Three Converts

Part 4

Sophie and my parents prayed over me, shoved a little bag of food in my hand and gave enthusiastic smiles as I headed out the door. I tried to match their enthusiasm as I headed down the mountain trail. "Lucy! Luce!" Halfway down the mountain I turned around. Sophie was running at me, waving manically. She panted in front of me, and I waited while she caught her breath. Finally, she reached into her robe and pulled out what looked like a piece of blue glass.

"What is this?" It was almost the exact hue as Soph's eyes, and definitely had the same bright glimmer. My sister looked behind her, then bent toward my ear. "A good luck charm." If she'd told me it was venomous scorpion I wouldn't have been more surprised. Now I looked behind her and behind me too, to be sure nobody was around.

"Where did you get this?" Charms, relics, superstitions of any kind were strictly forbidden by the council. They implied humans need luck, when all we really need is Diety. Soph was more obedient to the council's laws than anybody I knew. That she would have this in her possession was more than a little shocking.

"It doesn't matter. I know it's awful. I do. It doesn't mean anything though, and it certainly doesn't do anything. It's just... symbolic." I stared at her.

"Symbolic."

"It's just for fun. It can't hurt, right?" She had a point there. At some point desperation lends itself to luck, and it seemed I'd reached the place where I'd give anything a try.

I shrugged. "Okay. Just for fun, then." She closed her eyes and exhaled. I recognized her expression as one of relief. Did she worry I'd turn her in to the council? The idea was absurd. I hugged my sister and noticed a person moving quickly down the mountain.

"Ugh. Franklin is coming."

Sophie's hair danced when she turned her head, the curls stopping in a perfect pose. "He's not so bad, Luce. Think of how much good he does for our little commune. He works constantly."

I scrunched my nose. "Blech."

"You're on your own with him," she gave me a little punch and jogged back up the rocky path, ignoring Franklin as she passed. I hustled away, hoping he wouldn't catch up, but his legs were double the length of mine and he was beside me in no time.

"Good Morning, Lucy. It's a great day for bringing some poor souls to Diety, isn't it?"

"Morning Franklin."

"How are you coming along? I'd be happy to share some tips." That may have sounded like a generous offer, but I knew better. Franklin was annoyingly pious, but he wasn't perfect. The gleam in his eye told me how delighted he was that I was failing where he continuously succeeded. Franklin got his three converts a few years ago, but continued going into town to recruit more. I'd seen him at work and it wasn't that he was so eloquent or persuasive, or even kind. He just rambled on until people converted just to shut him up. That was my theory at least. Obviously, I was bitter because of my dire situation, but also because every convert he got was one less prospect for me. Almost everybody stopped converting when they achieved their three people to allow for the next wave of recruiters to come in and do their work, but not Franklin.

"I'm good," I answered staring straight ahead.

"Your birthday's coming up, isn't it? I don't mean to pry, but you must be a little stressed. Not having that third convert under your belt and all."

"Not stressed at all, Franklin." He was so obnoxious. Of course, I'm stressed! I wanted to yell in his stupid, self-righteous face. Instead I channeled Sophie and tried to keep a pleasant smile on my face.

"What's that?" He pointed at my hand. Shoot. I was still holding the glass from Sophie.

"Hm?"

"In your hand? What is that, Lucy?" His voice was stern. I had half a mind to shove him over the cliff.

"This? Oh, just some old glass. I thought it was pretty." There were no rules against thinking something was pretty. I risked a glance up at his long face. His eyes were narrowed. He looked like he was trying to read my mind, which was against the rules too. I was about to say something when he said. "It is kind of pretty."

Well. Franklin had an eye for beauty. Who would have guessed? Mercifully, we walked the rest of the way in silence. When we reached the town's edge, Franklin gave me a smug smile. "The offer still stands. Want some tricks of the trade?" Pompous little weasel.

"Nope. Good luck, Franklin," I added just to annoy him. He snorted at the word "luck" and plunged into the crowd.

The entire town takes vacation the week of the fair. There is no school, no big business work- the little shops and restaurants stay open and make a large chunk of their yearly income in this one week. I was happy to see new faces. Many townspeople had already shut me down once. Some more than once. I rubbed the little glass in my hand and inhaled, then forked in the opposite direction of Franklin.

I found myself in the strip of temporaryvendors. It smelled amazing. There were spices, oils, candles and soaps tothank for the heavenly scents, but the goods were as pleasing to the eye asthey were to my nose. Bright paintings, quilts, and aprons begged to be strokedand inspected. The craftsmanship it took to make these things was soimpressive. It made me wish I had a skill. Any skill. I patted a wool blanket.My people could be selling their goods here. Herb's bread would be a huge hit,for instance. My mom was a beautiful seamstress. Her work rivaled the loveliestof things here. But the council forbid it. They worried we'd fall into asecular way of life and forget our true purpose. The thought jolted me. Truepurpose. I'd better get to work.