Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Love (04/27/06)
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TITLE: RINGING TRUE | Previous Challenge Entry
By Teresa Hollums
04/29/06 -
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“I really need to hurry back because I’ve got another date at 8:00 tonight,” Terry informed the man at the wheel. “You’ll have to excuse my curlers and the way I look; I just couldn’t get ready in time. All this week I have had to cram for my worst class exam.”
“Thanks for coming.” Simply replied the young man as he smiled in gratitude.
“I know I’ve kind of pestered you for this last date—but….”
“I know you’ve tried to contact me in several ways. I really got notification about your several phone calls. The roses you sent were really beautiful, but I gave them to one of my friends who love that color of rose better than I do.”
“I understand—really I do,” and Randy looked away into the dark through the car’s window pane. “You’ve been always honest with me and I truly love that about you.”
“Then you understand that this absolutely is our last date to just say good-by.” Terry looked down at her sandals and unmatched clothes. She had tried her best to look her worst for this rather persistent suitor. “You remember why I said this could never lead to marriage when you asked if I would consider marrying you?”
“Yes, I remember very clearly, and I understand. You said my idea or marriage and yours was totally incompatible. I feel a marriage is a trust and love between two people working together to last the kind of forever that we both really want—“
“And I said that you were a very sweet person and I appreciated your telling me even on our second date that you thought we would make a good marriage. That was a little to direct and too unusual for me. How could anyone on the second date even know to consider someone for marrying?”
“I’m sorry I scared you; I didn’t mean to do that…I just wanted you to think about it and then you could know exactly where I stand. I didn’t say I loved you nor did I try to romance you with flowery words.”
That might have been kind of nice.”
“But that’s insincere...”
“But that’s not being insincere—that’s romancing someone.”
“Then you said something about…”
“Yes, I know and I still say, Randy, you just aren’t my white knight in shining armor. I—I still just don’t hear bells. My heart doesn’t skip a beat. I don’t want to just die to hear your voice or want you to hold me tight. I am looking for a more romantic kind of guy—a man that I’ll really hear those bells ring.”
“I know. I wish you could see it my way. But let’s go and get our coke so I can get you back in time for your real date.”
“That would be best. You are still a great friend; just not one I could ever consider a lover. There are just no bells,”
“O.k.,” that’s it, I guess.”
Randy turned on the motor and began to back up in the dark.
Suddenly, the inside of the car was filled with the happy sound of singing bells. And they were real.
Terry turned to look for the sound and in the glow of the dash board’s lights she saw the source of the bells—Randy had tied Christmas bells across the back of the inside of the car!
Laughter filled the air, and suddenly on impulse she reached over and hugged Randy tight.
“Could this utterly sweet and honest person actually be my mate for life? Have I just had a silly romantic idea of love and marriage?” Terry asked herself.
Only forty-two years later was there an answer to that question—“Yes” and years of “yeses.” God answered her prayers. That lasting marriage of Terry and Randy is still making bells of reality and true love ring.
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