Reuben by Mary Christner Borntrager

Author:Mary Christner Borntrager [Borntrager, Mary Christner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8361-3593-0
Publisher: MennoMedia
Published: 2015-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Mystery in the Oat Bin

Reuben knew right off that it wasn’t right. But Willy always had such interesting things to show him.

This Sunday, church was held at Adam Weavers’ home again, and after the noon meal, Willy Chupp enticed Reuben to go aside with him—alone.

“What do you want?” asked Reuben.

“I’ve got something to show you. I found it in the hired hand’s room.”

“Did you steal it?” asked Reuben. “You know stealing is wrong.”

“No, I didn’t steal it. I just borrowed it for a little bit. I’ll give it back.”

“Well, it’s stealing if you don’t ask.”

“Do you want to see what it is, or don’t you?” Willy asked.

“I guess I shouldn’t,” Reuben answered.

“Aw, come on. You’ll really like it. I hid it in our buggy under the lap robe.”

Against his better judgment, Reuben followed. Willy looked this way and that and then quickly removed an article from the buggy and slipped it under his shirt. He started walking past the outbuildings and motioned to Reuben to follow.

“Come on. Let’s go behind the barn so no one will see us.”

Reuben already felt wicked. If they had to hide, then he knew it was wrong.

“What is it, Willy? What do you have?”

“Here,” said Willy, thrusting a magazine into Reuben’s hand. “Look at that animal. Isn’t it something?”

Reuben’s eyes opened wide as he saw on the cover a picture of the horse of his dreams.

“Wow!” he exclaimed.

“Now look inside. There’s a whole story about him and the races he won. And girls, too,” laughed Willy.

“He is one beautiful horse, Willy, but no, I can’t read it. There isn’t time now and—”

Reuben didn’t get to finish his sentence before Willy offered, “Just keep it and hide it. Then give it back later.”

“No, Willy,” decided Reuben. “As much as I’d like to read all about that horse, I can’t do that.”

“Well, why not? I hide things all the time. Anyway, if I’m found out, I can make up a good story or get real upset and cry so they’ll pity me.”

Reuben thought how awful that would be. He did pity Willy, but for a different reason.

“We’d better go now,” Reuben insisted again as he turned his back and walked off.

“You’re dumb,” Willy told him.

That remark bothered Reuben a bit as he made his way back to the other boys. But he was able to put it behind him when he remembered what his father had told him one time: “Things only upset you as much as you let them.”

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