Seasons of Sugarcreek 03. Autumn's Promise by Shelley Shepard Gray Page A

Grabers’.
    Why was he always so discontented there?
    In a matter of moments, Mrs. Miller placed a large chunk of banana bread and a glass of milk on the wide kitchen table. “Grab a towel and clean up, Caleb. Then come have a snack. And you may tell me what’s on your mind.”
    After washing his hands, he wolfed down the bread in just four bites. Instead of chastising him, Mrs. Miller merely cut off another generous portion and placed it in front of him.
    “Now, then. Relax.”
    Her gentle manner always soothed him. Finally, he took his time about eating. Enjoying the silence of the room and the lack of tension as well. After what seemed like an eternity, after his last gulp of milk, he spoke.
    “I’ve still been thinking about leaving Sugarcreek. About leaving my order.”
    “Do you know where you want to go?”
    He liked how again she didn’t start telling him how horrible he was. How he didn’t know his own mind. “I was thinking of Cleveland. It’s close. Our neighbors the Allens are from there.”
    “Ah.” She efficiently filled another three jars, and then used tongs to pull the lids out of boiling water. Then, with a cloth, she tightened the metal lids securely. “And what do you plan to do when you get to Cleveland?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    After a pause, she said, “You might want to do some thinking about that.”
    “What is there for me to do? I guess I’ll have to work.”
    “Yes. Or maybe you could go to school for a bit. If that interests you…”
    “There’s no place for me in the school. I only finished the eighth grade, you know. Lilly and Charlie Allen told me that they learned a lot in high school.” He knew his lack of schooling would stick out like a sore thumb. Plus, he figured a person had to have a nearby address in order to attend. He didn’t have anything like that.
    “What kind of work would you do?”
    “Work in a store, I guess. Or maybe help with carpentry or something.”
    “So you know a lot about woodworking?”
    His shoulders slumped. “No. Not a lot.”
    “Why are you so determined to get away? You’re still in your rumspringa .”
    “Even right now, I’m finding things to be awfully confining. And no matter how much experimenting I do, things around here aren’t going to change anytime soon.”
    With another pair of tongs, she carefully placed a line of jars in boiling water. Caleb knew that after five or ten minutes, she’d take them out, then they’d hear the telltale pop that signified that the seals were secure.
    As the jars boiled, Mrs. Miller darted a look his way again. “Caleb, a few years ago, I helped a pair of brothers leave their order. I suppose you heard about that?”
    He nodded.
    She sighed. “It’s not something I’m proud of doing. But, well, I knew the boys were going to leave anyway. With or without my help. They were having an awful time at home. Their father was abusive, and they had a lot of anger. In short, they were desperate. Do you know what I’m saying?” She peeked his way.
    “I do.”
    “I guess what I’m asking is—is that the state you are in? Desperate?”
    “Desperate? No.” All he really wanted was a break from his family. Nothing at home was horrible.
    But if things weren’t that bad, then why did he want to leave?
    Slowly, Mrs. Miller said “When I helped those boys, their parents were upset with me, and rightly so.”
    “Is that why you’re not Amish anymore?”
    “Partly. Nothing was said outright. And…you, Caleb, are the first person I’ve actually told. So I wasn’t exactly shunned, but I definitely was out of everyone’s favor.” Haltingly, she added, “I’ve been lucky that I’ve had no trouble keeping boarders through the years. They’ve kept me company. But, it’s not the same as being a part of the community.”
    “So you won’t help me leave?”
    “Right now? No. I don’t think you’re ready.” Her voice softened. “But perhaps you should speak to your parents about how