The Shunning (5 page)

* * *

Sadie hurried around, helping her young sisters with their hair and
Kapp's
. It would soon be time to leave for the worship service, and she wondered, as always, if Samuel would be there again. For the last two months, he attended the services, sat through three hours of singing and sermons, and then joined the others for the meal following. He also came to the singings in the evening, and made a point to spend time with Sadie. He didn't offer to take her home, however, and she ended up coming home with either Atlee or David. She suspected her brothers took turns bringing her so that they could each ask to take home one of the ladies they were interested in. Sadie also continued to turn down any offers to drive her home, positive she did not want to give any of the young men the impression she was interested in them. Samuel was the only man she had eyes for, but while he was polite and friendly, he made no attempt to bring her home.

"It is a fine morning for our worship service," Levi announced as his family climbed into the buggies for the drive to the Stutzman farm, where the meeting was held this Sunday. They all took turns hosting worship service, and two weeks from now, it would be held at his place. He knew that Martha would be extra busy preparing and cleaning and fixing extra food. Levi made sure his entire family was seated and then he climbed into the buggy he was driving and led the way. The drive was short since the Stutzman's lived on the same road, but there were already several buggies parked in the area provided. Martha and his two oldest daughters headed for the kitchen with the food they prepared for the shared meal. He sought out the other men to talk of the weather and how it translated to farming.

Sadie was disappointed when she didn't see Samuel's car when they arrived, but when she was helping in the kitchen, he came inside and asked, "Where can I put this, ladies?"

"What have you there, Samuel?" Martha asked, smiling at the young man.

"Nothing fancy; some cheese I bought. I am not a good cook like you ladies are, but I wanted to offer something," he explained. "I hope it is all right?"

"
Ja
," several of the women murmured and nodded together. "It is fine, Samuel.
Danki
," Martha assured him.

His blue eyes sought out Sadie and he smiled. She smiled back, but before they could talk, everyone was asked to take a seat so the meeting could begin. They started with a hymn, sung in German.

Sadie was seated beside her
Mamm
and trying to concentrate on the words the preacher was saying, but her dark eyes looked to the other side of the room, searching for Samuel. When she finally spotted him she was surprised to learn he was looking at her. He smiled and winked and it was all she could do to keep from giggling.
Mamm
gave her a subtle nudge and Sadie once again sat with her eyes forward. Her
Dat
would punish her if she was disrespectful during the service.

Samuel thought the long service would never be over. He wanted to see Sadie and speak with her. He wanted to be sure she was coming to the singing that night. He was finally living on his farm, and he had his new buggy and a horse to pull it. He very much wanted to offer Sadie a ride home in his buggy after the singing.

Finally, the last hymn was sung and Sadie was thankful to stretch her legs and rub her back. Sitting for so long was hard, and even her
Mamm
complained a little about the backless benches they used. Sadie was ready to go and help the women with the food so the men could be served first when Samuel appeared at her side.

"You look pretty today, Sadie," he said, his voice low and meant for her ears alone.

"Danki," she replied, blushing.

"Will you be coming to the singing this evening?" he asked hopefully.

"Ja. I look forward to singing and playing games," she answered, and then said, "It is such a pretty day and I believe spring has arrived."

"I think so, too," Samuel agreed.

Sadie felt eyes on her and suddenly realized her
Dat
was looking in her direction, disapproval on his face. "I need to go and help with the food, Samuel. I will see you tonight." She turned and hurried to help in the crowded kitchen.

Samuel smiled and then worked hard to help carry benches to the barn where tables were set up. It wasn't long before the men were told to come and get their food, and Sadie was assigned the job of serving tea when the men were seated, and she dutifully made her rounds, pouring tea into the glasses when someone wanted a refill. The men finished their meal and the women had their turn. There was much laughter and catching up with the latest news. The younger women gathered together and talked about the young men.

"I think Samuel Hilty is very handsome," Katie Miller, Sadie and Mary's cousin, said. "I wish he would notice me."

"He has already noticed Sadie, Cousin," Mary said sharply.

"Ohhh. He hasn't taken you home from a singing yet, has he?" she asked Sadie directly.

"Not yet," Sadie replied, thoroughly embarrassed with all eyes upon her. "This is very
goot
chicken salad; did you make it, Ellie?" she asked her friend.

"
Ja, danki
, Sadie," Ellie immediately replied. "What did you bring today?"

"I made tapioca pudding," Sadie replied. "Mary brought raisin puffs, and I sampled one last night and they are delicious." Her attempt to change the topic of conversation worked, and the young women talked about their dishes and recipes. Sadie did not want to discuss Samuel; her feelings were still too new, and, she couldn't escape the fact that her
Dat
would not accept Samuel because he was raised
Englisch
. She felt that wasn't fair, but so far Samuel hadn't said anything to make her think he was still interested in her. But, then, she argued with herself, he'd asked her if she was coming to the singing tonight. She hoped that he would offer to drive her home.

She did not see him again, at least not to talk privately. They went home, and, as usual, they all sat together and discussed the sermons they heard that morning.
Dat
and
Mamm
wanted to be sure their children understood their faith. Once their discussion and prayer was over, Sadie had some time to herself before it was time to help with supper. She spent that time thinking about Samuel and wondering if he would ask if he could drive her home tonight.

Supper was served, and after eating and washing the dishes, Sadie climbed into Atlee's courting buggy and rode with him to the singing while David drove his own courting buggy. There were a lot of young people there, and Samuel was among them. He walked over to her, a big smile on his face. "I'm happy to see you, Levi's Sadie."

"I'm happy to see you, too, Samuel." She hadn't seen his car outside, but perhaps he parked it behind the barn. He knew how the elders felt about owning a car.

The singing started and Sadie thought Samuel had a good voice. It was fun to sing along with him. Refreshments were put out on the tables and she and Samuel helped themselves while some of the others set up some games and started playing. "Sadie, would you allow me to drive you home tonight?" Samuel asked hopefully.

Sadie smiled shyly and nodded. "
Ja
, Samuel. I would like that," she agreed.

"
Goot
." Samuel smiled too. Someone called to them, needing two more people for their game.

Sadie had a competitive streak and she hated to lose at games. Her
Mamm
and
Dat
were constantly trying to curb her 'must win' attitude, but Sadie got so involved and losing was so unacceptable to her that she played viciously. It was much later, when common sense returned, that she realized how awful she treated people in order to win. She gloated, too. And, if she happened to lose, she was angry and pouted, blaming the loss on other people.

Samuel was shocked when Sadie played so aggressively that the game ceased being fun for all of them. She was so wrapped up in winning that she did not care if she hurt the others' feelings. When she inevitably won the game, she got up and danced around and made the others feel small. When Samuel tried to calm her, she gloated even more and accused him of being a poor sport.

Atlee saw what was going on and crossed the room to take her arm, "Excuse us a moment." He led her over to the refreshment table before leaning down to whisper, "Sadie, you are doing it again. You are being too aggressive and this is not becoming behavior."

Sadie felt as though he'd thrown water in her face. She quickly glanced over to the table where she'd been playing and realized that Atlee was right. The look on Samuel's face said it all. He was upset with her and she would be lucky if he did not cancel out on his offer to drive her home. She filled several paper cups with iced tea, put them on a tray, and went back to face the small group. "I am sorry I was a poor winner. I think it best if I do not play more games of this sort tonight." She gave each of them a glass of the tea and did her best to make conversation. It took a few minutes for the others to lose that wounded look and make an attempt to have fun once again.

The group came together to sing some more songs, and when they were alone, Samuel asked, "Did you let your brothers know that you have a ride home?"

"I wasn't sure you would still want to take me home," she admitted, blushing. "I was horrible to you."

"I want to take you home, Sadie. You'd better let your brothers know," he suggested. They were going to have a serious talk about the way she behaved. It wasn't the way he wanted the evening to end, but given the improper way she behaved, she needed a good
bletching
to make sure she never behaved that aggressively again.

Sadie quickly told her brothers, who just happened to be together when she approached them. She saw the relief on both of their faces. Atlee was first to speak, "This is
goot
, Sadie. David and I both offered rides and we were trying to decide what to do." She gave them a smile and hurried back to Samuel, excited as could be. It was the very first time she accepted a ride home with a young man!

Although the weather was warmer, it was still chilly enough to need a heavy shawl in the evenings. Samuel took her arm in his and led the way outside. Sadie was looking for his car, but instead, he stopped beside a horse and buggy. "Ohhh!" she exclaimed in surprise. "You are driving a buggy now!"

"
Ja
. Mr. Yoder moved to the
dawdyhaus
on his daughter and son-in-law's farm so they can care for him. I am now living on the farm, and I have a place to keep my horse and buggy."

He helped her climb inside and soon they were on their way. Samuel drove with confidence and she felt perfectly safe. Instead of taking her straight home, however, he went in the opposite direction. "Where are we going?" she asked in confusion.

"Someplace where we won't be interrupted when I take you over my knee for a good
bletching
!" he answered firmly.

"What? You aren't serious?" she demanded, thinking she'd heard him wrong.

"Your behavior tonight was unacceptable and you need a good lesson, young lady. I am very serious. He pulled into his own driveway and parked there. "You can turn yourself right over my lap, Sadie Miller, and we'll have a good talking to now."

Chapter Four

Sadie was stunned! This was hardly the romantic drive home she was expecting or looking forward to! Why oh why had she been so aggressive with her friends during a silly board game? Was winning so important to her? Still, she did not want her very first ride home after a singing to be spoiled by a
bletching
! What kind of memory would that be to share with her
kinner
some day? She could picture it now, her daughter asking her, "
Mamm
, tell us of your first buggy ride home with a boy!" She did not want this to be her memory.

Sadie looked at Samuel and said firmly, "No, Samuel. This is the very first time I have agreed to ride home in a buggy after a singing. I do not wish to have this first time spoiled by a spanking. It would spoil the memory forever."

"This is the first time I have offered to take a girl home after a singing, Sadie, and I did not plan on taking you over my knee, either. You earned a spanking by your own thoughtless behavior, and since I care about you and want a future with you, it is my belief that I need to make my opinion known in such a way you will never behave this way again. This does not give me pleasure, Sadie," he said quietly, and then he reached for her.

Sadie was shocked when she found herself lying across Samuel's knee inside the small buggy, and she gasped when he tossed up her skirt before he started spanking her. It was fairly dark inside the black buggy, but the thought of his eyes on her panty clad backside caused her to blush furiously. "No!" she cried out in dismay as the spanks started to burn and hurt. "Please stop!"

"I will stop when I am positive you are truly sorry, little Sadie."

"I
am
sorry! I was sorry the moment Atlee scolded me and I realized how awful I'd been to all of you! Owwww!" she cried, trying not to kick and evade the punishment. She'd been taught that it was important to accept punishment when offered, but she was not sure if her parents meant that to include a man she barely knew!"

"People will recall that behavior and hesitate to include you in the future, Sadie. Is that what you want?" Samuel asked quietly, making sure he spanked her sit spots. He wanted this spanking to last for a while.

"No, that is not what I want! I did apologize, Samuel! Did you not hear me do so?" she asked, crying.

"I heard you. Was it sincere?" he wanted to know. "Or was it because Atlee instructed you to do so?"

"No, he did no such thing. He merely told me to consider my behavior and said it was unbecoming. I said I was sorry because I was and am sorry! Please stop! You are hurting me so much!" Her tears turned into sobs. It was so embarrassing to be taken to task by Samuel.