Ch.4 Church
Allyson woke to hear her parents already unpacking boxes downstairs. She got up, showered and dressed and then grabbed a penknife and dust-rag, ready to tackle the boxes in her room.
The first box she opened was clothes. Yay, clothes. Allyson weeded through them mercilessly, picking out the ones she hardly wore and depositing them in a separate pile across the room. She opened her dresser and wiped in down and then began laying stacks of shirts, jeans, shorts, socks, and skirts inside.
By noon, she had unpacked about half her boxes and was ready to take a break. She set her stuff down on the floor and then headed downstairs to the kitchen.
"Good afternoon, Allyson," her father greeted her. "Been sleeping all morning?"
Allyson glared at him. "No, I've been unpacking boxes in my room all morning."
Allyson's mother entered the kitchen carrying a box. "Well in order to eat lunch, you'll need to unpack another one." She plopped a huge box labeled 'Dishes' on the kitchen table.
Allyson leaned over and opened the box. She began pulling out stacks of wrapped plates, mugs, cups, and bowls. "Mama, where's the silverware?" she asked.
"O, probably in another box…" She snorted."...probably marked 'decor', eh?" She chuckled softly.
Allyson grimaced. "I hope not." She sighed thinking back to a move several years ago where the packers had marked the boxes 'Rugs and decor' or 'Dishes and decor' or 'clothing and decor' or sometimes just plain 'decor'. So when the family got to the other end and was trying to find things, it was a sad, sad time.
"Where do you want the dishes?" her father asked abruptly.
"Oh…plates and bowls in the cabinet on the right of the sink. Cups and mugs in the left cabinet."
Allyson and her father busily began placing the dishes in their assigned places.
"So what's for lunch?" Allyson asked, as she placed yet another glass in the cupboard.
"Sandwiches," her mother replied.
"I vote burgers."
"If you have the hamburger, you can go right on ahead."
Allyson sighed and picked up the loaf of bread reluctantly.
2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
The rest of the week went much like the first day of unpacking, and it was absolutely LOVELY… except that Allyson didn't see Ben for the rest of the week. So by the end of the week, Allyson was thoroughly bored, depressed and ready for a break.
Allyson woke up on Saturday morning, nearly a full week after her arrival, and groaned. Not going to get up, no, no, no…
Bang, BANG! Someone knocked on the door. "Allyson, let's go! Breakfast is ready and then we need to hit the computer room…" Footsteps moved away from the door.
Allyson sat up groggily and glanced over to Ben's house. Realizing what she was doing, she flushed. Well, what did you expect to happen? He used you; get over it, She told herself angrily, and then sighed. It's not like you were particularly keen on seeing him again…"O, shut up," she muttered to herself.
Allyson got up, still pissed, and dressed herself with a vengeance. She walked downstairs, grabbed a piece of toast and started back upstairs, cramming the toast into her mouth. As she exited, she noticed something on the calendar that caught her eye.
She walked up to it, scanning down to the day, August 6th. "Oh!" Allyson exclaimed excitedly, anger forgotten. "Erika comes back on Monday, and I have band that day! I totally forgot.. " She grinned. I am such a band dork…
"Allyson, come on!" A voice rang out from upstairs.
Allyson turned, still smiling. "Ok, be right up!" She took the stairs two at a time all the way up to the computer room.
2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
Allyson woke up, bright an early on Sunday morning and hopped in the shower. Emerging fresh and clean a half hour later, fully clothed, she walked into her room to sort through her recently unpacked shoes. Picking out the perfect tan pair to compliment her pink and white shirt and Jean skirt, she turned and grabbed her matching tan purse and walked out of her room down to the kitchen.
She poured herself some cereal from the cupboard and settled down to eat. Her mother rushed down the stairs.
"Can you fasten this necklace for me?"
Allyson set down her spoon and clasped the necklace for her mother. "Why are you already ready?"
Allyson's mother turned, startled. "You're father and I need to be there early. But I guess you can come later. The service starts at 9:30 and it probably takes a good twenty minutes to get there, so leave no later than nine, ok?"
"Sure." Allyson shrugged and returned to her cereal.
After eating, she returned the bathroom to French-braid her damp hair and apply make-up. At 8:40, Allyson heard her parents pulling out of the driveway. She finished applying her eyeshadow, and then put on two coats of mascara.
At 8:55, Allyson locked the front door behind her and out to her car (a light blue echo). She hopped in the driver's seat and consulted the map briefly before starting the ignition and backing out of the driveway. She got onto the freeway and until she got off at exit 287. She turned left at the stoplight at the exit onto Kinster Road and then turned right onto Covenant Road, which led her straight to her church.
The church would be on the left. Hopefully, they'll have put in a turn lane, so I don't have to go up to the next stoplight and do a u-turn, Allyson thought. She approached the church and then groaned. I guess a turn-lane is too much to ask for in seven years. Allyson pulled over into the left-hand turn lane at the stoplight and waited until the oncoming traffic stopped to do a u-eey.
As Allyson pulled into the church parking lot, she spotted her parent's car, a green minivan, and parked into the slot right next to it. She turned of the ignition and climbed out of the car, locking it before shutting it.
She walked into the church and saw her parents sitting near the front. She walked up and joined.
As she sat down, she looked around, noting her old friends, waving at a couple, and noticing a whole bunch of people she didn't know. She got up and walked over to her old friends Katherine (Katy) Edwards.
"Hey babe," Katy greeted her, smiling. "How was your week?"
Allyson groaned and sat down. "O…the usual, as I'm sure you know."
Katy nodded sympathetically; She herself had moved 5 times because her dad was in the navy.
"It feels great to be back, though," Allyson said.
"Isn't it kindof odd that we both move away, pretty much simultaneously, and then we both move back? I mean it's been like six years since I've been here for me and seven for you…" Katy mused.
"O, I know! And it's so different and it's weird trying to pick up and old life."
Katy opened her mouth to agree.
"Good morning!"
Allyson and Katy whipped their eyes to the front. The minister had just greeted them from the pulpit.
"Good morning," the congregation replied.
"Let us stand and praise…" The minister started.
"We can finished this conversation later," Katy whispered.
"Yeah," I replied, equally quiet.
"…Please rise and sing Hymn 607."
After the hymn, the assistant pastor walked up to the pulpit with the announcements.
"There is a Bible study starting for women on Tuesdays at the church. Call Riana Thompson for information. Choir practice will start at the beginning of September, anyone and everyone is welcome." The pastor looked around the church. "The youth will be having a beginning of the year pool party at the Edwards home this evening. Talk to Ryan Edwards for directions. The Church picnic will be September 11th at the church from 3-6. Please contact James Synconet to find out what you can help with."
Allyson grabbed a sermon notes sheet and scribbled a note to Katy on it.
Katy, you didn't tell me you were having a pool party. L
Katy smiled ruefully and scribbled something back.
I didn't have much of a chance to say much of anything. Are you going to come?
Yeah, I guess. What time is it for?
4-8, I think. We have FREE food. Please come! I'll be so bored with out u!
Yeah right. J I'll see what I can do. Probably, but don't count on it.
O, make sure you WEAR your swim suit, cause the guys are notorious for dumping us girls in the pool when we're fully clothed. It sucks L.
Lol, thanks for the warning. I'll keep it in mind.
I'm not kidding, Aly. I speak from experience.
Hee. Wish I could've seen it.
If we weren't in church right now, I'd throw something at you.
Too bad for you then,KT . I'll talk to you later ok? Bye.
Bye. And I'm still going to get you for that.
Allyson chuckled and folded the paper up and placed it into her purse. She turned her eyes dutifully back to the preacher, who was just about to read from John 5 for his sermon text. Sermons…I don't like sermons. Too Long, LONG, LOOOOONG…