All the Characters in this fictional story are over the age of eighteen.
"How was the revival, Mona?"
"It was wonderful, Mom."
"It must have been. Your face has the most beautiful smile on it. Who was there?"
"All the kids from our church group and a lot of them from across town, too."
"Well, that's good. You had dinner?"
"Oh yes. There was a special feast for those of us who signed the pledge."
"What pledge is that. dear?"
"The chastity pledge."
"So you signed?"
"Oh, Yes. I promised to be chaste for my husband."
"That's wonderful. I'm so happy for you and I'm sure your father will be too when he gets home."
"He isn't home?"
"There was an emergency at the mall. One of the toilets is overflowing."
"Oh, the life of a plumber."
"Don't complain. He makes a good living."
"I'm not complaining, it just must be a drag for him always getting called out for emergencies. Well, I better get upstairs and do my homework."
I turned the TV on with the sound down low and started to work out the problems for Calculus. I was hardly paying attention to the TV, in the middle of a hard problem, when I looked up and I could hardly believe it. Some girl and the Bachelor were under a blanket and it sure looked like they were having sexual intercourse. I quickly turned the TV off. Then I felt guilty as blood rushed to my groin. It reminded me of all the wrong things I'd done before learning about chastity. Once I even let Jimmy put his hand on my breasts. Thank God I hadn't let him put his hands in my pants like he wanted to.
The Devil is so clever. He was trying me and it was all I could do not to reach down and feel my sex, which was wetting my panties in spite of what I could do about it. I remembered what they said about masturbation at the revival and got my Bible down from my bedside table and started to read. I could barely concentrate on the words. I tried aversion therapy like they told us to and imagined earthworms crawling in my vagina but that just made me want to reach down there and play with them. The Bible wasn't being any help.
I fled my room for downstairs and the kitchen and got some Graham Crackers to soak in glass of milk. Breaking the crackers in half and dipping them in milk, in and outโoh! I suddenly realized what it looked like. I could hear a sitcom in the other room and it was just one sexual joke after another. I went out into the back yard and did push-ups and ran in place until I couldn't lift my legs. Coming back into the house Mom yelled, "Is something wrong, dear?"
"Nah, I'm just trying to clear my head. Calc is so hard."
"I wish I could help you," said my dad.
"Oh, you're home. I didn't hear you come in."
"Yes, and your mother told me you signed the pledge. I'm so proud of you. Here, give me a hug."
Oh you Devil, even hugging my father makes me think of sex. Am I damned then? I remembered what they said: The Devil tempts you to test you. Don't give in to evil thoughts. "Goodnight Daddy," I said and broke away and ran back up stairs.
I don't know how, but I finally got going on the Calculus again. I could hardly keep my eyes open, We'd been up late sitting around the campfire singing hymns. My bed looked better and better. But I couldn't go to sleep, even as tired as I was. Images of the Bachelor swam in my mind. I got out of bed and put on two pairs of shorts, and clasped my Bible in my arms. Even so, the muscles in my groin were clenching and unclenching and the results were decidedly sexy. Is this masturbation? I wondered.
Did I sleep or was Satan at work? I dreamed Jimmy was on top of me and I could feel his devil snake inside of me. I sat up, suddenly awake. I was so ashamed. The devil snake was my fingers, masturbating me in my sleep. I despaired, I couldn't even trust myself in my sleep!
If I slept at all, I certainly didn't get any rest. I was tired and grouchy all day, the more so when I learned that almost all my Calculus problems were wrongโso wrong, I couldn't believe I'd done them. The rest of the week went like that. There was no refuge for me. Saturday afternoon, I borrowed the car and drove to church to talk to Pastor Bob.
"I need help, Pastor. I'm being deviled by impure thoughts. I don't know what to do."
"It isn't easy to be a sister of Christ, Mona. You are surrounded by temptations. But if you pray, I'm sure you will win out."
"But I tried all the things they told us to at the retreat and I'm still being plagued."
"Will you kneel with me and pray?"
We knelt down and prayed together. Pastor Bob put his hands on my head. "Feel the spirit, Mona," he intoned. I tried my hardest, but the spirit eluded me.
"I have a pastoral conference scheduled, so I can't talk with you longer. But I want you to come back later and we'll wrestle with your problem." I didn't like the look in his eyes and vowed not to come back. "Keep the faith, Mona, and God will reward you."
"Thank you." I said stiffly, then I left his office and walked up the stairs. The door to the sanctuary was open and I walked down the aisle and sat in the front pew, praying to Jesus who looked down from above me on his cross. He looked so understanding. I closed my eyes and meditated. What do you want of me, Lord?
Suddenly I awoke. I looked at my watch. At least thirty minutes had passed. I could hear noises coming from the basement. What can that be? I thought.
"Can you feel the holy spirit?" I heard Pastor Bob say.
"Yes, yes. I feel it! I feel it!" I heard. But something didn't sound right. I tiptoed down the stairs and every step I took persuaded me that something wasn't right. "Ah, ah, ah," said Pastor Bob. "Feel the spirit FILL YOU. Do you feel the spirit filling you?"