Chapter 7
Ann
Pure delight was a simple explanation of Ann's reaction to the rumor she had started about Alice Wilson. It was just the sort of rumor everyone wanted to hear, so that made it believable. And the fact that the letter had described the dress Alice bought after the supposed abortion was just perfect. That made the rumor so much more believable. Alice was of course devastated. Her friends dropped her, her boyfriend dumped her, she didn't go to the prom at all, and she barely finished out the school year. She didn't even attend her graduation.
Ann was still laughing about the way Alice had continued to protest her innocence. Her poor dumb boyfriend made it clear he didn't know anything about any of it. He really didn't care about Alice's reputation. He just wanted to make it clear he was not the father of the "alleged" baby.
Ann had a few unexpected benefits from the incident as well. Her delight in the success of the rumor put a spark in her eye and a spring in her step. She found herself looking people directly in the eye as she met them in the hall or cafeteria. She was looking for their reaction to the rumor, but most students took it as Ann showing more friendliness than she had in the past. Boys began to notice her. She was invited to sit with the popular girls at lunch. By the time school was out, Ann was well on her way to being known as "miss popular".
Ann liked the idea of being popular. She didn't want to let the momentum fade over the summer, so she approached her father about a party at the house a couple of weeks into the summer. If it was successful, Ann would be invited to other parties through the rest of summer, and getting into a routine would be easy for the coming school year. She was thinking about a boy girl party of course, but maybe an added sleep over for the girls. Mom could do some sort of fancy brunch for everyone around 11 the next morning.
Frederick agreed it would be a good idea. Shelly wasn’t opposed to the party. She had had time to reassess the situation. Shelly admitted to herself that it was possible she had over reacted to everything. She still planned to make some changes between Fredrick and herself, but maybe subtle changes instead of open confrontation. Ann’s party might be just the way to show her husband and daughter that she had a new attitude.
Ann worked out a guest list for her party. She needed the most popular students who would be seniors the next year. A few sophomores would be invited. Frederick suggested that she invite a few students who had just graduated.
"Ann," he had pointed out. "It is true they can't help you this year because they will be gone to college. But let's consider which college they will be attending, and where you may attend. You might need an established relationship with a few people on campus when you start college. Actually, you need to consider the entire list from the point of 'who will be helpful to me in the present and future'. Next, you consider who has not been helpful, or even hurtful to you in the past and of course you don't invite them. Just for fun you let them know they aren't being invited when you get a chance."
"Ok dad," Ann replied. "I get it. And thanks for the advice. There should be a purpose for everyone on the list. That's a good idea. By the way dad, do you think we can trust mom to handle the brunch menu, or does she need help?"
"She can manage that Ann. Shelly is good at stuff like that. Let her shine where she can. OK?"
"What ever you say dad."
Ann happily went about planning the party, giving careful consideration to who would be invited and who would not be invited. She didn't even care that she wasn't going to the prom. Very few sophomores went anyway.
"Hey Ann," Frederick called from the other room. "I just remembered something we used to do that was fun when I was in school. It's an old board game called "Ouija board". I think I still have it in the garage. I'll get it for you. I think you and the girls will get a kick out of it after the boys leave."
"Ok dad, whatever you think," Ann said absent mindedly. Frederick was a great dad, but she doubted her new friends would be very interested in some old board game.
Malachi
Mal couldn't wait to tell Belle about his decision. He couldn't remember when he had felt better, or more alive, or more content. What a relief!
He had read that many people struggle with belief in Jesus Christ for years. "What torment they must go through," he thought.
For Mal, it had been easy. Once he had seen the light, or the narrow way, he had no trouble in jumping in with both feet. Now he was just basking in God's love. Or something like that. Whatever it was, Mal thought it was really really nice. He just wanted to see Belle, and get her reaction to his good news. Mal didn't know it but he was not going to get the exact reaction he was expecting.
They had supper planned at Belle's idea of just the right restaurant. This time it was Tex-Mex food, but it fell within Belle's idea of the right price range. Mal didn't care. He could even eat spaghetti if Belle was eating it with him. Or maybe even meatloaf. He didn't care.
He hurried to his pickup and got behind the wheel. He was still a little hurt that both dad and Ann had made fun of his truck. One thing Mal was certain of, the relationship between a guy and his truck was pretty serious. He guessed he would have to tell them about the example set by Sam Walton, that super rich now deceased man who had founded Wal-Mart. He drove his truck a LONG time, and it didn't seem to hurt him any.
But his mind quickly turned his thoughts again to Belle. Mal was pretty sure he was not just in love, but madly in love. He wondered if wedding bells were in his future any time soon.
Belle was waiting at the restaurant. Her thoughts were pretty much the same as Mal's, wondering if wedding bells were in her future. Belle had been raised in the church. She had become a believer at a very young age, and then followed through by applying Bible teachings to how she lived her life. She had faced the loss of her parents in the accident, the serious injury to her sister Amelia, and college, and explaining to boys and then young men that she was saving sex for marriage, and a host of other things that had come her way. Belle was a growing Christian. She wanted to know more about Jesus. She wanted to serve him. She wanted a home that honored Christ. And that was going to take a strong Christian man. Could Mal become that man?
Mal arrived at the restaurant and was ushered to where Belle was sitting. Belle knew what had happened when she saw him walking toward her. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, and quickly sat down. He was smiling broadly, his brown eyes twinkling, white teeth flashing.
"Ok, Mal, what's up?" Belle asked.
"Well, can you guess?"
"I think I can, but I would rather hear it from you."
"There are two very important things I have to tell you. First, I followed the leads you recommended on the prophecy warehouse web site. I read everything. It was true,; it was clear; it was easy; and I accepted Jesus Christ. I am a child of God for eternity."
Belle smiled, even glowed. "I absolutely could not be happier Mal. I don't know what to say. I thought it was too soon. It usually takes people a long time to come to an understanding of the path to God, or as I call it, "the path to peace and joy". I was praying for this to happen, but it seems like my prayers usually take a long to get answered. But what was the second thing you had to tell me?"
"Well," Mal began, then stopped. "Umm, well, I guess I was hoping we have a future together. It is a little sudden, but I feel pretty good about it. What do you think?"
"Well, I was thinking the same thing. At least I hope it is the same thing. Exactly what do you mean by 'future together?' Because there is only one way I will have a future with anyone, and that way would have to include a wedding ring."
"That's what I meant," Mal clarified. "I knew from the start that is the type of person you are. I wouldn't want it any other way really. So what's the answer?"
"What's the question?" Belle countered.
"Ok, ok, will you marry me?" Mal blurted out.
Belle look
ed at his face as though searching for something else. "Probably." She replied
"Probably?" Mal asked somewhat bewildered. "What does that mean?"
"It means 'probably'." Belle said. "Probably, based on a couple of conditions.
"Conditions?" Mal said blankly.
"Yes," Belle continued. "Conditions. They are very important to me, and they are crucial to the success of the marriage. And they are basically two of them. The first is that as a believer, you must set a pattern of Bible study and Christian growth. Oh, Mal, there is so much in the Bible. It isn't called the "Good Book" for no reason. And I can't put in your head or heart. According to the Bible, a new Christian is like a new baby. You have to be feed on the word of God to grow. That means you have to attend church and you have to actively engage in independent Bible study. And the second condition is that we come to the same basic belief system. We have to be comfortable attending the same church."
"But, I'm a Christian now. Why wouldn't we be happy attending the same church?" Mal asked.
"Listen Mal, there are more denominations that you can actually count. There are Catholics, protestants, and Baptists to name a few. And two people in a marriage must be committed to the same belief system. I have seen it too many times. A Catholic marries a Protestant, then they can't agree on which church to attend, they raise children without any Christian teachings because they can't agree on what they want the child taught, and the end result is just disaster. I made up my mind I would never do that. I have to start with a man who takes me to church and wants to take any potential children we might have to church as well."
"Well, I don't see why we can't work it out. I don't have a church, so I guess I can go to yours. And I guess now that I think about it that is probably what happened with my parents. Ann and I never even attended church on Easter or Christmas. But does this mean we are engaged or not?"
"Let's just say tentatively. I don't want you to think you are being manipulated here. You have to sincerely believe, you have to sincerely love the same form of worship that I love. We can start from here, and plan to be officially engaged in say - six months? If you are still happy with your decision, and happy with a church routine, and have a growing love of Bible teaching, then I will say Yes Yes Yes!! How does that sound to you?
"It sounds like a whole lot to digest all at once. But Ok, let’s give it a whirl."
"Oh one more thing, I forgot to say, I love you, and I like you, and I really really want this to work out Mal," Belle added.
"Me too Belle, all of that and more. I have just seen a glimpse of the life I want. I am going to work for it."
Later as Mal drove himself home he wondered, ‘Did I miss something this evening? I thought I would at least get a little kiss. I’ll have to pay more attention next time we are out. I might have missed an opportunity for a kiss somewhere this evening.’
Choosing Soul Wars Trilogy Book One Page 10
