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‘That a quote from one of your pamphlets?’
Her eyes return to me. ‘Yes, actually.’
I hold her gaze. ‘That’s how you want this conversation to go? You want to preach at me?’
Her cheeks colour. ‘No.’
‘What would you be saying if your God couldn’t hear you right now?’
‘He’s not my God.’
I look heavenwards. ‘Fine. If the God couldn’t hear you right now, what would you say to me? Since it’s a hypothetical question, your reply doesn’t count as saying it.’
‘Haven’t you ever heard the phrase “God is everywhere”?’
I shake my head and notice her looking over her shoulder. ‘What’s wrong now?’
She stops. ‘We’re far enough from them now. You should go on ahead.’
I turn, noting the discomfort on her face. ‘Is that because you’ll get in trouble for walking home with a boy?’
She looks away. ‘I’ve already endured a lecture on clothing choice this week. Not in the mood for a second topic.’
I regard her much-too-big clothes. She could do with sizing down, but it’s hardly worthy of a lecture. ‘What’s the problem?’
She hesitates, then swallows. ‘Modesty.’
My mouth turns up. ‘Someone lectured you about modesty? What, did you flash an ankle or something?’
She stares at my chest, not answering.
The rules this girl lives by are crazy. ‘Could you walk home with me if I were a J-dub?’
‘No. We have to be chaperoned with all men, all the time.’
I let out a long whistle. ‘How are so many of you married if you can never be alone?’
‘It’s a long answer that you probably aren’t interested in hearing anyway.’ She gestures for me to start walking. ‘And since you have the emotional maturity of a toddler, I think I’ll save my breath.’
‘Wow. That’s not very Christian of you, Wilson. What happened to return evil for evil to no one?’
She steps past me, deciding to walk ahead of me instead. ‘I suddenly remembered Matthew 5:38. “Eye for an eye.”’ She lifts her hand in a wave while walking away. ‘Have fun cleaning tables at school.’
My mouth curls into a smile. ‘And you have fun at Bible study. Chaperoned, of course.’
Annie glances over her shoulder, then breaks into a jog.
