Tracy stood beside her small booth and watched as her classmates walked by. Most of the other students ignored her but a few looked at her signs and laughed before walking away.
"Abstinence is the only answer," the small girl said to no one in particular. "We need to value our bodies and save ourselves for our husbands and wives. Join the pledge to save yourselves for marriage. I have shirts and promise bracelets so you can show your support for-"
A young freshman couple stopped in front of her booth and Tracy smiled at them. They looked up at the large 'ABSTINENCE!' banner above her stand and the simple 'Abstinence is the only answer' t-shirt Tracy wore. "Would either of you like a bracelet? They're free."
The boy looked at his girlfriend and then laughed. "Nah. I already sinned and we plan to sin some more tonight in the car. But if I can use this to convince my girl that butt sex doesn't count then I'm all in."
"Ew!" The boy's girlfriend said, slugging him in the arm. "I'm not letting you put it in my ass. Come on, you're embarrassing me."
Tracy watched the couple go as a blush crept up her neck.
You both think you're so funny,
she thought.
It won't be so funny on judgment day when God looks on your soul and sees how you've tainted yourself.
More students passed and Tracy continued the spiel for her cause. Never once did anyone actually stop to ask for a bracelet or one of the pamphlets that talked about the dangers of premarital sex but she knew her duty and she stood strong.
As the afternoon wore on and the stream of students leaving the school dwindled away, another freshman sat on the wall next to her. "I never understood why you do this kind of stuff, Trace," the young man said.
"Do what, Jeremy?" Tracy asked as she scanned the crowd for any potential.
"This. This stuff. Trying to get people to not have sex or go to church and all that. I mean, what do you care?"
Tracy sighed. "Seriously? No offense, Jeremy, but you're the last person I'd try to explain it to."
With a short laugh, Jeremy answered, "Hey, I might be an atheist but I'm not an asshole. And I'm curious about people anyway. So, seriously, why? I won't make fun of you if you tell me."
Tracy shaded her eyes to look at the man sitting nearby. "Because, Jeremy. I think it's important to spread His word. I'd love to see every single one of my classmates and friends and family in heaven. I think it's dumb that they'd waste the little time we have here in order to spend eternity in hell. That's why."
"Ah," Jeremy nodded. "So you're one of them. A true believer. I'm kind of surprised. I mean, I knew you were religious but I didn't know you were an evangelist. Doesn't it ever bother you that people make fun of you for it?"
"No. If it were easy then I wouldn't need to be out here. I don't care if they laugh or make fun or ignore me. I'll keep trying until someone listens. Even if one-"
"Hey Tracy," a new voice called out. Jeremy and Tracy watched as the small college's quarterback walked up. The young man, a junior, had come from the same high school as the other two. "Hey Jeremy."
Jeremy nodded with a grimace. "Spencer. Hey."
"I'm having my birthday party tonight. You two coming? My parents are going to go out so there's going to be booze and shit."
"No, I most certainly won't be going," the young woman answered. "Even if there wasn't going to be alcohol. I've heard what goes on at those parties."
"Hey," Spencer replied. "Lighten up, would ya? We're just having fun. It's tonight at 8 at my place." The young man looked up at Tracy's banner and grinned. "You know, Tracy, I don't think you have to worry about not having sex. I mean, you kind of look like a guy anyway."
Jeremy pushed himself down from the wall. "You're a fucking douche, Spencer. Leave her alone."
"Ohh, scary," the larger man said with a falsetto voice. "Anyway, tonight at my place. Bring your own shit if you want to. Hey, Bella! Wait up!"
Jeremy and Tracy watched as Spencer ran off after his girlfriend. "What a prick," Jeremy said. "Don't worry. With your grades, you'll be a CEO somewhere or wherever and he'll end up flipping burgers."
"No," Tracy said. "He'll work for his dad's construction company and end up owning it so he'll do okay, I'm sure."
"Well, okay, there's that. Privileged asshole. He'll probably run it into the ground anyway. Hey, I'm out of here. Good luck with your stuff, yeah?"
Tracy nodded without watching the other man leave. With Jeremy gone and the school mostly empty, the young woman decided to take down her booth. She stored the borrowed folding table back in the school's supply room and then packed everything else in a large duffle bag. The entire walk back to her house she was lost in thought. She'd lied to Jeremy and that bothered her a lot. Contrary to what she'd said, she was weary of it all. Nobody ever listened to her. She'd been very close with her best friend back in high school and they both went to church together and read Bible passages and hung out but, eventually, the other girl found a boyfriend and moved on. She wondered that if even someone like her friend could be so easily convinced to sin, how could others be convinced to turn away from it?
At home, Tracy found a small note:
Your father and I are out at a soup kitchen and then we'll be off to a prayer meeting. There's leftover meatloaf in the fridge. Don't wait up!
The girl sighed. Lately, her parents had been gone an awful lot. More and more she felt lonely both at home and at school. No friends and her parents always seemed to be off at a new meeting or event. Sometimes they'd take her but most times they'd leave before she got home.
I guess that's what a pastor's supposed to do, though,
she thought.
I just wish they'd let me go, too. Or be home more.