Chapter 21

Steve watched from outside himself as he threw the first punch of his life that he had truly meant. Time slowed; he watched the veins in his wrist bulge, watched the skin in the crook of his elbow stretch. He noticed his thumb and wondered if it should be outside or inside his fist. He thought about the movie "Fight Club" and if this was the first step on a long and dangerous journey.

Unfortunately, he should have been watching and thinking about Christian, who had taken half a step back.

Chapter 20

It was supposed to be an easy day at school. A nice Friday before Spring Break, a nice afternoon watching movies in class instead of doing work. Of course, when you're friends with someone like Bobby B, nice days have an unfortunate way of ending...not so nice.

"What did you say, punk?" the student in front of his was Christian Davis. His perfectly styled hair reflected the fluorescent lights in the hallway. Christian was the type of person that cheated on everything. Classes, girlfriends, the pot he sold. He was, in short, a douchenozzle.

Unfortunately, his left forearm held Bobby B by the neck against a locker. Also unfortunately, no teachers seemed to be monitoring the situation.

"I said those girls were peaches. You must have misheard me." Bobby B eked out.

"Maybe I didn't mishear you. Maybe you want to get beat down."

Steve looked around - still no teachers. (Do I hit him?)

"Hey!" Steve said. (I should have punched him. Dang.)

"What do you want? You want to watch your friend get beat down?"

"I want you to let him go. Everyone knows he's got a big mouth."

"That's true." Bobby B said, and was slammed into the locker again, then Christian let him go and turned to Steve.

"Maybe I should beat you down."

"No no - don't feel obligated." Steve immediately regretted his words.

Without warning, Christian drew back and swung. His fist collided with Steve's jaw, sending him spinning and down to one knee. As Christian laughed, Steve focused on his hand. Without any signal from his brain - in fact, ignoring the signals telling him to walk away, his fingers curled into a fist.

"Oh my God," he had time to think, "I'm the George McFly to Christian's Biff!"

Chapter 19

"Okay, Jen, here we go. As Christians, we believe that God has certain plans for all of us. When people say 'Everything happens for a reason,' this is what they're talking about. God's plan."

"So we can't change anything? Is that what you're saying?" Jennifer asked.

"Not exactly. Again, we believe that part of God's plan is to give us choices. And I don't mean choices like which of the 31 flavors of ice cream to get. I mean choices more about spiritual matters."

"Such as?"

"Such as whether or not we believe in God. On whether we accept that Jesus was the Son of God, and accepting that, that we accept Him into our hearts as our Savior. God gave us that choice."

Jennifer thought a moment. "But wouldn't it make more sense for God to control the 'spiritual matters' and let free will do the rest? You know, in terms of things like where we live, where we work, who we marry. If God is spiritual, then...do you see what I'm saying?"

"I do. And you do still have free will. Let me put it this way: have you ever done something you knew was wrong?"

"Well...I took some lip gloss from a Walgreens when I was 11."

"And you knew it was wrong when you did it, didn't you?"

Jen looked at her feet. "Yes."

"You see? That voice inside - that was God's plan. But you chose to ignore God's plan and exercise your free will, which was to commit that sin."

"But...wouldn't that throw off God's whole plan? If taking that lip gloss went against his plan for me, wouldn't that mess up future situations?"

Pastor Wood smiled. "Well yes, if God were a machine that couldn't adapt. But God takes these situations, these situations that don't fit in and adapts them into a new plan. And if you think of how many people are acting against God's plans all over the world, you begin to realize the awesome power of God."

"I see."

"Do you mind if I ask why you bring all of this up?"

A pause.

"We read part of Slaughterhouse Five in English class, and in there -"

"Ah yes, time is happening everywhere at the same time, and nobody can change anything."

"YOU read Kurt Vonnegut?" Jennifer was surprised.

"I have. In fact, it was 'Galapagos' that led me to some interesting books about evolution and creation and, indirectly, led me to the church."

"Really?"

"Really and truly."

"Thanks, Pastor Wood. I need to get to work, but I appreciate your time."

"No problem, Jen."

She gathered her purse and got up to leave.

"Jennipher, just one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Regardless of whether you accept that God has plans for you or not - and I believe that he does - know that all of it - ALL of it, fate, free will, where you live, whom you marry, all that - all of it is because he loves you. He loves you with the same awesome power he used to create the universe. First John 4:8b: 'for God is love.'"

"Thanks, Pastor."

"Anytime."

Chapter 18

"Pastor Wood? Jennipher Semmes is here to see you."

"Send her in."

Pastor Wood's office was, in a word, cozy. The wooden bookcases held a copious number of books on (of course) faith and Christianity, his office plants thrived, and it was always the "right" temperature. Pastor Wood himself was a jovial man, a bit overweight, thinning hair, and a huge sincere smile on his face.

"Jennipher! What can I do for you today?"

"Hey, Pastor Wood. It's been a rough few days for me."

"I'm here to help. What's going on? Youth Group giving you trouble?"

"No, the girls are great. It's just that - this is a tough one."

"Take your time."

After a deep breath, Jennifer steeled herself. "How much of life is predetermined?"

Pastor Wood's eyebrows shot up. "That's a pretty deep question."

Jen remained silent.

"It's something that people have been wrestling with since the dawn of man, and let me stress that scholars differ on the matter."

"I'd like to hear as much as possible."

Chapter 17

PROM COMMITTEE MINUTES:
Present for the meeting were Jonna McCarver, Melissa Frobish, Steve Norcutt, "Little" Kueny, and Advisor Kotoly.

The meeting began at 3:35. Melissa presented ideas for favors, including glasses, candles, and scrubs. By a vote of 3-1, scrubs won.

Next, Kueny went over the budget for decorations with the group and showed some of his ideas. This developed into a discussion of prom theme ideas. The following ideas were considered:
The Time of Your Life
One Night In Paradise
Dancing With The Stars
A Magical Evening
Destiny

By a vote of 3-1, "A Magical Evening" won. Steve continued to fight for "Destiny" but Advisor Kotoly took over and said that the matter was settled.

Assignments were divided up as follows:
Jonna - Volunteers to decorate. Hire DJ.
Melissa - Scrubs
Kueny - Get decorations
Steve - Food.

The meeting ended at 5:18.

MF

Chapter 16

"The PROM committee? Are you serious?"

"Yeah, Gar, I am. Little Kueny and I are going to help out. That way we don't have to pay for tickets."

"But still...the prom committee is for...well, it's not for us."

Steve kicked a rock along the ground. "It is since last Friday."

Realization dawned on Gar. "Oh, you've got to be sh-"

"Listen. If I can't go with Jennipher, I don't want to go. But I have to go, and I have to have a reason not to have a date. Being on the prom committee is that reason. I'll go early, decorate, maybe help the DJ set up, I don't know. Then I go home, get cleaned up, show up, eat dinner, then stay off the dance floor all night, then clean up. The committee is the perfect cover for not having a date."

"I don't see how it's a perfect cover. You're still going to be there by yourself."

"No no no, brother. Here's what I say: 'I was going to bring a date, but it didn't seem fair to any girl to not give her the whole special Prom experience. I'll be so busy helping set up and clean up that I wouldn't have time to devote to a date.'"

"I think you're crazy."

Steve pursed his lips in thought.

"Yeah, I probably am. But I told Little Kueny I'd help out, so I'm already committed."

"So Prom Committee?"

"Prom committee. I'll see you after the meeting."

"Deuces."

"Deuces."

Chapter 15

Stares-At-The-Sun waited patiently. Heat from the overhead sun came in waves with the breeze. Plan were in motion. Soon.