Growing Up in Lancaster County Read Online Free PDF Page B

either.
    What was going on? First the butterfly Orlie said was there but Rachel never saw, and now an invisible spider! Either she was going blind, or Orlie and Audra were in cahoots and had decided to make this “tease Rachel day.”
    Well, if anyone else saw anything that wasn’t really there, Rachel would just play along. No point giving them the satisfaction of thinking they’d pulled a fast one on her!
    When the teacher, Elizabeth, dismissed the scholars for recess that morning, Rachel headed straight for the swings. She was the first one there, so she got to choose her favorite swing.
    She started by making the swing go side to side, then she swirled around a couple of times until she felt dizzy. Finally—
pump…pump…push. Pump…pump…push
—she moved her legs fast and was soon swinging so high she felt like a bird soaring up to the sky. “Whee…this is so much fun!”
    “Did you see that pretty bird in the tree over there?” Orlie asked when he joined Rachel on the swings.
    “What bird?”
    “That one—in the maple tree.”
    Rachel slowed her swing so she could get a better look. She did see the bird, but it looked like a blurry blob.
    “Do you see it, Rachel?” Orlie asked.
    “Uh—jah, it’s real pretty.”
    Orlie started pumping his legs really fast. “Bet I can swing higher than you can.”
    “Bet you can’t.”
Pump…pump…push. Pump…pump…push
. Rachel got her swing going as high as she could.
    “You’d better watch out, or you’ll fly right off and land in the tree with that bird!” Orlie hollered.
    Rachel giggled as she flew up. “My swing’s higher than yours,” she shouted. “I win!”
    “You didn’t give me a fair chance. I can go higher if I want to.”
    “No you can’t, because recess is over.” Rachel started to drag her feet to slow the swing. “See, all the scholars are heading inside.”
    Orlie groaned. “I’ll beat you the next time; just wait and see.”
    “That’s what you think, Orlie Troyer!” Rachel jumped off the swing, dashed across the yard, and—
floop!
—dropped to her knees!
    “What happened?” Audra rushed to Rachel and helped her to her feet.
    Rachel brushed the dirt from her dress. “I—I guess I must have tripped on something.”
    “I think it was that.” Audra motioned to the hose stretched across the yard. “Didn’t you see it?”
    Rachel shook her head. “I—I wasn’t looking down.”
    “Are you hurt?”
    Rachel inspected her knees. “I’m okay. My knees aren’t even bleeding.”
    “You need to be more careful.” Audra patted Rachel’s back. “Were you in a hurry to get inside?”
    “Jah, I was.” Rachel started moving toward the schoolhouse again. She was almost to the porch when she heard a bird twittering from the tree nearby. She tipped her head back and squinted. There was that blurry blob again. She didn’t understand why everything looked so fuzzy lately. Could something be wrong with her eyes? Would she need to see a doctor? Oh, she hoped not!
    “Are you gonna play ball with us?” Jacob asked Rachel during lunch recess that day.
    Rachel shrugged. “I thought I might swing or play on the teeter-totter with Audra.”
    “Aw, come on, Rachel.” Jacob nudged her arm. “You’re a good ball player; we need you.”
    “I’d rather not.”
    “Please, Rachel. I’d like you to be on my team.”
    “Oh, okay,” Rachel finally agreed. She was pleased that Jacob thought she was good at playing ball. He didn’t often say nice things to her.
    Rachel followed Jacob to the baseball field. “Play center field,” he said.
    “Why can’t I play second or first base?”
    “You’re good at catching fly balls, so that’s where I want you to go.”
    “Where are you gonna play?” she asked.
    “I’ll be the pitcher.” Jacob cupped his hands around his mouth. “Orlie, you’re on my team, too, so play in left field.”
    “Let’s get the other team out schnell,” Orlie said to Rachel. “I can’t wait till