Inspiration 31

http://goo.gl/1eLv66

Deuteronomy 29:29  The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead. Benjamin Franklin

Secrets. They always seem to come back to bite you in the butt. Many years ago, I was encouraged to journal, which I did. Then I used some of my musings to teach a lesson to a group of ladies in my church. My spouse read my lesson and immediately jumped to the conclusion I had secrets. Maybe I did. But reading the private thoughts of a person felt like a violation of the deepest kind. Years later, I was encouraged to journal my feelings and thoughts again AFTER a divorce. Uh, no. Someone reading something they were never meant to see had only led to heartache. So? How do you deal with secrets?

One of our "bad boys" has a secret in Whatever It Takes. (Actually, more than one, but we will only look at one today.)

11

Sexual Harassment

Cherie got back to town one week before school started. The first call she made was to Scott. He answered warily, "Hello. Welcome home."

"Wanna share a chocolate-vanilla swirl?"

Scott laughed. This girl is persistent. "Sure. I'll meet you there. Half an hour?"

"Okay."

Cherie arrived to find Scott waiting with a banana split on the table.

"Hungry?" she asked.

"One split, two spoons. Wanna share?"

Cherie picked up a spoon. "Did you put enough stuff on it, Mr. Boring Vanilla?"

"Everything except coconut. I hate coconut, but this is not boring."

They chatted as they ate. "How was camp?" asked Scott.

"Great! I'm still an alternate on the Olympic team, but I'm shooting for a real place. Maybe next year. What have you been up to?"

"I've been bored to tears, but the Fourth of July celebration was nice even if the real firecracker was missing."

"You're silly. What happened with Dr. Fairchild?"

"The news said she was okay," said Scott.

"She's fine physically. It almost scared her to death. What if she'd had a heart attack? Daddy said her blood pressure was through the roof. The moron who shot her tire should have thought of that. What has she done to anybody? She dedicated her life to kids."

"Cherie," Scott said, his voice heavy and eyes drooped, "these people don't like that she hired six non-white teachers."

"Scott, what do you know about it?"

"Too much.

"You don't belong with them. Why are you there?"

Scott exhaled. "I can't tell you. Please, leave it alone." He took her hand.

She searched his face and finally agreed. "All right, for now. Scott, my dad could help you."

"Maybe, but I can't risk it. I've already said too much to you. I'd like to stay alive."

"You need to trust somebody. How deeply involved are you?"

He put her fingers to his lips. "Let it go, please. Maybe you should trust me."

"For some reason, I do."

"What's this?" said an unwanted voice.

Scott kissed Cherie's fingers, and she set her jaw in a tight clench.

"This is," snapped Cherie, "Scott and me trying to have some time together. You've had him all summer. Now, go away."

Darren draped an arm over Cherie's shoulders. "My, my! You came back even feistier. You know, Ball must not have any balls. I'd be kissing a whole lot more than your fingertips by now."

"Darren," said Scott, "this is my girl. I'll kiss what I like, when I like, where I like, and you won't be present. Some things a man doesn't share even with his best friend. Now, what do you need?"

Darren lifted his arm. "Chill. I was just admiring the fireworks. I went by your place. Your old man said you went to have ice cream with Firecracker."

"I'm sure my dad said I went to have ice cream with Cherie. Darren, I'd appreciate your leaving the nicknames to me."

"Man, you sound old today. Sorry, Cherie. I can't help bein' a little jealous. I've flirted with you since first grade."

"Maybe if you were a nicer person, I would've noticed."

"I've always been nice to you."

"Darren, you're a racist and a chauvinist. You think very little of women."

"On the contrary, I think often of women."

"In a degrading fashion, I'm sure. If you treated other people better, you'd have a ton of girls after you. At first glance, you're cute. Then"—Cherie wiggled her fingers as if lava was spewing—"the inner-you comes out."

"Really?" Darren stretched his eyes wide.

"Yeah. Just don't ever count on me as one of your girls."

"I really don't want you."

"That's good to know."

Darren sat down in a chair beside Cherie. "If I tell you something, do you promise not to ever let my brother or my dad know—both of you?"

Scott bit the inside of his cheek. "Darren, I would never betray you."

"Not even for…"  Darren cut his eyes toward Cherie.

"No. Not even that."

Cherie huffed and rolled her eyes. "Darren, I would never even talk to your brother—worse, your dad."

"Well, I really like Lydia, but my family would never approve because of Dupree."

"That is so stupid," said Cherie.

Darren shrugged. "It's just the way it is."

"It doesn't have to be. Break free, Darren."

"You don't get it, Cherie." He shook his head. "Either Derrick or my dad would kill me—literally."

"I'm sorry."

"Hey," said Scott. "Darren, you and I should go to New Orleans before school starts. Cherie and Lydia might show up for beignets Friday around noon."

"Oh, I don't know," hesitated Cherie. "I'm not sure Daddy will let me drive that far."

"Call me and let me know," said Scott. "We'll be going anyway. We need new clothes."

Will Darren's secret get him killed? Will Lydia even be a party to it? I'd love to read your thoughts, so comment and share.

Cover by Christopher Chambers.

The couples? Scott & Cherie...Darren & Lydia