Between Worlds 7: What Will Come by Lori Wolf-Heffner

Author:Lori Wolf-Heffner [Wolf-Heffner, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-989465-16-5
Publisher: Head in the Ground Publishing

Chapter Ten

By Wednesday morning, the Schuhmachers had gotten used to Omama’s routine, and everyone was ready for the day on time. Mammi was sitting at the table in the front room, her fever gone, embroidering the satin upper of a woman’s dress shoe with her intricate floral patterns. Luki sat opposite Mammi, playing with Tata’s deck of cards, his chores already done. Rosina was putting away dishes in the kitchen with Omama. Would today be a calm day? And would Elisabeth be allowed to tend the family farmland? Omama had said nothing all morning, so Elisabeth assumed the answer was yes and packed her things.

“That looks lovely,” Elisabeth said of Mammi’s handiwork.

“The workshop is too dark,” Mammi said. “Stefan built a fine stove, but one door and some lanterns do not let in as much light as two windows. I can embroider better here.”

Tata had built his workshop into the summer kitchen—between the cellar and horse and cow stalls—and did not include a window. An open door provided the only source of daylight. About a month ago, Stefan had built Mammi a small heating stove in the workshop so the door could stay open more. He wanted to show other villagers that he could work despite having only one arm. So far as Elisabeth knew, though, nobody would pay him because he worked slower than a man with two arms. Although Stefan helped on Samuel’s salasch, he refused to accept payment from friends. His parents and sister worked as day labourers on the Haibach farm this year. Elisabeth would make sure to organize an evening for majen soon—when Mammi was well—and she would invite Stefan’s sister.

“I’m glad to hear you like his work, Mammi,” Elisabeth said. “Maybe you know of anyone who might hire him…?”

Still staring at her work, Mammi shook her head. “No one will pay for a man who’s missing an arm, Lissika, you know that. It’s easier finding work as a woman.”

“Then he can be paid less. He just wants to support his family.”

“His family? Or his future family?”

“I suppose both.”

Mammi shook her head as she turned the piece of satin around to sew in another spot. “Lord have pity on that man. Without work, he cannot find a wife, and no wealthy family will want to give him their money.”

“That doesn’t seem fair at all,” Elisabeth said. “After fighting and then being imprisoned in Siberia, he can’t work or find a wife? How is that just?”

Before Mammi answered, Anna hobbled in on her crutches, a scowl on her face.

“I’m not going to get back to the front of the classroom,” she said, her gaze fixed on the two front windows. “Where is he?” She paced along the floor between the table in the centre of the room and the settee and beds against the back wall. Elisabeth inwardly lamented about all the divots she would have to smooth out of the dirt-and-chaff floor when she and her sisters (and Omama?) cleaned the house on Saturday.

“Anna, stop that pacing,” Mammi complained.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.