 
SILENT DISCOURSE  
a series

by  
Zanne Kennedy

Smashwords Edition

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Published on Smashwords by:  
Paragon Multimedia LLC  
Chandler, AZ  
http://www.paragon-multimedia.com

Silent Discourse  
Copyright 2008 by Zanne Kennedy  
ISBN: 978-0-9823371-0-3  
(Previously ISBN 978-1-4327-1755-1 and 978-1-4327-2052-0)

Paragon Multimedia LLC and the "Paragon" logo are copyrighted and belong to Paragon Multimedia LLC.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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### Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge the following:

**God** and His unconditional love. After all, God's unfailing love is the story I live in!

**David Morrow** , editing, lawful counsel and constant loving support. Together we may finally discover what 'glu-glux of the blowhole' really means.

**Brian Morrow** , for your great sense of humor, wonderful financial tidbits, and counsel. For your unwavering love, support and prayers. For loving the bird lady in spite of herself.

**Erin Dodson** , who laughed in all the right places. For reading my books just because I asked while taking care of your husband, two children, and Aunt. For falling in love with Nicolaus and his friends, but mostly, for your constant love, support and prayers.

**Jean Kennedy** , for your constant love, support, and prayers. For reading and editing. For staying up all night crying at the sad parts.

**Nick Kennedy** , for your constant love, support, and prayers.

**Pearl G.** , for being a God-sent friend. For loving God with your entire mind, body, soul, and spirit right out in front of all of us.

**Lori Heyd** , for encouraging me to start, and not give up. For your advice & spiritual support.

Editors:

**Millie Hannum** , You are a God sent, and what timing!

**Cheri Neri;** for always being there for me.

**Cheryl Booth** , editor, for taking up the wand and adding the finishing touch of magic. Cheryl is also a ghostwriter—for more details, visit: www.gr8writing.com or email gr8writing@gmail.com]

Artist:

**Cali McCullough** , for going to Lancaster County for a photo shoot ten days before your wedding.

**Sue Cullumber** , for your great photos visit, http://auniqueviewphotography.com

Readers:

**Angela Bolton** , **Vickie Bolton** , and **Shelley Moreno** For all the comments, suggestions and creativity. Thank you!

**Amy Aston** , for being Nicolaus's expert poker guru.

I would also like to thank all the readers that pick up Silent Discourse and the series; those who have fallen in love with Nicolaus and those who find a deeper relationship with God through Nicolaus's life story.

**Zanne Kennedy** , author of:  
_Silent Discourse; Still, Small Voice;  
Profound Silence; Dissonant Melody,  
Beautiful Conflict;_ and _  
Righteous Revenge_ (Forthcoming)

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Silent Discourse series

Silent Discourse

Still, Small Voice

Profound Silence

Dissonant Melody

Beautiful Conflict

_Righteous Revenge_ (forthcoming)

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In Loving Memory of Roy and Helen Morrow  
In Honor of Nick and Jean Kennedy

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### TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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Chapter 1

December 1, 1955  
Nicolaus  
"Truth"

The night was ominous and had begun to merge into a winter blizzard that raged brutally outside; it would likely last past the first hint of dawn. The fierce wind blasted against the upstairs windows, evidence of the violent ambiance outside.

By the ghostly golden glow of a kerosene lantern, the scene that was being played out in the Zooks' upstairs birthing room this evening was not one of excited anticipation. The roar of the storm was loud enough to almost mask the screams of pain that became wearier as the night progressed.

"Lizzy, how much longer?" Jacob asked one of the midwives as she made her way into the kitchen for more hot water and towels.

"Jacob, I suggest you send for the doctor. The child is breech. If Esther delivers tonight, I doubt seriously that the child will live."

"No matter the child, do not allow Esther to die. Promise me, Lizzy. Don't let my wife die." Jacob grasped onto Lizzy's arm and refused to let her go.

"If you stay, be in prayer then," she said, calming his fears with a pat of her hand and a soothing smile, which was interrupted by another bloodcurdling scream from the birthing room. "I believe it's time," she said softly.

Cora, Lizzy's sister, nodded to her from between Esther's legs and said in an even tone, "If you will hold on to her, I think I can manage to ease this child feet first into this world."

Esther let out another scream and clinched hard onto Lizzy's wrists. Lizzy climbed behind Esther in order to help her push, an unbearable undertaking for Esther.

"Wait, Esther, don't push yet, dear. The cord is wrapped around your child's neck. I will ease it off while you collect your energy for the next contraction."

Cora slid her dainty hand into the opening, pushing the child's rump up and out of the way to venture past it to its head and neck. She could feel the next contraction start to take hold and rushed to finish the job at hand. The cord was indeed just under the child's chin. In order to deliver it safely as a breech, she would have to slide her finger between it and its neck, and then bring the cord over its face, an easy task if the child had decided to come into this world the normal way.

"There! Push now, darling," Cora called out, bracing herself for the child's entry. The wind moaned mournfully with velocity against the window, drowning out Esther's screams for mercy as the child finally emerged. The child's long legs and small hips emerged first, then his broad shoulders, and lastly his head, causing Esther to gasp with a ripping pain that tore her.

"It's a boy, and he's alive!" Cora cried out, somewhat in a state of shock that he was indeed alive and seemingly in good spirits, unlike his mother. "Goodness! I need to stop this bleeding or we will have a child with no mother." Cora stood and handed the infant to Lizzy to bathe and calm him, for his cries resounding throughout the house were loud and strong.

"Ok?" Lizzy asked as she bent to watch her sister add the last stitch, repairing the tender torn flesh.

"She, too, will live. Rest now, Esther. Your child will need a name. Have you and Jacob chosen one for him?"

"Nicolaus," Esther whispered as she looked up at her son and reached for him. He was placid now, the cries and the crash of the storm seemingly ceasing at the same time.

"I hope I'm not too late." A familiar voice came from the doorway. It was Betsy, Jacob's sister. She was carrying another kerosene lamp and holding it high to see more clearly. She took the child without asking and cradled him in her arms as if he were hers; she had none of her own. She carried him out to meet his father, unwrapped his covering, and exposed the dark wet curls upon his head. "Jacob—your son. His name is Nicolaus," Betsy said cautiously.

Jacob looked down at the child. "He is the devil's child. I curse him with a curse of devastation on whatever he touches. Take him from my house." He spoke so low, Cora and Lizzy could not make out what he had said, but Betsy heard him loud and clear. He then turned his back to the child and walked away.

"This child will be special," Betsy said as she smiled down at the small frail creature in her arms, not allowing the reaction of his father to dull this miraculous moment.

~

May 1969  
Age 14

Nicolaus tiptoed down the wooden stairs that led into their big rustic family room, being mindful of the notoriously creaky floorboard at the bottom. The golden light of early morning washed over the room and he paused for a moment, enjoying the silence and peacefulness that remained here. Leaving quietly by the kitchen door, he carefully closed it behind him, holding solid to the knob that had rattled for as long as Nicolaus could remember. He was cautious not to disturb his parents, who were still in morning prayer. As the door secured behind him, Nicolaus jolted off into a dead run, scattering chickens in his path as they squawked their alarm.

The brisk May morning air felt like tiny pinpricks to his cheeks as he ran along the country road he knew so well, which was shaded heavily by large, old oaks, like sentries standing guard. The lane was sheltered from the sun during the early spring months, allowing only a few rays of light to filter in from above. The shadows cast a scene on the path before him that made Nicolaus think of the nearby town's stained-glass church windows that he had seen while growing up in his small Pennsylvania community. The area had been settled in the late 1800s by a group of Amish families passing through, looking to start farms and homestead on available land in the area. The soil was fertile for planting, and a few families turned into many. It was a pastoral scene of beauty, with the quaint whitewashed wooden houses, barns, green grass, crops, and bucolic country lanes all there to separate one boundary from another.

Nicolaus's destination was a one-room schoolhouse he had attended for eight years of his young life. Up ahead, patiently waiting was his best friend Sylvain, who lived just two miles up the lane. Running past Sylvain, Nicolaus extended one arm as if he were going to catch his comrade and pull him captive. Being at least a head taller, his friend stopped Nicolaus cold in his tracks, knocking him to the ground in playful fun.

"Ach, your face, Nicolaus. Not again!" whispered Sylvain, bending down to touch Nicolaus's discolored cheek as if in disbelief.

"Sylvain, we will be late. Come!" Nicolaus replied in English, grabbing Sylvain's arm and pulling as he began to run towards the schoolhouse.

Sylvain knew Nicolaus would never speak of, or confess his father's cruelty towards him. Nicolaus's explanations ranged from clumsiness to barnyard animal vindications. As Sylvain ran alongside his friend he wondered, Is Nicolaus starting to believe these grand stories himself?

Nicolaus reached the schoolhouse first. Rushing into the cloakroom, he hung his wide-brim black hat on a peg above his homemade black flock coat with hook-and-eye closure. Plain and unadorned clothes such as these were the custom of dress in their world.

He could hear the children and their teacher, Mattie, embark on one of his favorite songs in German. He loved them all, even those they sang in Gimie. They were the songs they had sung for generations, passed down from the homeland, and they stirred his soul with their hauntingly medieval tones, taking what seemed like hours to sing.

He made his way down the rows of differently sized wooden desks that comfortably accommodated the various age groups. The larger desks were placed conveniently next to the smaller ones so there was always an older student next to a younger, ensuring that help would be available. They were a close-knit group, much like a family. They had all seen one another through severe winters, drought, lean years, and many dangers as a result of living primarily off the land.

As far back as Nicolaus could remember, he had never seen one of these desks moved, nor could they be; they were anchored to the wooden floors as if the schoolroom were a grand floating vessel in danger of rough waters.

Mattie nodded, speaking with a sidelong glance at both boys, and continued with the morning's lessons and recitations, letting them know their tardiness was noticed.

No word or expression from either his classmates or Mattie was made about the bruises on his face, which he painfully tried to hide throughout the day with a hand to cover them or a turn of his head at an appropriate time.

This was not the first time he had bruises on his body for all to see. Nicolaus, his older brother Israel, and his older sister Edna never spoke of what they all led others to believe were the normal bumps and bruises of youth. Each sibling, however, had observed firsthand their father's treatment and attitude towards Nicolaus, which to their bewilderment was much different from their own experience with their father. They were painfully aware of the disgusted looks and harsh treatment their father had always heaped on their brother, but also knew not to question it.

Nicolaus's friends Sylvain and Eli also knew better than to think that these bumps and bruises were normal. Nicolaus held a fondness for Eli primarily because of Eli's sister Sarah, with whom Nicolaus had fallen deeply in love with from childhood. His closest and dearest friend, though, was Sylvain, who was more like a brother to him. They shared many boyhood memories and Nicolaus knew he could trust Sylvain and share just about anything with him.

Sarah was a delightful brown-haired girl, a year younger than Nicolaus and always at the center of any vortex of trouble in their small Amish community and school. She was mischievous in nature, which enticed Nicolaus even more. Her big, almond-shaped brown eyes with their long black lashes occasionally looked back, catching Nicolaus by surprise, his own eyes lowering quickly in hopes that she hadn't seen his. Everything about her—her face, the way she moved, her laugh—made him dizzy with the want to be close to her, for he cared for her deeply.

Eli occasionally stopped in at Nicolaus's family's farm to do his homework while waiting for his father to pass by in their black and gray Amish buggy on his way back from town. He had seen firsthand the ill-treatment Nicolaus's father would inflict on him on occasion. Eli recalled especially one evening late last year while studying at the Zook's kitchen table with Nicolaus. His father, Jacob, stood over Nicolaus demanding an explanation why the manure mound in the barn had not been moved to an area appointed the day before, thinking he had asked Nicolaus to move it. Eli recalled Nicolaus looking and acting nervous, even afraid. He wondered why he wouldn't answer his father, but instead he just looked passively down at his book in silence, frozen in time.

"I asked you a question, Nicolaus. Answer me straightaway!" commanded his father, looming over his son, casting his ominous shadow across the large oak table.

Eli sat breathless with fear while Jacob, with one swift movement scooped his son up, pinning him against the kitchen wall, one hand holding firmly to the front of Nicolaus's shirt and the other arm extended ready to strike. Jacob asked again, the veins exposed at his temple and throughout his neck, so engulfed with rage that he no longer was aware of Eli's presence. "Were you not asked to do this chore?"

Nicolaus could not remember his father asking him to do it, but Nicolaus also knew what would come next if he answered his father "no." Either way, he had a sickening realization that Eli would witness what Nicolaus was far too accustomed to. Stricken with silence, Nicolaus waited in dread. To Eli's horror, Jacob struck Nicolaus across the face, sending him to the ground.

Nicolaus's brother Israel appeared in the doorway. "Datt," he cried, "it was I you asked to move the manure, not Nicolaus." He quickly came to stand protectively between his father and his fallen brother.

Nicolaus wiped off the blood that trailed down his chin in a heavy stream from his lip. He tried to get to his feet but staggered a little at first before he could securely stand, and even then only with the aid of the wall.

"Perhaps it is time I should go to meet my father. I'm sure he should be along shortly!" Eli said, frantically gathering his books from the table. He wasn't even sure anyone had heard him and didn't care if they had. He knew he had to get away from what had just happened, having never witnessed any physical abuse in his own family.

Sylvain, who had also been a witness to a beating or two, was the only friend Nicolaus would openly speak to about his father, except for his brother Israel.

~

"Ach, look at da time, scholars. You may be excused for recess now," Mattie called to her students.

"Nicolaus, I would like to speak to you at my desk please," Mattie said, making her way between the children's desks to her large desk near the potbelly stove, which was the only source of heat during the long, harsh, cold winter months. Mattie was a middle-aged, single Amish woman who had decided long ago to change her black cape and apron into white ones, thus showing to her Amish community that she no longer considered herself available for marriage among the Amish men in her district. Mattie was kind enough to the children and tried her best to keep the parents of her scholars informed of their children's progress.

Nicolaus waited until all the other children had cleared the classroom before making his way to Mattie's desk, knowing the conversation needed to be confidential or Mattie would never have asked him to remain while the others played.

"Nicolaus, I'm going to ask you to be honest with me. Are the marks on your face placed on you by human hand?"

Nicolaus frowned, turning his head slightly to one side as if not sure what she was talking about, much like a dog would when it hears something that spikes its interest. This was one of his many decoys in biding him time while thinking of believable stories to explain away his misfortune.

"I will always be honest with you, Mattie," replied Nicolaus, using her first name. All the children called her by her first name. It was disrespectful to call their elders by anything but, their way of showing unity in their Amish community.

"Nicolaus, do you have a bully in for you?" Mattie asked, her heavy brows nearly touched together in a suspicious frown.

"No, Mattie," Nicolaus answered, lowering his eyes, trying to avoid contact with hers.

Sensing Nicolaus's fear of the truth, Mattie asked in a stern tone, "Is it that I will have to bring Bishop Yoder's attention to this suspiciously recurring problem? It appears to be happening more frequently with no acceptable explanation for it, Nicolaus!"

"Excuse me!" an unfamiliar woman's voice called out in English from the doorway. Mattie and Nicolaus looked up, Nicolaus with relief as if he had just received a pardon, feeling grateful to this beautiful stranger for her intervention. She had been waiting outside the classroom none too patiently because of an overwhelming need to use the restroom after the long drive from town. Not being familiar with the language the two were speaking she broke in on the conversation, feeling as if she would soon explode if she had to wait a minute longer.

"Ach, you must be Miss Johnson," Mattie said as she stood and pushed back her chair, walking past Nicolaus as if he were no longer there. Offering her hand, Mattie said in an insincere way, "I'm sorry, I had forgotten you were coming today. You have to excuse Nicolaus and me. We were discussing a private matter." Mattie looked back at Nicolaus and nodded to him that he could leave.

"Would you rather that I waited outside?" replied Miss Johnson, hoping she then could possibly ask one of the children where the ladies' rooms were.

"No," replied Mattie. Still looking at the visitor, Mattie spoke to Nicolaus in their Amish dialect. "Nicolaus, look past. Quit staring at the visitor and go watch over the little ones while they play. You'd think we've never seen such things!" she said in a whisper, speaking to no one but herself, for Nicolaus was already making his way past the two, trying his best not to make eye contact with the young beautiful stranger.

"Nice shiner you got there!" Lyn blurted out, thinking it would break some of the tension the young man displayed as he passed. Nicolaus glanced back at her with what looked to Lyn as a making of a smile, but it vanished as soon as he looked back at Mattie.

"You are da music teacher from da college then, ja?"

"Yes, and you must be Miss Fisher?"

"Ja, but you must call me Mattie. We do not usually let outsiders come to teach here at Longstone, but da state has insisted, so we will be obedient and adhere to their wishes. The Elders did, after all, agree to four weeks, you know," Mattie said while she began to erase the fractions from the blackboard near the doorway. "I have to tell you that you may make trouble for the scholars if you influence them to go beyond our Ordnung."

"Ordnung?" Miss Johnson questioned.

"The rules da Elders set forth for our community. Please don't go beyond dem," Mattie replied coldly. She handed Miss Johnson a three-paged list of handwritten rules and regulations that was conveniently mounted on the wall next to the doorway with a thumbtack so Mattie would not forget to give it to the new Yankee teacher. The Ordnung were verbal rules, so Mattie thought it would be to the new teacher's advantage to handwrite them so she would not forget them.

As Miss Johnson read, she stopped at rule number 15, No musical instruments, or modern music unfitting for a good man. "Is a pitch pipe considered a musical instrument to your community?" Mattie gave the intruding visitor a stern glare. Changing the subject before Mattie could answer, Miss Johnson asked, her eyes looking down at the small book of rules, "The boy that was here speaking with you, is he in the age group for my class?"

"Ja, there are only five graduating scholars this year and they are all boys. Here are their names. You may have them after I call da children in from recess."

Having dreaded this day for months, Lyn wondered if she had dressed conservatively enough for these quaint simple people. She thought she did her homework by extensively researching the Amish and their ways. However, when the children filed past in their clean simple clothing, without a giggle or normal childlike chatter, and the older children holding onto the younger children's hands, helping each one to his or her desk, she realized then that all she had learned and perceived as "normal" was a matter of culture. So unusual was this behavior to her that she found herself staring intently at them, making a mental note not to let her facial expressions give away her feelings and thoughts, which she normally did well, having had much practice within her own culture.

Mattie made her way to the front of the classroom, her hands daintily clasped in front of her rather large rounded frame. She announced in English, "Scholars," clearing her voice with a cough and a pudgy white hand to her lips, "this is Miss Johnson. She will be training da graduating scholars how to read musical notes for da voice. Da English government has requested that we incorporate an extra curricular activity... so... we will obey."

Miss Johnson was waiting for moans or a resounding "hurrah" from the children but they said nothing. A few younger ones turned to her with gentle smiles, their eyes bright and excited as if they were all just told they were going to an amusement park. Mattie turned to Miss Johnson and said politely, "I hope you don't mind taking da scholars outside perhaps under da big tree. As you can see, it would be impossible to allow you to train them in da classroom with me." Speaking to the class in their Amish dialect, Mattie called for the five students to get their hats and meet with their new teacher. Once outside, all five of the boys strolled quietly to a log bench that sat beneath the shade of the large black oak tree. Its limbs reached generously out over the playground, giving ample shade to the children throughout the day. The boys watched as the young teacher continued on to her car and opened the trunk to retrieve the heavy equipment. Suddenly, all five of the young men leapt from the log with their eyes full of excitement, and their faces beamed as if it were Christmas and her equipment were the toys under the tree. One by one, they came to a screeching halt at her side.

"Can we help?" one asked, as another just helped himself to the easel and flip charts.

"You want these under da tree?" Nicolaus asked.

"Yes," replied Miss Johnson, taken back by the beautiful contrast of Nicolaus's deep blue eyes and dark chestnut hair that curled slightly in all directions under his black, wide-brim hat. He stood at least a head taller than her. "Huh... yes, under the tree will be fine." What a striking young man, she thought. His features were not like the rest of the young Amish men she had seen in town, these gnome-like creatures with their bobbed hair, half-bearded chins, and clean-shaven upper lip. This one was handsome in all his features; he stood out from the rest, and it was hard not to notice him.

I've got to keep my mind from these diversions. After all, these boys are only fourteen or fifteen at most! Lyn thought as she walked back to the oak tree with her students. Her mind then trailed off into foggy memories from the past. Lost in thought, she was snapped back into the present by the screeching vocal tones of one student well on his way into his late teens and becoming a true baritone, she thought.

"You are going to teach us to read these?" Sylvain asked, as he stopped trying to sing and pointed to the musical notes on the flip chart with a sheepishly playful smile.

Oh good, thought Miss Johnson, these kids are not robots after all. I see some hidden human characteristic not seen previously while in their classroom setting. "You will start by telling me your names and then we'll sing."

"Eli Bailer!"

"Joseph Lapp!"

"Noah Hosletler!"

"Nicolaus Zook!"

"And I'm Sylvain Glick!" Sylvain said proudly, causing the rest of them to shake their heads and laugh at him.

"Great!" Miss Johnson said, trying hard not to smile at the boys' childlike excitement and enthusiasm. "Now, how can I find out how well you sing? Do you know any songs?"

There was total silence except for the few birds that were doing their best from the tree above to express their disdain for those who were disturbing their territory.

"Okay... well... I understand you speak a German-Swiss dialect among yourselves. Can you sing one of your songs?"

The boys bowed their heads and started to laugh, less from shyness but more to do with mischievous wrong.

"I will sing for you!" Nicolaus said with enthusiasm in his voice, looking over at Sylvain in a playful way. He went without bashfulness into an old medieval-sounding chant that caused goose bumps to rise over Lyn's arms. The boy's voice was unbelievably deep and rich, with perfect tone. As he looked into her eyes, he sang as if he were singing just to her. She could not make out the words. They must have been German, she thought. She watched and listened to him hit each note firmly and evenly, "blues-ing it out" as she would say, as if he was professionally trained to do so.

"That was ah... very good! What was the song about?" Lyn asked, not noticing the other boys turning their faces so she could not see their smirks of laughter.

"Ach, yust an old song we like to sing, ja?" Nicolaus turned to the others and nodded to each of them. They straightened up and shook their heads yes, agreeing with Nicolaus all at the same time, except for Joseph, who placed his head in his hands and shook his head as if he were ashamed.

"We sing it most every day at school, ja?" Sylvain again nodded his head while he replied as if he were trying to get her to believe Nicolaus.

"Okay... we'll just stick to English if you don't mind." Lyn now realized that they were laughing at her. "Well then... I'll teach you an English popular song, and by the way, I would like it if you would all call me Miss. J from now on," she said, going right into an old rock-and-roll song with a smile. The end of the song came just as the younger students spilled out of the schoolroom, the door swinging violently open as they ran for their respective farms and down the lane in all directions. The five boys sat glaring back at her as if her song had turned them into pillars of salt, which made her start to laugh at the spectacle. Obviously, the words to the song were either over their heads or too vulgar for them. She started to pack up her flip chart, handing the equipment to the boys who now stood fervently wanting to help.

"Nicolaus, right?" Miss. J asked as she pointed at him. Nicolaus smiled and nodded shyly. "The quality of your voice is unique! I mean... Many bands out there today are looking for a voice like yours. It's... ah... sexy!" The words came vomiting from her mouth crudely. She was trying hard not to insult or be excessively brash to the young Amish. She knew they were not familiar to her worldly ways and words but she could not help herself. After all, she didn't want this government-funded job that was trying to convince the Amish to mainstream their children into the public school system anyway. Why can't the government just leave these quiet people alone?

Nicolaus's shy smile slowly slipped into a look of shame. Glancing down at the ground, he avoided making any eye contact with Lyn or his classmates, hoping they had not heard what she had just said to him.

~

"I think you're going to be her favorite. After all, you do have such a 'sexy voice!'" Sylvain said as the two walked alone down the lane to their homes.

"Keep it to yourself, Sylvain. I'm not in the mood," replied Nicolaus, who was still worried that Mattie would pay a visit to Bishop Yoder on his behalf.

"Can you come home with me tonight? We can do our homework and hook up my transistor radio in my buggy," suggested Sylvain, knowing the thing Nicolaus wanted least was to go home.

"No, but thanks," Nicolaus said in English, grateful for Sylvain's insight into his plight. "Datt told me that I had to be home every night to help him with da planting until after graduation. Und Mattie wants to go to Bishop Yoder over da bruises because I wouldn't tell her how I got dem."

"Nicolaus, I have never asked you about... you know! No one, but most of all you don't deserve treatment like the way your datt..."

"Yeah, and I thank you for not asking," Nicolaus interrupted with a grateful smile, cutting his friend off before the conversation went any further.

"But why? Why does he do this to you only? He doesn't beat anyone but you!" Sylvain reached his hand out to touch Nicolaus's bruised check but was slapped gently away by Nicolaus in more of a guarded reflex than of resistance.

Nicolaus looked at Sylvain with eyes of strange sadness and said coldly detached, "I don't know what you mean!"

~

Preparing the rich, God-blessed soil, and planting the varieties of seeds selected the harvest before took up most of the following weeks. Each field was slow plowed by Jacob Zook's two strong Belgian horses side by side, two noble creatures of strength. With the backbreaking toil of preparing the earth, Nicolaus had a great deal to keep his mind occupied, the finishing tests at school being the greatest of his worries. Because they believed that higher education was a doorway into the world and that, in itself, encouraged children to leave their tight-knit society, school for the Amish in Nicolaus's district went up to the eighth grade only. After that, they went to work full-time on their family's farms, until the time of Rumspringa or "running around." From the age of sixteen to late twenties, Rumspringa was a time for the young to experience whatever they thought they needed to before entering the training preparations of baptism and accepting the Church's rule. This was a time of doing what teens do best. The parents turned a blind eye to what generally came of it, not encouraging this behavior but simply tolerating it, knowing that most of those who went out to sow their wild oats at this time normally came back, living a full and happy life among their kind after baptism.

"No, Nicolaus, not like that! Watch, take the seed like this," Israel said, as he took Nicolaus's hand in his, patiently showing him the proper way to toss the seeds out into their field, knowing their father refused to give Nicolaus any extra help in learning their ways of farming. "That's right. The seeds need to fall where God wants them, just let them fall. Good!" Israel placed his hand on Nicolaus's shoulder and gave it a hearty squeeze then a pat as he smiled reassuringly down at him, letting him know that he was doing a good job.

"Israel, Datt is watching. He will be mad that you're wasting your time with me. Go. Be with him before he says something to us," Nicolaus said, looking respectfully down at the dirt while his father watched from the spring wagon.

"Nicolaus! Go back to your mother and help her. We need to get this done before nightfall and you are slowing things up," Jacob yelled from the wagon, his hands planted firmly on his hips as he added, "Israel doesn't have the time to teach you the things you should already know. Now go!"

~

Miss J's music class kept Nicolaus's spirits up through the long tiresome month leading to graduation. The relationship he developed with her blossomed to a friendship that was one of respect dashed with a splash of playful flirting that he never took too seriously, thinking it was just her particular brand of humor. He lived for the music and drank in every note and theory class as if starved for its substance. The sound of harmonizing human voices gave him a feeling of contentment through this trying time in his world.

"A radio? Oh well, I guess you won't go straight to hell if you listen to one of those, but rock and roll? For shame, boys," Lyn said to Sylvain as she met him and Nicolaus in town the weekend before graduation.

"Nope, no lightning has struck yet!" Sylvain replied with a smile as he turned down the radio he had inside his buggy so they didn't have to talk over the music.

"Hi, Nicolaus! Cat got your tongue? How come you're so quiet sitting over there in that darling buggy as if you were shy or something?"

"Hi, Miss J. What is it that you've got? Is it music?" Nicolaus asked, looking at a book she was holding.

"It's Bach. One of my all-time favorites!" Lyn replied holding the book close to her breast in a protective way as if it was a child.

"Is he a current artist?" Nicolaus asked, looking down at the book in a lustful way.

Lyn laughed, and then allowed him to take the book to look at. "No, my dear. He's been dead a long time. Rock and roll isn't the only form of music there is ya know," she said smiling up at Nicolaus, watching him read the notes to the first cantata. "Would you like to keep it for a few days and study it?"

"What? Oh... no I can't do dat. But, yeah, I would if I could." Nicolaus handed the book back to Lyn, not taking his eyes from its cover.

"Don't be silly, Nicolaus. Take it a few days, then give it back on Monday. I bet you a guitar if you can sing that entire cantata without one error by Monday."

"A guitar! You would give me a guitar if I could sing dis?"

"That's the bet!"

"Ach, Miss J. I can't take you up on that bet but I will sing dis Monday for you."

"Nicolaus, for some strange reason I have no doubt that you will do just that," Lyn smiled back up at her protÈgÈ. It was a tragedy that he lived in a culture that forbade his particular God-given gift.

Spending every free moment listening to Sylvain's transistor radio, Nicolaus and Sylvain tuned in on one of the local rock stations, memorizing every song. Most of their friends thought the songs were vulgar and planned to tell Mattie of the worldly device installed in Sylvain's buggy. Not only were Nicolaus and Sylvain going against their Ordnung, or rules, they were going against them in a most rebellious way. Sylvain wasn't too concerned though with the repercussions these secret pleasures brought. The only punishment he would possibly get would be a lecture at length by his parents or, the worst, a lecture of the evils of this world from the Elders. Because neither one had made the final decision yet to join the church, these kinds of allowed behaviors were sporadic and what the Elders referred to as "poor choices." Nicolaus, however, had to contend with the fear of his father, but the pure pleasure of it and the music that came from it made him relinquish the dread and submit totally to Sylvain's persuasions.

Nicolaus dreamed of the outside world, as did the others. He lay awake at night and wondered what it would be like to listen to whatever he wanted, wear what he wanted, drive a car, or go to the movies. These freedoms were things he could only imagine and dream about. He had dabbled in most of these once or twice before the age of sixteen, of course, but never without hiding it from his parents and his people. He did, however, have sympathy on the English youth for never being able to experience the thrill and excitement of doing something forbidden, but he never thought for a moment the youth on the outside might also have rules of their own. Down deep, he also feared venturing out into the world. After all, it was a frightening place for him, out there without the safety and security of his own people and their rules. He loved his people with all his heart. Yet he wished at times that they wouldn't be so all seeing, all knowing as they were in the particularly protective way they could come across at times, but he knew they meant well. It would make the problems he had with his father a little less pulling on his soul if there were not so many watching. With all the fondness he had for his people, Nicolaus could never shake the feeling that he just didn't belong and felt powerless to change it.

The days sped by and graduation loomed closer, students and parents alike swept up in their own cycles of anticipation and excitement. Parents were thinking of the busy planting season ahead, and all the work that went with it. The students' thoughts were of the final tests and, of course, the much-awaited graduation party.

This particular Monday, however, Mattie was in no mood for festivities. She had never pretended to like Miss J's freedom to take her graduating boys out of class for almost half of the school day for what most of the Amish districts considered foolery. A waste of the youths' minds, not to mention added temptations to their souls was Mattie's thinking. Each arrival of Miss J made Mattie despise her more and more. Today Mattie was especially tense, and all the students were walking on eggshells, trying to stay out from under her radar.

The boys went out to meet their teacher at the oak tree as usual while Mattie held class inside. It was almost an hour before they could see the dust rise down the lane from Lyn's car as she rushed to her appointment, again late but in no trouble with the graduates since they quite enjoyed their secret freedom from Mattie and their exam preparations.

"So sorry I'm late," she said as she hurried around her car to retrieve her things, looking over at Nicolaus, who had the biggest grin on his face. "What's up?" she asked suspiciously to the boys.

"Nicolaus can do it, he can sing da cantata!" Sylvain said as he pushed at Nicolaus in a playful way.

"I'd like to see that," Lyn said with a questioning look over her shoulder, knowing she had been working on it for over three weeks herself and hadn't perfected it as she would like. "I have to admit, I respect you though for trying anyway. Let's hear your rendition."

The boys sat on the bench as Lyn planted herself on the ground, folding her legs under her in a most unlady-like manner. Nicolaus handed her the book she had let him borrow and looked down at her then at the others.

"Well?" Lyn said as they waited, all looking up at him in expectation.

Nicolaus started to sing, and the notes coming from his throat were at once familiar to Lyn, knowing the piece as well as anyone could. While he continued to sing flawlessly, Lyn hastily opened the book to find her place to read the notes as he sang. Not only did he sing every note with accuracy, but he had also memorized the entire Bach cantata in three days.

"Nicolaus, I have no words to express to you what you have just done," Lyn said in a trance-like gaze as she stared up at him, mesmerized by his natural talent.

The shy smile faded from his lips as he looked down, thinking he had done something wrong. He sat down next to Sylvain and folded his hands on his lap, waiting to be lectured on whatever he thought he may have done wrong to her much loved music.

Lyn stood and walked over to the bench where the boys sat waiting for her reply. Placing her hands on each side of Nicolaus's face, she bent down eye level as she whispered to him. "I have never met anyone as talented as you are, Nicolaus. Please, I beg you to follow this God-given gift. I will help you in any way that I can if you'll let me."

Nicolaus sat motionless, looking back into her eyes and feeling his body start to betray him. He thanked God that his people insisted even the young to have a hat at all times, his being placed conveniently over that portion of his body that most threatened to expose to all his feelings of a beautiful woman's touch.

Lyn finally moved away from Nicolaus, noticing that Mattie was glaring at her from the schoolhouse door. The boys looked at one another wide eyed that she was intimately close to him as she whispered, something some of them hadn't even seen their parents do to each other. The incident was not brought up again, even though Lyn would in private occasionally ask Nicolaus to think about her offer.

Finally, the last week of school arrived. In all the excitement, the scholars prepared for their graduation party planned for the Saturday afternoon after the last day of school.

"Did you hear?" Sylvain whispered, his head lowered as he helped one of the younger children complete a handmade decoration for the party.

"What?" Nicolaus asked, his face glimmering with flecks of glitter that somehow made their way to his cheek as he looked up from the small child's decoration project.

"Miss J's not coming today or the rest of the week. They told her not to come back."

"Why?" Nicolaus said loudly, then shrinking as if to hide from his classmates' wide-eyed curiosity.

"There are tales that she... well, you know. She'd been seen with... well, you know!" Sylvain spat and stuttered, wanting to say the words but unable to find them.

"Mattie just wanted to get rid of her! That old biddy is jealous of her. You know she doesn't like Miss J. It's plain to see," hissed Nicolaus.

"Nicolaus, don't be so blind," Sylvain said with a sheepish smile.

"I don't believe it. Not for a minute!" Nicolaus repeated as he shook his head.

"Well, you'd better know all the right answers when Bishop Yoder and the others come questioning you about Miss J."

"Nah!" Nicolaus replied, with fear in his eyes.

"They did me!" Sylvain said. "They asked personal questions like had I ever been alone with her, or did she ever ask me to go with her anywhere in her car or offer me presents. For two hours Bishop Yoder preached to me about how the world wants to entice us young men to practice their ways."

"What exactly is Miss J supposed to have..."

"Boyz! Das enough whispering," commanded Mattie in English, knowing full well what the whispers were all about that afternoon. The rumors were rapidly traveling throughout the district. With no one in their community having telephones, this was quite an amazing feat.

"Take your places, children. Graduates, help the younger ones," Mattie commanded. "I know the excitement you have about the party tomorrow but I want all to sit in quiet rest while I speak to the graduates one by one. Eli, come, you are first." Mattie sat down at her desk and prepared to go over finishing grades with each graduate.

Meanwhile, Nicolaus quickly sat down at a desk close to Sarah, in hopes that she would need his help. "Look, Nicolaus!" Sarah whispered with a giggle as she passed him a tightly folded piece of paper. Nicolaus looked into her eyes, his own eyes questioning as he unwrapped the neatly folded paper. He glanced down at the cartoon rendition of Mattie that Sarah had drawn with its disproportionate face and body; Nicolaus thought it was a gross compliment on Mattie's behalf. The back end of the character, however, was so oversized that it looked twice the size of the completed picture. The caption above the drawing said in English, "Fatty Mattie."

There was no doubt whom Sarah had tried to capture with her pencil on paper. Nicolaus laughed to himself as he looked over the page and then turned to Sarah and said in a flirtatious manner, "Ach, Sarah, for shame! If Mattie sees this, it would be..." Just as he whispered, a shadow of dread fell over him as he saw Sarah's upcast eyes change from glee to pure fear. Feeling a presence of impending doom, Nicolaus froze.

"I will take that!" Mattie screeched as she pulled the paper from Nicolaus's hands. She inspected it for what seemed to be a lifetime to Nicolaus, and then asked in a voice that quivered with such anger it made the hair on Nicolaus's neck stand straight up. "Who drew this?"

Complete silence filled the room. Again, Mattie screeched, "Who drew this?" This time she reeled around inspecting each child, the last one being Sarah. Nicolaus knew he had to do something fast or Sarah would confess, as tears were already streaming down her face.

"It's mine, Mattie, I..." Before Nicolaus could finish, Mattie ushered him to the front of the class by a tight grip on a lock of his hair. Nicolaus could do nothing but go in pain with Mattie to her desk.

"Und dis is what you think of me, ja, Nicolaus?" Without allowing him to answer, she grabbed for her hickory switch and ordered him to place his hands palms up on her desk. Nicolaus obeyed immediately, and with one forcible swoop the skin on Nicolaus's palms split, the switch splintering throughout the classroom, sending the classmates to jump for shelter. The pain was so intense he fell to his knees. He rested his forehead on the side of Mattie's desk with both hands firmly clenched into tight fists, feeling as if he were going to either pass out or vomit.

"Stand, Nicolaus!" Mattie commanded as she reached for her chalkboard pointer. "Open your hands!" Nicolaus stood looking at the pointer in disbelief, and then reluctantly opened his hands, this time palms down to protect his wounds. This did not stop Mattie from applying another two blows before stopping, as she finally came to her senses, her anger appeased at last.

Nicolaus looked slowly up through tearing eyes at the horror-filled expressions of his classmates. In shame and disbelief, he noticed the figure of Miss J standing in the doorway with the same look of horror in her eyes. Fighting back tears, he brought his hands, swollen with welts, to rest folded under each arm. He looked past Mattie while she pinned a note to his shirt as she would one of the smaller children, informing the parents of the child's misbehavior. The pounding of his heart matched the throbbing of his hands as he thought, Miss J must have been watching the whole time. She saw it all! The shame was too much for him. He admired the young English music teacher. He had even stood up for her when all his friends, including Sylvain and Eli, said she was the town whore.

"Nicolaus, you go straight home, und make sure your parents read my note. I will be there shortly to speak to them about it." Nicolaus's heart sank as fear overwhelmed him, knowing his father would administer twice as much pain. Trying hard to avoid eye contact as he walked past Miss J, Nicolaus looked up just long enough to see her offer him a sympathetic gaze with her eyes as she whispered, "I'm sorry, Nicolaus."

~

Nicolaus entered the back washroom to the kitchen, knowing his mother would be there with his sister, Edna, busily preparing the evening meal. His mother had a way of soothing the anger in his father. After all, he was innocent. Even though Sarah's silence during the ordeal was a little questioning, it did make him feel better, knowing she thought of him as a hero. He was thankful she had remained silent.

"Nicolaus? Why are you home so early? Are you okay?" asked Edna, his oldest sister who had nurtured him throughout his young life and who kept a watchful eye over him, being more like a parent to him than his actual parents.

"What is it, son, are you ill?" his mother asked as she turned to him from the oven.

"No, Mater, I left school early," replied Nicolaus. His throat felt as if he swallowed a large peach pit with the natural reaction to gag about to overtake him. He had this feeling a lot, noticeably right before being confronted by his father over matters that he knew would be upsetting.

"Because?"

"Because of this." Nicolaus pointed to the folded paper Mattie had attached to his shirt. "Momma, I am innocent. I took the blame for someone because I didn't want them to get in trouble." Nicolaus paused, the tears welling up as he looked into his mother's eyes. For of all things meaningful to him, he never wanted to shame her; he loved his mother deeply even though she at times seemed indifferent to him. He knew it was her way of detaching herself from one part of the family to keep unity of the whole.

"Nicolaus, your hands!" Edna whispered in disbelief as she pulled his hands down to better examine the welts and deep cuts. Edna tore the note from his shirt in an angry assault.

"Mattie?" Esther asked as she went for some salve.

"Momma, maybe you'd better read it," replied Edna in disbelief of the content.

"After I mend what she's done to my son. May her night be fitful and without sleep for doing this to you, Nicolaus," Esther whispered as she tended to Nicolaus's hands with a homemade salve of herbs and lard.

"Momma, please read her note," Nicolaus pleaded.

Esther opened the sketched picture first, looking at it with raised eyebrows. "Mattie is blind. This you would never have done. Who are you taking this punishment for, Nicolaus?" his mother asked, looking deeply into his eyes and forcing him to look back. Nicolaus said nothing. Esther then opened and read Mattie's note. Closing it slowly, she said without looking at her son, "Go. Be in your room until your father calls for you." Nicolaus knew what this meant. It was all too painfully familiar. He had seen his mother detach her feelings from him automatically when she knew Jacob would correct him.

Nicolaus lay alone on his bed looking over the spotlessly clean white glossy bedroom walls. He couldn't help but wonder why the ceiling of his room had not sooted over or at least grayed by the kerosene lamps, which were the only ordained form of lighting in their large Amish district. Even the shine of the highly polished wooden floor showed no hint of dirt or dust. The thoughts needed to be of anything but his fate, panicking was useless.

He thought of Sarah and her endearing giggle. How happy she was today, possibly because of the expected end of the school year or the long-awaited leisurely warm summer days of plowing and planting, and the festive district gatherings. Possibly it was the graduation party on Saturday. It made no difference; whatever made her eyes shine like the glittering rays of sun on a calm lake made all the difference in the world to him.

Slowly rising to look out his bedroom window, he could make out the form of his father and brother Israel coming in from the east pasture. Feelings of dread rose in the pit of his stomach, seeing Jacob atop his spring wagon towed by his two large Belgian horses. The dust whirled around them as if they were walking on a cloud, and Israel strode alongside with a hoe resting over his shoulder.

A cold chill came over Nicolaus, thinking of the evening at hand and praying that Mattie would forget and forgive. Suddenly, out of the dust's haze, he could make out Mattie's horse and buggy speeding as if to catch up with the two weary laborers. Moments later Edna knocked at his bedroom door.

"Nicolaus," she whispered.

Out of the one brother and four sisters in his family, Edna was Nicolaus's favorite, not because she always soothed him when his father's temper would flare, but because she always spoke words of encouragement to him, which made it easier to go on when it was almost intolerable to do so. Nicolaus thought of her as a healer; she didn't even have to lay her hands on you, she did it with her words alone.

Nicolaus stood facing the door, placing his throbbing hands in his pockets and waiting for the words he did not want to hear. Now hearing voices downstairs, some faint, some loud, but distinctly his father's.

"Nicolaus," Edna's voice came a little louder from behind the door, making Nicolaus's body start to vibrate with fear. "Nicolaus, come downstairs now. Datt has called for you." He felt an irresistible urge to jump from his second-story window, not caring what shape his body would be in after landing.

Placing his forehead against the crack in the door he whispered, "I'm afraid, Edna."

"Nicolaus, come or Datt will come for you. Do you want that?" she said in English.

"No, I will come." Nicolaus opened the bedroom door slowly, looked at Edna with wide eyes of apprehension, and without a blink turned them hypnotically to the hallway in front of him. The lump in his throat was half choking him as he started down the stairs, catching his first view of them. Mattie, his father and mother looked up at him as if he were a defenselessly maimed rabbit in the presence of a pack of starving wolves. Nicolaus nodded to Mattie, and Mattie nodded back as he stood silently next to his father at the end of the staircase.

"Mattie is a good sister in Christ, do you agree?" Jacob asked in a low gentle tone, quivering a bit in what Nicolaus knew well to be his father's way of trying to control the unexplained, dark anger he had for him.

"Ja, Datt," answered Nicolaus in a whisper, his head bowed in shame.

"You have hurt your sister, das right?"

"Ja, Datt."

"I ask you to stay, Sister Mattie," Jacob said as he took hold of the back of Nicolaus's collar. "Nicolaus and I will return shortly. I assure you, sister, Nicolaus's punishment will be swift!"

"But, Brother Jacob..." Mattie said as she watched Nicolaus obediently follow his father.

Jacob waived Mattie off as if to say, don't try to talk me out of what I need to do. Mattie had no idea that Jacob would go so far; she thought he would ask Nicolaus to apologize but she never thought he would be so harsh and angry with his son. His restrained rage was disturbing to her.

As they entered the barn, his father took down the pair of old buggy reins he had intended to mend for weeks. Nicolaus stood still as he watched his father double them to reinforce their strength.

"Come, Nicolaus!" commanded Jacob, his voice stern, and his eyes fixed on Nicolaus, whose soul was seared with fear. "You have shamed your Mater and me for the last time! Remove your suspenders and shirt at once!"

"But, Datt..." Nicolaus cried. Suddenly feeling his father's fist slam across his cheek, the taste of his blood was strong as he reached up to feel if his father's first assault had opened his lip clean through.

"I told Sister Mattie your punishment would be swift. Turn, uncover and prepare yourself at once. I will not repeat myself!"

As Nicolaus slowly turned and removed his suspenders he glanced up, sensing a presence. There in the loft was his brother Israel standing silent in the shadows.

Removing his shirt and letting it fall to the ground, he held his breath as he waited for the beating. He prayed to God that his father would reconsider and use any other form of punishment. Nevertheless, his prayers were in vain. The assault came painfully hard, feeling as though his skin had been torn and laid open. Four lashes in all before Jacob stopped. Nicolaus was now on his knees with both hands holding fast to the stable plank.

"You have learned from your sins, or do I give you more?" Jacob asked, handing Nicolaus his shirt.

"I have learned," Nicolaus answered, as he stood unsteadily to his feet, turned, and painfully put an arm in each sleeve. He looked up to see his brother's tear-drenched face as he came out from the shadows in the loft.

"Clean off your face and come to the house," Jacob demanded. "I will be there waiting."

~

"You didn't cry out, Nicolaus. Why? It must have hurt something fierce?" Israel asked as he helped his brother wash the blood from his face.

"Do I still have my front teeth?" Nicolaus asked, showing Israel his teeth without responding to his brother's question.

"They are all there, aligned and perfect," replied Israel, with a small feeling of jealousy towards Nicolaus's good looks.

"It tastes like I'm drinking blood instead of water!" Nicolaus mumbled, bending over the old-fashion hand-pump that delivered cool and refreshing water from the family's well. "No, you'll be okay, just hurry and go in the house and get this over with!" his brother said as he handed him a towel to dry off and pushed him toward the front door as he said softly, "God be with you."

Entering the house, Nicolaus went straight to the staircase, not looking to the living room where the guest and his parents were waiting.

"Nicolaus, you have something to say to Sister Mattie, ja?" his father asked, stopping him before he could move farther from the first step.

Nicolaus turned and slowly walked back to stand in front of his teacher, looking at her straight on. The blood flowed gently from his lip, mingling with the wet curls that lay upon his neck.

"I'm sorry for the pain I caused," he said obviously beaten unmercifully.

Tears came to her eyes but she fought them off, saying low to allow only Nicolaus to hear her, "I'm so sorry, Nicolaus!" In her heart now she was certain, for it was painfully clear he had been a victim of physical abuse all these years. These were not just clumsy accidents and mishaps as he let them all believe. Nicolaus turned to go upstairs to his room but heard his father tell Mattie that his son would not be attending the graduation party tomorrow.

"But Jacob, Nicolaus is one of our graduating scholars. Surely he has paid already for his sin," said Mattie, forgetting how improper it was to argue with a man in their community. She didn't care at this point, being single and having had her way most of her life. Jacob said nothing as if to dismiss her. He turned and walked away.

"Come, Mattie, I will walk you to your buggy," Esther said as she nodded to Edna and Katie, Nicolaus's sisters, to start supper, intentionally not inviting the teacher to stay for the meal. Taking her arm gently, Esther asked as they walked, "Tell me, Mattie, what was the real reason you fingered my son out. You know as well as I, Nicolaus didn't draw that picture!"

"Sister Esther, I will answer your question if you will answer this one. I have taught all of your children, and they have all been under my guidance for many years now. Not one of them comes to school in the condition Nicolaus has on occasion."

"What are you trying to say, Sister Mattie?" Esther's eyes squinted questioningly, piercing Mattie's as she asked.

"Let us not pretend. We have known each other too long, and if it wasn't for Germain, we would still be on speaking terms, but that is beside the point. Am I correct in thinking the physical abuse I witnessed tonight to Nicolaus has gone on as long as I have been his teacher? Only he has come to school with unexplained bruises and cuts. I passed them off at first as common childhood accidents, but not any more. I believe Jacob's been beating him!"

"First of all, Mattie, do not ever speak of Germain's name or refer him in anyway with my family again. Whatever tall tales your sinful mind can conjure up, keep it to yourself! Ja, Jacob is strict with Nicolaus, but Nicolaus is different. He has always needed more guidance than the others."

"Beatings?" cried Mattie.

"Let God be the judge, not you," Esther said. "Jacob is a good man. Yes he has his faults, and you and I know that. After all, we both fell in love with him as teens, did we not?"

"Ja, but you won, not me, and selfishly at that!" Mattie resounded as she climbed into her buggy.

"What do you mean by that?" Esther asked as she stood looking up at Mattie, who sat with her shoulders straight, looking self-assured in her buggy.

As Mattie snapped the reins hard she said, "You didn't love Jacob. Germain was the one you were after. But you took both!"

Esther shouted, "You sinful woman!" She bent down and loaded her hands with stones and proceeded to throw a few at the retreating buggy. Catching herself, realizing what she was doing, she straightened her apron and, tucked a few wayward strands of hair back up under her prayer cap as she turned to head back to the house, dropping the remaining stones one at a time. Her hatred for one woman was not going to be a question to ponder tonight.

Meanwhile, Nicolaus lay facedown on his pillow, soaked with tears and blood, allowing at once the emotions he had successfully restrained earlier to come silently flooding to the surface. Jumping to sit up at the edge of his bed at the sound of the door opening, he wiped his face dry with his arm as fast as he could in fear that it was his father. It was Israel, with a lamp held high, illuminating the look of concern and sympathy on his face.

"Mater made a salve for you; take off your shirt so I can put it on."

"I hate him, Israel!" whispered Nicolaus as he looked down at his knuckles swollen and welted from Mattie's disciplining earlier. "I did nothing wrong."

Israel sighed. "I know, Nicolaus, I know. Hold on to the bedpost to steady yourself while I put this on. Surely it's going to be as if you're getting another beating."

It was; the pain was so unbearable that Nicolaus begged Israel to stop. "Israel, I can't stand it anymore, please."

"I'm done, now lie down and rest. I'll see if I can sneak some supper in for you tonight."

"Thank you, Israel," replied Nicolaus already half unconscious from the shock and pain of the evening.

~

"I'm sorry you missed the graduation party, Nicolaus. We had so much fun. Eli said you weren't feeling well; it is true?" Sarah asked wide-eyed, not even trying to cloak the innocence about her.

"I'm all right now, thank you for asking," replied Nicolaus as he graced her with a gentle smile only Nicolaus could give. Innocent charm, along with his striking features, hastened her heartbeat to a pulse that hurt deep within her breast. His deep-blue eyes framed by dark lashes glanced tenderly at her. The highlights in his loose curls of chestnut glimmered in the sunlight, enhancing his strong jaw and face; he was a man no woman plain or modern could resist. "Eli, what are you planting this season?" Nicolaus asked, trying to change the subject, as he darted his eyes to Eli.

"I'm helping my datt with wheat, corn and tobacco. Und you?"

"The same," replied Nicolaus, looking to Sarah with a smile, hoping she wouldn't feel left out of the conversation and leave to be with the young women.

"Will you and Sylvain be going through baptism class with Eli?" Sarah asked.

"Are you, then?" Nicolaus asked as he looked down into Eli's eyes.

Eli laughed. "You act surprised, Nicolaus. Why?"

"I don't know... I just... well, I guess your datt being a minister I shouldn't be. But I would think you would want to go through at least a year or two of Rumspringa. You know, just to make sure you're doing the right thing."

"I don't know. I may not need to run around doing things I may regret. I'm still thinking about it. Anyway, my datt being a minister has nothing to do with whether I decide to be baptized or not. Where is your head, Nicolaus?"

"It's just where it should be!" exclaimed Sylvain, rapping Nicolaus on the back of his head hard enough to make Nicolaus see stars for a few seconds.

"Ahee Sylvain, don't sneak up on us like that," cried Nicolaus as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I wasn't sneaking. You just don't pay attention. It will cost you dearly every time!" replied Sylvain with a smirk and a prideful tilt of his hat. "Are we talking of our big plans now that we are free men?"

"Free? We are Amish! Even though we are out of school we still have fields to plow, not to mention harvest time!" Eli replied reminding all of the hard work that still lay ahead of them through the seasons.

"Well, I don't know about that. Nicolaus and I don't agree, do we, Nicolaus?" Sylvain replied draping his arm around his friend's shoulders.

"I'm staying out of this one, Sylvain," Nicolaus said laughing, looking shyly at Sarah and she back at him with a smile that melted Nicolaus where he stood.

"Nicolaus and I are going to find work in town, aren't we?" Sylvain said while tightening his grip around Nicolaus's shoulders.

Nicolaus stopped eyeing Sarah, and looked up into Sylvain's face. "Are you kidding? My datt would..." Nicolaus stopped in midsentence, looking like he should be still. "I'm not allowed in town for a while cause of..." Looking back at Sarah and then down to the ground, tapping a rock nervously with his shoe, he again lapsed silent.

"Mark my words, brethren, I will be in town before too long working alongside those English. I'll be wearing their English clothes, going to their English movies and watching their English TV. I might even buy a car and drive you around for pay, Eli! Ah, don't laugh, Nicolaus, you will be right by my side as you are now."

"Sorry for laughing, Sylvain. Since when did you become my prophet?" Nicolaus replied a little unnerved. Knowing that Sylvain had the gift of "seeing," as it was called, Nicolaus knew that Sylvain could see what others could not—that being, on occasion, the future.

* * * * *

Chapter 2

December 1970  
Nicolaus, Age 16  
Can You Still Hear My Heart?

"Nicolaus, now that harvest is past and there's no work to keep us, let's go in to town tomorrow."

"Are you still going to badger me about that job posting at Gene's Music Store?" Nicolaus asked, a little worried over Sylvain's persistent tempting.

"There's no reason you and I can't ask for the night security guard's job. We wouldn't be selling anything so it would be okay with the church. We could listen to all the music we want, we could maybe even learn a few instruments while we worked. I mean, how hard is it to be a night security guard?"

The silence from Nicolaus was all too revealing and made Sylvain a little annoyed with his insecurities and fears of the outside world.

"Nicolaus! The snow's coming. We will not have work soon. Are ya in or are ya out?"

"All right, all right! I'll go, but the man at Gene's will take one look at our Amish garb and tell us to leave."

"No, you idiot, we won't be wearing our Amish clothes when we apply. We will be English... granted plain English, but English!"

Gold, brown and orange autumn leaves were drifting slowly to and fro as they made their way to the ground. A cold chill ran over Nicolaus's body as he and Sylvain entered Gene's store. The fall air was brisk outside but that wasn't what was making Nicolaus's skin crawl. The absence of the tourists' stares was an eerie feeling he couldn't at first put his finger on. He was so accustomed to their long gazes and their photographic frenzies in town. But now that he dressed like them he blended in as if invisible; the feeling was nice but also a little frightening, as if he were masquerading and could at any time be found to be the impostor. Raising his hand automatically to take off the hat that wasn't there, Nicolaus started to laugh quietly to himself. Shaking his head and gesturing to Sylvain at what he had tried to do caught both boys in silent amusement.

The store was filled with a wide assortment of musical instruments that hung from the walls and sat upright on supported stands on the floor. They ranged from brass, to various makes and models of guitars, to drum sets. It was a vast cornucopia of the smells of varnish, wax and woods that permeated the shop with a warm easy feel. The shop was an old converted department store with what looked like portioned-off rooms in the back available to the customers to try out the instruments or possibly for personal musical instruction.

"Can I help you two?" a deep voice startled them from across the store.

"Ah... yeah. We have come about the job you posted in the window," answered Sylvain after waiting for the short husky man to make his way to them, weaving in and out of some customers looking at guitars.

"Both of you?"

"Yeah," replied Nicolaus with a gentle smile as he shook his head agreeing, standing in back and to one side of Sylvain as if he were hiding, his eyes two big orbs of brilliant blue blinking innocently at the store owner.

Gene didn't return the smile, looking impassively up at Sylvain. He ordered them to follow him, leading them to the back of the store.

"Just remember to speak English," whispered Sylvain in their dialect as they followed Gene.

"Here. Fill these applications out and I'll be back to collect them."

Returning to Gene after completing the forms, the two waited and watched as Gene read over the applications.

"You know I only need one night security guard," Gene said, smiling to himself as he looked over the applications, thinking the two were a couple of kids fresh off the farm.

"Do you like what you see?" asked Sylvain.

"It's okay," replied Gene, biting his cheeks so the concealed smile would not become apparent, revealing the humor he found in the pair.

"Then hire both of us and pay us one man's wage," said Sylvain as he shrugged his shoulders and looked questionably to Nicolaus.

Gene looked up at the two with a questioning frown and then ordered them without hesitating, "Sign here," pointing to the signature lines without looking down at it. "Two for the price of one, now that's a first. What's the catch?"

"Ach, we can't work on Sundays," replied Nicolaus as he hesitated to sign his name to Gene's form.

"He's kidding," Sylvain said as he smiled nervously at Gene. Then he looked down at Nicolaus and hissed between clinched teeth, "Just sign it!" shoving the papers into Nicolaus's hand again with a look that Nicolaus knew was not to question.

"Good, be here tomorrow at 10:00 p.m. sharp. You'll work until 6:00 a.m. or until I show up. Danny and Todd work the second shift. You'll meet them tomorrow."

"Why did you say we could work on Sundays? Do you know what my datt's going to do to me when I tell him I'm working in town, let alone working on Sunday?" cried Nicolaus as they walked side by side down the street crowded with tourists.

"You worry too much, Nicolaus. Now let's go buy a car."

"Are you out of your mind, Sylvain?" Nicolaus cried as he stopped to look at Sylvain. "A car? Is that what you said, 'cause I thought you said a car!"

"It's what I said," Sylvain replied, looking down at Nicolaus with his hands on his hips and smiling as big as Nicolaus had ever seen him smile.

"You're serious!"

"Yeah, did you think we would be coming to work in our buggies, or had you thought about it?"

"Trust me, Sylvain, buying a car was certainly nowhere in my mind today. Anyway, where are we going to get the money to buy this car? Where would we put it, and who's going to drive it?"

"Calm yourself, I've been learning to drive, and we can keep it in that old abandoned barn down the road from my family's farm."

"How did you learn to drive a car? Out of a book?" asked Nicolaus with a smirk plastered across his face.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? It can't be that hard!" Sylvain answered matter-of-factly.

"Und, where is the money going to come from to buy this car?" Nicolaus asked, stepping off the sidewalk and allowing a crowd of tourists to pass in front of him as they hurriedly rushed for the tour bus that was just about to leave. Nicolaus knew this bus; it passed by his parents' farm daily during the week. He could hear from his bedroom upstairs the tourist guide's muffled voice over the bus intercom, announcing the farms and a few choice tidbits of information the tourists ate up regarding his people and how they lived.

"Come, I'll show you," Sylvain said as he ushered Nicolaus down the street. An hour later the two stood in front of the bank with four thousand dollars cash in hand.

"Sylvain, are you sure you want to buy a car with the money your datt gave you for your Belgians?"

"Nicolaus, I have no aim to farm. Well, at least not yet, and what would I do with two enormous horses? It will be okay, you'll see. By the time I finally decide to settle down enough to go back to farming, I can sell the car, ja?"

"Ach, I don't know, Sylvain," replied Nicolaus, knowing in his heart he wouldn't have been brave enough without Sylvain to do any of this, and dealing nervously with the fact that his father may indeed find this all a matter that warranted profound physical punishment. That is, if he found out, and he would find out, Nicolaus was confident in that. He now shifted through the words and the information he would confess to his father, hopefully soon, so that he would come to know the facts not as they are but as Nicolaus wanted him to know them.

"Don't worry! Come, let's go car shopping."

Two hours later Sylvain sat dreamy-eyed behind the wheel of a used four-door 1965 Cadillac. The car was immaculate inside and out as if no one had ever touched it in the six years of its life, the speedometer telling a different story. The front and back bench seats were of leather dyed a creamy white, the dashboard was fully equipped with everything any young Amish man could ever think up in his wildest dreams. The smell was of a new car, a smell neither Nicolaus nor Sylvain were familiar with but found to be of profound pleasure. The interior compartment of the Cadillac was spacious and allowed even Sylvain to bring the front bench so far back that his long legs could comfortably stretch to meet the gas pedal, still leaving ample room in the back to literally prostrate oneself flat on the floorboard of the backseat. The exterior was also a creamy white, looking more like a stretch limo than one's personal means of transportation. Touching the dashboard as if he were stroking a beautiful well-bred horse, Sylvain turned to Nicolaus and raised his eyebrows but didn't say a word as a smile of pure ecstasy spread across his face.

"I can't believe this!" Nicolaus repeated over and over, staring straight ahead in a daze.

"Relax, brother, and enjoy!" Sylvain said as he then tried three times unsuccessfully to turn the large powerful V8 engine over. With a questioning look to Nicolaus, the sound of grinding gears filled the air.

"Don't look at me. I know nothing of cars!" Nicolaus replied, trying hard not to acknowledge Sylvain's plight, instead turning his face away allowing a grin to slowly slip across his lips.

~

At supper, Nicolaus nervously confronted his father about the new job. He sat in silence for what felt an eternity, waiting for his father's reply. Finally, the answer came, but it wasn't anything that Nicolaus had prepared himself for.

"It is a good choice that you leave," Jacob said as he looked into Nicolaus's eyes.

The uneasy smile faded slowly from Nicolaus's face as he listened. "But I'm not asking to leave. I will help here and work in town during the winter."

"No, Nicolaus, you are to leave. I will tell Bishop Yoder that you have no place among us anymore."

"Jacob, isn't that a little harsh?" Esther said, as she motioned to Edna to start clearing the table with a nod of her head at the dishes. Edna looked at her father as she stood to clear the table, then to Israel her older brother as if to say, "Say something!"

"No, Nicolaus has known for a long time that his place is not with us."

Nicolaus blinked, his eyes fixed on his father in disbelief. How can you do this to me, he thought as he and his father's eyes stayed on each other as if sizing one another up for a fight. "Datt, are you alone shunning me? I wasn't aware that you had become the bishop of our district!"

"Do not speak to me with such words. You have gotten older since your last lesson of disrespect, but you have not learned from it yet. You are just like..."

"Jacob!" Esther cried, as the dishes slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor in a spray of shattered porcelain.

"Now see what you two have caused. Nicolaus, go to your room," she commanded, obviously in dire need to separate the two before any more could be said.

Nicolaus sat in his room thinking of what his father had said and the ramifications to him in his community from the practice of shunning. He knew the practice of shunning was harsh on those who chose baptism and membership and then turned to leave the fellowship or refused to comply with the rules. But he had never seen it practiced on those who had not yet made their choice, especially one so young. The shunned were not to be spoken to or accepted in any way. They couldn't eat with the others or even be looked at. If handed an object, it was placed on a table or the ground instead of placing it in the shunned one's hands. Worst of all to Nicolaus, the giving or taking of marital blessings was withheld. All this was done to encourage the sinner to repent. But why should I repent when I didn't do anything wrong? How readily my datt sent me out on my own when I didn't ask to leave, Nicolaus thought sorrowfully.

"Datt sent me in to help you pack," Israel said, opening the door to their shared bedroom and smiling sadly as he made his way to Nicolaus's bed.

"Israel, I have nowhere to go! Why is he making me leave?" Nicolaus cried, pleading for help from anyone that could help in any way.

"Think about it. This is your chance to go out and make a life of your own. It's something I've always wanted to do, but I'm stuck here farming for the rest of my life. Take this chance, Nicolaus, it is a good thing."

"But I don't want to leave the farm, nor my friends or family. I just want to be..."

"Loved?" Israel asked, his eyes fixed on Nicolaus's. "That will never be, not here, not for you. Go make a life for yourself, and who knows, maybe I might come out someday soon too. Then you can help me on the outside."

"Where should I go?" Nicolaus asked as a tear drifted down the side of his cheek. As soon as he felt it, he quickly wiped it away, using the opened pillowcase he had started to load with the few personal artifacts he did have.

"Well, I would get a place close to your new job, since you don't have a car or transportation," Israel said thoughtfully.

"But we do have a car!"

"What?" Israel stopped helping Nicolaus load his pillowcase for a moment.

"Sylvain bought one yesterday after we got the job."

"Well, there you have it, Nicolaus." A few minutes of silence passed between them as the two sat on the bed, the packed pillowcase separating them.

"Tell me I'm doing the right thing, Israel," pleaded Nicolaus, looking straight ahead with tears in his eyes.

"Nicolaus, you don't know how long I have prayed that you would do this. I have watched all these years, Datt doing to you what nobody has the right to do to another person, let alone his own son. Now finally, you have the chance to go out on your own. Ja, Nicolaus, you're doing the right thing!"

"Will you pray for me, Israel?" Nicolaus asked, with a feeling of love for his brother unexpectedly washing over him.

"I will pray every day, but don't go so far that I cannot hear your heartbeat! I love you, little brother!"

Morning came and everyone went about doing their chores. Jacob was out in the field with Israel when Nicolaus came into the kitchen where his four sisters and mother were busy putting away breakfast and now were getting ready to begin the lunch meal.

"You slept late this morning, Nicolaus. Are you sick?" asked one of the twins who had attached herself to Nicolaus's arm in her usual loving, affectionate manner.

"Breakfast has been done for half an hour. You'll have to wait till lunch to eat. Why are you so lazy? Datt and Israel have been out working..."

"Enough, Katie!" demanded Esther. "Are you hungry, Nicolaus?"

"Don't pamper him, Mater, he should be out helping Datt and Israel," Katie interrupted again.

Nicolaus as usual looked past his younger sister Katie, whom he never got along with much, and came to stand next to his mother as she pumped water into a basin with the old-fashioned hand pump that was above the kitchen sink.

"You've come in to say good-bye, haven't you?" Esther asked as she stopped him and looked up at her son. The smile melted from Nicolaus's face as they looked intently at each other with the depth that is felt only between mother and son. He looked down and turned away from her eyes and walked into the family room, where Edna and the twins had just settled in to playing a board game on the floor, enjoying a short time to relax between chores. Looking up, Edna saw her brother standing silently, gazing at her with love and a sorrow she could not fully know. She watched as he placed each fingertip to his lips. Then, making a fist, he let each finger open in her direction as if he was flipping kisses at her, a small endearing gesture they always did to show their love for each other. She reached up and caught the imaginary kisses, placing her fist to her heart as he walked out by way of the cellar so the twins wouldn't know he was going. The twins loved their big brother very much and he them as well, but he could not bear to say good-bye to them. After all, he didn't understand what was happening to him. How could he expect them to?

"Ach, I thought you would never get here. What is that?" Sylvain asked looking at Nicolaus's overly stuffed pillowcase.

"My datt told me to leave."

"No!" Sylvain said, his eyes wide in disbelief. "Well, no harm. You can come live with me at my parents' farm."

"I think I should find something in town," Nicolaus said as he looked solemnly at the ground while they walked to the car.

"Like what? You can't afford anything in town."

"I will have to!" Nicolaus said with determination. "Maybe Aunt Betsy will take me in, ja?"

~

"Good, I'm glad you boys got here early. This is Danny and Todd. Todd's looking to quit here soon, so one of you may want to take his place at selling. We get most of our business after 5:00 p.m. around here. Boys, this is Nicolaus and Sylvain."

"Hello," Nicolaus said with a nod of his head, Amish style.

"Sure glad you came along. Gene's been robbed three times in four months. Come with me, I'll show you two around," Danny said, as he walked away from the display of guitars, seemingly eager to meet their acquaintance. Sylvain and Nicolaus looked at each other, their brows frowning in wonder of the robberies. The tour continued downstairs to the basement, where there was a storage room and what seemed to be a tiny area set up as living quarters with a queen-size unmade bed on the floor. Off to the right of the makeshift apartment was a small stove and rusted old refrigerator, which looked as if it had not been cleaned in a couple of years.

"Who lives here?" Nicolaus asked. Sylvain could see Nicolaus's mind working and knew why he had asked.

"No one now. The old night security guard used it but he got shot in the last robbery."

"Shot dead?" Sylvain asked, his and Nicolaus's eyes big with surprise.

"Oh, no, he accidentally shot himself during the robbery. He wasn't too bright!" Danny said as he laughed to himself, while shaking his head recalling the incident.

"Would Gene consider renting it out?" Sylvain asked before Nicolaus could.

"I suppose," replied Danny with a shrug. "I personally would just ask to stay here if you're interested. I don't know of anyone actually paying to stay in this dump."

Nicolaus felt that for the first time a light of hope was beginning to dawn and that maybe this could be a confirmation from above that in fact he was supposed to be out among the English. Independence was a feeling new to him, but a feeling he could get used to.

After the employees had left for the day, Nicolaus and Sylvain took a good look around the store. The various drum sets caught Sylvain's eye, and he tried each set out for its sound. Nicolaus went straight to the instructional books, finding a good one on guitars. Nicolaus read all night, putting to memory the various chords and fingering. The next morning, Nicolaus asked Gene if he could help out during the day.

"Don't you think you'd better get some sleep?" Gene asked, more than willing to allow Nicolaus to stick around but not wanting to take advantage of these two naive kids, knowing they were from the nearby Amish community. He didn't say anything for fear of dousing their excitement of thinking no one knew of their secret.

"To tell you the truth, I have nowhere to go," Nicolaus said, with his head down, not wanting to look at Gene eye to eye, wishing he didn't have to tell him.

"His parents kicked him out! I told him he could come live at my home but he won't," Sylvain interjected.

"Why's that?" Gene asked, looking at Nicolaus with squinted eyes as if questioning him.

"I'm Amish and it's a community thing. You have to be one of us to understand."

"Nicolaus, you didn't have to tell him that!" Sylvain cried, irate that the secret was out.

"Cool it, boys, I knew the minute you walked into the shop that you were Old Order. You both had the same look that a deer gives you right before you run it over with your car. How old are you really anyway?"

"We're both eighteen but will be nineteen next month," Nicolaus replied, finding it surprisingly easy to lie."

"And I bet you've never been away from home, right?" They both looked down in shame as they nodded yes, their hands planted deep in their pockets. "Look, if you need a place to stay, there's a bed and things downstairs. I'm not saying anything works down there, and all's I ask is that you don't burn down the place."

~

By the end of three months, Nicolaus had every note and fingering on the guitar down. Playing music gave him a freedom and joy he had never felt before, and he couldn't get enough.

After four months of practicing nightly and saving his money, Nicolaus bought the finest classical guitar in the shop. It was beautiful, but what made Nicolaus want it most was its sound, deep and clearer than any of the others. Gene made the deal worth his while, throwing in a month of private lessons to boot.

Sylvain decided to pay for after-hour drum lessons from Gene, thinking that if Nicolaus could learn the guitar he surely could learn to play the drums.

"You're getting good at that!" commented Nicolaus as he walked into the soundproof practice booth to inform Gene of a phone call.

"I have to admit, he is good," Gene said. "In fact, so are you. I've been listening to the both of you, and lately I've been thinking about starting up a band. Would you be interested?"

"Me?" Sylvain replied in shock.

"Ja, you! You're good," Nicolaus remarked, forgetting about Gene's phone call.

"Danny plays a wicked bass, and I play the keyboard. All we need now is a lead singer. Neither Danny nor I can carry a tune."

"Nicolaus can sing!" cried Sylvain pointing with one of his drumsticks to his friend who was still halfway inside the doorway to the soundproof booth.

"Ach, I sing a little!"

"Are you crazy, you have perfect pitch and can read notes! He really is good!" Sylvain said as he turned to Gene. "He's been told that he has a 'sexy voice!'"

The smile faded from Nicolaus's face as he gave Sylvain a look that screamed his feelings of humiliation.

"Well, show up this Sunday evening and let's see how we sound together. I have a set of drums at my house, and Nicolaus, you bring your guitar."

~

After church service Sunday, Nicolaus, Eli, and Sylvain helped set up the benches for the common meal. As the older brethren ate, the three stood off to the side of the host's barn so that they had a good view of all the unmarried young women of their district, puzzled as they watched them coo and fuss over the newest member of the Lapp family.

"Tell me, Nicolaus, which one are you going to marry?" Sylvain asked with a nudge from his elbow.

"Ach, the prettiest one in the heap," replied Nicolaus as he warmed his hands deep in his pants pockets.

"Which one is that?" Eli asked, smiling at Nicolaus.

"Oh, that would be your sister, Sarah!" Sylvain said matter-of-factly, knowing of Nicolaus's love for Eli's sister since they were children.

"Sylvain!" Nicolaus cried in horror.

Sylvain turned to Eli, who thought it was all too humorous, and said, "Nicolaus thinks we don't see him staring at Sarah all the time."

Nicolaus turned and walked away, heading for some of the empty benches. Sylvain and Eli sat down next to Nicolaus, laughing at Nicolaus's blushing face.

"Ask her if you could see her. Ask her if she would go on a walk with you or something. Go ahead and ask her!" Sylvain whispered, his hand covering his mouth so only Nicolaus could hear. Nicolaus looked at Sylvain with a questioning look as if to say, "Should I?" That made Sylvain's heart feel for Nicolaus, for he held Nicolaus closer than a brother, and never in any way would he deliberately hurt him. "Go ahead, try!" Sylvain repeated.

After the meal, Nicolaus waited for his chance and when he finally caught Sarah somewhat alone, he walked up to her and said in English, "It's a good day, ja?" The smile and words from Nicolaus surprised, almost frightened, Sarah. She too had feelings for Nicolaus, as did half the young girls in their district. His striking good looks made her in turn gaze in a trance when she would allow herself to look.

"It is a nice day," replied Sarah, feeling her heart begin to pound.

"Do you like to walk?" Nicolaus asked awkwardly.

"Ja, I walk a lot. Why?"

"Gutten Tag, Sarah und Nicolaus." Just then Joseph, another classmate, walked up to the two. He turned to Sarah and asked, "Are you staying for the singing, Sarah?"

"Ja, und you?"

"Ja, could I ride you to your home in my buggy after, Sarah?"

"Well... I..." Sarah said as she looked up at Nicolaus, wishing he had already asked her. "I suppose I could, but you have to promise to take me right home."

"I wouldn't think of nothing but," Joseph said, as he gave Nicolaus a prideful smile.

"I better be going. Good evening Sarah, and Joseph." Nicolaus nodded to both and walked back to where Eli and Sylvain were waiting to hear how it went.

"Well?" Eli asked.

"Es ist nicht das richtige!" Nicolaus said in a whisper.

"What's not right?" Sylvain asked.

"Joseph and Sarah!" Nicolaus answered, looking at the ground with his hands in his pockets as if he were a little boy pouting.

"Ach, it will pass. Sarah will marry you!" Sylvain answered assuredly, as if he saw it in the future. "I'll lend you my courting buggy if you will ask her to go on a picnic with you," suggested Sylvain, pushing Nicolaus back in the direction he came from.

Beth, Sarah's best friend, now had come to Sarah's side and Nicolaus had no other choice but to keep walking towards the two girls. As he came up on them, Beth being very shy, especially around Nicolaus, for her infatuation with him was much more than she could cope with, turned and silently walked away leaving Sarah unguarded, just the way Nicolaus wanted it.

"Sarah, ah... I just... well, do you like picnics? Because if you do I would like it if you would go with me on one."

"I love picnics," Sarah answered in an excited tone of voice.

"Is tomorrow at noon too soon?"

"Montag?"

"Ach, too soon?" Nicolaus asked with a frown as if he messed up.

"No, tomorrow is fine. I will ask Eli and my sister to help me with the chores and my parents if I can go. I'm not sixteen yet so they will have a say if I can be alone with you. What should I bring?"

"I'll ask your parents if you like?" Nicolaus said with a smile. Sarah shook her head and said it was not needed.

"Okay, then, just bring yourself. I'll be at your house at noon," Nicolaus said as his dark blue eyes pierced through to her soul, making her heart feel as if it would melt.

The drive to Gene's house was nice; the spring afternoon was filled with what seemed like more floral scents than Nicolaus could remember. The quickening pulse, the awful anxiety and the lack of words he felt when around Sarah, as well as the excruciating feeling that whatever he did say came out all wrong... all was worth the agony of just one moment alone with her.

"Nice set of drums you have here," Sylvain said as he looked over Gene's prized possession along with his keyboard. Gene held not much more sacred in this world.

"Go ahead, try them out," Gene said with excitement.

Nicolaus could keep up with the notes and the rhythms but had a hard time singing the songs the same way the original artist sang them. Gene ordered Nicolaus to stop midsong every few verses so he could give him musical pointers and suggestions, making Nicolaus feel frustrated, being unfamiliar with the songs. After practice, Nicolaus whispered to Sylvain in their dialect, "I was terrible. They are going to ask me to leave the band! I fumbled the notes to the songs and I sung them like we were in church! Rock is too hard, Sylvain. I just don't get the heart of it. I sound terrible!"

"Ach, Nicolaus, give it some time! Gene said he would let you listen to the songs on his stereo. Anyway, I thought you did a good job; after all, we weren't raised around this music."

"I'm going to visit my Aunt Betsy. You want to come along?" Nicolaus said in a defeated tone, not responding to Sylvain's encouragements.

"No, you go on, and say hello to your aunt for me," yelled Sylvain after the screen door closed behind Nicolaus, who didn't even hesitate to wait for his friend's response. His mind was clearly somewhere else.

Jacob's sister Betsy, a widow, lived in her two-story old Victorian style house in the center of town. She had converted the lower half into a store specially equipped for the tourist seekers who wished to come in contact with the local Amish and their goods. The tourists came flooding in during the spring, summer and fall. The only real reprieve from the tourists was in the dead of winter, which the Amish thanked the good Lord for. It was said the winter was rest from the work of the field and the tourists' cameras.

Betsy and Jacob were brought up in Ohio, the youngest of three other children, one sister and two brothers, all of whom still lived and farmed in Ohio. Their mother and father were ushered into eternity as a result of the big Spanish influenza epidemic in 1918, leaving Jacob's older brothers to raise the younger children until they were old enough to farm on their own. Betsy and Jacob had no other blood relatives living in Pennsylvania, where their great-grandfather had homesteaded the original farm. Betsy and Jacob came to take it over after the old man died, leaving the Zook farm in which Nicolaus was born and raised.

Aunt Betsy married outside the faith, leaving the church and crushing Jacob, her older brother. He hadn't spoken to her from that day since. Nicolaus and the rest of the Zook children visited Aunt Betsy every time they came into town. As children, their special aunt would always have a never-ending supply of candy and homemade cookies ready at all times when they visited her quaint shop. The familiar jingling of her store bells chimed as Nicolaus walked in; the sound always gave him a sense of well-being and the feeling of acceptance.

"You are open on Sundays now?" Nicolaus called out, as Betsy looked up startled.

"Nicolaus, you frightened me!" she exclaimed. "I must have left the store door open accidentally." Not really caring about the door, she seized him into a crushing bear hug.

"Come, sit, are you hungry? And why are you in town on the Lord's Day? Did you skip worship? How are your parents? Und why are you in town?"

Nicolaus smiled and shook his head. "Bitte, please Aunt Betsy, I didn't come to be interrogated!" he replied. Betsy raised her eyes in surprise that he would speak to her in English.

"Well, if you'd come to call more often, then maybe I wouldn't have to 'interrogate' you."

"I'm sorry; I'm working at the music store just blocks from your shop. I'll come to call more often."

"So you're practicing."

"Practicing?" Nicolaus asked with a comical pout.

"You're speaking in English to me, Nicolaus."

"Ach," Nicolaus made the guttural throat sound that let Betsy know he wasn't going to address her observation.

"So what happened that you're not working on the farm?" she asked as she went back to folding the personalized Amish embroidered sweatshirts she had for sale displayed on a table near the cash register.

Nicolaus looked down at the ground, the smile leaving his face as he looked back up at his aunt. "Datt told me to leave. I'm not sure if it was because of the job or that he just doesn't want me around. I fear though, it's the latter."

"That dog! Where are you living?"

"Ich vohne im the music shop. It has an apartment in the basement. Gene, my boss, lets me stay in it during the day to sleep. I have to admit, I don't get much sleep but it will do for now."

"Are you eating?" Betsy asked as she turned Nicolaus around to look him over.

"Ja, I'm eating," Nicolaus said as he folded his arms across his chest a little embarrassed of all the fuss his aunt was putting on about him.

"So he has shunned you as well. When will that man stop? I want you to come live here with me. You can help me with the shop. I can feed you the way you need to be fed," Betsy said as she finally stopped with the twirling, holding Nicolaus at arm's length as a master would look over a captive slave in contemplation of buying him.

"I thank you. You're always there when I need you, Aunt Betsy. I will stay where I am for now, but I will come and help you with the shop during the day... maybe after the noon meal so I can get some sleep, ja?"

"That would be good, Nicolaus, ah... I'd like it if you'd wear your 'plain' clothes, if you would please. You know how the tourists love to see the young in their Amish clothes."

"Ja, I know. But for you, not for the English!" Nicolaus said as he turned to leave with a hint of resentment.

~

April 1971  
Age 16

The buggy drive from Sylvain's to Sarah's the next morning was refreshing. It was a moment he felt he needed to hold on to and keep forever in his mind. The birds sounded more joyful today, colors seemed brighter, the air felt crisper, and the sun shined more brilliantly as it filtered through the trees. When he came to the top of the little hill overlooking the Bailer's farm, he was overcome by a wave of homesickness and belonging that he could not control. He buried the fleeting feelings of melancholy with thoughts of Sarah and her smiling eyes as she waited for him.

"Hello, Nicolaus, so nice to see you," Ruth, Sarah's mother, smiled as she opened the screen door. Nicolaus went right to the front door, instead of the barn where he would have normally gone first to talk to Sarah's brother, Eli, or her father, Samuel Bailer. "You look nice!" she commented. Nicolaus had on his plain clothing, which consisted of a black three-inch-brim felt hat, white cotton long-sleeve shirt, black suspenders, black pants, and a black vest. Most of the time, Nicolaus wore his royal blue or deep green shirt, but today he wore his white church shirt and black vest. Sarah had on her deep blue dress with a black cape and apron, which identified her in her district as being unmarried.

Nicolaus nodded to Sarah and smiled a shy gentle smile. She always looked pretty to him, with her big brown doe-like eyes and her slender but womanly frame, at least what he could make of it past her cape, apron, and dress that went to her ankles. Her skin was always fresh and clean, framed by her white prayer cap, the strings of which were never tied but tossed about freely as if in a continual dance about her face and neck.

"Are you sure I can't put a loaf of bread or these freshly baked cookies in your basket?" Ruth asked, as she held up a bulging pouch of waxed paper.

"No, but thank you, Ruth. We have all we need. What time are you to be back, Sarah?" Nicolaus asked as he adjusted his hat tighter to his head.

"Have her back by three. I'll need her to help with the evening meal," Ruth answered for her daughter.

Nicolaus helped Sarah into the open-aired courting buggy, and as they drove down the shaded lane, neither of them said a word. Sarah wondered if she should have agreed to go out with Nicolaus. They had no trouble talking while at school or at church, but this was different. The silence was heavy in the air.

"Has Joseph been courting you long?" Nicolaus finally blurted out.

"Courting me? Are you crazy? I wouldn't let Joseph court me. Anyway, I'm not yet sixteen, so even when I allow Joseph to take me home from singing, we always have my little sister with us." Nicolaus gave Sarah a smile but said nothing. "Ach, Nicolaus, you're teasing! You can just turn this buggy back home if you bring up Joseph's name again. I've come with you today to have fun, not to be made fun of!"

Nicolaus tried his hardest to hide his playful smile and turned to Sarah, the sun making him squint as he pulled his hat down to shade his brilliantly blue eyes. "I'm sorry to have brought up Joseph's name. If I had any mind about me, Joseph's name would never come to my mouth. In fact, Joseph should be the furthest person..."

"Stop! I should have known you wanted to take me on a picnic just to mock me. You haven't changed a bit since our school days, have you?"

"Ach, Sarah, you make it too easy! This is a nice place, ja?" Nicolaus pointed to a clearing near a pond. The pond was used by the kids in the summertime for swimming and usually was engulfed with laughter and screams of fun from the users. But the spring air was just a little too brisk and the water too cold for those who would be swimmers, so it left the two alone to enjoy. Laying out the old quilt and setting the picnic basket to be at arm's reach, Nicolaus invited Sarah to be seated.

"Nicolaus, you must have spent a lot of money. Everything is store bought!"

"No, not so, Sarah, not a lot of money. Anyway, I could hardly ask Sylvain's mother to move over while I prepared for our picnic, although I think she would have gotten a kick out of watching me work in the kitchen."

"You should have allowed me to make it then," replied Sarah, looking over all the tasty foods.

"I invited you. I make the food. When you invite me, you make the food. Ja?"

The store-bought bread and lunch meats made for tasty sandwiches, and the potato salad was more than filling. When Sarah thought she could eat no more, Nicolaus pulled out one slice of chocolate cake, knowing that Sarah had a weakness for such.

"Ach, Nicolaus, I couldn't!"

"Sure you can, it's your favorite, ja?"

"Ja, but there's only one piece!"

"That's okay, I don't like sweets. This I bought to see you enjoy."

As Sarah ate all but most of the frosting, Nicolaus leaned back on his elbows, his head as far back as it would go so as to absorb as much of the beautiful spring sun as possible. Sarah looked at Nicolaus and imagined running her fingers through his hair, longing to feel the softness of his curls. But today, with the sun hitting it so as to bring out the red highlighted streaks from the brown, Sarah had to remind herself a few times that it wouldn't be proper to reach over and pet Nicolaus.

Without turning his face from the sun Nicolaus asked in English, "Was it gut?"

"Mmm... sehr gut!"

"Want to walk to the bridge?" Nicolaus asked finally turning his face towards her, his eyes soft but with the most unusual blue she had ever seen in any person's eyes. Nicolaus stood and offered her his hand.

Once at the bridge, Sarah hopped up onto the handrail as Nicolaus came to stand looking out at the peaceful pond next to her. Sarah watched Nicolaus's face intently as he looked out at the water glistening in the noonday sun.

A sad expression came to his eyes and she asked, "Nicolaus, are you not having fun?" Nicolaus turned to her, his eyes coming to life now that they were full of her.

"I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be." His eyes left hers and stared steadfast upon her lips. "Sarah, do I have permission to touch you?" Sarah's heart leaped with both joy and fear as she heard her breath escape between her opened lips. Closing her eyes, she felt Nicolaus's finger gently run across her lower lip. "There, it's off!"

"What... what was it?" she gasped as she put her hand up to her lips in hopes she could hide her embarrassment.

"Some chocolate!" replied Nicolaus, and he laughed as he backed up and looked to the side into her eyes as if to see her more clearly. "Did you think I was going to kiss you?"

Sarah again felt her heart begin to pound hard and knew the color of her face was as bright red as an October apple. "Why Nicolaus, I would have never allowed you to kiss me. I hope you know that!"

"I know that you're not yet sixteen, but yet you allowed me to take you on a picnic unaccompanied by your older brother!" replied Nicolaus. He smiled as Sarah looked away, changing the subject as she hopped from the rail.

"Eli says you're working in town, ja?"

"Ja, Sylvain and I are the night security guards at Gene's Music Store. Do you know of it?"

"Ja, it's not far from your Aunt Betsy's store, true?"

"Ja, in fact, I will be helping my aunt out during the weekdays and working at the music store at night."

"So it's true, you have left home."

Nicolaus turned from Sarah, staring soberly at the water as he answered, "It's true."

"Because of your datt, or was it your choice during your Rumspringa?"

"My datt," Nicolaus said solemnly.

"Do you not want to be Amish or have a farm of your own someday?"

Nicolaus turned back to Sarah, looking deep into her eyes as he answered her, "It's what I want the most. But I'll have to stay Amish by working in town for a while. Just long enough to save some money for my own land that will have my big house on it."

"Why a big house? To show up your datt?"

"Ach, no, Sarah, never for that! I will need a large house to hold all my kids and lots of land to teach my sons to farm. I think I'll make a gut valter."

"You will be sehr gut, Nicolaus!" Sarah said as she smiled at him.

"Ach, das touristen!" Nicolaus said as they both saw a van full of tourists pull up and sit, gawking at the two as if they were two endangered species.

"I pray they leave us be," said Sarah.

"Perhaps we'd better get back to the buggy, ja?" Nicolaus said as he led the way without waiting for a reply from Sarah. With one eye on the van of tourists and one on their destination, Nicolaus stopped to let Sarah go in front of him. If Sarah had been one of his sisters, he would have taken her hand and escorted her to his buggy or out of view of the tourists. Nicolaus didn't mind the tourists in town; he expected them to look and try to take pictures there, for that was English territory. However, when the English came out to their farm areas, it could be frightening. You never knew what they would do. Nicolaus was taught at a young age to move his sisters and himself swiftly away from the English because their intents were not to be trusted. After all, they were of the world.

"Excuse me, excuse me!" the old gentleman said as he got out of his van and walked toward the two, who were taking up the quilt and picnic items from the ground.

Nicolaus turned toward the old man and said, "What you and your guests do with your cameras is not our business." He noticed with irritation that the gentleman's camera was already poised at his face.

"So, it's okay if we take your picture?"

"No... it's not 'okay,' but as I said, you do what you think is right. We can only go about our business."

"Thank you," replied the man as he returned to the van to encourage the others to take their pictures, as if he hadn't heard a word Nicolaus had said.

"How very rude!" exclaimed Sarah, as they rode by in their buggy. "If only this buggy was a closed top, I would bring the flaps down so they couldn't see us!"

"Ach, why bother? They don't mean any harm."

"Didn't you hear what happened to Jake and Martha two weeks ago? They were traveling in their buggy to church and some tourist stopped them just to call them names and make fun of them."

"Ja, I heard," answered Nicolaus, keeping his eyes on the side mirror of the buggy to see where the van would go. After the two entered the safety of Sarah's farm, Nicolaus walked Sarah to the front door, which was occupied by Ruth and Samuel Bailer, Sarah's parents.

"You'll be staying for dinner then?" Ruth asked.

Nicolaus looked at Sarah and said, "I don't want to wear out my welcome, but thank you Ruth."

"You have to stay!" Sarah cried, knowing Nicolaus would not accept the offer unless passionately persuaded.

"Well I guess that's that! If my daughter says so, then it is so," replied Samuel with a smile as he wrapped his arm around Nicolaus's tall frame and ushered him into the kitchen to be seated. The smell of food and the warmth of the kitchen were welcoming as Nicolaus sat down next to Eli at the table. All eyes were on him except for Samuel and Eli, who were too deeply involved in eating to look up at their guest. The meal was a hearty one consisting of mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, beets, and ham. After the meal Sarah accompanied Nicolaus to his buggy.

"The picnic was very nice, Nicolaus. I hope you had as much fun as I did."

"I had a blast!" Nicolaus answered her in English. "We can do it again soon, ja?" Nicolaus said as he mounted the buggy and looked down at her. The evening was filled with the scents of spring, and Nicolaus couldn't help but feel drawn to stay longer, possibly going beyond his welcome just to be with Sarah for a few more moments.

"I'd like that," replied Sarah, her eyes looking up at Nicolaus. She did not want him to leave.

Reaching down, Nicolaus gently brushed her lower lip with his hand and said with a smile, "All I ask is that you not let Joseph wipe chocolate from your lips! Ja?" Sarah blushed and moved away from the buggy.

~

"You must be tired, Nicolaus," Betsy said in their dialect as she opened the register to give change. Her shop was a midsize tourist trap with local Amish homemade crafts available for all who cared to take them home for a handsome price, at a lofty profit. On the ground floor, the Victorian fashioned shop was equipped with a private kitchen and seating room off to the east of her home. Stairs leading to the second floor could be found just off the seating room where none of her clientele could access unless allowed to enter the private segments of her home, making her old home a perfect attraction to those coming into town to take in all they possibly could from the Amish's quaint way of life.

"No, I'm all right. I slept after work this morning. I'm good to go until tomorrow morning."

"Hurry and get changed into your plain clothes. I'm going to let you ring up the customers while I go in the back to unpack some orders."

"So you mean for me to be the main attraction, ja?" Nicolaus commented, still in their dialect and smiling at the curious clientele watching the two with tactless glances.

"Hiding your talents is a sin Nicolaus!" Betsy replied smiling sheepishly.

"And so is lying to yourself about your rightful motives," replied Nicolaus as he made eye contact and smiled at the tourist who was good-naturedly waiting to buy her items.

"So it is! Now run upstairs to change!"

~

Weeks passed, and trying as it was to hold down two jobs, Nicolaus refused to let either job go. It was Sunday morning and church meeting that week was at the Stoltzfus's barn. The summer morning was hot and the air was still in the barn where they had their worship time. The large double barn doors were swung open, which sent in an occasional cool breeze that slightly relieved the congregation, most of whom were preoccupied with the swishing of their fans as they listened as intently as humanly possible to the long sermons. Sylvain's constant nudging of Nicolaus throughout the course of the service did little to help him elude the sleepiness induced by the three-hour long sermons. Coming close to falling completely off the bench, Nicolaus provided great entertainment for the young unmarried women of the congregation, some of whom were making wagers on his success to stay upright throughout the worship service as they tried hard to restrain the snickering, which seriously threatened to become audible. It wasn't until they all stood and turned to kneel for the last prayer did Nicolaus feel life come back into his body. The common meal came and went, much to the relief of Nicolaus who was painstakingly trying to stay clear of his father. Soon it was time for the singing, which was attended by only the teens and young unmarried adults. Nicolaus and the other young men assembled the benches in the barn and started to hand out the songbooks. Sarah sat down with the rest of the girls and Nicolaus came to sit across from her with the boys.

"Sorry, Nicolaus, I'm going to sit here," Joseph said as he nudged him to one side.

Nicolaus narrowed his eyes at Joseph but moved to one side, allowing Joseph to be able to sit across from Sarah. Nicolaus and Sarah exchanged smiles during the singing, which infuriated Joseph. After the singing was over, Nicolaus, Sylvain and Eli placed the benches back on their district's spring wagon, which traveled from home to home—wherever the next church service, funeral or wedding would be held. Joseph and a few of his friends came to Nicolaus, distancing him defenselessly off from the rest like a steer being led to the slaughter.

"Come, Beth, let's see what's going on."

"No, Sarah, it's none of our business!" Beth replied, sensing the tension build.

"I'm going," replied Sarah, marching off with her head held high, determined to find out what was going on even though Eli had signaled to her to stay away.

"So, can you tell us, Nicolaus, are you one of us or are you one of them? I have seen you masquerading as both in town. Or have you not decided as of yet?" Joseph asked, his chin set out, and his hat low on his brow in determination for an explanation. Nicolaus remained silent, looking down into Joseph's eyes. "Well perhaps I can make it easier for you. Since your family has disowned you, perhaps we should all do the same, ja? Joseph turned to his friends for support. Nicolaus was crushed; Sarah could see it in his eyes as he scanned the faces of those standing near.

"Come, Nicolaus, these are jealous words!" Sylvain said as he pulled Nicolaus from the crowd and walked him to their car down the lane. "Just jealous words, that's all. Don't pay any mind. Joseph is just a tormented little fellow who is too short for his pride, ya know."

"He's right, Sylvain, I don't fit in. I never have!"

"Ach, you're just feeling sorry for yourself, that's all. Forget it! Let it go, Nicolaus. I have one foot in the English's world and one in ours and Joseph didn't bring that up, why? Because I'm not after the same woman he is, like you are. He is jealous of you, that is all. It has nothing to do with fitting in, so let it be." Sylvain could tell his words were not helping by the pain that shown in his friend's eyes.

~

"You're late, Danny!" mumbled Gene as he tuned his electric guitar. "Tune up and let's get started. We don't have all day! Nicolaus, I have something to show you." Gene ran through a few songs on the electric guitar in a way that Nicolaus had never seen or heard. Nicolaus watched closely as Gene made the guitar sound as if it could sing by itself. After Gene was done, he handed the guitar to Nicolaus, saying, "Try it out."

Nicolaus held it like he had never seen a guitar before, "I don't know how to play an electric one!"

"Just play it like you play your classical guitar; it will let you know if you make a mistake. Okay on three!" Gene counted the rhythm and they began to play, all except Nicolaus, who just stood there looking at the sheet music. "Stop!" Gene called over the bass and drums. Walking over to Nicolaus, he looked at Nicolaus and then at the sheet music. "What's the matter?"

"I'm not sure I'm what you want, I mean... I'm not sure if I can do dis."

"What? You mean the electric guitar? It's not that hard, Nicolaus."

"No... it's da singing! I'm thinking, maybe someone else should be doing that. I mean, I've never heard this song and..."

"Listen, Nicolaus, I've heard you plenty of times. Granted, you need practice, but there is something to your voice that I like. Don't you agree?" Gene turned to the others in the band for an answer. "All I ask is when the band tries out for that gig at The Eagle in three weeks that you don't talk, just sing!"

"What?" cried Nicolaus.

"You two talk like you're from another country, outer space even."

"No, I mean what tryout?" Nicolaus asked.

"The bar on Main Street, you know, it's called The Eagle. Well, it's having open auditions there in three weeks, so let's get practicing."

"But, Gene, I don't know any of these songs," Nicolaus continued to complain.

"Quit being a baby about this. You're what this band needs so let's hear it. NOW!" Gene again tried to go into the count down to start the practice.

"Hey! Aren't you being a little rough?" Sylvain said as he stood up behind his drums.

"Gene's right!" Danny said as he turned to Sylvain. "We need Nicolaus's voice and talent with his guitar, not to mention his good looks! What do you think chicks want? They want a great sounding band that has a good-looking lead singer. Thus a party is birthed, and where there is a party, there is money!"

"The Eagle is willing to pay four hundred dollars a night to the band that wins the tryouts," replied Gene as he sat down at the keyboard. "Are you with us, Nick?"

"Four hundred dollars a night? I'll sing!" replied Nicolaus, strapping on the electric guitar and beginning to tune it like he had done it all his life.

~

May 1971  
Age 16

Practice sessions moved to the music store after closing every night. Night after night they repeated again and again every latest hit on their local rock radio channel. Nicolaus knew them well by the end of the second week of practice. The customers at Betsy's shop were kept amused by the Amish boy who sang modern rock songs in her shop. Betsy was happy for Nicolaus but was a little alarmed at some of the lyrics he would sing day in and day out. Nicolaus reassured her, "They are just words, Auntie! They don't mean anything to me."

A week before tryouts the band practiced the songs for over three hours, but something just didn't seem right. It was eating at Gene. "All right, let's try it again. This time, Nick, put more feeling into it!"

Nicolaus sang the songs again with all the feeling he had, but still Gene wasn't happy. "No, this isn't working! Nick, can't you think of a woman or something when you sing? I mean, you can make your guitar scream and that's cool, but we want the women screaming! Just make like your mic is a woman or something!" Nicolaus looked at Sylvain and hesitated, then looked at Gene as if he wasn't sure what to do.

"Don't tell me... You never... Oh man, he's a virgin!" Gene said as he swung around to Danny.

"That explains everything!" Danny said as he turned away, shaking his head while tuning his bass.

"I can't believe this. How old are you really, Nick?"

"Uh...nineteen?" Nicolaus mumbled, looking down in embarrassment.

"You want to know what I think? I think you're seventeen at the most and I bet you've never even kissed a woman!" Danny said with a smirk.

Nicolaus looked at Sylvain as if to say, "Help!" but Sylvain just sat silently behind his drums, fearing that they would ask him next.

"We are in trouble now. We've got a red-hot band with an ice-cold, underage lead singer. I can deal with the age problem but we're going to need professional help with the other!" Gene said as he seized his phone and took it into the other room.

"Here, Nicolaus, I have an errand for you. I want you to go to this address; it is just three blocks up the street. I need you to give this list of songs to a lady. Her name is Lyn. She knows you're coming. And, Nick, be real nice to her, she's a real lady!" Gene shoved the paper into Nicolaus's hand and showed him to the door as if the conversation they were having concerning his virginity and true age had been forgotten, much to Nicolaus's relief.

Arriving at the address written on the paper, Nicolaus knocked on the door. "Come in," came a woman's voice from inside. Nicolaus entered and stood waiting for the woman to appear. The house was small but quaint. The furnishings were rich with satins and silks in deep blues and dark reds. Colorful overstuffed pillows with flowing tassels lay about, reminding Nicolaus of a gypsy's traveling wagon, and the scent in the room was like an intoxicating spice smell from a faraway land. When Lyn finally entered the room, Nicolaus couldn't believe his eyes. "Miss J?" Nicolaus said, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Nicolaus?" Lyn said just as astonished. "You're the one Gene sent from the band? Look at you, you're all grown up!" she said, holding him at arm's length as if she was not sure of what she was seeing. "I knew you would leave. You were too talented to stay all pent up like you were when you were Amish."

"But, Miss J, I'm still Amish. I haven't left!" answered Nicolaus towering above her, his height almost doubling from the last time she had seen him.

"You're in Gene's band, aren't you? And these certainly are not your plain Amish clothes!" said Lyn, laying her hand over his heart as she spoke.

"Yeah, but I'm still Amish," answered Nicolaus, looking at her hand in a way that let her know it shouldn't be there, and then looking back into her eyes and smiling gently when she removed it.

"Yes... Well, it's good to see you again after all these years. Did Gene have a list for me?"

"Ach, ja, I almost forgot," Nicolaus said as he searched every pocket. "Here it is!"

"Oh yes, tell Gene I can get these for him. Tell him I'll have them by this Wednesday, if he will stop by around 5:00 p.m. And, Nicolaus, it was so good to see you again!"

"Ah... Yeah, you too, Miss J," Nicolaus said, turning as he stepped out her front door.

Lyn wasted no time in getting back on the phone with Gene. "I couldn't, Gene! No... do you understand, Nicolaus was one of my Amish students when I taught at that dreadful one-room schoolhouse. Remember what I went through there? I know, I know... all right, send him back Wednesday. He already knows I'll have it then. Oh, by the way, you made a good choice for your lead singer. I taught him all he knows, but about that boy's voice and good looks, well, those are God given. Oh, one more thing. He's got to come out of that Amish thing if you want him to warm up, if you know what I mean. I can help him, but it's really up to him. I'm not even sure this will work."

Sylvain met Nicolaus at the music store that night. "You'll never guess who the lady was Gene sent me to today!"

"Who?" Sylvain asked, trying not to look interested.

"Miss J. You know, our music teacher," Nicolaus answered with an excited smile.

"Oh really, that's good!" replied Sylvain, with an odd look on his face, almost as if he were questioning Nicolaus.

"Really, Sylvain. It's Miss J. She hasn't changed a bit."

"I believe you, Nicolaus. In fact it's becoming all too clear!"

"What do you mean?" Nicolaus asked, the smile fading to concern.

"Just be careful, Nicolaus, that's all."

* * * * *

Chapter 3

July 1971  
Nicolaus, Age 16  
I'll Be Fine

"Nicolaus, don't you think you'd better get out of your plain clothes to go to practice?" Betsy asked while Nicolaus tried to count the register for his aunt.

"Ach, Auntie, you messed me up; I have to start again."

"No, go on. You'll be late if you stay around here."

"Thanks, Aunt Betsy, Gene wants me to stop at a friend's house to pick up some sheet music. I hope she won't mind my plainclothes. She seemed to think I left the church because I wasn't dressed in them last time I saw her," he said as he grabbed his hat, making sure the door was locked behind him before he headed on foot toward Lyn's house.

The doorbell chimed and a man in his 30s opened it wide and motioned for Nicolaus to enter. The man looked at Nicolaus from head to foot and shook his head in disbelief while he mumbled, "Well, son, you certainly got nerve, coming here like that. Enjoy!"

Nicolaus looked down at his pants and vest, thinking possibly there was something unbuttoned or out of place, but all looked just fine. He watched as the man strolled to his car, which he had parked a few houses down the street. How odd, Nicolaus thought as he questioned the man's behavior.

"Nicolaus, is that you?" Lyn's voice came from the back room.

"Yeah, it's me," Nicolaus called back.

"Make yourself at home. I'll be there in one moment."

Nicolaus sat down on the couch, noticing the sheet music Gene had asked for on the coffee table. He picked out one and started to read it.

"Oh, I see you found them," Lyn said as she stood drying her hair with a large towel, attired in a blue silk bathrobe that clung to her womanly shape like she had been poured into it.

Nicolaus stood, trying not to let her see the shock on his face. "Oh, I'm sure they are just what Gene asked for!"

"Sit!" Lyn commanded in a tone entirely unfamiliar to Nicolaus as she walked to the coffee table, looking down at the music. Nicolaus slowly sat as she came around the table near him to sit facing him. Picking up one of the sheets of music, she pretended to read it.

"How much does Gene owe you for these?" Nicolaus asked, hoping she would let him pay her and be off, never having felt so uncomfortable in his life.

"These?" Lyn asked holding up the sheet music. "The sheet music is not all that expensive; it's the labor that will cost!" Placing the music back on the stack and putting her hand on Nicolaus's knee as she, continued, "But I'm sure you can pay that, too!"

"Ahh... Miss J, just tell me how much I owe so I can pay and be off."

"My name is LYN! And it's going to take some time to completely pay me off, Nicolaus." Now her hands were on the collar of his shirt, and Nicolaus could hear his heart pounding in his head. Each breath seemed to be a labor as if trying to breathe through a thin straw. His palms began to feel moist and he could hardly hear what she was saying. He couldn't believe this was actually happening to him.

"I better go, Miss J!"

"LYN!" she repeated herself sternly.

"Ah... Lyn. Yeah, well, perhaps Gene will come and pay you. I may not have enough..." The memories came flooding back, all the rumors of his favorite teacher being the town prostitute. He had even told Sylvain he didn't believe a word of it. Sylvain! How did he know about Miss J? Nicolaus suddenly thought, taking him for a moment away from the reality of what she was doing and saying to him.

"Relax, Nicolaus, we are old friends, right? I would never do anything to hurt you. You know that, don't you?" Lyn had Nicolaus's black vest unbuttoned and was now unbuttoning his shirt with such accuracy that Nicolaus just watched as if some unseen force held him and from which there was no escape.

Lyn moved in closer. With one hand on his cheek and the other behind his head, she placed her lips to his, gently at first but then harder, just hard enough to part them. She finally moved back, staring into his eyes. She said, "Now, you kiss me just the way I kissed you."

"I don't know how... I never..." She didn't wait for Nicolaus to finish but pressed her lips back over his. Nicolaus was completely under her control and when she moved back to pull away, he held her there to stay. She moved her lips to his strongly solid neck muscles, which caused a throaty moan from him as he tried to breathe out. It was as if he was drugged and couldn't move. He needed her touch, her taste. Even the scent of her invaded his senses.

"I know, it's more than you can stand, isn't it my pet?" Lyn said as she moved his captive body towards her bedroom chambers that were dimly lit by a few scented candles.

~

The morning sun awoke Nicolaus as it beat down on his bare back, coming through Lyn's open bedroom window, and he watched it as it flooded over him and onto Lyn laying next to him. Slowly Lyn opened her slumber-filled eyes and sleepily smiled at her scholar. Nicolaus had a charming smile that made her reach over and kiss him.

"I have to go," he said after he returned her kiss.

"No, I don't want you to," replied Lyn, surprising even herself. Lyn lustfully watched Nicolaus as he dressed, sending her grabbing frantically for her robe when the doorbell rang. "Oh, it's later than I thought," she cried as she ran for the front door.

"Nicolaus, this is Jesse." Lyn introduced the short but well-built gentleman as Nicolaus came into the front room already dressed and ready to leave.

Jesse extended his hand and said cordially, "It's nice to meet you. Are you coming or going? I don't want to interrupt anything!"

"I'm going and it was nice to meet you too," replied Nicolaus warmly.

"I'll see you later at practice, okay?" Lyn said as she opened the door and handed Nicolaus his black Amish hat and the stack of sheet music.

~

"You had a rough night last night at work?" Aunt Betsy asked Nicolaus while he sat next to her at the cash register, waiting for a pair of tourists to make up their minds on what quilt to buy.

"Ja, this night I will never forget!" replied Nicolaus, looking a little drained of energy but happy.

"You didn't meet up with a vampire by chance?" Betsy asked as she moved some of Nicolaus's soft curls to one side, revealing Lyn's territorial markings from the night before. Nicolaus quickly moved his shoulder-length hair back into place and looked down with both hands on his knees as if he were preparing himself for a scolding. "You were with a woman last night, ja?"

Nicolaus looked up at his aunt and nodded shyly that in fact he was. He couldn't lie to her. "Was this your first, or have you had women before?" Betsy asked low and in a nonjudgmental way. She had a gift of getting the information out of one, with her tolerant tones, and then after you had confessed to more than you even were guilty of, she would let you know exactly what your punishment should be.

"My first!" Nicolaus whispered as he looked down and swallowed hard. Betsy placed her hand on Nicolaus's shoulder to aid her in getting up to ring a customer on the register, and nothing more was said about it the rest of the day.

"Well?" Sylvain asked as they got into his car.

"You knew all along, didn't you? Why didn't you say something, warn me? Anything!" Nicolaus said as he hit Sylvain with the bundle of sheet music.

"Hey, you wouldn't have gone, now tell the truth, ja?"

"Yeah, you're right, I wouldn't have gone!"

"But you're glad you went, ja?" Sylvain asked with a frown.

Nicolaus sat back and with a slight smile said, "Ja, I'm real glad I went!" He surprised himself by his absence of guilt. That evening's practice went very well and no one asked about the night before, but by the looks Nicolaus and Lyn were exchanging, Gene knew her mission had been accomplished.

"All right, listen up. Tomorrow we will all meet here to warm up at about 1:00 p.m. before tryouts. We do not want to walk into The Eagle cold. Let's face it, the band needs to look and feel ready, right? Nick and Sylvain, make sure you both have something other than those clothes!"

"What's wrong with these?" Sylvain asked, looking at Nicolaus's English clothes they had picked out before getting the music store job.

"Don't worry, I'll take both of them shopping before tryouts!" Lyn replied, smiling at Nicolaus in a shady way.

"Sounds great! One more thing. I am going to be strict about this one, and that is, both of you need to keep silent! I mean not a word. Let Danny or me answer any questions, especially if your age is asked. Got it? And... from now on, Sylvain, your name is Sol, and Nicolaus, yours is Nick. No more of these old, weird German names! Is that clear?"

~

The day had come that the band had prepared for, but tension built as the four boys practiced. Lyn was there and was giving showman instructions to only Sylvain and Nicolaus, evidence of their lack of experience onstage. "Nick, you've got to move more. You've got the rhythm down on the songs; now feel it in your body. Sol, keep your tongue in your mouth please!"

There were three other bands waiting to try out at The Eagle when Gene's band arrived. Each one was eager to prove that it was the best band for the job. The boys sat down at a round table near the bar. The atmosphere was cavelike, taking Nicolaus back to when he and Sylvain explored the creek regions around their farms during their childhood. The Eagle had the scent of smoke, booze and musky bodies. It was dark and rustic with a hint of the wild side, a place Nicolaus would not normally feel inviting. The stage was elevated at one end of the bar so no matter where a patron stood, they could still see the band. Nicolaus kept his eyes on Lyn, who stylishly made her way boldly up to three men who, for all Nicolaus could tell, were the judges. The lights were dimmed as they would be during a real "trick," as Gene called the three to four 90-minute sessions the band played a night, with an hour rest between each.

One of the bar waitresses made her way to the stage with a paper. With poise, she spoke into the microphone the agenda for the evening's tryouts. "Okay, let's get started," she began as she named off the bands in the order they were to audition, Gene's band being the third. Lyn made her way back to the table with her hand in the hand of the gentleman that Nicolaus met at her home the other night. What was his name? Oh yeah, Jesse, Nicolaus thought.

"Hi, Gene, haven't seen you around The Eagle lately. How's things?" Gene stood and shook Jesse's hand. "I've been around. You keep yourself locked up in your office backstage day in and day out. That's why you haven't seen me! Check out my new band. This is Danny on bass, Sol on drums, and Nick lead guitar, and, Jesse, the boy can sing!"

"Yes, I've met Nick. Good to see you again!" Jesse said as he offered his hand. Nicolaus stood to take a firm handshake, appreciative that Jesse hadn't mentioned the house of ill-repute, nor Nicolaus's Amish clothing he had worn that morning, which made him look larger than life and clearly out of place. Something Jesse may never forget, Nicolaus thought, recalling the images of the last time they met. "Nice to meet all of you!" Jesse said as he turned to Gene. "Lyn tells me these guys are good." Gene shook his head yes, as he straightened his back and adjusted his belt, smiling proudly. "If so, you have the job! But first, you have to prove it!" Jesse continued. "Gene, I need a hot one; my bar is riding on it! So go for it, boys, and good luck to ya!"

Jesse left Lyn there at the table and she sat down next to Gene. "Who was that?" Sylvain asked.

"He's the owner, and the other two big guys next to him are two of the bouncers, Ron and Kenzie."

"And the two girls, who are they?" Sylvain asked as he smiled at them and winked.

"They are the waitresses here at The Eagle. Stay away from the dark-haired one. Her name is Lorie!" Gene replied with a cautionary word of advice.

~

"What's blue's real name?" Lorie asked, nodding toward Gene's band, her eyes glued to Nicolaus.

"His name is Nick... real shy kid," answered one of the bartenders who frequented Gene's Music Store regularly to buy his monthly assortment of drugs from Gene.

"I hear the shy ones are the ones you need to look out for!" replied Lorie, her elbows on the bar supporting her head, staring dreamily at the little group at Gene's table.

"And the one sitting by him?" Karen asked.

"Sol. Not much to look at, but he can sure play the drums!"

"Oh I wouldn't say that. Some girls like tall, slim boys!" Karen said with a smile.

~

"Don't look now, but I think one of the waitresses has taken a fancy to you," Lyn said as she pulled Nicolaus's attention from the band onstage to look at her.

"Why didn't you tell me Jesse was the owner of The Eagle?" Nicolaus asked, paying little attention to Lyn's observation of the waitress.

"You're up, Nicolaus! It's your turn. Remember, the microphone is your girl when you're onstage!" Lyn whispered as she winked.

As Nicolaus climbed the set of steps to the stage and strapped on his guitar, he began to tune it to his liking. He could hear and feel his heart pound in his head so hard that it hurt. He wondered as he looked out at the barroom floor if those out there could hear it pounding too. It was the only sound that filled his head, making him feel it would burst wide open at any moment from the pressure. Gene introduced the band and signaled to Nicolaus to go for it. It was all Nicolaus could do to keep from passing out right there onstage. He never realized doing what he loved the most could be so frightening. Then it hit! It was like nothing he had ever felt before. It was such an intense rush of energy, immersing him deep into the music. As he played and sang, he looked into the spotlights that blinded him from any human in the place. It was just him and his music—just the way he wanted it. By the time the set was over and they started to leave the stage, Nicolaus knew without a doubt in his heart that this is what he was made for. He had found his gift, his comfort zone. Sitting down at their table in complete exhaustion, he brushed back the sweat-soaked curls from his face. Gene leaned over to him and said, "Now that's singing! Jesse will be out of his mind not to hire us!"

The next band got up and started to play, but Nicolaus had to get out. He had to get some fresh air. Leaning into Sylvain he said, "I gotta step out, okay?"

"What's up, Nicolaus?" Sylvain asked. "You want I should go with you?"

"No, I'll be fine. Thanks," Nicolaus replied, and then stepped out the front door and leaned his back against the wall with his eyes closed, still tying to get his breath from the rush of a lifetime, opening them minutes later only to see Lyn standing in front of him with a "I told you so" smile.

"Are you okay?" she asked in a low concerned tone after he did not return a smile.

"Yeah," replied Nicolaus, wiping the back of his arm across his lips to remove the sweat that trickled down his cheek.

"You were good, kid, I think you got the job!"

"You think? You mean you know!"

"What do you mean, Nicolaus?"

"After all, Jesse's one of your clients, isn't he?"

"That's none of your business!" Lyn said as her eyes revealed the wall she had just placed between herself and him.

"It is my business!" Nicolaus said as he walked away.

"Wait a minute, let's get something straight. Just because we had sex, doesn't mean you own me. It's a business, Nicolaus, nothing more."

Nicolaus turned around and with one eyebrow raised as he looked down into Lyn's eyes, "Own you? You mean, you don't own me!"

"What do you mean by that?" Lyn asked, obviously outraged over Nicolaus's change of behavior. Not used to any man, let alone a mere boy, speaking to her with such surety, Lyn's thinking had been that Nicolaus was not capable of anything but a temperament of meekness and a noncombatant behavior. This was a new side to him that she hadn't seen.

"I mean, I would like to think we got this job because of our talents and not yours. If you know what I mean!"

"You spoiled little Amish brat!" Lyn slammed the barroom door as she reentered The Eagle, leaving Nicolaus outside to cool down. Once he had, he returned to the table with Sylvain and the others just in time to catch the last band's finishing song.

"Nicolaus?" Sylvain asked again. Nicolaus just nodded. "The bands are good, ja?"

"Yeah," replied Nicolaus smugly.

"Think we'll get the job?"

"I have no doubt," replied Nicolaus as he looked at Lyn.

"You disturb me, being so sure," Sylvain commented, trying to get Nicolaus out of his foul mood.

"The man we were introduced to, you know, the owner? Well, he's one of Lyn's patrons," Nicolaus whispered in their dialect.

"How do you know? Ach, never mind, don't tell me. So we got the job! Thank Lyn for me, will ya?"

"Thank her yourself. She's not speaking to me!" Nicolaus answered as he nodded to the band that had just stepped down from the stage and stood around Gene's table to bask around their fire of talent.

"All right, I have to say, you all did a real nice job, and it's going to be hard choosing. We will let you know by the end of this week, one way or another!" Jesse announced.

The bands made their way out of the bar, telling each other how well the other did while Jesse pulled Gene to one side and said low so no one could hear their conversation, "Gene, I'll tell you right now, I made my decision already. I think your boys are what The Eagle needs, don't you?"

"Well yeah, sure!" Gene answered with a wide smile.

"Get your boys back in here so we can sign the papers tonight!" Jesse ordered as he signaled to Lorie and Karen to set up a round of drinks. Danny, Nicolaus, and Sylvain were still speaking to some of the other band members when Gene ordered them back inside.

"I just informed Gene that you boys have been chosen for the job here at The Eagle. The pay is one hundred for each of you, three nights a week. What do you say? Do you want it?" Jesse announced, his hands planted firmly on his hips.

"You got yourself a band!" Sylvain cried out, looking over at Nicolaus, who was looking down at the floor of the bar with his arms crossed in front of his chest, his face with no expression.

"Gene told me that you two are just 19, right?" Jesse asked looking at Nicolaus and Sylvain.

"Uha... Yeah, but we are old enough to work!" Sylvain answered for the both of them.

"Okay, I'll warn the both of you right now, if I catch you drinking or getting high here at The Eagle, I'll let you go, no questions asked. Got that? That goes for all of you. If the police have to be called because of something you started or become involved in, you're out! If you're so messed up that you can't do your gigs, I'll dock you for two weeks pay. I will not be your babysitter but my bouncers might, and trust me, you don't want these boys to do anything of the sort! You're to be here every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night four o'clock to closing, which usually is around two in the morning, depending on the mess that night brings in. Are there any questions?" Jesse paused and looked from one band member to the other. "Good! Let's sign the contracts."

Gene and Danny signed, but when Nicolaus was handed the pen, he looked up at Sylvain and said in their Amish dialect, "We can't sign contracts, can we?" Being Amish, they both knew they had to strictly adhere to the rules of not pledging their allegiance to anything but God.

"Are you crazy... just sign it!" Sylvain whispered back, smiling as he nodded at Jesse in an assuring way and then bending down to get eye to eye with Nicolaus, giving him a stern glare.

After the papers were signed, Jesse raised his beer mug up in a toast, "To the Eagle!" Nicolaus and Sylvain just stood there and watched.

"What?" Jesse asked, his mug suspended up above his head, the froth threatening to drip over onto the top of his head.

"You said we weren't to drink," answered Nicolaus.

"Don't be silly... well, you're right, but this is different. I'll let you just this once." Jesse then turned to Gene and mumbled, "How in the world did you get hooked up with Amish kids!"

"They're good, aren't they?" replied Gene in a whisper, his mug also suspended in waiting too.

"To the Eagle!" bellowed Jesse.

"To the Eagle!" the others repeated as they all clinked their mugs together and drank up. The beer was the worst thing Nicolaus had ever tasted, and as fast as the liquid slid down his throat the more urgent the gag reaction became. Beer blasted out his mouth and nose while Sylvain laughed, both doubling over in fits of laughter, spraying beer as they coughed and gasped.

"Okay, obviously we won't have to worry about these two getting out of hand with the booze for a while. They can't even swallow it now!" commented Jesse, his amusement surpassing the others, being caught up in the contagiousness of the young Amish boys' laughter.

As the celebration started to come to an end, Jesse pulled Nicolaus to one side and said, "Nick, Lyn mentioned that you suspected your band got the job because of her!" Nicolaus said nothing. He knew not to confess to an accuser for fear he or she may use what is confirmed in a way that was not intended. "I think you owe the lady an apology! She said you were good, that's all. You see, Lyn is a close friend, and our friendship has nothing to do with her profession! I chose your band because it has the look and sound I need to bring in the women, and where the women are, the men are not far behind."

Nicolaus thought about what he'd said to Lyn and asked Gene to drop him off at her home. "You want us to wait?" Gene asked as he turned to look at Nicolaus in the back of his car.

"No, I'll walk back to da shop, thanks," replied Nicolaus as he got out of the car. He stood for a while looking up and down Lyn's street to make sure she didn't have customers this evening. At the front door, he knocked and prayed that she would allow him to apologize. She opened the door just enough for the two to see each other but not much more.

"What do you want? I'm working, Nicolaus!" she snapped bluntly.

Nicolaus placed his hand inside the frame of the door so she couldn't close it, but also gave her space as to not intrude where she didn't want him to be. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I feel terrible about what I said and I..."

"So you said you were sorry. Now GO!" Lyn said as she slammed the door. Lyn heard the awful cracking sound as the door bounced immediately back into her face as hard as she closed it.

"Ahhheeh!" Nicolaus turned and leaned beside the doorway, holding his right hand in agony. "Ach, Lyn!" he moaned.

"Oh, Nicolaus, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... Oh no, don't you pass out on me!" Lyn said as she tried to stop Nicolaus from slowly sliding down the wall, face pale, and his eyes glossed over. Lyn slapped him hard across the cheek and pulled him into her house, where she had him sit on the couch while she ran for a bowl of ice water, all the while commanding insistently for him not to pass out. She forced his hand into the bowl of ice cubes and placed a cool wet cloth on his forehead as she reached for the phone.

"You know you didn't have to hit me!" came a calm, even-toned voice from beneath the cloth as he laid his head back against the couch. The pain from the crushing of his fingers was not as bad as the time it took to numb them with ice.

"Shut up! This looks bad, Nicolaus," she said as she looked closer at his fingers while she waited on the phone. "Ah... Yes, this is Lyn Johnson. Could I speak to Doc Petershein?"

Lyn described the injury to the person on the phone and obediently agreed to bring Nicolaus into the office for an after-hours appointment.

"You can cuss if you need to. I know you're in severe pain, Nicolaus." Nicolaus kept his face turned towards the night's scenery that was as black as the bowels of a deep cave. There were only the silhouettes of farmhouses and barns taking queer shapes against the splinter of a moon that hung at an angle, causing the perspective of the earth's objects to look twisted and distorted with surrealistic shadows.

"Nicolaus, do you remember the day Old Mattie broke the hickory stick over your hands?" Nicolaus didn't answer. "Well, I'll never forget it! I'll never forget the look on your face and that you didn't make a sound. You just took it. Any other kid your age would have knocked her on her ass!" Nicolaus looked at her and smiled sadly, and then looked back through his window in silence while he held the ice bag across his hand.

Soon they arrived at a large well-kept two-story house that had an office that jutted off from its main building. The house was a little creepy with all the gables and arches and black wrought iron ornamental features that go with spookiness. It reminded Nicolaus of a house in a scary movie Sylvain and he went to watch during one of their earlier years of stealing away into town, dressing up as if they were a couple of the local English kids on a Saturday night.

Lyn helped Nicolaus out of the car, and with one hand on his back she all but pushed him along toward the front door of the office. "You'll like the doctor. He's a little on the strange side but aren't we all?"

"Lyn, my dear, what do you have for me? Ach, your friend looks a little on the pale side. You say it's his hand? How did it happen?" The doctor took Nicolaus's hand before they even entered the office door.

"I closed his fingers in my front door and I think they're broken," replied Lyn straining to see over the doctor's shoulder.

"What's your name, son?" Dr. Petershein asked looking up at Nicolaus.

"Nicolaus!" he said as he tried not to look the doctor over, but it was too tempting. The doctor wore a long white lab coat that had the letters "LP" embroidered above the chest pocket in a blue thread. His hair and beard were long and white with age, and his kind eyes continually smiled a fatherly smile.

"Nicolaus what?" the doctor asked as he went to the office and started turning on all the lights. "Zook," replied Nicolaus sharply.

"Uh huh, Amish, ja?" the doctor asked but didn't expect an answer.

"How did you know that?" Lyn asked, astonished at his correct assessment.

"I could tell by his fingers. You're in pain aren't you, boy? Here, first we'll get you out of your misery so I can take some x-rays." The doctor filled a syringe half full and eased it beneath the skin of Nicolaus's hand in various locations with what felt like fire at first, but soon after turned into a sensation of a bloated balloon, which Nicolaus gratefully preferred over the throbbing pain. The doctor also handed him a small white pill with a paper cup of water. "Drink this, too. It will make you feel much better. You're not driving, are you?"

"No, Lyn is driving," replied Nicolaus as he downed the pill and water. The room didn't look like any of the doctors' offices his mother had taken him to while he was young. This one looked more like a museum, a spooky museum at that. Jars of what looked like body parts were arranged haphazardly throughout the room in various sizes and shapes. The office smelled strongly of chemicals and rubbing alcohol; the examining table made of stainless steel had drain ridges down each side of it that came to an open recessed pipe in the floor below it. Nicolaus slid down off the examining table, trying his best to focus on a large jar that sat next to him on a table. Its contents looked to him like a human index finger floating in a jelly-like substance, suspended comically as if pointing at him in blame. The drug that Dr. Petershein administered was strong indeed, he thought, as he tried his best to focus on other jars that looked like eyeballs with long blue and red veins streaming from them and a nose in another jar...before he felt the cold cement floor on his cheek. The room from the floor's perspective was even more distorted; he smiled, finding it amusing that he didn't think it was peculiarly odd that he was lying on the ground.

"I'm going to give him more pain pills to take at home after I set his bones, so do you have somewhere he can go until he sleeps it off?" the doctor asked as he returned to the waiting room after a few minutes. "Obviously this boy isn't used to pain pills," he said as he turned to face Lyn.

"So they are broken?" cried Lyn, standing and putting the research magazine back down on the chair, unaware that Nicolaus had passed out and had to be hoisted physically into a chair by the doctor.

"I'm sorry to say they are, but they should heal nicely in a couple of weeks."

"Doc, Nick is an entertainer; he plays lead guitar in a band. Is there any way..."

"I'll see what I can do, sweetie," the doctor said as he patted her reassuringly on her shoulder in a fatherly manner. An hour later, Nicolaus was being helped out by the kind doctor, his right hand in a cast from his three end fingers to past his wrist. Only his index finger and thumb were free from the plaster encasing, and by the looks of him, he was feeling no pain. "Take him home, but I want to see him in three weeks," the doctor commanded as he helped Lyn put Nicolaus into the passenger seat of her car.

"Doc, tell me, how did you know he was Amish just by his fingers?"

"My dear, an Amish boy is raised not to ever show pain. I should know, I was raised Amish too! Plus, his hands are much too callused for a normal kid his age. It's just those little observations we doctors normally make. Here are some more pain pills. Oh yes, and the name Zook is notably an Amish name," he said as he handed Lyn a small white envelope. "If he's going to play the guitar all night, he'll need them. His speech might be a little slurred but he won't be in pain, that's for sure!"

Nicolaus laid his head back against the car seat as Lyn drove home. Time stood still as she drove down the country lanes. The darkness made it feel as if they were not moving at all, but for the vibration of her small sports car and the occasional bumps to prove that they were. Once at home, she helped the drug-stunned boy to her bed. Falling into it, Nicolaus allowed her to pull off what clothes she could from his limp body. He slept quietly through the night with only an occasional tossing and turning mixed with a moan now and again.

"What time is it?" Nicolaus asked as he tried to open his eyes but fell back asleep before Lyn could answer. She started to tiptoe out, looking back to see him cradle his encased hand with the other, holding it close to his chest as if he was in pain again.

"Nicolaus, are you awake?" Lyn asked.

"Yeah, I am now," replied Nicolaus, rolling over to one side still, cradling his hand.

"You can have another pain pill. Do you want one?" Lyn asked, unsure if Nicolaus would request another dose from what Dr. Petershein had told her.

"That would be gut," he replied, his voice cracking from the long sleep. "What time is it?" he repeated.

"It's ten o'clock in the morning. Do you feel like eating?"

"No, I have to get to my aunt's shop. I was supposed to be there an hour ago. Did you say 10 a.m.?" Nicolaus asked again as he got out of bed and started to put on his clothes, his eyes still hardly open and his mind jumbled up in a daze of confusion.

"Need some help?" asked Lyn, trying not to laugh at the way Nicolaus frustratingly buttoned his shirt with his left hand.

"Ach, Lehrerin, bitete helfen, nicht hindern!" Lyn laughed again not knowing what he had said but knowing he had said it in good humor, for the drowsy smile on his face was as charming as the beauty of his dialect. "Teacher, please help, not hinder." He repeated himself in English for her benefit.

"All right, I'll take you to your aunt's. You're in no shape to walk. Here's a pill; the doc said to take one every six hours," Lyn said all but forcing it into Nicolaus's mouth. "Sit here on the couch while I get ready." As Nicolaus waited, he could feel the effect of the pain pill kick in. His eyelids grew heavier by the minute while his arms felt as if he was being held down against the back of the sofa. Not caring to free himself, Nicolaus sank deeper and deeper into a state of incoherent bliss. He heard a voice speak from what seemed like a long narrow hose but could not quite understand what the person was saying, nor did he care.

"Nicolaus, wake up! You can't sleep here. I have a client in half an hour! Come on, Nicolaus." Lyn pulled, slapped, and tickled him, but Nicolaus was out cold.

Giving up, Lyn looked down at his young face and thought how masculine but innocent he looked, how his slight overbite made his full lips pout, his strong cheek bones with their natural glow of health. Perhaps it was her instinct to do everything she could to protect the boy, or was it the difference in his upbringing that made her feel his need for her? It was a need for her friendship, her talent, her wisdom and not just her body, as she was so accustomed to. And perhaps for that reason alone she placed the call while he slept, accepting the lucrative music offer that she had been skirting in New York for over three weeks now. For so long she had thought she had to prove herself in ways that were not asked of her. She now knew that it was not necessary to prove anything but just to accept her God-given talents in business and love of music.

The smell of coffee and toast permeated the morning's air. Still drowsy from his drug-induced sleep, Nicolaus slowly opened his eyes. "Don't tell me, I fell asleep again?" Nicolaus asked as he sat up, running his fingers through his hair.

"Just a little nap!" replied Lyn, pouring coffee into a mug on the coffee table next to him.

"I better go, Lyn. I really can't eat. Betsy's going to be furious with me."

"Nick, sit down and relax. Believe me, you have time to eat!"

"But Wednesdays are always so busy for my aunt. We get at least six tour buses on Wednesdays," he said as he leaned his head back against the couch as if he thought to doze off again.

"Nick, it's Thursday, dear! Now sit and eat!"

"It can't be! Are you sure?" cried Nicolaus sitting up.

"Trust me! Betsy's shop got through Wednesday just fine. I didn't hear anything on the news and the National Guard hasn't been called out, so sit and eat."

~

"I'm so sorry about your hand, Nick. I hope your opening night tonight will go all right at The Eagle," Lyn said as they sat in her car in front of Betsy's shop.

"Ach, I'll be fine, that is if I don't take Doc's poison again before now and five o'clock tonight. I'll be able to play. Look, the swelling's gone down... a little. I can still play, wait and see," Nicolaus said, hoping she would be there to watch. He had a sick feeling she wouldn't. Looking from her eyes to her lips, he had an overwhelming urge to kiss her and tell her how much she made him feel comfortable just being with her. Lyn reached over and pulled his head down so that her lips met his forehead.

"There! That's a good luck kiss. Now off with you, and don't be late tonight!"

"Are you going to be there?" Nicolaus asked as he turned to look into the car after closing the car door behind him.

"You bet! I have to make sure those girls fall all over themselves for you." Nicolaus just smiled and waved her off as if to say "Whatever."

Once inside, Nicolaus closed the door and started for the restroom to put on his plain clothes to start work at Betsy's.

"Nicolaus!" came a familiar voice. Sitting at the corner kitchen table with Aunt Betsy was his sister Edna and Esther, his mother. He knew that they must have been watching as Lyn's car drove up and let him out.

"Momma, Edna, Betsy!" Nicolaus said, nodding to each one of them as he said their names.

"What happened to your hand, son?" Esther asked, pulling her son close to her by his cast.

"I caught my fingers in a door. I'm okay."

"Are they broken?" asked Edna waiting her turn to inspect her brother's hand.

"Yeah, but it's not bad. Just three weeks in a cast, that's all."

"Es tut weh?" asked Esther, allowing Edna now to examine Nicolaus's hand. They had been separated, Nicolaus shunned by his father for over a year, and she longed to care for her little brother as she had in the past. Just to touch him was a special blessing. Just to hear him speak was a delight. Edna looked up at him with sympathetic concern.

"Es tut bight sehr weh. The doctor gave me some pills for the pain."

"Betsy says you spend nights with that woman from town. Is it true?" Esther asked looking into Nicolaus's eyes. Nicolaus looked back at his mother. The anger began to stir within him. All he could think about was the hurt and loneliness he had felt over the past year.

"It has taken you a year to come ask me where and with whom I spend my nights?" Nicolaus said with his hand still in Edna's as he turned his head away and looked out the kitchen window, and then back to his mother's eyes as if giving her the baton to carry for a while.

"Nicolaus, such disrespect!" Betsy said in horror.

"This is between my mother and me, Aunt Betsy. Please, I need to know why you haven't come to me with the questions that are on your heart before now?" Nicolaus wasn't sure if it was the pent-up anger or the pain medication that caused him to be so direct, but he knew he couldn't allow his mother to think that he wouldn't have changed after a year with no communication from his family or their community.

He even quit attending Sunday meetings because of the tension it caused between him and his father.

Then in a sigh Nicolaus looked down and said in a low defeated tone, "Lyn is my friend."

"She is a whore, dear boy," replied Betsy in a phony tone that oozed with sweetness.

"She is my friend!" repeated Nicolaus, fighting back the emotions that were rumbling deep within him, ready at any moment to erupt into a verbal lava flow of violent resentful words. "There, I told you what you came here to know. Now answer my question," he said turning back to his mother.

"I do not have an answer for you, Nicolaus, I... I just came here to ask Betsy if she has seen or heard from Israel."

"Israel?" Nicolaus asked.

"He left the farm a month ago with no word where he was going. He hasn't come to see you, has he?" Esther asked.

"No, why did he leave?" Nicolaus said as he finally took his cast from his sister's hands.

"It was a misunderstanding between him and Datt," Edna said.

"No? Really now!" Nicolaus intoned.

"Nicolaus, this time I'm warning you! The crowd you're running with is rubbing off on you!" Betsy hissed.

Nicolaus turned to go without saying good-bye, but Edna caught him by his arm and held him there for a moment. As they looked into each other's eyes Nicolaus melted. The tears trickled at first, and then streamed down his cheeks.

"Where can I find you, Nicolaus?" she asked softly.

"At the music store," said Nicolaus, his head bent in shame at the tears.

"I'll come to see you," said Edna as she held tight to his sleeve.

"Nicolaus, if you see Israel, please tell him that Datt is sorry and will talk to him," Esther called out as Nicolaus opened the kitchen door to leave without hugs or good-byes.

~

As he walked to the bar, he came upon an alley just two blocks from The Eagle where he sat himself down and cried. The tears came as easily as the thoughts and questions that flooded his mind. He could not understand the coldness his mother showed; how he wished she had taken him in her arms and told him that she loved him. Just that alone would have been worth the year of loneliness that he had been dealt. The sun was setting by the time Nicolaus dried his tears and started toward The Eagle again feeling helplessly alone.

"Where have you been, Nicolaus? We have been searching all over town for you. Man... what happened to your hand?" Gene frantically asked.

"I can play, don't worry!" Nicolaus picked up his guitar and played just using his thumb and index finger but wondered how long he could continue to stand the pain. Just then, Jesse entered the backstage lounge.

"Lyn phoned me about what happened; are you sure you can play, son?"

"It would have been nice of her to phone me, too. We were worried sick," said Gene with a look that could kill.

Jesse pulled Nicolaus to one side of the stage and asked him again, "Do you think you can play?"

"Yeah, I'm sure I can. If I have any trouble, I will let you know. The doctor gave me some pain pills; if all else fails, I'll just take one."

"You look like you're already on them now. What's up with your eyes?" Jesse asked, looking up into Nicolaus's face; his eyes were still red and a little swollen from crying.

"I... I'll be okay, I'll just go wash my face," said Nicolaus, and he headed for the backstage restroom.

"Okay, listen up, after you tune and we get a sound check, I want you backstage in the lounge. The only times I want to see you out on the floor are during the last two breaks. I want you all to come out and mingle with the patrons."

Gene and Danny lit up a joint and offered it to Sylvain who, to Nicolaus's surprise, took a hit from it, sucking it down like he'd been smoking marijuana for years. "You've smoked pot before?" asked Nicolaus in their dialect.

"Yeah," Sylvain answered choking to keep the inhaled portion in as long as he could, letting it out in a series of coughs that sounded like it hurt. "How do you think I've been playing all these weeks?" Sylvain said, as he offered Nicolaus the joint.

"I'll pass! You've been high all this time we've been practicing?"

"Yeah, you sure you don't want zum? It will help your music, maybe even help the pain in your hand."

Nicolaus again refused.

"Do you suppose my parents will get in trouble if the cops find all the plants I've been raising in the woods?"

"Sylvain! You're joking right?" cried Nicolaus, half laughing.

"I'm serious. Do you think they'll get in trouble? Man, I hate it when I get paranoid. I always get paranoid. This stuff does it to me every time. But really, Nicolaus, do you think they'll get into trouble? I don't want them to get into trouble." Nicolaus walked away shaking his head as Sylvain pondered the issue without a sound.

"Showtime, boys!" Jesse called out from the backstage door. As they filed past him, he pulled Nicolaus to one side and said, "The Eagle's packed tonight, Nick. I've put all my money on you, son."

Nicolaus nodded, lost in thought as he climbed the six stairs onto the stage and looked out at the dimly lit, smoke-filled bar and dance floor. What am I doing here? I don't belong here. What if this faceless crowd doesn't like my singing; wonder if I forget the words. Damn! Shut up! Don't think, just play your music and don't think!

Gene introduced each of the band members except Nicolaus and signaled to Sylvain to start the count for the first song. He then looked at Nicolaus and nodded as if asking him if he were ready. Nicolaus nodded back signaling he was. After all, he had no choice now. He was up onstage, and the guitar was in his hands. Letting the music take him into a safe location, Nicolaus was no longer nervous. He let the music fill his entire atmosphere so that he was no longer in any need of love or acceptance from anyone. He lost himself in the words and melodies of the song as faces became blurred, giving himself over to his music only. It was now his only love, his safety net. When the song was over, he suddenly felt as if he would pass out, being overwhelmed by a concentrated awareness of those who were looking up at him and cheering.

"Nick Zook!" Gene said over the whistling and clapping from the patrons. Gene started to laugh at the crowd's reaction to Nick and the band. "And he's single!" Gene yelled in the microphone and pointed to Nick again, which made the rowdy female patrons shout and whistle all the more.

Nicolaus walked over to Gene onstage and said low enough for only Gene to hear, "Gene, please, start the next song or you'll have to pick me up from the stage floor. I'm all right when I'm playing, but between songs it's all I can do not to pass out!"

"Gotcha!" replied Gene and nodded to Sylvain to start the countdown to the next song.

"Was I right?" asked Lyn as she sat with Jesse at a table near the backstage door.

"You hit the nail on the head this time!" said Jesse with a satisfied smile.

"He has something doesn't he? I mean, put aside his good looks; he has real talent. He writes songs too, did I tell you? You should have seen some of the songs he wrote three years ago when I taught him in school."

"I do believe he could go far, but for now—he's mine!" said Jesse.

The first and second sets went great and the backstage lounge was cozy and safe from the screaming crowd, but when the third break came, Nicolaus felt an overwhelming fear rising up like a swelling tide, knowing that he was to go out on the floor and mingle. He wasn't used to a lot of people around him, and especially a lot of people he didn't know.

"Sylvain, do we really have to go out there?" Nicolaus asked, pulling Sylvain to one side. Sylvain could see the fear in Nicolaus's eyes.

"Hey, buddy, it won't be so bad. I'm actually looking forward to it! Did you see all those girls?" he said, elated at the thought to be able to meet so many in one night.

"My hand is really hurting. Maybe I should stay back here," Nicolaus said as he sat down on one of the overstuffed chairs provided backstage. He felt suddenly besieged by it all.

"Where's the golden boy?" asked Lorie, as she balanced a tray full of drinks resting on one hand and shoulder as if it were another appendage.

"Golden Boy?" repeated Sylvain, too high to put two and two together as he entered the crowded smoke-filled barroom.

"You know, your shy friend. What's his name...?"

"Ach, Nicolaus... I mean, Nick. Oh, he's shy all right. He's in the back bellyaching about his hand hurting. Fact is, he's scared to come out here."

"Really?" Lorie said as if she was interested in this fact. "So, he really is shy."

"Umm... scared!" Sylvain corrected.

"Maybe I can help him," Lorie said, as she distributed the drinks deftly and then went to Gene to let him know she was taking her break.

"Nick?" asked Lorie looking down at Nicolaus who was reading a magazine in the band's lounge.

"Yeah?" said Nicolaus, looking at her curiously.

"Hi, I'm Lorie." She waited a moment for a reaction but there was none. "I work here! I'm one of the waitresses."

"Ach, yeah, I remember. Good to meet you." Nicolaus stood and offered his good hand, shaking hers awkwardly. Lorie sat down with him, asking if he would mind if she introduced him to some of her friends out on the floor. He reluctantly agreed to go, and as they left his safe cocoon and entered the land of the living dead, he smiled warmly to all she introduced him to, but inside all he wanted to do was run. "See, it's not so bad, is it?" asked Lorie while they sat at the bar for a soft drink.

"It's the crowd," Nicolaus said as he sat staring at his drink and fingering it as if it was hot to the touch. "I don't like a lot of people around me. I know it sounds strange, but I feel like I have to start running when I'm surrounded by people," he said looking at her as if he wanted her to reply.

"Well then, I'd say you've got yourself in the wrong profession, Nick! I cannot tell you how many men would give everything to be sought after by so many women in one place. Look around. You have the pick of the litter every night the band plays."

Nicolaus, feeling very uncomfortable by this time, looked back down at his drink, realizing Lorie had no clue as to how he felt. Just then, a group of women stepped up to the bar and asked him for his autograph. "What do they want?" Nicolaus turned to Lorie and asked.

She smiled and said, "They want you to sign your name on their Eagle shirts or whatever else they might bring to you. Where have you been, boy?" Lorie asked jokingly, her face showing a frown and a smile at the same time, which made Nicolaus laugh to himself, first at her, then at the women who stood next to him waiting for his reply.

"I'm sorry, what do you want me to write?" Nicolaus asked, as he took the permanent black marker from the woman who looked most urgently in need of his name.

"Just write, 'To my true love—Sandy!'"

Nicolaus looked up at the woman from his bar chair and asked, "Are you Sandy?"

"Oh my, you're more handsome up close than on the stage. Isn't he?" the woman said, turning to her friends.

"Sign right here!" the woman commanded with a wink as she pointed to a place just above one of her large breasts. Nicolaus turned a deep shade of scarlet and was instantly grateful for the darkened bar. He started to write, but flinched a couple of times.

Lorie pulled the woman's T-shirt out away from her body to make the autograph signing easier, which the women found oddly funny, thinking his awkwardness was endearing.

"I'm sorry, I think I better get backstage. I'm sorry," Nicolaus repeated himself as he stood and retreated nervously in the direction of the stage.

"Are you okay, Nick?" asked Jesse, stopping Nicolaus as he flew past him with a look of pure panic on his face.

"I'm sorry, Jesse, I can't do this," he said, as he tore Jesse's hand from his arm.

"Do what?" asked Jesse, following Nicolaus into the backstage lounge.

"Talk to the people. I can't do it!" Nicolaus repeated as he stopped in front of the couch where Danny was making out with one of the patrons, coming up for air just long enough to see what was going on.

Turning to Jesse, Nicolaus then asked, "Can't I just stay back here with Danny? Do I have to go out there on my last break?"

Jesse, seeing how upset Nicolaus was with the whole idea said, "Okay, sit down and relax. Let's take it slow okay? Now what's the problem? Are the patrons being too pushy or what? What seems to be the problem, Nick?"

"It's people, Jesse, too many of them," said Nicolaus as he folded his arm, cast and all, across his chest as if making a stand against going out on the floor again.

Jesse sat there for a moment, trying to put it all together. "Well, perhaps it's too soon. I just thought you would like to go out to meet your fans."

"No," Nicolaus said emphatically. "I just want to do my music, Jesse!"

Jesse waited a few more moments before answering Nicolaus. By this time, the band had reappeared and surrounded the two. "Nicolaus, you're going to have to get over this shyness. I understand that you are not used to this affection from a lot of people, but I need you, no wait, I hired you to bring in the 'people' and I expect you to treat them like you at least like them. Have I made myself clear?" Jesse said, as he placed his hand on Nicolaus's shoulder in a firm, telling, grip. "Gene, handle this, I gotta get back to the bar!" he called, as he got up, frowning at Gene.

"You may have sent me a talented young singer and musician, but Prince Charming he is not!" Jesse said to Lyn as he interrupted her conversation with a patron.

"What are you talking about?" asked Lyn, sensing Jesse's frustration and pulling him off to one side so that they could speak in private.

"He's afraid of people!" Lorie said, as she joined the two. "I took him around to meet some of my friends and he just smiled and nodded at them. He's so uptight he couldn't even say anything to them!"

"Well, how would you feel if you were brought up Amish and suddenly thrown into a den of snakes like he was tonight?" said Lyn in Lorie's face with contempt to her tone.

"Amish!" cried Lorie. "Damn!"

"Listen, no one needs to know about Nick being Amish," Jesse said, his palms toward the two women waving them frantically back and forth as if he was trying to slow a horse down.

"What are we going to do? The women will think he's stuck up and cross him and The Eagle off their list so fast..." exclaimed Lorie.

"Don't worry, I'll work with him," Lyn said as she started to walk toward the backstage door like a woman on a mission.

The last set went off just fine, and after closing Nicolaus and the band helped the bartenders and waitresses clean up. "So, other than the meet-and-greet hour, how did you like being a rock star here in our little town?" Lorie asked innocently.

"It was okay," said Nicolaus, not quite convincing himself.

"Why don't you and Sol come to our house for an after-hours party? You can meet some of the groupies."

"Groupies?" asked Nicolaus with a tired smile.

"You know, girls that want to be anywhere the band is!"

"Do they all live at your house?" asked Nicolaus as he took the bag of trash from Lorie's hands.

"Don't be silly, Nick. Karen's the only other person who lives with me."

"I'll pass tonight. My hand is hurting something fierce and I need some rest. Maybe some other time."

"Well," she said, "the invitation is always open and there's a party most every night."

"Thanks," Nicolaus said as he admired her. She was pretty. Shiny hair like strands of silk moved with her body as she worked, coming to rest at the middle of her nicely formed butt. He looked at her face as she stood from bending to retrieve another bag of garbage. Her eyes were the darkest brown he had ever seen; in fact, they were closer to black, the pupil and iris almost indistinguishable. Her body had a great shape to it but she was shorter than he would have preferred, he being taller than most.

~

June 1972  
Age 17

"Nick!" Nicolaus looked up from the chore of stringing his guitar, the D string having snapped on his last set.

"Hi, Lorie," he said with a smile, his hair still dripping sweat on the shoulders of his black Eagles T-shirt.

"There's a man in a uniform asking to see you. He says he's your brother. He doesn't look much like you. Should I get rid of him?" asked Lorie, her body halfway inside the backstage lounge door with a tray of drinks still suspended on one hand and shoulder.

Nicolaus was now aware that some of his fans were willing to make up stories to the waitresses just to get backstage to see him and the rest of the band. With a suspicious grin he asked, "In a uniform? What kind of uniform?"

"Army, I think."

"Yeah well, you can send that one on his merry way!" Nicolaus said, being brought up in an Amish household completely anti-military, positive that the imposter was no brother of his. Then a voice inside him screamed Israel's name. The cynical smile immediately melted from his face as he stood up.

"Are you okay?" asked Lorie. Nicolaus looked into Lorie's eyes as if searching for an answer.

"Did you say he doesn't look anything like me?"

"Yes, why?"

"Ask him to come backstage!" Nicolaus snapped.

"Whatever you say, boss!" Lorie said, shaking her head.

Sylvain looked at Nicolaus and asked, "You think it's him?"

"We'll see soon enough, won't we!" said Nicolaus, not even wondering why Sylvain knew what he was already thinking.

"Israel?" cried Nicolaus and Sylvain at the same time.

"Private Israel Zook, Sir!" he said as he stood at attention and saluted in a robotic manner.

"I don't believe this!" said Sylvain, coming to stand next to Nicolaus, whose eyes were as big as the buttons on Israel's army jacket.

"It is good to see you, though I have to ask if this is a joke," Nicolaus said as he embraced his brother. Israel relaxed from his military posture and returned the embrace. "How long have you been here?" he said, releasing Israel to stand face to face with him.

"No, Nicolaus, it's not a joke. I'm in the army. What do you think?" Israel backed up a few steps and made a turn with his arms out so that Sylvain and Nicolaus could get a good look at him.

"Have you lost your mind?" Sylvain asked, his hand on Nicolaus's shoulder more to keep himself from falling over in shock than in comfort for Nicolaus.

"I'm as crazy as you two are! You're doing your thing—well, so am I."

"But Israel, what about Datt and the family?" asked Nicolaus, as he touched the insignia on Israel's uniform.

"They don't need to know. They don't know what you do—do they?"

"They don't care what Nicolaus does!" said Sylvain with a shrug.

Both brothers turned to Sylvain and glared at him until he had been shamed into saying that he was sorry.

"How long have you been here?" Nicolaus asked again.

"I just got in from boot camp. I've been watching your act all night. You know you are real hard to get to talk to! Anyway, I'm leaving in the morning for my assignment."

"Where is that?" asked Nicolaus, leading his brother to the couch in the band's lounge and offering him a seat.

"Where else? Vietnam!"

"I thought we were being pulled out of that mess?" Sylvain asked as he sat down next to Israel.

"Israel, are you sure this is what you want?" Nicolaus asked, waiting for a reply but never getting one.

"Showtime, boys, let's go!" cried Gene taking a last deep hit off a joint and passing it to Danny.

"You're staying, aren't you?" asked Nicolaus just as Lyn walked up.

"Hi, Nick," she said as she gave him a hug. "Israel? Is that you? Look at you! I cannot believe this. The last time I saw you, you had on Amish garb, and now you are in an U.S. Army uniform. What's up with this? Can't you make up your mind? I mean, which is it, big guy?" Lyn asked, moving all attention from Nicolaus to Israel.

"You know each other?" asked Nicolaus.

"Hi, Lyn, it's been a while but you haven't changed," Israel said, as he gave her a hug and tweaked her nose as if he had captured it in his hand to keep.

"So, you have met!" cried Nicolaus in pure shock.

"Oh yes, Israel here is an old friend, aren't you?" Israel looked down, his face turning two shades of red. Sylvain walked backwards trying to slither quietly out of the conversation unnoticed.

"So how well do you know my brother?" Nicolaus asked Lyn, but his eyes never left Israel's.

"Your brother? Israel, you never told me Nicolaus was your brother!" Lyn exclaimed.

"As I remember, the subject never came up, Lyn," Israel said sheepishly.

"Nick, you're on NOW!" Get on the stage!" Gene cried from the stage door, holding it open for Nicolaus, Sylvain already behind his drums.

"Stay with Lyn, I'll be done in an hour," Nicolaus said as he shot Lynn a querulous look.

Lorie always had a clean towel handy for him backstage; the sweat usually dripped from his face and hair, making him look like he had just jumped out of a shower, but after this set Lori threw one at him as he made his way to Lyn and Israel's table.

"Nick, I hope you don't mind but I asked Israel to stay with me tonight. I told him I'd take him to the train station in the morning."

"Thanks, Lyn," said Nicolaus, watching his brother dance with one of Lorie's friends. "I didn't know he could dance!" Nicolaus said, gawking at Israel on the dance floor.

"He at least tries!" said Lyn, nodding in the direction of the dance floor and back to Nick.

"Ach, no!" Nicolaus said in a deep threatening tone as Lyn got up, pulling Nicolaus to his feet and strolling across the dance floor with him in tow. "I have no idea what to do, Lyn! Besides, Israel's drunk, that's why he can dance!"

"Just do what I do, or better yet, just let your body do whatever feels good." She began to dance, taking hold of him to help him move. "Maybe that's what you need!"

"What's that?" asked Nicolaus, thanking God that a slow song was next.

"A good party where you can get really drunk or high or, better yet, both!"

"Never!" answered Nicolaus, determined to adhere to Jesse's demands on him and the ones he set for himself as well. His one and only desire was someday to ask Sarah to be his wife, and drugs and booze were not included in that plan. He dreamed of saving the money he was making and buying land near his family's farm. It was a rare occasion that any adjacent land ever came up for sale, especially since the other Amish households snatched it up the same day it went on the market, desperately wanting their children close so that they could farm together. The only time you heard of a piece of good farmland up for sale was after it had already been bought. But, it could happen, and he held out hope, for it was that dream that had kept him going these past months, enduring all the rehearsals, sweat, and many late-night practice sessions, and even dealing with the crushing crowds of adoring fans.

Snapping back to the present, he was acutely aware of Lyn's body against his as they slow danced. "Lyn, don't let Israel drink anymore." Lyn moved closer and began to kiss his neck. "Did you hear me?" he asked again, feeling uncomfortable about her closeness in public. It wasn't that he was embarrassed to be seen with Lyn, it was just that this kind of thing was not part of his world.

"Yes, Papa Nick!" Lyn answered, with a halt to her sexual teasing.

"It's just, Israel's never been drunk and I don't want to have to pick him up and carry him to your house."

"You mean, he's never been drunk around you, and anyway, what would be so bad about that?" Lyn asked again assaulting Nicolaus's neck.

"Lyn. please, if you don't stop I'll have to go backstage and pour a pitcher of ice water over my head!"

~

"Thanks for helping me with Israel." Lyn slurred the words as she tried to place her house key into the door's lock but was much too drunk to find it.

"Here, let me," Nicolaus said, as he gently allowed his brother to fall softly to the ground. Israel was not only drunk, he was high from the pot Sylvain offered him. Nicolaus hoped he would still be high in the morning and that would get him kicked out of the military. It would serve Israel right and it would make Nicolaus happy that he wouldn't have to go, he thought as he opened the door to Lyn's house, allowing Lyn to stagger inside. Israel crawled in behind her on his hands and knees.

"Okay then... good night and I'll see you in the morning, ja?" Nicolaus said as he started to close the door after them but not before he checked to see if they had made it to the bedroom safely.

"Nick! Come quick!" came Lyn's frantic voice as he turned into the sidewalk to head for home. Running back into the house Nicolaus found Israel sitting on the bed; he had vomited profusely all over Lyn and her bedroom floor.

"I told you, Lyn!" Nicolaus said, as he helped his perfectly content brother to the bathroom.

"Bla bla bla!" Lyn said with her nose scrunched up, moving her head back and forth as if imitating Nicolaus's nagging. Nicolaus slammed and locked the bathroom door before she could enter. She listened at the door but all she could hear were the two speaking softly in their language.

"I'm sorry, Nicolaus."

"You're sick, Israel, there's nothing to be sorry for," Nicolaus said, as he handed his brother a cool wet cloth and began to help Israel take off his uniform, which was miraculously free of the vomit.

"No. Brother, I don't mean this," Israel said and began to cry as he looked up into Nicolaus's eyes. "I'm sorry for all the times I should have helped you." Nicolaus looked away, knowing exactly what Israel was talking about but not wanting to go there with him tonight. Israel placed both hands on Nicolaus's cheeks, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Do you remember when Datt beat you with the buggy reins?" Nicolaus nodded, the tears starting to well up in his own eyes as well. "I wanted to stop Datt but I didn't. I never said anything, I'm so sorry, Nicolaus!" Israel started to weep as he placed his head on his brother's shoulder.

"Israel, you knew as well as I, if you had said a word in my defense I would have gotten a worse beating. You had no choice but to keep silent for my welfare. I thank you for not saying anything, although I knew you wanted to, I thank you that you didn't." Nicolaus fought back the anger and the tears. He was so weary of concealing his true feelings. Why did he always have to hide his emotions? Feelings of loneliness threatened to overwhelm him. The separation from the people and the world he loved more than anything else, all because of his father's unexplained hatred for him, a hate so deep that he would shun his own son as if Nicolaus had never existed, and was at complete peace about doing so. How could one man's conscience release him to beat his son while the others in the same family were loved, nurtured, and cared for as sons and daughters should be? Nicolaus knew Israel loved him, he knew they all loved him in their own ways. But why did it go unspoken or unstopped? Momma could have stopped it! Nicolaus repeated in his head as he sat down on the floor with Israel, feeling torrents of grief as long dead emotions washed over him. It was only after the beatings that Israel and Edna would run to his aid, each trying to administer their comfort to him. However, no one tried to stop it or ask why at the time. Haunting questions echoed from the past, old questions that never seemed to have been answered. Even I didn't ask why? He thought, Why did I let it go on? Nonetheless, there were no answers now, nor may there ever be.

"Nicolaus, the reason I came to see you before I went on to my assignment is to ask for your forgiveness. Please, Nicolaus, forgive me," he pleaded.

"Israel, do you remember you made me promise that I wouldn't go so far that you couldn't hear my heartbeat?"

"Yeah, I remember," replied Israel.

"Well, I broke my promise to you. I deliberately went too far so all I love could no longer hear my heart. I did it to hurt you. I did it to make you feel the pain I felt. I'm the one that needs you to forgive me!"

"I forgive you, Nicolaus, and love you with all my heart."

"And I you, Israel, and I release you from whatever guilt you may have," Nicolaus said, as he helped Israel to his feet. "To bed with you!" he said, lapsing back into English.

~

The next morning, Nicolaus found Israel and Lyn sitting near the ticket booth at the train depot. Other than Israel's freshly cleaned and pressed army jacket, which was, in fact, the only thing that was clean and fresh about him, they looked like a couple of ragamuffins.

"I'm glad you could make it," Israel said softly.

"I wouldn't have missed it," said Nicolaus as he took his brother in his arms in a quick embrace.

"Well, I better board," said Israel, as he picked up his duffel bag. "I meant what I said last night!"

"What was that?" Nicolaus asked, just testing to see if his brother was coherent enough last night to remember anything.

"No matter where you are, I will always hear your heartbeat, Nicolaus," he said, in their dialect.

"Thank you, Israel, and I will always love you for that," replied Nicolaus, not holding back the tears that flowed freely down his cheeks.

He watched as his brother was seated, and while the train pulled out, Nicolaus heard a voice cry out in his heart so loud he turned to see if someone was behind him, "Don't let him go! Stop him!" but there was no one there save Lyn, and she was slumped over on the bench obviously in distress. The warning came from inside, strong and uneasy. A prophetic feeling of doom came over him; he tried hard to pass it off but to no avail. He uttered a blessing and a prayer over Israel as he waved at him while the train pulled away, but the feeling was still there. "Come, let's get you home," Nicolaus, said as he helped Lyn to her feet and walked her to her car.

"You look troubled, Nicolaus."

"I look troubled? You should see what you look like."

"What?" asked Lyn as she looked at her face in her rearview mirror.

"I don't know if I want to be in a car with you driving."

"I just have a hangover, Nicolaus, I'm not drunk!" Lyn said as she adjusted the rearview mirror to look at her face even closer. "Ooow, I look..."

"Like a cat had his way with your hair?" Nicolaus said as he settled in next to her in her sports car.

"Not funny," she said, as her car's gears complained with a loud, pulverizing clamor that made them both cringe.

"Sorry," Nicolaus said as he looked at her with a frown, wondering with all joking aside if he was wise to get in her car after all.

"So how do you feel about your brother leaving?" Lyn asked, as she pulled out and onto the street in a jerking motion.

"I feel very bad. I think it was wrong for him. He is not a man of war, none of us are. Are you sure you can drive this thing?"

"He's a big boy now, Nick. You need to let him go," Lyn said, as she looked at him with sympathy, wondering if it was the right time to bring up her proposal.

"Nick?"

"Yeah," Nicolaus answered looking out of the window at the children playing baseball in the park.

"You're going to have to grow up too!"

Nicolaus looked at Lyn, taking his thoughts away from his brother for a moment. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is, you need to find yourself a girl, and friends of your own."

"I really don't know what you're talking about, Lyn. I have friends!" He looked straight ahead as if he were not concerned about what she was saying.

"I'm leaving next Saturday, Nick. I'm starting a new adventure in New York."

"How long will you be gone?" Nicolaus asked.

"See, that's what I mean! You need to quit relying on Sylvain and me to be there for you. Sylvain's like your little pet. He wears himself out worrying about you and runs himself ragged trying to help you get out of your Amish shell."

"He said that?" Nicolaus asked.

"He doesn't have to, you can see it."

"I'm afraid of people," Nicolaus confessed, looking up from his hands to the side window again.

"And rightly so, but you can't be an entertainer and be stuck up."

"I'm not stuck up, I'm just scared!"

"I know, but the patrons don't know that. They see it as avoiding them. Nick, I'm not coming back, I'm going there to live. Do you understand?" Lyn said, finally answering his question.

"I don't want you to go."

"I know, Nicolaus, and I love you too."

* * * * *

Chapter 4

June 1972  
Nicolaus, Age 17  
Getting Used To The Dark

With Lyn already on her way to New York, Nicolaus was feeling the pain of her absence while he wrote on his notepad. He sat on the railing outside the backstage door of The Eagle, where he settled in to cool down from the set he had just finished playing. He had come outside not only for the possibility of a cooler atmosphere but also to escape the noise and interruptions from the boisterous, drunk crowd. The summer night air was clear and motionless. As one refreshing breeze drifted by, his thoughts were cut short by the sound of the backdoor to The Eagle opening.

"Writing again, Nick?" asked Jesse as he sat down next to him. Nicolaus smiled and closed his notepad. "One of these days your songs are going to be heard and you're going to be famous. Just mark my words!"

"No, Jesse, not me. All I want is a little money for enough acreage to keep two plow horses busy. I'm not what you think!"

"Oh, I don't know about that! Give a man a lot of money and a flock of women and I think you'd change."

"I don't think so, but I could be wrong." Nicolaus smiled as he stood up.

"You miss Lyn, don't you? So do I!" Jesse answered.

"Yeah, but she's going to be happier. That's all that counts," said Nicolaus, proud of himself that at least he could appear as though he didn't care, as he followed Jesse back inside the club.

"You have your eye on anyone around here?" Jesse inquired.

"Me?" Nicolaus asked, appearing to stall for time.

"How about Lorie?" Jesse blurted out. "What do you think about her?"

"Lorie is a nice girl," Nicolaus answered, clearly not wanting to commit to any feelings he might have had for anyone, especially to Jesse.

"She's had her eye on you, that's for sure. She's been asking about you."

"Like what?" asked Nicolaus stopping in front of the backstage lounge, astonished that she might be interested in him of all people.

"Oh like, 'Are you really as stuck up as you act? Do you have any girlfriends? Where are you from?' You know, the regular girl questions."

"Did you tell her where I was from?" Nick placed his hand on Jesse's arm in what Jesse took as a show of protest.

"She thinks your accent is sexy, so I told her you were from Transylvania," he said, with a smirk.

"Oh good!" Nicolaus said with a sigh of relief, not having a clue where Transylvania was or that Jesse was joking.

"Nicolaus, Transylvania, vampires, bats? Oh, never mind. I guess you wouldn't know about stuff like that. Don't worry; she knows you're from around here. I swear, sometimes talking to you is like trying to talk to a man from Mars! Just get out there and mingle," Jesse commanded.

"Ach, Jesse, do I have to?"

"Like I said before, Nicolaus, you're my bread and butter for now, so get out there!"

Nicolaus walked to the barstool next to the ordering station, which Nicolaus thought looked like two metal milking rails used for sectioning the cows off from one another on the farm. He avoided eye contact with the women looking his way trying to claim his attention, seeking at least a smile or nod of his head, but to no avail.

"Hi, Nick, need a drink?" asked Lloyd, one of the bartenders, not waiting for an answer and placing a beer on the bar in front of him.

"You know I can't drink beer!" Nicolaus snapped, looking around to see if Jesse was in view.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Here!" Lloyd poured the beer into a large coffee mug, placed it back in front of Nicolaus, and said with a stifling grin, "Here, drink up. It will help loosen up your tight ass!" Surprised Lloyd would say such a thing, Nicolaus downed the mug anyway, slamming it a little too hard back down on the bar, which Lloyd took as a request for more, responding promptly with an immediate and generous refill.

"I hate coming out here more than you'll ever know," said Nicolaus.

"My heart bleeds for you, Nick," Lloyd said with a fake smile then nodded to the three women who were looking down the bar at Nicolaus. "These ladies come in every weekend to see you, buddy. The least you could do is smile at them once in a while." Nicolaus stared at Lloyd for a moment. Then he took down another mug in one long toss, gently lowering the mug once again to the bar, and smiled at the women who were still looking at him. He nodded his head politely at them.

"Thanks, Lloyd. Could I have a coffee to go?" Standing to leave, he pointed to his mug.

"Sure, Nick. Like I said, all the coffee you can drink. All you have to do is ask!" Lloyd took the mug and filled it to the brim with beer then looked down the bar at the women and said with a wink, "Nick likes coffee!" to which they laughed knowingly.

Nicolaus turned and started heading backstage. "Coming through. Heads up!" called Lorie, holding a tray of empty glasses as she walked right into Nicolaus's large muscular frame. She took the impact like a sparrow flying into a plate-glass window, spilling the half-filled drinks and sending glass fragments in all directions.

"Ach, girl, what have you done?" Nicolaus said as he bent down to help her up by her arm.

"What have I done? What have YOU done? How dare you make it look like this was my fault?" Lorie yanked her arm away from Nicolaus and started to pick up the broken glasses.

"I didn't mean it that way, it's just... I don't say it the right way sometimes!" Nicolaus said as he helped pick up the broken glass from the floor. "This is your territory, Lorie, I'm in your way," he said as he placed all he had gathered on the tray. Their eyes met and Nicolaus waited for her to respond, hoping not to be misunderstood.

"I'll let it slide due to the fact that you're on the strange side. Now scram!" she commanded, as she made her way to the waitress station where Lloyd was waiting to fill her tray with another big order, his sinister laugh greeting her.

Nicolaus climbed the stairs to the stage to get ready for the next set, and as he strapped on his guitar, he watched Lorie float from one table to another with grace and ease, thinking how very pretty she was on the outside but not so much on the inside. She looked up at the stage as if she could hear his thoughts. He looked away shyly as he turned away from the crowd to tune his guitar.

~

"Here!" Nicolaus heard from under the towel he had draped over his head after the set. It was Lorie with another mug of beer. Nicolaus took it from her with a tired smile as he leaned against the wall backstage. Placing the mug instead to his head, he slid down the wall to crouch against it. "Just wanted to say I was sorry for being harsh with you earlier." Nicolaus looked up at her, his deep blue eyes being accented by his dark wet curls laying flat to his face in various places.

"It's okay, Lorie," he whispered in a hoarse tone.

Lorie bent down in front of him and smiled as she asked, "Would you want to come to a party tonight? It's at my place?"

"Ach, I'm not much of a... I'm sorry, I don't think so." Nicolaus smiled and put the mug on the other side of his forehead.
"Oh please, Nick, the music will be loud and the drugs strong!"

"I'm not into drugs and anything loud right now is not what I need! Sorry, Lorie, my head is about to burst," he said, placing the mug now in the center of his forehead, trying to feel some relief from the coolness.

"I have just the thing for you. Just make sure you're at the party after work!"

After the last set Sylvain asked Nicolaus if he planned to go to Lorie and Karen's party. Nicolaus, laying facedown on the couch backstage, answered in a muffled voice, "Ish gla-oobeh nisht, im kopf es toot voy. It hurts really bad."

"Well then, can you find a ride to the music store? I'm going to the party."

Nicolaus turned over and looked at Sylvain.

"Don't look so surprised!" cried Sylvain.

Nicolaus put his head in his hands as he sat and thought. "Okay, I'll go, but you have to promise me you won't leave me. I don't want to turn around and find out that I'm doing a solo act at this party!"

"Anything you say, Nicolaus!" said Sylvain, trying to contain his excitement.

~

"Remember, you said you would stick with me!" Nicolaus reminded Sylvain as they walked, having had to park the car two blocks from the party because of the crowd. The music was loud but the neighbors didn't seem to mind. Their home was an old two-story brownstone in an older section of town not far from the bar. Once the two finally made their way through the front door that stood permanently ajar from the many bodies spilling out into the front yard, they looked for a familiar face. Nicolaus loomed over most of the people in the front room and could follow the direction Sylvain was leading him, but as soon as he made his way to the backyard, Sylvain was nowhere to be seen. Now he felt abandoned.

"I'm glad you could make it!" Lorie's voice came from behind. Nicolaus turned, smiled, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Your head?" asked Lorie handing Nicolaus a beer.

"It still hurts!" said Nicolaus, rejecting the beer she offered as he looked around at the people, crossing his arms over his chest protectively.

"Wait right here, I'll just be a minute," yelled Lorie over the noise. Lorie returned and ordered Nicolaus to follow her. She took him up the stairs to a bedroom where she shut the door and told him to remove his shoes, socks, and shirt.

"Shirt?" repeated Nicolaus.

"Yes, your shirt. Just do it. I promise I won't rape you or nothing!" Nicolaus hesitated for a moment then did as he was told. With the many years of physical labor on the farm, Nicolaus's solidly toned body was a sculpture of art, which Lorie looked upon in amazement, making Nicolaus uncomfortable. He looked down into her eyes to try and make out what she was thinking, then looked away, lowering his eyes shyly. "Don't be shy, Nick...sit down!" Lorie pointed towards the bed.

"Don't you have a party to attend?" Nicolaus asked as he sat on the edge of her bed.

"Nah, I asked a friend to take care of things for me. So just relax." Lorie climbed on the bed behind Nicolaus and began to move her hands firmly, rubbing and squeezing the muscles on his shoulders and neck. Nicolaus tightened up at first from the pain but relaxed as his muscles started to obey the demands of her hands and fingertips, sending chills throughout his body. He opened his eyes when he felt her move off the bed to stand in front of him, placing her hands under his chin and forcing him to look up at her. "You're looking at me as if I'm Jack the Ripper! Relax!" Nicolaus didn't know who she was referring to and wasn't too sure he even cared, as he closed his eyes once more while she stroked his hair and temples. Her touch was soft at first, which felt good to him, but as she massaged she became more aggressive, pushing his eyeballs in so hard he thought she would go through to his brain. Her hands pressed firmly from his forehead down the back of his hair, pulling it hard at the nape of his neck so that his head was forced back, which opened his lips so sensually that Lori had a most urgent desire to place hers on top of them.

"Is this how you get back at me for making you mad tonight at the bar?" Nicolaus asked, smiling a peaceful smile as he melted in her hands. His eyes half closed and sleepy, he opened them briefly to look for a response.

"Now I want you to lay back and sleep."

"But..." Nicolaus tried to resist.

"I said sleep!" Lorie commanded. She forced him to lie back on the pillow, turned out the lights and then went back down the stairs to the party.

The party mellowed out about three in the morning with most of the attendees either home or crashed out on Lorie's furniture, occupying any available spot on the floor downstairs, the upstairs being off limits to those not personally invited to be up there. She found him slumbering in the same position she had left him two hours earlier. Undressing, she slipped under the covers trying her best not to waken him. She lay quietly, looking at the boy she had claimed for her own, unknown to Nicolaus of course. Then with a sudden urge to touch his lips with her finger, she reached over and gently placed her index finger on his lower lip. He pressed his lips together and opened his eyes sleepily at first then with a frown as he took in his unfamiliar surroundings.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Nicolaus looked at Lorie, his eyes trying to focus on the creature next to him.

"How long have I been asleep?" he asked in his dialect. His voice was deep and sensual.

"Say what?" asked Lorie, with a smile.

"Asleep?" How long?" he repeated, this time in English.

"Not too long. Why?"

"Sylvain, I mean Sol, he will wonder where I've been," Nicolaus answered, as he sat up but was pulled back down by Lorie's hand on his arm.

"Sol could care less about you right now. He's with Karen."

"Karen?" Nicolaus asked, a little too loud.

"Shh... He's been seeing her for some time now. In fact, he has been spending the night here for about two weeks. Didn't you know?"

"He never said anything to me! I mean, I never knew he..." Nicolaus stopped as the thought occurred to him that it was not their custom to inform each other of whom they courted. It was something that just was not done in his culture. During their Rumspringa, time of running around, it was normal to do things that the church would not approve of, but what was done in Rumspringa was left in Rumspringa was the motto. The fact of seeing the one you loved in secrecy was part of the fun. Nicolaus, however, was curious to know how Karen was dealing with Sylvain's Amish ways, the lack of affection in public, and all the secrecy.

"You are obviously overworked, so why don't you just relax? I mean, you fell dead asleep. The noise didn't even wake you. I should know, I checked on you a few times during the party." Nicolaus looked at Lorie laying there next to him, clothed in who knows what, if anything at all, and thought to himself of what her intentions were. He waited, their eyes locked, but the silence was uncomfortable.

"So, what is it that you want from me?" Nicolaus finally blurted out as he sat up slowly, uncovering Lorie as he took the covers with him.

Lorie scrambled to cover herself and screeched, "What?" as she too sat up. "Listen, buddy, I don't want anything from you! I can't believe what a snot you are!"

Nicolaus looked blankly at her. "What is a 'snot'?" he asked, smiling at how agitated Lorie had become.

"You know, a creep! A jerk!" Lorie said, as she recovered most of the blanket and was adjusting it so she was not so exposed.

"So you think I'm a creep?"

"Maybe just a simple-minded idiot then!" Lorie said, grinning at Nicolaus's innocence.

"Ach! There you are then! 'A simple-minded idiot.' That's a very good description of me right now. I am simple, a little too simple, and I have to admit I am an idiot for sitting here with a nude woman beside me and not knowing what she wants me to do about it. All I asked is, 'What do you want me to do?'" Nicolaus said, as he got out of bed and started to put on his socks. "Listen, I'm sorry, Lorie. I know that I don't put words or feelings right when I speak English and people take me wrong most of the time, but all I can say is, I'm sorry, and I don't mean it in the way you think." Nicolaus stopped and looked down at Lorie who was busy wrapping herself in the blanket as she got out of bed. "I didn't know what you wanted me to do, that's all. I mean, I don't want to do anything that's going to hurt or offend you. But then again that's what I ended up doing, didn't I?"

"Damn it, Nick, just do and say what you want. You don't have to ask!" Lori said, as she suddenly understood what he was going through out in the wild as he would call it.

Nicolaus looked down at Lorie for a moment as if he was thinking and then said, "I'm not used to girls. They confuse and scare the hell out of me."

"Nick, have you done a lot of drugs?" Lorie asked.

Nicolaus's head dropped as he started to laugh, then looking back at her he confessed, "Lorie, I was raised Amish. You know what Amish is, yeah? Surely you've seen the quiet people that dress all the same and ride around with horse and buggy in town?"

"You're one of them?" Lorie said, with phony surprise.

"Well, ja, you can say I'm still one of 'them.'" Nicolaus smiled warmly.

Lorie moved to sit down in front of Nicolaus and said in a sensual tone, "This explains why you're a snot!"

Nicolaus frowned at her words and asked, "Why?"

"You stay to yourself, you don't laugh at jokes, and you... you ask girls what they want of you."

"This is not good, ja?" Nicolaus asked innocently.

Lorie laughed aloud and motioned to Nicolaus to come closer, whispering as she looked into his hauntingly blue eyes, "You are the most irresistible creature I've ever met!"

Nicolaus looked down at her full lips and the draw to taste them was intense. He swallowed hard, cautious not to drool.

"Okay, you ask me what I want you to do. Well, I want you to come back to my bed!"

~

The afternoon summer's warmth woke Nicolaus as he found Lorie no longer next to him in bed. Rising, he dressed and stumbled over an array of women's clothing that Lorie had left where it had fallen early that morning.

"Well, well, if it's not Sleeping Beauty!" Sylvain's voice came from the kitchen where he and Karen were having lunch, the dining table being the only article of furniture not arrayed with beer cans or visitors still asleep from the night's revelries.

"Where's Lorie?" Nicolaus asked as he stopped and squinted, combing his curls back with his fingers.

"She's in the shower. How's your head?" Sylvain asked, smiling at Karen as if they had a private joke. Nicolaus walked to the front window where he pulled the curtain up, noticing it had fallen along with its rod.

A muffled moan from under the material made Nicolaus jump back as to not accidentally step on the man. "These are my covers. Get your own!" the man said, as he pulled the curtains away from Nicolaus, wadding them up around him as if they were the actual blankets on his bed.

Nicolaus looked over at Sylvain and Karen who were trying their hardest not to break up with laughter. "Who is he?" whispered Nicolaus.

"That's our friend, Mr. Fredrick Noel. We call him Fred. He's around quite a bit," Karen said as she picked up the phone. "Yeah he's here. Fred, it's for you, dear. It's your wife!"

"Is it?" asked the man, his blonde curly hair forming what looked like an abandoned bird's nest. He sat on the floor surrounded by the curtains then leaped suddenly to his feet without the aid of his hands.

"Yeah, it's the Mrs!" said Karen handing the phone to Nicolaus to hand to Fred, who Nicolaus could see was a very handsome, well-built fellow. Nicolaus sat down with Sylvain and Karen at the kitchen table, the three listening in silence to the conversation that was taking place with Fred and his wife.

"If the man's married, what is he doing sleeping here?" whispered Nicolaus.

"Fred is extremely rich, and when you're as rich as he is, you do whatever you want to do when you want to do it and to whom. Well, actually, it's Fred's wife who's rich. Fred's just handsome, and his rich wife likes handsome men," Karen said as she poured Nicolaus a cup of coffee.

"Hey, Zook! Come say something to my wife," Fred demanded, as he held the phone to Nicolaus. "My wife wants you in the worst way, if you know what I mean," Fred whispered, as he put the phone to Nicolaus's ear.

"Hello... I am he." A few moments went by with no word from Nicolaus. He sat silently with a puzzled look on his face apparently listening carefully to the woman on the other end as if she were giving him detailed instructions. Then, without warning Nicolaus burst out with laughter as he said, "Well Mrs. Noel, I'm sure your husband Fred would mind very much if... your husband Fred... Fred! Well, I don't think... Ay, maybe you... Listen, come see me sometime at The Eagle. You have? I'm impressed! Well no, but... No don't do that... Tell you what, come next week with your husband and... Um... here, your husband wants to speak to you." Nicolaus shoved the phone at Fred, who was laughing at poor Nicolaus's plight. With one hand over the receiver Nicolaus asked in a whisper, "Are you sure your wife knows she's married?"

"She's something, isn't she?" Fred said as he took the phone back. After hanging up with his wife, Fred sat himself at the table and poured himself a cup of coffee as if he lived there. Turning to Nicolaus, he asked, "Ever been up in a jet?" Nicolaus looked at Sylvain, knowing he knew that to fly in an airplane was one of Nicolaus's most forbidden desires.

"No, I've never been in an airplane."

"Never?" asked Fred, surprised that there was a human left on earth untouched by the pure enchantment of flight. "Well then, you're coming with me!"

"Go! I'll tell Lorie where you went," cried Sylvain as he helped Nicolaus out the door with his newfound friend. Nicolaus always asked Sylvain with his familiar questioning look if they should do this or that, knowing Sylvain had a gift of seeing into the future. He could feel what was going to happen before it actually did. Sylvain was never wrong. Feeling confident that this would be a great voyage, Nicolaus eagerly went with Fred.

"Okay, strap yourself in!" commanded Fred as he checked all the gauges on his front panel. Nicolaus looked around trying to find straps, having no idea what Fred was talking about. "Your seat belt, right there!" Fred said, finding Nicolaus searching about. "Here, let me help you. Is this your first day out of your cage?" Fred asked jokingly as he helped Nicolaus buckle up.

"Is this your airplane?" asked Nicolaus.

"Fran, my wife just bought it for me. Nice, isn't it?" Fred said proudly as he started the engine.

"You know how to drive it then?" asked Nicolaus a little nervous at the thought of leaving the earth.

"Yes, but if you don't mind, I think I'll fly it. We wouldn't get very far if I just 'drove it.'" said Fred laughing at his passenger. "You don't get motion sickness, do you?" Fred asked as he lifted the jet's nose up off the ground. The g-force pulled Nicolaus flat against his seat, rendering him unable to move. Once at an altitude Fred was pleased with, he leveled out, allowing Nicolaus freedom to move about.

"I'm not sure," Nicolaus said, his knuckles white and fingernails entrenched into the arms of his chair. With his head still plastered against the back of the headrest, he sat stiff as a board.

"You're not sure of what?" asked Fred.

"Never mind," said Nicolaus as he relaxed slowly and looked out at the vast sky in amazement and awe.

"Oh, if you get motion sickness!" Fred chuckled to himself as he shook his head. "So what do you think?"

"We are in da sky!" said Nicolaus with a relieved smile.

"Ja, we are in da sky!" Fred mimicked with a grin.

"This is great!" Nicolaus moved forward for a better view but was yanked back by his seat belt. Fred watched with humor as Nicolaus took it all in as a child would. After a while he settled back and just silently enjoyed the view.

Finding this a good time to speak frankly with his new friend, now that Nicolaus was a held captive and there was no place for him to run, Fred said, "You know, Zook, I love my wife very much. She's my whole life!"

Nicolaus looked over at Fred, puzzled with his sudden change of character but willing to allow him to go on. "I'm glad for you, Fred," Nicolaus said with respect, aware of the severity of the subject.

"My wife is seriously infatuated with you. From the first night you showed up at The Eagle she hasn't been the same." Fred looked at Nicolaus, making sure he had his full attention. "I just want you to know Fran gets what she wants, Zook, and she wants you!" Nicolaus was stunned. His mind was void of any reply. "I'm just warning you, kid. If you hurt her, I will kill you. Do you understand?" Nicolaus could not believe what he was hearing but he nodded anyway, wondering how a man could so easily give his wife to another man just because she wanted him to.

"I like you, Zook. You got a way about you. Anyway, let's change the subject," Fred said, as he glanced down at the instruments on the panel. "Shit!" he cried, making Nicolaus jump from fright.

"What is it?" Nicolaus asked, his knuckles again turning white as his fingernails embedded themselves back into the arms of his chair.

Fred looked at Nicolaus and said, "We're out of gas!" as if it was Nicolaus's fault.

"What? Are we out of gas NOW? I mean, can we land first?" As Nicolaus spoke, the plane spit and sputtered, stalling in mid-air. Fred frantically got it going again, and as they leveled out Nicolaus could taste the bitterness of iron in his mouth. Fear tasted like iron to him. However, he did wonder if it could be the taste of his own blood from his heart vessels exploding from fear. This made Nicolaus want to vomit, but he managed to keep himself from it. God, please don't let me die, don't... Nicolaus thought. What am I saying? I haven't prayed since I was... Do I even believe who You say You are? I'm not even sure You know who I am! I was raised around people that know You... But do I? Oh God, I'm sorry. I want to know You! Especially right now! The plane again stalled out and started spiraling into a nosedive. Nicolaus held on with all his might, placing his feet upon the control panel in front of him as if it would brace him in the pending impact. He was not too sure, but he thought he heard Fred screaming like a little girl on a roller coaster, not necessarily a scream of fright but more of glee. Just then, Fred pulled the nose up and leveled out; just as fast, it went back into a nosedive again. Nicolaus was going to lose it. He felt the blood rush from his face and felt the sweat pouring from every pore in his body. Fred again regained control and leveled out. Looking over at Nicolaus, he assured him that this did not look good at all, but that he would try his best to get Nicolaus on the ground safely. As they approached the runway, Fred instructed Nicolaus to brace himself for impact. Obediently, Nicolaus bent over and covered his head with his arms, which helped keep him from passing out completely. The jolt of the wheels touching down and the squeal of rubber on the black asphalt came and went in a moment. They had come to a peaceful stop.

Nicolaus slowly raised his head, his hands still in a position ready for the collision. Frozen in time, Nicolaus slowly looked up at Fred, who was watching him and silently laughing uncontrollably. The look on Fred's face reminded Nicolaus of his sister Katie when he would get in trouble for teasing her.

"You son of a... you're crazy!" Nicolaus blurted out, realizing it was all a trick to frighten him.

"Yap, some people say I am. Nevertheless, when you are as rich as I am, you are expected to be a little crazy." Fred burst out laughing again as he described the look on Nicolaus's face. Nicolaus tried to bolt from the plane as soon as he figured how to get out of his seat belt, but the safety locks on Fred's doors would not allow his freedom. Nicolaus looked straight ahead and said nothing.

"Hey, Zook, I'm real sorry if I scared you." Nicolaus looked at him, his face still white as a ghost, and if looks could kill, Fred would have been stone dead. "Okay, okay, I shouldn't have put you through all this, but I did it for a reason."

"A reason?" cried Nicolaus still trying to get out of the plane door. "Tell me, Fred, what reason did you come up with in your sick rich mind?" Nicolaus asked, as he sat back in his chair, resolved to quit trying to escape.

"I want you to know how crazy I can be. When I told you I would kill you, I meant it!" Fred's face became very serious as the two men stared into each other's eyes, both waiting for the other to break first, and to Nicolaus's surprise, it was Fred. It was as if he could see into Nicolaus's soul and knew the pain that was already there. "Let me buy you a drink. You look like you could use one!" Fred said as he released the safety locks on the plane doors. They spent most of that day in the airport lounge becoming the best of friends, and Nicolaus eventually was finding the story of his infamous plane ride with Fred undoubtedly humorous as well.

~

July 1973  
Age 18

"Lorie, what is this?" asked Karen as she tossed a folded paper on the table where Nicolaus and Lorie were eating breakfast. Picking up the paper, Lorie placed it face up on the table deliberately so Nicolaus could easily see its contents. Nicolaus looked at the paper then at Lorie as they continued their conversation. "What did you do with the money I gave you to pay my half of the rent? Lorie, this is an eviction notice. What are we going to do?"

"I paid other bills with it, Karen. It took yours and my half to pay them. The remaining money I used for the parties."

Nicolaus asked, "May I?" as he picked up the notice. His eyes went big, and then he said in astonishment, "Eight hundred dollars!" Both girls found this somewhat humorous and smiled as Nicolaus continued. "Lorie, five hundred dollars back pay. Babe, you had that many parties?"

"I thought you were on my side, Nick!" Nicolaus just stared at Lorie in silence, wondering how in the world Karen was staying so calm about the fact that they were two months behind on their rent. He looked down at the paper again just so he could regain his composure.

"I'll give you the money for this so you two don't get thrown out. But..." Nicolaus said, a little suspicious of their debt problems.

"But if you pay it, that means you have to come and live with us. Right, Lorie?" Karen exclaimed, smiling at her accomplice in crime.

"That's not what I was going to say," Nicolaus said.

"If you pay the rent, you have to stay with us. Karen and I can pay for the electric and water. Fair enough?"

"I think it sounds fair," said Karen as if they had rehearsed the whole deal.

"Wait, where will I sleep? You only have two bedrooms."

"You'll sleep where you've been sleeping—with me!" commanded Lorie, winking at Karen to let her know her performance was superb.

~

Telling Aunt Betsy that he was living with two girls was going to be tough, but Nicolaus had never lied to her and wasn't about to start, even though he would most likely have to sit through a long lecture. However, to his amazement Betsy took it well.

"Nicolaus, your mother will not like this and I want you to know I will speak freely if asked."

"Yeah, Aunt Betsy, I know."

"But you're going to live there anyway while yet in your Rumspringa, aren't you?"

Nicolaus lowered his head and whispered, "Yes."

"Well, leave an address and phone number in case something unforeseen happens to your family." This was Aunt Betsy's way of making him feel guilty before anything really happened, possibly so she could say I told you so.

Nicolaus and Karen did the grocery shopping and cooking, while Nicolaus alone did the cleaning. Lorie just stayed out of the way. She didn't seem to have an ounce of domestic urge in her anywhere. She was perfectly content to walk over piles of dirty laundry just as long as she had something reasonably clean to wear that day. Nicolaus believed she truly thought breakfast, lunch, and dinner came from opening tin cans.

~

Friday night at work came shocking news. "You know a guy named Fredrick Noel, don't you Nicolaus?" asked Jesse backstage during the first break.

"Fred? Yeah, what's up?"

"I heard from some of the patrons his plane went down this afternoon east of town."

"Is he okay?" asked Nicolaus, his heart sinking in his chest. He was truly concerned for his friend Fred, a man he had come to love as a good friend.

"They didn't know anymore about it. Just that his plane crashed." Nicolaus quickly looked at Sylvain for an answer but Sylvain avoided Nicolaus's questioning eyes, averting his glance so as not to reveal the feared answer.

"He's gone, isn't he?" Gene, Jesse and Danny looked at Nicolaus, wondering what he could be asking Sylvain in their dialect and Sylvain not responding. Nicolaus started for the back door without a word to get some fresh air, but before he opened it, Sylvain blurted out, "He's dead!" Everyone but Nicolaus looked at Sylvain in silence. Nicolaus stopped for just a moment, then continued out the back door.

~

The memorial service was held on a warm August day in the garden of Fran Noel's estate. Nicolaus felt very uncomfortable in the dress pants, long-sleeved white shirt, and tie Lorie bought him for the occasion. He had never put on a tie before, and it took both Karen and Lorie at least a half an hour to tie this particular one. The funeral was a strange affair to Nicolaus, not at all what he was accustomed to. It reminded him more of some kind of cocktail party than a memorial, no one ever even mentioning Fred's name. The well-dressed men and women stood around talking about their business mergers and the like, which made Nicolaus feel troubled, knowing perhaps Fred didn't have many friends. These were business acquaintances and rich friends of his wife. He, Karen, Lorie and Sylvain were the closest thing to friends he had there that day. How sad, thought Nicolaus, no wonder Fred was carefree and crazy in his actions at times. There was no one there to tell him not to be.

"Hello, Nick. I'm glad you could come. Fred thought a lot of you." The voice came from behind the four patrons from The Eagle. Nicolaus turned to see a woman dressed in a tight-fitting, short black dress with a cocktail in her right hand and a cane in her left. Hooking the cane on her arm, she offered her hand to Nicolaus, saying, "I am Fran Noel." He took it and shook it gently. "We spoke on the phone, remember?" she said, with a cunning smile as if she hadn't a grieving bone in her body over the death of her husband.

"I'm sorry about your loss, Mrs. Noel," Nicolaus said as he stood there holding her hand mostly because she would not let go of his. Then placing her hand under his arm, she excused him from the others and led him out of hearing distance.

"Nick, tell me, do you believe in life after death?" she asked, walked with a noticeable limp.

Nicolaus stopped to face her. "Yeah, I do."

"Do you want to believe, or are you sure?" Fran asked as she looked down at her drink and started to walk again, this time using her cane.

"Well, I was brought up to believe it's real. To us, it is a promise. If we live here with God, we will live there with God."

"That's funny. You don't seem to be a religious man up onstage. In fact, you come across very sensual." Nicolaus laughed and lowered his head shyly. "You think that's funny? Well, aren't you?" she asked with a smile.

Nicolaus looked down at her and asked, "Which do you want to know about?"

"Both!" said Mrs. Noel.

"Like I said, I was brought up believing in life after death. To us it's not a religion, it's a way of life, and as for being sensual... Well, I'm not so sure about dat. I'm passionate about the things I love, but dat's about it."

Fran stopped walking and looked up at the well-built, broad-shouldered young man standing next to her and said bluntly, "Nicolaus, I want you to come live with me. I'll marry you; I'll do whatever you want. Just come be with me. I can make you what you want to be. I can give you whatever you want. I wanted you the minute I laid my eyes on you."

"Mrs. Noel, in all due respect, Fred was my friend, I mean, damn, this is your husband's memorial!" he whispered, looking around to see if anyone could hear them.

"I get what I want, Nick. It's now or later. Which do you prefer?" Fran hissed between clenched teeth.

Nicolaus looked hard into the woman's face and said with determination, "Woman, you have picked the wrong person to say dat to. I will never be your toy!" Turning, he then walked away, leaving the widow standing alone.

Nicolaus said something to Sylvain in their dialect as he walked past. Sylvain turned to the girls and motioned to them to follow.

"What's up? Nick looks pissed," Lorie said, trying to keep up with Sylvain.

"I don't know, but I think that Noel chick really got to him. Nicolaus is the calmest person I know, so whatever it was, it wasn't good. Just let him cool off on his own."

"You act like you're afraid of Nick," exclaimed Lorie, curious about Nick's anger.

Sylvain looked straight ahead as he walked and said, "Like I said, I've never seen Nick this mad, and I've seen that boy take a lot before he got mad. Just don't be asking any questions on the way home." Seeing Sylvain's apprehension, both girls agreed readily to his suggestion.

On the way home and for the rest of the night, the three stayed clear of Nicolaus, who stayed out back seated on a lounge chair, looking up at the stars. When he finally did come in, he went to bed. Lorie, thinking it might be a good time to talk, said "Nick, what happened at the funeral that upset you so much?"

"What funeral?" Nicolaus asked, not expecting an answer as he turned away from Lorie, pulling the covers up over his shoulders letting her know he was not going to talk about it.

* * * * *

Chapter 5

September 1973  
Nicolaus, Age 18  
If You Remain In Their World

A month had gone by since the tragic death of Fredrick Noel and every weekend at the same table sat Mrs. Noel, placidly watching every set. Nicolaus tried not to pay much attention. However, she would send him notes that at times were not rational and called him at home just to hear his voice and then hang up. His patience was wearing thin.

"Nicolaus, the Fishers are having a barn raising next Saturday. You want to go with me?" asked Sylvain who was still in touch with their Amish community.

"I don't know. My datt will be there for sure. Do you think I should?" Nicolaus asked, wanting badly to see his old friends again.

"Your datt is the only one shunning you, Nicolaus, or did you forget?" said Sylvain with a reassuring laugh and a pat on Nicolaus's back.

"You're sure I'll be welcomed?"

"Nicolaus, the Elders are praying for us, not condemning us. After all, we cannot be totally shunned; we are not even baptized yet. They consider us just wayward!"

"Be warned, Sylvain, I hope for your sake you're right!" said Nicolaus with a questioning look.

Saturday they were off to the Fishers's farm. Pulling up alongside the many black and gray buggies came Sylvain's monster white Cadillac, making Nicolaus even more self-conscious.

The warmth of friendship was so nice. Eli grabbed Nicolaus's hands in a hardy shake as if he had never left. "Well, if it isn't our English wannabe!" Eli said with a warm smile. The girls in their corner whispered, and an occasional bout of laughter would erupt as they looked at the two homecomers.

"You boys ready for some hard work?" Samuel, Eli's father, asked in their dialect. "Bishop Yoder will be happy to see you two and we will get this barn built hours before it should be, just because you-ins are here!" Turning to Nicolaus, Samuel whispered, "Does Jacob know you're here?"

"No, brother Samuel. Perhaps I should not have..."

"I won't hear of it!" Samuel said sternly with a serious frown that Nicolaus would have taken as a threat if he hadn't known Samuel as the peaceful man that he was. "You are always welcome, son, now let's get to work. You and Sylvain will be on the top all day so get your legs stretched, get a mouth full of nails, and pocket your hammers."

"Guten morgan, Nicolaus and Sylvain. It is good to see you again," Sarah said, as the boys passed the group of girls she had been conversing with. The working crowd was a hundred and fifty strong. The women cooked and helped with the menial tasks on the ground, while the men, ranging from six years old to eighty years of age, erected the barn shell like a pile of ants attacking a ripe peach that had dropped to the ground. They had one day to give the hosting family a barn, and a day it would be. Jacob, Nicolaus's father, was lost in the crowd of Amish wide-rim straw hats and black pants, but Nicolaus and Sylvain stuck out like sore thumbs in their English clothing. Jacob kept one eye on Nicolaus during their work but, except for the feeling of being watched, Nicolaus was unaware of him.

The work was hard and Nicolaus felt at peace up high on the giant beams of the barn. The stories and jokes the men told were heart washing as they spoke only in his home dialect, a language he felt more familiar with, much more so than the English he had to speak and listen to while away. This is home. This is where I feel I belong! The voice came loud in his head as he rose up from his hammering and sat straddle-legged over one of the top beams. Their eyes met, and for one second Nicolaus felt as if he would be forced physically off the beam just by his father's fierce glare. Jacob was standing just below him, looking up at his son.

"Oh God, help me!" he said softly to no one in particular.

"What?" asked Sylvain, as he too rose from his task on the same beam. Looking down to the ground where Nicolaus was staring, Sylvain said, "Ach, he can't get you up here! Anyway, why are you afraid? Look what a wee little man he is. He's got to be all of two inches tall!" Sylvain held out his fingers measuring Nicolaus's father from their height; Jacob did look to be only two inches tall from their perspective. Nicolaus started to laugh and glanced back at Sylvain with a look of thanks.

As the men worked, the women prepared the hearty noon meal. The church benches were already assembled, and the tables were covered with white cloths. A full set of cutlery along with metal cups and plates were placed for each man to sit and eat. The women were assigned four to a table to better serve, so the men could eat and get back to the day's work. It was a crisp September afternoon when the men and women bowed in thanksgiving of the blessings of the day and for the food. Looking up from the prayer, Nicolaus saw Jacob glaring at him from behind Sylvain. Sylvain saw the fear in Nicolaus's eyes as he looked beyond him to the phantom. "Say nothing, just eat," Sylvain commanded in a stern whisper, as he smiled and nodded his head uncomfortably at the young server behind Nicolaus, who could not keep her eyes off of Sylvain. Nicolaus ate, refusing to look up even to glance at Sarah who was doing all she could to gain his attention. The food was good but it sat in his stomach hard, as each swallow threatened to come back up. He was terrified and hated himself for it. How could this man make him feel so helpless just by standing close or looking at him? It was as if his father had put a hex on him and wasn't about to allow Nicolaus to walk away unharmed.

"Come, Sylvain, let's get back to work," Nicolaus finally said, no longer able to finish the portions on his plate; he was off the bench and headed for the barn, hammer in hand.

The dusky sky burned red and orange on the already shingled roof of the barn, where Sylvain and Nicolaus sat resting from a satisfying day of hard labor. Each one was taking note of the muscles that were going to be, if not already, tender and sore.

"What?" asked Nicolaus, out of breath from a sudden backhand by Sylvain to his chest as if Sylvain was trying to stop him from jumping off the barn roof.

"Just look!" Sylvain nodded his head toward a bench near a group of trees. Squinting to see, Nicolaus made out, to his dismay, Mrs. Noel sitting there, her dress very short and her blouse low and tight, her legs crossed as she puffed casually on her cigarette in a most sophisticated manner. Nicolaus looked around at the brotherhood to see what their take was to this spectacle. It was not good. Fran waved in his direction, seeing that he finally saw her.

"No, Nicolaus, she's not hurting anyone," Sylvain said, as he caught Nicolaus by the arm to stop him.

"She's bothering me!" he snarled, yanking his arm from Sylvain's tight grasp.

"Listen! Come with me this way." Sylvain motioned with his eyes in the direction leading out of sight from Fran.

"I'll take you home. We can get to my car through the woods the back way."

"I'm tired of running from this bitch!" Nicolaus said, caring less if he was heard. Sylvain caught him as Nicolaus tried again to leave his way.

"I said come with me, now!" Sylvain said as he pushed Nicolaus in his direction and stood in the way so that he was unable to do anything but what Sylvain had commanded.

~

The Eagle was packed, and before the last set of the night Nicolaus made a beeline to Fran's table, where she sat facing the stage, calmly sipping her drink. "Oh, Nick, sit down with me. I'll buy you a drink," she said, as she snuffed out her cigarette and pulled an empty chair beside her out for him.

"I can buy my own drink, and I'll stand. Thanks anyway."

"Is that a look of hatred or are you sore from all that hard work you did yesterday for that poor Amish family?"

"That Amish family is not hurting for a thing, and your first guess was right."

"Don't hate me, Nick. I cannot help it if I am totally infatuated with you. After all, I did warn you!" Nicolaus pulled the chair over and sat down slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.

"And I told you I will not be your toy. So now what do you want?" he asked, bluntly.

Fran's demeanor changed. She appeared to become childlike, her body going limp as if air had been released from it. "I just want to be your friend. I'm really a nice person, once you get to know me. All I want is to talk to you. That's all. I promise I will not bring up the other if you will come over tonight and just talk to me. I've been very lonely since Fred passed."

"That's hard to believe, Fran!" said Nicolaus cutting her off in midsentence. "But I'll come talk to you and I do mean talk, nothing else, if you promise you will leave me be."

"I'll send my chauffeur for you tonight after work," she said, as she got up and started to put on her fur coat.

"I can get my own ride, thanks," said Nicolaus, not offering to help her in any way.

"That won't do, Nick. I have the compound alarmed, and the only way you can enter is by way of my car this late at night. I'll see you, then," she said, as she turned and left Nicolaus sitting at the table, thinking how much he just wanted to get this over with.

The long black limousine pulled up and Nicolaus looked around to see if anyone was watching before he got in. Now talk about crazy! Nicolaus thought as he checked out the back of the overtly luxurious car Fran was accustomed to. But then, again, I think nothing of driving around in a horse and buggy. So which one of us is the crazy one? He smiled as he looked out the window.

Once at the mansion, Nicolaus was shown in by another man, who took him to a room where all the walls but one were full of a vast variety of colorful hardbound books; the other wall was paneled with a dark, rich mahogany wood paneling. The room smelled of old books and wood. A large desk sat in the middle of the room, and around it were four high-back chairs upholstered in dark brown, plush leather. The fireplace was off in a corner of the room surrounded by bookshelves, and in front of it sprawled a large oriental rug framed by a leather couch and two high-back chairs.

"I'm glad you could come." Fran's voice came from behind him. Unaware that she had been in the room, Nicolaus swung around in defense. Fran was in a white satin full-length house coat that clung to her thin, big bosomed body like it was smeared on. Fingering a few straying curls away from Nicolaus's neck, Fran said, "I was afraid you wouldn't come, so I got ready to retire. I hope you don't mind," she said, looking down at her gown, casually shrugging one shoulder.

"Don't touch me, Fran," Nicolaus said, as he took her hand and gently lowered it away from his neck.

"Oh, Nick, you can't fool me. Men are all alike. They say one thing but do another."

"This man is different, Fran." She slapped his face hard as she yanked her other hand away from his grasp. Without a word, Nicolaus turned and started for the open door. Fran limped to stop him, placing her body in front of his. Some of the staff watched from the other side of the doorway, more for Fran's safety, thought Nicolaus, than curiosity. Either way, he would just as soon be on the outside of this house of horrors.

"Please, Nick, I'm sorry. I will give you anything. Just stay and talk to me. That's all I ask." Fran started to cry.

"We tried that already, and it didn't work. Do you have anything else you'd like to try before I leave?" Nicolaus asked calmly. Fran's face went blank as if her soul had left her body. The tears that streamed down her check stopped and dried up as fast as they came on.

"Are you stupid? Don't you understand I can give you anything you could ever possibly want? I can give you a house, this one. Do you want this home for your very own?" She moved around the room pointing and touching objects as she spoke. I can get you girls, as many as you want. I'll do anything for you." Fran stopped and looked at Nicolaus, her eyes big with excitement and hope.

"I have never hit anyone, Fran, but you are coming very close to being the first. Now let me leave!" commanded Nicolaus, with fire in his eyes that burned straight through to her soul as she stood there frozen in time. As if a presence had entered her, she calmly limped to the large wooden desk, pulled out a small black revolver and, with both hands supporting it, pointed directly at Nicolaus's head. Nicolaus could hear the gasps coming from the adjacent room where the staff had assembled, and who now were scampering like roaches for shelter. Turning back to face her, Nicolaus asked Fran to put down the gun, calmly talking to her with one hand out palm up as if she would willingly place the gun in it.

The hammer hit its base with a loud click, making Nicolaus jump as he held his breath. The chamber was empty! he thought, as he rushed her to retrieve the gun, pushing one of the chairs over to one side to get to her.

Fran began to laugh hysterically as her body went limp for a moment. "You don't understand, Nick, I love you!" she cried as she moved for cover behind the desk. "I knew there wasn't a bullet in that chamber. I would never hurt you. You believe me, don't you?" she asked as she calmly placed the gun to her own head and, without flinching, pulled the trigger again. Nicolaus flinched from the bang and froze in horror as he watched Fran sink to the ground. The blood coming from her temple gushed out of the head wound as if it was a fountain of water. Her eyes stared blankly at Nicolaus as he bent to the ground beside her. He took her head in his lap and held it, unsuccessfully trying to stop the bleeding, rocking back and forth and telling her it would be okay as tears streamed down his face. He hadn't noticed the man next to him until he put his hand on Nicolaus's shoulder, telling him that she was dead and that the police were on their way.

"She finally did it!" a woman in an apron said as she bent down beside Nicolaus, her eyes on the wound as if she could not believe it. Then, looking at Nicolaus, she said as she shook her head, "Mrs. Noel's been threatening to do this for as long as I've known the poor gal, and I've been with her a long time!"

Nicolaus placed Fran's head gently on the ground and stood. He looked at the people who at one time had served her faithfully, then back down at the lifeless body on the floor. "I have to go!" he said, not sure he could actually walk. His legs were trembling so much that he could barely stand.

"You'd better stay at least until the police get here," said the butler who had showed him in.

"Oh, yeah, I better stay!" Nicolaus said in a daze, obviously in shock.

"You should think about getting cleaned up before the police arrive," another man said, as he led Nicolaus to a large glass mirror in the hall. Nicolaus looked at his reflection, the splattered blood on his face and his blood-drenched clothes, making what had happened all the more real. He looked down at his hands, blood dripping from them as if he had plunged them into a bath of red ink.

"Where's your restroom?" he asked just as the police burst through the massive front doors, guns drawn, and pointed. After commanding all to stand where they were and not to move, the men in black immediately grabbed Nicolaus, suspecting him the most dangerous due to the amount of blood that covered him.

"What's your name?" asked a tall, well-built man, as the police pulled Nicolaus into a side room away from the investigation that was underway in the library. Nicolaus was pushed into an overstuffed chair and the man again asked for his name. Nicolaus looked up at the giant of a man; the size of his neck alone was larger than his head, making him look like a cartoon character to Nicolaus. His face was red, the way his father's would get when he was out of control with rage.

"I'm Nicolaus Zook... I would like to go home now, please," Nicolaus said, tears starting to spill uncontrollably over onto his face.

"Yeah, well we would all like to be home right now but apparently someone's brains are splattered all over the library in there and we have to find out why. Here, get that blood off your face and hands and tell me what you're doing at the Noels's at three in the morning, Mr. Zook!" Nicolaus took the handkerchief from the man and first hid his face in it sobbing uncontrollably for a few minutes, then ran it over his face and hands while trying to regain control.

"Mrs. Noel asked me to come here after work. She said she wanted to talk."

"About what?" asked the lieutenant as he pulled a chair over and sat down in front of Nicolaus.

"She said she wanted to talk to me, dat's all," Nicolaus said, looking down at the bloody handkerchief in his hands, still trying to remove some of the blood from them.

"She did? Well now, let me get this straight. Mrs. Noel, who, mind you, is still grieving over the tragic death of her husband, calls you at work and asks you to come to her home this early morning to talk to you? Did she talk?" the man asked scornfully.

Nicolaus squinted slightly up at the man and asked, "What did you say your name was?"

"Lieutenant Joe Roberts, and if you don't mind I'll be asking the questions, Mr. Zook! The murder weapon, whose is it?" Just then, one of the other plainclothes cops entered and whispered something to the lieutenant. Getting up, Joe walked to another room with the man, then came back to Nicolaus and sat down, this time in a much better frame of mind.

"You said Mrs. Noel called you to come over after you got off work?"

"No, Fran was at The Eagle where I work and she asked me to come. She sent a car for me after I got done cleaning up," said Nicolaus, getting frustrated with the interrogation process. He just wanted to get out of that house and away from all English in general. He wanted to go home to his people whom he knew and understood. This would never have happened if he had stayed in his world with his people and the safety they encased him with. This void of emptiness would never have been laid open to pain and confusion. The cry of his heart was for help, and that help was very far away right now.

"So, Mrs. Noel sent for you? What happened when you got here?" Nicolaus knew Joe already had a good idea what had happened. He couldn't be that stupid after obviously finding out what the other investigator discovered from talking to the butler and the rest of the staff.

"I told you, she wanted to talk to me and I... I started to leave and she pulled out a gun from the desk. She aimed it at me at first then turned it on herself, and before any of us could stop her, she shot herself."

"So who of the staff also witnessed this?" asked Joe, looking into Nicolaus's eyes, determined to wear him down.

"I'm not sure. I just know I heard other people outside the room." Joe silently looked at Nicolaus for a long time and pulled out a pen and notepad from inside his coat pocket.

"Where do you live?" Nicolaus gave him his Aunt Betsy's address.

"Can I go now?" Nicolaus asked, his eyes never leaving Joe's.

"Are you... are you from around here?" Joe asked, rephrasing his question as he wrote in the pad.

"I'm from here, yeah."

Joe looked up from his writing as if Nicolaus had said something of profound interest. "You apparently aren't now, but you have been Amish or Mennonite. Am I correct?" Joe asked as he started writing again.

"Yeah," said Nicolaus, frowning at this and wondering how it made any difference how he had been brought up.

"Sit down, Nicolaus. Trust me, you do not want to go now. The media frenzy out there is at a riot stage. They will eat you alive with all that blood on you. Wait here for Sergeant Campbell and I'll have him take you home."

Nicolaus's eyes opened wide when Joe mentioned the reporters, and asked, "How could they be here already?"

"Are you kidding? This kind of stuff is what they live for. Bob, take Mr. Zook to his aunt's. And, Nicolaus, don't leave town. I may have a few more questions for you." Joe turned and exited the room abruptly, leaving Bob and Nicolaus alone.

"I can walk home, I just need to get out of here without being seen by the reporters, if you don't mind," Nicolaus said, as the two walked down the hall toward the front door. Bob, a young man not much older than Nicolaus, stopped one of the staff and asked if there was a back way out of the mansion.

After getting instructions, he told Nicolaus to stay at the back gate while he pulled around.

"Really, I can walk," Nicolaus insisted.

"I'm sure you can, but it wouldn't take long before I'd have to pick you up somewhere down the road because someone called saying a man's walking down the street covered in blood. 'It's now or later. Take your pick!'" Nicolaus flinched at the words and wondered if Fran's soul wasn't still lingering in the place just to spook him.

"Ach, no, please don't leave me here alone!" Nicolaus cried, holding onto the officer's arm, preventing him at first from leaving as he looked nervously about the shrubs and trees that guarded the rear gate.

"Listen, kid, I have to follow orders. Now stay here while I get the car!" Only then did Nicolaus obediently agree to wait for the patrol officer to pull up in back for him.

The sun had just started to crest over the trees when they arrived at his aunt's shop. Nicolaus got out and thanked the officer. He entered Betsy's side door with his key and found her having breakfast with her new help, a young boy from the nearby college. Nicolaus stopped and looked at Betsy, not knowing quite what to say. Betsy and her help, seeing the blood, likewise stared speechlessly back at Nicolaus.

"Dear God! Nicolaus, what happened?" Betsy's voice broke the silence first.

"I... I need a place to stay, Aunt Betsy. Can I..." Nicolaus's voice cracked with fatigue.

"Get upstairs with you, and take off those clothes!" she commanded and rushed ahead of him, leaving her assistant mesmerized.

Nicolaus finished showering and his aunt returned with night wear, a set of her deceased husband's pajamas that she had kept for sentimental reasons. He handed his aunt all his blood-soaked clothing through the slightly opened bathroom door, allowing the billowing white steam to escape. Moments later, Betsy heard a commotion coming from the bathroom. It was the sound of breaking glass. Opening the bathroom door slowly, she found Nicolaus, his back to the wall, sitting on the floor. His arms wrapped around his knees tightly, he was completely engulfed in her deceased husband's enormous sleepwear as he rocked himself and wept.

"Ach, Nicolaus what is it that happened to you, dear boy?"

"I'm sorry, I broke your mirror. I'll buy you another one," Nicolaus said as he put his hands over his face, not wanting his aunt to see him, just as he didn't want to see his own reflection in the broken mirror. Betsy bent and gently removed Nicolaus's hands from his face.

"Tell me what has happened to you. Are you hurt?"

"No, I... I just need to be with you. I'll be okay, but just let me stay with you." Nicolaus told his aunt what had transpired the evening before, and she put him in one of the guest rooms with strict instructions to sleep and not to think about anything. Reassuring him that there would be plenty of time to think about it later, she returned to her shop where the day's tourists had already been let in to browse.

"Nicolaus!" Betsy called softly at first, then shook him and called again, trying to wake him from his fitful sleep. A Lieutenant Roberts is here to see you. Can you get up?"

"Yeah, what time is it?" Nicolaus asked, as he sat on the side of the bed, pulling his fingers through his curls.

"It's almost eight o'clock in the evening," replied Betsy, handing him his freshly washed clothes. Nicolaus came downstairs and shook Joe's hand before sitting down in a sleepy daze.

"Sorry to bother you, but I have a few more questions I need to ask, and to give you some information," the lieutenant said. His tone was neutral. Nicolaus had no doubt, as the lieutenant spoke, that he must have talked with his aunt and she had set him straight before she woke him.

"First of all, sorry about the media, I truly don't know how they got your name."

"My name?" Nicolaus repeated still in a fog of sleep. "Have they...?"

"I'm afraid they have." Joe finished his question as if reading his mind that they had tried to contact his parents at the farm for more of the story. "Coming to your aunt's was a good choice. Don't worry, this will all be old news in a couple of weeks. What I came to ask you is, where did you say Mrs. Noel got the gun?"

"I told you, from the desk in the library. Why?"

"It's not important, just some of the staff's stories were conflicting concerning it."

"That may be because none of them saw her take the gun from the desk. I must have been the only one. Don't ask me why, trust me, I was on my way out of there. God rest her soul, but she was not all there, if you know what I mean."

"What do you mean?" Lieutenant Roberts asked, like Nicolaus had sparked another investigation.

"I don't mean to speak badly of the dead, but Mrs. Noel was, in my opinion, insane to say the least."

"That's a good observation, Mr. Zook, since the medical examiner just informed me that she indeed was in the last stages of syphilis. The disease would have been treatable, if she would have gone for help. It would be wise for you to seek help if indeed you have been with her, if you know what I mean!" the lieutenant said, winking at Nicolaus as he stood to leave, offering his hand in a hearty shake and nodding to Betsy in appreciation for her help.

The lieutenant thought, as he got into his unmarked cruiser, that he had never met a young Amish man as into the world but not of it as much as Nicolaus was. How could this young man think he wouldn't be touched by this outside world? Is he naive enough to think he can keep one foot in the innocence of his past and one in the lust and corruptions of this present world? Joe felt for the young man but he had his job to do. Perhaps I'll do some surveillance of my own on this one, Joe thought, making a mental note to visit The Eagle a few times this month. After all, this poor kid is right in the middle of hell and doesn't know it.

~

"Nicolaus, a man named Jesse wants to speak to you," Betsy said as she handed the phone to Nicolaus.

"Jesse? No... I'm okay," Nicolaus said as he looked down at the floor and listened for a few minutes in silence. "Thanks, Jesse, I could use the week off. Tell Gene for me that I will be at practice on Monday. Tell me, the reporters, are they hanging around still?" Nicolaus again listened in silence. "I'm really sorry, Jesse, and thanks again for the week off." Hanging up the phone, he sat down at the kitchen table with his aunt, thanking her for the coffee and plate of ham and mashed potatoes she placed before him. Only placing a few bites of it in his mouth, Nicolaus rearranged the food on his plate over and over again.

"Why do you think she did it?" he asked, not looking up from his plate and continuing to move the food around, as if he were segregating the bits of food from each other.

"God knows, Nicolaus, why people do what they do. I think though in her case, it was the sickness the lieutenant spoke about." Betsy knew well what syphilis was but could not bring herself to say the word to her nephew. "Would you like me to make a doctor's appointment for you, Nicolaus?"

"An appointment? Oh... no, I never, I mean... No thanks, Aunt Betsy, it's not necessary," Nicolaus said, finally looking up at his aunt. "I do think I need to go back to bed, if that's okay with you. My body sleeps, but my mind won't." Getting up from the table, and placing his plate and cup on the drain board, Betsy pushed him gently to one side as she nodded in the direction of the stairs, letting him know she would take care of his dishes. "Thanks, Aunt Betsy. Thanks for everything." Stopping at the foot of the stairs, Nicolaus asked as he looked down at the handrail, "If anyone else calls, please tell them I'm asleep." Betsy nodded to his request with a smile of understanding.

Nicolaus slept through the day and night, waking early the next morning and finding his aunt in the same place in the kitchen. "Did I leave that many dishes yesterday? You haven't moved since I saw you last!"

"Nicolaus! Come and eat. You are rested, ja?"

"I feel better," said Nicolaus with a stretch and a yawn.

"It's come out nice, ja?"

"What's that?" asked Nicolaus as he sat down in front of a stack of buttermilk pancakes.

"The blood, it all came out clean!"

"Oh, yeah. Thanks," Nicolaus said, looking down at his shirt with his mouth full, then diving in for more on his plate.

"I want you to go with me to service this morning, Nicolaus."

"Dees-ist Zonn-tahk?" Nicolaus asked with a frown.

"Ja, Nicolaus, it's Sunday! I think it will make you feel better." Nicolaus shook his head as if trying to loosen the cobwebs in his brain, totally confused of the days and nights; they all seemed to him to be one big nightmare.

"Ach, Auntie, I don't think so, but thanks anyway." He pushed the empty plate away and put both hands around his coffee mug.

"You'll see, you'll feel better. Now clear the dishes for me while I get ready," Betsy ordered as if she hadn't heard his wishes. Nicolaus looked up at her, narrowing his eyes in a questioning look. "Get to it, Nicolaus, so we aren't late!" she called out at him as she hurried up the staircase.

Since her departure from the Amish brotherhood, Betsy had been attending a small Mennonite church, one that was modern but still had most of the Old Order fundamental beliefs she was accustomed to, although this congregation allowed the believers to choose for themselves if they would drive cars or equip their homes with modern appliances. It was entirely up to each individual, and that's the way Betsy liked it. It was how it should be taught, she thought.

It was odd for Nicolaus to go to worship in a building designed purposely just for the gathering together of the saints. He was accustomed to meeting in the brotherhood's homes and barns, the women sitting together on one side, and the men on the opposite side of the meeting place, each in their groups according to age.

He sat with his aunt, listening to their songs, which were livelier than the ones he grew up singing out of the Ashbond, a book of non-instrumental medieval melodies that seemed to take a good part of an hour to sing. The words were hard to understand as a child, being in old German, as were the Bible readings. Nicolaus sat and read the words to some of the songs in the hymnal while the preacher spoke. They were intensely touching, making him glad he had come after all, but wondered if he knew God the way the songwriters did. What would it be like to really know Him? Nicolaus wondered as he started to pay attention to what the preacher was saying, but he could not keep his mind from wandering back to the words of the songs and the melodies that wove them together as one.

After service, Aunt Betsy stopped to talk with friends, leaving Nicolaus to stand waiting by himself, encouraging two young women to step up and introduce themselves. Nicolaus pulled his hands out of his pockets and shook each of their hands, smiling as he said his name.

"Yes, but we know you as 'Nick,'" one of the girls said as she smiled sheepishly, her eyes wide with excitement.

"You play in the band at The Eagle?" the other one asked as she bounced on her heels and folded her arms about her midriff in a relaxed way.

"So you've been to the bar?" Nicolaus asked, still smiling down at the two.

Their faces went from smiles to unexpected fear. "Shhh!" one said as they both looked around to see if anyone had heard. "Yes, but let's just keep it between us, okay? I mean, my parents would be mortified if they knew I went to The Eagle!"

Nicolaus laughed and shook his head in agreement with the two. "Ach, I'm sorry I forgot we're at church, after all!"

Betsy looked over at her nephew, noticing his shy smile while he spoke with the two young ladies, feeling glad he had people his own age to talk to. It is good that the young mend so fast, she thought.

"We are a little surprised to see you here in church today. Are you Mennonite?" one of the girls asked.

"No, I'm visiting with my aunt. She's right over there." Nicolaus nodded toward Betsy.

"Sister Betsy is your aunt? She's one of my favorite people!" one of the girls commented, as she turned back to Nicolaus.

"Yeah, she is a good woman!" Nicolaus said, flashing his blue eyes at Betsy, gracing her with a smile and a nod.

"Nicolaus, I want to introduce you to our minister, Doctor James Cullumber, and his wife Louise. James, this is my nephew, Nicolaus Zook. He is my brother's son. He is out from among the Old Order." Then, turning to the young women, she whispered, "Rumspringa!" The two young women looked at each other with wide-eyed surprise and began to chuckle to themselves. Nicolaus smiled uncomfortably at his aunt and nodded to the minister and his wife, then looked back at Betsy with a raised eyebrow, a look that said, "Now, I'd like to see you get me out of this one!"

"Zook, that name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it? It's been recently, too!" asked Louise, to no one in particular, her hand resting daintily under her thin sharp chin, her eyes fixed on Nicolaus as she squinted deep in thought. Nicolaus thought he would laugh out loud from nerves but kept calm as he nodded to his aunt, signaling her that it was time to run.

"Well, it was nice meeting all of you, Louise, James," using their first names as would be expected in his Amish world. Then turning to the two young women he said with a smile as he took Betsy's hand, "I'll see you two soon. Come and see me when you're at my place of work, yeah?"

~

"That was close!" Nicolaus said as the two got in her car.

"You mean Sister Louise trying to figure where she'd heard your name?"

"Yeah, no doubt my name and photo have been plastered all over the newspapers and T.V."

"That's silly. How would anyone have a picture of you?" asked Betsy moving back in her seat and raising her head to look out of her bifocals as if to get a better look at her nephew. One of their prevalent rules in Nicolaus's district was one that strictly forbade the making of any graven images or taking one's photograph. She knew this and so did he.

"I don't know, but that's what she's going to gather later, I'm sure."

"Ach, this will all pass soon. You'll see," said Betsy, smiling as she drove home.

"Yeah, but will I ever understand?" Nicolaus said low, almost in a whisper as he looked out at the town's scenery pass by.

"I certainly hope not. For when you start understanding the ways of this world, I'd say you've grown much too accustomed to it, and that isn't necessarily a good thing." Betsy looked at her nephew with sympathetic eyes. "Nicolaus, if you remember anything I have said to you, I want you to remember this... I know the big void you feel in your heart right now. It is as deep sometimes as the abyss. Is it not so?"

"Yeah, how do you know?" Nicolaus asked, looking at his aunt intently.

"Nicolaus, you were brought up in the way you were to go, but now you are thrown into a world you know nothing about, and what's worse, they know less about your world. The things you do and say, they don't understand, ja?"

"Yeah," answered Nicolaus, his eyes intently fixed on hers.

"Well, believe me, if you remain in their world, you will have to fill that void with something else."

"With what? What could fill such a black hole?" Nicolaus asked with tears welling up in his eyes, threatening to spill over.

"You'll have to find out 'with what' on your own. If I told you, you would never believe me. You may even run from it, like I did, and I cannot risk that. All I know is that you have to look in the light. Do not go to the dark for the answers.

"Aunt Betsy, please, my soul cries to understand." A tear floated slowly down Nicolaus's cheek as he placed a closed fist against his heart.

"Just remember what I said, Nicolaus!" is all Betsy said, refusing to look his way and her heart knowing what his felt, and it was unbearable.

As the two entered the house, Betsy picked up the ringing phone. "Hello, just one moment, please. Nicolaus, it is a Lorie Van Sant. You should want to speak to her, ja?"

Nicolaus was on his way up the stairs but stopped for a moment, then shook his head, his eyes never leaving the steps.

"Lorie, Nicolaus is very confused. He needs some time on his own. I know you understand. Are you not the woman Nicolaus is living with, ja? Then you know he is simple at heart and he cares for you or he would not be with you. Good, I knew you would understand. Please continue to call for him, even if he will not talk with you. He needs to know you are there for him even so."

~

"Nicolaus, es ist Deenstahk. Get up, son." Betsy got accustomed to informing her nephew of the day because he would ask each time she had to wake him. "It's Tuesday" she repeated. "Sylvain is here to see you." Sylvain walked into his room before Betsy could finish. Plopping himself next to Nicolaus on the bed, he smiled at his friend and started to sing a good-morning-to-you nursery song old Mattie, their teacher, would sing to the children every morning of their school days. Nicolaus laughed to himself as he rolled over and covered his head with the blankets. Betsy left the room, leaving the two alone.

"Es toot meer lite, Nicolaus. Are you better now?" Nicolaus leaned himself on one arm as he removed the covers to look at Sylvain, aware of a change of behavior and tone of voice coming from his friend. "I didn't come to see you so you could have some time to yourself. I know that's why you came to your aunt's instead of Lorie's. Lorie and Karen are sick with worry over you, too. Vee lang-he bly-ben du?" Sylvain asking, how long he was staying? He watched his friend get out of bed and move around the room, gathering his clothes to dress.

"Ish vice nisht," Nicolaus replying that he didn't know.

"It was that bad?" asked Sylvain. Nicolaus remained silent while he tied his shoes. "Okay, let's get you out of this dark room and into the light of day!" Sylvain said, slipping back to his old jovial self as he jumped up and walked to the door, bowing to Nicolaus with a flourish like one of the three musketeers.

"What did you just say?" Nicolaus asked, looking up, his eyebrows turned down in a frown at Sylvain, remembering what his aunt had said to him on Sunday.

"I just said let's go, we'll be late for practice. Don't get crazy on me!" Sylvain walked back and pulled Nicolaus to his feet.

As the two came down the staircase, Betsy had one hand covering the phone receiver as she held it out to Nicolaus. "It's Lorie. Do you want to talk?" Nicolaus took the phone this time and moved to one corner of his aunt's living room for more privacy.

"What are they saying?" Betsy asked Sylvain, knowing he could better hear the conversation.

"He's telling her that he wants to come back home tomorrow—or her to come and get him if she wants him back."

"Sylvain, is Lorie good for Nicolaus?" Betsy asked as she looked up into his gentle brown eyes.

"She's different than he is, and I think she is good for him right now. But Nicolaus will not marry this one!" Sylvain said matter-of-factly, using his prophetic sense as he did so often.

"Dear, boy, you have the gift, that's for sure. I ask you, Sylvain, please take care of Nicolaus. I'm afraid he's getting a little too used to the dark!" Betsy said as she walked away, her eyes still on her nephew in the corner with the phone to his ear and a smile on his face.

~

The clouds were threatening to pour rain as Nicolaus and his aunt sat at her breakfast table waiting for Nicolaus's ride to show up on the peaceful fall Wednesday morning. Impatiently strumming his fingers on her table as he looked at the clock on the wall, Nicolaus stopped just long enough to smile in exchange for Betsy's look of disapproval.

"She'll be here. Calm yourself!"

"I'm calm," said Nicolaus, jumping up when the doorbell rang. Betsy pushed him back to his seat while she went for the door.

"Oh hello, Sister Cullumber, it's gut to see you." Betsy said, as she smirked at her nephew, teasing him.

"I was around the corner and thought I would stop by your shop," Louise answered.

"Nicolaus, you remember Sister Louise?" Betsy asked, as she graciously showed Louise in.

"Ja, it is gut to see you again." Nicolaus offered his hand to her and with a warm smile shook her hand gently downward once, Amish style.

"I happened to have remembered where I saw your name, Nicolaus. I had some quilts made by a sweet Amish woman by the name of Zook. I believe her first name was Esther."

"That would be my mother," answered Nicolaus, sitting down with the two at the table.

The doorbell rang again and this time Nicolaus was up out of his chair so fast that it toppled over backwards, leaving it lay as he stumbled over it to get to the door. The two women laughed at his awkwardness, finding it endearing.

"Come and meet my aunt," Nicolaus said, ushering Lorie into the kitchen.

"It's gut to finally meet you." Betsy stood and offered her hand, then turned to Louise and introduced her to Lorie, who really had no interest in the two old biddies; she just wanted to get Nicolaus home, but was polite even so.

"Well then, gah-en du nun? you're going now?" Betsy asked.

"Ja, ish gah-en," Nicolaus answered as he gave his aunt a hug and a kiss on her cheek. Looking down into her eyes, he whispered, "Thanks for all you do for me!"

"You remember what I told you about the light, and, Nicolaus, you are always welcome here," Betsy whispered back.

"I will remember."

~

November 1973  
Age 18

An early November snow fell as Lorie watched it through their bedroom window, her head pressed against Nicolaus's chest, listening to his heart pound. A month had passed since the incident of Mrs. Noel, and Nicolaus was feeling a little more secure in his move to stay in the outside world. He felt as though he had finally started to fit in, the patrons at The Eagle were not so intimidating, and he even had friends who would stop by to talk with him while at work. The thought of not being at The Eagle was strange, and his past life, simple as it was, was the one that seemed stranger, or so he thought. A sense of well-being flooded over him as they lay together, the snow drifting past their window hypnotically.

"Nick, do you love me?" Lorie asked, putting a screeching halt to his euphoric state of mind.

Nicolaus waited a moment before he answered. "You know I care for you!" was the best he could muster, wondering if Lorie were going to ask for money or favors as was her usual manner.

"No, Nick! I know you care for me. You pay the rent, cook everyday, and keep this place spotless. I asked if you love me."

"Is there a difference? I care for you Lorie. What do you want me to say?"

"Nick, the question needs a yes or a no answer!"

"Lorie, it's the same thing! Okay... what does love mean to you?" Nicolaus asked, sitting up and watching as Lorie moved toward the dresser.

"Love means wanting to spend your life with me. Caring means you would prefer to sleep with me every night and pay the rent." Nicolaus did not answer, being that the latter was more in line with what he felt. "Do I take your silence as you just care for me?" Lorie asked, as she turned to Nicolaus from her opened dresser, taking out the birth control pill case and throwing one of the tiny pink pills down her throat without the aid of water.

"What is dat?" asked Nicolaus, his brows frowning at the packet in her hand.

"My pills, Nick! Why are you playing stupid all of a sudden?" said Lorie.

"Are you sick?" Nicolaus asked as he took them from her and inspected the package front and back.

"Birth-Control-Pills." Lorie said, as if she were trying to help a refugee with his English.

"You are deliberately preventing a child... isn't that..."

"Nick, sometimes I almost forget that you come from this century. Yes! How do you think I've stayed pregnant-free all these months?"

"A child is a gift from God, Lorie!" said Nicolaus, tossing the packet of pills on the bed.

"A gift to you, not to me! Anyway, you just care for me, remember? We have no business bringing a child into the world, knowing its father just cares for its mother, now do we?"

Nicolaus laid back down and turned away from Lorie, letting her know he was done talking to her, put out as he was with her attitude towards children.

"Do you know what I think?" cried Lorie as she jumped back into bed next to Nicolaus, yanking the covers up and over her shoulders, her back towards Nicolaus's.

"No, but I do believe you're about to tell me."

"I think you just want me for a toy that you can put down after you're done playing!"

"What?" replied Nicolaus, now angry.

"You know what I mean. You just want me for sex!" Nicolaus now turned to face her. "Don't ask for it anymore. It's not available!" Lorie said with bitterness.

"I can not believe what I'm hearing. You are accusing me of taking advantage of you?" Nicolaus asked as he grabbed his jeans and attempted to put them on.

"Then answer me. Yes or no. Do you love me?"

Nicolaus stood before her with his pants on and his shirt in one hand, dragging it on the floor as he turned to leave silently.

"See. I'm right!" she called after him, Nicolaus slamming the bedroom door. He lay on the living room couch in the silence of the darkened room, thinking about their relationship and how it was a selfish affair on both sides. It's true, he thought, I have no desire to spend the rest of my life with her. She is selfish and cannot keep a place clean for one day. She refuses to cook or pay her share of the bills. The proverb came to him that he had read many times while at home, "It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top exposed to all kinds of weather than in a house shared with a nagging, quarrelsome, and fault finding woman." Yeah, now that's Lorie for sure! I don't know. Maybe she is right! Nicolaus found himself feeling ashamed and wondered how he could do that to her or anyone. Looking around at the darkened living room, he found that he could easily make out the chairs and objects that lay about the room, and then the words of his aunt echoed back to him in a haunting way. "Don't become too accustomed to the dark!" A shiver ran down his back as he wished he had brought a blanket with him, more of an article of protection from his own mind and conscience, not necessarily to cover from the chill of the freshly fallen snow outside.

The months went by slowly. November's brisk air resembled the air around Lorie. To Nicolaus, though, it could have been in the hottest days of summer. Being constantly near Lorie without being able to touch her was wearing on the young man's nerves. He needed and desired Lorie to love and respect him, but strife and misunderstanding were all that came out of their togetherness.

~

"Nicolaus, what is today?" Karen asked one afternoon. Nicolaus and Karen had the night off at The Eagle while Lorie had to work, which gave Nicolaus time to clean and write songs without her constant nagging, belittling and making fun of him any chance she got.

"It's the first of Det-sem-ber." Why?

"What?" Karen's face was frowning and laughing at the same time.

"Sorry, December!" Nicolaus answered, shaking his head and wondering when he would finally stop speaking his native tongue to outsiders. "Why do you ask?" Nicolaus curiously wondered, knowing he hadn't informed anyone that his birthday was today. The only person who did know was Sylvain and he was nowhere in sight. He and Karen had broken up a week ago and he hadn't heard from Sylvain since Saturday night at The Eagle. Nicolaus was hoping he would stop by, but it was three o'clock and he was sure Sylvain had other engagements, like helping his father with the farm, which he had been doing a lot of lately. A tinge of self-pity tried to invade the beautiful winter afternoon, but Nicolaus quickly avoided the feelings and thoughts.

"Well, because I have two tickets to the ballet. I've been waiting an entire season for this particular one!" Karen said as she held two tickets up as proof.

Nicolaus thought how odd it must have been to be brought up going to the ballet and plays as Karen had. He remembered the stories she'd told him of her exceptionally well-to-do family and how they would collectively agree on the plays and ballets they considered attending each season, kind of a rich person's family night out, he surmised. He could tell that she missed her family and was wishing she had never left her cocoon of wealth and safety. However, that did not mean she could never come home again, unlike his memories of his family life.

"You wouldn't happen to want to go with me?" Karen asked, in a pleading tone.

Nicolaus looked down at her, and with a gentle smile he said, "Ya know, Karen, ballets are just a little too weird to me. I think I'll pass on it. Thanks anyway."

Karen shrugged and tossed the two tickets into the garbage can on her way to her bedroom.

Nicolaus sat down with the book he had been meaning to get started on, but an uneasiness of Karen and her tickets kept gnawing at him. Getting up he looked into the garbage can for the darn things and thought, What a strange thing that she would ask me, of all people, to this silly ballet. She must have really wanted to go. Placing the tickets into his shirt pocket, Nicolaus went to Karen's bedroom door and knocked. "Okay, what do I wear to a ballet?" he asked as she opened the door.

"Your best!" Karen said with a broad smile as she snatched the tickets out of his pocket.

"My best is very plain, Karen!" Nicolaus replied, raising one eyebrow as a warning.

"I'll show you what to wear!" exclaimed Karen as she pulled him into his room and placed him in front of the closet, picking out the clothes he had worn to Fred's memorial.

"Do I have to wear that?" Nicolaus asked.

Her eyes returned his look of pity but said, "Most of the men will be wearing tuxes. It's a very classy affair!"

Nicolaus looked at the clothes then back at her and said, "I'm sorry for my simplicity. Do you still want me to go?"

"Are you kidding? I'd go with you if you wore only the tie! Nick, you do not realize what a prize you are. All those nicely dressed men couldn't hold a candle to your natural good looks, and don't you know all those women will be wishing they could be me tonight, so wear what you want. It really won't matter."

Accepting compliments was something Nicolaus could never get used to. They were not given in his world. Compliments were a show of pride and that was never tolerated.

~

The elegant theater was bustling with well-dressed people of all ages. Most of the women had animal pelts around their necks, which Nicolaus found extremely odd for so many of them to think this to be normal. The brilliance from their jewelry was almost blinding; the bigger the better seemed to be protocol. Their proud glares were almost threatening to Nicolaus as he properly returned them with a half smile and a nod of his head as if saying to them, "Yeah, I see you. Now go away!" The men seemed to be dressed for the entertainment of the women, being paraded around as if they were their prized show dogs, which the men seemed to find acceptable.

"I'm not fitting in, am I?" Nicolaus whispered to Karen after getting the third degree from an older gentleman who dashed by, evidently thinking he was late.

"Oh don't worry about them, Nicolaus, they mean no harm. They are all very nice people. They just like to look alike. It makes them uncomfortable to have a rebel in their midst. Let's go find our seats," said Karen dazzled by all the beautiful people and feeling pleasantly at ease in their universe.

They walked up two flights of a beautiful spiral staircase covered with plush red velvet to a curtained-off balcony. Beyond the curtain, a gentleman stood at attention, dressed in a black tux. He reached for Karen's tickets with a white-gloved hand, bowed, and then helped her with her evening coat, hanging it properly on the coat rack provided. The balcony had two seats elaborately cushioned with the same red velvet upholstery as the carpet.

"Here we are!" Karen said, her eyes wide with excitement. "What can I say? I love the ballet."

"I'm impressed!" Nicolaus said, uncomfortably looking back at the gentleman who was still standing behind them, his white-gloved hand extended to Nicolaus.

"Oh, he will be keeping his coat. Thank you," Karen said, with a smile and a nod of her head.

"We are like two canaries up here!" Nicolaus said, as he sat and looked down at the people in the audience, who most emphatically were staring back up at the two.

"Well, we can sit here until the ballet starts and let them gawk at us or we can give them something to keep them entertained while they wait!" Nicolaus laughed as he looked into her eyes to see if she was serious and then looked back down at the crowd.

"Ach, what the hell, let's make out!" This surprised Karen as she laughed, thinking how much she enjoyed his dry humor. The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed. The curtain lifted, exposing as many as twelve dancers, all in white free-flowing gowns. They moved elegantly, placing their heads, hands, and feet to each change of the tempo and mood of the music, never missing a step and always in sequence with the others. The dancers' bodies were beautiful and graceful. It was art in motion and it made Nicolaus realize what Karen so loved about it. She looked over at Nicolaus, who had sat motionless throughout each of the performances. She began looking at his deep blue eyes and his dark chestnut brown hair that whipped about his face in loose curls sensually framing his strong cheekbones and jaw, lying gently upon his broad shoulders, accentuating his strong neck muscles. His long dark eyelashes blinked and then looked her way. He graced her with a smile as he cocked his head to one side and frowned as if asking her if there were anything wrong. Karen smiled back, focusing her attention again on the dancers. She thought of Lorie and wondered how she could treat this ideal creature with such contempt. How could he allow her to treat him the way she did while there were so many girls chomping at the bit to be with him? She looked at him again as if to confirm her thoughts.

"That was really interesting, Karen. Thanks for making me go with you," Nicolaus said, as they got into her car.

"So, I made you go with me, is it?" Karen asked jokingly with a half smile.

"No, I mean," replied Nicolaus getting mad at himself for not using the right words again.

"I'm teasing you. I know what you meant, Nick, and you're welcome. Just consider it a birthday present."

The smile slowly faded from Nicolaus's face as he asked, "How did you know it was my birthday? Did Sylvain tell you?" Nicolaus stopped abruptly, realizing that Karen was just joking after seeing her surprised reaction.

"You're kidding, right?" Karen asked as she tried to keep one eye on the road and one on Nicolaus.

Nicolaus was silent as he stared out the side window and then said, "I should have known it was a lucky guess. Damn, I'm so stupid to think..."

"It is your birthday today, isn't it? I can't believe you didn't say anything."

"Don't feel bad," Nicolaus said, still looking out the window. "I didn't say anything because—well, after all, isn't that what birthdays are all about? I mean, if no one remembers, what's da point? Anyway, it doesn't matter."

"Nick, I feel horrible now."

"Why? At least you said something, even if it was a lucky guess! Really, Karen, I'm no one special. Promise me that you won't say anything to anyone, especially Lorie or Sylvain."

"Nick, you're important to me and I know you are to Lorie and Sol, too. It's just that we get busy with our own lives and forget about others sometimes." Karen took her eyes off the road to look at Nicolaus's reaction.

"That's my point, Karen, it doesn't matter!" Nicolaus said, with a sad smile.

Arriving at home, Lorie was there waiting. "You two look like you've been having fun," she said in a questioning tone, her hands on her hips in a stance of authority.

"Good night, Karen."

"Good night, Nick." They both smiled and headed for their bedrooms, leaving Lorie to conjure whatever thoughts she wanted.

The next evening at The Eagle, Karen came to Lorie and stood beside her, watching the band while waiting for their drink orders to be loaded onto their trays.

"Nick's a really good catch, Lorie. Have you changed your mind about him?"

"I want him, Karen, but he doesn't want me," Lorie answered as she took her heavily loaded tray of drinks.

"To be honest, Lorie, you haven't been the best girlfriend to him, let alone a promising wife. You forgot his birthday after all, girl!" Karen said, as she maneuvered her body under her tray of drinks.

"His birthday? Okay, see... how can I... I mean he never... How am I supposed to know things when he doesn't tell me? Oh, Karen, he is so different and hard to deal with sometimes. It's not that he... Well, he gets on my nerves. I'm used to mean men. Men that come home drunk and slap me around for no apparent reason. He wants a woman that will clean, cook and have his babies. That's not me."

"Do you want to know what I would do if I were you?" Karen asked, with one side of her lip turned up in a sly smile.

"No, what?" asked Lorie, looking around with an eye out for Jesse.

"Nick doesn't like you taking the birth control pills, right? Well then, stop taking them, get pregnant and then he will have to marry you on your terms!" Karen said as she walked away with her tray in tote, leaving the ultimate decision to Lorie.

~

April 1974  
Age 19

Sylvain plunked himself next to Nicolaus on the backstage couch and asked, "It's been gut, ja?"

"What?" Nicolaus asked in return.

"You and Lorie!" said Sylvain with a smile.

"It's been gut, ja," Nicolaus repeated, looking at him, wondering how he knew he and Lorie made up and were sleeping together again.

"Well ya know, Nicolaus, it is said, 'too resistant a woman is a sign of hostility, but too eager a woman can be a sign of a trap!'" Sylvain stood and patted Nicolaus on his knee then walked away. It was his tone that shot through Nicolaus, filling him with fear and causing his throat to feel as if it were closing shut. He swallowed hard, trying to relieve it. Nicolaus knew Sylvain had the gift, and each time he used it, he would speak to Nicolaus as if in a trance. It was a tone, not of Sylvain's, but a persona of its own, Sylvain being the medium through which it spoke. It always gave Nicolaus the creeps, but he listened and heeded just the same.

"Showtime! Let's go, boys," Gene said, as he held the backstage door open.

"Hey, Nick, there are two men out here from Royal Recording Studio watching us tonight. Put a little more into the act, okay?" Gene said as Nicolaus passed through the door.

"And you're telling me dis because?" asked Nicolaus.

"Because this might just be our chance to make it big. Sing only your songs on this set, okay."

"Whatever you say Gene," Nicolaus replied, unconcerned in the least of the agents.

Jesse came backstage after the first set with the two men who were resplendent in the nicest three-piece suits Nicolaus had ever seen. They even smelled like money. "Nick, can I speak to you for a moment?" Jesse asked while lighting up a cigar, which he did occasionally to impress someone special. After being introduced to the two recording agents, Nicolaus put down the towel he used to dry his sweat-drenched hair from the last set to shake their hands.

"You're pretty good, Nick Zook. That is your name, right?

"Yeah, they call me Nick," Nicolaus replied, not acknowledging their compliment.

"You're not just pretty good, you're real good!" commented the other man with his hands clasped behind his back. "How would you like to record some of your songs for Royal?"

"Like in a record?" asked Nicolaus, raising his eyebrows in suspicion.

"Excuse me. Would anyone like anything from the bar?" Lorie asked as she moved in close to one of the men, who eyed her in a way that made Nicolaus uneasy, but then he noticed that Lorie looked back at the man in the same way. The feeling of jealousy was strong and Nicolaus didn't try to hide it.

Jesse saw Nicolaus's reactions. "Answer the gentleman, Nick," Jesse said, sternly trying to get Nicolaus's thoughts back to the offer.

"I'm not sure when the band can get away to record. You're better off asking them."

"We aren't interested in the band. We're interested in you," said the agent, smiling at Lorie as she smiled back. Nicolaus was outraged first at the thought that the men were willing to eliminate the band without which he felt he was nothing. They were his friends; if not for them he would never have become what he was. Second, it wasn't only that the record agent was trying to pick up on Lorie, but that Lorie was enjoying and even encouraging it.

"You have the wrong man. I don't do solo acts! Sorry," Nicolaus said, as he turned to leave.

"Nick, you don't understand. This is a once in a lifetime... You have to excuse Nick. He's new at all this. You know, naÔve!" Jesse said, the sweat beginning to bead up and trickle down his forehead.

Nicolaus turned and with clenched teeth said, "I am not so naÔve as not to know that these two over-dressed monkeys know nothing about me or my music, and that's the way I'd like to keep it. Now if you will excuse me, I would rather be talking to my friends. You know, the band!" Nicolaus then looked at Lorie with a look that she and the others understood.

Jesse went after him, grabbing Nicolaus hard by his arm. "You have just committed recording suicide!" Jesse hissed. "You'll never get this chance again!" Nicolaus said nothing, looked at Jesse's hand on his arm then back into his eyes. Jesse let go, never before experiencing Nicolaus's dark blue eyes piercing into his soul.

"What was that all about?" Sylvain asked as Nicolaus came to stand with the band, looking down as he placed his hands in the pockets of his jeans, trying to avoid eye contact with anybody.

"Nothing!" said Nicolaus sternly.

"Do they want to sign us up?" asked Gene, the excitement apparent in his eyes.

"No!" replied Nicolaus as he turned to exit the back door to get some fresh air. Sylvain looked back at Jesse and the two men who were still talking backstage, wondering what had been said to set Nicolaus off so.

"Karen says you're having a party tonight after work. How come you didn't say anything to me?" Nicolaus looked at Sylvain as if he was crazy. "Oh, well, by the look on your face, I guess she didn't bother to tell you either!" Sylvain put his hand on Nicolaus's shoulder and gave a little squeeze before letting go. "Well, get ready, she apparently has invited the entire bar and staff, too! By the way, what did the men from the recording agency want?"

"They wanted me to record for them," replied Nicolaus, his eyes still lowered.

"And you said?

"I said no!"

"Why, Nicolaus? What's up with you lately? Isn't this the reason you took on this band gig anyway? I mean, at least you could have asked us if we wanted to record. Thanks for thinking about us, Nicolaus!"

Nicolaus looked up painfully at his friend and said as humbly as he could, "Sylvain, they just wanted me. Me, Sylvain, not the band, me!" He stared silently at Sylvain until he knew Sylvain fully understood, and then he walked away.

"Are you going to tell him, Lorie?" Karen asked on their way home from work.

"Did I tell you that the big-wig from the recording studio asked me out?"

"Oh, no, you're not going to change the subject on me, Lorie. You're carrying Nick's baby and you're thinking of going out with the guy from the studio? Lorie, where's your heart, girl? Don't you even care about Nick?"

"You're crazy, Karen, if you think I'm going to keep this kid; it was the stupidest thing I've ever done. I should have never listened to you."

"Me! Lorie you're a big girl now; you have a brain of your own. Anyway, I thought you loved Nick or I would not have suggested it. You've just been using him just like you're using his child. If you're going to get rid of it, you had better never tell him about it. It would most certainly finish you two. You know how he feels about kids!"

As they pulled into the driveway, the cars were already lined up down the street with eager guests prepared to indulge the night away.

Nicolaus and Gene entered the packed house, the people already half spent from the drugs and liquor Lorie had provided. The thick smoke and smell of booze permeated each room as Nicolaus made his way between the tightly packed bodies; once halfway up the stairs, he happened to look down at the room below to see Lorie in the arms of the man from the recording agency. He stopped, moved to the left then the right, trying his best to look around the bodies that were blocking his view to witness their lustful embrace and kisses, which were all too painfully apparent to him. Finally, making it to his bedroom, Nicolaus slammed the door after him hard and sat on the bed in shock and anger. Lorie entered after him, standing by his side at the bed.

"Can't you come into a room without making a scene?" she asked, her hands resting on her hips in her familiar defiant stance.

"You're one to talk, Lorie. I saw you with that man. I think we should talk. Ja?"

"Okay, you want to talk? Well how about this? I want you to move out tonight!"

Nicolaus looked up at her, his eyes full of hurt. "Why now, Lorie? Have I done something to hurt you?"

"No, Nick, I just don't love you anymore. You were right. We would never get along. We are too different from each other. It would never have worked out!" Lorie went to the closet, pulled out Nicolaus's clothing and started haphazardly loading all his belongings into a pillowcase.

Nicolaus stopped her by placing his hand gently over hers and said low, realizing it was no use to try and talk to her. "I'll pack, go to the party."

As she started to walk out of the room, she stopped and said, "It's only fair that I should tell you. I'm pregnant!"

Nicolaus dropped what he was packing and placed his hand on the door, preventing her from leaving. "You are carrying my child? Lori, I will do whatever you want me to do..."

"No, Nick, I'm not keeping it, so don't get attached to the idea."

Fear sparked through Nicolaus's body. The feeling of complete helplessness and terror filled his soul. "You're going to give my child to a stranger? How could you think of..."

"You don't understand, Nick. I don't even plan on having the kid!"

Nicolaus went silent, drawn back by the realization of what Lorie had said. His head felt as if it would burst from the uncontrollable rage that welled up in his soul. Placing his hand on her neck, he pressed her hard against the wall and hissed between tight teeth, "You have no right to kill my child!" his face close enough to hers that she could feel the heat from his body. The veins in his neck bulged from the strain of holding himself back from strangling her.

"You're hurting me," Lorie whispered, not expecting to draw in the next breath. Nicolaus released his grip and eventually let go as he finally came to his senses. Lorie used the opportunity of her freedom to hit Nicolaus across his face, splitting his lip with her blow. He caught her arm, hindering her second attempt, and held it hostage while she spoke her mind. "I live in this century, Nick, not in your barbaric seventeenth century. I can do whatever I please, and I do not intend on having your kid. All I have to do is go to the doctor and tell him that I was raped, and the problem will be eliminated. Don't preach to me whose right it is. I'm not having this child, and that is that!"

"I won't allow you to kill my child!"

"Allow me! You can't stop me! Let me go or I'll scream for help."

"Wait, I will do anything you ask. Just please don't do this Lorie. Here, the door's open. You can go, but please, Lorie, please give me a few days. All I ask is that you think about it. I will pay for everything, I'll take the baby, and you won't have to see it or me ever again after it has been born. Lorie, I'm pleading with you for the safety of my child."

Lorie turned and walked out the door into the crowded staircase, leaving Nicolaus standing in her room, tears mixed with blood streaming down his neck.

"You get in a fight?" asked Danny as Nicolaus walked out to where he and Gene were standing by Gene's car, the two not wishing to get caught in the house by the police in case they were called.

"Could I stay a couple of days with you, Gene?" Nicolaus asked, his voice shaking and on the verge of breaking up.

"Sure, what happened? Did Lorie...?"

"Yeah!" Nicolaus said as he got into the car and remained silent on the ride to Gene's house, Gene knowing Nicolaus too well to ask any questions.

"Here you go. You can have this room. I don't have furniture in it, so you'll have to sleep on the floor, but you can crash here as long as you like." Nicolaus entered the room, saying nothing to the two, and closed the door after himself.

~

"Nick, ya want me to get you something to eat? I mean, you haven't eaten in two days," said Danny, concerned about his friend's blue mood.

Nicolaus hung up the phone and sat down on the couch. "You've been picking up that phone every hour for the last two days. Give her a chance to breathe, kid!" Gene said.

"Eat this!" Danny commanded, placing a plate of food in front of Nicolaus.

"I'm not hungry," said Nicolaus. He was unshaven, and his hair was pulled back in a rubber band, unmanageable from the tossing of his sleepless nights.

"Nick, you better get your act together soon. We need you onstage tomorrow, you know," Gene said, thinking a little shock therapy might help get Nicolaus out of his mood.

"I think Lorie has created a monster!" Danny said as Nicolaus returned to his room and closed the door, locking himself back in his self-imposed cell.

"I think you better go get Sylvain," Gene said to Danny, his tone serious.

~

"Where is he?" asked Sylvain as Danny opened the front door for him to enter. "He's in the back bedroom, or he might be on the phone trying to talk to Lorie. He moves from one to the other but that's about it." Sylvain held up his hand to Gene who looked up and acknowledged Sylvain's entrance.

"Hey, before you enter the inner sanctum, I got to tell you what's up."

"He already knows," Danny said.

Sylvain asked, "Back bedroom, right?" Gene nodded. Sylvain knocked but no response came from the other side.

"Nicolaus?" Sylvain called, still no response. "Nicolaus open this door. I have a message for you from Lorie."

Nicolaus rushed to the door and opened it, pulling Sylvain in. "What?" Nicolaus asked, his eyes wide and hands palms up as if Sylvain had a heavy load for Nicolaus to take from him.

"I lied, I'm sorry," Sylvain said as he placed his hand on Nicolaus's shoulder. Nicolaus dropped his hands, his shoulders going limp as if crushed. "Don't get mad at me. I came to help, Nicolaus."

"Then take me to Lorie. I have to talk to her," Nicolaus said, as he grabbed his coat.

"I will, but you have to eat something and clean yourself up a little. How long has it been since you slept or showered? Lorie sees you like this and she'll slam the door on you, thinking you're some wild animal!" Sylvain grabbed the coat from Nicolaus as he spoke.

"You don't understand, Sylvain."

"No, Nicolaus, you don't understand. Your behavior is unacceptable. No wonder she doesn't want to keep the child!"

"What?" Nicolaus asked. The two looked at each other as silence filled the room. "How can you say that? Moreover, how do you know about my child anyway?"

Sylvain held Nicolaus's shoulders with both hands, steering him away from the door as he broke out of English and into their dialect. "I knew about Lorie four weeks ago. She made me swear not to say anything. Nicolaus, she never intended on keeping your child. Can't you see it was a trap?" Nicolaus looked at Sylvain squinting in a questioning look. "It's too late, anyway. She's gone through with the abortion; she's convalescing at home!" Sylvain looked down as he told his friend the news he knew Nicolaus did not want to hear. Then he looked back up at him, knowing that he needed to be there for what would come next.

Nicolaus sank to his knees, his hands and head following limply to the floor as if he were a rag doll. Sylvain placed his hand on Nicolaus's back as he felt Nicolaus start to weep silently at first. Nicolaus then wrapped his arms around his head as if trying to cover himself from falling debris, rocking as he gasped in uncontrollable grief. Sylvain waited without a word of comfort, only the touch of his hand on Nicolaus, letting him know that he was there. He had seen Nicolaus cry before, but never had he seen him weep bitterly as he was now. It was painful to know how broken his heart was but worse knowing that there was nothing he could say or do to make Nicolaus feel any better. Gene and Danny entered his room, their mouths and eyes wide open in shock of Nicolaus's behavior, knowing it must have been a horrible tragedy that Sylvain had come bearing, unaware of what had actually taken place.

Nicolaus went silent as Sylvain bent down and started speaking softly again in their dialect.

"Nicolaus, let me get you something to eat, Danny says you haven't eaten for days."

Nicolaus stopped rocking and moved his arms from around his head, resting his head now on them as he covered his face. "Sylvain, I want to go home, I don't belong out here," he said in between gasps for air.

"What did he say?" Sylvain waved his hand at Danny signaling him to be still.

"Ach, Nicolaus, you're just hurting now. You will be alright in a few days."

"No, Sylvain I won't. I will never be the same. I refuse to be the same!" Nicolaus said as he rose to his knees. Looking up at Sylvain he asked, "Why did she do it? I can understand not wanting to be with me, but how could she kill an innocent child?" Nicolaus again started to sob as he clasped his hands, placing them on his lap, his head bent in sorrow.

"Is he praying?" Danny whispered to Gene, receiving an elbow jab from Gene in return. "Well, I don't understand that language, do you?" Gene then pulled Danny out of the room and immediately began severely scolding him in the hall to keep quiet and to mind his own business. "You were in the room, too!" Danny objected, pushing Gene to one side to enter again.

"This is my house, you idiot. I am supposed to be in the room with Nicolaus!" Gene began to yell as he grabbed Danny's shirt and yanked him violently back against the wall.

"What the hell is going on out here?" Sylvain whispered as he came around the doorway from Nicolaus's room, his eyes stern and brows turned down in anger. "I've got a serious number in here and you are acting like two chimpanzees out there. Cool it, the both of you!"

Returning to Nicolaus, Sylvain began to speak softly again to Nicolaus. "They are different, Nicolaus. She may not have even considered it as killing. Maybe she doesn't know it has a soul, as we believe it does. Ach, maybe you're right, maybe we don't belong out here. Nevertheless, out here we are! Come, let's get you something to eat and then you need to sleep. You'll feel better after, just you see," Sylvain said as he helped Nicolaus to his feet and offered him his dirty handkerchief. Nicolaus shook his head, letting Sylvain know he would not be in need of it.

~

For weeks after hearing of Lorie's actions Nicolaus worked on a few new songs, writing night and day to finish them. Putting them down on paper served to be a means of healing for him. It helped release all the feelings and thoughts that tormented him. The words were fashioned into music and the band practiced the songs to perfection until they were ready to introduce them to the patrons at The Eagle.

"You know Lorie's first night back is tonight, Nick?" asked Danny with his arms resting over his bass guitar.

"What about it?" asked Sylvain as he got up from the drums to get another beer.

"Well, I'm just wondering how she's going to take some of these songs. They are obviously about her!" said Danny looking over at Gene for agreement.

"The songs are about me!" Nicolaus replied as he placed his guitar gently on its stand.

"Yeah, well... I'll lay my money down right now that Lorie goes to Jesse over at least one of the songs."

"Let her. The songs are about me," Nicolaus repeated.

~

The bar was already crowded when the band arrived, cutting into some of their valuable tuning time.

"Jesse wants to talk to you, Nick," one of the bouncers called from the side of the stage.

"What about?" asked Nicolaus as he put his guitars back on their stands, making sure each was tuned to perfection. The bouncer shrugged and walked away.

"You wanted to see me, Jesse?" Nicolaus asked as he stood at the entrance to Jesse's office.

"Come in, Nick." Jesse waited until the door was closed and turned from his desk, offering a chair to Nicolaus. "Nick, I've been made aware of this breakup you and Lorie went through lately. Don't bother wondering who told me; the fact is I know. Now, Lorie's first night back from her vacation is tonight and..."

"Vacation? You mean your informer didn't tell you that she killed my child by having an abortion..." Nicolaus stopped and sat back in his chair in shock, then lowered his head as he went silent, aware that he had said too much.

"Abortion? Man, Nick, that's really harsh but I'm going to tell you just like I will tell her. I do not want any fighting or name-calling, no trouble out of either one of you. Have I made myself crystal clear? Now, I also hear you have new songs you've written and want to try out tonight."

Nicolaus shook his head yes but did not look up at Jesse.

"I'm going to ask you, because it was brought up that a few of the songs may be offensive to... well, to Lorie. Is this so?"

"Jesse, if Lorie is offended about any of my songs, it will be because she doesn't know me. All the new songs are about me and how I feel and think."

"All right, but if there is trouble, I'll be all over you in a heartbeat! Now, ask the boys to come in. I will tell them the same thing just in case we have some who wish to take up sides. Wait! One more thing, I also understand you've been drinking and smoking pot before the sets. Is this so?"

Nicolaus moved away from the door and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Jesse, you know I drink a beer between sets and one during. You're the one who has the girls set them up for us. As for the weed, well, we all smoke it. It helps me remember the words to the songs." Feeling his face flush, he knew that was not the truth. If anything, it clouded his mind so he could not think about anything but the words, kind of like a brain-numbing effect that he felt he needed lately. He thought it made him laugh more and not take everything so seriously. The only problem was, he woke up in the morning still facing the same unresolved pain that caused him to overindulge the night before.

"I don't like the fact that it's in the bar, and you of all people. I would have thought you would have stayed away from all that."

"I tried, Jesse," said Nicolaus, his head bowed in shame.

"I know you have. Listen, Nick, you're a good kid, and I don't want to see you throw it all away just because of some girl and what she did to you. Life is too short for that. Do what you want but I am warning you now, if it gets out of hand or causes you to mess up onstage, I will let my two bouncers take care of you. Do you understand?" Jesse waited for Nicolaus at least to shake his head. "Good, now go get the rest of the band!"

The songs went over great with the patrons at The Eagle. Jesse turned a deaf ear to Lorie's complaints, refusing to allow her to cry on his shoulder. Coming to terms that she would not have her way, she deliberately tried to get back at Nicolaus in ways that were menacing. She would speak to Nicolaus backstage in front of his crowd of admirers, asking him stupid questions and acting as if they were still a couple, to which Nicolaus would silently turn away from her or stand right where he was, arms crossed in front of him in silence as if she weren't there. It was a form of shunning he was all too familiar with and was taught by seeing it practiced throughout his Amish childhood. It was a form of silent punishment that helped the wayward back to a right standing in their community, making them want to faithfully follow their Ordnung, the rules, without question. This treatment outraged her all the more. She resorted to giving Nicolaus obscene hand gestures while she passed the stage with her tray of drinks during his songs to make her feelings perfectly clear to all, especially him. He did not care, they were his songs and his music.

"Karen, I want you to meet an old friend of mine. Deirdre, this is Karen. I just call her Dee for short," Lorie said, as she introduced the two to each other. "Good to meet you, Dee. Will you excuse me while I serve some tables?" Karen said as she floated her tray of drinks gracefully above people's heads and to the sides of them in one sweeping motion, never spilling drinks or touching the patrons. Lorie sat down next to Dee and began to look toward the stage, where the band was starting their next set.

"Is that the one?" asked Dee, nodding her head in the direction of the stage with her eyes on Nicolaus.

"Yep, that's Nick!"

"Are you crazy? He's the finest looking guy I have ever seen. What was his problem? Did he beat you?"

"No, in fact, he was too good. You know how I cannot stand the nice ones. I'm still trying to get him to fight with me."

"How have you been feeling? I know that you had some problems after the abortion. Are you still in a lot of pain?

"I'm still taking the pain pills but the pains have gotten better. The doctor says it might take a few months for me. Should it take so long to recover?" Lorie asked, knowing Dee was in her last year of medical school. Her residency was the next step but had to be put on hold due to her own pregnancy.

"Perhaps you should go back to your doctor. You should be feeling a lot better by now," Dee said, her eyes glued to the stage, looking away only occasionally to her friend.

"Have you been able to get the paperwork going to have your kid adopted?

"The baby isn't due for a couple of months so I still have time to fill out the papers.

"So, Rodger's not coming back?" Lorie asked, her hand on Dee's hand, patting it to show her how she could be sympathetic. Dee knew Lorie too well to fall for her insincere attempt to care.

"I haven't heard from him for five months. He left before I could tell him about the baby. Your ex is really good," Dee said, trying to change the subject.

"He's a jerk. He won't even look at me or I would introduce you to him," she said with an overwhelming feeling of jealousy. "Wait here, I have to set up the drinks for the band." Lorie went to the bar and placed the four beer bottles on her tray, then came back to Dee's table. I'll be right back. I have to put these on the stage. First, I need to take another pain pill. She tossed one of her pills in her mouth and swallowed it. Dee cringed to think how it must taste with no liquid to chase the chalky orb down the back of her throat. Lorie pulled out her bottle opener and proceeded to open each bottle sending sprays of cold and unwanted beer in Dee's direction. Dee took the pill bottle from Lorie, reading the name and dosages. "Lorie, these are pretty serious pain pills. How can you work taking these?"

"You better believe they're good! They do the trick all right, but I think I have taken them so long I have gotten used to them. They don't put me straight out like they used to."

"That's because you're hooked! It's amazing you are not sound asleep. These are what we use sometimes to keep patients in a simulated comatose state!" Dee replied, the pill bottle still in her hand.

"You want to see something funny? Remember when we were in high school and we put a laxative in old Miss Colmen's coffee mug right before that big test in algebra?" Lorie said, as she took the pill bottle from Dee and proceeded to open it, taking three of the white chalky orbs out and plopping them into one of the beer bottles.

"Lorie, you can't do that!" Dee tried to yell above the applause as Lorie walked away toward the stage. Lorie distributed each of the beers to the band members, setting the last beer next to Nicolaus's amp, where she had placed all the beverages for him before, then calmly went off to take more orders. As Lorie made her way around to Dee's table, two songs into the third set, Dee grabbed her arm and with a stern yank said, "Lorie, all I can tell to you is if anything happens to Nick because of what you did, I will not keep quiet about it. You have no idea what that might do to him."

"You mean it might kill him?" Lorie asked, as if she was frightened.

"It could!"

"Good!" replied Lorie dryly as she turned to handle a tray of drinks.

"I have to stop smoking weed on our breaks or give up beer. This tastes like horse piss!" Nicolaus said to Sylvain between swigs of the cold beverage, his throat dry. The beer usually seemed to help loosen his vocal cords during the sets.

"I was unaware that you were a connoisseur of horse piss. When did you take up that filthy habit?" Sylvain asked with a straight face, making Danny and Gene break up into a fit of laughter onstage. Nicolaus would have followed suit, but at that moment he was trying to stay on his feet, what with the room spinning and all. Getting his bearing, he started the band off on the next song. Nicolaus felt extremely tired as he sang, closing his eyes at first to stop the room from spinning but then forgetting and slurring the words. Gene and Danny exchanged a troubled glance. Nick looked at them, then back around to Sylvain, signaling them that he intended to stop the song short and to watch him for the cue. They had practiced this often, just in case, but had never had to use it until now.

"What's up, Nick? Danny asked as Nicolaus took off his guitar, wiped his face with a towel, and drank the rest of his beer. Turning to Danny, he started to say something but what came out was mumbled gibberish. Danny and Gene looked at Sylvain as if perhaps he knew what Nicolaus was saying. Sylvain got out from behind the drums and started towards Nicolaus, who held onto his microphone with one hand and placed the other one on his knee, as he bent over to get blood to his head.

"Are you okay, Nicolaus?" Sylvain asked in their dialect, bending over with Nicolaus.

"Get me off the stage! Do whatever you gotta do, just get me off before I pass out," Nicolaus muttered as he straightened up, smiling weakly at the blurred audience. With one hand on Nicolaus and the other on the microphone, Sylvain announced that they would be taking a short break but would be back soon. As he was speaking, he heard a crash and thud behind him. It was Nicolaus. He had fallen over backwards and lay there face up on the stage.

Nicolaus was incoherent. His head slumped lifelessly while the three tried to manage him to the stage stairs. The steps onstage were narrow, so it was difficult. Nick was out cold, his chin resting on his chest, his hair spilling over his face noticeable to the audience, a rag doll.

"You go first, Danny," commanded Sylvain at the top of the narrow stairs.

"If I go first all of us are going to end up as a pile on the foot of these stairs. I'm already having trouble holding Nick now. Damn, where's Kenzie? He always has the night off when we need him the most!"

"Put him down!" Sylvain commanded. As they gently laid Nicolaus's limp body down onstage, there was a hush that filled the crowded barroom. The patrons watched as they tried their best to aid Nicolaus.

"Excuse me, would there be a doctor here? We have a... ahhh problem that needs attention," Sylvain said calmly but with panic-filled eyes. A loud squeak filled the silent barroom, making him jump back, releasing his hand from the open microphone.

"I'm a med student. I can help!" Dee wasted no time in climbing the stage stairs and bent over Nicolaus to check his heart rate, which was slow but strong and steady. Sighing with relief, she then checked his eyes, opening each. It was clear that he was out for the night and would remain out.

"You and you, get his head and shoulders," Dee pointed to Sylvain and Gene. "And you will help me with his feet. Don't drop him!" she said to Danny, aware that he almost had dropped Nick the first try down the staircase. "Okay, good, now where?" she asked as they successfully got him down the stairs.

"Backstage," ordered Jesse, climbing the stairs to calm everyone down and to announce that Nick would be fine, "Just overtaken by a flu bug. That's all, he'll be fine." He could hardly tell them that Nick had had one too many beers, if not overdosed on whatever drugs this kid might have gotten his hands on tonight. He shook his head as he stepped backstage to see what the verdict was.

Nicolaus was laid out on the couch with Dee bent over him checking his vitals again. "Should I call for an ambulance?" asked Jesse.

"That won't be necessary," Dee said, knowing if the officials were called there would be questions, and knowing Lorie's complicity and wanting to spare her that much, although she could have kicked herself for even caring about what might happen to Lorie. Dee stood and motioned to the three band members to come and pick him up "He has overdosed and just needs to sleep this one off."

"I knew it! It was only a matter of time," Jesse said, as he stomped off to his office.

"I'm going to pull my car around to the back. I'll take him home to watch him. Don't worry, he'll be okay. I promise," she said, as she noticed the three glaring at her suspiciously.

"Take him to my car. I'll take him home with me," Sylvain said, after a moment of silence.

"He is going to need to be watched, and you don't know what to look for, so be a good boy and do as I ask!" commanded Dee.

"Like what would you be looking for that I couldn't? What's your name, anyway?" asked Sylvain, his head cocked and both eyebrows arched.

"Well, for starters, cardiac arrest, possible convulsions, he could swallow his tongue or choke to death on it, or how about a massive hemorrhage in his brain?" the last she had made up. At least she didn't think such a thing could happen. "Deirdre! My friends call me, Dee."

"Ah... well Dee, that being said, you'll need someone to help him into your house," said Sylvain taking his position at one side of Nicolaus's body, now all too willing to allow Miss Dee take Nicolaus home with her.

~

As Gene and Sylvain carried Nicolaus up the stairs to Dee's guest bedroom, Sylvain could not help but feel a tinge of insecurity about leaving Nicolaus with a complete stranger. The facts of the evening were running through his brain with a multitude of unanswered questions. Now that he had come from the highly excited commotion of the bar, he realized that he had accepted all too readily the accusations of an overdose. Thinking back clearly, analyzing in depth what actually had taken place, Sylvain knew Nicolaus could not have deliberately taken any substance that would have caused such a reaction.

"If you will take off his clothing," ordered Dee with authority, as the two deposited Nicolaus's limp body on the bed.

Sylvain looked at Gene then turned to Dee and asked questionably, "Why?"

"Oh please, boys! I'm a four-year med student for heaven's sake. Anyway, there's no chance I'll rape your friend in my condition, now is there? So, do what I have asked or I will do it. I want him to be as comfortable as possible."

After undressing Nicolaus they headed for the stairs, Sylvain looking back one last time. "Give me your phone number at the bar. I'll call you later tonight and update you on his condition," Dee said, reassuringly.

"Nick better enjoy this little nap. I hate to see what Jesse's going to do to him tomorrow!" Danny said as the two stepped out the front door.

* * * * *

Chapter 6

May 1974  
Nicolaus, Age 19  
Touching The Flame

Nicolaus opened his eyes slowly, and as they began to shut dreamily, he sensed unfamiliar surroundings. Opening his eyes wide, he looked from object to object, searching for something that was not alien. Rising up in bed, he immediately grabbed his head, reacting to the feeling that it would burst in the momentary roller-coaster ride rush.

He opened his eyes wide again as he ran his fingers through his hair, feeling the bareness of his skin against the coolness of the sheets that he had managed to mangle in a night of fitful sleep. He tried to think back to the last thing he could remember, but the things he could remember did not make sense. He looked on the vanity mirror; a note was taped there that read, "Nick, Beth will have some food for you when you get up. I'll be home from school at around three o'clock. Don't leave until I see you! –Dee."

" _Dee? Who is Dee?"_ Nicolaus questioned himself. Finding his clothes freshly washed and pressed, he slowly dressed, realizing as he did what had awakened him. It was a familiar smell, an aroma he had not smelled since he had been at home. It was his favorite dish, a stew his mother would make for special occasions or when company would come by. He thought back to the last time he smelled that savory aroma. It was the night before his graduation from the one-room school he attended over five years ago. It was specifically the night his father had beaten him unmercifully for the sketch Sarah had penciled out, depicting their teacher Mattie in a rude cartoon-like caricature.

Making his way to the bathroom, he found another note on the bathroom mirror that read, "Nick, I left you a razor and toothbrush on the sink. Don't leave the house until I see you again. –Dee. P.S. Be nice to Beth. She's shy."

Great, a toothbrush! he thought. His mouth did taste as if something had crawled in it and died, which reminded him of the evil-tasting beer he drank last night. He thought it strange that he could not remember much else of the evening, giving him a sick and uneasy feeling. As Nicolaus went down the stairs and turned the corner, entering the dining area, he called to whomever would be there to hear, "I don't know what it is but it smells gut!"

"Nicolaus?" cried the young lady dressed in traditional Amish dress."

"Beth?" replied Nicolaus back at the woman in disbelief. Beth grew up with Nicolaus; she was Sarah's best friend. "What are you doing here?" they said in unison.

"I work here. What are you doing here?" exclaimed Beth. Nicolaus looked up at the staircase he had just descended and thought about his freshly laid out clothes that were in his room beside him on the bed. Realizing it must have been Beth who placed them there, he tried desperately to remember if he woke up covered or uncovered.

"Ah... I'm not sure why I'm here to be perfectly honest, Beth." Ach, that will go over just great when all my friends back home hear this one! Nicolaus thought as he half smiled at Beth.

"Are you hungry?" Beth asked in English.

"Well, yeah."

"Sit, I've been instructed to feed a Mr. Nick once he got up. This must be you." Beth cleared her throat in a questioning way as she placed a bowl of stew in front of him and dished out a bowl for herself. She stood at the kitchen counter while she bowed her head in silent prayer. Nicolaus did the same, keeping his eyes on her for the signal to eat. Getting totally lost in the taste and smells of the savory meats and vegetables, Nicolaus realized suddenly why she was standing at the counter.

"Beth, I was never baptized. You can sit with me at this table, you know. I'm not being shunned by the church, just by my datt!"

"I'm sorry, Nicolaus," Beth said, slipping back into their dialect as she slowly sat across from him at the table. "I hear you are very popular out among the English, ja?" Beth asked between chews.

"Beth, who told you such things?" Nicolaus asked looking up from his bowl with a shy smile.

"We all know."

"No, Beth, I'm not famous. I am just a singer. That's all, believe me," Nicolaus said, but thought of the time last year when his face was plastered on the front page of the town's paper for being involved with a rich socialite from here in town. "Please, tell them I'm not what they say. I'm still Nicolaus. Even though the clothes have changed, I am the same."

"Have you known Miss Dee for long?"

"Who?" asked Nicolaus with a mouth full of food as he frowned.

"You know, the lady's bed you slept in!" Beth said, filling Nicolaus's bowl again.

"Ach, Dee you're speaking of, ja? Well, things are not the way they look. I'm not altogether sure if I've even met Dee yet."

"Hum... the English are a strange crew," Beth said, thinking Nicolaus had become one of them and that he was just as strange, thinking nothing of sleeping in a stranger's bed.

"Um... have you seen of Sarah or Eli lately?" Nicolaus asked, shyly.

"Ja, Gemeesunndaag. Sunday church. Why?"

"Is Sarah courting yet?"

"No, Nicolaus, and such a question to ask, ach!"

"Sorry," Nicolaus said, bowing his head in a shy way that seemed to touch Beth's heart.

"She allows Noah and Joseph to ride her home from singing, but no one's courting. And you? Are you courting, Nicolaus?" Beth asked, looking a bit sly, knowing Sarah would want to know.

"No, Beth. I'm not even riding anyone home from singing!"

Beth caught herself bursting out with a loud snort as she laughed at Nicolaus's joke, placing her hand to her mouth with a surprised look.

"Beth, I would have thought you had grown out of that," Nicolaus said, as he leaned back in his chair, thinking how she hadn't changed a bit except that she was a little more grown up and much more talkative than when they were children. "I always wanted to be able to do that."

"What?" asked Beth, her hand still up to her mouth.

"Snort when I laughed. I confess, I always envied you about that. I've tried, I can't do it."

"Ach, Nicolaus, you are making fun of me."

"Oh no, Beth. I can't tell you how glad I am to be... well just to talk in my own language is... well, it's good to be with you right now. I miss being around all of you," Nicolaus said. Becoming very serious, Nicolaus asked, "Have you seen my family? How are they?"

"They are all fine, Nicolaus!" The front door opened and Dee walked in. Putting down her books she looked up at the staircase. "We are in here," called Beth.

Dee came in the kitchen and smiled a tired smiled at the two. "Oh I'm glad you two have met." Nicolaus and Beth looked at each other and laughed.

"Miss Deirdre, Nicolaus and I grew up together," Beth said as she helped Dee to a chair at the table with them.

"So, you're a farm boy?" asked Dee while she waited for Beth to serve her a bowl of stew.

"Nicolaus is Amish, Miss Dee, like me, but he came out for a time to sow wild seeds before joining the church. Some of us do dat, and some of us just accept our ways and don't need to," Beth said before Nicolaus could answer.

"Well, I hear you have done quite a good job of that lately!" Dee said looking at Nicolaus and smiling. "So that's where I've heard that accent of yours. I thought it sounded like Beth's, but when you're talking in the microphone onstage, you cover it a little."

"Yeah, I try hard but it slips out once in a while."

"I'm sorry, Nick, or do you go by Nicolaus?"

"Nick is fine."

"Yes, well, I think I should introduce myself. I'm Deirdre, but you can call me Dee. Most people do."

"It's gut to meet you, Dee, and thank you for whatever you did for me last night. I'm still very confused about how I got to your house, but I'm sure there's a logical explanation." Nicolaus stood to shake Dee's hand and glanced down at her well-rounded stomach.

"You'll have to excuse the belly. It gives me away every time."

"You're very big. When will it be?"

Dee frowned at Beth curiously in response to Nicolaus's question.

"He means that as a compliment, Miss Dee," Beth said with a smile. "He wants to know when you're due to drop," explained Beth.

"That's a strange way of putting it, but I'm 'due to drop' in less than two months," said Dee with a smile.

"Ach, I'll get the door; it should be mine bruder," Beth said, as she placed Dee's empty bowl in the sink and turned to answer the front door. "Noah?" asked Nicolaus, turning in his chair. He had not seen Noah for as long as he had been on the outside away from his district.

"Ja, Noah! Come, he will want to see you," Beth said, as she opened the front door. "Zay-en du Noah, Nicolaus Zook!"

"Ach, Nicolaus! Vee-gaits?"

Nicolaus spoke in English so as not to be rude to Dee. "I'm gut, it's been a long time, ja?"

"Ja, I hear you're doing gut on da outside," Noah said, lapsing into English also.

"So, so!" Nicolaus said, smiling at his childhood friend. Noah was a little older than Nicolaus and Beth but they had played and grown up together just the same.

"How is da bluppy?" Noah asked Dee.

"The bluppy is just fine," Dee answered, knowing that it meant baby in their dialect. "It's the towing it around that's a little tiring."

"Well, we should be going. It was nice seeing you again Nicolaus," Beth said as she walked with her brother to their horse-drawn buggy. Turning, Beth said in their dialect," I will tell Sarah that I saw you and that you are doing fine, that is, if you wish me to."

"That would be nice of you. Tell her for me that I miss... I miss everyone."

"Anything else?" asked Beth.

Nicolaus bowed his head shyly, wishing he could tell Beth the truth about his longing for home. "Just tell her I miss all of you."

"You look tired, Dee, why don't you sit here on the couch and rest?" Nicolaus asked, returning to the living room.

"It's you I'm concerned with. How are you feeling?"

"I feel fine, a little confused but dat's understandable, being that I woke up in a stranger's house with not a lick of clothing on. Can you tell me what happened last night? I don't remember singing but one set."

"That's all you played. You passed out onstage."

"Ach!" Nicolaus said, making a guttural noise deep in his throat. "What happened? Did I get sick or zumthing?" He ran his finger through his hair as he tried to remember anything of the night.

"Not exactly. You were drugged!"

"What? I took no drugs... well smoked a joint or two but..."

"Nick, I don't make it a practice of telling on my friends, but I think you have the right to know and should be aware of this in the future. Lorie, your ex-girlfriend, thought it would be a laugh to slip some pain pills into your beer last night. You drank enough in two swallows to put a horse down for the night!"

The look on Nicolaus's face changed from concern to hurt as he said, "Lorie is no friend of mine! I should have known she would do something like this. I've tried hard to stay clear from her but..."

"That's the problem, Nicolaus, it pisses her off that you refuse to speak or look at her. What exactly happened between the two of you anyway, if I could be so bold as to ask?"

"You know Lorie?" Nicolaus asked, looking into Dee's eyes for more answers than he thought she was providing.

"Lorie and I have been um... friends for a few years.

Nicolaus stood and Dee could visibly see the walls go up around him. "Oh, just sit down! I'm on your side for heaven's sake. Believe me, after seeing what she did to you, I can say I now have a very healthy fear of even being in her presence."

After a few moments of debating if he should believe her or not, Nicolaus finally sat back down. "Lorie wanted me to marry her. But I couldn't!" answered Nicolaus with his head lowered. Nicolaus thought back to Christmas and how days before lying in each other's arms, Lorie asked him if he could ask for anything in this world, what it would be. Nicolaus remembered telling her of a farm out on the east end of town that was for sale. That's what he would ask for, that and two Belgian draft horses to help plow his fields. What Lorie wanted was a commitment from him and an engagement ring to prove it. Instead, he finally caved in and gave her a beautifully etched music box. She gave him a much-wanted twelve-sting guitar that he had been lusting after for months, now one of his most prized possessions. Nevertheless, Lorie never accepted the fact that he could not make that commitment.

"Why couldn't you marry her?" asked Dee, lying down on the couch, her eyes heavy with sleep.

"We are too different. Our beliefs are so wide apart that it would have never lasted. In fact, the only time we got along was in bed, and at the end of our relationship, even that was a great effort. It was like trying to make love to a wildcat. I wasn't at all sure if she wanted me to kill her or make love to her." Nicolaus smiled as he watched Dee slip peacefully in and out of sleep. "I'm sorry. I will be silent und let you rest now," Nicolaus said as he reached for a book and started to read it, crossing his legs.

"Don't let me sleep too long, okay, Nick?"

Hours later Dee opened her eyes to see Nicolaus still sitting beside her on the floor, totally engulfed in the novel she had been trying to get interested in for weeks. "What time is it?"

Nicolaus looked up at her as if he had forgotten where he was. "Oh... um... five-twenty, I think. Did you have a good sleep?" he asked as he wiped his eyes on his sleeve, sniffed, then wiped his nose with his sleeve too.

"Yes, thank you for asking. I see you got to the sad part. Horrible what some people find interesting to write about, isn't it?"

"Yeah, what's more interesting is how horrible some people can be to each other just because they're not the same color or race," Nicolaus said.

"Did you say five-twenty? Aren't you supposed to be onstage at six?"

"Actually, I'm twenty minutes late but..."

"Oh, Nick, you're going to be in trouble. Why didn't you wake me?" Dee asked struggling awkwardly to raise herself from the couch.

"Why? I'm already late and I'm already in trouble. Anyway, you're carrying a child, and you need your rest."

"You should have woke me!" Dee repeated as the two got into her car and headed to The Eagle faster than Nicolaus cared to go.

"Where is your husband, Dee?" Nicolaus asked, holding tight to the handle on his passenger's side door for dear life.

"I'm not married and the answer to your next question would be, the father to this baby is in India helping out medically there. He's a doctor and after he had been gone two months, I found out I was pregnant with his child. Do you have any other questions I might have missed?"

"Does he know?" Nicolaus asked, looking at her as oncoming headlights illuminated her sorrowful expression.

"No, I don't want to be a burden to him. He has poured his life into this trip to India. I didn't want to cut it short just because I messed up." Nicolaus turned to look out his side of the car window and remained silent until they got to The Eagle's back door.

"Thanks for everything, Dee. I would like to be your friend, that's if you don't mind," Nicolaus said, awkwardly trying for sincerity.

"You're too late, Nick, you're already my friend. Why don't I come in with you and explain to your boss, what was his name, Jess?

"Jesse, and I can't let you do dat. Jesse would fire Lorie. He can be a little rough sometimes. No, you go home and rest, Dee, and thanks again for watching out for me."

"Well take this; it's my phone number. I want you to call me tomorrow and let me know how you're feeling."

"I don't call pregnant ladies," Nicolaus said, jokingly, and tore off the side of Dee's paper as he reached for her pen. "Here's where I'm staying. It's the keyboard player's house, and his name is Gene." Nicolaus handed her the torn-off piece of paper, gracing Dee with a smile as he turned to enter the back door to the bar.

~

Sylvain met Nicolaus as he walked into the backstage lounge. The band quickly encircled him, asking him if he was all right. Nicolaus laughed and began to tell them what Lorie had done. Sylvain pulled Nicolaus to one side before he could go on with the story and with deep concern started to speak in their dialect. "Listen to me, Nicolaus, Jesse is pissed, and I think something's up."

Nicolaus looked at Sylvain for a moment and then said, "I saw Beth and Noah this afternoon. It was great! We talked about Sarah and everyone," Nicolaus said dreamily, seemingly irrationally detached from the imminent danger of unemployment.

"Are you still drugged? Did you hear what I said?"

"Nick, Jesse wants you in his office!" Ron, one of the bouncers, said walking up to the band and motioning Nicolaus to come with him. Nicolaus made his way to Jesse's office with Ron close at his heels.

Kenzie, an enormous, redheaded Scotsman with an accent thicker than mud opened the office door. Kenzie was The Eagle's head bouncer and a bear of a man. "Sit!" he ordered, pointing to a chair in the middle of the office that looked to be set up just for a confrontation with Jesse. Nicolaus, running his fingers through his hair, uncertain if he should bolt and run or do as he was told, sat down and watched with some apprehension as Kenzie pulled out a clean white towel from Jesse's bottom desk drawer, placing it across his left shoulder then stood and faced Nicolaus. Nicolaus looked up at the towering giant then quickly averted his eyes and exhaled, realizing how nervous the two were making him just by their silence.

Jesse stormed into the office, slamming the door as he entered, making Nicolaus jump to his feet. "Sit don!" Kenzie hissed as he shoved Nicolaus back on his chair. Nicolaus could feel his heart pound in his chest and his breathing increase. Jesse looked at Kenzie and nodded then turned his head to look away. Nicolaus's heart sank as he looked up again at Kenzie in response to Jesse's action. Kenzie crossed himself with the sign of the cross, then with his fist drawn tight and one upward motion struck Nicolaus across his face with the back of his fist. The first assault landed square on his cheek, right below his right eye, sending him into Ron's hands, who propped Nicolaus back up for the next, which landed just off his chin, causing his lip to bust open and spilling blood down it immediately. Focusing was hard for a moment as Nicolaus heard a pounding on the office door; it was Sylvain, demanding them to let him in. Kenzie took the towel from his shoulder and handed it to Nicolaus, ordering him to wipe his mouth.

"I told you not to hit his face, Kenzie. Now look at him. He's got to sing tonight, and we have a full house!" Jesse said as he looked down in horror at Nicolaus.

Kenzie glared at Jesse for a moment then said, "Jesse, ya ken where I hit a man. Don't ask me to do a job then critique my performance. You'll be taking care of ye own problems!" Turning back to Nicolaus, Kenzie bent over and with his big heavy hand on Nicolaus's shoulder, making Nicolaus flinch, asked him if he was all right. He squeezed his shoulder hard and gave a firm slap to his back when Nicolaus answered in a whisper that he was fine. "Sorry Nick, ya ken it's just I'm doing my job, is all. Dona ill feelings then, aye?" Kenzie waited for Nicolaus to agree, then nodded to him and then to Jesse, letting both know the job was finished and he would be taking his leave. Ron opened the door for Kenzie, and Kenzie proceeded to shove Sylvain roughly out of the way as if he were a small nuisance of a horsefly, making sure the door was closed securely behind them.

"Nick, I told you when you started working for me what would happen if you ever got messed up on whatever you kids get inebriated on nowadays and you couldn't sing or perform for my clientele, did I not?

"Yes, Jesse, I understood what you asked of me." Nicolaus said in the towel; the blood seemed to have already stopped but Nicolaus felt it to be a good security blanket for now.

"I asked you a few days ago if you had a drug problem and you said no. Am I to believe if I ask you this time that you will lie to me, or is it that you truly feel that you don't? I mean, when we have to carry you off the stage something has gone amiss don't you think?"

"I do not have a drug problem, Jesse, it's just..." Nicolaus stopped and looked at Jesse, uncertain of what he should say. "Uh... okay, yeah, I have a drug problem. But it's nothing, Jesse, I can stop right now!"

"Then do! Your contract with me runs out in two months, and I am ordering you, that is, if you ever want to sing at The Eagle again after your contract expires, not to touch another drug or any form of booze from now until then while you're working. I will help you all I can but, Nick, it's up to you. In addition, if—I see you with anything but water while under contract here at The Eagle, I will make very sure you never sing again. Kenzie has a way with his hands, if you know what I'm saying to you!" Nicolaus nodded his understanding. "Now how can I help you get around this problem you have?" Jesse sat back and crossed his arms in front of him.

"Have Karen set up the drinks for the band from now on," Nicolaus said, finding the look on Jesse's face a little amusing.

"Karen? Well if that will help then I will have her start tonight. Do I need to send you to a doctor or can you stop cold turkey from the stuff you're on?" Again Nicolaus found the situation humorous, covering his mouth with the bloody towel, and shook his head no.

~

"He hit you, didn't he?" Sylvain asked barging his way into the restroom after Nicolaus.

"It doesn't matter," said Nicolaus as he rinsed the blood from his mouth and lip, looking in the mirror frequently to make sure it had in fact stopped bleeding. Having to be carried off stage is one thing, but bleeding to death up there would be a freak show, and Nicolaus didn't want any more attention paid to him than already had been.

"That son of a... uh, anyway, are you feeling better? I mean, you're not going to pass out onstage again or anything, right?" Sylvain asked, trying to look in the mirror at Nicolaus's face. Nicolaus was poking at the large knot that was starting to appear just under his eye. The blood under his eyelid was already pooling inside, showing the makings of a most excellent black eye. Sylvain squinted as he turned up his lip, whistled, and said, "Ooh, that's gotta hurt!"

"Sylvain, Lorie drugged me last night. I want you and the others to be aware of that and to watch your backs, too. Karen's going to be setting up the drinks onstage so it doesn't happen again."

"Karen? Next thing you know, I'll be dropping over in my chair behind the drums. Why Karen? And anyway, I don't believe Lorie would ever do such a thing, not for a minute!"

Nicolaus stopped and looked at Sylvain's reflection in the mirror. Sylvain, unaware of Nicolaus's eyes intently on him, was preoccupied with looking down at his watch.

For the first time in Nicolaus's life, his trust in Sylvain faltered. Could it be that his lifelong friend could betray him for the love of a snake? Sylvain looked up and saw Nicolaus's eyes on him.

"What?" Sylvain asked in English, the tone in his voice dubious.

"Nothing, we better get onstage," Nicolaus said as he passed Sylvain to get out of the restroom door.

"Wait, Nicolaus, why did Jesse hit you then? You didn't tell him, did you?" Sylvain asked, as he held on to Nicolaus's arm.

"Jesse didn't hit me, and no, you can rest assured Lorie's reputation is as spotless in his eyes as it is in yours!" Nicolaus said as he pulled his arm from Sylvain's grasp.

The next three days Nicolaus sat around thinking of nothing but what had happened, Dee who had saved him from it, and seeing Beth again after almost two years. Picking up the phone, Nicolaus unscrambled the scrap of paper Dee had given him with her phone number on it.

"Dee?"

"Nick?" Dee asked, but was certain it was him.

"Yeah, it's me, und are you busy?"

"Yes, I'm very busy being bored out of my mind right now; can you call back later?" There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. "I'm joking, Nick!" she had to explain.

"Oh, gut. Would you want to do something today with me? I'm bored too."

"Sure. There's a new shopping mall in town. You want to check it out?"

"Anything, I just need to get out," said Nicolaus.

"Give me directions to Gene's and I'll come and get you."

~

As the two walked along the halls of the new shopping mall, looking in the store windows, Dee asked, "So why is owning a car taboo to the Amish?" Nicolaus smiled at Dee, knowing what was coming next. So many times, he had defended his faith. So many times, he had been looked upon as being a freak. All his people were doing was living what they believed the Bible prescribed as a happy, fulfilling life. He couldn't help it if his people did not just talk about it, but lived it.

"It's not so much we can not own a car, it's that we don't need to own a car. We hire drivers to take us if we need to go fast or far. Other than dat, a good horse and buggy is enough. After all, a horse can fertilize; all a car can do is pollute!"

"Well that makes sense, but you also don't support our country. Why?"

Nicolaus laughed and shook his head. "Here we go! When Jesus said 'it is finished' when He died on da cross, we believe He meant it! No more fighting, no more kings, no more queens, and no more presidents to rule over us, telling us what to believe, who to kill. I mean, how can I take da life of another just because a ruler tells me to? I know! It would be a very bad world if we just tossed our hands in the air and allowed other lands to come and kill us and take what we have. God never promised a rose garden. Our people have died and have been tortured for these beliefs."

"You mean, if someone tried to harm your family, you wouldn't try to defend them?"

"Truthfully, I can't tell you what I would honestly do if that were to happen. Who knows? I might be the first to shed blood, but I hope not. I do know, if I did, I would have to ask for forgiveness first from God and then from my people."

"What on earth for?" Dee stopped and looked up at him, her head crooked to one side, her eyes looking deeply into his.

"Because, like I said, I don't believe God has called me to kill, but to show mercy, and as for asking forgiveness from my people—well, you see, my people have been tortured, burned, cut in two, hung, and imprisoned for believing what they believe. It wouldn't be fair not to. Ach! Here we are then!" Nicolaus said as he pointed toward a baby specialty shop. Dee shook her head, giving Nicolaus a look of being put out with his suggestion. Wasting no time, Nicolaus walked in, leaving her outside the shop. Finally surrendering to his unmerciful coaxing, she followed him in.

"Das would be a gut bed for your bluppy, don't you think, ja?" Nicolaus asked as he leaned into the crib to check out the firmness of its mattress.

"Nick, I'm not keeping this child. Let's go!" Dee said with a tone of sadness, her arms still crossed in front of her as if she were holding on to the child as long as she could. Nicolaus turned to her while still halfway inside the crib.

"Dee?" The sadness in his eyes tore at her heart all the more.

"Please, Nick, let's just go!"

As the two started to make their way out into the mall, Nicolaus stopped and pulled Dee back in, turning her to face him. With his hands on her shoulder, he said, "Wait, I can't leave right now," he said, looking past her into the mall.

Dee slowly turned to see just one shop down stood three young Amish women talking together. "Who are they?" Dee asked, looking back up at Nicolaus, who hadn't taken his eyes off them.

"Da tall one is my sister, Edna, and the one next to her on her right is Katie, also my sister."

"And the pretty one?" Dee asked, noticing the woman's body, which was perfectly arranged, and her face, that of an angel, cheeks rosy, and eyes big and bright with happiness.

"Das is Sarah!" Nicolaus whispered, smiling as he looked at her in a dreamy way.

"Why don't you want them to see you?"

"My sister Edna und Sarah, well, I wouldn't mind, but my sister Katie... she would not want to see me at all."

"Why, Nick?" asked Dee, looking back at the three who were laughing now and speaking in their dialect loud enough for her to make out their voices.

"It's a very long story. Ah... do me a favor, ja?"

"Sure, what?" Dee asked as Nicolaus looked down at her at last.

"Do you have a pen, and paper?" Dee went through her purse, and came up with both and handed them to Nicolaus.

"Here take dis to the tall one; her name is Edna. Wait to see if she will come with you. If she follows, bring her to me. Don't talk to the other two.

Dee did as she was asked, and when she came up to the trio, she excused herself, turned to Edna, and handed her the folded paper. Edna opened it and read the message, looked back at Dee and said with a smile, "Lead the way!" She turned back to the others and said something in their dialect.

Edna bound into Nicolaus's arms as she turned into the store out of sight of the other girls. She spoke to him in their dialect while they embraced and then resumed speaking in English. "How are you, Nicolaus? You look more and more English. I don't think I would have recognized you at all this time. Look how long your hair is!" Turning to Dee she laughed, her fingers running through his long thick curls.

"Ach, it's not that long," Nicolaus said, shyly, diverting his eyes down and taking a half step back as his sister picked and pruned at his hair and face. "I thought you were going to say the only way you recognized me was by my blackened eye!" Nicolaus spoke as he laughed, Edna laughing with him.

" _Froyn-din oder frow?"_ Edna asked, going back into their dialect, smiling kindly at Dee as she spoke.

"Dee ist mine kamerad, Dee is my buddy," replied Nicolaus again in English, smiling at Dee, who was lost again in the beauty of their language.

" _Und dies ist nicht eer bluppy?"_ Dee caught the word for baby, so she knew that they were talking about her and felt a little like a fly on the wall.

"Nein," is all Nicolaus answered.

"I'm sorry, Dee, this is my sister Edna," said Nicolaus, finally introducing her. Edna grabbed Dee's hand and shook it with both of hers.

"It is gut to meet you, Dee. You take gut care of mine little brother, ja?" Edna asked as she looked up at him, towering even above her. "You are fortunate; Nicolaus doesn't let just anyone be his friend. You must be very special."

"Thank you, Edna. It was a pleasure to meet you," Dee said, looking at Edna, thinking how much they looked alike in their eyes. Although Edna's were dark brown, Dee could see the resemblance in the gentleness of them.

"I better get back to Katie und Sarah or they will get wunnerfitsich! Please take care of yourself, ja?" Edna said softly, placing her hand to Nicolaus's cheek.

"Edna, when you speak alone to Sarah, say to her that I was near, and that I... I wish her happiness!" Nicolaus said, taking her hand in both of his, letting it go slowly as she turned to leave. Nicolaus and Dee waited in the store until Edna had led his sister and Sarah out of sight.

~

Nicolaus was quiet on the way home. Dee just thought he was thinking of his sisters, seeing them again after so long. However, she made a note to remember to ask why he was estranged from his family, not wanting to be seen by one or more of them.

"Dee?"

"Yes, Nick?"

"Please pass by Lorie's house."

"Why?"

"Just..." Nicolaus went silent for a moment, as he looked straight ahead. "I need to, das is all. Please?" He turned to her, his eyes pleading.

As she drove down Lorie's street, Nicolaus saw it. It was Sylvain's white Cadillac parked in front of her house. Dee slowed as she came nearer. "Is there anyone else in your family that has your beautiful blue eyes?" she asked, innocently unaware of what was about to take place.

"Stop!" Nicolaus commanded, opening the door before she could stop the car. He jumped out, and leaned back into the car and said in a stern tone, "No, I'm the only one with these damn blue eyes! Wait here for one minute, I'll be right back."

"But, Nick!" Dee cried out after him, but it was too late. Nicolaus was already at Lorie's front door.

"Nick, what are you... You won't like what you see, Nick!" Karen called after him, not able to hold him at bay as he pushed through the front door and made his way up the stairs to the bedroom where he kicked open the door with the first assault.

Nicolaus stood in disbelief. Standing at the doorway, hands clenched tightly in fists and his heart pounding with rage, he blinked to make sure it was not a dream. Sylvain, the only person he'd ever trusted, the person he held dearer than a brother, was in Lorie's arms, the two entangled in a passionate embrace. They stopped and stared speechlessly at the phantom in the doorway. Nicolaus turned and walked past Karen, down the hall and out of Lorie's house.

"Hey!" Dee yelled out her window as she followed him slowly down the street with her car. "I'm not going to follow you all the way home like this, so get your butt in the car or I'll run ya over!" Nicolaus stopped and looked at Dee. Dee could see his breathing was fast and harder than it should be for just walking fast. She looked down at his fisted hands as he came around her car to the passenger side door. Dropping himself down on the car seat, he heaved a sigh that was more of a whispered scream as he put his head back against the headrest and looked up at the roof of the car. Dee watched as one tear trickled slowly from the corner of his eye, flowing down his cheek, where she lost track of it as it came to the junction where his ear lobe met his cheek, his jaw set hard. He whispered, "I want to go home."

~

A month had gone by with Nicolaus not speaking to Sylvain and shunning him as he did Lorie, but Sylvain didn't try to coax his broken-hearted friend into talking. He knew it was better to let Nicolaus speak in silence of the hurt that was in his heart. Sylvain also knew how dearly he would pay for his betrayal and was so ashamed that he dropped seeing Lorie altogether, which was fine with her. She was using Sylvain to get to Nicolaus anyway, and now that Nicolaus was truly hurt, she felt only a portion of her revenge satisfied.

"Nick, it's Dee," Gene said, as he handed Nicolaus the phone.

"Hi, Dee, you ready?" Nicolaus asked, with an excitement and warmth that she had not heard in his voice for sometime.

"Yeah, you want me to come for you now? And are you sure your Amish friends won't mind if a big, fat pregnant chick tags along?" Dee asked, thinking how surprised she was that Nicolaus didn't care if any of his Amish friends thought that her child could be his or not.

"Ach, they won't even notice," said Nicolaus. Dee could detect that he was smiling from the way he spoke. It felt good to hear his voice without pain for a change.

Nicolaus had prearranged a dinner with two Amish women who were very close and dear friends of his family. They also happened to be their districts' midwives, called "baby catchers," who, as a matter of fact, had delivered Nicolaus almost twenty years ago. They knew much about the ways of a woman, and gave wise advice frequently to the younger ones of their district. Nicolaus came to them, asking their advice concerning Dee. They asked him just to bring her to them, "God would do the rest."

"It's so beautiful out in the country. Why did you ever leave?" Dee asked, as she drove down the peaceful country lane.

"It's a long story, Dee. Here, turn here!" ordered Nicolaus.

"Will there be others coming for dinner as well?" asked Dee, noticing two horses and buggies in front of the two-story whitewashed house.

"Cora didn't say of any," said Nicolaus, hopeful that their visitors would not interrupt the plans the three had arranged.

"Ach! This must be Dee, ja?" Lizzy asked after opening the front door for Dee and Nicolaus. "You're going to have to excuse us, we are working just yet! Dee, you can come with me. Nicolaus, go sit with Dan."

"Fannie is having her bluppy!" said Cora, from the other room.

"Oh, we should come back at another time then," remarked Dee. Dee grabbed onto Nicolaus's shirtsleeve for dear life. "No, we can use your help!" Lizzy said, as she ushered Dee into the back bedroom where Fannie was laboring to have her child, Dee looking back at Nicolaus with fear.

Hours went by with an occasional visit from Cora or Lizzy, asking for more hot water and clean towels.

"Dan, come! It's almost time" ordered Cora, waving at Nicolaus as if to say, everything is going just fine.

~

"It's a boy, Nick. It's a baby boy!" Dee said as she bounded in from the birthing room. Nicolaus stood and caught Dee in his arms as she spun around in a dance of delight. "I caught the baby; Fannie and Dan let me catch him. Can you believe it? It was so wonderful. I wish you could have seen it. Oh, Nick, it's so beautiful, you really should see it."

"Miss Dee is a gut baby catcher. Perhaps you could come and catch more often, ja?" Lizzy asked, wiping her hands on a white towel and giving Nicolaus a wink of assurance.

"I would love to," said Dee with excitement, bouncing up and down like a child.

"Gut, your first lesson is next week. Saturday, this same time."

"Are you kidding?" asked Dee.

"I'm not kidding. You want to learn all there is to catching, then you will learn to catch!" Lizzy answered with a kind smile, hers and Cora's faces virtually identical except for the age difference, being sisters but not twins. Dee thought them to be in their late fifties but they both got around as if they were teenagers.

"You did this on purpose didn't you, Nick?" Dee asked, as she drove Nicolaus home.

"Yeah, I did. I won't tell you different," Nicolaus said, looking down at his hands.

Dee looked over at him with sympathy and put her hand over his. "Nicolaus, please try to understand. It's not that I don't want my child, it's just not right to think I can provide for it. There are so many people that can give my child what it needs."

Nicolaus turned to Dee and said as gently as he could, "Your child doesn't need things. Dee, it needs you. God is allowing you to have that child for a reason."

"And what if it has a physical deformity or is sick? I couldn't afford to take care of it if that were to happen," cried Dee.

"No matter if it's any of those, it's still a gift from God. How can you give a gift back that was given to you by God? How do you say to Him, no thank you? This one is sick or deformed and, no thank you, I do not have the money to care for it. If you need help, you can always find it here." Nicolaus meant the Amish and their community, who were always willing to help. "Think about it, Dee, and be truthful to yourself when you do. That's all I ask."

~

"You had a visitor while you were away," said Gene, giving Nicolaus a look of warning.

"Yeah, who?" Nicolaus asked as he set down the new blank sheet music he had purchased while he was out.

"Lorie!" remarked Gene.

"Did you tell her Sylvain doesn't live here?"

"Be nice, Nick. She said she came to talk to you. Maybe she's sorry and wants you back," Gene said with an encouraging smile.

"Don't be stupid, Gene," Nicolaus said as he sat at the coffee table to ready himself for a night of song writing. He had freehanded six more songs in the last two days and needed to get the notes and words down on the paper so they could be introduced to the band at practice.

"Well, anyway, she went back to your room with a large package... I don't know, maybe ten minutes ago, then came out and left. I'd check to see if she took anything with her to make a voodoo doll out of if I were you."

"A what?" Nicolaus asked, looking up from his papers.

"Never mind, Nick, it was a joke!" Gene left Nicolaus alone in the living room, shaking his head wondering if Nicolaus would ever truly get free from his culturally impaired innocence and learn to live in the twentieth century.

"Hey, Gene, I'm going to Dee's. I can work better over there," Nicolaus called to Gene as he gathered his notes and papers and headed out, not waiting for a response.

As Nicolaus walked up to Dee's front door, it suddenly swung open and Dee pulled Nicolaus inside, looking behind him as if checking to see if anyone was following.

"What are you doing?" Nicolaus asked, laughing and thinking she had to be joking.

"Did you see any cops on your way here? Did you?"

"Are you serious?" Nicolaus smiled cautiously as he looked into her eyes.

"I just got a phone call from Lorie; she said the police want to talk to you about...well, for possession and attempting to sell weed."

"What?" Nicolaus could not believe what he was hearing. "Can you take me home? Sounds like Lorie's setting me up."

There were four squad cars sitting in front of Gene's apartment as the two drove up and parked. "Should we just go back to my place?" Dee asked as they sat for a minute in the car.

"No, I've done nothing wrong. But I do want you to stay in the car." As Nicolaus opened the door and started to step out, he heard the sounds of gun hammers being cocked. He froze. His first thought as he looked up into the barrel of a shotgun was to stay perfectly still so as not to give the cops a reason to start shooting, possibly hitting Dee by mistake.

"Hands up and move away from the car!" By now Nicolaus could plainly see at least five officers surrounding the car with their guns drawn and pointed at his chest, and at least one pointed directly between his eyes. "Keep your hands on the back of your head and don't move," ordered one of the officers as he pushed Nicolaus against the hood of Dee's car, forcing his head down on top of it hard enough to make Nicolaus think his nose had been broken. The officer frisked Nicolaus, finding nothing but lint and keys to Gene's house in his pockets. The officer then took one of Nicolaus's hands, and swung it forcefully down and around to cuff it, then repeated with the other hand.

"What's your name?" asked the officer, turning Nicolaus around roughly to face him.

"Don't you think you should have thought to ask that before you cuffed me?" Nicolaus asked, trying to work out the charlie horse from his forearm.

"Don't get smart, kid! Answer the officer," another officer said as he took Nicolaus by the front of his shirt and pulled him close to his face.

"Nicolaus," he said in a whisper. He could feel the officer's hot breath as he tried to turn away, but the man just pulled him in closer. Nicolaus swallowed hard as he repeated his name, thinking maybe the officer had not heard him the first time. "Nicolaus Zook."

"It's him!" the officer called out to the others and then proceeded to read Nicolaus his rights as he ushered him to a squad car.

Nicolaus resisted, turning to the officer to ask, "What am I being arrested for?"

"As if you didn't know!" said the cop with a sarcastic smile that Nicolaus had a fleeting thought of spiting at.

"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you."

Dee cringed as she watched the officer punch Nicolaus in the stomach. As far away as she was, she still heard the air being forced from Nicolaus's lungs as he dropped to his knees. "Ma'am, you'll have to come with us, too," one of the officers said as he touched her elbow gently and nodded toward one of the squad cars.

"Gladly! Nick hasn't done anything wrong and I'll be happy to talk to your superior!"

~

"Nicolaus Zook, it has been a while since I saw you last!" said the lieutenant as he tossed Nicolaus's file on the table and sat down facing him. "The photo technician said you gave them a little trouble this afternoon. He said they got your fingerprints just fine but you got a little agitated when they tried to take your photo. I guess that's to be expected being raised Amish." Nicolaus remained silent and looked away.

"Do you remember me, Nicolaus?" asked the lieutenant, the cordial tone now turning serious, as was the expression on his face.

"Yeah, Joe Roberts," Nicolaus said, looking straight into his eyes.

"Good. Now tell me, do you understand what you're here for?"

"I have no idea. I asked one of your goons but he just hit me and shoved me into his car."

"Sorry about that. However, they do not take it well when they find drugs in the place of residence. What were you doing with all that pot, and don't tell me you have glaucoma or I'll knock your eyeballs so far back in your head, I'll have to hit the back of your head with a baseball bat to get them out!

Nicolaus was alarmed at the thoughts of violence these officers had. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said sharply.

"Well perhaps you start telling me what you do know then."

"The pot isn't mine!"

Lieutenant Roberts shook his head as if agreeing with Nicolaus. "And whose, may I ask, is it?"

Nicolaus looked down and drew in a breath. He wanted so badly to tell the lieutenant about Lorie, but he bit his bottom lip and said, "I don't know."

"Well, that's okay. We'll just keep you here until you want to tell us what you do know. Guards!"

~

Nicolaus sat on the cold metal bed of his tiny cell cross-legged, his head propped up against the wall. Two days had gone by; surely someone was trying to do something for him on the outside. Surely they wouldn't just let him rot in this place. Just then, the metal squeaking of the sliding cell door rang out as footsteps of more than one person made their way towards his cell. Nicolaus stood and stepped back, seeing Samuel, Sarah and Eli's father, a man he had admired from his childhood, standing in front of him waiting to be let in his cell by the guard. His heart pounded hard with joy to see Deacon Samuel again.

"You have twenty minutes!" barked the guard as he locked Samuel in with Nicolaus, leaving them and walking to the entrance of the cell area but not out of view, his hands clasped behind his back as he waited.

The two embraced. Nicolaus asked, "How did you know I was here, Samuel?"

"You have a friend, Dee, ja? Well—she went to Cora for help and Cora came to me."

"Samuel, I'm not guilty of the crime they say I did. Can you help me?"

"It wouldn't matter if you were. I'm here to help as I know how, with prayer and a word from above. Nicolaus, I can see in your eyes you are getting too used to the dark, son. You are so used to it that you cannot see the wrong in it. You will continue to stumble around until you find the light, and until you do, I will pray for you."

"Thank you, Samuel," Nicolaus said as he went down on his knees in front of Samuel, knowing that Samuel truly believed in prayer and that it was good enough for him. Nicolaus also knew his faith was not as strong, nor did he truly know God in the personal way that Samuel did. He felt guilty for hoping Samuel had come to get him out of this mess in a physical way.

Samuel placed his hands on top of Nicolaus's head and mouthed a silent prayer as Nicolaus bowed his head. After a few moments, Samuel said in High German, "So to prove to you, Nicolaus, that God is real and that he provides all things, you will be out of this cell by tomorrow morning!" Samuel released Nicolaus and offered his hand to aid him to his feet. "A blessing that comes with a warning is yours today, Nicolaus. God will allow you to disobey Him, you know that, do you not? Nevertheless, like children who are being told not to touch a flame and we touch it anyway, is it God's fault we get burnt? He loves us so much that He gives us our free will. Hopefully you will choose to obey and not get burnt. It is your choice. Nicolaus, I know you were taught from an early age to believe in God. A lot of people believe, even the demons believe, but the question is, do you know Him? Does He know you?" Samuel pointed his calloused finger into Nicolaus's chest, pushing it hard just below the sternum bone, so hard that the pain still lingered there long after Samuel had taken his leave. Nicolaus rubbed the sensitive area, thinking about what Samuel had said, both of knowing God and being let out tomorrow morning. He wished he knew God so well that he would have the certainty that Samuel had. Right now, he felt that odds were not in his favor. After all, no one had come to see him since he had been incarcerated, save Samuel. He was the only one who seemingly cared, even if it was just to pray for him. At least that was something.

"Wake up, Zook!" Nicolaus heard early the next morning. Rising groggily, he squinted to see the blurred figures of three people standing at his cell door.

"Make sure you see the clerk before you go. You'll need to sign papers and get your belongings," the officer said, as he opened the cell door. Nicolaus blinked again and squinted even harder. This time he could make out Sylvain and Dee, standing beside the officer, their eyes bright with excitement.

"I'm free to go? Why?" Nicolaus asked, as he walked out of his cell.

"I wouldn't question it if I were you. Just get the hell out of here!" the officer said, as he led the way out into a corridor and into the main office area. The clerk on duty shoved a paper bag with his belongings at him.

As the three walked to Sylvain's car, Dee explained that Karen and she had told the officials what Lorie had done, but it was still under investigation. "I'm very sorry that you had to wait so long for us to get you out. Are you okay?" Dee asked, putting her hand on Nicolaus's arm.

Nicolaus stopped, turning to Sylvain, and said in dialect with contempt, "It takes much effort and time some days to get out of bed!"

"Are you referring to me and Lorie?" Sylvain asked, still in dialect as he stopped and swung around to face Nicolaus, his head cocked and eyes narrowed.

"If the shoe fits!" Nicolaus said in English as he started to walk again, passing Sylvain.

Without warning, Sylvain took Nicolaus's arm, swung him around to face him, and hit Nicolaus square beneath the same eye that Kenzie had blackened just one month prior. Nicolaus fell against a car and in a daze slowly sank to the ground. He tried to focus on Sylvain's face, mostly so that he would not pass out from the blow, knowing Sylvain always had it in him to do serious damage to someone if he was inclined to do so. Nevertheless, they were Amish, and strict pacifists in teaching and in nature. Nicolaus never thought Sylvain would ever hit anyone, so it didn't concern him much until now, of course.

"Owoo, are you two about done?" cried Dee, bent over clutching her belly in pain. Nicolaus got to his feet with the aid of the car beside him. Sylvain had already reached Dee to help hold her upright. "This can't be happening, it's too early!" Dee grunted between contractions.

"Oh no, it's happening all right!" Nicolaus said, as he looked at the puddle of clear liquid that had been coming fast and heavy from between Dee's legs onto the concrete. The two helped her into the backseat of Sylvain's Cadillac. Nicolaus sat next to her, as Sylvain proceeded to drive.

"Where to?" Sylvain asked, giving the large V-8 engine all its power as he sped down the street.

"I think we'd better get her to Cora and Lizzy's!"

"No, Nick, it's too early!" repeated Dee.

"Da baby knows when to come, Dee Just relax."

* * * * *

Chapter 7

August 1974  
Nicolaus, Age 19  
For One Moment Of Pleasure

"You'll be all right, Dee," Nicolaus reassured her, seeing the fear in her eyes. Sylvain sped down the dirt road that led to Cora's, leaving a whirlwind of dust swirling behind them. Nicolaus held onto Dee's hand and continually gave her encouragement with his smiling eyes.

"I don't know what to do!" Dee said, as she was helped into Cora and Lizzy's home.

"First of all, Dee, you are speaking your lack of faith in yourself und in Lizzy and me. That will stop right here, right now! You encourage da devil when you speak against yourself. Speak from now on of good and encouraging things. Do you feel like walking?" Cora asked, as Lizzy started giving Sylvain and Nicolaus instructions.

"Walking?" Dee asked, looking at her as if she was crazy.

"Ja walking! I want you up off your back until you can't stand to be upright," Cora said, after checking the baby's position and the progress of Dee's dilating cervix.

Lizzy walked Dee while Cora, Nicolaus, and Sylvain prepared the birthing room with clean sheets and towels. Water was set to boil in two large kettles so all they had to do was dip into them as needed.

Everything was ready by the time Lizzy brought Dee back around the house for the fourth time and announced that the contractions were getting too severe for her to be on her feet. "Das fellie has a high tolerance for pain. We will have to make a note of dat!"

As the three women entered the birthing room, Nicolaus and Sylvain stood staring blankly at the closed door for some sound, but there was only silence. "She would make a good Amish woman; I've not heard a whimper or a cry yet!" commented Sylvain, trying to break the tension between the two as they sat and waited.

"Nicolaus, come quick!" Cora cried, sticking her head out of the door.

Nicolaus jumped to his feet and as he entered the room the smell of blood overtook him, making him want to gag. Dee's eyes were full of pain and he knew they were a silent plea to him to help her. "What do I do?" Nicolaus asked as he saw Lizzy move to leave from behind Dee's back. Dee had been sitting upright on the bed propped up in front of Lizzy with a sheet over her spread legs. Cora took her place sitting lower than Dee's legs, her head covered by the sheet. "Take Lizzy's part," Cora ordered. "She will show you what to do."

Lizzy instructed Nicolaus to remove his shoes and showed him how to get on his knees behind Dee, telling him to coax her to relax when it was time to relax and to push when it was time to push. "Hold her upright and don't let her go!" Lizzy said as she left the room for more hot towels. Nicolaus climbed behind Dee just in time for another hard contraction. He could feel her body tense and stiffen as the pain intensified, going from her back to her stomach and down her legs.

"Cora, I don't think I can take much more of this," Dee said, as she shook uncontrollably while the contraction slowly subsided from her body.

"You're speaking against yourself. We don't need dat! Nicolaus, don't just sit there, comfort Dee!" ordered Cora, still covered beneath the sheet.

Nicolaus began to speak encouragement to Dee only to be told by her, in a high screeching voice, "Shut up!" as she was gripped by another contraction. Nicolaus looked down at Cora who came out from under the sheet, wondering what on earth Nicolaus was doing to cause such a reaction.

"Now what?" he asked.

"On the next contraction, Dee, I want you to push!" said Cora, ignoring Nicolaus's question altogether.

"Comfort her with your touch, Nicolaus," Lizzy said softly as she reentered the room with the hot towels, the steam billowing off of them as if they had come from a furnace into a cold room.

Nicolaus started to touch Dee's face softly, putting his fingers lightly on her cheek, trailing them down to her shoulders and arms, intertwining his fingers with hers as she started to push, their hands outstretched in front of her belly. After seeing that she responded to this favorably, he moved closer, sitting upright, spreading his knees so that she was sitting in front of him between them. Placing his face next to hers, he soothed her softly.

"One more push, Dee, focus!" Cora said, as she got ready for the oncoming contraction.

"Hold me Nicolaus," Dee cried out; she could feel his body behind hers. It was rock hard, his forearms muscular and strong as he held her hands up so she had leverage to push.

"It's a girl!" cried Cora, handing Lizzy the infant to clean and suction any remaining residue from its mouth and nostrils. Nicolaus immediately leaned to one side and reached for his leg.

"Oh shit! God help!" he cried out in pain as he beat his fist against the bed, one leg stiff as a board and the other still bent under him beside Dee. Cora wiped her hands on her apron and walked urgently over to the side of the bed where Nicolaus's straight leg extended over the side. Taking hold of it, she forced his foot upwards. "Aee! Aee!" he repeated, trying to sit up while the pain subsided.

"Haven't you ever had a charley horse, Nicolaus?" Cora asked.

"Hell no!" he said, as he rubbed his calf, trying not to disturb Dee. Lizzy had just placed the baby into Dee's arms and the three of them watched quietly as she spoke to her daughter, telling her how happy she was that she was here. Nicolaus sighed, then moved slowly off the bed, using the pillows to support Dee so that she could lean back in comfort.

"How was it?" asked Sylvain, as Nicolaus entered the living room, still rubbing his calf.

"It was great!" Nicolaus said, as he sat and leaned back exhausted like he had been working hard all day.

"Thought for a moment you had the baby. All I could hear was you crying out in pain."

"I had a charley's horse in my leg, I couldn't help it, it hurt like a..."

"A charley horse!" Sylvain corrected, trying not to laugh out loud. "So what was it?"

"I told you, a 'charley horse,' a big cramp, in the back of my shin like..."

Sylvain shook his head as he rolled his eyes. "May God help you, Nicolaus; the bluppy, is it a boy or girl?" Sylvain asked, no longer thinking Nicolaus's innocence to be funny.

"Oh, it's a girl, and a real pretty one too!" said Nicolaus, with a dreamy smile reflecting on the looks of the baby as Cora placed her in Dee's arms.

~

Dee held her child to her breast as Cora instructed and encouraged her on the proper ways to breast-feed her new infant. Cora knew if Dee allowed the infant to suckle, she would be less likely to give her child up for adoption. She also knew right after birth was a very important time of bonding between mother and child. "What was it that Nicolaus spoke to you, child?" Lizzy asked as she tidied the room for Dee. Dee's face turned a bright red as a shy smile broke over her lips, her eyes slowly looking up from her child to meet Lizzy's.

"I could never bring myself to tell you that!" said Dee out of respect.

"Dat's what I thought! Nicolaus is a very, ah... how do you English put it? Handsome young man? To a young girl to be so close to him as he was to you, ah, dat alone would be himmel on earth, ja?"

"Lizzy, your mouth you need to keep! Watch what you're saying." Cora said, as she handed Dee a warm mug of herbal tea. "This will help your milk come in. Has she latched on yet?" Cora asked.

"Oh yeah, she most definitely has!" Dee said, as she felt every hair on her head stand on end as the infant sucked heartily and with more vigor than she would have ever imagined a newborn infant could have.

"Your child needs a name. Have you one for her?" asked Lizzy, while she sat down facing Dee on the bed. "Her name is Nicola, I named her after Nick. After all, if it wasn't for his help and friendship, well, I don't know what I would have done."

"Ja, he is a good man und Nicola is a fine name for your little one," said Lizzy.

"Do you think Dee can stay with you and Lizzy for a couple of days while she gets stronger? I just think she will keep the bluppy if she stays with you two," Nicolaus asked as he helped empty the large kettles of hot water in the kitchen with Cora at the sink.

"You don't have to worry about Dee keeping her baby. She has taken to her stronger than some of our own take to theirs. Und she can stay here as long as she likes."

"Cora, did she name her?" Nicolaus asked, his eyes wide with amazement, and smiling from ear to ear.

"She named her Nicola, after you, Nicolaus! Now don't let it go to your head, son," Cora said with a smile, looking up from her work just long enough to look into Nicolaus's eyes, seeing there that he did have strong feelings for the English woman and her child.

~

Three weeks had passed since Dee and Nicola had returned home from Cora's. Nicolaus was spending day and night at Dee's, helping her with her new little one.

"Ach, dat's not how you bathe a baby, Dee!" cried Nicolaus, as he grabbed up Nicola from the bath basin with a towel on his shoulder and one on his lap. He placed Nicola face down over his knees as he sat on the covered toilet seat next to Dee in her large bathroom and began to wash the infant from head to feet. "You wash a child always on your lap. Dat way they learn to love baths and water instead of being afraid of it." Nicolaus then turned Nicola over and proceeded to continue with the ritual, drying each body part as he went, cooing and speaking softly to her all the while. "See, this way she will not get cold!" Nicolaus looked up at Dee and smiled. However, his smile quickly faded, seeing the look Dee was giving him. "What is it?" he asked softly, almost as if he already knew what she was going to say.

"Are you quite done, Nick?"

"Ah... um, yeah. Here she is, nice und clean for you," he said, affectionately kissing Nicola on her forehead. As he handed her to Dee, Nicola gurgled with joy, overcome by the excitement of finding her own fist to suck on. Nicolaus washed out the basin while Dee nursed Nicola and then put her to bed.

"Nick, we need to talk," Dee said, as she slowly shut the door to the nursery, careful not to waken her sleeping child. "You have been here every day since I brought Nicola home, and well, Nick, I thank you for all that you have done for me and Nicola, but we need some time to ourselves. You know, some bonding time alone. You understand, don't you?"

Nicolaus looked down at Dee, his eyes betraying the hurt he felt and said, "You want that I should leave now?"

"Yap. Now," said Dee, looking directly into his big deep blue eyes, as she slipped her hand gently under his arm and led him to the stairs.

Nicolaus stopped, then turned to Dee and said softly, "I don't mean to get on your nerves, Dee, I just want to help."

"Believe me, you do a good job of both," Dee said, wondering if it was the post-birth hormones or just Nicolaus in general she could not take much of lately.

Nicolaus went down the stairs alone. Stopping at the bottom, he turned, looked up, and asked, "Will you call me? I'll be at Gene's. Do you need the number?"

"I have Gene's number and I'll call you if I need you," Dee said softly in an almost whisper as she looked over the rail.

"Keep Nicola covered, ja?"

"Good-bye, Nick!" said Dee with a smile, as she shook her head and turned to walk back to the nursery.

~

"You haven't been at Dee's for three days. How come?" Gene asked, getting tired of Nicolaus moping around the apartment.

"Has it only been three days? Man, it feels like three weeks!" Nicolaus said, as he ran his fingers through his hair in disbelief. "She needed some time alone."

"I've heard that line before! It's almost time for work. You need a ride?" Gene asked as he picked up his coat.

"Yeah, thanks," Nicolaus said, looking at the dart, which landed dead center in the bull's-eye.

"Pretty good! Luck or practice?" Gene asked as he admired the dart with Nicolaus.

"Definitely a lot of practice!" Nicolaus said sarcastically, as he got up from his bedroom floor, where he had been propped against the wall for hours playing darts and thinking how much he missed holding and looking at that sweet little girl. He missed the smell of her as he kissed her head and cheeks. He missed the feeling that left his heart at her mercy when her warm little face smiled back at his, knowing the smiles were just gas, but endearing just the same.

Grabbing his coat as he headed for the front door, Nicolaus thought of how Nicola had successfully filled the void of loneliness he had lived with continually since he had left home and entered the world of the English.

"How loud do you want it tonight, Nick?" asked Sylvain as he ran the sound check onstage for the evening. "I want it loud! Zair loud tonight, Sylvain," Nicolaus said standing at the front door as he walked in with Gene.

"Those two, they don't miss a beat, ya ken?" Kenzie said to Jesse in his thick Scottish accent, as he realized how close the two ex-Amish boys were to each other. "It's as if they never leave each other's company. Like mind readers or something."

"A little too weird for me," said Jesse, as he continued to stock the bar.

"You got it loud then!" Sylvain said, knowing Nicolaus was feeling a little down for having been asked to leave Dee's. Being taught to see someone of their community in need, whether it was physical or emotional, and being the first on the scene to help without being asked was the way of their people and a major childhood teaching. No one had to say "I am hurting." They all could see it and acted as a collective entity to relieve the problem in any way they could. This is what Nicolaus missed most in the outside world. No one seemed to care or even see the hurting people around them. Once in a great while, he would meet people who had the gift of caring, but it was clouded occasionally by stimuli that would not allow them to act on their emotions. Nevertheless, it was magnificent to watch his people at work. They all fell into place where their talents sent them, without a word, when one of them was in need. Nicolaus thought, possibly, this was the reason his people didn't participate in buying any form of insurance for the fact that it just wasn't considered necessary. They had each other, and no secular insurance company could or would ever help like that.

As the band started to play and the bar began to fill to overflowing with the many patrons willing to drown their ills and worries in booze, friends, and music, Nicolaus could not help but feel very much alone in the midst of this enormous living, breathing crowd. Pretending was something Nicolaus was familiar with. He could put a mask on as quickly as anyone. After all, he had a lot of practice. As he played and sang for the crowd, he also thought of how he hated doing it. The pure love and thrill of the music didn't seem to move him as before. Even the dreadful thought of getting up onstage in front of all the staring eyes turned his stomach at the moment. If only they knew how much I hate them, how much I dislike those that want to be my friend just to look important to the others. Don't they know I am a person just as they are? Damn, I hate doing this! Nicolaus almost said the words out loud in the microphone as he replaced his electric guitar with his twelve-string classical one for the next number. As the set continued, Nicolaus tried hard not to think or feel. Just play and sing, don't think. Man, I wish I could get high or drunk and get this night over with as fast as possible! Nicolaus thought, knowing that he would get a beating from Kenzie if he did. Water was all he was allowed to drink at the bar and in the backstage lounge. Kenzie kept a close eye on all of them since the overdose incident.

"Nick! Table nine says they know ye. They want you and Sol to meet with them," Kenzie yelled up at Nicolaus from the side of the stage while he was putting his guitars up on their stands, getting them ready for the next set. Turning back to Kenzie as he bent over his twelve string, Nicolaus said sharply as he rolled his eyes in annoyance, "I know everyone, und everyone knows me! Tell them Nick is tired and isn't going to personally entertain anyone right now."

"Aye, that's all well un good. Up to snuff for a spoiled brat as yourself, but I ken these two you both will want to see." Kenzie tilted his head in its direction, and darted his eyes back up at Nicolaus as if to say, "Do what I say, or else."

"Table nine, you say?" Sylvain interrupted as he took hold of Nicolaus's sleeve and ushered him down the stage stairs before Nicolaus could say any more to Kenzie. After all, he knew they both were not in the best of moods.

The two made their way through the crowd, and as they got close enough to make out faces, it was Nicolaus this time who clutched Sylvain's sleeve, stopping both of them in their tracks. "Is dat?" Nicolaus asked with a wide smile and eyes big with excitement.

Sylvain squinted for a moment then let out a throaty, "Oh no..." and turned to head back to the stage.

Nicolaus caught him and asked with a frown, "What's wrong with you? That's Eli and Sarah!"

"I know who it is. Let me go, Nicolaus!" Sylvain pulled away from Nicolaus's grip and again started to head back to the stage.

"Fine! I'll let them know you didn't want to speak to them," Nicolaus said, as he started to walk up to their table. Sylvain turned, stopping him with one large powerful hand on his arm, saying low in their dialect, "It's not that I don't want to talk to them. It's that I don't want them to talk to you."

"What?" Nicolaus said, loud enough to get Eli's attention, and both Eli and his sister stood and walked over to the two. Eli extended his hand first, Nicolaus taking it with a hearty Amish style handshake. Then Nicolaus turned to Sarah, with a nod and a smile. "Eli, Sarah, what are you two doing here?" Nicolaus asked in their dialect, and offered Sarah a chair at a table closer to the stage. Sarah sat down, looking back with a smile at Nicolaus as her brother, Eli, sat down next to Sylvain, who was looking at Eli with a worrisome gaze.

"There are a few reasons. For one, we wanted to see you and Sylvain in action. We have heard a lot about your talents, and, well, we just wanted to see if it was all true. Tell me, Nicolaus, you look happy that we are here to see you. Are you?" asked Eli with a smile.

"Believe me. You both are like a breath of fresh air to me right now!' Nicolaus replied, feeling as if he had died and was sent to heaven just from the nearness of Sarah to him at that moment.

"We came to ask you a question. I think we have seen all we need to see!" Sarah said rolling her eyes at her brother, feeling obviously uneasy in such a worldly atmosphere.

"What question is that?" Nicolaus asked, looking into Sarah's big brown eyes, the smile fading from his lips as he looked back to Eli.

"Can I get you and your friends a drink, Nick?" Karen asked as she walked up on the foursome.

"Dis is our gut friends from home, Karen. Dis ist Eli Bailer und his sister Sarah.

"It's nice to meet you both," said Karen.

"They want two soft drinks," said Sylvain, looking at Karen's order pad.

"Okay, and how about you boys?"

"Vater for me please," Nicolaus said. Sylvain just stared at Eli as if he wanted to talk to him about something important.

"Okay, two pops and one 'vater,'" said Karen teasingly. "It took us a while, but now we can understand these two!" Karen whispered as she leaned down between Eli and Sarah, making them both chuckle.

"Did your datt send you?" Nicolaus asked, going back into their dialect.

"No, Datt knows nothing of our visit. We would get such a blotching if he should ever find out," said Sarah looking at her brother accusingly.

"We were just curious about what you two do here, that's all," said Eli in defense.

"Curious enough you'd jeopardize being put under the 'ban,' or watchful eye if you were to be caught?" Sylvain asked, giving Eli an evil-eyed glance.

Eli did not answer but turned to Nicolaus, who was smiling at Sarah and unaware of the conversation that had been going on between Eli and Sylvain. "Are you coming to Sylvain's baptism, Nicolaus? It's two weeks away and we are all getting baptized on the same Sunday!" Sylvain's head fell into his hands as if he'd given up; Nicolaus looked over at Sylvain, his smile quickly replaced with a questioning frown.

"Sylvain?" Nicolaus asked, the tone to his voice was of hurt.

"You heard him right, Nicolaus," said Sylvain, looking up at Eli from his hands as if to say, "now look what you started!"

"You are to be baptized in two weeks? When did you take the classes? Moreover, why didn't you tell me?" Nicolaus asked, trying not to show the pain he was feeling for being left out of such an important part of Sylvain's life.

"They were held last May. A week ago Sunday was my last class. I didn't tell you because... you weren't speaking to me. Remember?" Sylvain said going back into English, trying not to make eye contact with Nicolaus.

"Here we are, two pops and your 'vater,' Nick," Karen said in a jolly way, not realizing the seriousness that dominated the table at that moment. Still, she sensed the somber mood.

"You could have told me, Sylvain!" Nicolaus said, not noticing Karen's presence as she served the drinks quietly, moving from person to person, aware all the while of Nicolaus's eyes, which seemed to be searching Sylvain's soul.

"Did you know Sylvain was leaving, Karen?" he asked, quickly glaring up at her.

"Leave me out of this, you two," Karen said as she vanished into the crowd.

"You told Jesse. Ja?"

"Last week" said Sylvain.

"Gene and Danny know. Ja?"

"Ja, Nicolaus, they all know. Look! I'm sorry. If you want the truth, I didn't want you to know at all until I was gone, das is all!"

"Why, Sylvain? You don't want that I should go to your baptism? Is that it?"

"No, I just didn't want you to be hurt. But... then again... I've already done a good job of that, wouldn't you say Eli?"

"Don't look at me, Sylvain. I told you to tell him, didn't I?" said Eli.

"Sylvain, I'm happy for you, I'm glad you've made this decision. I only wish..." Nicolaus stopped before he confessed that he wished he could go back too. More than anything, he wished he could be Sylvain, who had loved ones who wanted him back, to have a father who accepted him no matter what he was and trusted him to become what he must be.

"I know, Nicolaus," said Sylvain, truly knowing Nicolaus's desire and need to return to his people. "Can I talk to you alone for a moment in the back, Eli?" Sylvain turned to Eli and removed him forcefully from his chair. "Come, follow me," Sylvain ordered Eli, not waiting for an answer as he walked toward the backstage lounge.

~

Nicolaus and Sarah watched the two leave, Sarah in abandoned horror and Nicolaus with abandonment of heart. A slow song came over the speakers. Nicolaus watched as the couples began to get up to dance. The silence between him and Sarah was deafening, making him feel as though they were strangers.

"Do you know how to dance these English dances?" Sarah asked, trying her best to make small talk. "Yeah, it's part of my job here at The Eagle. I have to dance with the English sometimes," Nicolaus said as he got up and offered Sarah his hand. "Come, I'll show you how to dance an English slow dance."

"No!" said Sarah, outraged at the suggestion.

"Sarah, you will go home tonight and kick yourself for not dancing an English dance, now come! I'll show you how, Sarah." The words brought Nicolaus back to a time in his memories of the two of them as children on the playground at their one-room schoolhouse.

Sarah got up slowly from her chair, her eyes never leaving his. "Nicolaus, I'm afraid they will laugh," Sarah's eyes looked shyly to both sides to see if anyone was looking at them.

"Sarah, they will not laugh," said Nicolaus as he placed her left hand on his shoulder and intertwined his fingers in between hers in her right hand. Holding her around her lower waist, he moved her body close to his, finding some rigid resistance in doing so. "This they will laugh at, Sarah!" Nicolaus said, as he patted her back gently with reassurance as he stepped uncomfortably close to her. "Now relax and move closer. Do what I do, just move with me. When the English dance a slow dance, they get very close; when they dance the fast dances, they dance far away from each other. Sometimes they just get up and dance with no particular partner at the time. It was all so confusing to me at first but I learned and now I just let the music make my body move."

Sarah's every sense was on heightened alert, overwhelmed by the warmth and feel of his hard muscular body, its smell not the scent of a body that had been laboring out in the hot field, with its pungent masculine odors of sweat, but a smell of a clean heat, a masculine scent, a smell mingled with the aromas of the bar, of spices, smoke, and booze. It was Nicolaus. She looked up at his face. His eyes were closed. She could not help but feel a deep feeling of forbidden pride to be in his arms, moving with him, being only his for the moment. She had seen the female patrons during the musical sets while the band played. She saw their lustful, mesmerized stunned eyes fixed on him while he was singing onstage. She could feel their eyes now on her, cutting her with their envy. She did not care. Nicolaus was hers for this moment, and there was nothing they could do about it. "You dance just fine, Sarah!" said Nicolaus, looking down at her with a smile.

"I do?" she asked as she smiled endearingly back up at him. "So it's okay that I am stepping on your feet. Ja?"

"Well... that we can work on. Would you like to go outside for some air?" Nicolaus asked, knowing his feet would not last many more of her assaults.

"That sounds nice. Lead the way," said Sarah as she moved away from Nicolaus to stop her head from spinning with the nearness of him. Nicolaus grabbed Sarah by her hand and led the way past the patrons to the front exit, being momentarily stopped by two women who just had to plant a kiss right smack-dab on Nicolaus's mouth, telling him how much they liked his music. Nicolaus graciously accepted their compliment with a shy smile and excused himself with Sarah in tow.

Nicolaus had been playing only his songs for nearly a year now and the patrons were so familiar with them that it was not uncommon to have them stand in front of the stage and sing along with him. On some of his songs, they even had cute sayings that they would yell back at him during a certain verse or chorus just to get him to laugh, as he most often did. At the least, he would smile down at them while trying to stay with the music, shaking his head as he smiled. This Sarah and Eli noted as odd but impressive while they had been watching the previous sets earlier that night.
"You have quite a following here, Nicolaus. Do you know those two women, or is it their custom that the Yankee women kiss you on the mouth?" Sarah asked, as she leaned against a car in the parking lot where Nicolaus finally landed her, hoping to have a few minutes of privacy.

"No, usually I try to stay backstage between sets so I don't have to deal with the crowds. I hope you do not misunderstand, but most of these people here are drunk, high, or both. They get a little too friendly at times, so I try and stay backstage. You never know what will happen here at The Eagle; it can be a real circus some days. That's why we have security posted around the stage while we are on. It can get a little crazy." Nicolaus stopped and looked down for a moment then off to one side as though deep in a serious thought.

Were those tears in his eyes, Sarah wondered, as she squinted to look at them closer. "Are you mad at Sylvain, Nicolaus?"

Nicolaus turned back to her and replied in a cracked voice. "No... not mad. I'm just...," Nicolaus coughed, clearing his throat for a moment and looking down, his arms crossed in front of his chest as he began to play with a rock near his boot. "I'm hurt Sarah, dat is all," he finally answered her in English.

"You wish he would stay with you on the outside among the English?"

"No, believe me, Sarah, I'm truly happy for him but..." He stopped again, not knowing if he should trust all his feelings to Sarah, fearing that she would misunderstand his heart and leave him feeling even more debased than he already felt. "I just wish he had told me. I thought he... well, never mind. I've said enough." Nicolaus waved his hand and looked away. "But, Sarah, you may never know how much it has meant to me that you and Eli came to see us tonight." Nicolaus looked back at her with a smile as he whispered, "You are a breath of fresh air. You look good in your English blouse and jeans, but I favor seeing you in your Amish dress, black cape and apron," he said, brushing back the stray strands of hair that stuck to her full lips.

"Hey, Nick, you're on!" Kenzie yelled from the front doorway, allowing a small amount of light mingled with smoke to escape as he cracked it open just enough to stick his head out.

"Ach, come, Sarah," Nicolaus said, as he grabbed onto Sarah's hand and started to run back to the front door. Moving swiftly through the crowd, he placed her next to Eli at one of the second-story balcony tables where the patrons could get an unobstructed look at the band. "Sit. Promise me you will not move. We have just this one last set. Promise me?" Nicolaus asked as he looked at the stage to see if they were waiting for him.

"We will be here; don't worry," said Eli, with a smile.

Squatting down next to Sarah, Nicolaus looked into her eyes and asked, "Would you like me to sing for you a song?"

"Do you know the one we danced to?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, I do,"

"That's the one you can sing for me."

~

A small crowd sat at the all-night cafe, drinking coffee and eating. Nicolaus, Eli, and Sylvain were having the cook's specialty, hot apple pie. Nicolaus and Sylvain frequented the diner after work, so the owner and waitresses were familiar with the boys in the band. Those at the table were Kenzie, Gene, Danny, Sylvain, Eli, and Sarah. It was odd to Nicolaus that Kenzie was invited to tag along, but he soon came to find out why.

"Nicolaus, you know we have been on Rumspringa since we turned sixteen, so we all decided to have one last fling," Eli said, as he moved his plate, empty but for a few crumbs, toward the center on the table, placing his mug of coffee in front of him instead.

"You only have this next weekend to party it up. What do you have in mind?" Nicolaus asked, as he too pushed his empty plate forward and placed both hands around his mug of coffee.

"We have planned a party in my datt's south field. You know the one that has a gradual incline that goes the length of it all the way down to the woods and creek?" Sylvain asked.

Nicolaus looked at him as he recalled the pasture, "Yeah I know of the one."

"Yeah, well... it's a terrible piece of property for planting but great for a party with a band! Danny and Gene have already said they would play. Would you be willing to play too?"

Nicolaus looked at Gene and Danny but was silent for some time before he answered, "How do you expect to get juice up at the south field for the microphones, amps, and lighting?"

"We have already rented six gas-powered generators, and possibly more are coming later. We have thought of everything, trust me. We even asked Kenzie and his brothers to be the security for the evening. Mind you, they are just going to observe. If anything goes haywire, then they will call for the authorities," said Eli, with certainty in his tone.

"I swear, Kenzie, you better not decide to show up in your dresses!" Danny blurted out, getting the evil-eye from Kenzie and thinking it was good that he was not in arm's reach.

"Kilts, you idiot! We are a proud clan, that's to be sure. We don't have to be darn'n our colors if ye are troubling yourselves about it then. But, I'm tell'n ye now, if any of those snotty nose Amish kids get smart with one of my own, they will be sorry. One way or another. I'm just tell'n ya now so-ins ye ken."

"Gotcha, Kenzie. Thanks for the warning!" said Sylvain, and then turned back to Nicolaus and asked, "So... are ya in?"

"Sylvain, we've been to some of these 'parties.' They can get crazy. Are you sure your parents are okay about this?"

"Nicolaus, don't be stupid. They know that we are planning to have a little coming-in party. They just may not be aware of what kind of party or how many will be partying with us."

"How many have you invited?" Nicolaus asked, as he got a little uncomfortable at the thought of what Sylvain had said and the way he said it.

"Well, you can correctly say that we will have at least three neighboring cities represented," Sylvain said with a sinister smile.

"Kids from all around our districts, some in Ohio have planned to make it our way, and some from Indiana are coming too," Eli said in their dialect, forgetting that they were among outsiders.

"Okay, that's a real good indication that this is not such a good idea!" Nicolaus said, as he shook his head no, pushing himself back in his chair.

"What? What did he say?" Kenzie asked, frantically looking from Nicolaus to Sylvain.

"I said there will be a lot of 'snotty nose' Amish kids coming from every town in Amishville for this party," Nicolaus said, giving Sylvain a troubled sidelong glare.

"Are ye say'n we should bring our guns or maybe just our dirks?" Kenzie asked, as if he was hoping the answer would be yes.

"God no! What is wrong with you, Kenzie?" Sylvain said, as he hit the table with his fist, frustrated in Nicolaus's petty concerns. "Now look, Nick, you're either in or out, either way the party will go on. What is it? In or out?"

Nicolaus raised one eyebrow when Sylvain called him 'Nick.' Never had he used that short English form of his name given to him by Jesse. All eyes were on Nicolaus as they awaited his verdict. He sat silent for a moment then answered softly, his head lowered as he looked at his folded arms in front of him, "I'm in. What day next week is it?"

The attendees all sighed with relief in unison, then Sylvain answered, "Thursday, the party will start around five o'clock."

"Will we have a bandstand?" asked Nicolaus, still looking down at his arms.

"Yeah, it's an old tractor-trailer bed Jesse's hauling in for us," said Gene. "We already have the lights donated too. Five racks all together, each with eight floodlights."

Nicolaus looked up and started to nod. "I guess this is a perfect way to party hard before you all join a life of simplicity! We may as well all go out with flashing lights and sirens. God knows it would not be the first time for me! Hell yes, I'm in!"

After saying good-bye to Sarah and Eli, Nicolaus insisted on walking home, knowing Sylvain had to get Eli and Sarah back home before the sun started to rise. The walk to Gene's was refreshing. The early fall air brought a sting to his nose and cheeks, a precursor to what lay in store for that winter. Once home, Nicolaus sat on the floor of his room until midmorning, knowing the sleep he so wanted to escape into was not going to come. The thoughts of Sylvain's news of leaving and the fact that he didn't even wish to let Nicolaus know of his plans or thoughts hurt too much to sleep. The room started to close in on him. He went to the kitchen to make breakfast but decided he needed to walk instead. Closing the front door behind him, he walked for what seemed to be hours. Coming into Dee's neighborhood, he decided to see if she was at home. Maybe she had some words of wisdom that would make him feel better.

~

"Nick! What are you doing on this side of town?"

"Hi, Dee, are you busy?"

"No, come in. Nicola is asleep and so is Rodger, so be very still. Are you all right?" Dee asked, as Nicolaus moved past her through the doorway.

"Who's Rodger?" Nicolaus whispered, turning to Dee once he had made it in.

"Rodger! You know, Nicola's father. He got back from his aid mission in India. I told you about him, being a doctor and all."

"Yeah, you did but you made me believe you didn't expect him back."

"No, Nick, I knew he was coming back. I hadn't told him that I was pregnant with his child for fear that he would return early and not do what he felt he had to do in India. I just didn't want to be a burden on him." A sleepy moan and rustling came from the living room sofa as Dee took Nicolaus's arm and led him down the hall. "Let's go in the kitchen so we can talk without whispering here in the hallway."

Nicolaus sat down at Dee's kitchen table while she made coffee, explaining to him their decision to marry sometime before she started her residency. Dee handed him the hot mug of coffee, which he drank in silence, handing it back to her for more in a matter of a few minutes, empty as if he were starving for the caffeine alone. "Nick, what's up? You're very quiet this afternoon, and you look like you slept in your clothes," Dee asked, as she touched his arm and ran her fingers down along a heavily wrinkled sleeve.

"Oh, well... that's because I haven't slept," Nicolaus said as he looked down at his distorted reflection in the black coffee, the steam making his eyes water. "Sylvain is leaving; he's going back home in two weeks."

"You don't want him to go back home?" Dee asked gently. She waited for Nicolaus to speak, watching his eyes to see what he was feeling, but he would not look up.

"No it's not that, it's..." Nicolaus felt his throat close so tight it hurt. "I just wish he had told me. I'm not sure... I can..." The words hurt too much to speak them out loud. He could feel the tears well up in his eyes and he knew he couldn't do anything to stop them. They streamed down his cheeks and plopped one by one on Dee's white tablecloth. Sniffing, he laughed, embarrassed that he could no longer keep his pain at bay, and wiped at the tears with his sleeves as he looked away, when Rodger popped his head in to say hello.

"Um... Rodger, can I speak with you for a moment?" Dee asked as she got up quickly and ushered him out into the living room while Nicolaus regained his composure.

"What? Is that Nick?" Rodger asked, stopping Dee as soon as they got outside the kitchen door.

"Yes. That's Nick, but..."

"Well I want to meet him," said Rodger, placing his hand over Dee's on his arm and looking to the kitchen door as if waiting for Nicolaus to come through it.

"Rodger, Nick is upset. He's crying. Please, just stay out here until I can see exactly what's going on with him."

"He's crying?"

"Shh, yes, now please go check Nicola. I think I can hear her rustling around up there." Rodger raised one eyebrow, as if questioning that she could actually hear Nicola from downstairs.

"Okay, but do not let him leave until I meet him," said Rodger, looking back suspiciously at Dee as he made his way up the staircase.

Dee reentered the kitchen to find Nicolaus standing with his mug and staring out her kitchen window. Nicolaus turned to her and smiled shyly as he said, "Sorry about that."

Dee motioned to Nicolaus to have a seat at the kitchen table as she started to prepare sandwiches and a salad for lunch. "You know, Sylvain has a life to live just as you do, Nick. Life never stays the same. You know that, don't you?"

"I know," said Nicolaus, putting his head back against the wall as he watched Dee work. "It's just, he didn't tell me."

"So who made you Sylvain's guardian?" Dee asked, turning to give Nicolaus a smile.

"God did!" said Nicolaus smugly, looking up at Dee with a sad smile.

"Yeah, right, that would be the day. Let's see, since I have known you, which I might add hasn't been all that long, you and Sylvain have fought verbally twice, Sylvain has hit you in the face once, he snatched Lorie from you and slept with her, and tell me again why you're upset he's going back home?"

Nicolaus laughed and stood, placing the coffee mug on the kitchen counter and asking if he could help.

"Okay, so you can hear Nicola from downstairs!" Rodger said, as he entered the kitchen, holding the infant in his arms. Nicolaus stepped over to him and asked if he could hold her, looking deep into Rodger's eyes, which made Rodger step back from the mere striking appearance of the lad.

"Ah, sure. Here," Rodger said. He handed Nicola to Nicolaus and watched as Nicolaus, enamored by her angelic expressions, took her to sit down at the kitchen table, speaking softly to her in his dialect as if there were no one else in the room.

"You must be the famous 'Nick' I've heard so much about?" Rodger asked in a friendly tone, the smile fading though when Nicolaus did not reply. Rodger looked down at Dee and offered an inquisitive shrug.

"Nick, Rodger asked you a question," Dee said, giving Nicolaus the benefit of the doubt.

"I heard him," said Nicolaus still looking down at Nicola, now inspecting her little hands and kissing the tight fist she had around his thumb.

"What are you doing on Tuesday and Wednesday, I mean, are you busy?"

Rodger looked at Dee in confusion and answered, "No real plans. Why?"

"I need some help putting lights and gas-powered generators up for a large party we are playing on Thursday. Ya want'a help?"

Rodger looked again at Dee and asked her if she would need him. She smiled and said, "No, Rodger, I'm able to fend for myself and Nicola just fine."

"Gut, can you pick me up at around seven Tuesday morning then?" Nicolaus still hadn't looked up at Rodger, who was miffed by the slight.

"Ah... well sure. I guess I could come for you." Nicolaus stood and took Nicola past Dee and Rodger into the living room, where he sat on the couch with her, still playing with her and talking baby talk to her in what sounded to Rodger like some kind of a mixed German dialect.

Knowing a little German himself, he began to try and speak to Nicolaus, saying, "How about the weather? It's getting cooler, yes?" Nicolaus looked up at Rodger with a look of surprise and began to laugh as he shook his head. Then he looked back down at Nicola, still chuckling to himself, making Rodger feel like an idiot.

"Is he always this arrogant?" Rodger whispered to Dee as she smiled at Nicolaus enjoying Nicola.

"What do you mean? Nicolaus is the nicest person I know."

"You're kidding, right?" whispered Rodger as he followed Dee back into the kitchen to finish preparing lunch.

"Rodger, he's very guarded, that's all. He has to be, he has people, mostly girls, crawling all over him at the bar and well... he's the most genuinely nice person I have met for a long time given the type of business he's in. Anyway, he's probably pissed at you."

"Me? What on earth for?" Rodger asked out loud.

Dee hushed him with her hand to his mouth and continued, "Nick just might be, I'm not saying he is, but he might be."

"Why? How could he? He doesn't even know me?"

"How would I know? Ask him yourself!" Dee said as she placed the lunch on the table and called Nicolaus to come and eat.

"So, Nick, are you always such an arrogant bastard or is it just when you're around me?" Rodger blurted out as Dee took Nicola from Nicolaus to allow him to sit down at the table to eat. Nicolaus seemed to freeze in mid air while moving his chair in closer to the table.

Looking up at Rodger then up at Dee, uncertain if he should move or breathe, Nicolaus asked, "I'm sorry, did I miss something?" Looking at Rodger again, his frown turned into an angry glare.

Rodger began to eat as if nothing had been said.

"Rodger isn't sure how to take you, Nick."

"Oh... Oh well, that's all right," said Nicolaus with a smile, as if he were relieved, and began to eat.

Rodger, with his mouth full, looked up at Nicolaus in disbelief and then to Dee, which made Dee laugh so hard that she had to leave the room, knowing fully that the confrontation between the two had just begun.

"Are you an idiot?" asked Rodger as soon as he could swallow.

"No, I don't think so. But you are for sure," said Nicolaus, in a harsh tone.

"I beg your pardon!" Rodger said, as he started to get up from his chair.

"Sit down!" commanded Nicolaus as he placed his sandwich on the plate and glowered at Rodger. "You left Dee here to have Nicola all on her own; you knew she was pregnant when you left. The truth Rodger?"

"I... well I... okay, but it all worked out, we're getting married next month and I... well I love Nicola and Dee. Wait! What am I doing? I don't have to answer to you!"

"The fact is, Rodger, you put Dee through a living hell she didn't deserve."

Rodger sat back down slowly, their eyes locked on each other's. "I think I owe Dee an apology then, wouldn't you say?"

"It's either dat or I use dis butter knife on you, right here, right now!" muttered Nicolaus, as he returned to his sandwich, butter knife in hand.

Dee wasn't far, knowing Nicolaus; she knew he was angry with Rodger and she thought it might be quite entertaining indeed to hear what he had to say to him. As Rodger went out of the kitchen, he found her with Nicola on one hip and her ear snug against the kitchen door. "Well, what do we have here?" Rodger asked as he took Nicola gently from Dee and gave her a kiss. "So you heard?"

"Yes," said Dee. "Why didn't you tell me you knew I was pregnant?"

"Because I'm a selfish idiot. I assumed you would have the child, and God knows I never thought for a moment that you would consider giving our child up for adoption. I'm so sorry I caused you all this grief."

"Oh, Rodger, it worked out. But you are an idiot and well... I love you."

"And I you. And you too my little butterfly," Rodger said as he pointed to Nicola's tiny nose.

~

"Hey, Nick, where did you run off to Monday?" Rodger asked, as Nicolaus got into the car. "We came back in the kitchen after talking and you were nowhere to be seen,"

"I thought you two would want some time alone. After all, I wasn't altogether sure you weren't going to hit me for being so, how did you put it, 'arrogant' with you," Nicolaus said, smiling.

"I hate to say it, but I just about did hit you."

"Yeah, well, it wouldn't have been my first! Thanks for coming to help," Nicolaus said as he looked out the car window at the ochre-colored fall leaves that swirled around into abstract patterns on their journey to the ground.

"Where on earth is this party anyway?" Rodger asked, after taking three miles of country dirt roads deep into the Amish farmlands.

"It's on a farm just down this lane, but the party itself is in the south pasture."

"Do these people know you're having this party in their pasture?" Rodger looked at Nicolaus with concern.

Nicolaus laughed, and said, "It's hard to believe but, yeah, they know. It's what we call Rumspringa. The kids out here, well we... I mean they go through a time from da age of sixteen until early twenties to do what they think they need to do before being baptized and joining the church. My friends are going to be baptized a week from this Sunday and they all wanted to have a party before they commit to this life of mind-boggling simplicity. The band was asked to play, so here we are."

"You're one of them, aren't you?" Rodger asked, understanding now what language Nicolaus was speaking when he was holding Nicola.

"Actually, no. I mean, I was raised Amish but I was asked to leave when I was sixteen," Nicolaus said, his tone guarded.

"I don't mean to be rude, but may I ask why they asked you to leave?" Rodger asked after a long silence.

"My father doesn't much like me. If it weren't for him, I would already be baptized and slow plowing my own fields with all four of my kids playing in the front of my big whitewashed house."

"And your wife?" Rodger asked, as he looked over at Nicolaus with a smile.

"Oh, she? Well she would be either having our fifth child in the bedroom or hanging out da wash on da line to air dry!"

"You mean to tell me, you would have joined the church, no questions asked?"

"God only knows what I would have done if I had the choice. I know I certainly wouldn't have been singing in a bar!"

"Really? Mind you, I've never heard you sing or play, but what Dee tells me, you're quite gifted. Maybe you would be singing in a bar, after all, like you said, God only knows!" said Rodger, giving Nicolaus a wink. Nicolaus looked at Rodger, noting that he did have Nicola's hair, big brown eyes, and nose. Rodger was handsome in his own way, his features cherub-like, which looked sweet on Nicola but somewhat childlike on Rodger.

"We will have to walk from here. What do you specialize in?" Nicolaus asked, as they pulled up to the barbed-wire fence of Sylvain's family's south pasture.

"Believe it or not, I specialize in head trauma. I'm the one they call in when there has been an injury to the brain. I'm proud to say I have successfully brought quite a few back from the deep dark depths of a coma to be fully functional members of society again."

"That's something to be proud of?" Nicolaus asked jokingly, as they came upon the rest of the band members and Kenzie's men.

"Rodger, this is Gene, Danny, and Sol, they are the band. Over here is Kenzie and his men; they are the security for the band at Da Eagle, and will be on Thursday too. This is Eli." Eli offered his hand to shake while Sarah and Beth stood next to Eli in their quaint Amish clothing, their angelic faces surrounded by their white organdy prayer caps, eyes big with innocence. Eli was in his traditional Amish work clothes topped with his straw hat. "Here is Eli's sister, Sarah, and our friend, Beth." After Nicolaus was finished introducing the crew they all sat on the ground to study the plans that Eli and Sylvain had drawn up for the pasture. Jesse had already brought the flatbed that was to be used as the stage for the evening's music. Nicolaus looked at it and thought that it was plenty high up off the ground to serve as a proper bandstand. They needed it to be high so that, one, the kids couldn't jump up on it and, two, the band could be seen.

"The Porta-Johns are coming tomorrow. Altogether there will be six on each side of the field, one directly in back of the stage for the band and security. Of course, the johns will probably only be used by the girls; the boys just go wherever anyway!" Eli stopped to point out, accompanied with snickering from the girls. "The generators will be in back of the stage so the noise will not interfere with the music." Eli pointed to each location as he spoke, waiting for any questions after each item was talked about, making Nicolaus think that Eli would have made a great foreman on the outside.

"Is it safe to have gas generators really close to electrical appliances such as amps and guitars? I mean, all it would take is one little spark and the whole bandstand could go up in a fireball! Couldn't it?" Nicolaus asked, looking at Sylvain in hopes he wouldn't just shrug off the potential.

"Good question. Never in a million years would I have thought about that happening. See, that's why I like to have your sick mind around all the time, Nicolaus. Who in their right mind would ever think of such a disaster but you?" Sylvain said with a smug laugh and started to dismiss the question and signaled to Eli to continue.

"Wait, Sol. He's right. The gas generators can blow, can't they? I mean, anything with gas in it can explode!" Kenzie asked, stopping Eli from continuing with one of his big hands to Eli's chest.

"The generators we are renting all have full power panels with engine shutoff emergency switches; each has spark arrest and can supply electricity from eight to ten hours on fifteen gallons of gas. Personally, I would be more concerned that one of these five-hundred-and-fifty-pound portable boxes fall on someone than it exploding," Eli said, with a smile of assurance.

"So what's your problem, Nick?" Kenzie asked as he swung around to face Nicolaus.

"Never mind. Go on, Eli!" Nicolaus said, motioning to Eli as he rolled his eyes in disgust at Kenzie.

"Like I was saying, we will assemble the lighting over the stage and a few here and there out in the field. Then we need to set up the stage so all we have to do tomorrow is plug things in and do a sound check," Eli said, rolling up the plans and placing them under his arm, again reminding Nicolaus of a building contractor. "Any questions?"

"What's the weather look like on Thursday?" asked Gene, concerned about the musical instruments and equipment.

"It's forecasted to be clear, no wind to speak of, and unseasonably warm for a normal September 1st weekend. Basically, a cold but beautiful night in store for us!" answered Sylvain squinting up at the feather-like clouds that were being held motionless in the bright blue sky overhead.

"Ah... could I ask a question?" Rodger asked schoolboy-like as he raised his hand and looked to Eli and Sylvain to be called on.

"Yes?" said Eli turning to address Rodger face to face.

"Um... do you have any idea how many people will be at this party. I mean, it sounds like you are expecting a fair amount."

"Possibly five hundred to maybe a thousand. Why?" asked Eli casually.

"Are you kidding? A thousand! That's not a party; that's a state fair! I had no idea there were so many Amish kids in this town," Rodger said as he scratched his head in disbelief.

"They will be coming from all over. Indiana, Florida, and Ohio. They come in buses, cars, vans and some even take airplanes. Believe it or not, when there's a good party planned, those that are Rumspringa are willing to go just about anywhere just to be part of the fun," Beth said shyly, but with deliberate meaning, wanting the visitor to understand that the Amish kids were not as backwards as some might want to believe. She wanted to inject, in her kind way, that their way of life might be different but their interests in what made for a good time were basically the same.

"I had no idea! It might be wise to have some medical personnel on board, if you know what I mean!" said Rodger. "That would be nice, but we can't afford it!" Sylvain said as he looked at Kenzie as if he wanted to speak with him.

"I'm a doctor. I'll show up for free!" They all stopped what they were doing and stared at Rodger as if he had just grown a third eye.

"I didn't mean money. I meant, we can't afford people showing up that would put a blanket on the affair. You know, those that would call the officials on us or pull the plug if anything should go awry. That reminds me, Kenzie, of your business here Thursday night; we don't want your men to mess with anyone at the party. We just need you to call in what's happening in each area just so we will know. We will take care of any mishaps, if you don't mind," Sylvain said evenly.

"Gotcha, boss!" Kenzie said, with a salute to his forehead.

"But don't you want someone here just in case one of the guests gets sick or hurt? I mean, I would want someone at my party just in case." Rodger would not let up.

"I think it would be a good idea, Sylvain. What could it hurt?" Nicolaus asked as he helped Sylvain and Gene assemble the lighting poles.

"I think it's a good idea too!" Gene added.

"Okay... What was your name?"

"Rodger."

"Okay, Rodger but stay around the stage area so you don't get your nose dirty out there on Thursday," said Sylvain.

"What did he mean by 'get my nose dirty'?" whispered Rodger to Nicolaus.

"Like I said, these parties usually get really crazy. Just stay with me."

"Like guns and knives crazy?" asked Rodger.

"No, nothing like that. I mean crazy, like anything can happen crazy. You'll see!"

~

"There's no doubt in my mind who you have eyes for!" Rodger blurted out on the way back home from a long hard day of work. Rodger never knew putting up stage lighting could be so rough. He thought of all the concerts he had attended and never for a minute had he thought of how the stage and lighting got put up and taken down before and after each show. He truly had a greater appreciation for those who did that kind of work.

"Don't know what you're talking about!" said Nicolaus, as he studied the list of songs they were going to play.

"Sarah! Isn't that her name?"

"Yeah, Sarah. What about her?" Nicolaus answered, pre-occupied with his list.

"You like her!"

Nicolaus looked up at Rodger blankly for a moment and then looked back down at his songs.

"So, am I right?" Rodger asked, still persistent.

"I respect Sarah. Yeah, so what of it?"

"Respect! Is that what you Amish call it? Okay. So you respect her. Don't you have the word "love" in your vocabulary? Come on, say it with me, it's not hard... luuu... vvvv!"

"Do you mind, Rodger? I'm really trying to focus on da music for Thursday!"

"Dee told me about how Lorie broke it off with you because you couldn't say that 'word.'"

"That's not true. I can say it. We broke up because she..." Nicolaus stopped.

"She had an abortion. I know all about that too."

Nicolaus didn't respond. He just kept his head down as he looked over the papers on his lap.

"She seems like a very nice girl."

"Who?" Nicolaus asked, still not looking up.

"Sarah!"

~

"Thanks for helping out again today," Nicolaus said as he closed Rodger's car door.

"What's on the plans for today?" Rodger asked as they made their way to the makeshift band stage.

"I think the outdoor johns are being delivered sometime this morning and Jesse will be bringing some of the booze. That is, all but the home-brewed batches. The band has to do a full run through of the songs we plan to play and do some last minute adjustments to the sound and the mics. So other than just standing around, we have already done most of the hard part."

"Great, so I'll get to hear the band today?"

Nicolaus looked at Rodger with a slight smile. "Trust me, by the end of the day, you will probably never want to be at a full band rehearsal again in your life. It's not a pretty sight! By the end of the night, most of us will be high on pot or acid. You may not even recognize any of the noise coming from us as music. We get a little punch-drunk at the end of rehearsals. I know I'm planning to be trippin' on acid myself by the end of the night."

"I didn't know you took drugs, Nick!" Rodger said, looking at Nicolaus with a slight frown, obviously disappointed.

"I do. It started with pot and booze then I got turned on to acid, cocaine and shrooms. I don't care much for the shrooms cause they make me sick, but my favorite is still pot. I won't confess to using at da Eagle cause Jesse threatened my life if I did, so I just pray I don't get caught. But I still use at parties and at home. Sorry if I burst any of your bubbles."

"Oh no, it's just Dee never told me that you used. Although she did tell me about the time Lorie just about killed you with her narcotics."

"Ja, das is true. She just about did. Then when Lorie's drugs didn't do the trick, Kenzie just about finished me off," Nicolaus said, pressing his lips tight as he shook his head at the memory.

"It doesn't look like anyone's here yet," Rodger said as they walked up to the band stage. Nicolaus jumped up, using his strong arms to hoist himself up to his waist, then swung his long leg on the edge, climbing to his feet as graceful as a cat. Rodger watched in amazement at his ability to get on the stage with such ease. He picked up one of the guitars and turned away from Rodger, bending over it as he listened to the tones he made with each string.

"Yap, they're here somewhere!" Nicolaus said as he swung the guitar off his shoulder and placed it back on its stand.

"What makes you say that?" Rodger asked, looking around in all directions, seeing not a soul for miles.

"The instruments are tuned," said Nicolaus as he jumped down from the stage. "I think I know where they are. Come with me." Nicolaus walked behind the stage and down the embankment toward a heavily wooded overgrowth that lay beyond it.

As they entered the woods Nicolaus led the way, the two going in and out of the shadows of the wooded wasteland of Sylvain's father's farm. Nicolaus as familiar with it as the back of his hand. Rodger could now hear a sound of rushing water, and at about twelve more steps, he could hear the faint sounds of voices. "There they are!" Nicolaus stopped and pointed in the direction of a few large boulders. Rodger squinted but still could not make out a human body through the multi-colored, early fall foliage. "Come on. They're at the Witches' Catwalk!" Nicolaus said with a smile, and off he streaked, as sure-footed as a deer.

"The witches' what knot?" Rodger asked, trying to keep up with Nicolaus, risking life and limb. Once in sight of the band members, who were sitting around a small waterfall that created a magnificent rainbow of mist, Rodger slowed down to a safer gait, allowing Nicolaus to go on ahead.

"What are you waiting for?" asked Nicolaus, already removing his long-sleeve sweater and starting to unzip his jeans, pulling off his shoes as he ran, with Sylvain and Eli close behind him. The girls turned and started to run toward Rodger, squealing and laughing with childlike glee as they made their way back toward the stage. Rodger tried to move out of their way but seemed to be at the wrong place at just the right time. The collision didn't hurt either of them, but did knock the two to the ground.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Sarah. I was trying to get out of the way and stepped right into you."

Sarah picked herself up and helped Rodger to his feet as one big splash and then two more could be heard coming from the same direction of the creek. "Don't worry, its okay, Rodger. But if I were you, I would hightail it back to the pasture, or you too will be sacrificed to the Witches' Catwalk," Sarah said, brushing at her dress and apron. She glanced back at the creek, then starting to laugh and point for Beth to look too, and then they were off again, headed for the band's makeshift stage. Rodger looked back around to see Sylvain and Eli, bare butt naked, swinging Danny, whose arms and legs were flailing wildly in the air, as they tossed him fully clothed into the water with Nicolaus.

Gene was on the path, running as fast as his little stocky legs would go, headed straight for Rodger. Rodger turned and started to run as well, hoping he would make it to the pasture before the skinny-dippers could catch him as well. It was a rightly brisk morning, and he could see the mist from his breath hanging over each exhale as he ran. How can these farm boys enter and enjoy such frigid waters? he thought. How much he felt like a young boy again being around these people he had just recently befriended.

By the time Gene and Rodger had returned to the stage, a large truck had pulled up with the Porta-Johns. "Where do you want these?" asked the man as he climbed down from the rig. Rodger informed the delivery men where each john was to go by recalling the plans Eli showed them yesterday. After they had finished and the truck lumbered back down the dirt lane, Rodger and Gene sat on the stage and waited for the rest to show up for rehearsal.

"Should I go back to see if any of them have succumbed to hypothermia yet?" asked Rodger as they dangled their feet over the stage and basked in the warmth of the rare early fall sunshine.

"I'm sure they've done this a thousand times. Best we stay put! Ah... here come the girls now," Gene said, thankful he had enough brains to take off running when he did and wondered if he would have survived the ice cold water as poor Danny obviously had.

Sarah and Beth were walking from the farmhouse with what looked like a basket of food, extra clothing and towels. The men could hear their laughter as they approached. At the same time, Nicolaus and Eli came up fully clothed but their hair still dripping wet, the steam rising from them in the coolness of the midday air. Speaking and laughing with the girls in their dialect, Eli took the extra clothing and two towels then disappeared through the trees back toward the creek.

"So did you have fun?" asked Rodger, as the girls and Nicolaus walked up with the basket of food.

"Ach, yeah, it's always great fun!" Nicolaus said and then turned to Sarah and asked in their dialect, "Why didn't you come in too?"

"I didn't want to smell like a fish, like you!" she said, with a smile that cracked only one side of her full lips as she shook her head. This comment made Beth laugh, inviting Nicolaus to cast a teasing "don't laugh" look her way as he took one of the towels and attempted to dry his hair. By the time the girls had the food out and arranged on the stage, the others had dried and were sitting down to the meal. Danny, wearing Sylvain's younger brother Hans's Amish clothing, made for a comical site. Given that Hans was as tall as Sylvain, the clothes completely engulfed Danny, providing humorous entertainment for all.

"It's already noon. We have a long day ahead of us, so let's start rehearsing," Gene said as the last joint of marijuana had been passed around and they devoured the hearty meal Sylvain's mother had prepared.

"I didn't know you guys smoked pot," Nicolaus said to Sarah, his eyes half-shut from the strong effect the drug had on him.

"We are in Rumspringa, Nicolaus. What did you think we've been doing all this time, feeding the chickens and milking cows?" Sarah said, her eyes as bad as Nicolaus's, who started to laugh as he pointed to her then to Beth in a fit of snickering. Snorting, he bent over in hysterical pot laughter. Sylvain looked at Beth and started to laugh, too, her eyes the brightest red he had ever seen, and she, just sitting there with a serene smile on her face as if in a stupor. Sarah stood and began to dance onstage. Well, at least it looked to Nicolaus like a dance. She twirled around with her arms extended above her as if she were trying to catch the puffy clouds that started to accumulate just for their enjoyment. Sylvain got behind his drums and began to play, keeping tempo to the beat of what sounded like his heart. Danny was laughing at Gene, who, misjudging the narrow space between his keyboard and the edge of the flatbed, had accidentally fallen off the stage. Landing flat on his back, he looked up at Nicolaus, who was peeking over the edge with tears running down his cheeks from the laughter, and between gasps asking Gene if he was okay.

"It didn't hurt much!" Gene said as Rodger jumped down from the stage and landed next to him to see for himself. "No really, I'm okay," Gene said, as he got to his feet with Rodger's help and started to dust himself off.

"The doctor needs to examine you, Gene, before you can enter the stage area, just to make sure you are able to drive!" Sylvain said, as he watched Rodger pull out his small pocket flashlight and check Gene's eyes, as you would expect a doctor to do, looking for who knows what, not missing a beat with his tempo.

"See anything loose?" asked Nicolaus, still looking over the edge of the stage.

"He's okay, there's nothing there," said Rodger as he put his little light back in his pocket.

"There's nothing there?" asked Nicolaus turning to Sylvain as they all began to laugh. Nicolaus sat back on the stage holding his stomach, laughing as Sarah finally came to light next to him, exhausted from her dance. Nicolaus looked at Beth who was still sitting there with the same look on her face. Moving his hand across her eyes, he asked her gently, "Beth, are you still with us?"

Beth slowly looked over at Nicolaus and answered him sweetly, "I'm fine. Is Gene contagious?" to which they all fell over laughing once again.

"I haven't smoked pot in some time, but I have to say, this is a little stronger than I remember it to be!" Rodger said as he gave Gene a hand and hoisted him up onstage, feeling the potent effects of the drug himself.

"That's because you never had these farm kids' homegrown stuff before. It will put you straight out if you smoke too much," Gene said as he climbed to his keyboard and landed safely back to his chair.

"Nick, I really don't think it would be wise to drop any acid tonight; this stuff is bad enough," Rodger whispered to Nicolaus, but Nicolaus just laughed as he strapped on his guitar and listened as he tuned it.

"Ach, Rodger, this is nothing. Just wait till tomorrow night! There will be hundreds if not a thousand kids this way. You still want to be the 'doctor'?" he asked, finally in a sober tone, as he looked up from his guitar and then turned around to face Sylvain and began counting off the tempo for the first song, loud and strong.

Rodger sat back on the ground with Sarah, Eli, and Beth while the band rehearsed. He thought that in fact Nicolaus was very good at this. His songs had great melodies, his words were a little on the dark side but, then again, possibly he was reading into them much more than Nicolaus intended. He was glad to be here with these new friends and honored to be among the few who could truly be called Nicolaus's friend. Dee was right; he was one of a kind, maybe a diamond in the rough.

* * * * *

Chapter 8

September 1974  
Nicolaus, Age 19  
Promise Me You'll Go Home

The rehearsal went on until half past nine. The night air was cool, and as the temperature dropped so did the temperaments of each of the band members. Beth and Eli returned from Sylvain's house with much-needed nourishment.

"Jesse was supposed to show up with the booze today. I wonder what happened to him?" asked Eli, a little concerned that one item of his plans had not yet been worked out.

"He'll be here before the party starts. He wudna think o' messin' up this party. That, I'm sure of," Kenzie said in his thick Scottish accent. He and his men set about working out what was expected of them during the party and where they would be stationed with Eli. Rodger was in on the meeting and was handed a walkie-talkie, but was given strict instructions, as were the rest of them, not to flaunt it out in the open. They did not want the kids to see the radios and get freaked that they were being watched, as, in fact, they were.

"What do you have there?" asked Sarah. She was carrying a picnic basket full of sandwiches and two jugs of Sylvain's mother's homemade apple cider, one under each arm. She gingerly placed the items on the ground as she moved closer to see what Sylvain, Nicolaus, and Danny were in a huddle over. Nicolaus bit into half of what looked like a colored candy button and gave the other half to Danny.

Sylvain plopped a whole button in his mouth and smiled sheepishly down at Sarah. "Want some?" Sylvain asked between clenched teeth as he grabbed for one of the bottles of apple cider.

"No!" Nicolaus said, as he swallowed his half, almost choking on it. "What's wrong with you, Sylvain? Sarah's never tried this stuff." Turning to Sarah, Nicolaus gently tried to explain to her that she should stick with the happier stuff like weed. "The stuff we just took could backfire on you, may even give you nightmares or worse... Anyway, someone's gotta be straight just in case, okay, Sarah?"

Sarah squinted at Nicolaus as if she were thinking, then without a word she turned and walked over to where Rodger and Eli were standing.

"Nicolaus, I think you pissed Sarah off!" Sylvain's words were beginning to slur. The three of them sat down and waited for the substance to take effect. It had been an hour or two; Nicolaus wasn't too sure, being high on marijuana as well.

"Sarah's not mad, is she, Danny?" Nicolaus asked, turning back to Danny. Blinking to try and clear his vision, he grasped his forehead with both hands. Strobes of color passed in streaks as he turned, which reminded him not to move that fast again. "Wow! How do you do that?" he asked, looking down at Danny's legs.

"Do what?" Danny asked, standing like a toy soldier.

"That!" Nicolaus pointed to the ground near Danny's feet. "How do you float above the ground like that?" Danny looked down at the ground and started to back up as if he were afraid.

"Oh man, you're gone, Nick!" Sylvain said, as he, too, backed away from Nicolaus, laughing and pointing at him with both hands. Danny turned and started to run, looking back occasionally as he headed for the creek, like something or someone were chasing him.

"What's up with Danny?" Nicolaus asked, while both watched their friend disappear into the woods.

Sylvain frowned for a moment and said, "Maybe he doesn't like it when the leftover hay from the pasture starts climbing up his legs like that. I personally don't mind it, just as long as it doesn't start asking me stupid questions. Come on, Nicolaus, we better go see where he went. He doesn't know these woods like we do."

By two-thirty in the early morning Sylvain, Nicolaus and Danny were still missing somewhere in the woods down by the creek. Because it was much too dark to see anything, none of the others followed nor took up a search party to find them.

"I just hope they don't drown or get eaten by some wild animal!" Rodger said, genuinely concerned.

"It would serve them right!" muttered Sarah, her lips tightly pressed together in anger.

It was daybreak before the three emerged from the woods. Hair tangled, Danny's pants were torn at both knees and Sylvain's shirtsleeves were dangling as if something had shredded both of them. All three were talking casually, as if back in their right minds.

"Where have you been?" Sarah asked half-angry, half-relieved. "We've been sick with worry!" she railed, looking straight at Nicolaus. "What happened to Danny and Sylvain? Just look at them, and you—look at you, Nicolaus! It looks like you've been rolling around with a bear."

Nicolaus looked down at his wrinkled clothing. Clumps of mud and dirt caked his shirt and hair. "I don't remember any bear!" he said, as his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell over backwards, passing out cold. Sylvain started to laugh, but Sarah cast an evil eye his way, which shut him up right well.

"He'll be all right. Help me get him to my car. I'll see what I can do about getting him ready for tonight. Three o'clock, right?" Rodger asked, making sure that was the correct hour he needed to get Nicolaus back for the party.

~

"Oh, Rodger, I was getting worried about... What on earth happened to Nick?" Dee asked, as Rodger struggled to get Nicolaus's tall, muscular body through the doorway.

"He's got to sleep here until the party. Can I put him on the couch?"

"Absolutely not!" Dee screeched. "Just what is this?" Dee pulled a chunk of Nicolaus's shoulder-length matted hair to one side, exposing a very large black leech that had attached itself to his neck, apparently during his acid trip at the creek. Dee screamed and stepped back on her tip-toes as if there could be other black leechy monsters dropping from Nicolaus. All the while, her hands waved frantically for Rodger to get out. Rodger screamed, too, as he dropped Nicolaus's limp body, which thudded to the floor. Rodger's first thought was the painful memory of the dreaded Poecilotheria regalis, the mammoth spider, affectionately known as the "Poccok," which he had encountered in India and was still terrified of.

"Take him through the kitchen; maybe we can hose him off out back. What happened?" Dee asked, holding onto Rodger's arm, not intending to let go until he explained everything in detail. He did so before she went upstairs to tend to Nicola, who had been frightened out of her morning nap by the screaming.

Rodger took Nicolaus to the back porch, where he indeed used the garden hose to wash over the glassy-eyed, mud-caked misfit. The cold water brought life back into Nicolaus rather quickly.

"Is the bear gone?" Nicolaus asked, garbling his words as he blinked at Rodger, trying hard to come to.

"She's upstairs with Nicola. Just calm yourself, Nick, while I get you... get you... cleaned up!" Rodger said, as if it might not be possible.

Dee came to peek out the kitchen door at the two of them. "How's that?' asked Rodger as the two stood side by side, like two little boys caught playing in the mud.

"You must be kidding!" Dee said, as she slammed the door shut and watched from the window.

"Dee!" Rodger sighed, exhausted from lack of sleep. "I could be out here all day and still wouldn't be able to get all this... off of him!" Rodger waved his hand, pointing to all the dirt, mud, leaves, and twigs still attached to Nicolaus's hair.

"Well, at least get that creature off his neck! Then you can bring him in. I'll run a hot bath. No, maybe we'd better make him sit in the shower first," Dee said, staring off blankly, as if thinking of a more convenient way to get Nicolaus cleaned up; something that wouldn't involve calling in the city sanitation crew to clean up after him so the rest of the family could live in the house safely.

Rodger instructed Dee to get the poker hot in the fireplace, then to bring it to him. That way, he could try and dislodge the creature with heat. He was fearful that if he tried to pull it off, it would cause massive bleeding. He had seen it done once in India, although in the small village where he was stationed, leeches were a good thing to have around.

"And that's your game plan?" Dee asked, a little disappointed in his logic, being unfamiliar with the proper procedures of removing leeches from one's body. She soon came back with a red-tipped poker that looked to Nicolaus like something he'd rather not have next to his skin.

"Nick, hold very still," Dee said, as she instructed Rodger to hold Nicolaus's head as still as possible, refusing to allow Rodger to do the honors. She knew if Nicolaus moved while in her hands and was accidentally burnt, she would never forgive herself. "I'd rather be on this end of the poker than yours," Dee said as she tried to get close to the rather large creature. "Pull his hair back, Rodger. I don't want his whole head to go up in flames!" Dee ordered in an agitated tone. Rodger responded by yanking Nicolaus's hair to one side, eliciting a yelp from him.

Nicolaus closed his eyes at the sound of sizzling, while the smell of burnt liver filled the still morning air. The smoke billowed around him so thickly that none of them were able to see for a few minutes. The leech dropped with a plop onto the sidewalk, heavy with the night's nourishment of Nicolaus's blood.

"No wonder you passed out! This thing must have at least a pint in it," Rodger said. He took the poker and began to probe the creature, inspecting it.

"In the shower with you, Nick, and don't come out until you're debugged and clean!" ordered Dee. "I certainly won't be making liver and onions for a few months after this, I can assure you!"

The hot water felt very good to Nicolaus. For a time he just stood there, letting the steady stream pound his face and body, then turned and let it hit his head, shoulders, and backside. There wasn't a thought in his head, and he liked it like that. The soap smelled of lavender and it felt good to get the mud off his arms and legs. He paid close attention to check every crevice for unwanted parasites. The shampoo had a coconut scent, which made him realize that he hadn't eaten for hours, the sounds of hunger becoming audible from his stomach. As he ran his fingers through the matted mess on his head, Nicolaus began to pull leaves, twigs, and caked-on mud from between what strands of hair he could get through. He piled each object on top of the other at the edge of the shower so that it wouldn't clog up Dee's drain. That's all he would need now, to make a mess of the plumbing, too. Bound and determined to get his hair under control with just one shower, Nicolaus stayed there long after the water had gone from lukewarm to downright cold. Finally, he emerged with hair that was manageable enough to allow a comb through it easily. He continued to comb it until it was completely dried, curls and all.

"Look what I found!" Nicolaus came into the kitchen where Dee was getting a packed dinner assembled for Rodger and him, knowing they would not be able to get anything while at the party.

"God only knows, Nick, let me see." Nicolaus showed her all the debris he had confiscated from his hair and placed it in the trash outside after they had sifted through, laughing.

"Where is Rodger?" Nicolaus asked as he came back into the kitchen.

"Asleep, where you should be. Here, eat this and make yourself comfortable on the couch. I promise I'll keep Nicola as quiet as possible so you can sleep before your gig."

"Ach, don't worry about me, I can sleep through anything. Oh, and thanks for letting me use some of Rodger's clothes. I suppose you burned those I came in with, ja?" Nicolaus asked with a smile, his mouth full of the cheese and crackers Dee had shoved at him.

"I promise you'll never see those again! Rodger can take you back home for your clothes when I wake both of you. Now, go get some sleep!" Dee ordered, as she pushed him and pointed toward the couch.

Turning to look back with a sinister smile, he added, "By the way, Dee. We usually just put salt on leeches around here to dislodge them. No need for the fire department. Just a word of wisdom next time you find me stupefied down at the creek."

The curtains above the couch were open and the late morning sun's warmth beat down on Nicolaus as he made himself comfortable. He fell into such a deep sleep that he didn't even wake up when he turned and fell off the couch, plopping with a huff, face-down onto Dee's carpet. It momentarily knocked the air out of him, but when Dee ran in after hearing the commotion to find him still sound asleep, she let him remain peacefully between the couch and coffee table until it was time to wake him.

"Why is Nick on the floor?" Rodger asked, coming into the living room, his hair still wet from his shower. He was pulling on layers of clothing, knowing he would be out all night in the cold air.

"He fell off the couch. Can you get him up? He doesn't move a muscle when I try," Dee said, as she handed Rodger the dinner she'd packed for the evening and placed Nicola on the other side of her hip.

"I know what will get him up!" Rodger said, as he sucked in a lungful of air and shouted as loudly as he possibly could, "BEAR!" which startled little Nicola, who began to wail in terror.

Jumping straight up onto the couch from his facedown, prone position on the floor, Nicolaus stood there for a moment, blinking blankly back at Rodger and Dee. "God Almighty! What are you trying to do to me, Rodger?" Nicolaus asked, as he slowly sat down on the couch, rubbing his face hard with his hands to wake himself up.

"Come on, get in the car. I still have to get you to Gene's so you can get changed into your own clothes. After all, my pants are a little short on you, unless that's the style you're going for tonight."

"Here, take this coffee with you, and, Nick, promise me you'll stay out of the woods and away from hallucinogens tonight," Dee requested. As she looked up into his blue eyes, she realized that given the right circumstances, she could easily fall deeply in love with this young man. But then there was her Rodger, and she had to admit, she was hopelessly in love with him as it was.

"I promise, Dee," Nicolaus said as he took the thermos full of the fragrant hot coffee and headed out the front door. He followed closely behind Rodger, allowing the door to slam shut behind him. "Thanks, Dee, for everything," Nicolaus said, as he popped his head back in. Then he disappeared before Dee could reply.

~

"I'm glad you showed up. I can't get Danny to wake up," Gene said as he opened the front door. The three went into Danny's bedroom and stood over him; no one spoke as they stared down at him. To make sure the boy was still breathing, Rodger bent down and placed his ear to Danny's mouth, and then placed his fingers on Danny's neck, feeling for a pulse. It was strong and steady. "He seems to be okay, should I?"

"No! Don't do that! Let me try," Nicolaus said as he bent over Danny's body. "Hey, Danny... wake up!" he said quietly at first, rocking him back and forth in hopes of rousing him. No reaction. Nicolaus looked back at Rodger and shrugged.

"I could have told you that wouldn't work," Gene said, as he moved in closer and started pulling Danny's limp body to a sitting position. "Come on, Danny, we have to be at The Eagle in fifteen minutes. You know what Jesse said if we were late!"

"What does Jesse have to do with this party?" Nicolaus asked as he turned to Gene.

"Nothing!" Gene whispered, "I just said that 'cause Danny's terrified of Jesse and his goons. I thought it would get him up."

"Apparently, Danny is having some sort of a reaction to the acid you all took, or maybe he is diabetic. Has he ever said anything to either of you of a health problem?" Both Nicolaus and Gene shook their heads. "Wait here. I'll go get my medical kit." Rodger raced to the car and pulled out his black backpack, full of various medical supplies and instruments.

"What are you doing?" asked Gene, as they watched Rodger prick Danny's finger, placing the blood on a paper strip.

"That's what I suspected; Danny's diabetic!" Rodger announced, as he filled a syringe a third of the way full with clear liquid. "This should bring him around in a few minutes. Nick, why don't you get dressed so we can go as soon as Danny comes around? Good thing he got cleaned up before he went to sleep!"

"Are you kidding? You should have seen the things we took off him on the way home, him and Sylvain both!" Gene said, as he started to pull open the curtains in Danny's room to bring in the afternoon's last rays of sunlight.

"Danny, did you know you were diabetic?" Rodger asked, as Danny started to come around.

Sitting up, he ran his fingers through his straight blonde hair. "Say what?" he asked in a daze.

"You're diabetic! Did you know it?" Rodger repeated, a little louder and slower.

"Oh, yeah, I know," Danny said, shaking his head.

"You know? What has your doctor prescribed for you to take, and are you taking it?" Rodger asked a little concerned.

"I've been diabetic since I was ten years old. I take this." Danny showed Rodger a small empty bottle.

"How long have you been out?" Rodger asked, as he looked through Danny's syringes and two empty bottles of the medication.

"About two days."

"I'll call in an emergency prescription for you, but I think you need to get back to your regular doctor to get this more under control, or one day we'll come into your room to find that you have checked out for good! You know what I mean?" Danny nodded as Rodger helped him up.

Sylvain, Eli, Beth, and Sarah were already on the stage when Rodger, Nicolaus, Danny, and Gene finally got there, thanks in part to Rodger's abstract driving and the emergency trip to the pharmacy for Danny. It was six-thirty and they were only an hour late. A rather large crowd had already assembled, having nowhere else to go, most of them being from out of town. Jesse was there, giving last-minute instructions to Eli and a few other Amish youth involved with the party on how to tap and pour the ten large kegs of beer he had delivered. The booze was all you could drink, but first come, first served, which made the out-of-towners quite happy. Along with the homemade brew, the party was ready to happen as far as Eli was concerned, having had two drinks already. Sarah and Beth were still nursing their first as they made their way through the crowd, talking to those they already knew.

Kenzie and his men were in place and Rodger took up residence behind the scenes backstage. He thought that would be a good place for him, having instructed Nicolaus to make sure to announce that a doctor was present, and that he could be summoned if anyone was in need by going to one of the men in kilts. Nicolaus made the announcement after the first set began, just after eight o'clock. Kenzie's men decided to wear their kilts to Eli's horror, bringing a rowdy fit of laughter from the Amish crowd. The word "kilts" did not translate well, so Nicolaus using the word "skirts" instead.

After the first three songs, the crowd began to center themselves closer to the stage. Nicolaus thought perhaps they either liked what they were hearing or else were just trying to keep warm by the combination of body heat and the warmth of the lights.

On some of the songs, Nicolaus would sing the verses in their dialect, having no trouble switching from English to their home language, then going back to English when Danny and Gene sang their backup parts, so no one missed a beat. This was fast thinking on Nicolaus's part, and the crowd loved it.

After the first set of eight songs, Nicolaus said, "Thanks," in their dialect. "The band's going to take a thirty-minute break. It's good to see so many here tonight." Nicolaus visored his eyes, shading them from the lights so he could see the crowd better. "Ach, The Eagle is here! I thought I heard you out there!" Nicolaus pointed to a rather large crowd up front near the stage and smiled. "So you've come to sing with me, ja?"

The crowd from the bar started to clap and cheer, making their presence known to the non-English, who greatly outnumbered them but didn't overshadow their enthusiasm for the band.

"Anyway..." Nicolaus started to laugh at The Eagle crowd who were beginning to chant his name. He looked back to Sylvain, who was also laughing, and then to Danny and Gene, who were waiting to see what Nicolaus was going to say.

"Anyway..." Nicolaus started again, this time with a shyness that was endearing, "Thanks for coming, and we hope you all have a safe, fun party. Remember, 'what happens in Rumspringa, stays in...'" The crowd finished it by saying in unison "Rumspringa!" The crowd lifted their drinks high in the air, in a toast across the pasture as far as Nicolaus could see. Eli took the microphone after the band went backstage and made whatever announcements were necessary.

Sarah was backstage and Nicolaus smiled shyly at her as he walked up. "It seems to be a good party, ja?"

Sarah crossed her arms in front of her and smiled back at him. "So you brought your fans from the bar. That's a little prideful don't you think, Nicolaus?"

"I didn't ask them to come. I'm as surprised as you are that they're here."

"I asked them to come!" Sylvain said as he came to stand with them, his arm around Nicolaus's shoulder. "This is one of my last gigs playing with Nicolaus and the band, and I wanted them to be here, too."

Nicolaus felt as if he had been hit in the stomach, not realizing that this would be Sylvain's last weekend to play in the band. He put his head down and wanted to run away just as Danny did the night before—into the deep, dark woods so he didn't have to face his fears. He was afraid. For the first time in his life, he felt truly alone and abandoned. He looked up at Sylvain and gave him a weak smile. Sylvain smiled back and gave his shoulder a pat and a tight squeeze, as if to say it would be okay.

"After all, it's Nicolaus they come to see. They won't even miss me. I'll be able to disappear into the farmland as if I were never with you at all."

"Sylvain, don't say that; they love you just as much as the rest of the band!" Nicolaus protested as he looked down.

Sylvain turned to Sarah and said, "Sarah, if you care for this boy, you'll let him be who he's supposed to be." Then he turned back to Nicolaus and said, "He's going to be famous—just wait and see!"

Nicolaus again felt a pain to his chest as if a dagger had been thrust deep. He quietly pulled away from Sylvain, gasping for air and pulling at his sweater as if it was strangling him.

"Sylvain, change the subject, will ya?" Nicolaus said with a cracked voice.

Sarah was silent and so was Sylvain. Both sets of eyes were on him. He started to squirm, feeling the urge to run again, but instead he turned and walked away. Sarah followed after him, then reached out and grasped his sleeve. Nicolaus stopped and turned to her. "Sarah, I can't do this without Sylvain! I don't want to be out here alone!"

"Nicolaus, why don't you come home? We all love you here, too. You don't have to stay out there. Just come home."

Nicolaus looked into her eyes as he said, "Don't you know I would in a heartbeat, Sarah... But where would I come home to? My datt wouldn't allow me to go to his farm. I don't want to be out among the English, and I'm not wanted among my own. Damn! I gotta straighten up. I gotta be onstage in five minutes," he said, as he ran his fingers through his hair. He looked out into the pasture, then down at Sarah. He said with determination. "I don't want to ruin this party for you and Sylvain so... I gotta get numb. I mean, really numb. Do you have any weed?"

"Nicolaus!" Sarah was stunned by his sudden turn in behavior.

"I'm serious, Sarah. It's the only way I'm going to face tonight."

Sarah shook her head and started to walk away. "Sarah, please. Don't walk away," he said, softly. Sarah wouldn't have heard him except for the fact that she was hoping he would call her back.

She stopped and turned. "Nicolaus, do you want me to tell you what you really need?" Nicolaus was silent, but stood there waiting. "You need to quit thinking about yourself and how you're going to make it, and start thinking about other people. And how about God? Where does He fit in your life, or are you running from Him like you've run from us?"

"Sarah, all I asked was if you had any weed. I don't need you of all people to lecture me on how I should think about other people! Where were you when I got beat half to death by my datt when I took the blame for your drawing of..." Nicolaus stopped, and looked at her, his eyes big with shock, as surprised as Sarah was at what he had just revealed.

"Nicolaus, you were beaten for that?" Sarah asked, her mind swimming with the memories. Nicolaus turned his face away from her and refused to speak again. "I was told that you got sick and that's why you couldn't make it to your graduation party. But that wasn't the truth, was it, Nicolaus?" As Sarah placed her hand on his arm, the warmth felt strangely comforting.

He sighed and turned back to her, then moved away from her touch. "I've already said too much, Sarah. I need to get back onstage."

As the second set started, there was a marked difference in Nicolaus's performance. The songs he called out to the band were not on the list in their original order. Instead, he chose those that seemed to medicate his black mood, songs rather dark and melancholy in tone and words, leaving Danny, Gene, and Sylvain wondering what was up.

"What the heck are you doing, Nick?" Gene finally asked, walking from his keyboard directly into Nicolaus's space onstage in between songs.

"I'm doing what I gotta do to get through this so I can go find some weed. Can you get back to your friggin' keyboard now, so I can get this over with?"

Gene wanted to punch Nicolaus right in the nose, and would have, if not for Kenzie who was downstage from Nicolaus, standing there as a guardian angel on his behalf. He was staring up at the two, just waiting for a fight to break out.

"Nick's in one of his dark moods! I'd like to find the person who set him off. Who knows how long this is going to last!" Gene said as he passed Danny, who was waiting to hear what was said.

"Is he going to change things around all night?" Danny asked, barely able to keep up with Nicolaus's changes from the original listed songs.

"He says he needs some weed. Maybe he'll mellow out if we get him some," Gene said as he sat down at his keyboard.

"Don't you have any, Gene?" Danny asked, verging on panic.

"Are you guys ready?" asked Nicolaus, keeping his eyes on the two. He was waiting for Gene to look at him to hear the new song he was about to call out. Then he turned to Sylvain and said it louder for him to hear.

"Tell you what, Nick. Since we don't have that one on our list, we'll let you do a solo act. How's that?" Gene's frustrated anger came through his microphone for all to hear.

"What's going on?" Sylvain asked, as he came around from behind his drums. Nicolaus tuned his guitar and acted as if Sylvain wasn't standing next to him, nor as though he'd heard him. "Don't act stupid with me, Nick. What's up with you?" Sylvain whispered.

Nicolaus stopped to pull off his guitar and set it up on its stand as if he was done. Sylvain caught him by his sweater, pulling him forcefully close as he hissed through clenched teeth, "Get back up to that microphone and do your thing, or God help me I'll..."

"You'll what, Sylvain? You'll hit me?" The two stood eye to eye. "Hit me!" Nicolaus demanded, taunting Sylvain again as the crowd cheered in the heightened expectation of a pending fight.

"Put him down, Sol," ordered Kenzie, as he jumped up onstage and took hold of Sylvain's wrists in a death grip.

"Idiot, I was just getting my twelve-string to do the next song on the list!" Nicolaus said, as Sylvain finally let go of his sweater. "You're an idiot, too, for starting this!" Nicolaus snapped, as he pointed to Gene, who just stood there assertively. This caused the crowd to cheer even louder for the fight to begin. There was nothing better than a good fight at a party, but when the band started it, well, that was even better.

"The band will take a thirty-minute break!" Kenzie announced in Nicolaus's microphone, then turned and personally escorted Nicolaus to the back of the stage with the rest of the band following close behind. This, of course, was received with a rowdy round of booing from the crowd that turned into a chanting of "Fight, fight, fight..." This, too, died down as the crowd partied in their groups.

Three bonfires had sprung up, mostly to keep bodies warm. Most of the attendees were carousing around one of them as they shouted and danced. Laughter could be heard, none of which was threatening nor confrontational, yet.

"I dinna ken what this is about, but I'll give ye ten minutes to get the problem under control!" Kenzie snarled as he locked eyes with each band member.

"Wha... what if it takes longer?" Danny asked innocently, his eyes big with fear, scared to death of Kenzie.

"Then I'll kill one of ye! Now get to it!"

Danny turned and looked up at Sylvain, as if waiting for him to make everything right. However, nothing was said. Sylvain, Nicolaus, and Gene just looked at the ground as they kicked and pushed hay around with their shoes. Danny looked down at his watch, then back up to Sylvain. Kenzie stood next to Danny with his hands on his hips, his feet spread far apart, reminding Danny of the Jolly Green Giant, a character on a canned vegetable commercial, which to this day still frightened the crap out of him.

"Ye got five minutes!" Kenzie bellowed.

"Oh, please, dear God—someone say something!" Danny pleaded, which made Nicolaus look up and smile to see Danny in such terror over the big threatening Scot. Sylvain smiled too, locking eyes with Nicolaus for a moment, their smiles fading as they looked back down.

"I said something I shouldn't have said to Sarah!" Nicolaus finally said in their dialect.

"And that was?" asked Sylvain impatiently.

"I told her what happened to me for taking the blame for her drawing of Mattie," Nicolaus replied, still looking at the ground, his hands deep in his pockets.

"That was over five years ago, Nicolaus! I'm surprised she even remembered that it even happened." Nicolaus looked up at Sylvain, then back down at he ground as if he was hurt.

Sylvain sighed, then resolved to make amends. "So what did she say?"

"She had no idea that I got beat for it, which I wish to God she still didn't. I'm an idiot!"

"Well, I'm glad to see that you're finally admitting to it!" Nicolaus looked back up with a frown and saw a warm smile on Sylvain's face.

"Alright. Time's up! Who's gonna die first?" Kenzie asked, rolling his r's aggressively while looking straight at Danny.

"Tell Kenzie you two are working it out, Sylvain," Danny pleaded as he started to step back, getting out of arms reach of Kenzie.

"So, you two want to let us in on your conversation?" Gene asked, his hands at his hips.

"Ach, Nicolaus here just made an ass of himself. Didn't ya?" Sylvain said, taking one of Nicolaus's arms and bending him over like a blade of hay, pushing him to his knees and forcing him to touch his nose to the ground. Nicolaus went willingly, knowing Sylvain could snap him in two if he really wanted. Wiping his nose of the dirt on his way up, Nicolaus nodded and offered his hand in peace to Gene, which Gene took, shaking it hard. Rodger stood silently next to Nicolaus, observing and making mental notes of how quickly the two fired and how fast they cooled down, thinking it must be a cultural thing with the Amish.

Turning to Rodger, Nicolaus smiled and patted him on his shoulder, saying, "Oh, well, Rodger—you almost had a few casualties. Maybe later, ja?" then walked off with the band as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

The next set went off much better, perhaps partly because the band, along with Kenzie, had scored some pot and they all were gleefully high on it. The crowd was disappointed that a fight hadn't come to pass but seemed to forget all about it as soon as the music started up again.

On the next break, the band went backstage and sat in a circle, getting high again.

"So, Beth, you want to walk with me down to the woods?" Sylvain asked. Everyone looked blank-faced.

"Sure!" replied Beth in her kind, thoughtful manner.

"What's going on with those two?" Nicolaus asked Sarah in their dialect.

"Okay, if these two are going to start talking pig Latin, I think we'd better go find girls to take to the woods, too! Man! Danny, that sounded just like a diesel truck downshifting. You really need to get rid of that gas before we get back onstage!" Gene's joke referred to Danny's outburst of flatulence as he pulled him to his feet, motioning with his head to follow him.

"They've been seeing each other for some time now, Nicolaus. Didn't you know?" Sarah asked, only after Danny and Gene were out of sight. Nicolaus looked at Sarah, obviously stunned at the revelation, then jumped to his feet off the side of the stage so that he could face her.

"Sarah, to tell you the truth, for about a year now it's been like Sylvain and I were never friends. He has lived a whole other life here with you, and one with me. I'm not sure how to take it. It hurts, ya know? But please don't get me wrong. I'm glad for him, it's just..."

"Why are so many couples going into the woods? Just look at them all!" Sarah commented absentmindedly. Nicolaus sat in disbelief at her response to the heartfelt feelings pouring from his soul. Turning, he also observed the people stealing away into the dark woods. They must have been doing it all night, but he hadn't noticed. He turned back around to Sarah, who was still watching the migration. He smiled.

"What?" Sarah asked, when she finally noticed him.

"I'm sure I wouldn't know!" Nicolaus replied smugly, his eyes half shut from his high.

"I'm sure if anyone would know, it would be you!" said Sarah, returning his smile.

"Me? Whatever do you mean by that?" he asked, in a husky hoarse voice, his eyes gazing deeply into hers.

"You lived with a woman... Please don't try to tell me you're still a virgin!"

This made Nicolaus laugh and look down shyly. "No, I'm afraid it's too late to try and claim that as one of my attributes." His sheepish look seemed to be asking for her acceptance and forgiveness. "So have you fulfilled all your pleasures... being as how your baptism and acceptance into the church is next Sunday?"

"If you're asking have I had sex yet, the answer is no. I just haven't found a person I love who would be willing to live the life I've chosen to live. He's just not among the people here in our community. I suppose my fate is to be the next schoolteacher and let Mattie have a rest!"

"That would be a waste, Sarah!" Nicolaus said, his smile fading into sadness as he lowered his head. "That would make me really sad to think you could turn into a Mattie," he continued as he looked away, avoiding her eyes, but feeling her look intently at him.

"Nicolaus, why don't you come home, too? You would be happy and I... I mean, we would all be very happy to have you back with us."

"If I tell you that I will think about it, will you promise me you will marry someone and not stay an old maid?" Nicolaus asked, as he moved closer to her and leaned his hip against the stage.

"I promise to marry if you come back home." Sarah started to smile, looking at Nicolaus from the corner of her eyes, her lashes shielding her eyes in an enticing way. This made him want to reach out, take her head in his hands, and kiss her until she became a mound of clay in his arms that could be molded into loving only him. "Nicolaus, what is it like?" she asked, looking down at her hands.

"It's nice, Sarah. That is, if you're talking about sex still," Nicolaus said in a whisper, making her look up at him.

"I have to confess, I've never even been kissed. I mean, I wouldn't even know what to do. How did you know how to... I mean..."

Nicolaus laughed. "Trust me, Sarah, you will know what to do. It's like when I'm onstage singing. My mind is empty, but my body and voice just function. That's what it's like when you're making love to someone for the first time. It's animal, it's natural, and it feels very good."

"Did you love her?" Sarah asked, looking back down at her hands.

"Oh wait, I thought we were talking about sex, not love. I have no clue what it's like when you love the person!"

Sarah looked up at him with a disgusted frown, then hit him on the arm after realizing he was joking with her. "Did you?" she asked, again.

"I thought at the time I did, but even if I had fallen in love with her, we were too different to have made anything last."

"Did you kiss her first or did she kiss you?"

Nicolaus laughed again and scratched the side of his head as he smiled uncertainly. "I suppose it was her that kissed me."

"So I could say at least I was kissed before next weekend, would you kiss me, Nicolaus?"

"Do you aim to use me, Sarah? 'Cause if you want me to kiss you, just to be kissed..." Nicolaus's expression changed from casual to intense. He was silent for a minute then looked down. "I... ah... Sarah, I may shoot myself later, but I have to tell you that..." He looked up into her eyes as he tried to get the words out of his mouth, going for reckless abandon and leaving it all to chance on how she would react. "I have always luha..."

"Nick, you're on!" Kenzie shouted, not two steps behind Nicolaus, making him jump back against the band stage in pure fear. Kenzie laughed as he took hold of Nicolaus's collar and ushered him to the stage stairs with Nicolaus slinging curse words as he tried to shake the big, ominous man away from him. Kenzie released him only when Nicolaus was safely halfway up the stairs. Nicolaus looked back at Sarah, who was still sitting at the edge of the stage, doubled over in laughter at his hasty departure. She motioned to him that she would be where she had been the entire night, right down in the front of the stage with all the other lusting, big-eyed female fans who just had to be as close to the singer as possible.

"Sing a song for me!" Sarah yelled out, as he looked her way.

"I've sung half a dozen already for you tonight, Sarah!" he said, low and throaty into his microphone as he strapped on his guitar, sheepishly smiling down at her. Sarah went suddenly silent, realizing he wrote songs about his feelings for her. She now wished she had paid more attention to the words, and also realized at that moment that the entire female congregation at the front of the stage had just turned to look at her as if they were about to skin her alive. She said a prayer of thanksgiving that the band had started to play, diverting the cannibalistic glares back toward the bandstand. The throng now looked up at their idol in a worshipful gaze and moved their bodies to the beat of the drums like some sort of tribal war dance.

"There you are! I finally found you," Eli called out over the music as he came up to stand beside her. He, too, was bouncing to the music as he looked up at Nicolaus singing his heart out. Sarah had to admit that it had been quite erotic when Nicolaus described what it was like for him to make love to someone he didn't necessarily love.

"I've been here all night. Where have you been?" she asked, already sure of his answer by the smell of his breath.

"Me? Oh, I've been making sure the booze got delivered and distributed fairly."

"I see! One for you, two for me?" Sarah replied with a smile. Eli just laughed, bracing himself on Sarah's shoulder, finding it hard to stay on his feet.

"Sylvain said not to miss this set. It's supposed to be the craziest. I've been waiting all night to see it."

"What happens during this one?" Sarah asked, almost sensing a shift in the atmosphere of the crowd.

"I don't know. That's why I'm here."

At that moment Sarah looked back up at Nicolaus. She noticed his eyes go from closed shut as he sang the fast upbeat song to wide open, large round orbs filled with surprise. His voice had a laugh to it as he messed up on the words a little, then he turned to smile at Danny and Gene. Sarah looked to see what they were gawking at in the crowd, then gave Eli a sharp poke to his gut to look at the full-breasted woman baring it all to the boys in the band as she perched on top a young man's shoulders.

Nicolaus went on with the song and finished by adjusting the microphone as he said with a grin, "Lorie, you're going to think back and ask yourself. 'What was I thinking?' You wait and see... or, maybe not!" Nicolaus smiled at her and shook his head as he tuned his guitar.

Lorie? Where have I heard that name? Sarah asked herself. "Ach, that's the woman Nicolaus lived with!"

"Wow!" Eli said as he stared goo-goo eyed at the big-busted beauty. Sarah rudely gave him a pinch to his backside strong enough to raise the hairs on the back of his neck. "Ahy... Sarah! That hurt!" he said as he rubbed his tender bum, the goose bumps spreading rapidly across his arms.

"See, Lorie, that's another reason Nick doesn't want to go to bed with you anymore. You're too much for the boy to handle!" Danny blurted out in his microphone, making the crowd roar with laughter. Nicolaus was in front of Sylvain's drums getting a drink of water. Danny's comment shocked him so much that he abruptly found water shooting out through his nose and spraying out of his mouth as he violently choked.

"Are you going to be okay?" Sylvain asked, as he laughed to himself. Then, seeing the look on Nicolaus's face, he stood up and quickly came around his drums to stand next to him, hoping he would come up for air. Patting him on his back and smiling helplessly at the crowd, Sylvain signaled for Rodger. Rodger came around from backstage to Nicolaus's side, which made things worse. Nicolaus waved both of them off so that he could get his breath back on his own. The blue tint of his face faded back to its natural color and he stood, wiping his nose and mouth on his shirtsleeve. He hissed between coughs, gasping for what air he could get without suffocating while doing so and said, "I'll be okay. Just get Danny to shut up!"

"She has a lot of nerve showing up at our party!" Sarah said, as Eli caught hold of her before she went over to Lorie and yanked her down off her rider.

"Where do you think you're going?" Eli asked as he swung her around to face him.

"Let go, Eli, I'm going to take care of this little problem." Sarah turned around to see Lorie at full frontal view, which took her by surprise. Lorie was still totally bare down to her tight pants, her long brown hair whipping from side to side as her carrier paraded her around. Sarah walked calmly up to the young man and squarely kneed him right between the legs, sending him to his knees in agony. Lorie toppled over the front of him, landing facedown in the pasture. Sarah was there to help, pulling Lorie to her feet and graciously handing her blouse to her.

"So sorry! I need to be more careful. This I believe is yours, ja?" Sarah asked. Lorie looked up at Sarah, trying at first to focus on her face, but then took her blouse and pulled it over her head before slithering through the crowd, leaving in a huff. Eli took Sarah backstage while the band ended the night with a few more songs.

"Sarah! What got into you?" Eli asked, spinning his sister around to face him.

"I don't know... I just..." Sarah's legs suddenly felt like jelly and she held onto the edge of the stage to steady herself. "I didn't like what they were saying about Nicolaus, and I don't like da English coming here and taking Nicolaus from us. He's ours, Eli!" Sarah said, as she began to cry uncontrollably.

As the crowd started to disperse, those from The Eagle were getting into their cars and starting for home. Those of the Amish guests who hadn't already passed out found whatever vehicles to cuddle up in for the night.

Jesse pulled his van around behind the stage and the band members, along with Rodger and a few of the Amish kids who were still able to function, helped disassemble the equipment to be hauled back to The Eagle for the weekend gigs. It was three in the morning and Nicolaus and the rest of the band were desperately tired and now beginning to get cold from the chilly night air.

"Nicolaus, could you talk to Sarah? She's over there next to Eli," Beth asked as she tugged at his sleeve while he placed the last guitar into the van. He turned and squinted in the direction Beth nodded to with her chin.

"Is there something wrong?" Nicolaus asked, looking back at Beth with a frown.

"Sarah's upset."

"With me?" Nicolaus tried to think of anything he could have done to upset her other than Danny's outburst. Having been blinded by the lights, he hadn't witnessed Sarah's gallant move on Lorie. Beth walked away without answering him.

Nicolaus walked over to the two, hands in his pockets, still trying to keep them warm. He stopped at their backs and asked in a low tone, "Sarah, is there something wrong?" Eli turned and gave Nicolaus a half-smile as he started to walk away, leaving the two of them alone. Nicolaus walked around to face her, and saw her tears. He looked back at Eli for some help, not knowing what to say or do, but Eli was too far away to call him back.

Nicolaus bent over slightly and looked sideways into her face, trying to get her to look up at him. When that didn't work he asked her, "Are you mad at me, Sarah? Have I hurt you somehow?" There was no answer. "Sarah, if you're mad because I didn't kiss you... I'm sorry, but..."

"Don't be so prideful, Nicolaus!" Sarah said as she started to wipe her nose and eyes with the handkerchief Beth had given her. "It's just... I don't know, I suppose it's that I care for you, Nicolaus, and I don't want the arrogant English to have you anymore. You belong to us!"

Nicolaus was speechless. He bent his head down and pressed his lips together hard as he thought of what to say. He sighed as he took his hands out of his pockets to take Sarah by her hand to a more secluded spot, where prying eyes could not see them.

"I care very much for you, too, Sarah, I always have. But I don't think I'm good enough for your world anymore. Maybe I never was. You saw who and what I live around. I've grown cold to it, it doesn't bother me like it used to. I guess your father was right, 'I'm getting used to the dark!'" He looked blankly at Sarah then turned away in shame. Biting his lower lip, he sighed again—this time deeply and with resigned hope. "Sarah, do you understand? I don't think I can come back."

Sarah looked up at him, the handkerchief in her hand resting on her chin. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Nicolaus, you don't have to be perfect. We will forgive and love you."

Nicolaus rubbed his face with his hand, then left it over his mouth and looked at her as if asking if it could really be true. "I wish to God I could believe you, Sarah. But not all are as forgiving and accepting as you. I would have to prove myself to... to many of the brothers, and frankly, Sarah, let's face it, some will never accept me into the church."

"If you're speaking about your datt, well, that's just wrong and it always has been wrong. Come live with us, and work on our farm. Datt was just saying how he could use an extra hand around the place."

Nicolaus looked up at the stars then back down to Sarah's longing eyes.

"I wish it was just that you wanted me to kiss you. That I can do!" he said, as he smiled sadly down at her, then took her by her hands. Gazing into her eyes, he said, "I will think about it, will that do?"

"That and a kiss will do!" murmured Sarah, with a sly smile.

Nicolaus returned her smile and gently held her head between his hands. Moving close to her, he brushed his lips on hers. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her mouth, lingering there for a moment as if taking in her essence. Again brushing his lips very gently across hers, he moved away, his eyes intensely looking from her eyes down to her lips. He wanted so badly to take Sarah into his arms and hold her forever. The need to taste her full warm lips was more than he could stand, but he wanted this moment to last for both of them. As he stared into her eyes and moved again close to her mouth, he gently ran his hands down her neck, moving his lips to touch hers. His mouth was hot on hers; she moved closer, aroused by the need to be his, if not but for tonight. They explored each other for what seemed to be hours, with Sarah allowing him to bite and kiss as he felt the need. He moved from her lips to her slender neck, which gave Sarah an opportunity to take a desperately needed breath. Her throaty groans made them laugh, breaking the hold he had over her. Nicolaus returned to feasting down her neck a few minutes longer, then released her to stand on her own. Standing in front of her with his hands crossed across his chest, he gave Sarah a few minutes to come back to her senses while he smiled down on her, amused.

"Oh, my!" Sarah sighed and put her hands up to her checks. "I feel like my skin is melting off of my body."

"Is that a good thing or bad thing?" Nicolaus asked, as he gently pushed a few stray hairs away from her eyelashes.

"Oh, it's a very good thing. But I asked you to kiss me. I don't recall asking you to eat me."

"Well, if your parents ask, just tell them apparently there are hungry bears in these pastures!" Nicolaus said as he took her hand and led her back toward the van to say good-by for the night.

"Danny, if you'll take Eli and Sarah home tonight, I'll give you my car!" Sylvain said as he poked his hand down in his pocket for the keys. The others looked on in disbelief, Danny more so than any of them.

"Wha... Sylvain, are you kidding?" Danny asked, the look on his face teetering between shock and glee as Sylvain pulled the keys out and dangled them over Danny's hand. He smiled as he waited for Danny's answer.

"What are you going to do without a car, Sylvain?" The rest just laughed.

"Well, where I'm going, I'm not going to need a car, ya understand?" Sylvain dropped the keys into his hand and started to walk toward the van.

"Sylvain, aren't you forgetting something? How am I going to get Sarah and Eli home?"

"Danny, you idiot, in my car!" Sylvain said as he turned and pointed to his white Cadillac sitting next to Jesse's van.

Nicolaus laughed and closed his eyes, wondering if Danny's physical problems contributed to his mental deficiencies, and then turned to Rodger to thank him for his help during the last few days. "Sylvain, Sarah, Eli, and Beth will be baptized next Sunday. Would you, Dee and Nicola care to come with me to it?

"I've always wanted to see what went on at one of those Amish church meetings. You sure we won't be run off 'cause we're too worldly?"

"Nah, the only people they tend to run off are their own!" Nicolaus said referring to his father's intolerance. "Could you pick me up Sunday around eight a.m., then?"

"Oh yeah, that's right, you don't have a car. How come Sylvain didn't give you his car?"

"Why should I have a car when I have friends like you who are willing to take me all over town at any time of the day? Remind me again what you do for a living?" Nicolaus asked teasingly. He knew Rodger was waiting to be accepted as head of the trauma department at Saint Ann's Hospital there in town. It was a most sought-after position. Sylvain had informed Nicolaus earlier that Rodger had been chosen. Nicolaus hadn't told Dee or Rodger, not knowing how he would explain Sylvain's gift to them.

Turning to Sarah as she and Eli got into the back seat of Danny's newly obtained Cadillac, Nicolaus smiled at her through the window as he said, "Next time I see you, you'll be another person altogether."

"That is a fact," Sarah answered, nodding with a smile that let Nicolaus know that it was going to be all right. "Remember, you have to come home, you promised."

"Sarah! I said I would think about it," Nicolaus said, as he put his hand on his chest and smiled, laughing to himself that she found it necessary to nag him about it.

"You'll be home!" she replied, as she placed her hand on his.

"What did you say, Sarah? Wait, Danny!" He ordered Danny not to leave yet. "Has Sylvain told you what's in the future for me?" Nicolaus held onto the car and bent down to her eye level.

"No. You know Sylvain's not allowed to do that around us. Anyway, he wouldn't have any reason to talk to me about you, would he?" she asked, turning her head to the side as she gave Nicolaus a furtive glance. She wanted him to say one way or the other what feelings he had for her, knowing they must be at least warm ones. After all, he had written songs about her, she thought.

"Good. Sometimes he scares me. I don't like it when he does that."

"More so than when he takes you by the shirt to his eye level and threatens to punch you, like he did tonight?"

"Oh yeah, I'd much rather get punched in the face by Sylvain than him do his voodoo weird-ass stuff to me." He stopped and soberly looked into her eyes. "I'll be there Sunday in support of all of you!" Then he nodded to Danny, letting him know it was okay to leave.

The fatigued passengers in Jesse's van sat in silence, nodding off occasionally as the sun began to rise, sending rays of burnt orange and gold across the farmland as they headed back to The Eagle to set up. Nicolaus always loved the fall months the most. They were the ones that brought an air of mystery to everything around him. The smells of the dead and dying leaves, the moisture in the soil making the ground seem to give more under his feet, and the colors that went from light summer pastels to oranges, browns and deep dark reds; all brought a feeling of wanting to sit in front of a fireplace and hibernate along with nature.

As they finished setting up for that evening's sets at The Eagle, Nicolaus and Sylvain crashed on the couches backstage while Jesse and Gene went out for breakfast. Nicolaus slipped from dream into dream, completely oblivious to the world around him. He heard sounds around him that made him feel uncomfortable but could not pull himself from the strong grasp of slumber. Deep sleep tugged at him so hard, even though the sounds made him feel that there may be cause for concern, or at least that he should be awake. It was like a cry from an infant in the night that wakes a slumbering parent to come to its aid. Nicolaus blinked, tried to focus, and allowed his heavy lids to close again. He tried to open his eyes and focus on the figure in front of him, but sleep would not let him. A sob, then a sniff came from the other couch. This time he made himself open his eyes long enough to see Sylvain sitting across from him, his head in his hands as he rocked back in forth slightly, like a child waking from a bad dream.

"Sylvain?" Nicolaus's hoarse voice cracked; this was a toll he knew his body would have to pay after singing all night in the cold air of the dusty pasture. Nicolaus sat up and ran his hands over his face to help himself wake up. "Are you okay?" Nicolaus asked again, and tried to blink his friend into focus. Sylvain didn't say a word, but just sat there holding his head in his hands, sniffing a few times. Then he ran his sleeve under his nose, the other sleeve over his eyes.

"Don't worry about me, Nicolaus. I just had a bad dream, dat's all. Sorry I woke you."

Nicolaus sat silently for few minutes before asking, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"It was sad. I'd rather not." Sylvain said, then put his head back down into his hands and began to rock again.

"Do you think it's one of your..."

"No!" Sylvain said, cutting Nicolaus off sternly as he stood and walked away to face the back door. He stood there silently for a minute with his hands in his pockets, as if he were thinking. Sorry, I just don't want to talk about it right now, okay?"

"Sure," Nicolaus said, still concerned. "We're all just tired and hungry. Do you want to go for breakfast?" He stood and tried to stretch the muscles that threatened to tighten up on him with soreness.

"You go. I need to be alone for a while, ja?" Sylvain replied as he picked up his coat and went out the back door.

That weekend at The Eagle was packed clear up until Saturday. Saturday night, the band was a little concerned about Sylvain's behavior, who was taking his departure a little more soberly than expected. It was at the last set of the evening, when during a particular song Nicolaus's voice suddenly cracked, and he turned to Gene and Danny. He motioned to them that he intended to end the song before its normal finish, playing his guitar as a solo in between the chorus stanza so he wouldn't have to sing it.

"You okay?" Danny looked over at him. Nicolaus, averting his eyes from the audience, turned to take a drink as he faced Sylvain.

"I'm going to miss you!" Nicolaus spoke low in their dialect after he put the water bottle down.

"I won't be far!" Sylvain said back to him. Starting the beat to the next song, Nicolaus finally went to his microphone after allowing a long roll-in. Gene looked back at Sylvain, wondering if Nicolaus would start singing the song at all.

The rest of the set went off fine. As the band got ready to leave the stage, Jesse came to Nicolaus's microphone and asked if Sylvain and the rest of the band would remain onstage as he made a small but touching speech about 'Sol,' as he called him. The crowd cheered and there were handshakes and pats on the back, but when Jesse announced the auditions for the position of drummer for the band, Nicolaus looked at Gene with a frown.

"What? Did you think a drummer would miraculously appear by next weekend?" Gene asked, in a whisper as he leaned toward Nicolaus, smiling at the audience the whole time.

"The auditions will be held Monday through Tuesday of next week. If you're interested, the sign-up sheet to get an audition time is at the table near the men's restrooms." Jesse ended with, "Beginners need not apply!"

"I don't see why not. I was a beginner when I came to work for you!" Sylvain said, taking the microphone from Jesse. "You didn't know that, did you?" he said, smiling down at Jesse kindly.

"I knew you were a very tall, snot-nosed kid, but I would have put money on you, Sol. And in fact I did—a lot of money! But you and your friends here have made it worth every penny. Let's all face the truth; this boy can keep a beat! Am I not right?" The crowd cheered and whistled as the band left the stage; Sylvain, for the last time.

~

"Do we have coffee going yet? I can't believe we have to listen to drummers at eight in the morning!" Gene complained. He looked around to where Karen and Lorie were standing, as if they were responsible for feeding the judges. No one was quite sure why Jesse made himself a judge, other than the fact he was the owner and the last to say who gets hired. Gene still rolled his eyes every time Jesse would give his assessment of each drummer's audition, as if he knew the difference in rhythm or music in any way.

At their noon break, Jesse asked, "Have you heard any you like yet, Nick?" There were many more signed up to audition than they ever dreamed would turn out, so they booked The Eagle from seven in the morning till long after four both evenings, making the auditions run into their regular evening patrons' drinking time. Many of them took an interest in the performances as well, putting in their two cents along with the others who just happened in from the street for a cold beer.

"No, Jesse, not one I would say is as good. But then again, I'm not drunk right now and that may be the problem," Nicolaus said while he poured himself a beer from the tap. "Fill one up for me, too!" Jesse called out to him as he started to walk to the back of the stage to await the next audition. Nicolaus was a little taken back that Jesse didn't mind that he was drinking.

"Your name?" Gene asked not bothering to look up as he wrote on a blank notepad.

"My name is Hans Glick." Nicolaus looked up from the bar, Sylvain stopped what he was doing and they both looked at each other, their mouths wide open in disbelief.

"What do you think you're doing here, Hans?" Sylvain asked his younger brother in their dialect.

"I'm auditioning. What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Sylvain?" Nicolaus asked, as if he was afraid to look at the stage again. Sylvain was silent for a few minutes while all eyes were on him alone. Then he looked over at Jesse, making his way back to the judge's seats with a questioning frown.

"Ach, let him try out. He knows all da songs, and, well, I taught him all that I know. He better be gut!"

Nicolaus came over to sit down and handed Sylvain a beer, not taking his eyes off his kid brother. Hans was an exact replica of his older brother except for the difference in their eye color, and Hans was a little better looking than Sylvain. In fact, Hans was downright handsome. His blonde hair and blue eyes accentuated his strong cheek bones, and his body rippled with stone hard muscles he had acquired working long hours on his father's farm. Taking a big gulp from his beer, Nicolaus listened to the perfection that he thought only could come from Sylvain's hands and natural rhythm, mesmerized by the accurate tempo and style that had up until now been Sylvain's alone.

After Hans was finished, the judges turned to Sylvain and stared blankly as they all waited for an explanation. "I had no clue he would try out. I'm serious! I don't even know how he got here!"

"I drove my car!" Hans pulled out a set of keys from his ill-fitted blue jeans, much too tight and short to really be his. "Is there a bass guitar position opening, too? I have a friend that's really good waiting outside."

"Uh... we just need a drummer; thanks, anyway!" Danny piped up, a little put out with the young kid's freshness, which made Nicolaus and the rest laugh and tease that they indeed would like to hear the aspiring bass player after all.

"Well, we have another day of try-outs but we'll get back to you with an answer, Hans. Thank you for coming!" Jesse said, looking at the band and shaking his head as he wrote his comments down on his notepad, which was a very good sign since he hadn't written anything on it all day.

Nicolaus knew Hans well; he had grown up with Sylvain's little brother tagging along. He wasn't all that bad, but was ten times rowdier that Sylvain ever was. Hans was the child who had to be taken out from church service to be spanked at least three times during each Sunday meeting; he was also the individual that provided most of the mind-blowing, homegrown weed in the County, which he grew and processed right there on his family's acreage in a secret location deep in the woods near the creek. Nicolaus had been taken to it once, blindfolded.

"He's good. What are we going to do?" Nicolaus asked Gene as he looked down, rubbing his temples in hopes that his headache's intensity would diminish soon.

"There's always tomorrow—maybe we'll get lucky!" said Gene.

The remainder of the auditions were dreadful, bringing a steady stream of untrained, ill-timed wannabe drummers who took up much of the next day, lasting late into the noontime hour. Karen and Lorie came to the backstage lounge to see if there had been a selection yet, bringing with them drinks for the band and Jesse. That didn't help matters any, for the judges were already drunk and nearly incoherent.

"I say we need to hit the ground running Friday, and the only one that can pull that off right now is Sylvain's brother, Hans!" Gene said, already having heard the argument from Nicolaus on why Hans should not be part of the band. Sylvain was sitting in silence beside the two girls, who both knew better than to put in their two cents.

"This is what I'm going to do. Call in Hans and the other two candidates that are being considered, and have them play with the band tomorrow night. Don't worry, you'll be paid for the extra day. This way, our weekend crowds won't be around to witness any big mess-ups. Sol, can you get your brother here tomorrow... at about what time?" Jesse looked around the room for suggestions, but got blank, tired looks in return.

"I'll tell him to be here at twelve," Sylvain said, trying to help the guys out of having to make any more decisions tonight.

Gene grabbed Karen around her waist and ushered her out to his car, both of them laughing and looking into each other's eyes in a way Nicolaus thought odd. "I guess we better find rides home," Danny said, as he stopped Nicolaus at the door.

"What's up?" Nicolaus asked, motioning with his head toward Gene and Karen.

"Man, Nick, where have you been? Haven't you noticed Karen at the house every night since the party? Gene and her are real serious. I mean real serious!"

Nicolaus had noticed Karen's presence at the apartment, but they always had a wide array of people over partying at Gene's until late in the evening more than one night a week, so her being there hadn't struck him as out of the ordinary.

"I think I'll stay with Jeana tonight." She was Danny's girlfriend and soon-to-be mother of his child. He had just found out prior to the party that he was going to become a father. At first he was out of his mind with fear, but now that had shifted into excitement since Jeana had informed him she didn't mind if they just stayed friends. That suited Danny just fine, because he knew himself well—he was not able to keep any sort of relationship longer than a year. "It might get a little crowded at the apartment tonight since Karen's friend is coming in from New York to stay with them for a few days."

"Why am I always the one left in the dark about what's going on?"

"Oh, that's easy, Nick! It's 'cause you walk around with those ah... what do you Amish call them? The things you farm boys put on your horses so they don't spook when they're pulling your buggies?"

"Blinders?" Nicolaus answered with a frown as he looked down at Danny, wondering where he was going with his analogy.

"Yap, that's why you're in the dark. You see what you want ta see. You got those Amish blinders on all the time, Nick. You're in your own little world and no one is invited in. I guess that's why you're such a good songwriter."

Nicolaus scratched his head, then ran his fingers through his long, soft curls, his hand finally coming to rest at the back of his neck. "So what are you trying to say, Danny? I'm weird and a loner?"

Danny took a long look at Nicolaus, and then, as if he had made up his mind, said, "Yap, that's about you in a nutshell, Nick!"

Nicolaus's mouth flew open in disbelief. Then with a second thought, he shook his head and flipped his middle finger at Danny.

"See, that's how you are!" Danny said, angrily. "You ask a question and then flip people off like you didn't like their answer, like you were someone special or something. Where do you get off being such a jerk all the time, anyway? I mean, you go off and pout like someone cares or something!"

This time Nicolaus looked back at Danny with hurt in his eyes. Then he noticed those who were taking in their conversation. Looking down at his hands as if embarrassed and unsure, he turned and walked out of The Eagle.

"That was a little harsh, Danny!" Lorie said as she cleared the empty mugs of beer left there by the band. Jesse was still nursing his last one, along with a cigar he had been sucking on all day.

"Well, it's true! Don't get me wrong. I like Nick and all, but he can get on your nerves. He is so 'intense' and expects everyone around him to be, too. I'm getting tired of it!"

Sylvain laughed to himself as he sat at the table with Jesse.

"What's so funny, Sol?" Danny asked as he picked up his coat to leave.

"You! That's what's so funny. If you only knew Nicolaus, you would understand why he is the way he is. Anyway, you won't have to worry about him much longer."

"What? Is Nick thinking about leaving, too?" Jesse asked pulling the cigar from his mouth, leaving a string of saliva attached to it. Sylvain looked at it and wondered if it would ever sever from his mouth, before he turned back to Danny.

"Let's just say, things are changing in more ways than one for you and me!" Sylvain got up and waved good-bye to Lorie, who in return blew him a kiss from behind the bar.

"Hey Nick, ya want a ride?" Gene asked as he and Karen pulled up alongside of him while he walked down the street toward the apartment.

"Nah, I need to think. Thanks, anyway," Nicolaus said as he bent down, placing one hand on the open passenger's window where Karen was seated. She smiled at him as she placed her hand on top of his. Nicolaus gave her a gentle smile, then removed his hand from under hers and started walking, waving to the two as they passed him.

"Gene, stop!" Karen said, just a block away. "Something's wrong with Nick. I can feel it."

"Karen, we'll be late picking up Mandy if we take him home! Anyway, Nick's a big boy now. He can fend for himself. Ya gotta quit mothering him."

"Gene, pull over! We'll take him with us, and I don't mother him. Anyway, I've told Mandy so much about him I'm sure she would love to meet Nick."

"Okay!" Gene said as he pulled the car to the curb and waited for Nicolaus to catch up. Getting out, he went around to the backseat and opened the door for Nicolaus as if he was his personal chauffeur.

"What?" Nicolaus asked, with a smile on his face and his hands in his coat pockets.

"Just get in!" Gene said, as he grabbed Nicolaus's arm, shoving him into the car with a little too much force. Nicolaus tried to free his hands from his pockets in time to hold himself upright, but was too late. He fell into the backseat like a rag doll and, lying on his side, looked up at Karen, who was laughing at him.

"Hi, Karen! I guess I'm going home with you two," Nicolaus said, as he just laid there on his side a moment, still trying to free his hands. His aim, though, was to try and get Karen to pee her pants with laughter. She always wet herself when they got her laughing. It was one of Nicolaus's favorite things to do. He knew it was only a matter of minutes after seeing her first start to laugh that Karen would undoubtedly laugh herself into a whole new wardrobe change.

"Sorry, Nick, you've been kidnapped! Oh, by the way, we're not going home. We have to pick up one of my dearest friends at the airport."

Nicolaus was disappointed that Karen's mood had changed to determination, and a giggle-fest would not be in the near future, as he had hoped. As he looked out the window, he contemplated how nice it would be to completely lose oneself in hilarity that way. He almost envied Karen that she could let herself go into such uncontrollable laughter with complete abandonment about anything that was funny to her at that moment. The only time he could get lost in a moment was when he was high. Otherwise he found himself always thinking, always feeling. He couldn't get away from it, but he knew he couldn't stay high all the time. It was completely out of the question, but a strong temptation.

"So you're taking me with you to pick up someone I don't know? Why?" Nicolaus asked, as he moved up so he could be close to Karen, his hands still dreadfully held captive in his coat pockets.

Karen was watching Gene's driving from the front seat, unwilling to take her eyes off the traffic to turn and speak with Nicolaus. "Well, I have to admit, I told Mandy a lot about you and she... well, she wants to meet you. Now's as good a time as any, and after all, she will be staying in your bedroom during her stay."

"My room? Where will I be? On the couch?" Nicolaus asked, his eyes big with surprise.

"You can sleep wherever you like. No one's asking you to leave your room, ya know!" Gene replied as he looked at Nicolaus through his rearview mirror, giving him a sinister smile.

Nicolaus sat back in the car seat and finally set one hand free so he could reach over and extract the other from his pocket. "Gene, I don't pay you rent to have someone I don't even know sleep with me. Why can't she stay in Danny's room, or here's a thought... why don't you and your friend stay at your own place?" Nicolaus again sat up, looking over the car seat at Karen.

"Because, we've been tossed out of our house. Lorie kept forgetting to pay the rent. I have nowhere to go but Gene's."

"Why am I not surprised? When did this happen?" Nicolaus asked as he leaned his forehead against the front seat of the car, as if deep in thought.

"While we were at the party last weekend, the landlord came and put all our belongings out on the front porch. When we got home, we found our entire personal belongings ransacked—most of them taken by passersby. All I have now are the clothes on my back! Thanks to Gene, I purchased a few new things to wear." Karen smiled over at Gene; he returned the gesture.

"Sorry about that, Karen. Where's Lorie staying?" Nicolaus asked, truly concerned.

"She's okay. She shacked up with Kenzie. It's purely a nonphysical relationship, though," Karen added, as if Nicolaus cared.

"Kenzie's a good match for her, that is, a 'nonphysical match,'" Nicolaus repeated deliberately to end the conversation without argument.

Once at the airport, Gene asked Karen to go on ahead and find her friend while he and Nicolaus sat and had a beer in the lounge, which she agreed to. Off she went as the boys got seated at a table near the walkway. "Gene, do you think I'm a jerk?" Nicolaus asked, after the barmaid brought them their drinks.

"Yeah. Why do you ask?"

Nicolaus just looked at him and blinked, raising his drink halfway to his lips. "I'm serious, Gene," he said, as he put the drink back down and looked deep into Gene's eyes.

"What brought this up all of a sudden?" Gene asked, wishing Nicolaus was still hung up on giving Mandy his room for the two-day stay.

"Danny said I was." Nicolaus took a drink, his eyes lustfully following a beautifully proportioned woman who just happened to be passing by.

"I don't think a person stuck on himself would care one way or the other what Danny thought, so I don't think you have anything to worry about, now do you? Anyway, Danny's just jealous."

"I don't get it? Jealous of what?" Nicolaus squinted and turned his head to one side.

"You, your friendship, and your time. Don't you see? Danny has always wanted to be your best friend, but you don't have but one and Danny isn't it. Nick, you're a very guarded person I have to admit, and, yes, you come across at times as a jerk, but you're not really.

"What do you mean, Gene?"

"You're a good-looking man, Nick, and anyone would want to hang around with you, but you don't let just anyone in your circle."

"But Danny is my friend. I've always let him in..."

"Nope– wrong Nick. You don't let anyone in; that's Danny's problem. Frankly, I'm happy just to let you be you. I know you consider me as whatever you think a friend is, but you see, Danny has his own idea of what being your friend is. Nick, I don't ever think you will let him or anyone else, save Sol, in that close!"

Nicolaus sighed and looked down at his drink, placing both of his hands around it as if to prevent it from tipping over. "What should I do, then? I mean, he's really mad at me right now." Looking back up at Gene, he saw that Karen was coming with her hands full of suitcases and a tall gorgeous redhead in tow, whose arms were also full of parcels and bags. Nicolaus and Gene got up in hopes of aiding the women to their seats in the lounge.

"Gene and Nick, this is Mandy," Karen said, just as the baggage strap came loose from her grasp and the luggage hit the floor with a loud thud.

"What did you bring, the kitchen sink?" Gene asked, trying to make light of the ordeal.

"No, they made me leave that at home. Sorry, I do have a slight problem with overpacking, as you can see. The real problem is, my returns are twice as bad as my arrivals! You should see the customs officers when I return from my vacations in Europe! I spend more time in the customs office than it takes to fly to the country in the plane itself!" Mandy sighed and smiled a defeated smile as she shook her head at her dilemma. "Ah, Nick! I've heard a lot about this one!" she said, as she took Nicolaus's arm and maneuvered him to sit next to her.

Nicolaus smiled at her, then looked over at Karen, who raised her eyebrows as if to say, "I told you she was gorgeous!"

"Mandy, how did you and Karen meet?" Gene asked, watching her take Nicolaus's beer and drain it in one gulp.

"We met in college, sorority sisters," Mandy said, as she and Karen simultaneously licked their index finger and reached over the table, each putting her finger into her friend's mouth and pulling it out to the side, making the most undignified popping sound. Karen looked across the table at Nicolaus, who was staring at her in disbelief.

"What?" Karen asked innocently.

"I find that totally..."

"Sexy!" said Gene.

"Not exactly what I was going to say, but..." Nicolaus said and swallowed hard as he looked away, trying not to gag, truly mortified at their sisterhood prank.

"I take it you're not into orgies, either. Am I correct?" Mandy asked bluntly.

Nicolaus looked with horror, first at Mandy then Karen, while Gene laughed at his undiluted expression.

"There's a little more to you, Karen, than I thought."

"Oh, don't believe what Mandy says. She's just trying to get to you, Nick. Mandy, Nick was raised extremely sheltered and though he looks quite the Romeo, he is, I assure you, innocent of our worldly ways."

"Were you raised in a convent?" Mandy asked, turning to Nicolaus with a smirk, surprised when he smirked back.

"Worse! He was raised Amish," Gene offered, as he, too, smirked.

Nicolaus's smile faded at Gene's comment as he started to move uncomfortably in his chair. He cleared his throat, then looked back at Gene with a glare of warning.

"Amish? I'm not familiar with..."

Karen interrupted her friend. "It's a cult that doesn't let their people have any modern conveniences like cars or electricity. You'll see for yourself, they happen to own most of the land around here so you won't be able to miss them, huh, Nick? Anyway, I love hanging around Nick because it's like being around a two-year-old. Everything to him is new and has never been experienced. You could say he's a virgin when it comes to most everything."

At this point, Nicolaus truly wanted to hit Karen, but the statement he took most offense at was her calling his culture a "cult." He squinted at Karen then looked away in silence. Folding his arms in front of his chest in a defiant posture, he sighed, pressing his lips together tightly.

"Oops! Did I say something wrong, Nick?" Karen asked, realizing she had made him mad.

"I think you said a few things ah... 'wrong.' Let's order some food, okay?" Gene said, as he handed out the menus and nodded to their waitress to get her attention. Nicolaus's eyes hadn't left Karen's when the waitress took a double look at Nicolaus, then asked him if he sang in the band at The Eagle on the weekends.

Nicolaus took in a deep breath as he looked down and answered, "yes." He went on to add that Gene played in the band, too. She looked at Gene then back at Nicolaus and said that she didn't recognize anyone but him.

"See, Nick, what did I tell you? It's all about you up there on that stage!" Gene kidded, trying to clear the air of the tension. Nicolaus sat back in his chair and without acknowledging Gene's comment, ordered a hamburger and fries.

"So you're the lead singer at the bar you all work at?" Mandy asked, letting some time pass and half of Nicolaus's meal to be consumed before speaking to him again. Nicolaus glanced over at her with a slight smile and nodded, his mouth bulging, too full to answer.

"How did you come from being an Amish... ah... person to an entertainer in a bar? Mind you, I'm not judging you, simply curious," she said, giving Nicolaus time to swallow his food.

"It's a long story. I'm sure Karen will tell you all about it someday!" Nicolaus said as he wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it on his plate. "It was nice meeting you, Mandy, and I guess you'll be sleeping tonight in my room on da floor, so I'll see you when you get home!" He stood and shook her hand, then turned to leave. Mandy looked at Karen, her big blue eyes full of questions.

"Nick!" Karen called after him. Nicolaus turned and walked back to the table to see what Karen had to say. "Listen Nick, I made you mad; I'm sorry, please stay and hang out with us." Nicolaus reluctantly sat back down, resting his arms on the table as he leaned over to look at Karen face to face.

"First of all, the Amish are not a 'cult,' I'm not two years old, and if you think I'm a virgin, well then... I'm a very well-educated one!"

"That's my man!" Gene said, letting Karen know he was on Nicolaus's side.

"I said I was sorry!" Karen was getting a little tired of the pettiness and just wanted to have fun.

"I know, let's go to your place and play strip poker, what do you say?" Mandy said in a jolly tone, trying to be funny. Her long red hair followed gracefully as she turned her head to look at Nicolaus.

"Okay, but jokers are wild!" Nicolaus said, much to the girls' amazement as he stood and pulled Mandy's chair out for her to stand.

"Nick!" Karen said, in shock.

"What? Gene and I just happen to be great poker players. We rarely lose, if you know what I mean! This should be lots of fun!"

The ride home was cozy in the backseat. Mandy decided to get as close as she could to her handsome newfound friend. The car heater worked just fine but was unnecessary due to the closeness of their bodies and the host of hormones that abound in such a limited space.

"You smell so good. What do you have on?"

Nicolaus laughed to himself and said as he looked into her eyes, "I have on soap, and that being at least eight hours ago. Maybe I'm not the one you're smelling, or maybe I am and you're just trying to be nice."

"You smell like a fall campfire and blackberries!" Mandy moved in close as if she were taking in a big whiff, so close that Nicolaus could feel her hot breath on his lips. Then within a heartbeat, she moved even closer and kissed him. Things were quiet in the backseat for some time when Karen finally turned to check on the two, totally surprised to find them making out passionately in the backseat.

"What?" Gene whispered, as she turned back around.

"That was fast!" she lip-synched, mouthing the words to Gene, her eyes big with surprise.

"You two better not get anything on my car seats back there!" Gene said aloud as he watched them in his rearview mirror and winked at Karen.

"Gene!" Karen cried, covering her eyes with her hand, mortified that he would have said such a thing.

After three beers and two passes of weed, the four were well into the poker game. They were all sitting on the floor around the coffee table. Gene was down to his long-tailed, button-down long-sleeve shirt, being at a disadvantage from the beginning by informing all that he didn't believe in wearing underwear. Karen and Mandy were both in their bras and panties, which were most tactfully high-styled and possibly much more expensive than the entire wardrobe of a person of moderate means. Nicolaus, finding out that in fact, he wasn't the expert poker player he thought himself to be, was doing a little better than Gene, but not by much... He was sitting there in his boxer shorts, praying for the next card to be a Queen of Hearts from the dealer's deck.

"Darn!" he said out loud, as he laid his hand down on the coffee table. Looking around at the sheepish smiles, he began to rise slowly to his knees.

"Okay, there's no way I'm going to strip bare butt, so..." Nicolaus said as he got to his feet to attempt a mad dash for his room.

"I thought you were good at this, Nick!" Karen said, between the laughter and snorts as she reached out and grabbed his leg so he couldn't move. Nicolaus was aware that the laughing-snorts were Karen's precursor to complete abandon; he also calculated that he had only a few minutes to improvise before she'd roll up in a ball and pee herself, ending this game and giving him the benefit of not having to strip all. Problem was, he was a little too drunk as well as high; he was laughing uncontrollably as he struggled to unsuccessfully retrieve his leg from her grasp. Falling over with Karen on top gave her a most unfortunate advantage.

"Karen... shhh. Karen listen to me. We have to stop laughing. Shhh... Okay, just get off me and I will... Shhh, you have to stop laughing, darling," Nicolaus pleaded, as he tried unsuccessfully to help Karen stop, placing his fingers gently up to her mouth. He was afraid he might soon be a victim of her unpredictable bladder control, or rather lack of it. "Okay, good, now, very slowly let's get up and go... Ach, come on, you guys!" Nicolaus said, as he heard Gene and Mandy laughing hysterically at the two of them lying pie-eyed on the floor, almost naked. "Okay, okay you win." Nicolaus resigned himself, thinking it would be better for him to be stripped of his shorts than for Karen to pee on him. Karen got up and Nicolaus took a running leap for his room, only to be attacked by all three once he tried to shut his bedroom door.

"It's three against one. Do you really think you can stand us off all night, Nick?" Gene asked as he pushed on the door even harder.

Nicolaus realized he was doomed, bringing to memory the story of Sodom and Gomorra in the Old Testament when the men of the city were lusting after the Angels that had come to stay with Lot and his family. It felt like those lechers were pushing on his door now, to satiate their own perverted pleasures.

"Okay, let's talk about this, 'cause I don't see me voluntarily pulling my shorts off in front of these girls. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever!"

The door shut abruptly as the three on the other side allowed Nicolaus his peace while they discussed amongst themselves what to do next, knowing Nicolaus was not about to expose himself of his own free will, as he had just stated. Nicolaus suddenly felt a shudder down his back, realizing with a shock that it was cold and he was standing there in nothing but his boxers. Moving toward his makeshift bed to retrieve his blanket, he covered himself and lay down on the floor, groggily awaiting their decision. The last thing he remembered was the warmth of the blanket and the fear that he was sinking unwillingly into the bliss of slumber. He was awakened hours later by a most ungodly sound. He rose, blinking sleepily at the door to his room, which was still closed. Wiping a glob of saliva from his chin and mouth, Nicolaus stood and headed out into the darkened hallway. The air was cold in the hall; he clutched the blanket tightly around his body while he searched out the sound that seemed to be coming from the living room

The noise came again, so loudly abrupt that it made him jump back, hitting the back of his head hard against the wall. Good Lord—that's her snoring! Nicolaus thought to himself, his heart still pounding from fright of the sound. He walked quietly to the couch where Mandy sprawled out, seemingly dead asleep and insensitive to the chill in the air.

"Mandy! Here girl, you must be freezing," Nicolaus said in a whisper and laid his blanket over her rather wonderfully shaped body.

As he turned to leave he felt two hands directly on the back of his boxer shorts, and with one swift "whoosh!" his boxers lay on the floor between his legs. Feeling the full force of the morning breeze on his exposed backside, he reached down and pulled them back up, greeted by Mandy's smiling face.

"There! Now the games over and you lost!" she said, lying down on the couch as if she planned to go back to sleep. Nicolaus started to laugh and grabbed at the blanket she held onto tightly, not willing to relinquish it back to the loser.

"Here I was trying to help you by giving you my blanket 'cause I thought you were cold, and you do this to me?"

"Well, you locked me out of your room so I had to sleep on this cold couch!" she said, as she reached up and took a handful of his hair from the back of his head, forcing him to his knees in front of her. In turn he grabbed a hunk of her hair, and there they were—looking into each other's eyes, both wondering what to say or do next.

"Okay, you can sleep in my room, and I'll take the couch, but let me have the blanket."

"Oh, no you don't! I slept without a blanket, you can too!" she declared as she got up and headed for his room, leaving him kneeling on the floor beside the couch. The door slammed shut, leaving Nicolaus freezing in the front room. He sat on the couch for a few minutes, then after getting up enough courage to venture back into his own room, he opened the door and tip-toed to his makeshift bed on the floor. Quietly climbing in beside Mandy he laid there, looking up at the ceiling, still freezing from the early morning temperature. Turning to his side to face away from her he rolled up to conserve his body heat, feeling as he did the comforting touch of his blanket being placed over his body and Mandy cupping her warm soft body against his back.

~

"Get up, Nick! We're going to be late!" Karen shouted as she opened his bedroom door, causing him to sit straight up. But he was forced abruptly back down by Mandy's long leg and arm holding him captive while she slept. She was not fazed by Karen's intrusion in the least.

"Mandy, I gotta get ready. Can I just put this right over here for a moment?" he said, as he picked up her leg and arm and gently placed them on her side of the floor. Then he slid out of her way just in time for her to roll toward him, her arms and legs flying as if she were making a somersault in midair.

Nicolaus took a shower, and came back into the room to retrieve some clean clothes. He placed them on his arm and secured a towel around his waist so he had the other hand free to gather his shaving gear. As he passed the bed to leave, he felt the towel slip, as if it had snagged on something on his way out. Catching it too late, Nicolaus again stood bare butt in front of Mandy's smiling face. She waved the towel back and forth while he quickly repositioned his clean clothing to cover what she would have loved to expose for all to see. "Damn it, Mandy!" he said as he grabbed the towel from her hand.

"Although I've not been privileged to catch you off guard enough to see your front, I'm sure it's as nice as your backside, which I'm proud to say I've seen twice now!"

"Oh, you're keeping score then, ja?"

"Ja!" she mimicked back to him in his accent. "Where are you going?" she asked and started to get out of bed herself.

"I have to go to the bar to practice with a few new drummers. Ours is leaving and we need another one who'll be able to play the songs in three days."

"Isn't that asking a little too much?" she asked, as she put on her clothes, which Nicolaus had retrieved from the living room. They'd been tossed there in disarray from the poker party the night before.

"Yeah, it is. That's why we need to be there early. You have any plans?"

"No."

"Come to The Eagle. I'm sure Karen would bring you up if you ask her to."

"I just might do that. It's not every day you get to sleep with the lead singer of the band! Does this mean I'm your groupie?"

"Yeah, well, since sleep is all we did, I guess you can truthfully say you slept with me. Un has anyone ever told you that you are... well, you're tall! Un your red hair is... uh, red!" Nicolaus said, taking her in his arms, drawing her body close to his and then kissing her. He enjoyed the fact that he didn't have to bend down at all to do so.

"I can't stand it, you're so romantic!"

"Sorry, I'm not very gut with words. I think I'm trying to say beautiful, but it comes out like— 'tall' and 'red,' instead."

"Well, then, did anyone ever tell you that you are, uh... gorgeous?"

"Well, no. Da word 'gorgeous' has never been used. That's for sure," Nicolaus said, as he released her to finish dressing.

"I'll see you at The Eagle, young man!" Mandy said, pointing a finger at him on his way out the door.

~

The first drummer threw his drumsticks at Nicolaus, aiming for his head but missing the mark. This, after he gave up trying to please Nicolaus's unreasonable demands with the correct beat of the last three songs. He completely gave up on the seventeenth try, totally frustrated as well as tired of being bullied by Nicolaus. "You couldn't pay me enough to play for that one!" the drummer said, referring to Nicolaus as he passed the next drummer, the second out of three who were waiting to try out their skills, desperately trying to prove they had what it took to hit the band stage running on Friday. Nicolaus picked up the sticks and handed them to the next auditioner, who had timidly climbed the band stage stairs, looking at Nicolaus as if he were a fire-breathing dragon.

"Try to stay on beat, okay? I don't want to have to baby-sit up here all night. You know the songs?" Nicolaus asked. He handed the young man a paper that had the song list and even the starting beats to each of the songs so the new drummers could, if they were good enough, at least start each song off then improvise later, if necessary.

"We're ready anytime you are!" Nicolaus said as he turned back around to the drummer who in turn just blinked back blankly. Nicolaus looked at Gene, who shook his head as the drummer started with a beat that had nothing to do with the first song on the list.

"Wait! Hold on... are we on the same page here?" Nicolaus asked as he turned and walked back to the drummer. The bright sunlight streamed into the bar from the opened front door, illuminating the band for a moment. It was Karen and Mandy, who had just arrived to watch.

"Okay, let's start again. It's the first song on the list there. Just pick up the beat after we start." Nicolaus counted down and started the song off with his guitar, then started to sing. Halfway through the first verse Nicolaus again stopped the audition, but this time blamed himself for losing the rhythm. "Sorry, I lost it. Let's start again. One two, one two three..." Again stopping about the same place, he turned to the drummer and said, "Listen, I don't mind if you improvise. I just need you to pick up the right beat after you do whatever it is you're trying to do."

"You know, I sat here watching you rip the other guy's attempts to please you and now you're rippin' me. You can have this job! Hey! Last guy out there," the drummer called out as he shielded his eyes with his hand from the bright lights that flooded the stage. "I hope you've been watching this jackass. And if you have any good sense at all, turn around and walk out of here now!"

"Idiot! You did just fine. We were just testing to see if you could stand the pressure. You're a good drummer, but da other part of the interview you friggin' flunked!" Nicolaus said low, so that no one but the drummer could hear, sighing as he took the drumstick out of the drummer's hand.

"Well, can I have another try at it? I mean if I knew..." Gene took the poor young man by his arm and walked him down the stage stairs, ushering him out the front door while all along trying not to tell him to shut up.

"Next!" Nicolaus called, with a sheepish smile, knowing it was Hans.

"I know what you guys are doing, so you all can just kiss my butt right now!" Hans said as he climbed in behind the drum set. He started the count down to the first song without waiting for Gene to get back to his keyboard onstage.

"Whoa! Wait... Sylvain, did you tell him about the interview?" Nicolaus asked in the microphone, unable to see out in the bar from the stage lights. He heard a familiar voice call back, "No, but you just did! Hans, quit being a smart-ass up there and do what Nick tells you to do!" Sylvain's voice came from somewhere in the darkness, addressing them in their dialect.

"'Ready anytime you are!'" Hans said, mimicking Nicolaus, then started the count again to the first song—this time, Gene had returned to his keyboard.

It felt so right with Hans back behind the drums. Each song went off as if Sylvain himself was back there and Hans, like Sylvain, had the humor that the band so often relied upon when times got intense. Nicolaus finally felt good about the choice, but had to pull Hans to one side to let him know that he was not going to baby-sit. In addition, the first time he messed up Nicolaus would let Jesse take care of him just as Jesse always did the rest of them. "You work for Jesse, not me or the band, so think twice before you mess with him!" Nicolaus said, then headed to the table that Karen, Mandy, and Sylvain had gathered around.

"You can be a real bitch, Nick!" Mandy said, as Nicolaus sat down next to her. He cocked his head to one side and raised his eyebrows as if surprised at her comment.

"Oh, so I see you've met Nicolaus already!" Sylvain said, meaning it as a joke.

"Sorry you had to witness that, but working in a band can look a little ugly," Nicolaus said, as he smiled casually up at Sylvain. "Mandy is Karen's friend, staying with us from New York. And Mandy, this is Sylvain, the turncoat that we're scrambling to replace."

"Are you moving on to another town or going back to school or something?" Mandy asked.

"No, I'm going back home." Sylvain looked at Nicolaus and smiled sadly, then looked down and went silently out of character.

"He's going to join the church on Sunday. He won't be allowed to play in the band after that," Nicolaus said. Then he got up to get drinks for the table, finding the discussion a little too sobering.

"Nicolaus, just a heads-up... Sarah, Eli, and Beth will be here Friday night to do some damage before Sunday, so be advised!" Sylvain said in their dialect as he nodded toward Mandy, knowing she'd had her eyes on Nicolaus since she arrived. Nicolaus sat back down and ran his fingers through his hair as if thinking of something to do about the impending conflict.

"What language are you two speaking?" asked Mandy, smiling at Sylvain.

"It's a bit of a lot of different languages... Swiss, German and English all mixed up to sound like das."

Then Nicolaus started to ask Sylvain in their dialect what he thought he should do about the two women.

"I think you should tell this one," Sylvain said, looking over at Mandy and nodding sideways at her, "that you want to be with Sarah on Friday night. Tell her the truth. It is the truth, ja?"

"Yeah. But..."

"No 'buts'—do what you have to do! Sarah's coming to see you. Make sure you don't blow this."

"Me? Why? Has she said something to you about me?"

"She said you kissed her, that's all. But that's all she had to say. You could see it in her eyes."

"What could you see?" Nicolaus asked with a shy smile.

"Oh, I don't know... love!" Sylvain got up to leave and, as he did, he switched back to English and said, "I'll see you all tomorrow night."

"What are your plans for the rest of the day?" Nicolaus asked as he turned to Karen and Mandy.

"Mandy wants to take pictures of the leaves changing. Maybe you could take us out to some of the Amish farms."

"I can take you to the area, but actually going to a farm would not be a good idea, especially to take pictures," Nicolaus said as the three got in Karen's truck.

"What on earth do they have against photos? Are they afraid that I'll steal their souls?"

Nicolaus looked at Mandy with a serious squint, and then turned away, saying nothing. Nor did he address the issue again. Mandy looked at Karen who shook her head, discouraging any more debate.

"Turn right at this light and go down the lane until it turns into a dirt road. Stay on the dirt road until you get to the cemetery; it will be on your left."

The three traveled for a couple of minutes until Karen got to the dirt road, then Mandy said, "It must have been odd growing up Amish. I mean, Karen says you didn't have electricity or bathrooms or any of the normal everyday appliances we're used to."

"You don't miss what you never had!" Nicolaus said, gazing out the side window.

"Well, now that you have it, would you ever want to go back?"

"In a heartbeat!"

"Are you kidding, Nick?" Karen asked.

"No. What make's you think electricity is worth all the crap you have to go through to have it? I mean, if something happened that took the electricity or oil away, what would you do? Could you make a living for yourselves or your family? The Amish could. They wouldn't have any problem whatsoever if anything drastic happened like that. They do not use it 'cause they do not need it—dat's all. And yeah, it would be hard to go back the way I was raised, but I think I could do it. In fact, I know I could do it! Hey, I should write dis in a song!" Nicolaus said as he started to hum to himself, making Mandy and Karen laugh. The fall leaves wove a tapestry of color that played on Nicolaus's long, loose curls, which danced with the noonday sun's light around his face. "Wait! Slow down!" Nicolaus said as they came up to a multitude of black, horse-drawn buggies parked at each side of the road ahead.

"What's this?" Karen asked, coming to a stop at the side of the dirt lane.

"It's a funeral. Quick, back up. But slowly, and don't rev your motor, it might spook da horses. Okay, turn left here, and go very slowly so you do not make so much dust. We don't want to suffocate da funeral attendees. I wonder who it's for," Nicolaus said softly, not caring if the girls heard.

"Oh, like you would know!" Mandy kidded.

"As a matter of fact, dis is my district, so I would know!" Nicolaus said, then turned back to see if he recognized any of the horses, but they were too far from them now to see.

For a few more minutes, Nicolaus was silent, then he told Karen to slow again. "Up a few more miles is a covered bridge. It would be a gut place for your pictures. Not many people know of it, but it's not strong enough for a truck, so park back here." The bridge was picture perfect, painted red with black shutters at the windows, and as they came up on it, they saw a black buggy coming through to meet them. "Ach, Eli!" Nicolaus said as he exited the truck and walked up to the buggy. The two began conversing in their dialect as the girls got out of the truck to see who Nicolaus knew.

"You remember Eli und Sarah, ja?" Nicolaus asked with a smile and pointed up to the buggy. Karen shaded her eyes from the sun to see inside.

"Oh, yes. I would have never recognized you two dressed like that!" Sarah was in a dark blue dress and black riding bonnet that extended down, covering her neck; her outfit was completed by a black apron and cape. Eli was wearing his black flannel wide-brim hat, a dark blue work shirt with a black vest over it, and black pants with suspenders.

The sight gave Mandy an eerie feeling; she wasn't sure if she should speak or just remain silent in the background, until Sarah smiled at her and asked in English, "Who is your friend?"

Nicolaus was fast to reply. "She is Karen's friend from New York. Mandy is her name. She wanted to take pictures of da fall colors," he said, as he jerked his head toward the creek and the beautiful fall foliage scattered around about. "Are you going to town?"

"Ja, we have a few dozen quilts to take to your aunt's shop and Sarah has a doctor appointment," Eli said, pointing to Sarah with his thumb. His sister just sat there, looking down at her hands.

"Quilts! Oh, could I take a fast look at them? I want so much to buy one for my wall in my apartment."

"Sure, they're in the back; here, Sarah will help you," Eli said as he looked at Sarah. Sarah looked back at him making her eyes as big as possible and then squinting to let him know she wasn't his servant. Next she thrust her tongue out at him so fast that no one noticed except for Nicolaus, who laughed to himself.

"What's wrong with Sarah?" Nicolaus whispered to Eli, who held the reins tightly, keeping the horse still while the girls ransacked the bundles of quilts in the back. "It's just a cold. Datt wants her to see the doctor. Nothing serious," Eli said as he watched Mandy bring two quilts to him.

"Sarah said I should pay you. She wouldn't take the money. Here is six hundred; I picked out two." Nicolaus raised his eyebrows at Sarah, who was getting comfortable again in the front of the buggy next to her brother.

"Going price nowadays?" he asked Sarah questionably, in their dialect.

"How do you think we stay so well-dressed out here on the farms?" Sarah answered, staying in their dialect, as she put her hand up to her black bonnet and fluffed at it as if it were hair. "If you're still out this way at suppertime, stop by and eat with us."

"That sounds good. Would it be okay, then?"

"Sure! Datt would love to see you."

Nicolaus smiled then stopped and looked up at Eli and asked, "Who's it?" nodding in the direction of the cemetery.

"Ach, old Joe Mast."

"Ach, well it was about his time, ja?" Nicolaus said, slipping back into English. "Well if we don't see you for supper, I'll see you tomorrow at da Eagle, ja? Sylvain said you two plan to show up."

"Ach, Nicolaus, that was a surprise!" Sarah said, going back into their dialect and looking at her brother as the informant.

"Don't look at me, Sarah. You're the one who told Sylvain, not me." Eli said, as he clicked his tongue and gave his horse the reins to go. Nicolaus stepped out of the way and held his hand up to say good-bye to the two as he laughed.

"Ladies," Eli said, tipping his hat while Sarah smiled as they rode away.

Karen and Nicolaus stood leaning against the truck watching Mandy while she took pictures of the beautiful scenery. She turned toward the two and started to take their picture. Nicolaus instinctively turned away, stepping in front of Karen so that his back was to Mandy.

"What are you doing, Nick? Get back where you were standing so I can take your picture," Mandy yelled from the trees by the creek. Nicolaus looked down at his feet, then turned his eyes to meet Karen's.

"I'm sorry, Karen. I don't want my picture taken. Do you think I will make her feel bad if I say so?" A soft look of compassion came over Karen. She didn't answer him but just walked over to Mandy and spoke in whispers until they walked back to Nicolaus, who was still turned toward the truck.

"Mandy has some weed. Ya wanta get high, Nick?" Karen asked with a sheepish smile.

"Sure!" said Nicolaus, smiling back at Karen. "I know the perfect place. Follow me," Nicolaus said as he headed out into a heavily wooded area just beyond the covered bridge.

"Here," Nicolaus said, and he sat down in the thick padding of already fallen leaves under a canopy of trees and rocks. A small stream cut through among the rocks and moved slowly down to the creek. The area was well concealed, tranquil, and beautiful. The afternoon breeze had quieted and the sun tried hard to shine its few rays through the lush foliage to the ground where the three sat.

"Take it easy, Nick. It's stronger than you're used to. Don't inhale deep like you would with regular weed," Mandy said as she watched Nicolaus take a drag from her already rolled joint.

"What is this?" Nicolaus sputtered, choking.

"It's weed, but with a little bonus for your extra enjoyment. Have you ever heard of angel dust?" Karen asked, cautiously taking a drag from the joint.

"Nah, what is it?" Nick replied.

"You'll see in a couple of minutes, Nick. Just be patient, sweetheart," Mandy said as she handed the joint back to him. He was already feeling the strength of the drug at work and waved it past him for Karen's turn.

"Is it like 'shrooms?" Nicolaus asked, familiar with the out-of-body feeling he was experiencing. The tree closest to him seemed to be bending and twisting in unnatural directions, so he crawled a little closer to Mandy, who seemed to have her mind about her still. He crouched in a fetal position and stared, mesmerized, by the trees; he twirled the curls at the end of his hair around his right thumb and two end fingers, frantically feeling the need to soothe himself.

"All I know is, I have to make love when I do this stuff!" Karen said, as she watched Nicolaus sit next to Mandy, his eyes half-closed and unfocused as he blinked, dazed, in her direction.

"Did you hear what I said, Nick?" Karen asked, as she crawled up to his face and kissed him on the lips as he smiled, focusing finally on her face.

"No, darling, I can't hear you over the leaves. They're making such a ruckus... they are..." Nicolaus took in an audible breath and stopped as he looked into Karen's eyes. "Is it getting really hot out here to you?" Nicolaus asked, abandoning his first thought to stare into her eyes, his lips less than an inch from hers.

"Here, Mandy, help me get Nick's sweater off." Mandy reached over and helped Karen pull off Nicolaus's white Irish pullover in one strong tug, his hair laying like Medusa's snakes on the ground as he lay back, too dizzy now to stay upright. He became completely caught up in the hallucinations that transported him by some hypnotic trance to the treetops. He hadn't noticed Karen's nude body on top of his until she struggled to unbuckle his belt and undo his jeans to expose him to her touch.

"Ach, Karen, what are you doing, girl? You can't do this I... don't..." Nicolaus said, in between kisses, not knowing what to do. His body wanted to pull her closer to him with lustful abandonment, but he also felt a deep need to shove her off. However, his rigid body lay unwilling to submit to his mental commands, so he resigned himself to prepare to obey hers, knowing he could do nothing to stop her.

"Nick, your body says go but your mouth is saying stop. Which is it, boy?" Karen asked as she stroked his face. He was frozen with fear that he would not be able to breathe, the pain in his chest and the pounding of his heart made him hold tight to her legs. He knew he was hurting her but he couldn't let go.

"Mandy, hold him down, sit on him so I can finish!" Karen said in a voice Nicolaus was not at all familiar with.

"Don't do this, Karen, not to Gene. Stop, Mandy, don't even think about it!" Nicolaus started to get mad as he found his arms to fight off Mandy, who was preparing to descend straddle-legged atop his chest. She sat down as hard as she possibly could on him, causing him to groan as the air escaped his lungs. She then proceeded to curl her legs around his arms, pinning them helplessly to the ground. It wasn't long before Karen and Mandy released him, allowing him to crawl off like some injured forest animal to tend to his wounds at the creek.

Finding his sweater, he staggered a few feet to fall against a large tree that seemed to reach its branches down around him, sheltering him from any other dangers in the woods of his mind. Bringing his knees up, he placed the sweater on them and laid his forehead against it so that he could rest his mind and thoughts, knowing the feelings were not far behind.

"Are you mad at me, Nick?" came a sweet voice that seemed to float on the breeze into his ears, then out and around his head as if it were a hundred fairy fingers that played with his hair and stroked his face.

"What do you want?" Nicolaus asked, not looking up from his sweater-like pillow.

"I want you to look at me," Karen said in a voice that didn't seem to be as drugged as he felt. He raised his head and Karen brushed back the loose curls from his face that were full of a fall bouquet of autumn leaves that intertwined and dangled here and there. She picked at them and at times painfully pulled his hair in order to remove them.

"Are you mad, Nick?" Karen asked again, this time looking into his eyes sincerely.

"You two drugged and raped me. What do you want me to say?"

"We didn't drug you. You drugged yourself, and as for rape, well, I told you what happens to me when I smoke the dust," she said using her pet name for the PCP-laced marijuana.

"You did?" Nicolaus asked, as Karen took his sweater from him and helped him put it over his head and down over his arms, patting his chest maternally.

"It was just sex, Nick. It's not like Gene has to know about it or anything," Karen said, cuddling up to him so that her back was against his chest. She leaned her head back on his broad shoulder. He put his hand on her cheek and kissed her forehead as he wrapped his other hand around her in a gentle but firm hold over her body. Even his legs tightened around her, using his body as if to protect her from the potential dangers that he felt lurking in the woods, brought on by his hallucinations.

"You two still at it? I found an old tree over here that has a bunch of names carved on it. Do you know any of these people, Nick? Come, let me show you." Mandy, obviously more accustomed to using the drug, was up and wandering the forest like a kid in a candy store.

"I know the tree and no, I don't know da people," Nicolaus said, leaning his head on Karen's shoulder and just about to drift off to sleep. "He has to be told, Karen; if you won't, I will," Nicolaus whispered. "Nick, what are you saying? You don't mean Gene?"

"Do you love him?" Nicolaus asked, raising his head slowly and looking into her eyes with his own bloodshot ones.

"I have loved him for a long time. He just didn't know it until the party. That's where I got up enough nerve to tell him," she said, with a small chuckle. "Come to find out, he's been in love with me, too."

"Then you have to tell him. If it was like you said, he should know. Are you afraid he would get mad or hurt you?"

"No, Nick, he would never hurt me. I'm afraid of what he would do to you."

"Me! I didn't do anything."

"So let's just forget it, okay?" Karen this time sounded to be pleading with him, but Nicolaus knew it had to be done, either from her or from him.

"Karen, what if you're pregnant now? I mean, he's going to know you were with someone, and Gene's... well, fixed so..."

"What?" cried Karen pulling away from Nicolaus and pushing him violently to one side.

"He hasn't told you?" Nicolaus sighed and looked down. "I'm sorry, Karen, I thought he would have told you. Anyway, he has to know about what happened today. I won't keep secrets from my friends. I never have and never will. If he gets mad at me, then he gets mad!"

"Okay, I'll tell him," Karen said, reluctantly.

"Tonight!" Nicolaus demanded. He waited for her response while looking into her eyes.

"Okay, okay. Tonight."

"Karen, come and see these names. There are dates, too, some going back to the early 1900s," Mandy called, emerging from the woods with her big Minolta 35 mm camera swinging from around her neck.

"Nick, come with us?" Karen asked as she started to get up, pleading for Nicolaus to come, too, but was waved away as he let her go from his grasp.

"I have to sleep this off if we want to meet Sarah and Eli for dinner. What time is it, anyway?"

"It's only two o'clock," Mandy said, as she looked down at her wristwatch.

"Wake me when it's five!" Nicolaus said. Then he lay down against the tree and drifted off into a fitful sleep.

* * * * *

Chapter 9

September 1974  
Nicolaus, Age 19  
Just Bruised

It was the clip-clop sound of horses' hooves across the wooden bridge that woke Nicolaus from his sleep. He felt a chill come over him as he ran his fingers through his sweat-soaked hair. He went down to the creek to wash his face and to see where the girls had been keeping themselves. He still felt a little high, but his head had somewhat cleared from the hallucinogenic drug, reasonably enough so that he promised himself that he would most definitely ask if any pot he was offered had been laced. He did not ever want to experience a high like this one again. Completely unable to defend himself was not what he would describe as a good time. Where could the girls be, and I wonder what time it is? It looks to be around five but, then again, who am I to say, after spending half of this day in a mind-blown stupor?

"Nick! Where are you?" Mandy called out from the darkened forest from which he had just emerged.

"Here," he called back in a hoarse, crackly voice, which he tried to clear as the two girls walked toward him with a few forest trinkets in their arms. "What's all that?" Nicolaus asked as they heaved a knot-ridden branch into the back of Karen's truck along with a few other branches and cuttings from the forest.

"Our prisoners!" Karen replied, rubbing the moist dirt from her hands and giving Nicolaus a smile of satisfaction of a job well done.

"And all this time I thought I was the prisoner!" Nicolaus said, as he glanced over the truck bed to get a good look at their treasures, making sure none was dangerously poisonous.

"So are we off to the Amish farm? I'm starving!" Mandy asked as they climbed into the truck

"Before we get there, I have to ask both of you to be on your best behavior. Can you do dat?" Nicolaus asked, looking into both of their eyes to see if they had revisited the angel dust-laced pot while he was sleeping.

"Yes, Papa!" Mandy answered his request with a scrunched up nose and squeaky, high-pitched voice, making Nicolaus think that she did that much too well. She must have done it a lot during her privileged upbringing.

~

"It's so good to see you, Nicolaus. Eli said you may be coming for dinner. Now introduce us to your friends," said Eli and Sarah's father, Samuel, as he opened the front door, welcoming them into the living room. There the younger Bailer siblings sat around the fireplace with mugs of steaming hot chocolate, all smiling the same ear-to-ear smile. Nicolaus smiled back at the youngsters and waved.

"We're in the kitchen!" called Eli. Nicolaus nodded to Samuel and Ruth and introduced Karen and Mandy to them in English, then turned the corner and walked into the kitchen, which was packed full of his friends. Eli, Sarah, Sylvain, and Beth were sitting at the long wooden dinner table getting ready to eat their meal, specially prepared just for them. There were four other settings laid out on the table, where Nicolaus and the two girls quickly perched, and then the homemade meal began to be passed around.

"It's so nice of you to invite us to come along. Are you expecting another guest?" Karen asked as she looked at the empty place setting next to Eli.

"Yeah, she'll be here in a minute. She's helping the littlest to bed upstairs," Eli said, placing the empty chair closer to his to allow more room.

Nicolaus looked up and started to gag, as he choked on the heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes he had just stuffed in his mouth, at the sight of his sister Katie coming into the kitchen. She was wiping her hands on her apron as she turned the corner and she, too, stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of her brother at the table.

"What is he doing here?" she asked, the shock apparent on both of their faces. "I thought this was just for the baptism candidates. I mean, if I knew Nicolaus was coming, Eli, I would not have..."

"Ach, Katie. Come sit. We invited Nicolaus and his friends this afternoon," Eli said as he moved her place setting next to his and patted the chair, inviting her to sit.

Nicolaus wiped his mouth with his napkin and said in their dialect, "If it's going to be trouble, my friends and I can leave."

"Absolutely not!" cried Sarah, going back into English. "You are my guests and I will leave if you do!"

It was silent for a few minutes, save an occasional clearing of a few throats due to the awkwardness of the situation. "No one is going anywhere. Just eat!" Sylvain said, also in English. He began to cut up a large slice of roast and then placed it on his plate. "Uh, Nicolaus, I do wonder, though. Are the leaves a new fashion statement, or did you spend your afternoon sleeping in the forest?" Sylvain asked, not looking up from his meal.

The others stopped and looked at Nicolaus with the exception of his sister, Katie. They all began to laugh at the sight of all the bits of twigs and leaves still scattered wildly throughout his hair. Nicolaus looked around at everyone and was laughing as well, but he knew Sylvain was fully aware of what had gone on that afternoon, having the gift as he did.

"It's both!" Nicolaus answered, getting a smile from Sylvain. This took the edge off the evening, although Katie and her brother stayed clear of one another the rest of the night.

"Katie and Eli have been seeing each other since Eli asked to become a member last fall." Sarah said to Nicolaus, the two managing to step away after dinner to talk. "They seem to enjoy each other's company," Sarah told him with a shrug, not truly understanding what Eli saw in Katie. Katie was a very strong, opinionated young woman and uninhibited when it came to letting you know it.

"I just about had a heart attack when I saw her. It's not every day I pass mashed potatoes though my nostrils! She can be a little scary. We never got along, her and me! She always thought I was Satan himself, and I've always thought of her as the wicked witch of Amish town."

"Well, if that's the case, you two should have got along just fine, then!" Sarah teased, as the two sat on the porch swing. Mandy and Karen stayed inside with the others to play a round of a board game that Nicolaus detested.

"Are you sure it's not too cold out here for you? How's your cold, anyway?"

"It's fine. The doctor gave me some pills, and I feel better already."

"We better not stay out too long. I would feel really bad if you got worse just 'cause I came to visit."

"I'm surprised you aren't down with a cold, too. After all, you did kiss me last weekend!" Sarah said, as she picked a few leaves out of Nicolaus's hair.

"Yeah, well, it's a good thing I don't get sick every time I... I mean..." The smile faded from Nicolaus's face while he shifted uneasily and cleared his throat. He sat up straight and proper on the swing next to Sarah.

"You were saying?"

"Ach, I didn't mean it that way. I don't even know why I said that. Block that from our conversation." Nicolaus's hand went up and with his thumb, he made an imaginary criss-cross across her forehead, which made her laugh.

"I know you're with girls all the time, Nicolaus. Your reputation is widespread around here."

"What do you mean?" Nicolaus asked. She could see the hurt in his eyes and heard it in the tone of his voice.

"Well, it's just... We all know you are out with girls a lot. That's all!"

Nicolaus looked into her eyes, then down at her hands folded in her lap.

"Why, then, are you asking me to come back home, if everyone thinks things like that? They would never allow me to join the church if this is so." He stood and walked a few feet away from the swing, then turned to look at her again, folding his arms protectively across his chest. "Does your family feel this way about me?" he asked. The look in his eyes tore at Sarah's heart.

"No, of course not! Datt was talking to Sylvain earlier about how to convince you into coming to work for him here on the farm. But it will be hard for you to prove you are willing to change and, of course, time will tell. I'm sure some will grant you forgiveness right away, but those like your sister are, unfortunately, out there and do, as much as I hate to say it, have a say in the matter."

Nicolaus shook his head and looked out across the moonlit farm.

"Nicolaus, could I have a word with you, son?" Samuel's voice made Nicolaus jump as if he were caught in an illegal transaction. Samuel was halfway out the front door when he motioned to Sarah to get back in the house. "You'll be in the hospital if you lose sight of your common sense, sister!" he said, as she sheepishly slid past him.

"I'm sorry, Samuel; it was my fault Sarah..."

"Sit down here on the swing with me. I want to ask you a few questions."

"Oh... I thought you were mad at me for having Sarah outside, since she's been sick. What is it, Samuel?" Nicolaus asked to the one and only man he truly admired from his district.

"We spoke last in your jail cell. How are you doing?" Samuel looked deep into Nicolaus's eyes. Nicolaus looked away in shame at the swift recollection of his activities that very afternoon.

"I'm doing okay," he answered, then sat in silence for a moment. "I'm sorry, Samuel, the more I think about your question, the more I know my answer to you is a lie. I'm not doing well at all. I'm making the wrong choices and constantly reaping the consequences of them."

Samuel just nodded, allowing Nicolaus the time he needed to be truthful with his feelings. "That's what's bad about making the wrong ones. It not only hurts you, it hurts everyone around you. I should know, I stayed too long in Rumspringa myself when I was your age. It was very hard coming home. I have to confess, I still have trouble."

"Samuel, I do want to come home, but I don't want to come back just to join the church. It has to be more for me. It has to be that wild horses could not stop me. Do you know what I mean?"

"Oh, yes, I know, and I do believe that's the only right way to come home. For me, I had to find out who God was, then I had to accept His gift of love, knowing there were no strings attached no matter what any of my brothers tried to say. No matter who I was, I knew He still loved me. I wasn't satisfied with what everyone called the 'faith' or the 'church.' Those words meant nothing to me; they were just words. I knew I was much too weak to ever be able to live up to the church's expectations of me, or be good enough to think I could."

"Yes, Samuel, that's exactly how I feel! I can't do this by myself. There's no way. So I think, why try? I can't remember the last time I prayed. Every time I start I think, what's the use? —So I just give up. Hell... oh um... sorry! Anyway, I can't even talk to my own sisters or friends for fear the church would think I'm going to snatch them up and lead them into hell along with me."

"There are two things I'm going to ask of you, Nicolaus. I want you to start talking to God, you know, as you are talking to me right now. Do this all the more fervently when you feel unworthy to speak to Him. He already knows you and He is not surprised when you tell Him how you feel. Trust me, you can't hide anything from Him, so don't think you can! You cannot make Him mad or hurt His feelings. When your mind tells you that you have no right to speak, do it anyway. Will you do this for me?"

Nicolaus sat silent for a moment, looking first at Samuel, then down at the ground. After a moment he stood and started for the door. Samuel reached out and grabbed his wrist, holding it tight until Nicolaus turned and went willingly to his knees in front of his elder with his head bowed in submission. He crossed his chest with his arms, not knowing if it was because he felt the chill of the night or if it was that he was sincerely frightened. Samuel laid both of his hands on top of Nicolaus's head as he did in the cell. And for what felt like an eternity, Samuel prayed in silence, finally releasing him. When Nicolaus stood, the man looked deeply into his eyes and he asked the boy again, "Will you talk to God?"

"I will, Samuel. I will be faithful to your request, only because you asked me to."

"Fair enough! But I also want you to come see me every Monday evening, whatever time is most convenient for you."

"Why?" Nicolaus asked, frowning.

"I wish for you to take preparation classes. You do not have to join the church. I just want to put you through the class, just in case you do decide to come home. That way, we'll have just one more thing out of the way. Who knows? Maybe it will help you stop making those wrong choices."

"Samuel, no one in our district would be willing to teach me, let alone come every week all the way to your farm to do it," Nicolaus said as he laughed at Samuel's request.

"I alone will be teaching you, Nicolaus." Nicolaus stopped and looked at Samuel in disbelief, as he opened his front door and allowed the young man to go in first. As the two went back inside, they found the group of friends sitting quietly, watching the flames as they danced violently in the large fireplace, hypnotized by the colors and glow of the fire.

"We better go home, girls," Nicolaus said to Karen and Mandy, who looked up, their faces flushed from the heat of the fire.

~

"So what were you and Sarah's dad doing out on the porch?" Karen asked, trying to lessen the silence on the way home.

"Nothing. Just talking. Why?"

"I just wondered what the kneeling was all about. Is it one of your things you Amish do to each other? I mean, you went to your knees so willingly," Mandy said, exhausted from trying to come up with a satisfactory answer for what she had witnessed.

Nicolaus laughed at her speculation and tried his best to explain how they prayed for one another on occasion, which was not that strange to him, but he realized it might be very odd to someone not used to the practice.

"Why would you let him do that to you, Nicolaus? You don't believe there's really a God out there, do you?"

"I do. I'm just not altogether sure He knows I'm out here. That's what Samuel was talking to me about. He wants me to find Him."

"I believe there's a God, too, Nick, but I never thought He was lost," Karen said as she looked over at Nicolaus and gave him a smile.

"I didn't mean I thought He was lost, I just haven't been hanging with Him, and Samuel wants me to start."

"What does that entail?" asked Mandy, her eyes glued upon Nicolaus.

"To tell you the truth, I'm not sure. I'll be sure to let you know when and if it happens, though," Nicolaus retorted sarcastically, wanting to change the subject.

As they came to the apartment parking lot, Karen parked the truck and the three sat there silently looking out the windshield. "So are you sure you want me to tell him, Nick?" Karen asked, not taking her eyes off the back of the car parked in front of her.

"I think I would want to know if I were Gene. Put the blame on me if you have to. If he gets mad, he gets mad!"

"Are you telling me to lie to Gene about how it happened, Nick? I mean, it wasn't your fault. I really don't think I should tell him at all. It's crazy! It was just... huh..."

"Rape! The correct word you're looking for is 'rape,' darling!" Nicolaus said, not letting her finish. "I couldn't have stopped you two if I were sober. Trust me on this one, it was rape!"

"Fine! I'll tell Gene you raped me."

"What? No!" Nicolaus looked over at Karen with disbelief. "No, no, no! Don't even joke about that unless you want me to spend half my life doing jail time; and that's if Gene doesn't kill me first."

"I was just joking, Nick. Come on, let's go face the music. I think he'll be okay, but if not, I'm reminding you—I thought it was a bad idea to tell him."

"Yeah. well, we both agree it was just a bad idea all together. Hand me your plants, and that... what is that?"

"It's a branch from that tree that had all the names on them," Mandy said, taking it from Nicolaus's hands as if it was the prize of the afternoon.

"What are you going to do with it?" Nicolaus asked with a chuckle.

"I'm going to take it to my fortune teller back home. She loves to conjure spirits from things like this. She tells me all about them and we have a great time talking to them."

"Whoa, Mandy, das is not a good thing, darling. You shouldn't be doing dat!" Nicolaus said, as they climbed the stairs to Gene's apartment and entered. There they found Danny on the couch, his nose in a book. Nicolaus smiled at him as he looked up at the three entering the apartment.

"Where have you been all day? What's all that?" Danny asked as he put the book down, but left it open to his place.

"The girls found some ah... weeds they want to try and grow. I'll go put these in a cup of vater for you." Nicolaus said to Karen as he passed Gene in the hall, throwing a look at Karen behind Gene's back, letting her know he was going to be in the kitchen if she needed him.

"Did you have a good time today, ladies? I missed you something awful," Gene said as he took Karen into his arms and held her close to him.

"Ah... Gene come in the bedroom, I have to talk to you."

The apartment was quiet for some time. Just the occasional conversation between Danny and Mandy could be heard from the kitchen. Nicolaus thought maybe it was going to be okay, maybe Gene understood it wasn't anything personal or sexual, maybe he already knew about Karen's problem with laced pot, at least he hoped he did.

An alarming crash came from the bedroom, followed by voices in tones that made Nicolaus's throat want to close up. He couldn't make out what was being said, but he was sure it was not a conversation he wanted to be the main subject of, as he was sure he was. He saw Mandy hightail it to his bedroom so he followed her, not quite sure why, other than—she wasn't taking sides and he found that reassuring. Danny, for sure, couldn't help him in any way. Nicolaus stood in front of the dresser as he and Mandy strained their ears to hear a portion of what was being said.

"What do you think he's going to do to you?" Mandy asked during a lull of the yelling from next door.

Nicolaus bit his lip and said, "Oh... Well, for sure, he's going to kill me," as he nodded and looked at her with eyes full of fear, twirling his curls nervously. Leaving his room, he headed down the hallway. He now regretted his need for honesty.

When he reached the couch, Danny asked, "What's going on?" with a troubled frown.

"Ah... did you get to see your girlfriend today, Danny?" Nicolaus asked, nervously turning to glance back down the hallway, seeing only Mandy standing at his bedroom doorway.

"Yeah, we got to hear the baby's heartbeat at the doctors. It was..." Danny was interrupted by Gene's abrupt exit from his bedroom. He came crashing down the hallway toward Nicolaus with a crazed look in his eyes. Gene walked straight up to Nicolaus and took a handful of his hair, bringing Nicolaus's face level with his right fist, which crashed across his jaw with such force that Nicolaus went to his knees. Not giving him time to recover from the first assault, Gene then pulled his head back up. With his hand still holding firmly to Nicolaus's hair, he plowed into Nicolaus's stomach full force with the same fist. Gene finally released Nicolaus's hair and allowed him to gag and choke as he tried in vain to get air back into his chest. Gene then kicked at Nicolaus, missing his mark and hitting the couch. That sent Danny jumping to the safety of the chair beside it, his legs tucked up tight beneath him as if there was not only a crazed man in the room, but possibly a poisonous snake on the ground as well.

"Get up, or I'll hit you again, you son of a whore! I mean it, Nick, get up! How could you do this to me? I took you in more than once and gave you a place to stay. I taught you the guitar and put you in a band, you son of a whore!" Gene seemed to like the sound of those curse words because Nicolaus counted each time he used it, just to try and keep his mind off the intense pain he was experiencing. Blood was flowing quite impressively from his mouth and nose. He also had an overwhelming desire to vomit. Once up on his feet, Nicolaus held his fists down at his sides and let Gene say what he needed to say to him, but was ready to stop him from hitting his face or stomach if it looked like he was headed in that direction again. Gene was right in what he was saying; he did help him. He had considered Gene an older brother and felt horrible over the vile things he was saying. He also knew he could not defend himself, not fully knowing what Karen had told Gene in their bedroom. Gene then turned to Karen and asked in a whisper that she and Mandy go to his car; that he was taking them out since it was Mandy's last night there. Karen and Mandy got their coats and headed for the front door, turning back to see Gene slap Nicolaus's face. "You know what you are, Nick? You're a whore, that's what you are! You have all the girls down at the club wanting you, but you go and take my Karen! You're a whore, Nick, and I'm going to make sure everyone down at the bar knows it if it's the last thing I do."

Nicolaus's heart sank but Gene was not done. "Danny, if I were you, I'd ask your girl whose baby she's really carrying. Who knows? It just might be this whore's instead of yours!"

"Gene, please come. Let's go!" Karen pleaded, making Gene settle down a bit.

"Don't be here when I get back, you hear me? I don't want you in my apartment and I don't want you in my band. I'm also going to talk to Jesse about getting another lead singer. Your contract is up, Nick—I can get any whore off the street to do your job! In fact, here's two dollars!" Gene pulled two crisp dollar bills from his billfold and stuffed them down the collar of Nicolaus's sweater. "I'm sure that's all you were worth today to Karen!"

Nicolaus turned his face away, no longer able to restrain himself. He raised one hand slowly to wipe away the blood from his nose, at the same time removing the bills with his other hand.

"Don't be here when I get back, or I'll finish you off!" Gene said, pointing his finger at Nicolaus as he ushered the two women out the door. Nicolaus stood there long after Gene and the girls had left, forgetting that Danny was still sitting on the chair across the room.

"What the hell was that all about Nick?"

Nicolaus walked into his room and began to stuff his pillowcase full of his belongings while Danny watched in silence from his doorway.

"Don't ever get high with Karen or any of her friends is all I'm going to tell you, Danny," Nicolaus said as he smiled sadly up at Danny. He looked around the room, satisfied that he had packed everything.

"That's just not right, Nick!"

"I know," Nicolaus said, with a sigh.

"No, I mean, that's not right!" Danny said, pointing to Nicolaus's overstuffed pillowcase. "I mean, it's really sad when a man can put all his earthly positions in one pillowcase. Damn, Nick!"

Nicolaus looked down at the pillowcase and wanted to laugh, but instead he bolted for the bathroom, arriving just in time to vomit a bellyful of his dinner mixed with a surprisingly sizable amount of blood.

"Where are you going to go, Nick?" Danny asked, while he stood at the bathroom sink, handing Nicolaus wads of toilet paper to wipe his mouth. He was familiar with the procedure.

"I think I'll ask if my aunt will let me rent a room. She just lives three blocks from The Eagle."

"I'll take you to her house. You want me to?"

"Sure, thanks." Nicolaus blew his nose and tried to clean the blood from the floor before clutching tight to the toilet seat once again to relieve himself.

"So, do you think Gene's serious about kicking you out of the band next week?"

Nicolaus turned and looked up at Danny as he took the whole roll of toilet paper from his hands and began to wipe his mouth and nose again. "Who cares? I just want to get out of here before I bleed to death or Gene gets back and decides he'd rather finish me off than take da girls out!"

~

"Thanks for the ride, and Danny... thanks for being a good friend. I know I haven't been such a good one to you and I'm sorry for it."

"You're a strange one, that's for sure, but I like you anyway, Nick," Danny said. As Nicolaus started to open the car door to leave, he added, "Ah Nick... could I ask you a question? I hope you don't get offended, but... well, you didn't sleep with my girl, did you?"

Nicolaus stopped and looked at Danny then frowned and shook his head as he looked down. He could feel his heart ripping into pieces as he thought of what Gene had said while raging in his apartment earlier.

Looking back up at Danny, Nicolaus gave him a sad smile and said, "No, Danny, I've never slept with your girl." Then he sat there for few moments, waiting for Danny to return his smile, reassuring him that he believed him.

~

Nicolaus rang the doorbell to his Aunt Betsy's large old Victorian home. Over the intercom, he heard his aunt's voice. "The shop is closed. Could I help you in any way?"

"Ah... Aunt Betsy? It's Nicolaus!" he said, getting close to the intercom by the entrance.

"Ach, Nicolaus! I'll buzz you in; just turn the door handle when you hear the buzzer go off. I'll be down in just a moment."

Nicolaus did as she instructed, then entered her warm, welcoming kitchen. But the smells of a newly baked apple pie on the counter made his stomach turn, and the thought of eating anything right then sent the stomach juices racing to his mouth. It was all he could do to keep from vomiting again as he sat and waited for his aunt.

"Oh, Nicolaus, let me look at you. Why are you here at this time of night, son? Is everything okay?

Betsy pulled him from his chair and looked him up and down as she turned him completely around in front of her, lastly looking up into his face, seeing the split lip and bruised cheek. "What happened to you, Nicolaus?"

"I just had a misunderstanding with a friend of mine. Could I stay here for the night?"

"You know you always have a room at my house. You stay as long as you like. Now run upstairs and put your things away. I'll make you some food and something to go on your lip."

"Thanks, Aunt Betsy, but nothing to eat, please," he said, as he went up the staircase. At the top of the stairs, he came face to face with an elderly man in his pajamas, a toothbrush extending from his mouth. They looked at each other as if to say, "Who are you?" and then Nicolaus nodded to the gentleman and sidestepped around him to get to the guest bedroom to put his things away. When he came back down to the kitchen, he found his aunt preparing a poultice for his lip.

"Who was...?"

"Oh, you met Paul already, did you?" Betsy asked

"Paul?"

Betsy turned and started to laugh at Nicolaus's expression.

"Paul and I were married last month. He is an old friend of mine. He and I dated long ago before both of us decided to leave the church. He went off to college to become a doctor, and I married my husband and bought this old house so I could make it into a shop for the tourists. Paul's wife died last year and he decided to come back home to retire. We saw each other in church six months ago and fell head-over-heels in love again, after all these years."

"I'm so happy for you, Aunt Betsy! And surprised, too."

"Why? People over fifty can enjoy each other just as you young ones can."

"I didn't mean it that way. I'm surprised you didn't tell me. I would have come to your wedding."

"Ach, I know you, Nicolaus; you are a very busy young man now. Besides, I had no idea where you've been for the last five months."

"You could have found me at The Eagle, you know. I'm still working there on the weekends."

"Yes, well, I knew you'd turn up sooner or later."

Paul's shadow and voice preceded him into the kitchen. "So, this is Nicolaus! Betsy has told me so much about you. I feel I know you very well." Paul spoke in their dialect to help Nicolaus feel more at ease with him being there. He had seen the distress on Nicolaus's face when they met in the hall. Nicolaus offered his hand, and they shook as Nicolaus apologized for missing their wedding.

"I hope you don't take offense, but you look like you've been in a fight; your lip is just starting to bleed again. Here, put pressure on it so it will properly coagulate," Paul said as he handed Nicolaus a clean dish towel from Betsy's towel drawer. Then he leaned over and whispered for Nicolaus not to use what he referred to as "Betsy's witch's mud" on it, no matter what Betsy said. He winked and turned to pat his new wife on her shoulder as she mixed her poultice at the kitchen counter.

"Aunt Betsy says you are a doctor?" Nicolaus asked, obediently sitting at the table applying the towel to his lip.

"Retired doctor, until I came back into town. It seems that St. Ann's Hospital needed a senior surgeon on staff, so I've gone back into practice. So much for taking it easy in my retirement years!"

"I have a friend who is on staff at St. Ann's. You might know him. Rodger Dylan, he's a head doctor or something"

"Ah, yes! Doctor Dylan. I've known Rodger for three years now. A very fine specialist in his field, there's no one better in my book. You say he's a friend of yours? You wouldn't happen to be the 'Nick' he spoke about when he helped out at some Rumspringa party last weekend, would you?"

"Ah, yah, I'm afraid that would be me," Nicolaus admitted, not sure about confessing too much for fear of what Rodger might have said.

"Son, he kept me in stitches all week with his stories of the entire event. It brought back fond memories of our Rumspringa days, Betsy." Paul took her hand and gently kissed it, very out of character for a man brought up Amish to do in front of an onlooker.

"I would like to check your jaw here, if I might. It looks to be out of joint. How hard did this fella or gal hit you, anyway?" Paul asked. He walked over to Nicolaus and started to poke and rotate his tender jaw in all directions.

"Ahy!" Nicolaus cried and backed away from Paul's hands.

"If I'm not mistaken, I think you have one very broken jaw there, son. Wait here. Betsy, put down that mud and get some ice on the boy's jaw while I go get my street clothes back on. I'll take you down to the hospital to get this x-rayed, if you don't mind."

"Ach, I've had worse, Paul. Don't bother. Anyway, I have to sing tomorrow night so I think I'll just go to bed. I'll be all right..."

Paul effectively ignored his protests. "Betsy, after you get the ice on him, could you get him in the car and start it while I get dressed? Sorry, Nicolaus—if you think you'll be able to sing tomorrow, you're delusional. You're going to be lucky if your jaw isn't swollen shut for a week. Count your blessings that you still have your teeth!" Paul added as he headed upstairs, leaving Betsy and Nicolaus to ponder what he had said.

It was two o'clock in the morning when the three finally got back home from the hospital. Nicolaus had to admit it was nice having the head of staff usher him right into the x-ray room, then out for treatment within twenty minutes. His jaw was indeed broken—a hairline fracture. Wiring his jaw shut would not be necessary, much to Nicolaus's relief. Pain drugs were ordered, however, and that was just fine with Nicolaus. The first dose seemed to do the trick and sent him to bed for the night and most of the next day.

"What time is it?" Nicolaus asked his aunt when she came in to check on him late in the afternoon.

"You should be getting ready for work. Miss Karen called, and I told her about your jaw. I hope you don't mind. She wanted to come see you, but I told her you were sleeping."

"Thanks. How do I look?" Nicolaus looked up at his aunt as he sat up in bed while trying to dislodge his tongue from the roof of his mouth.

"Oh, dear Lord, you look to be a cross between a raccoon and a chipmunk on the left side of your face. But not to worry, I have a great poultice brewing as we speak. It will take that swelling down in a couple of minutes."

Nicolaus just sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to work his jaw open enough to be able to talk, let alone sing. Reaching for the bottle of pain pills, he opened it and downed two pills, not bothering to read the directions on the label.

"Nicolaus, how many did you just take, son?" Betsy asked as she stopped and looked back at her nephew with a questioning frown.

"Ah... two. I think. Why?"

"The bottle says one every twelve hours, Nicolaus. I'm afraid you're going to be flat out on your back for the night instead of up on the stage singing."

"You know who's going to be at The Eagle tonight?" Nicolaus asked his aunt with childlike excitement.

"Sarah, Eli, and Sylvain. They're all going to be there. Why don't you and Paul come, too?"

Betsy looked down at Nicolaus and smiled, "Like I said, I'm afraid you're not going anywhere tonight, once those pills hit bottom."

"All right, then. Tell Paul you have to come, to make sure I make it through the night. Yeah... tell him I took too many of the pain pills, and tell him you both have to go to The Eagle to keep an eye on me." Nicolaus's mind was working faster than his lips could move. As he pulled on his pants and slipped into a clean shirt, he began to mumble a little, causing Betsy to stop him by holding his head between her hands gently.

"Be silent for a moment, Nicolaus. Sit here on the bed and calm yourself. I'll speak to Paul and see what he wants to do about this."

"About what?" Nicolaus asked.

Betsy left the room shaking her head. Nicolaus wondered why she reacted to his question that way. Going over all that he said to the best of his ability, and questioning every word in his mind, he descended the stairs to head out on foot to The Eagle. He opened the front door and came face to face with Danny, who was just about to ring the doorbell.

"Ach, Danny, how do I look?" Nicolaus asked as he stopped and pointed both index fingers to his face, and then opened his hands as if to ask, "Well?"

"Hey, Nick, you look great! Nice black eye and marvelous swollen lower lip; it makes you look like you're pouting. The trickle of leftover blood makes a nice vampire effect, too. The girls are sure to go mad over it. Nice job!"

Betsy interrupted Danny's teasing. "Nicolaus! Here, take this with you. Lay the warm bag of herbs on your face for at least a half an hour before you go onstage and then rub this on your lip so it will stop bleeding. You should have let Paul put a stitch or two in it for you. Oh, and Paul said we will be there tonight to watch you. He is bringing that doctor friend of yours and his girlfriend, ah, what was her name?"

"Dee!" Nicolaus mumbled as he took the poultice and warm bag of herbs from his aunt, scrunching up his nose at their smell.

"Nick, I just came from The Eagle and I gotta let you know, Jesse knows about you and Gene. Gene was in his office with the door closed for over an hour, and came out looking satisfied like."

"So?"

"So... just letting ya know, that's all," Danny said as they drove into the parking lot.

"Nick, I need to see you in my office!" Jesse got quiet when he got a look at the condition Nicolaus's face was in. "Damn it, Gene!" Jesse said, as he turned to Gene who also just looked up from the couch to see Nicolaus's face at that moment.

Wasting no time, Jesse ushered Nicolaus into his office, closing the door behind them. "Sit! How do you feel, Nick? Can you sing tonight?" he asked, bending over Nicolaus and assessing him with almost maternal concern.

"I'll be fine," Nicolaus said between clenched teeth, looking down and averting his eyes from Jesse's. He could feel the pain pills starting to do their thing on his body, making his eyelids heavier. His only desire was to lay down for just a couple of minutes before showtime.

"Gene told me what happened last night, and I have to say I'm on his side for once, Nick. What the hell did you think you were doing with Karen?"

"I was drugged and raped, Jesse. What do you mean, 'what was I thinking?'"

"What are you talking about, Nick? 'Drugged and raped?' I don't know if you're trying to be funny or what, but Gene's ready to look for a new lead guitarist and singer. I really don't think you should be making light of what happened."

"Jesse, that is what happened. I swear, I didn't do anything to Karen, she did it to me. Mandy held me down and Karen... Look, I know it sounds..."

"What I want to know is, are you willing to sign a four-year contract with me to start your own band and play here at The Eagle? You can have whomever you want in the band. I'll pay them the same. But I will give you double what you're making now. All I ask is that you publish your songs and you keep writing new ones to the tune of five a month. What do you say?" Jesse asked, waving his hands to show Nicolaus that he was dismissing his version of events.

Nicolaus's head was spinning. He truly thought Jesse had called him into his office to fire him. "I don't know what to say, Jesse. Can I think about it for a few days?"

"Of course, Nick. Meanwhile, I'm going to ask you to be nice to Gene, no matter what he says. I don't want any fighting onstage or in the bar. I can't tell you what to do outside the bar, but if I have to, I'll get Kenzie to break you two into little pieces, if you know what I mean—and I know that you do!"

"I understand, Jesse. Does Gene know about this offer?"

"No, and I would like you to keep it silent no matter what your answer is, understand?"

Nicolaus nodded his head and stood to leave.

"So, you're sticking with the rape story, are you?" Jesse was a little interested in hearing the story in detail as he held the door so Nicolaus had to stand there in front of him.

"Nope, Jesse, you had your chance, I know better than to try and tell you what happened. You'll just have to speculate from now on!" Nicolaus took the doorknob from Jesse and let himself out.

"What do you have in the bag? It smells really good!" Jesse asked as Nicolaus went over to the couch where Gene had been earlier and laid down, placing the bag over the left side of his face.

"It's herbs to take the swelling down. My aunt made it for me."

"Can you ask her to make me one to hang in my office? I really like the smell of it."

"Sorry, she doesn't like you, Jesse."

"What?" cried Jesse, surprised at Nicolaus's frankness. Nicolaus laughed and closed his eyes, mumbling something about joking with him.

"Nicolaus," Sarah whispered as she bent down to try to gently wake him. Nicolaus' eyelids fluttered slowly open and he tried to focus on who was speaking. Too heavy... he shut them tight as he entered the world of his distorted, abstract dreams again.

"Nicolaus, it's Sarah. Wake up!" Sarah removed the bag of herbs from Nicolaus's cheek and saw what Gene had done to him. Then she looked up at Sylvain, who was standing beside her with his brother Hans.

"I think I'll go have a little talk with Gene. Excuse me," Sylvain said as he stepped away from the couch.

"Nicolaus, please open your eyes. You have to go onstage in a few minutes!" Sarah gently shook Nicolaus's limp body. His eyes opened again, and this time looked up at Hans, smiling down at him with his hands on his hips.

"I was just dreaming of you, Sarah."

"Was it a good dream, Nicolaus?" Sarah asked.

Nicolaus answered her with a sleepy smile as he slowly closed his eyes again.

"Nick, you're on in five!" Kenzie yelled as he came around the corner to usher the visitors out of the backstage area.

"Ach, let her stay, Kenzie. I'll be awake soon if she stays." Nicolaus sat up, ran his fingers through his hair, and felt his tender jaw to see if the swelling had come down at all. To his shock it had, but the pain pills were making him want to sleep, not even dulling the throbbing in his jaw and head. The agony was almost unbearable and rendered him unable to move very fast. "I'm so glad you came tonight, Sarah."

"Nicolaus, what happened? Danny just said Gene got very mad at you and started hitting you. Why? What made him do this to you?"

"I'm okay. Just a broken jaw, that's all." Nicolaus sat there for a few minutes looking into Sarah's eyes, knowing she wasn't going to let him off with just that for an explanation. "I did something I shouldn't have. But it wasn't my fault, Sarah. No matter what you hear, just believe me—it wasn't my fault, okay?"

Sarah stood to leave, but Nicolaus took hold of her hand and looked up at her with pleading eyes. "Do you trust me, Sarah?"

"I want to."

"Then believe me, I could not stop what happened. I asked them to stop, but they wouldn't... Ach, my head hurts so bad!" Nicolaus leaned his head down on his hands and wanted to cry from the pain of the intense throbbing.

"Nicolaus, I'm going to be with Eli at the table closest to the stage on the right side."

"Promise you'll stay all night, Sarah. Please promise me." He looked up at her, finally letting go of her hand when she nodded in agreement

It was hard to focus with the stage lights blazing down on his face. The smoke and the mingling smells of body odor and stale booze made Nicolaus want to vomit as he strapped his guitar on for the first song. The noises in the bar seemed to be much more irritating than ever before. Nicolaus wanted so badly to go to his microphone and ask everyone just to be still so his head would quit pounding. He felt the audience was in a rare mood tonight. All at once, in a low chant at first, they began to repeat over and over again something Nicolaus could not make out. Turning back to Hans as he checked to make sure his guitar was tuned, Nicolaus frowned and asked, "What are they saying?"

"Whore!" replied Hans, then nodded in Gene's direction.

Nicolaus looked over at Gene with a look that he was notorious for, letting Gene know he had enough. Then he went up to his microphone and while clicking his guitar foot pedal, said, "That's not nice. I thought we were friends!" To which the crowd laughed and applauded his humble demeanor. He looked to Danny, who was looking at him in a sorry state, and then Nicolaus looked around at Hans to make sure he was ready for the first downbeat. Nodding to Danny, Nicolaus started off the first song. Nicolaus mumbled the words a little at first, but as he became more accustomed to the pain and tightness, the words came out a little easier.

After the third song, someone in the crowd yelled out, questioning him about the bruises and swollen jaw. "Ach, yeah, I thought I'd have to explain this. Anyway, it was just a misunderstanding," he said as he fidgeted with his guitar strings, tuning them while he looked out into the audience with a painful smile. To any close enough to really see, his eyes betrayed that all he wanted was to fall backwards onto the stage and go to sleep. He closed his eyes and stood there for a moment as he tried to remember what song was next.

"Are we having a drug overdose problem again tonight?" Gene asked in his microphone, smiling at the crowd and winked.

Nicolaus looked out at the crowd, silently awaiting his reply. He started to laugh and pulled the pain pills out of his pocket. "Damn, I could have sworn it said 'take as needed.'" That got a large round of laughter and applause. "Seriously, I have to admit I am on pain pills tonight 'cause a friend of mine accidentally broke my jaw, so I apologize in advance if I happen to fall off the stage."

"It was no accident and you know it, Whore!" Gene snarled as he stood up, only to be bodily ushered offstage by Kenzie and his men, leaving Nicolaus in total amazement at their swiftness.

Nicolaus took off his guitar and followed them down the stage stairs. Grabbing Gene by the back of his head, Nicolaus proceeded to shove him into the backstage door before Kenzie even knew Nicolaus was behind him. Kenzie body slammed Nicolaus up against the wall and held him there until his men could get Gene safely backstage. "Get back onstage and finish this set, or I'll be properly breaking the other side of your jaw!" Kenzie hissed, his face uncomfortably close.

Nicolaus stood there, giving Kenzie a "drop dead" look, then he turned to go back up the stage stairs to his microphone. Clearing his throat and running his fingers through his hair, he apologized for his sudden outburst of anger. "Now, where were we?" he asked. His microphone picked up his question as he turned to Danny and strapped on his guitar.

"You were telling our guests out there something about some drugs you're on, Nick!" Danny said into his microphone, getting another roar of laughter from the crowd.

"Prescribed drugs, Danny! Get it right!" Nicolaus smiled nervously and started a song that Gene wasn't needed in. The rest of the set went off fine without Gene's keyboard accompaniments, and when he came down the stairs, Jesse was there to meet him.

"I'm giving you an hour to go get Gene and mend this, and don't bother coming back if you're without him. Do you understand?"

Sylvain was already backstage and Danny offered to drive, leaving Hans alone to stay and mingle with the patrons.

"I have friends here tonight!" Nicolaus objected, looking down into Jesse's eyes.

"Your friends will have to wait!"

Nicolaus was still staring down at Jesse as Sylvain took hold of his shirt and ushered him out the back door to Danny's waiting car.

"Wait! I'm going, too. I'm the one who started this whole thing," Karen called from the back door of the bar. Danny waited as she climbed into the backseat next to Nicolaus.

Nicolaus said nothing while they drove, making the atmosphere cold as ice. "There he is!" Sylvain called out and ordered Danny to stop the car along the side of the road.

Karen was the first one out and at Gene's side, talking to him before the others got close enough to hear what was being said. "I lied to you, Gene. I didn't want you to think badly of me. Nick was persistent that I tell you."

"What do you mean you lied, Karen?" Nicolaus asked.

"I told Gene you and Mandy suggested we smoke the dust so I would do what I did." Her voice trailed off lower with each word.

"Karen, why?" Nicolaus asked, his eyes showing his hurt and confusion at Karen's betrayal.

"You mean Nick didn't deliberately get you high?" asked Gene, his eyes intently on hers.

"Karen?" Nicolaus asked, looking first at Gene then to Karen for an answer, his body leaning in like a cat ready to pounce.

"I'm so sorry, Nick. I didn't think Gene would do much to you, and I didn't want to lose you, Gene. I'm so sorry!" Karen began to weep as she held her hands over her face, ashamed of what she had caused. Everyone was silent for a moment, their eyes on Karen. Nicolaus slowly released his clenched fists, looked down at the ground, and put his hands deep in his pants pockets, trying to stay warm against the brisk wind.

"Gene, it's up to you; what do you say?" Sylvain asked, his long arms folded tightly around his chest.

Karen placed her hand on Gene's, and he took it willingly as he looked into her eyes. "I would have understood, Karen. There's nothing I already know about you that I can't accept. Don't ever lie to me again," Gene requested. Then he turned to Nicolaus and asked if he could repay him for the pain he caused.

"Ach... I could really use some blow so I can stay awake tonight!" He looked down at Gene with a painful smile.

They all got back to The Eagle just in time to begin the next set, all hyped up on cocaine. Having a bottle of pain pills in one pocket and a two-hundred-and-fifty dollar bag of blow in the other satisfied Nicolaus. The audience was ecstatic that the band was back together, having been thoroughly titillated at the prospect of a fight earlier in the evening. Sylvain went back to the table to hash through any questions that might arise from Aunt Betsy and the other friends.

"Thank you for coming tonight to help us send Sol off," Nicolaus said. He looked out into the audience, obviously coming down from something after singing an entire set in what had seemed to him to be an accelerated segment of time. "We have one more song we want to do. Sol, I wrote this for you and, well... if ya don't mind, I'm going to sing it in our home language." Nicolaus sang the song in their dialect with the accompaniment of the band, receiving a large prolonged applause after it was done. Sylvain was ushered onstage for one last bow to say good-bye, and thanked everyone for all their support throughout the years.

"Nicolaus, I have to admit, you and your band do put on a... ah, an entertaining show!" Paul exclaimed as he and Betsy stood to leave for the night.

Nicolaus laughed. "It doesn't get boring around here, that's for sure!" He then stood and offered to help Dee with her chair as they, too, got ready to go home.

"Thanks for coming, and sorry for the fireworks."

"Ah, Nick, they were great!" Dee replied, though the fatigue from tending to her daughter all day then staying out too late was apparent on her face.

"We'll see you Sunday morning, then?" asked Rodger.

"I would appreciate the company and the ride, if you don't mind."

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this baptism for the world!" Rodger assured him, helping Dee with her coat.

~

Nicolaus, Sarah, Eli, Hans, and Sylvain sat in the coffee shop down the street after The Eagle closed. The boys were off deep in a conversation about Belgian plow horses, leaving Sarah and Nicolaus to themselves.

"I'm glad everything worked out for you and Gene. Are you still in a lot of pain?"

Nicolaus looked up from his coffee mug, his fingers playing with the rim. "Nah... just when I laugh. I don't do much of that anymore, so nothing to fear!" he said with a grin, then looked back down at his coffee.

"I'm glad you are coming Sunday. I hoped you would." Her eyes met his and they looked at each other for a moment.

"Sarah... I guess this is the last time I will be able to talk to you. I mean, you know, without putting you in danger of being under the ban," Nicolaus said softly, almost in a whisper. He was referring to the rules of their district, designed to keep them in good standing with the church.

"I know," Sarah said, looking away.

"Sarah, would you talk to me if we meet in town. I mean, on the street or in the store or something?" Nicolaus whispered as he tried to get her to look back at him.

"No, Nicolaus, I would not," she answered him sadly. He sat back and looked at her, then gazed back into his coffee with a sigh. His lips were pressed together tightly, for he had feared she would say exactly that. "I would talk to you only if you come home and leave all this," she whispered.

He felt a deep hurt at never being able to speak to her again, and the pain was intense. Sarah was the only person who gave him hope at all, and the thought of them never being together as they were tonight was unbearable. His throat started to tighten. He tried to relieve it with the warm coffee, but it just felt worse.

"I should go. I have to work tomorrow and..." Nicolaus stopped as he looked up at Sylvain, realizing he, too, would not be able to talk to him after tonight. Nicolaus got up after placing money on the table for his coffee and turned to leave.

"What's wrong, Nicolaus?" Sylvain asked, as Nicolaus headed for the door. Not bothering to turn back and give Sylvain an answer for his behavior, he knew Sylvain understood more than any of the rest the loneliness that overwhelmed him.

~

"Nicolaus, Betsy and I need to speak to you before you head out to work today. Can we talk to you in the kitchen when you're done with your shower?" Paul asked from the bathroom door.

"Sure. I'll be right down," Nicolaus said. He was trying to clean the steam off the mirror enough so that he could see his face to shave. It was early Saturday afternoon and he was rushing, knowing Danny would be there shortly to pick him up for work.

Coming around the corner into the kitchen, Nicolaus saw the bag of cocaine Gene had sold him the night before laying on top of the table. Aunt Betsy and Paul were sitting there with it.

"Have a seat, Nicolaus," Paul ordered kindly, as he pulled the chair out for him.

Slouching as he sat, hands cupped and held between his legs, he tried to relax as he sighed through clenched teeth, looking anxiously at his stash on the table.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Betsy, Paul. It's mine and I'm... sorry." Nicolaus looked down at his hands, not wanting to see their reaction. "I needed it to stay awake last night 'cause of the pain pills, and..."

"Do you have the pain pills with you, Nicolaus?" Paul interrupted, holding out his hand to Nicolaus. He looked at Paul's hand, then reluctantly fished the pills from his pants pocket and handed it to the doctor. After looking into the container and shaking the contents so he could count the remaining pills, Paul looked back up at Nicolaus in disbelief. "You should have four days of pills still in this bottle, Nicolaus!"

"Yeah? Oh... well, I was in a lot of pain last night."

"You nearly overdosed, Nicolaus!" Paul replaced the lid back on the bottle and slipped it into his jacket pocket.
"I need those tonight to sing, Paul!" Nicolaus reached for them, but backed off when Paul placed his hand over his pocket.

"You need help, Nicolaus," Paul said, not flinching while the two of them squared off, staring at each other in silence.

"Nicolaus, I never thought I would ever say this to you; I never dreamt I would have to. But come Monday, first thing, I need you to look for another place to stay. I can't have this going on in my house. I will not allow it!" Betsy said quietly, tears streaming steadily down her plump, rosy cheeks.

Nicolaus sat back and looked up at her. "Aunt Betsy, I'm going through a lot right now. I'm sorry to cause you any grief, and first thing Monday, I'll find someplace else to stay. I'm sorry I'm not what you want me to be. I want to be good. But I'm not... I'm not." Nicolaus sighed as he shook his head, staring down at his hands. The doorbell rang and Betsy stood to answer it, wiping her face with her lilac-colored apron.

Nicolaus bit his bottom lip as he watched Paul place the bag of cocaine into his pocket with the pills. He looked into Paul's face and pleaded in earnest, "Paul, please, I really need that tonight. I'm going through a lot of stuff that's—unbearable. Do you know what I mean? I'm begging you... please?"

"Nicolaus, of all the things you need tonight, this is not one of them. I'm sorry, but it's for your own good, son. I know you don't understand now, but we can only pray that someday you will. You have a problem that's not going to be solved by creating another problem, if you can understand that. You need help, Nicolaus!"

"I understand, Paul. More than you will ever know!" Nicolaus stood and placed his chair back under the table. Then, he started to walk away.

"No, you don't, Nicolaus. That's your problem. You know you're unhappy, but you don't know what to do about it. Trust me, I know. Do you think you're the only one who's ever gone through this? Why do you think there are so many suicides? So much drug abuse, murder and broken families out there? Discontentment and unhappiness are rampant!"

"I can't go home, Paul. Don't waste my time telling me to go home!"

"I'm not telling you to go back home, Nicolaus; I'm saying you need to find happiness where God put you. No, I take that back. Don't find it, let it come to you!"

Nicolaus looked back at Paul as if he'd said something that hit a sore spot. He turned and placed both hands on the back of his chair and held on tight as he hissed through clenched teeth, "Don't you think I've tried? I've been out here all alone for over four years, no one to point me in the right direction, no one to tell me where happiness is. You want to know what I really think? All right, here it is—I think there's no such thing! The more you search it out, the more it evaporates. Like a friggin' smokescreen! That's what I think!"

Nicolaus walked into the living room where Betsy and Danny were standing listening to the conversation, opened mouthed at seeing a side of Nicolaus neither had known before. Nicolaus stopped and turned back around to Paul, "And don't bother praying for me. God has also evaporated into smoke instead of helping me!"

"Nicolaus, don't talk like that about our Lord. He loves you more than you could ever imagine," Betsy gently admonished, handing Nicolaus his coat.

"Sorry, Aunt Betsy. Imagining that He loves me is just that—'imagining!'"

"You pissed?" Danny asked as they both got into the car.

"Paul took my coke and pills and now I have to find another place to crash by Monday. Damn right I'm pissed!" Nicolaus growled as he slammed the car door. Putting his head back on the headrest, he closed his eyes and pressed his lips tight in order to restrain the overwhelming urge to scream out loud. He swallowed hard and turned to Danny, asking him in a cutting tone what he was waiting for? Danny obediently started the car, and they drove to work in silence.

"Nick's in a black mood, Gene. You have anything he can take?" Danny asked as they entered The Eagle, finding Gene at the bar with Karen. Nicolaus stopped off at the bar, too, and asked Larry the bartender for a shot of whiskey. The three looked at Nicolaus while he tossed back the shot like he'd done it for years.

"What are you looking at?" Nicolaus asked as he turned to go backstage, not really caring to wait and hear their thoughts on the matter.

"Nicolaus, have you come to a decision about my offer yet?" Jesse asked, as Nicolaus sat down on the couch backstage, pouting.

"Leave me alone, Jesse!"

"What?" Jesse asked in surprise as he stood over Nicolaus, his hands on his hips. "What's up with you, boy?"

Nicolaus stood and walked past him in silence, slamming the back door as he left.

"What's up with Nick?" Jesse asked as he entered the bar.

"His aunt found some... um, drugs on him and now he has to find another place to stay. I'd take him back but I don't think it's a good idea just now, with all the misunderstanding we had and all," Gene said, pulling Karen close and holding her in his arms.

"Well, he can't stay here!" Jesse declared. He got behind the bar and began to pour a tall mug of beer for each of them.

After Karen and Jesse went to work, Danny sat himself down on the bar stool next to Gene and said, "You know I'm a little concerned about Nick. Has he been acting different to you lately?" Gene looked over at Danny as if he was crazy. Danny went on, "I guess you wouldn't know, since you've been fighting anyway. But he's different, Gene. Something's changed in him. I can't put my finger on it, but it's different, that's for sure!" Danny played with the frost on the side of his beer mug. "You think he has a drug problem, Gene?"

"No-o-o, he's just missing Sylvain, that's all. They're like brothers, those two!"

Nicolaus sat under the one and only tree in the back parking lot. It flourished there and no one ever knew why exactly, with virtually no water or fertilizer to maintain life. It was a loner, like him. It looked tall, strong, and healthy on the outside, but just like him it was broken, lost, dry, and dying on the inside.

"What? Why are You bothering me? I know I'm not all right! I know it!" Nicolaus pulled his legs up, locking his arms around them. He forced his forehead to tap against his knees as he rocked back and forth. "Alright, I'll talk to You. What do You want me to say, that I love You? Hell, I don't even know You!" Nicolaus stopped rocking and leaned back, his eyes unwaveringly looking up at the sky, refusing to wipe the tears dripping steadily down his face. He started to sob. "God, I'm afraid of You," he whispered out loud, his lips quivering as he hid his face in his hands.

Cars started to pack The Eagle's parking lot like any other weekend. Those that couldn't find a spot in the front or side lot had to venture out to the back lot, which was not paved. The white guiding chalk lines were usually unclear or smeared, making the patrons fend for themselves. No lights were back there except for the one floodlight that poured down on the back door to the bar. So Nicolaus could see who entered or hung around the back door, but they couldn't see him.

Danny emerged and looked around. Nicolaus could make out his slim, short body as he lit up what may have been a joint, knowing Danny didn't generally smoke cigarettes. Nicolaus wiped his sleeve across his face and waited to see if Danny would think to look out under the tree for him, knowing it was about time for the band to get onstage. Nicolaus thought of Danny and how he was always behind the scenes, but always with one eye on him. He was like a shadow, or one of those little cherubs that flew around but was never seen or noticed.

"I thought you'd be out here." Danny crouched down and handed Nicolaus the joint. "You cooled down yet?" Danny asked, looking across the parking lot at three girls who were laughing as they preened each other, readying themselves to go around to the front door of the bar for their grand entrance.

"You got any more of this?" Nicolaus asked, taking two big drags from the rolled joint.

"Lots! Come on, we gotta get onstage." Danny stood and offered his hand to Nicolaus. Nicolaus took it and stood, but would have easily brought Danny over on him if he'd truly allowed him to help him. Nicolaus was over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and every muscle hard as a rock. Danny, on the other hand, was a smidgen over five four and skinny as a rail. But his heart was big, and he was the first to be at Nicolaus's side if there were trouble. Just at his side! Nicolaus thought, and smiled as he took the last drag from the joint. He held the smoke deep in his lungs as they entered the backstage area where Gene, Hans, Jesse, and Kenzie were waiting.

"There you are; you okay? Can you go on?" Gene asked.

Nicolaus nodded and looked down as he put his hands in the pocket of his jeans, hoping they would all disperse soon so he could exhale. It was no use; no one was moving They were all just standing there looking at him, waiting for him to say something.

"Are ye alright, boy?" Kenzie asked with a frown.

Nicolaus pulled his hand out of his pocket and pointed one finger in the air as if gesturing for all to wait a moment, then he bent down and coughed out the remaining marijuana drag he had stored in his lungs. "I am now!" he said hoarsely as he looked back up at them, pie-eyed and smiling, obviously totally wasted. "Sorry, Jesse! I'm messed up. Kenzie, go ahead and rip my head off if you want. I really don't give a shit right now!" Nicolaus started to laugh. His voice cracked from the burning harshness of the marijuana.

"Can you sing, Nick?" Jesse asked as he leveled a stern look at Nicolaus and then threw a query out with his eyes to the rest.

"I'll sing for you, Jesse," Nicolaus said as he straightened up and stood there for a few seconds before bursting into another uncontrollable bout of laughter that would have been contagious had it not already become a little disturbing to the others.

"Okay, Nick's lost it! Kenzie, go get some coffee!" Jesse ordered. He grabbed hold of Nicolaus's shirtsleeve and ushered him to the couch, Nicolaus still laughing hysterically. The laughter shortly turned into sobbing as he bent over and dropped his face into his hands.

"Jesse, I don't think coffee's going to help what's wrong with Nick. I'd say a straitjacket is more what he's in need of right now!" Gene whispered as they stared wide-eyed, feeling helpless, down at Nicolaus.

Lorie came in with the coffee and sat down next to Nicolaus. Setting the coffee on the table, she took his head in her hands, laid it on her breast and stroked his hair, whispering that it would be okay. Looking up at the rest, she asked them quietly to leave them alone for a moment.

"Nick, I'm not going to ask you what's wrong, I just want you to know I'm here; we're all here." Nicolaus's sobs quieted and for a few minutes he stayed there, allowing her to play with his hair and hold him. The band got onstage and started playing some old rock songs they used to play before Nicolaus started doing his own music. It was the first time he'd heard them play from offstage; they sounded good, they had the sound he liked to hear.

"I'm sorry for all I've done to you, Nick. I know now that I truly hurt you. I'm sorry." Lorie was speaking low, almost in a whisper. This made Nicolaus feel safe as he listened to her voice and her heartbeat at the same time. "I'm going back home, Nick. I'm going back to school and I'm going to live with my parents until I can get a decent job." Nicolaus sat up slowly and looked into her eyes. She gently wiped the tears from his face and smiled as she waited for him to speak.

"I'm glad for you, Lorie. It's what I wanted for you for a long time."

"I know. I guess I had to hit bottom before I figured this isn't where I should be. You need to do the same, too, you know."

"I know," Nicolaus looked down at the coffee. "I'm not sure what's wrong with me, Lorie. I can't stop crying. It just comes over me and I can't stop it. I don't want to sing tonight, Lorie."

"I know, Nick. Your heart's broken and you can't help that. I hate to say it, but your face is a little messed up, too. Gene really did a number on you, didn't he?"

Nicolaus looked at her, sat back and sighed. Karen came in and stood next to Lorie.

"Nick—can I do anything to help?" she asked.

Nicolaus looked up at her and started to laugh again.

"What?" Karen was unsure if she should start laughing, too, being influenced as she was with his laughter. "Nick!" Karen said, then finally looked at Lorie and gave in to the laughter. "I just hope you're not bipolar. My cousin is bipolar and she laughs then cries all the time. Of course, she takes medicine that makes her drool, but..." At that, they all started to laugh, and on cue Karen ran hastily to the backstage restroom, leaving Lorie and Nicolaus there in hysterics over her ongoing battle with the effects laughter had on her bladder.

"Alright, Nick, Lorie! I've got a full house out there tonight. You two loony birds need to go do your jobs!" Jesse said as he peeked out of his office door.

"I can't, Jesse. Really, I think I need to go home. Wait, I don't have a home to go to!" Nicolaus started to laugh again, but this time he tried to get himself under control as he stood and walked over to Jesse. He was holding his stomach, sore from what he thought was the laughter. "Really, Jesse. Let me have the night off. Please? If I tell you I'm puking blood, will you let me go home? I mean, you wouldn't want me to heave blood all over your patrons now, would you?"

"Nick, I want an answer from you first thing Monday morning concerning that offer, and as for your night off—N-O, no! Now get onstage and stop fooling around."

"Okay, don't say I didn't warn you, Jesse," Nicolaus cautioned as he headed for the stage door, wiping the tears of laughter away from his eyes with the palms of his hands. Then he ran his fingers through his hair, looking at Lorie as if he wasn't sure which way the stage was.

"Nick!" Jesse bellowed out. "I'm warning you right now, if you freak out onstage, I swear, I will call the police on you and have you taken out of here in a straitjacket. Do I make myself crystal clear? The drugs gotta go, Nick. Take your pick, it's you or the drugs!"

Nicolaus stood soberly looking at Jesse then turned and went out the door and up the stage stairs.

"Nick Zook, everyone!" Gene announced as Nicolaus strapped on his guitar.

"I'm not sure how long I'm going to last, but here goes," he said to the band, then turned to his microphone and thanked the audience humbly for their cheers.

He made it through two full sets, quietly keeping to himself during the breaks backstage. The third set seemed to be the hardest for Nick; breaking up during one song, he turned away from the audience and started to cry as he faced Hans. The band kept playing and ended the song without him. The audience was silent while Nicolaus tried to regain his composure.

"Sorry, Nick's feeling a little under the weather here tonight. Let's give him a big round of applause for sticking it out for us!" Gene said, as he waited for Nicolaus to nod that he could go on.

"What is wrong with me? God help me," Nicolaus whispered to himself as he wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve. A sudden peace came over him as he looked at Hans's concerned expression. Nicolaus walked over to him while he changed guitars and asked him if he ever played with his other band anymore.

"Ah... Yeah, why Nick?" answered Hans, anticipating a total meltdown.

"I just wondered. I'd like to hear you guys someday. You say you're pretty good?" Nicolaus seemed much more on track, as if there were no longer anything wrong.

"We've been playing here at The Eagle for about three weeks now on Tuesdays. Come and listen to us. We have a little following already."

"Really?" Nicolaus asked. He sniffed one more time, then used his arm to dry a remaining tear, after which he turned to Gene, nodding to him that he felt ready to continue.

The rest of the night went off better as Nicolaus found he felt more in control. When the band began to leave for the night, Lorie came backstage to check on the supplies.

"You're feeling better, Nick?" she asked as she counted the boxes of napkins and straws, tallying each on her inventory clipboard.

"Better? Yeah, I guess," he replied, although he was not really sure why; all his problems and feelings remained the same.

"You look wasted! Why don't you come home with me tonight?" Lorie asked, smiling coyly.

"I would, but I need to get up early tomorrow for Sylvain's baptism. Dee and Rodger are coming to pick me up."

Lorie just looked down and resumed her counting. "Will you let me drive you to your aunt's?" she asked, pointing her pen at a line of boxes stacked ten high.

"I guess," Nicolaus said reluctantly. He felt wiped out, but Lorie had been so kind earlier, he didn't want to appear ungrateful.

"Wait here while I get this done. I'll be back in five minutes!"

The early morning air was brisk and full of the scent of rain as the two traveled to Nicolaus's aunt's shop, neither saying a word until Lorie broke the silence. "Nick, how long have you been hooked on coke?"

"What?"

"You're hooked, Nick; that's why you can't get your emotions under control. How long have you been using the stuff?" Nicolaus sat there for a few minutes and looked out the car window in silence.

"I've been using off an on since we broke up," he answered hoarsely. "I'm not hooked, I just want it, or anything that will help me feel better about myself... you know, let me feel happy. Whatever that means!" Nicolaus waved his hand in the air and rolled his eyes.

Lorie looked quickly over at him, then back at the road. "I want you to check into this hospital. Well it's not really a hospital, it's more like a clinic..."

"What? No! Look, Lorie, I'm okay. Really."

"Hold your hand out!" Lorie ordered and Nicolaus obeyed. They both watched as it shook, obviously, at first; then Nicolaus drew it back and placed it and his other hand under his arms, crossing them over his chest.

"So? Maybe I'm just losing my mind. Did you ever think that could be my problem?"

"Don't make me laugh at you, Nick. You obviously need help in both arenas!" Lorie said seriously as she pulled up to the shop. Nicolaus looked out at his aunt's darkened home and sat there, dreading to go in, almost afraid, knowing he would be alone in his room. That was almost an unbearable thought to him just then.

He looked over at Lorie and asked, "Would it be too much trouble..."

"I think we both could use the company tonight!" Lorie quickly started the car and took Nicolaus home to her apartment where they slipped into a deep slumber. This was a long overdue atonement, and each felt reborn by the intimacy of the other's touch.

"Nick!" Lorie cried, sitting bolt upright in bed, jarring Nicolaus so that he sat straight up, too.

"What?" he exclaimed, holding her shoulder with both hands as if he thought she would levitate from the bed.

Lorie laughed and placed her hands gently on his cheeks. Looking into his bloodshot eyes, she said, "I need to get you back home. It's almost six in the morning. The baptism, remember?" she said quietly, knowing Nicolaus wasn't fully awake.

He sat there frozen. His first thought was, What am I doing in Lorie's bed? quickly followed up by, What baptism? "Ach!" he finally said aloud, after his eyes focused on hers. Now he was coming fully out of the deep fog of slumbered confusion. "I gotta go! Rodger's picking me up at seven-thirty." He jumped out of bed and got dressed.

"Slow down, Nick. I'll get you back home in time for you to shower and have breakfast before Rodger and Dee get there." Lorie slipped her trench coat on over her naked body.

Nicolaus stopped what he was doing and watched her in disbelief. "Are you going to drive me home like dat?"

"Ah... Yeah. Why?"

"Ah... you don't have anything on, Lorie! What will you do if you get in a car accident or get pulled over by the police, girl?"

"Well, then, they'll get to see a whole lot more of me, won't they! Come on, just put your socks in your pockets and get your shoes on! Let's go!" she said as she grabbed her keys and headed for the front door. Nicolaus stopped her and asked, "You wouldn't happen to have any..."

"Aw, gee, Nick, here. Just promise me you'll get some help!" Lorie poked around in her purse and produced a small ivory, engraved container of cocaine that had a chain dangling from it with a small silver spoon at the end.

"This is nice, Lorie, where did you get it?" Lorie looked at the container, which was elaborately engraved with birds and a willow tree. She could see that Nicolaus was mesmerized by the uniqueness of it.

"I won it in a poker game last year. The spoon goes in the side there so it doesn't catch on anything in your pocket. Just don't accidentally pull it out with your keys or money. I cannot tell you how many times I've done that!" Lorie placed the small spoon in the compartment that had been etched out for it at the side. "See Nick, I have the same problem. I really want you to get help. My parents are helping me. That's why I'm going home."

Nicolaus took Lorie's head in one hand and gently brought her to his chest, kissed her cheek, and held her in his arms. She looked up at him and asked him to hold her tighter. She confided that she was anxious about the future, but not afraid of it, and that she hoped he would forgive her of all that she had done.

"I have, Lorie. But I wasn't all that good to you, either, ya know!"

"No, Nick, that's where you're wrong. You were too good to me!"

~

The Baptism

"Whoo, Nick, you smell good! What do you have on?" Dee asked as he got in the backseat of their sedan. Then he sat back to kiss and coo at Nicola, who was in her car seat and sound asleep.

"Soap!" Nicolaus whispered, as he leaned his arms over the front seat to talk with Rodger and Dee.

"I can't believe you came out here with your hair wet. I hope you don't get sick!"

"Nah... I don't ever get sick. Well, almost never." He grinned at them, knowing they were aware of his recent ailments, although most were a result of Gene's beating of him. They all chuckled about the leech incident, too. Then he added, "But I must admit, I am tired. I'll take a nap back here while you drive, okay?"

"I have no idea where we're going, Nick. Maybe you better stay awake. You can sleep when we get to church." Nicolaus laughed at Rodger's joking and began to give him directions to the Lapp's farm. "I don't recall a church building out around that farm," Rodger said, a little baffled at Nicolaus's directions.

"It's not a church building, Rodger. It's the Lapp's home. We all take turns holding church services at our homes."

"We're all going to be sitting in someone's home for church? That doesn't seem too bad."

"Just wait!" Nicolaus smirked.

"So, why are you so tired? Are you still taking the pain pills Paul prescribed?" Rodger asked, looking back at Nicolaus from the rearview mirror.

"No, he took them away from me yesterday and made me play all last night without any pain killers." Nicolaus withheld any further details.

"How is your jaw, Nick?" asked Dee, turning to look at Nicolaus's face.

"Hurts like hell, but I'll make it."

"You didn't answer my question, Nick. Why are you tired?"

"I don't know. I'm sure it couldn't be because I stayed with Lorie last night!" Nicolaus leaned back against the car seat and waited for Dee's reaction. She turned completely around to look at him in slack-jawed amazement; then she shook her head when she saw the shy smile on his face.

"All night in the same bed and she didn't try and kill you?"

"Oh, she tried!" Nicolaus said, making Rodger laugh a little too loud, waking little Nicola from her sweet slumber.

"Are you two friends again?"

"Yeah... did you know she was going back home?" Nicolaus asked. He began to button up his coat, feeling the chill of the morning. He thoughtfully tried to cover Nicola a bit better, too, as she squirmed and fussed in her carrier.

"She talked about it, but I have to say I didn't think anything would actually come of it."

"Turn right at this dirt road and follow it until you see a whole lotta buggies. When you get to the farm, park on the side of the road. Don't go into the yard," Nicolaus instructed as he sat up and looked out the windshield between the two of them.

"Why's that? Is it for a fast getaway? Just in case they get an urge to string us up?" Rodger asked, turning into the dirt lane.

"Nah, it's just they don't like your big fat tire marks messing up their dirt! Just joking! It's so your car doesn't spook da horses. Uhm... thanks for coming with me, you two. I'm not sure if I would have come by myself," Nicolaus said soberly.

"It's an honor to be invited. I know how serious this occasion is for your people, and I've always wanted to see what went on at one of these get-togethers. Are you sure we all won't be run off for being too worldly?" Rodger asked, slowing down as he came up on a few buggies lumbering slowly down the road in front of his car.

"Just don't stand up and shout profanities while trying to do cartwheels down in da front of da congregation. They don't like dat much!" Nicolaus said jokingly as he turned back, trying to see inside the buggies they had just passed.

The morning air was bitingly cold, sharp with the scent of old, musty leaves that had been slowly decaying throughout the year. Nicolaus thought of the brotherhood and felt for those who had traveled by horse and buggy this morning, what with the harsh elements being as extreme and hardy as they were this day. He thought back to his childhood, when his mother would grease them from forehead to neck and wrap their faces with scarves from their nose to their chest. He knew what it felt like to have the bitter cold wind bite at your cheeks and freeze your eyeballs while traveling down the country lanes in your horse and buggy. He recalled how secure he felt back then when there was only black and white, good and evil, and he thought he knew the difference. In his world now, however, there were a lot of gray areas, and things that were unclear. No one had ever warned him about the gray.

As Rodger and Dee got Nicola out, the three of them headed for the barn. Four young men came bounding towards them and stopped Nicolaus with hearty handshakes and smiles as they spoke together in their dialect. "Yoo dar, ist dat you, Nicolaus? We were putting down money to see if you'd show up!"

"Hope you put a lot down! So they wrangled you into being the hostlers, yah?" Nicolaus turned to Rodger and explained, "Hostlers are the young men who are asked to help unhitch the buggies and tended the horses. They have to make sure the horses are all marked with a number that coincided with the number on its owner's buggy."

"Yah, we will work hard today, that's for sure. You and your English better get in there if you want to sit during the service. There's no more room in the main house; you'll have to go to the kitchen," one of the young men said in English, raising his eyebrows when he mentioned the kitchen as if it was a bad place to be.

"Gut! My friend needs to feed da bluppy!" Nicolaus said. He waved thanks to his friends and led the way to the main house, from which singing could be heard. The place smelled of fresh paint.

"Why did that boy act like the kitchen was a bad place to be?" Dee whispered as the three entered the kitchen screen door. They were met by a blast of warm air and an overwhelming smell of freshly baked bread.

"It's where the mothers and little kids sit. The young men wouldn't be caught dead back here. It's kind of a special punishment for those who are late," Nicolaus explained quietly as he smiled and nodded to the women, who turned to see who had entered. All of them were caring for infants of their own. Rodger looked at Nicolaus with a worried glance as he sat down on the backless bench.

"This is what we call a pew! Let me tell you, don't even think about farting. The vibration creates a noise no human could naturally make, trust me," Nicolaus whispered to Rodger.

"I'm not concerned about farting. I am concerned about a bruised tailbone after this is all over with. How long is one of these baptisms?"

"See da vorsnger over there?" Nicolaus whispered, nodding.

"The what?"

"Oh, sorry, the song leader. He is my datt. Over next to da stairs. See him?"

"I see him; is your mom here too?" Rodger strained to look across the room, trying to see around the women sitting in front of him.

"Yah, das is she. First row, third one in; my sisters are sitting with her," Nicolaus said, smiling kindly and nodding at the two rows of women in front of them, who turned to give him the eye to be quiet. He couldn't resist whispering one more thing to Rodger. "Don't worry, you won't even be able to feel your ass by the time this is over with." Nicolaus sat back and listened as the song brought back memories.

The singing went on as the applicants for baptism descended the stairs, single file, their heads bowed with hands covering their faces. Sylvain was the second, after him was Eli. The other young lad in the lead Nicolaus was not familiar with. He must have been brought up in another district and moved to this one after Nicolaus had left. Sarah followed the boys, being placed at the back where the women usually were. As soon as each stepped from the last landing of the stairs, they were led to the center of the room to two empty benches, faces still covered by their cupped hands. Sarah was led to sit on one bench and the three boys on the opposite so that they were facing Sarah. The singing stopped as soon as four older men reached the bottom of the stairs. Three of them took their seats on one of the front benches, the other remained standing in front of the congregation.

"This is da 'Anfang,' the first lesson. At least this one's not too long!" Nicolaus whispered.

After twenty minutes of listening to the old man speak in High German in a sing-song tone, Rodger turned to Nicolaus and asked, "What did you mean 'this one'?" Nicolaus smiled at his friend, knowing that the bishop's lesson would be at least another hour, maybe longer.

As the lesson finally came to a close, the three other elders said a few words of confirmation and then the entire congregation suddenly stood and turned around, leaving Dee and Rodger staring blankly into the faces of the women and small children in front of them.

"Now what?" Dee asked, trying to silence Nicola with her finger, using it as a pacifier.

"Get on your knees!" commanded Nicolaus, as he did the same.

"Nick, Nicola is hungry, what should I do?" Dee whispered. Nicolaus's head was bowed like everyone else's, so he did not answer her until the rest of the congregation stood in unison and turned to face the applicants. Then Nicolaus tapped the shoulder of the young woman in front of him who, herself, had an infant in her arms. Speaking in their dialect, he asked if she would show his English friend where she could feed her child. The round, rosy-cheeked Amish woman smiled kindly at Dee and waved for her to follow.

"Go with!" ordered Nicolaus nodding his head toward the woman who was waiting for Dee. "We will find you later."

Sylvain and the others were kneeling in front of the congregation. The bishop placed his hand on each of the applicant's heads, in turn, and asked four questions in High German, which each answered. Then he returned to Sarah, who was allowing another woman to untie the ribbons of her white organdy prayer cap. It was removed just in time for another man to pour water from a cup that he had dipped from a wooden bucket into the cupped hands of the bishop. Then the bishop opened his hands slowly, allowing the water to pour over Sarah's head. It dripped down her brown hair, pulled tightly back into a bun at the back of her head, then it drizzled down the side of her face as she opened her eyes.

"Auf, Deinen, Glauben den du bekennt hast vor Gott und viele Zeugen wirst du getauft in Namen des Vater, des Sohnes, und des Heiligen Geistes, Amen. Upon your faith, which you have confessed before God and these many witnesses, you are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen." He repeated in English.

The bishop took Sarah's hand and helped her off her knees, speaking in English now, "In the name of the Lord and the Church, we extend to you the hand of fellowship. Rise up, and be a faithful member of the Church." He then handed her to the women who were waiting beside her to help. They kissed her on both cheeks, signifying the "Holy kiss." Each applicant in turn did the same, but after being baptized, the young men were kissed by the bishop and deacons who were helping.

Nicolaus sat up straight, straining to witness Sylvain's baptism. When it was completed, and as Sylvain was being kissed by the bishop and offered to the church, Nicolaus leaned back and bowed his head. Looking at the linoleum kitchen floor, he thought of his lifelong friend. Even though they had battles of their own, there was no one who came as close to him as Sylvain could.

"Nick, you are a saint to be able to sit through this Sunday after Sunday. Do you really get anything out of it, or do you do it just for brownie points?" Rodger jokingly asked as the two helped set up the benches in the front yard for the common meal.

Nicolaus slowly dropped his side of the bench and walked calmly to Rodger's end, placed his arm around his shoulders and whispered, "Ears are everywhere; remember that! To answer your question, I really love being around my friends and loved ones and most of all the singing, but I personally have never gotten any life-changing experience from it. As you can see, though, they do." Nicolaus nodded to the crowd of men and women all dressed exactly alike, gathering for the noonday meal. "I mean, it's just words to me. Moreover, I do want to set you straight on two errors. First—we meet every other Sunday for church. The off-Sundays we stay at home and rest, visit, or do family things together. Second—I'm no saint, Rodger! As a matter of fact, I'm extremely high right now and have been throughout this service." Nicolaus smiled at Dee who was walking toward them with at least seventeen Amish children following her, all of whom were trying to see the little English baby.

"Could I have her?" Nicolaus asked as he reached for Nicola, then he bent over with her in his arms so that the children could look at her and touch her.

"Is dat your bluppy, Nicolaus?" one asked, as she pulled gently at the blanket to see more.

"Nien, ist mine fraudin. Un gift from Gott, ja? No, it's my friend's. A gift from God, yes?" Nicolaus repeated for Dee, as he smiled up at her.

"Ja, Nicolaus!" answered the children in unison.

"Nicolaus!" Nicolaus stood as he recognized the voices of his twin sisters. Arms went around him in a smothering embrace, so much so that he was seriously concerned that Nicola was in danger of being crushed. As soon as the twins let go, Nicolaus handed Nicola safely back to Dee's arms and swiftly swooped both of the twins up in his arms, completely taking them off their feet.

"Ach, how you two have grown! I've missed you."

"We've missed you, too; Sylvain said you are coming home soon," one of the twins said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she awaited his answer. The look broke his heart. He looked down at the ground and bit his lip, thinking of what to say.

"I will pray about it. Will you wait for me?" Nicolaus knew how to use the spiritual language to say what he knew they wanted to hear. He felt ashamed to have to use it now.

"Yah, Nicolaus, we will wait, und we will pray, too," Shelley, one of the twins, answered as a single tear ran down her cheek. Nicolaus reached out, drew her near, and held both of them, not caring that their father was just a few yards away, carefully watching every move he made.

"So you did come!" Sylvain exclaimed as he, Eli, and Sylvain's father, Amos, walked up.

Nicolaus moved toward Sylvain and said, "I'm happy for you," as he took his hand in his own, then placed his other hand over Sylvain's hand in a heartfelt handshake. He did the same with Eli and Amos.

"Thanks for coming, Nicolaus. It means a lot to me," Sylvain said seriously, looking deeply into his friend's eyes. Nicolaus just nodded back at him; he did not want Sylvain to look at him now. All of a sudden he felt dirty and unworthy to be in Sylvain's presence.

"Nicolaus!" cried Edna, wrapping her arms around her brother. Then she stepped aside to allow Esther, their mother, to touch him. She placed her hand on his arm gently, and though his mother didn't say a word, Nicolaus heard her heart speak very clearly to him. Words never had to be spoken between the two; their eyes told it all.

"You are too thin, Nicolaus. Why?" asked Edna, trying not to let the moment get too serious. Nicolaus pretended not to hear her.

"Where is Katie?" Nicolaus asked Edna, not really concerned over where his other sister was, but wanting to change the subject.

"She's in the kitchen helping, und that's where I should be as well," Esther said. She released her hold on her son, but still held onto his hand and nodded to Nicolaus's two friends, as well as to Sylvain, Amos, and Eli.

"Ach, dis is Dee, Nicola, und Rodger. They are my friends." Nicolaus introduced his friends, not releasing eye contact with his mother. He found himself wanting to take in all that he could with his family while he was allowed to.

Esther nodded kindly to his friends, then turned back to Nicolaus and asked, "Have you heard any news from your brother, Israel?"

"No, I was hoping you would have some news from him. Anyway, he's probably too busy dodging bullets and hand grenades to stop to write!"

"Nicolaus!" all three sisters cried out all at once, with looks of disbelief that he would be so coldhearted to say that where their mother would hear, knowing of her concern.

"I'm sorry... I just meant he's busy, or he would have, I'm sure."

Esther turned to Sylvain and Eli, congratulating them on their vows to the church, then she walked back toward the kitchen, not looking back for fear of showing weakness, which in her eyes hindered Nicolaus's return to the faith. Nicolaus knew all the techniques they used on the wayward. He was familiar with the shunning and banning, and understood why they were used. Still, that did not make the hurt or the bitterness feel any better.

Nicolaus looked toward a group of women standing close to the kitchen. Sarah was among them, and she was looking at him. He smiled a shy smile and quickly looked away, not wanting to cause undue attention toward the two of them; but he could feel her eyes resting on him and so looked again to find her smiling back at him boldly. He mouthed her name and nodded, smiling back. Seeing him standing there, warming up his hands deep in his coat pockets, reminded Sarah of Nicolaus as a young boy who wanted her to come and play with the rest of their friends during recess. He had always seemed to want her around. She realized he had always known where she was and how he had made sure she was included in all the childhood games. He had owned such a tender heart when they were young, but now he had changed, the world had changed him. His heart was no longer tender. She felt he had allowed all the hurt to callous it so that no one, not even she, could penetrate the hard wall he had built around himself. Even now, to see him smile was a rare treat. She and a few of her friends came over to greet Dee and Rodger, and to thank them for coming. She patted Sylvain on his back and then gave her brother Eli a hug.

"I'm not sure what's appropriate to say to one who has just joined a church, but... well, congratulations to all of you," Rodger said, handing Nicola back to Dee and offering his hand for each one to shake.

"Thanks for bringing this riffraff with you," Sarah joked, pointing with her thumb to Nicolaus. Nicolaus just looked down and smiled. He knew it was her way of letting him know she was glad he was there.

"It looks like the common meal is ready, Sylvain. You and Eli better get to the table or you may miss out on the goodies," Beth said.

"Sarah, I have to go." Nicolaus turned to her and looked deeply into her eyes as if demanding her sole attention. He took in a breath as if to say something, then looked around at those who were with them, who also were waiting for him to speak.

He lost his nerve, not wanting to create any kind of emotional display, and so just laughed as he looked back at Sarah and said, "Guess I'll see you around town some  
day, ja?"

"Ja," she whispered. She watched as he and his friends walked off to their car. Nicolaus looked back only once, sadness apparent in his smile.

~

"Back so soon?" Danny asked as Nicolaus entered the bar and pulled out one of the bar stools, ignoring Danny all together.

"Give me two whiskeys for now, and a beer!" He plopped down on the stool.

"For now?" Kenzie repeated, as he poured the two whiskeys and set a bottle of beer in front of him for a chaser. Nicolaus downed the first whiskey, not even flinching as it hit the back of his throat. Then he chased the second with a swig of the beer. Gene and Karen were sitting at one of the tables with Jesse. They watched what was going on with humor.

"Ahy, well now, ye downed those like a pro. I dinna know what's brought you in on such a fine Sunday afternoon, but you're medicating it just like a true Scot, ye are," Kenzie said. He filled up another shot of whiskey and tapped it over closer to Nicolaus with his finger. "If you're so inclined, that would be number three. Bottoms up, bucko! Ahy, there ya go. Now a fourth...? Let's make a game of it—see how long ye can go without the chaser." Kenzie held the fourth shot of whiskey up for Nicolaus to take from him, which he promptly did.

"That will be enough, Kenzie. Leave Nick alone," Jesse called out as Nicolaus took the fifth from Kenzie and downed it, but this time he couldn't drink it all. He laid his head down on the bar, trying his best to stop it from exploding into a million splintering pieces.

"Ach... dat hurt!" Nicolaus said, holding his head with both hands.

"Come on, lightweight. Ya think ye be wanting a record sixth?"

"Kenzie, I told you to knock it off!" Jesse demanded. He crossed over to Nicolaus at the bar. "What the hell are you trying to do, Nick?"

"Can't I drink without having everyone criticize my behavior?"

Karen had quietly joined them at the bar. "It's Sunday, Nick. You're never in here on Sunday, let alone drinking. Was the baptism that bad?" Karen whispered in Nicolaus's ear as she put her hand tenderly on his shoulder.

"It was... just... seeing my family... I miss them. I miss my people," Nicolaus said softly, looking straight ahead as he downed the rest of the sixth shot of whiskey. He started to cough violently from the burning heat as it slid down his throat, making his head feel like it would burst wide open at any moment.

"Kenzie! No more," Jesse ordered again as Kenzie was about to pour the seventh round. "Come, Nick. Bring your beer and sit with us at the table. We need to talk to you about tomorrow night," Jesse beckoned as he and Karen headed back to their table.

"What's going on tomorrow night?" Nicolaus asked, slurring his words as he took a seat between Danny and Jesse, almost missing it and falling flat on the floor. He caught himself on Jesse's shoulder, then patted it as though thanking him for being there to help.

"Jesse's planned a party for Sylvain at the Old Mill tomorrow night." Some time ago, Jesse had bought the mill and had plans to turn it into a large two-story bar after the freeze of the winter had thawed.

"Hans is going to get Sylvain there for us, and we need you to help," Danny said, beaming.

Nicolaus tried to focus on Danny's face, but it was no use. "Party? Oh no, no, no, no... you can't do dis to Sylvain. You can't bring him back here, don't you see?" Nicolaus slurred his words while he held on to the tabletop to keep the room from spinning. "I'm not going! I don't want to be any part of dis! I... I'm going to be sick!" he announced as he stood up, then landed backwards on the floor.

Kenzie was the first at his side. He helped him get to the restroom just in time to relieve himself of the rude invasion of the whiskey on an empty stomach.

"Funny thing about whiskey. It dinna stay down if ye're no true Scot. Did I forget to tell ye? Ahy well, good try, in-a-way, Nick!" Kenzie said in a somewhat soothing voice as he held Nicolaus's head up by his hair so that he wouldn't fall facedown into the toilet. "Unless ye became a vampire overnight, Nick, I'd say you're in need of a doctor?" Kenzie was looking down at the substantial amount of blood in the toilet. Nicolaus sat back, his arms crossed over his stomach, mumbling something.

"Ye said what, Nick?" Kenzie bent down so that he was eye level with Nicolaus and handed him some paper towels to wipe his nose, which had started to bleed as well.

"My stomach. It really hurts!" Nicolaus said in between gagging.

"Ahy. Well, your head will be following shortly!" Kenzie replied, smiling down at Nicolaus as he helped him to his feet.

~

"What are we going to do?" Danny asked Jesse as they sat waiting for Nicolaus to surface from the restroom with Kenzie.

"Hans said he would bring Sylvain. I'll leave it up to you and Kenzie to get Nick there, too."

"Kenzie, take Nick home and tuck him in. Then come right back. We have some planning to get to," Jesse ordered, but the big Scotsman was already on his way out with Nicolaus in tow.

~

Hellooo, Aunt Betsee!" Nicolaus slurred, pie-eyed as he dangled off the side of one of Kenzie's big arms, the only thing supporting him from falling to the floor.

"This one needs his bed. I'd be carrying him, but the lad's a little too long in the legs to be trying to haul him up those stairs there," Kenzie said. They entered Betsy's house with Nicolaus bouncing off the doorway as Kenzie tried to squeeze them both through it at the same time.

"I can walk the stairs by myself, Kenzie. See, I'm a big boy now!" Nicolaus pushed himself away from Kenzie and made it to the third step. Then he started to crawl the rest of the way, determined to make it on his own. Betsy looked at Paul, who had just come into the front receiving room of their old Victorian home to see Betsy's extremely intoxicated nephew on all fours, ascending the stairs like a dog and mumbling something about the Old Mill to himself.

"Well, now, it is a pleasure to meet the two of you. If I could be so bold as to ask ye to direct me to the proper room for Nick, I'll tuck him in for the night and be on my way. I'm Kenzie McNab and your names?" Kenzie offered his hand to Paul and then Betsy. The two took his hand one after the other, both with the same exact look of shock on their faces. Nicolaus had just reached the top of the stairs and had pulled himself upright to a standing position; he was rocking back and forth, threatening to fall backward all the way back down. Within a blink of an eye, Kenzie was up at the top with Nicolaus and smiled down at the pair, assuring them that the boy would be safe in bed soon.

"I'm na saying he's comfortable, but he is in bed! Ye may want to check on the laddie now and again, just to make sure he keeps his stomach, if ye know what I mean," Kenzie said as he came down the staircase. He noticed that the pair's faces held the same shocked looks they'd had when he left on the ground floor a few moments ago.

Nicolaus lay quietly on his bed while the room spun faster and faster. He placed one foot down on the ground to make it stop, but that just made it worse. It was no use, he had to make it to the bathroom. The last thing he remembered was his aunt coming in to clean the vomit on the floor beside his bed. Relieved and exhausted, he lay back down and fell asleep.

~

"Nicolaus!"

Nicolaus sat up in bed. "Sylvain?" Nicolaus called out. He sat in a sleepy daze on the edge of his bed for a few minutes before falling back down into a sound slumber.

"Nicolaus!" The voice of Sylvain came again, this time breathy, as if he were hurt or in trouble.

Nicolaus sat up again, and this time he staggered out of the warmth of his covers and opened the window to peer out onto the side street of the main road. There was no one there, only the sound of the wind that shook the old oak tree beside his bedroom window.

"Ach... knock it off, Sylvain, you weird and creepy person!" Nicolaus mumbled as he staggered back into bed.

* * * * *

Chapter 10

September 1974  
Nicolaus, Age 19  
This Is Not My Son

Every jarring step down the staircase felt as if his brains would melt and slide out his ears. His stomach felt the same way, but he knew he had to get up and at least make a good-conscience effort at making a few phone calls to find a new place to stay, especially after coming home drunk the night before. Tiptoeing into the kitchen, he found Paul at the table enjoying a cup of hot coffee and what looked to be a bowl of clam chowder. Nicolaus's stomach turned just at the sight of it. "Good morning," Nicolaus said softly, mostly for his own benefit.

"It's six o'clock in the afternoon, Nicolaus!" Betsy declared as she turned to look up at him from the stove. Nicolaus sat down gingerly; he clenched his teeth and closed his eyes tightly at the sound of her high-pitched voice. It seemed to bounce violently around in his head. Opening his eyes slowly, he found himself looking directly into Paul's eyes, which were staring back at him, kindly. He shut them again and sighed, wondering to himself why this man still insisted on wearing a trimmed version of the married Amish men's beard—clean-shaven upper lip, the neatly groomed beard growing and framing his face, a neat border of facial hair intertwined by hues of brown and gray. It made him look like some kind of Amish movie star. His nonmilitant beliefs must not have worn off while living with the English, Nicolaus thought as he concealed a cynical smirk.

"How was the baptism yesterday, Nicolaus?" Paul asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin, which he then placed on the table.

"It was unmercifully boring!" he halfway whispered.

"Nicolaus!" Betsy cried out, slapping her hand on the stove with a loud smack. "I will not tolerate your disrespect!"

Nicolaus flinched and grabbed his head. "Ach, Aunt Betsy!"

"Betsy, darling, can't you see Nicolaus is suffering from a hangover? Be a little quieter, please. After all, I did ask him how it went, and you and I both know those long-winded bishops can get the best of one now and again. Nicolaus was just being honest, were you not, Nicolaus?" Paul's low tone was soothing. He got up and took out a bottle of aspirin from the cabinet, poured Nicolaus a cup of coffee, and set both in front of him.

"Do you have the rent section of the newspaper here?" Nicolaus asked, not acknowledging Paul or his question in any way.

"Paul asked you a question, Nicolaus. You need to answer him," Betsy said, as she sat a bowl of the fishy smelling soup in front of him. His eyes blinked hard as he looked down at the chunky milky mixture, then back up at his aunt.

"What I need is a gun so I can blow my brains out!" Nicolaus said jokingly. Betsy clucked her tongue as she looked at him, then at Paul.

"You are undoubtedly correct, Nicolaus. But the gun would simply be redundant, due to the fact that you are nothing but dead already. Trust me, I know," Paul said, as he placed his hands wrists up on the table.

"What?" Nicolaus asked, frowning at Paul as if he were crazy.

"You're a dead man walking, Nicolaus. You have nothing to live for, nothing to be alive because of. You just go through life thinking there has to be something better. But there isn't. This is it, Nicolaus."

Nicolaus put his hands to his hair and ran his fingers slowly down through his loose curls, never taking his eyes off Paul. "What are you trying to say, Paul? I should just kill myself right now 'cause I'm a failure? I take drugs, sleep around, and get drunk... so here you go, kid, take a gun and shoot yourself? If dis is what you're saying then, you can go friggin' cut your own throat!"

"I'm saying you have to find something worth living for and quit thinking it's going to get better on its own." Paul raised both arms off the table, allowing Nicolaus and Betsy to see the deep, white scars that ran from one end of his wrist to the other on both arms. "You see Nicolaus, I know where you are because I've been there. I don't know why, but God took me from that awful place and put me in a life that is so unbelievably wonderful. Like I said, I don't know why and, truthfully, I don't even want to question why anymore. And I'm not saying I don't have any of the same problems I had before, I do. I just don't dwell on them the same, or obsess about them. That's all. But I had to hit rock bottom before I could ask God for help. I mean, I had to really want His help. Unfortunately, your loved ones have to allow you to hit bottom, too, or you're going to be dependent on them and not on God for the rest of your life. The only problem with that is, your loved ones will fail you. We can be there for you and pray for you, but this is between you and God now."

"I can stop all this on my own. I don't need help, Paul!" Nicolaus snarled, looking back up defiantly into Paul's eyes.

"You don't need help? Let me ask a few questions, and all I ask is that you're honest with yourself, okay? Okay. Have you brought drugs into your aunt's house, even when you swore you would never do so again?" Nicolaus looked at his aunt and bit his lower lip.

"Yes," he answered, looking down at his bowl of soup, not wanting to make eye contact with Betsy, who was rising to answer the front door.

"And did your boss at The Eagle tell you not to use drugs while performing? But you still do them every night, don't you? You see, my boy, you can't stop. Even if you wanted to, you can't."

Nicolaus was silent. He sat there, clenching his jaw muscles and pressing his lips together tightly as he looked away.

"See, Nicolaus... God wants to help you live, but He can't when you think it's all about you. If you don't get this truth, you won't get it at all. I cannot tell you how many people I admit into the hospital who are already dead—walking dead—people, like you. Sure, I save their physical lives every day, but the fact is, they were dead and will remain dead until God brings them to their knees and they finally accept Him for who He is. All they will be is dried-up flesh that thinks that they can do it on their own, and what's worse, they think they have to. Yes, some succeed in taking their own physical lives, but some just continue to live, completely dead inside. That's where you're at right now. Don't get me wrong, there are many truly saved by God at church, but more just like you, who don't know Him at all. Most were born into some form of religion, and they think they're safe while under its roof. Well, they need to think again! It is a lie from hell that makes one believe a certain group of people will make you spiritually safe. The only safety is knowing God Himself. Give Him full reign as your Master and Lord. Nicolaus, think about it, He's the one that created you, He's the only one that can save you from yourself, but you gotta let Him."

"Okay, Paul. I hear you, you're right. I'll go check in at a rehab tomorrow," Nicolaus's voice was low. He realized what Paul said was the truth, and he couldn't think of any other way to respond.

"No, Nicolaus, you don't understand. People can't help you, I know. Remember, I've been there! It would be a lie for me to sit here and tell you, yes, go! Run to the nearest rehab or institution and get help. It indeed would be a noble act, but unfruitful for you nonetheless. It would be only a matter of time until you'd find yourself back in the same hell-hole you thought you climbed out of. You have to have a face-to-face with God Himself; either with you falling on your knees in front of Him or Him coming to you. Either way, God will know which is right for you."

Betsy cleared her throat before interrupting. "Nicolaus, Kenzie and Danny are here. They say they need to talk to you." Paul nodded to her, letting her know he was done talking to Nicolaus.

Nicolaus got up and looked back at Paul. Putting his hands in his pants pockets, he said, "Thanks, Paul, for letting me know what you think. I respect you for it."

"Nicolaus, it's not what I think, son, it's what I know!"

Nicolaus walked into the living room and greeted his friends, obviously still considering what Paul had said. "What's up?" he asked, concerned at their solemn faces.

"We need to talk," Danny said quietly. He took Nicolaus's coat and held it out for him to take.

"Something the matter?" Nicolaus asked as he put his coat on and followed the two out the front door. He peeked his head back in for a moment, just to reassure his aunt that he'd be back shortly.

As the three got closer to Danny's car, Nicolaus could make out Lorie behind the wheel, sitting there with the same grave look on her face. Kenzie stopped and reeled around and so did Danny. Kenzie caught Nicolaus by one hand and, wringing it hard, forced it behind Nicolaus's back, thrashing him against the car with a smack. Lorie could tell by the look on Nicolaus's face that Kenzie was hurting him.

"Damn you, Kenzie, what are you doing?" Nicolaus yelled as Kenzie took a big chunk of Nicolaus's hair and pulled his head up off the hood of the car.

"I'm following orders, Nick. Nothin' personal!" Kenzie then shoved Nicolaus into the backseat of what used to be Sylvain's car, and was now Danny's old boat-like Cadillac. He scooted in beside him while Danny jumped in on the other side. Pinning Nicolaus in the middle, Kenzie pushed at Nicolaus to move over one more time to make more room for his big legs. Lorie started the car and took off. Nicolaus returned the shove, this time with an elbow to Kenzie's chest, which was thwarted swiftly with Kenzie's hand to Nicolaus's throat. The Scot pinned him to the back of the seat with a warning that he would break his "wee little neck like a matchstick if he didn't settle down." Lorie made glances to the backseat from the rearview mirror, but no words were spoken.

The Old Mill was lit up for a nice celebration and there were cars still arriving as the four started to get out of the Caddy. Nicolaus stood at the door of the car and waited there until Kenzie came around to usher him inside the Mill.

"Are you mad at me, Nick?" Lorie asked as she came alongside and walked with the two into the Mill. Nicolaus just looked down at her solemnly. She did not have to ask, she knew he was.

"Great! You got him here!" called Jesse. Everyone cheered Nicolaus upon his arrival, patting him on the back with one hand and a drink already half-consumed in the other. Nicolaus didn't bother to smile or acknowledge their cheers as he looked around for Sylvain or Hans. He found them both at a table set up especially for Sylvain in front of the half-constructed bandstand.

"Glad you could come. Heard you put up a good fight!" Sylvain said, pulling out the chair next to him and offering it to Nicolaus. Nicolaus dropped down into it and looked up at Kenzie who had followed him there, just in case he thought to make a run for it. Knowing he was in the safety of Sylvain's protection, Nicolaus informed Kenzie to kiss his backside, to which Kenzie bellowed out a hearty laugh, then turned to leave.

"You're not mad that they did this?" Nicolaus asked. Sylvain was still laughing at Nicolaus's colorful suggestion to Kenzie.

"I'm here. Can't do anything about it now but enjoy the company of my friends. Soberly, of course and as an Amish man, mind you. How do I look?"

Nicolaus leaned back and took a good look at his friend. "Hmmm. I think you look ahh... very plain with thine hut in all!" Nicolaus answered, tipping Sylvain's black wide-brim Amish hat with his finger.

"That's good, ja?" Sylvain asked with a frown.

"Isn't that the way you want to look? You're not Yankee anymore, you know, Sylvain. I didn't want them to do this to you," Nicolaus said as he changed the subject.

"I know, Hans told me on the way here."

"Hans's band?" Nicolaus asked, nodding toward the band taking the stage.

"Yeah, they're pretty good, too. Much better than we were when we started out," Sylvain said. He paused to shake some well-wishers' hands and said, "Thanks for coming" to those who stood off to one side, looking on almost as if they were intimidated by his dress.

The band started out singing an old rock-and-roll tune, the singer sounding much like the original artist who recorded the song. But the next song was one written by Nicolaus, and even though they sounded good, the singer couldn't quite get the deep rich tones and special phrasing of the words Nicolaus achieved in his music. Nicolaus was honored by the attempt, though.

"He's not as good as you, Nick!" one of the girls from the crowd shouted out. Nicolaus smiled and laughed as he and Sylvain watched the band and the dancers on the floor.

Warm arms wrapped around Nicolaus's chest from behind. "Are you still mad at us?" Lorie asked as she bent over him to rest her head on his shoulder, pulling his hair back tenderly to kiss his neck.

Nicolaus looked back at her and pulled her head closer so that he could kiss her lips. "Sorry, Lorie... I just."

"I know. You were looking out for Sylvain. We all understand, even poor Kenzie."

"Poor?!? He's a jackass! How did you know I had a hangover?" Nicolaus asked as he took the water and aspirins she had brought him.

"Kenzie told me. He can't help it if he's a big brute. He likes you, Nick," Lorie smiled. Then she kissed his mouth and played with the back of his hair that cascaded down to his shoulders.

"He really does," Sylvain said jokingly, with a wink.

"Ach, stop it!" Nicolaus ordered, as he downed the aspirins and cold water, savoring the cool liquid going down his throat. He placed the cold bottle to his forehead for some relief from his pounding head.

The band continued to play, but Sylvain asked Nicolaus to accompany him outside to talk privately. The two sat against the hood of the Cadillac. It was silent for a moment before either one spoke.

"Look at all those stars; it's just like being out on da farm, ja?" commented Nicolaus, uncomfortable with Sylvain's quietness. "Remember when Kenzie got me in a headlock and threatened to shave my head with his teeth at that party we went to with the girls?"

Sylvain didn't say a word, but just stared up at the stars with a look on his face that Nicolaus could not ever recall seeing. "Are you okay, Sylvain?"

Sylvain looked down at him and smiled sadly. "I don't want to leave you alone, Nicolaus. I thought I would always be there for you and you for me," Sylvain said, looking deep into Nicolaus's eyes.

Nicolaus turned away and laughed nervously. "I'll see you around town, Sylvain. It's not like I'm going to die or something." Sylvain was silent again as he looked back up at the stars and smiled again. Nicolaus looked back at him and then up in the same direction his friend was staring. "Am I?" Nicolaus asked softly, then looked back at Sylvain.

"Someday, but not today!" Sylvain replied dryly. "I just want you to know I... I love you, and I wish you would come home." Nicolaus laughed nervously again, relieved that Sylvain wasn't enlightening him as to his immediate future.

"I love you, too, Sylvain. Das is why I'm not coming home. Can you imagine all the trouble we two could cause if I also joined da church and for some unseen strangeness of fate, either one of us get chosen as da next bishop? Think about it! My acceptance talk would go something like: 'What da hell are you all thinking? I just wanted to come home to marry Sarah! I'm no one's stinking bishop!'" Nicolaus said jokingly, finally getting a laugh from Sylvain.

"It's not like I'm afraid or anything. I mean I don't mind leaving your world, Nicolaus. It's just... I sometimes think I could do more good here than there."

"Ach, Sylvain, you will do good no matter where you are, and don't worry about me. I'll find my way home, one way or the other," Nicolaus said with a reassuring smile.

"Sylvain, Danny's not feeling well. He wants to know if you want to be taken home now?" Lorie asked as she walked up on the two.

"It looks like you're a little 'under the weather' yourself!"

"Ah, yeah, I could go home now, too." She looked at Nicolaus and raised her eyebrows, letting him know she wished he would go home with her. Nicolaus laughed and jumped down from the hood of the car into her arms, looking into her bloodshot eyes. He thought to himself, She's obviously too drunk now, maybe some other time. But he didn't say what he was thinking.

"Danny, are you okay to drive?" Nicolaus asked as he and Sylvain got into the backseat so they could talk while Lorie got in the passenger side.

"I'm fine. I've just been feeling a little tired lately. I think it's the diabetes. I really gotta go see about getting more medication. Hey, Hans's band is great. Don't you think so, Nick?"

"Ja, they're gut," Nicolaus agreed. He looked over at Sylvain who was staring out his side window at the landscape that sped rapidly past.

"You want to slow down a little, Danny?" Sylvain called out in a tense tone.

"He's only going five above the speed limit!" Lorie leaned over to check the speedometer.

"That dial never has worked. Whatever it says, tack on at least ten over that!" Sylvain said as he sat up to look at the speedometer, too.

"Sol, relax, I'll get you home!" Danny said, as he turned to smile at Sylvain with glazed-over eyes. Sylvain looked at him, then sat back nervously in his seat.

"Sylvain, what's up?" Nicolaus asked, as he sat relaxed on the left side of the backseat. He was curiously watching Sylvain's every move. "Should I get my seat belt on or something?" Nicolaus finally asked jokingly, seeing how edgy Sylvain was. Nicolaus was always aware of his friend's gift of foreknowledge.

"Don't bother!" Sylvain replied dryly as Danny's head fell forward against the steering wheel, causing the car suddenly to go into a screeching skid. Danny had passed out at the wheel. Nicolaus and Lorie reached for him at the same time. It was too late. The car swerved to the right, sending it onto its side, then over and around to the opposite side, so that it landed back on its wheels, only to come to a final stop T-boned against a tree. The impact was so violent Nicolaus could not hold on any longer, the crushing of his bones was too unbearable to comprehend. Flashing of lights and inhuman sounds of screaming filled his senses as he sank into darkness.

"Nicolaus!" Nicolaus heard the voice again. He tried to open his eyes, but a warm flow of liquid filled them, so his immediate reaction was to close them again. "Nicolaus..." This time it was muffled and gurgled as if the speaker was drowning. He lay still for a moment; the pungent smell of iron permeated the car, and the sound of rain tapping on the roof almost drowned out the continuous blaring of the horn. "Nicolaus..." came a whisper again from above him. Nicolaus wiped the warm liquid from his eyes and looked at his hand. It was dark in color and when he wiped again, this time he knew what the smell of iron was, it was of blood. His blood.

"Where am I?" he asked as he tried to raise his head to look around. Then he saw Sylvain up above him, looking off in a distance stare, his eyes full of shock.

Nicolaus was lying in Sylvain's arms, his head against his lap. "Sylvain!" Nicolaus whispered. Then he touched Sylvain's cheek, wiping away some of the blood that trickled from his eye and ear.

"Nicolaus... promise me you will go home," Sylvain said, gurgling through a blood-filled mouth as he stared straight ahead, like he was looking at something far beyond Nicolaus.

"Sylvain!" Nicolaus sat up to help Sylvain, but a severe, overwhelming pain shot through his leg; so intense it made him cry out. He almost lost consciousness for a moment and dared not even breathe, hoping the pain would pass.

"Nicolaus... go... home," Sylvain whispered as his eyes started to roll back into his eye sockets.

"Sylvain, no! God help me, Sylvain... don't..." Nicolaus could not even say it. He pulled himself up to look over the seat, finding Danny's limp body slumped against the steering wheel. "Danny, help. I need help, Danny. It's Sylvain!" Nicolaus shook Danny's lifeless body but found no help there; then he turned to Lorie, who was also slumped over the dashboard, her arms lying limp at her sides. Nicolaus grabbed her blouse and pulled her body back so that it lay against the back of her seat. He looked at her, not realizing at first what he was seeing. She was drenched in blood. The front of her looked like she had been dipped in red ink. Her body felt light, almost as if she had turned into a doll. As he reached for her head, there was only a bloodied stump. He let go of her and felt his body jolt in terror at the sight of her headless body sitting upright on the car seat. The darkness that slowly surrounded him came agreeably. This time he would not be fighting to stay among the living, as he slid down unconscious between the backseat and Sylvain.

~

"We have fatalities here. Wait! I have a pulse on this one!" Nicolaus heard a man call out. The flashing blue and red lights filled the night sky as the rain pattered softly against his face. A man's face looked down at him, asking him something that Nicolaus could not make out. His hat was wrapped in plastic and it reflected the lights as he repeated the same question.

"Sylvain," Nicolaus said in a whisper. "Help... Sylvain!" He tried again to plead for help, but all that came out of his mouth was a gurgle as he coughed on the fluid that kept pouring into his mouth and throat. He knew the man did not understand what he was saying. An overwhelming feeling of being drowned overtook him, sending him back into the depths of the darkness.

"What did he say his name was?"

"He said Sylvain!"

"I wish these kids would carry some identification on them. It would make our job a little easier."

"How could you think this job could ever get easy? We have a bunch of young kids here whose parents will need to be notified. This job will never get easier! What did you say your names were?"

"My name is Gene, and this is Karen. We were on our way home from the same party when we recognized the car," Gene said as he strained to see inside the mangled wreckage.

"Stand back. Trust me, you don't want to see inside!" The lieutenant gently pushed Gene to one side and opened the door to his cruiser.

"You said you know these kids' families?"

"Danny and Lorie's families don't live around here, but Sol's and Nick's are out on the country lanes, just south of town. They're Amish and I think I can take you to Sol's farm," Gene said, as he tried to comfort Karen. She cried hysterically, knowing that more than one of her friends had lost their lives and were under the draped canvas covering of the mangled wreckage.

~

"We're going to lose this one, too, if we don't act fast," the paramedic said after loading Nicolaus's stretcher into the ambulance.

"Are you having trouble with the IV again? I swear we need to get another vendor for these shunts. They're too flimsy! What's he saying?"

"I think he's speaking German. I can't make it out."

"Turn him, he's going to vomit!" Luke ordered the other paramedic just in time as Nicolaus projectile vomited blood, covering the instruments and floor of the ambulance.

"Suction him and insert a NG tube in his nose before he chokes to death on us. I'll call the hospital. We may have to intubate him. Is the tray ready, just in case?"

"Incoming! Approximately five minutes from Saint Ann's. Male patient. Age, approximately in his early twenties, with visible open head trauma and possible epidural hematoma. Multiple contusions on left side of head and chest. Projectile vomiting blood. Left pupil dilated, and blood coming from left ear and nose. A compound fracture to left femur is also visible, and patient is sporadically conscious. Blood type O positive. Permission to transport?" Luke asked after giving Nicolaus's vitals over the radio.

"Permission granted at zone 10," came the hospital's reply over the ambulance radio.

"Permission to intubate patient?" Luke requested as he realized Nicolaus's saturation levels were much too low.

"Permission granted," came back the voice.

The ride to the hospital on the stiff trauma board was unbearably painful, but Nicolaus tried to stay coherent as much as possible. He could not understand why they did not respond to what he was saying. He also knew he could not move; he felt as if they had him strapped tightly to the board. Again and again he tried to reach for the man looking down into his face, but his arm would not move.

"Have you ever intubated anyone?" Luke asked the other technician. He was holding the metal blade with a handle attached and a light on the end of it to help them see if they were inserting it correctly.

"No, have you?"

"A few times. It's not as easy as they make it look in class," Luke warned. He bent over and spoke reassuringly to Nicolaus, "I'm going to put a tube in your throat so you can breathe better. It won't hurt; you won't feel a thing." Luke then turned to the other attendant to see if he had the sedative ready. "Shoot him with the Versed first, then after he's out, the Pancuronium. Never give a patient Pancuronium before they're asleep. This stuff paralyzes them so they can't breathe. Talk about scared stiff!" He turned back to Nicolaus.

"You're doing great, Sylvain, now just relax," Luke said, wiping Nicolaus's forehead of the blood that had dried there. "Okay, he's out, give him the Pancuronium and be ready to bag him, pumping every ten seconds until I get the respirator set and connected to his tube. Great! That went well!" Luke was a little surprised he had no problems placing the tube down Nicolaus's throat to his lung. He turned to watch if his saturation levels would elevate, which they did just as they arrived at St. Ann's hospital. Once at the ER entrance, Luke unhooked the respirator from Nicolaus's tube and bagged him again, as the ambulance doors swung open and he was moved into the ER.

The double doors flew open by force of the stretcher. One nurse quickly cut away Nicolaus's clothing as she ran alongside the gurney. Another checked for his vitals. Meanwhile, Luke sat spread-eagled over his chest on the gurney, squeezing the air bag that kept him breathing after removing him from the respirator.

"Did you get his name?" the attending physician asked as he flashed a light in each of Nicolaus's eyes.

"He said it was Sylvain, but he's been in and out, so that's all we got."

"Were there others in the car?"

"Three others."

"Status on them?"

"All DOA except this one. The car flipped at least once and t-boned a tree on the driver's side. Oh, just to let you know, I don't think he speaks English. I think he might be German or something."

The doctor looked at the paramedic then down at Nicolaus. "I bet he's Amish! With a name like Sylvain I'd lay money on it! Get him washed so we can see what we have, and get x-rays of his head, neck, chest, abdomen, and this left leg. Wow, a classic compound! You said he's been vomiting blood?" the doctor asked.

"Look at me. What do you think?" the paramedic said, backing up to allow the doctor to get the full effect of his once-white shirt, now covered with blood. He held his palms up as if he was being crucified. "Our motto is, 'If ya haven't got any on ya, you're not doing your job! Can't say I haven't been doing my job tonight!'"

"Or maybe you need to know when to stand clear! You said there were fatalities? Was there a doctor there to confirm this?" the doctor asked.

"Well let's see, two had no vitals on arrival and the other one's head was approximately one hundred feet from her body. I'm fairly confident we called this one correctly. Wouldn't you say so, Kenny?" Luke asked his partner with a smirk.

"Move, people! Suction the tube before he drowns! What are you waiting for? Get him into x-ray. Can't you see he's going into shock?" the doctor yelled as Nicolaus went into convulsions. The two paramedics decided it was time they stepped out of the way in view of the grim turn of their patient's physical well-being.

~

"They both live close. They grew up together as friends. Turn here!" Karen called out between sobs. "This is Sol's parent's farm."

They all got out and came to the front door, knocking a few times before a tall older gentleman opened it and allowed them to come in. "Good evening, Mr. ...ah," Lieutenant Roberts paused for a moment.

"Glick! Amos Glick. Is there trouble?" Amos asked kindly as he looked into the Lieutenant's face.

"Um... Mr. Glick, I am Lieutenant Joe Roberts, from precinct 204. Do you know a young man by the name of Sylvain?"

"Yes, he is my son. For what do you want with him?"

"Mr. Glick, he has been in an automobile accident this evening. He's been transported to St. Ann's hospital and they are taking good care of him, but you need to come with us."

"That is impossible! Sylvain is upstairs in his room. Naomi, go see about Sylvain. Possibly it might be my other son, Hans?" Amos asked, as he turned back to the Lieutenant. "He is out tonight. I believe he said something about 'The Old Mill'"

"No, Mr. Glick, it's Sol. Hans was still playing in his band when we left the Old Mill," Gene said as he looked to the top of the stairs, waiting for Sylvain's mother to come back down.

"Papa, Sylvain is not here!" Naomi said as she took both hers and Amos's coats from the wall hooks. They both started out the front door before Lieutenant Roberts could stop them.

"Could you show me where I can find Nick's parents' farm?" Joe asked, while Amos and Naomi climbed into the backseat with Gene. Karen sat in the front with Joe.

"We do not know a Nick that lives around here," Naomi said, as she pulled a tissue from her sleeve and handed it to Karen, who had started to cry again.

"I believe his Amish friends called him Nicolaus."

"Ach, ja, da Zook's farm. It's just down da lane here," Amos said, ducking his head to look out the front window. "Turn here," Amos said, as they came to the next farm entrance.

Jacob answered the door with Esther standing close behind him. Joe didn't have to introduce himself because Amos and Naomi spoke to Esther and Jacob, filling them in on all that was known about the details.

Jacob turned to Joe and asked point blank, "Is Nicolaus dead?"

Joe was taken aback by his lack of emotion. He replied, "I've not been officially notified of any deaths. I just need you to come with me." Jacob turned to Esther and Edna, arm in arm with Naomi. He asked Edna to accompany her mother with the Glicks to the hospital. Joe looked at Edna and suddenly realized who Nick was. He was the young Amish boy who he had held for questioning concerning the drug possession and had questioned concerning the suicide of the rich widow, Fran Noel. Boy, this family has been through hell already; now they have to face the death of their son, Joe thought. He turned to Gene and Karen and asked if it would be okay if he radioed for a taxi to pick them up from the Zook farm, since he would have a carload.

"Sure, Lieutenant," Gene said as the two sat down on the Zooks's couch. Karen's head was in her hands at the sight of Nicolaus's and Sylvain's parents, knowing one set of them had a dead son to identify tonight.

Jacob took Esther in his arms and said tenderly that he would come up after he took the twins to Samuel's, reassuring her that whatever she faced would be God's will.

As Joe sped down the country dirt road, he looked into his rearview mirror at Edna. What a beautiful women Nick's sister is! She had all Nick's striking features, but her emerald green eyes flashed back at him with fear and anxiety over her brother. Nick was an extremely good looking kid, he thought, I should have known his siblings would be enchanting as well. Even with red, swollen eyes from crying, she took his breath away.

After they had been taken to the hospital's chapel to be notified of Nicolaus's death, Edna and Esther were ushered to the morgue in the basement so that they could identify the body. A man in a white lab coat moved them swiftly to a room where three bodies were laid out, two still engulfed in dull gray body bags and one with a clean, white sheet over it. The man in the white lab coat methodically pulled back the sheet, exposing a grayish mannequin likeness of Sylvain's face. The two women grabbed hold of each other with gasps of horror.

"Where is my son?" Esther asked, as the technician held up the sheet.

"Ma'am?" The technician raised his eyebrows in shock.

"This is not Nicolaus!" Edna cried as she turned back to look at Sylvain's peaceful face.

"Are you sure? Please, look again."

"Sir, I know my son, and this is not him. This is Sylvain Glick. His parents are upstairs with Lieutenant Roberts."

The man looked down at the toe tag, making sure he had uncovered the correct person. Then he moved to the other two who were on the gurneys, still in body bags. Unzipping their encasement one by one, he revealed the carnage that was in one bag, pieced back together as it was. The two women couldn't help but gasp in revulsion at the sight of Lorie's decapitated body. The technician checked both for their correct identities, finally coming to the conclusion that there must have been a mistake.

"Excuse me, please. Would you please sit in the waiting room while I make a fast phone call? I'll try and find your son. Terribly sorry for the misunderstanding, Ma'am."

~

"Get Doctor Dylan on the phone for me!" the ER doctor called out to one of the nurses while he stood viewing the x-ray of Nicolaus's injuries.

"Doctor?" one of the nurses timidly called out.

"What?" the doctor snapped, looking away from the x-rays that hung from the light board mounted on the wall. He had been studying them and felt suddenly an overwhelming sense of grief for the family of this one laying here, as well as those involved with the others who didn't make it. This was something he had never experienced until this night; his own son was the same age as those in this awful wreck, and, in fact, his boy had attended the same party that very night. However, much to his relief, he knew his son was home and safe. "Damn it! Where are Doctors Dylan and Yoder?" he said out loud.

"These people say this is not their son." The doctor swung around and glanced at the Glicks standing arm in arm, waiting for him to say something.

"The morgue is on line one. Want to take it here?" one of the nurses asked, as she held the phone up.

"Yes?" asked the doctor as he held up one finger to the Glicks, signaling them to wait just a moment. "I see! I'll send the Glicks to the counseling room if you'll send the Zooks up here," he said low in the receiver. He hung up, then turned back to the Glicks.

~

"Please accept our apologies, Ma'am, your son is in the ER. I'll have someone escort you immediately," the technician said.

"Don't bother! We know where the Emergency Room is. Thank you!" Edna told him, as she helped her mother out of the morgue waiting room, both completely traumatized.

"It's one flight up!" the technician said, assuming the two Amish women would prefer using stairs over elevators. Edna turned to give the young man a look of disgust and then headed for the elevator, just to be defiant.

"Momma, I feel so for Amos and Naomi. Sylvain did look so peaceful, ja?"

"The Sylvain you remember is no longer in that vessel," said Esther, reminding her daughter where their faith and hope were.

The room where Nicolaus lay was dim, illuminated only by the lights coming from the many instruments and machines attached to what seemed to be every part of his body. His head was wrapped in white gauze, extending down to the top of his left eye. The areas just below his eyes were bluish-black in color; the discoloration extended to his chin, where the blood had pooled from inside his face. His face had swollen so severely it was beyond recognition. When his mother and sister entered the ER pod, both watched in fear from behind the plexiglass, where they were asked to wait until the trauma team arrived. A small tube ran from his right nostril. They saw the nurses use this occasionally to suction blood. Another bag seemed to be collecting urine and a larger tube, which extended from his mouth, seemed to be aiding his breathing. The sound of air could be heard as his chest rose, expanding it far beyond what he would normally inhale and for a longer span of time. Three wires attached to his bare chest went to a machine that beeped regularly on an upbeat to the screen's jagged lines, glowing an eerie green in the dimmed room. The noises and lights of the Emergency Room were now the only things seemingly linking Nicolaus to life itself.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Haynes. You must be Nick's mother?" Esther accepted the doctor's hand and answered him with a nod.

"I'm very sorry for the misunderstanding, but all we had to go on was what your son said before he became unconscious, and neither he nor the other young man had any identification on them, so we did the best we could."

"My son's name is Nicolaus," Esther said, sadly.

"I'm sorry. I'll have to change his name again on his papers. He wouldn't happen to have a social security number would he? Um... no, I didn't think so," the doctor said cautiously as he noted the look on Esther's face.

"Please follow me. I'd like to show you Nicolaus's x-rays." He then took them into a room where an array of films of Nicolaus's various body parts were on display, hanging from a light board on the wall.

Pointing to one slide, the doctor explained the injury to Nicolaus's head. "This view shows us that your son has experienced a serious open head trauma with an epidural hematoma to the left temporal bone of his skull, just above his left ear. Although I do not want to give you false hope, mind you, I've seen worse walk out of the hospital. Some, of course, do not. The surgeon will drill a small opening in your son's skull, suction the blood so that it does not accumulate behind his skull and put undue pressure on his brain as it swells. It will swell, so we need to be ready for it! If need be, he will open a larger section of his skull to mend any damage that might have occurred, or to stop any lingering bleeding. He will then wire the portion of the skull back, giving it ample room to move if it continues to swell. He will, most likely, leave a drain tube in for a few days, just to make sure all goes well. Time will be the key now. The first forty-eight hours are the most crucial. I have a specialist coming in to take over from here. His name is Dr. Dylan. Rest assured, he's the best you can get for these types of injuries."

"Doctor Haynes, the ER waiting room is packed with people wanting to know how the car accident victims are, and there are even more in the parking lot. What do you want us to say to them?" asked a nurse who was just coming  
on duty.

The doctor didn't respond to her but turned back to Edna and Esther and said, "Your son will be fighting for his life tonight!" Then turning to the nurse, he suggested that she ask all those concerned to go home and pray for all involved. "Nothing more needs to be said."

The doctor stepped over to another slide that was evidently Nicolaus's leg; the break was obvious and it made Edna's stomach churn to see how distorted it was. "We will need to set this, but the break didn't disturb any major arteries, so we will wait for Doctor Dylan to call the shots on any surgeries Nicolaus will need to face after he has stabilized. That is, unless the doctor feels it necessary to go right in after he gets here. I have him in a drug-induced coma. It's better right now for Nicolaus to stabilize for awhile before moving him anywhere. We have to maintain his core temperature above 34_C so that proper coagulation occurs. Your son has lost a fair amount of blood and I'm waiting to see what my colleagues say about giving Nicolaus more, if the tests deem that necessary. That's why you see the nurses removing and placing new blankets over your son. These blankets are warmed and placed over him to maintain his body heat." Then, stepping over to another set of films, the doctor continued to explain the blunt trauma to Nicolaus's chest and spleen. "This is another concern we have, and I have called in Doctor Paul Yoder on this; he specializes in abdominal injuries as well as head, so I do believe we have Nicolaus well-covered."

"Doctor Yoder? You mean Paul Yoder?" Edna asked, wide eyed.

"I believe there is only one on staff. Why?" asked the doctor, looking over at the nurses attending Nicolaus, more interested in what they were doing.

"Paul is my aunt's husband!" Edna cried. She looked over and noticed Lieutenant Joe entering into the ER, looking as if he had lost someone and was frantically trying to find the person.

"Oh, I'm glad you two are up here. I'm so sorry for the confusion down in the morgue. We were unsure of..."

"We found Nicolaus just fine. Thank you," Edna said with a snap to her voice, making even Esther turn and look at her with a frown.

"Excuse me, please. I see Doctor Dylan has arrived," Doctor Haynes said as he walked between the two; Edna was glaring at Joe and he looked down at her with an expression of shame. Doctor Dylan went straight to the x-ray films and the two doctors conversed before he went to examine Nicolaus.

"Oh, God! I know this kid!" Rodger said as he looked at Nicolaus's face. Then he pulled up the sheet to take a look at Nicolaus's left side and down to his leg. "Damn it, Nick! Just look at you!" Rodger had known how serious Nicolaus's injuries were just by looking at the films. Nevertheless, the shock of seeing Nicolaus laying there fighting for his life was almost too much to bear. He turned to the nurses and started calling out orders, which set the room ablaze with activity. Immediately, five attending nurses quickly pushed Nicolaus out the double doors and into an elevator, tubes, machines and all, with Rodger running close behind.

"What are you two doing here at this hour?" Paul asked the two women as he entered the ER.

"It's Nicolaus. He's been in a horrible accident!" Edna said in their dialect. Paul frowned as he moved swiftly past them into the film room to view the x-rays. He then ran past them, films in hand, his white coat flying as he headed towards the staircase in fervent pursuit of the entourage, knowing they had just taken Nicolaus off to surgery. Opening the door to the staircase again, he called back to Edna to use one of the hospital phones to call Betsy, which she did immediately, informing her of what had happened.

The hours passed by slowly. It was the third time Edna got up from her chair in the dimmed operating waiting room. The area was lit only by the blue glow of the television set that no one was watching, but all were blankly looking at, eyes glazed over with fearful anxiety.

"Miss Zook, I am truly sorry about your brother. He really seems to be a good kid. Just seems to hang around bad places, that's all," Joe said to Edna as he followed her out to the snack machines in the hall.

"Why are you still here? Don't you have a family to go home to?" Edna asked as she struggled with the door of the snack machine after selecting a candy bar.

"Here, let me get that for you. There are two answers to your questions. One—no. I do not have a family. Two—I'm not quite sure why I'm sticking around. Only that I'm strangely drawn to your family right now. I can't explain it, so don't ask me to," Joe said. He pulled the candy bar from its door and handed it to her. Edna stared up at Joe, puzzled by his confession. "I've never been this drawn to a person in my life. It's a little frightening for me."

"I know, he is a very special person. I love him deeply. I practically raised him. We are very close." Edna said. She took the candy bar and halved it, handing the other portion back to Joe. "I wish they would let us know something. What could they be doing to Nicolaus for three hours?" She looked up into Joe's eyes, tears starting to well up in hers.

"I'll call one of the PACU RNs to see if they have heard from the OR."

"Speak English, Lieutenant," Edna said, frowning.

"Joe! Please call me Joe."

"Okay, Joe, who are you going to call, again?"

"I'll call one of the nurses in the post-anesthesia care unit to see if they have heard anything yet on your brother," Joe patiently explained.

"Code Blue, Unit 205; Code Blue, Unit 205; Code Blue, Unit 205," a women's calm voice said methodically over the hospital intercom. The announcement was followed by a high-pitched beep after each phrase, followed by the automatic closing of any opened door around them. Edna noticed a few people who appeared to be either doctors or nurses, running in the same direction towards the staircases.

Joe pulled Edna back against the wall so they could pass, and when he saw what direction they were headed in, said, "This isn't good, Edna!"

"What does it mean, Joe?" Edna asked looking up at him.

"It means someone's crashing. It's not good."

"What exactly does 'crashing' mean, Joe? Do you mean dying?"

"Yeah, we need to stay out of the way until it's over." They both stood still for what seemed to be twenty minutes or more, then the same voice came back over the intercom but this time it announced, "Code Blue, Unit 205 all clear, three times over in repetition."

As the doors opened back up and the blue light above each of the doorways stopped flashing, she looked up into Joe's eyes and asked, "Do you suppose it's Nicolaus?" Tears were already drenching her cheeks.

"No. I'm sure he's doing fine." However, Joe did have his doubts. "Come on, let's go back to the waiting room. Maybe they've heard something in there by now."

~

"Okay, we have an epidural hematoma to the left quadrant. See the crescent shadow just here, above his left ear? I'm going to remove a two-inch wedge of the patient's skull so we can evacuate the accumulation of blood and relieve the elevated intracranial pressure. I will be looking for any artery damage that may be causing the bleeding. His head needs to be shaved and prepared for a left upper quadrant exploratory," Rodger said clearly into the recorder. "Doctor Yoder, do you agree?" Rodger asked Paul as the surgeons and an intern scrubbed and suited up for the surgery.

"I agree, Doctor Dylan," Paul said, but he was looking at the injury to Nicolaus's stomach area on the films. "It's a ruptured spleen! I've seen a million just like it. But you're right in looking around a bit while we're in. I would feel more at ease if you proceed with the epidural hematoma while I deal with the splenectomy."

"Both at the same time?" Rodger asked as a nurse helped him into his surgical gown.

"Surely you've seen it done out in the field?" Paul asked, a little surprised.

"Yes, many times we doubled up on a patient, but..."

"We don't have the time to waste. The femur can wait an hour or so but the other two injuries are life threatening. They're reversible if we get in and fix it now!"

~

"Mrs. Zook?" Rodger called out as he came into the waiting room to speak to the family, leaving Paul and the intern to cast Nicolaus's leg and finish suturing the opening Paul had worked in, which extended from Nicolaus's lower chest down to his pelvis.

"Is he...?"

"Nicolaus is a fighter, that much I have to say! Didn't give us a bit of a fuss. Dee, how did you...?"

"I saw it on the news after you left. I'm sorry, Rodger, I had to come. Nicola's with my aunt," Dee reassured her husband, allowing him to continue with informing Nicolaus's family of his surgery.

"We found Nicolaus to have a very serious head wound that had to be treated by removing a small portion of his skull, just above his left ear, so that the bleeding could be stopped; that way, the evacuation of the accumulating blood could be eliminated, which was elevating the intracranial pressure. The portion of his skull that was removed has been wired back in place. The wiring is flexible so, optimistically, it will give allowance for any swelling of his brain in the next 48 hours. A drain tube has been left in at this location to relieve any fluids that may collect. Please don't be alarmed; you will be able to see it. There is also a drain tube coming from his midsection, which has been placed just below his left ribs. There was also a very serious injury to his spleen, which Doctor Yoder removed and cleaned beautifully."

"You removed Nicolaus's spleen?" Esther asked, concerned.

"It's one of those organs you can live without. I don't recommend it, but if you have to, you can. Nick's spleen as it was, trust me...he wouldn't have wanted to live with! It was beyond repair."

"What about his leg?" asked Edna, putting her arms around her mother, who had just broken down in tears.

"It was set, and we reinforced the break with a metal plate so that it could heal correctly. We placed an open-faced cast on him so that we can tend to the stitches, if need be. It was a bad break, but his head and spleen injuries are what we're most concerned about. Nicolaus is in a coma and will more than likely stay there at least until the swelling of his brain subsides. He's in recovery now, and if all goes as planned, we'll take him up to ICU in an hour or so. They'll take very good care of him there."

"Can we see him?" Edna asked.

"I'm sorry, not until he's in ICU, and then only looking at him through the glass-partitioned window."

"How long will he be in a coma, Rodger?" Betsy asked, handing Esther a tissue and stroking her back.

"There's no telling. He may come out after we stop sedating him, which will be in a few days, or it might take weeks. God only knows. We'll just wait and see."

~

The next 48 hours passed slowly. Jacob arrived with Katie, along with the bishop and elders of their district. They had come to pray and lay hands on Nicolaus. Unable to do this, they were allowed to view him through the plate-glass window into the ICU pod. Nicolaus's pale body was being mechanically supported through the first few days. There was a steady stream of well-wishers, and a few from The Eagle kept vigil outside the hospital, hoping to hear anything from beyond the double doors of the Emergency Room.

"Esther and Edna, please come home with me and get some sleep. You can pray there just as well as we can here," Betsy said pleading for them to come home and get some rest after their three-day vigil. Jacob agreed with his sister and nodded to her to take them home.

"Will you stay, Jacob? I would feel better if someone he knows was here," Esther said, not seeing Eli and Sarah walk up behind her.

"We will stay as long as you need us, sister Esther," Eli said as he reassured her with his eyes.

"I will stay if you want me to, but there are chores that Katie and I need to attend to," Jacob said. He nodded back to Eli to thank them for their help.

"Eli, will you promise to call Betsy's house if anything changes?" Edna asked. She gently took her mother by her shoulders and was about to usher her towards the exit.

"I don't have to go into work tomorrow. I'll stay with them," Joe offered, and took his seat at the window.

Before they left Nicolaus's viewing window, Edna spoke a prayer aloud that came boldly from her heart, "Father, help my brother, let him live. Send Your angels to watch over him and the hands that touch him. Keep him safe in his deep sleep. Hold him in Your arms until You give him back to us. Un Christi, au-men." She opened her eyes and looked up at her father. He coldly looked back at her and then turned to leave without a word, going home to do the chores he thought could not be delegated to any of their district brothers and sisters.

~

"Nicolaus has been in ICU for five days now and he's progressing just as we hoped. We have been gradually weaning him off the ventilator, so if his saturation levels remain high, I will give orders to extubate him, possibly later today."

"What does that mean?" asked Edna, as her shadow, Joe, stood right behind her.

"That means we'll take the ventilator tube out of his throat and see if he's strong enough to breathe on his own now."

"And if he isn't?" Edna asked with concern.

"Then he has to go back on it until he is ready. After the tube is taken out, he will be on oxygen, just to help him out a little. One step at a time! However, if he takes to breathing on his own, he can be placed in a regular room so you can be closer to him. I find that patients heal faster when they are touched and spoken to by their loved ones," Paul said, smiling at Betsy and the others reassuringly.

Later that day, the curtains to the ICU viewing window were drawn and within half an hour, Nicolaus was being moved to a regular room on the third floor. He was still attached to a wide variety of machinery and tubes.

~

"I hope we're not disturbing you," Karen said in a whisper as she and Gene walked up next to Nicolaus's bed. Karen had not taken her eyes off Nicolaus, obviously shocked by his appearance. "How is he?"

"He's about da same," Edna replied, showing a little of the strain she'd been through the last four and a half weeks.

"We will sit with him if you need to leave to rest," Gene said, respectfully placing his hand on Edna's shoulder.

"I think it would be a good idea if you got some sleep, Edna. I'll drive you to your aunt's and see if your mother would like to come up for a while."

"Thank you, Joe." Edna then turned to the two who were staring down at Nicolaus. "Please call this number if he wakes up or if there are any changes."

"Will do!" Gene replied, and watched the two leave the room.

"Isn't that Lieutenant Roberts?" Gene asked as he turned back to Karen.

"Yes. I think there's a spark between the two. Every time I've come to see Nick, Joe's been here with his sister Edna.

"She sure is pretty for a girl who doesn't wear makeup!" Gene exclaimed. Then he looked back at Nicolaus. "It's a shame they had to shave Nick's hair off. I wonder what he's going to look like without all those curls the girls love so much."

"I think the girls will still flock to see him no matter how long his hair is. Anyway, it's those eyes of his they fall over themselves to see!" Karen smiled as she stroked Nicolaus's cheek.

"I care to differ!" came a voice from the doorway. The two turned to see who it was. "It's his personality!" Dee proclaimed as she entered the room with Rodger.

Gene, Karen, and Rodger looked at each other and said in unison, "Nah!" as they all shook their heads and laughed.

"Is so!" Dee defended Nicolaus, giving them all a nasty look. "Did you go to Danny's memorial in New York last week?" she asked Karen and Gene.

"People, please! It's not etched in stone or anything, but there are documented cases that comatose patients can hear and are aware of what is being said and done in their rooms. Let's watch what we're talking about just in case, shall we?" Rodger cautioned. He looked into Nicolaus's eyes with his penlight and then checked his head bandage and the drain tube. Then he looked at his incisions; they were coming along fine, as was Nicolaus's leg. It was suspended in the air with a traction device to make sure fluids did not accumulate, causing it to swell again. "His swelling has gone down quite a bit. He should be waking up any day now. We took him off sedatives two days ago, so now it's up to him to open those peepers." Rodger bent down and held his face close to Nicolaus's ear. "Nick! You can wake up now, buddy!" Rodger said. He straightened up just in time to see half a dozen Amish young adults walk into the room. Recognizing Eli, Sarah, and Beth, he nodded to them.

"Hello, Doctor Dylan," Eli said as he nodded to Karen, Gene, and Dee. "I hope we aren't intruding?" he asked, taking Katie and placing her in front of them all. "This is Nicolaus's sister, and we came to sing to him."

"Oh, by all means. We were just leaving," Rodger said, as he took one last look in Nicolaus's eyes.

"We should be going, too. That is, if you all will be with him for awhile. And please call Edna if there are any changes. Here's the number," Gene handed them the paper and took Karen's hand.

"Wait!" Karen called out, as she looked deep into Eli's eyes. "Did you all grow up with Nick?"

"Ja, we all grew up together. Why?"

"I just wanted to tell you, we love Nick very much. He... he means a lot to us at The Eagle." She started to cry as she turned to Gene for help.

"We will leave you all to your singing. Come, Karen, let's go home." Then, turning to Rodger, he asked if he would call The Eagle if there were any changes. "We're all sitting on pins and needles down there."

Rodger shook Eli's hand and then turned to Beth and Katie, who where standing close together, almost as if they were afraid of Nicolaus. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm very sorry for your loss, Beth. Nicolaus told me that Sol was quite serious about you. And Katie, I have faith that your brother will come back to us, so just be patient with his rehabilitation. He'll need a lot of special care after he wakes up, I'm afraid."

Katie shook her head shyly and Beth just looked down; the tears had been streaming down her cheeks even before she entered the room. "Well, Dee and I will leave you to visit with Nick. It's always good to see all of you," Rodger said. He nodded to Sarah, then took Dee's hand and left the friends to sing.

The six began with "Be With Me Lord," then went into "Sweet Hour of Prayer." The tears were flowing freely, leaving just a few to finish the last verse when the nurse came in.

"Oh, that was so pretty! Don't stop, it's good for Mr. Zook. So it is touching him. Watch this line as I touch him," the nurse said, as she bent over and whispered something in Nicolaus's ear while stroking his face gently with her fingers, demonstrating the techniques. The heart monitor jumped slightly, but change it did, as though Nicolaus could hear and feel the nurse next to him. "See! Now you try it." The nurse took the hand of the young person closest to her, who happened to be Sarah. She brought her to Nicolaus's side and nodded at her encouragingly.

Sarah took Nicolaus's limp hand in hers. Bending over, she began to whisper, "Nicolaus, this is Sarah. Wake up. I want to see you again, I miss you!" As Sarah finished, Katie leaned against a metal tray, sending it crashing to the floor with a loud bang.

"He heard that!" Sarah said, turning to Eli and the rest of them, her eyes full of surprise and excitement "He jumped like it scared him. I felt him jump!" She bent over next to him again, pleading with him to wake up.

"Sarah," Eli said, as he put his hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps we should go now, ja?"

"Eli, he heard the tray fall. Please believe me!"

"Let's go now, Sarah," said Eli. Sarah looked back just one more time as they started to exit, leaving the nurse to rearrange the tray and its contents. She turned out the lights on the request of Nicolaus's roommate Mr. Hart, who was in a body cast from a broken hip and leg.

"Never a dull moment around here, even if the kid's in a coma."

"Oh, Mr. Hart! You know you enjoy every minute of Mr. Zook's visitors," the nurse said with a smile. As she checked Nicolaus's IV drip, she did not notice when his eyes fluttered, then open groggily. He moaned with a deep, hoarse, throaty sound that frightened the nurse so much that she backed into the same tray, sending it crashing once again to the floor with a clamor. This time, Nicolaus gasped aloud, inhaling too much air into his tender airway, still raw from the tubes. This caused him to cough and gag as his eyes opened wide with fear. He tried to focus on the nurse's face; she was leaning over the rail of his bed, trying to calm him through the coughing.

"You're okay, Mr. Zook, just relax," she repeated several times, as she patted him tenderly on the shoulder. Simultaneously she hit his bedside alarm for assistance. Nicolaus lay motionless, moving only his eyes as he looked around the room in terror, following the nurse's movements but not yet understanding what they were asking him. His eyelids were heavy and he wanted to close them, but the nurse persistently patted his face and repeatedly ordered him to keep his eyes open.

"The doctor will be here in a few minutes, Mr. Zook. Just stay awake for us, okay?" asked another nurse who had placed a black band around his arm and began to squeeze it until it hurt. Holding his free wrist and looking at him with a blank look in her eyes, she started to count to herself. Soon she focused back on him and smiled as she placed his arm gently down on the bed and said, "Welcome back! Can you tell me your name?" Nicolaus just looked at her, saying nothing as if he hadn't heard what she asked.

He put his hand up to his head and frowned as he felt the bandages. "Are you in pain anywhere?" asked the nurse. Nicolaus squinted, trying to focus on her. "Just lay still. Doctor Dylan is on his way up to see you."

Nicolaus moaned again and closed his eyes, only to be prodded by the nurse to open them again. "Open your eyes, please! That's better. Are you in pain?"

Nicolaus looked down at his leg cast, suspended from the traction pulley. He asked in a raspy voice, "Where am I?"

"You are in the hospital; you've been is an accident. Now, can you tell me what your name is?"

Nicolaus looked at the nurse and frowned again, but this time he placed his hand over hers, which was resting on the rail of his bed. He folded his fingers tightly around hers, giving her an eerie feeling, not quite sure what he was doing or what his frame of mind might be. She held tightly to his hand until Rodger came bounding into the room with a wide, hardy smile. "Hi, Nick," he whispered as he sat down on the bed next to Nicolaus.

"Hi," Nicolaus replied. Then he closed his eyes in hopes that the pain would subside.

"Your head hurts, doesn't it?" Rodger pulled out his penlight and shone it down for a moment before flashing it into Nicolaus's eyes.

"Ehee, Rodger!" Nicolaus complained at the brightness of the light.

"Sorry... ah what was your name, again?" Rodger asked with a smile as he continued to examine Nicolaus's eyes.

"Rodger, my head, it hurts bad."

"Your name, Mr.—tell it to me, and then I'll get you something for your head."

"Damn it, Rodger..."

"Nope, wrong. That's my name. Wanna try again?" Rodger waited for Nicolaus to laugh or at least smile.

The young man gave him a dirty look and said with exasperation, "Nicolaus!"

"Good! And your mother's name?" Rodger poked around the bandage on Nicolaus's head, lifting up the left side to see if the drain tube had fresh blood coming from it.

"It's Esther, like you would know!" Nicolaus said in a whisper.

"As a matter of fact, your entire family and I have become quite familiar as of late! Nick, you've been in a coma for over four weeks now, Bud! Do you remember the accident at all?" Nicolaus just shook his head and closed his eyes. "Can you tell me what you do remember?"

Nicolaus moved his free leg up to a more comfortable position and tried to raise himself a little on the bed, but his arm was too weak to hold him. He leaned back against the hospital bed with a frustrated sigh as Rodger pushed a few buttons, making it so Nicolaus was sitting up in a more comfortable position.

"I remember talking to Sylvain about the stars. But I don't know where we were. I also remember singing, a lot of people singing. Rodger, I can't see you very well," Nicolaus said, as he put his free hand over his eyes.

"How many pens do you see?" Rodger asked as he held up his penlight in front of Nicolaus' eyes.

"Not counting the jagged lines, I see four, but only two of you!" Nicolaus said softly. It hurt to talk.

"Okay, well, that's to be expected. Are you dizzy as well?"

"Only when I move my head; then the room starts to spin like I'm in the vortex of a tornado. What's this?" he asked, pointing to the tube that protruded from his midsection.

"Oh, that's a drain tube. We had to remove your spleen. There's another one coming out of your head as well."

Nicolaus frowned at Rodger and said, "I have a spleen coming out the side of my head? Okay, I'm going back to sleep now 'cause this has to be a bad dream. It's getting too strange and I hurt so bad." He closed his eyes and placed his arm over his head, hoping the pressure would help relieve some of the pain. "My leg, it's broken?" he asked, his eyes still closed.

"Boy, howdy was it broken! Paul did a great job on your spleen, the orthopedic surgeon on your leg and I, not bragging, mind you, literally saved your life with my specialized skull-cracking techniques! And no, you don't have a spleen coming out of your head, but most of your brains are just beside you in that jar," Rodger said jokingly, seeing how far Nicolaus would allow him to mess with him.

Nicolaus removed his arm from his forehead and looked at Rodger as if he was crazy. "Paul took my spleen out?"

"He saved your life, Nick!"

"It was bad, ja?"

"It was very bad, Nick. It's a miracle you survived the first forty-eight hours, let alone sitting here with me now talking about it! Oh, by the way, a small section of the left side of your skull is just wired on for now, so don't do any poking around, okay?"

"What?" Nicolaus asked as his voice cracked again.

"Don't worry; it will heal back together in due course."

The man who occupied the bed next to Nicolaus cleared his voice and said, "It's been real lonely laying in this bed next to yours all this time. No one to talk to, watching TV, watching you sleep, and what's worse, you got the window!"

"Sorry, but..." Nicolaus started to say.

"Well, you should be. I didn't break my hip and leg just so I could lie here all day and watch you sleep. I need some excitement!"

"What happened to you?" Nicolaus opened his eyes and tried to focus on his roommate.

"Car accident like you. On the same night, too. But mine didn't make headline news like yours."

"Car accident?" repeated Nicolaus.

"Did you think you fell off a horse?" Rodger interjected as he watched the nurse move around Nicolaus's bed, tucking in the sheets around his leg and making sure the traction pulley was at a comfortable height.

"I don't remember any of it. What happened? I mean, was it my fault or anything?" Nicolaus asked, concerned.

"Nick, get serious, when's the last time you ever drove a car?" Rodger asked with a half-smile.

"Be happy you don't remember! Mine was horrifying, I'll never forget it!" Mr. Hart said, shifting around in his bed so he could see them more comfortably.

"Rodger, I just want to know. Was it my fault?"

"No, Nick, it wasn't your fault! Let's talk about this later, shall we? Right now, you need to get better so you can get out of this place and go home." Nicolaus looked at Rodger then down at his leg.

"I don't remember where home is. Do I have a home?"

Rodger laughed. "Well, don't worry too much about that, I'm sure we'll find a good home for you," he made it sound like Nicolaus was a stray puppy. Then he stood to check one of Nicolaus's monitors that had just sounded, letting the nurses know it needed to be reset. "I'll do that. Can you see if Dr. Yoder has arrived yet?" Rodger asked the nurse as he nodded toward the door.

"Rodger, I'm going to be sick," Nicolaus groggily started to heave but nothing came up. Rodger grabbed the little green vomit tray and held it under Nicolaus's chin.

"Dry heaves. They're the worst! It's the roller-coasters, from being dizzy," Mr. Hart commented as he watched Nicolaus try to vomit. Rodger rang for the nurse to get back into the room, but no one came. He didn't want Nicolaus to continue his gut-wrenching heaves for fear that he possibly could do more damage to his wounds.

"Here, hold this while I see what's keeping the nurses." Rodger thrust the vomit pan into Nicolaus's hand and ran to the doorway.

"Sorry, Dr. Dylan, we had an emergency in..." one of the nurses started to say as she rushed into Nicolaus's room.

"I need 1.25mg of Droperidol. STAT!" Rodger interrupted her by physically turning her to go the other way to get the drug.

Meanwhile, Nicolaus was breathing faster in between gagging. "Rodger..." his voice trailed off as he tried to wipe the drool from his mouth that was stringing down into the empty pan.

"I know, Nick, just hang in there. I ordered you something for this. Ah, Paul! So glad you could make it!"

"Well, Nicolaus, so you're up! Welcome back!" He smiled at the boy and then turned back to his colleague. "And I see he's giving you a hard time at that." Paul walked over and took the vomit pan from Nicolaus, holding it under his chin as he patted his back gently. Rodger anxiously awaited the nurse's return, and when she came back, she had a syringe. She proceeded to inject the medicine into Nicolaus's IV shunt. The gag reflex eased up and he lay back down with only an occasional urge to vomit.

"Feeling better, son?" Paul asked as he helped Nicolaus with the tubes and wires that had been tangled in the uproar.

"I feel like sleeping," Nicolaus said. He closed his eyes and began to sleepily drift in and out of consciousness.

"How does he look to you?" Paul asked as he watched Nicolaus come in and out of his grogginess.

"He still has a minimal amount of pressure on the left lobe causing pain, dizziness, and double vision, but all other signs seem to be on target."

"Any fresh blood?"

"No, but I would like to get more film of his head. I can schedule it first thing tomorrow or as soon as possible tonight. What do you think?"

"What do you say, let's be overly cautious and take some tonight," Paul suggested, his voice guarded.

"What are you thinking, Paul?" Rodger asked.

"I just want this kid to be able to walk out of here on his own. That's all."

Rodger turned to the nurse and asked her to call up to radiology. "See if there would be anyone that could do the films within the hour." After looking at Paul for a moment, he asked her to also call surgery and prescheduled a possible reentry, just in case they saw anything they didn't like.

~

It was five in the morning and the new nursing staff had already come onboard. Edna and Esther had just arrived, settling down for another day of watching over Nicolaus while he slept, unaware he had already awakened from his coma and had been evaluated for possible surgery again during the evening.

"Hi, Nick. Back so soon?" Mr. Hart asked.

"Where did you take him?" Esther asked as the nurses repositioned Nicolaus's bed and reattached him to his monitors.

"He went for more films on the orders of Dr. Yoder," one of the nurses replied, not giving any more information than what was asked for.

"Oops, you ladies weren't told, I suppose. Sleeping Beauty there woke up last night!" Mr. Hart said, laughing to himself at the reaction on their faces.

"He woke up?" Esther turned to the nurse and grabbed her by her arm.

"Apparently. I just came on shift, but the pass down says he did."

"Did he talk?"

"From the night shift report, it looks like he did a lot of vomiting," said the nurse, more concerned about getting Nicolaus settled in than communicating with his family.

"Good morning, ladies," Rodger said in a tired but cheerful tone.

"Oh, Dr. Dylan! They told us that Nicolaus woke up last night. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, he's been up for a couple of hours now. Had a nasty bout with motion sickness, but he's responding nicely to the medication. Although it's making him groggy, he'll come around and talk to you for a few moments. Then he falls back to sleep. All to be expected."

"The nurse said you took him to..."

"Yes, Dr. Yoder and I wanted to see if the pressure on his brain was caused by a blood clot. Thankfully, though, the new films show he's healing just as he should and there is no need to reenter. We have to allow his brain to adjust to the injuries. He will have double vision, pain, and dizziness for awhile. It takes time for the brain to heal."

"So are you telling us Nicolaus's brain is damaged?" Edna asked, afraid of what Rodger might say, but bracing herself for the worse.

"No, I believe you can thank the trauma team for that. He does have swelling, bleeding, and a serious concussion; that's why we treated it so aggressively. If we had not, he would have had some brain damage for certain, but even more likely, he would have been dead. Dr. Yoder and I feel Nicolaus is healing so well we took out the drain tubes from his head and midsection, stitched him back up, and here he is safe and sound in his room again. We also have him scheduled later today to have the catheter removed, so he'll be able to get up and walk around the place, as soon as he feels up to it."

"This is so wonderful!" Edna said as she looked down at her sleeping brother.

The word got out fast at The Eagle that Nick had come out of the coma and was talking. The bar crowd went wild with applause and cheers. Hans had just returned to work after taking a few weeks off to mourn his brother's death. His band had taken over playing The Eagle now on the weekends and Gene hired himself out as their P.R. front man, taking himself out of the public view to try and recover from the death of his band members. Jesse sponsored a rather large memorial service at the Old Mill a week after the accident in honor of the dead, and Hans was offered the same deal Jesse offered Nicolaus. He, too, told Jesse he would need some time to think about it, knowing he was not the songwriter Nicolaus was.

Samuel, Eli and Sarah came that morning to visit Nicolaus, unaware of the good news. They met Esther and Edna as they spoke outside Nicolaus's room with Rodger. The greeting was warm as Eli introduced his father to Rodger.

"I'm glad to meet you. I understand you helped save our Nicolaus's life," Samuel said.

"I played a small part in the procedures, aiding Nicolaus's recovery. Dr. Yoder did his magic as well."

"Ach, Dr. Dylan, there's no magic in a miracle. You of all people should know dat! I grew up vis Paul. He is a gut man whom I respect and care for. Betsy, too, is a gut friend."

"Yes, they are very good people. I was just telling Esther not to be surprised that Nicolaus is somewhat confused concerning things that are brought up."

"Nicolaus spoke?" Sarah asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Yes, he woke up last night after you all left," Rodger chuckled at her excitement.

"I told you he heard the tray fall, I felt him jump!" Sarah enthused. Her brother was smiling from ear to ear from the good news.

"As I was saying, Nicolaus may seem a little confused over certain matters. For example, I told him if he continued to recover as he had, he could go home." Rodger stopped and waited for any response.

"And?" Edna asked as they all waited for Rodger to finish.

"He asked me where home was! I told him that we would talk about it later. Nicolaus isn't sure where he belongs, and that's not a secure feeling for him. He needs to know where he is welcomed so he has a strong desire to go there and heal. It's very important!"

There was a long silence from the group, then Samuel spoke up after he cleared his throat. "Nicolaus is welcome to come live with us. We will offer him a home."

"Ach, Samuel, that is very kind of you, but I suppose he should come home with us. Although..." Esther paused and they all heard the uncertainty in her voice.

"Esther, Nicolaus needs guidance right now. Would Jacob be willing to counsel and teach him the things he should already know?" Samuel asked kindly, not meaning it to be a judgment on Jacob's treatment of his son.

"I suppose you're right. I am grateful, Samuel. Thank you." Esther began to cry as Edna and Sarah reached out to her and held her tenderly.

"You say Nicolaus is awake? Well, let me go see for myself, for my own eyes need to see him," Samuel said, as he felt a sense of pride flood over him as though he had just been told that he had another son. They all stood around his bed waiting for Nicolaus to open his eyes, but he just slept. Rodger touched him on his shoulder and shook him slightly as he called Nicolaus's name in a whisper. His eyes opened slightly and he blinked. The grogginess of the medicine was beginning to wear off and the pounding in his head was back with a vengeance. He moaned hoarsely and frowned, then drifted back off to sleep until Rodger called him again.

"Nick, you have visitors. Wake up!"

"Ach, Rodger! I hurt! Bitte, Please, I need something for da pain."

Sarah started to laugh out loud and held onto Edna as they both jumped up and down, thrilled just to hear him speak. Nicolaus opened his eyes and looked over at them, trying to focus on their faces. He blinked a few times then held out his hand to his sister who grabbed it. Edna kissed him on his cheek as she bent over him and held his hand tight in hers.

He smiled and waited until she was done, then he looked at Sarah and her family, In a raspy whisper in their dialect, he said, "It's good to see you," at which they all started to laugh, nodding their heads to one another in agreement. Esther moved from behind the group to see her son. Their eyes met and she began to cry.

"Ach, Mater." He released Edna's hand and reached for his mother's. "I'm sorry, I've hurt you, haven't I?" he asked.

"No, Nicolaus, you have made me happy, son," she said, as she leaned over and kissed his cheek, too.

"Nicolaus, I have something to ask you. You do not have to answer me now, but I want you to think and pray about the offer. We want you to come and live with us until you are completely whole. I will work you hard and will insist you take the classes, even if you decide not to be baptized, just as we discussed a few weeks ago," Samuel said in their dialect. Nicolaus looked at his mother, then smiled at Samuel and nodded his head as if to say he would think about it. "Gut! We will talk later about it," Samuel finished in English. Then he motioned to his children that it was time to go.

"I will come see you on Saturday. Is that okay?" Sarah whispered, as she bent low over his face and took his hand in hers. Nicolaus smiled groggily at her and nodded.

After all his visitors had gone home and his sister and mother went to Betsy's to eat lunch, the nurse reappeared in his room to relieve him of his catheter. "This won't hurt a bit, just relax!" she said as she withdrew the tube, causing Nicolaus' body to go rigid with pain.

"I could have sworn there for a moment you said it wouldn't hurt," Nicolaus said sarcastically, and then wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead, using his bed sheet. The nurse just smiled sheepishly at him, thinking how very handsome he was, even with two blackened eyes and a swollen jaw.

"When can I get up?" he asked.

"If I were you, I'd take it easy the first few days. Just the trip to and from the bathroom is going to make you feel like you ran a marathon; trust me," she assured him. She tidied up a little around the room before she left.

"Up so soon?" asked Mr. Hart, watching Nicolaus lower his cast to the floor and slowly put his weight down on the injured leg.

"I want to see what my face looks like. Everyone that comes in to visit looks at me like I have three eyes, and one's dangling from its socket!" Nicolaus made his way slowly into the bathroom, dragging along his IV pole, the IV still attached to his left hand. How can a person be alive and look like this? he thought, as he looked into the mirror. He started to unbind the bandages around his head and as they came off, he realized that they had cut off all his hair—not just cut it, they shaved him bald! Looking at himself straight on, he thought it wasn't all that bad. But when he turned to see the stitches at the side of his head, the small bathroom went suddenly dark.

"Mr. Zook, can you sit up for me?" the nurse asked, as she held Nicolaus's head in her hands.

"Where am I?" he asked, knowing right away he was somewhere he wasn't supposed to be, but wasn't quite sure how he got there. Nicolaus slowly lifted himself to the side of the shower stall and tried his best not to vomit, while the nurses scurried around him, frantically trying to get him back to a place on the shower stall ledge that would safely hold his body weight. The orderlies came bounding in, lifting him to his one good foot and placing his arms up over their heads onto their shoulders. Then they cupped their hands under him so that he was sitting rather comfortably on their linked arms beneath him, in a "fireman's chair." They ushered him swiftly to his bed and then hastily left, off to their next rescue.

"What did you think you were doing?" asked the red-faced nurse standing in front of him with her hands resting on her hips. "Didn't I say to take it easy? You could have hit your head in there. Next time you get up, I want you to ring one of us. Do you understand?" She didn't let him answer, but just continued her tirade with a rage that made Nicolaus blush.

"Why did you remove your bandages? Did I say you could remove them? No, I did not. You just had to see, didn't you?"

"Thank you, Nancy, I'll take care of Nicolaus now," Paul said kindly, entering the hospital room for his afternoon visit just in time. The nurse shook her head, rolled her eyes at Paul, then left the room in a huff.

"Nancy's one of the best nurses I know, a little on the military side when it comes to personalities, but she means well. So, you ventured out into the world today and found it was a little more than you could take on. That's okay, no broken bones!" Paul patted Nicolaus on the shoulder while he flashed his penlight into both of Nicolaus's eyes, one at a time. Afterward, he helped him get his leg back up into the traction pulley to elevate it.

"Paul, why did you cut all my hair off?" Nicolaus asked, while Paul tucked the sheets in around him like a father would a small child.

"Nicolaus, everything we did, we did to save your life. Your hair will grow back! Now tell me, what happened before you passed out in the bathroom? Were you dizzy or did you feel sick?"

"No, I just passed out," Nicolaus said curtly, feeling stupid for fainting in the first place, and mad at himself. He had seen worse; he wondered why seeing the stitches in his head freaked him out?

"Can you tell me what you were doing before you passed out?" Paul asked sympathetically.

"I was doing nothing, just looking in the mirror at my face!" Nicolaus sat back and folded his arms across his chest.

"Ah! Now that's a loaded answer, my young friend. You passed out 'cause you saw your face?" Mr. Hart could not resist teasing his roommate and laughing to himself.

"Shut up! Did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?" Nicolaus hissed.

"No, as a matter of fact no one's ever had the guts to say that to me. You're the first! However, I bet a few of your friends have told you that you have a short fuse. Haven't they?" Hart said, just as sternly.

"Now you two, let's just calm down. After all, you two are cellmates for at least a couple more weeks, so let's not burn any bridges yet," Paul advised. He looked at Nicolaus as he stood, and just before he left, he said, "I'm just going to report this as an equilibrium problem and leave it at that. Just try and take things a little slower, okay?"

"Look! I'm sorry," Nicolaus said in a kinder tone after Paul had left the room. "I just feel really stupid for passing out, and what with Gertrude da drill sergeant yelling at me and Paul coming in here treating me like a little boy... I just felt stupid!"

"Listen, kid, you were knocking on heaven's door when they brought you in here. I can't imagine what you were like in ICU. I'd be real thankful that I was even alive, if I were you. Man, all you religious freaks are all the same. You have no healthy fear of death!"

Nicolaus leaned back and laughed to himself, thinking about what Hart had said. He hadn't even thought about death in a very long time. He knew it was unavoidable, but for some strange reason he didn't think it possible at his young age. Now he realized perhaps he should think about it a little more seriously, since he'd very nearly achieved it in these last few weeks.

"You feel like having visitors?" asked the nurse, leaning her head inside his room. Nicolaus nodded, watching in anticipation to see who would turn the corner.

"Ach, you two!" Nicolaus smiled. When he saw his twelve-string guitar in Karen's hand, his eyes lit up.

"Holy Moses and all the saints!" Gene stopped in his tracks and looked at Nicolaus in shock.

Nicolaus glanced up after taking his guitar from Karen. "What?" he croaked out the word with a frown.

"Your head! It's bald!"

"Oh, don't mind him. Nick, you look great!" Karen said as she kissed him on the lips and they embraced gingerly. "I'm just happy you came back to us! I missed you," Karen whispered, as she pulled back and looked into his  
bloodshot eyes.

"Thanks, Karen. But Gene's right, I look like a bald raccoon," Nicolaus joked. He looked his guitar over and held it tightly against his chest with his free arm, as if daring anyone to try and take it from him. "I can't wait to play her!"

"Here, everyone at The Eagle signed it for you," Gene said, handing Nicolaus a large scroll that was tied together with a big blue ribbon.

"Everyone?" asked Nicolaus, as he untied the ribbon and started to read all the many entries, laughing out loud at what Kenzie wrote. "Oh man!" Nicolaus said. He lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes, hoping the double vision and nausea would subside.

"What is it, Nick?" Karen asked as she looked at the writings, terrified that someone had written something about the death of Danny, Lorie, and Sylvain, which they were strictly forbidden from doing. Jesse had told the Friday-night crowd that Nick was not aware of their passing yet and not to mention it in their well wishes to him. Nicolaus reached for the vomit pan and gently placed his guitar on the floor beside him, propping it against his bed so he could retrieve it easily later.

"I get these waves of dizziness, double vision, and then vomit my brains out. I'm hoping this one will just go away."

Gene moved back away from Nicolaus's bed while Karen came alongside of it to take the scroll from his lap. Nicolaus's color wasn't good. Karen offered to read the comments to him so he could rest. Nicolaus nodded and Karen began to read each one until the last. Then she rolled the scroll back up. Gene, meanwhile, took in a national football game with Hart on the other side of the curtain. The nice fellow had turned on the game, knowing Gene would be bored out of his mind with the reading of the scroll. Gene thanked Hart, noticing how quiet it had become.

"How long has he been asleep?"

"He nodded off halfway through it. I just wanted to read the thing to him, anyway, so I could watch him sleep. I knew you would have said let's go if you knew he was out."

"I swear, Karen, if I didn't know you, I'd say you were in love with Nick!"

"I do love Nick." Karen touched her sleeping friend's hand tenderly, then turned to leave. "I love him very much. But I'm in love with you, and don't you ever forget it!"

"Are you going so soon?" Nicolaus asked, waking up at the touch of Karen's hand on his.

"It's almost two o'clock; we have to be at work by five," Gene told him, taking Karen by the hand and nodding toward the door for them to take their leave.

"What day is it?" Nicolaus asked drowsily, rubbing the thick bristly dark fuzz on top of his head with his free hand.

"It's Saturday, why?" asked Karen, stopping Gene from ushering her out. The voice of Sarah came back to him, promising to come visit him on Saturday.

"Did anyone come while I was asleep?"

"It's been just us. Were you expecting someone, Nick?"

"No, never mind," Nicolaus said, an overwhelming wave of loneliness engulfing him.

"What are you, Danny, and Hans doing for a lead singer while I'm here?" It suddenly occurred to him that they were working without him.

"Ah..." Gene said, as he looked to Karen for help.

"Hans's band is playing while you're mending. They're doing a very good job, so you just concentrate on getting better, Nick. We'll stop by tomorrow to check on you again, okay?" Karen thought quickly on her feet, and Gene was grateful for that. They headed for the door, tripping over each other, trying their best to get out of his room without having to answer any more questions about the band.

"Okay, well, tell Danny I'll be working on a song he can blow out his bass on, and tell them to come see me. I want to let Hans know that it's okay to use any of my songs if they run out of their own material," Nicolaus called out to them, his voice cracking while they rushed out the door.

~

It was Friday before anyone other than Edna and his mother had come to visit, and Nicolaus found himself looking at the phone next to his bed, wondering why no one was even calling. Edna was great to have around, but Lieutenant Joe was not too far off whenever she came to visit. He made a mental note to ask her about him and why he was spending so much time hanging around her. Paul, Rodger, and Betsy came in at least once a day to check on him, but it wasn't enough to satisfy his need to talk to someone. His guitar sat idly next to his bed, his left hand disabled, being taped to the IV splint. That's the only thing that prevented him from picking it up and playing it. He was feeling bored and sorry for himself as Jesse, Gene, and Karen came through the door to see him.

"Hi, Nick! How are you feeling today?"

"Perfect, and you?" he spouted off sarcastically, not looking up from the magazine one of the nurses had let him read to keep him occupied and out of their hair.

"Ah... Karen told me they cut your hair, but I was expecting you to look a little funnier. I think you look just fine." Jesse was trying to get Nicolaus to talk to him, feeling a little nervous about seeing him for the first time since the accident. Nicolaus put down the magazine and looked at Jesse. He just looked back as if he was guilty of a crime and didn't want Nicolaus to know what he had done.

"Yes... well, um, are they treating you fairly well around here, Nick? I mean, we wouldn't want them to spoil you too much. Next thing ya know, you'll be wanting a nurse tending to your every need onstage if we... Ah... ah... anyway, I just wanted to come see for myself how you were." Jesse looked nervously at Gene for help.

"Your face looks a lot better than the last time we were here. The swelling's gone down a lot. How are the dizzy spells and double vision? Still puking your brains out?" Gene felt himself sinking into meaningless gibberish, too, and looked at Karen to bail him out. Nicolaus just sat there in silence, letting each one make a fool of himself.

"Nick, is there something wrong?" Karen asked, noting his demeanor was not that of one who was glad to see them.

"I'm just wondering why no one has bothered to come and see me until today. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere soon. Where are Danny and Hans? Where's Lorie? She hasn't even bothered to come and see how I've been doing. Has she already left?"

The three looked first at each other, then silently at the ground.

"Listen Nick, I need to tell you something and I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but... I needed to hire Hans's band to take over Gene's weekend spot and... well, I just want you to take as long as you want to heal after this. I mean, you're going to need the time off to heal and..." Jesse stopped and turned his face away as he felt the tears start to well up in his eyes.

Nicolaus saw Karen wiping away her own tears, and then he noticed how Gene was looking straight at him with a look of glazed shock. All of this made Nicolaus feel like there was something terribly wrong.

Just then Sarah and Eli walked into the room with smiles and a fresh bouquet of flowers from the gift shop downstairs. "Hi Nicolaus, sorry I missed seeing you last Saturday. Eli and I thought we could make it up with some flowers... Say... what's happening here?" Sarah asked, looking at the three and sensing the tension in the room.

Eli took the flowers from Sarah and placed them down on the table as Nicolaus asked Jesse point blank, "Where are Lorie, Hans, and Danny?"

Beth and Joseph had just entered the room, too, but Nicolaus's attention was on his question. Karen turned and without a word left the room in tears. Gene followed her, leaving Jesse alone to answer Nicolaus's inquiries. Eli moved to Nicolaus's side, knowing he would not let these questions go unanswered. His curiosity was fueled even more by the odd behavior of the three from the bar.

"Nicolaus, maybe you should rest. I think we all should go and let Nicolaus rest!" Eli said, as he nodded toward the door to Sarah.

No one moved while Nicolaus took hold of Jesse's arm and prevented him from turning to go. "Jesse, what is  
going on?"

"Nothing, Nick. We just want you to get well, that's all." Jesse turned his arm to pull loose of Nicolaus's strong grip.

"Then just tell me where everyone is!"

Jesse looked up at Eli and then back down to Nicolaus's unrelinquished grasp on his arm. Nicolaus kept his eyes locked on Jesse's.

"Danny and Lorie are dead, Nick! They were in the accident, too, but they didn't make it. Are you happy? Is that what you wanted to hear?" Jesse blurted out, then tearfully tore his arm free from Nicolaus.

Nick went pale. His jaw dropped as shock took over his soul. "They are dead?" the words came from somewhere in the room; they seemed to float in midair around Nicolaus's head as if someone else had asked the question. The room was still except for Beth, who was sobbing quietly in the darkened corner. Nicolaus closed his eyes, trying to comprehend what was just said, but the thoughts got jumbled up with questions that flooded his mind. He looked over at Beth and immediately thought of Sylvain. "Where is Sylvain?" he asked, knowing he would have been at his side these last few days if he was here at all. Wild horses wouldn't have kept his friend from him. The silence was deafening.

"Where is Sylvain?" Nicolaus asked again, this time grabbing onto Eli's vest.

"He's dead, Nicolaus," Eli whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks. Nicolaus swallowed hard as he felt the bile come quickly from the pit of his stomach to the back of his throat.

"No!" he said calmly at first, staring deep into Eli's eyes. Then he breathed in deeply, only to be met with the overwhelming feeling that he was unable to release the breath. Letting it escape from his lungs slowly, he sat there silently, listening to the sobbing of those in the room; the sound of his own heartbeat seemed to be hammering out of control in wild half-beats to the pounding in his head. He placed both arms up in front of his face, his fist towards his eyes, as he slowly repeated over and over, "No, no, no, God, no! Not Sylvain. No, God, not Sylvain!"

Mr. Hart rang for the nurse, knowing his roommate was out of control, but Gene and Karen had already summoned her. She ordered Eli to hold onto him while she injected a strong sedative straight into his arm.

"He'll be out soon. Just hold him!" she repeated, waiting until it took effect. Gene held him down, and Eli slipped an arm around his shoulders.

Nicolaus began to weep, unwilling to be comforted, but Eli held onto him, rocking him as Nicolaus screamed Sylvain's name over and over while trying to free himself of Eli's and Gene's restraining grip over him.

"Not Sylvain, God, please, not Sylvain..." Nicolaus said repeatedly until his rocking and wailing lowered to sobbing, incoherent whispers. Mercifully he fell into the peaceful arms of sleep, once again detaching himself from the horrors of the world.

"Come! We have done enough damage for one day." Eli motioned to Sarah to help Beth from the room.

* * * * *

Chapter 11

October 1974  
Nicolaus, Age 19  
I'm Not Okay

Nicolaus slept through the night, but while darkness still lingered over his room, he woke to the fidgeting of the nurse who was trying to stay as quiet as possible while she checked in on him.

"Are you all right?" she asked, seeing that he was awake and looking at her. Nicolaus was silent for a moment, then asked her dryly, like he had been drained of all emotion, "All right?"

"Yes, or can I get you anything?"

"Nothing... Unless you have a gun."

"Mr. Zook, don't talk like that. I'll have to report it to your doctors that you're showing signs of being suicidal, and that would win you another two weeks upstairs in the psych ward. With a whole new set of doctors poking and probing you to death, I might add."

Nicolaus sighed, the tears streaming down his cheeks as he turned his head away from her sympathetic smile.

"I don't want any visitors. Don't let them come to see me!" he begged between sobs.

"I'll put it on your report not to allow friends to visit until further notice. If asked, I'll just say that you asked for a time to grieve."

"No one, don't let anyone in!" he repeated himself, his teeth clenched in anger.

"Well, we can't stop the doctors, that's a given, but I can do my best to grant your request for any others. You may not feel like it now, but you do need your friends and family to get you through times like these."

"My friends and family all died in the car accident," Nicolaus whispered. When he tried to look back at the nurse, the tears that filled his eyes blurred her face. "Can you please put me out like you did before?" Nicolaus asked.

"I suppose I could put on your report that you needed to be subdued again. But sooner or later, you're going to have to face it and go through the grieving without the drugs."

"I know. Just until morning," Nicolaus pleaded.

She sighed and did as he asked. Poor kid, she thought to herself as she left the room, how much more can he take?

~

"Good evening, Nicolaus," Paul said as he and Rodger entered the hospital room, illuminated only by Mr. Hart's TV. Nicolaus said nothing; he just looked out his window at the snow that had started falling earlier that day. "The nurse tells us you aren't eating or taking visitors."

Nicolaus turned toward Paul and Rodger then asked, "When can I get out of here?" totally disregarding Paul's inquiry about his recent behavior.

"When you start to get better, and at the rate you're going, son, you'll be here for quite a while! We were told you were informed about the deaths that occurred the night of the accident. Grieving you will and must go through, but self-destruction we cannot allow." Paul waited a few moments to see if Nicolaus would give some reaction to what he had said, but seeing none, he continued. "Tell you what I'll do. If you will eat something today, I'll have the nurses remove your IV. Is that a deal?"

Nicolaus remained quiet, continuing to watch the snow drifting silently past his window. Paul turned and left, leaving Rodger standing alone staring at Nicolaus, at a loss for words.

"I know this is hard for you, Nick..."

"You don't know anything, Rodger! You don't know how I feel. You can't possibly know how I feel!" Nicolaus interrupted, slamming him with all his pent-up anger. "He left me here alone. He knew he was going to die and he left me here alone. Why, Rodger? I can't do this on my own. It's too hard. I can't do it." Nicolaus began to cry, hiding his face with his hands.

"I don't think any of us are meant to do it on our own, Nick. That's what friends and family are for. Granted, sometimes we aren't the best at it, but most of us try. We really do care for you, Nick. But you've got to let us in."

"No. You will all leave me like Sylvain did if I let you in. I can't let you in!"

"I promise, not all of us will leave you!" Rodger said as he forcefully pulled Nicolaus's hands from his face. He then sat down on his bed, knowing that Nicolaus needed to talk and that it would undoubtedly take some time to crack the protective shell he'd built up around himself.

"I'll stay until you feel all right," Rodger assured him, looking into Nicolaus's eyes.

"That's just it, Rodger, I'm not all right. I'll never be all right! I am broken into millions of fragmented pieces inside. I'm broken, Rodger, and there's nothing I or you can do about it."

"Yes, there is. You can take one step at a time and let everyone you care about know how you feel. Be as transparent as you possibly can. That way, you'll weed out all the so-called friends who want to suck you dry. Here, put your feelings in your songs. Get it out in the open so we all know what and how you feel. Even if it's wrong, get it out." Rodger reached down and pulled Nicolaus's twelve-string up from his bedside. "I'll call the nurse to take out your IV just as soon as you eat something, okay?"

Nicolaus took his guitar in his arms and laid his head against it as he sobbed. "Good, Nick, get it out. I'll ask the nurse to bring something in for you to eat."

Rodger stayed and watched as Nicolaus devoured his lunch in silence. And true to his word, the nurse came back with the tray to remove his IV.

"Now remember, this goes back in if you refuse any meals, do you understand?" she asked as she peeled away the tape that held Nicolaus's hand down against the splint. Pulling the thin rubber tube from his vein, she said, "I'll be here if you need me."

Nicolaus made a fist, and then tried to open his hand wide. It was stiff and sore as he moved each finger, pretending to finger the chords on his guitar. He then reached for his twelve-string that Lorie had given him last Christmas. Holding it, he began to play as he forced his left hand to move to the notes through the pain and stiffness.

~

"Are there words to that tune you're playing?" Hart asked. He'd been told Nicolaus was a performer as well as a songwriter.

"There were at one time, but I'm not sure if I can remember them." Nicolaus started to hum the tune low at first, barely audible so that Hart had to strain to hear him. The words came quickly back to Nicolaus, as if he had just written them, so he began to sing.

"Budding from a green land,  
The earth yielding to my plow  
Breathing the dreams of other men, as I live off the land  
This life being a paradox, but I don't mind too much  
Their laughing eyes and prideful touch  
Their questions of why, and selfish trust  
Makes me run for safety into my Father's arms.

Growing up in holiness  
I searched for worldliness  
Only to find emptiness in the bitterness of this world  
So I run to my Father, when the pain is too great  
He holds me in His arms, and fills me with His grace  
Because He knows trying to live the law  
Makes you bitter as hell  
He finds me hiding from the laughing eyes  
From the world and its pride, and from its lies  
He takes my hand and leads me home  
Safe and secure in my Father's arms."

Hart was touched. "You must love your father very much!"

"You misunderstood da song. It's not about..." Nicolaus stopped as he looked up to find his father and mother standing at the doorway. A cold feeling of intrusion and fear came over him as he lowered his guitar slowly to the floor, never taking his eyes off his father. Jacob entered the room and came to stand beside Nicolaus's bed.

"I understand now why the world wants you to stay in it. You do have a great talent, but singing and playing a guitar will not bring in da crops or milk da cows. It won't do da chores that are needed to be done around da farm, but your mater wants you home, and I have agreed to allow you to come back to help out. Winter is here und it will give you time to mend before the spring planting. I could use your help now dat Israel has gone. You can do for your mater und maybe in frooling—spring you can help me seed. Now I know der nakt-kloop—the nightclub, you have obligations dere, too... I'm not asking you to go against dat. I'm just saying you can come home to help, dat's all." Jacob's voice had sounded robotic, devoid of any feelings, as were his eyes while he spoke to his son in English.

Nicolaus looked at his mother, then back at Jacob. He had tears in his eyes, but would not allow them to spill for fear that Jacob would think him weak. "I would like dat very much. I will heal fast at home and do whatever you ask of me."

"Your mater has agreed to house you in the storage room next to my woodworking room in da barn." He then turned and left the room, never hearing the "thank you" that his son whispered, his lips quivering from the strain of holding back his tears. Nicolaus didn't mind being put in the barn. He knew Jacob thought of him as one of the world and knew his place was not yet inside the house with the rest of his family. The storage room was large enough for a bed and it was kept warm in the winter by the wood-burning potbelly stove in the room adjacent to it where Jacob did his woodworking and furniture projects. It was sufficient for now, and Nicolaus was more than happy to be offered it, knowing he could finally spend time with his family again. Although Samuel's offer was nice, Nicolaus knew he had to go home.

~

"A week has passed, and you still aren't accepting visitors?" Rodger asked as he checked Nicolaus's chart. He moved next to his bed to look into his eyes with his penlight. "The nurses set up a book for your visitors to sign. They have been leaving tokens of their thoughts at the nurses' station. But I see you haven't asked to read the book or receive any of the tokens. They're just piling up out there."

"I don't want to see anyone yet!" Nicolaus said, pulling his hospital gown up so Rodger could check the stitches that were just under his left rib cage.

Rodger inspected them, and then said, "These and the ones in your head need to come out today. I'll do it myself while I'm here."

"Will it hurt?"

Rodger looked up at Nicolaus and laughed to himself.

"What?" Nicolaus asked, frowning at Rodger as he tried to watch for a reaction he could find recognizable.

"Nothing, Nick, nothing. And to answer your question, yeah, it might hurt a little, especially those in your head. Nothing you can't handle, though." Rodger rang for the nurse to assist him.

"Well, can you put me out or something?" Nicolaus asked.

"No, 'fraid not, Nick. I'm going to pull each one of these out and watch you squirm!"

"Rodger!" Nicolaus protested, and pulled his head back in defense.

"I'm just joking. Sit still and bend your head down a little more." Rodger clipped each stitch, then pulled the suture out gently, so as not to disturb the healing skin that it had kept closed for over six weeks. It tickled a bit, but it certainly was not what Nicolaus would describe as painful, until Rodger got to the ones just below his ribs. They, for some reason, were very sensitive, and it felt as if Rodger was plucking out his chest hairs, one by one.

"Damn, Rodger!" Nicolaus jumped as the last one was snipped and pulled out.

"What? I told you to expect a little pain!" Rodger looked up with a sinister smile. "Now that that's over and you're able to get around on your own with your crutches, I think it's time we see if you can fly."

"You're going to let me go home?" Nicolaus bestowed upon him the first smile Rodger had seen since he woke up from his coma.

"I think you can do just as much damage there as you have caused here. What do you think?"

"I haven't caused damage here," Nicolaus said, frowning.

"Well, the nurses have another story, so I think we better let you go." Rodger looked up from his bandaging and winked at the nurse as she turned to Nicolaus and gave him a sweet smile. "I'll draw up the paperwork for your release, but there's one person sitting out in the waiting room. I insist that you see him before you go home. He's been out there every day for three days now."

Nicolaus cocked his head slightly to one side and looked at Rodger as if asking him to tell him who it was.

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot—I want an x-ray of that leg, and a new cast on it before he's discharged!" Rodger ordered to the nurse on her way out. Then turning back to Nicolaus he said, "It's Hans." He waited for Nicolaus's reaction.

Nicolaus looked down at his cast and bit his lower lip. Rodger could see in his eyes that he had a big problem with this request. "I think you owe it to him!" Rodger finally said, expecting a silent Amish reaction, knowing no words spoke louder than a few, thus practicing their art of silent discourse.

"What?" Nicolaus asked scowling and looking up at Rodger as if he was crazy. "Hans took Sylvain to da party, not me. I didn't want anything to do with da stupid party. Why can't they leave me alone? They want to say how much they love me, and then they wonder why I do not want them around after they take my best friend from me. I hate them and everything they stand for!"

"It's all about you, Nick, isn't it?" Rodger walked back and sat next to Nicolaus on his bed.

"What? No!" His lips moved but there were no words. Wishing he could take back what he had just said, he ran his hand over the inch of thick growth that had sprung up on his head during the last six weeks.

"Yes, it is. Hans loved his brother just as much as you loved him. Maybe he made a mistake by bringing Sol to the party, but that does not mean he took Sol from you. Come to think about it, you could say Danny killed Sylvain. He's the one who went into a diabetic coma and flipped the car! After all, he didn't take his medication like he should have. Let's go one further, it could have been your fault."

"Mine? How can you say that to me, Rodger?

"I'm just trying to help you see how messed up your reasoning is. Just remember, you're lumping an awful lot of innocent people into your word 'they'! Come to think about it, I would be in that category you labeled 'they,' wouldn't I?"

Nicolaus looked away and sucked in his cheeks, biting on the fleshy skin inside his mouth as he tried to get in touch with his feelings and realized it just might not be how he necessarily should feel.

"Yeah, you're a 'they' and if you weren't my doctor, I wouldn't be talking to you, either! Tell Hans he's as good as Sylvain's murderer as far as I'm concerned, and I hope he burns in hell for what he's done!"

Rodger sighed and lowered his head, shaking it as he stood. He started to leave the room, rolling his eyes as he passed by Mr. Hart.

"Yeah, now ya know what I've had to put up with for over a month now. I'm being held captive with a madman! Please get him out of here!" Hart said, half-jokingly.

The evening nurses came onboard, and still no word of his release. He got up every few minutes, asking the nurses if they had heard from Dr. Dylan. They finally asked him nicely to go back to his room, assuring him they were waiting for the doctor's call.

"But I was supposed to go home today! I don't want to go back to that room." Nicolaus sat himself rebelliously down in a chair facing the nurses' station, arms crossed over his chest. He was acting out by refusing to return to his room, and had on quite the dramatic get-up, too—cast, hospital gown, crutches, and all. At eight o'clock that evening, Rodger finally came streaking down the corridor with a wheelchair and two orderlies on each side of him, his white lab coat billowing out as he headed straight to Nicolaus's campground.

"Get in the wheelchair and don't say a word! I do not want to hear a peep from you, you big baby! I have a job to do, Nick. Although you may not realize it, I have other patients who need my care in this hospital, most of whom have the decency to wait until I can get to them, one at a time."

"I don't need a wheelchair; just let me go home."

"This wheelchair is to take you to x-ray. Now get in it!"

"Rodger, you said that I would be able to go home."

"That was before you refused to see Hans. Now I'm just letting you feel a little of how Hans feels, sitting in the waiting room day by day, wanting to see you. How do you like it?"

"You're an ass!" Nicolaus growled, struggling to get up to go back to his room.

"Nick! Get in the wheelchair before these gentlemen help you into it!" Nicolaus stopped and looked at the chair, then at each of the orderlies. He let out a huff as he sat slowly down in the wheelchair, allowing them to take him to x-ray like a petulant child.

After the x-rays had been taken and looked at, Rodger met Nicolaus back in his room with a tray and the fixings for a cast replacment.

"Get in bed!" ordered Rodger gruffly. Nicolaus obediently climbed back into his bed and sat there, arms still crossed over his chest, looking up at Rodger, who also stood there with arms crossed over his chest as well. It looked more like a standoff than a patient/doctor interaction. Rodger nodded to the nurse, who rose what looked like a power saw next to Nicolaus's leg. Nicolaus immediately jumped back, moved his leg off the bed, and looked up at Rodger as if he was insane.

"Ach. No, I don't think so, Rodger. Get dat away from me!" By now, Nicolaus was completely off the bed and had wedged himself between the wall and the bathroom door. He hopped on his one good leg to the window.

"What? You don't trust me?" Rodger was getting a kick out of the fear in Nicolaus's eyes.

"No, I don't. Just let me go home, Rodger," he bargained, holding up his hand as if to say 'stay back.'

"I think one more night in hell isn't too much to ask. What do you all think, ladies?" Rodger looked at the nurses, who were trying very hard not to laugh. They nodded in agreement with Rodger, but the one with the power saw nodded the hardest as she lifted it up a little higher, just for the fear-factor effect.

"Get into bed... NOW!" Rodger commanded, his voice elevated in anger.

"Okay," Nicolaus said, coming to terms that Rodger would not really use that on him. As soon as Nicolaus sat down on his bed, one nurse came around on one side of Nicolaus and Rodger on the other, both with a roll of surgical tape in their hands. They took hold of Nicolaus's wrists and began taping him to the bed rails.

"What are you doing, Rodger?" Nicolaus asked, looking frantically at the nurse, then at Rodger.

"Help me tape his leg, too!" Rodger ignored Nick's question and tossed his roll of tape to another nurse who began to roll it around Nicolaus's one good ankle. She taped it down to the carriage of the hospital bed so he could not move anything except his leg that was broken, and the nurse with the power saw was holding it down. All the while, Mr. Hart was applauding and laughing, shouting his encouragement to the staff.

"Why are you doing this, Rodger?" Nicolaus asked repeatedly, as he tried to loosen his wrists from their bondage—to no avail.

"Because you need to have a new cast, Nick. This is what we do to children who cannot lay still for a cast removal and replacement. Sorry!" Rodger reached for the power saw, turned it on and began to saw through Nicolaus's cast. The saw had a safety bar just under the blade, but Nicolaus was not aware of this feature. He didn't move, he didn't even breathe. His eyes were as big as they could possibly become without popping completely out of their sockets. Rodger looked up at his distorted face and started to laugh. Seeing Nicolaus terrified was a very pleasant payback for his self-righteous comments earlier.

"Okay, it's off. You can breathe now!" Rodger informed him as he started to walk away. "The ladies will take your stitches out and put your new cast on. I want you to see Paul in two weeks. Have a pleasant evening, Nick!" Rodger waved and left the room with the power saw tucked under his arm and a justified smile on his face.

"Wait! Rodger, don't leave me here like this!" Nicolaus yelled. He slammed his head back onto his pillow and watched in silence as the nurses removed the stitches and recast his leg, leaving him taped hand and foot when they walked out.

"Wait! What do I do if I have to use the restroom?" Nicolaus yelled after them and heard one of them say loud enough for him to hear, "Do you suppose we'd better put the foley catheter back on him again?"

"Ah... no, dat's okay, ladies, I'll ah... I'll be fine!" he replied in terror.

The cast was warming to his leg as it dried. It felt good and made him have to fight back an immediate desire to relax. The snow outside was coming down hard again. He looked out the window trying hard not to slip into the sleep that threatened to take him, but he finally succumbed to its powerful draw.

~

"Nicolaus!"

"What?" Nicolaus asked aloud, knowing the voice and feeling secure in his presence. "What is it, Sylvain?" he asked. His eyes were still closed.

"Nicolaus!" the voice whispered again. This time Nicolaus jumped. It was so close—it was right next to his ear. He could almost feel the warmth of his breath on his neck. "I need your help!" Nicolaus tried to open his eyes, but he could not.

Heaviness came over his body. "I can't move, Sylvain. I want to help you, but I can't move." Nicolaus started to cry, feeling the same frustration he felt in the few moments of frantically trying to help his friend after the car accident.

"Tell my brother it's not his fault. Tell him I love him. Tell him, Nicolaus. Tell him."

~

"Zook!" Nicolaus heard his name again, this time from across the room. He opened his eyes and found himself drenched in sweat.

"Man, you're having a bad dream. Wake up!" Mr. Hart said as one of the nurses arrived, turning on the lights to the room as she entered.

"What's going on?" she asked as she checked Nicolaus for any injuries.

"Zook's having a bad dream. He's been tossing and turning all night. But now he's crying out loud and it's creepin' me out!"

"What's wrong?" asked the nurse as she wiped Nicolaus's face with a wet washcloth.

"Can you untie me? I promise I won't go anywhere but the bathroom."

"You promise?" she repeated.

"I promise!" Nicolaus answered weakly. His spirit felt like it had been broken. The nurse cut away the tape, and Nicolaus hopped into the bathroom to splash his face with cool, fresh water. Coming back to his bed, he asked the nurse if she would remove the visitation ban so he could see any visitors the next day. She looked at him questionably and then agreed that she would.

"Especially a kid named Hans, please!" said Nicolaus with a tired smile. "He's the one that's about seven foot tall and wears his hair long." Nicolaus raised his hand up to a height that was a head above his.

"I know Hans, and I'll let him in as soon as he shows up," said the nurse with a smile as she tucked Nicolaus in for the rest of the night.

~

"He's here!" one of the morning nurses said as she poked her head in the doorway. Nicolaus sat on his bed with his guitar, trying to waste away the morning until his mother and Aunt Betsy arrived with his clothing to take him home. He was writing a new song. It was the song he felt he had to write, a song of feelings, of his hurts and of the loneliness from losing his best friend, as well as an ex-lover and a good friend, and why he was the lone survivor of the tragedy.

Hans entered the room while Nicolaus finished the last verse. When he saw him, Nicolaus's immediate reaction was one of shock, seeing so much of Sylvain in Hans's physical features. Hans saw the reactions and smiled shyly as he continued to walk closer to Nicolaus's bed.

"Stop!" Nicolaus said as he looked down, and held up three fingers, the other two pinching his guitar pick. Nicolaus's heart was still angry with Hans and he did not want him to come any nearer. Hans stopped in his tracks, and his smile faded into a look of hurt.

"I have a message for you," Nicolaus said, still focusing on his papers that were spread out on his bed. Hans came closer and stood meekly at Nicolaus's side. "Sylvain wants you to know that it wasn't your fault, and that... he..." Nicolaus looked up as Hans fell to his knees, his hands covering his face as he sobbed uncontrollably. "Hans, he wants you to know he loves you," Nicolaus's heart melted for the young kid, obviously distraught over thinking he was the cause of his brother's death. "And he's near. He's closer to us than we think," Nicolaus finished. Then he bent over to hold Hans's head to his chest as they both wept.

After a few moments, Nicolaus sniffed and shuffled his papers into a neat pile. "Come, sit," he said, then handed them to Hans. "It's my last song. I don't plan to come back to The Eagle so you can have it and all my others, if you want dem."

"You're not coming back?" Hans asked, wide eyed.

Nicolaus laughed and said, "You and your band are doing a good job, from everything I've heard. So I won't need to!"

"But, Nicolaus, these are your songs!"

"Yeah, well... I gave them to you. Now you have to deal with them. Listen, Hans, I've spent almost three months in this place confined to this damn bed, and I had a lot of time to think. I need to go home now where I belong, and unfortunately, my songs and talent, well... there's not a great need there for either, as you know, so here ya go. It's all yours!"

"I promise I will do what you would want done with them. They are the best songs I've ever played," Hans said, as he started to read the new one then looked back at Nicolaus with tears in his eyes. "This is how you feel, Nicolaus? I have no right to play this at The Eagle."

"Do whatever you want with it, it's yours," Nicolaus said, feeling freer than he'd felt in the entire four years he had spent out in the world.

"Nicolaus, come one last time to sing this song for your fans. Please, I will set it up for you to come in on Saturday night, if it's okay with Dr. Dylan."

"Well, it would be nice to be able to say good-bye," Nicolaus shrugged. "Of course it would be up to Rodger to let me do anything out of the ordinary like that. Anyway, I don't have any of my English clothes," said Nicolaus. Then he laughed at the excitement on Hans's face.

Just then, Betsy walked in with Amish apparel for Nicolaus to put on. "Where did you get these?" he asked, holding up the homemade button-over black pants, deep blue long-sleeve shirt, suspenders, black vest, and black wide-brim felt hat.

"They were your brother, Israel's. I hope they fit!"

"Are you taking me home?" asked Nicolaus, wondering where his family was, knowing they should have been there by now.

"Esther asked me to take you home with Paul and me for a couple of days while Jacob finishes the storeroom in the barn. Are you sure you want to go home, Nicolaus? I mean, I don't know, putting you up in the barn is, well..."

"It's fine, really. I don't mind. At least I'll be home," Nicolaus said, looking down at his brother's clothing. When he looked back up at Hans, they both began to laugh.

"What?" asked Betsy with a petulant look.

"Ach, no, Aunt Betsy, it's not you, it's the..." Nicolaus picked up his brother's hat and pulled what looked to be a tightly rolled joint from the outside leather band.

"That's what I thought that was!" Hans exclaimed as he took it from Nicolaus's fingers.

"Well, now!" Nicolaus said, as he crossed his chest with his arms and looked down at his aunt with mock accusation.

"Ach, you boys in your Rumspringa. I don't know how your parents survive it!"

Paul came in the room just as Betsy was about to insist Nicolaus put on his brother's clothing. "Good morning, all. It's good to see you up, and with a smile on, at that!" Paul beamed as he looked at Nicolaus, then down at the Amish clothing laid out for him on the bed. He frowned as he looked back at Hans with the joint between his fingers, boldly displaying it for all to see. "I advise you to flush that now, young man. Go on, off with ya!" Paul pointed Hans in the direction of the bathroom and gave him a little shove.

"It wasn't his or Nicolaus's, Paul; they found it in Israel's hat!" Betsy got in her stay of execution for Nicolaus and Hans.

"I believe you, dear. All right, sorry, boys. Now, Nicolaus, you're coming home with us for a few days and..."

"I know, Paul, Aunt Betsy has told me. Can I wear my own clothes, though, that is, until I'm taken home?"

"Of course, did you bring any of his regular...?" Paul asked as he turned to Betsy.

"No!" was her only reply.

"Well, these will have to do until we get you home. I suggest the pant leg be cut up the side so you can get your cast in it," Paul said, as he summoned the nurse with the buzzer.

"You look so..."

"Plain!" Hans finished Betsy's comment as they all looked at Nicolaus in his brother's Amish clothing. Paul handed his hat to him to put on.

"Yes. Well, I don't think I'll be donning this just yet!" Tucking the hat under his arm, Nick reached for his crutches.

"Hey, Amish! Are you through talking that gibberish long enough so I can say good-bye?" Mr. Hart asked, referring to their dialect.

"Yeah, what's up, Hart?" Nicolaus asked, as he limped around the corner with his crutches.

"Man! You are Amish! I was beginning to wonder. You look a lot taller in that garb, anyway, uh... I had one of your friends make me a going away present for you. It's just, I didn't think crutches suited you, so I had Eli make you a cane. That is, just until you get used to your bum leg, ya know."

Nicolaus looked down at the stick-shaped object wrapped in a brown colored paper covering, tied with twine into a neat bow at the side. He unwrapped the present and marveled at the workmanship of the carved piece of wood. There was a head of a lion at the top, its mouth open, exposing sharp fangs. The cane was buffed to a natural wood gloss and equipped with a fitted rubber tip at the bottom so it would not slip from under him as he walked with it.

"This is very nice of you, Hart. Thank you! I don't know what to say!"

"Don't say anything. Just get the heck outta here while they'll still let you!"

Nicolaus laughed and thanked him for putting up with him while they were roommates. Hart just waved him on and smiled.

"What's this?" asked Nicolaus looking down at the wheelchair provided for him on his release.

"Your chair, Nick!" replied the orderly who waited behind it.

"Thanks, I'll walk!" Nicolaus raised one crutch as if it was his leg.

"Sorry, hospital policy. Have a seat!" said the orderly point blank.

"Amish! Quit arguing and get in the damn wheelchair!" Hart yelled from inside his room. Nicolaus sat down and felt his face flush, unsure if it was from embarrassment or rage.

"They'll take you to be checked out; we will meet you down in the pick-up area in front of the hospital. Please don't react harshly when you see your bill!" Paul told him before he and Betsy left him there with Hans and the orderly.

~

"One hundred and forty-nine thousand dollars! Are you sure this is right?" Nicolaus asked, in an elevated tone, remembering what Paul had advised.

"Let me see that." Hans pulled the bill from Nicolaus's hand and looked at it with wide-eyed surprise. "Well, you were in ICU for at least a week and..."

"Give me dat!" Nicolaus yanked it back from Hans's hand. "I didn't ask you to save me. Why do I have to pay dis?" he leveled the question directly at the powerless clerk.

"Will you pay now or do you want us to bill you, since you seem to have no insurance coverage?"

Nicolaus looked up from the bill and said, "Bill me!" in a defeated tone.

"Could I have an address that we can send the bill to?"

Nicolaus smiled and thought for a moment. "Yeah, send half of the bill to Dr. Paul Yoder, 235 South Main Street. The other half, send to Dr. Rodger Dylan at 1222 North Main. Yeah, I think that should do it. Do you need me for anything else?" he asked as his demeanor changed to one of a gentler nature.

The clerk smiled as she said, "I'm sorry, sir, I can't bill your doctors. Do you have another address we can bill?"

"5 North Sentinel Lane!" Nicolaus said as he crossed his arms over his chest, his mouth set sternly in a pout.

"Thank you, sir, and can I have a phone number where we could reach you?"

"Do I look like I have a phone number?" Nicolaus asked, pointing rudely to his Amish clothing.

"Gently!" Hans whispered in their dialect.

"Sorry, no, no phone number," said Nicolaus, lowering his voice, and forcing a weak smile.

~

"I'll come for you tomorrow to practice about eight in the morning, if that's okay with your doctors," Hans said, as they parted ways. "Oh yes, I almost forgot to give this to you. I think Sylvain would have wanted you to have it." Hans ran his large hand across his coat pockets then felt in each of his pants pockets, finally producing a folded paper, which he handed to Nicolaus.

Nicolaus opened it and in Sylvain's hand, he read the poem that spoke of God and the people who loved Him. It was as if Sylvain was standing there in the midst of them, still alive. Nicolaus could feel him looking over his shoulder while he read. He could even feel the expression Sylvain had on his face as if to say, "Gut, ja?"

Nicolaus looked up at Hans. "It's good, ja? He was writing it when I came to ask him to come with me that night." Nicolaus began to choke, his throat closing up on him as it did when he felt overwhelmed. "My parents don't know about it. I took it from his desk before they saw it so I could give it to you. I know he wants you to have it."

Nicolaus folded it back into the original creases and placed it in his pocket, then wrapped his arms around Hans's thin, tall frame and held him for what seemed to be forever. He finally released his friend, and as Hans held the door for him, he slowly slipped his cast inside Paul's car, cautiously sliding his body in behind it. He thought that the folded paper in his pocket was the most precious gift he had ever been given, as they drove on to Betsy's old comfortable Victorian house and quaint Amish tourist shop.

~

"How many sets are you planning to play with the new band Saturday?" Rodger asked as he and Dee came to visit Nicolaus at Betsy's home. They stayed to enjoy a good home-cooked dinner, which Nicolaus lavishly devoured as if the hospital had deprived him of his eating rights during his stay. Both Rodger and Paul were more than happy to see him with such a healthy appetite.

"I don't think I would feel up to doing a full set, but I would at least like to play a few songs I've written in memory of my friends, since I didn't get to go to any of the funerals," Nicolaus said. He heartily dove into Betsy's apple pie, not even looking up as he addressed the issue.

"What do you think, Paul?" Rodger asked as he watched Nicolaus practically inhale the slice of pie and then looked up at his aunt as if to ask for more.

"I say go to the practice session tomorrow, see how you feel. If you feel you can take on The Eagle that next evening, then so be it! I do think Rodger and I should be there on Saturday, just in case, though. Don't you, Rodger?" Paul asked, shooting Rodger a wink.

Nicolaus smiled at the two and thanked them as he wiped his mouth. He did not, however, ask for more pie, to the shock of Rodger.

"There is one thing... ah... Nick that I would like to speak to you concerning. It is about an injury I took care of while you were in surgery. We thought it only right to let you know about it, no need in keeping it from you, that is."

Nicolaus's smile faded as he waited to hear the source of their concern. "I removed your ruptured spleen. I might add that if it had been left unattended, you would have most likely—no, most definitely—bled to death in a matter of hours." Paul stopped and looked at Rodger.

"I know that, Paul. So what's the concern?" Nicolaus asked, shaking his head and looking deep into Paul's eyes.

"Your spleen was injured before the car accident, I'm thinking on the same day your friend broke your jaw! You vomited blood the day Gene hit you, didn't you?" Rodger asked, knowing who had hit him, because he had questioned Gene while Nicolaus was in a coma.

Nicolaus looked down at his empty plate and bit the side of his cheek then looked back up at Rodger and Paul and answered them that he had been vomiting blood up until the day of the accident.

Paul leaned forward as if in earnest and said, "Nicolaus, this may sound disheartening, but you would have most certainly been dead from a ruptured spleen within two to three hours after you returned home from the party that night, and there would have been nothing we could have done for you. If it wasn't for the car accident, you would have died, possibly going in your sleep. Granted, you had other massive, life-threatening injuries, but your spleen would have been undoubtedly the most tragic. God showed us just in time, Nicolaus. We only tell you this so you will be informed of what might have happened."

Nicolaus felt his meal start to come back up, lodging just below his throat as he swallowed hard to speak what was in his heart. "Why are you telling me dis? Don't you think I have struggled enough with da fact dat I was the only one dat survived dat night? I have asked God, why me? Why did I have to be da one? Why couldn't it have been Sylvain? Why didn't God save Sylvain? What am I supposed to do with what you have just told me?" Nicolaus leaned forward and clutched the front of his shirt as if he was in pain, revealing how intense his inner struggles had been with the facts as they were.

"Nicolaus, we told you because you have a right to know. What you do with the facts is between you and God," Paul said with a sad smile, knowing from experience it was going to eat at Nicolaus. He knew Nicolaus thought as he did at one time that if he would consent to be baptized, live as they asked him to live and obey all the rules, he might, and that's a big "might," get into heaven.

"Between God and me? Yeah, like, He's going to talk to me! This is too much, Paul. You're asking too much from me. God took my friends and left me here alone. Alone, Paul!"

"You're not alone, He's right there beside you, where He's always been!"

Rodger looked at Paul then cleared his throat. "Um... I think, on that note, we'd better go now; Nicola will be getting hungry," Rodger stood up to help Dee out of her chair.

"Okay, Nicolaus, tell me, what's in your left side pocket?" Paul asked, not even acknowledging Rodger's plea to leave. Nicolaus looked at Paul, his jaw set, ready for a fight.

"You tell me!" Nicolaus challenged. Rodger slowly sat back down, now interested to know for himself what, in fact, was in Nicolaus's pocket.

"It's a beautifully crafted poem of Sylvain's love for the God you claim not to want to know. You read it and immediately felt jealousy toward Sylvain. Jealousy, Nicolaus! Then you felt guilt and wanted to burn his love letter and yourself along with it!"

Nicolaus's throat suddenly felt dry as he struggled to loosen his tongue from the roof of his mouth. These are feelings no one could have known but me, he thought.

"You're wrong! You're lying. I don't have anything in my pocket!" The words came out of his mouth without his even thinking them. He looked over at his aunt, who was staring back at him, just as surprised at Paul's accusations as he was.

"You are the liar!" Paul replied bluntly.

He was right, Nicolaus thought. He looked down in shame then back up at Paul who was staring through to his soul. "Okay, Hans gave me a poem from Sylvain, but..."

"What I'm trying to tell you, Nicolaus, is this—God saved your life for a reason. Quit fighting Him and listen. Just be quiet, and listen. Just know He is there."

"Damn it, Paul! I know He's there, but I want to know why? Why me?" Nicolaus cried. He turned to reach for his crutches, trying to hide his tears before they cascaded down his cheeks.

"So you do hear Him! I thought you did." Paul leaned back in his chair and sighed. "How long are you going to fight Him? How long are you going to keep asking 'why me?' Just accept Him for who He is and that He loves you."

"Then tell me, please, why did He take Lorie, Danny, and Sylvain? Why did He hate them and love me? When He can answer me that, then I'll consider maybe letting Him in, maybe!" Nicolaus faced away from the table, turning from all the eyes that were upon him and furiously wiping away the tears on his cheeks.

"Nicolaus! When one is taken, it doesn't mean God hates him or her." Betsy stood and looked tenderly into her nephew's eyes. He looked at her with such a pleading that she, too, began to cry.

"Why then?" Nicolaus whispered between quivering lips.

"They are His, Nicolaus. Don't you see? It was time for them to go home!" Betsy whispered.

~

The practice was grueling for Nicolaus. He wanted the new band to get his songs right. They went over each song at least ten times. They respected Nicolaus for his perfectionism and tried hard to accommodate his requests, knowing they were at the feet of the master, having witnessed his powerful performances each weekend.

"Gene, I have a song I want to sing. Here, read this and just do the chords on the keyboard while I sing it, okay?" Nicolaus handed Sylvain's poem to Gene.

"Nick, this is kind of religious, don't you think? I mean, it's about God and all!"

"I know." Nicolaus's voice started to crack.

"My brother was writing it right before I brought him to the party," Hans said as he took the paper from Gene and looked at it endearingly, trying to take it all in again. Nicolaus gently took it back from Hans and placed it on Gene's keyboard so they both could look on. Nicolaus played his guitar and Gene the keyboard to the musical notes he had jotted down over Sylvain's writing.

The two rehearsed it four times, not one of which Nicolaus was able to make it through. Finally giving up, Nicolaus sat on the side of Gene's piano bench with his forehead against his guitar, sobbing quietly while the band and Gene looked on teary eyed.

"It's okay, Nick. Sylvain would understand if you don't sing it. Let's go on to the one you wrote... you know, the one you showed me in the hospital," Hans said, handing Sylvain's poem to Nicolaus. Nicolaus folded it carefully and placed it in his pocket. Then he gave each member of the band a copy of his last song, the last one he would ever sing at The Eagle. To him, it wasn't a sad song but more of a  
gut-wrenching cry to let everyone know that, in fact, he was not all right and he needed to be left alone. Nicolaus believed it was a healing song, a song that let everyone know how he felt.

~

That next morning Aunt Betsy came into the kitchen, surprised to see Nicolaus sitting there working on his songs at the table. "You're up early! How are you feeling?"

Nicolaus looked up and smiled at her through his tired, bloodshot eyes. "I had a rough night last night, I couldn't sleep!" he said. His throat was strained and hoarse, raw from vomiting throughout the night.

"What happened, Nicolaus?" Betsy asked, as she went to her medicine cabinet to get some herbs to brew that would help his throat.

"Oh, I lay down to sleep and got the roller-coasters. I found sitting next to the toilet was more convenient than getting up and limping to it all night long."

"Oh, dear, why didn't you call for Paul or me to come down to help you, Nicolaus?"

"It's okay, I didn't mind. It gave me a lot of time to think," Nicolaus answered, running his fingers through his short hair, an act of habit more than from a need to comb it. It was starting now to curl around itself loosely, giving him a whole new look. It took on a darker hue, no longer laced with the streaks of sun-bleached strands that wrapped around each other in a bountiful head of long, loose curls. Now the short, dark-brown waves seemed to bring out the gentle deepness of his big blue eyes, making him look even more strikingly handsome. "Before Paul left on that emergency call this morning, he gave me some motion sickness pills if it happens again. I'll be fine, Aunt Betsy."

"Let me make you something to eat and then maybe you can go back to bed before you have to be at The Eagle."

"Thanks, but I better just go back to bed. If I have something in my stomach, it just thinks it's supposed to come up now."

~

The Last Song  
Late November 1974  
Age 19

At The Eagle, there was standing-room only when Nicolaus limped in through the back door on his crutches. Hans's new band, Gene, and Karen trailed in with him as if they were his personal entourage. Standing at the doorway to greet them were Kenzie and Jesse.

"Nick, are you sure you want to do this?" Jesse asked as he reached for Nicolaus and gave him a lingering hug.

Nicolaus smiled down at him with an odd smile and then answered, "Yes."

"Okay, let me see your lineup tonight." Jesse looked over the set list. "I see, the band will do two sets, and then you will come out and do five songs with Gene and the band backing you. What's this?" Jesse asked, pointing to Sylvain's song that Nicolaus had placed second to last on the roster.

"Oh, don't worry about that one; Nick most likely won't do it, and if he does try it, I'll lay a hundred dollars down that he won't make it all the way through it," Gene said, winking at Nicolaus. Nicolaus just smiled down at him as he leaned on his crutches, and then he looked over at Hans's band that had gathered around the couch, just as their old band had done right before a night of music. His heart broke as he thought back to Danny, Lorie, and Sylvain's company; their presence was so dearly missed tonight. He pulled his cast to one side so that he could walk towards the gathering at the couch. He wanted to be near to warm his cold empty heart with a little of their blazing fire of friendship. Hans's band took him in immediately, sensing his melancholy mood.

~

While the band played their sets, he and Gene sat backstage in the lounge, listening to their renditions of some of Nicolaus's songs. The crowd went wild as each one ran into the next without introduction.

"They will do a good job for Jesse!" Nicolaus stated, while he fingered the leg of his jeans his aunt had split to make room for his cast. She had thoughtfully laced it from his knee to the bottom of the pant leg with a small rope that blended in nicely with the jean material.

"Are you nervous?" Gene asked, watching Nicolaus almost unravel the denim from the sides of his pant leg.

"I'm hoping I don't vomit all over everyone up there!" replied Nicolaus, nodding to Kenzie as he entered the backstage area.

"Ye really gonna leave us then, aye?" Kenzie asked, as he sat down next to Nicolaus and gave his cast a slap with his big hand. Then he pulled out his pen and began to write a message on it and, after signing it, leaned back on the couch with a sigh.

"What did you write?" Nicolaus asked, not able to see it from his perspective.

"'I've got your back! Your bodyguard, Kenzie.'" The big Scot patted Nicolaus on his back and said, "Ye didn't know I was watching you all the while you were onstage, did ya now? Well, it's the truth, it is. Jesse says to me the day I started working for the place, he says 'Cover the young one's back' and I have ever since."

"You also covered my face with bruises as I recall!" Nicolaus said, smiling.

"Aye, and you had it coming now, didn't ye? I don-nah wanna make you feel bad here, but, Nick, you look a little on the green side! You feelin' like you're going to lose it?" Kenzie asked as he sat back and took a better look at Nicolaus.

"I'm a little dizzy. And by the way, seeing two of you, Kenzie, would make any man want to vomit!"

"So now, I'm takin' from that comment that you're going to be needin' a spit-can upstage, just in case?"

"I think that would be a good idea, Kenzie," Nicolaus agreed.

"If you decide you're going to do a nosedive, I'll be there, front and center. If you feel like you're a goin', I'll get ye off stage! Just let me know."

"Thanks, Kenzie. That's a great relief. I can picture it now, Kenzie leaping onstage and lugging my limp body down the stairs!"

"Well now, Nick, it wuddna be the first time, ye ken," Kenzie slapped Nicolaus's cast again and stood to leave.

The band came backstage, exhausted from their second set, ready for the refreshments that Karen and the two new barmaids brought in as soon as the guys collapsed on the couch and chairs in the lounge.

"The crowd is out of control out there. I've never seen it so packed!" Sam, the lead singer, commented as he wiped the sweat off his face.

"What lights are they using?" Nicolaus asked, knowing if the three main ones were lit on him, it would blind him from seeing the audience. But if they had the house lights dimmed, he would be able to see the crowd. Either way was normally fine with him, but tonight he hoped that they were just using the house lights, set low. His head was pounding as it was, and having the main lights blasting in his face for an entire set was unthinkable right now.

"They got the house lights blazing!" replied Sam.

"Nick, you ready?" Kenzie yelled from the stage door as he pulled it open, revealing just a portion of the standing-room-only packed house. Nicolaus looked up from the list he had been going over with the band. He quickly added a few last-minute changes to a couple of the songs.

"I guess this is it!" he said, as he gathered up the song list, taking out Sylvain's poem and adding it to the list in  
his hand.

"You're not really going to try and sing that, are you?" Gene asked in total shock.

"If it takes me all night!" said Nicolaus, tight jawed. He was determined to get through the song without breaking down like a baby.

"I never thought I would say this, but I hope your voice goes before you try and sing it, Nick!"

"Gene! I can't believe you said dat. You're serious, ja?"

"Ja!" repeated Gene, mimicking him. "I can't get through it without tearing up. I know you can't finish the thing tonight. I just don't want to see you try it, Nick."

"I'll be okay, just watch me. I may have to shut down before we planned to."

"Gotcha, boss!" Gene saluted, as they went through the stage door, out into the crowd and up the seven steps to the stage. Nicolaus handed Kenzie his crutches as the crowd went wild upon seeing him emerge from backstage.

"Ye want I should carry you up the steps?" Kenzie asked, trying to kid him out of any stage fright.

"You touch me, Kenzie, and I'll hit ya!" Nicolaus said, as he plunked his cast down on the first step, hoisted his body up by holding on to the rail, then followed it with his good leg. All seven steps took some time, but the timing was perfect—as he got to the last step, the crowd was chanting his name. Gene took hold of Nicolaus's hand and helped him up the last step to the stage. The band waited for Gene and Nicolaus to get settled, Gene at his keyboard and Nicolaus sitting center stage.

A bar stool was provided for him, his twelve-string was sitting beside him. He waited until the crowd was through with most of their fanfare and cheering before he cut in. Smiling, he finally laughed at the crowd, who refused to quiet down enough for him to speak. He looked down at Kenzie, who raised what apparently was the vomit bucket, as if to show him that he was appropriately prepared for whatever was to happen. This made Nicolaus start to laugh again, and he pointed to Kenzie, getting Gene to look. Gene began to laugh, too.

To Nicolaus's surprise Hans clicked his drumsticks off to a beat of a song that wasn't on the list. It was the song Nicolaus had written for Sylvain and sung for him on his last day at The Eagle. Nicolaus had no choice but to sing it, which quieted the crowd immediately, knowing it was Sylvain's song. The song went off fine and Nicolaus now had a chance to address the audience, thanking them for all their cards, thoughts, and prayers.

"I especially liked the scroll you made for me," he paused for a moment. "I have to admit, it's hard to keep a sense of humor when you have tubes coming out from the side of your head and chest, and your leg suspended from a pulley two feet above your hospital bed. However, you made a great attempt to make me laugh, and for that, I thank you. I know you have heard already that this is my last performance at The Eagle." Nicolaus stopped and waited as the crowd went out of control again.

"Thank you, 'I love you, too!'" Nicolaus said with a laugh, repeating one of the fan's outcries of her love for him. "I need some time to heal, and I can do dat better at home. So I'll be around, just not in street clothes, dat's all." He paused again and took a deep breath. "I wasn't able to attend da funerals... so I hope you don't mind dat I sing a few songs in honor of Lorie, Danny, and Sol." Nicolaus took up his twelve-string and sat with his microphone pulled in close, so that he could sing with his lips touching it, something he did when his voice was tired or strained from singing all night.

"I hope you don't mind, but my voice is a little strained. I had a few problems last night. It doesn't help when you have a tube shoved down your throat for a month, either, so if I hit a bad note I'll just pretend that it's the right one, if you will." Nicolaus then sang a song he had written for Danny, who had asked him a year ago to write one that would allow him to play a solo with his bass. Nicolaus accommodated him by writing in a riff just for Danny. Danny's song was written for him both in the bass solo and also in the way Nicolaus interpreted Danny's personality and friendship. Lorie's song was next and the crowd loved it, even though he was playing the songs acoustically, having Hans's band enter only during the chorus and again at the last half of each song.

"Thank you," Nicolaus said in the microphone hoarsely, checking the strings of his guitar, mostly out of nervous habit.

"This next song is a special one, and I hope I can get through it. We practiced it a few times yesterday and I haven't been able to make it all the way to the end yet!" Nicolaus smiled shyly at the crowd as he prepared to tell them who had written it, knowing he may lose it at any moment.

"The night of the accident, Sylvain... ah, sorry, Sol..." Nicolaus stopped and drew in a deep sigh. "Ya see, Sol and I grew up together and to me he was Sylvain, so if I call him dat... well, you'll know who I'm referring to. Anyway, he wrote this poem just hours before going to da party dat night and... well... I put it to music. Here it is... Gene!" Nicolaus turned to Gene and nodded as he began the beautiful intro on his keyboard. Nicolaus held his microphone with both hands and looked into the crowd, seeing face after face, some he had come to know and even love. He started singing and it took only two verses before he looked down again to see the tears that flowed from the many staring eyes that were fixed on him. He happened to glance at Kenzie, who was sobbing like a child. Nick closed his eyes and again tried to sing a word or two, but nothing would come out. He stared for a moment into the blank faces of the crowd, his lips quivering and the tears streaming down his cheeks. Gene stopped playing and Sam, Hans's lead singer, came to Nicolaus's side, bent down, and asked him if he needed any help as he handed him a handkerchief. Nicolaus reached down to Kenzie and tossed it to him, then wiped his nose and cheeks on his sleeve as he gave Kenzie a big smile.

"Sorry about dat. I did warn you, though. Gene, one more time from the start. Und dis time, don't stop no matter what happens!" Nicolaus started the song again nice and strong, and finished just as strong. He gave Gene a wide smile that it had finally been sung from start to finish and, hopefully, in the manner Sylvain had intended it.

"This last song is one I wrote in da hospital. It's funny how people say that they want you to grieve. They say it's good for you, but they don't want you to grieve in the way you need to. I guess maybe because it's ugly sometimes, and no one wants to see ugliness. I counted one day how many times various people asked me if I was okay. They would ask, 'Are you all right?' meaning well, I suppose, and genuinely concerned, I'm sure. It was eleven times in one day! I kid you not. I refused to count after that; it might have been more, but I refused to see anyone after that. I mean, what the hell do you say? How many times can you say, 'No, I'm not all right! I'll never be all right!'?"

He launched into his last song. After he was wholly gratified by singing it, he stood and turned to look at Gene, but Gene was already by his side, taking Nicolaus into a bear hug of an embrace that felt good. It allowed him to release what lingering emotions he had left. Gene helped him to the stairs and spotted him while Nicolaus descended them one at a time, the crowd pushing in on him, trying to get him to acknowledge them and to go back and sing more songs. He could not. There was nothing left in him. He wasn't sure if it was the strain of the injuries, the emotional trauma, or a combination of the two, but Nicolaus was done. He had given what he had and there was no more.

Backstage, Nicolaus was hugged and slapped on the back as the ones gathered there started to relax and congratulate each other for a performance well done. His friends were starting to trickle in as they were being allowed to pass through Kenzie's men at the backstage door. Rodger, Paul and his Aunt Betsy came through the door and to Nicolaus's amazement, behind them stood his parents, Esther and Jacob, along with Edna and Lieutenant Roberts behind them. Nicolaus stood there in disbelief while all seemingly tried to talk to him at the same time. His eyes locked on his mother's as he whispered, "You were out there? You saw me?"

"Yes, Nicolaus, we saw you," Esther said, as Jacob looked down, obviously uncomfortable in this unfamiliar territory. His hands were clasped in front of him as if he were in prayer.

"Well, what did you think?" Nicolaus asked, eagerly awaiting their answer.

"You need to keep what comes from your mouth!" Jacob said bluntly in their dialect. Nicolaus's smile faded as he looked at his father, who hadn't even bothered to look back up at him.

"Nicolaus, Datt means you need to stop using so many of the curse words," Esther said with a kind smile.

"I know what he meant," Nicolaus said, and reached for his coat and crutches.

"Here's your guitar, Nick!" Sam handed Nicolaus his guitar that he had carefully placed into its case. "I've learned a lot from you, even though I've only been with you a few days. I'll never forget it! Uh... maybe this isn't a good time to ask, but would you consider selling your amp and electric guitar to me? You name the price!"

Nicolaus thought for a moment, then remembered his outrageously high hospital bill, still looming over him.

"Sure, whatever you think is fair," Nicolaus replied, accepting the cash Sam forked over matter-of-factly.

"Wait here. I want you to sign it for me!" Sam jumped over a chair to get to the stage door, and then was back within minutes with Nicolaus's electric guitar in one hand and a permanent marker in the other. Nicolaus autographed it and handed it back to Sam, noticing his father glaring at his every move.

"Nicolaus, are you ready to come home, son?" Esther asked, moving toward the back door with Paul and Aunt Betsy.

Paul told him, "I'm driving you home tonight with your mater and datt. We have your things in the trunk of the car, and your twelve-string will fit back there as well." Nicolaus nodded his head, letting them know it was fine and feeling joyful at the thought that he would finally be home tonight.

~

"I don't feel good about this, Jacob. Maybe we should take him back to my house until he mends a little more." Paul was standing in front of the Zook's barn where Jacob intended to house Nicolaus, who had fallen fast asleep during the car ride home.

"The potbelly stove in my workshop will keep him warm, and you saw the converted storage room. It is just as nice as one of our bedrooms in the main house. It's next to my shop so I can look in on him, now and again," Jacob said as he opened the car door to try and wake Nicolaus.

"Paul, you know he's not going to stand for us taking him back to our place. You saw the look on his face when he saw Esther and Jacob at The Eagle tonight. He wants to be home," Betsy told her husband, as she took Esther by the shoulders and gave her a hug.

"I wish he had never taken up that guitar. He wouldn't have had to play music and sing in that awful place for so long. If he had just gone to work with you in your shop, Betsy, none of this would have happened," Esther said as she returned Betsy's hug, looking down at Nicolaus's guitar case.

"All things are as they are. No need to fret about what has been. Let's get him well so he can feel good about his new life, shall we?" Paul said as he picked up Nicolaus's guitar and placed it in the barn with his other things.

Paul and Jacob helped Nicolaus into the barn and allowed him to look around at his surroundings. "What do you think, Nicolaus?" Paul asked, the concern showing on his face.

"Nice! Where is the bed?" Nicolaus asked, desperately craving sleep. He wondered if the medication Paul gave him for motion sickness had caused the vivid dreams during the ride home from the bar.

"In here. The stove's going to need a log or two during the night. They are over here." Esther bent down to show Nicolaus where the logs were kept beside Jacob's worktable in an open-hinged wood box. Nicolaus made his way to the bed, looking briefly at the wood box. He plopped his body down on the soft mattress, falling into a sound sleep before the three could even turn to leave.

"Okay. Well, I suppose he won't need to be covered. That coat will do until morning, I guess," Paul fretted a bit, still uncertain that Nicolaus should be here.

~

"Sarah, where are you going?" Nicolaus asked, as he caught her and Sylvain running for his father's barn. The common meal was done and most of the congregation had left for the day.

He looked at Sarah's sweet young face. She must have been all of five or six years of age, as she motioned to Nicolaus to follow them. Indifferent and feeling detached from the fact that the three were children again, he rushed past her to meet Sylvain in the barn.

"Are we playing hide-and-go-seek?" Nicolaus asked, out of breath as Sylvain pulled him in closer.

"Where can we hide?" Sylvain sounded frightened.

"I know a great place; no one will ever be able to find us." Nicolaus took Sarah's hand and ushered the two to a ladder in the barn, then up it to another ladder that took them to the third story where the stall hay was stored. There they had their pick of a few good hiding places. He deposited Sarah in the corner; Sylvain followed and squatted down next to her.

"Who are we hiding from?" Nicolaus asked, a thrilled smile spreading across his face.

"Don't you know?" replied Sarah, frowning as she looked to the side of Nicolaus to see behind him. "It's your father." she whispered.

"My datt? Why would he be playing with us children?" Nicolaus asked. He went over to the edge of the loft and looked down, seeing his father's shadow looming across the barn floor below. Turning, he placed his finger to his lips to gesture to the two to be still.

The silence was deafening for a few moments, and then Nicolaus walked back to the darkened corner.

"Is he gone yet?" Sylvain asked, his eyes as big as golf balls.

"I think so. Don't go to the edge, Sarah. Come back over here with us," Nicolaus whispered, but Sarah had already bent down over the ledge to look for herself.

"Nicolaus, you have to go home!" Sylvain said as he took hold of Nicolaus's arm.

"Let go, Sylvain, you're hurting me. What's wrong with you, anyway? This is my home."

"No, Nicolaus, you are in grave danger. You have to leave now. This is not your home." Sylvain refused to let go.

Though sincerely troubled over his friend's profound terror, Nicolaus's main concern at that moment was Sarah. She was too close to the edge of the loft.

She looked over at Nicolaus and said, "He is here," as if resigned to what was about to happen.

"Come away from there, Sarah," Nicolaus again ordered as he came to her side and took her hand. "Just stay here with Sylvain. There is nothing to be afraid of." He moved back to look over the edge, finding it troubling the way the two were reacting. After all, it is only a childhood game, he thought, as an ominous dark shadow slid in to cover him from the side.

"What are you doing here?" Jacob bellowed.

Nicolaus looked to the darkened corner where he knew his friends were currently lurking in safety. "I'm hiding from..." Nicolaus stopped and thought how odd it was that he was not afraid. "You!" he finished, and looked down as he watched his father's hands reach out for him slowly, connecting hard to the front of his chest. It was as though the entire process of being pushed had slowed to a moment-by-moment progression. Nicolaus felt his body floating past the levels of the barn to a heart-stopping thud on the barn floor, painfully tearing the very breath from his lungs.

He felt his body rise and stand for a moment over himself as a child. The image of the child's eyes glazed over, lifelessly staring back. "Get up," he whispered. But the child lay motionless. Then with no apparent reason or further concern, he turned and walked calmly into his father's workshop, entered the storage room and lay down to fall deep asleep on the soft bed he found there.

Nicolaus opened his eyes dreamily and could see his breath billowing from his nose and mouth, suddenly feeling the biting cold of his makeshift living quarters. The stove, it must have gone out, Nicolaus thought as he sat up in bed, running his fingers through his hair and thinking back on the distorted nightmare. 'This is not your home.' Sylvain's voice ran through his head again.

"God, what was that all about?" He said out loud as he fell back on his pillow and drifted back to sleep.

* * * * *

_Still, Small Voice  
_ Second book in the _Silent Discourse_ series.

Paper Back Book ISBN: 978-0-9823371-0-3
