Miriam's Quilt by Jennifer Beckstrand

bottom did she realize how much she was shaking.
    Everyone but Dat had congregated in the kitchen, hoping to find comfort in each other. Susie stirred the stew and whimpered softly. Raymond had his arms clamped securely around Mamm’s waist as she leaned motionless against the counter. Callie and Isaac set the table in silence.
    Miriam took the stack of paper napkins from Callie. “Let’s fold these to look like little flowers. I will show you.”
    “We are going to be all right. It will be alright, Lord willing,” Mamm said. She smoothed Raymond’s hair. “We must all pray very hard for Yost.”
    “Will the police come again?” Callie asked.
    “They will come to check on Yost sometimes,” Mamm said. “That is one of the rules.”
    “I don’t like their guns,” Callie said.
    “Does he have to go back to jail?” Raymond asked next.
    Mamm shook her head slowly. “Not if he obeys all the rules.”
    Raymond wiped tears from his face. “Dat must make him obey all the rules.”
    Miriam concentrated on folding the flimsy paper napkins. Napkin design was so much safer than real life.
    Someone else knocked at the front door. Susie pretended not to hear, and Mamm stood as if listening to a distant train whistle. Miriam found herself sharing Yost’s sentiments. Why couldn’t everybody leave them alone in their shame?
    She left her napkins and dragged herself to the front room. There certainly wouldn’t be happiness on the other side of that door.
    Ephraim, with hat in hand, stood on her doorstep. He narrowed his gaze, and Miriam could see a vein pulsing in his neck. Her tongue suddenly seemed to swell, as if she had a mouthful of cotton.
    “Can we talk?” he said.
    Miriam nodded, stepped outside, and closed the door behind her.
    “Oh, Miri, such a tragedy. I came to see how you are doing.”
    “Terrible. We feel terrible.”
    “How could Yost have fallen into this gross wickedness? I can hardly believe it. Selling drugs. I have never been so shocked as when I heard.”
    Miriam could only incline her head. The lump in her throat made it impossible to speak.
    “The only thing for your dat to do is to cast him from the house so he does not influence the little boys to follow in his footsteps.”
    “Throw him out?”
    “Your whole family is tainted with his sin as long as he stays, especially since your dat is one of the ministers. My dat said so.”
    “But how can Dat throw him out? He has no place to go.”
    “Yost should have thought of that before getting himself into trouble. When I think of the wickedness, I am almost sick.”
    Miriam felt long-delayed tears stinging her eyes. “What he did was very wrong.”
    “And selfish. Think of how his crime has affected your family. It makes you look weak in the eyes of the community. People wonder if your parents have neglected their duty to train up their child in the way he should go.”
    “They do?”
    “Where else should the blame be placed when a child goes astray?”
    Miriam’s head began to throb. She massaged a spot above her right eye.
    “We know what will become of him if he stiffens his neck and refuses to get off the path to hell. Remind him daily of his wickedness, Miri. Do not let him forget what he has done to you.”
    Miriam didn’t respond. The last thing she wanted to do was give Yost another lecture. She’d seen how far that had taken her.
    Ephraim swished his hair with his fingers. “I am so, so sorry for you. Yost must repent quickly of this great wickedness. I don’t want anything to delay our wedding.”
    “Delay our wedding?” It is two and a half years away.
    “I must go now. I only wanted to see how you are doing. I will pray for you every day, dear Miriam.”
    “Denki,” Miriam said, forcing the air through her tight throat. “We will see you tomorrow at the singeon?”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Do you think it would be wise for you to come? It is better that you should attend to matters at home.”
    “Oh…I didn’t