if I was thinking i would put a title here

Sara said. “I had to take a dose when we were at the testing center. One of the people at the table was a med student. This is one of the teas he asked me to try and see if it would let me take the medicine less. This one was kept behind the counter so I am aware it is controlled. It is up where no little hands can get, and the label is clear.” Hanna came with the footbath and Sara managed to get her foot in it.

He said. “Is this the same place that you got the tea for your grandfather?” Sara nodded. “I hope they get me that catalog. You let me know how that works. With any luck you won’t have to take the other. I know it is going to drive you crazy but stay off of that foot all you can today and tomorrow. If you can do it sitting then do so. If can’t then it will wait. If the swelling is down tomorrow you can try the stairs, but I would rather you wait tell one of the others is with you.”

Sara said. “Yes sir, I will do my best not to over do. I feel like such a fool. I thought for sure that it was best not to confront them, but wait tell they came to me. I had no idea what was going on.”

Isaac said. “It is not your fault child. We all saw the whispering and did the same thing. I would have done like wise with kids in my class sure that confronting them would just make them more sure of what ever it was.”

Abiram was back. “Sara you had three blue notebooks by your desk and two black ones. Did I get the right ones in these or do I need to try again? I also set Jacobs other shores in the entry way for him. I noticed that in getting his clothes they didn’t think to look under his bed, which is where his shoes end up.”

Sara blushed, and held up two of the note books. “These are the ones I meant, I forgot the others were there. But well they will keep me busy. And you brought the whole pen case down. Thank you. Now I should have enough to keep me out of trouble.”

Abiram said. “Well you didn’t say what color you needed and I know you color code some of the things you write. Much better you have a pen in your hand to night than a needle I think.”

The doctor said. “Thank you for the tea, now on to the next house. If that ankle is not smaller tomorrow send for me, and I will check again, but I am sure it will be. If the swelling is down and you feel like she is move well enough you can let you go to school Tuesday, Isaac.” Sara used the distraction he provided to get the charm out of her dress pocket and slipped it in the notebook pocket which was where she thought she had left it.

When he left and they turned back to her Sara took it out. “So that is why you needed that notebook. Got to let Violet know you are alive.”

Sara said. “Well in part, at least. I do need to record this storm as well.”

Jacob came in. “Sorry doc heading up the road, everything all right? I checked the garden and it is draining well, looks to be in good shape. Went over to the shed and got glared at by a gnome, until I pulled the flap over the window and made a show of how it could be opened yet keep it a bit warmer and dry. I think I will talk to some of the wood works about building the sheds in the field up again. It would give us shelter out there and might get us some help from the gnomes and such. Dad I’m to tell you the summer crops and two fields of barley, one of wheat are gone, but there is a chance that the other crops will make it.”

Isaac said. “We will have to see what it dose over night. I think getting those old shelters back into shape is a good idea. Tell them I will sponsor if they need one. Doc said it is likely just a sprained ankle and to stay off of it. She may walk to the bathroom and back to the couch, but that is it for today. If the swelling is down she can move around a bit more tomorrow but is still to sit most of the time. So you all have permission to steer her to a chair for the next few days.” Sara had told Viv what went on at the church and laughed. “Sara?”

She blushed. “Sorry I was just tell Violet and the charm lets me know how she feels. I didn’t mean to laugh but she is every bit as shocked by the idea as I was, and now it is just seems funny. Here she is writing back.” She showed him the message. ‘what your kidding’ ‘how could they’ ‘cause of the house’  ‘noway I not girl’ ‘pleas feel free’ ‘tell father I’ ‘like boys not’ ‘that ankle throbbing’

Isaac said. “Well that is clear enough, and it dose help. I didn’t know those thing let you feel what the other person was.”

Sara said. “I think it was just to give us a since of each other, but um, well the fairies in the garden were not happy with that and changed them. Anyway I think that is what it is. The gnome told me the charm was better now, but needed more latter. I have no idea.” ‘a bit soaking’ ‘doc looked sprain’ ‘drinking the redtea’ ‘hope not hurt u much’ ‘how ur weather’

Isaac shook his head. “Well I can’t complain that garden dose well, and keeps us fed. If it also has gnomes and fairies living it, well they are doing no harm that I see. Jac did you run a check on the Istcons? That roof was looking bad after the last storm.”

Jacob nodded. “Yes sir, it is leaking in the west end, but they said they were fine. There garden is not draining as well as ours, I dug them a new ditch to try and help it out some.”

Isaac frowned. “I will go over after diner and make see just how bad it is. No since in them staying in water, when we are dry here. As Tim rightly said, we are basically family after all.”

Anna came in and set up the trays. “Mom said to just set them all up, no since in just Sara eating in here. If we all do then we needn’t worry about heating the dinning room. If it is not a bother we could use some help with the plates though?”

Isaac said. “I will go Jac you stay there tell your teeth stop chattering.” He got up and left the room.

Sara said. “I don’t mean to be such trouble. Um Violets Grandma wants to know if there is any willow in the footbath? I know that some slat goes in, but I don’t know what else is in the oil.”

Anna said. “Yes there is willow, wintergreen, and a few other herbs. It is no bother, really we will be more comfortable in here than the dining room. Those windows still are not sealed right, and it is drafty in there. I just wanted dad to go as that way there is sure to be food on the plates.”

Sara said. “Jacob there is another blanket there. Thank you, she said the willow needed to be to help ease the ache and swelling. She hadn’t thought of wintergreen, but it she is going to look into it now. Leave it to a healer to try and prescribe though a charm. So she is upset with me. I thought she was. I didn’t realize what a big mess it was. I still am not sure just why it was. I mean I know what they were implying, but well, that is why there are some of men that don’t marry don’t. I didn’t know it was that much of an issue. Granted there are not single women here, but then there wouldn’t be. I mean they are raised that keeping a family is the thing to do. The community presser is to great, but some do go to the other branch where there is more acceptance. That is where it is less odd fro a woman not to marry, I just thought that was why. Not that it was a banned thing, but now. Is it really illegal?”

Anna said. “It is not talked of with the girls until after the vows. I am sure that just how they knew what to say will be looked into. Yes there are men who don’t marry because they prefer other men. That may well be why some of the women who leave to the sister church do so. I never thought about it in that light. I knew they were more into have jobs outside of the home then most here are, but then we get a few come to us from there as well so it evens out.  The key difference between that and what was said is those people live alone, they do not marry. But to say public that some is acting that way is the same as saying they have left the light. They might have a private visitor over now and then but not publicly, or to openly live with each other in the one bedroom bachelor houses is disobeying the laws of the old books. In both churches of the light as long as it is not forced to be acknowledged it will be ignored. Others who follow the old books hunt for it, and yet others feel those laws were rewritten by new passages. But yes to be blatantly open about such a thing is one of ways you can get shunned. It is one of the few ways that you can get banned before making vows unless you repent. But then it is a form of dating, of flirting, and will be treated as any such.”

Sara said. “Thank you, that explains a lot. It must be hard on those that feel that way. I understand now why everyone froze, and a few other things make since now. I am glad I waited to ask. Jacob are you all right? I take it is one of the do not speak of in mixed company, not that will be speaking of it at all. One more thing. How do I convince Mother and Leah that it is not true? I think telling them that Violet has a boy in her life would make it worse. But I don’t like that they are embarrassed by it.”

Jacob said. “I will be, I was just a bit dense is all. I didn’t know they didn’t discuss it in your classes, they do in the boys a bit. Just say it happens, but should be controlled and redirected. I would think they would give you the same. But then you are not to even think about such feelings before the vows so that is likely why they wait. Mother and Leah are going to be upset, Leah knows it was an embarrassment but likely knows no more than you did, there is nothing you can do about it until they are ready.”

Grandfather came in and sat in his chair. “Glad we don’t have to be in that drafty dinning room today. It is getting down right bitter out there. Is there another cup of tea?”

Anna said. “Here you go last cup. I had best go refill this pot. Here is a blanket as well, though you don’t look quite as cold as Jacob did.”

“Thank you child, and I’m not going to object to a blanket, just didn’t want you to have to fetch one. Sara how’s the foot and what did your friend say? Is she offended?”

Sara said. “No, she is more amused than anything. She has a boy in her life and told me to freely tell anyone who asked she is not interested in girls. But she dose have a cousin who is if they are looking for someone. I said I would just forget the last bit. There is no storm there but the ocean looks and sounds angry so there may well be a big one just out of sight. They are fasting things down just in case it moves in. Doc says it is just a sprain, but I am to stay off it. I may walk no further than the restroom and back. If the swelling is down I might get to go upstairs tomorrow, and to school on Tuesday.”

He nodded. “I was worried that old stereotype would upset her, glad I was wrong Now if you would just stop blaming yourself. You were off balance as it was, there is nothing you could have done but fall when pushed like that. Yes I said pushed. I might not have been close enough to see but others were, and they are not staying silent. It was all over the fields before I started back. You might be willing to be believed to have tripped, but there were some close enough to see the truth of it.”

Sara blushed. “I am sure it was more my fault that is happened. My balance was off and I had to move so slow. No one wanted to be held up and caught in the weather. It was the right mix for an accident to happen. Not the first time someone has been bump into on the steps. Just my luck that I was so off balance. If I hadn’t of let things fester in the first place one of them would have been helping as they have before.”

Her grandfather shook his head. “Child you are a credit to us all. But you need not hide your anger so. It is perfectly fine to be upset. Yes you could have asked them what was wrong, but equally they could have came to you and asked there was no call for them to act like that.”

Isaac said. “I was more at fault than you were by asking you there to explain what was going on I opened the door. I find no fault in your actions today. I can not say what went on in Bixter, but you were to experiences the city and it life with no fear of punishment for doing so as the leader and I both said. I still stand behind those words.”

Abiram said. “She did nothing that in anyway embarrassed me when we were there. I was worried a bit that some she talked with might see more in her words than she meant them to, but she was the first to make it clear to them she was not interested should there be a hint they might be. Most of those conversations involved explain the way we live here, or weather studies. There was nothing improper.” Edith came in and started setting the food down the others followed with there trays. “If anything she was to carful given that the other girls made it clear from the start they had already found her lacking in grace and nothing would change their minds.”

Isaac said. “I am horned to know she didn’t go wild. Not that I thought it likely. Thank you for this. Is there anything we can do to help get supper out here?”

Edith said. “Thank you but we have it. It is warm in here, that is for sure. I don’t think those vents in the dining room are working right.”

Isaac said. “I will have Paul over to check them out. We might have to move the table into here for a bit and just have the whole room redone. I just think we are in for a cold year. Best get the drafts fixed. The boys can help carry the food for a few days. It wont hurt them any.”

Edith said. “I am sure we can mange should it be necessary.” She started setting the plates on the trays, frowning a bit when she saw the notebooks by Sara. But said nothing.

After the meal was done and the dishes cleared away, Anna came back “Lets get that foot out and up. Abiram can you give me a hand? I thick that by the couch a bit to the wall we can get her legs up and get her a back rest.”

Isaac said. “I think I know what you mean. We will set it up and Sara you let Anna help you. You need to keep as much wait off that foot as you can for the next few days. There is nothing wrong in leaning on them.”

Sara said. “I just. Well if my balance wasn’t so off I could use crutches, it just seems like such an imposition.”

Anna moved over to her and put her arm around her. “Don’t be silly. We don’t want any broken bones. No one would be using churches on this floor. I don’t know what they used on it this last time but it is way to slick in this weather.” When they returned the couch had been angled and a back rest made on one side of it.

Sara sat down carefully and Abiram asked. There how dose that feel? Anna is that leg high enough?” He adjust the back a bit and helped Sara get situated.

Sara said. “It is fine.”

Anna said. “Yes, that should do.”

Abiram said. “Good now then.” He moved a tray that had her notebooks and pens on it over so it was across Sara’s lap and angled a bit. “This is that old portable writing desk that has been kicking around. Will that work or do I need to adjust the height? Yes I know you are trapped, but you don’t need to be getting up alone anyway. I will move it way when you are ready to sleep.”

Sara shook her head. “Thank you. I am sorry to be so much trouble.”

Isaac said. “Don’t be silly. Your mother has been wanting to rearrange in here for months. This way she will get the boys to do so, as they must put things back to suite her once you can make it up the stairs. So see you are helping out.”

Edith said. “Yes, not that this is the way I wanted it to happen. And don’t bother asking for your sewing things. Anything you did right now would just have to be undone anyway.” The rest of the evening was quite. Isaac was the first to notice Sara was nodding off and helped get her laying down.