A Double Life

Kitty Puchalla

Description

Kitty, I think that was a good book, one that comes from the heart of a real person.
What I mean by that is it sounds true, like someone who it really happened to wrote
it. I personally loved it. I read it about four times, and I still am not sick of it. And
that’s the truth. I love how it takes feelings, and emotions and puts it together. It
really seemed like you got into Erma’s feelings. How she was at first singled out by
others. All just for something she didn’t even want. All she left behind for that. Plust
it teaches you about the Amish way of life. So I think the book really teaches you
a lot, about Amish society, real feelings, and a lot more. I loved the book, people I
know loved the book. In other words it’s a good book.

Love, Stephie Haas

The first time I heard your story was in 6th grade when you were teaching my
class. You read chapters of it to us everyday. It rocked!! Personally, it made me
want to go be Amish for a little while there. I use to always think it had to be so
hard to be Amish, but after you read it to the class, it totally switched my thoughts
around (not saying I always have thoughts!) All my friends that heard or read this
book loved it! Hope you write a sequel!

Lots of love, Brittany Giebel

Hey Kitty, I really liked reading your spectacular book. I’ve always wondered what
it would be like to live the Amish lifestyle. Having no electricity, running water,
or indoor bathroom would be a bummer. I think that you should make a sequel
because I would really enjoy reading it because it’s fun to read about someone my
own age. I would probably be like Erma and sneak in my CD player because I
LOVE music, too!!!!

Mary Pat Speerstra

Sujets

• Vie de famille
• Relations familiales
• Thrillers
• Tipo de dato real
• Kitty
• Double
• Suspense
• Life
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 19 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781477244678
• Langue: English

Extrait

A Double Life
 
 
 
 
Kitty Puchalla
 
 
 
 
 
AuthorHouse™
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: [phone]
 
 
 
 
© 2001, 2009 Kitty Puchalla. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
Published by AuthorHouse 07/28/2023
 
ISBN: 978-1-4343-9249-7 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4343-9248-0 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-4772-4467-8 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008909407
 
 
 
All photographs provided by Kitty Puchalla
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Contents
Dedication
My New Community, My New House
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
About the Author
Dedication
 
To all you students who read this book, hoping you will always accept others for who they are; not what they look like, and understand the various cultures and way of life others’ follow. AND I also hope you will always have the determination to follow your dreams.
 
 
 
 
A SPECIAL THANKS
TO MALLORY LARSON
FOR ALLOWING ME
TO TAKE HER
PHOTOGRAPHS
 
 
 

 
 
AND A SPECIAL
THANKS TO
ALLISON PULVER
FOR HER PHOTOS
 
 
 

 
 
ALSO TO
MATTI MILLER
FOR HER
PHOTOS
 
 
 

My New Community, My New House
After many years in an English town, I finally came home – home to my mother’s Amish community. Years ago my mom left the Amish to marry an English man. As time went on, she felt the need to return to her roots, having to leave her husband behind.
It was an adjustment to return to the simple ways of the Amish, being used to the modern conveniences of the outside world. I would miss leaving my friends behind and all the luxuries and freedom. Would I make it in the world of the Amish? Would I miss my dad? I was frightened about my future. But I had a secret…..
Here’s what happened…………………..
 
“Erma, begin packing your clothes. The carriage will be here soon,” yelled mom from the bottom of the stairs. “Remember, you must leave all worldly possessions behind.”
I stretched out on my beanbag, recalling my past.........
Chapter One
 
The radio blared to the tune of country western music as Erma helped mom vacuum the carpeting. When they finished, mom scooped up chocolate ice cream and put it in the blender. She made the best malts ever. It was a warm, sunny day in May, so they took their malts outside, sat on the swing set, sipping and slurping away. Mom always let Erma make weird noises with her straw when she drank her malts. She didn’t mind as long as it wasn’t done in public.
“That would be rude,” she would always say. Rosa and Erma swung back and forth, like they did many, many times before. They did a lot of things together, talked about a lot of things, too. But mom was not one to talk about her past.
As they were swinging back and forth, Erma wanted so badly to ask her mom what life was like before she was born. Here she was, twelve years old, and didn’t know anything about her mom. She didn’t know her parents, her friends, relatives, anyone. It all seemed too strange. Erma wondered whom she resembled in the family. She was tall for her age and had lots of freckles when she was younger. Did she look like her grandma? Who? So today as she sat, swinging away, Erma thought this might be the right time to ask her mother. Very boldly, she blurted out, “Mom, will you tell me what it was like before I was born?” Mom insisted it wasn’t necessary for her to know. But, this time Erma wasn’t about to take no for an answer.
“Mom, I really need to know,” she insisted. She sat there for awhile, staring at me in a sheepish sort of way. Then suddenly she just blurted out, “WE‘RE AMISH“
“I don’t believe you! How can you say such nonsense, mother? Why would you? It makes no sense.”
Mom looked sadly into my eyes and then she began her story.
 
“Many years ago, I worked for some English people, Emily and John Clover. I would clean their house, cook their meals, and take care of the children. They would pay me and this is how I supported myself. After all, I was twenty-one years old, so I had left my parent’s home and lived on my own in our Amish community. I was happy doing this. Emily and John both worked outside the home, so they really appreciated coming home to a clean house and breathing in the sweet aroma coming from the kitchen.
I worked in their home for a few years. One particular evening, I had tucked the children in bed, read them a story, and then started towards my room. You see, I stayed with them during the week and went home on weekends.
I could hear voices and laughter coming from downstairs. And then, Emily yelled up to me, “Rosa, come down and meet our friends.” John and Emily politely introduced me to their company. One man stood out in the crowd. I couldn’t help staring at him. He was all alone, a tall, handsome, man with a slight grin coming from the corner of his mouth. I spoke with him throughout the evening, such an interesting man. He could talk about anything. I think that night I fell in love for the first time in my life.
 
He met me many times after that and we would talk till the wee hours of the morning. And then one day he asked me if I would ever leave the Amish way of life for him. I was stunned, yet deep in my heart, I knew
I LOVED HIM.”
What was I to do? I would have to leave the Amish and if I ever desired to return, I would never be able to take along my man, my husband. And if I left the Amish, I could have no contact with anyone from my past - not even my parents or brothers or sisters. Could I handle such sacrifices? And could I live in such a worldly manner, unaccustomed to the ways of the English.
But I did decide. I would marry him. My heart was happy and sad - such mixed emotions in the deepness of my heart.
And so, here we are, Erma. This is what happened. I hope you can understand and forgive me for not telling you about this sooner. I just didn’t think you were ready for the truth.”
With tears in Erma’s eyes, she began hugging her mom. “Oh, that must have been a really hard decision for you, mom. What did your parents say and …….and don’t you miss them knowing they are still around these parts? Oh, mom, was it hard for you to wear different clothes and have all the modern conveniences? Are you still happy about what you did? Sometimes you seem so sad.”
“Erma, I was so young and I thought I knew everything, and I thought I could do anything – just like the way you act now. I didn’t think of anyone else, not even the consequences if I had a child. How would I raise that child? Amish? English? Not until lately have I ever thought I would have to answer for what I did.”
Then mom just sat there, swinging away, not saying another word.
 
That evening, as Erma lay across the bed, watching TV, she could hear mom and dad talking louder than usual. She snuck down some of the steps, clinging to the rails, listening to their conversation. Erma knew she shouldn’t be listening, but she had to find out why they were so loud.
Mom was looking into dad’s eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, sobbing, “Honey, I love you so much, but it’s not fair to Erma and to myself. We need to go back to our own kind. It’s time.”
Dad looked sadly at mom and simply responded, “I understand.”
He was a man of few words. He didn’t have to say anything else. Mom knew.