CHAPTER
3
Helga
settled into Mary's rocking chair at the Hoist home, weary, yet happy
that everyone seemed to be resting. It had been a very long two days
in this house. Mary had given birth before, so it was unusual that
labor had been so long and tedious. Both Helga and her mother
Jeanette had been worried that the stress could have hurt the baby,
but the little girl looked and sounded healthy. Even after her mother
Jeanette had left, Helga checked the baby's lungs again and listened
long to her tiny heart to see if there were any skipped beats. So
often in a hard delivery, these things were overlooked and seen as a
superstition against faith. But Helga, her mother and Grandma Esther
had been a midwifing family for generations, and even though they
needed to outwardly respect such beliefs, they did whatever they felt
needed to be done to ensure the safety of mother and child.
There
were so many situations in this household presently. Mr. Hoist was
out hunting with Helga's and Jonathan's father. So there was no man
to come and fetch the midwife. The oldest boy, who was nearly in a
complete panic when he showed up at their home, was who let Jeanette
and Helga know the baby was coming. And once they were at the house,
and had Mary calmed down, Helga had noticed that the toddler had a
bad cough. While she cooked a simple supper for the children, she
pulled Timothy onto her lap to further investigate. He was more than
willing to snuggle with Helga, as he missed the attention from his
mother, Mary. Helga waited until the little one became drowsy and
listened to his chest. Not only was his chest garggling, but his
breathing was making a whistling sound. Helga immediately wrapped him
in a blanket, laid him in a makeshift bed in the room and set about
making a mustard pack for his chest. In no time at all after the
mustard pack was placed on his chest, Timothy awoke coughing up a
storm. He cried quite a bit, because it scared him, but in a couple
hours his chest sounded clearer and he was sleeping peacefully. His
mother became alarmed when she heard Timothy crying, but Helga
assured her that all was well and let her know that she had been
doctoring the toddler.
Once
Timothy was sleeping again and she had the other two children busy
with washing the dishes she went back in the bedroom to see if her
mother and Mary could use her assistance. Mary was not resting as
comfortable as Timothy, but she was not yet alarmed as she was pretty
used to the birthing process, this being her fourth child. It wasn't
until later in the evening when she was practicing the two oldest in
their reading and letters that Jeanette asked her to come in the
room. Helga spent a few minutes giving the children a few tasks to
do, as not to alarm them, but she was aware that if her mother needed
her help at this point the birthing was not doing well.
Once
in the room she was aware that this was going to be a very hard labor
for Mary. The pains were causing her hands to go white as she
clutched at the sheets and alternately the bed posts above her head.
She did whatever she could not to make a noise so as to alert her
children that she was in distress. At this time during birthing Helga
was never used to the sacrifice that women made during delivery. Not
only were their bodies going through a tremendous strain, but each
time she was amazed at the pains the woman took so as husband and
children did not know their distress. Often times that is why two
women were needed when a midwife was called. One oversaw the birth
and the other, even though she was there to help in emergencies, her
main purpose was to take care of the family's needs so the mother
would not get up and do so immediately after birth. Helga had known
of a few families that were now motherless because the woman got up
from bed too early, and with just the addition of another woman in
the home this could be abated. Even though Helga's grandmother,
Esther, was not strong enough to last for a birthing as she used to,
she often came to help out in this capacity. And sometimes even
Grandpa Benjamin came, although Helga strongly felt he was there more
to watch out for his wife.
Mary's
little one's birth was hard, mainly due to the same circumstances
other's had in this land. Women were tired, often in malnutrition as
they sacrificed their food for their children, and often had children
one after another, without their bodies having time to recover. Often
the three midwives tried to give nutritional and other advice to the
women, but this fell on deaf ears more than not, as each family did
what they could to survive. Many of these families, came as once
Benjamin and Esther did many years ago from a distant land, and
carving out a new life was not the business of “milk and honey”
that all had been led to believe.
Helga
gave her mother a little bit of a break after putting the children to
bed. They had a little time together to try and talk about what they
could do to make this birth safer for both mother and baby while Mary
had a few minutes of sleep in between contractions.
“She is having such a
hard time, how is she fairing?” asked Helga.
“Just as most women in
this area she has more courage than is thought, until the going gets
rough.” answered Jeanette.
“Can you tell how the
baby is doing?”
“She is not having any
pains other than her contractions, so I can only guess that the baby
is holding its own.”
“What can I do to help
you?” asked Helga, as she looked into her mother's tired eyes.
“Sit with her awhile,
please. Let me freshen up a little bit and I will be back.”
“I have a better idea,
Mama. Freshen up and then go rest in the front room. I will come get
you if anything out of the ordinary happens or I feel that it is her
time. When this baby comes, it will take all the strength we both
have. And I have had some rest, while I have been watching the little
ones.”
“You are sure?”
Jeanette asked
“Go, Mama.” answered
Helga.
Jeanette stood up and
placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead. “I will obey you
gladly.”, she said. “But do not hesitate to call me, Helga.”
“ I will come get you if
anything happens, Mama. I promise.”
Helga was able to give her
mother about an hour's rest. Mary awoke from sleep suddenly with her
eyes wide, and a frightened look about her. Helga immediately took
her hands and confidently said, “Take my hands Mary. Hold them as
long and hard as you need to.” She had several contractions they
went through together like this.
Then calmly Mary looked at
Helga after a strong pain and simply stated, “The baby is coming
now.”. Helga looked at Mary and saw resignation of the pain to
come. These women were truly brave. Mary was exhausted behind
measure, yet she would give all she had to bring her child safely
into the world tonight.
“Let me get Mama, Mary.
We shall all make it through this together.”
“Yes, yes, go, we
shall.”
Helga went into the main
room of the cabin and saw her mother peacefully sleeping near the
Hoist children. She hated to wake her so soon, but it was time. Just
before she did though she bent down to listen to Timothy's breathing
and was glad to hear that he was still sounding clear, no whistles.
Helga gently shook her mother's shoulder. Jeanette's eyes shot open
and looked into Helga's face. So as not to wake the children Helga
answered her mother with a nod of her head and walked back into the
bedroom where Mary had just started with another pain.
Near the end of the siege,
that had lasted hours, each woman wondered if this baby would ever
come. And when it did, would it be healthy? Jeanette looked again at
Mary, but this time she was encouraged. “Push Mary, push! Bring
this baby into the world!” Mary's eyes shone with a new glow and
with more strength than it looked possible she grabbed the bed post
behind her and gave one hard push after another until in three
monstrous heaves Mary's little girl dropped into Jeanette's arms.
Everyone was silent for a moment. Mary was catching her breath. Helga
was holding on to Mary's hands and Jeanette was sitting still as
could be watching the chest of the baby. Then piercing the silence
Mary's little girl inhaled deeply and then let out a monumental
scream for one so little. All three women burst out in laughter and
Jeanette laid the baby in Mary's arms.
“She is beautiful Mary”
simple stated Helga.
“What name do you have
for this strong girl child, Mary?” asked Jeanette.
“It must be something
showing her strength, eh? But I will wait until my Mr is home and we
will talk it through. Are you hungry little one?” Mary asked this
question of Baby Girl Hoist as she slid her in position to nurse.
Just then there were tiny knocks on the door. “Is the baby here?
Can we see it?” chimed the children in the front room.
“Go ahead, please, let
them in to see their little sister” smiled Mary.
Jeanette wordlessly opened
the door with a wide smile on her face as the children came running
into the bedroom. Helga stopped them just as they all almost collided
into the bed. “Gentle, gentle.” she said calmly. Now the children
tiptoed up close and “oohed” and “ahhed” at the little
creature their Mother was holding. “This is your sister. Papa and I
will name her, like we did all of you as soon as he returns from
hunting. Now, let us take a nap and you children go back to bed. It
is late for all of us.”
“Yes, Mama” all three
chimed again.
After the children left
Jeanette went into action taking precautions on the necessary tasks
after birth and making sure that mother and baby were comfortable.
When she and Helga were done , Helga looked at Jeanette and said,
“Now you go home Mama. I will spend the rest of the night here. Let
Grandma know that all is well. And then you come tomorrow afternoon
after you have rested.”
“I will come in the
morning as soon as I awaken.”
“Sleep Mama, Sleep.”
“Yes, I will. Thank you
daughter. They should be fine now. Everyone should rest for a little
while. But you should have much on your hands at daybreak when the
other three wake up.”
“We will manage fine,
Mama. They will have chores and I can keep them busy while Mary and
the baby rest.”
“You have convinced me,
Good night.” said Jeanette as she gathered her basket and quietly
left the room and then the cabin to her horse that would take her to
her parents house.
Since her mother left
Helga had yet been able to sleep. She was glad that her grandparents
home was not far. There she knew they would take care of her mother
when she arrived, although she would not get to spend time with
Helga's young brother just yet, he would be asleep by now. Helga knew
that sleep would not come for awhile for her no matter how tired she
was. As hard as this birthing was it was stimulating enough that her
mind would be awake for hours. So to ease her mind she opened her
knitting basket and worked on finishing a gift for the baby. This had
become a tradition of the three midwives. She was glad that Grandma
Esther had taught her to always bring her string bag. Sometimes there
were long long stretches with nothing to do for the mother, but when
one needed to be alert. Knitting was the perfect remedy for such
moments.
As Helga knitted she
listened to the breathing of the Hoist children. They all slept
soundly and all now breathed quietly. She let her mind wander to what
she would make the children for breakfast that would be fun so they
would have a good remembering of their baby sister's entrance into
the world. The next several weeks they might tend to feel neglected
with Mary having so much to do for the baby and time for herself to
heal. So one good memory could do a lot of good to get through the
coming days.
“I am glad this little
girl was born while the weather is still good. Not only did we not
have trouble getting here, but there still will be enough good days
that the children can play and work outside. It will be good for them
and also give their Mary a break.”
Helga also thought ahead
if she could come back a little more often than usual to give Mary a
respite in the next few weeks. She did not foresee any births or
grave illness they were attending just now. Although an emergency
could come at any time. Helga resolved to stop in and make sure she
could entertain the children. She would offer herself as a 'Mother's
Helper'. Mary's children were good well behaved children, but they
were still children and there was one more being to give attention
to. And Mary was a good friend to all, it would be pleasant to be
able to help her in a time of need. As she had often done for
others.
Just as Helga was
finishing the last stitches on her gift for the baby Mary's oldest
son awakened. “How are you feelin' little man?”, asked Helga.
“I'm alright”, said
the boy. He sat up on the makeshift bed and then quietly moved
himself over closer to Helga. “Is my mama really alright? Did the
baby hurt her?”
“When babies come into
this world, they come with pain. But that pain is quickly forgotten
by its mama when she sees their face. It was the same when your mama
first laid her eyes on each of you, as it was tonight when she first
saw your little sister.”
“I've been worried about
Mama, she is so tired.”
“She will be fine. It's
hard work carrying a baby. But now you can help.”
“Really? How?”
“Your Mama will need
time to get some strength. You can help by doing all you can without
her having to ask. And I know it is hard, but if you can keep your
brother and sister busy it would help. Do you think you can do all
that?”
“Sure!. I am almost
10.?”
“That old?” thought
Helga. It did not seem that long ago when she had been in this very
room helping to give birth to him also. “Yes, you are.” she
assured him. “And I will be around to help too. Would you like
that?”
“Yes Sister Helga and
Mama would like it too. Sometimes even with us and Papa she seems
mighty lonely. But she always looks good and sings more after company
comes 'round.”
Helga smiled at the boy.
Mary and her husband had raised them to address others in their
traditional way of 'Brother' and 'Sister', 'Aunt' and 'Uncle' for
those not so close and 'Grandmother' and 'Grandfather' for the
elderly. Truly they were teaching their children community and family
was more than what they saw in their own little cabin. She also
mentally made a note to come a little more often even after Mary got
her strength back. And to talk to some of the other women about
stopping by. Mary loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. So if she
went a time without singing, then perhaps 'cabin fever' was getting
to her as she struggled to keep house and take care of her little
ones. Not that this was all that unusual. That is why it was so
special when the women got to visit each other and get together.
They needed another 'Quilt In' perhaps. Helga would mention that to
Grandma when she got home. All the women for miles around young and
old could not say no to Esther. They all enjoyed her company and each
other's as they gathered and also shared some wonderful delicacies.
They often each brought some baked goods and then divvied them up
after so they could each have something special to take home and
enjoy.
“Lie back down and get
some more sleep now.” Helga smiled and touched the cheek of this
brave boy in front of her.
“What about you, Sister
Helga?” he asked.
“I will if you will. How
about that?”
“Sure,” he said.
With that he went back
over and gently put himself back to bed with his brother and sister.
Helga herself finished binding off her project for the baby, a
blanket, that hopefully would be special to her and could someday be
a keepsake for Mary and maybe even the baby, when she gave birth.
Quietly she got up, slowly opened the bedroom door, hoping it did not
creak. She tiptoed in, checked on both Mary and the baby. They were
both sleeping soundly, breathing in unison. 'Just as in the womb.'
she marveled. She then retraced her steps, again hoping that the door
would stay silent and went back to the chair where she had spent her
knitting time. She tucked the blanket in her bag, reminding herself
to give it to Mary in the morning and she laid her cloak down near
the fire and allowed herself some sleep. 'Just a few hours and we
will all have much to do.' she thought to herself. 'Midwifing is a
good life. It is worth the tiring out to feel as I do now.'
CHAPTER 4
Joseph had watched the boy
run across the field until he no longer could make out his form. Then
he stood just a little longer, as if staring guaranteed his safety.
In fact he stood still as he could willing the boy until Thunder got
nervous and nosed his hand. “You're right Thunder. He got to us
without help, he can get home too. It's just.... Come on Thunder, we
better get back while we can. We aren't used to venturing this far
either.”
Joseph turned around,
lifted his arm a little ways so the lantern set light on the path
just a little ahead of him. Thunder was to his side, but a little bit
behind, wary of walking places they did not know, especially in the
dark. They weren't used to being out this late anymore. Days past,
yes, but that is what they were, days past.
Joseph marveled at how the
boy must have walked these woods with his limp. 'He is no quitter,
Thunder. And he is curious too. I like that.' Thunder made a quiet
moaning sound. “Yes, yes, he liked you too, Thunder. In fact, if he
comes back at all, I'm sure it will be 'cause he wants to see you.”
Thunder must have understood, as he pranced a little bit and made a
joyful sound.
Joseph and Thunder got
back to their homestead and immediately sat down on the porch. Joseph
was in his rocker and Thunder lying beside him. Joseph slowly rocked
until he knew it was time for him to retire. “Thunder, there are
ghosts all around aren't there? Well, at least they have revisited my
mind again. That boy brought them back, brought them all back. But,
he also let me find my voice again, let me feel like I want to smile
again. It's been a long time hasn't it, boy? Let's get some rest,
we'll figure something to do tomorrow?” Joseph picked up his
lantern, walked in his door and went directly to his bed. He changed
into some night clothes, blew out the lantern and Thunder climbed up
to lie by his feet. “Yes, it was a good day, Thunder. Best we've
had in a long while.”
Joseph slept through the
night but he often tossed and turned, moaned and sighed. Thunder was
concerned and jumped off the bed to stare at his face, lick his hand.
The dreams would stop for a little while, then return with a
vengeance. Daylight did not come soon enough for either. Sunlight
woke Joseph as it always did. He sat up in bed, grateful that the
night was over. “My wife used to call them Night Demons, Thunder.
She sure was right. Let's see if we can scatter the cobwebs away and
start our morning.”
Joseph started his coffee
on the wood stove and got some jerky in the pantry to surprise
Thunder. He sat on the porch and drank one cup of coffee then started
out for the barn. He grabbed a three legged stool off the wall and
commenced to milking Daisy his cow. From there he let his two horses
and two mules out. He fed them outside and went back in to feed
Daisy, her cohort Susie and his bull, Red. There were also three
sheep, two ewe and a ram. Then over to the chicken yard to gather
eggs and feed his brood and roosters.
“Well, chores don't take
too long now do they, Thunder? We don't have much, but all we need,
eh?” As they were walking back to the porch for a second cup of
coffee Joseph started to whistle. He did it before he even noticed
himself. He stopped short, looked at Thunder who was wagging his tail
Joseph swore in rhythm and chuckled. “One visit from that boy and
look at us. Hope we ain't gettin' our hopes up too much. But this
feels good, don't it? Come on, one more cup of coffee and I'll make
us both a real breakfast.”
One thing about living
where he did now Joseph only heard nature. For years he and his wife
lived in town and that was fine when the children were little and he
was working in the mill and had a little land. But this was the life.
His only regret was that his wife did not last to enjoy it with him.
They were all gone now. Just him. Most days he didn't feel lonely,
but now that they had had a visitor, everything was different.
Joseph fixed them both a
hearty breakfast and afterwards they went on their morning walk.
Joseph could walk forever in the direction opposite the woods without
seeing another human. But the rest of nature was in abundance. Joseph
found himself humming and whistling in spite of himself and decided
it was just fine. Thunder seemed to enjoy it. The rest of the day
Joseph sat at the table and on the porch. He seemed happy enough, but
there was a restlessness in him now. “Maybe we needed something to
stir us up, Thunder. Maybe we been living too quietly. Even if that
boy never comes back, he surely awakened something in me. And I'd
like to keep that. I don't want to be afraid. I lived in fear way too
long. I think fear killed my daughter and I'm sure it killed my wife.
It killed my own life for a long time. I came out here to leave fear,
and sometimes I still think I foster it. I don't know Thunder, maybe
I'm just an old man ramblin'.” Thunder wagged his tail as if he
agreed that Joseph was just rambling. Joseph burst out laughing out
loud and rubbed Thunders head. “Well, thanks for the support,
buddy.”
After a simple supper for
both of them Joseph and Thunder retreated to the smokehouse to check
on the meat they had started yesterday. “Just think Thunder, if we
hadn't started the meat smokin', he may have never found us. But,
Eileen always said, he would be lead to us somehow. She was grateful
to Benjamin's family, but it always weighed heavy on her heart.”
After Joseph had let his pipe burn out several times thinking,
sitting on the porch. “Well, I've been whistling and humming, might
as well go all the way, Thunder. Wait here, I got a surprise.” With
that Joseph walked directly into the bedroom. He knelt down easy,
reached under the bed and brought out a box. He put the box on the
bed and then pulled himself up, not nearly as easy as he got down. He
opened the box gently as he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled out
the contents. Then he carried it out to the porch where Thunder was
standing in the doorway, wagging his tail. “You sure have done that
a lot today, Thunder. Hope you do the same now.” And with that,
Joseph brought the bow to his fiddle and played a jig. He even moved
his feet a little in rhythm. Then he sat back down in his chair
breathing hard and laughing, brought the fiddle to his chin again and
played a waltz. Tune after tune he played and depending on the meter
Thunder would prance around and wag his tail in excitement or lie
down and rest his eyes. This continued until Joseph could play no
more. He went in the bedroom and put his fiddle in the box, but not
under the bed. He changed into his night shirt and patted the bed for
Thunder to get up by this feet. “I think we'll sleep better
tonight, Thunder. Things are changin'. Well, I'm changin', and I
think it's for the good. Just wish I could have done it a little
sooner.”
That night Thunder wasn't
awakened by Joseph's dreams and restlessness. They both slept all
through the night until the sun rose again. Joseph sat up when the
sun beckoned him and started again to make his coffee, feed Thunder
and start his chores. He did all the feeding in the barn and put the
horses, mules and sheep out and was starting for the chickens. All of
a sudden Thunder started barking and went back toward the house. “You
find a squirrel? Enjoy, I'll be back at the porch after I feed the
chickens.” He was just rounding the chicken yard to go back for his
second cup of coffee and there he was. Jonathan was standing on the
porch with two cups of coffee in his hands grinning from ear to ear
and Thunder was beside him wagging his tail.
“I got 'em ready when I
saw you coming out of the barn. You didn't see me yet, but Thunder
did. You do things like Grandpa does, so I knew I had a few minutes.
Thought I'd surprise ya.”
Joseph took one of the
cups of coffee, thinking to himself that it had been been a long time
since he had used two coffee cups at the same time. “They let you
drink coffee at home?”
“Well, not really. More
like Milk Toast. I just put a little bit of coffee in mine and filled
the rest with milk. Is that alright?”
“Sure, sure. Want to
pull a chair out or do you want to sit on the porch?”
“I'll sit on the porch
with Thunder.”
“He'd like that.”
For a few minutes they sat
there silently, content with coffee and company. “So did you get
in trouble for being late the other night?”
“No. Grandpa always says
I'm like the cows, come at the last minute for supper. Grandma was
starting to worry, but I told them how I had stumbled on you and
Thunder and how you had helped me home back through the woods to the
back pasture. Grandpa told me to tell you today that he's grateful.”
“So you told them my
name? What did they have to say?”
“Grandpa said you and he
were friends a long time ago. And Grandma said that she knew your
wife from her old country. That they had been the best of friends.”
“What about your Ma and
Pa?”
“Well, Mama was
midwifing, so I didn't get tell her anything 'til the next day. She
was awful tired from birthing the Hoist baby. But she listened to my
story and just told me to be careful I didn't take a wrong turn in
the woods. Papa is hunting about four days away with Mr. Hoist. They
aren't home yet.”
“I'm not sure your Papa
would know me. I knew your family long before that.”
“Papa has the general
store with his brothers.”
“Don't you help in the
store?”
“Sometimes, but not
usually. Papa's brother's all got sons a lot older than me. And they
are all in line to get the store long before I do, as they remind me
all the time. And Papa and and Mama decided a long time ago that
Helga and I would help Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa says the farm
will be Mama's and ours someday. And Papa says he would like me to
learn farming and carpentry and everything Grandpa can teach me. He
says he can teach me how to run a store later in life. He would
rather I would be 'full of fresh air, hard work and sunshine now', as
he puts it.”
“Sounds like your Mama
and Papa are smart folks.”
“I think so,” laughed
Jonathan. “I love working on the farm. And Mama and Helga are
midwives and do doctoring so when they are busy I stay at the farm
with Grandpa.”
“You never are alone are
you?”
“No. Grandpa says
there's no time for that in life.”
“Benjamin always knew
the ways.”
“The Old Ways Grandma
says.”
Joseph chuckled, “Well,
I guess they are old ways now. Never thought much about it before.
But either way, they are good ways. Never be afraid to live the way
your grandparents live Jonathan. They are good people and have lived
good lives.”
“And Helga.”
“Yes, How is Sister
Helga? I have not seen her in a long time.”
“She said to send her
blessings. She said to tell you that she will come up for a visit, as
soon as there ain't a lot of babies birthin'.”
“Well, that will be a
treat. But you know, babies just keep being born all the time. So
that could be awhile.”
“It seems like they are
always birthing babies or tending sick.”
“You get to see your
Mama enough?”
“Oh yes. And sometimes I
get to help. I go and carry things for her. And I help with the wood
and the fire and heat water and sometimes get to play if they have
some children already.”
“Helga says that men can
help tend the sick too. She says in big cities they call them
'doctors' and they don't let women help at all. She says I could
learn like she did, but that I would know that women can help too.”
“Yes, that sounds like
Helga. She has been a good friend to me and my animals through out
the years.”
“So you want to meet the
whole family here on the farm?” asked Joseph.
“Sure, love to.”
Jonathan jumped up and Thunder did too wagging his tail.
Joseph took Jonathan
through the barn, the pasture, the chicken coop, his garden and even
showed him the creek where he fished and some back land where he
planted crops.
“You would never believe
that there would be all this good land when you are walking in the
woods. You got a nice place, Joseph.”
“I was surprised when I
happened on it one day walkin'. I knew when I found this land that
this was where I wanted to live. At the time I didn't want to be by
any people. You see I didn't have any family left to speak of and I
was sad and mad and wanted to be alone. Fortunately Sister Helga
wouldn't listen and came up to check on me real regular. That first
Winter and Spring if she hadn't made it up here to see me, me and
most of my animals might have died. And she is the one that brought
me your friend.”
“Thunder? Helga brought
Thunder here?”
“Yep, I had a fit when
she did. Didn't think I wanted a puppy to contend with. But when she
put him in my arms, we belonged to each other. She told me I had
family know whether I liked it or not.” Joseph chuckled at the
memory.
“So, what do you do at
night at Benjamin's and Esther's?” asked Joseph.
“Well, most nights I
have school books to work. And lots of nights Grandpa reads books to
Grandma and me. Sometimes he lets me read too. Grandma likes that.
Grandpa is teaching me to whittle. So while Grandpa reads I whittle
and Grandma does her needlework. Aunt Helga too if she is there. She
helps me a lot with my books. And some nights we make up stories to
tell, and sometimes we sing.”
“Do you like music?”
“Sure. It's fun to sing
with everyone. And Grandpa says that soon I can learn to play music.”
“Would you like that?”
“Oh, yes! Do you play
music for Thunder?”
“It's funny you should
say that. Let me show you what I got out from under the bed last
night.”
With that Joseph went
inside and came out playing his fiddle. He was playing a jig again
and shuffling some, in attempts to dance. Jonathan started clapping
his hands and Thunder was circling everyone, wagging his tail.
Joseph played one song
after another, waltzes, ballads and jigs. At one point he played a
sad song and Jonathan immediately started to sing along. When the
song was finished Joseph said, “You know the language of your
Grandma?”
“Some. We are only
supposed to speak it at home and with family and certain friends when
we get together for parties. But since you played the song I thought
it was alright. It was, wasn't it?”
“It was more than right,
Jonathan. I have not heard those words in too long of a time. Thank
you. Do you know others?”
“A few. But I don't know
if I can name all of them.”
“Don't worry, in time
maybe I will play more you know and you can remind me of the words
again.”
“Sounds good, but I must
be going now. I promised Grandma that if I came early in the day that
I would come back to help her with the afternoon chores. But I will
come back again if you and Thunder would like me to.”
“Thunder and I agree
that you should come back anytime you want and are allowed. How's
that?”
“Fine by me!”
“You want me to lead ya
in the woods again?”
“Na I think I'm fine.
It's more daylight now than it was my last visit. But if you and
Thunder would like to keep me company we could talk more.”
“Well, Thunder and I
usually take a walk 'bout this time, so why don't we join ya?”
“Great!”, said
Jonathan.
The threesome started
into the deep woods silent. But it was a silence of ease that they
shared. Soon they talked of simple things. They talked of the plants
that Jonathan recognized and what they were used for, the birds they
saw and even a few tracks that they found along the way. When they
got to the back of Benjamin's land, at the clearing of the woods,
Joseph turned to Jonathan and said, “We'll leave you here and start
back once we can't see you no more.”
“When I get far I'll
turn and wave to you and Thunder.”
“That'd be nice. I'll
wave back and Thunder will be waggin' his tail I'm sure. But you
probably won't be able to see that.” They both laughed at the
thought.
Jonathan started walking
through the pasture and then surprised Joseph by running coming back
and wrapping his arms around his waist giving him a quick hug. “I'm
glad we are friends” Jonathan said, and then quickly let go. Then
he leaned down and hugged Thunder, much to Thunder's delight. “You
too, Thunder. Next time we'll play fetch.”
“He'd like that.”
Joseph said quietly, savoring the moment.
Jonathan started out
again, and quickly turned around in place. “I almost forgot to tell
ya.”
“Yes?”
“Grandma says that the
next time I come you have to come back with me for supper and that
she won't take any excuses. And she says Thunder is welcome too. I
would come if I were you. Grandma is serious when she says 'no
excuses'.
Joseph was stunned and
just stood there at the edge of the pasture for moment. This was
definitely a walk of surprises. He couldn't remember the last time a
child had hugged him, or anyone for that matter. And now he was being
asked to supper with other people. And more than that people that he
never thought would want to talk to him again. Except for Helga, all
these years. 'Well I guess she learned her heart at home too.' he
thought.
“You tell Esther and
Benjamin that I will surely come to supper the next time you come and
that Thunder and I gladly accept the invitation for her good
cookin'.”
“I'll tell her,”
Jonathan said and started running again.
Joseph and Thunder watched
Jonathan run across the pasture, and true to his word just before he
was out of sight, he turned and waved back to them. And true to their
word, Joseph waved back and Thunder was wagging his tail.
“It's been a good day so
far, hasn't it Thunder? I think we have a second chance. And this
time, we're gonna take it.”
