No Engagement Ring

by Julie Sewcharan

  In this manner, it wasn't difficult to put things into perspective. And by the time she got to bed, she felt more relaxed about the whole thing. At least she wasn't involved in pulling the entire production together. That was someone else's task; a task she was glad she did not have. With each individual item being practised and then coming together with regards to timing, it seemed a mission impossible to Hannah. She shuddered at the thought.

  Every afternoon, during the week, the production committee was expected to gather together and liaise with each other. As part of the committee along with the co-ordinator, the costume designer, make up artist, choreographer, etc., Hannah was expected to attend promptly for discussions on the layout. She made sure she did.

  Individual items were to be practised during school hours within the confines of the classroom. Closer to October extra evening practises would be held, with all children who were involved in the actual production. The younger groups would need to be there only intermittently as theirs was a small part to play. Hannah was grateful for that.

  Jessica Lacey was the co-ordinator for the production and was very thorough and knowledgeable. Hannah later found out that Jessica was the one who'd done the previous years’ co-ordination as well. Quickly Hannah got into the swing of things as the production layout slowly unravelled itself.

  At the end of each day she was exhausted but excited by what would come out of it. Everyone else was too. It was only a week into the planning but things were already progressing.

  Fortunately her Saturdays were not fully occupied which was good, Hannah reflected when she was called up to serve with the charity team that very weekend. They would be doing a soup kitchen at a nearby shelter.

  It was a sad thing to see so many people homeless and without much in the way of finance, especially so close to a suburb where everyone was prospering in wealth. The members of the Gateway to Eternal Life Church, Hannah was sure, were almost all, if not all, prosperous people. It was something to thank God for and they were generous in their giving towards events like this.

  The team was united in their efforts to feed and minister to the people who were there. By the time they were driving back, Hannah knew she had made the right choice in joining this department. Her team leaders dropped her off at home with a promise to get in touch with her soon.

  Hannah didn't hold her breath; they were busy people, Janet and Ron Moody. Yet, to her shame, they did make time to call her and find out how she found the outing and whether she was comfortable doing this sort of thing. Contact was made within the week, a pleasant surprise for Hannah. Yes, she would continue doing charity work.

  The first rehearsal with the major group took place on the Wednesday afternoon, after school in the main church hall. Hannah had to be there to take notes as to what would be required for the scenes as well as any changes that needed to be made. It was the senior group who were starting off the practise that afternoon.

  Jessica barked out instructions pertaining to how the scene would be enacted, both to the group and Hannah who wrote furiously. Then they settled a bit into the practice. After about twenty minutes into the practise, Hannah made a note in her book. It was more a question she didn't want to voice.

  'Would it not be better to use song and dance for this part of the production?' was the question she wrote down. Then continued to pay careful attention to the practice.

  Enthralled by all that was going on in front of her, she was not aware that Jonathan had joined them. He had taken a seat in the row behind them. Not long after, Jessica allowed the group a five minute break.

  “How's it going?” Jonathan asked as soon as the group started to move off stage.

  Hannah flinched and all her papers fell off her lap onto the ground. Jumping off her chair quickly, she retrieved everything in an untidy pile and stood up. He was leaning forward in his chair, his arms folded on the back of the chair that was vacant between Jessica and Hannah.

  Hannah looked at him with wide eyes. After looking at her with an amused expression for a few seconds, he turned his attention to Jessica who had poised herself to face him.

  The other committee teachers came into the loop of conference, preferring to stand with Hannah; much to her relief.

  “It's early days,” Jessica said mildly. “So we can't really tell but they are putting in quite a bit of effort already.”

  He didn't say anything just nodded. Hannah got the feeling he thought it was lacking something and she gazed at him trying to gauge if it was so but could not read his expression and he wasn't looking at her. If only she could share with him her thoughts! That would take a lot of courage to do, she reminded herself, so she endeavoured to keep silent.

  “They usually start off uncertain but they end off quite polished,” Patience added with a smile.

  “That is so true,” Lydia piped. “Remember last year, that boy, Owen? He had us pulling our hair out until the last minute and then put us to shame with his brilliant performance.”

  Hannah looked from one teacher to the other at the information being passed out.

  “All thanks to Jessica, it always is a superb production,” Greg complimented.

  “Thanks guys,” Jessica said modestly.

  “And it is going to be a superb production this year too,” Jonathan said with great faith before leaving.

  Break over, the practice began again, ending at five pm. Allowing the other teachers to leave, Hannah assured them she would be fine to clear up and get everything back to the office. After all, she had no family to rush off to.

  Not long after they left, Jonathan came back into the main church. “Did they leave you alone to clean up?” he asked concerned.

  Fortunately she was up on the stage, a great distance from him, so was able to answer him without tripping up herself. “Oh, no! They didn't deliberately leave me,” she answered softly. “I offered to do it.” She looked at him with truthfulness.

  “You don't mind?” he asked looking up at her with wonder in his eyes.

  “Not at all! They have families they want to get to.” She smiled reassuringly.

  “And you don't,” he stated thoughtfully. Hannah just looked at him. “Do you miss your family?” he asked after a pause knowing that she was from Crystalview, a town at least three hours drive from Redlin, one way.

  “Yes,” she answered simply. “But I get to speak to them every day. Besides I have made great friends here.” The gratefulness in her voice was enough to satisfy him.

  “Here let me help you,” he said jumping onto the stage.

  “Oh, no you don't have to,” she said rather too quickly stepping away.

  “But I want to, okay?”

  A battle of wills ensued as they stared at each other. A battle that Hannah lost. Shrugging, she let him help her. Even though, she had succumbed, she was no push over, Jonathan realised gladly.

  As they worked he asked questions. “So they made you the stage hand?”

  “I believe all new teachers are to be stage hands first before they can be anything else,” she answered dismissively.

  “Really? I must admit I am clueless about that rule.” He sounded casual, not upset.

  “I actually think it is a great way to get used to the workings of the whole thing without feeling swallowed up by it,” she said without guile.

  “That is actually a wonderful observation, Hannah. I should perhaps adopt that with the newbies.”

  He said her name so easily as if they were friends and Hannah felt shy, forcing down the urge to bolt. “Thank you!” she said awkwardly.

  They were done and after putting the last item into a box, he asked, “So what do you think of the production?”

  “From what I've seen so far, it is great,” she replied with honesty.

  “But lacking something,” he said aloud what she was thinking.

  Her eyes grew wide with unease. “I think it's fine,” she attempted.

  “Don't get me wrong,” he held up his hand. “It's g
ood but I feel it needs a bit of something to make it fantastic. It needs...spicing up.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Jonathan wondered why he felt it so easy to share his thoughts with her.

  However, she was looking at him with understanding. No wonder he felt connected to her. She knew exactly what he was talking about.

  “You think so too,” he said cautiously.

  “I...No I think it's fine.” She shook her head – the golden brown curls that escaped her knot, swaying with the movement – partly to deny what he was saying and partly to get her thoughts under control.

  “It's okay Hannah. Whatever you tell me will remain confidential.” His voice was soothing.

  Hannah hesitated but the look of encouragement goaded her into telling him what she thought.

  “I was thinking that song and dance routines would do the production more justice,” she began.

  She could see his mind working. “What exactly were you thinking of?” he asked encouragingly.

  His voice was so mesmerising that Hannah felt herself eager to share her thoughts. For the next ten minutes, they discussed what could possibly work.

  “That is amazing, Hannah,” Jonathan praised when she was finished. And she hadn't widened the gap between them!

  “Really?” she asked very surprised.

  He didn't comment further but asked, “Would you mind if I put it to Jessica after giving it some thought of course?” The stricken look on her face, rushed him to add, “I won't tell her it came from you if you don't want me to.”

  After a bit of thought, Hannah nodded. She did not want to upset anyone but she would like the production to be fantastic and if her ideas helped, then that would be wonderful. Jonathan's pleased smile put her ease about her thoughts.

  It was several days later, though, when Jonathan discussed with Jessica the changes he thought would be good for the production. He was careful to make it seem as if Jessica had initiated it and also careful to leave Hannah out of it.

  Even though Jonathan would have liked to give Hannah the credit because he was very impressed with her ideas, he respected her wish to remain unnamed in the idea. He knew from her CV that her major subject was music but he had no idea how much she knew until the day she shared from her heart the ideas for the production. An endearing trait; her sincerity.

  Jessica was in favour of anything that 'spiced up' the production. She needed help though on how to bring those changes about and enlisted all the committee members for input. They were ever ready to put forth ideas. Only Hannah was quiet. Eventually, Jessica turned to her.

  “You've been awfully quiet, Hannah but I'm sure you have some ideas. Music was one of the subjects you included in your curriculum for your diploma wasn't it?” Jessica asked encouragingly.

  Hannah turned red, biting her full lower lip. Jessica, she knew had read her CV as she did everyone's who was involved in the production. It helped her to know their strengths to be able to draw from. Not particularly geared to make suggestions directly; always via someone else, Hannah was reluctant to voice any. However, this was a chance to use her talent and she should, she knew. God had given it to her not to hide it under a 'bushel' but to let it shine for Him. And He had made it possible for her to be a part of the production.

  Taking a deep breath, she started with a basic intro that got every one talking again, excitedly. They kept turning to her to fuel the ideas and finally they got a very good idea on what to do. Hannah was glad. She was, however, to continue as the stage hand which she accepted with relief. She didn't fancy herself as co-ordinator.

  With the new format, they were ready to practise again. Which meant at least twice a week, now. Evenings with Emily and Derrick were fewer but very welcome. It took the pain out of preparing a meal for herself. Hannah enjoyed talking to them and finding out more about the church and it's beginnings. It helped her relax too.

  Emily was always animated when she spoke about the church. But she never spoke intimately about herself. Yet Hannah felt a connection with this much older woman.

  “So how is the school production going?” Emily asked conversationally.

  “Great, actually!” Hannah answered positively. “I think the children are going to pull it off.”

  “I'll toast to that. I never get involved with the production but I know from Sarah that it is a nightmare to pull together. But the end product belies that nightmare,” Emily smiled.

  “Same as the one the children's church runs every year, which envelops about the same amount of children. Things can get pretty steamy among people when they're practising but one can never tell there were tears and heartache when watching the performance,” Derrick laughed.

  “I guess we keep missing the part where God says, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'”, Emily stated thoughtfully. “I tell you the angels are with those teachers whenever they practise and with those children when they perform.”

  “True,” Derrick agreed with passion.

  Hannah was awed by the couple's understanding of one another and their togetherness. But she'd seen that between her parents too. They were always supportive of one another and never had Hannah or her siblings felt like they were unloved. Even now. She hoped someday she would find a spouse who understood her.

  “Do you help out with the year end children's church programme?” she asked the Garricks now.

  “Us?” Derrick laughed. “No, we're too old. But we don't mind helping out with the Christmas programme.”

  “We do assist a little bit with the year end programme, with the area planning and that kind of thing,” Emily confessed. “Nothing major.”

  “Sounds like it's going to be wonderful. I can't wait to see it.” Hannah's eyes shone with the hope of watching it.

  “It is and your school production will also be wonderful,” Emily said encouragingly.

  “I have no doubt it will be. Jessica is a wonderful co-ordinator,” Hannah praised.

  “And every teacher and pupil is a wonderful participant,” Derrick said wisely.

  Their faith in the production helped Hannah's hope to soar. Even though no one would know of her actual involvement in the production, namely the musical pieces, she would feel the criticism worse than the others.

  But these lovely people always made her feel encouraged and strengthened. She thanked God for bringing them into her life.

  Chapter 5

  With renewed energy, she was at the practice the next evening. But the evening did not go well. Jessica seemed to be distracted and the children were a little bit on edge. Eventually, they were dismissed. But no one dared to question Jessica who behaved as though nothing was wrong.

  With a little more time this evening, Hannah decided to write lyrics, something she had not done for a while now. However, her attempts didn't flow. Frustrated, she gave up and just watched television instead.

  Although, she wasn't completely paying attention to the programme on the screen, her head jerked up when she heard the word, 'forgive'. The television was on a Christian channel – the Garricks had extended their paid channels to the cottage – and the preacher was speaking about being forgiven and forgiving.

  It wasn't so much the topic that caught her attention as the voice of the person presenting it. The voice was almost in her ear and ever so gentle. Hannah paid closer attention to the programme and by the end of it, she had tears streaming down her face.

  Her breakdown was healing for her so much so that before she went to bed, she had the lyrics to a new song.

  The next afternoon's practice didn't go so well either. Jessica was very distracted and let several hiccups go un-righted. But no one dared to question these oversights. Reason for Jessica's behaviour, though, was soon to be revealed.

  Just before the children were due to arrive for the next practice, Jessica stormed into the church and announced, “My mother is in hospital. I have to take the next few weeks off. I am sorry to do this to you but someone will have to take over. I will, however, finish
today's practice.”

  With that she continued as if she had not dropped a bombshell. The team had to wait until after practice to sympathise with her as the children were already strolling in.

  Jessica was a strong woman and Hannah admired her for not breaking under the pressure. As soon as she left, the others were flustered as to who would run the production. Hannah didn't even want to voice any opinions. She just kept quiet.

  After much deliberation back and forth, the others suddenly turned on Hannah. “We think you should be the one to take this production to the end,” they all chorused.

  Hannah shrank back. “Me?” she screeched.

  “Yes, Hannah. You could do this much better than we could. It was your ideas that made a great difference in the production.” It was Lydia who was pressing this point.

  Hannah, however, was not in agreement with them. They went back and forth on the issue, ending up talking all at once.

  “Are we having a discord here?” Jonathan asked mildly amused. Although he did not use stealth to enter the main hall, no one had noticed his appearance until he spoke.

  Silence ensued as everyone stopped at the same time.

  It was Greg who spoke up. “Jessica has taken the next few weeks off,” he stated.

  “Yes, I know,” Jonathan said calmly.

  “We need a new co-ordinator and we think Hannah should be the one to take her place, seeing that she came up with some good ideas for the changes we made,” Greg continued.

  Jonathan gazed at Hannah who shook her head ever so slightly. But he was thoughtful. A few seconds of silence dropped on the group as they waited for Jonathan to speak.

  “I think it will work,” he said at length, ignoring the horrified look on Hannah's face.

  “Thank you, Jonathan!” Patience said robustly.

  He shrugged. “I have just as much faith in Hannah as the rest of you.”

  Hannah wished the earth would swallow her. What had they got her into? Or more pointedly, what had Jonathan got her into?

  “We all think she will do a stunning job,” they chorused. But Hannah wondered if they weren't just trying to shirk the load. In all honesty, though, they did have families to consider and she was single without any encumbrance.