CXXIV

TRICKY TRIANGLE

CHAPTER 4

SEPTEMBER 1964—APRIL 1965

Hal could feel his blood pumping in his ears. He swallowed nervously as he groped for what to say. Three faces stared at him as they waited for him to speak.

Dawn was glaring at him with her arms folded and her dark hair pulled into a bun.  She was still wearing the same jean shorts and checked blouse from earlier that day, making her seem to be a wholesome, yet sexy country girl. Yet her facial expression caused her to appear like a stern old school marm.

Wendy had a nervous, expectant look, but smiled happily as she twisted a strand of her long red hair between her fingers. Hal marveled at how stunning she looked. She had been like a scrawny plant that had blossomed into a beautiful flower. This change made Hal all the more tongue tied and confused.

His best friend Ed ran a hand through his blond hair, eyeing his buddy with a puzzled frown. He had felt an element of betrayal when Ed had made a pass at Wendy before him. After all, Hal had been the first to discover Wendy’s transformation from a skinny nerd with braces into a curvaceous vixen. She was now like something right out of the pages of a men’s magazine.

But Ed was doing his part to make things right, which made Hal both appreciative and annoyed. That’s why he was now in this difficult position. No matter what, someone was going to be hurt. He just needed to seize the opportunity and follow his heart. But how did he go about this delicate task?

“Does anyone believe in love at first sight?” Hal asked as he held up a hand, subtly urging his listeners do the same if they agreed. Wendy slowly began to raise her hand, but put it down when she glanced to the right and left, noticing that Dawn and Ed remained motionless.

“That didn’t come out right,” Hal said with a groan. He rubbed the back of his neck. How did he get in this mess?

An hour earlier, Ed had informed Hal that he and Wendy had decided that the two couples should switch. The previous night, the foursome had been on a double date together. Dawn had been paired with Hal, while Wendy was with Ed.

At the time, Dawn and Hal seemed to mix like oil and water. Whereas Wendy and Ed hit it off like two peas in a pod. However, the next day the two couples had two separate encounters. Hal had spotted Dawn out walking and followed her into some secluded woods. They shared a fiery exchange of words, before sharing a few passionate kisses. They then proceeded to have a long, deep conversation that ended with a single tender kiss.

Wendy and Hal had met that Sunday, going out for a sundae. As they ate their ice cream, talk of the future ensued. Although it was only their second date, they had gotten along so well that the prospect of marriage and children came up, causing their first disagreement.

Hal suggested that when the time came, they marry in his church. Wendy, on the other hand, insisted they marry in her church. Then a light bulb seemed to illuminate over Wendy’s head. She belonged to the same Catholic parish as Hal, and Ed’s family attended the same fundamentalist church that Dawn and her mother worshipped at.

Wendy conspiratorially suggested they switch dating partners.  Ed recalled seeing Dawn walking an hour earlier when he was on his way to pick up Wendy. Dawn had silky tan legs, a sway to her hips, pouty lips, and big brown eyes. He also recalled how she looked the previous night in a short skirt and go-go boots. He smiled wolfishly and agreed to the change up.

Oh, how fickle the young! Passionate one minute, over it the next. No wonder it’s suggested by experts that couples wait at least two years before tying the knot. Now pour Hal was feeling the brunt of their immature actions. He felt Dawn turn even colder and decided to be blunt.

“Wendy, you are beautiful girl,” Hal said. “And I’m honored that you would like to go out with me.”

“Thanks, I feel the same,” Wendy beamed.

“What, that Hal’s a beautiful girl?” Ed teased.

“No, silly,” Wendy replied, giggling and playfully slapped Ed on the shoulder.

“I know this is strange and awkward…” Hal said, and paused as he looked at Dawn.

She looked away from his gaze, fighting hard against angry, hurt tears. How could he! Just a few hours ago they had shared sweet kisses. Then two hours seemed like two minutes as they talked, mostly about a surprisingly civil debate over God.

Hal had suggested that a loving God could not exist in a world like ours. Dawn had countered with the origin of sin and the war in heaven, which led to our fallen world. Hal had then asked, ‘why, if God is all powerful, like the way He supposedly cast Satan and his angels out of heaven, could he not have saved his twenty year old cousin from being killed in Vietnam back in May?’

Hal had been ready to leave with their debate in a stalemate. Then Hal had asked his final question with a trembling lower lip and a quiver in his voice. “Tell me Dawn, where was God when my cousin, barely out of his teens, was killed in an explosion? His parents and little sister are absolutely devastated.”

Dawn didn’t try to stop the tear that leaked from her own eye as she replied softly. “The same place He was when His Son was tortured and then crucified for our sins.”

“I see,” Hal replied quietly, never considering before that God has enemies, even though the vast majority of humanity has heard of demons, devils, and Satan.

“But Jesus rose from the grave,” Dawn continued with a gentle voice. “He is the only person to defeat death. He’s also the only hope we have in a fallen world, a world that killed God when He came to save them.”

Hal had stared at Dawn, stunned. What she said was so simple, yet it resonated as true with him. She could see it in his eyes. He gave a little smile and nodded.

“I know there’s a lot of pain in the world,” Dawn continued. “But time is a deception. Our earthly life can seem so long, yet compared to eternity, it is literally like a blink of an eye.”

“How did you get so wise?” Hal asked with a chuckle.

“You should come to church with me and find out,” Dawn said, and then feared she might be pushing too fast.

“I think I might,” Hal replied. “I better go.”

Hal leaned in and gave her a feather light kiss. Then he pulled her in for a gentle, yet firm embrace. Dawn smiled sweetly at him. “Bye.”

“See ya at school tomorrow,” Hal said as he walked backward to his dad’s pickup truck.

“Okay.”

“Can I give you a ride home?”

“I’d like that,” Dawn beamed. Her heart soared as high the clouds as she watched her potential boyfriend drive away. A guy most of her female classmates dreamed of having as their own. Was he really going to be hers? What an answer to prayer!

But then a phone call from Wendy an hour later, telling her ‘no, he wasn’t hers.’ She knew very well that Wendy had been Hal’s first choice. Now something seemed to happen to reverse the weekend’s chain of events. It seemed the three of them conspired without her to change things up. Wendy was going to go out with Hal now, and apparently Dawn was expected to pair with Ed.

Well they had another thing coming. Not that Ed was so bad. He was strong, handsome, and polite. But he was no Hal. Hal was one of those boys, others just naturally seemed to follow. He was suave and cool, he also looked like he could be Paul McCartney’s younger brother. On the other hand, Dawn didn’t want to be left out either. Maybe she was being prideful. She had just read in the book of James after Hal left her house, that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

“The thing is what?” Ed demanded.

Hal  was staring at Dawn with a determined expression. “I think I’m falling in love with Dawn, and I don’t want to switch.”

Dawn’s jaw dropped, and she considered throwing herself in Hal’s arms. But Ed spoke and she stayed put.

“What?” Ed exclaimed, and then snorted a laugh. “You two looked miserable last night. Are you drunk? How can you go from never wanting to see someone again one day to falling in love with them the next?”

“All I know is today Dawn and I had a connection I’ve never felt with another human being before,” Hal explained as he recalled the way she felt in his arms, the way her lips felt against his, and the way time seemed to stand still when they conversed.

Hal looked at Wendy. “I’m sorry, Wendy. You’re a beautiful girl and all. As a matter of fact…” Hal then stopped himself from saying that he originally wanted to go out with her, thinking that might just make things more complicated.

“That’s cool,” Wendy replied with a casual shrug. “We were just trying to help. We had no idea you two got together today. Ed and I figured if religion became an issue with us, it had to be with Dawn. We also realized that Hal and I belong to the same church, and Ed’s family goes to Dawn’s church, that’s all. It just seemed logical to switch. But tell me something, Dawn.”

“Okay.”

“I know how serious you are about your faith,” Wendy said. “So how is it you two are, I guess, going to be seeing each other? And why did you go out with him in the first place when you knew he was Catholic, and also a bit of a wild child?”

“Hey,” Hal said with mock offence.

“I thought it could be possible,” she replied, and then cringed. “That he might convert and join my church.”

“Yeah, right,” Ed laughed. “I’ve invited Hal several times to church services and church activities over the years, and not once has he ever considered it.”

“I’m going next weekend,” Hal declared.

“You don’t say,” Ed said sarcastically, and then defiantly put his hands on his hips. “You’re going just because she’s prettier than me, that’s all.”

Dawn felt herself blush. It only deepened after Hal spoke.

“Well, she’s prettier than you to be sure,” Hal said. “But she’s also smarter, and, um, holier than you are, too.”

Wendy giggled, Dawn humbly cast her eyes downward, and Ed shook his head and laughed.

Hal then proceeded to convince Wendy and Ed to continue seeing each other. He reasoned that if they were still together at the end of the school year, they could then begin to decide what their future holds.

Talk of compromising spiritual matters made Dawn uncomfortable. Compromise had been what watered down the standards of the Christian faith over centuries. Yet her desire for Hal, coupled with her hope he would truly convert, led to her own series of compromising.

She felt encouraged that Hal did indeed begin attending church services with her. But then she became concerned when he began skipping occasionally due to late night, teenage shenanigans. She was delighted that Hal stopped smoking around her, but disappointed when Wendy began dabbling with the unhealthy practice.

Then came Christmas break. Dawn was delighted with the pretty gold locket Hal had given her. She gave him a leather bound Bible, which he seemed to genuinely like. Then she fought off jealousy over the promise ring Ed had given Wendy. But she was more disturbed when she asked Wendy what she had given Ed.

Even though they were alone in Wendy’s bedroom, her best friend put her mouth close to Dawn’s ear and whispered. “I gave Ed my virginity.”

“Wendy!” Dawn exclaimed as she felt the blood drain from her face.

“Shh,” Wendy responded with a finger to her lips and a frown on her brow.

“Wendy, I thought you were saving yourself for marriage?” Dawn whispered.

“Get with it, Dawn, this is the sixties,” Wendy seemed to scold. “I’ll tell you something you might not like to hear. You’re gonna end up losing Hal if you don’t start doing more than kiss with him.”

“I will not,” Dawn declared. “Hal’s known from the start that I’m saving myself for marriage, and he honors and respects that.”

“Yeah, well, he knows you intend to be a virgin your wedding day, but he didn’t know you wouldn’t even let him touch you, or, you know, do other sexual things besides intercourse.”

Dawn felt something grow cold inside her. Did Wendy know something she didn’t? Did Hal say something to Ed, and then Ed to Wendy? She inquired and found out Hal had complained to his best friend about sexual frustrations.

This put Dawn in the biggest spiritual battle of her life. Why hadn’t Hal talked to her about this? Maybe he was too much of a gentleman. It didn’t help when he missed the next church service. Dawn anguished over what to do, yet she prayed very little over the matter. It made her feel strange talking to God about sex, so she trusted to her own reasoning.

After all, her track record proved her to be a good, responsible, and moral person. But Wendy was right, this was the sixties. She couldn’t expect Hal to be content with just kisses for the next two years, or whenever it was they decided to marry.

The next time Dawn and Hal were alone, she let the explorations begin. Each time she let things go a little further. Hal was beyond pleased with the carnal pleasures he was now experiencing, and he always reassured Dawn that she was the girl for him. Then came Valentine’s day.

Dawn had never tasted alcohol before, and never intended to. But time and again she had watched Hal, Wendy, and Ed enjoying beers and laughing as she quietly sipped a coke. Ed had grown up in her church, which on record, forbade drinking and smoking. He had always seemed fairly devout, yet he easily downed beers and smoked cigarettes with no apparent violation of conscience. She also had witnessed her mother, one of the most stern people she had ever known, occasionally have a glass of wine on a special occasion.

Valentine’s day for a young couple in love was a very special occasion. No one was home at the Storm residence, so Hal invited the foursome for a little party. First the boys gave their girls flowers and presents. Wendy received earrings from Ed, and Dawn’s jaw dropped when Hal placed a promise ring on her finger. Wendy squealed and clapped, and Ed whistled and clapped.

Then Hal went to the kitchen and returned with four glasses, a bottle of wine, and a Pepsi for Dawn. Hal was about to pop the top on the can of soda when Dawn stopped him. “Can I have a glass of wine?”

Wendy and Ed grinned, but Hal frowned. His association with Dawn was convicting his conscience to give up smoking and drinking. Although he had cut back on both, he had not yet refrained. Maybe in the spring, he told himself.

But he didn’t like the idea of Dawn compromising her principles. She had already begun doing sexual things with him, even though he had been patient and respectful. He needed to become more like her, not her like him. She was worth the wait.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Dawn,” he told her.

“Just once, I want to see what it’s like,” she shrugged. “You guys drink all the time. I just want to celebrate this day, and mostly this ring.”

Hal’s jaw clenched as he poured wine instead of Pepsi into Dawn’s glass. But once a buzz was had, Hal’s conscience wasn’t nearly as bothered. He even liked how lighthearted Dawn became, and the cute way she giggled. But when she asked for a refill, Hal had the sense to tell her ‘no, she wasn’t used to it’ and needed to drink a soda now. However, when Hal went to the bathroom, Wendy refilled her best friend’s glass.

Not much later, Dawn found herself in Hal’s bedroom. It wasn’t a place unfamiliar to her, but the state she was in was. She felt light, uninhibited, and erotic. She wondered why she had always been so against drinking because she felt incredible, adventurous, even reckless. In a breathy voice she petitioned her boyfriend. “Hal?”

“Yeah,” Hal gasped, caught up in his own desire.

“Let’s make love for real.”

“Dawn, no!” he scolded.

“Dawn, no,” she repeated, and then giggled. “It sounded like you were scolding your dog.”

Hal laughed, but then became serious. “Dawn, let’s just keep doing what we’ve been doing. I can wait until marriage for, you know….”

“Please, Hal, I’m ready.”

“You’ve been drinking.”

“But I’m really in the mood.”

“We’ll wait until tomorrow then.”

“No,” Dawn whined. “Wendy and Ed have been doing it since Christmas.”

“You’ve been drinking, I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

She recited half of the alphabet backwards, and a big chunk of Hal’s resolve was gone. A half dozen pleading words, and a dozen kisses later, and Hal gave in.

The next morning Dawn didn’t feel so good. Two glasses of wine may not seem like much, but Dawn weighed just over a hundred pounds and had never drank before. How was it she felt so light and free last night, but now she felt thick and dirty? She recalled practically begging Hal to have sex with her. How could she face him now? She was never going to drink again! And she didn’t for more than a decade.

Facing Hal wasn’t as hard as she thought, he was extra lovey dovey and had shown up with flowers the day after. A dozen red roses and a promise ring on Valentine’s, and a dozen pink roses the day after. This relieved her anguished mind some.

But she knew Hal would expect them to go all the way on a regular basis now. She knew she should tell him it was a sin, that they made a mistake, and they should go back to waiting for marriage. But sin is easier to do when you’ve already done it once. Even easier when you’ve done it twice. Dawn justified giving in by the promise ring. They intended to be married one day, the only thing lacking was a future ceremony.

In mid-April, Hal was puzzled by Dawn’s melancholy mood. It was Saturday night, and when Hal told her that his parents went out with friends, he thought for sure she wouldn’t be in the mood. But when he suggested they go to his bedroom, she went without hesitation. Yet she just sat down hard on his bed, sighed heavily, and crossed her arms. Hal sat next to her, put an arm around her, and kissed her cheek. He pulled a condom out of his pocket and waved it. “Are we gonna take advantage of being alone? Isn’t this better than the backseat of my car?”

Dawn forced a smile and kissed him. Then she sighed. “Yes, we’ll take advantage of this opportunity, but you don’t need this.”

She grabbed the condom out of his hand and flung it into the trash can.

“Dawn, what are doing?” he chuckled. “You don’t want to get pregnant, do you?”

“Oh, I won’t get pregnant,” Dawn said sadly, then kissed him tenderly. “I already am.”

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

(The LIFE and MINISTRY of JESUS Part 17)

Called by the sea. (See Luke 5: 1-11)

Night was the only favorable time for fishing with nets in the clear waters of the big lake. After toiling all night without success, it seemed hopeless to cast the net by day. But Jesus had given the command, and love for their Master moved the disciples to obey.

This miracle, above any other he had witnessed, was to Peter a manifestation of divine power. In Jesus he saw One who held all nature under His control. This presence of divinity revealed his own unholiness. Love for his Master, shame for his own unbelief, gratitude for the condescension of Christ, above all, the sense of his uncleanness in the presence of infinite purity, overwhelmed him.

Peter exclaimed, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man,” yet he clung to the feet of Jesus, feeling that he could not be parted from Him. The Savior answered, “Fear not, from henceforth you shall catch men.”

The imprisonment of John the Baptist had been to them all a bitter disappointment. If such were to be the outcome of John’s mission, they could have little hope for their Master, with all the religious leaders combined against Him.

Before asking them to leave their nets and fishing boats, Jesus had given them the assurance that God would supply their needs.

Apart from Christ, our work is fruitless, and it is easy to distrust and murmur. But when He is near, and we labor under His direction, we rejoice in the evidence of His power. It is Satan’s work to discourage the soul; it is Christ’s work to inspire with faith and hope.

Those fishers of Galilee were humble and unlearned men. But Christ, the light of the world, was abundantly able to qualify them for the position for which He had chosen them.

The first thing to be learned by all who would become workers together with God is the lesson of self-distrust; then they are prepared to have imparted to them the character of Christ.

In the common walks of life there is  many a man patiently treading the round of daily toil, unconscious that he possesses powers which, if called into action, would raise him to an equality with the world’s most honored men.

It is not the highest work of education to communicate knowledge merely, but to impart that vitalizing energy which is received through the contact of mind with mind, and soul with soul. It is only life that can beget life. What privilege, then, was theirs who for three years were in daily contact with that divine life from which has flowed every life-giving impulse that has blessed the world.

The weak, vacillating  character becomes changed to one of strength and steadfastness. Continual devotion establishes so close a relation between Jesus and His disciple that the Christian becomes like Him in mind and character.