I nodded and mumbled a quick “Sorry” before stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind me. I took a deep breath as I heard Courtney crank the volume on her music to a deafening roar.
One thing was for certain—the girl in that room was anything but the same old Courtney.
• • •
“Thanks for coming in. Have a nice day!” I smiled at the woman who walked from the store, clutching her bag of chocolates as if they were a precious treasure.
It had been a surprisingly busy day, and I was glad, because it had helped keep my mind off what I was about to do.
Butterflies raced in my stomach as I heard the store bell ring and looked up to see Cynthia striding in. She smiled at me and gave me a thumbs-up as she pointed to the line of shoppers waiting to buy candy. In no time at all, she donned her apron and came out to help me. We were busy for twenty minutes straight until the last customer finally left, allowing us a few moments to relax.
“Whew! Has it been like this all day?” Cynthia’s expression was hopeful.
“Yeah, I’ve never had such a busy Saturday,” I confessed.
“Wow! Thanks for staying a few minutes extra to help with the rush. I’m really impressed with how well you handled all of those customers without losing your cool.”
“Thanks. I’d stay longer to help if I could, but the concert starts soon, and I can’t be late.”
“Oh, you better get a move on then.” She smiled.
“Okay.” I walked to the back room and hung up my apron, almost deciding this conversation could wait until another day, but after glancing at the schedule on the wall, I knew it was now or never.
I grabbed my purse and headed back to the counter. I glanced at the door, making sure there weren’t any customers around. “Um, Cynthia, can I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure, what is it?” She turned and faced me with her full attention, a manner she had which I found enormously intimidating.
“Well, I’ve thought a lot about this, and I want you to know how much I’ve appreciated working here, but I’m not going to be able to work Sundays.”
Cynthia looked down briefly in disappointment and then back up at me. “Are you sure about this, Eliza? You’ve been such a great employee that I was about to offer you a raise.”
The look on her face made me feel like I was being stupid, and I considered backing out. Besides, a raise would be so nice! I shifted uncomfortably and put my hands in my pockets, instantly feeling emboldened by the glassy stone at my fingertips.
“Yes, I’m sure. This is something that’s really important to me. I’ll work my two weeks though . . . if you want me to?” I ventured. This was the first job I’d ever quit, and I wasn’t sure what the proper procedure was.
Cynthia sighed and shook her head. “All right then, if that’s what you want. I’d like you to finish out your two weeks so I have time to post the job and find a replacement for you.”
“Okay. I’ll see you next week then.” I turned and rushed from the store, not wanting to prolong the awkward moment any longer than necessary. I felt a ping of disappointment. I’d secretly hoped that Cynthia would make an exception for me and allow me to stay on without working Sundays, but that obviously wasn’t going to happen.
Stronger than the feeling of disappointment, however, was the wonderful and peaceful feeling that I’d done the right thing. I’d stood up for my beliefs, and regardless of what the temporal consequences might be, I knew that Heavenly Father was proud of me. Finding another job would be inconvenient, but finding integrity was something much more valuable.
• • •
“Okay, guys, quiet down, the movie’s starting.” Clark’s voice boomed.
We were all gathered in the theater room in the basement of Danny’s house. I sat next to Jason, sharing a box of chocolate-covered mints with him. The concert was over, thank goodness! My solo had gone well, and I was proud of my performance, but it was definitely a relief to have it over with now.
Knowing that we’d be watching a movie after the concert, I’d brought a pair of casual clothes to change into, and I leaned back comfortably in the sofa. Glancing at the various couples around the room, I was painfully aware of Luke’s absence. We’d seen him after the concert, and Jason had invited him to join our group, but he’d mumbled something about having other plans.
I’d tried to get him to look at me so I could smile or somehow convey an apology for my behavior last night, but he’d completely avoided my eyes. Adding to my misery was the devastatingly handsome way he looked in his suit. The mere sight of him had caused me to feel almost faint. He looked like he belonged in the starring role of some chick flick, yet there was no trace of the arrogance that often surrounded actors or models. He had somehow miraculously managed to be unaware of his good looks, which only served to make him all the more appealing.
“Have you seen this movie before?” Jason asked, snapping me out of my daydreaming.
“Um, I’m not sure. Which one is it?” I hoped the guilt I felt from thinking about Luke wasn’t obvious on my face.
“It’s called The Fever of Love, and I think it just came out on DVD.”
“Huh . . . no, I haven’t seen it. Have you?”
“Nope.”
I’d seen previews for this movie, and I knew it was rated PG-13. Instantly, I felt a knot forming in my stomach. My parents didn’t allow us to watch a PG-13 movie unless they’d seen it first and given permission. This was the first time I’d been faced with the situation of having to explain that on a date. What made it more intimidating was that no one else in the room seemed to be the least bit uncomfortable.
I couldn’t help but notice Becka and Britney sitting with their dates. They’d been giving me dirty looks all night and whispering and laughing to each other. I imagined how they’d ridicule me if I were to confess that I wasn’t comfortable watching this movie.
I began to feel uneasy as I tried to decide what to do, and that feeling only intensified once the lights were turned off and the movie began. Jason put his arm around me, and I tried to relax, but his touch only served to confuse me more. I decided I would wait and see what the movie was about before saying anything. After all, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad and all my worrying was for nothing.
After the first few scenes, however, I knew that this was not the type of movie my parents would approve of. The language was crude, and it wasn’t long before an extremely offensive bedroom scene came on. I felt sick inside, and I looked around to see if anyone else was reacting as I was, but no one else seemed bothered. I turned my eyes away from the screen and contemplated just closing my eyes for the rest of the movie, but the sickening feeling persisted.
“Jason, I need to go,” I whispered.
He turned to me. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. It’s . . . it’s just that this movie makes me feel kind of uncomfortable. Do you mind if we go do something else?”
His expression was a mixture of surprise and relief; he was obviously feeling the same way I was. “Sure, let’s get out of here.” He took my hand and stood up, heading for the door. “See you later, guys,” he said to Clark and Danny over the booming of the surround sound.
“Are you leaving already?” Clark asked.
“Yeah, we’re not really into this movie. We’re gonna go play miniature golf. Anybody want to join us?”
I smiled at Jason in admiration, not believing he had the guts to speak up like this in front of everyone. Clark looked slightly offended, but I saw a few people shift uncertainly as if they weren’t sure what to do. After a few moments though, no one spoke up so Jason and I left alone.
Once we were in the car I turned to him and said, “Thanks for being so understanding about that. I really appreciate it.”
Jason frowned. “No, thank you for having the nerve to say something. That movie was trashy, and I was feeling the same way, but I was too chicken to do anything about it.”
“
I was proud of the way you told Clark how you felt, and how you invited others to come with us. That took some serious courage!”
“Nah.” He smiled sadly. “It’s too bad no one else came. I thought Danny would at least offer to put in another movie, but no such luck. I guess he just wasn’t blessed with the fortune of being raised watching shows like The Brady Bunch.”
I laughed at Jason’s playful sarcasm and felt the calm, happy reassurance that I’d done the right thing by walking out of the movie.
“So, is miniature golf really okay?” Jason asked, raising an eyebrow at me. “I just said the first thing that popped in my head.”
“Sounds great. But I have to warn you, my golfing skills aren’t much better than my bowling skills,” I confided.
“That’s fine with me! The best part of bowling with you was giving you the lessons.” He winked mischievously as he began driving, and I felt my face flush crimson.
“I better send Courtney a text to make sure she’s doing okay,” I mumbled as I dug around in my purse for my phone. I needed something to distract me from my embarrassment over his flirtation, so I pretended to concentrate hard on the text. Jason turned up the music, and to my relief, he began talking about his excitement for the upcoming state soccer tournament.
I listened while waiting for Courtney’s reply. She’d dutifully responded to my texts throughout the day, and it never took longer than a few seconds to get her replies. As the minutes ticked by, however, she still hadn’t responded. I sent her another text, and another. Finally I called her, but the phone rang and rang until I got her voice mail. Why wasn’t she answering?
By the time we arrived at the miniature golf course, I felt a distinct impression that something wasn’t right. As with the movie, I tried to rationalize the feeling away, but it persisted. I knew I needed to go home and check on Courtney—and soon.
“Jason, you’re going to think I’m crazy, but Courtney hasn’t replied to my texts, and I feel like something’s wrong. Do you mind if we go to my house and check it out? I promise I’m not always this wacko, but I’m worried.”
Jason instantly backed the car out of the parking lot. “No problem, Eliza. If you feel like something’s wrong, we should go check on her, especially since your parents are out of town.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and touched his arm. “Thanks so much. I can’t believe how nice you’re being about all of this.”
“Hey, like I said before, just being with you is fun for me. We could watch paint dry, and I’d have a good time.” His eyes twinkled, and I was grateful for his ever-positive attitude.
• • •
A few dim lights flickered from inside the house as we pulled up to the curb.
“Good, it looks like she’s home.” I was relieved to know where Courtney was, but the feeling that something was wrong persisted. I turned to Jason. “I’m not supposed to let guys in the house when my parents aren’t here, but just in case it’s an intruder or something, would you mind coming in with me? I’m pretty sure my parents would approve in this situation, and as soon as we make sure things are okay, we’ll leave.”
Jason nodded soberly, seemingly already prepared to summon his defensive skills in case I was right. We walked up to the front door, and I opened it quietly, terrified of what I might find.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight that was before me.
From where we stood I could see clearly into the family room, where the lights were dimmed and four young people sat together on the couch. A movie was on, and Alexis and a boy were kissing on the couch, while Courtney and Nathan Adams sat on the other side. Nathan had his arm around Courtney, and all four of them held cans of beer.
I gasped, which instantly startled everyone. Nathan dropped his beer can, spilling liquid all over Mom’s rug, and leaped from the couch in one swift move.
I marched into the room. “Courtney Christine Moore!” I yelled. “What is going on here?” I couldn’t keep the hysteria out of my voice, and I saw my little sister crumple, hiding her face in her hands. The two boys attempted to escape by squeezing past me, but I caught Nathan by his sleeve. “You better tell your parents about this, or I’ll tell them when I see them tomorrow. And if I ever see you touch my little sister again, you’ll live to regret it, understand?”
He nodded, and fear flooded his eyes as he realized just how serious I was. The smell of beer all over his shirt caused my stomach to roll so I let go of his sleeve, allowing him to bolt out the front door, followed closely by Alexis’s friend.
I turned to Jason, who was standing behind me in shocked silence. “Jason, thanks for coming with me. I’ll call you tomorrow, but right now I need to deal with this, and it’s probably best if you’re not here to see it.”
He must have seen the fire blazing in my eyes because he nodded and quickly made his way to the door. He told me to call if I needed anything, and then hastily retreated to the safety of his car.
I spun around to face Courtney and Alexis again, trying to think of what to do next. Courtney looked humiliated and terrified as she sat hunched over on the couch, but Alexis wore a bitter scowl, and I could tell that she was simply annoyed.
“I’m going to get a rag to clean up this mess, and when I come back, I expect to hear a full explanation.” I walked over and picked up the beer cans, relieved to find that at least two of them were nearly full. I was shaking as I walked into the kitchen and poured the beer down the sink and then threw the cans in the trash.
What could Courtney have possibly been thinking? It was like she was completely out of control! Mom had been right to worry. How could we not have noticed that things were so bad? These thoughts flew about in my mind as I got some rags and carpet cleaner and made my way back to the scene of the crime.
Just before entering the room, I paused and said a silent prayer. Now that the initial shock and anger were wearing off, I was sincerely afraid for my sister, and I didn’t have a clue how I could help her. I asked Heavenly Father to help me to know what to say and how to react in this situation. In those few moments, I poured out my soul to Him, and almost immediately I felt the sweet assurance of the Spirit. I felt a sense of peace. I knew that Heavenly Father was aware of what was happening, and that He would guide me by the Spirit. With renewed strength, and relying on faith that I would be guided, I entered the room.
I was a little surprised to see that neither Alexis nor Courtney had moved an inch while I was gone. I’d half expected them to make a run for it as soon as I was out of sight.
I turned off the movie and started cleaning up the rug. I tried to open my mind to the promptings of the Spirit. After a few minutes of complete silence, and after I’d done as much as possible to salvage the rug, I sighed and sat down on a chair facing my sister and her friend.
“So, Courtney, why don’t you tell me what happened here tonight.”
Courtney’s eyes widened, and she was obviously caught off guard by my calm tone. She’d probably been expecting more of the scream-fest I’d displayed earlier.
“Liza, please don’t tell Mom and Dad about this!” she begged. “I swear this was the first time I’ve ever tried beer, and I’ve never brought boys in the house before, either. . . . I promise I won’t ever do anything like this again, just please, please don’t tell Mom and Dad!” She was almost hysterical as tears came to her eyes, and I couldn’t help but go to her and put my arms around her. She began to sob while Alexis continued to glare at me from her seat on the couch.
“Okay, calm down, Courtney. I’m not worried about Mom and Dad right now—I’m worried about you. Court, you know that drinking is wrong— and illegal—and you know that you’re not supposed to date until you’re at least sixteen, much less be alone with a boy in the house. I don’t want you to feel bad because you got caught; I want you to realize what a special person you are and that by making these bad choices you’re damaging your spirit and allowing Satan into your life. I want you to feel sorry because this is a da
ngerous path, and it’s not what Heavenly Father wants for you.”
“Oh brother!” Alexis mumbled, rolling her eyes.
Trying hard to rein in my temper, I turned to her. “Is there something you’d like to say, Alexis?”
She scowled at me and then to my astonishment, unleashed her anger. “Yes, there’s something I want to say. I am so sick of all these Mormon rules about what you can and can’t do! There’s nothing wrong with taking a sip of beer now and then. My dad has let me have a sip of his wine before,” she sassed. “All we were doing was watching a movie with a couple of guys; it’s not like we were doing drugs or having sex or something! You Mormons think that anything fun is evil, and I hate sitting here and watching you make Courtney feel bad about something that’s not even a big deal.”
My mouth hung open in stunned silence. I had not seen this coming! However, it was obvious that Alexis was nowhere near being finished.
“I have an older brother in college who’s done tons of research on different religions. He says that there’s no way anyone in their right mind would believe in Joseph Smith if they knew the truth. He says that your whole church would fall apart if they actually taught you the truth about everything.
“He says you’re all just a bunch of blind believers and that you only stay in the Church because that’s all you’ve known your whole lives and that no one takes the time to study the real history. He says that the leaders of your church even tell you not to go looking into what they call anti-Mormon literature because they’re afraid you’ll actually find out the truth—”
As Alexis continued speaking, I felt something building within me, something I hadn’t even realized was there until that moment.
Looking directly into her eyes, I quietly interrupted, “Alexis, what you’re saying isn’t true. I’m sure your brother is really smart and that he’s a good person, but what he’s taught you or led you to believe simply isn’t right.”
She snorted and began to protest, but I held up my hand calmly. “Knowing that the gospel is true or not isn’t something that can be proven by theories or research. Otherwise it wouldn’t involve any faith, and faith is what the Lord requires of us.
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