forties, there weren’t enough teenagers to have one.
“Come to ours then. We meet here tonight at seven thirty. We hang out, play basketball, eat junk food, and have a Bible study. Give it a try. See what you think.”
“I’d have to ask my mother.” Mom might disapprove, but she wouldn’t have grounds for argument. She was bringing Christopher to VBS here, after all.
“Do you need a ride?”
Her heart fluttered. Would he offer to pick her up if she said yes? “We live in Alexander Valley.”
“I can introduce you to someone who lives up that way.”
“Never mind.”
A piercing whistle came from the parking lot. Jason gave a wave. “I have to get back to the sanctuary and set up for the closing. Thanks for helping today, Dawn. Hope I see you tonight… and tomorrow.”
She looked for Jason when she accompanied Christopher’s class back into the warehouse. He stood on the platform, talking and laughing with the two girls who had been onstage with him while the classes settled into their designated seats. Pastor Daniel had the microphone again and encouraged everyone to get settled quickly. He explained how the children’s offerings would buy books for an orphanage in Mexico. He asked if anyone had a guest. Dawn held Christopher’s hand down. Pastor Daniel went on. “Keep giving out those invitations! We have plenty of room for more.”
He tossed the microphone to Jason, who had everyone up and singing again. After several songs, Jason gave a short closing prayer and called out, “See you all tomorrow!”
Dawn grabbed Christopher’s hand and headed for Mom standing against the wall with several other women. She came toward them and smiled at Dawn. “I see you survived.”
“It was okay, I guess.” She didn’t want to sound overly enthusiastic and have Mom wonder why. “I said I’d help again tomorrow. One of the guys invited me to youth group tonight.”
“Invited?” Her mother gave her a quick glance. “As in asking you for a date?”
“No. He just said to come. He thought I might enjoy it.”
“I’d rather you didn’t go.”
Dawn bristled. “Why not?” Christopher could do anything he wanted, but she asked for something and the answer was no?
“You have a church.”
“So does Christopher, but that didn’t stop you from signing him up for VBS at Cornerstone.”
“Because Mitch’s church doesn’t have one.”
“It doesn’t have a youth group either.”
“VBS only lasts three more days, Dawn.”
“I’m not asking if I can join the church, Mom. I just want to see what youth group is like. I’d like to hang out with kids my own age, Christian kids.”
“Let me think about it.”
28
The CCC youth group consisted of fewer than twenty kids, mostly girls grouped together and talking while five guys played basketball. Another guest invited by Jason, Tom Barrett, had come to stick his toes carefully in religious waters. As soon as he was introduced, Jason took him to join in the basketball game. Kim Archer, the pastor’s daughter, took charge of Dawn, inviting her to grab a folding chair from those stacked against a wall and join the gaggle of girls. Dawn knew some of them already, their names at least. She’d seen Sharon Bright, Pam Preston, Linda Doile, and Amy King at school, not that they would recognize her.
“Hey,” Sharon said. “You were in my PE class. Dawn ran right past everyone during track.”
Dawn added her chair to the circle. “I played soccer for six years. Coach Perez made us run a mile before every practice.”
Pam twisted her hair up and put a clip in it. “Why didn’t you try out for the team? We could use you.”
“Thought I’d take a break. Try something else.”
“Such as?”
“Studying.”
“That’s where I’ve seen you.” Linda crossed her ankles. “In study hall. You sat in the back row by the windows.”
“Yep.”
The girls talked about school and how their summers were shaping up. Dawn took quick, surreptitious glances at Jason playing basketball with the guys. Sharon said her family was heading for Tahoe next week for a family gathering. Linda had a job in a pizza parlor near the downtown mall. Amy wished she had a job at the mall. She was working as a nanny for three children. She almost hadn’t come this evening. Bed had looked pretty good, and she had to be back at the Johnsons’ by six thirty in the morning. Kim answered the church telephone. She was filling in for the church secretary, Mrs. Carson, who was in Los Angeles helping move her mother into a residential care facility.
“What about you, Dawn?” Kim asked. “What are you doing this summer?”
Dawn pulled her gaze away from Jason. “Not much. I don’t have a driver’s license, and we live out in Alexander Valley.” She shrugged. “I’m doing laundry and cooking for the family. So far, no one has died.”
Pam laughed. “My mother says you were a big help in her VBS class this morning.”
“All I did was put out some art supplies.”
“I’ll say thank you anyway. You saved me from being drafted into duty.” She shuddered expressively.
The basketball bounced their way. “Hey, ladies!” Jason called. “Save us some steps?” Dawn got up, caught it, and gave it a light kick so that it landed right in his hands. “Good kick!” He grinned and dribbled the ball halfway down the court, passing it to Tom Barrett, who took two steps, jumped, and shot it smoothly over the heads of three others. It dropped perfectly into the basket. Jason and Tom gave each other high fives.
Sharon laughed as Dawn sat down. “Well, we all know why you came tonight.”
“What?” Dawn pretended not to know.
“Jason Steward.” Sharon stretched out her long, jean-clad legs. “Join the club. We’ve all had a crush on him at one time or another.”
When she glanced over, Jason was looking at her. He quickly looked away. Raising his hand, he called out to Tom, who passed him the ball.
When Pastor Daniel came in, everyone made a circle of chairs. Everyone but Dawn had brought a Bible, even Tom Barrett. Kim said not to worry about it and shared hers. The pastor called on the regulars to read portions of the book of Daniel, then pointed out how a few teenagers made an impact on a godless society. He challenged them to make a difference wherever they were: high school, mall, babysitting.
When the study portion ended, everyone hung around, nibbling chips, eating leftover VBS cupcakes, drinking sodas, and talking. Jason had picked up Tom Barrett. They walked out and stood talking to a couple of the guys in the parking lot. Dawn spotted her mom’s tan Suburban and headed for it. Pam Preston caught up with her. “I’m glad you came tonight. Can I meet your mom?”
“Sure. I guess.” Dawn opened the car door. “Mom, this is Pam Preston; Pam, my mom, Mrs. Hastings.”
Pam leaned in to shake her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Hastings. We live on the north side of Healdsburg. I could pick up Dawn next week.”
Mom looked dubious. “It’s nice of you, but-”
“I’ve had my license for two years and haven’t gotten a ticket. My mom says I drive like an old lady. You can ask her when you bring Christopher to VBS tomorrow.”
Mom smiled politely. “I’ll take your word for it, Pam.” Dawn got into the car and closed the door. “She seems nice enough. How well do you know her?”
