I begin down the path towards Yoder's house. Unsure of what he wanted to talk to me about. But sure it will be a one sided lecture and not a conversation at all. I pass Noah along the way.He's waving me down. Were about the same age, but I'd never say we were friends. Though we did have a lot of friends in common and are on good enough terms. A friendly nod, maybe a hello, as we'd pass but rarely more than that. I stop to see what he wants.

"Levi, Father Yoder asked me to find you."

"I was just on my way to his house."

"He will not be there. He called an emergency sermon. In about an hours time. He's out spreading the word. Has me helping him. Told me to get you to help too. He said you will know if any of the Fishers are still healthy and you can tell them. And after that you need to look for anyone and everyone that's still well enough to attend. He told me I need to do the same thing, anyone and everyone. Then he said something about taking stock of whose well. I asked if that was to finish the harvest, because a lot of families have barely even started. And he said that the harvest is not important anymore. And I don't think there has ever been a time the harvest was not important. Because we need the harvest to provide for the winter. so this sermon must be really important."

"Noah!" I raise a hand to slow him down before continuing.

"We have limited time. Better not to waste it standing here talking to me. You check the houses to the east. I'll check the ones to the west." Walking away so he doesn't have a chance to reply.

I remember why Noah and me have never been friends. And why I've always kept it at a simple hello. He talks far too much and it can be difficult to get a word in yourself. if you do not cut him off he will keep going for hours. or what feels like hours at least.

Tired, sore, and annoyed, I ignore the grim meaning behind the harvest not mattering anymore. And focus on wishing I had known that a few hours earlier. Knowing full well there's no point in telling the Fishers about the sermon I continue on towards Yoder's. As far as I'm concerned that's where my commitment ends. Sure If pass anyone along the way I'll let them know about it. But I won't be going out of my way to do find others. I consider telling Ma, but Yoder has always taken a special interest in her and will no doubt have already told her. So I don't need to run the risk of seeing her any sooner than is necessary. For fear that she may not have come around to my side of things yet.

I arrive well early to find a few others have done the same. Saying a few hellos I make my way to a secluded bench with the back against a wall. With the intention of leaning back and closing my eyes for a while. I had hoped for some quiet time to rest before the sermon began. Which turned out to be much easier than anticipated. As the room stayed silent even as more people trickled in. Everyone caught up in worry, Barely acknowledging each other. The sombre air far flung from the standard pre-sermon revelry.

I start to drift away but am jostled awake when Yoder enters the room.

"Greeting everyone."

Scanning the room I think, is this it? There's almost no one here. A quick count reveals fifteen of us. Including myself and Yoder. He continues addressing the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming. I realize the group is small. And to many of you this may come as a shock. But yes, we gathered here now are the only remaining members of our community, still fortunate enough to be in good health. Many of us the sole representatives of our respective families. Many more entire families have been entirely unable to join us. Take a look around you, there are but fifteen of us left. I fear that by morning that number will be lower."

It's at this point I realize Ma isn't here. Yoder continues.

"This is a grim reality indeed but it is one that we must face. None can be assumed to be immune. Tend not too your loved ones. I understand that may be difficult to take, but now is not the time to let this spread farther. As I am sure many of you have found there is little use in trying to feed or give water to the sick. They simply will not take. And so there is little left that can be done. We must let this disease take its course. All we can do is Pray. Pray for the swift recovery of those that can not pray for themselves. Pray for our own continued health. Pray now in our hour of need. For God in his divine wisdom to see us through too the other end of this tunnel. Whatever that end may be. We must keep faith."

Yoder leads us in prayer. I tried to focus, going through the motions, but could muster little more. Too preoccupied worrying about Ma. Yoder is absolutely right about staying away from the sick right now. But knowing that doesn't make it any easier to keep away. I go back and forth on if I should check up on my parents or not. The thought of Ma passed out in the kitchen doesn't sit right with me or worse,at the bottom of the stairs like Rebecca. I'm sure Yoder himself would have checked in with her. And he probably would have moved her to a more comfortable spot. But the shadow of doubt still looms in my mind. He may have decided keeping distance was best prior to finding her. In which case its hard to say what he may have done. Yoder has always held love for Ma. But he himself said stay away from loved ones. Though he's not always been one to practise what he preaches.

Nearly an hour has gone by before Yoder opens the door and dismisses us. By this point I'm getting aggravated. Prayer is an important tool in this battle, I try not to doubt that. But an hour seems excessive. The crowd makes their way out, single file with no one saying a word. I remain seated waiting to be last as I plan to talk to Yoder. Before I get the chance to approach him, he comes directly to me.

"Levi, I understand these are trying times. And for a man of your age I feel I should not need to be saying this. But you must keep that beard trimmed. Especially now, when we want to stay on God's good side as much as possible."

Yoder has an uncanny ability to make light of serious issues. And yet be overly serious and humourless the rest of the time. I brush of this comment with.

"Okay Father, I will take care of it right away, Thank you." And pivot the conversation.

"I noticed Ma is not in attendance. Have you gone to see her?"

An unsettling smile spreads across his face and I know immediately it's bad news.

"Yes, I did. Poor thing was lying in a heap on the floor. Legs from both the chair and table tangled with her own."

"Did you move her?"

"Of course I did Levi, I could not possibly leave your poor Mother like that. Now I know we had a meeting scheduled but I am needed else where. We will have to put it off for another time. I'm sure you understand." His arm guiding me towards the door before his sentence was even finish. There was more I wanted to ask him about. But at least I was able to ask about Ma. Anything else I would doubt his answers anyway. So I put up no fight, and swiftly leave.

Unsure of where to go. or what to do. I head towards the barn. Figuring Yoder Probably put Ma in my bed. And even if he didn't, I would prefer not to be in the house anyway. I hear someone yell my name from behind. Turning to see my close friend Amos running up to me. Catching his breath he says.

"Can I talk to you, I'm having a really hard time with this."

"We all are."

"I know, it's just that it would be nice to talk to someone about it. My whole family." He pauses to wipe his eyes. In all our years of friendship I've never seen him cry. Not even when he broke his arm from falling off the roof, startled because his Dad was yelling at us to get down. He regains his composure and continues.

"They're all sick, all of them. Mom, Dad, both my sisters. I don't know what to do."

"Do what Father Yoder said, keep faith."

"I can't just sit around "Keeping faith" Levi. I need to do something." his voice raising as he's starting to get more agitated. I attempt to move the conversation along in hopes he calms down a bit.

"Has the screaming started yet?"

"I haven't heard any screaming, what are you talking about "Screaming""

"There are three stages, First they just breath heavily, second they vomit. third they scream while vomiting" Amos turns pale.

"I don't want to hear them scream."

I realize I could have been more delicate in my approach.

He just stares at me. Obviously this is all news to him, and he's not digesting it well. I continue asking questions.

"When did they all get sick"

"This afternoon, at lunch."

"All at the same time?"

"Yes, I had just come home, I finished doing those cabbages, you know, that Yoder sent me to help with. So I get home, and they're all eating so I'm washing my hands about to join them and I hear a thud. So I turn around and my Dad, he's on the floor. I think it's weird no ones reacting so I look at my Mom, then my sisters. They just sat there. staring forward. then started falling off the chairs themselves. One after the other. Mom was the last one. I rushed over to her, shook her head yelling Mom!, Mom! What's happening! But there was no answer. I guess he could hear me yelling because Yoder walked into the room at that moment. Told me there was no point in trying to talk to them. They can't respond. He said about the emergency sermon and that I needed to go right away. to just leave them. He practically dragged me out of the house."

Wiping tears from his eyes he finished with

"Can you help me move them?"

We open the door to Amos' house, he goes in first.

"See, just like I told you"

There they are, all four of them on the floor around the table. Frozen, eyes open, the usual. The pot on the stove smells good, and I'm working up a hunger again, insensitivity be damned I walk over to see what it is. Stew, glowing. I don't know how it happened, but I know exactly what happened.

"I think you should sleep in my barn tonight"

"No, I need to stay here with my family."

"Don't argue Amos. We don't want any more people getting sick. Gather your pillow and bedding, take them to the barn. We need to to tell everyone else that was at the sermon to do the same."

"But What about my family?"

"We'll come back to move them tonight, right now we need to hurry."

Upset by the notion of leaving them contorted on the floor, Amos Begrudgingly agrees.