder.

Becca gasped, hardly able to believe her cousin’s sweet, polite ten-year-old son would do such a thing. “Behiedes? He actually did that?”

Abby nodded. “He certainly did.”

“But why?”

Abby shrugged. “He felt threatened by me. He thought I was trying to take his mudder’s place after she had died.”

Becca could hardly imagine Reuben being so obnoxious. Now, Abby was Reuben’s new stepmother and they seemed to love each other very much. Becca just hoped Caleb and Enos didn’t try such mischief on her.

“What did you do to get Reuben to stop?” she asked.

A smile curved Abby’s lips, as if she were remembering something good. “I put uplifting notes in his lunch pail every day for school. He hated it at first, because the notes were from me. But finally,