The Making of a New Creature

Preview of The Making of a New Creature (Excerpt from Chapter 3)

“Oh, Lord, help me!” she cried as she pulled in the parking lot to work. She dried her eyes. One thing I know—I will not have any more children to bring up in a home where the father is not saved. I will get some kind of birth control when I go for my six-week checkup next week. I am not sure about the new pills they have out. Women have headaches with them. I will ask the doctor.

Annie had thought of leaving Ken several times but her deep love for him gave her a forgiving heart. Besides, where could she go and support the two children? The Bible does not allow for divorce. Despite his faults Annie loved him with all her heart. Because of that, it made the lying to her even more painful. When she looked in the Bible for an answer, it would bring her to Matthew 18:21–22. “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

She put her hairnet on and got her rubber gloves, went in the cannery door, and punched the time clock. She was one hour late. That would be a dollar off her paycheck, since minimum wage was a dollar an hour. Only a few more weeks and she would be laid off from this seasonal work and she could collect $23 a week in unemployment.

That Saturday Annie did not have to work so she cleaned the house thoroughly and was going to start Ken’s supper when he came into the kitchen and said, “We are going out tonight. Myrtle will watch the kids for a couple hours.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

She fixed Kenny a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup, nursed Sarah, took a quick shower, and put on clean clothes.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“You look beautiful as usual. I took the kids to Myrtle.”

Ken drove a block away and said, “Here we are. I got to thinking this week; if you went to the bar with me, you would see how harmless it is.”

“You know I don’t want to go in there. I never go in a restaurant that sells liquor, much less a bar.”

“Give it a try, please.”

Annie went along with Ken; she noticed there were mostly men in the bar. Ken picked out a table for two and the waitress came over and said, “What do you want to drink, Ken?”

“We will have two beers.”

Annie interrupted. “That will be one beer and a ginger ale.”

The waitress gave Ken a little smile and left. When she brought the drinks back, Ken took a sip and put the glass down. Annie sat there looking around, sipping on her ginger ale. It was early and there were not many customers.

Ken said, “How do you know you don’t like beer without taking a taste?”

Annie took a small sip of Ken’s beer and made a terrible face.

“That is the most bitter and awful tasting stuff I ever tasted. Why in the world do people drink it? It’s disgusting.”

She took a sip of ginger ale to get the taste out of her mouth.

Ken said, “Okay, let’s go.”

“You haven’t had but one sip of your beer.”

“I can’t drink it with you watching. Come on, I will take you to get some burgers in the city,” he said as he laid a dollar bill on the table to pay for the drinks.

“I am sorry, Ken. I spoiled your plans, but I do not drink alcoholic beverages. Even if I did like them, it is not what Jesus Christ would want me to do. You did tell me before we got married you would not drink, but I know you do every chance you get. I resent me having to work to put groceries on the table, but you have money to spend on drinking. I love you and obey you as I promised in my wedding vows, but God’s Word tells me to stay away from alcohol. I won’t compromise, and I will pray that God shows you the right way.”

Ken did not say anything until they got to the diner that had the biggest burgers in town. They went in and both ordered a cheeseburger. Ken put two nickels in the jukebox and one of his favorite Elvis tunes played: “I’m All Shook Up.” He started singing the song as he came back to the table. Annie knew this was his way of communicating love to her. Then “Love Letters in the Sand” came on, a song by Pat Boone. Although Ken was a big Elvis fan, Annie preferred Pat Boone’s type of music. Pat Boone identified as a Christian and his songs were softer and more loving than Elvis. Although Elvis Presley did have some that were very sweet. Ken had played this one for Annie.

Annie said, “You can sing better than both of them.”

When they finished eating, as they went to the car, Ken grabbed Annie and gave her a big kiss just before getting in the car.

“I’m sorry for taking you to the bar. Am I forgiven?”

“You are. I enjoyed having the burger with you even if I couldn’t eat it all. This was a special treat; we never go out to eat.”

Annie got into the car and slid over to Ken and he put his arm around her as they drove home. She missed this terribly.