Harmon Stoltzfus III stood beside the Vietnam Wall in stunned silence. He looked at the wall. He looked at the names. Thousands of names, young men killed during the Vietnam War. He was glad Amish Mennonites didn’t have to go to war. He read a few names: Thomas Williams, George Robinson, Joel Jackson. He wondered if there were any Stoltzfuses. He looked for awhile but couldn’t find any. An old man and woman were standing by the wall holding flowers. The woman was crying softly. Harmon figured their son’s name was on the wall. He walked past them. They didn’t look at him. Harmon shivered. Suddenly he was cold.
He thought about his situation and almost wished his name was on the wall. At least I’d be a hero. They would celebrate me on Memorial Day. Maybe I should run away and join the Army. He walked to the end of the wall and through the trees he saw the Lincoln Memorial. Arvilla was probably there by now, talking to Karl, telling him all about Harmon’s wild proposition.
He thought about what he had done. The aching feeling in his stomach was not going away; in fact it was getting stronger. What he had done was unprecedented in Amish Mennonite circles. Boys just didn’t do what he had just done. If a girl had a boyfriend, other boys left her alone. Once she was dating she was as good as married. But he just couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t go through his life not knowing what might have been. And now he had laid his cards on the table. He had told Arvilla exactly what he felt and she had run away. Harmon kicked a rock on the path. He kicked it hard and it flew into the grass.
Did I really think she was going to feel the same way I do? How could I be so stupid? Karl is so much cooler, smarter and more spiritual than I could ever be. He is everything an Amish Mennonite girl could want. Why did I have to go and be so stupid? Why? And Millie’s not all that bad. I could just marry her and we could be happy together. But I love Arvilla. I love her. I do. Harmon was getting sadder and sadder. Then he thought about how she had looked at him and how they had played Scum together and how she talked to him. I bet she does like me, he thought. She likes me but she’s afraid. She’s afraid to admit it. Of course she doesn’t want to like me. She wants to like Karl. Oh how can I make her see the truth?
Harmon continued in this state of mind and by the time he reached the Memorial to our 16th President, he was convinced that Arvilla would not tell Karl about his declaration of love. He was convinced that she would break up with him and they would be together. I will go on like nothing happened. She can make the next move.
Meanwhile our young and beautiful Arvilla was making some tough decisions of her own. As she ran, sobbing, away from the Vietnam Wall and her suitor, tears streamed down her face. She ran and ran, away from Harmon, away from Karl, away from everyone. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She finally sat down on a bench somewhere in a park. There was no one around - only her, the trees, and a pond before her. The wind died down.
The tears were still flowing freely and she didn’t know why she was crying. She put her head in her hands and looked down at the ground. After about ten minutes the crying subsided and she began to think about what Harmon had done. She didn’t know how to deal with it because nothing like this had ever happened to her. It had never to anyone she knew, and she hadn’t read about it in any romance novels or dating books.
Arvilla took a Kleenex from her purse and wiped her face. Why am I crying? She thought. I don’t even feel sad. She thought about this for a little bit. She tried to get a grip on herself and slowly she began to think clearly. What is that feeling I feel in my heart? Is it sadness? Is it anger? What is it? It’s not happiness. Or is it? She thought about Harmon. She thought about how happy he had looked when he proclaimed his love for her. What a child. So little he knows about love. For some reason she thought about the time Harmon had fixed her car at gym night and a smile crept across her face. I should’ve seen it coming. I guess I gave him too much attention.
The minutes turned into an hour as Arvilla sat there pondering her situation. She thought she was in such a tough situation. In reality, many Amish Mennonite girls would gladly have traded places with her. Not one, but two, boys were after her. Arvilla thought about what Harmon had said. Maybe I don’t love Karl, maybe I don’t, but it’s none of his business if I do or don’t. What right does he have to tell me he loves me? He can’t possibly love me. He hardly knows me. Maybe I don’t love Karl, but I don’t love Harmon either.
Arvilla decided she would not tell Karl about her meeting with Harmon. She knew it would just make Karl mad and she didn’t want every one to find out about it. I’ll just keep it to myself, she thought. Maybe I’ll tell my sister, or maybe not. For now I’ll just pretend it didn’t happen. I’ll avoid Harmon, stay close to Karl, and he won’t be able to attack me again. But what is it about him? And that ANNOYING twinkle in his eyes. Why does he look at me like that? And why do I like it?
Arvilla finally arose from the park bench ready to face the world. She felt good about her decision. She’d decided not to talk to Harmon about the meeting until some other day. The rest of the day we’ll go on like nothing happened, she thought as she walked out of the trees toward the Lincoln Memorial. Her hair was slicked back, the shine had returned to her face, and it was hard to see she had been crying just an hour earlier.
She walked up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial. Inside sat a stoic Abraham Lincoln. He looked down on her with a grim expression. Arvilla looked at him for a little bit and then she looked around the room. Where are the others? No one was in the room but a few Japanese tourists. She tried to ask them if they’d seen some Amish Mennonites. The Japanese looked at her blankly and jibbered something in a foreign language. Where are they? Arvilla ran outside. She ran around the monument. The large, white columns stood like sentinels in the December evening. Karl and Harmon and the others were nowhere to be found.
Arvilla suddenly felt cold. She ran frantically around the monument again. She didn’t see anyone. She yelled, “Karl.” No answer. “Oh no, it can’t be.” I’m lost,” she said quietly. “No, no, no.” Arvilla ran back to the front of the memorial and sat down. It was getting dark. A long pool stretched before her. At the other end was a tall, pointed tower. Arvilla wasn’t sure what the tower was. She sat there. Nobody came. It got darker.
I’ll just stay here, thought Arvilla. Surely they’ll realize I’m not with them and come back for me. Surely they will. She sat there longer and it got darker and she felt colder and shivered. What an idiot I am, she thought. Why did I have to go off by myself? She began to sob again.
Suddenly she heard a voice behind her. “Excuse me miss, do you need help?” Arvilla whirled quickly about. She quickly quit crying.
Harmon walked slowly toward the Lincoln Memorial. He didn’t want to see Arvilla and he didn’t want to see Karl. He figured Arvilla was probably telling Karl all about their meeting by the wall. Oh whatever, he thought, now is as good as later.
When Harmon finally walked into the Memorial, he found Karl, Mandy, Willard and the others inside but Arvilla was not there. Harmon breathed a sigh of relief. At least Karl doesn’t know yet. Harmon looked at Abe Lincoln and thought about how much he resembled Pastor Riehl. He chuckled and talked to Willard.
“Where were you?” asked Willard.
“Oh, I got a little sidetracked,” Harmon replied nervously.
“Sidetracked, I saw you and Arvilla walking away together.”
“You did?” asked Harmon, “did Karl see us?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Willard replied as he looked at some writing on the wall.
“It was nothing anyway.” I just wanted to show her something.”
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re insane,” said Willard chuckling, “Are you still after that girl?” Give it up.”
The boys kept talking for awhile. Harmon kept looking at the entrance. Arvilla didn’t show and didn’t show. A half hour passed and the children were ready to go.
“Where’s Arvilla?” asked Karl.
Everyone looked around surprised. “I don’t know,” Mandy finally said. “I don’t think I saw her here.” Harmon looked surprised and Willard looked at him.
“We have to find her!” Karl shouted as he ran outside. The others followed. Harmon was worried.
They all yelled, “Arvilla” as loud as they could. No response. They walked around and yelled some more. They called her cell phone but no one answered.
“When’s the last time anyone saw her?” Karl asked.
Harmon didn’t want them to know about the meeting he and Arvilla had at the Vietnam Wall, but he also wanted to find Arvilla. Finally he said, “I saw her as we were passing the Vietnam Wall.”
Karl looked suspiciously at Harmon, “You did?” Were you talking to her?”
“No, not really.” She asked me something about the wall and then I came up here and didn’t see her again.”
The children looked around worriedly. They decided to fan out through the park to try and find her. In their haste, no one stayed at the Lincoln Memorial. They searched for a few hours, all the way from the Lincoln Memorial to the
Harmon felt horrible. He had retraced his steps to the Vietnam Wall and stood there wondering where Arvilla could’ve gone. He walked in the direction she had run. He called her and called her, but got no answer. Finally he gave up and rejoined the others. What if she got kidnapped? What if she was so mad at me she ran away? What if she jumped in the river? Harmon tried not to think these thoughts, but he did.
He looked at Millie and Pete. His plan was working. He looked sad. “What happened,” asked Millie.
“Oh, Arvilla’s lost.”
“She is!” Millie replied. “That is horrible.” “Where?”
“I don’t know.” If I’d know where, she wouldn’t be lost,” Harmon snapped. He felt like crying.
The voice behind Arvilla scared her. She turned around quickly to see a police officer standing there. He was a handsome police officer and he had a gun in his belt. Arvilla was scared of police, but this man was cute and when he looked at her, she felt her heart beat faster.
“Is something wrong?” asked the police.
Arvilla looked at him. She was embarrassed. Finally she said, “Well, somehow I got separated from my group and I can’t find them.”
The police walked up to her and reached out his hand. She took it and he helped her to her feet. He had a strong hand. “High, my name’s Jeremy and I’ll help you find your group.”
Arvilla suddenly felt much better. A police officer was going to help her and everything would be ok. All was not lost. Jeremy helped her into the back of his police car. Arvilla looked around. She had never dreamed of riding in a police car.
“So are you Amish?” asked Jeremy.
“No I’m Amish Mennonite, but it’s kinda like Amish,” Arvilla replied. “We came down to pass out lunches to homeless and see some sights.”
“Do you have any idea where your bus is parked?”
“Well, I think it’s somewhere close to the White House.”
Jeremy got on his radio. Before long he found out exactly where the Amish Mennonite bus was parked. Police all over the city had been talking about the day’s Amish Mennonite invasion.
Jeremy and Arvilla drove down the street. She was happy to be going back to her friends. She was also happy to be riding with Jeremy. I wonder what it would be like to date him, thought Arvilla. I never could cuz I’m Mennonite, but what if?
She was jolted from her thoughts when the car pulled up to the bus. Amish Mennonite youth were milling about in excitement. When they saw Arvilla step out of the police car they all cheered. Karl ran up to her, but he didn’t give her a hug. Harmon wanted to run over and give her more than a hug. Arvilla looked very happy to see everyone. She thanked Jeremy for rescuing her. He shook her hand and said he was glad to help.
The bus trip home was ok. Arvilla and Harmon both acted like nothing had happened between them. Karl scolded Arvilla for getting lost and Arvilla was glad to be the center of attention. Meanwhile, Pete and Millie played Rook together and Harmon watched them with glee. Just a few more days and his plan would reach fruition.
He played scum with Willard and Henry and a few other youth. Arvilla didn’t help. She sat with Karl instead. Harmon looked at her repeatedly to see if she was telling Karl about their meeting. He noticed that she slept most of the way home. He thought about their meeting near the wall. He felt stupid, yet somehow he felt good about Arvilla. She hadn’t told Karl about his proposition and that meant something.
When Harmon finally got home at 10:45 he was tired and couldn’t wait to get to bed. As he stumbled after his brothers and sister through the living room, a gruff voice called, “Harmon, I need to talk to you.”
Harmon turned to see his father sitting at the table. The look on his face told Harmon he had important issues to discuss. Our hero sighed and walked toward his father.
Read Our Hero Harmon next week to see what Harmon II wanted. Plus will THE PLAN finally reach its desired conclusion?