Seeing Your Face Again Read Online Free Page A

her own household of bopplis . Will we still have your pies to make us fat and happy?”
    â€œDaett!” Lois chided. “I don’t even have a man bringing me home yet! And you know I’ll always be baking pies for you.”
    Saloma spoke up. “ Daett ’s way too spoiled already. My pies will be just fine in our old age.”
    Bishop Beiler laughed, obviously enjoying the easy banter. He looked over at Lois. “Didn’t I see Joe’s cousin Roy making eyes at you the other Sunday, Lois? I hope you’re seeing what I’m seeing.”
    â€œ Daett …” Lois’s face was flushed now.
    â€œI want to let you know that Roy’s a decent man. I have no objections about him.”
    Lois took a slice of cherry pie and put it on her plate before she looked at her father. “What’s changing your tune, Daett ? You used to chase most men off when they came anywhere close to your daughters. Has it been Verna’s happy marriage or is there something else?”
    The bishop thought for a moment before he answered. “Well, I’m always interested in my daughters’ boyfriends, but perhaps Verna and Joe have mellowed me a bit.”
    Lois didn’t look that convinced.
    Ida quickly changed the subject. “There’s a young folks gathering at the Wagler place this week. They might even have an indoor volleyball game in their barn.”
    Saloma didn’t waste any time before speaking up. “I think that will be just the thing for these winter blahs. Do you think the Wagler barn will be large enough?”
    â€œOf course the Waglers have room,” Lois said. “They’re the Waglers.”
    â€œThe Waglers are decent and upstanding members of the community,” Bishop Beiler said, having caught Lois’s sarcastic tone.
    Lois went on. “Speaking of upstanding church members, why has Deacon Mast been hanging around our place lately? Seems like I saw him here yesterday and today.”
    â€œLois!” Saloma’s voice had a warning in it. “You know not to ask questions about church work. The bishop’s daughters will be told what they need to know just like the rest of the community.”
    Lois puckered her lip but offered nothing more.
    Ida ventured a further question. “It’s not something serious, is it, Daett ?”
    The family’s drama with Verna and Joe last year had left them all on edge. This also explained the sympathetic look crossing Bishop Beiler’s face as he answered. “ Yah , it is something serious, Ida. But all church work is serious. Right now we’re working through what needs to be done.”
    â€œTrouble, trouble. It seems like there’s always trouble happening with someone or other,” Lois muttered before taking a bite of her pie.
    The bishop seemed lost in thought, his hand holding his fork suspended halfway to the plate. Finally he sighed. “Perhaps it’s best if I do tell you. You’ll know soon enough—probably at the first youth gathering you go to. In fact, I’m surprised you haven’t heard already.”
    They all looked at him. Bishop Beiler took his time before he spoke again. “On Monday morning Alvin Knepp left for the Englisha world. He didn’t run away, thankfully, so perhaps there is hope for him. His daett told Deacon Mast Alvin came home from the hymn singing on Sunday night, told them he was leaving in the morning, and packed his bags.”
    Shocked silence fell over the room. Debbie’s spoon clanked against her plate. She looked away, trying to appear nonchalant.
    â€œDid he say where he was going?” Emery asked.
    The bishop nodded. “ Yah. To Philadelphia. I don’t know why that makes any difference. It’s all the same out there—wherever you go.”
    â€œBut how did this happen?” Saloma clutched her husband’s shirt sleeve.
    Bishop Beiler stared at Saloma’s hand blankly