Matthew read from Genesis. Joyce pretended not to care, but she was interested. Matthew did the same, but he tried to look like he had a clue about what he was doing. Joyce was starting to get bored with the story of creation, and tried her best to hide it; however, eventually she lost patience and just asked Matthew to read the story of the Prodigal Son. He hesitated for a bit, then looked it up in the concordance at the back of his bible. He read the parable out loud while Joyce listened, and thought about it.
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him, read Matthew from his bible. His bible was a hard cover Gideons bible that looked like it came from a hotel. He turned the page and finished reading, It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. When Matthew finished reading the passage he returned to Genesis and started reading the story of Noah. He got to the part where the flood was over and Noah got naked and drunk. Joyce started to giggle at the irony of her punishment for staying out late.
Then Matthew quickly closed his bible in embarrassment and told Joyce to leave. She walked upstairs to her room.
When she got to her room and sat down on her bed the phone in her room started to ring. It was Rachel, and she asked Joyce if she wanted to come with her to a retreat. Rachel sounded a bit nervous while asking, but Joyce told her that she would have to think about it; well she would have to ask Matthew.
Whos Matthew? asked Rachel.
Joyce hesitated a bit, and then said, Just someone.
Umm… okay, whatever, was Rachels reply.
Joyce hung up the phone and sat quietly in her room. She reasoned that there would probably be no benefit to not tell Matthew, even though she hated being dependent on him. While she was relaxing on the cushioned chair in her room, her mind started to drift away as she stalled for time. Strangely, while she was doing this, a thought came into her mind that she had never considered before: what would her life had been like if Matthew married her mother and they lived together as a family in this palace of a house? Would she have siblings? Would she be the same person? Would she have a happy ending? Would she still hate Matthew?
She got up from her chair and walked into the living room where Matthew was and she asked, Hey Matthew, I am going to camp this weekend. Is that okay?
Will there be drinking? asked Matthew.
No, replied Joyce.
Im not sure why I should let you
Its a church youth group retreat, blurted out Joyce before Matthew could finish his sentence. Matthew looked puzzled, but said that it was okay for her to go.
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