Abigail Anne Adams had blonde hair and blue eyes. She lived in a very large home, but it wasn’t quite as large as a mansion. Though, she did have servants and maids to wait on her, Abigail dreamed of living a simpler, less complicated lifestyle. However, she knew of no way to get out of the house. There were servants watching her every move.

     When Abigail was twelve years old, she asked her parents, “Could we go visit the Amish country?” (For she had read books about Amish people.) Her parents thought that it was a marvelous idea.

      The Amish lived in a Bird-in-Hand, and Abigail’s family lived right next door. For some reason they had never gone there in the past.

     When they arrived, they registered to stay the night at a place called Famous Motel.
Abigail’s parents told her to look around, so she did. She enjoyed herself very much. Abigail noticed buggies and people at the market.

     When Abigail was on her way home, she saw a girl that looked her age and was struggling to carry something. The girl also had blonde hair and blue eyes. She couldn’t make out what the girl was carrying. Abigail decided to go help her anyways.

     “Do you want me to help you carry that?” she asked. 

     “Oh, would you? These stools are heavy!" The girl gasped, “My mam and dat tell me never to speak to Englishers! 

     “I promise I will not hurt you,” Abigail said as she took the stool from her. “I’m a visitor ‘cause I asked my parents if we could come here.” 

     “I wish I could live your kind of life,” replied the girl dreamily. "My life is hard with all the hand and homemade things we create. It’s against the Bishop to use Englishers goods."

     “What is your name?” asked Abigail abruptly. 

     “Katie, Katie Lapp.”

     “Oh, I’m Abigail Adams. My middle name is Anne. Sometimes my friends at school call me Triple A, that’s my nickname. Hey I got an idea! Lets switch places!”

     “What? Are you….No way!” 

     “Come on Katie, only for a week or so.” 

     “Well, if you say so.” 

     “Katie, where do you live?”

     “My parents own a motel, it…it’s called 'Famous Motel.'” 

     “Unbelievable, that’s where we are staying. Great, now all we have to do is get our parents aquainted.” 

     “Aquainted? What does that mean?” 

     “It means to get them to talk to each other and get to know each other better.” 

     “Aquainted, I like that word,” Katie smiled as she was pronouncing it.

     On their way home, they discussed about Katie’s lifestyle. 

     “I have to get up at 4 a.m. every morning and thank the Lord for letting me live another day. After that, I quickly get my work clothes on, and then I have to milk the cows before breakfast.

     "By the time I’m done, my parents, and brother, Luke, are usually up. My mam and me work on breakfast, while dat and Luke do the chores on the farm. Every morning we eat bread and muffins, sometimes eggs. My Mam and me sew during our free time. I have told you a lot now, so tell me about-“ 

     “Katie dear, oh I’ve been so worried about you. Come this minute, haven’t I told you never to speak to Englishers?” said her mother shaking her finger at Katie. 

     “But Mam, she is a nice folk. Her Mam and Dat are staying here with us.”

     “Mam, why don’t you and Dat get together with Abigails folks for a spell?” suggested Katie while doing the dishes. 

     “Well, I don’t know, I will have to talk to your father about it.” 

     Katie smiled. She knew this could work out if they tried hard. 

     “Watch out!” screamed Dat in a panic, “fire is coming out of the fireplace.” 

     Abigail’s father was just coming in with a bucket full of water for themselves. He threw it on the fire. Abigail’s dad saved the day. 

     ”Denki, Mr…”

     “Mr. Adams, but you can call me Samuel,” finished Abigail’s dad.

     ”Mr. Adams how can we say denki for putting out the fire just in time?” said Katie’s Mam gratefully. (Denki meant "thank you" in Amish.) 

     “Well you could give us some of your delicious food,” replied Samuel teasingly. “We’ll have a special dinner tomorrow night then.”

     “No, no I was only kidding.” 

     “Nonsense, you like my food, so I am going to prepare a special meal for you and your family,” said Katie’s Mam matter-of-factly. “But I don’t want to put you through all that work.” 

     By now both of the families were gathered together around, listening to the discussion. The following evening, dinner looked and tasted delicious.

     One night when both of the parents were in the wide and colorful living room talking, Lily, Katie's mother, brought up the subject abruptly. 

     "I think our Katie wants to see your world.” 

     “I was thinking the same thing,” replied Abigail’s mother. “My Abigail has always dreamed of a simpler life like this.” 

     “So…both of the mothers said in unison, “why don’t we just have them switch places for a week?” Little did they know that the girls were listening triumphantly. 

     When Katie was ready to leave the next day, her mother gave her a few treats to take along. Abigail meanwhile was so excited to begin her Amish work, she could barely contain herself. Then they said their good-byes and went back to their own duties. The first thing Abigail was directed to do was to bake bread for the following morning with Mrs. Lapp. Abigail thought it was going to be a piece of cake. She found out it wasn’t, though.

     Meanwhile, Katie was looking around the house that has to be as big as an elephant. She had servants to wait on her too! 

     “Mam’m, do you want me to hang your coat up for you?” asked a little girl who looked to be eight or nine. 

     ”Where’s the coat rack?” 

     “Over here Mam,” directed the little girl. 

     As the week went by, Katie grew restless, there was no work to do, and, well, she missed work. One day Katie thought of her friend Abigail and was wondering what she was doing that very moment.

     Abigail was being put to work duty after duty. 

     “No wonder she wanted to see my world,” Abigail thought grumbling the very last night she was staying. 

     There was one thing she liked about this place and it was …peaceful. Then she dozed off. 

     “Rise and shine to the glory of God,” sang Mrs. Lapp. Abigail jumped out of the soft bed, 

     “Today my parents are coming to pick me up, right?” 

     “Yes dear and I’m going to miss you. Someone knocked on the doors. 

     “I believe I heard a knock on the doors, let me check... Abigail, your parents are here!” announced Mrs. Lapp. Abigail scurried out of the room, 

     “Mom, Dad you’re here!” exclaimed Abigail, “I’ve missed you so much.” 

     While Abigail embraced her parents, Katie did the same. Katie sighed, 

      “I’m really glad to be home.”

     “Mom, you know there’s no place better than home,” said Abigail tiredly that night. Then Mrs. Adams laughed, kissed her daughter good night, and left the room.