TEARS OF THE SILENCED by Misty Griffin

Author:Misty Griffin [Griffin, Misty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642500257
Publisher: Mango Publishing Group
Published: 2019-03-26T12:45:41+00:00

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

Never rebel for the sake of rebelling, but always rebel for the sake of truth.

—Criss Jami

That April after communion service, all of the church members were asked to stay for an important announcement, something that must be discussed at length. I heard a moan from some of the young women beside me as we tried to stretch our backs after having been seated for seven hours. I fidgeted with the Halzduch (Amish for cape) that tucked into my neck string only a couple of inches under my chin. The stiff white organdy fabric always irritated my neck, especially when it was warm like this particular April day had turned out to be. I was only half listening as the Bishop stood up with a letter in his hand and began reading. Absentmindedly, I noticed that the letter was from out of the country. I was suddenly jerked out of my sleepy, irritated mood when I heard the Bishop say solemnly,

“A couple of weeks ago, we got a letter from Larry, who has been living in Russia for the past year. He says he recently married a young woman from there and now requests permission to come back here to live among us as he did a few years ago.”

The Bishop paused for a moment before continuing. “After much prayer, and after we talked with the rest of the men, we believe his past transgression should not be held against him. Therefore, the ministers and I have written him to say it would be all right for him to live nearby if he wishes. He still dresses like us, and his wife will do the same; it is our duty to forgive him.”

I sat stunned and looked around at the room of blank faces. No one seemed to object to this man moving back to the community. All of the married adults knew what Larry had done, yet they seemed to think it was their duty to forgive him and let him live on the outskirts of the community just because he dressed like us.

Being a church member did have its advantages. It allowed us to learn what was happening in the community. As church let out, I saw several groups of women and men huddled together discussing Larry. I milled around, waiting for Lillian and Jacob. I felt too tired to walk home like most of the other young people were doing since none of them really knew or cared about Larry. I found myself eavesdropping behind the group of women Lillian was talking to.

“Remember what he did to Laura?” one woman said angrily.

“Yeah, but how is that different from one of our men with the same shortcomings?” another woman asked.

“Well.” I heard Lillian’s voice. “He went to prison in the eighties for holding those people from Asia on his farm and making them work while he molested their children. That is really weird. And we have to remember, he is a worldly outsider.”

“So are Emma and Beth,” I heard another woman say.

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