A Simple Song by Melody Carlson Read Free Book Online

to—”
    â€œFrost has health problems, Fannie. You know that.”
    â€œYes, I know that he’s been saying that for years. But if he wants to, he goes out and builds something in his shop. He built his mother’s casket, didn’t he? And now that Mamm’snot around to protect her only boy, I say it’s time to do some pruning on this farm before we all—”
    â€œHello, Alma,” Uncle Willis interrupted.
    â€œIs something wrong?” Aunt Alma’s voice sounded small and worried.
    â€œNo,” Uncle Willis said.
    â€œSupper is nearly ready,” Aunt Alma quickly told them. “I just ran out to pick some chives for the potatoes, and then I saw some—”
    â€œJust let us know when it’s ready,” Aunt Fannie said loudly. “We’ll be in the front room with Daed.”
    Katrina knew it was time to escape. She glanced quickly at Daadi, relieved to see he still seemed to be sound asleep, and quietly slipped out the front door and hurried around to the back door, finding Aunt Alma in the kitchen.
    â€œOh, Katrina.” Aunt Alma smiled. “It’s good to see you. You want to stay for supper? I can put on another—”
    â€œNo,” Katrina said quietly. “I just came to invite you to do something with me tomorrow.” She quickly explained about Cooper’s grandmother. “Mrs. Miller will tell us what she knows about Mammi.”
    Aunt Alma’s eyes lit up. “She will?”
    â€œCan you come?”
    â€œ Ja , sure. Why not? I am a grown woman. I can go visit an elderly friend if I like, can I not?”
    Katrina smiled. “I sure hope so.”
    â€œ Ja , well, I better get supper on the table. You run along now, Katrina. Come by around ten tomorrow morning and we’ll go visiting.”
    As Katrina hurried back home, she felt like she had a rock in the pit of her stomach. Aunt Fannie’s words had been socold, so harsh. How could she say such things about Katrina’s daed, especially when he was in such pain all the time? What kind of unfeeling woman was she? What about practicing good Christian charity and love like they were taught to do? How could Uncle Willis put up with such animosity? And how was she going to tell her parents about this? Certainly they deserved to know.
    As she went into her own house, where Sadie was setting the table and Mamm was removing a ham from the oven, Katrina decided it might be best to wait until after supper to tell her parents about what she’d heard. No sense in ruining a good meal. She knew it would crush her father. He hated being seen as weak or incapacitated and always tried so hard to keep up a strong front. When asked about his health, he’d always say he was “just fine” or “getting better every day.”
    But his family knew better. In fact, he was in so much pain tonight that he wasn’t even able to come to the table. Katrina tried not to look at his empty chair as they sat down. She bowed her head with the others, silently praying as usual, but after she thanked God for his provision, she also asked God to help Daed get well. It was a familiar prayer, but tonight she prayed it with fervency.
    When it was time to eat, she still felt worried for Daed as well as about the troubles brewing on the family farm. As a result, she didn’t feel very hungry and only picked at her food.
    â€œAre you all right?” Mamm finally asked her. “Feeling well?”
    â€œI’m fine,” she lied. Just like Daed.
    â€œHow are the Lehmans?” Mamm asked. “Did they sell a lot of candles and soap this week?”
    Katrina filled them in on the happenings with Bekka’sfamily, answering a few more questions. Then the table got quiet again, and Katrina felt as if she couldn’t stop herself from asking the question that was ready to leap from the tip of her tongue. “Is Daed ever going to get better?” she