I’m dedicating today’s post to the Honda Corporation. Thanks to a recent recall made on my Pilot, I’m able to participate in the latest Trifecta Weekly Challenge. Until this morning, I had resigned myself to the fact that I would be sitting this one out … until … I had to wait so long in the ‘customer lounge’ for my shuttle ride home. So, here’s what I was doing while the lady on my left watched The Price is Right and the guy on my right read NASCAR Illustrated. You be the judge as to which one of us made the best use of his or her time.
RULES: All entries must be between 33 and 333 words and need to include the following word using its third definition (both listed below).
scan·dal noun \ˈskan-dəl\
b : a person whose conduct offends propriety or morality <a scandal to the profession>
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Against the Grain
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He checked his wrist watch and fidgeted in his chair. “We need to get started,” he thought, worriedly. “Where is she?” He scanned the crowd and, still unsatisfied, stood to get a better view of everything.
Then he saw her.
“The last one here, as always,” he smiled to himself, as he watched her walk down the long aisle to take her usual spot in the third row. His eyes stayed fixed upon her as she glided into her seat.
He couldn’t really pinpoint what first created the spark. She seemed to have a radiant glow all about her. He wondered if anyone else could feel her warmth and light. He caught himself smiling in her direction, lingering a little too long on her face, when her eyes met his directly. She returned his smile, waking him from his trance and forcing him to divert his attention to the other faces around him. He made sure to offer them the same enthusiastic demeanor so as not to arouse any suspicion.
How had he let it continue for so long? Nearly three years had passed since he’d first arrived and been introduced to her. And each week he excitedly anticipated being able to see her again, all the while trying to maintain his secret. And seeing her now, he knew that it had been far too long. Today he would make his move, no matter what the consequences, to determine if her feelings matched his own. It was a risk that could gravely injure him and would forever brand him as a scandal to his vocation. But the suspense would surely kill him sooner.
He smoothed the emerald green stole on his shoulders and approached the pulpit to greet his congregation, comforted in the fact that today’s mass would be his last.
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OldDogNewTits 
Wow! Now that’s devotion.
Thanks, gene.
Awww. Somehow I pictured them as older, which makes their affection seem sweeter and more endearing.
They can be any age really. “Nearly three years had passed since he’d first arrived” only indicates how long he’d been at that church, not in his vocation. But I’ll add that I like your comment. It DOES make it that much sweeter and sadder to think of an aging man pining after an aging woman. Thanks for the insight.
My grandfather left the seminary after he met my grandmother. Good thing he did!
I like the warmth and genuine feeling I get from the priest. Fantastic story.
And you wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t caused that “scandal.” Thanks for sharing, Mel. Sweet.
Great story, I really enjoyed this! I was thinking preacher at first, then thought maybe teacher, but I’m glad he was a preacher–especially since he seems so sincere!
Interesting. I just re-read it from the teacher perspective. I could see that scenario as well … until the end, of course. I think the clergyman angle is more “scandalous” though. 🙂
I really hope her feelings match his, and that she finds him as sincere as he seems to be. This is a lovely story; I really like the characters and the ending.
Thanks. I hope she meets his expectations as well. I sort of think she would as I WAS trying to present him as sincere and genuine, not lecherous.
This was great! You really pulled this off well. It would have been easy to slip into a predatory minister taking advantage of a congregant, but his genuine affection for her is evident from the beginning.
Wonderful build up, great reveal!
Thanks for linking up, ODNT. Definitely good use of your time in the Honda showroom. Another great write. Hope you can join us for the weekend prompt which is already up on the site. It’s community judging this weekend, so get your entry in and get voting!
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