[MacGirl]

Nikki Carpenter noticed that Erin wasn’t saying much as they drove home. Usually, the young woman was bubbling over with enthusiasm for her job and her classes. She wanted to say something, but decided to let it be until they got home.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Nikki’s small but nice apartment. After they were inside, Nikki headed for the kitchen.
“You want some tea, hon?”
“Sure, Nikki, that sounds great.”
Nikki made them both some hot tea, and brought it over to where Erin sat on the couch. “I’m glad to see it’s warming up,” said Nikki, hoping to get Erin talking. “Bet it was nice walking home from work today.”
“Yeah, it was,” Erin answered with a smile. “It was nice to see the sun again. I can’t imagine what winter must be like in Minnesota. Mac and Stacey both love living here, I know that.”

“Speaking of Stacey, I noticed you’re awfully quiet tonight. You two didn’t get into an argument or something, did you?”
Erin hesitated. Should I tell her?
“It’s OK, Erin. You can tell me.”
“No, we didn’t have an argument, Nikki. I told Stacey tonight that, um, I’m gay. She was more than OK with it, thank goodness.”
Nikki’s pretty face lit up with a smile. “It’s all right, dear,” she said, hugging Erin. “I have several gay friends, so I’m fine with that.”
Erin let out a shaky breath. “Thank you, Nikki,” she whispered.
“Does this have anything to do with why you’re staying here?” asked Nikki.
Erin laughed, shakily. “It doesn’t take you long to put two and two together, does it?” She sighed. “Yes. My mom and dad kicked me out of the house when I told them. They told me the only way they’ll let me come back is if I ‘renounce my sin before God and the church.’”
Now it was Nikki’s turn to sigh, disgustedly. “Bigotry masquerading as religious conviction is the worst kind.”
“Isn’t it, though? My parents were quoting all kinds of scripture to me to prove that my being gay will get me condemned by God.”
Nikki shook her head. “I’m not religious myself, but I have a good friend who’s a United Methodist pastor, and one heck of a smart biblical scholar. He says that, number one, the Bible has been translated, mistranslated, copied and added to so much that it’s well-nigh impossible to know what the original writers had in mind. We don’t even have the originals of what those authors wrote. What we have are copies of copies of copies of… well, you get the idea. Number two, the number of verses that seem to condemn homosexuality is tiny, maybe six, and of those, only half are pretty clear. When you measure that in comparison to all the thousands of verses that talk about love and humility and serving others, it’s pretty clear what God is more concerned with. Number three, the Bible condemns a lot of things that we no longer concern ourselves with. Take the stuff about wearing clothes made of mixed fibers, for example.” She grinned. “If God really did say all that, then he—or she—is a real jerk. The Bible can be used by almost anyone to ‘prove’ practically anything. We’ve both seen evidence of that in our work.”
“We sure have. I’m still amazed at the distortions and convolutions racists will go through to ‘prove’ that God favors white people.” Erin chuckled. “Stacey says that the gang that had her hostage ‘quoted’ the Bible all the time. Stacey was way too smart to fall for their crap, but there are a surprising number of people who do. Shows you just how few people bother to actually read the Bible, to say nothing of making an effort to understand what they’re reading.”
“Thank God for Stacey,” answered Nikki. “She constantly amazes me. She’s so smart, and strong, and compassionate. She could have let her experience make her bitter, but she did the courageous thing and overcame it.”
“I’ll say. I’m so glad to have her for a friend. She’s the type who’ll stick by you to the death.”
“So is Mac. He and I have definitely had our differences, and gotten on each other’s nerves a lot, but at the end of the day, I’m very glad I have him around.”
Erin yawned. “Sorry. It’s been a long, intense day. I think I’d better get some sleep.”
“I understand. Good night, dear.”
“Good night, Nikki. You’re the best.”



The next day, Nikki came home after work, to find a message from a friend she hadn’t heard from in a long time. She dialed the number.
“Hey, Chris, it’s Nikki Carpenter. Good to hear from you.”
“Nikki! How’ve you been?”
“Well, this morning, a little tired. I have a young co-worker staying with me… she was kicked out of her parents’ house yesterday because she’s gay, and the two of us were up late talking.” Nikki snorted. Isn’t it disgusting?”
“It sure is. She’s a terrible sinner. I don’t blame her parents one bit.”
“What did you say?” Nikki was stunned.
“I said I don’t blame her parents at all for kicking her out. The Bible says clearly that she’s sinning. I’ll be praying that she comes to her senses.”
“I don’t believe I’m hearing this from you,” said Nikki. “What happened to you? You used to be so accepting of everyone.”
“I was saved two years ago, Nikki. I’m a born-again Christian now.” He sighed. “Poor girl. She’s in the dark. If she doesn’t renounce her sin, she’ll be condemned to hell for eternity for sure. That’s not to say she’s not a good person,” he added quickly. “But even good people will be condemned if they don’t renounce their sin and accept Christ as their personal savior.”
Now Nikki was furious. “I don’t want to hear from you again, Chris. At least not until you get off this self-righteousness kick and come to your senses. Hate masquerading as religiosity is still hate.” She slammed down the phone, deeply upset.


At his house, Chris hung up the phone slowly. He was just as upset as Nikki. By accepting this gay girl, Nikki was setting herself up for eternal condemnation, too. Well, not much he could do about it. All he could do was pray for her and this girl.
He talked about it later with his friend, Mike.
“It’s really sad, Mike. I’m still fond of Nikki, but she’s not open to hearing the truth.”
“Not everyone is, Chris. You said this girl is staying with Nikki?”
“Yeah, she is. I’d like to drive over there tomorrow and talk to them both in person, but I have a feeling Nikki will slam the door in my face.”
“Probably. You said this Nikki lives on Forster Lane. That’s not far from my place. What if I were to anonymously drop off a note?” Mike was filing away this information in his mind.
“No way. These days, that’s seen as a ‘hate crime,’ to say anything disparaging about gay people, even if you’re speaking the truth. You’d be found out.”
“It is sad. Well, their blood be on their own heads, I guess. Hey, I’ve got tickets to the theater this weekend, and something’s come up. You want them?”



It was now Friday evening. Nikki had had to go out of town on a last-minute assignment, so Erin headed over to the houseboat to visit with Mac and Stacey for the evening. Mac had greeted her with a hug and a smile.
“Stacey told me what you said the other night, Erin. It’s fine by me that you’re gay. I’m just glad that Stacey has you for a friend. Are you sure you don’t want to stay with us this weekend? I know Nikki won’t be back until Monday night.”
“You’re a sweetheart, Mac,” Erin answered. “But I’ll be fine. It isn’t like she’ll be gone an entire week. I’m on my own, anyway. I may as well get used to it.”
“I really hope you won’t be mad at me, Erin,” Stacey said as the two girls talked in her room later that night. “Dad got it out of me after you left that night. There’s no hiding anything from him.”
“I’m not, Stacey. I’m glad Mac knows. I’ve always known instinctively that he’d be OK with it.” Erin sighed, but this time there was happiness in it. “I’m happier than I’ve been in a couple of years. There’s a reason people talk about ‘being in the closet.’ You’re not able to really be yourself, and I can’t tell you how painful that is.”
“I can only imagine,” answered Stacey. “So, Erin, tell me,” she said in a lighter tone, a giggle in her voice. “Anyone on your radar?”
Erin laughed. “Well, not yet. But that’ll come in time. And you’ll be the first to know, honey.”
“Oh, come on. There’s gotta be someone you at least think is cute.”
“Hmm. Well, you know that redhead who works over in the legal department?”
“Yep. Kim, I think her name is. She is cute.”
“She’s smart, too, and one of the Foundation’s best lawyers. Gorgeous, smart, and rich: she hits the trifecta. I don’t know her at all, though. For all I know, she’s straight as an arrow, married, and has a couple of kids.”
“Yeah, the good ones are always taken,” answered Stacey sympathetically. “Believe it or not, I haven’t even kissed a guy yet.”
“Well, we have to do something about that, now, don’t we?” Erin asked with a devilish grin. “Seriously, I know a couple of guys who’d be right up your alley.”
“Like who?”
Erin and Stacey laughed and talked long into the night, neither of them even suspecting that this conversation would be their last.

[ghostdoll]

Hmmm... I'm pretty "careful" with anything involving the Bibble or God, so I really don't get into any kind of debate there. But to each it's own. Persecution is wrong no matter what/how/when/why.

thanks for sharing your story.