Page 31 of A Surefire Love
“You’re going to lose your job?”
Anson’s frustration mounted. “I am going to talk to your parents”—he scanned the group so they’d know no one was getting off the hook—“and report this to the administration.”
Carter’s eyebrows drew together. “What administration?”
“The school’s. I’m not just your youth pastor. I’m also your basketball coach. The penalty for drinking is a six-week suspension from practice and games.”
One of the twins stepped back, mouth gaping and eyes wide. He must be an athlete too.
Carter sputtered. “It’s not even basketball season.”
“Doesn’t have to be. If you’re not participating in any extracurriculars now, the suspension kicks in the next time you go out for one.”
“But I’m your best player. I’m a senior. I’m up for scholarships!”
“Then don’t rack up any other alcohol violations. Scholarship committees don’t tend to favor them.”
“My dad isn’t going to let you do this.” Carter’s voice cracked.
“It’s not up to him. The administration will hold a hearing where you can explain yourself before they decide the outcome.” What happened on the church level was another question. The board, including Eric Newsome, would want a say. “Get in the van.”
He waited until the students had complied, then he collected the cans from the ground and returned them to the backpack. This wasn’t the Carter he’d built a relationship with all these years. This was someone else entirely. Someone far too similar to Anson’s brother.
12
The next morning, Anson stared down at the familiar pattern on the plastic container that waited outside his office. Reluctantly, he picked it up from the floor, then let himself inside his office. He popped the lid, and the aroma of peanut butter confirmed Blaze had left the cookies. But why?
They were already as close as he was willing to get—closer, even. He hadn’t crossed a line, but accepting spontaneous gifts inched closer to the boundary. He’d make the gift less personal by sharing it with the youth.
He plucked the card from inside the container.Thanks for the assist yesterday. Blaze
A simple thank-you, not some loaded effort to deepen a relationship. His relief washed out in a quick exhale.
“No student should’ve been left unsupervised, especially not long enough to throw a party in the woods.”
At the voice behind him, Anson’s chest bound up again. Eric had taken yesterday’s news of Carter’s misbehaviorquietly. Anson had hoped that meant Eric would endorse the consequences and levy some of his own. Apparently not.
He prayed for wisdom as he set the cookies on the desk and turned to face his accuser. “Carter disobeyed my instructions to stay in sight of the lead canoe.”
Eric stood in the doorway. “Kids will be kids. You should’ve anticipated that.”
“The permission slip specifies that students are responsible for following directions, respecting leaders, and obeying all applicable laws. Carter violated all three.”
Eric’s face reddened. “If anyone else had done this, you wouldn’t be banning them from everything. This stinks of a personal vendetta.”
Anson crossed his arms and half-sat on the edge of his desk. “The consequences are the same for all the students involved. They’re all sitting out for the next special event unless a parent attends with them, and I emailed the school about the situation.”
“It was not a school issue. It was a church event. A poorly run one at that.”
“There was nothing wrong with how we ran the event. We had plenty of leaders—”
Eric sliced his hands through the air. “You haddistractions, not leaders. One was your girlfriend. Another was so unqualified, she had to be fished from the river. It’s a wonder nothing worse happened.”
Anson let the space of three breaths pass. With each inhale, his knee-jerk defensiveness ebbed until he could issue a productive reply. “Everyone on that trip will confirm Sydney was not a distraction. As for Blaze, she came to relate with the kids, which she did. If your son had stayed with usand acted in the spirit of the event like she did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“You don’t like the mandate to increase youth group attendance. You’re retaliating through my son.”
“I assure you, that is not the case.” Interesting that he brought up grudges, though, as Eric seemed to have one of his own.
