“…….Aaaaaammmmeeeeeennnnnnn,” the congregation sang. The song leader waved his hand one final time and ended with a twirl and a twist. Harmon watched, but he wasn’t seeing. He shut his mouth and put the song book back into the rack, took a deep breath and rose for the benediction.
“And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob be with you,” Pastor Riehl said and the congregation was dismissed. Harmon and the rest of the boys on the fifth bench turned around to talk to the boys behind them. Harmon was immediately showered with hand shakes and congratulations about his new dating relationship. Harmon felt like a trapped bunny so he quickly waded out of the mass of congratulations and headed for the back of the church. On the way, he was congratulated by everyone from Able King, who happened to be a dwarf, to Pastor Reihl. A few Old men moved in for the holy kiss. Harmon tried to stiff arm them. One man got the point, but a few splotched wet kisses on his cheek.
The church foyer was a mass of people all talking and yelling as loud as they could. Harmon couldn’t breathe so he shot outside as fast as he could. He stood outside for awhile. A few people passed by on the way to their cars and of course they all congratulated him. There weren’t many dating couples in the church so everyone was excited. Harmon was hoping Arvilla would come out so he could look at her. He wondered if she would congratulate him. He stood there and watched little boys in white shirts run around in the parking lot. They came over to Harmon and one yelled, “Harmon has a girlfriend.” Harmon told them to be quiet and thought about going home.
Finally the church door opened and Millie, Arvilla, and Mary Stoltzfus came walking out. They were talking to each other and laughing and Harmon knew they were talking about him. They came over and Millie stood beside Harmon. “How are you today?” she gushed. Her face was flushed and she looked so happy Harmon almost felt happy too. A few hairs had come out from under her covering and were waving in her face. She looked pretty, but not as pretty as Arvilla.
“Congratulations Harmon,” said Arvilla. She flashed a smile that made Harmon’s heart melt. She had a killer smile. Harmon couldn’t believe Arvilla was actually talking to him. “Maybe we should leave you two alone since you’re dating,” she continued.
Millie almost nodded in agreement. “Oh, no, no you don’t have to,” Harmon quickly said, “We have plenty of time to be alone.”
“How long did you like each other?” asked Mary.
“Oh I liked Harmon for a long time,” Millie replied looking eagerly at Harmon, “but I thought he would never ask me out, and then he finally did last week!” Oh guess what we did on our first date….” Millie gushed on and on.
Harmon was glad Millie was talking because he didn’t want to say when he started liking her. I guess I should make up a time, he thought, I’ll say it was last winter and this summer the love just got stronger.
Arvilla looked at the dating couple. She was feeling things she didn’t want to feel. She was smiling and saying nice things because she was happy for them. Millie was one of her friends, and she wasn’t sure what Harmon was to her. She didn’t like Harmon. She was way too good for him. I mean, just look at the guy, she thought. Such a weird looking nose and the way his glasses sit on it. But she couldn’t deny what she felt right when Harmon II made his announcement in church. There was a sinking feeling in her heart which she hadn’t felt since she found her pet cat dead on the road when she was 11.
She didn’t know what it was, but it was weird. The feeling had passed quickly and now as she stood with Harmon and Millie, she was happy for them. Maybe she was just jealous that Millie had a boyfriend and she didn’t.
Arvilla’s musings were interrupted when Karl Weaver and his buddies, James and Matt, came out of the church and joined the little group. Karl looked happy. He slapped Harmon on the back and said loudly, “Congratulations Harmon.” Finally someone had the guts to ask a girl out.” He smiled at everyone and his eyes rested on Arvilla for a second. Karl was happy because now that Harmon had a girlfriend, Arvilla would be his. Not that Harmon was real competition, but he’d been a little worried after the incident at gym night.
After awhile most of the youth group was gathered at the front of the old brick church house. It seemed everyone always gravitated toward Arvilla and today was no different. Harmon and Millie’s dating relationship was the main topic of conversation and Harmon looked around and it felt good to be the center of attention. Just a few minutes earlier he was standing there alone and now there were 27 people gathered around. My am I popular, he thought.
Arvilla suggested they should go on a hike that afternoon since it was a beautiful, August day. The sun was hot, but it wasn’t too hot. Harmon quickly said he wanted to go hiking too. So it was decided that whoever wanted to go hiking would meet at Arvilla’s house at 2:00.
Millie went with Harmon to eat Sunday dinner at his house. Harmon II and the rest of the family were excited to have a girlfriend at the house for the first time. The meal was ok. Everyone was nice and Millie told the family about their first date. Harmon III was afraid she’d tell them about getting chased out of the McDonalds. Lucky for Harmon his Dad was so tight, he thought it was good they had their date at McDonalds.
Pete was his usual self at the dinner table. He ate like a pig and burped loudly a few times. Millie laughed and the rest of the family yelled at him. It was a little strange that Pete’s normal actions were not much different than those Harmon had used on his date to try and disgust Millie.
After Dinner Harmon, Millie, Pete, Gloria, and Pharon went to Arvilla’s house to meet the other youth. Harmon II didn’t think they should go, but his wife had convinced him otherwise.
The youth piled into a few cars and headed for
When they finally arrived at the park, everyone was ready to hike. They jumped out of the cars and headed for the trail. They looked at the woods and crossed the creek seven times. After awhile, Harmon noticed that Millie was lagging behind. He stayed beside her because she was his girlfriend, but he really wanted to keep up with Arvilla’s group.
“Come on, Millie,” he urged, “Lets not get too far behind.”
But Millie walked slower and slower. “I need to rest a bit,” she said, “I’m tired.”
Soon the other youth were out of sight and Harmon and Millie were alone in the woods. Millie looked at Harmon and said, “I still can’t believe you’re my boyfriend.” I thought it was so cool how your dad told everyone we are dating.” I knew I couldn’t keep it a secret anyway.” Were you mad at him?”
“Well, I was kinda peeved.” But I guess it wouldv’e got out anyway.”
“I think your dad is cool.” I love your family already, and Pete, he is so funny, the way he burps at the table and says rude things all the time.”
Harmon felt like punching something. He took a rock and threw it into the creek. “Yeah, I guess my family is cool.” he said. He didn’t tell her he liked everyone in his family except Pete.
“C’mon Millie, let’s go.” We’re getting way behind everyone else,” Harmon said.
But no matter how much he pried and prodded, Millie walked slower and slower and Harmon got madder and madder. They came to a log and Harmon jumped over it. “Can you help me over this log?” Millie said. She stuck out her hand and Harmon couldn’t flatly refuse so he took it and the touch of her hand startled him a bit. He felt something he had never felt before. Millie got over the log and clutched his hand a bit longer. Finally Harmon managed to wrest it from her grasp.
They walked on and Harmon saw a little bird hopping on the trail. He grabbed it and ripped its head off. If that doesn’t disgust her I don’t know what will, he thought. But Millie just laughed and looked at Harmon with an adoring look in her brown eyes. “Oh what strong hands you have,” she cooed. She reached for Harmon’s hand, but he quickly jerked it away. Millie looked a little taken aback.
Harmon was almost ready to tell Millie that they would have a strictly “hands off” relationship when they came upon some one stumbling slowly along the trail. He was puffing and sweating and moaning. He was eating a candy bar and holding a can of Pepsi. It was Pete.
Harmon and Millie caught up to him and they almost had to hold their noses because he evidently didn’t believe in deodorant. Pete looked at them and said, “Ha ha, sorry to interrupt your date.”
It was the first time in his life that Harmon was glad to see Pete. He was glad because he didn’t want to be alone with Millie and he really didn’t want to talk about “hands off.” So He slowed down and walked with Pete and Millie looked mad. Before long Pete was making Millie laugh and Harmon thought about walking ahead.
“I think I’ll go ahead and find the others,” he said.
“No Harmon, stay with us,” said Millie.
Pete’s stench and the fact that he was with his two least favorite people in the world almost made Harmon cry. But he bit his lip. He took a stick and poked Pete in the butt. Pete turned around to beat him, but Harmon quickly ran away. He ran so fast and far that soon he had left Pete in the dust. Finally he stopped and turned around and saw that Pete and Millie were no longer in sight.
He sat there until they caught up to him. Pete was talking to a girl for the first time in his life and he was sweating and puffing and Harmon knew he was safe. Millie told him he was dumb for poking his fat brother. Harmon was amazed because this was the first time Millie ever thought he was dumb. She thinks I’m dumb when I abuse Pete, he thought, what else could I do to him?
He was still thinking about this when they came upon the rest of the youth. Karl and Arvilla were splashing each other in the creek and the others were laughing at them. A few boys were looking at girls they liked and a few girls were looking at boys they liked. There were no other dating couples.
Willard and Henry were sitting beside a tree. Harmon went over and sat with them and Millie went to talk to Mandy and Mary.
“So what’s with your Dad?” asked Willard. “I bet you were mad this morning.”
“Was!” I’m still
“Well, there’s always the possibility of whacking her,” joked Henry.
“Yeah right,” said Harmon. “She’s already trying to hold my hand.
Willard and Henry roared with laughter when they heard this. They looked at Harmon and were glad they weren’t in his shoes.
After awhile Millie came over and told Harmon to come wading with her. Harmon obediently went with her. They went to the creek. Arvilla was sitting there. Her dress was partially wet and Karl was sitting close to her. Arvilla’s hair was wet and her face was filled with happiness. When she saw Harmon, her smile waned a bit, but the look of ecstasy soon returned.
She felt good. Karl was after her. She knew it. What else would explain the way he had splashed water on her. And he had stayed close to her during the entire hike. I wonder if he’s going to ask me out, she thought. He’ll probably just sit around and wait and I’ll be an old maid. Why can’t he step up like Harmon did and ask me out? And what if he doesn’t know I like him? Should I do something to show him how I feel? What if he likes Mary, or Gloria, or Mandy? Oh whatever. Who cares? She told Harmon and Millie they look good together and forgot all about her problems.
The children spent the rest of the afternoon in the forest talking with each other, playing hide and seek, and Arvilla tried to find out if Karl liked her. Harmon talked to Willard and Henry and refused to let Millie get alone with him. It was a fun afternoon.
They all drove back to Bird in Hand with happy hearts. The cool summer wind blew through the cars. The girls’ covering strings whipped in the wind and the boys blew their horns and raced each other. These were the best years of their lives. The years in which they went from children to adults. The years when they would find their husbands and wives. Oh what a life it was. How carefree and happy most of them were. How trivial their problems, how petty their desires. These were the best years of their lives, but many of them did not know it.
Harmon took a deep breath and looked over at Millie. She looked so happy. Suddenly a thought struck him. The thought started low in his brain and grew slowly until it became a reality. By the time they reached Bird in Hand, Harmon had a Master Plan. It would take a while but this time it would work. He smiled and threw some trash out the window at a tourist. (by iw to be continued).
Read Our Hero Harmon next week as Harmon puts the Master Plan into action. Plus something else about Arvilla that you do Not want to miss