On the drive home, Leda explained that she had been Plain until she married Frank – who wasn’t Plain. By the rules of her religion, she was put under the bann – restricted from certain social contact with people who were still Amish. She could talk to Amish friends and family, but couldn’t eat at the same table with them. She could sit beside them on the bus, but not offer them a ride in her car. She could buy from them, but needed a third party – me – to transact the sale.
