By Missy_Beauty1985and MillieTeases
Missy_Beauty1985 had the ideas for this story. Millie Teases put the words down and incorporated the edits Missy suggested. This is their first collaboration.
Chapter 1. Missy Revealed
Missy looked out the window and watched as her Mom got into Bob's truck. He was kind of gross - when she'd let him earlier it was pretty clear that he hadn't shaved that day and his fingernails were dirty and he smelled like he'd been drinking beer. Her mom hadn't seemed to notice any of this - not that she ever did these days - and had told Missy not to wait up when she was walking out the door.
It was not like she would - it was Friday night and her Mom didn't work on weekends, so she usually didn't come home until late on Sunday - if she came home at all. The idea that she would go to church never entered her head. And she made fun of Missy every time Missy would ask her to come to church or Sunday school.
Missy had started going to church not long after they had moved to Hillsboro. Mom and Dad had divorced, and Mom decided they should move back closer to her sister. But Aunt Jane and her family had moved away only a few months after they got there, and Missy was pretty shy, so she hadn't made many friends at school. When a flyer came one day from the church that was a couple of blocks away, Missy asked her mother if she could go. Mom had, reluctantly, said yes. That was five years ago. Now Missy was a leader in the youth group, helped with the 4-year old Sunday school class, and had been the first in the church to sign the "pure until marriage" pledge.
Once Bob's car had turned the corner and driven out of site, Missy sat down at her desk. She was feeling particularly lonely and upset that night. She'd gotten the letter that day saying that Wesley Christian College had turned her down. She'd tried to have a good Christian attitude about it - after all, the letter had said that it was particularly difficult to turn down as many students as they had, and it encouraged her to apply again in a year, if she could get her grades up a little.
Well, there was always Alamance community college. As long as she lived at home she could avoid the temptations that living in a dorm would have provided. (Missy had heard terrible stories about life in public college dormitories - boys on the floor at all hours, all night parties with lots of drinking, and roommates who fornicated right in front of you.) She picked up her Bible and idly opened it up. There was always inspiration there.
The pages had opened to Solomon - the Song of Songs. As Missy read she was vaguely uncomfortable. She knew from church and from Sunday school that this was the about the love of Christ for his church, but it was very tempting. The fourth chapter, where the woman is described as having breasts like two young roes that are twins made her stir uneasily. The fifth chapter, when the man is describe as having legs like pillars of marble, and mouth most sweet, made her squirm. She wasn't supposed to have feelings like this. How could the Bible be leading her to impure thoughts? And the seventh and eight chapters, well...
Missy abruptly put her Bible down. This was just not right. Maybe Edna could give her some advice. Edna, the woman in the chatroom who had become more of a mother to Missy over the last several months than her own mother, would know the answer to her disappointment about college, and these strange feelings she was getting.
Missy turned on her computer and went to the chatroom she usually did - one where girls her age could talk, and there were older women who kind of gave advice - I kind of wish Edna were my real Mom, Missy thought to herself.
She'd met Edna in that room, and over the months had kind of gotten to know her well. Edna seemed to always know what to say. And it turned out she lived only a few miles away in the next town. Missy hadn't told Edna where she lived yet, but tonight she just might - she really needed someone to talk to - and not just typing on the computer.
Edna came on a few minutes after Missy did, and Missy asked her to go to a private chatroom. They did, and in a few minutes Missy was pouring out her heart to her friend.
missy_beauty1985: It's just so unfair. I really wanted to go to Wesley Christian, and I've got the money and everything, and now I'll have to go to community college and live at home with Mom and her drinking and her boyfriends and it's just not fair!"
edna0u812: Can it really be that bad? I mean, can't you try really hard, and get good grades, and then transfer to Wesley Christian next year? missy_beauty1985: But I want to go now - and Mom is just too much and I just need to cry about it and have somebody understand. It's terrible hear - Mom makes fun of me, and she drinks and swears and goes out with all kinds of men - and they stay here some time and I can hear them fornicating late at night and it's just awful! I can't take it! I want to get out of here so much, but now I can't, and I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm so upset!
edna0u812: Too bad we're not together. I'd let you cry on my shoulder. And then I'd give you something nice to drink, and rub your back so you could relax, and we'd figure out what to do next.
missy_beauty1985: Oh Edna, you say all the right things. I wish you were my mom!!!
edna0u812: Oohh me too sweetheart!!!
Missy read this last post and her breath caught in her throat. Did she dare tell Edna that they lived just a few miles apart? Did she dare meet her in person? She felt so bad, and she could ride her bike over there in only an hour or so, and Edna could hold her while she cried, and then make everything all better. She took a deep breath and though about it for a minute. "Why not," Missy thought to herself. "Edna is nice, and her daughter will probably be there so it will be safe." She typed in the question she hoped might make things better, at least for the weekend.
missy_beauty1985: Edna, I live here in Hillsboro. Just a few miles away. Can I come see you? Will you really hold me and let me cry on your shoulder? My mom would never let me do that, and now that I'm older she just laughs at me when I go to church or get emotional or even just read my Bible. I really need you, now, in person.
Edna read this and was thrilled. Her patience was about to pay off. She could have lots of fun with this sweet, innocent little girl. Both of them could, if Missy was really the kind of girl Edna thought she was.
edna0u812: Well, ok Missy. It's a little quick, but I'm home tonight and I can tell you're hurting a lot. I live at 123 Apple Street. It's just a few blocks from First Baptist Church of Silverton. Do you know where that is?
missy_beauty1985: Oh, thank you, thank you. I do know where you're talking about. Our church youth group met with theirs just a few weeks ago. I remember seeing Apple Street from the bus and thinking what a nice name it was for the street.
edna0u812: Will it take you long to get here?
missy_beauty1985: Maybe an hour. I'll get on my bike right away and be there as soon as I can.
edna0u812: Good. I'll get ready for you.