Chapter One: Boy Meets Girl
I noticed her on the bus ride to downtown in the morning. She was a very pretty young woman in her mid twenties with a nice shape but painfully shy. She had a faded purple streak in her brown hair but now she was sporting a new style, blond curls with highlights. She worked in an office and always wore sneakers even with her dresses. I was attracted to her and started saying "hello", "good morning", "have a great weekend" and was granted a rare smile.
One day I decided to find out more about her. I asked about a heavy bag she was carrying and she told me it was her computer. She worked at a bank and took it home on the weekends. I introduced myself as Hob and found out her name was Jill. Each day at the downtown terminal, I would chat with her for a few minutes before we made our transfers and we struck up a friendship. She would talk about her pet ferret Sprite and I would talk about my job and hobbies.
On a Friday morning she seemed glum so I tried to cheer her up, "Hey, Jill why the long face it is almost the weekend!"
She brightened at my enthusiasm but then her gloomy look returned. I guided her to a bench and she spilled out what was on her mind. She missed her friends from college and her family. She had graduated and taken a job in this city and after a year did not have any real friends.
"Jill do you have any activities or clubs that you belong to? Do you like go to the gym and work out or go to church on Sunday?" I inquired.
"Hob, I can't afford the gym, I am still paying off my college loans. I tried some churches but they were too big and I felt lost inside them," she shared.
"Cupid, I see you are playing with mortals again," Venus sternly announced.
Damn it's my mom she may be the goddess Venus and a major babe but she is my mom. Last time she got mad at me she took away my bow and arrows. Mom is the goddess of love, marriage and fertility. I am the god of romance, lust and passion. Not that little guy with the wings and a bow and arrow anymore. I have grown up and I like to play along and have fun with the mortals. We are in the love business it's our family business. Sometimes she interferes with my fun so I have to invite her to play. We are gods but bored gods and eternity is a long time so we like to play with mortals it's our diversion to pass the time. Cupid thought, trying to somehow think of a way to explain his thoughts to his mother.
"Venus, I have been watching these mortals and wanted to help things along it is just too painful to watch. They have strong passions but they are so repressed," Cupid declared.
"Yes, I see what you mean. She is a beauty, one of my finest creations but very shy. He might be the one to open her up to her destiny. He seems to be a strong virile one, very masculine and he is hung like a satyr," She discerned.
"But what are those ugly things on her feet?" Venus questioned.
Mom does not keep up with modern fashion. I told her about sneakers and how modern women wear them to travel to work but put on more fashionable footwear like high heels for the office. It relieved her concern. Cupid laughed.
"I had a gold arrow of love notched in my bow and targeted at his heart but not yet. Timing is everything," Cupid told his mother.
"Jill I want to invite you to my Church. It is the evening service in a small chapel with only about two dozen people. I know you'll like it. Will you come?" I suggested.
"Hob, I don't know, I am not sure... OK, yes I will go with you," she decided with a big smile. "What should I wear?" she asked perplexed.
"Wear your navy blue dress it looks nice on you but do you have some other shoes?" I said looking at her sneakers and was rewarded with another smile.
Cupid let fly his arrow and it found its mark deep in Hob's heart.
*
Chapter Two: The First Date
We walked together along the lakeside to the church on a beautiful late afternoon with ducks floating in the lake, moms pushing strollers, joggers racing with the wind and strolling lovers sharing the walkway. At the small chapel the folks were happy to see her and she was put at ease quickly. Jill was wearing her navy blue dress, making her look sweet and feminine. Instead of sneakers she wore black hose and heels.
"Mom, this is starting off good, but I have a trick up my sleeve to set the mood. I gave the minister a divine inspiration for tonight's sermon," Cupid announced.
"Cupid, I have a trick as well to play and here they are now," replied Venus.
A young couple came in and sat next to them on the pew. The young mother introduced herself as Susan, her husband was Joe, and the baby was named Adam. Susan chatted with Jill before the service began. The minister opened worship by announcing that he had set aside his planned sermon to preach about the Virgin Mary and the annunciation. That was odd, it is usually done just before Christmas as part of the Christmas story.
Little Adam was starting to squirm and make noises so Jill offered to hold the baby. Susan gave her a baby blanket to protect her dress and the baby quickly settled down and fell asleep at Jill's breast.
"Very good Venus, getting in the fertility and motherhood thing in early. She is really enjoying holding the little one," Cupid approved.
The minister read from Luke;
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. After hearing the scripture Jill silently prayed that Mary must truly have been blessed to be chosen by God.
At the end of the sermon, hymns were sung but Jill sang softly not wanting to wake up the little one while Hob enjoyed listening to her beautiful voice.
After the blessing the service ended, Jill gave the babe back to his mother who thanked her declaring she had a gift with little ones and invited Jill to come by the nursery during the church hour in the morning if she wished.
Walking home Jill was happy. Hob was delightful and fun to be with a strong person you could rely upon. He suggested that they sit on a lake side bench for a moment and enjoy the coming dark.
