Mary Sawyer sat in front of the church, crying. Her long brown hair had fallen out of its neat braids, and her blue eyes were dappled with splotches of red. The Sunday school picnic had ended hours ago, and she didn't know how she could face Aunt Polly, Tom and Sid after what had happened. Everything had started so well. Joe Harper asked her to dance at the picnic, which had made her so deliriously happy. Usually none of the boys ever took an interest in her because she was just Tom's cousin, and like a sister to most of them. Joe had been so sweet to her, so it didn't matter that he had mostly ignored her for the first seventeen years of their lives.
He had led her off into a dark corner of the church when no one was present, and kissed her. The kiss had been so gentle, but soon became filled with anger. He held her tight against the wall with his body as his hands moved up and down her figure through her dress. She started sobbing when he pushed her down to the floor of the church, lifted her blue, flowered dress, and pushed himself into her.
Mary wondered how she could have been so stupid as to go off with a boy she barely knew. Far down the road, a figure approached her. Huckleberry Finn was strolling forward without a care in the world, whistling some haunting old song he had certainly learned from the slaves.
"Hey there Miss Mary!" he called. The girl turned her head away. She couldn't bear the humiliation of having to face Huck Finn at a moment like this. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" he chuckled. The dark haired teenager looked down at Mary, sitting on the steps of the church, and even though it was almost completely dark, he could see the tears dancing out of her eyes. He reached out and took her hand.
Mary was startled to feel the warmth of his hand, and looked up to see his dark eyes glinting likes coals. "Huck, I don't much feel like talking." She managed to squeak out. Huck knelt in front of her. "I heard some rumors from the boys about Joe Harper and…" Mary nodded in shame. "Mary, I don't know what good it'll do ya, but I've loved ya for years. Ever since you first tried to teach me the Bible, I pretended to be thick-headed so that you could be near me more often." Huck confessed. Mary sat there in awe. She had already sinned once today in God's house, so a second couldn't do too much harm, could it? She leaned in and kissed him full on the mouth. He tasted like good earth, and the water of the Mississippi, sort of like home.
She dragged the boy into the church, knowing that no one was left in the building. She untied the back of her dress, so that she was standing there in nothing but her white slip. Huck looked taken aback, but she pulled him to her as she untied his garments. They both sighed, and collapsed into each other.
The next morning, while Huck slept on the floor of the church, Mary snuck out quietly. Aunt Polly would be furious, but somehow Mary didn't care anymore. She took one last look at the sleeping form of Huckleberry Finn, and closed th