Seasons of Sugarcreek 02. Spring's Renewal (3 page)

Tim’s boots and pants were caked with mud. His leather gloves had turned stiff, they were so dirty and sweaty. He truly doubted whether his shirt would ever be white again. All of that was a minor discomfort compared to the state his back was in—pulled and sore. The muscles felt like he’d been the one dragging the plow all morning instead of the horses.

Oh, but plowing was a mighty difficult job, especially when he had to do the majority of it all by himself. With no one to help guide the horses or to clean the plow or to set things to right, he had to continually stop and start in order to clear every section of farmland. The constant stops cost precious time and made him eager to be done.

With a sudden ache, he found himself wishing for home again. Every spring, he and his father would prepare the fields together. They’d end the day with hasty showers outside the barn before they dared to enter Mamm’s spotless kitchen.

With regularity, his father would attempt to sneak on by, but Mamm would catch him, scolding each of them with a laugh. He and his father were a good pair. They were lucky enough to not only enjoy each other’s company, but able to work well together, too. With his father, plowing the fields was far more enjoyable than the same jobs at his uncle’s.

Though it wasn’t his uncle’s fault.

Frank had intended to help him today but a series of predicaments had occurred, making it necessary that he stay at the store. A large shipment that was overdue had come in and therefore all hands were needed. Of course Tim had waved off his apology. He was strong and capable. He didn’t have to have his uncle’s help to get the job done.

But it would’ve been easier and far more enjoyable.

After brushing the horse down and cleaning up the lines and plow as best he could, Tim found the outside pump. After priming it, he started washing his hands, arms, face, and neck as best he could.

He’d just splashed a cupful of fresh water on his face when Elsa approached, young Toby in her arms. “Timothy, look at you! If I would’ve known you were willing to bathe out here, I wouldn’t have worried so much about there being enough hot water for you,” she teased.

He took the towel she offered and hastily wiped off his face. “It’s habit. My
mamm
doesn’t appreciate me tracking in mud on her clean floor.”

“And you listen to her?” Her eyes widened in mock surprise. “I need to pass that news on to Caleb and Anson. They haven’t quite figured out how to mind me yet.”

Tim laughed. He did enjoy his aunt’s humor. “Please don’t share my story. I’m sure my mother could tell you that there were plenty of times when she wished I would listen more.”

“Perhaps you are right,” she replied, her eyes twinkling. “Listen now, the
kinner
at school are performing a little play about spring this afternoon. Since you have finished with the field for the day, I thought you might like a break. Would you care to join Toby and me and come along?”

“I would.” Since moving to their home, he’d gone few places. He’d enjoy seeing more of Sugarcreek, and would like to see the schoolhouse, too. And, of course, he knew he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see his cousins in the play. “I wouldn’t miss it. Anson and Carrie have talked of nothing else for days.”

“They are terribly excited. Can you be ready in a half hour or so?”

“I can. I’ll be all set as soon as I put on fresh clothes.”

With a sigh, Elsa looked at his shirt. “It’s going to give me quite a time, trying to make that shirt white again,” she murmured.

Tim chuckled. “I figured you might say that.”

Peeking out through the window, Clara gasped. Oh, but there was a wonderful-
gut
crowd of parents and siblings visiting today! They were sitting on quilts on the grass in the front yard. Sweet Maggie Graber and Jeffrey Miller were walking among them, passing out the peanut butter cookies Clara had baked the night before. She was glad that she’d taken the time to make two batches.

Inside the schoolhouse, the noise level was almost deafening. Her scholars were excited to share the fruits of their labor and continually kept repeating their lines.

Clara knew enough to let them practice for a few moments in their frenzied way. It would relieve their stress and make it easier to be quiet when it was time to begin. Each pair of children was going to recite poems about the bounty of the spring. They were dressed in their finest and looked freshly scrubbed.

But now that the cookies had been passed out and all the relatives were anxiously waiting for the program to begin, Clara knew it was time to reinstate order. “Come now,
kinner
. It is time to get started.”

Anxious voices climbed another decibel.

Clara clapped her hands three times. “Now, now. It is time. We must begin, my scholars. Anson, where are you?”

Fresh-faced in a bright white shirt, he raced forward. “Here I am.”

She bent down a bit to reach his eye level. “Do you feel ready to introduce your classmates?”

“
Jah
, but I still don’t understand why you don’t want to.”

“Your parents came to see you, not me,” she said, knowing deep in her heart that her given reason was only half of it. She’d learned time and again that her appearance could be a distraction.

Of course, there was more to that as well. While she wasn’t shy at all around her students, she often became
naerfich
around their parents. “They will be
verra
happy to listen to you. You will do a mighty
gut
job, Anson. I feel sure of it.”

He took a deep breath. “Well, okay.” And before Clara had time to share any more words of wisdom, he opened the schoolroom door, gave a little whistle between his teeth, and stood at attention.

Clara rolled her eyes as the assemblage dutifully became silent and all faced him. That was not quite the way she’d hoped to begin her program—but she should have guessed that was Anson’s way. There was not a shy bone in the boy. And he wasn’t afraid to take control no matter how he did it.

As she heard him introduce their program in his clear, bright voice, she noticed most of the people gathered begin to smile. Yes, she had done the right thing by having young Anson begin their show.

Stepping out, she walked to the side of all the parents so she could see the students, too. The majority of them followed her movements, watching her for directions. When she nodded and smiled, they began their song.

The audience listened in rapt attention, then clapped politely when they finished. As soon as all the children came to sit near Clara, Anson proudly walked right back to the front. “And now, here’s Maggie and Mary. They’re going to recite our first poem, ‘Spring’s Renewal.’”

Mary held out her hand to Maggie. After seeing Clara’s hopeful nod, Maggie gripped her girlfriend’s hand and walked out to stand in the position Clara had marked with a taped X that morning.

Anson stood to one side as the girls took turns reciting the poem’s stanzas.

Clara listened and felt her chest swell with pride. They were doing a mighty fine job, hardly stumbling over many of the words at all!

Feeling secure enough to scan the crowd, checking to make sure each child had some family present, Clara felt a lump form in her throat. There, right in the midst of the parents, sat the man she’d talked to near the creek. Tim Graber!

Unable to help herself, she craned her neck out a little farther, eager to catch a better look at him. But she was mightily taken off guard when she saw that Tim wasn’t looking at Maggie and Mary at all! No, he was staring right at her.

For a moment, she felt spellbound, unable to look anywhere but right back at him. Just like in the field, she was mesmerized by his handsome, easy looks, and his quiet spirit. He surely did not look like he minded sitting on the grass at a children’s production.

And, even more surprising, he didn’t look like he found anything wrong with her. No, he was staring at her in interest, not shock or distaste. When their eyes caught and held, his lips slowly curved upward.

Afraid someone would notice if she smiled back, Clara looked away.

After four more pairs of students recited poems, Clara tapped Anson on his shoulder. “It’s time to say thank you and goodbye.”

Agreeably, he hopped to his feet. But then, to her surprise, he reached for her hand. “You come, too.”

“No, Anson. This is your time.”

“Come, Teacher,” he said a bit more loudly.

“Ach, Anson—”

“Go up, too, Miss Slabaugh!” a group of students sitting to her left chorused.

The encouraging words had already claimed a number of parents’ attention. Clara knew she had no choice but to follow Anson and quickly say her thank-yous. Otherwise it would cause quite a scene.

As gracefully as possible she rose to her feet and, holding Anson’s hand, walked to the center with him. “Thank you all for visiting our class,” she said. “I think you will agree with me that our scholars did a fine job.”

As everyone clapped, two little girls rushed over and hugged Clara tight. That brought all the other
kinner
over for hugs, too. Laughing, she looked again at the audience, all shyness won over by her exuberant students for a bit. “You may take your children home as soon as you are ready.”

As each child slowly drifted away and Clara chatted with their parents, she couldn’t help but smile. It had been a wonderful-
gut
program.

When a small hand pulled on her skirt, she turned to the child with a smile. Then saw it was Toby, who was holding Tim’s hand.

After greeting the toddler, Clara faced his companion.

“Your program was very fine.”

“
Danke
. I…I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Aunt Elsa asked me if I’d like to come. I thought it would be a good opportunity to see your school and your classroom.”

“We’ve been outside.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Clara wished she could take them back. She sounded so clumsy and awkward!

“Yes, but now I have a better idea of how you are as a teacher. You’re a good one, I think.”

“I try my best.”

Around them, the area was quieting as more and more children left the area. Mrs. Graber approached with Anson, Maggie, and Carrie in tow. “I thank you for the nice program, Miss Clara,” Mrs. Graber said as she reached for Toby. “As always, the children did a good job. You are a teacher we can all be proud of.”

“I’m proud of them as well,” Clara said, looking at the Graber children fondly. “I need to give some credit to young Anson, here. Because he did such a nice job introducing everyone, I was able to stay in the back and keep the rest of the group organized. Anson, I would have been lost without you.”

Anson preened. “I liked being out front and calling names.”

Patting his shoulder, Mrs. Graber chuckled. “I would have been fairly shocked if you had not.” She looked from Tim to Clara. “I see you two are getting acquainted?”

“Yes,” Clara said shyly.

“Actually, this wasn’t the first time we met,” Tim said. “Our paths crossed last week.”

Just recalling how much that meeting had affected her, Clara said, “Yes. I was walking home by the creek and Tim was there. We talked for a bit.”

Tim smiled. “You cheered me up that day, Clara. I hope our paths cross again one day soon.”

She didn’t know what to say to that.

But Mrs. Graber didn’t seem to want to shy away from that at all. In fact, a new light entered her eyes. “I see. Clara, perhaps you’d like to join us for supper one evening?”

Maggie cheered. “Teacher, please say yes!”

“I wouldn’t want to impose,” she said automatically, though inside, she couldn’t help but be excited. She enjoyed everyone in the Graber family. And though she was a single teacher, it wasn’t often that she was invited to her students’ homes for suppers. People knew her mother wasn’t in good health and therefore were reluctant to ask Clara to leave her for meals.

Of course, it was fairly obvious that the invitation didn’t have much to do with Anson, Carrie, or Maggie.

“One more person won’t make a difference at our table. Consider coming over soon. You could bring your mother. We’d enjoy her company, too.”

Beside her, Tim didn’t say anything, but he did seem to be watching her carefully. “
Danke
. I’ll ask my mother soon.”

Scooping young Toby up in her arms, Elsa Graber sighed. “I suppose we’d best get our walk home started so Miss Slabaugh can get home, too.”

“Thanks again for your help, Anson,” Clara said to the freckled-faced boy.

“Welcome. Bye, Teacher.”

Tim stepped forward. “How about I stay and help you clean up?”

Mrs. Graber smiled. “Ach! That’s a wonderful—”

“No, no, thank you,” Clara interrupted. “I’ll be fine by myself.” Knowing how she sounded, she softened her words. “I mean, I still have some other things that need doing.”

Tim looked to comment on that. But his words were cut off when the children started running off, Carrie calling out for him to join them. “I…I guess I better go, too, then.”

“Yes, it would be best,” she murmured. Though, best for whom? she wondered.

Timothy merely gave her a long look before following the rest of his family.

As the crowd of Grabers soon disappeared over the hill, their exuberant voices faded away, leaving Clara good and completely alone.

But instead of feeling exhausted, she suddenly felt terribly fresh and buzzing. Tim Graber had shown her a definite interest. His steady gaze had made her feel things—made her feel interesting and almost…pretty. He made her think about the future she had always wanted. A future that included marriage and children and love.

She held the feeling tight to her heart…even though she knew those things could never actually happen. They were only a dream.

Turning away before she caught herself attempting to listen for his voice in the wind, Clara steeled herself to her job. After all, that was what she should be holding close.