LJ Idol Season 9, Week 25: "Overwatch"
"Lost Lamb"
Kay sat uncomfortably in the easy chair by the fire, fiddling with the diamond ring on her finger. George walked in from the kitchen, newspaper under his arm and a drink in each hand. "Only the finest illegal alcohol for you, my dear."
Kay took her drink and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, as George sat across from her and unfolded the newspaper.
"Apparently they've started that trial," he said. "Some teacher in Tennessee who taught his students about Darwin's theories." Kay looked over at George, but only saw his hands, unadorned by any jewelry.
"Why wouldn't he? Isn't his job to teach his students about the world around them? Those theories have been around for decades--it would be a disservice not to at least let the children know they exist!"
"Apparently, it's more of a disservice to teach anything other than that God created everything in seven days."
"Six," Kay corrected. "And why does that theory automatically get to be the correct one?"
George peeked over the newspaper to find Kay pacing by the fire, sipping her drink. This was out of character for her--she was usually very reserved, prone more to quiet emotion than complicated debate. It was part of what drew him to her, this woman he could never truly claim as his own.
"I guess the creationists got to Tennessee first," George sighed.
"Well, that shouldn't matter!" Kay half-shouted, almost as if she were pleading with the judge in the courtroom. "Children deserve to right to choose what to believe!"
George put down his paper and looked pointedly at Kay. "I agree with you, but some people still cling to the notion of teachers as shepherds, guiding them on God's way."
Kay stopped her pacing and looked back at George. "And what happens when they leave school, and find themselves lost in a world that doesn't conform to the books they've read? What happens when they're still lost lambs?"
George pondered this as he emptied his glass. "Most people find their way."
"But some don't. God knows I still haven't. I mean, here I am, more comfortable with the man I'm sleeping with than the man I'm married to, wanting to leave but unable to..."
"We've talked about this," George interrupted. "I'll wait for you."
"But I know it breaks your heart to have to. No schoolteacher gave lessons on this situation." Kay slumped back down in her chair, near tears. Fixing her eyes on George, she dropped her voice to a whisper. "I'm still a lost lamb. Who will shepherd me now?"
*****
Author's note: Kay Swift was an American composer who carried on a lengthy affair with George Gershwin. The affair was the inspiration for the musical "Oh, Kay!", which marked the debut of the song "Someone to Watch Over Me."
Kay sat uncomfortably in the easy chair by the fire, fiddling with the diamond ring on her finger. George walked in from the kitchen, newspaper under his arm and a drink in each hand. "Only the finest illegal alcohol for you, my dear."
Kay took her drink and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, as George sat across from her and unfolded the newspaper.
"Apparently they've started that trial," he said. "Some teacher in Tennessee who taught his students about Darwin's theories." Kay looked over at George, but only saw his hands, unadorned by any jewelry.
"Why wouldn't he? Isn't his job to teach his students about the world around them? Those theories have been around for decades--it would be a disservice not to at least let the children know they exist!"
"Apparently, it's more of a disservice to teach anything other than that God created everything in seven days."
"Six," Kay corrected. "And why does that theory automatically get to be the correct one?"
George peeked over the newspaper to find Kay pacing by the fire, sipping her drink. This was out of character for her--she was usually very reserved, prone more to quiet emotion than complicated debate. It was part of what drew him to her, this woman he could never truly claim as his own.
"I guess the creationists got to Tennessee first," George sighed.
"Well, that shouldn't matter!" Kay half-shouted, almost as if she were pleading with the judge in the courtroom. "Children deserve to right to choose what to believe!"
George put down his paper and looked pointedly at Kay. "I agree with you, but some people still cling to the notion of teachers as shepherds, guiding them on God's way."
Kay stopped her pacing and looked back at George. "And what happens when they leave school, and find themselves lost in a world that doesn't conform to the books they've read? What happens when they're still lost lambs?"
George pondered this as he emptied his glass. "Most people find their way."
"But some don't. God knows I still haven't. I mean, here I am, more comfortable with the man I'm sleeping with than the man I'm married to, wanting to leave but unable to..."
"We've talked about this," George interrupted. "I'll wait for you."
"But I know it breaks your heart to have to. No schoolteacher gave lessons on this situation." Kay slumped back down in her chair, near tears. Fixing her eyes on George, she dropped her voice to a whisper. "I'm still a lost lamb. Who will shepherd me now?"
*****
Author's note: Kay Swift was an American composer who carried on a lengthy affair with George Gershwin. The affair was the inspiration for the musical "Oh, Kay!", which marked the debut of the song "Someone to Watch Over Me."