Clip-clop, clip-clop

Clip-clop, clip-clop, the sound of a horse and buggy can be heard from the bedroom window as the Amish drive by. I look down at the brown horse and black buggy. The sound seems to be more common than the sound of cars. "Where are they going in weather like this?" I wonder as the wind whistles and the snow falls in little flakes. I have moved to Amish country. Instead of deer crossing at night, though there is that danger too, the more common thing to watch out for is a horse and buggy barely visible with the little lantern that the have hanging on the buggy.

The other I went to the Amish dry goods store about five minutes away. I missed it the first time because my only sign that I was at the right place was D.E.E. on the mailbox. I pulled into the driveway and parked the car. The sign on the door said "open" so I walked into the little dry goods store connected to the house. There were bags of flour, sugar, and oats stacked up on the floor along the wall. There was one wall of shelves and then halfway in the room was another shelving unit. On those shelves was so many goodies. I found what I came for and wandered around some more because no one was there to check out my order. Finally a girl came in. She stoked the fire and said "winter-land has returned." It took me a minute to understand what she was saying because of her thick accent. The day before had been 62 but you wouldn't have guessed it by the wind and snow.

When I left the little shop a young man was hitching up the buggy and a little boy, lunch-pail in hand was next to him. As I started backing down the driveway the kid ran down to meet a bunch of other boys. As I drove off they all raced after my car. I felt a little out of place as if I too should be wearing a bonnet and dress and riding in a buggy.

That day there were many Amish out and about. I had heard whisperings of a funeral, which are only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but nothing concrete. "I saw some buggies by the pond, maybe it was _____________ boy, did he break through the ice?" "No I heard it was one of the English (non Amish), the ice broke off and the Amish boy threw his shoes on land and swam across to get help." In the end I don't know what it was but as I fell asleep it was to the sound of clip-clop, clip-clop.