Blossom 🌸

SEVENTY ONE 🌸

Aiden and his brother looked bored, holding back a few yawns but still he paid attention to the words being spoken.

Even Dylan, the weird kid faced the front and seemed to listen despite the ear defenders he wore on his head. My eyes narrowed at him, he held a spring in his hand and quietly flicked it backwards and forwards. It reminded me of Henry and his various fidget toys. I smiled to myself.

I listened too but this time I heard things differently.

I heard how a man was shaming me into keeping my body a temple. No sex. Dress modestly. Eat gracefully. He taught me about hell and how I would go there if I committed terrible sins. Scaring me into complying with the rules he set out under Gods name. It was manipulative and brainwashing.

Once the service had finished, concluded with another velvety hymn from Immanuel my father ordered me to accompany him while he introduced us. He was packing away his guitar but immediately rose to his feet and smiled sweetly.

"Pastor Blue, that was a wonderful sermon." My father shook hands with the pastor and they exchanged small talk. "Immanuel, meet my daughter Fearne. She is truly honoured that you've accepted her request to court." I am?  "Fearne?"

"So nice to meet you Immanuel." I said awkwardly.

"Well, I'm going to let you two kids chat while I wisk Pastor Blue away for communion." My father placed his hand on the pastors shoulder and left me alone with this boy. Awkward silence fell over us and I twirled the bracelets on my wrist.

"So Immanuel..." he was tallish, with neatly combed dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes. Not bad looking but also not overly attractive. Average. Immanuel was average. "How long have you played guitar?"

"It's Blue by the way, I go by Blue and not long. A few years. You play?"

"Me? No. I don't play any instrument. I guess I can sing but my voice isn't anything special. You're good though."

"Thanks, my confidence lets me down I guess. I don't like being the centre of attention but my father insists that I use my talents to spread Gods word." 

The conversation started dying, he was quiet and shy and awkward. There was no spark between us or excitement in his eyes. I felt nothing and his vibe bored me.

"So besides music, what else are you into?" I was trying hard to keep this conversation flowing.

"Uh, books."

"Books are cool." I ran my fingers along my pearl necklace wondering what else to say next. He made no efforts to carry on the conversation. "Which ones?"

"Uh, the bible mostly." Okay. That was it. I officially exhausted every conversation avenue I was going to have with this boy.

"Cool." I muttered. "Well, uh... my friends are over there. It was nice meeting you."

"Yeah, you too. See you on Friday."

"Sure, Friday." That'll be... fun.

I bounced off to talk to Sophia and Aiden, they were at the refreshments table sipping down a weak cordial. I stood quietly while they bounced back and fourth their thoughts on today's sermon. I had my own thoughts but non I could share so I sipped an orange juice quietly.

"So I've planned our date out Fearny, little dinner at Sally's then we'll star gaze in the field." He brushed his arm up against my shoulder and my body stiffened.

"I have to go on a date with the pastors son on Friday." We looked back at Immanuel, or Blue, and he was talking sweetly to one of the old ladies.