Brigette loved when her daddy got home. It was the happiest part of her day. She’d bounce and coo and get all excited when she saw him, and once she figured out how to cling to a dining room chair and peek over the window sill, Amelia had trouble pulling her away.
“Our kids were the same,” Mary said. “They loved watching for their father to come back inside.”
Amelia and Mary were sitting together with some tea. Mary came by to return the book, MURDER OF AN AMISH BRIDEGROOM, that she’d borrowed from Amelia. She’d read it in only a few days.
“How was your church service?” Amelia asked. Because Mary and Mose had hosted the Amish church service that last weekend. They had to clean and get everything ready–it was a huge job.
“Oh, it went so well!” Mary said. “But something interesting happened. Brenda Herschberger, our school teacher, got a visit from her ex-fiance who married another woman.”
“What?” Amelia gasped. “On Sunday at church?”
“Yes! He showed up without his new wife, and he asked to talk to Brenda alone. She said she wouldn’t speak to him alone, and she asked if I’d be in the room with her.”
“What did he say to her?” Amelia asked.
“He said he’d made a mistake and asked her to run away with him.”
“No!”
“Yes!”
“And what did Brenda do?” Amelia asked. “He’s a married man, after all, even if a regretfully married one.”
“Ah, that’s the best part…”
Sometimes, the best way to get to know a community was through stories. Amelia would have thought that an Amish community would have less drama, but she was wrong!
That evening, after Brigette was tucked into bed, Amelia drew a nice hot bath to enjoy. She just needed a little bit of time to herself to unwind. She’d visited with her friend Mary that day, and she’d even gotten some editing done for Patricia Johns. And now, she was tired.
But just before she slipped into the tub, George tapped on the bathroom door.
“Amelia?” he called. “I’m back!”
“Oh, George!” she called. “Come in! Mary was telling me the most shocking story today about Brenda Herschberger’s ex-fiance!”
George came in right away, and Amelia told him the tale that Mary had told her about Brenda’s ex-fiance showing up at church service and asking her to run away with him.
“But he’s MARRIED!” George said.
“I know. And Brenda was shocked. She asked why he’d changed his mind, and he said the this new wife had upset him with something.”
“And what did Brenda tell him?” George asked. “I hope she told him to go jump in a mud hole!”
“She pretty much did,” Amelia said. “She told him that he’d better go home right now and apologize to his new wife for being so foolish. And she said she wouldn’t run away with him, and that the Englisher women wouldn’t want him either with that kind of character.”
“Good,” George said. “Because married is married. That’s what I say!”
“All the same, I feel bad about Brenda’s ex-fiance’s new wife,” Amelia sighed. “She’s got herself a bad man.”
“She’s got herself a TOAD!” George said.
And Amelia giggled. There was a certain toad of their acquaintance who had no respect for marriage vows, too. So it was a bit of an inside joke between them.
“But I have myself the best frog ever,” Amelia said. “And I’m ever so grateful for you, George.”
It really did help her to keep things in perspective when she saw what a very good frog she had married.
The next day, Mose Lapp came over to see George while he filled the feeder with hay for the cows and horse in the field.
“How are you doing?” George asked. “How was church service on your farm this last weekend?”
“Oh, it was very nice,” Mose said. “The bishop gave a powerful sermon about being kind to one’s neighbors. But it was after the sermon that he talked to me privately.”
“Oh?” George said. “About what?”
“About you, I’m afraid,” Mose said. “He was concerned about some Englisher frogs who’d moved into the area. He didn’t want there be any bad influence for our youngsters, you see.”
“Does he think WE are a bad influence?” George gasped.
“He wasn’t sure,” Mose replied. “So I said he should come by and visit you himself. That’s the best way to see if frog is a good sort or not.”
“Oh…” George said weakly. “That’s sounds great…”
“Just wanted to give you a heads up,” Mose said. “Don’t worry too much. Just make sure you don’t say any bad words, make sure you say a proper, lengthy grace before you feed him, and impress upon him that you are moral and upright frogs.”
“How?” George asked.
Mose was silent for a moment, then he shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
So all that day, George worried, and that evening after he’d eaten a very small amount of supper that sat like a rock in his stomach, a horse and buggy pulled into their drive.
“Is that him?” Amelia asked, and she paled.
George looked outside. The sun was setting, and he opened the door.
A solemn man got out of the buggy and he tied his horse to the hitching post. Then he walked very slowly and very soberly toward their door.
“Good evening,” George said, trying to sound friendly.
“Good evening,” the man said. “George Frog, I presume?”
“Yes, I’m George.”
“My name is Abraham Yoder. I’m the bishop of this community.”
“Please come in,” George said.
The bishop had come… and George could only hope he approved of them!
These little froggy stories don’t give a very thorough view of Amish life, but they do give you a few little glimpses into the Amish culture. If you enjoy these, you might enjoy my Amish romances and mysteries, too! I hope you’ll give them a try!
Happy reading!
❤
Patricia Johns 
Your comments make me feel warm and fuzzy. Seriously!