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Minific: Christy's Choice
Written by Annie
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I felt frozen in place, as I stared at the object in my hands.  It
felt heavier with each minute.  I'd lost track of time, and didn't
know how long we'd been standing in the schoolyard.  When I looked
up, David and Neil were still watching me, waiting for some response.

"Christy."  David spoke very softly, as though he didn't want the
doctor to hear.  "You knew you'd have to decide sooner or later."

"I know," I said, "but I just--"

David leaned closer.  "Then you have to--"

"She doesn't have to," Neil said.  "Don't rush her."

"I don't think you're in any position to influence her, Doctor,"
David said.

"Why don't you stop bullying her," Neil said, his voice low.

"I'm not.  It's just that the choice is obvious," David said. 
"Christy, if you think about it rationally--"

"Please!" I cried, "I can't think when you're standing over me like
this.  David, why don't you take the children back inside for their
Bible lesson."

I wasn't looking at Neil, and he didn't make a sound, but I felt his
satisfaction.  David gave him an angry look, and with one last
whispered plea to me, he shepherded the children back into the
school.

As soon as the doors closed, I started walking down the meadow.  I
kept my eyes on the distant mountains, unable to look at what I held
in my hands.  I knew Neil wouldn't follow unless I invited him -- I
wasn't sure if I wanted to, not for this decision.  My feet slowed,
then stopped, and I found myself turning to look back at him.

"What is it you really want, Christy?" he asked.  Even at a distance,
Neil's eyes burned into my soul.  Why did I feel an urgent need to
run to him, to be held in his arms, to tell him of my turmoil?  How
could he possibly help me?

My fingers suddenly became weak, and the object dropped to the ground
before me.  I sank to my knees.  I tried to summon energy, praying
for the right decision, but there was no answer, no influx of
strength.

"I don't even care any more!" I said.

"We both know that's not true," Neil said as he came to my side and
knelt.  "If you didn't care, you'd just flip a coin and choose."

"Maybe I should do that."

I thought he was joking, but Neil dug into his pants pocket.  "Hold
out your hand," he said, and dropped a nickel into my palm.  I
couldn't believe what he was suggesting.

"Neil, I didn't really mean--"

"Toss it up.  Go on."

I tried to give him back his coin, but he insisted, assigning my two
choices to heads or tails.  By now I could feel my whole face was hot
from blushing.  Didn't he care what I chose?  Was it so insignificant
to him?  Finally in anger I threw the coin into the air.

It fell a few feet from us, and Neil leaned far over to retrieve it. 
He carefully picked it up and showed me how it had landed.

"Heads," he said.  "How do you feel about that?  Are you willing to
go with that choice?"

Neil's expression flummoxed me.  At first I thought he was mocking
me, but his eyes were gentle and patient.  He really did care what I
wanted.  We gazed at each other for several moments, and I had to
turn away in order to think about his question.  When my heartbeat
slowed to normal, I knew my answer.

"No," I said.  "I want the white ones with the green leaf pattern."

"You're sure?"  Neil smiled as though he wasn't at all surprised.  He
reached for the Sears & Roebuck catalogue, which had fallen face
down, and opened it to the page I'd been studying for so many
agonizing hours.  He pointed to a picture of window curtains. 
"These?"

"Yes.  How did you know what I really wanted?"

"I didn't," he said.  "But I knew if I forced one or the other
choice, your real feelings would come to the surface, instead of what
you thought you ought to do, or what David thought you ought to do."

The relief was wonderful, and I laughed out loud.  I picked up the
heavy catalogue, settled it on my lap, and then relaxed against
Neil's shoulder so that we could both look at the page.

"They'll look perfect on the school windows," I said, "and they're
appropriate for church services on Sundays, don't you think?"

"I don't know much about curtains, but I'm sure they're fine."  His
arms stole around me, and I nestled into his embrace.  Neil's cheek
brushed mine as he reached for the catalogue.  "Now here's something
I do know."

I laughed again as the page opened to fishing equipment.


                <<<< The End >>>>


DISCLAIMER:
Catherine Marshall's beautiful story of Christy is owned by the
LeSourd family.  I am in no way seeking profit or credit for her
story.  I am continuing the story of Christy for my own amusement
only.  Any additions in story line and characters were invented by
the writer.