Becky and Nico
Becky couldn't believe how kind the Professor was. He'd given her temporary ownership of the smaller kitchen, saying that it was hers, and she could use it as she liked. He'd even managed to find a buggy and horses for Nico to use, so that they could get to church without depending on anybody. Becky was amazed how understanding he was, for they had both been afraid that they would have to adapt in ways that made them uncomfortable.
After asking around, Nico had found directions to a Mennonite church in the area. Mennonites awere Anabaptists, like the Amish, but not as strict. They even used cars, and often had electricity in their homes.
So come Sunday morning, Nico and Becky, who were up at 5am out of habit, were dressed in full Amish garb, and Nico was grooming the horses. Becky had started to become a little lax with her clothing. She wore a long skirt that was patterned, not plain, and had even started wearing a pair of tennis shoes on occasion.
Becky came down to the cafeteria, where everybody was starting to get up and have breakfast, and posed her question.
"Would anybody like to accompany Nico and I to church today?"
Nathan
"I would, if that's alright, Becky," Nathan said quietly from his corner of the cafeteria, far from most of the people in the room. He liked places of worship, they were quiet and the demons didn't like to enter a house of God. He needed the break from the quicksilver flash of mutants as well. Humans were more quiet to his eyes.
Becky, Theresa and Kitty
"I would not mind at all," Nathan, "In fact I'd be pleased to have your company. Would anybody else like to join us? There's room in the buggy for six." Theresa and Kitty chatted to themselves for a while.
"Wll, I'm Catholic, and Kitty's Jewish, but it would be interesting to experience something new," Theresa interjected.
"Wonderful. That leaves room for one more, or it can just be the five of us."
Nathan
Nathan looked around. "Chelsea? It might be useful for you to come."
"Ok, Nath," she said cheerfully. "I'll get changed into something a bit nicer. What would be appropriate, Nico, Beck?" She looked at the two Amish for guidance.
"Good point. Nice but not flashy?" Nathan suggested with a shrug, hands starting to shuffle his cards. "If they're like the Amish, they won't do flashy much."
Becky, Theresa, Kitty and Nico
Becky looked at herself, and then at Kitty and Theresa, and back to Chelsea.
"I would suggenst that you wear full-length shirts, if you have them, and a top that is not tight, and not too low-cut, and you need should probably tie your hair back, though I can see no need for you to cover it as I do, you are not Anabaptist, you are just visiting," Becky smiled. "Just do not show any skin here," she guestured to her cleavage, "Or here," she guestured to her midrift. The girls went off to get changed, and Nico went to get a hat for Nathan.
"You do not wear it in the chapel, but when you're outside, it shows respect, and good manners to tip your hat at ladies," Nico suggested as he handed a hat nearly identical to his own to Nathan. The girls soon returned and Becky nodded approvingly.
"You still look English, but it's much better," she grinned. "Shall we go now?" she looked at her brother who nodded. They went out to the courtyard where Nico had hitched up the horses to the buggy, and attatched the triangular orange 'hazard' sign to the back of the buggy, that would let passing traffic know that they were not going the speed limit. Nico helped the girls inside, and then made room for Nathan to sit up front with him. When everybody was settled in, he clicked his tongue and snapped the reins, and the horses took off. Becky felt the familiar, soothing rhythm of horses hooves as she sat back in the buggy.
"Is this your first time in a horse-drawn buggy?" she asked the others. Both Kitty and Theresa said that it was.
Nathan and Chelsea
"Once. An Amish man gave me a lift." Nathan looked out onto the backs of the horses, letting their calm equine natures soothe him.
"First for me! This is sooooo cool!" Chelsea grinned. "And the horses are so..." she made a helpless sort of gesture with her hand and looked at Nathan. He smiled.
"Calm. Animals are...quiet to look at. They are born, they live, they die. Is all." He shrugged.
Kitty, Theresa, Becky and Nico
Kitty and Theresa laughed, "Except for Egyptian cats who harrass us at school, of course," Kitty said, giggling. Before too long, they heard a gentle "Woah, woah," from Nico, and the horses came to a halt. Nico tied the horses to a hitching post, and they all got out of the buggy. Kitty and Theresa were both slightly awed. It was a simple and plain building, but the honest and sincere reverence of the people touched their hearts. Theresa noticed, with surprise, that the women were dressed much more modern than Beckly, but still very conservatively, and they all had thei hair turned up in a bun, covered by a small white mesh cap, unlike Rebecca's bonnet which covered all of her hair.
They walked up to the front, and were greeted by members of the church.
"Good day," Nico said, "I hope you don't mind visitors today," he said with a smile.
"Oh, not at all," the man said. "Amish brethren are always welcome, and who are your companions?"
"These are our schoolmates," Rebecca said. "My brother and I have just began school here, away from our family for the first time, and we are trying to keep things as normal as possible."
"Very understandable," a Mennonite woman said, nodding. "Do come in, please." They entered th church, and they all took seats in a pew, not too far from the front and waited for the pastor to begin.
Chelsea and Nathan
Nathan smiled as he sensed his student's reaction of awed wonder to the atmosphere of the church. It was always a gamble, whether or not the congregation truly believed but he'd lucked out. They did. The building shone with a white transculent light, welcoming and kind. He settled back to listen to the sermon, cards tucked away in his pocket.
Chelsea kept her mouth shut and tried not to look too surprised or anything, She didn't want to be rude. And it was just so *nice* here...Chelsea relaxed into the soothing aura of the church.
Becky, Nico, Kitty and Theresa
Becky and Nico were delighted to be back in a familiar surrounding, and Kitty and Tracy both found the service interesting. However, when Becky and Nico wanted to stay for hours afterwards, meeting everyone, they grew restless, and decided to catch a cab back to the mansion. The others, however, were perfectly content, to stay. Although Becky had intended to cook a big supper for her brother and some friends, the minister's wife invited them over for supper and fellowship. Nico and Becky accepted, and got the directions to the Pastor's house.
"Nathan, do you and Chelsea want to accompany us to dinner at the minister's house? or should we take you back to the mansion first?"
Chelsea and Nathan
"I'd like to," Chelsea said honestly.
"Why not?" Nathan smiled.
"You get sick of eating in a big crowd. I miss my family."
"Go back for a visit."
"Easy for you to say," Chelsea mumured under her breath. Nathan just chuckled.
Becky and Nico
Nico happily drove them to the Pastor's house, where they were welcomed graciously into their home. Nico took off his hat inside, but Becky kept her bonnet firmly on.
The Reverend and Mrs. Stevens had three children, Christina, who was 16, Thomas, who was 9, and Stacy, who was three.
"Please, Mrs. Stevens, may I help with supper?"
"Oh no, child, you're a guest."
"I'd like to feel useful, ma'am, if I may."
"Very well. The dough's been rising, but it needs to be kneaded and put in the pan, and into the oven," Mrs. Stevens handed Becky a spare apron, and she quickly got to work.
Dinner at the Stevens' home was only slightly different than supper at the Yoders'. The prayer was the same, and the men were served first, just like at home, but what was different was the conversation. At home, none of the children spoke until they were spoken to, but at the Steven's, everybody prattled on and on, just talking and discussing all through the meal. When they finally bid each other good night, everyone was full and sated.
"Oh, it's so good to be near plain people again, even if they are Mennonite, they're still kind," Becky said, smiling.
Chelsea and Nathan
"It was nice," Chelsea said. "I'm not very religious, but this was nice."
"Yeah." Nathan nodded.
They drove back to the mansion, Chelsea curled into Nathan's side. He touched her hair softly, she was like the daughter he'd never had. It was good. He smiled.