Bumpy Ride Ahead! (9 page)

“I can’t think of anything to write about,” Mattie told Mark as they pushed their bike home from school that afternoon. “What topic are you gonna choose?” she asked.

“I think I’ll write about how we learned to ride our bicycle built for two,” Mark said. “It was a real challenge for us at first, remember?”

“Jah, I sure do.” Mattie sighed. “I can’t think of anything to write about. Do you have any ideas for me?”

Mark stopped pushing the bike and turned to face her. “Anna Ruth said we could write about something that has taught us to be responsible. Maybe you could write about all the things you do to care for Twinkles. Takin’ care of our pets has taught us both about responsibility.”

“I guess you’re right. Besides feeding and watering Twinkles, I’m responsible for brushing her hair and teaching her tricks.” Mattie smiled. “Jah, I think I will write about that. Danki, Mark, for giving me the idea.”

He grinned at her. “You’re welcome.”

Mattie was glad that Dad had been able to get the jump rope untangled and put the chain back on their bike. That meant she and Mark could ride to school again. She was also glad she had until the end of the week to get her essay done, and she spent every evening that week working on it. Putting words together in the form of an essay wasn’t something she enjoyed, but at least she had an interesting topic to write about. She was glad Mark had suggested it and hoped she’d get a good grade.

When Friday came and the twins went to school, Mattie became nervous. She dreaded reading her essay in front of the class. And what if the teacher didn’t like what she’d written?

Mattie had a hard time concentrating at the beginning of class as they recited the Lord’s Prayer, sang some songs, and listened to the teacher read a verse of scripture.

After their arithmetic lesson was over, Anna Ruth told everyone to get out their essays and said they would take turns reading them.

Mattie’s heart started to race.
I hope she doesn’t call on me first. If she does, though, at least I’ll be getting it over with. Then I can relax and listen to everyone else read their essay.

Anna Ruth looked at Mark and gave him a nod. “You have an eager look on your face, so why don’t you go first?”

Good
, Mattie thought.
At least I don’t have to be first.
Mattie had never liked speaking in front of the class. It made her stomach knot up and turned her hands all sweaty. She was afraid she might say something dumb. Mark didn’t have a problem with talking in front of the class, though. He always seemed calm and relaxed.

Mattie leaned forward, anxious to hear what Mark had written about riding their bike.
This should be really good
, she thought. That bicycle built for two had taught them a lot about working together as a team—not just with riding the bike but in many other ways, too. It was a good topic for Mark to write about, and she was sure he’d have a lot to say on the subject. She just hoped he wouldn’t mention some of the silly mistakes she’d made when they’d first begun learning to ride the bike. Letting their whole class know about that would really be embarrassing for Mattie.

Mark picked up his paper and went to the front of the class. “The name of my essay is: How I Take Care of My Pets.”

Mattie’s mouth dropped open.
What? Now, wait a minute! I thought Mark was going to write about learning to ride our bicycle built for two. He told me to write about caring for my pet, but then he went and wrote about it. What a copycat my brother is!

“Caring for my cat, Lucky, involves a lot of responsibility, and I’m the one who has to take care of her needs,” Mark said. “I’m also responsible for taking care of Lucky’s kitten, Boots. Most kittens are curious, playful, and energetic, and Boots is all of those things.” He chuckled. “It’s fun to watch Boots grow and mature.

“An adult cat, like Lucky, requires less care than my kitten does,” Mark went on to say. “But I don’t mind ’cause I enjoy taking care of them both.” He paused a minute and smiled at the scholars, who all seemed to be listening intently. “Healthy cats have clear, bright eyes with little or no tearing, and their nostrils and ears are clean. If there’s black, tarlike gunk in a cat’s ear, it probably means she has ear mites. Lucky had them once, and Dad helped me put medicine in her ears.”

Mark is doing such a good job telling about his cat
, Mattie thought.
My essay is boring compared to his. I wish he’d chosen something else to write about. He’ll probably get a better grade than me, too.

Looking around the classroom, Mattie could see that her brother had everyone’s attention. From the looks she saw on their faces, she knew they were eager to hear more.

“Cats are naturally fastidious,” Mark continued. “So I always make sure my cats have fresh food and water and that their dishes are clean. Cats don’t like food that is old or water that’s stale.”

“What’s fas-tid-ious mean?” Aaron Stutzman wanted to know.

“It means they like to be clean,” Mark said with a wide grin.

Mattie wondered if he was trying to show everyone how smart he was by using such a big word. She gripped the edge of her desk with both hands. It figured that Mark would have to do that!

“You shouldn’t ask questions or speak out of turn,” Anna Ruth said, looking sternly at Aaron. “If you have a question, please raise your hand.” She nodded at Mark. “You may continue reading.”

“I always brush my cats regularly so that their hair is shiny and sleek. Cats like to lick themselves: their paws, their legs, their back, and even their tail, which is how they keep clean. By brushing their coat and gettin’ the loose fur removed, this also helps the cats not to end up with hair balls. In addition, brushin’ the cats’ hair helps me to check for fleas.” Mark glanced at Mattie but then quickly looked away.

He probably knows I’m upset because he took my topic to write about,
she fumed.
Well, why wouldn’t I be upset? He was selfish to do that, and I hope he knows it.

“Taking care of a pet requires love and patience,” Mark said. “Cats can be one of the most lovable and playful pets to have. I’m glad I have some pets that have taught me about responsibility.” Mark smiled at the teacher and took his seat.

Anna Ruth looked at Mattie then. “Would you like to go next?”

Mattie’s heart felt like it had sunk all the way to her toes. Speaking in front of the class was bad enough; having to read the essay she’d written about caring for her pet, after Mark had read his, was horrible! Yet she knew she had to do it, or she wouldn’t get a good grade. And if she said no to the teacher, she’d be in big trouble, too.

Drawing in a deep breath, Mattie picked up her paper and slowly made her way to the front of the room. Turning around and looking out at the class, she saw that all eyes were on her now. Mattie’s stomach felt queasy, and her mouth turned dry.
Here goes nothing
, she thought. “The name of my essay is: How I Take Care of My Pet,” she said, swallowing hard and barely able to speak.

She glanced at Mark, and he smiled at her. Didn’t he feel the least bit guilty?

“Please continue, Mattie,” Anna Ruth said.

Mattie cleared her throat and wiped one sweaty hand on the side of her dress. “Uh … I have a dog named Twinkles, and she’s a fox terrier. Caring for her involves a lot of responsibility.” She paused and moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “The things I do for my dog are: feeding her, giving her fresh water, playing games like ‘fetch the ball,’ and I also brush her hair at least once a week. That way she doesn’t shed so much.”

Mattie’s cheeks burned. Her essay wasn’t nearly as well written as Mark’s. She was sure everyone in the class was bored because a couple of the boys were yawning. It was hard to concentrate on reading her essay with so many pairs of eyes watching her, too.
Maybe it would be best if I hurry through it so I can return to my seat and be done with this assignment
, she decided.

“I’ve taught Twinkles to sit, roll over, and fetch,” Mattie said, glad that her essay was finally coming to a close. “My dog’s very smart, and someday I’ll teach her to jump through a hoop.” Red-faced and feeling more nervous than ever, Mattie turned to the teacher and said, “That’s all I have.”

“Very well, you may return to your seat,” Anna Ruth said.

Mattie sank into the chair at her desk, wishing she could crawl right under it and stay there for the rest of the day. It had felt like forever, standing there in front of the whole class, and it was all Mark’s fault that her essay wasn’t as good as his. If he just hadn’t chosen the same topic, maybe the things she’d written wouldn’t have sounded so boring.

As Mattie’s friend Stella got up to read her essay, Mattie looked up at the sign on the wall above the teacher’s desk. It read: You
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
You.

Mattie blinked against the tears stinging her eyes.
I should have never asked for Mark’s help. I should have chosen a topic to write about myself. Next time I’ll know better.

C
HAPTER
9

“Can I play with your
gaul
?” Mark’s little brother, Perry, asked when he entered Mark’s bedroom.

Mark’s gaze went to the small wooden horse sitting on his dresser across the room. Dad had carved it and given the toy to Mark for Christmas last year. That made it very special.

“No,” Mark said. “You can’t play with my wooden gaul.”

Perry’s bottom lip jutted out. “
Sei net so
eegesinnisch.”

“I’m not being selfish. I just don’t want you to play with it.”

“How come?”

“Because you might break it.”

Perry shook his head. “Huh-uh. I’ll be
achtsam.
“

“You might think you’re being careful, but you’re not old enough to play with something so fragile.”

“Sei net so eegesinnisch,” Perry mumbled as he lowered his head and shuffled out of the room.

Mark knew his little brother was upset, but he figured Perry would get over it as soon as he found something else to do.
Besides, the horse is mine, and I don’t have to let Perry play with it if I don’t want to
, he thought. Mark leaned against his pillows and went back to reading his book.

A few minutes later, Mattie poked her head into the room. “I just talked to Perry, and he said you’re eegesinnisch. How come he said you were selfish, Mark?” she asked.

“He wanted to play with the little wooden horse Dad gave me last Christmas, and I said no because he might break it.”

“I don’t blame you for saying no,” Mattie said. “Remember awhile back what happened when Ada got ahold of my bopp?”

Mark gave a nod. “Jah, she scribbled on the doll’s face with black ink.”

“That’s right, and now it’s her doll to play with.” Mattie frowned. “I sure didn’t want the bopp after that, and I was glad when my friend Stella gave me a new one for my birthday.”

“If I’d let Perry play with my gaul and he broke it, Dad probably wouldn’t have time to make me a new one. He and Ike have been keepin’ real busy in the wood shop lately.”

“Do you think you’ll work for Dad in the wood shop after you graduate the eighth grade?” Mattie asked.

Mark shrugged. “Maybe, but I don’t really know yet what I wanna do. How ’bout you, Mattie? Do you know what you want to do when you finish school?”

“I’m not sure. One thing I know is that I don’t wanna teach school.”

“How come?”

“I’m too
dumm.
“

“You’re not dumb, Mattie. You just need to study harder and not daydream so much.”

“I can’t help it. There are so many things I like to think about.”

“Well, you oughta save your daydreamin’ for nighttime when you’re in bed.”

“I can’t do that,” Mattie said with a quick shake of her head. “Some thoughts just pop into my mind at any old time of the day.” She moved closer to Mark’s bed. “What’s that buch you’re reading?”

“It’s a book about all different kinds of keffer. I’m studying it so I can name all the ones I find in our yard.”

Mattie wrinkled her nose. “I can think of lots of better things to do than study bugs.”

“Well, you like flowers, and I like bugs. That just shows how different we are.” Mark chuckled. “But that’s what makes us so unique.”

“I guess you’re right about that.” Mattie turned toward the door. “Enjoy your buch about keffer, Mark. I’m goin’ outside to play with my hund.”

After Mattie left the room, Mark started thinking more about Perry wanting to play with the wooden horse.
Maybe it would be a good idea to hide that horse
, Mark thought.
Just in case Perry decides to sneak into my room when I’m not here and help himself to the toy. Jah, that’s what I’ll do
, he finally decided.
I’ll take the horse and hide it in the barn.

“Come here, Twinkles,” Mattie called after she’d brought the dog’s brush out of the house and taken a seat on the top porch step.

Arf! Arf!
Twinkles responded with a wag of her stubby tail. Then she raced across the yard, leaped onto the porch, and put her front paws on Mattie’s chest.

“Are you excited about getting your hair brushed?” Mattie asked.

Woof!
Twinkles gave Mattie a slurpy kiss with a swipe of her little pink tongue.

Mattie giggled; then she made Twinkles lie in her lap so she could brush her smooth brown and white hair. Twinkles was a good dog and did what Mattie said. Mattie was glad Twinkles liked to be brushed.

Brushing Twinkles made Mattie think about the essay she’d written last week and how Mark had chosen the same topic. Mattie was still upset about the fact that he’d gotten a better grade than she did, but at least the teacher had given her a C. The way Mark had written his essay was a lot more interesting than what Mattie had said. It was longer, with more details, too, so he probably deserved the A he’d gotten.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Mattie concentrated on making Twinkles look good. She brushed and brushed until Twinkles’s hair was nice and shiny. By the time she was finished, Twinkles had fallen asleep.

“Wake up, Twinkles, you’re all done,” Mattie said, leaning her head close to the dog.

Soft little snores came from the dog’s mouth, and she didn’t even open her eyes.

Mattie had planned to teach Twinkles a new trick today, but since the dog had fallen asleep she didn’t want to bother her now. So she just sat, stroking Twinkles’s head and daydreaming about roasting marshmallows and drinking hot apple cider. She knew Dad planned to make fresh-squeezed cider soon, and oh, it would taste so wonderfully good. Just thinking about it made her mouth water. Whenever Dad made cider, he usually built a bonfire, and that evening the family would roast hot dogs for supper and enjoy toasted marshmallows for dessert.

Mattie wasn’t sure she could ever eat another hot dog after watching what happened to Grandma the day she choked. Mattie did love hot dogs, though, and after that incident, she’d probably remember for the rest of her life to eat slowly and always take small bites, no matter what she was eating.

“Hundli!”
Ada hollered when she came out of the house and saw Mattie sitting on the porch steps.

“Twinkles is a hund, not a hundli,” Mattie said. “Hundli means puppy, and Twinkles is full-grown.”

Ada plopped down on the step beside Mattie.
“Hunnskop.”
She pointed to Twinkles’s head.

“You’re right.” Mattie nodded. “That’s my dog’s head.”

Without asking permission, Ada reached over and gave Twinkles a pat.

Twinkles’s eyes snapped open.
Arf! Arf!
She licked Ada’s hand and then slurped the end of her nose with her little pink tongue.

“Hundli! Hundli!” Ada giggled and waved her hands, the way she always did when she was excited.

Woof! Woof!
Twinkles leaped off Mattie’s lap and raced into the yard. Ada jumped up and chased after the dog.

“
Absatz!
Stop!” Mattie shouted. “You’re gettin’ my hund all worked up!” She wished now she’d never let Ada pet Twinkles.

Twinkles kept running and barking, and Ada kept chasing her, hollering, “Hundli! Hundli!”

Twinkles got so worked up that she dropped to the ground and rolled all around. Now she had streaks of green grass and clumps of dirt in her hair!

Mattie clapped her hands and hollered, “Absatz! Absatz!”

Twinkles ignored her and kept rolling and barking, while Ada excitedly jumped up and down.

“That’s just great,” Mattie mumbled. “Now I’m gonna have to give Twinkles a bath!”

“What’s all the noise about?” Mark asked, stepping out of the barn.

Mattie pointed at Twinkles, still rolling around. “Ada got her all excited, and now I can’t get her calmed down.”

“I can take care of that in a hurry,” Mark said. “I’ll just get the hose and—”

“Oh no you don’t!” Mattie shook her head. “I’m gonna give Twinkles a bath but not with cold
wasser.
If you’ll take Ada inside, I think that will help.”

Mark gave a nod. Then he grabbed Ada around her waist and said, “Would ya like a horsey ride?”

“Jah!” Ada grinned up at Mark as she bobbed her head.

“Okay then, climb on my back and put your arms around my neck.” Mark bent down, and after Ada had her arms securely around his neck, he grabbed hold of her ankles and stood. “Neigh! Neigh!” Mark shouted as he took off for the house.

Mattie smiled.
That twin brother of mine sure is strong.

Twinkles calmed down in a hurry after that, so Mattie picked the dog up and carried her to the house. “All right,

Twinkles,” she said. “It’s time now for your bath!”

That evening after supper, Mark and Mattie had just cleared the dishes off the table when Dad announced that he was going out to the barn to groom their horse. “Gotta have Ginger lookin’ good when she pulls our buggy to church tomorrow,” he said, grinning widely.

Mom smiled and patted Dad’s arm. “Even when we were courting, you liked to have your horse well groomed.”

“That’s true, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s not the reason you agreed to marry me, Alice.”

“No way, Willard,” Mom said with a shake of her head. “I married you because you knew how to cook.”

Mark leaned against the kitchen counter and waited for Dad’s reply. In all his nine years, he didn’t think he’d ever seen Dad cook a meal in Mom’s kitchen.

Dad tipped his head back, and his deep laughter bounced off the walls. “Well,” he said, giving Mom a quick wink, “I have boiled water for your tea a time or two. Does that count as cooking?”

Everyone laughed, even Ada and Perry, although Mark didn’t think his little sister and brother really knew what they were laughing about.

“You’re absolutely right, Willard,” Mom said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Knowing you could boil water is the reason I agreed to become your wife.”

“I knew it!” Dad slapped his hand against the table. Then he turned to Mark and said, “Now that we’ve got that all settled, would you like to come out to the barn and help me groom Ginger?”

Mark didn’t hesitate to answer, “Jah.” Most times Dad asked Ike, Calvin, or Russell to groom the horse. Since he’d asked Mark this evening, that must mean he thought Mark was responsible enough to help.

Dad tapped Mark’s shoulder. “All right then, let’s head on out to the barn!”