Annie was 20 years old and had just joined Pacific College, a small conservative religiously-affiliated college on the west coast. She actually grew up in that small city, and still lived with her middle-aged parents in a modest heritage home in the central part of town. Like was happy and healthy. She had met a few new friends through the Bible study group at college. And she was comforted that her best friend Henry, whom she had known since they were both just 6 years old, was a fellow student. Annie had never dated, but she had a feeling that things were moving in a romantic direction slowly and naturally and beautifully with Henry. They would catch each other peering into each other's eyes. There were brief little hugs with a tiny bit of tension as they imagined how things might go farther one day, farther than just a hug. The one other special physical thing between Annie and Henry was that he would give her foot massages. It was sweet and beautiful. Wholesome and platonic, a gesture of warmth and friendship, but once again with the tiniest unspoken hint that this could be part of a sensual relationship one day. Annie had tiny, adorable little feet, perfectly shaped, a ballerina's high arch, perfect smooth skin, and delicate little toes that she painted red. She was immaculately careful with hygiene, and she was very athletic, so her feet were at once delicate and thin but also were toned thanks to her careful self-care. Nail polish on her toes was the one gesture of adornment that she allowed herself, she never used makeup or or jewelry except for a small gold cross that her grandmother had given her on her 18th birthday 2 years ago, just months before her grandma passed away. Of course, she didn't need to use makeup because she was so beautiful. Adorable. She was petite, 5'3", only 90 pounds, with a very skinny delicate frame. You might have guessed that she had mild anorexia, but this was just her natural healthy norm, very skinny and waifish, delicate and feminine, fragile yet graceful and full of life. She had bright blue eyes, full red lips which were almost always shaped into a natural and socially responsive smile (she had a "resting smile face"), perfect silky pure skin, and long straight naturally light-blonde hair. Her limbs were twig-like, with delicate tiny hands with short nails. She preferred short nails not only as an esthetic choice, but because she loved to do crafts, and to play the piano and flute, so long nails would get in the way. Of course, short nails are way better for giving massages, but she had not explored such physicality in her life quite yet. Her breasts were oddly shaped, like droopy cones with larger-than-average pale-colored nipples. Distinctively unusual, definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Mind you, they would surely be an infant's "cup of tea" quite literally, since they were small enough not to smother a baby, but the nipples were just floppy and big enough for a baby to get a secure mouthful and a good suck, and there was enough breast tissue there to be a reliable milk factory. Yet it was the one feature of hers that would have prevented her from being a model, otherwise she was absolutely gorgeous, in a sweet pixie-like way. She was very self-conscious and embarrassed about her breasts, and would always hide them discretely using baggy sweaters or dresses. She had delicate movements, naturally like a ballerina, but with a sensuality that she wasn't even aware of. In fact had she known, she would surely have suppressed this, since she considered herself very modest and would be disturbed to think that anyone would find her movements or her mannerisms to be sexy. But little details of her movements were indeed sexy, such as the way she would take her shoes off at her desk, and gently wriggle her feet together. It was just a comforting habit she did when she was concentrating, but it was intoxicating to watch those cute little feet writhing so sweetly under her cute little pink cotton socks.
Annie was always one to follow rules, and never in her life had ever gotten into any trouble with anyone. But there had been some gossip in her Bible study group that on June 20, the summer solstice, the sun would rise at exactly the right angle at 4:50 AM to shine directly through the stained glass window of the college chapel, and illuminate the chapel altar and large wooden cross with a stunning golden rainbow. Others had snuck into the chapel over the years and got a few pictures of this, and described the experience as deeply spiritual, a way to symbolically deepen their commitment to Christ. The fact that it was on the summer solstice lent this even more significance, in an astronomical kind of way. Annie loved to study a variety of things, from mainly poetry, theology, and music, but also a little bit of science subjects such as astronomy. But the college rules were quite clear, that nobody was allowed in the chapel until regular hours, which were 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM. Annie discussed this with her friends, her parents, and even her church minister, and everyone agreed that on this one occasion it would be ok to break the rules a little bit. It was a small matter. People agreed that Jesus himself had broken rules, by healing people on the Sabbath for example, and in this case Annie's motive would be pure and beautiful.
Annie snuck into the chapel in the middle of the night. She was wearing her Sunday best clothes, a modest dress and formal shoes. She knew a young man named Bill who attended her church and worked as a handyman for the college, who reluctantly agreed to let her in using his security code. Bill was 25 years old, married, and there was no attraction at all between them -- they were just friends. In fact, as with many of the guys in the church who appeared to be happily married, he was in fact a closeted homosexual, so repressed by the church's teachings that he had to suffer through a sham marriage with a woman. Anyways, she felt totally comfortable with Bill, and they discretely snuck into the chapel at about 4:00 AM.
As they were sitting together, waiting for dawn, in the darkened chapel room, quietly and excitedly meditating and praying, anticipating the beautiful sunrise beam, the lights suddenly turned on and a bright flashlight beam searched them out and caught them literally "deer in the headlights" style.
It was pastor Dale. A 56-year-old chubby balding man with a stubbly, friendly face. He was known as kind and warm and gentle, and incredibly generous to help anyone in need, but also he was known to be a stickler for rules.
"I know what you two are doing" he roared, in an uncharacteristic angry state. "This is a sacred space! It's not for couples to meet up!"
Annie was mortified. This was not a "couple meeting up" -- it was a sacred moment of watching a very special sunrise. Bill got up and bolted away, in a panic. By the time Pastor Dale arrived at Annie's pew, Bill had escaped. Pastor Dale never did get a good look at Bill's face, so he may well have assumed that Annie was there with a date, intending to make out or who knows what else.
"Annie!" he said in a shocked voice. "I would never have guessed that a sweet girl like you would do something like this...in this place of God."
"Pastor Dale...I was just--"
She wanted to explain that she was here just for the sunrise. She was going to explain that the young man with her was Bill, but she stopped herself, not wanting to get him into any trouble. Bill had taken a small risk for her, but if a rumor got around that she was in the chapel making out with him, it would be terrible for him, his marriage, his reputation...maybe he'd even lose his job. And it would be terrible for her reputation too, she might even have to drop out of school.
Pastor Dale was a reasonable and forgiving man, but also, as I was saying, a stickler for rules. And he had some particular beliefs which mingled his religion with his attitudes and feelings about young women. He had always had a particular fantasy scenario, which he justified using his faith but really was driven by other forces inside of him...he decided that today would be a time to finally test it out...he would take a little risk just like Annie had done.
"Annie, it's a pretty small matter, sneaking into the chapel like this. But it's against the rules, so there has to be a little bit of penance. Technically if news of this got out you might have to leave the college. So I want to suggest a simple, brief challenge for you that will be part of your penance. I want you to learn a little bit from this experience, and grow in your faith even when you've made a mistake like this."
"Of course, Pastor Dale...I'm so sorry, I never meant to cause any trouble...I was just-"
