On March 21, Justice Meyer announced, “Now that all parties have been called and both sides of the case have been deliberated thoroughly, we have decided that Betsy's having a twenty-four-hour period on the last Saturday of every month is a fair solution to her situation. On these days, and on only these days, Betsy Parker will be immune from charges for simple nudity and nothing more. It is expected, on these days, that Betsy will meet her customers, in person, as they purchase her artwork, and that Betsy will take walks in the area near Sunny Palms, possibly meeting or talking to some of her fellow people of the city along the way.
“As we are aware of the possible repercussions of this ruling, there will be some restrictions: Betsy must always remain within the city of Hilo, and she must not venture onto or into the premises of, or in view of, a daycare centre, a preschool, elementary school or high school, or a church or other place of religious worship. Betsy must also understand that this remains a situation open to further protests and challenges from those opposing her. If these protests become too strong or too many, it remains possible that we will revoke this privilege we are bestowing upon her. Until that time, if any, I hereby adjourn the proceedings. May Betsy be allowed to venture as she will starting on Saturday, March 30.”
A wave of delight swept through Betsy that was so intense it left her speechless. After a silence in which she savored this miraculous ruling, she regained her words. Betsy, this time, did not cry out, but instead, whispered, slowly and dreamily, “This is just what I have always wanted. I don't know what to say. I can't believe this is even real.”
Despite Betsy's awe-struck delight and amazement, Mark remained unsatisfied, “You can't go anywhere near a school? There are children right here at Sunny Palms. You were once a child yourself, with a body not unlike any of those children who go to school. And no church for you either? What if, at some point, you decide you want to join a church?”
“Mark,” Betsy assured him, “Whatever other parents do not want their children to see, or be exposed to, I have no problem honoring that. Besides, I don't have to go to church. This whole world is God's place. I live in a church. No manmade building, designed to worship God, could be more important to me than this resort and this Earth.”
With Betsy's last statement, Mark's expression turned into a smile, once more, as well. “You know Betsy? You are right, and I am happy for you. This is a unique privilege. No one else in the world has this right you have been granted. We should be proud. On March 30 we will go out.”
***
When March 30 arrived, the sky was clear and the sun shone as Betsy and Mark awoke that morning. They ate breakfast, showered, and let the sun dry them.
“This is it,” Mark smiled. “Let's go out and see the great beyond once again.”
Betsy and Mark walked across the grounds side-by-side, and proceeded towards the gate. There, at the gate, were a group of people already awaiting Betsy and Mark's arrival: Carl, Megan, Catherine, and, much to Betsy's delight, surprise, and amazement ... Laura!
“Oh Laura!” Betsy cried. “I haven't seen you for so long! It's wonderful to see you again.”
“It's wonderful to see you too, Betsy,” Laura smiled. “Betsy, I have been thinking lately. I've been a dreadful sister. I've dismissed you, walked out on you, and done pretty well everything I could to get you out of my life. But I love you, Betsy. I'm proud of everything you have done. I've given a lot of thought about what I have been doing to you, and have decided to come back to you, to apologize. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Laura,” Betsy smiled, “of course I forgive you. I could never have wished for a better sister. Come on Laura. Come on everyone. Let's head out.”
Betsy, Mark, Catherine, Carl, Megan and Laura stepped out the gate of Sunny Palms into the sunshine, as the warm air and a soft breeze cuddled them all. Everyone, except for Betsy, was clothed but that didn't matter to Betsy.
“It's a gorgeous day,” smiled Catherine. “It's been raining a lot lately, and I was worried it wouldn't be such a great day to go out.”
Megan spoke next. “I would go out any day,” she smiled, “Rain or shine, any day for my Betsy.”
Carl turned to Betsy. “I am so proud of you dear, taking the initiative to go to court to get your human rights. Good for you.”
After the six had walked on a little ways, Laura spoke again. “I have a new boyfriend,” she told Betsy. “His name is Antonio. I met him at my new school. I think he's a better match, much better than Carlos. I've told Antonio all about you. He thinks you're great.”
“Well that's terrific Laura,” Betsy smiled. “I am so proud of you.”
“Next month when we go out, I am planning on bringing Antonio,” Laura continued. “He would like to meet you.”
“That's great, Laura. I would like to meet him too.”
“I think it was Antonio that made me decide to come back to you. I was alone after leaving my previous school. Then, I met this wonderful young man at my new school, who made me feel so much better. Then, I realized that must be how life is like for you, Betsy. You were all alone, but then you met Mark, and life became better for you. I thought about how I had been treating you, and chose to come back, to be your sister once again.”
“Do you think you will come back to Sunny Palms?” Betsy asked.
Laura sighed. “I will definitely come to visit you, but I wouldn't be able to stay for long. I don't think I would ever be able to go there unclothed again. I would feel too exposed, self-conscious, and vulnerable. But I'm sure Susan would understand if I came clothed, and visited you for a few hours one day here and there. I promise to come with you every time you venture out of Sunny Palms on the last Saturday of every month.”
“Thank you Laura,” Betsy smiled. “That would make my life complete.”
Mark started thumbing around in his pocket. He pulled out the picture Betsy had drawn of him and Betsy at grad.
“You don't mind if I show this to Laura, do you?” Mark asked Betsy.
“Why no, go ahead,” Betsy replied.
“Betsy drew this,” Mark explained to Laura. “She felt so sad about not being with me at my high school graduation that she drew it.” He put the picture in Laura's hands, and Laura took hold of it.
As Laura eyed it, an intrigued expression crossed her face. “I like it,” she smiled, facing Betsy. “It catches you, Mark, and everyone else perfectly. May I buy it from you?”
“You can have it for free,” Betsy smiled at Laura. “You're my sister, and I don't need any money for this picture. I will gladly give it to you.”
“Thank you,” Laura smiled back. “I think I'll call it 'A Walk of Hope.' Does that sound like a good title?”
“That sounds like a great title,” Betsy replied. “In fact, I wouldn't be able to think of anything better.”
Betsy set 'A Walk of Hope' in Laura's hands, and Laura took it. Laura looked it over with an expression of joy, feeling so proud of Betsy.
“And Betsy?” Laura continued.
“Yes?”
“Thank you for helping me with my homework.”
“You are very welcome, Laura.”
The six turned right at the next intersection, and they continued walking down a longer road where grass grew on either side. They kept walking, nobody saying a word, everyone enjoying the peace, the quiet and the fresh air.
Finally, the road ended in a peaceful, grassy meadow. There was birdsong in the trees, the sound of the wind in the grass, and in the middle of this meadow was a pond with lily pads, and a fountain in the middle of the pond.
Betsy was lost in awe.
“This is gorgeous,” she breathed at last, “so beautiful, so peaceful, so quiet.”
She stopped talking, stood in silence, and closed her eyes, savoring the texture of the air on her skin, feeling the breeze, and taking in the sounds and smells of this scene.
After a long time of peace and quiet, Betsy turned back to her friends and family. “I love this place,” she smiled.
“I love you all. I love everyone, and I love myself.”
Her father smiled at Betsy. “That is wonderful Betsy. You know, so do I. It's good to love.”
“And I love my body,” Betsy continued, “and I love every part of it. Every part of my body is a precious friend to me, helping me to live and be happy, and there is no part of it I have any ill thoughts or feelings towards or am ashamed of. Humankind is one big body, and I am part of it, but I am one of those parts of the body of humankind that society requires to be clothed all the time, while almost all other parts of the body of humankind don't have to be.”
By now, all five of the people accompanying Betsy were crying. “Betsy,” her mother wept. “That is so beautiful. You have made my whole day, just now.”
“I am ready to head back,” Betsy smiled. “I don't need to be out here all day. I've seen all I want to see, and done all I want to do. I am ready to go back to the home I love.”
The six explorers made their way back. Once more, everyone was silent as they walked along the road from the meadow. They turned left onto the main road to make their way back to Sunny Palms.
They had only begun their walk on the main road, when a black lab dashed onto the side. A passing car swerved to avoid hitting the dog, and, as a result, the car came roaring on towards two pedestrians.
In the split second that followed, Betsy and Mark realized who these pedestrians were. They were Mark's parents, walking home from their Saturday afternoon Bible study group at the church.
Betsy dashed forward, and Mark followed, running just a foot behind her. Betsy got to Mr. and Mrs. Turner first and pushed them out of the way. Mark, who was just behind, was still in danger of being hit. Betsy pushed him onto the roadside, and prepared to dash out of the way of the car to save herself, but it was too late.
The car struck Betsy, and she went flying across the road, and landed, in a bloody mess down the street.
The world reeled in front of Mark's eyes. All in a nanosecond, everything blurred, then came back into focus, and he saw Betsy.
“BETSY!!!” he cried. Mark, Laura, Catherine, Carl and Megan all ran up to Betsy.
By the time they reached her, she was no longer breathing, and a dark red, purple, blistery anaphylactic rash was spreading all over her.
“Don't worry Betsy!” hollered Mark, as he whipped his phone out of his pocket and called 911. “I'm getting an ambulance for you. They will get you to the hospital. You are going to be okay!”
Mark looked over his shoulder. What were his parents doing now? Betsy had just saved their lives at her own cost. Would they have the grace, at least, to come forward to see if she was okay? The car that had hit her hadn't stopped, either. It had vanished out of sight. Mark's parents were taking each other by the hands, and walking away in the opposite direction, retreating down the side of the road. Fury burned inside Mark. It was a hit and run, he was losing his wife, and his parents didn't even care.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!” Mark hollered, and began to give breaths to Betsy, holding her nose, breathing into her mouth, anything to keep her alive.
“My dear,” Betsy's mother wept, as she kneeled at Betsy's side. “I'm here. I love you. Don't worry. I will always be here for you.”
For what seemed like an eternity, Mark continued trying to resuscitate Betsy, who no longer showed any signs of life, and had a horrible rash all over her body. The rash, in and of itself, was severe enough to be deadly, even if she hadn't been hit.
At last, the ambulance arrived. Two paramedics stepped out and looked Betsy over.
“So, Betsy Parker again,” one of them said. “Come on, sweetheart. We will take you to the hospital.”
Betsy gave one last, struggling, gasping breath. Then, she lay still.
“Is that it?” the medic's partner asked.
They both looked the girl over. They checked her pulse, checked her breathing and all other vital signs.
“That's it,” sighed the first paramedic. “She's gone.”
23 A Comforting Message
Mark was in complete disbelief and denial. He couldn't take in that this had really happened. He must be hallucinating, or dreaming, or deluded from the heat, but Betsy hadn't died. She couldn't have. It was impossible, not his happy, sweet, loving, wonderful Betsy. He looked around at all the others. Every one of them had a shocked, upset, grieving expression, but Mark's tears felt like they would never end.
“We will take you,” one of the paramedics called. “We are both very sorry about this, but we will take you all to the hospital, where you can see Betsy.”
“No!” Mark exclaimed. “I've always seen Betsy as a living, wonderful girl. I couldn't stand to see her dead!”
Mark turned, once more, to his four companions on the roadside to see what they would do.
Carl and Megan turned to Mark, and they both gave a sigh of mingled grief and comfort. “We'll go see Betsy,” Carl explained. “We will go to the hospital and see her, while we have the chance to.”
“What will you do, Laura?” Mark asked.
“I'll go with my parents. She was my sister, Mark. Are you sure you don't want to go? She was your wife.”
“Was! Was!” Mark cried. “I can't bear to hear that word. I can't see her, not dead. I just can't.”
And Mark turned to walk away.
Catherine followed after him. “I'll walk with you,” she explained. “This is a terrible situation. Betsy was my best friend, a gentle soul, and I'm really going to miss her. I want to go and see her too, but I also don't want you to be alone, and Betsy wouldn't either. Come on. Let's walk together.”
As the Parkers departed in the ambulance, Mark and Catherine walked along the roadside.
Mark trembled as he walked, but his tears had slowed.
“Thank you Catherine,” Mark wept. “Thank you for thinking of me, but I loved Betsy, and I can't live without her.”
“Mark,” Catherine reassured him. “Things will get better for you, I promise. Things will get better for all of us. I am in shock too, and I don't know what to say. Still, people who lose a loved one, although they grieve and mourn the loss, come to feel better, and live on. Someday, you will too.”
“But Betsy wasn't just any wife,” Mark wept. “She was the one person who touched me deep down, who made me humble, who made me laugh, who made me understand that there are more important things in the world besides the clothes we wear.”
“Betsy is still with you,” Catherine soothed, beginning to smile. “She is still with all of us. She left a deep mark on us all, the whole of humanity possibly, but she is not lost. You'll always be able to feel her presence, her voice in your heart, whenever you are quiet and calm.”
Mark remained silent. He tried to calm himself, but the grief, shock and loss he felt would not go away. Betsy had died, and he was never going to see her again.
After they had walked a little further, Mark spoke up again. “It's all my fault,” he said.
“What's your fault?”
“It's my fault she died. I didn't get out of the way of that car fast enough, and Betsy had to stay behind to push me out of the way. Besides, those were my parents, those cold, unfeeling creatures who threw me out of their home, and never felt any compassion, whatsoever, for Betsy. I shouldn't have tried to save them in the first place. What was I thinking?”
“Mark,” Catherine assured him, “None of this is your fault. You won't get anywhere if you blame yourself. It's tragic, but you were doing your duty, when you rushed to save your parents, and so was Betsy. She didn't need to do that, Mark. Your parents were so awful that day at the gate that I wouldn't have blamed her if she hadn't, but she loved everyone that much. She was such a selfless person that she put the needs of those cold, nasty parents of yours above her own, and saved them. You think of that, Mark. You remember that about her. Betsy is a person worthy of remembering. Mark, however your parents react to being saved is their decision alone.”
“Hey Catherine,” Ma
rk breathed, his tears finally dissipating. “You referred to Betsy as 'is.'”
“That's right Mark, I did, because she will never be gone. She's gone into another world, Mark, that's all, a world where she is truly happy, loved and accepted.”
“I know, Catherine,” Mark wept. “I know, but that's not the way I can see things, not now.”
Mark and Catherine walked on a little ways further.
“Take me to my parents,” said Mark. “I want a word with them.”
“Yeah, okay,” Catherine replied.
***
When Mark arrived at his parents' house, he pounded on the door.
“Let me in!” Mark hollered. “Now!”
“There's nobody home,” came the voice of his father from inside.
“Oh yes there is!” Mark demanded, “and I want in!”
“Now now Brian,” came the voice of Mrs. Turner, “Mark's here. Let's go see what all this is about.”
Mark's mother opened the door, and Mark stared deep into her eyes, glaring with hatred and contempt of this filthy monster of a mother who was looking back at him.
“She saved your lives!” Mark hollered loudly enough so that both his parents would hear. “She saved your lives, and sacrificed herself, and there you were walking home from your church Bible study group as if nothing happened, and here you are still acting indifferent to me and to what Betsy did for you, and you don't have the strength or the gaul to say a word about me or her, and you have no thoughts, feelings or anything towards me, towards her friend Catherine, or towards her parents and sister who were left behind!”
“Mark!” his father called from the kitchen. “She saved us, yes. But do you really think that redeems the fact that she was-”
“There was nothing that needed to be redeemed!” Mark yelled. “She was perfect the way she was, and I could never have had a better wife, not even in my dreams! You're right dad! You were perfectly right when you said 'God would never create a person who has to be an exhibitionist in order to live' because Betsy was no exhibitionist! She was a wonderful person and we loved each other!”
The Sheltered Life of Betsy Parker Page 18
