Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Current Affairs (06/08/12)
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TITLE: Calling a Truce | Previous Challenge Entry
By Leola Ogle
06/08/12 -
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Religion and politics!
Who thought of such things in childhood? Certainly not Jenny and Kristy! They had been inseparable since kindergarten. Some people even thought they were sisters.
Then college happened. Kristy went to church when the guy she was crazy about invited her. That’s when the change occurred. Brainwashed and hoodwinked is what Jenny’s mom called it.
Slowly they drifted apart, especially when Jenny joined the student liberal movement. She still cared about Kristy, though, and tried to rescue her from her skewed thinking.
“Just come with me to one meeting, Kristy. That’s all I ask,” Jenny begged. Kristy refused, and continued to refuse no matter how many times Jenny invited her.
They had some heated arguments during those college days, both slamming each other with their opinions and beliefs.
“Ugh, Kristy! You’re so churchy and close-minded. That’s what’s wrong with conservatives! They refuse to see anyone’s side but their own. Narrow-minded bigots!”
“Oh, so killing unborn babies and agreeing to same sex marriages would make me open-minded? Really, Jenny! You want us to embrace your liberal ideas while making fun of ours! I’m through with this friendship,” Kristy flung at Jenny as she stomped off.
Now it’s been ten years since those college days. Kristy married that church guy and was mommy of three. Jenny pursued a career, marrying five years later, becoming a mommy four years after that.
They went to each other’s weddings, but seldom talk, although they’re friends on facebook. They still don't see eye-to-eye, so they mostly avoid each other. They'd kept having heated debates for a few years after college! Then Kristy changed again, became quiet and non-argumentative!
That bugged Jenny worse than Kristy’s arguments! It certainly wasn’t that she’d changed her beliefs! She plastered it all over facebook, her narrow-minded opinions. Jenny even saw on facebook that Kristy and her husband had joined the Tea Party!
There would be no rescuing her friend now! Kristy was a hopeless cause. Jenny also got sick of those uplifting messages and Bible verses Kristy posted on facebook, so she unsubscribed to her status updates! She should’ve just unfriended her, but then she missed all the cute pictures and videos Kristy posted of her kids.
She removed the block on Kristy’s posts, just for the pictures, though. Sometimes she’d read those uplifting messages and Bible verses so she could make fun of them to her husband, Greg.
“Poor, deluded Kristy, huh?” Greg mocked Jenny’s anger. He thought Kristy’s posts rather sweet and wholesome, as he put it.
The last visit they’d had was after Jenny gave birth to Sophia. Kristy came to Jenny’s house bearing gifts and mommy advice.
Jenny had to admit that she missed the close friendship she and Kristy used to have. She promised herself and Greg that she wouldn’t mention religion or politics during Kristy’s visit.
And she meant it, but then…..
“I see you and Jack joined the Tea Party!” The words flew out of Jenny’s mouth. Darn, why’d she have to go there?
“Um, well, yes!” Kristy smiled,continuing to sip her coffee.
“Some Republicans are real nutcases, you know?” Jenny bit her lip. Why couldn’t she shut up?
“Yes,” Kristy sighed, “some of them are.”
“Well, I’m still a Democrat!” Jenny thrust her chin out defiantly!
“I don’t believe Democrats are monsters, Jenny. Some have conservative beliefs just like some Republicans have liberal ideas. They’re just people. Besides, I’m a Libertarian, although I vote Republican too.”
Kristy turned, cooing over Sophia. “She’s just beautiful, Jenny.”
“Don’t change the subject! I like Obama, and he’s not a devil, you know?” Jenny was on a roll, daring Kristy to argue back.
“Of course he’s not a devil. But then, neither was President Bush.” Kristy smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling.
“Well, you have to admit the economy is Bush’s fault. And that lousy war he got us involved in! And Sarah Palin! An insult to women!” Jenny was rolling her eyes and pacing now, wishing Kristy would show some spunk.
Kristy sighed, sadness etched in her face. “Jenny, drop it, okay? We can be friends without mentioning religion and politics?”
That was the day a truce was called.
A year later, it was Kristy that Jenny fled to for prayer and comfort when her husband left her.
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The biggest things I would advise is to work on more showing then telling. Show the reader the MC is frustrated by clenching her teeth and balling her hands into fists. Also you used a lot of exclamation points. I think you'd be surprised if you counted them.
You did a great job of writing on topic. You really showed how politics and religion can be volatile subjects. I also really liked the ending. Nice job.
I love the way you ended this. Keep up the good work.
GOD certainly has ways of getting our attention. That's for sure.
Thank you for this interesting piece that has lessons indeed.