Billionaire Flawed 1(161)

“Why would you ask that. You know I don’t like talking about boys. He is just another one of these weird people and I want nothing to do with him. I am going to sleep, goodnight.” Sarah grabbed her earbuds and put them on. She figured that since she had never felt so miserable in her life, that this was a special enough of an occasion to use them. She listened to her favorite songs, the ones that her mother used to sing to her when she was little. Her favorite was a hymn. What was it called? Oh ya. “Amazing Grace.” I soothed her, and reminded of her when she was younger and still had hope for the world.







When Sarah woke up the next morning, her father was already gone. At her age, there was no such thing as being a morning person. She stumbled to the bathroom, but when she got there, she noticed that there was no mirror. How am I supposed to see what I look like? When she came out, she noticed the smell of breakfast, and unsurprisingly, it was wonderful.

“How did you sleep, Sarah,” asked Rebekah.

Sarah remembered how hard the bed was and how poorly she thought she would sleep. But she stretched her arms out and realized that she didn’t feel bad at all. “You know, I feel alright.”

They enjoyed breakfast together, the five of them. Sarah still didn’t accept that this was her new reality. Ezekiel seemed so content as he ate his food and talked about the chores he was going to get done that day. He talked about it as if there was nothing in the world that he could possibly want that would make his life any better. Sarah knew he must be faking his joy. These Amish must just put up a false front of happiness.

“After breakfast, we all have chores that we do,” said Isaiah. “Each day’s work is not too hard if one commits himself fully to work unto the Lord. Jacob, you can work with me out on the barn. We are trying to have it ready by winter. And Sarah, you can work with Ezekiel out in the fields. The berries need to be picked as soon as possible. If you guys finish there, you can milk the cows.”

Sarah wondered how her father would manage doing any work. It was not something he had done as long as she could remember. Ezekiel got up.

“Come on Sarah, follow me,” he said.

Sarah realized that she had to do work as well. Outside the sun was just cresting over the hills and beginning to shine off of the few clouds that were in the sky. Sarah breathed in deeply and appreciated how fresh the air was. Well they have good food and good air. Maybe this place has a few redeeming qualities.

“So Sarah, how are you acclimating so far?” Asked Ezekiel.

Sarah realized that she had not yet spoken to him. “Pretty well I suppose, it is very different than what I am used to.”

“That is what everyone from the outside says when they come here,” he said. His voice was cheerful and optimistic.

“Really,” Sarah was surprised. “Do people from the outside come here often. I mean I thought you guys were pretty isolated.

“Oh there is certainly a sense in which we are isolated,” explained Ezekiel. “But visitors do come here from time to time and they enjoy learning about us. We are used to it really.”

“But don’t you envy them when they tell you how great life is outside of here,” asked Sarah.

Ezekiel shook his head. “Haven’t you ever heard of rumspringa?”

“No, I never have.”

“Rumspringa is when the young Amish, usually between the ages of 14 and 16 are allowed to experience the outside world for themselves. They then have the choice of staying or coming back and being baptized into the church.”

“Really, and so don’t most just leave and never come back,” asked Sarah, sure that he would say yes.

“Not at all, almost everyone returns. In fact, rumspringa is mainly to show us how good we have it here. I think that in time you will learn to appreciate the world we have created here.”

“I doubt it.”

“And how could you be so sure,” asked Ezekiel as he stopped. Sarah stopped too.

“Because it is not as fun here, that is why,” she thought it was so obvious, especially to anyone that had experienced both living here and living in the real world. She didn’t understand what Ezekiel saw in this place. “There is no television here, there are no videogames, or music blaring in your room. You don’t have air conditioning or cars or anything that makes life worth living.”

“Oh and that is what you think makes life worth living?” Ezekiel shook his head slowly, frowning. “Sarah, I think that soon you will come to understand my perspective. But it is not something I can explain to you right now. It is something that you must experience.”