Preparation Day

CONTEXT: I am thinking about writing a book about two Mormon missionaries who fall in love. There may be things that do not make sense if you are not familiar with Mormon missions lol. A mission consists of "a period of volunteer service for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, typically lasting 18 to 24 months, during which they proselytize or perform other service. Missionaries, often called "Elders" (for men) and "Sisters" (for women), are unpaid and supported by their families. They are paired with a companion and live under a strict daily schedule that limits contact with the outside world to focus on their service. Mormonism has a large history of homophobia, including conversion therapy, excommunicating LGBTQ members, and shunning children of gay parents.

A P-day is the one day off the week they have off to do laundry, grocery shop, do activities, etc.

Preparation Day

I stayed in her bed until the sun rose far over the Wasatch Mountains. My body was achy from the long, sunny day before. My breaths were slow and hot, I had forgotten what it felt like to sleep past 6:30.

Sight and sound. That’s what they say.

You must stay in your companion's sight and sound. That’s the part I had been dreading the most about the mission. I had gotten to know myself as an introvert. In high school, after a long day, all I wanted to do was lie in my room by myself.

What I didn’t expect was Jennie. In my sight. In my sound.

Last night I said too much. I wondered if maybe she didn’t understand what I meant. I played through what I said over and over and over.

“You’re all I think about. What should I do? I don’t want to stay.”

I recounted her look. It was one of those looks she only gives me when we are alone, but it was paired with nothing. She simply looked into me, and I fell into her arms. Her soft hands ran through my hair and moved the oils through my scalp. Her sly fingers braided my hair back together, and I had fallen asleep before she could tie it up.

“Good morning,” She was ready for the day and caressed my forehead, “It’s late, get up. Today we shall do nothing and everything at once!” She tugged the curtains to reveal the shining sun.

I had expected the morning to be incredibly awkward. I wanted to clench my fists in my mind; it ran marathons and equations trying to figure out every inch of Jennie’s language. Nothing and everything? All I could piece together was that she seemed too excited for a P-day and that she hadn’t forgotten about last night.

As we headed out the door, I finally asked, “So where to?”

“We’re going to see Salt Lake City!”

“Jen, what do you mean…”

“Just follow me, dear.”

She gave me a little smirk and hopped in the car. Sitting in the passenger seat, I kept glancing at the side mirror. I wanted to know if she liked braiding my hair or liked the way it looked. I wondered if, when she looked my way, it was to look at me or her blind spot. Was I more than a missionary to her?