A Simple Song by Melody Carlson

And she’ll be good company for you.”
    â€œJa!” Bekka exclaimed. “That’s a great idea.” Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at Cal. Katrina could see she was thrilled that Cal had thought of her for this.
    â€œI wish I could go with you,” Cal said, “but you know I can’t miss that much work . . . not with Daed laid up.”
    â€œI know.” Katrina patted his back. “But you’re right. Bekka will know what to do, won’t you, Bekka?”
    â€œ Ja . I will take care of everything for you.”
    â€œI would drive you to Millersburg,” Cal told Katrina, “except we’re cutting hay next week. It’ll be busy.”
    â€œI can’t take them,” Peter said from up front where he was driving the horses. “Especially not if Bekka is gone—and that is if our parents agree, Bekka. We have too many orders to fill for both of us to go.”
    â€œOur parents will agree,” Bekka assured him. “I’ll tell them this is my rumspringa too. And I’ll work really hard all next week. I won’t play a single computer game either.”
    They all laughed.
    â€œI will drive the girls to Millersburg,” Cooper offered ina serious tone. “I’d been planning to go up there to visit my uncle anyway.”
    Katrina had noticed that Cooper seemed quieter than usual. She wasn’t sure if it was related to her or something else. “You don’t mind?”
    â€œNo.” He turned away, looking out over the field that was washed in moonlight. She wished she knew what he was thinking. Was he upset that she was doing this? But hadn’t he encouraged her too? Perhaps he was thinking about his apprenticeship. Had he already made up his mind to do it? If so, where did that leave her? And them—or was there even a them? It seemed lately she’d been too busy to fully consider this.
    By Sunday afternoon, it was settled at the Lehmans’. Bekka was allowed to go, but only if she worked very hard to get every order filled. She told Katrina, “I’ll give Cooper a message through Peter—letting him know when we need to be dropped off and picked up at the bus station.”
    â€œThank you.” Katrina sighed in relief. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
    â€œNow we need to decide what you’re going to wear,” Bekka declared.
    â€œOh?” Katrina frowned. “You don’t think I should wear my Sunday dress, do you? I thought I’d just wear my green dress. It’s my favorite, and Mamm says it matches my eyes.”
    â€œWhat?” Bekka looked shocked.
    Katrina was confused. “My blue dress then?”
    â€œNo, that’s not what I mean.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI mean you can’t dress like that.” Bekka frowned. “You need to wear English clothes.”
    Katrina’s hand flew up to her mouth. “English clothes?”
    â€œ Ja . You’re competing with the English, Katrina. You do know this, don’t you?”
    â€œI might be competing”—Katrina didn’t even like the sound of that word—“but that doesn’t mean I have to look like them.”
    â€œIt’s all right,” Bekka assured her. “It’s your rumspringa , remember?”
    Katrina stood up straight, looking Bekka right in the eyes. “ Ja . It is my rumspringa . But that does not mean I will wear English clothes. Do you understand?”
    Bekka looked worried. “ Ja , I understand. But do you understand that might make you lose?”
    â€œIf I lose, I lose. I will wear my green dress.”
    â€œJa . . .” Bekka sounded discouraged.
    Katrina put a hand on her shoulder. “I know you mean well, Bekka. But if my voice isn’t enough to win this thing, I don’t want it. Do you understand?”
    Bekka shrugged. Katrina knew that if Bekka were able to sing, she would have no