Free Boswell, LaVenia by THE DAWNING (The Dawning Trilogy) Page B

Jennifer turned to Jason and asked, “Jas, why aren’t you in Bolles, Stanton, or some of those other prep schools?  Instead you’re at Ed White.  Why?”
           Twirling a foot long piece of sea oat between his teeth he seemed surprised at her question.  “The drive to and from for any of them would take two to three hours every day alone.  You have to consider where we both live, Jenny.  It’d be faster to drive to Georgia than battle the traffic to get across town every day.”  He took the oat out and had begun to twirl it along her arm.  “Those places are for kids who are striving to make contacts and who desire to make a big name for themselves at the most expensive universities there are.”  With his face turning serious he looked out at the large waves crashing against the beach.  “Besides, I already know what I plan to do with my life and it doesn’t require any of those things.”
           “What?” she asked intrigued and realizing she really wanted to know.  He was a dear friend, after all.
           Jason laughed lightly for a minute and admitted tentatively, “Until two years ago, I had planned to join the priesthood.”
           “Priesthood?!” she exclaimed, suddenly angry.  “You never said a word about it!”  Tossing a shell she had picked up she glared over at him.  “Had you lost your ever loving mind, Jason Zonelli?  What in the world?  Priesthood!”  She snorted then added, “My eye!”
           He laughed aloud at her reaction as he lay back on the blanket and looked up at the beautiful twilight sky.
           Trying to get her anger under control, she realized that she’d heard there were certain religious sects that didn’t require celibacy and they allowed marriage.  The very idea of him tossing his whole life away and not ever having a wife and children just made her mad enough to spit.  He was like her brother, he’d make a perfect husband and father, she was absolutely sure of it.
           “So . . . your religion allows its priests to marry, huh?” she inquired, sounding hopeful.
           “Nope.”  He didn’t explain a thing, simply laid there grinning now and again, not uttering another word.
           She sat there stunned to complete speechlessness.  Anger, hurt and aggravation filled her.  She felt like she was about to burst.  “Oh, for pity’s sake, Jas, you can’t do that, you just can’t!” she exclaimed, her ire and hurt getting ahead of her brain.
           His expression became serious as he turned his head to look at her.  He waited a little before he asked, “Why not?”
           “Why not?” she repeated his question with crazed eyes.  “Because, uh, because . . . you, you would deprive some woman of a wonderful husband and the world would not be right without you one day having children.”  She began to stammer, “I, I mean, there are so few good men these days, Jas, so very few.  It just wouldn’t be right.”  Shaking her head to emphasize, “No, that would not be a good thing.” 
           Fuming she suddenly realized what he’d said, “. . . until two years ago . . . .” 
           “What changed your mind two years ago?” she inquired, then held her breath as she tensed for his answer not understanding why.
           He sat up again, stuck the oat back into his mouth and announced, “I was praying for someone one day, and I asked God a question.  He soon made me realize I could be a secular person and still work for Him.  God has goals for everyone’s life, Jenny.  They were made when He formed us in our mother’s womb.  We tend to get in the way of them when we decide to do things our own way, whenever it’s contrary to His perfect will,” he explained, in a Jason kind of explaining.  “Anyway, God let me know I was not called to the priesthood.”
           “Well,” she snorted with a frown, “of course you