Chapter Two
Ben North looked out of the windows as they drove through Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “What kind of world is this? I’ve not seen one oriental restaurant, let alone a Thai food one. What in the world has John talked him into? How in the world will he survive here?” He talked to the driver.
He heard the man chuckle lightly, “No sir you won’t find much choices in food here. But you’ll really enjoy what they have to offer. The Amish food is something that many enjoy around here, and pay quite a pretty penny for.”
Ben looked around more; he couldn’t even imagine what this was going to be like. In a slight panic he pushed the button on his phone and calls John.
“John, how the hell will I do this? I mean seriously, is she going to take me around all the other people? I don’t think I’ve learned enough to pull off really being Amish.” Ben questioned the man quickly.
“Look, you want to do a great job on this role right? You will have to absorb as much about the culture as you can. The good news is that you won’t have too many visitors; she is kind of considered an outcast there. It was why I picked her out of all the choices. She also wants to make sure you don’t blow your cover, so she’ll watch how much interaction you have with everyone. If they find out something, they will banish her from their community.” John explained.
“What? John, why didn’t you tell me that before I agreed to this? What if I blow it for her? How do you think I’d feel knowing I got some girl banished from her whole community?” Ben could feel his blood pressure rising. It was so much more pressure on him, he didn’t think he liked it one bit.
“I didn’t tell you because you wouldn’t have agreed to it. But Ben this is what you need to pull this off. You’ll have lived the life and you’ll know exactly how they would react. You’re sure to bring home the Oscar for this one, no doubt about it. But in order to do that, you had to go. Tell me Ben, if I would have told you about the chance she was taking. If I would have said, look Ben if you get found out, her and her brother and sister may be kicked out of the community. Would you have agreed to do it?” John asked.
“Hell no I wouldn’t have agreed. It’s not just her but two other people? John, you’ve put me in some sort of spot, I’m just thinking of calling it all off.” Ben said.
“Look Ben, the kid really needs the money. Her farm is going to be lost if she doesn’t get it. Plus I took the money to her yesterday. She’s got it already. You should have seen her face. Seriously, I think we just saved her family with this offer.” John explained.
Ben felt his heart melt a bit. “Oh shit. Alright, I’ll do it, but I’m not going to like it one bit.” He cut off the call without saying goodbye.
The thing was John knew him quite well, he knew what would make Ben feel bad for Sara Albright. That was his hostess name. He was to be her cousin Ben from out of town.
He knew John had picked this girl on purpose. John had most likely checked out everything he could about her. Then approached her and made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Not if she wanted to ensure her family farm was to continue. It was a dirty ploy, but it had worked. Ben knew that John was right about this role.
Ben North had been a big name in the movies for the past 7 years now. But he had always played an action hero. He had gone to John one afternoon a few months back and asked him to find him something different.
“What do you mean different?” John had asked him.
“I want a more serious role. A drama, something that will make people see that I can do much more than action. I’m tired of the same old story line. I want to spread my wings, and while doing that, I want to prove how skilled I am.” Ben had told him.
John had looked at him, and studied Ben closely. “Well I just got one in yesterday, I was thinking of passing on it, at least for you.”
“What is it about?” Ben had asked.
“It’s an Amish love story, well, more of an Amish betrayal. But it opens as a love story; the husband finds out that his wife has been sleeping around on him. You would have to pull off that you were Amish, and well its high drama. The story is pretty decent, I have to admit.” John explained.
“Let me take it and read it.” Ben had gotten the script and taken it right home that day.
He had flipped through the pages, getting into the story, and even seeing how he would play the part. He loved it, but wasn’t sure if he could play the part. It would mean a lot of work on his part.
“I’ll do it, sign me up now.” Ben had called John and told him. “But somehow I have to learn about the Amish culture. Put me in it if you can, so I can absorb everything. I want to play this part so well that people will think I used to be Amish.” Ben stated.
“I’ll get on it.” John had hung up the phone. No more than two weeks later he had called Ben with the details of his stay.
At that time Ben had been thrilled. But driving through Lancaster had tampered that excitement quite a bit. Now when he looked out he saw they were in the country. By the bumps in the road in figured they were on an old dirt road.
“We’re here sir.” The driver turned and told him. “I’ll get the bags.”
Ben stepped out of the car; they were nowhere near a house. “Hey where are we going? There’s no house.” Ben asked.
“Yeah, we can’t drive up to the house and tell everyone you are her cousin.” The driver stopped talking for a second, and then pointed to the south. "That will be your ride the rest of the way.”
Ben watched as the carriage drew closer to them. He looked closely at the girl and studied her as much as he could. He smiled upon seeing that some of her hair had come lose during her trip. It was flapping in the wind, and every once in a while she swipes it out of her eyes.
The brown mass doesn’t pay attention to her pleas for it to stop either. He can hear her pleading to stay out of her eyes as she gets even closer.
Ben is transfixed by the pure beauty of the girl who is in the driver’s seat. As she hops down from the carriage with an amazing grace, he is simply too dumb to talk.
Finally the driver speaks to break the silence. “Sara Albright?” He asked.
“Yes that is me. I’m sorry I was a little late. I was having a few issues at the farm.” Sara explained.
Ben is studying her accent, trying to pick it apart. “Hi it’s nice to see you cousin. I’m Ben from your Uncle Burt’s side.” He tries to copy her accent.
She laughs heartily. “Nice to meet you cousin, how is Uncle Burt doing?”
“Was my accent really that bad?” Ben asks embarrassed. He was never embarrassed, but this girl turned his insides to jelly. He wanted to impress her.
“No it was really good. It just shocked me that you did such a perfect job of it, after all you’ve only heard me once.” Sara smiled at him.
He was lost in the smile. Maybe this trip wouldn’t be so bad after all.