Elaine's alarm clock went off at 5:30 am that following (Sunday) morning. "What the heck?" Micky said sitting up staring at the room listening to the 'beep, beep, beep, beep' of the alarm clock. Elaine was still sound asleep. "Shut it off, Elaine!" Micky said from the couch. She was still sound asleep. Micky uncovered himself and walked up to the alarm clock and shut it off. It was the loudest alarm clock he had ever heard before in his life.
Just after he got comfortable on the couch again, another alarm clock went off 20 minutes later. This time Elaine's eyes opened up wide and she shut it off. "Why on earth is your alarm set this early for on a Sunday?" Micky asked yawning.
"Time to get ready for Church," Elaine said stretching out her arms and legs and making a squealing sound, "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."
"I can't believe you get up this early on a Sunday." Micky said. "Church is five minutes away from here and you get up this early."
"Yes, because I go to McDonald's and get breakfast and then I set up for my Sunday School class before the service starts." Elaine replied.
"How is that going anyway?" Micky asked.
"Fine," Elaine replied. "Although the kids were naughty while my helpers were taking over for me when I was gone and I made them sit there the entire hour with their heads on the table in total silence last week as punishment."
"They really upset you, I guess." Micky said.
"Yes, they did." Elaine replied.
"I better let you get ready for Church." Micky said.
"You want to go with me today?" Elaine asked.
"No, I better not." Micky said.
"Why not? You went there before. Remember, you wanted to find a new Church home, remember?" Elaine asked as she stood to her feet and stretched out her arms and legs.
"I understand that, Elaine. However, like you so strongly suggest to me, we need to take this 'one step at a time,' and that's what I want to do." Micky said.
"You should be going to Church for God, Micky. Not for me or any other reason that is not for God." Elaine said.
Micky looked at Elaine a moment and then turned away. He wanted to make a comment to her, but then he decided to just keep his mouth shut.
"What is it?" Elaine asked.
"Nothing," Micky said as he wanted to stay non-confrontational.
"You can tell me anything, remember?" Elaine said sitting back down on the couch.
"You need to get ready for Church." Micky said heading towards the doorway.
"We need to build that 'trust relationship,' Micky. You need to learn you can trust me to speak your feelings. That is how we will grow in our friendship." Elaine replied.
"You are judging me for not going to Church, Elaine. That is not proper nor is it scriptural. It clearly states, that we should not judge anyone, for only God can judge us."
Elaine looked at him and said, "You're right. I should not judge you, Micky. Thank you for pointing that out to me."
"Are you mad?" Micky asked with his head down low.
"No, I'm not mad, Micky. If you choose not to go to Church, you probably have your own way of worshipping at your apartment instead. Far be it from me to stand in the way of your home worshipping. Have a lovely time in private with the Lord, Micky. Now, I must get ready." Elaine said walking up to him and giving him a hug and then walking into her bedroom and closing the door.
Micky stared at the door and wondered how she really was feeling. Micky stood there for a moment and then heard some gospel music playing in the bedroom. Then he heard Elaine starting the water of the shower. She started to sing.
Micky quietly left the apartment making sure her door was locked. He went back to his apartment and pulled out his Bible and started to read it. But his heart was telling him he should go to Church with her. He peeked out his balcony and saw the white shade. He couldn't stand that white shade because it took away his beautiful light of her apartment.
Suddenly, he saw her car driving past the window. He knew it was too late. He closed the balcony door and locked it. Then he quickly ran to his room and got his clothes. He took a quick shower and got dressed into his gray suit and he wore his tennis shoes. He did need some comfort. He got into his car and was furious when he saw that he needed to put gas in it.
"Grrrr" he said angrily as he drove to the gas station. However, Micky wasn't paying attention and when the lock came off the gas handle, it spilled on the ground and some got onto Micky's suit. "You have got to be kidding me?" Micky said angrily. He went to pay for his gas and then drove back home and changed out of his clothes.
Thankfully none got onto his skin. He ended up going in the only clothes he had clean besides the suit, which was a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. He felt so embarrassed looking at himself in the mirror.
"I cannot embarrass her like this." he said to himself angrily. "GRRRR" he said as he flipped on the TV to find a church channel and much to his surprise, his cable was shut off.
"What the freak?" Micky said frustrated. He went through his bills and found a turnoff notice. He didn't need a tv anyway. He could still watch his DVDs and VHS tapes. Oooh that blew the last straw with Micky.
"I'm sorry Elaine, but I'm celebrating underdressed." He got into his car and drove to Church. When he walked into church, he was very happy when there weren't a lot of people there yet. He didn't see Elaine yet and breathed a sigh of relief. If he could maintain a low profile and not stand up during the songs, he would feel so much better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As he was looking at the church bulletin, he saw something very interesting. It read, "Congratulations to Elaine on her seventh month anniversary here with us. Celebration is down in the foyer between services. Come and give Elaine your congratulations to her most wonderful blessing to us here at Emerald Lutheran Church."
Suddenly Elaine walked in with a friend and Micky about dropped to the floor. She was wearing a beautiful emerald green dress with a bow in the back, with black stockings, high heels, and a beautiful emerald green hat. The only thing Micky recognized was her long reddish-brown waist-length hair that was dangling in a ponytail underneath the hat. He was highly underdressed after seeing her looking like a beautiful porcelein doll.
"Charlotte, come and sit with me in the back pew." Elaine said turning around. "Micky!" she said loud enough for everyone in the sanctuary to hear. "You made it. You remember Charlotte."
"Hi Charlotte!" Micky said waving at her.
"Hi," Charlotte replied sitting next to Elaine. She whispered, "I thought he wasn't coming?"
"Change in plans," Elaine whispered back. She looked at Micky and asked, "Where's that beautiful gray suit you were going to show me sometime?"
"Tell you later." Micky said nervously covering up his sweatpants with some of the books. He felt so uneasy.
After the service was over with, Elaine leaned in and said, "You are coming to my party, right? I just found out about it this morning after Charlotte called me right after you left. Good thing I had this new dress to wear."
"I'm too underdressed, Elaine. I would not feel comfortable." Micky said.
"Nonsense, I want to introduce you to everyone again, and the kids would love to see you again." Elaine said.
"I said I would feel uncomfortable, Elaine. Congratulations, but I am not interested." Micky said making his way to the back of the church near the steps and walking out the door.
"Excuse me, Charlotte. I will meet you downstairs." Elaine said carrying her purse and program out with her.
Charlotte walked downstairs into the foyer and got herself a plate of food and sat there eating it. She was hungry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside, Elaine walked out to Micky's car. "You don't look out of place, Micky."
"Hello! Have you looked in the mirror, Elaine?" Micky said irritated at her. "Compared to you, I look like a street bum."
"That is not true," Elaine replied. "I am so glad you came today. I'm sorry I didn't know about the party sooner or I would have told you."
"Congratulations, Elaine. Go and enjoy your celebration." Micky said getting into his car.
"It's not the same without you, Micky." Elaine replied.
"You got along just fine before you ever met me Elaine. You'll live today." Micky said starting his car and driving off. Elaine took a deep breath, sighed, and then walked back into the church for her party. She made sure to bring extra food home to give to Micky.
After the party and Sunday School was over with, Elaine's tummy felt like a huge balloon after all the food she ate. She drove back to Micky's apartment and knocked on the door.
Micky opened it, "What is it?"
"Um, here's some food from the party." Elaine said nervously. "I didn't want you to miss out."
"Thanks," Micky said.
"May I come in?" Elaine asked taking off her hat and looking at him.
"Now is really not a good time, Elaine. I am not alone here." Micky said.
"What?" Elaine's eyes rose up wide.
Suddenly a figure appeared in the doorway and Elaine looked at them with evil eyes. "Who are you?" Elaine asked.
Micky looked at Elaine and said, "Elaine, this is my friend and sister, Coco."
"Sister?" Elaine asked halfway relieved, although she couldn't breathe.
"Yes, sister," Micky said. "She came over to see me for a while."
"Who is this, Micky?" Coco asked looking at Elaine.
"This is Elaine...um....well...my friend, sis."
"Hello, Elaine." Coco said. "Pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise," Elaine replied still trying to contain her massive heart attack she was feeling in her chest at that moment.
"Let her inside, Micky." Coco said. Micky walked back over from the fridge and said, "She's got better things to do with her time than hang around me and my sister, Coco."
Elaine felt his cynacism with her and said, "Yes, I really do have lots to do today. Nice to meet you, Coco." Elaine turned around and ran out of the building.
"You were not nice to her, Micky. After she brought you food from her party." Coco scolded her brother.
"What on earth are you doing here anyway?" Micky asked.
"Just wanted to visit for a while." Coco said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Elaine's apartment, she took off her Church clothes and hung them up. They would be good to wear for another day. She changed into her shorts, t-shirt, socks, shoes, and left her apartment. Her mind was racing with all kinds of evil thoughts and she was working herself into a panic.
Her only friend in the town, besides the people at church, acting as if she didn't exist. "Now who was embarrassed to be seen with who," Elaine thought to herself.
Elaine found herself driving around in her car aimlessly with nowhere planned for a destination. Pretty soon, she found herself at Grazer Farms again, which she knew she was lost. "I refuse to call him," Elaine said to herself. "I will ask the people how to get back on the main road."
Elaine pulled into the huge driveway of the farm and it was like a ghost town around there. She immediately backed her car out of the driveway and parked under the tree she knew. "Don't panic, Elaine. You will be fine. You're a strong woman," she kept telling herself over and over again.
However, once it started to show signs of darkness and she was still there, she started to panic. Even after praying to God, she was still panicked about the situation. She reached for her cell phone and hated to call him. She absolutely hated to.
She started to dial his number and then her phone went dead. "Battery needs charging?" Elaine said hysterical. "You're kidding me. This cannot be happening to me, it just can't!" Elaine pulled out her paper bag and started to hyperventilate in it until she passed out cold. She was trapped on a country road in the middle of nowhere and a dead cell phone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, after Coco went home, Micky drove to Elaine's and saw her car wasn't there. "Where is she?" he asked himself. He parked on the side of the road and prayed to God, "Please God show me where Elaine is at. Please."
"Grazer Farms" he heard in his head. "Thank you Lord Jesus," he cried out as he pulled his car around in her parking lot and headed out towards there. When he pulled up to the farm, he didn't see anyone around.
He looked under the tree he had found her at before and her car was there. "Oh dear heavens," Micky said as he quickly drove over there. He parked his car and ran up to the door knocking, "Elaine, Elaine, it's Micky. Open up sweetie." She was completely out of it.
Micky got his flashlight and saw the paper bag on the seat and knew she had passed out. "Come on baby, please open the door. You're just fine." Micky said anxiously pounding on the door. There was a tiny gap where the window was open at, however, he could not wake up Elaine.
"Please God let her be okay, please." Micky begged and pleaded. Micky found a hanger in his car and thankfully managed to pop Elaine's car door open. He breathed a sigh of relief as he checked her over and found her to still be breathing.
"It's okay sweetie, I'm here." Micky said caressing her long beautiful hair. Micky went back to the car and called Mike.
"Hello," Micky heard.
"Peter?" Micky asked.
"Nope, Mike. We're sleeping. What on earth are you doing?"
"I need your help again. I will pay you this time. Elaine got lost again." Micky said.
"You need us to drive your car back again, huh?" Mike asked.
"Yes, please Mike." Micky begged his friend.
"Same place?" Mike asked.
"Yes," Micky replied.
"We'll be there. I have to wake Peter up first." Mike said.
"Thank you Mike," Micky said ever so gratefully. Micky moved his car over near hers and locked it up. Then he climbed into Elaine's and held her in his arms. It was well after midnight by that time. The day had just flown tremendously quickly.
When Mike and Peter arrived, Micky was asleep as well. "Micky!" Mike said pounding on the window.
Elaine woke up screaming, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, he's going to kill me!"
Elaine's screaming woke Micky immediately. "What's wrong?"
Elaine had her paper bag and was breathing very fast inside it. "Just relax. It's only my friend, Mike." Micky said turning on the flashlight to show her his face.
"OMGosh it's Satan!" Elaine screamed darting out her car door and running down the field as fast as possible. "Get away from me! Devil, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus," she screamed as she ran.
Micky caught up to Elaine and said, "He is not Satan. He is my friend. You were dreaming again."
Elaine cried and panted with her head on his shoulder. "It was so real, Micky!" she cried out.
"I know it was, baby," Micky said picking her up and carrying her back to the car.
"She is definitely on something there, Mick." Mike said.
"No, she's not, Mike and don't ever talk about her like that again." Micky said.
"I'm going to put you in the passenger seat now, Elaine." Micky said gently to her. She sat there wiping the tears from her eyes. She was still pretty terrified at what was happening.
Peter took Micky's car back this time while Mike drove Peter's. Micky drove Elaine's back and she was very quiet the whole way back.
When they arrived at Elaine's apartment, Micky got out of the car and told Peter, "Park mine in the parking lot behind hers. She's asleep."
"Okay, Micky." Peter said doing as he was told. Mike's car stayed on the street waiting for Peter.
Micky took the keys from Peter and carried Elaine into the building. He got her comfortable on the couch and then locked her apartment door. He was not leaving her alone that night. He climbed on the couch in the back of her and pulled her so that her head was resting on his chest. He wrapped them up in a blanket and then kissed her forehead.
He held her in his arms the entire night. He also breathed a sigh of relief that he had found her. Not to mention, he thanked God for helping him to get her back. He never wanted anything bad to happen to her, not ever.
That following morning, Elaine woke up and it was noon. "Oh dear heavens, I'm late to work!" Elaine said gasping as she ran to her phone in the bedroom picking it up and calling her boss.
Micky was still asleep on the couch snoring away. Elaine came out of her room with her arms in the air, "Thank you Lord Jesus," she said uncovering Micky and crawling back on the couch in between his legs. She positioned herself with her head on his shoulder and covered them both back up with their blankets. Then she gently placed her one arm around his shoulder and fell back asleep to the movements of her head rising and falling on his chest from his breathing.
She was really grateful for having him as a friend. She was also extremely happy that her boss gave her another week off work as well. She prayed to God thanking him as well for an understanding boss.
~~~~~~~~~~~
That next day, Elaine and Micky woke up around the same time. "Morning," a groggy Elaine yawned to her friend.
"Good morning to you too. I can't believe I slept all day yesterday." Micky said as he stretched out his arms and yawned as well.
"My boss gave me another week off." Elaine said smiling at Micky.
"Oh really?" Micky asked. "What will you be doing for it?"
"I don't know," Elaine replied. "I was kind of hoping to spend time with my best friend."
"Yeah?" Micky asked.
"Yes," Elaine replied. "But first, I have to use the restroom." Elaine walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
"Good idea," Micky said to himself walking to the other bathroom.
While she was in the bathroom, she noticed that she was losing weight again. As she lifted up her top and looked at her ribs that were clearly visible, she said to herself, "You need to eat more, Nelson. You've been very lax in the eating department again." Just for curiousity's sake (and not because she liked scales), she stood on her scale and read the number. She was shocked at the number.
"Oh dear heavens," she cried out to herself. "You need to stop this behavior, Elaine. You're going to end up in the hospital again." Elaine quickly put the scale away and brushed her teeth. She then walked into the livingroom again and Micky was sitting on the couch.
"You okay?" He asked seeing the upset look on her face.
"Uh no, just one minute please and I'll explain. It has nothing to do with you at all, I promise. It's me and my self-destructing behaviors." Elaine said grabbing her phone from the living room and calling Samantha.
Micky sat there wondering, "What self-destructing behaviors?"
Elaine took a sip of her Coca-Cola and waited for her friend to answer the phone. "Hello?" she heard.
"Sam?" Elaine asked.
"Nope, Naomi." she heard back.
"Naomi, is Sam around?" Elaine asked.
"Nope, her and Louise spent the night at a friend's house last night after an all-night bible study. Then they were going to work from there."
"Why are you home?" Elaine asked her friend.
"I took the day off to get errands ran. What's wrong, Elaine?"
"How are your parents, Naomi?" Elaine asked.
"They are fine. Back home with their rehabilitation nurse. That was actually one place I was going to." Naomi replied. "I'll tell them you send your love."
"Thanks," Elaine replied.
"What's wrong, Elaine? I can sense something is wrong." Naomi asked.
"I'm down to 100 pounds again, Naomi, and I swear to you it's not on purpose." Elaine said starting to cry.
"Elaine, you need to eat something today. Have that friend of yours take you out for breakfast." Naomi said.
"I will, but I need someone to talk to me about this, Naomi. I refuse to be hospitalized here for this." Elaine said.
Micky sat there in total disbelief. He couldn't believe his ears. She was 100 pounds? No wonder she was so light when he carried her.
"Let me run my errands and talk to my parents, Elaine. I want to fly out there to be with you for a while. I have all this extra vacation time to use up anyway in a month and I can probably get three weeks providing if my boss will let me and my parents aren't possessive." Naomi replied.
"Well, I don't want you flying out here, Naomi. I just wanted to talk to someone about it."
Micky sat there and said to himself, "You can talk to me." Micky made a clearing of his throat noise and Elaine looked at him. "I'll be with you in one minute, Micky." she said.
"Micky, is that the guy's name?" Naomi asked.
"Yes," Elaine replied. "He's been very good to me here and stayed with me for a while."
"That's good," Naomi replied. "Talk to him and maybe he can help you too. I will call you later tonight and let you know if I can fly out, ok?"
"I don't want you to fly out, Naomi. I really don't. I'm not a baby." Elaine said getting irritated.
"I know you're not a baby, Elaine. Maybe I want to fly out and see your new place." Naomi said. "Not to mention, getting away from here might help me too after all this stress with my parents."
"Okay, call me later then, Naomi." Elaine replied. "Be careful driving with your errands."
"I will and you too." Naomi replied hanging up the phone. Elaine looked at Micky and said, "Remember that trust issue I have with you?"
"Yes," Micky replied.
"What you just heard on that phone about me, you don't breathe a word to anyone about." Elaine said looking at him. "If I find out you've said anything to anyone at Church, your friends, or anyone, I will no longer be your friend."
Micky held up his hands and said, "I promise you I will not say anything to anyone."
"Good," Elaine said starting to cry.
"Let's go and eat breakfast, okay?" Micky asked. "There is a good breakfast place I want to take you too. Me and the guys have gone there quite a lot and it is really good food."
"Your friends from the other night?" Elaine asked.
"Yes, those friends." Micky replied. "We used to hang out there late night hours after we got done filming our TV show."
"Really?" Elaine asked.
"Yes," Micky replied. "I'll go home to shower and shave, and you come over to my apartment when you're finished getting ready, ok?"
"Okay," Elaine replied wiping the tears from her face. "Thank you for finding me the other night."
"You're welcome, Elaine. God told me where you were at and that's the only reason I found you."
"God is very good to his children, Micky. You will become more in-tuned with that once your faith and knowledge increases." Elaine said trying to smile at him.
Chapter 2
Chapter 4
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