The alarm clock went off again. Only this time instead of the hustle and bustle of Casey's house, Lizzy quietly awoke in her bedroom, this time it was her father’s turn to drop the girls off. It was his day to go into the bank; what he did, Lizzy didn’t know, all she knew was he needed to make all of his clients happy and above all else, richer. Lizzy stepped out of her bed and ran into her bathroom. Lizzy had no siblings. It was just her and her two parents. She ran the shower and thought about her last failed crush.
Julio was his name and he was the star quarterback of the New Caney High football team. She did everything she could to get him to notice her, but he was too busy chasing Mary Elizabeth’s daughter, Mary Ann. Rumor had it she was fast and that’s what quarterbacks like Julio wanted. Everyone in school knew Lizzy to be shy, quiet, timid, and a stickler for rules. Though she was a star track runner, she never broke the rules like other jocks in her school. She stepped out of the shower and quickly ran to get dressed into her Templo Nuestro polo and jeans. Once dressed, she ran downstairs to the smell of the coffee.
“Hey kiddo,” greeted Hector Castro.
“Do you think Casey is ready so we can get some McDonalds for breakfast, my treat?”
“I don’t know daddy, let’s find out.”
Lizzy picked up the cordless phone and dialed Casey’s house number.
“Buneos dias Maria, do you think Casey is ready, my papi wants to take us to McDonalds, okay, okay, we will be waiting.”
Casey was brushing her teeth thinking about ways to approach Edward without making it too obvious that she was crushing on him. There was a knock on the door.
“Are you ready, Mr. Castro is going to take you girls to McDonald’s for breakfast, I made you breakfast and packed it up still in case you girls need a snack,” Maria stated.
“Gracias mami, and mmm hashbrowns,”
“Orale mamita, get a move on.”
Casey grabbed her backpack by door and the lunch bag her mom had left.
“Bye mami, la miro al rato” she shouted! She quickly made her way across the street towards the Castro's driveway. Lizzy and Hector were waiting in his Acura Integra.
“Buenos días Mr. Castro,” Casey greeted.
“Buenos dias Casey, buckle up and let’s get some Mickey D’s,” he cheerfully stated.
Mr. Castro pulled out of the driveway and made his way towards the McDonald’s near highway 59 before heading towards the long forty-five minute commute. It was 6:55am.
“We are making good time,” Mr. Castro said.
“Only because Casey was miraculously ready today,” teased Lizzy. Both girls giggled as Mr. Castro began ordering the egg McMuffins and drinks.
Once arriving at Templo Nuestro, the girls had finished eating their breakfast and joyfully made their way towards the lounge. They got there an hour earlier than usual, 8:25am to be exact.
“Good thing we have time to kill,” said Casey.
“Do you think your boyfriend is here yet,” wondered Lizzy?
“He’s not my boyfriend yet,” hoped Casey.
The door opened and in walked Mary Elizabeth and her daughter Mary Ann.
“Good morning girls,” loudly stated Mary Elizabeth.
“Good Morning Mary Elizabeth,” they both greeted.
“You all know my precious daughter, Mary Ann, you all go to school together in New Caney,”
“Yes Mary Elizabeth," both girls responded.
“Well, today she will be joining you all in helping with our guest speakers, in a while with other peers your age will be joining. Mary Ann and I will meet back with you all in a few.” They both walked out. Once the door closed both Lizzy and Casey looked at each other.
“Ughh, she better not try talking to Edward,” Casey angrily whispered.
“Wow, isn't that a bit much Case,”
“YOU KNOW how she is, she took Julio from you,” Lizzy winced at hearing Casey say that out loud.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to offend you, but you know she is loose.”
“You think she got in trouble and that's why she’s here, ”Lizzy asked?
“Why else would she be here, she makes us church girls look bad,” commented Casey.
“Okay, you need to chill out, we all know if Mary Ann is here then Julio and his friends will be here, because where every Mary goes the lamb is sure to follow,” sang Lizzy to the tune of Mary had a Little Lamb.
Both girls began bursting out into laughter when Isaiah and the rest of his troop walked in.
“Good morning Lizzy and Casey, the superstar liaisons!”
“Good morning Isaiah!” the girls greeted.
“I’m hoping the good Lord woke you all up blessed,” inquired Hannah?
“Every day awake above ground is a blessed day,” responded Lizzy.
“Amen to that,” added Edward who was walking in giggling next to Sara and Joanna. Josh slowly came in behind the trio. Both Casey and Lizzy stood next to each other passing quick glances at one another.
“So I hear today we will be having more teen youth leaders helping us out today,” Isaiah stated.
“Oh, yes,” answered Casey.
“Will they also be our liaisons,” asked Joshua?
“We don’t know, maybe Mary Elizabeth or Marcela know,” suggested Lizzy.
“Who is Mary Elizabeth,” asked Sara?
“Oh, Pastor Glen’s wife,” answered Casey.
“Oh, right, right, right, silly me forgetting that,” she mentioned with a smile on her face.
Once more Mary Elizabeth walked in this time with more than just Mary Ann, she brought in her two sons Evan and Henry, along with Mary Ann’s friends who also happened to be in the cheer squad; Katheryn Wheeler 5’5, skinny with pink braces, Lynne Marie Marquart also 5’5 but with no braces, with a curvy build, Lesly Windsor 5’0 the shortest of the group of girls and Peggy Lace, the tallest a 5’10 with long wavy hair. Mary Ann and her friends all looked alike, light blonde hair, always wore lip-gloss and other makeup, and the innest clothing. Being cheerleaders, they had to be the trendsetters of New Caney High. However, being the leader of the group, Mary Ann stood out by adding pink highlights to her hair.
Behind them was Julio the tall, tan, Latino star quarterback and his fellow friends. Jason Von Holtz, 6’3 with long dirty blond hair, the linebacker, Marcus DeWare the safety, 6’3, dark, and with a buzzcut, Mario Benavidez the kicker, 5’6, tan with a gel to spike his hair, and Michael Smith, 5’10, blond and fair skinned the center, he wasn’t as blonde as Jason but blonde nonetheless. A jock for every cheerleader it seemed, much to Casey’s relief, this meant Edward was all hers for the taking.
“Good morning Isaiah and troupe,” Mary Elizabeth greeted.
“Good morning Mrs. Glen,”
“Ho, ho, please call me Mary Elizabeth like everyone else darling,” she commanded.
“What’s on the itinerary today,” he asked?
“Well, today you are going to have these eight lovely assistants along with Casey and Lizzy to help you all with morning prayers, bible trivia, lunch, your skits, and all the other activities for the week,” she cheerfully instructed.
“Oh, wow, you know about our skits,” Isaiah asked?
“Why, yes Edward told us all about it last night when we had him over for dinner.”
The air left Casey when she heard Mary Elizabeth say that. She quickly shot a quick glance at Lizzy and Lizzy in return raised her eyebrows to confirm she indeed heard!
“Anyway, I’ll be needing four of you to find Pastor Glen to assist with the breakfast line, two to help me unload the stuff, and the other two can stay here with Lizzy and Casey,” Mary Elizabeth added, while looking at the group of eight. “Alright, Mary Ann and Katheryn you stay with Lizzy and Casey, you four,” she pointed to Julio and his friends “go help Pastor Glen.” “And the rest of you follow me.”
She turned and walked out with the remaining. Katheryn and Mary Ann stayed staring at Casey and Lizzy scanning them up and down.
“Good morning girls,” greeted Lizzy.
“Hey nerds,” accosted Mary Ann while Katheryn was snickering behind her.
“What are you all doing or what?” demanded Mary Ann.
“WE are helping PRAY with whatever they need,” replied Casey.
“Oh, so like their slaves?” asked Katheryn
“No, not like that, we are liaiso…”
“More like leeaaaammeeoooos,” Mary Ann teased causing Katheryn to giggle once more.
“Well, at least some of us are here because we genuinely care about getting right with the Lord instead of boys,” added Lizzy sternly.
To which wiped the smirk off of both Mary Ann’s and Katheryn’s faces. Mary Ann took a step closer towards Lizzy.
“Look, nerd, don’t think I don’t know that you have a thing for my boyfriend Julio, the way you get all gaga eyed for him when he would walk into 5th period gym last year,” she menacingly whispered.
“Yeah,” sneered Katheryn.
“And remember ‘Lizzy’ or whatever the hell your name is, I am the queen of this church and cheer squad, and I can make your life a living Hell this senior year,” threatened Mary Ann.
“You don’t scare us floozy,” added Casey, quickly interfering and creating space between Lizzy and Mary Ann.
Just then, Edward and Joshua approached the four girls.
“Hey girls what’s all the fuss about,” Edward nervously asked?
“Oh, nothing Eddie, just talking about how fun and scrumptious dinner was last night,” cheerfully responded Mary Ann.
“Oh, yeah it was, you and your mom make the best pies ever,” he exclaimed!
“Anytime Eddie, what do you need our help with,” she asked while making her way towards him?
“Oh, well Joanna, Hannah, and Sara are gonna need you to help them make the cue cards for bible trivia,” he recommended.
He then walked Mary Ann towards the back table where the three PRAY girls were at quietly writing.
“Can, I help,” shouted Katheryn as she ran behind Edward and Mary Ann.
“Well, you girls can help make the prize bags for the winners of trivia,” instructed Josh.
The three walked to the opposite side of the lounge and began making prize bags with movie passes to Blockbuster and popcorn. Josh stood up and walked out leaving Casey and Lizzy alone, while the other members were across the lounge quietly working.
“Ugh, that bitch,” whispered Casey.
“Language,” reminded Lizzy.
“I can’t help it, she is making it seem like her and Edward are a thing while rubbing Julio in your face, ughh,” declared Casey!
“Calm down, one if Julio liked me back he would’ve asked me out instead of the answers for the algebra quizzes, and Edward is too old for us,” explained Lizzy.
“You don’t know that. For all we know she is a witch and is doing brujeria on them,” theorized Casey.
“Mary Ann, as in the pastor's daughter, head of the cheerleading squad? No way! She’s a lot of things but not a bruja” Lizzy stated.
“More like head of giving head,” jested Casey.
“CASEY,” Lizzy unknowingly shouted!
The PRAY members and two bullies all turned around and looked at Lizzy and Casey’s direction.
“Uh-huh, sorry,” blurted Lizzy.
Everyone turned around and quietly went back to working on the things they were instructed to do before morning prayer and bible trivia. The girls took fifteen minutes max to make the three prize bags. Once they were done, Isaiah approached them once more.
“Hey, what are my two liaisons doing,” he inquired?
“Just finished the prize bags for bible trivia,” answered Lizzy.
“Okay, now if you don’t mind, can one of you get me some markers, these expos have dried up,’ he politely asked?
“Of course, I’ll get them,” volunteered Casey.
Casey stood up and walked out of the lounge and into Marcela’s office. She always had the office supplies locked up in her office closet. You couldn't get any new supplies without Marcela knowing about it. While Casey was gone, Lizzy sat at the table observing the room. At the far end of the room , Mary Ann and Katheryn were chatting away while organizing the index cards with the women from PRAY. Josh had still not returned and Isaiah was erasing the dry erase board from the day before. She was quietly thinking about what the rest of the summer was going to hold for her, she was startled by the movement of the chair next to her. She let out a gasp.
“Oh, goodness me, I didn’t mean to scare you Lizzy,” apologized Edward.
“Mercy, me, no, don’t worry about it,” she assured him.
“What are you thinking about, I hope it’s the psalms we are gonna sing once it’s 10AM,” he teased.
“Oh, no, no,” she responded.
“I take it you and the other youth leaders are all seniors in high school?”
“Yeah, that’s the only we can be youth leaders,”
“That and good grades and being good,” added Lizzy.
“Right, right. I remember when I was a senior a very long time ago,”Edward joked.
“How long ago was that,” pried Lizzy?
“Three years ago,” he replied.
“21 is not old, that’s the dream age,” replied Lizzy.
“Dream? How come,” he wondered?
“Well you can buy alcohol and go out dancing.” explained Lizzy.
“True, but, you don’t have to be any age to pray to the Lord,” he reminded
“Fair point,” she agreed.
The door to the lounge flung open and in came Casey with the expo markers for Isaiah. She quickly spotted Edward sitting next to Lizzy and immediately smiled.
“Why do they call you Lizzy,” he asked?
“To avoid confusion between her and Mary Elizabeth,” interjected Casey.
“So, have you girls attended this church all your lives?”
“Yes, since we can remember,” responded Casey.
“We moved into the same neighborhood as Casey’s back when we were in diapers,” added Lizzy.
“Oh, oh, okay,” he remarked.
“Yeah, and my parents befriended Lizzy’s parents, and the rest is history,” detailed Casey.
“I see, so you both are in the same grade, I imagine,”
“Yes, both of us seniors and both of us track runners.”
“That’s amazing! I did track back in my day,” he boasted.
“Really,” Casey cheerfully asked?
“Yes, if you girls need any pointers on nutrition and increasing miles let me know,” he offered.
“Oh, yes, we most definitely will ask,” coyly responded Casey.
“I’ll be glad to help,” he exclaimed!
In walked Mary Elizabeth with Pastor Glen and Joshua.
“Okay, ladies and gents, it’s time to go in and begin Morning Prayer,” instructed Pastor Glen.
“That’s right y’all’ let’s all line up and get ready to be filled with The Spirit,” chimed Mary Elizabeth with a big white smile.
“Are we ready,” asked Joshua to the troupe?
“Just about, I still need to finish with this white board,” explained Isaiah.
“Oh, well have someone stay behind and do it,” mentioned Joshua.
“That’s a terrific idea” chimed Mary Elizabeth, “I know how about Mary Ann, Kat, and Eddie stay and finish the categories and the rest of you line up and follow us.”
Once more Casey felt her blood boil hearing how Mary Elizabeth was desperate to throw Mary Ann at HER Edward.
“Keep a lid on it. Case, we need her to sign our community service hours, that’s 300 hours and another cord for our graduation,” reminded Lizzy.
“Ugh, but they’re both so awful,” complained Casey.
“I doubt they even know a thing, I doubt your husband even knows,” giggled Lizzy.
Both girls giggled as they walked behind the troupe and church elders.
Morning prayers went off without a hitch. Isaiah, Joanna, Sara, Hannah, and Joshua assisted the pastors in getting the kids to pray and sing the psalms and hymns with them. They even played a Jeopardy style game but with prayer. The children had to answer “What is the Book of John” as opposed to “What is Mt, Rushmore?” Rather than having a real buzzer, the members of the troupe took turns on being the winning bell and losing buzzer. These activities are 45 minutes long. By the time it was 11:15 in the morning, the pastors and troupe made the children exercise. They let out basketballs, volleyball nets, and rackets. The children had 45 minutes to play before lunch time. While the children were playing, Casey and Lizzy were sitting besides the stage talking.
“So, you found out how old he is,” Casey excitedly asked?
“Don’t you wanna know how old he is,” argued Lizzy.
“Yeah, but youre a wallflower, how did you begin talking to him,” wondered Casey.
“I didn’t, he just sat down next to me and began talking,” explained Lizzy.
“Okay, and more details please…,” Casey pleaded.
“Well, that he was also a track runner in high school and he is 21,”
“Twenty-one and a track runner. This is too perfect,” Casey beamed.
“Calm down, he is still too old for us,” insisted Lizzy.
“No, the age of consent is 17,” informed Casey.
“Which we’re not, yet!” reminded Lizzy.
“But we will be,” refuted Casey.
“And how are you gonna go about keeping in contact with him after Friday? Remember, they are just visiting for the camp,” asked Lizzy.
“I don’t know, I'll think of something,” plotted Casey.
“Well you got three more days unless you wanna befriend Mary Ann,” implied Lizzy.
“Hell no!” bellowed Casey.
“Casey! But, she and Mary Elizabeth are providing room and board for him,” reminded Lizzy.
“Don’ they live close by the house,” questioned Casey?
“No, no, no, no, no” Lizzy stammered!
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes” refuted Casey.
“What now Casey,” asked Lizzy?
“Look, just hear me out, we go jogging by their house on our run, and they will see us and...”
“Edward will run out and propose to you like those books your mom reads?” sarcastically interrupted Lizzy.
“Well, hopefully,” raved Casey.
“Casey estas pero bien loca,”noted Lizzy.
“Yeah, only because I’m getting bored running in the same place.” agreed Lizzy.
3:00 pm came and the buses that took the children to Houston and its surrounding cities were back. Casey, Lizzy, Mary Ann, Katheryn, Lynne, Lesly, Peggy, Julio, Jason, Mario, Marcus, Evan, Henry and Michael all helped the pastors load the children onto their buses. With more youth leaders to help and with Pastor Glenn’s two sons, made the process faster. The children remembered their buddies and bus numbers. By 3:55pm the last bus had left.
“Let’s go inside, it’s so humid,” commanded Lizzy.
“Houston for you,”blurted Casey.
“No kidding,” added Lizzy.
Both girls walked into the administration building and sat in the lobby waiting for Casey’s dad once again. Even though both fathers alternated as to who dropped the girls off in the morning for camp or school, when it came time for pick up, Casey’s dad was usually the one to do the chauffeuring. Casey’s dad LeSaber pulled up. Again, Casey informed Marcela that she was to be leaving along with Lizzy as per usual. Both girls made their way towards the car until they heard giggling. They turned to their right as they were about to open the car doors. It was Mary Ann and Katheryn giggling while talking to Edward.
“Remember the plan,” mentioned Casey as she got into the front passenger seat.
‘Hola girls, como les fue hoy,” inquired Juan
“Lizzy, you are part of my family, you can call me Juan,”
“Oh no, my mother and father wouldn't allow me to be disrespectful,” reasoned Lizzy.
“It’s not disrespectful, you all are family,” reiterated Juan.
Once home, the girls again changed into their tracksuits with a little more vigor, this time they had a mission to accomplish. They needed to get Edward to notice Casey more than Mary Ann. Both girls began jogging out of their cul de sac, and past Autumn Lane, this time instead of making a right onto Autumn Oak Lane, they made a left onto Winter Lane.
“Do you know where this little whatever rhymes with witch lives,” inquired Casey?
“When I came cruising with my dad once,” answered Lizzy.
Truth is Lizzy had been there because unbeknownst to Casey, she and Evan had a secret fling going on. No one knew of course. Lizzy had been quietly sneaking out and meeting Evan at the end of Winter Lane. He would park his car and wait for Lizzy to arrive. Once Lizzy arrived she’d strap herself and he’d drive to his house and sneak her into the outhouse. The outhouse had a pool table, bar, a big screen TV for the men to watch the Texans play. However, past 12:00pm when everyone was asleep during the school year, it was Evan and Lizzy’s lovenest.
“Now up this corner,” instructed Lizzy.
The girls made another left onto Fall Avenue. The houses were all gated with the latest luxury car 1997 could have. Both girls felt outranked the closer they got to Pastor Glenn’s house. Of course being head of the church his house wasn't a house but an estate. It took up an entire block and of course was gated with the tallest fences.
“Not very Christian like ey” jested Casey.
“Don’t start Casey,” barked Lizzy.
“Now, where do you think they’d be,” pondered Casey aloud.
“I don’t know but keep up pace or else we will look suspicious, we have to act as if we are just prepping for track,” commanded Lizzy.
“Wow, Lizzy, for the quiet one you seem to be pretty in your element here,” noted Casey.
The girls continued jogging, they went past the estate and onto a neighboring street, Spring Time Lane. Not only did it increase their miles, it killed time since it appeared no one was home at the estate. They passed another two streets before they decided to run back towards the estate and head home.
“Okay,” huffed Casey, “let’s slowly make our way back so I don’t look too bad when we see Edward.”
“Alrighty,” responded Lizzy.
As they were turning around making their way back towards the second street they passed, they heard a rustling in the bushes. Both girls turned and saw Edward sprinting towards them.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” panicked Casey.
“Language,” hissed Lizzy.
Edward finally caught up to the girls and stopped. Covered in sweat, running shorts, and no shirt.
“Hi Eddie,” greeted Casey.
“Hi Edward,” peeped Lizzy.
“What are you girls doing here,” he inquired?
“We are upping our mileage for track,” Casey confidentiality answered.
“Oh, okay,” he breathily answered.
“I also live close by here, well we live close by,” answered Casey emphatically.
“Ohh okay, neighbors right,” he asked? “I remember you all telling me.”
“Yes,” Lizzy sheepily stated.
“You girls heading back home?”
“Yes, we are,” answered Lizzy.
“Would you like to join us on our run back, it's not too far from here,” suggested Casey.
“Naahh, maybe some other time, it’s almost supper time at Pastor Glenn's. I don’t want to be rude, I gotta go wash up,” he informed.
“Oh, okay,” Casey disappointedly answered.
“Well, I gotta go, bye girls,” Edward sprinted off to the direction of the estate.
“Not exactly as you planned it, ey,” Lizzy asked?
“Oh, shut up, he didn’t say no, just maybe,”
“Maybe, it's as good as a no,” cautioned Lizzy.
“Stop it, let's get back home,” ordered Casey.
“Race you there,” asked Lizzy?
“Alright, but don’t be upset when I win,” mentioned Casey.
“One of these days you won’t always win,” warned Lizzy.
“Well, until then,” commented Casey.
“Ready, set, go,” shouted Lizzy!
And both girls took off sprinting back towards their homes on Autumn Lane. This time Casey only beat Lizzy by five seconds.
“Nice try Lizzy,” Casey breathed.
“I’m telling you, I’ll be getting there soon,” threatened Lizzy.
“No, kidding, well see you tomorrow in the morning for camp,” departed Casey.
Both girls parted ways. Lizzy crossed the street and Casey went indoors. It was dusk and time for the girls to wash up for bed and prep for their third day of camp.
