The Farmers Daughter

Chapter 5: News spreads quickly

[ Edith's POV ]

7:52am, September 8th
—
I pull into my regular parking space at the front of the school and my truck backfires. Everyone lingering around the front of the school was already looking at me like I'd grown another head, my truck just made it worse. Was I popular? No. But was I happy with myself? Yes, yes I was. I put the lanyard my keys were attached to around my neck then open the heavy drivers side door of my truck.

"Edith Edith Edith!" I hear Kathleen's shrilling voice across the parking lot. As much as I love Katie, she can be a bit too loud.

I haul my backpack over my shoulder and get out, kicking the door with my boot to shut it. "Katie.. tone it down a bit please. I'd like to keep my eardrums in good condition."

Her giggles fade when she stops in front of me and suddenly goes seriously. "So is it true? Rumor has it that your dad took in a foster boy, a troubled boy to be exact. Can you confirm this rumor? Connor doesn't believe it and I really want to prove him wrong."

I sigh and nod slowly. "The rumor is sadly true. It wouldn't be so bad if he was ten years old but he's my age. Anything that comes out of his mouth is rude and... life was going fine without him. That's all I have to say." The first bell rings so I start walking towards the entrance of the school.

Katie follows behind me, her high heels clicking against the pavement as she did a little awkward walk/jog to keep up with me. "Maybe you can turn his life around. Let your light shine to him and maybe he'll come to love the Lord as much as this small town does."

"Dallas is defiant, Katie. He wouldn't even attempt to bow his head when we prayed over our food." I wave my hands around frustratedly. "He's like a broken bottle and all his missing pieces are lost in the sand."

I push open the doors to the school and immediately go to my locker.

Katie wasn't always a goody two shoes and was part of Mia's mean girl group when we were fourteen, she was the first to come to my little close friend circle. It all started when Katie was struggling in our English class and our teacher chose me to help her, but it was really all Gods doing. Eventually she started coming to the Bible study at school then joined me in the youth group at church on Wednesday nights. I never forced my Christianity down her throat and let God draw her closer to Him on His own timing. Katie did a complete turn around and is now one of the best Christians I know; I took three steps backwards in my Christian life and she took ten steps forward.
My attitude—more like hatred—towards Dallas proves that I'm a hypocrite at the moment.

Katie snaps me out of my thoughts—she literally snaps her fingers in front of my face—and smiles at me. "Earth to Edith."

I sigh and look at her. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? -2 Corinthians 6:14"

Katie rolls her eyes, her patience with me was starting to wear thin. "I was a unbeliever at one time and you took a chance on me. You and I weren't really friends until I got saved."

I gather my books I needed for my first class then shut my locker. "But at least you tried to understand my Christianity."

Katie stops me dead in my tracks. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; - Romans 3:23. You don't have to be yoked together with Dallas but at least share the truth about Jesus Christ to him, he deserves that much. I wish someone would've told me sooner how peaceful it can be when you give your heart to God."

I stare past her shoulder and then finally meet her eyes. "He's impossible, Katie! Why is that so hard to grasp?"

"This isn't you, Edith. The old Edith was overjoyed to help others and to share Bible verses with anyone she met! Invite him to youth group on Wednesday. Even if he says no at least you put out an invitation." And with that the second bell rang and Katie was already walking down the hall away from me.

My frustration with Dallas overpowered my positive thoughts and brought in negative ones throughout the whole day.
He's a lost cause. Can God really scrape away at his hardened heart? He doesn't have to be so cruel. My dad could've fostered anyone but he chose to take in that brat of a boy.

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4:45pm

Bible study went good but I felt like time moved in slow motion. I couldn't focus enough to lead the group so I let that be Katie's job, tomorrow I would let Layla take the floor.
As Katie, Layla, and I were walking down the small hill to the student parking lot, Mia and her two evil henchmen blocked our path.

"So your daddy has to foster a boy just so you can have a boyfriend? How pathetic." She waves her pom poms in the air as she speaks. "If this doesn't work out is he going to start paying people to go out with you?" Sarah and Paige giggle behind her.

I start to step to my right but so does Mia. "I'm not doing this, Mia. My dad just wanted to help him out, okay? So just leave me alone."

Mia wouldn't let it go as she stepped closer to me, a smirk forming on her lips. Dallas and Mia would be a match made in heaven. "Now why would I do that when I love to see you as a miserable mess. Wonder who spread the gossip? Well, you're looking at her. Sweet pastor Thompson trusts my mother enough to tell her his personal business."

I wanted to reach out and squeeze her throat between my hands.

Katie puts a hand on my shoulder and steps beside me. "Leave Edith alone. You torture her every single day, can you not just let it go?"

"Katie I don't.." I begin to speak but I get cut off by Mia's high pitched voice.

"You don't what? Spit it out, farm girl." Mia knocks my bible out of my hands.

I get ready to spit something nasty back at Mia but then I remember Proverbs chapter 15 verse 1. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. "The cheers look great. I hope this year goes well for you guys." It took a lot for me to speak kindly to her and I was shocked at myself for not fighting fire with fire.

Mia was ready for me to hit her with a blow that's why she was dumbfounded when I didn't. "That's it?"

I nod and begin walking past her. "See ya at church Sunday." I say quietly and trudged through the mud puddles to get to my truck. The rain started up again so I drove slower on the way home, taking the longest way.

Maybe God would give me the strength to get over this stepping stone. I just had to ask myself this question; do I have enough faith in God? Reading His word was one thing, but obeying Hims word was a task at times. I wanted to love people as God loves others but I still had bitterness towards Dallas and Mia.