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PART I
SPEAKING IN TONGUES

10

Miss Marina Scarritt

“MARINA,” FATHER ASKED her Sunday morning at breakfast, “is your beau going to be at church this morning?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t say anything about it yesterday.”

“How was the ballgame?” His question surprised her. He was never interested in what she was doing, unless it involved her school marks. “You weren’t out very long, certainly not enough for a ballgame, much less a picnic.”

“I don’t really know,” Marina admitted low. “I don’t understand the game. And he brought his friend Gene, who doesn’t seem to like anything.” In fact, he seemed downright mad. It had made Dot so uncomfortable, Marina had asked Trey to take her and Dot home, claiming chores she had to do that she’d forgotten about.

“He must be bringing his friend for Dorothy,” Father said approvingly.

“He doesn’t like her.”

“It’s difficult for a man to respect a wild girl like her,” he replied gently. “Perhaps you can suggest she behave more circumspectly.”

Marina almost blurted that when Gene was around, Dot was so circumspect she turned into a shadow of herself. She didn’t flirt, didn’t look him in the eye, barely spoke to him. Gene said little more than Dot did, but—

“He acts as if he’s being paid to round us out.”

“If Trey has to pay someone to put up with Dorothy,” he said, “then he must be serious about courting you. I for one am pleased. And you, Mother?”

Miss Dorothy Albright“I have my reservations,” Mother said shortly.

As much as Marina was envious of Dot’s ease with boys, she didn’t like this Dot at all. No life, no smiles, no … confidence. Gene sucked out everything that made Dot the girl Marina loved. She was going to have to discuss this with Trey and she didn’t want to. She dreaded it, the way she dreaded any confrontation at all.

But this was a man who was courting her. Would he stop wanting to keep company with her if she confronted him? He was her beau and she wanted to keep him that way.

It had been difficult to remember that at school Thursday and Friday because boys still flocked to Dot while looking right through Marina. Marina didn’t have a boy hanging around her at school being conspicuous about wanting her attention.

I have a beau! she wanted to scream. He’s a man not a boy and he’s MINE!

But neither she nor Dot had said anything about Trey, not to each other, not to anybody else. For one, people would think she was making up wild tales. For two, Trey was a sore point between them and Gene was going to be a bigger one.

After breakfast, Marina put her apron on over her church outfit and did the dishes, her mind in a whirl. She didn’t want to lose Trey, but what if he didn’t like her challenging him about Gene’s presence? On the other hand, she couldn’t ask Dot to tag along on their dates without a fourth because Dot didn’t like any boy enough to do the asking. She wouldn’t put up with his sense of conquest.

If Marina had to choose between Trey and Dot, she’d choose Dot.

Which made Marina very, very sad. Trey was her first beau and though Dot hadn’t ever had a beau, either, it was only because she didn’t want one.

Marina didn’t think Trey would be at church because he’d made it clear he was uncomfortable with her services and didn’t think he needed a preacher at all, except to talk theology with. Marina couldn’t remember the last time a man had come to the parsonage to discuss questions of theology with Father. There were a few women in their congregation who did but that was because, Father said, though their husbands were men of God, they could not satisfy them. The husbands were not to be blamed or judged, as every man had his strengths and weaknesses. A woman ought not be deprived of knowledge just because her husband couldn’t give it to her.

Marina could only hope that someday, Trey would want to discuss theology with Father.

Father left the parsonage about twenty minutes before Marina and Mother did.

“Are the dishes finished, Marina?”

“No, Mother,” she said as she took her apron off and folded it over the chair. “I’ll finish after church.”

“You’ll stay until you finish them,” she retorted.

Marina’s mouth dropped open. “But … ”

“Don’t argue with me. Finish them and don’t be late.”

“Um … all right,” she said weakly at Mother’s back, wondering why Mother had taken that harsh tone with her. And why she’d suddenly wanted the kitchen cleaned completely before church when that was not Marina’s routine. Mother never interfered with Marina’s cleaning routine. But now she had and Marina only had about ten minutes to finish and get to services.

She was surprised when she got to her spot on the pew to see Trey sitting with a Marina-sized space between him and Mother. His legs were crossed and he was fiddling with his fedora, looking around—

“Marina!” he said with a smile and hopped up to offer his hand.

She put hers in his, but was still so confused by Mother’s behavior that her attention was divided. She resisted when Trey tugged on her hand to look down at Mother, who sat stiffly, one leg crossed over the other, staring straight ahead.

“Mother … ”

“Did you finish the kitchen?” she asked tersely.

“Yes.”

Her mouth tightened, but she didn’t respond. Only then did Marina give her attention to Trey, who didn’t seem to have missed that. Oddly enough, he directed Marina to the spot he’d been occupying and sat between her and Mother.

“Mr. Dunham,” Mother snapped. “That is Marina’s seat. If you would be so kind … ?”

“Certainly,” he replied with alacrity, and stood, allowing Marina to slide left.

Marina and Trey had barely situated themselves before the choir and band began the service, but any delight Marina would have felt at Trey’s presence was completely snuffed out by Mother’s completely uncharacteristic behavior.

“Mother,” she whispered, “what have I done?”

“Shush, girl,” she hissed. “Don’t disrespect your father.”

Marina bit her lip and slid down an inch in the pew, folded her hands in her lap, and looked down at them until it was time to rise and praise Jesus.

The service passed in a blur, Marina unable to even enjoy Trey’s beautiful singing voice. First Dot, then Gene, now Mother, getting in the way of her enjoyment of Trey’s company. Perhaps that was why she had to remind herself she had a beau.

Sunday school was just as bad. Marina didn’t dare speak to Trey even though she needed to reassure Trey when he seemed uncomfortable. It had been the same with Dot, getting her used to the Praise the Lord!s and Hallelujah!s and Amen!s, speaking in tongues, demonstrations of the Holy Spirit working in people, and healings. Marina was quite sure Mormon and Methodist services would make her uncomfortable. If only she were allowed to visit and see for herself …

After services, when everyone gathered in Fellowship Hall for cookies and punch, Trey murmured to her, “Why are you unhappy?”

For some reason Marina didn’t know, she told him what had happened this morning and why it was distressing. Then, because he seemed to be sympathetic, she dove into the topic she dreaded.

“Dot is uncomfortable with Gene.”

“I noticed,” he said grimly. “That’s really why you wanted to go home after the third inning, isn’t it?”

Marina flushed a little but nodded. “Well I … I don’t understand baseball, to be honest. There seem to be so many little bitty things about it that I miss and— Well, anyway, I’m worried that she’s not herself around him. She’s usually so peppy.”

“If Dot doesn’t come along, you won’t go on outings with me? Or did I misunderstand?”

“Mayn’t,” she corrected. “Our parents don’t allow us to step out with boys alone. It’s just … I’m the one who usually has the pity date, which is why I don’t understand … ” She trailed off. “She wants me to have my own date who is not interested in her so we can walk out and she won’t have to worry that I’m not having fun. She may not like you, and I really don’t understand why, but she’s willing to come along so I won’t be unhappy.”

He looked surprised.

“But I don’t want to have to worry about her fun, either. So … ” Here came the bad part. “Are you … paying Gene to walk out with her?”

He looked appalled. “He’s a very proper gentleman.”

“That is not the way boys act around Dot, proper or not.”

“He’s not a boy, Marina. He’s a man. Men have different things expected of them. Nobody looks twice at a clumsy boy trying to impress a girl. But when a man, especially one with a respectable, well-paying job, asks a girl to step out, it means something. Now, it is true that I asked Gene if he would be willing to square our party the same way Dot asks her dates for you, but he doesn’t want to give Dot the wrong impression, so he goes too far the other way.”

Marina sighed, understanding completely. “My father says a real man wouldn’t put up with Dot and that he would have to be paid.”

“Even if I were paying him, would it make any difference?”

“Yes,” she said, feeling impatient but hoping she didn’t show it. “Dot is not one to take a boy—man—seriously because she is not serious. She wants to go to college and be independent. A modern woman. So even if he were serious, he’s not going to get anywhere. If you were paying him, he would need to act like he’s happy to be there and entertain Dot. That would be the job he was being paid to do, wouldn’t it?”

Trey pursed his lips. “That is a good point.”

“Maybe you should pay him so he’ll do the job right.”

“Even better point. I like the way you think,” he repeated solemnly.

She smiled a little and ducked her head. She wanted to brush that aside the way she brushed aside why he was interested in her, but the uncommon phrasing made her believe he meant that.

“Now, as for your mother, I expect she’s uncomfortable with her daughter growing up and doesn’t know what to do or how to act. I think you should just be patient with her.”

Marina nodded solemnly. “Yes. Yes, I suppose so.”

“I’ve noticed quite a few people looking at us over here in the corner talking between us. Perhaps it’s time you introduced me?”

Yes. Yes! This handsome, Godfearing man had now come to church with Marina twice and had stayed after for socializing, and everyone wanted to know who he was. Either she had a beau or, more likely, he was a family friend and being polite.

Suddenly, Dot, Mother, and Gene didn’t seem important all.

Homely, meek, and not-very-bright Marina Scarritt had a beau and everyone would know!

10

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