"You can't roller skate in a buffalo Herd"

"Say it Loud" chapter twenty

Abby watched as her visitor placed their gift of roses on the bedside table.

"Hello, Abby. Nice to see you again after all this time. I can't tell you how sick I felt when I heard about what happened. How are you feeling?" Placido asked as he reached for Abby's hand, who drew it away.

"I could be better. Listen, Placido, you are not very popular with my friends and family right now, my brothers especially blame you for me being here. You may as well have been the one that hit me with your car. If they were here, I am sure they would escort you out of here faster than you can blink. But I am willing to hear you out. What do you want to tell me?" asked Abby, with a look of skepticism.

"Only that I was worried for you, and that I still love you, and want to be with you. Yes, I have had other girls before you, but you are different. I thought I loved those other girls, but then you came along. Those girls were like cheeseburgers, but you are like pizza! Much better. I want to be with you forever, not just a short time, a fling, but grow old together, by each other's side always."

"There you go again, more lies! You said you had other girls before me. How about Debbie? Amanda? Stephanie? Then Luna, sister of my then former friend? They may have been before me, but they were also during me! A good friend told me all about your exploits, and has shown me pictures. Had I known about the others, I would have dedicated that kick I gave you too much more than just Luan!"

"Babe, you know that I-"

"Spare it! Speaking of Luan, you made me throw away the best friendship I have ever had with anyone outside my family. She and I are more than just friends, we're soul sisters! I can't believe that I believed your lies over her years of proven love and loyalty! I thank God that she has forgiven me for my foolishness, and we're once again sisters. But I almost lost that forever! I was blinded by love, dare I say it, yes, I have to admit lust as well. I loved you, Placido. You were one in a million, a very nice, sweet guy, with hot looks to boot. Now I know that the sweetness was just an act to get in my pants. If you truly loved me and want to be with me like you claim, then you will forget about being with other girls. I am a one man girl, and I expect that my boyfriend be a one woman man. Like Roger Miller once sang, 'you can't roller skate in a buffalo herd.' A silly song that may be, but wise at the same time. Lose the other girls if you want to be with me, then I may consider being with you a possibility. I would like to think I am wrong, that you are still sweet, loving, devoted, but for now, please leave me alone." said Abby as she turned her face away from Placido. "Thank you for the roses, they're lovely."

Placido opened his mouth to speak, but changed his mind, knowing words right now to be futile. Turning towards the door, Placido said "You're welcome. I'm sorry." as he walked out of the room.

Abby was conflicted. She despised Placido for having been a player, seeing many girls at the same time, but also still felt love for him. When she first saw him at the pool, she was enamored with his looks, hardly an ounce of fat on him, well sculpted musculature, a handsome face. Lust. Then, she got to know him as time went on. He was a gentleman, opening doors for her, holding hands with her, and got along with her parents. Love. Was that all indeed an act, or was it genuine love behind all of it? "Are we meant to be or not?" she pondered as she stared at the ceiling.

Of course, Abby knew very well what love was. Her family loved her, and she loved them. Her brothers especially drove her crazy a lot of the time, but she loved them. Messy and disgusting they were, they were also kind, supportive, very protective of her, and held her when she needed a shoulder to cry on. Her parents, imperfect as they were, guided her and her brothers, how to become functioning adults in the outside world. Gave advice, wiped tears, kissed boo boos, and most importantly led them to know Jesus. Luan, a great friend who became a sister figure. Someone to share secrets and hurts she didn't quite trust her brothers with, someone to share giggles, talk of boys, anxiety with periods, all of that girl stuff. Luan showing immense love through forgiving Abby for falsely accusing her of trying to steal her boyfriend. Forgiveness. Jesus forgave. The greatest example of love, Jesus being sent to cleanse the world of their sin, saving them from an eternal damnation. He took the punishment for sinful people, and those who will accept that gift through repentance are declared guilt free through His blood. If that isn't love, what is? Placido. Did she really love him? Did he really love her? She was ready to forgive him for his indiscretions, especially if he indeed cut all ties to the other girls he played with. Of course she should forgive him anyway, she knew that. Forgiveness of course does not mean forgetfulness. Even if Placido did as Abby requested, she would still wonder if he would hold true.

While still in her thoughts, she was startled when her family came in with the pizza dinner they promised. After greeting her with their hugs and kisses, and congratulations for the milestone of graduating from the IV, Alan said they had a surprise for her, to close her eyes. Complying, she soon felt a pair of arms enveloping her, along with a kiss to her cheek. Opening her eyes, she was delighted to see Luan in front of her.

"Lua- sis!" she exclaimed, hugging Luan with her good arm. "This is a wonderful surprise! Pizza and my best friend, doesn't get much better than that!" Abby said, then kissed Luan's cheek. "Now let me at that pizza!"

Noticing the roses on the table, Sherri asked, "Who brought you the roses, sweetie?" then taking a bite of her pizza.

"Placido." answered Abby, resulting in shocked expressions from the Taylors and Luan. "You must have missed him by just a few minutes. He says he still loves me, and wants to be with me. I told him that if he really wants to be with me, then he will see only me, and forget all the other girls. I told him I would give him a chance if he does that. But this time around, I will be sure to keep an eye out for any unfaithfulness in him. I will try not to be blinded by his body. I will try to look at his heart, his actions. No longer will I allow myself to be so blinded by so called love that I would let it break up relations with people I treasure." she said with a hand on Luan's shoulder, who was sitting at her bedside.

"He sure has nerve to show up." said Aaron with a look of disgust.

"That is what I basically told him, that he was lucky you guys weren't here when he showed up, that you would have booted him out of here faster than he could blink. That is one of the many reasons why I love you, guys. You are always looking out for me. I am one lucky girl, having such a caring family, and the best friend anyone could ever ask for!"

"We love you too, Abby. As your brothers, it is a great pleasure to make sure you're safe, happy and healthy. And to especially make sure that creeps like Placido stay far away from you! If you still want to give him a chance, just be ready to have us keeping a close eye on him. Nobody messes with our sister without us giving our opinion on the matter!" said Aaron firmly, with a look of determination. Sherri placed a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of telling him to calm down. Abby couldn't help but smile at the love and care her brothers had for her.

"It's because of him you're here! If I catch him near you again, it will be him that will be needing a hospital bed!" said David with his fists balled up.

"Hey, hey, son. Calm down. We know that you love your sister and want to protect her, but violence does not solve anything." said Alan as he chided his youngest child.

"That's right, Dave, I want to see you and spend time with you at home, not visit you in prison. I appreciate that you so want to protect me, you three are my heroes, but I don't want you to go to prison for my sake. If you want to let Placido know how you feel, please use words, not your fists." Abby said squeezing David's hand.

"I couldn't tell you how I would have reacted if I were here when he came." said Luan as she grabbed a slice of pizza. "I sure would like to give him a 'pizza' my mind!" Get it?" she quipped, gaining groans from Sherri and the boys, and chuckles from Abby and Alan. "But seriously, it's because of him that we practically came to almost hate each other, sis. You sure are being very gracious in giving him another chance. You are applying the teachings from the Bible that you shared with me. I really love that about you."

"Thanks, sis, I try. It is so easy to want Placido to go down in flames for what he did, but Jesus encourages forgiveness to be extended to all, even those who are unrepentant for their actions. I truly hope he considers what I told him."

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Placido mulled over what Abby told him. She was willing to give him a chance. Amanda, Debbie, Stephanie, other girls told him to beat it after he was exposed for the cad he was. He brought home fewer and fewer girls, as the word got out. Some girls still wanted to 'ride the stud', making for one proud father in Javier. Abby. Still willing to give him a chance. Just give up all other girls. He loved Abby, at least he thought he did. Give up ALL other girls? That was some prospect. He enjoyed following in his father's 'business'. He also enjoyed Abby's company, she was a special girl, different from all the others he had been with. Sure, she refused any intimate contact beyond hugging and kissing, but still, there was something about her. After what he put her through, causing the break-up between her and her best friend, than indirectly put her in the hospital, clinging to dear life, she was willing to let bygones be bygones. 'What is it about this Jesus that has made Abby so loving, gracious, forgiving?' he thought as he contemplated.

"You can't roller skate in a buffalo herd. I have some thinking to do."

End of chapter twenty

*This one took me a while! After working on the latest Proud of You, Sis story, I got to work on this one. I figured that title holds some wisdom in it. It is up to Placido whether or not he hangs up his skates, or to keep on and be happy if he has the mind to!