Seeing Your Face Again by Jerry S. Eicher

own life was Lois thinking about right now? She had a faraway look in her eyes. Should she ask?
    While Debbie pondered the question, Saloma came in from the living room and cleared her throat. “Are you girls about done? Daett wants to have the prayer and Scripture reading soon. He’s retiring early tonight.”
    â€œWe’ll rush,” Debbie said. Saloma withdrew, and Debbie decided the bishop was even more troubled than she’d imagined. He seldom retired well before nine o’clock. But then perhaps the winter weather was getting to him. She ought to stop her thoughts about things andretire herself for a long winter’s sleep. Things might look different once spring weather arrived. And if she thought about spring long enough, she could almost imagine the first of its warmth. The warm breezes would melt the drifts of snow along the road. The horses would run in the barnyard with full vigor. This renewal might also happen for Alvin and herself. She just had to keep her faith in the Lord’s guiding hand. He’d brought her this far. He wouldn’t fail her now.
    Lois interrupted her thoughts. “I should tell you something. Debbie. You won’t like it though.”
    Debbie glanced at Lois, who had her gaze glued on the plate she’d just dried. Lois looked downright guilty.
    Lois continued. “I was over to speak with your mamm and daett on Sunday afternoon.” Lois let the words hang.
    â€œYes?” Debbie remembered Lois had gone for a walk after they came home from the church services. She’d thought at the time it was a little strange. Lois usually stayed around the house on Sunday afternoons. But with the trouble in the community about Alvin, and Debbie’s own worries of the evening ahead when she’d have to face Paul, she hadn’t thought more about it.
    When Lois walked down the drive, Debbie and Ida had both given a little shrug as they watched from the upstairs window. The bishop and Saloma had been taking their afternoon naps at the time, asleep in their rockers. They probably hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
    â€œWell, it’s like this, Debbie. I’m moving in with your parents for a while.”
    Debbie jerked her head toward Lois. “You’re doing what ?” she almost shouted.
    â€œI spoke with your mamm at length,” Lois said, her voice low. “They’re giving me a place to stay for the time being. Until I get my feet on the ground and find a job. In fact…” And here Lois’s face lit up. “In fact, your mamm said she would help me find work andgive me help with all the things I’ll need out there—a driver’s license, some schooling. Your parents are very wunderbah people, Debbie.”
    Debbie tried to speak, but nothing came out.
    â€œI’m moving this weekend,” Lois continued. Her face took on a glow as she spoke. “This is what I’ve always dreamed of, Debbie. And now I’m going to get a chance to live it. Even though I hope for your sake that Alvin comes back, I’m still so thankful to him. His leaving gave me the courage to finally make the plunge. And you gave me the way it could be done. For so long I’ve wondered how I’d ever get going out there in that wunderbah world, sheltered as I’ve always been. Then I saw the way open up for me by your coming here, Debbie. It was like seeing the path through the Red Sea that the children of Israel traveled on when the Egyptians pursued them.”
    â€œLois!” Debbie almost shouted. “You’re not thinking straight! What I did is not what you’re doing.”
    Lois looked over her shoulder. “That’s what you say, but your mamm had a totally different take on it. I could see her eyes shining when I told her what my plans were. She thinks what I think, Debbie. And I know we’re right. It is the same as what you did. You walked away from your world, so why can’t I