by Janet Walker
***
“Well, I am happy for you, Tracy, because I know it’s something you want to do. But…”
Tracy peered at her aunt with dreadful alarm. “But what?”
“Spending two hours a day outside of class with girls who don’t know Jehovah—I don’t know. It can be dangerous.”
“What you mean?”
“It’s already a spiritual danger for a young person to spend eight hours a day in class with worldly people. But we have no choice about that—it’s the law. But it’s worse when you engage in extracurricular activities. You’re not always supervised, and you could be exposed to anything.”
“We just gonna be playing basketball, Aun’ Madge.”
“Yes, but what about in the locker room? Will the girls be talking about how great it is to commit fornication? Or to get drunk or take drugs?”
“I dunno, but I’m not gonna do it!”
“And what if they pressure you? What if one of the boy athletes tries to get you to go to bed with him?”
“I ain’t stupid!”
“I know that, baby, but the Bible says, ‘Bad association spoils useful habits.’ It says, ‘Do not be misled.’ Which means we can get fooled into thinking we’re okay but get drawn into misconduct, anyway, because of the company we keep. I’m just trying to help you see some of the dangers you face being on a team, which is why the Watch Tower Society cautions young people about getting involved in extracurricular activities.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And what if one of the boys does try to talk you into fornication? What would you do?”
“I’d say no!”
“Why?”
“’Cause. I know Jehovah don’t want me to. And I could get pregnant or get AIDS.”
“That’s right. Remember that. And don’t teams pray together?”
“I dunno.”
“I think they do. What are you going to do when they pray? They won’t be praying to Jehovah. And even if they were, do you think he’d listen to a prayer that’s asking him to help one team beat another?”
“No.”
“So when they pray, what will you do?”
“I dunno.”
“Don’t pray. Remain silent—but polite.”
“Okay.”
“And what about Christmas? They’ll probably want to exchange gifts. What will you do then?”
Tracy sighed. “Tell ’em I don’t celebrate it.”
“Why not?”
“’Cause I’m a Jehovah Witness.”
“No, you’re not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses—yet. You’re not one until you’ve studied and gotten baptized. But your aunt is one, and you live with her, and she doesn’t want you to celebrate it. That’s what you tell them.”
“Okay.”
“And if Miss Grace has a problem with that, you tell her to call me.”
“Ah’right.”
“And if playing basketball starts affecting your grades, you will have to quit.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And I’m not going to let you off the hook when it comes to going to the meetings just because you’ve had basketball practice. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now, I know it sounds like I’m trying to step on all your fun, Tracy, but it’s just that there’s so much in Satan’s world to cause a young person to go astray. I’m just trying to help you avoid those traps. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“All right, then, wash up and get a snack. We’ll have your Bible study, and then I’ll drive you to your mother’s before it gets dark.”
“Yes, ma’am.”