by Sarah Holman
Brian turned in at the school.
“I’m not like them. I’m not just drifting through life without thinking ahead. Despite what you think, I’ve thought about that. I know I wouldn’t want to have secrets from a wife and always off on missions not able to be there for my kids. Do I sometimes wish for things? Sure. What person doesn’t? Will you let this go?”
Brian pulled into a parking place. “Do I have a choice?”
“As you’ve said often, we always have a choice.”
“Then I’ll probably bring it up again, but I’ll let it go for now.”
Patrick opened his door and slammed it harder than needed. As the car was a run-down model in keeping with their characters, he doubted it would hurt it. Sometimes, he wondered why he considered Brian his best friend.
Movie Night
Tuesday, December 1 4:00PM
This felt wrong. Kate glanced over at Logan. She wasn’t sure she was ready for this. It was one thing to go undercover as a college student in Oregon, as an intern at the Texas Capitol, or as a tourist in Charleston, but it felt very wrong to be going undercover at a church.
“This is going to be fun!” Logan said.
Kate shook her head and peered out the window. “You would find this fun.”
“Snark.”
Kate shifted in her seat to face Logan. “Excuse me?”
“You were being snarky.”
“Snarky?”
“Testy, cynical, short. Snarky humor.”
“Except I wasn’t trying to be funny.”
Logan smiled. “Exactly. It’s snark.”
She needed to be more open with her teammates. This seemed like a good place to start. “Fine. It doesn’t feel right to be going undercover into a church.”
Logan nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on the road. “I know I didn’t feel right about it either the first time.”
“You’ve done this before?” Kate was sure that the shock was evident in her tone.
“Churches, mosques, and I think Thomas also pretended to be a Buddhist monk once, but that was before we were a team.”
Again, Kate shifted in her seat. “It doesn’t feel right. Places of worship feel like they should be exempt.”
Logan turned the car down a quiet street, Christmas decorations everywhere. “Jesus warned us about wolves in sheep’s clothing. As I see it, we are part of the solution to weed them out.”
“But it isn’t like there are criminals in this church.”
Logan turned into the parking lot and pulled into an empty spot before she answered. “Sadly, there are people who hide their heinous deeds behind religious exteriors and buildings. Sometimes, there are hurting people within the church who, instead of seeking help, choose to justify their actions even though they are a church member.”
“What about all the good people we are spying on?”
The corners of Logan’s mouth lifted. “Would you be horrified to be caught being a good person?”
Kate stared at the average-looking church building in front of her. Nothing on the outside seemed notable at all, unless one counted the wreath that hung on the door and the poinsettia plants on either side. Would she mind? Would it bother her if someone was looking in on her life? Yes, it would bother her.
“There are always spies in the church,” Logan said, grabbing her jacket from the back seat. “There are people who come, wondering if Christianity is really all it claims to be—if the followers of Jesus really have love and grace for others. We have to remember that we might be the very best example of Christianity that anyone might meet.”
“That’s not a comforting thought,” Kate said, slipping on her coat.
“It’s not supposed to be. It’s supposed to make us think—to cause us to strive for something better than what we are settling for at the moment.” Logan exited the car.
Kate tried to focus on the task at hand but her thoughts drifted toward her personal problems. Why did it feel like she couldn’t move forward until she had gone back home? She didn’t want to settle for the mediocre Christian life that she always had before, but her past seemed to hold her back.
“Welcome to Community Christian Fellowship!” an older gentleman greeted, opening the church door and sending the wreath swinging.
“Thank you.” Logan smiled.
Kate smiled at him and walked into the building, which was cozily warm after the damp chill outside.
“Welcome, you must be new here.”
Both of them turned toward a woman who appeared to be in her fifties. Her reddish-brown hair, obviously from a box, was cut in a short style. Her teeth were crooked, but her smile was warming. She exuded friendliness and welcome.
“We are,” Logan said brightly. “We’re new in town and looking for a good church home.”
“Well, I’m a little biased, but I think this is the best one. Lots of nice families, young people, and the preaching is some of the best you’ll ever hear.”
Kate smiled as two kids ran past her and their mother rushed after them, telling them to stop running. “Some of the young people?”
“Yes,” the woman said with a smile. “We have a lot of homeschool families that attend here.”
“I was homeschooled,” Logan said, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “I’ll probably feel right at home.”
And Kate was sure that she would feel like a fish out of water.
“Forgive me, I’m Callie Upton.”
“I’m Logan and this is my friend Kathrine.”
Callie smiled at them and shook their hands. “It’s good to meet you both. It was so smart of you to come today. Tuesday movie nights are a nice, casual way to get to know people. You also came on the day the ladies have cooked pizza. We have lots of yummy homemade ones and a few store-bought or fresh from the local restaurants.”
“Awesome!” Logan bounced on her toes. “Pizza is my favorite food.”
Kate hoped there would be salad to go with it. She glanced at the people passing by. Most of them were younger families, but she spotted a few people around her age.
“You have quite a turnout,” Logan said as Callie led them into the sanctuary.
“Well, between you and me, we have about twice as many people show up on pizza night as we do for any of the other movie nights. Hot dogs, potluck, and Mexican food just don’t get people to come in like pizza. Besides, our church does a lot of work with the McGregor College of Trades. Those boys love their pizza.”
Kate looked through the room where probably about fifty people milled around. A large screen hung from the ceiling and covered the church stage. At the moment, a silent slideshow played from past church events.
Her gaze left those pictures and scanned the crowd. She saw about five young men that fit the right age group for the college. Most of them huddled in a group.
“Hi! I’m Janice.”
Kate forced her attention to a tall young woman in front of her with long flowing hair and a perky demeanor that was a perfect match for Logan. “Kathrine.”
“It’s good to meet you, Kathrine. Is this your first time at this church?” Little candy cane earrings dangled from her ears.
“Yes, my first time. My friend Logan and I just moved to this area. We’re looking for a church home.”
“Well, I’m glad you decided to visit. We have a lot of young people. In fact, we have a very active group. If you like, I could set you up so that you can get notifications about when and where we’re meeting. Pretty much, we have something going three nights out of the week. Not that everyone is able to attend, but it’s a great place to get connected.”
“I would love that.”
“Great, catch me after the movie and I’ll get you set up. Come on, I’ll introduce you to some people.”
Kate followed behind her, glancing to where Logan was still busy with Callie.
“Mom, this is a visitor, Kathrine. Kathrine, this is Penny Oke, my mom.”
Penny smiled and extended her hand. Her graying hair
was pulled back with a barrette. Her jeans and floral shirt hung on a large frame. She was definitely the matronly type. “It is good to meet you. Welcome to our church.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m going to introduce her to some of the other young adults,” Janice said.
Over the next few minutes, Kate was introduced to about a dozen people. While she memorized the names, the glancing introductions gave her little insight. Those she met seemed nice and friendly.
“Good evening.”
All eyes swung to the person who spoke into a microphone. A bald man with a wide smile stood in front of the blank screen.
“Picking these movies is always a challenge, and also fun. A member of our church, Mrs. Oke, recommended this one. How many of you are familiar with the name Polycarp?”
Kate wasn’t. She was glad that she was in the majority of people whose hands remained down. At least she wasn’t the only one.
“Well, after this movie, which is titled Polycarp, you’ll know the name and the story that goes with it. I tell you, I was moved to tears. While not as adventurous as last week’s movie, Beyond the Mask, I honestly think this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat. We sent out an email, but we have a sheet here for any parent that wants to make sure it’s appropriate for their children. Yes, it does have some spoilers. Now, let’s pray for the food.”
After the prayer, everyone swarmed to the pizza. Kate entered the line and watched as the young people bantered back and forth. She scanned the room and spotted a young man sitting at the table staring at his phone, earbuds in place.
Logan was ahead of her in line. When she glanced back, Kate tilted her head to indicate the young man. Logan gave a slight nod. She finished filling her plate and headed directly toward the youth.
“Sit with us,” Janice said, touching Kate’s arm.
Kate smiled and joined a group of young adults. They took their seats and the movie began. She was caught up in the story of Polycarp. However, whenever she did look away, she saw that same boy staring at his phone. He was the first person she had seen who seemed to fit the profile.
The Rules
Tuesday, December 1 5:30PM
“You know we won’t have any openings until fall of next year.” It was the third time the professor at McGregor College of Trades had reminded them of this fact. That was one of the bad things about college crimes. The academic schedule made it difficult to blend in at many locations. Finding creative workarounds was part of the job.
Patrick shoved his hands into his pockets. He had to look the part of a young, poor, and unsure-of-himself teen. “Yes, I understand.”
“This is about the only shot I have,” Brian said, his shoulders drooping. “That we have.”
The man nodded and gave both of them a kind smile. “On paper, it appears you’re a likely candidate for this school. You do know that just because you don’t have to pay tuition doesn’t mean that this education is free? As I like to say it: from whom much is given, much is expected.”
“I assumed that,” Brian said.
Patrick let his eyes wander, projecting the image of a guy who didn’t care nearly as much as his brother. “What expectations?”
“You can find a copy of our handbook online, but in a nutshell we expect you to put in several hours of work each week for the school. That work will utilize the skills you are learning. We also have strict rules of behavior.”
“I’m fine with that,” Brian said with a shrug. Somehow, he had landed the role as the cool, confident one.
Patrick wished the school he had attended had stricter rules. His roommate had been a slob and a party animal. He kicked at a stone. “What happens if you accidentally break a rule?”
The professor’s eyes narrowed. “We’re very clear about what our rules are. We don’t feel there are so many you will forget. Part of being a student at this school is taking responsibility for yourself. We take that very seriously.”
“Yeah, but what happens if you make a mistake?”
“If you earn a demerit, it goes on your record and proper measures will be taken, based on the severity of the issue. If you earn enough demerits, you will have to leave the school. I hope you don’t plan on earning that many.”
“It isn’t that.” Patrick lifted his gaze to the professor and then looked away. “I try to be good, but I would be lying if I said rules weren’t hard sometimes. I’d do my best.”
“Do you have many people that you’ve had to throw out of the school?” Brian asked, with a significant look at Patrick. It was a look only one sibling could give to another. It was the kind of touch that made their covers believable.
“Not often, but we did have to remove someone recently. It does happen. While we don’t like it, we do have rules to upkeep. Your education here is a privilege, not a right.”
Not popular words in today’s culture, but Patrick liked it. He also knew they would need to find out the name of the young man who was expelled. Of course, he couldn’t let any of those thoughts show. He kept his eyes low, acting disinterested. Thomas probably had the names of everyone who had been expelled and was working through them.
The professor took a deep breath and glanced between them. “I know that rules can be tough. However, it’s how we operate here. You won’t pay any tuition, but your labor and good behavior are the cost of this education. We want to make a difference in people’s lives and help each of you achieve your goals.”
“I like that you have an athletics program.” Patrick raised his hand and then jerked it down. Man, he was good at playing an awkward teen. Maybe too good. Perhaps that’s why Thomas gave him all the nuts to interview. He thought because he could play the nutty and awkward characters, he better understood them.
The professor smiled. “We want to give all our students plenty to keep them occupied and want them to have fun. While on the surface it may seem like a lot of rules, I think that you will find that this is a great school where you can have a lot of fun as well as get an education.”
“Thank you for your time.” Brian stood and extended his hand.
The professor shook their hands. “Let me know if there are any more questions I can answer.”
Patrick kept his eyes lowered as he shook the offered hand.
“We will,” Brian agreed.
They left the office, zipping up their coats. The sun had set during the end of their tour; night was coming.
“It seems like a great place,” Patrick commented as he hopped into the driver seat of the clunker.
“Yeah, it is.”
The night air was cold, so the heater felt good. They were quickly moving out of the parking lot and onto the street. They passed incredible light displays, a nativity scene, and even a group of carolers.
“Now we head back to the apartment and start strategizing on how we are going to meet the bad boys who’ve been thrown out of the school.” Brian pulled out his phone, no doubt to see if Thomas had the names of those people.
“Good. I’ll know who I can commiserate with when I get thrown out.”
Brian punched him in the arm. “You haven’t even started and you’re already planning on being kicked out?”
Patrick smiled. “Hey, everyone has to have goals. Did you hear the professor? They want to help me achieve my goals. He didn’t specify what those goals had to be. Remember, you are the responsible brother. You’re supposed to be the type that could get in trouble if you wanted to but don’t.”
“Great, now Jamie’s movies are getting to me.”
“What?” Patrick was confused.
“All I can think of is a part in one of the Anne of Green Gables that has a similar line.”
“Must be time to watch all the Captain America movies,” Patrick said. “There is no way I’m letting Jamie’s movies stick around in your head for long.”
“You’re a good friend.”
“Anything for you, buddy. Any word from Thomas?”
Brian nodded. �
�Yeah. He’s sending over the files tonight so we can make a plan. I’m also having Thomas run a check on all the students that are accruing demerits fast.”
“Wanna know who are going to be my best buddies this fall?”
Brian grinned. “Of course.”
“Where’s Brian?”
Patrick jumped, spilling his water. “TJ, where did you come from?”
Thomas rolled his eyes. “I have a key, and that’s Mr. President to you for the next few days for calling me TJ. Again, where is Brian?”
“Out getting pizza.”
“Call him and make sure he gets one with mushrooms on it for me.”
Even as he rolled his eyes, Patrick sent a text with Thomas’s order. After that was done, he took a deep breath, deciding that there was no time like the present to talk to Thomas about Kate.
“I’ve been hoping to talk to you. Kate wants to go home for Christmas and you have said no.”
“No, I haven’t,” Thomas said, dropping onto the lumpy chair and propping an ankle on his knee.
“You haven’t?”
“Not this time. It was the people above me, those who are in charge of making sure Kate and her family stay safe, that said no.”
Patrick sat on the couch opposite Thomas. “Do you think there is any way they might change their mind?”
“Short of Ingrid being caught? I don’t know. I don’t think it’s likely.”
Patrick didn’t like the sound of that. “New chatter?”
Thomas sighed and leaned back in the chair. “The price on Kate’s head went up. Ingrid has a personal vendetta against her. This isn’t just going to go away.”
What kind of friend could Patrick be if he couldn’t even help Kate get home?
“Hey,” Thomas said. “Trust me, unlike what those Hallmark movies make it look like, being alone on Christmas isn’t all bad. It’s quiet, with nothing pulling at you. If you have a girlfriend—or I suppose she would have a boyfriend—you can make a couple memories with them. Kate might find she even likes it.”
Patrick stood and shoved his hands into his pockets. “This isn’t about her getting a picture-perfect family Christmas. Kate wants to make some things right with her parents. Could you see if there is any way the people above you might allow her to go?”
