Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father

I nod. A month ago that statement would have either offended me or not made much sense. I get it now, and passively wonder if that’s how Bridgette and Eden view me. Someone to set an example for. Again, a thought that would have incensed me a month ago doesn’t bother me at all now. Whether that’s what they did/are doing, I don’t care. I know that I’m on a journey and need all the help I can get.

“How do you two know so much about what’s going on with the guys?” I ask. “Just from Silas?” Apart from classes and meals, I haven’t heard of much co-mingling happening.

“The Bible study group,” Bridgette answers matter-of-factly.

“The what?” I respond, eyeing both of them curiously.

Bridgette retrieves a sheet of paper from her desk drawer. “Flyers all over campus. They’re on Saturday nights and you work then.”

Now that I think about it, I guess my “put your head down and get through the year” mentality has left me at a social disadvantage. One I didn’t think I’d care about, but now I do.

“Does Matt Wells go to this Bible study?” My wheels are turning slowly now.

Eden shakes her head. “No. We’d like him to, though. The guys have asked him a couple of times, but they don’t want to be pushy.”

I take a deep breath. “I’ll talk with my boss, Asher, and see if I can come in an hour earlier on Saturdays so I can leave in time to join the Bible study.”

“Really?” Bridgette’s face lights up.

I nod. “After all, I want my relationship with God to be more than good enough, right? I can’t get that out of my head since you said it, Bridge.”

It’s not a lie. Despite my cynicism when she said it, she was right. Is right. I want my relationship with God to be more than good enough. I want it to be more than a part of my life. All of my friends and classmates are always asking God to fill them and to guide their will. They might be onto something.

Bridgette’s face doesn’t look as relieved as I expected it to be.

“Kennedy,” she says softly, “I didn’t mean it in offense…”

“Oh!” I walk over to Bridgette and grip her upper arms, pouring as much sincerity into my gaze as I can. “I didn’t take it as offense. Well, I did when you first said it, but not now. Not only do I want my relationship with God to be more than good enough, I want it to be a relationship.”

A firm rapping on the door interrupts our moment. “Knock knock!”

“That’s my mom.” I give Bridgette a quick squeeze and walk to the door.

Stellar. My roommates haven’t met my mom yet, and I haven’t gone out of my way to “prepare” them for anything. They know I grew up with her, and I’m sure they’ve pieced together enough theories in their heads.

“Mom!” I plaster the smile on my face before I open the door all the way, but the real thing comes into full wattage when I see her face. I’ve missed her.

“Look at you!” She slides into our room, Dan trailing behind her, and pulls me into a tight hug. “You look amazing,” she whispers into my ear.

I don’t know if this is a compliment to me or some sort of reassurance to herself.

“Dan,” I say, stepping back from Mom and walking into his embrace.

“Hey, sweet girl.” He kisses the top of my head and gives me a solid squeeze.

He’s thinner than Roland. Roland is fit, and doesn’t have a bit of extra flesh on him from what I’ve seen, but Dan is ultra-marathoner skinny. He does one every other year or so. I feel his muscles and bones against my cheek as we hug. Something I didn’t feel when I cried on Roland’s shoulder.

I shake my head to rid my brain of the unnecessary comparison.

Stepping back, I introduce my parents to my roommates, who are as enthusiastic and gracious as they were when they met me for the first time.

“Eden,” my mom says as she sits on my bed, “that is truly a beautiful name. And Bridgette, Kennedy tells me you have a twin brother?”

Bridgette nods, folding her hands. “Silas.”

“You’re from the big family, right?” Mom adds, and I begin to blush. While it’s just plain information, I’d hate for my roommates to feel like I’ve been gossiping about them.

“Silas and I are three and four of fourteen.” Bridgette smiles and picks up her phone, which has buzzed a few times. “Oh, you’ll have to excuse me. It’s Silas texting that our parents are meeting us in the assembly hall for the welcome speech. They’re here. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer.” Her voice hesitates slightly over the “Mr. and Mrs.” bit, but she exits with swan-like grace.”

“I’m going to head over, too,” Eden says while gathering her things. “My parents and brother are meeting me there, too.”

“Your sister’s not coming?” I ask.

Eden shakes her head. “She’s got some project for school she’s working on, so she’s staying with a family friend this weekend. Truthfully, I think she just doesn’t want my parents to spend all weekend pointing out how great this place would be for her to attend.”

After saying goodbye to my parents, Eden leaves with a smile. It’s the first I’ve heard of her sister not wanting to attend CU, though we haven’t talked much about it. I wonder, idly, if Bridgette knows more about Eden’s family life, and vice versa, since I’ve done a heck of a job of keeping both of them at arm’s length.

“They seem nice,” Dan says as a matter of breaking the silence that follows Eden’s exit.