Chapter Text
You sit on your old couch that’s been soaked with home remedy medicine and holy water. The box tv playing a VHS of Franklin Graham, these tapes have been some of the only entertainments allowed by the church, but most importantly, by God.
“Are you ready for the sermon (y/n)?” You turned to your mother, holding her Bible with her name engraved on the case, an anniversary gift from your father.
“Yes mother, I wonder which story he will read today...” Your eyes glazed over, an endless cycle, it’s all you’ve known the past 16 years. Church on Sunday, followed by a family dinner where you tell father all the sins you’ve committed in the past week. School Monday through Friday, with a young women's meeting on Wednesday night. Then on Saturday, it depends how much father has had to drink, if it’s been nothing to only a few, it’s a day running around in the field barefoot, feeling even a sliver of peace. But if it’s been a lot, you and mother have to do the activities that God intended women to do, sew, clean and cook. If you were an extra good girl, you could watch one of the few approved movies. No Disney, as father says they are a sinful company controlled by the devil.
Your father walks in and you try not to make your dry throat seem obvious, you’re terrified. You committed a terrible sin while in slumber, a dream where you kissed a boy in your church. His tall form gently held you close to him as he gently pressed his lips to yours… No!!! You can’t be thinking of these things, so sinful and dirty.
“Good morning, dear.” He kissed your mother's cheek.
“And good morning to you (y/n), what a virtuous dress you’ve picked out” You fiddled with your purity ring.
“Thank you, father. Mother and I are ready sir…” You stood up from the couch and adjusted your stockings.
“Very well, let’s get to the car so we can sit in the front row.”
Your family arrived at the chapel, “The Church of Divine Purity”. This place was built by the first settlers in this town in the late 1800s, where the families grew and spread the name of God.
A young boy who couldn’t be older than 12 opened the door for you, he was there early every week, you’ve always pitied how he couldn’t sleep in. Your family went to the front row on the left, you sat on the edge and pulled out your light pink Bible with a bow on the front. You looked across and saw the Ida family. The father, mother, the older brother Tensei was studying at a Bible college a state away, and the youngest Tenya was your age and in your class at school, who so happened to be the one in your dream last night. He gave you a warm smile and adjusted his glasses, you crossed your ankles and smiled back. Oh, how you hoped he would ask your father to court you.
The sounds of a piano signaled you to stand up before you could even process what was happening. Song and dance would happen next. People swayed around, some went on the ground, some sobbed to the sky. You tried to force “the feeling of God” but it never came, so you simply swayed to the chords and closed your eyes and pretended that God was speaking to you. You peek your eyes open to see Tenya’s eyes soften, your heart picks up extra beats and you get a lump in your throat, you bite your lip and smile back.
After church the families mingle outside, your father talks to the preacher, mother is talking with other moms and you sit on a tree trunk and feel the sun kiss your cheeks, when you feel the heat being blocked and a shadow. You open your eyes to see Tenya approaching you, adjusting the sleeves on his dress shirt.
“Hello (y/n), I saw your family made it to the front row today!” He grinned and sat down on the other trunk next to you.
“Yah heh…father is trying to take over after pastor steps down, so he’s trying to show how devoted he is…” You look over to him and he chuckles, dear God why does this man have to be so breathtaking.
“Well, he’s definitely up there in choices ...well, I came over here to ask if you would like to join me after we have young men and women's. The diner has a special for teens” His cheeks were flushed and his glasses fogged up.
Like normal, your throat went dry, Tenya was asking you on a date! Was it a date, no it’s just a hangout, if he wanted to take you on one, he’d need to ask your father. Always ask father, he may be under God, but you are under both.
“That would be lovely Tenya, would you be willing to drop me off at home after?” Tenya belonged to one of the more well-off families in the town, hence why his older brother was able to attend a Bible College. So, he had a car, even with a radio and a CD player.
“Of course I can (y/n), it would be rude of me not to!” He smiled and saw his mother signal to him it was time to go.
“Well, I see you at school tomorrow, but I can’t wait for Wednesday.” As he got up, he brushed his hand against the white bow in your hair. If you weren’t paying attention, you could have missed it. It made you shiver to your core, no man has been this close to you other than family, it felt sinful, but if it feels good, why should it be bad.
At home during dinner, father asked about the sins of the week, you mentioned how you gossiped with your friend after school, and how you chose to read a book instead of praying before bed. But you left out the dream, and the sinful feelings about Tenya. It was shameful, you made a promise to him and God that you would remain pure till marriage.
“Father, Mother, Tenya invited me to hang out with him after I have Young Womens this Wednesday. We will be going to the diner where a lot of people go after.” You glanced at Jesus on the cross above the head of the table where your father sat.
“Oh, what a gentleman, his family raised two nice boys.” Your mother smiled as she collected the plates to wash.
“Thank you for letting me know (y/n) ...just remember why I gave you that ring...” He gave you a careful look.
“Yes father, I know, he knows he would need to court me.” You gave him a look of a pure lamb.
“May I be excused?” You asked
“Yes, you may (y/n) ...I’m so blessed to have you as my daughter.” He stood up and pushed in his chair and grabbed a bottle of Whiskey from the cabinet, that was your cue to leave.
You entered your room and changed into your light pink nighty and put your hair into your preferred sleeping style. And got ready for the night, thoughts drifting to Tenya Ida, your savior who made you feel sin.