"How did you manage it?" excitedly asks Beth
thinking about what she will wear "Her schedule is usually terribly
busy! Can you imagine, the Commissioner personally
asked us to dinner!"
"Yes, it is quite a privilege" agrees Mr. Elliot beaming from his
accomplishment of successful scheming with her secretary "She must have
recognized our name and felt it necessary to meet with us".
"The Elliot name is quite well known and respected as
it has been for generations" confirms Lydia Russell licking her lips and
touching up a few loose strands of hair feeling quite pleased to be associated
with such a prestigious Army family "It was so gracious of her to include
me in the invitation as well along with your family. But I've been so close to all of you"
taking a moment to glance over at Mr. Elliot with a knowing smile "that it
is no wonder that she considers me a part of the family".
"It's so nice too that Elliot was invited as well"
adds Ariel Clay feeling elated that he is joining them for dinner too.
"Elliot is so attractive, don't you agree Annie?"
"He's nice" nonchalantly confirms Annie "I'm
sure you'll have a good time talking with him.
He will keep all of you entertained".
"Won't you be there?" snidely asks Beth "The
invite was for all of us. It would be
rather rude not to show up. How often
are you going to get a dinner invitation to the Commissioner's home?"
"I've made prior arrangements to meet my college friend
Tanisha Smith for dinner. It's been ages
since we've seen each other" explains Annie grabbing her coat and putting
on a knitted hat to keep her warm.
"What is this?
You're not coming with us?" angrily asks Mr. Elliot narrowing his
eyes at Annie "The dinner is not optional.
You will come with us."
"I'd like to but I've already made plans to meet
Tanisha for tonight which was planned as soon as I found out we were coming to
New York" explains Annie "She has gone out of her way to make a
really good homemade dinner for us that I'm not going to miss."
"No, you'll be coming with us. I won't have you embarrassing me by missing
this overwhelmingly gracious invitation from the Commissioner. I would I explain you missing out on seeing
her for a night with a friend from college?" firmly states Mr. Elliott
placing his hands on his hips to defend his stance.
"I'm sorry father.
I'm not going to dinner tonight.
If we get invited again, I'll go.
I've already promised Tanisha and that is where I will be. I'll see you later" counters Annie holding
her anger inside while heading towards the front door.
"I'm not making any excuses for you. I'm not happy Annie. You will regret this decision" warms Mr.
Elliot feeling disgruntled that he will not have his entire family with him in
an attempt to impress the Commissioner. "This is not a very mature decision
to make."
Looking back at her dad, Annie sighs and quietly closes the
door behind her glad to not have to endure another evening of boasting and
arrogance as her family brags how much better they are than others around
them. In contrast, Annie thoroughly
enjoys Tanisha's company and finds her honestly and integrity very refreshing.
Arriving at Tanisha's home, Annie finds comfort in her
longtime friend's presence. They pick up
where they left off when they last saw each other a couple of years
before. Tanisha rotates her wheelchair
near the fireplace where she has a fresh plate of cookies waiting for Annie's
visit.
"I'm so glad you were able to come!" gushes
Tanisha not having very many visitors lately to her home.
"I should have come sooner. We have so much to catch up on!" smiles
Annie remember many shared moments of fun and laughter with her best friend.
"So, how was your summer?" asks Tanisha wanting to
delve right into the more personal information that is shared between close
friends "Were you interested in
anyone?"
"Well, I was but I don't think he was interested in
me" confesses Annie shifting in her place on the sofa.
"Really, who was he?" curiously asks Tanisha as
her eyes dance in expectation of a good romantic story "What was he
like? Is he cute? Was he anything like
Rick? It took you forever for you to get
over him ... if you are over him yet."
"Actually, it was Rick. He came back from missionary
service and was leading a service corps team to Peru during his technical
furlough time" explains Annie wondering how her friend will respond to the
news.
"They usually take vacation time, not another
assignment, before going overseas again or taking up a local appointment. How did that happen?" asks Tanisha a
little confused for this unusual situation in Army policy "Why didn't he
take a break before going out again?"
"Ummm, I hadn't thought about it much. But he volunteered to lead the team"
considers Annie a little surprised by the realization of this new reality.
"Was this before or after you found out you were on the
team?" asks Tanisha wondering if Rick still wasn't over her friend either.
"You know, I don't know. He volunteered to lead when his friend, Ben
Wick, who is quite capable and experienced but was grieving over losing his girlfriend
in a car accident. Ben Wick said wasn't
ready to lead a team but he would like to be one to refocus his energy. I was already chosen, but didn't know because
Alice Hammer forgot to tell me that she signed me up" explains Annie for
the first time wondering if some buried feelings might have still existed in
Rick for his willingness to go along.
"I love Alice Hammer.
How is she doing? What about
Jennings? They always seem to be quite
the team. When I was a teen they were
co-counselors for corps cadets and they were so much fun! They helped me through a lot of tough times
just because they were listening and being there for me. I didn't always pay attention to what they
were trying to tell me but they always had my best interests at heart, I just
wish that I had realized it at the time" regretfully acknowledges Tanisha
adjusting the blanket covering her still legs in the chair "Maybe I would
have been a little wiser about the friends I was hanging out with and what they
were into."
"Well, I'm glad you're still here. I don't know what life would have been like
without you! You've definitely made my life better by being in it"
cheerfully encourages Annie genuinely grateful that such a good friend came
into her life.
"So, what happened this summer?" carefully asks
Tanisha "Were you guys back together at all?"
"No, not really.
I think we parted as friends though.
He seemed more interested in Lauren Musgrove than me." sadly
explains Annie feeling a deep ache within her "Lauren hurt herself falling from a rock and he ended
up returning to Peru to keep an eye on her while she is recovering. I'm sure
they are a 'together' by now"
"Oh...that's really too bad. I've always felt that you would make a great
couple. I remember your family giving
you a really hard time while you were dating him because he wanted to be an
officer and they wanted you to be a lawyer or doctor, I don't really remember
something like that instead. You ended
up to be a nurse which suits you quite well though" reflects Tanisha
"Do you ever want to be an officer or has that idea moved beyond this
moment?"
"Actually I do think of it quite often. But there
wouldn't be a way to pay my student loans on the amount of an allowance an
officer makes unless God did a miracle and I'm not sure I would want to be a
single officer" honestly admits Annie wishing that someone would come into
her life with the same goals.
"I imagine being a single officer is tough and lonely
at times" agrees Tanisha feeling the pain and grief of being alone since
losing her fiance in the accident even though she lived. "It's hard living
alone or having to share a home with someone that you don't know that well or
may even not like just because you're assigned together and what the corps can
afford."
"I believe that
God could bring the right man into my life, but I don't want to be one of those
who choose someone just because they share the same occupation. I'd rather find someone who first loves me
and shares my calling, and also fits nearly every other area of who I am quite
well too. Marriage requires much more
than just fitting the identity of being an officer and being able to work with
them" and then more reflectively Annie reflectively continues "I
don't want to compromise this most sacred area of life just so I have someone
and I'm not lonely anymore even if I enjoy the calling and role of being an
officer."
"Well, maybe God will bring along the right man when
the time is right. I'm disappointed to
hear it won't be Rick, but someone will come along I'm sure. Have you met anyone else?" trying to
refocus the conversation asks Tanisha not wanting her friend to feel sad.
"Yes, but I don't know.
His name is Elliot and I met him on the trip. He's here in New York and already became
friends with my family before I came
here and I just ran into him again" offers Annie "I think Beth is
interested in him though."
"Beth has always been interested in whoever you are at
any one time. Rick has been the only one
who hasn't fallen into her trap. He
genuinely cared about you. But you'll
find someone else who will love you like that too" encourages Tanisha
"Maybe Elliot could be the man for you."
"I don't know.
He's nice and very charming. But
he's indiscriminate with his attention.
I don't know what to think of him yet" cautiously explains Annie
straightening her jeans and considering the past few days.
"Elliot is an uncommon name. I use to know someone by that name, but there
is no way it could be the same person.
It was years ago after we lost contact for awhile after college"
remembers Tanisha "This guy sounds
very nice. You need to give him a
chance. It sounds like Rick might have
moved on and it would probably be a good thing if you could make up your mind
to do that too rather than dwelling on what might have been."
"You're right.
Elliot is here with me now and I need to give that a chance. As far as I'm aware, Rick will probably come
home engaged to Lauren by the way I keep hearing things are going between
them. Rick writes but doesn't say much
about her except they are spending time together. But I know Lauren's number one priority on
her agenda is to marry him and she is very aggressive too while usually getting
what she wants. She's told everyone how much she is interested in
him and implies that his interest is returned.
He doesn't have much choice other than to give into her. He would have to be awfully strong not to
give into her constant attention."
"Well knowing you, I'm sure that you are already
praying about it and that things will work out as they need to" supports
Tanisha having seen many answers to prayers numerous times in her own life even
if the answers weren't exactly what she expected they would be.
"You're right. I
think that I'll give Elliot a chance maybe things will work out this time"
contemplates Annie hoping to take to heart her friend's suggestion in spite of
the daily ache of missing Rick that continues every day since Annie last saw
him.
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