The Shunning

TODAY'S TOPIC!

She turned away from the crisp fall wind, shivering as her long skirt billowed wide

and her hair slapped her face. She'd lost her prayer kapp again. Mamm would be

real mad. Dry leaves were racing past, heading in the same direction.

She'd always wondered where all those leaves ended up, year after year. Some

were already brown. That made her sad. The dark orange ones reminded her of

Mamm's pumpkin cookies and she turned toward home. She walked slowly,

fingering the package hidden in her apron and thinking about the Bishop's visit

yesterday, when he'd said she was too simple-minded to care for a baby...

~~~~~

WORD COUNT Stories for today's topic must not exceed 1100 words. (Your story's title is *not* included in the word count. We used MSWord's word count function to determine the final word count in submission.)

Word count: 1066                               The Shunning

            Rebecca served another tray of hot cinnamon buns. Every Saturday, hundreds of

cyclists rode from Columbus to her family's restaurant - The Dutch Kitchen - in Plain

City, drank coffee and ate their famous buns.

            She turned to take another order. The door opened and Tom walked in. Of all the

cyclists, he was her favorite - tall, blond, trim, with muscular thighs wrapped in

Spandex©. She unconsciously adjusted the white apron over her plain blue dress and

adjusted her Kapp. Tom looked in her direction and smiled. 

            He came every Saturday and always sat at one of her tables. Often, he tried to

make small talk with her, but it was forbidden to talk to the men, except to take their

orders.

            Mamm noticed the exchange. She'd seen this man flirting with Rebecca before.

It worried her. Rebecca was young and beautiful. In spite of the plain clothing their

religion required, the men who came for breakfast would stare at her with lust. She had to

protect her daughter. They didn't know Rebecca was not right, but the Bishop knew. Just

yesterday, he told them she was too simple minded to have a baby.

            "Rebecca!"

            She lowered her head and blushed. "Yes, Mamm."

            "Mary will take over. The horses need tending."

            "Yes, Mamm." Rebecca said weakly

            Rebecca took a brush and combed through the thick hair of her favorite horse.

The rhythmic motion relaxed her.

            "Rebecca?"

            Startled by the voice behind her, she turned and dropped the brush.

            "Rebecca? I didn't mean to frighten you."

            "How did you know my name? You shouldn't be here. It's forbidden!" she said. "If Mamm..."

            "I know it, because I heard the lady call you it inside. Rebecca - what a beautiful

name.

            "She's my Mamm."

            "Mother?"

            "Yes."

            "I got you in trouble, didn't I?"

            "I shouldn't be talking to you!" She stepped back, stumbled on the dropped brush,

and fell into a pile of hay. She cried out and clutched her ankle.

            Tom rushed to her side. "Are you OK?"

            "My ankle!" she cried.

            "Let me look."

            "No! You cannot touch me!"

            "Rebecca, I'm a doctor. I know what I am doing."

            "You cannot touch me!"

            "Rebecca, please. I can help." He reached out and held her foot.

            "No!"  She tried to scamper away, but the pain was too much.

            He undid the buckle of her black shoe and slowly removed it. "It doesn't

appear to be swelling."  He held her ankle and bent her foot upward. She flinched.

"You may have a slight sprain, but you should be OK in a day or two."

            Tom looked up. "Rebecca, I come here every Saturday, but not for the food.

You are so beautiful." He took her hand in hers. "I know your religion forbids it, but

I think I'm in love with you."

            "No!" Rebecca said. "You can't!"

            "But I do." He reached out and gently ran a finger down her cheek. "Your skin

is so soft." he whispered.

            Rebecca twisted from his touch. "Please..."

            He stroked her cheek again. Something stirred inside her. It was the feeling she

got when she read the book she'd found on the side of the highway many months ago

and kept hidden. Was this what it was like to be touched by a man?

            Tom sensed her weakening. "Rebecca?" He hesitated and then his lips were on

hers. She tried started to push him away, but the feeling was not unpleasant. It was

intoxicating. His strong arms reached around her and drew her body close to his.

Instinctively, her arms held him in return, the pain in her ankle forgotten.

            There was a sharp pain, as his manhood penetrated her. He was slow and

gentle, allowing her to adjust to his size. She lost all resolve and began to move with him.

Her firm young breasts rose and fell with each movement. Tom suckled her - a sting as he

bit her nipple - pain turning to pleasure.

            Rebecca felt him swell inside her. His moments grew more frantic. He pushed

deep and clutched her tightly. She felt his release spreading like a warm summer breeze

inside her.

            They lay stretched out beside each other in the hay, their bodies glistening with

perspiration. Rebecca sighed.

            "Rebecca!"

            She jumped up, covering herself with her discarded dress. "Uncle Jacob?"

            "What is going on here?"

            Tom jumped up, dressed quickly, and stammered, "Sir! Sir, I'm sorry."

            Jacob grabbed a pitch fork. Rebecca dressed. Tom fled. "Jacob! Don't hurt him!" she screamed. "I love him."

            Jacob turned from the fleeing man. "Love! What do you know of love?"

                                                **********************

            The Bishop sat at the head of the table. "Rebecca, you have brought shame on this

family. From this day forward you will be shunned."

            "But..."

            "Hush, child! You no longer exist in our eyes. It is done. Pray for your soul,

Rebecca."

            At home, Rebecca tried to talk to her Mamm. "Mamm, I'm sorry."

            Mamm, cooked the evening meal - unhearing. "Mamm, please!"

            Rebecca turned to her brother. "Isaac? You hear me don't you?" Isaac read his

bible.

            She turned to her father, "Datt?" There was no response.

            She didn't exist.

                                                *********************

            Dry leaves raced past, heading in the same direction. She'd wondered where all
those leaves ended up, year after year. Some were already brown. That made her sad. The
dark orange ones reminded her of Mamm's pumpkin cookies. She turned toward home.
She walked slowly, fingering the package cradled in her apron.

            She'd moved to the city and given birth to a fine young son. Would Mamm shun

her grandson? Would she be accepted back?

            She opened the door. Mamm pretended not to hear her enter.

            "Mamm?" Rebecca asked weakly. "Mamm, I'm home. You have a strong

young grandson to help in the fields."

            Mamm showed no sign of hearing, as she continued to knead dough.

            The door flew open with a bang. It was Datt. "Sarah," he said to her Mamm,

you better come here."

            Rebecca followed them. Daniel led them to brother Jacob's wagon.

            Mamm peered into the back, screamed and dropped to her knees. "No!" she cried.

            Rebecca walked to the wagon. There lay the bodies of her and her newborn son.

            "We found her in the field close to the highway." Isaac said. "Looks like she was

trying to come home and a vehicle struck them and drove off."