The dorm had heat, but what else could she do without talking to someone. No one assembled in groups. All the women separated with nothing to do, but wander and look up at the stars. The stars gleamed like jewels on black velvet. Not even an airplane flying over. The sky stretched as far as one could see.
ANNE DIDN'T want to be the only person going to bed. It was dark and cool outside. The magnolias smelled sweet. The stars glistened in the darkness. The night offered comfort. She thought about Kenny. She wished Kenny could share this beautiful night with her. Anne pondered the stars; so many stars, she thought.
The Big Dipper and other constellations hung in the sky. Then Anne came to an interesting conclusion. There must be a God. She remembered what the counselor at camp had said, “No one else could create this beauty.”Anne went to church, but this beautiful sky may be the invisible God letting her know of His creation and existence.
Anne continued her thoughts, God had visited us! Made Himself visible in Jesus. So much greed, adultery . . . all things had become evil in some way or other. Kenny has to stretch the taxes the way the IRS has set up the forms. Oops, I almost fell off that step . . . looking at the stars. Jesus said, 'I'll never leave you.'
Anne pondered if this is what He meant? Looking at the sky gave her a new perspective on His creation.
Anne considered those attending the conference, I don't know many of these people. They seem to know me. I know it is a big church, but don't I know everybody?
Some of the women wandered back to the dorm. Standing or shuffling on the concrete; not really wanting to go to bed. The other women continue to look up; saying nothing. Staring at the sky, the mountains, the door. One goes in.
Anne yawns, going to bed this early did not suit her. Kenny usually works on what he will do the next day.
He makes a "to-do" list, and checks his notebook to see what he follows each day. He looks over his calender after dinner. She usually takes care of the last-minute details, and then they cuddle on the couch and watch some television.
THE SECOND woman entered in the door, went past the first woman and prepared for bed. She looked at the pillow on top of her bed. Nice case, but the pillow is really small and flat. She tested the pillow. She thought, I usually bring my own pillow, why didn't they remind me.
She found her toiletries and pajamas. She took off her blouse, folded it, placed it on the shelf. Then, her shoes and skirt, and she put on her pajamas. Another woman, about five beds down,
brought a valet bag and hung it on a hook screwed into the shelf.
The first woman walked past the second woman. The first woman's pajamas spotted all over with red hearts on white flannel. Her husband must have given her those one Christmas, the second woman felt sorry for the first, but the first woman quicken her pace, and no one said anything.
Unnoticed by the second, until the the woman with the hearts on her pajamas walked into the bathroom, others had also wandered in, and gathered at the bathroom. The door to the bathroom had been propped open. So many in the bathroom that the first woman had to squeeze between two other women to brush her teeth.
Nobody said anything in the bathroom; all were polite. They would have spoken, if they could.
ANNE DIDN'T want to be the last one entering the dorm, she thought that the others would look at her funny. There was one man laying off in the grass and two women coming down the concrete pathway. Anne went into the dorm.
A HUBBUB of activity met her. Those that weren't changing into their sleepwear, were lined up at the bathroom. Anne could see that the bathroom consisted of two urinals and two toilets and
four sinks below a mirror. No showers and no faucets for the hot water.
The toilets had been set off with standard gray metal partitions. The fixtures were chrome, as was the small frame around the mirror. Some women were waiting in line for the toilets and other were waiting in line for the sinks.
Tall ones, short ones, sophisticated and every day appearing women. Anne noticed, the line continued out the door into the sleeping area between the beds. She would wait.
Anne went to her assigned bed, and sat. She nodded at Alex, but Francine F. wasn't there. Anne and most women sat on their bed waiting for the lines into the bathroom to decrease; not talking to anyone.
She looked down the row of beds at those women who had either came back from the bathroom or those who, like her, were
waiting for the lines to get shorter.
No talking permitted. A dumb rule, but nobody broke it, and talked to her. Anne thought, it takes all kinds.
Finally, the lines into the bathroom became shorter. The door closed. Anne ventured forth. She stood in one line for the sinks and then another for the toilets.
When Anne returned almost everyone when to sleep in their sleeping bags. She noticed that Alex was among the sleeping ones. Francine, still missing, and her luggage hadn't arrived.
THE NEXT morning everyone gathered for breakfast in the Dinning Room. A clear and beautiful morning had greeted the attendees, but it was getting warm. Anne thought, should I change into shorts?
Anne eagerly kissed KB. The bacon and the coffee permeated the room with their distinctive aromas.
Breakfast broke the silence, but after we sat, before eating, the Head Rosita explained more of the ground rules. He quickly outlined: "Some time would be provided for each couple to get
ready for the rollos, in the Rollo Room.
“Time would be shown by the space between his hands." He demonstrated with his hands held out before him, each vertical, about ten inches apart. "This would be about ten minutes," he said.
"Also, when time runs out, the head cook will ring a gong by running this ringer around the inside of the triangle . . . like this." He rang the triangle.
Anne jumped at the sound, and thought, probably the sound of the triangle could be heard for ten miles.
"Some coffee?"
"Yes, that sounds like a good idea," KB said to the cook holding a pot of steaming coffee. Anne was surprised at her appearing, and she pondered, not bad.
At least they know what's important. I looked around for a self- serve thermos when I first entered, but didn't find one.
This is much better. Look at all that food. Nobody's moving. I
guess they are waiting for the Head Cook to ring the gong.
"What would like you for breakfast?" The same woman who had previously poured the coffee asked.
"Eggs . . . toast and . . . some fruit."
Anne stuttered, a bit taken back that this woman taking her order. Like being in a hotel, Anne thought.
"And you?" Cathy the cook asked.
KB ventured forth: "I saw some waffles. Could I have those?"
"How many? Would you like strawberries running all over those?"
"Three . . . no strawberries, but a sunny-side egg would be nice." Anne asked: "Are there seconds?"
"Absolutely! Even thirds, if the food holds out."
Sixty-four people and twelve cooks didn't take up much space. Not like the night before when almost one-hundred and twenty folks packed into the Dinning Room. Add tables, conversation
and the cooks making breakfast, serving juice, coffee, tea and the place was jumping.
The silence carefully observed last evening vanished as those sitting at tables introduced themselves to those near by, some distant folks that they recognized, along with the discussions of individual breakfasts with the cooks; much noise filled the place.
They had so much to talk about. The lack of decorations, the crowded bathrooms, and the food.
Juice and danish pastry, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, avocado slices, pineapple, melon, waffles, pancakes with all the fixings, could be added. Anne was close enough to see the strawberries, also the peaches and sliced apples, whipped cream and even the chocolate flakes that could top the pancakes.
The Head Rosita rang the gong, and everyone gave him their attent
ion, except the cooks who were still pouring coffee for those lingering and engaging in conversations.
The Head Rosita was standing up with his hands vertical about a
foot apart. He was saying: "We don't want to rush you . . . but,
you have about this much time." He showed everybody his hands again, about a foot apart. "We will start the first rollo next door."
SOME MOVED. No doubt they wanted to get to the dorm to either stand in line or change their clothes.
"Did you bring the card?" KB wanted to know. Anne had told him they gave them a card when she signed them up.
"Right here," answered Anne. Anne noticed that their card had an angel in the upper right corner. In the dorm Anne met Maryann who also had an angel on the note that had been written to her.
She knew that she and Maryann would be together for something. They didn't know what.
ANNE LOOKED in the Rollo Room, while she waited to enter. The white walls were undecorated except for a few windows on one wall covered with a plain translucent paper.
There was a podium in the center and tables placed around the room facing the podium and each table sported folding chairs. Two chairs behind, one on each end, and four on the other side facing the podium.
Each table had a few greens to make a centerpiece and a sign. She could see that the signs were church things: Bible, angel, cross, folded hands, etc.
EVERYONE POURED into the Rollo Room. Some looked for their watch . . . shook their wrists, and wondered if enough time remained. Some were running to the dorms.
The instructions specifically told each couple to bring the confirmation card with them. No one asked for it when they showed up. "Your name?" they asked at check-in.
Each table had a different church symbol and each seat had a name card. Some were looking at their cards, looking for their names.
In time, everyone found their table and name card. Name tags were provided, and wives and husbands pinned them on each other. Each name tag had the table symbol, the first name in bold lettering and the last name below – smaller.
Maryann spotted Anne at the Angel Table and she introduced her husband. “My husband, Edward.”
"KB, my husband," Anne gestured.
"Edward," as KB reached out, and shook Edward's hand.
"I'm your table leader," Mike said, introducing himself, shaking everyone's hands.
"My wife, Rosemary, well just Rose," Mike introduced his wife, as a table leader also.
"KB," KB reached out to Rod, a bald, young guy. Rod and KB shook hands.
"My wife, Carolle," Rod introduced Carolle to KB.
Edward stood off, he was British, but he eventually met Rose, Mike, Rod, Carolle, KB and Anne. Pleasantries and work dominated the conversation, trying to find a common ground.
Eventually, fixing their marriages surfaced.
Carolle, smiling, admired her Rod. Only twenty-seven, and already a successful insurance salesman. He exceeded his quota for the last three years, and last year he received a bonus, which we spent on a vacation in Hawaii.
So many bikinis, but I don't have to worry, about Rod. He said, “I
will always remain as cute as the day we met.“
Edward said to Maryann: "These guys and gals are younger than us. Do they have the same problems?"
--4--
GEORGE FINISHED HIS ROLLO TITLED, 'Who am I.' He handed each table 2' x 3' piece of butcher block drawing paper.
Mike, the table leader for the Angel Table, said: "Before we draw the picture, and chose the spokesperson, I want to welcome you
to the Angel table.
We want to let you know that your involvement is encouraged
and we expect that each person will learn about their spouse, their marriage, their relationship, and themselves. So . . . let's talk.
'Who am I' was the title. Does anybody have anything to say?" Rod said, with great determination: "Well, I know who I am." Anne listened to hear Rod, and compare him to Kenny.
Mike asked Rod: "How would you describe yourself?"
Rod faced Carolle, and expressed without blinking an eye: "I am
a good father of two. A husband, a church member, and an insurance salesman. Don't you all know, who you are?" he asked. Surely you would know who you are, Rod asked to himself.
Maryann replied hesitantly: "Well, a housewife, but does that measure up?"
Carolle, Rod's wife, looked at Maryanne, and joined her: "I guess I'm a housewife too, but that's alright. Isn't it? I mean we have two babies. Who would look after them?"
Rod exclaimed babies. She still calls them babies. I guess they might be considered that, but the girl's eighteen months and the boy just turned three.
Edward scratched his neck, and joined the conversation: "All our children are gone. Thank God. I'm not a young man . . . you
know. Neither is Maryann. Sorry . . . I got off the subject . . . . He said apologetically.
“Anyway, Maryann had the responsibility for the kiddos. I'm sure I helped, but she was always there. We made a decision that Maryann would always be there."
KB interrupted: "I though you had a practice . . . attorney, as I
remember."
“Righto,” Edward exclaimed, "I am, in fact, both my wife and I are fine attorneys.” Edward put his hand to the back of his neck, “but during the baby and growing-up years . . . well, let me separate that. We agreed when we were starting out, that Maryann wouldn't work.
She would be a stay-at-home mom, always accessible for the kiddos. As the kiddos entered middle school, she worked a little while they were in school. Now that I have my own office,
Maryann helps me when she can."
Anne interrupted, "How old are your kids?" "The youngest is 23, then 27, 30, 32, and 35."
Rod still considering his time with Carolle, I guess she calls them babies until they go to school.
Anne looked at Carolle and added: "Bully for you! I'm for stay-at- home moms."
KB interjected: "Say, I see in the news, that Iran is still in turmoil. Did anyone else notice that?"
Carolle smiled and asked: "What does that mean? Isn't Iran a
Muslim nation?"
Rod added: "You bet. I would say that the President of Iran has a problem on his hands."
"He'll probably squelch it,” someone at the table concluded. Anne added: "I hope the Israelis use this turmoil to wipe out
Iran's nuclear capabilities.
"Rod repeated his first statement: "I think the President of Iran has a problem. Then, he's not the only one. The President of the United States has a problem too.
“On one hand, he's taking all of our freedoms, and on the other hand, the people of Iran are declaring they want freedom, like we have in the U.S. Israel also has a problem. What will they do?"
KB asked Mike: "Mike, you're our table leader, what do you think
Israel should do?"
Mike replied: "I agree with Anne. The Israelis should take advantage of the chaos. Israel should bomb Iran; then we don't have to.”
"KB says to Edward: "You look familiar. Which service do you go to?”
"Nine, you too?"
"Yes, I thought you looked familiar. Rod, which service do you and Carolle attend?"
"11:30."
"Really, Isn't that awfully late?"
"We just make it. By the time we get the kids up, have breakfast and load them in the car it's 11:15. So we come in the door at
11:30.” Rod mused to himself . . . sometimes it isn't worth it, and we don't make it at all.
Edward wanting to know: "Mike, which service do you go to?" his hand around his neck.
Mike replied: "Nine, same as you. I see you there all the time." Mike continued, trying to get the table centered on the talk, asked: "What shall we draw? Any ideas?"
"Do we really have to draw something?" Anne inquired. "Yes, each table has to draw something. It's to insure we
discussed each tal
k. The rules admonished us, to draw something, and someone from our table has to present what we got out of our discussions to the group."
"What?" exclaimed Anne. "Boy, they are serious. They want us to get something out of this weekend."
Mike inquired again : "What ideas can we present? 'Who am I,' is the topic."
Rod repeated: "Well, I know who I am." Rod evaluated the British couple. Both attorneys. She could represent me. A little heavy, but better than long, thin Edward.
Maryann a little shorter than Anne, not quite as heavy, focused her brown eyes over Rod, who fumed as a little boy who challenged the school bully.
"And we have two housewives," Mike noted. "Mike, who are you?"
Mike ducked the question, since the attendees at each table had to decide, 'Who Am I,' and draw their representation of who they are. He used this opportunity to get the table talking: "I'm not as sure as Rod. I'm different people in different situations.