Cindy Woodsmall - The Bridge of Peace, Volume 2

Books by Cindy Woodsmall

A DAS H OUSE SERIES

The Hope of Refuge

The Bridge of Peace

(Book 3 coming in fall 2011)

The Sound of Sleigh Bells

S ISTERS OF THE Q UILT SERIES

When the Heart Cries

When the Morning Comes

When the Soul Mends

N ONFICTION

Plain Wisdom

(coming in spring 2011)

Contents

One

Quiet hung in the air inside the one-room schoolhouse as the children waited on Lenas next action. The curiosity she loved to stir in her scholars now filled their minds in ways she wished she could erase. The hush wasnt out of respect or desk work or learning.

Staring into defiant eyes, she stood. Return to your seat, Peter.

With his back to the other students, he leaned across her oak desk. Make me. The threat in his voice was undeniable. Shed spoken to his parents about his behavior, but theyd believed that their son was only kidding and that she was taking his words and actions all wrong.

Nothing about the conduct of this six-foot man-child hinted at humor. He wasnt teasing, but he was toying with herlike her barn cats did with field mice before killing their prey.

Feeling as unsightly as a wounded rodent was part of daily life for her. It even slipped into her dreams on a regular basis. But Lena was no mouse. When dealing with Peter, her will battled with her emotions. The teacher in her wanted to find a way to reach inside him, to get beyond the prejudices and surliness and find something of value. The rest of her simply wished hed never moved to Dry Lake.

Still, she believed that most people had hidden wealth, good things within that made them more worthy than they appeared on the outside. For reasons that had nothing to do with Peter, she had to hold on to that belief.

She offered a teacher-friendly smile. The assignment stands, and its due tomorrow. Take your seat, please.

He slid her well-organized papers onto the floor and crawled onto her desk and sat. At fifteen he was the oldest student shed ever taughtor tried to teach. He should have graduated sixteen months ago from an Amish school in Ohio, where hed lived before moving to Dry Lake. Although she had no idea what happened to put him so far behind in his studies, he seemed to think she was the problem.

It would be easier to tap into his better self, or at least better behavior, if there was someone to send him to when he got this bad. During her rumschpringe , her running-around years, shed used her freedoms to attend public high school. When her public school teachers faced a difficult student like Peter, they sent him to another teacher, a counselor, or a principal. If there was another adult nearby, Peter probably wouldnt consider it a game to try to take control of her class. Maybe she needed to talk about this situation with her Englischer friend Samantha. Surely with her degree in psychology and her working this year as a school counselor, she would know some helpful tips.

At your desk, Peter.

Im not doing the work, and I better not get a zero.

She swallowed and drew a breath, refusing the temptation to scream at him. You have the right to decide your actions, or maybe a better word is inactions , but you do not have the right to insist on what grade I can give. Hoping to continue with class, Lena walked around the desk and settled her attention on the first-grade students.

Who has their penmanship papers done? Her three first-grade scholars raised their hands. Good.

She could feel Peter behind her, seething with anger that had little to do with her. Wondering if she should face him or keep her focus on teaching, she took Marilyns spiral-bound notebook in hand and began looking over the young girls work. To your desk, Peter, she repeated as she made a smiley face at the top of Marilyns page.

His breath was hot on the back of her neck as he whispered, You wont win, so dont even try.

The threat unleashed her anger, and suddenly she became its slave. Even while telling herself to ignore him as he was finally making his way toward his desk, she spun around. Youre a bully, Peter. Do you understand that about yourself?

His face and eyes became like stone. Ill convince the school board youre the problem. Theyre already whispering behind your back about how to get rid of you. I bet they only hired you because they felt sorry for you. I mean, what else would someone like you do, marry?

His personal attack caused a storm of insecurities about her looks to rise within. But that aside, she was sure he was wrong about the school board wanting to get rid of her. Shed made one good-sized error theyd not been pleased with, but surely

He slapped the side of his face really hard and laughed. Look, Im making my face blotchy like Teacher Lenas.

The younger students looked horrified as he mocked her. Some of the older boys laughed, but most were clearly embarrassed for her. Peter kept smacking the side of his face, egging on the class to laugh at his antics.

Mandy and Rachel,Lena looked to the oldest girls in the classplease take everyone outside for a brief recess.

Peter sat on her desk again, but at least hed hushed. Smirking, but silent. The room filled with the sounds of desks shifting slightly and the rustle of clothing and soft, padded shoes as her scholars went outside. Willing her irritation to calm, she took several deep breaths and focused her thoughts on what could be accomplished with patience and effort. Good memories of teaching moved into her mind. At twenty-three years old, shed been teaching for five years, and with only a few exceptions, shed basked in the fulfillment of it.

Soon her scholars were outside, and the room was quiet.

I dont want to embarrass you in front of the class, Peter. I only wish youd show that same respect to me. If you want to color the side of your face to match mine, there are still a few blueberries on the vine out back, but nothing you do to your face will alter the real problem, will it?

Not unless you quit.

How will getting a new teacher solve anything? Why dont you try fighting against the part of you that has no regard for your future.

I hate this place. He picked up a book and hurled it across the room.

Lena flinched as the text hit the ground, but she forced her voice to remain calm. I understand that learning doesnt come easy for you, but I can help you overcome

Learning comes plenty easy, Peter interrupted. I just aint interested.

She knew he struggled to learn, and maybe Samantha would have some suggestions about this too, but Lenas best chance of reaching him wouldnt be found in trying to make him admit to his difficulties. Why not?

What do you care?

If I knew why, maybe I could help change how you feel.

He rolled his eyes. I dont want your help. Mamm says I cant stop coming to school just because of my age, so I just want to pass the eighth grade this time and get out of here.