Prayers & Booze

The Meeting

Laura didn't know why this church retreat was so important to her mom. It wasn't that she wasn't devoted, because she was, she just didn't feel like spending her weekend praying. Granted her other plans weren't so exciting, but she would always choose binge watching TV shows and ordering sushi over having to smile at white conservatives who were frankly quite racist. She ended up going anyway because her mom paid for college and her apartment and Laura could not handle another 'you can't do anything for your dear mother' speech. 

She sat on the floor as she finished unpacking the meager belongings she had brought with her, after all it was only one night. She looked around as teenagers began entering the room, most of them introduced themselves and said hello and Laura didn't care about the ones who didn't. She looked around the way too big room and sighed. One of the aforementioned white conservatives offered their two story, five bedroom house. She was also the one who convinced Laura's mom that it was imperative Laura attend the retreat.

"She's at that age, Trudie. You know right now all she can think about is boys and sex. This retreat will put her mind where it should be." The old lady said as she spoke to Laura's mom. Trudie Mitchell was very much your average mom. She would always let Laura do what she wanted. Laura never took advantage of that, she mostly used the fact that she never had a bedtime to extend her already big library. Now she was twenty and stifled a laugh when she heard what the old lady said. Laura was pretty sure she passed that age already but her mom never gave her a sex talk so maybe she didn't notice.

It was another sunday at church when that conversation took place. After the service she mingled with her mom's friends and smile everyone commented on how much she and her mom looked alike. Trudie was now 42 and didn't have a single wrinkle on her skin. "Black don't crack, y'all!" Trudie had drunkenly yelled on her 40th birthday. It was day Trudie like to pretend never happen and Laura loved to remind her it did. 

Laura's mind returned to present day as a skinny blond boy sat next to her. "Hiya." He smiled. He had one of those smile that were contagious and made his eyes crinkle. "Hi." Laura replied. The blond boy introduced himself as Thomas and suddenly Laura remembered seeing him at church once or twice. He explained how he usually didn't have a lot of time to go to church, which was why she didn't see him often. 

A tall boy with dark skin then entered the now empty room and nodded in acknowledgement of Laura. "Hey, Tom. Do you know where we're sleeping?" The boy asked lifting his bag. "I'm pretty sure this is the room." Thomas replied. The boy put his bag down and sat on the only bed in the room. It seemed like a very bold move to Laura. Lots of kids had come and put their things on the floor, all being too shy to take the only bed and Laura was not the exception. It really wasn't anything crazy what the boy was doing. If there was an empty bed the next logical thing to do was to take it before anyone else did.

"That's Isaac." Thomas said gesturing towards the boy. "Isaac I am." The boy- Isaac, Laura reminded herself- replied. Trudie walked in then to tell them it was time for the prayer circle. As they went down the stairs Isaac and Thomas stopped many times to talk to different people all of different ages. Laura noticed the reactions to them were mixed as she waited for them. And really why was she waiting for them? It was more than obvious that they new more people here that she did. All the teenagers greeted them with smiles as big as Thomas and Isaac engulfed every single person they talked to in a tight hug. The adults were polite but didn't seem all that happy to see them. At least not as happy as the teenagers. 

Father Stanley waited patiently as everyone gathered in a circle. He started his speech by blessing everyone in the house and continued by asking God to help everyone in need. Everyone in the retreat were there for different reasons. Some were alcoholics that needed God to put them on the right path. Some were young adults that wanted forgiveness for having premarital sex and some just wanted to feel closer to God. After the Father finished his speech they all held hands in prayer. Laura's eyes were shut in concentration, listening intently at Father Stanley's words and feeling each and every one of them. 

After a while she opened her eyes and looked in front of her. Everyone else looked just as concentrated as she had been a second ago, except for Isaac.

He looked bored more than anything. His eyes were wide open scanning the room for anyone else who might look like him. He sighed as he saw his friend Thomas had his eyes closed. His eyes then landed on Laura and he grinned. Isaac gestured to everyone else with his head and rolled his eyes. Laura gave him a shocked look that meant he clearly misjudged her. She was just as devoted as everyone else but he wasn't about to stop now because he was bored and her expression was seriously funny. 

He let go of the hands of the people next to them. Thomas didn't even twitch as Isaac released his hand and the other person just gave him and odd look and continued praying. Isaac gestured to his watch and mouthed the words 'this is taking too long' at Laura. She gave him another shocked look and bowed her head. Isaac tried to stifle a laugh but some people noticed. That just made him chuckle.