Not So Pure and Simple: Chapters 19–22

As Jameer predicted, in the days leading up to our road trip, the furor over my sister’s video died down.

Purity Pledge had its own difficulties as word about the CU trip spread to the group, and disappointment when I told them everyone couldn’t come—I could only fit four in my car—spread faster than that. I was surprised by all the pouting over my denial, mostly from the Burton Brothers, who, for some reason I couldn’t comprehend, thought I’d allocated two spaces for them.

“What if I could find a way to get everyone there?”
“Whatever you need to do.” I was going, and my passenger seat was reserved for Kiera. I wasn’t concerned with the other logistics.

I washed the ride, copped a crisp Hawaiian Breeze air freshener, and stayed up late putting together a perfect shuffle-ready playlist, nothing overtly romantic, but nothing super ignorant either.

“We’re both in love with the same woman, and it’s causing a rift between us.”

It was benign stuff, admiring how pretty the campus was, and how tough certain teachers back at Green Creek were.

I slid to the edge of my seat when a speaker emerged on the dais and gave the mic two thumping taps.

My first entry was called ‘Dorm Sex,’ which was a facetious title because I was really talking about the pros and cons of coed versus same-sex dorms.

Me and the rest of the Purity Pledgers couldn’t stay; we’d figure a rendezvous later.

Maybe she was here to chastise Jaylan. Call her out for promoting filth on the internet.

“We gotta get outta here,” Bobby said, afraid and decisive in a way that was more unnerving than spotting Sister Vanessa.

Sparse groups of students wandered in and out with towels, and basketballs, and weight-lifting belts while we settled in the near-empty foyer.

“Think about it. There are some teen pregnancies, the town treats it like a curse. Yet, the sex ed class that’s teaching students about ways to be safe and avoid unwanted pregnancy gets canceled because of pressure from some religious zealots.”

“Not just Green Creek, all across the state. The problem is systemic. Different standards, different texts from school district to school district. I’m shining a light on all of it.”

“Purity Pledge? As in the sworn denial of any physical urges or pleasure to please a patriarchal oppressor?”

“Examine all of your current options.” Jaylan paced before us like a drill sergeant. “Evaluate the pros and cons of each. Extrapolate each pro and con out one year, three years, and five years to determine the possible results..."

Thinking about it that hard, that clinically, will make things so much clearer.

“We appreciate you taking the time to speak to us like this.”
She gave my arm a big pump. “It’s not totally altruistic. This sister right here”—she motioned to Cressie—“is buying me the best Thai food in the state, right?”

The dread in the car became palpable.

Sullen Qwan was the first responder here. “Whatever this is, I’m with it.”

Ralph had it by the handgrip in the box’s top, while Bobby punched out the perforated notch at the bottom, freeing the spigot.

Mya brought up the prom, had me thinking about dresses, too. And tuxedos. Matching corsages and cummerbunds.

He had a dejected look, stared straight through the windows toward the dark forest.

When the secret grotto was litter free, we piled into the vehicles, got back to the main road.

Jameer’s demeanor darkened. “Is keeping this secret a problem for you, Kiera?”

“We could listen to music. Or talk.”
She mulled it over. Each second feeling like a gut punch. Was it that hard to decide?

“I feel like you can commit to purity at any time.”
It was something I regurgitated from one of Sister Vanessa’s lectures.

Jameer gave a lackadaisical thumbs-up. “Whatever you say, boss.”

Kiera was settled in between her parents, greeted me with a cursory wave.

The wide-eyed faithful got rapturous, perhaps sensing a fire-and-brimstone sermon coming.

I made the mistake of thinking I could shirk my duties as the spiritual leader of this house, and let the Lord do all the work Himself.

Now, we know He is able to do any and all things in heaven and on Earth, but he still requires discernment from us. I was not discerning when I let something other than a single-minded focus on God distract our young people. I looked the other way when I saw dangerous influences swaying them.

Newsome said, “We know here, at First Missionary, our children are not prone to bad behavior, or deception. At least they didn’t learn it from us.”

“The Purity Pledge was meant to be so, so holy,” he said. “It has been sullied. It saddens me to say that I can’t allow it to continue. Not in its current incarnation.”

“Tutoring. Shianne Griffiths. Her dad’s been paying me to help her get caught up at school.” It was the half-lie me and Shianne agreed to, so I felt justified in arguing like it was absolutely true. That righteousness was not good currency today.