The old man headed out the door without another word.
“Did you hear the storm last night?” Job asked once Moe’s boots had thumped down the steps outside.
“Sarai slept through the whole thing,” Mammi said. “I heard it blowing, but I put it into Gott’s hands, rolled over and went back to sleep. Staring out a window at a storm I can’t control doesn’t help anyone, now, does it?”
“No, Mamm, you’re right there,” Job agreed. “Well, I’ll pull some people together to help you out with that coop.”
“Moe and Arden are already offering,” Mammi said.
“Well, a few more wouldn’t hurt,” Job replied. “Where are you putting the chickens in the meantime?”
“That’ll take some work,” Sarai said, speaking up for the first time. “I’ll have to set up a new enclosure with chicken wire to keep the birds all together.”
Her father shot her a smile. “I’ll pass the word. Tomorrow, we’ll have it all fixed up. Instead of a barn raising, we’ll have a coop raising.”
Sarai laughed at his little joke. “Thank you, Daet.”
“Now, regarding Moe...” Job sobered. “Mamm, the bishop received a letter from Moe’s son Ezekiel in Ohio.”
“Wanting him to move back,” Mammi Ellen said with a nod.
Sarai’s father was a local deacon, and he was often privy to the internal workings of the community.
“Did Moe mention it to you?” Job asked.
“No, but Sarai told me,” Mammi said with a sad nod.
“Arden told me,” Sarai offered quietly.
“Ah. And? Does he want to go?” her father asked.
“I haven’t brought it up with him yet,” Mammi said. “I suppose I’m afraid he’ll want to leave, and I’m not ready to hear it.”
“It did occur to me that someone might try to pressure him to do something he doesn’t want to do,” Sarai said.
“Someone?” Her father smoothed his beard. “Like Arden, you mean?”
“Arden has no more authority in this than I do,” Sarai said. “But someone in the family might have reason to get their hands on Moe’s farm. It would be terrible to have Moe pushed off his own land before he’s ready to go. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Well, the bishop and the elders and the rest of the deacons all agree that the Stoltzfus family is doing the right thing to take care of him the best way they know how,” Job said.
“He’s not that old,” Mammi said.
“Well, he’s old enough,” Job countered.
“Are you calling me old?” she sniffed.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Mamm,” Job replied. “But you have Sarai living with you, me a twenty-minute ride from you and a whole lot more support than Moe’s got.”
“Moe has Mammi,” Sarai said softly. “And me. And you.”
“Moe’s not ours,” Job said gently. “I’m fond of old Moe, too, Sarai, but he’s got a family who need him around. He’s got grandchildren who deserve time with him while they have him.”
“Oh, Daet, you sound like he’s some doddering old man. He’s not! He’s got lots of energy, and he’s witty and funny and keeps his farm running. In fact, I think he could even get married again. He’s a nice-looking man still, and he’s got the kindest eyes, don’t you think, Mammi?”
Job slowly turned toward Sarai and fixed her with a mildly surprised look. “Excuse me?”
Why was everyone so against Moe still living his life? It looked like she had a few more seeds to plant in that respect.
“What’s so shocking about that?” Sarai asked. “He’s got lots of life left in him.”
“She’s not thinking of marrying him herself,” Mammi said with a low laugh.
Job heaved a sigh and scrubbed a hand through his gray-tinged hair. “Well, that’s a relief!”
“Not me, Daet!” Sarai said and laughed. “All I’m saying is everyone is acting like Moe has one foot in the grave, and he doesn’t.”
“Would you do that to me?” Mammi asked Job seriously. “Would you decide my time in my own house was up and cart me off to one of your homes, whether I was ready to say goodbye to my old house or not?”
“Mamm...” Job said.
“Well, would you?” Mammi asked. “Because that’s what’s happening here. No one is asking Moe what’s good for him. Everyone is just deciding for him. I’ll have you know, son, that Sarai has a good point. Just because we get old and our bodies age doesn’t mean our minds melt away. Some days, in my heart I’m still a young mother with a baby in my arms. Other days, I feel like that woman in her forties who has such a busy home. Other days, I feel fifty again or sixty... I might have gotten old, but I’m still your mother, Job.”
“Mamm, how did this become about you?” Job asked softly. “I’m not sending you anywhere, okay? You’ll stay in your house as long as you want to.”
Mammi Ellen nodded. “And while you are remembering that you’d never do such a thing to your own mother, I’d like you to remember that Moe deserves the same treatment that I do.”
Job sighed. “Of course, Mamm. But this isn’t about wanting him to go or wanting him to stay. This is about a family working together for their elder. They’re doing their best, and they need our support.”
