The Beiler Sisters 3-in-1 by Jerry S. Eicher

Author:Jerry S. Eicher
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736983358
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Twenty-One

In the early morning hours of Saturday, Debbie rose and made her way out to her car in the partial darkness. Neither Emery nor Ida were up yet for chore time, so Debbie had successfully sneaked out of the house without waking anyone. She wasn’t trying to hide anything she told herself. If it wasn’t for the upcoming bann, she wouldn’t be in such a hurry to take the risky chance of going to see Alvin in Philadelphia. Besides, Saloma and Ida knew of her plans.

Last night Debbie had told Saloma and Ida her intentions, and they understood—especially when she told them about her conversation with Verna. They had voiced no objections even when Debbie was frank about what her intentions were—that she wanted to speak to Alvin about returning to the community. Any chance at success in that department was apparently worthy of pursuit in their estimation. Ida had even stopped her constant hints that Debbie give a gut answer to Paul’s next request to drive her home from the hymn singing.

At the first rest stop she came to, Debbie changed into an Englisha dress. She dared not put it on at home in case someone from the Beiler family should see her. Now well down the road, she felt it was the right thing to do. She drove and hummed one of the hymns the young folks sang at the last Sunday-evening hymn singing. She’d learned the tune, which was a faster melody attached to the community’s German favorite O Gott Vater, wir loben dich. Debbie tried a few lines, and even spoke the German words out loud. She sounded decent, Debbie told herself. At least close enough for an outsider still learning the language. She must take comfort in any progress she made right now. The thought that her venture into the Amish world might not continue was too painful to dwell on for long. If her trip were a success today…but what were the chances of that? The question darkened her brow. She’d already been over that ground a hundred times. She’d lain awake late last night and thought things through again. No other answer had come. There was one thing she knew for sure. Verna had been right with her assessment of Alvin at her wedding. And Verna was probably correct this time.

Alvin must have left the community as much to spare his family from shame, as for his own sake. That and to find his own way for a change. His father sounded like quite a pill. Debbie had come from a home where she didn’t fit in, so she could understand what Alvin must have experienced with his father—at least a little. Only Alvin did the opposite from what she’d done. He’d left the community while she’d sought to join it. Yet, in the end, they were versions of the same thing. The thought comforted her.

Perhaps if she shared this with Alvin it would help him understand his own journey and see his way back.

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