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Jason
Jason had kept his phone on silent throughout the church service, so by the time he checked it on the way out of Chevon’s driveway, he had three missed calls from Alita. As he stared at her name on his screen, his stomach turned with dread, and then the phone was silently ringing again, her name across the screen larger now, accusing him. As he debated whether to answer, he noticed he’d also missed multiple texts. He declined the call and opened the first one.
It was from Hype. “Why am I literally always the last person in town to know anything? Give me a call.”
The next one was from Alita. “CALL ME RIGHT NOW” in all caps. Not wanting to read the others, he turned his phone off. What was he going to do? Where was he going to go?
If Hype was right and everyone in town knew, then it would only be minutes before his parents found out, if they didn’t know already. He couldn’t go home. So he kept driving but then he passed two seniors walking down the street and they both stared at him as he drove by. He had to get out of this town. He glanced down at his gas gauge. No way. He might be able to get to Bucksport, but he couldn’t get back. That might not be so bad, but he didn’t know how much help it would be to be stuck in Bucksport.
He drove to the boat landing and parked. He shut the engine off to save gas but then two minutes later started it again. It was too cold to sit there with no heat.
Whether he drove or whether he idled, his gas wasn’t going to last forever. He had to come up with a plan. Maybe he should just go hang out with Esther and Zoe. They were pretty safe, and they would feed him and not shame him. Maybe they’d even let him move in. He turned his phone back on to ask Zoe if she was still at church or if she’d gone home, planning to hint for an invitation, but as soon as his phone turned on, it buzzed with an incoming message from Chevon. “Everybody knows.”
No kidding. And how had that happened? How many people had she told? He shook his head. He didn’t want to be mad at Chevon of all people. This was all his fault. “I know,” he typed. “My phone is blowing up.”
“I’m sorry. But we can chill now. My mom will make an appointment. Don’t worry. You’re off the hook. It’s all over.”
Jason’s head swam with this new information. It was going to be over. Relief washed over him. But that relief did not last long. Because a new fear took hold. What if Esther was right? What if this was a horrible crime they were going to commit? A crime against God? Was he really going to let Chevon do that? And if he decided that he didn’t want to let her do that, how could he even stop her? How could he go against her and her parents? He didn’t think he could. So was he supposed to sit back and let it happen? He didn’t know. Would God hold him accountable for something they did?
A new question popped into his mind that made tears roll down his cheeks. Would that baby hold him accountable? Would that little child of his wonder why her daddy hadn’t protected her? Or him? This thought was too much to bear. He wiped at his cheeks and put the car in reverse. As he turned around, he texted Zoe, “Are you guys still at church?”
“Yes. You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Can you talk? I’ll call.”
He put the car in park again. “No need. I already know that everybody knows.”
“Okay. Sorry. I didn’t want to be the one to tell you.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Do you know if her parents know yet?”
“They sure do. I’ll be right there.” As he sent the last message, Alita called again, so he turned his phone off again. He knew he was being a jerk by not facing her, but he just couldn’t right now. Esther had been right. Alita was the least of his worries.
Jason drove back to the church and parked in front of it. As he got out, he wondered if they didn’t want him to park there. They probably didn’t want their church associated with him. But with no place to hide the car, he left it where it was and went inside.
Zoe met him at the door. She looked like she wanted to hug him, but she didn’t.
Jason scanned the room. Most of the ladies were still there chatting. “Where’s Pastor?”
“He had a meeting,” Esther said.
Jason didn’t know if that was good or bad. He desperately needed help, but he didn’t really want to admit to the man what was going on. One of the women came toward him. He didn’t know her well, but he was pretty sure her name was Barbara. “What are her parents planning to do?”
Jason looked at Zoe, who looked at the floor.
“Sorry. I told them that her parents know.”
“It’s okay.” He sighed. And it was okay. There were no more secrets, and that was the only positive he had right now. “They’re going to get an appointment for an abortion.”
“So that’s it?” Barbara cried. “They’re not going to think about other options?”
Jason took a step back. “I have no idea.”
“Well, maybe you should be over there with them instead of here!” Barbara nearly shouted.
Jason decided he didn’t like Barbara very much.
“Stop it, Barb,” Vicky said. “Cut the guy some slack, and I’d bet my hat that her parents don’t want him anywhere near that place right now.” She looked at Jason. “Have a seat. We were just praying for you. You can join us.”
Jason sat and put his head in his hands. Esther sat behind him and lay a warm hand on his back. He looked up at her. “What am I going to do?”
“I have no idea. I think, for now, you are going to do as Vicky says and pray along with the rest of us.”
“Actually,” a male voice said, and Jason looked up to see Roderick standing near the doorway. “Could I have a minute alone with Jason? Then you guys can have him back for prayer.”
Jason followed Mr. Puddy into the basement nervously. He hardly knew this man, so what was this about? Was he going to give him some man-to-man advice? Scold him? Preach at him?
“Have a seat.” Roderick flicked on the lights. “This won’t take long.” He sat down facing Jason and rested his elbows on the folding table. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to preach at you.”
Jason laughed. Good.
“I just want to tell you something that I’ve learned. It’s not even advice. It’s only my experience, and you can take it or leave it.”
Jason nodded.
“Jason, I’ve done some pretty cool things in my life. I’ve had some fun, I’ve had some adventures, I’ve traveled a bit, and I’m telling you that there is nothing as rewarding and gratifying and wonderful as having babies.”
Jason blinked. He hadn’t known what to expect, but this certainly wasn’t it.
“I can’t even tell you how much fun it is having a family. I was skeptical at first, a little nervous when the woman I love first got pregnant, thinking children were going to be a huge expense and tie me down.”
Jason nodded. He fully understood this part of the conversation.
“But they don’t tie me down. Instead, they cut my strings, and now my spirit soars every day with the joy of them. And they’re not an expense. Children are wealth. Children are more valuable than any dollar you will ever earn or ever spend. They are more fun than college scholarships, diving saves, home runs, or buzzer-beating threes. They are more fun than women fawning over you and your name in lights.” He paused and leaned forward a little. “You do what you think God wants you to do, but I just wanted you to know that you have an opportunity here for infinite blessings and joy. If you want to take God up on this offer that he’s giving you right now, then know that you are in for years and years of rich, rewarding life. And I think that’s the way God intended for us men to live. You know the whole be fruitful and multiply thing? Yeah, I think he was talking to us.”
