Brother Willy's Traveling Salvation Show (4 page)

There were no questions, as
they had not yet read the script. Betsy offered them one final instruction before she left the stage. “This is very dramatic and is important that you be serious and do the very best you can to make us believe in what you are doing. You can begin reading over the script until you see the stage lights get brighter. At that time, you should start the scene.”

Michelle
and Scott read the first page and reached the second page at almost the same time. She was reading faster than he was after they started the second page. When she finished the second page, she looked up staring at Scott. When he reached the end of the page, Scott looked up from the paper as her eyes met his. As if on cue, they both turned to look at the people in the audience. They both were challenging someone to explain what they were reading and why it had been written.

Before
they could say anything, the lights over the audience went black and an image of an old train station was projected onto the large screen behind them. Two stage lights were shining on them while the rest of the stage remained dim. Michelle knew Scott was waiting for her to decide if she wanted to keep their end of the agreement. With a few slight nods of her head, Scott started to read and follow the script.

Scott
              I didn’t think I would get here before your train left.

Michelle
              I wasn’t sure you would come to see me off. I am glad you came.

Scott
              I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye. We have been friends too long to let that happen.

Michelle
              Atlanta is not that far away so we can still be friends forever.

Scott
              Do you really believe that or are you just trying to make saying goodbye a little easier?

Michelle
              I wish it could be true, but I know time and distance have a way of making good things become nothing more than fond memories.

Scott
              I was up late last night thinking about all the time we spent together through all the years. It is hard to believe it’s almost over.

Michelle
              I didn’t sleep much either. I kept looking for an excuse to miss my train today so we could have a little more time together. I realized if I don’t go today, then I would have to go tomorrow.

Scott
              My life is going to be very different without you being around. Most of our friends have gone other places. It’s not going to be the same.

Michelle
                            Are you going to leave or stay in New Bern?

Scott
              I can’t think of any reason to spend the rest of my life here. Like you, I need to move on to other things.

Michelle
              You could come live in Atlanta and then we could be friends forever.

Scott
              For obvious reasons, I don’t think that would work out so well.”

Director
Note
              Michelle takes both of Scott’s hands and holds them.

Michelle
              We made some mistakes Scott. Maybe instead of being friends, we should have been in love with each other.

Scott
              The train will be pulling into the station in just a minute so let me make a confession before you go. I have loved you since the first time I saw you and time and distance won’t ever change that.

Michelle
              Can we give each other a goodbye kiss before I go?”

Director
Note
              Scott and Michelle give each other a long kiss.

At this point, Scott put his arms around Michelle and kissed her for at least a minute, which was something they had never done before. The lights on the stage faded to black and much to his surprise, Michelle kept her arms around his waist for several minutes until the sound of Betsy’s voice was heard on the speaker system. As Betsy spoke, Michelle and Scott continued to stare at each other in the dim light.

Betsy
’s announcement that homemade ice cream was being served at her house was clearly designed to entice her guests to leave the barn. With the exception of William, everyone followed Betsy down the road. He walked from the back row to the stage and sat in one of the chairs, never taking his eyes off them. 

Michelle
was far more direct in her approach than Scott would have been. “That wasn’t fair of you to put us in that position, Uncle William. What exactly were you trying to prove?”

William
pulled a cigar from his coat pocket and lit it while still watching them. “In less than two minutes I gave you both a glimpse into your future.”

Michelle
continued to question him, as she was not satisfied with his answer. “Why would you do this to us? Scott and I both know it’s going to be hard to say goodbye when I get married and leave.”

When
William spoke again, he sounded more like a college professor than the man who had been telling jokes while cooking their steaks. “Men and women who possess great minds have argued for centuries over the matter of destiny versus free will. Is it your destiny to marry Tom or is that a choice you make? If your marriage is nothing more than your fate or destiny, then we can end our conversation right now and enjoy the homemade ice cream.”

Neither
Michelle nor Scott understood exactly where he was going with his ideas. Michelle then spoke in a clear and concise tone. “It would be my choice and mine alone.”

William
next turned his attention to Scott and given his question, Scott started to understand what William’s intentions were. “Tell me something Scott. When you were reading the script, was there anything you said to Michelle that was untruthful?”

Scott
was reluctant to answer his question for several reasons and his hesitation caused Michelle to turn her attention from William to him. It was clear to Scott that she wanted to hear his answer. He then turned to look at Michelle. “Everything I said was the truth.”

William
then continued as he glanced back at Michelle. “The day you told Tom that you would marry him, did you know that Scott had been in love with you since the first time you ever met?”

William
gave her no opportunity to answer his question before he spoke again and Scott could see the confusion in Michelle’s eyes. “Tell me something Michelle. In the privacy of your own thoughts, did you ever wish that you and Scott could have been in love with each other and not just friends?”

William
rose to his feet, indicating he was getting ready to leave. “The world is full of endless possibilities and each of you is free to make choices in your best interest. Betsy told you both that I would provide you with an opportunity, but I have decided to offer you two opportunities. I won’t discuss the second offer until I see what you do with my first offer. I have a beach house at Emerald Isle, which is about a one-hour drive from here. Either one or both of you are welcome to use that home for several days. You can leave tonight and be there by ten-thirty.”

William
started for the door, but turned around just before leaving. The keys to the beach house are in an envelope on the table in the foyer. I suggest you take a few minutes to talk it over and then join your family and friends for some ice cream”

When
Michelle was sure William had left the building, she looked at Scott with an almost relentless stare. Sometime between the ninth and tenth grades, she had abandoned her tomboy ways having traded her baseball uniform for dresses. What she did not trade away was her assertive nature, which was never obnoxious or overly confrontational. Rather, she had the ability to stand up for herself and Scott suspected he was getting ready to see that part of her personality. 

What
Scott actually saw was a mix of emotions that he was not prepared to deal with. She appeared vulnerable, assertive, confused, happy, and hurt all at the same time. He really was not sure if he should put his arms around her or just run like hell for the door.

In a moment of brief wisdom,
Scott tried to focus her attention on William and away from himself. “Well, I sure didn’t see that coming.”

She started walking slowly towards
Scott with an almost fierce expression. “What didn’t you see coming, Scott?”

In deference to her apparent mixed set of moods,
Scott opted to be as vague and evasive as possible. “Actually, I didn’t see any of this coming. Who knew?”

“So what you’
re really telling me is that you didn’t see my world being turned upside down in two minutes.” Michelle said as she came closer.

Scott
had known Michelle for almost ten years and for the first time, he was having a hard time reading her. Scott understood what she was going through, but he was anything but certain of her reaction to their brief experience. He chose to address the issue head on and give up any attempt at avoidance. “William only told us what we already knew, because we both know our time together is coming to an end. Your world does not have to be turned upside down. We can walk away from here tonight and go on with life as if nothing changed.”

Her expression changed to one of disbelief
, leading him to believe he had not yet stumbled upon the magic words to bring some relief to his friend. “Scott, one week ago I was talking about wedding plans with Tom and his mother. Tonight, my best friend told me he has been in love with me sense we first met. Then in front of an audience, my best friend gave me the most genuine and loving kiss I have ever gotten. Now, to top off the evening, I have the opportunity to spend what could be three or four very interesting days and nights alone at the beach with my best friend. No, we can’t just walk away as if nothing has changed, because everything has changed.”

Scott
took a stronger approach for his argument. “I know we cannot un-ring the bell or put the cat back in the bag or apply any other metaphor to our situation. I would never have come here if I had known you would be placed in an awkward position. I would...”

Michelle
interrupted him in mid sentence and was firm in her demand. “I don’t want to talk about this right now.”

Scott
replied with frustration apparent in his voice. “What do you want?”

Her frustration was equally apparent, but her answer was far more surprising. “I want you to put your arms around me and hold
me for a little while.”

After several minutes, she stepped back from
Scott before she sat on the edge of the stage. He joined her as they both looked at the empty seats. Her voice soon broke the silence of the night. “Do you want to be alone with me for a few days at Uncle William’s beach house?”

For whatever reason,
Scott was becoming somewhat philosophical in his thinking. “I don’t think we really have a choice.”

Michelle
misunderstood the intent of his answer after apparently assuming he wasn’t committed to the idea. “Well, you don’t have to go if you had rather not. You do have a choice.”

Scott
slid off the three-foot high stage and stood in front of her knowing she would have to look directly at him. “You’re right when you say everything has changed and I know we can’t go back in time. I have no interest in sitting in a rocking chair fifty years from now wondering about what might have been. I think we need to take advantage of his offer, regardless of the outcome.”

Her next statement revealed more about her thoughts
and for this one moment, Scott began to see her self-doubt emerging. “What if you don’t like the person you think you have known for all these years? Will I lose my friend forever?”

He
placed his hands on her shoulders as he spoke. “I don’t think that would happen with either one of us. Besides, you haven’t even told me you want to go.”

Michelle
stood up facing Scott and replied with a grin, “After all the time you have known me, do you actually think I would go running off with a man in the middle of the night after just one kiss?”

After seeing her smile,
he replied, “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

She lightly punched
him in the stomach as she replied to his phony insult, “I can’t believe you said that to me. It takes at least two kisses to even get my attention.”

Scott
pulled her close to him and they kissed just as they had done before, only with more enthusiasm. Scott then asked the relevant question. “Do I have your attention?”

Michelle
replied after a thoughtful pause, “You’re getting there”.

########

William
finished refilling wine glasses before he returned to his seat near the picnic table. He took the opportunity to taunt George and Sally using his humorous smile as he spoke. “Tell me George, how do you like having your oldest daughter being alone with that young man?”

George
knew William was joking, but his response was quite serious. “Any day of the week, I would rather she be alone with Scott than married to Tom. I don’t like that boy.”