CHAPTER EIGHT

"Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?" the wrinkled old man read aloud from his heavily-highlighted old Bible, speaking from one corner of the tent. A few dozen campers were arranged in folding chairs to face him, and the counselors were lined up along the sides, to keep watch that none of them tried to sneak off and get into mischief. Elsa and Anna were standing beside each other on one wall with Rapunzel and Snow on another and Aurora and Belle along a third. Though Elsa did guiltily feel as if they were holding the children hostage, it wasn't as if they were being subjected to anything worse than a dreary lecture from a dreary man.

And on he droned: "Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who lay with men, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Anna was fidgeting next to her sister, her lower lip becoming swollen due to constantly catching it between her teeth to nibble at it. Her eyes were downcast to the ground. While she seemed to be paying attention, there was a nervous energy to her that Elsa couldn't help but notice and she felt confused by it. Her sister looked like she was awaiting a scolding.

"Now then," he said in his rich baritone as he looked up from the text. "I know these words are fairly self-evident, but if there are any questions…?" He saw a hand go up from one of the campers. "Yes?"

"Why aren't gay people allowed into Heaven?" Olaf questioned the old man. His head was tilted slightly and he looked confused. "I understand that bad people can't always get in because they did bad things… but what does lying with a man have to do with that? Especially if they love each other."

"That isn't true love," the man said evenly, though there was a deeper crease in his brow now. Elsa had to suppress a snort of bemusement; he really didn't need any more wrinkles. "It is an abomination of love; a false love. Men who lie with other men only do so for sinful desires."

"My papa says that sometimes the purest love comes from those who are gay," Olaf protested, "because they have to go through so much struggle to be together so that when they do finally get married, they don't take it for granted and their love is made that much stronger."

Anna lifted her eyes from the floor to gaze fondly at the boy, a small smile on her face. Elsa noticed, but she made no comment; she presumed it was because she had expected it, due to how Olaf kept talking about the two of them. Of course, she couldn't be sure, but that seemed most likely.

"That is a lie of the secular world," the pastor told Olaf patiently. "Of course they want to justify their sin; that is what sin does. But the Word clearly tells us that He does not wish us to pursue deviant relationships like those. That he wishes man and woman to marry, to be fruitful and multiply."

He was already turning back to look at his Bible again when he noticed another hand up. When he nodded at her, Rapunzel cleared her throat. "Actually… I read an interesting article about that online. Pretty much, tee-el-dee-arr, the words that are translated into 'gay' probably didn't mean that." Everyone was staring at her, and she shrank back slightly. "W-well, um, just um…"

"Go on," Elsa prompted. She was completely indifferent to the topic, even though she thought Pastor Frollo was correct. Still, she was curious what Rapunzel had to say and didn't want her to feel completely without support.

"A-anyway, the point is that the original Greek words in Corinthians that we translate as 'men who lay with men' or 'homosexual', actually probably mean either morally weak men, or men who use sex to obtain power. Depending on the word in the verse, that is." More sillence. Clearing her throat, she said, "Like, most people who were 'gay' in those days were temple priests for pagan religions, or taking place in crazy rituals that, um, I'd rather not describe because they're too sinful. So obviously what they were doing was wrong, because they were idolaters. And they were being promiscuous. But, um… but that doesn't really have much to do with a modern homsexual couple."

"And you believe this?" Frollo asked.

"Well, not necessarily," she backpedaled, feeling the heat of a roomful of gazes. "Just… th-thought it was interesting. And we sh-should maybe consider-"

"Rapunzel!" Aurora snapped, casting a scolding look towards the younger woman. "That's enough! There are young ears present who don't need to hear you slander the good Pastor's words!" Then to Frollo, "I'm sorry about her, Father, she's new to God's flock and still strays at times. It won't happen again."

That had been hard to watch. Anna looked like she wanted to speak up but she kept her mouth closed and lowered her eyes again. The look on her face suggested that it was much more out of thoughtfulness than nerves this time around. Every so often, she would glance over at her brunette friend and smile softly.

And it was a smile that Elsa caught sight of. Rapunzel's points seemed valid enough, even if she didn't see why it should change her own mind. But Anna looked… grateful. That was certainly interesting.

"Pay it no mind, my child," the pastor bade Aurora with a wave of his hand. "All of you are young, and youth is a time when there are many questions. That is why I am here; to foster you all to the truth, so that you do not burn in the fires of Hell."

He turned back to the text, and there were no more interruptions. Elsa no longer paid any attention. Now, she was too busy looking between poor, chagrined Rapunzel, and Anna, who seemed to have found some kind of comfort in her arguing against the verses. Combined with some of the other things Anna had done recently, that brought up a lot more questions in her mind… ones that she didn't want to ask Pastor Frollo.

~ o ~

"You've been pretty quiet tonight, Elsa. Is something on your mind?" Anna gave her sister a look of concern. They were both lying outside their cabin, bundled up in their pajamas and blankets and staring up at the star filled sky, simply enjoying the peace the night brought together.

However, Anna seemed to realize something was amiss with the winter blonde. Elsa was trying her best to hide her uncertainty, but apparently, it still bled through. She wanted her questions to be purely hypothetical, philosophical… but she worried that it wouldn't be that way for Anna.

"Just thinking about devotionals today," she began cautiously, trying to sound unconcerned. She knew she wasn't succeeding, but she tried.

"It certainly was different today, wasn't it?" Anna nodded in understanding. She had stiffened slightly, though her voice was as light and unassuming as Elsa's. "Olaf and Rapunzel are sweet for giving people like that the benefit of the doubt."

With a small smile, Elsa responded, "Well, I don't know if 'sweet' is the word I would use. Misguided, maybe? But I have to admit, Rapunzel raised some points that make me want to look into the translations a little closer."

"Oh?" Anna rolled over onto her stomach so she could face Elsa. There was a slight hesitance, a brief look of sadness, when she said, "So you agree with Frollo and the others, then? That gays are bad?"

"Not 'bad'." Wary because of Anna's expression, she tried to choose her words carefully. "No human is truly evil, other than maybe a rapist or a murderer. But yeah, there's more than one Bible verse that says homosexuality is a sin. But I mean, someone who chooses to be gay is no worse than someone who cheats on a math test. It doesn't mean they're beyond forgiveness."

Anna was silent for a moment before speaking up, "And what do they have to do to earn that forgiveness? Stop?" She couldn't keep the slight bitterness out of her voice. "It's not that easy. It's not a choice for them to be that way. It's a birth thing. You're either born attracted to the same gender or you aren't. Surely God wouldn't have made people like that if it was sinful."

"That's not really how it works, is it? I mean, some people are born with a brain wired to like drinking, or stealing. Are we just supposed to let them do it, because it's easier than telling them to stop?"

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the blanket beneath her. However, she took several hard breaths to calm herself. "I just don't see what the problem is. It doesn't hurt people like stealing or murder, and it doesn't negatively affect anyone's lives like drinking does. They are simply people looking for love and finding it in someone with a similar body type to them. Why is that wrong? I-it's stupid that it is considered wrong!"

Now, Elsa was frowning, and she rolled over to lean up on one elbow to look at her sister. This was clearly something she felt very strongly about; she already knew that. But the reason behind it was what worried her. Still, she didn't want to make a big deal out of that before she had more information.

"Well… I'll admit, when you put it that way, my argument sounds pretty stupid. But it doesn't mean homosexuality is okay; just that I didn't make a very good point." Clearing her throat, she asked, "Why were we designed with two different sets of organs if we weren't supposed to put them together? Why can't two men make a baby, why can't two women? It's just… unnatural."

"If it's so unnatural, then why aren't humans the only creatures who can be gay?" Anna asked stiffly. "Swans and penguins form homosexual bonds all the time. So do some species of dogs." She shook her head. "Elsa, think about this carefully. There are unmarried people with two different organs who get together all the time. And sometimes the inevitable happens and they make a baby. Most people keep and raise that baby but then there are the couples that give that baby away, o-or just abandon it in the street. Is that natural? No. And yet there are gay people who want nothing more to be parents who have to fight just as hard to adopt a baby as they do to get married, even though the chances are high that they would love and cherish that little baby just as much as any heterosexual couple could."

Elsa shivered, pulling her sleeping bag more tightly around herself. "A gay couple raising a baby… there's a frightening thought. They'll grow up to think that's normal, turn out to be gay themselves instead of knowing they shouldn't be."

And just like that, Anna's eyes filled with tears. "Is it so bad that they will grow up tolerant? Compassionate?!" Her voice was just below a shout. "Are you even listening to yourself!? You- you sound just like… Mom…" A look of horror suddenly graced Anna's face, as though she realized something terrible,

"Why shouldn't I sound like her? She's our mom, Anna! She believes in the Bible and she believes in God, just like we do! Or like I do, anyway," she added pointedly. She didn't want to state it openly, but their argument was definitely making her question whether or not her sister really believed.

"I- I-" Anna stared at Elsa as though she was a stranger. "I believe in the God that encourages love and respect. Not the one that spreads intolerance and hatred for those who are considered different." She hugged herself tightly. "But I understand who your God is now… are you going to disown me, too, then, Sis?"

"Why would I?" Elsa said, still unsure what Anna was getting at. "Because you support homosexuality? I mean, I disagree with you, but… I'm not one of those people that thinks 'the big, bad gays' are going to take over the world or steal my children, or anything insane like that. They're just sinners according to the Bible. Your being supportive of them isn't an issue between us."

"What about actually being one of them?" Anna's admittance was soft. "How does that affect us?"

Finally, Elsa could not ignore the implications. The worries in her mind; ones that had been quietly building in the corner. She would maintain the pretense for a minute longer, just to make sure she did not jump to any conclusions… but she knew it was pretty futile.

"Do you mean… hypothetically?" she asked, voice as cautious as she could keep it. "Or do you have something you want to tell me?"

Moment of truth. Anna let out a deep sigh.

"My first kiss was behind the school when I was thirteen. The girl's name was Mulan. I started dating my high school girlfriend, Esmeralda when I was sixteen and it lasted until about six months ago. I'm bisexual, Elsa. I do date boys, but I like, and prefer, girls." She looked like she was bracing herself for a storm when she looked Elsa dead in the eyes. "I didn't tell you because I was terrified that you would be mad at me about it like I think Mama is."

But there was no storm. No strong reaction, no snapping, no shouting. Elsa just sat there, staring at Anna in complete and utter disbelief. How was she supposed to process something like that? Especially within a few short seconds of being blindsided by such a revelation.

"I see," she finally breathed, when she could find nothing else to say.

Anna flinched at the simple words and she looked so small as she peered at Elsa, obviously waiting for more. However, nothing came and gradually Anna became visibly more nervous. "S-Say something else, please?" she begged, clearly unable to deal with the blank look Elsa had on her face.

"Wh-what should I say?" Elsa tried with a laugh of pure anxiety. "That… that I'm fine with it? That Mama- that our Mother shouldn't hate you for it?" After saying that, she pursed her lips for a moment. "Alright, that one I will say. We both know that… that no matter what you believe about homosexuality, it's still not supposed to mean you hate that person. So that, I… yeah, if she really hates you… I don't… agree with doing that."

The words were difficult to squeeze out of her throat, because as much as she knew they were true, as much as she believed them, they might mean she was speaking out against her mother. The one person who had always stood by her side, no matter what. That Anna and her father had been forced away was a possibility, yes, but she couldn't say that for certain yet. How was she supposed to betray the only family who had been there for her for the past five years?

"But… I don't know what else you want me to say," she finally finished quietly. "How could you keep this from me?"

Anna seemed to take a small amount of comfort from Elsa's words — that at least she didn't agree with their mother — but still she stood up. The conflict was clear on her face from the way her eyes darted between her sister and the path leading to the other cabins that she was struggling between staying and leaving.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, but she didn't elaborate what she was apologising for before she took off down the road and out of sight. Elsa barely had time to raise one hand before she was gone.

And then she was alone, out in the chill night air with her thoughts. Ones that she couldn't quite begin to untangle her way through; she had no frame of reference. This had never been anything other than an academic footnote, for the purposes of debating and dismissing afterward. Another way for her to reach a different kind of sinner, should she ever meet one. For all intents and purposes, gay people were fictional to her.

Until now. When one of them was the sister she had spent years missing so desperately that she cried, a lot more often than she cared to admit.

How was she supposed to even begin to approach a problem such as this?

To Be Continued...