Bridge to a Distant Star - Carolyn Williford [91]
“What I want to say, you know, is that I didn’t grow up here. I don’t read social cues like I should.” She laughed, an abbreviated sound signaling frustration rather than happiness. “I really am clueless sometimes.”
She could barely hear Stephen mumble, “I feel clueless all the time.”
“Oh, no. You’re not, not at all. Like in class? Some of your answers to Dr. Rosenburg? Wow.”
“You’re a good student.” Stated simply, as fact. He kicked another stone, starting the game again.
“Not like you. I work hard. But I can tell it comes a whole lot easier for you.”
Somewhat defensively, Stephen interjected, “Oh, I work hard too. It’s why we’re here. To learn and go on to serve God. In churches or on the mission field.” His eyes lit up as he held her gaze confidently for the first time. “Wasn’t the chapel speaker great today? I thought he was inspiring.”
Michal hesitated a moment, taken back at the juxtaposition to Allistair’s thoroughly negative appraisal. “Yeah, he was. Good.” She nodded her head. “Yeah, I liked him.”
“What he said about dating and missions? Boy, I absolutely agree. And about having kids?” Suddenly cognizant that he was staring at a girl, talking about having children, caused him to take a turn feeling embarrassed and he looked away. “I mean, you’ve got to … um … you’ve got to put God first. Don’t you think?”
“Oh, yes. Absolutely.”
“I mean … you’re going back to the mission field, right?”
Michal nodded vigorously. “As soon as I graduate. I’ll need to raise support first. But afterward, as soon as I can.”
“If you got married and had kids? You’d send them to boarding school, wouldn’t you?”
“If God called me to. I mean, I’d have to trust God to take care of them. And if that’s the only way we could reach the unbelievers there in Ethiopia, sure.” She knew all the phrases to say, the right responses. “I mean, after all, my grandpa did it. My dad and then me and my sister and brothers.” Michal held out her arms, palms up. A pantomime of surrender. “So my kids—if I ever have kids—well, they could … would need to probably … go too.”
Stephen turned to her with a look of awe. “It must’ve been an incredible experience to be at a boarding school. Every single day … such … such closeness with each other. Fellowship and studying God’s Word, growing closer to each other because of your parents’ commitment.” He reached out to lightly touch her arm, a movement resembling a fan fawning the object of his devotion. “I just can’t … can’t imagine what a blessing that must’ve been.”
Uncomfortable, noticing a strange prickly feeling on the back of her arms, Michal stammered, “Oh, don’t. Really. You know … we all do what God’s called us to, right?” They’d arrived at Michal’s dorm. She looked up at the window of her room, wondering if anyone were watching.
Stephen stared earnestly into her eyes, intensity animating his features. “I just thought it was great Reverend Coleman reminded us about the seriousness of what we’re doing. The reason we’re here, you know? That we’re preparing for service in the church or on the mission field—and we’re not here for silly games. Like sports or other stupid stuff. Dating games. I think we students need to get our priorities straight, don’t you?”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Suddenly more serious, Michal’s nod became adamant. But then the silence between them—the awareness they were simply standing there, staring into each other’s eyes—made them uncomfortable, shy. They both looked away, Michal to poke at a buried rock with the toe of her sandal while Stephen reached up to pull the cap down lower on his forehead.
Michal was startled when Stephen blurted out, “Can I ask you a question?”
“What’s that?”
“How’d you get a name like Michal?”
She laughed. “That’s the second time today …” and caught herself, just in time. Remembering who had asked earlier, someone she didn’t want to talk about. “My mom thought I was going to be a boy, and she liked the name Michael. So, she changed the spelling a little.”
“Like Saul’s daughter.