Free Holding a Tender Heart by Jerry S. Eicher

Debbie decided. She’d better spill the whole thing after all. “It’s that…well…I-I think I may want to go Amish eventually—if such a thing is possible. I think it is from what I know of your community.”
    â€œ Ach , then that’s different.” Saloma smiled for the first time. “Do you really have such a thought in your head?”
    â€œYes, I do,” Debbie assured her. “I’ve had these thoughts for a long time. I just haven’t let them come out until now.”
    â€œYou know this will be hard, Debbie?” Verna spoke up for the first time.
    â€œThat’s why she’s taking this slowly,” Saloma said. “I needed to know what the end goal was before we considered this.”
    â€œYou’re not really thinking of going Amish, are you?” Lois choked out from where she stood in the kitchen doorway.
    â€œDoes that disappoint you?” Debbie asked, glancing in her direction. Lois’s disapproval was one thing she’d expected. Would Lois oppose her? That might make this situation untenable or, at the least, uncomfortable.
    Lois managed to smile. “I said last week I’d love to have you here, but joining the Amish is a little crazy, if you ask me. I want to join the Englisha , and you want to join the Amish. I guess it’s your right.” Lois’s face lit up. “Say! Why don’t we switch places?”
    Verna gasped.
    Debbie shook her head. “That wouldn’t be a good idea, Lois.”
    â€œMaybe in your opinion, but not in mine,” Lois retorted.
    â€œThen we have differing opinions, I suppose,” Debbie replied.
    Lois shook her head. “I think you’re out of your mind.”
    â€œLet’s not talk about that right now,” Saloma interrupted. “We will take the matter up with Daett and let you know, Debbie. Maybe by the end of this week. Will that work or are you in a rush for an answer?”
    â€œI am,” Debbie admitted. “But that’s okay. This will give me time to talk to Mom and Dad and let them know what I’ve asked and that you’re considering it. I don’t want it to come as a total surprise.”
    â€œThat would be gut ,” Saloma agreed.
    Debbie rose. “I think I’ve kept you long enough. Thank you so much for considering my request. I know it’s strange. I suppose it’s not every day that an Englisha girl arrives and asks to live with an Amish family and maybe join the Amish faith.”
    â€œYou can say that again!” Lois said.
    â€œI hope this works out.” Verna gave Debbie a quick hug. “For more reasons than you realize.”
    Debbie almost asked what those were, but she changed her mind. Verna was allowed her personal reasons for why she supported Debbie joining the Amish. It warmed Debbie’s heart that Verna cared.
    Lois followed Debbie out the door and across the front lawn. Debbie turned to wave goodbye to Verna and Saloma, who were standing on the porch. Once they were near her car, Lois launched in.
    â€œI didn’t want to say too much in front of Mamm , Debbie. Originally I suggested this, I know, but I wasn’t serious. This is insane. Do you know what you’re getting yourself into? Daett won’t even let us date Amish boys unless they’re saints. How many of those do you think exist? To say nothing of how restricted our rumspringa time has been. In fact, Verna and Ida ended up taking very little of it at all!”
    â€œI’m just looking into it for now,” Debbie hedged. “I won’t be that involved…not in your family. I don’t want to be in the way.”
    Lois made a face. “Oh, yah , you will be involved. Daett won’t tolerate someone in the house who isn’t considered part of the family. He’ll want to treat you like one of his daughters.”
    Now the warm feelings rushed all the way through Debbie. Lois hadn’t