Three Converts

Part 11

At the water's edge, Griffin wasted no time kicking his shoes off and putting his feet in the water. He invited me to do the same, but I hesitated. It seemed oddly intimate. In the end, I couldn't say no. I was way too hot. I was just taking my sandals off. What harm was there in that?

The water was ice cold. Heavenly. I tipped my head back and let the cold rise through my feet and cool the rest of my body. When I opened my eyes, Griffin was doing the same. He stood facing the mountain, eyes closed, but he didn't look as happy as I felt to be cooling off. His expression was stony. It was a disconcerting change from the cheerful face I'd come to expect. I cleared my throat. "Um. Did you have time to think about our conversation yesterday? Do you have any questions?" I prodded.

"You know," he answered, eyes still closed, "I really didn't think about our conversation yesterday." I lowered my eyes to the sparkling water blurring my feet. "I thought about you," he corrected, "not so much the Diety stuff." I watched the water move, even though neither of us were stirring it. "Maybe you can refresh my memory?"

This was probably a waste of time. He was never going to make the transition. But what choice did I have but to try? I took a breath and spewed out all the wonderful things about the commune: the sense of community, the simple way of living, the freedom from secular temptation-

"The robes?" Griffin interrupted. It was so unexpected I couldn't stop a giggle.

"Okay, the Diety doesn't care as much about fashion sense as we do."

"It seems like you could at least have something in a lighter fabric for the summer."

"Stop changing the subject!" I reached into the water and gave him a splash. He returned the favor by dipping his hand into the lake and flicking it into my face. The more I got of the water, the more I wanted. It cooled my sweaty face. I cupped my hands and spilled it onto my face. It soaked my robe sleeves, but it was even more irresistible than Annie's donuts, and that was really something. When I uncovered my face Griffin was still smiling. I felt a tug of guilt. Were we flirting? I wasn't, but was he? I was suddenly very worried he and I were not on the same page.

I reluctantly stepped out of the water. "Okay, no more distractions." I tried to hit a chord between friendly and stern. He followed me out of the lake and sat beside me on the shoreline.

"You're a strict teacher."

"I really want to share this with you. It's a great way of life. The best way, if you ask me."

"Is that true?"

"Excuse me?"

"If I ask you, you'll tell me that living on the mountain, in a robe, unable to eat donuts, forced to convert three people before you're twenty is the absolute best way to live?"

I was speechless. He was taking our life out of context. My face got hot again and this time it wasn't because of the temperature. "You're spinning it to sound bad, Griffin. That's not fair."

"Humor me, Lucy. If you were caught, say- wearing a t-shirt, would you be more scared of Diety, or the council?"

The council. Definitely. "The council passes on the punishments Diety decides for us."

"So if you eat a donut? The Diety tells the council to.... What? What would your punishment be?"

Probably extra chores, definitely a lecture. Occasionally I'd heard of physical reprimands. "Why are you being like this? I thought you were open to hearing about our commune? I thought..." I thought you might be converted. My voice snagged and I turned away from Griffin, terrified I would start crying. I felt the pressure of his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I was being harsh. Lucy, there is just so much I don't understand. And we hear things, you know? I want to mind my own business, but now that I know you and like you... I'm going to worry about you."

"Worry about me?" I glazed over the part about him liking me. I remembered Sophie's concerned look. Not an option. If he's not coming to the commune, I need to know and move on.

"Worry about you," he confirmed.

I resisted. "Griffin. I've got to get my last convert. I can't..." I motioned to the lake and him. He seemed to get the point.

"I would consider about anything Lucy, but not this." He gestured up the mountain toward my home. "Not that. It's just not the way I want to live my life."

"Okay." Now I was crying. I needed to get back to work. I only had eight weeks left to make a conversion before they threw me off the mountain and I never saw my family again.

"It's not the way I want you to live your life either," he whispered.

I shrugged. There was nothing else to say.Finally, I willed my feet to move, and miraculously, they did.