Three Converts

Part 12

The rest of the day I hid. If the council members found out I wasn't pursuing my third conversion I'd be in big trouble. How many times a day do I worry about what the council members think?

The council was made up of seven pious men and women, who had proven their loyalty to Diety their entire lives. They had blemish-free histories, no reprimands, three solid conversions. They were the Sophies and Franklins of the world. I was one hundred percent sure they'd never been tempted by a breakfast pastry, or cursed their heavy robe, or indulged in the cool waters of Lake Maybelle on a hot day. They would have handled Griffin's arguments with the perfect defense and he'd be hiking up the mountain now to begin his new life.

The council members would never sit in an alley, on a piece of old cardboard, robe bunched up around their legs, crying, dreading the walk home to disappoint their families yet again. Thank the Diety I only told Soph about Griffin! It would be bad enough telling her I blew my chance. Not only did I lose the conversion, I could never face Griffin again. It was too mortifying. Too heartbreaking. Which meant I lost a huge chunk of territory to cover if I had to cut out the entire vendor area. And I did. I couldn't risk running into him again.

Even as I was processing the idea of never seeing my new friend again, he was standing in front of me, box of tissues in hand. "I've been looking for you all afternoon." I hid my face, but reached up and took a tissue.

"Why are you crying?"

Was he serious?! "I'm crying because I'm never going to get my third conversion and I'm letting my whole family down and I'm going to get reprimanded and thrown off the mountain and I'm never going to see my family again! And they actually love me and I love them- it's not like with other families on the mountain! I don't want to leave them!" I buried my face again and fresh tears began the trek down my face.

He sighed and had a seat next to me on the cardboard. "I'm so sorry, Lucy." And I could see he really was. I gave him a little smile even though I was still devasted by his rejection. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You mean besides give up your life and come live on the mountain with me?" It did sound a little crazy when I put it like that.

"The 'with you' part doesn't sound so bad." There was that tone again! Was he flirting with me? Lucy, get a grip. He's just being nice.

"No. It's not your problem. Maybe something will come up..." I was really starting to doubt that. "Hey, how did you know I was crying?"

Griffin cocked his head at me like a little question mark. "What?"

"You brought tissues. How did you know I'd be crying?"

"Oh. Annie tipped me off." He lifted the box of tissues. "She told me to bring them for when I did find you."

"Huh. Very intuitive of her."

Griffin stood. I let him pull me to my feet. His callouses scraped my palm in the most satisfying way. "Maybe I'm crazy and there's no chance of this, but I still want to be your friend." For the first time since I met him, Griffin sounded shy. It was so out of character I didn't answer, but drank in his bashfulness until he visibly squirmed. "Or not..."

"Oh! I mean yes, I want to be friends, but it's not that easy..."

"It should be. Friendship should be very easy."

"You know it's not that. I'm not supposed to fraternize with the townspeople unless I'm... working with them on a conversion," I blurted.

"So tell them you're still working on me."

I cringed. "I can't lie. I'm already an awful Robe." I put air quotes around the word "Robe." It was a word the townspeople used (often in a derogatory tone) to describe us. "I can't be a liar too," I pleaded.

We stared at each other for a very long time, my soft, salesperson hand in his rough, woodworking hand. Finally, he nodded with what looked like a sad grin. "I understand. Maybe just a smile then? Or a wave when I see you?"

"Definitely," I choked. He held the tissues out again and I took another one. "Thanks Griffin."

"You're welcome, Lucy."