Free Dancing Naked by Shelley Hrdlitschka Page B

guts to ask.

what have I done to them?
why?
see ya tomorrow at youth group
k
    From:         Justin < [email protected] >
To:              Kia < [email protected] >
Date:           Feb. 18
Subject:      Re: spect
hi kia, i don’t have any little brothers or sisters, but i know all about letting people down. been there, done that. it’s a tough one, but in the end you’ve just got to remember not to let yourself down. and you’re doing great. you’re doing what’s right for you, and you’re being honest with everyone else. eventually angie will respect that.

can i break the news at youth group?
uncle J
    From:         Kia < [email protected] >
To:              Justin < [email protected] >
Date:           Feb. 18
Subject:      Re: Re: spect
gladly! C U there.
k & p

    Justin struck a match and lit the candle in the chalice that sat on the floor in the center of their circle. “We kindle the flame as a symbol of our gathering,” he said.
    “May the light of understanding illuminate our darkness,” the gathered teens in the youth group responded. “May the warmth of sharing bring us peace.”
    Justin sat back. “Okay. Check-in time. Who wants to start?”
    “I want to start,” Chris said, “by offering some food.” He reached into a paper grocery bag that sat on the floor beside him and pulled out a tub of once-frozen chocolate cookie dough and a handful of spoons. “It will be a kind of ... communion, you know? Like they do in other churches.”
    “Oh yum!” Laurel said.
    Chris handed a spoon to each person. “I thought we could just pass the bucket around while we did check-in. What do you think?” he asked.
    There were enthusiastic nods around the circle.
    “You call that food?” Justin asked, smiling.
    “Absolutely!” Chris answered, taking the first scoop and passing the bucket on. “The best kind.”
    “Food of the gods,” Meagan agreed, digging in and then sucking the gooey chocolate dough off her spoon. Sheclosed her eyes and tilted her head back. “Ahh. To die for.”
    Kia settled back and listened to everyone’s news as they took turns sharing their stories of the past week. When the bucket reached her, she dug out a rounded spoonful of cookie dough, popped it in her mouth and then passed the bucket to Justin, who was sitting on the floor to her left. His turn to share was next. She was to be last, but she’d have nothing to say. Justin was going to say it for her.
    While Chris rattled off the scores of his last four hockey games, Kia glanced sideways at Justin’s profile and felt an unexpected fluttering sensation in her stomach. Justin shifted his position just then, stretching out his legs, and his shoulder pressed against hers. She froze. This was not nerves, she realized with alarm, recognizing the feeling.
    “So, Chris, are you done?” Justin asked. She felt him shift again, sitting up straighter now. Immediately she missed the warm feel of his shoulder pressed against hers.
    “Yeah, that about sums up my week,” he answered.
    “Okay then, my turn,” Justin said. “And have I got news!” He glanced down at Kia and smiled. She felt the fluttering sensation return, but again, it was not nerves.
    “I’m an uncle,” he declared, grinning and looking around at the group.
    “How can you be?” Laurel asked after a moment. “You’re an only child.”
    “Yeah, well, not a real uncle.” He looked down at Kia and they made eye contact. She nodded. “Kia is pregnant, and I’ve made myself ‘acting’ uncle for the duration of her pregnancy.”
    There was a stunned silence and Kia felt everyone’s eyes on her. Laurel finally found her voice. “Are you really, Kia?”
    Kia glanced at her and nodded. Then she looked around at the other eight faces. The expressions were changing from shock to sadness.
    “And you’re going to have the baby?” Laurel asked. She seemed to be the only one who