Wanda E. Brunstetter - Out of Control

2008 by Wanda E. Brunstetter

ISBN: 978-1-59789-897-3

eBook Editions:

Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-62836-182-7

Kindle and MobiPocket Edition 978-1-62836-183-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher.

Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed 500 words or 5 percent of the entire book, whichever is less, and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: From Rachel Yoder: Out of Control, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.

All Pennsylvania Dutch words are taken from the Revised Pennsylvania German Dictionary found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Scripture taken from the H OLY B IBLE , N EW I NTERNATIONAL V ERSION . N IV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Cover artist: Richard Hoit

For more information about Wanda E. Brunstetter, please access the authors Web site at the following Internet address: www.wandabrunstetter.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

Printed in the United States of America.

Dickinson Press, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI 49512; March 2011; D10002708

To the students and teachers at the Honeybrook School in Topeka, Indiana. Thanks for letting me visit with you!

R ACHEL Y ODER A LWAYS T ROUBLE S OMEWHERE S ERIES

Schools Out!

Back to School

Out of Control

New Beginnings

A Happy Heart

Just Plain Foolishness

Jumping to Conclusions

Growing Up

The Wisdom of Solomon

K ENTUCKY B ROTHERS S ERIES

B RIDES OF L EHIGH C ANAL S ERIES

I NDIANA C OUSINS S ERIES

S ISTERS OF H OLMES C OUNTY S ERIES

B RIDES OF W EBSTER C OUNTY S ERIES

D AUGHTERS OF L ANCASTER C OUNTY S ERIES

B RIDES OF L ANCASTER C OUNTY S ERIES

White Christmas Pie

Lydias Charm

Wanda E. Brunstetters Amish Friends Cookbook

Wanda E. Brunstetters Amish Friends Cookbook Volume 2

The Simple Life

Inspiring Thoughts from the Simple Life

achoh

aldigirlfriend

appeditlichdelicious

baremlichterrible

bauchwehstomachache

benselsilly child

blappermaulblabbermouth

bletschingspanking

bopplibaby

bruderbrother

buweboy

daeddad

dankithank you

dappichclumsy

dummdumb

ekelhaftdisgusting

granksick

guder mariyegood morning

gutgood

hunddog

jahyes

kappcap

kinnerchildren

koppwehheadache

kummecome

maedelgirl

mammmom

mausmouse

melassichmolasses

mupsichstupid

retschbedditattletale

schmaertsmart

schneesnow

schneeballesnowball

schnellquickly

schweschdersister

ungeduldichimpatient

verhuddeltmixed up

wasserpareblechicken pox

wunderbaarwonderful

Halt ei, sell geht zu weit!Stop, thats going too far!

Sis nau futsch!Its all ruined now!

Dummel dich net!Take your time, dont hurry!

Gern gschehne.You are welcome.

Woosh Woosh The wind whistled under the eaves of the house, rattling Rachel Yoders bedroom window.

Thump-thumpety-thump! Rachels heart pounded inside her chest. She shivered and pulled the quilt under her chin. She had thought she was getting less afraid of storms. But it was hard to be brave in a dark room with the wind making strange noises. What if the windows broke? What if the tree outside her bedroom window toppled and crashed onto the house?

Rachel closed her eyes and prayed, Dear God, protect this house and all of us in it. Help me not be afraid.

Rachel drew in a deep breath. She felt a bit calmer, and her heart wasnt beating so fast. Maybe now she could sleep.

Tap-tap. Tap-tap.

Rachels heart raced again. She tipped her head toward the window and listened. Tap-tap. Tap-tap. Was someone knocking on the glass? Had they climbed the tree outside her window? Were they trying to enter her room?

My imagination is just playing tricks on me. The wind is just blowing a tree branch against the window.

ScreechScreech The new sound reminded Rachel of fingernails on a blackboard.

Theres no reason to be afraid, she told herself. God is watching over me.

Rachel pushed the quilt aside, turned on the flashlight she kept by her bed, and plodded across the chilly wood floor. She lifted the dark green window shade and pressed her forehead against the cold glass.

ScreechScreech. Tap-taptap-tap.

Rachel gasped when she saw a small pink paw flopped against the window.

Cuddles!

She quickly opened the window, and a gust of cold wind swept into the room. You silly kitten! What are you doing in that tree on such a cold, snowy night?

Cuddless pathetic meow was drowned out by the wooshing wind.

Snowflakes swirled into the room. Rachel picked up the cat and shut the window. Poor Cuddles, she whispered against the cats frosty head. Did you get locked out of the barn?

Cuddles meowed again and licked Rachels chin with her sandpaper tongue.

Rachel giggled. Youre sure getting heavy, Cuddles. Before long youll be a full-grown cat.

Meow!

Do you want to sleep with me tonight?

Meow! Meow! Cuddles pushed her paws against Rachels chest and purred.

Youre getting me all wet! Rachel felt the cold dampness through her nightgown and shivered. She plucked a small blanket from the doll cradle Pap had made her last Christmas. Then she wrapped Cuddles in the blanket and placed her at the foot of the bed.