After sorting clothes, Susie returned to oversee the whites through the rinse cycle, feeding them one item at a time through the old rollers, which made everything flat before landing in the neighboring rinse tub. She thought again about Jerome’s peculiar revelation last evening. Why had he felt the need to share this news with her? Wasn’t Jerome happy for his older brother’s opportunity? And wouldn’t Obie expect that of her, too?

While the second load of clothing was washing, she occupied herself by watering her potted seedlings. The tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower were arranged all across a long table in the daylight basement. She was just itching to get her hands in the soil to sow sugar snap peas and carrots and lettuce and Swiss chard next month, once she could borrow the tiller from their neighbor Jonathan Ebersol. Depending on the weather, she would also plant squash, string beans, and cucumbers in three weeks or so. And, knowing how much Mamma enjoyed sunflowers, she added them to her mental list of things to plant in May, after any chance of frost had passed.

By the time the colored clothes were in the wash cycle, Susie carried the well-rinsed whites upstairs to be pinned to the outdoor clothesline. Mamma’s oatmeal was baking in the oven when Susie opened the kitchen door at the top of the stairs. “It’s so gut to see ya up and perky,” Susie said, going to the apron drawer.

“I slept like a rock at the bottom of a pond.”

“Ach, Mamma!” They laughed together as Susie tied an apron around her waist.

“Britta’s already gone to the stable,” Mamma said. “Didn’t say much. Guess she’s deep in thought.”

“She does seem to be at times.” Susie glanced toward the window facing the stable. “But we can always count on her to get right to her chores.”

“Look who’s talkin’.” Mamma chuckled.

Susie turned on the spigot and poured water into the teakettle in case Mamma had a sudden flare-up of her asthma. Her allergies were worse this time of year, making an attack more likely. The steam from the warm water helped to ease her breathing.

“Britta and I’ll pin the clothes to the line. No sense you—”

“Oh, I can help,” Mamma interjected. “Besides, you should be busy makin’ a family tree for Mattie Beiler, ain’t so?”

Susie nodded. “Okay, but let me know if ya change your mind.” She poured orange juice into small glasses as her sister came inside to join them.