File #1001: "Mosaic_Spring2008_21.jpg"
Description
I'm getting older and that I'll soon be getting a visitor. I'm not quite sure what that means. A lot of strange things have been happening lately. I've noticed the boys at church school have been looking at me mighty strange of late. And, their eyes have been lingering over the swelling parts of my chest where Mommy has boobs. Boys can be strange sometimes. The other week they snuck into Elder Fogard's office after he left for the day and found a stained copy of some ugly book. They called it Fanny Hill. We girls aren't taught to read prop- erly, being we have no need for schooling. I would not have read; it anyway it looked dirty. Soon after, the boys started calling Elder Fogard "old man Crofts" in secret. They giggle, then look at us girls, and giggle some more. I hope I never find out what that is all about.
Mommy looks unhappy. Virginia stands pensively and as quietly as possible exits the small living room. In the sanctuary of the kitchen, her kitchen, she stands in the dark over the greasy yellow stove. The weight of her sorrow is tearing the very fabric of her soul. "Oh I hoped this night would never come," she breathes out the words in the slightest little whimper. Deep in the core of her being a sickness boils. Not from the cloying air that always lingers, steeping the flowery wallpaper with the endless repetition of greasy dinners and desserts, but - "Oh God." Then, she retches on the kitchen floor.
“Are you alright in there, Diana?" thunders the husband in from the living room.
"Yes dear, I'm just fixing you some tea." I have got to get it together for Virginia's sake, at least. How can I ever accept such a fate for my only daughter? She will be cared for. I'm sure of it. Elder Fogard is a good man, right? Oh that she were a boy. This night would then never have come.
"Mommy? Are you all right?”
As the young girl enters the darkened kitchen, she fails to notice her mother using tears to help mop the last of the vomit from the floor.
"Mommy, Daddy sent me in here to help you with the dishes. They said they have some trading to do, and I should leave."
With these words, the dam that precariously held the cistern of tears burst forth spilling the tangible embodiment of a mother's love. "Listen, Virginia, tonight a lot will happen. You've become a woman, and now that visitor is here.'”
"That's silly, Mommy. I'm the same as I was this morning.' "No dear, tonight has marked a change. The visitor has arrived and we shan't resist His will."
"I, oh so want to be a good girl. Mommy, will I be getting my own family now?”
"Honey you know how these things work. Elder Fogard is going to take you," as another volley of tears suddenly erupts from the mother's bloodshot eyes, "and you will stay with him for a while. Then he will give you your very own house where you can raise the abun- dance of children you were meant for."
"Mommy, how can all of this be? I don't understand. I thought I would marry David, my friend from school, and we would live to- gether like you and Daddy?”
"My sweet, sweet girl, I know that is what you want but some- times we have to sacrifice our wishes and joys for the will of the God. The Church tells us, Elder Fogard tells us, that little girls must be mar- ried to be sanctified, by a good man, and his prayers will get you to heaven.'
"But-"
"No buts, you cannot question God or his prophets.' "Yes Mommy.""
The sounds of the men laughing drift into the kitchen. Mother looks down at her frail little girl. How much did she have to endure when she was that age? He wasn't so bad, and look at him now, old and balding; he's not much to fear any more. The power and passion has swiftly drained with the years. He couldn't even take a second wife now. But back then.... My poor Virginia I wish I could take your place, and tame the brute for you.
In the living room, the men deal: "A filly for a Ford." The balding man thinks of his budding daughter. Soon other men would be calling. If she stayed home much longer, the bud might flower and then he would be stuck. The congregation is already leery of him, because of his sterile wife. If only she had kept her faith for a few more children, then he could hold his head high in church. Oh well, having the elder take Virginia as his second wife should elevate him in the eyes of the church, and of God.
"So it's set then," says the Elder.
"Uh right, Elder Fogard."
"The young girl is still secure in her maidenhood?”
"Of course, Elder, she isn't that way."
"Well sometimes, members of the congregation sneak a taste of the skin destined for her husband. It's a shame to pollute her so that no one should want her, to save the girl's soul," explains Fogard.
Mommy looks unhappy. Virginia stands pensively and as quietly as possible exits the small living room. In the sanctuary of the kitchen, her kitchen, she stands in the dark over the greasy yellow stove. The weight of her sorrow is tearing the very fabric of her soul. "Oh I hoped this night would never come," she breathes out the words in the slightest little whimper. Deep in the core of her being a sickness boils. Not from the cloying air that always lingers, steeping the flowery wallpaper with the endless repetition of greasy dinners and desserts, but - "Oh God." Then, she retches on the kitchen floor.
“Are you alright in there, Diana?" thunders the husband in from the living room.
"Yes dear, I'm just fixing you some tea." I have got to get it together for Virginia's sake, at least. How can I ever accept such a fate for my only daughter? She will be cared for. I'm sure of it. Elder Fogard is a good man, right? Oh that she were a boy. This night would then never have come.
"Mommy? Are you all right?”
As the young girl enters the darkened kitchen, she fails to notice her mother using tears to help mop the last of the vomit from the floor.
"Mommy, Daddy sent me in here to help you with the dishes. They said they have some trading to do, and I should leave."
With these words, the dam that precariously held the cistern of tears burst forth spilling the tangible embodiment of a mother's love. "Listen, Virginia, tonight a lot will happen. You've become a woman, and now that visitor is here.'”
"That's silly, Mommy. I'm the same as I was this morning.' "No dear, tonight has marked a change. The visitor has arrived and we shan't resist His will."
"I, oh so want to be a good girl. Mommy, will I be getting my own family now?”
"Honey you know how these things work. Elder Fogard is going to take you," as another volley of tears suddenly erupts from the mother's bloodshot eyes, "and you will stay with him for a while. Then he will give you your very own house where you can raise the abun- dance of children you were meant for."
"Mommy, how can all of this be? I don't understand. I thought I would marry David, my friend from school, and we would live to- gether like you and Daddy?”
"My sweet, sweet girl, I know that is what you want but some- times we have to sacrifice our wishes and joys for the will of the God. The Church tells us, Elder Fogard tells us, that little girls must be mar- ried to be sanctified, by a good man, and his prayers will get you to heaven.'
"But-"
"No buts, you cannot question God or his prophets.' "Yes Mommy.""
The sounds of the men laughing drift into the kitchen. Mother looks down at her frail little girl. How much did she have to endure when she was that age? He wasn't so bad, and look at him now, old and balding; he's not much to fear any more. The power and passion has swiftly drained with the years. He couldn't even take a second wife now. But back then.... My poor Virginia I wish I could take your place, and tame the brute for you.
In the living room, the men deal: "A filly for a Ford." The balding man thinks of his budding daughter. Soon other men would be calling. If she stayed home much longer, the bud might flower and then he would be stuck. The congregation is already leery of him, because of his sterile wife. If only she had kept her faith for a few more children, then he could hold his head high in church. Oh well, having the elder take Virginia as his second wife should elevate him in the eyes of the church, and of God.
"So it's set then," says the Elder.
"Uh right, Elder Fogard."
"The young girl is still secure in her maidenhood?”
"Of course, Elder, she isn't that way."
"Well sometimes, members of the congregation sneak a taste of the skin destined for her husband. It's a shame to pollute her so that no one should want her, to save the girl's soul," explains Fogard.