Forever Young

Chapter 4

Reverend Crane never reappeared to inspect Samantha's work, so after a while she left the bucket and brush sitting by his podium. Outside, she found Prudence waiting for her with a pair of shoes. "I think these will fit better," she said. "I got them from Miss Brigham."

Samantha blushed as she slipped into one adult-sized shoe, dreading the teasing she would endure if the shoe didn't fit. She sighed with relief when it did. "These are much better. Thank you."

"You missed breakfast," Prudence said. From her apron, Prudence took out an apple and gave it to Samantha. She took a bite and nearly spit it out. The apple tasted tart and bitter, but since she couldn't remember the last time she ate, she devoured the apple anyway.

Once Samantha finished breakfast, Prudence took her hand and led her down the road into the forest. At the fork in the road, they headed away from the stream. "Where are we going?"

"It's time for studies. We don't want to be tardy. Come on, I know a shortcut." Prudence steered Samantha onto a narrow trail overgrown with trees and brush. Thorns and branches tore at Samantha's new clothes, but Prudence passed through without anything touching her.

"You have school out in the woods?"

"Miss Brigham holds class in the meadow when it's warm. For cold or rainy days we stay in the dining room."

Samantha continued fighting the underbrush up a steep hill, at the top of which she found a lush green meadow dotted with yellow, white, and purple wildflowers. Beyond this, she saw green fields stretching to the horizon. "Those are the fields," Prudence said. "The boys work there in the afternoon. Except for harvest time. Then everyone goes out to help."

"It's beautiful," Samantha said. She and Prudence sat down in the grass to watch as a flock of geese flew overhead in a V-formation. "Do you ever wish you could fly away from here?"

"Of course not. Eternity is my home."

"I wish I knew where my home was."

"I'm sorry about what happened at church."

"You saw? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't see them, but I know them. They pick on me too." Prudence looked down at the ground with shame. "I should have said something. It's sinful what they did."

"You really believe in this Way stuff, don't you?"

"I don't want to go to Hell. It's a terrible place with fire and demons poking you with swords."

"That's just a story."

"No, look." From a pocket, Prudence took out a black book with gold-trimmed pages. She turned to the back and showed Samantha a picture of a screaming demon with the body of a goat and the wings of a bat surrounded by flames.

" And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.'"

"You can read it?" Prudence asked.

"Of course. Can't you?"

"Only the reverend and Miss Brigham are allowed to read."

"Why's that?"

"It's forbidden until you've studied The Way long enough to resist Satan's influence."

"That's crazy! Books aren't evil."

Prudence searched the meadow for anyone spying on them and then whispered, "Would you read some more?"

"Sure." Samantha flipped to another page and read, "'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'" Samantha became so engrossed with her reading she didn't see Prudence shrink away or hear Miss Brigham lead the other children up the hill.

"Samantha Young, what are you doing?"

"I was reading-"

"That is forbidden." Miss Brigham snatched the Bible from Samantha's hands. "Children aren't allowed to read. Not until you've had the proper training. Otherwise, who knows what kind of smut and filth you'll uncover?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it would hurt anyone."

"Do try to be more careful in the future." Miss Brigham then turned to glare at Prudence. "And Prudence, shame on you for encouraging her. You were supposed to keep her out of trouble. Perhaps you aren't as dependable as I thought."

" I'm sorry, Miss Brigham."

"She didn't do anything wrong. She tried to stop me."

"Is that true, Prudence?" Prudence met Miss Brigham's gaze for a second before looking down at the ground and shaking her head. "That's what I thought. Samantha, your concern for your friend is admirable, but you must understand lying under any circumstances is wrong. If you had been paying attention to the reverend's sermon this morning instead of causing mischief, you would know tiny lies start us down the wicked path."

"But-"

"No buts, young lady. You two follow me. The rest of you sit here silently and seriously think about the reverend's sermon and what it means to you. We'll discuss it when I return." Miss Brigham took Samantha by the arm and led her back down the path with Prudence following in tow like a scolded puppy. They stopped at a small clearing, where Miss Brigham instructed the girls to kneel before a rock. "You girls pray for God to forgive your transgressions. Repeat after me, 'Lord, forgive us for having sinned against you and the sacred Way you entrusted to Reverend Crane.'"

Samantha and Prudence repeated the words, Samantha with no enthusiasm and Prudence with whole-hearted fervor. "Good. Say it again," Miss Brigham instructed. They repeated the phrase twenty-five times in all. "Now, what have you learned?"

"We shouldn't read books?" Samantha said.

"Yes, and what else?"

"We shouldn't tell lies?"

"Yes. Any lie at all sets us on a path to Hell. I want you to consider this while I check on the other children. You may return when you're ready to behave."

After Miss Brigham stomped back up the hill, Samantha got to her feet. "Where are you going?" Prudence asked. "She told us to stay here and think."

"You can sit here and think until you turn blue. I'm getting out of here."

"Where will you go?"

"I don't care. Anywhere is better than here." Samantha started back towards town, but Prudence got in her way. "You can't stop me. I'm leaving."

"You can't go! He'll find you."

"Who?"

"Mr. Pryde. He lives in the woods and makes sure no one gets in or out unless the reverend says so." Prudence looked around her as though expecting Mr. Pryde to jump out of a bush.

"I'm not scared of him," Samantha said, though she didn't remember ever seeing Mr. Pryde before.

"Samantha, please, it's not just him. He has dogs. They're terrible, monstrous things, like a pack of rabid wolves. Anyone who tries to get in or out without permission, he sets them loose. They'll tear you to pieces."

"I don't care. I'd rather get torn apart by wild dogs than stay here another second." Samantha crossed her arms and stamped her foot for emphasis.

Tears started to stream down Prudence's cheeks. "Samantha, please. You're my only friend. I don't want to lose you."

"You don't even know me. I don't even know me."

"That doesn't matter. You're the only one who hasn't treated me like I'm different."

"If you lost some weight you'd have plenty of friends," Samantha said. At this, Prudence's tears turned to sobs that doubled her over. A cold lump formed in Samantha's stomach. Prudence had shown her nothing but kindness and Samantha repaid it by hurting her. She put an arm around Prudence's shoulders. "I'm sorry. I'll stay. For now."