The girls were once again waiting in the lounge for the day to start
“Remember, do not be bad mouthing the head of the church’s daughter Casey, ”reminded Lizzy.
“Whatever, I don’t start fights, I end them,”
“Uh, technically you did,” reminded Lizzy!
Marcela walked in with a box of baked goods from her bakery on Telephone Road.
“Good morning girls” she cheered.
“I brought you all some goodies, even though one of you doesn't deserve it,” she jokingly stated.
“Ha, ha, ha to forgive is to be Christian,”
“Oh, how right you are Casey, here girls, have some Pastor Emmanuel and I made them fresh at 5:00am this morning,”
“You were up that early!” exclaimed Casey.
“Oh, yes we get a rush at 6:00am-9:30 am during the week.”
The girls reached in and grabbed the sweet bread in the box. They got the regalos and conchas before anyone else showed up.
“Is there coffee?” asked Lizzy.
“Why yes, mija, in my office. I didn’t know you liked coffee Lizzy,” remarked Marcela.
“I didn’t sleep so well last night,” she explained.
Lizzy stepped out and went into the office and grabbed a cup for her coffee. Truth is, she stayed up all night thinking about what she witnessed. She didn’t know how she could tell her best friend, since childhood, she saw Edward’s manhood. If she couldn’t figure a way to tell her about Evan, how could she ever mention Edward and Sara sinning. Well Edward since Sara wasn’t even there. Lizzy walked out of the office and back into the hallway to head back towards the lounge when she ran into Edward alone.
“Good morning Lizzy,” he nervously whispered with a toothy grin.
“Hi,” she replied while avoiding eye contact.
“Lizzy, in order for us to keep our little secret, you’re gonna have to act like everything is fine,” he demanded.
“I’m the wallflower anyway don’t worry,”
“Yea, but now every time you see me you get so red, it’s like you saw my privates, you didn't? Not that I mind because it’s normal,”
“No, no I didn’t,” she said while quickly walking away.
Edward quickly ran from behind her and grabbed her by the wrist before she could get into the lounge.
“Lizzy!” he sternly whispered. She looked at him. “You need to start acting right, you’re 17 years old, grow up! There’s going to come a point in your life as a woman where you will have to fulfill your womanly duties to your husband. But until then, we both have a reputation to maintain so act normal or people are going to assume you and I did something, and Sara won’t take kindly to that and I don’t think Casey would either.”
“It’s obvious, she throws herself at me with her eager eyes, look I won't ever say a word, I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine and Sara’s okay?” he stated.
Lizzy shook her head in agreement, not noticing the spilled coffee on her white shoes.
“Watch your language,'' Edward stated before going into the lounge before her.
Lizzy walked back to Marcela’s office and made herself another cup of coffee. This time she remained inside Marcela’s office and drank it. She hoped this cup of coffee never ended because aside from not wanting to be near Mary Ann or her family, now she wanted to avoid Edward. She looked at the time and saw it was 9:00am. The thirty minutes went by quickly. The door opened and in came Mary Elizabeth.
“Lizzy, what are you doing here in the dark?”
“Praying” she quickly answered.
“Oh, well don’t mind me dear, I am gonna get me a cup of coffee too you keep praying.”
Mary Elizabeth grabbed a tray and placed four cups of coffee on it. She walked out as quickly as she walked in. Being the head of the church Mary Elizabeth's hosting skills were phenomenal. Anytime a party was to be thrown for Templo Nuestro everyone always wanted Mary Elizabeth to be in charge of it all. Or, if Mary Elizabeth was to host a party, everyone wanted to go!
Lizzy looked at the clock once more and saw it was 9:15am. She got up and walked back towards the lounge despite every thought in her head shouting no. She opened the door and walked in with her normal facing the ground entrance. While avoiding Edward, Lizzy walked to where Casey had been sitting. Across the room was Mary Ann, Katheryn, Marcela, and Mary Elizabeth.
“Where have you been?” asked Casey.
“Yeah for some strength since I couldn’t sleep so well last night,”
“I was just thinking about college admissions,” fretted Lizzy.
“Lizzy, it’s barely June, calm down, we got plenty of time.” assured Casey.
Pastor Glenn walked in along with the other 5 members of the Pray Troupe.
“Ahh, there you are Edward,'' he shouted, hearing his name made Lizzy shudder.
“Your Spurs got lucky last night” teased Pastor Glen.
“Nah man ,they’re just awesome!” insisted Edward
“Alright, anyway back to business,” stated Pastor Glen in a serious tone, “today is the second to last day of the camp and tomorrow we say goodbye to our pals from PRAY here.”
“Awww,” every woman in the lounge except Lizzy groaned.
“Now, now we have their mailing address so we may send letters to them,” comforted Pastor Glen.
“Indeed!” boasted Mary Ann while looking at Casey and Lizzy.
“Now, Isaiah I believe you have the floor, we have to go finish with breakfast and be ready for morning prayer, and you guessed it another game of Bible trivia except this time it will be like family feud!” Pastor Glen, walked out.
“Okay liaison, today we will be needing your help with some skits,” he stated.
“Ooh, “ they all shouted.
“Yes we will be needing a girl and boy to do some acting. Today we will be talking about abstinence,” stated Isaiah. The lounge suddenly quiet. “So I need a girl to pretend to not want to and mention a Purity Ring to her boyfriend, all pretend of course, because aside from talking about abstinence and STDs, we are going to be taking pledges to our Lord about saving ourselves for marriage.”
Hearing those words escape Isaiah’s mouth made Lizzy wince. She wondered if Edward and Sara were wearing purity rings. She looked at Sara's finger and saw one. Edward was sitting behind her and Casey, she would have to wait for that. However, knowing that Sara is wearing one and Edward is begging her to stay mum about what she knows, she imagines he too took the pledge which is why he wants Lizzy quiet.
“After the abstinence lesson, Edward will take the stage and do a comedy routine for an hour. Now who wants to be my Betty, the name of the girl in the play we wrote” asked Isaiah enthusiastically.
Mary Ann, Katheryn, and Casey quickly shot their hands up.
“Why not have Mary Ann and Julio do it,” suggested Mary Elizabeth “they are the head of the youth bible group!”
“Very, well then, Mary Ann and Julio,” winced Isaiah. “Come here so we can begin rehearsing your lines and let’s find Julio.”
Isaiah and Mary Ann left the lounge in search of Julio who was at the breakfast line helping Pastor Gilbert, Pastor Emmanuel, and the custodians.
“Now, the rest of you will be helping us with, you guessed it, props and the pledges,” instructed Hannah. “We are gonna need someone to organize the purity rings, someone to laminate the purity ring pledges, someone to get the black markers ready, and someone to make a backdrop of starry night.”
Lizzy and Casey volunteered to be the ones to draw the starry night backdrop since they were familiar with backdrops. Katheryn was in charge of going to the office to laminate the pledges. Edward and Sara organized the purity rings, Joshua and Marcela gathered the black markers, and Hannah made goodie bags for the Q&A portion of the abstinence lecture.
“Are you gonna wait until marriage Lizzy,” asked Casey
“No, I don’t know. I mean I want to but what if I meet my husband and we you know before marriage,”
“You mean you’ll wait until your engaged,”
“I don’t know, I never thought about it honestly, I just know it has to be special,”
“Just, I don’t know it’s a big commitment, I mean what if I take the ring and then sin,”
“All I’m saying no one is perfect,”
“That's exactly right Lizzy” said an all too familiar voice from behind them.
"Hi Eddie" excitedly greeted Casey.
"Hi" quietly added Lizzy.
"What are you girls talking about, " he asked.
"Oh okay, okay, okay, I see. You know, I'm studying to get a degree in pastoral counseling, if you all need advice I'm your man," Edward informed..
"Really," asked Casey disappointedly?
"Yeah, yeah yeah, I took the pledge and, still going strong. Look at my awesome purity ring," he stated whole shoving the ring in both Lizzy and Casey faces. Gold trim, with a white background hosting green crosses all over. "Take it, it's the best deal you can make with God!"
He walked away and began rehearsing his comedy routine in front of the other four members of the troupe.
"Why did you sound so down all of the sudden Casey, is he no longer your husband to be," Asked Lizzy?
"Oh, knowing that he wants to be a pastor and is kind of not hot,"
"Well pastors are...you know Pastor Glen, Pastor Emmanuel, Pastor Gilberto and Pastor Lucinda. They're not hot."
"And purity rings are for nerds,"
"You're only saying that because of Jason,"
"And a jerk, remember he told everyone about it,"
"No he didn't, it was Mary Ann being jealous as always,"
"Oh really, according to whom?"
"Of course," stated Lizzy. "Focus and help me add the stars and the moon. "
Both girls quietly painted the stars into the dark night and then added the crescent moon on the corner of the backdrop.
“Okay, that should do it,” Casey stated.
“Hmm, should we add city buildings or a grassy hill,” asked Lizzy?
“Well, like in one act the background helps set the story,” reasoned Lizzy.
“OH, okay, but where is the play even gonna take place?” asked Casey.
“They’ll be taking place out on a lovers lane,” said Edward from behind the girls once more. Hearing he had not permanently gone, made both girls jump.
“How long have you been back there?” asked Casey.
“Just got here, I was rehearing my jokes for the comedy special,” he explained.
Mary Elizabeth stood in the middle of the room.
“Alright y ’all, it’s about 10:30AM, We need to go help the other pastors get ready for Bible Trivia, Hannah, have you finished the 5 goodie bags for the winners, sug,” she asked?
“Yes ma’am,” responded Hannah.
“Good bless you hun,” exclaimed Mary Elizabeth!
“Now, Lizzy and Casey have you finished the backdrops?”
“Yes, Mary Elizabeth,” they both responded.
“Excellent girls! Katheryn are you done cutting the laminated pledges?”
“Yes Mary Elizabeth,” she responded.
“Are the rest of you ready,” she asked referring to the troupe?
“Always,” replied Isaiah.
“Okay, now let’s go out there and have some fun in the name of our Lord and Savior y ’all!” Mary Elizabeth shouted. She walked out of the lounge and everyone else followed in suit. Casey and Lizzy purposely stayed behind to chat.
“What do you think a person studying to be pastor laughs about,” queried Casey.
“I don’t know who turned water to win with the pope’s ring,” jested Lizzy.
“Those are Catholics Lizzy!''
Both girls began laughing as they made their way into the assembly hall. Once backstage, the tranquil mood changed to a more upbeat one. Backstage were the remaining youth leaders. Mary Ann and Julio were sitting on two folding chairs rehearsing lines. Julio was pretending to be driving a car. Jason, Mario, Marcus, Michael, Evan, and Henry were all surrounding Pastor Ramiro and Pastor Gilberto laughing. Not knowing what to do, the girls stood looking around the backstage.
“Wow, not like the lounge,” awed Casey, "No, was it like this yesterday?”
“Not even close,” Lizzy answered.
“Nothing, just wait until you are needed like good little liaisons,” Edward once more said from behind the girls.
“Yo, Eddie, you move a little too quietly there,” joked Casey.
“Ha, ha, really?” he gushed
“Yeah, we are gonna need to put a bell around you,” added Lizzy, who normally didn’t let anything slip. Both Edward and Casey looked shocked.
“Ha, ha, ha, kidding,” Lizzy nervously laughed.
“Well, I got to go, it’s almost time to handout prizes,” he said while walking away towards the stage where pastor Glen and Lucinda were at.
“If only he was a prize,” whispered Casey.
“Girl, I thought you didn't like him anymore,”
“Well, after right now, I do again,” declared Casey.
“Ahí, Casey quien te entiende,” Lizzy jokingly stated.
“That’s correct,” shouted Edward over the speakers. He ran out into the crowd and handed a goodie bag to a little girl who was standing up next to Marcela. The time was now for lunch.
“Girls, if you could help out with handing out the sack lunches that’d be great,” ordered Mary Elizabeth. Both Casey and Lizzy went outside towards the parking lot where the crates of milks and brown bags had been placed.
“Just the two of us for nearly 600 kids,” asked Casey?
“I’m sure they’ll send someone to help us,” assured Lizzy.
“Did you do this yesterday?”
“No, but if four pastors and four students could handle it, I am sure it will be fine,” Lizzy reassured.
Just then, the door of the assembly halls opened and out came Edward, Isaiah, Sara, Joanna, Hannah, Joshua, Evan, Henry, Julio, Marcus, Mario, and everyone else who was backstage to help the girls hand out the lunches and the milks. Edward got in the crate next to Lizzy and Sara stood next to Edward. From time to time Lizzy would catch Edward shooting glances at her, almost as if he was trying to make sure Lizzy never breathed a word to Casey about the day before.
“Okay, that was a successful lunch y ’all,” thanked Mary Elizabeth, “ thank the heavens for you all may you forever stay blessed.”
The youth leaders, PRAY troupe, and pastors all headed back to the assembly hall for the talk on abstinence. Lizzy and Casey stood on the wings of the stage and watched as Isaiah took center stage, while the remaining five stood behind him.
“Boy, that was an amazing lunch wasn’t it, I don't know about you all but, I love me a good submarine sandwich with mustard mmm,” Isaiah greeted, which made all the children laugh.
“Now boys and girls today we are going to talk about something serious,”
“Is it about saying no to drugs again,” a random voice shouted from the crowd.
“No, no, good answer though, but today we are going to be talking about abstinence, can anyone tell me what abstinence is?” he paused and waited for the crowd to answer, no one responded.
“Okay, well abstinence is when you take a pledge to refrain from premarital sex,”
“Oooooooh,” the children all shouted and laughed.
“I know, I know ‘sex’ is a funny word, but what premarital sex means is having sex before you are married, now can anyone tell me why that’s bad?” he asked
“Oh, oh, oh, because it is against God’s law,” answered a little boy from the crowd.
“Very good!” shouted Isaiah, “Hannah, toss him a PRAY shirt.” Hannah tossed the shirt to the little boy.
“Now, besides it being against God’s will, why is having premarital sex bad?”
“B-b-b-b-ecause you can get pregnant,” shouted a teenage girl in the crowd.
“That’s exactly right, we don’t want any teenage pregnancies! Go ahead and toss her a shirt.”
Edward tossed the shirt towards the teenager.
“Now can anyone find another reason as to why premarital sex is bad?” Isaiah asked once more, yet this time no one answered. “Okay, another reason why premarital sex is bad is because of the dangers of catching STDs ,” he explained. “Does anyone know what STDs stand for?”
“Noooo,” they all shouted.
“Well, STDs stand for sinfully transmitted diseases,” he said jokingly, to which the crowd laughed, “ just kidding, it stands for sexually transmitted diseases.”
“Most of the time when people are having premarital sex, they’re not using protection or prayer and therefore end up getting pregnant or catching STDs,” Isaiah further explained.
“Ooooooh” they once more stated.
“Yeah, so today I will be explaining about the STDs, dangers of premarital sex, teen pregnancy, and what you could do to stay safe from the wrath of God and STDs.”
Isaiah went on explaining the various infectious diseases one can get via sex such as: ghonerra, chlamydia, herpes, genital warts, syphilis, etc. He even talked about peer pressure and how temptation will try to mess with the best of them.
“Now, boys and girls, we are gonna show you skit about peer pressure,” he announced.
Onto the stage ran Mary Ann and Julio holding their folding chairs. Then Joshua and Edward quickly dragged the lover’s lane backdrop onto the stage. Julio began pretending to drive, with his arms extended as if there truly was a driver’s wheel.
“Hey, babe it’s a nice night,” he said.
“Thank the Lord it is,” responded Mary Ann in a fake voice.
“Look at beautiful night sky, almost as beautiful as you babe,”
Julio and Mary Ann pretended to make out on stage.
“Oooh” erupted from the crowd.
“You ready to go all the way babe?”
“ I don’t know, I did promise God I’d save myself for marriage,”
“Come on babe, all the other guys on the football team are doing it with the cheerleaders, why not you know us too,”
“PAUSE! Shouted Isaiah. “Boys and girls what Julio is doing is called what?”
“PEER PRESSURE!” they all shouted in unison.
“Now, what is Mary Ann referring to?”
“Abstinence,” again they shouted!
“Now, if you were Mary Ann and Julio what would you do,” he posed?
“Pray instead,” one shouted
“Leave the car,” another joked.
“Ha, those are good answers but what Mary Ann should do is not only set the limits because girls, it’s your duty, but remind Julio of S, T, D, s!” he shouted,
“Now a way to protect themselves from STDs and the Lord's wrath, Julio and Mary Ann are going to do something, now watch and pay attention, boy and girls!”
Julio and Mary Ann resumed their acting.
“Well, I know but they didn’t take the pledge I did at Templo Nuestro Christian Church, and I don’t want to upset God, Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
“ I know that, but a pledge? Upset God how? I don’t want to upset God either,”
“Yeah, I signed this paper and promised God, I would refrain from having sex and save myself for marriage,”
“Oh, how do I take a pledge, I don’t want to burn in Hell,”
“You sign right here, and once you sign it, you wear this ring here too,”
“A ring?” asked a perplexed Julio.
“Yeah, a symbol of purity, they’re called Purity Ring, when the team sees you wearing this, they too will want to abstain from premarital sex and take the pledge too,”
“Wow, Mary Ann, I am so glad you told me about abstinence and purity rings, I would’ve never known, from now on I’m going to be right with the Lord,” exclaimed Julio.
“And cut!” shouted Isaiah. “Let’s give a big hand to our actors who were pretending right now.”
All the children clapped and Mary Ann and Julio stood up and took a bow.
“Now boys and girls, your pastors and youth leaders are going to be handing out pledges and markers. You are going to sign the Purity Pledge that states ‘I blank’ and you are going to put your name on there not mine, ‘I blank commit to a pure life from this day forward and abstain from premarital sex until marriage. I do so for the following reasons to obey God, honor my parents, honor my future spouse, be free of unwanted pregnancy, to be free of STDs or HIV, and to be free of sin’, and you put the date on the bottom. Once you are done taking the pledge you will be wearing your Purity Ring,” Isaiah instructed.
The assembly hall was packed with noise of children and youth leaders alike taking the pledge and putting their rings on. Lizzy couldn’t help but feel a sinking pit in her stomach.
“The hypocrisy of it all, to wear a purity ring and to soil by having premarital sex. They were adults anyway so why weren’t Sara and Edward married,” she thought, “being an adult is complicated.”
"Okay boys and girls are we done with our pledges?" Asked Pastor Glen.
"Okay good, now we have a special treat for your all, we have a comedy routine by Edward, now please help me welcome him onto the stage with a big round of applause," instructed Pastor Glen.
The children applauded and cheered as Edward made his way onto the stage while simultaneously clapping and dancing robotically to music. The music cut.
"Hello, hello, good afternoon Templo Nuestro Christain Church, home of the Houston Rockets and awesome Space Cadets, can I get a 'woop, woop'." He shouted into the microphone.
"Woop! Woop!" They all shouted.
"Today I'm going to be telling jokes because aside from being a part of this wonderful PRAY group, I'm also a world traveling motivational speaker. So I go around place to place and say jokes in many different languages, and talk to kids like you,"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can speak 7 different languages," he stated to the already amazed crowd.
The routine went on for an hour. By the time Edward was done it was time to load the buses once more. The children moved faster and faster and the process became easier with each passing day. The good thing is that tomorrow, Friday was their last day.
"Thank the Lord we are done for today," sighed Casey.
"Amen to that," replied Lizzy.
Both girls walked back to the administration building and waited for Casey's dad to come for them once more. It had been 4:15pm and still no sign of Mr. Fuentes. A door opened and out came Marcela.
"Casey, your dad got held up at a meeting, he said for you girls to take the bus back home." Marcela informed.
"We've never taken the bus before," added Lizzy
"It'll do you some good, you'll get to see the city,"
"How do we get home using the bus?" Asked Casey.
"You're gonna take the bus here and ask for a transfer at the station to New Caney, you'll get to see downtown Houston, only 50 cents too," Marcela claimed..
"Wow you know a lot about buses Marcela," exclaimed Casey.
"Rode them all the time to Galveston and back when I was your age, heck I even jogged on the beach,”
"Oh no, no, I just wanted to look good like Farrah Faucet," gushed Marcela.
"Never mind girls, take the 115 in 20 minutes. Go wait at the bus stop," she ordered while handing Lizzy a dollar in quarters. "See you tomorrow sí dios quiere!"
Both girls took off towards the bus stop. Twenty minutes in and the 115 sure did show up. Both girls boarded the bus, handing the 50 cents into the coin collector. They saw the last seat of the bus empty and made their way towards it. They sat down and began moving. Looking at the city skyline off of I-45 heading towards downtown Houston.
"Wow, so many cars," awed Casey.
"Yeah, nothing like the toll roads our fathers take,"
"Think about it as an adventure," reasoned Lizzy.
It was a good three hours before the girls headed back home. They had to wait 45 minutes for the 137 to New Caney but it had a flat so they had to wait an hour for it to be repaired. It was 7:00pm.
"Mija where have you been," asked Maria?
"Nowhere mami, just the bus took forever,"
"Ay diosito santo, thank God you're okay, are you going to go out running still tonight?"
Casey ran upstairs and got dressed for running. She waited outside for Lizzy. Lizzy came out and they both took off running, once more making their way towards the estate.
"What's the plan for tonight now Case?"
"The same one as Tuesday."
" and they can break up you know,"
"What makes you say that, and furthermore what were you doing with him in the back on Wednesday," begrudgingly asked Casey.
"Uh, nothing, we were just talking about how he and Sara are a thing,"
"How did you find out he and Sara are a thing," Casey asked in a shocked tone!
"Okay, I didn't want to tell you this but I figure since tomorrow is the last day they'll be here, I might as well tell you," explained Lizzy.
"There's this creek behind the church that I love to go to,"
"Focus Casey, after the skits on Wednesday I didn't know where you were so I decided to ditch bus loading,"
"Shh, I was going back there and I saw Edward and….".
"And Sara doing it,” shouted Casey!
"Keep your voice down, we are almost there and he could be out running, but, no, not exactly."
"No, but this is super embarrassing,"
"Just spit it out Lizzy!"
"He had his pants down and...,"
"Oh my god, did, did, did, you see his thingy" Casey stuttered
"Lower your voice. I don't want anyone knowing, but yes and it wasn't a thingy but a THING!" Lizzy emphasized.
"Well what did you do, what did he say, remember I saw him first, is this why you don't want to take the purity pledge earlier"
"Just listen and let me finish telling you the story. Look nothing happened. I panicked and screamed and he got scared too. We both shouted and he quickly picked up his pants. When I asked why he was there he said he was waiting for Sara."
"...but didn't we just sign a "
"...And don't they wear the ring,"
"Mmhmm, so it isn't that I did something with him, it's just that... if he and Sara can wear the ring, still be sexually active, and be in a position of power, why can't the rest of us," pondered Lizzy?
"Well, it's just a paper Lizzy, if you pray to God for forgiveness, he'll forgive," said an all too familiar voice from behind the girls.
Both girls turned and saw Edward standing there. Only it was night time, and the part of Winter Lane they were on didn't have a streetlight.
"I thought you could keep a secret" growled Edward.
"It's not her fault, I was asking, the way Sara follows you around," quickly reasoned Casey.
"Uh huh, just like you and Jason sneaking around the church," Edward stated.
"I'll keep your secrets if you keep mine and Sara's," he haggled.
"But why are you hiding it," questioned Casey?
"Because we aren't ready for marriage and if the pastors were to find out they'd make us break up or get married. And we...,"
"We understand," lamented Lizzy.
"Look, I'll give you girls whatever you want, just don't tell anyone, we can go jogging wherever you want tomorrow since I don't leave until Saturday and I'll even buy you girls a pizza; please, don't tell anyone, or it will break Sara," Edward pleaded.
Both girls nodded in agreement.
"Okay, cool, cool, cool, tomorrow after camp we will go to the beach and run together, pack your tracksuits," he commanded before sprinting off.
"Do you think we did the right thing," asked Lizzy.
"Ch, yeah," answered Casey who was smiling in the darkness.
Casey was eagerly packing a track outfit into her backpack before heading downstairs for breakfast, she could smell the pancakes her mom was making.
"Ya mero Casey,” Maria shouted from downstairs!
Casey ran down the stairs and into the kitchen where her father was reading the Houston Chronicle and sipped his coffee.
"Here are your hotcakes mija with the syrup."
"Gracias mami" she cheerfully stated.
Casey was smiling ear to ear while pouring syrup on her pancakes. She was happy that by the end of the day, she would be jogging beachside with her crush. Even though he had a girlfriend. The fact that he didn't take his vows to abstain seriously meant he probably wasn't taking Sara seriously either. The same excuse he gave for not wanting to marry Sara, was the same one Jason Von Holtz gave her about being boyfriend and girlfriend. After all, all boys are the same deep down. She was going to attempt to sneak a kiss from Edward. She hoped by kissing him on the beach, he'd fall in love with her and wait for her to graduate. She was a good kisser after all, ask Jason!
"Why are you smiling so much mija is it because of the dance today after camp," Juan asked?
"Well I hope you and Lizzy take your Purity Pledge seriously."
"What, I'm just saying I remember the dances and..., "
"Are you saying you don't trust our bebita," angrily asked Maria?
"No, mi amor, I'm just saying I remember being a teenage boy, therefore I don't trust them,”' he explained.
Casey finished her breakfast; Juan stood up and kissed his wife goodbye. Casey went up and hugged her mom goodbye.
"Let's hope I don't get caught up in another meeting today, it's Friday," Juan hoped.
"Lo que dios quiera amor," stated Maria. "Have a good day at camp mija. "
Juan and Casey went out to the LeSaber, Lizzy was already waiting by the car.
“Buenos días Mr. Fuentes,"
"Morning Lizzy, ready for your final day of camp?"
They all got into the car and took off. It was bright and sunny, the sun was still rising, the weather felt beautiful, it was right before that dreaded humidity set. Lucky for the girls, today's adventure included a refresher at the beach. Jogging at the beach sounded relaxing for Lizzy, who wanted a change in scenery. They arrived to camp and waited in the lounge as per usual.
“Last day,” mentioned Lizzy
“More like the best day,” corrected Casey.
“Ah ye of little faith,” Casey retorted.
Both girls giggled as Pastor Glen walked in with Mary Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Marcela, and Pastor Emmanuel with boxes of what looked like Marcela’s baked goods.
“Good morning liaisons, we brought you all a yummy batch of kolaches as a ‘thank you’ for helping us and doing a super fantastic job!” greeted Pastor Glen.
“God Bless you,” shouted Casey!
“Thank you,” greeted Lizzy.
“Lizzy, the coffee is being made in case you need any this morning,” noted Marcela.
“Oh, no, thank you Marce, I won’t be needing it this time!”
“Well, just in case you want some mija, it will be there!” she assured her.
The girls grabbed kolaches while they waited for the remainder of the youth leaders. It was only 8:45a.m buses arrived at 9:00am breakfast was handed out to the children as soon as they stepped off the bus.
“Are you excited or the dance” asked Casey?
“Oh, snap, I had forgotten about that,” mentioned Lizzy.
“Yeah, it’s going to be after lunch,”
“Well, will we be dancing with your boyfriend” teased Lizzy.
“No, that’s later,” replied Casey sneakily.
“What are you up to now,” asked Lizzy?
“Nothing, just, going to try to sneak a kiss from Edward,”
“Casey! You ought to be ashamed, he has a girlfriend,”
“And he also wears a purity ring,”
“If he wears a purity ring and then does it with her, yet refuses to marry her you think he won’t cheat on her?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, the whole not being ready thing is an excuse for them to not make anything official, it’s what Jason did to me, and I read it in a magazine my older sister reads.” Casey explained.
“Did that magazine also have bible verses about messing with taken men?”
“Language, and Ephesians 5:3 - But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”
“Lizzy please! They’re not even married so they’re going to burn anyway, `Casey reasoned.
“Didn’t you take the pledge?”
“Well, like Edward said, if we ask God for forgiveness afterwards he forgives!”
Jason and his gang walked out of the lounge to help the pastors with breakfast and unloading of the buses. Mary Elizabeth, Marcela, Katheryn, and Mary Ann Stayed behind. It was 9:00am, at 9:01am, the troupe walked in.
“Hello, hello,” greeted Isaiah
“Good morning,” they all greeted.
“What’s on the agenda for today,” asked Isaiah?
“Oh, the kids are gonna have a free day and watch a movie, then after lunch we have our annual youth summer dance; it lasts until the buses get here, the kids leave and that’s the end of the camp,” detailed Mary Elizabeth.
“Wow, this week went by so fast,” exclaimed Edward!
“It sure did,” Mary Elizabeth responded.
Without anything to do, the troupe and other girls sat around the lounge just talking. In came Pastor Glen, Pastor Gilberto, Pastor Emmanuel, and Pastor Ramiro. Lucinda and the other youth leaders were in the assembly hall watching the children play and talk.
“Good morning everyone,” greeted pastor Glen
“Good morning,” the room responded.
“Well, as you may know today is our last day, it’s bittersweet but unfortunately camp is only a week and not the whole summer,” he stated. “So for today, relax and then after lunch have some fun and dance. Hey, hey! That rhymed! Right now, the kiddos are playing and are about to watch a movie at 10:00am. Enjoy your free time, you've all earned it for being amazing liaisons.”
Pastor Glen and the other pastors left the room. Mary Elizabeth walked out behind them. Marcela, the Pray Troupe, Casey, Lizzy, Katheryn, and Mary Ann remained. The time was 9:55am. Casey and Lizzy were sitting together when suddenly, Katheryn and Mary Ann approached them.
“I just wanted to say, I’m sorry about the other day, it wasn’t right what I did and, being that we have known each other forever and go to the same school, I thought maybe we could try and be friends, not just you and me but, with my girls too, I mean we all are seniors,” Mary Ann proposed.
Looking stunned, Casey and Lizzy exchanged glances.
“I mean, I understand if you don't want to, I haven’t always been the nicest,” Mary Ann added.
“Mary, what kind of Christians would we be if we didn't forgive,” stated Lizzy.
“We’ll be glad to be your friends if you want to be ours,” Lizzy stated.
“Okay, amazing,” smiled Mary Ann.
The girls sat down and shared their hopes and dreams for their upcoming senior year. Mary Ann wanted the homecoming nomination from cheer squad and Lizzy from track. Katheryn wanted to win cheer nationals, and Casey wanted to run the fastest at the meets. Amongst them talking, time went by even fast. By the time lunch came by, the girls were tired of being cooped up inside. They wanted to have their lunch elsewhere, it was their last day.
“Hey, I know a spot where we could go eat,” mentioned Lizzy.
“Where,” asked Katheryn who walked besides Mary Ann?
“Back here,” Lizzy instructed as she led the group towards the creek she loved.
“Oh, wow, there’s a creek back here," marveled Mary Ann!
“How long have you known about this,” asked Mary Ann?
“We didn’t Lizzy did,” added Casey.
“Oh,” responded Mary Ann.
They sat down and began eating their sack lunches. Mary Ann snuck out some kolaches to add with their sandwiches and apples. It was a nice windy day in Houston and the girls enjoyed their lunch a bit more with the pleasant scenery and breeze. When suddenly, their tranquil lunch was interrupted by a rustling in the bushes behind them. All scared, they jumped up. Mary Ann, Casey, and Katheryn stood behind Lizzy. They heard twigs snapping. Then some more rustling from the bushes before Edward and Sara emerged from them.
“What, what, “ Sara asked as she was pulling her shirt down still looking down. Once her shirt was down she looked up and saw the four girls.
“Now, now, girls you can’t say anything,” panicked Edward.
“What was going on,” asked Casey?
“It’s not, what it looks likes,” added Sara
“Then explain yourselves” added Mary Ann
“We were just,” explained Edward.
“Stop, Eddie,” said Sara. “Look girls, being that it is the last day of camp, how about we forget this ever happened; besides, I don’t think you all are even allowed to leave the church,” she reminded.
The four of them stood looking at Edward and Sara. They knew that if they told Pastor Glen that they’d be in trouble for leaving the premises instead of helping with the lunch lines.
“So, how about you all go back and forget it ever happened,” she ordered.
The girls all ran back to the assembly hall as fast as they could leaving their sack lunches behind at the creek. The music from the dance was blasting and they all ran into the crowd of children. Once embedded enough into the crowd Mary Ann turned to Casey and Lizzy and asked
“We don’t know” they both answered in a panic.
“Well, I’m telling my mom,”
“Mary Ann, you can’t do that, you heard what Sara said,” reminded Lizzy.
“Yeah, we will get in trouble for leaving the church,” added Casey.
“I don’t care, my mom is married to the head of the church and these people are leaving tomorrow anyway,” Mary Ann reasoned, “my mom wont get mad at us for having a picnic.”
Mary Ann and Katheryn walked out of the dance and went to find Mary Elizabeth.
“Lizzy, we have to warn Edward!”
“Because if not he will think WE told and, then he won't want to run with us anymore,”
“But Casey, what he and Sara were doing is wrong,” reasoned Lizzy.
“Mary Ann can’t sabotage my chance with him,” whined Casey.
“What chance, he is with Sara!”
“What about our community service hours, surely, we will get in trouble and not her or Katheryn.”
Lizzy listened to the sound logic Casey stated.
Both girls ran out of the assembly building and went back towards the creek, halfway through the parking lot, they ran into Edward, alone.
“Hey,” he said flagging them down.
“Mary Ann is gonna go tell her mom that you and Sara were...”
Lizzy shaking her head in agreement.
“Don’t worry girls, I’ll handle it at dinner later, but for now, do you still wanna go running at the beach?” he offered.
“Okay, well let’s get going to beat traffic to Galveston.”
“I’ve never been there before,” said Casey.
“Well come on, let’s go,” he ordered.
The girls went into the lounge and grabbed their bags. They quickly followed Edward into his black mustang.
Edward took the I-10 merging to I-45 towards Galveston, the drive was a fifty-two minute drive; the scenery was beautiful. They passed the NASA Space Center, which was something Lizzy and Casey hadn’t seen. The highway, surrounded by blue green emeralds. The Gulf on both sides. Once they arrived at Galveston, the time was 2:15 p.m. They wondered if anyone noticed they were gone. Hopefully, they weren’t in trouble for leaving. Casey would say her father picked them up early during the dance. Edward found an empty parking space right by the beach.
“Okay girls, we got to change in the car like surfers,”
“Woah, the beach is beautiful,” exclaimed Casey while looking out the window, ignoring the fact that Edward was undressing right next to her.
Once he was dressed, he got out of the car and allowed the girls time to change into their running gear. He was kept guard making sure no passerby looked into the car. Once the girls were done dressing, they stepped out of the car.
“Okay, put your bags in the trunk so no one breaks in,” he ordered.
“Okay,” Casey said. Both girls put their gym bags in the trunk. Edward locked it and beeped the alarm.
“Alright ladies, let’s begin with a nice stretch,” he ordered
Lizzy looked out and saw a pier in the distance.
“What’s that,” she asked?
“Ahh, the pier, it’s called Pleasure Pier,” he informed them.
“Oh,” Casey cooed, while winking at Edward. Edward ignored her and turned around facing the waves.
“I love the sound of that,” he said.
They quietly jogged on the sand listening to the crashing of the waves and seagulls. Lizzy and Casey enjoyed the ocean breeze caressing their hair. Edward ran ahead of the girls, occasionally turning around to motivate them. It was good forty-five minutes before reaching Pleasure Pier. Out of breath all three of them walked back to the car, this time taking an hour since they were chatting and enjoying the shore.
Once in the car, they headed for the Pizza Hut on the island. It was 5:00 pm by the time the girls decided they wanted to head back home.
“Oh, you all don’t want to wait out traffic and get an ice cream instead?” suggested Edward. “I mean, the Houston to New Caney traffic doesn’t die down until about 7 and well diner isn’t until 8... by then it’s only forty-five minutes to get there. The ice cream shop is right around the corner,”
“Oh, okay” both girls agreed.
They left the restaurant and once again hopped into the mustang. They drove around for a bit and found an ice cream shop. They sat down and began talking about how they wanted to achieve their goals by age twenty-five. The time was now 5:45pm.
“Okay, girls I think it's time for us to head back,” he ordered.
They dumped their cones in the trash bin as they left the ice cream parlor. They loaded the ‘stang and made their way back towards I-45. They were thirty minutes on the highway when Edward pulled off into League City.
"Why are we here," asked Casey?
"Oh, I need to put gas in the ‘stang," he stated.
"Oh okay," answered Casey.
He made a right on Brockport Dr followed by a left onto Big League Dreams Parkway, further down he turned onto Calder road; slowly he parked his car on the side of an empty field.
"There's no gas station here," noted Lizzy.
"Why are we stopping,'' asked Casey.
Edward didn't answer, he stared out into the stretch of fields. On the corner of Calder and Irving.
“Why couldn’t you all keep your mouths shut,” he asked in a monotone voice.
“You heard me, Lizzy,” he shouted as he locked the car doors.
“Are you trying to scare her,” shouted Casey!
“I am asking Lizzy a question, Casey, I want to know why she felt the need to tell you my business with Sara!”
“We are best friends, we tell each other everything, you can’t be that mad, and , and ,and ,and ,and...”
“And do you know the damage you’ve caused?”
“Damage,” asked Lizzy between sobs.
“I could get kicked out of my pastoral program, PRAY, and Sara dumped me!” he shouted
“Not yet ya aren't” he grabbed Lizzy who was sitting in the backseat by the back of the neck and began applying pressure.
“Tell me why you told Casey, why did you take Mary Ann and Katheryn back there, did you wanna see what makes a man a man?” he asked through clenched teeth.
Due to the pressure in her neck, Lizzy couldn’t answer. Casey desperately tried to open the car door. It was locked from the outside.
“Stop it, let us go,” pleaded Casey, “you're hurting her!”
“Did you all ever think about how much gossip hurts others?” he retorted.
“What about your dinner at Pastor Glen’s house,” she desperately reminded.
“There is no dinner with Pastor Glen, I lied,” he stated.
With one final squeeze Lizzy’s body gave and slumped over onto the seat. Casey looked at Edward. Eyes wide.
“No, no, no, what have you done to Lizzy,” she cried!
“Don’t worry, you’ll be with her soon enough,”
“Why are you doing this over a ring?”
“It’s not over a ring,” he shouted as he pulled Casey in closer to him, “it’s over girls like you ruining my lives,” he placed his hands around her neck, Casey slapped his face.
“Ow” he shouted, he once more tried wrapping his hands around her neck. Casey poked him in the eye. “You little bitch!” he shouted.
Casey kicked the window open, stuck her hand outside the hole, and pulled the door handle. She was able to open it and quickly run out towards the fields. She figured by getting lost in the fields, he’d give up and leave; but what would she tell Lizzy’s parents. She made a right, then a left, and then another right. She was out of breath and decided to squat down. She figured by staying still she’d be able to hear if Edward was coming towards her. She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She felt it pulsating in her throat. Hidden between the tall stalks of grass and brush, Casey began praying to God that’ by some miracle, Lizzy would get up and run for help. However, deep down in the pit of her stomach, she knew she hadn’t seen a gas station nearby nor a home. She waited; nothing. Five painful minutes passed, she didn’t hear a thing. What felt like an hour was only a few minutes, but to a frightened Casey, it was eternity.
She stayed sitting on the ground hoping Edward would go away. She waited a few more minutes and once more she heard nothing. Just the echo of rushing cars riding the Gulf way Highway. She turned around and saw the highway. Miles away, if she screamed who would hear her, if she ran, who would help her? She didn’t know where she would run to, this was her first time visiting Galveston and League City. Hearing the cars rushing by made her make a break for it. She stood up from where she was crouching and made a run towards the highway. As she began sprinting past the mustang, she noticed that Edward wasn’t there anymore, the car was empty. She continued running and was trying to get towards Brockport Dr, when suddenly she tripped over something and landed face down.
“Got you!” Edward suddenly shouted.
“Yes, yes, yes you are floozy anyway,” he stood up from where he was lying down, and unbuckled his pants and took off his belt. He had one knee on Casey’s lower back and the other on the grass. Casey was still trying to move but was overpowered, the pizza and ice cream came back up.
“Gross,” remarked Edward.
He then placed his thick belt strap around Casey’s neck and pulled tightly.
“Noooo,” she yelled before gurgling on her vomit.
“Whores like you have to go, Jason told me what you allowed him to do, did you honestly think you’d be good enough for me,” he whispered.
He tightened the belt harder and Casey's neck snapped. Her body slumped over and went limp. Edward placed it on the grass and pulled his pants back up. He looped his belt back on and walked back towards his car. He opened the passenger door and slid it to the front. He grabbed Lizzy’s stiff body and dragged it across the field. He threw her onto the grass near where Casey had hidden, prior to being tripped by his leg; Edward had hidden, he reasoned by hiding, Casey would run towards the highway. He carefully stuck his foot out and waited. Sure enough, like a moth to a flame, Casey ran straight for the highway.
He drove with both windows down and made it in twenty minutes from League City, towards Houston, he then got on the I-90 north and kept on driving as the sun set over downtown Houston. The time was now 7:15p.m.
