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

I’m not an expert in this area, so I can’t make any promises. But I’ll do the best I can to help Sam,” she said.

He released a pensive sigh, only just realizing that he’d been holding his breath. A huge weight seemed to fall off his shoulders. Finally. Finally he could stop fighting it and get some help.

“Danke. I’m so grateful,” he said.

“So I can understand what happened, can you give me a little background on Sam’s situation?” she asked.

Memories flooded Jesse’s mind. He didn’t want to talk about this but knew Becca needed to know a few details if she were to help Sam.

“I... I was a certified firefighter where we lived in Pennsylvania,” he said in an aching whisper, the memories making him shake like a newborn colt. “I was called out on another house fire and wasn’t there when my own home caught fire. When I got home in the early morning hours, I tried to save my familye but I was too late.” He looked down and saw the scars on his hands and arms. They were still there, reminding him of his failure. “I found Sam up in the hayloft, curled in a fetal position. When I asked him what happened, he became hysterical. All he would say was that he was sorry and it was his fault. Two days later, we buried my frau and dechder. Sam hasn’t spoken a word since the funeral.”

Becca winced. “I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

Her words made no difference but her soft, compassionate voice seemed to ease the ache just a bit. Even though it had been a year, the tale still rattled Jesse’s nerves. He’d lost almost everything that horrible day. Now, all he had left was Sam. And he knew, no matter what, he had to help his little boy. Alice would expect nothing less.

Becca stood abruptly. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

The wooden steps creaked as she went up the stairs to the second story. She returned moments later carrying a booklet and several pieces of paper, which she handed to him.

“This is a copy of an intervention plan I’ve already drawn up for Sam,” she said. “Just a few simple steps on how we can offer positive reinforcement, some stimulus fading techniques to desensitize him when he’s around other people, ways to help him build social skills, and tactics so he won’t feel as anxious. If you’ll read through these materials and try to incorporate them at home, I think we can help him overcome this problem. I’ll do the same at school, only much more since he’ll be with his classmates during that time.”

Jesse glanced at the plan of action, surprised at how detailed it was. It was quite thorough and easy to follow with step-by-step instructions dealing with a variety of scenarios. For the first time in a year, a lance of optimism speared his chest with hope. He wasn’t surprised to see that she’d assigned him to read with Sam each night. No matter how busy he was right now, he had no excuses. If nothing else, spending more time with Sam might increase his bond with the boy. And after what they’d been through, they both needed time together more than anything.

“Ja, I will do these things. I’ll read to him each night,” he promised.

Her shoulders relaxed and he realized she’d been tensed, expecting him to refuse again.

“That’s wundervoll,” she exclaimed, her smile so bright that he had to swallow. “And I’d like to suggest one more thing that I hope will help all of us.”

He quirked one eyebrow and waited. It wasn’t until she spoke again that he realized he was holding his breath.

“I think Sam needs extra tutoring, to help with his school studies. Since you live only a short way up the road, I propose that I bring Sam home from school every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon. Then I can tutor him for an extra hour or so. And the added benefit is that you won’t have to pick him up on those days, which should alleviate your workload too. Since today is Monday, I’d like to start tutoring him tomorrow, even though it’s Tuesday. Does that sound all right?”

Jesse just stared, his mind struggling to absorb what she’d suggested. It was true that the Fisher farm wasn’t far away from his place. In the darkest part of the night, he could even see their lights gleaming across his fields. They were his neighbors, though he hadn’t developed a very close friendship with them yet. He just hadn’t had the time for the niceties. Maybe later in the summer, after his fields were planted, he could do something about that.

“Ja, that would work fine,” he said, suddenly willing to agree to anything she wanted.

Actually, her proposal would be an unexpected blessing. Living so far outside of town provided the quiet and solitude he desired but it also meant he had to take Sam to school early in the mornings and fetch him home in the afternoons. Some days, that posed a great hardship, depending on what he was working on. He did it because he believed an education was so important for Sam and because he loved his son. But it hadn’t been easy.

“Fie. We’ll start with the tutoring tomorrow and go from there.” She smiled and came to her feet, signaling they were finished.

He stood slowly. As she stepped over to the kitchen and invited him in for a huge slice of pie, he felt like he was moving in a fog. Naomi and Dawdi Zeke welcomed him. They laughed and chatted as though he were a member of their familye. Jesse didn’t say much but nodded and smiled in return. It felt so mundane and normal and he appreciated their kindness more than he could say. His gaze kept roaming over to Becca as she offered Sam a chilled glass of milk. The child smiled and chewed with relish. And that’s when something