The Lopsided Christmas Cake by Wanda E. Brunstetter Read Free Book Online Page B

confident driving this aggravating horse as she’d let on.
    “Whoa, Rusty!” The twins called in unison.
    Thelma pulled back on the reins, and the horse came to a stop a foot or so from the barn. She looked over at Elma and smiled. “We’re here!”
    Elma released a quick breath. “Jah, and thank the Lord we didn’t run into the barn.”
    After one of the young men came up to greet them and took Rusty away to be watered and stabled, Elma walked across the yard with Thelma. Several women were clustered outside on the lawn near a large white building that Elma assumed was Mr. Miller’s workshop. A group of men stood chatting in a line on the other side of the shop door.
    As the twins were greeted by each of the women, Elma recognized several from the day of their grandparents’ funeral. Sadie Yoder introduced Elma to Lena Chupp and Lena introduced the twins to the other women they didn’t know.
    Shortly before nine o’clock, they entered the shop and took their seats. At a quick glance, Elma could see the shop was as neat and orderly inside as it was outside. It had obviously been thoroughly cleaned before the benches were set up for service.
    Soon after, the men came in. The ministers and older men entered first, followed by young married men, and then the youth and young boys. The men sat on the opposite side of the room from the women, facing one another.
    The service began with a song from their ancient Amish hymnal, the
Ausbund.
One of the men led off, carrying the first few notes, and then everyone else joined him. Soon after the singing began, the ministers left the building to discuss who would preach and to offer instructional classes to any candidates for baptism. An hour or so later, the ministers returned. When the singing ended a short time later, the first minister rose to begin his sermon, which lasted about twenty minutes. It still amazed Elma how the bishop and other ministers could preach without any notes on readings mostly found in the New Testament.
    By the time the second minister, their bishop, rose to speak, Elma was struggling to keep from yawning out loud. She clasped her hand over her mouth and hoped no one was looking at her. They shouldn’t be, after all; everyone was supposed to be focused on the one delivering the message. With eyes feeling heavy, Elma’s head lowered then bobbed up again.
Oh no, I can’t fall asleep. Guess I shouldn’t have stayed up so late last night working on that new puzzle Thelma bought. On top of that, I’m exhausted from everything we did this past week. It’s all catching up with me, I guess.
    Elma glanced at Thelma. She seemed to be wide awake and listening intently to what Homer Chupp, the elderly bishop, was saying. He was preaching from the book of Luke, chapter 18, and had quoted verse 27, which Elma had read the other day: “And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
    Given everything she and her sister were facing, Elma needed the reminder that nothing was impossible with God. They would try to do their best, seek His wisdom in all their business dealings, and trust Him to take care of their needs.
    As the bishop’s message continued, Elma struggled to keep her eyes open. At one point she was about to nod off, when Thelma’s elbow connected with her arm. Elma’s eyes snapped open and she sat up straight. She hoped she hadn’t missed anything important.
What am I thinking?
she asked herself.
Everything that happens during our three-hour Sunday services is important—especially the Bible verses that are quoted during the message.
    Elma did better after that, but by the time Homer Chupp’s message was over and the last song had been sung, she felt drowsy again. Hopefully after the meal, she and Thelma could be on their way home, because Elma needed a nap.
    When it came time for the twins to sit down to the light meal that had been prepared, Elma felt a headache coming on. She didn’t say anything, however,