The large house was in its usual quiet state as I turned the bathroom light out. I had just finished my shower when I heard the doorbell ring. I glanced at the clock. It was after 11 p.m. and although it was unusual to have a visitor after 10, I had many friends and it was not unheard of.
On the way to the door, I took a robe that I had draped over the kitchen chair the previous morning and slipped it over myself. Not expecting company, I had just put an old tank top shirt and a loose fitting pair of boxer shorts on. I tied the robe and walked to the door.
"Who is it?" I called out through the metal security door.
"I'm sorry to bother you sir, it's Kristen."
"Kristen?" I asked not knowing who that would be.
"Yeah. Kristen from PCC," she said.
The only Kristen I knew was from the Pentecostal Congregational Church, or PCC for short, was one of the young girls that I served as an Elder at. I pulled the door open slightly and there on the porch she stood. Kristen was a daughter of the couple that usually sat behind me on a Sunday morning. "Well come on in Kristen," I said as I pulled opened the door. "You'll have to excuse my appearance, I just got out of the shower." As she walked through the door, I noticed that she was not in her usual attire of blue jeans and tee shirt that I was used to seeing her in when I had seen her around town. Also, I was not used to seeing her long black hair in such a dishelved state. Wearing a leather bomber jacket that was much too long for her, a pair of sloppy sweat pants and her house slippers she came in and made her way across my living room.
"Thank you Elder. I'm sorry to bother you at this late hour, but I have some things on my mind and I could not sleep. I have been walking up and down the streets for several hours trying to get something straight in my mind but I just couldn't work it out on my own. I just had to have somebody to talk to and you were the only one that I could think of."
"Where's Sam?" I asked her. Sam was her fiancΓ©. They had started dating while they were freshmen, he in college and she in high school. Now that she was in college, he had graduated and had taken an entry-level job in one of the local banks. They were planning on being married within a couple of months.
"Sam's out of town on business," she said.
"Aah, I see. Well come on in and sit down Kristen. What brings you here at this late hour?" Kristen nodded her thanks and sat down in the over stuffed chair that sat in the corner of my living room. My eyes admired her graceful beauty.
"Well, like I said, I needed to talk to someone and you were the only one that I could think of." she said a look of concern on her young face.
"What seems to be your troubling you my young friend?"
"It's kind of hard to talk about Elder," she said, small tears beginning to form in her pretty blue eyes. My heart reached out to the young girl. It was obvious that something was troubling her very deeply.
"Is it something that you could discuss with the pastor?" I asked her as I handed a tissue to dry her tears.
"Oh my no!" she almost shouted as she dried her cheek.
"Hmmm," I said rubbing my bearded chin. "Why not Kristen?"
"I just can't Elder. That's all."
"How about your parents then. I've known them for years and they seem to be very understanding people." Kristen shook her head and I got the feeling that she had indeed made her mind up that she had no recourse but to talk to me about it. "Very well Kristen, then let's go to my office." I held out my hand and her face showed signs of relief as she took it and stood up.
My office was just off the kitchen of the old Victorian house that I lived in. "Nice cabinets," she said as we walked through the large dining area that was included in the kitchen of the old house." I chuckled to myself as I thought about how no matter what is bothering a woman, she still has an eye for the way a house is decorated. "Thanks," I responded as I led her across the hardwood floor. "Right through this door Kristen," I said as we walked into the old room that I had converted into my office.
Kristen walked into the sparsely furnished office. It had been an old bedroom that we had converted to a sewing room, but after my wife passed away, I had turned it into my office. "Sit down sister," I motioned to the chair in the corner. Kristen took off her leather jacket and sat down. She was wearing a pink tee shirt with a teddy bear on the front of it. "I need to let you know that what you tell me will be kept in confidence as long as it is nothing that is illegal. If you have committed any crime, I am forced by law to report it. Is that understood Kristen," I told her as took my seat.
"Oh no Elder, It is nothing like that!" she exclaimed.
"Please, call me John," I said as I made myself comfortable. Kristen smiled a faint smile at me. I thought about how Sam was lucky to be getting such a lovely young lady for his bride. To say she was beautiful would not even come close to what she actually looked like. She was approximately 5' 2" and a very slim 115 pounds. Her hair was long and coal black and her complexion was almost that of a person of the oriental persuasion. On top of all that, she seemed to be one of the sweetest young ladies that I had ever met.
"Ok John," she said as she made herself comfortable.
"So what's up kid?" I asked her when she had settled in.
"It's about me and Sam. I have some concerns about our relationship and I need someone that is mature and has had a lot of life experiences to talk to."
"Aren't you going through the pre-marriage counseling that is required by the pastor?"
"Yes. We have 2 more sessions left and when Sam gets back we'll complete them."
"Then perhaps these concerns that you have would be better discussed with the pastor instead of me. After all, he is our undershephard and that falls into the marriage counseling area." Kristen once again shook her head. "I can't talk to him John, he's such an old fuddy-duddy! I'm sure that he wouldn't give me the correct advice on the things I need to discuss."
"And what makes you think that the advice you get from me would be any different?"
"Because you're different John. I remember when you and your wife used to lead the youth at PCC. You were so kind with everyone. You were kind with your children and you always respected your wife. I have always looked up to you. I have never felt like that with our pastor."
"I think you are being a little unfair Kristen. The pastor is a kind man and he is also a man who has also raised a family and has supported his wife. Not only that, he has dealt with all kinds of problems on a daily basis. I wish you'd reconsider discussing your concerns with him." Once again a tear formed in Kristen's eye and she hung her head. What could possibly be bothering a girl at such a young age, I wondered to myself? "Very well Kristen. We'll continue if you like. Now what is it that has you so concerned."
"Well, I'm not sure exactly what to say," she continued. Pausing for a minute, she readjusted herself in the chair and then she blurted it out. "It's about sex John!"
"Sex?" I asked, totally taken aback by the three-letter word that was on most people's mind more than it should be.
"Y-y-yeah. Sex," she said softer, almost shy voice this time.
I crossed my legs and leaned back in my chair. "I'm not sure I can be of much help to you Kristen. I'm not a trained counselor. Perhaps your parents would be better suited for this conversation."
"Fine!" she said in a loud voice. Almost leaping out of her chair she picked up her coat. "If you are going to insist that I talk to my parents about this then I can see that there is nothing more to talk about!" Realizing that I had made a serious error in judgment, I stood up and put my hand on Kristen's shoulder. "Wait Kristen," I said. "I didn't mean to upset you. Sit back down and I will do what I can for you. Sit girl." Kristen put her hand on top of mine and grasped my fingers. Her skin of her palm was soft against the back of my hand as she squeezed my fingers tightly and then released them. "Thank you John," she said, her anger no longer evident. Sitting down once again, I searched back into the confines of my memory about the wonderful love life that I had experienced with my wife. "Now what is it that you want to know about my friend?"
"Well, I am confused about some things. I have tried to bring these things up with my mom but they seem to get lost in our conversation."