The Novels

Economics 101, a Novel (Rough Draft) -- My first sustained attempt at a novel, two-thirds finished in rough draft, and heading a little too far south.
What would you do if you and your study partner, with whom you had been seriously discussing marriage, suddenly found yourselves all alone together on a desert island? Study economics?
Sociology 500, a Romance (Second Draft) -- The first book in the Economics 101 Trilogy.(On hold.)
Karel and Dan, former American football teammates and now graduate students, meet fellow graduate students Kristie and Bobbie, and the four form a steady study group.

Featured Post

Sociology 500, a Romance, ch 1 pt 1 -- Introducing Bobbie

TOC Well, let's meet Roberta Whitmer. Bobbie entered the anthropology department office and looked around. Near the receptionis...

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

[Backup] Economics 101, a Novel, ch_06 pt_2 -- Dating Others in the Second Semester

[JMR20180106: backup of http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/07/economics-101-novel-ch06-pt2-dating.html.] 

[JMR201804021346: edits]

Sometime after midnight, Karel found a place to sleep, and he drove Bobbie home in the morning so she could shower, and on Sunday Kristie could take her to church.
-
Sometime after midnight, Karel found a place to sleep, and he drove Bobbie home in the morning before returning to his dorm and reporting in. On Sunday, Kristie took her to church.

--

[JMR201804021346: end edits]

[JMR201803121307: edits for xhilr]

In part one of this chapter, we got to watch them get serious about life as their second semester as graduate students began. While it was easy, it was easy. Now it begins to get hard, but they remain good friends as they expand their dating.

=line=

"What do you think of this abstract painting by Lee Krasner?"

"Lee Krasner? Who is he?"

Trisha looked at Karel. "She. You don't know Lee Krasner?"
-
One of the problems with name dropping is that you won't recognize most of the names. For instance, I'm sure you've never heard of Aqixi Tzuxasa. But you may have heard of Lee Krasner, an artist of similar talent and modes of expression.

=line=

"What do you think of this abstract painting by Aqixi Tzuxasa?"

"Aqixi Tzuxasa? Who is he?"

Trisha looked at Karel. "She. You don't know Aqixi Tzuxasa?"

--

"So, who do you think is more important, Isadora Duncan or Loie Fuller?"

"I have to make a choice?"

"Just trying to think of something to talk about. Do you know any of the dancers?" Bobbie looked at her program.
-
"So, who do you think is more important, Tama Kulosa or Riqae Huqumas?" (These were dancers whose influence was equivalent to Isadora Duncan and Loie Fuller in our world.)

"I have to make a choice?"

"Just trying to think of something to talk about. Do you know any of the dancers tonight?" Bobbie looked at her program.

--

As she did, more students gathered, and she told them of her impressions of each number performed that night, congratulating the students on their work.
-
As she did, more students gathered, and she gavve them her impressions of each number performed that night, congratulating the students on their work.

--

After meeting the Scouts and their leaders, they split into five groups and snowshoed in to their respective areas. Each of our four friends went with a different group.
-
After meeting the Scouts and their leaders, they split into five groups and snowshoed in to their respective areas. Each of our four friends went with a different group. (You guessed it. Scouting in our world has lots of parallels in theirs. Or is it our world that has the parallels?)

--

Our four friends would often single each other out for attacks, or gang up three against one, or go two-on-two, before suddenly laughing and all four turning on anyone else who happened to be nearby.
-
Several times, our four friends singled each other out for attacks, or ganged up three against one, or even went two-on-two, before suddenly laughing and turning on everyone else who happened to be nearby.

--

The following Sunday, Karel and Dan came over in the afternoon to make chocolates for all the girls in the apartment.
-
The following Sunday, Karel and Dan came over in the afternoon to make chocolates for all the girls in the apartment.

Nobody mentioned the coming modern dance concert.

--

He eventually got up the courage to start hanging around with students in his ward at Church. It was one of the tougher student wards, with a prevailing cynicism.
-
He eventually got up the courage to start hanging around with students in his own congregation at Church. It was one of the tougher student congregations, with a heavy prevailing cynicism.

--

Oh, and, yes, our four friends did somehow find time for a little fun and games, once they got a good start on the studies.
-
So our four friends did somehow find time for a little fun and games, once they got a good start on the studies.

--

Kristie was feeling a bit better about the Doctrine and Covenants class by this time.
-
Kristie was feeling a bit better about the Doctrine, Commandments, and Covenants class by this time.

--

I have a question about the agreement thing in Sections 41 and 42," Bobbie said.
-
I have a question about the agreement thing," Bobbie said. She was referring to some scriptures similar to the beginnings of sections 41 and 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

--

"Reading the first verses of Doctrine and Covenants sections 41 and 42, I think," Kristie said slowly, "that the point is to agree on the questions when we pray together."
-
"Reading the assigned scriptures, I think," Kristie said slowly, "that the point is to at least agree on the questions when we pray together."

--

We all seem to know how to pray in our hearts.
-
We aren't afraid to pray in our hearts when we're together.

--

[JMR201803121307: end edits for xhilr]

(The framing story starts is here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.jp/2016/03/economics-101-novel-ch00.html. If you haven't read that, you might want to. Otherwise, the rest of this may not make much sense.

Introductions and characterizations begin here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch01-introducing.html.

In the previous chapter, we got to see more of the group date activities that Bobbie and Karel and Dan and Kristie participated in together: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch05-first-semester.html.

And the trip back to school for the second semester was important, too. Don't skip that: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/06/economics-101-novel-ch05-9-heading-back.html.

In part one of this chapter, we get to watch them get serious about life as their second semester as graduate students begins: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/07/economics-101-novel-ch06-pt1-second.html.

If you don't care about characterization, you might want to jump ahead: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.jp/2016/03/economics-101-novel-ch10-bobbie-and.html.)

While it was easy, it was easy. Now it begins to get hard, but they remain good friends.



"What do you think of this abstract painting by Lee Krasner?"

"Lee Krasner? Who is he?"

Trisha looked at Karel. "She. You don't know Lee Krasner?"

"Sorry."

"It can be forgiven." She turned back to the painting and waved her hand in front of it. "So what do you think of it?"

"I'm wondering if maybe she'd been seeing semiconductor layouts in her nightmares."

"You have no artistic soul!"

"Just kidding. But doesn't it remind you just a little of a bunch of transistors on a silicon wafer?"

Trisha looked at the painting and thought about it. "Okay, I'll give you that."



The women in my family seem to work in the graphical arts.

The men in my family lean more towards dynamic arts -- engineering, mechanisms, electronics, computer programming, physics, dance. (Well some of us like to dance.)

So I'm not going to spend a lot of time trying to make you think I know anything about the art that Trisha and Karel looked at.

Oh, and, yes, the art museum at Orson Hyde University is often open rather late on Saturday nights, specifically to give the students worthwhile things to do on dates.



As they left the museum, Trisha caught Karel's hand. He resisted for a moment, then relaxed.

"You're a complex person. I take back what I said about you not having an artistic soul."

"Thanks, I guess."

"I mean, your joke about the silicon wafers. There is something artistic about wafer layouts."

Karel grinned. "Actually, I can't take all the credit for that. When I showed my mom a scrapped wafer from work under a microscope, she said it looked like modern art. But I think there is a lot of art in wafer design, too. After I got used to inspecting them, I could usually tell the bad wafers by the patterns and the way they reflected light. I had to test, of course, but looking at the patterns as I set the test equipment up kept me interested sometimes."

"How did you get into semiconductors?"

"I'd done some solid-state work in classes, and I just thought it was fun. Someday, we're going to put whole computers on a wafer, I think."

(Forgive me for making him prescient there, okay?)

"Do you think I'd like it?"

"I'd have to get to know you better to be able to say one way or another. Lots of boring stuff to it -- you have to use calculus to prove that certain arrangements are worth experimenting with, and use more to design the tests and analyze the results. And the fabrication equipment is expensive, so management wants to keep it running as much as possible, and they want to hire semiskilled technicians to run the lines, to cut costs. Hard to get time to get your hands into things."

"Sounds exciting."

They walked in silence for a few minutes.

"I imagine a fabrication line, and I think it might look like a kind of slow-motion dance."

"Heh. Where did that come from?"

"Are you interested in dance?"

Karel chose his words carefully. "Some friends and I are taking a folk dance class."

"Are you interested in modern dance?"

Karel had to let go of Trisha's hand. "Yeah. Sure."

Trisha seemed not to notice the sudden distance. "I'm working on the lights for the modern dance concert next month. I could get you backstage, if you're interested."

Karel was trying to think of a way to refuse, but Trisha talked excitedly about the lights, the control panel, the wiring, the math for setting things up, the timing, and so forth. He was caught up in her enthusiasm and did not realize until she kissed him that they were not just holding hands, but that his arm was somehow around her waist as they walked.

I'm not going to even try to describe the conflicting emotions he was feeling. He did agree to go with her to the modern dance concert. But he was wondering whether Bobbie would be there, too.



"So, who do you think is more important, Isadora Duncan or Loie Fuller?"

"I have to make a choice?"

"Just trying to think of something to talk about. Do you know any of the dancers?" Bobbie looked at her program.

"Sure. They're all friends. In fact, I was kind of drafted to bring you here."

"What?"

"You're famous. The poster from when you came for your master's project hung on the wall in the office up until recently. Half of the teachers say your workshop several years back is what inspired them to continue."

Bobbie hung her head. "No way! That poster. They took it down, of course?"

"Sister Cherry, the department head, was so upset that you were taking ballroom dance instead of something of substance that she tore it down. I rescued it."

"What have I wrought?" Bobbie said under her breath.

"What? I didn't catch that."

"Nothing."

"Your technique is so free! You wouldn't be willing to do something impromptu tonight, would you?"

"Charles. Mmm, You said you prefer to be called Charles."

"I wouldn't really mind if you wanted to call me Chuck."

"No. Charles is probably what I should call you." Bobbie glanced sideways. Charles was beaming, seeming not to be in the real world. She felt a sudden resentment that she should be held responsible for his choice of idolatry, but she also didn't want to just throw him emotionally off a cliff.

He seemed to want to say something, but did not dare, and his expression took on hints of the tragic.

"Charles, were you among the students who joined my workshop?"

"Yes, I was!" he said eagerly.

Now she felt a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry I don't remember you. But you should understand that the woman who gave that workshop no longer exists."

"What?"

"She never did, really. She was a slave to a lot of things, and dance was her only outlet at the time. Not free at all. If she looked free, I would have to assume it was because she was trying so hard to be. But she was not."

Charles's face clouded in confusion and Bobbie decided against burdening him with anything beyond that. But then his face cleared and he came down to earth a little.

"Okay, so you've given up dance, ..." He said, a little sadly.

"Not completely. I still dance for exercise pretty much every day. But other things are more important now. I definitely don't keep much dance vernacular in my head any more."

At that, he brightened considerably. "Well, even so, you have to come backstage afterwards. Everyone will be so disappointed if you don't."

"Okay, I'll join the party after. So you're performing, too?"

"Yes. The second number after intermission. I hope you'll tell me where I can improve."

"We'll see if I have anything useful to contribute." She smiled at him, and he became positively radiant.

After the last number and a curtain call, the audience left, except for a few who were friends and relatives of the students who had performed. Bobbie followed Charles through the curtain to the stage area.

Several students gathered around immediately, and Bobbie had to recall their performance and offer her impressions. As she did, more students gathered, and she offered her impressions of each number performed that night, congratulating the students on their work. She had a policy of never criticizing a performer, and saw no need for exceptions this time.

Teachers also gathered around, and soon there was clamor for an extemporaneous performance. At first, she demurred, pointing out that it had been several years since she had performed or produced any choreography.

But Sister Cherry, who preferred "Sister" to "Professor" or "Dean", said, "Once a dancer, always a dancer! And dancers are always choreographing in their heads. Life is a dance and choreography is breathing. You, yourself said so."

So Bobbie was prevailed upon. She improvised a series of dance impressions from the performances, which was well received.

Sister Cherry seemed to have wanted more, but she refrained from pushing Bobbie.

On the way home, Charles chatted happily, and Bobbie, borrowing from her nurse self, stayed with him, keeping her internal conflicts out of sight. He seemed satisfied to shake her hand at her door, for which she was grateful.



"So how was your date with Trisha?" Dan asked.

Karel was a little evasive. "Nice girl, but it seems like we don't really connect. Guess I learned a bit about modern art."

"So you're probably not dating her any more?"

"Actually, she wants me to take her to the modern dance concert next month. She seems to think she can instill a love of art in me. I always thought I liked art just fine."

"Are you going to take her?"

"Unless she changes her mind, I guess."

"Don't do this to yourself. Or to her. Let her find someone else to take her."

"I tried suggesting that she would be fighting an uphill battle with me, but that didn't discourage her."

"You're doing it again."

"Huh? Strange behavior on the playing field?"

"Exactly. You might as well have waved the red cape at her."

"Bulls are male."

"Doesn't make a bit of difference. Some women go crazy when offered a challenge."

"Oh, dear."



"So, is Charles going to be a better guy for you than either Karel or Dan?"

"How would I know yet? He is awfully young, 'though. He's asked me to join him for the modern dance concert next month."

"You accepted." And, yet, Kristie's tone was not accusative.

"Yes." Finally, she let just a little of the internal conflict out. "Oh, Kristie, I wish I knew why I think I have to do this."

"Maybe the last few months have been too easy."



"But I thought you and Dan were married!" Claudia was being her typical melodramatic self, and other students in the classroom looked up in surprise.

"We're just friends." Kristie looked a little flustered.

"Good friends," Dan clarified.

"You're not dating?" Kirk asked. And, without waiting for an answer, continued. "Do like baseball, Kristie?"

"Anyone in this room who asks me for a date fails the class." Kristie declared.

There was laughter and complaining as the male students returned to their studies. Some of the female students were whispering and looking at Dan.

"And the same goes for Dan!" Kristie added.

Dan laughed a little ruefully. "Not that I think anyone is going to ask me out, but, yeah. Not while we're your TAs."

And there was more laughter and complaining.

"But you're all welcome to join us this Saturday, when a bunch of us go up in the mountains for some more snowshoeing and winter park maintenance," he added. "Lots of work to do."



Dan and Karel had made acquaintance with some local Scouters, and had arranged for a joint service project in a couple of remote mountain park areas. The maintenance was primarily aimed at keeping some of the wilderness areas accessible and checking up on the winter wildlife population.

Some thirty students joined the project for the day, including a number of former Scouts and some active Rovers and Explorers. After meeting the Scouts and their leaders, they split into five groups and snowshoed in to their respective areas. Each of our four friends went with a different group.

After four hours or so of work, they met in a clearing and built snow forts and had several snow battles. Our four friends would often single each other out for attacks, or gang up three against one, or go two-on-two, before suddenly laughing and all four turning on anyone else who happened to be nearby.

Then they took down their snow forts, scattered the snow evenly around the clearing, and trekked back out.

Again, the students met at a cafe on the road back for hot cocoa and (non-alcohol) cider. And our four friends met back at the girls' apartment to say goodnight.

The next week, they made time for a visit to the temple, and some of the students in their classes and study groups joined them.

The following week, they spent Saturday helping at the hospital. Again, students from their classes and study groups joined them.

For two weeks in a row, Karel and Bobbie spent almost all their spare time studying together for their island cultures class. Bobbie had weekend graveyard shifts at the hospital again, but this time Karel went to the hospital and did some volunteer work. During breaks, he and Bobbie would test each other's memories on their homework. Sometime after midnight, Karel found a place to sleep, and he drove Bobbie home in the morning so she could shower, and on Sunday Kristie could take her to church.

Sometime during all of this, Valentine's day passed without a date, and Bobbie and Kristie's roommates tried unsuccessfully to tease them about it. The following Sunday, Karel and Dan came over in the afternoon to make chocolates for all the girls in the apartment.



"Hi, Trisha."

Trisha was not sure exactly why Karel had not canceled their date. That was not surprising, since Karel wasn't sure, either.

"Hi Karel. Are you ready for this?"

"I don't know. Anyway, let's go. It should be interesting."

At the theater in the PE building, neither Karel nor Bobbie sat in the audience. Karel stayed backstage and helped Trisha with the lights. Bobbie was also backstage, making herself useful with props and costumes and a little last-minute coaching.

Kristie and Dan, on the other hand, were in the audience.

Somehow, between numbers, Bobbie managed to sneak into the lighting booth with Charles, and Charles met Trisha and Karel.

And Trisha showed Charles the control panel while Karel took over getting the lights ready for the next number.

After the concert, Karel and Trisha joined the dance students, where Bobbie and Charles organized a spontaneous "happening" style improv, at Sister Cherry's urging. Karel found it interesting and even enjoyable, but Trisha was enthralled to be able to participate.

At Trisha's dorm, she thanked Karel for the fun and unusual date, and they promised to keep in touch.

Similar things were said between Charles and Bobbie as they said good night at Bobbie and Kristie's place.



Mind you, this was not deliberate match-making on Karel and Bobbie's part. It just happened to work out cleanly.

Not all the dating that the four of them did that semester ended so cleanly.



"Chad, what are you waiting for?"

"Well, I don't know, Kris. I guess I was kind of hoping for a little something to remember the night by."

Kristie, for some reason, did not like to be called Kris, but she did not say so. "I think it has been sufficiently memorable, don't you?"

"Can I call you again?"

"Well, I don't know why you should. We don't seem to be able to find much in common."

Chad seemed to crumble.

Kristie took him gently by the shoulders and tried to get him to look up. "What's wrong?" (How she knew this would work with Chad and not result in even worse problems, well, God knows. But she was praying.)

Chad couldn't answer.

Just then, Bobbie and Dan came back. Kristie dropped her hands, and Chad tried to put up a brave front.

Bobbie and Dan stopped on the sidewalk and said goodnight, giving each other a mock salute, and saluted Kristie and Chad, too. Kristie had signaled them with her eyes, so they refrained from hugging, and Dan just left. And Bobbie went inside.

Then Karel came out. He had been lazy about getting a date, so Bobbie and Kristie's roommates had invited him over to play Monopoly. He shook Kristie's hand and then Chad's hand, and left.

"You have a lot of friends."

"Sure."

"Could I be just a friend?"

"If you can be 'just a friend', sure. We do a lot of group activities, and you're welcome to join. If you don't mind being just a friend."

"That's all it would be, isn't it?"

"That's not a fair question to ask at this point. I can't swear nothing would ever change, but you have to assume for now that nothing would ever change. If you hope something will change, you'll just be disappointed."

Chad's face did crumble.

"Life is like that. You have to invest in a lot of different low yield stock. The one that ends up being worth more than the rest is not always the one you wanted or expected it to be."

"How can you know that?"

Kristie shook her head. "From experience."

Chad looked up at her. "I don't believe you. What sort of guy would break your heart?"

Kristie laughed softly. "That's not quite what happened. But I had a crush on a guy for more than five years. He happens to be one of my best friends, but we probably won't end up getting married. I think he sort of belongs with another of my best friends."

Finally, Chad could make some sense out of what she was saying.

"Could that happen to me?"

"It could happen to you, if you make the small investments in the friends you have. And listen when you talk with God."

He straightened up for real and smiled. Kristie could see that he was fighting back tears, and her eyes were moist, too.

"Thanks."

"Sure."

And they said goodnight, and he left.



Well, that one eventually worked out. Chad came over to play Monopoly sometimes, and two of the roommates went out with him on different occasions. And Dan and Karel and Bobbie made friends with him, too.

He eventually got up the courage to start hanging around with students in his ward at Church. It was one of the tougher student wards, with a prevailing cynicism. But he was able to make some friends, and, at least for him, many of the barriers disappeared. And that is another story that might deserve to be told sometime, if I ever have a chance.

Oh, and, yes, our four friends did somehow find time for a little fun and games, once they got a good start on the studies.

[JMR201608011450:



"So far, our mission experiences are keeping us from having to work too hard for religion credit." Kristie was feeling a bit better about the Doctrine and Covenants class by this time.

"An hour a day studying the scriptures isn't too bad, and that includes writing." Bobbie was also pleased with the course. "I'm getting a bit more confident about my understanding of things."

"And with Karel getting revelations for us all the time, we all have top grades." Dan grinned.

"If I were getting all the inspiration, I don't think any of us would be getting the extra credits. We're all working hard and listening to the Spirit." Karel was serious. "Working with you guys can be pretty inspiring."

"I have a question about the agreement thing in Sections 41 and 42." Bobbie said. "Karel said, in class, that we didn't have to agree on everything, and Professor Trilemma said maybe. What is that all about?"

"Well, Karel?"

"Well, yourself, Dan. the prof stopped me on purpose. That'll be cheating if I tell you guys. Besides, you know the answer to this one."

"Not that I particularly like it."

"Sure you do."

"But how are we guys supposed to be the ones in charge if the woman can disagree on the answers?" Dan grinned.

"Hey."

"Woops."

"Answers?" Bobbie asked.

"I think," Kristie said, "that the point is to agree on the questions when we pray together."

"Maybe I can see that. That would allow us to get personal instruction, while helping us to keep together."

"Good point, Bobbie. I hadn't really put that part into words for myself yet."

"See, with Karel around, we don't even have to bother stopping to pray."

"Well, I just said a little prayer of thanks in my heart."

Dan turned serious. "Yeah, Kristie, that's part of the reason we find it so easy to be together."



]







The link to the next of the characterization chapters will be here when it's ready is here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/07/economics-101-novel-ch06-pt3-more-of.html.


(The chapter index is here: http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.jp/2016/04/economics-101-novel-index.html)

Monday, July 25, 2016

[Backup] Economics 101, a Novel, ch_06 pt_1 -- The Second Semester Starts

[JMR201801222337: backup of http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/07/economics-101-novel-ch06-pt1-second.html.] 

[JMR201804071855: edits]

You'll probably recognize similarity to Matthew 5: 28.
-
(You'll probably recognize similarity to Matthew 5: 28.)

--

[JMR201804071855: end edits]

[JMR201804021343: edits]

But he didn't seem to unwilling to talk about it, so she decided to go ahead anyway.
-
But he didn't seem too unwilling to talk about it, so she decided to go ahead anyway.

--

It's too late to make much differnce now, but did you take it to the stake president?"
-
It's too late to make much difference now, but did you take it to the stake president?"

--

[JMR201804021343: end edits]

[JMR201803191704: edit -- stake president]

Karel grimaced. "Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about it. It's too late to make much differnce now, but did you take it to the stake president?"
-
Karel grimaced. "Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about it. It's too late to make much differnce now, but did you take it to the stake president?" (Again, borrowing a term from the similar office in Mormondom, the stake president is the lay clergy who has presiding authority for the stake.)

--

[JMR201803191704: end edit -- stake president]

[JMR201803102031: edits Playboy]

"We'll squeeze some time in for something," Karel said. "All play and no work, hey?"
-
"We'll squeeze some time in for something," Karel said distractedly. "All play and no work, hey?"

--

"Playboy or that kind of thing?" Melissa asked.
-
"Playboy or that kind of thing?" Melissa asked.

=line=

The word "playboy" is a direct translation. I guess it's no surprise that their world has such a magazine with essentially the same name.

=line=

--

Nobody had anythng to say, and the silence dragged out just a bit.
-
Nobody had anythng else to say, and the silence dragged out just a moment.

--

"Oh, man. Badly, badly confused. Did he use physical force?"

"No, he gave up and drove me home."
-
"Oh, man. Badly, badly confused. Did he use physical force?"

"Not exactly. Eventually, he gave up and drove me home."

--

"At first, but the congregation recovered. And it actually helped the relationship of the congregation with the rest of the community. Members of that church and our congregation had to talk about the problems that man and his son were causing, and we ended up making a lot of friends.
-
"At first, but we recovered. And it actually helped the relationship of our members with the rest of the community. Members of that church and ours had to talk about the problems that man and his son were causing, and we ended up making a lot of friends.

--

And they exchanged hesitant smiles and hugged each other and went inside the gym.

=line=
-
And they exchanged hesitant smiles and hugged each other and went inside the gym.

=line=

While it was easy, it was easy.

--

[JMR201803102031: end edits Playboy]

[JMR201803072206: edits for xhilr]

"I feel pretty good about it, really. The home teachers are sitting in on the lessons, and we've been going through some of the teachings I grew up with -- you know, comparing my catechism with what Mormons believe."
-
"I feel pretty good about it, really. The home teachers are sitting in on the lessons, and we've been going through some of the teachings I grew up with -- you know, comparing my catechism with what Ehyephoots believe."

--

"Matthew 5: 28. If a man looks at a woman to lust after her he has committed adultery with her in his heart. I'm pretty sure that covers pornography, too."
-
"If a man looks at a woman to lust after her he has committed adultery with her in his heart." You'll probably recognize similarity to Matthew 5: 28. "I'm pretty sure that covers pornography, too."

--

Bobbie said, "I can't say I know why." And, forgetting his discomfort, she asked, "What do you think, Karel?"
--
Bobbie said, "I can't say I know why." And, forgetting his discomfort, she turned to Karel again. "What do you think?"

--

I knew a bishop who was really strict with the guys in the Aaronic Priesthood, and his son was one of the guys who couldn't keep his hands off of me.
-
I knew a bishop who was really strict with the young men in the Priesthood, and his son was one of the guys who couldn't keep his hands off of me.

--

Sometimes bishops get it wrong, and sometimes members of their wards suffer for it. But that's also part of what Jesus' atonement helps us with. Otherwise, we could never dare take part of the burden of the Church.
-
Sometimes bishops get it wrong, and sometimes members of their congregations suffer for it. But that's also part of what Jesus' atonement helps us with. Otherwise, we could never dare take part in the burden of the Church.

--

=line=

As I will mention later on, there has seemed to be a bit of disagreement among some of the leaders of the Church on the topic of how strictly the Church should treat masturbation. For those who might have questions on the subject, I suggest discussing it with with your nearest bishop.

=line=
-

--

And Karel nodded as he followed suit.
-
And Karel nodded as he followed her out.

--

"Uhm, taking away the key of knowledge, towards the end of Luke 11. But we don't know that their bishop is doing that. He may have good reason for wanting her husband to practice a little self-control."
-
"Uhm, taking away the key of knowledge." We can find such a scripture towards the end of Luke 11. "But we don't know that their bishop is doing that. He may have good reason for wanting her husband to practice a little self-control."

--

"I'm sure that didn't help the ward, either."
-
"I'm sure that didn't help the congregation, either."

--

"And the ward quit being so Pharisaical after that. Eventually my father quit complaining about it, but I think it still bugs him."
-
"And the congregation quit being so Pharisaical after that. Eventually my father quit complaining about it, but I think it still bugs him."

--

"They joined a baptist church, and raised a fuss about evil Mormons."
-
"They joined an Immersion Covenantist church, and raised a fuss about evil Ehyephoots."

--

"It's too bad he wouldn't repent. Must have been hard on the ward, too."

"At first, but the ward recovered. And it actually helped the relationship of the ward with the rest of the community. Members of that church and our ward had to talk about the problems that man and his son were causing, and we ended up making a lot of friends. Then they warmed up to us participating in a lot of community activities -- Scouting, Lion's Club, candy striping, .... Overall, our relationships in the community improved a lot after that."
-
"It's too bad he wouldn't repent. Must have been hard on the congregation, too."

"At first, but the congregation recovered. And it actually helped the relationship of the congregation with the rest of the community. Members of that church and our congregation had to talk about the problems that man and his son were causing, and we ended up making a lot of friends. Then they warmed up to us participating in a lot of community activities -- Scouting, Lion's Service Club, volunteering at the hospital, .... Overall, our relationships in the community improved a lot after that."

--

"His wife never remarried. Refuses to trust men. But he and his son started their own church in another town and regularly publish anti-Mormon stuff that most people ignore."

"That's too bad." Karel paused. "It's good that you can talk about it like this."
-
"His wife never remarried. Refuses to trust men. But he and his son started their own church in another town and regularly publish anti-Ehyephoot stuff that most people ignore."

"That's too bad." Karel paused. "But it's good that you can talk about it like this."

--

[JMR201803072206: end edits for xhilr]

(The framing story starts is here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.jp/2016/03/economics-101-novel-ch00.html. If you haven't read that, you might want to. Otherwise, the rest of this may not make much sense.

Introductions and characterizations begin here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch01-introducing.html.

In the previous chapter, we got to see more of the group date activities that Bobbie and Karel and Dan and Kristie participated in together: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch05-first-semester.html.

And the trip back to school for the second semester was important, too. Don't skip that: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/06/economics-101-novel-ch05-9-heading-back.html.

If you don't care about characterization, you might want to jump ahead: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.jp/2016/03/economics-101-novel-ch10-bobbie-and.html.)

Important things happened during the second semester, too, and I guess I should tell you about some of them.



"How was your first day?" Bobbie set her books on the kitchen table.

Kristie looked up from her books. "Lots of homework already. But, good news, too."

"What kind?"

"Dan and I were in the department office, and we were both invited to apply for teacher's assistant work."

"That's great! How did it happen?"

"There was a PhD candidate who had the job last semester, but he decided to focus on his off-campus job and his thesis this semester."

"That sometimes happens, I guess."

"And the teacher remembered us leading study groups in the graduate classes last semester, so when he saw us in the office, he invited us to apply."

"Do you think you'll get it?"

"We'll find out tomorrow. I'm excited, but it's going to be a lot more work."

"Yeah, it will. But it's a great opportunity!"



"Hey guys!"

Karel looked up from his books. "Dan! Kristie! What's up?"

"We got the TA job. We get to work together on a couple of undergraduate classes this semester." Dan looked happy.

Bobbie did not look up. "Wonderful!" she said distractedly, and continued working on a diagram.

"We aren't going to have much time to play this semester." Kristie sounded a little sad.

Bobbie stopped to erase a section she didn't like. "We're grad students for real this semester. But we still have the folk dance class to have fun in."

Kristie asked, "Can we keep up the study groups?"

Karel turned back to the book he was reading. "We have to. It's what keeps us in the game."

Dan agreed. "Teaching others is the best way to make sure you understand things," he said as he sat down.

"And letting them explain it back is good review for everyone." Bobbie added.

"We'll squeeze some time in for something," Karel said. "All play and no work, hey?"

"I wish." Kristie sat down, too.

"Yeah. For sure."

"Amen."

"Now that I think of it, it would be nice," Karel leaned back and laughed.

[JMR201608011445:



"I can't believe Professor Trilemma actually admits to expecting four hours a day of study time for a religion class!" Kristie was not showing a happy face as they left the classroom.

(Okay, I'm really going to have to apologize for the professor's name. Sorry, see? No hard feelings?)

"And the grading scale. The work has to show inspiration, in addition to being correct, to receive an A+" Bobbie was a bit non-plussed, as well.

"Well, he didn't say that everyone would have to work that hard, just that some may. And he did point out that we still have time to drop the class." Karel was being blasé.

"We'll help each other, and Karel can always get inspiration for us!" Dan was joking again.

"Yeah!"

"Go, Karel!"

"I don't think that's quite what he had in mind. But are we all okay about Lectures on Faith getting only a week?"

"That week's definitely going to be four hours a day." Dan laughed.

Bobbie suggested, "We can study ahead."

"So we're not going to drop the class?"

"No way!"

]



During the second week of the semester, Karel and Bobbie went to talk with their professors again, and Melissa told them how things were going.

"We've been talking with your missionaries, and they're suggesting I get baptized."

Karel was slightly blasé. "That's not surprising, I guess."

Bobbie asked, "How do feel about that?"

"I feel pretty good about it, really. The home teachers are sitting in on the lessons, and we've been going through some of the teachings I grew up with -- you know, comparing my catechism with what Mormons believe."

Karel said, "I wonder if that's really a good idea."

"Well, the home teachers tell me how, in your church, instead of having hard rules handed down from the clergy, you usually pray and apply basic principles and pray some more and see what feels right. And sometimes you take one approach and sometimes another. And what they say seems right to me."

"Well, great!" Bobbie enthused.

"But there's a little bit of a problem."

"What's that?"

"My husband wants to baptize me, but the bishop wants him to wait."

Bobbie said, "Well, that also happens sometimes."

And Karel added, "And then you have to decide whether you can help your husband more by being baptized first, or by giving him a reason to do whatever he needs to get ready to baptize you."

Bobbie looked at Karel and frowned. "You are treating this too lightly. Too  blasé."

"Okay, I'll shut up."

"But that is basically what the home teachers are saying, that I should pray and decide for myself which way to go."

Bobbie opened her mouth to ask "What do you think?" but Karel beat her to it. And they challenged each other with their eyes, grinning slightly.

"I'd kind of like him to baptize me. That's part of what I like about what you guys believe."

"That priesthood can be part of family life?" Bobbie asked, giving Karel a "Beat you to it!" look. Karel rolled his eyes towards the ceiling.

"Yes. Well, you two are having fun today."

Grinning, they said, "Sorry," in unison. Karel scratched his head embarrassedly.

"No problem. I've found myself having a little fun with Winn like this, too. It's like we read each other's minds sometimes." And she paused to think.

Bobbie nodded. "Being able to agree on what you believe really changes things."

And Karel agreed.

"Can I ask you guys a kind of personal question?"

"Should I leave?" Karel offered.

"No, actually, I'd like to hear both of your opinions, and I think I could get honest answers from you two."

"Okay, shoot."

"Uhm, ..."

Bobbie said, "Go ahead. Anything. We're feeling adventurous today."

"I can tell you are. Uhm, it has to do with, well, sex."

Karel said, "Ouch. Maybe I should leave."

But Bobbie turned to him and said, "No need." Then she turned back. "Ask away."

"Maybe I shouldn't ask."

"It doesn't bother me. I'm not sure why it should bother Karel."

"Well, if you're sure. Is it okay with you, Karel?"

Bobbie was giving him a "Don't you dare run away from this!" look.

And Karel was looking quietly at the floor. Suddenly he wasn't feeling very adventurous after all. "Well, errm, I guess it's okay, but I don't know whether I'll have anything helpful to say."

"Don't worry about him. He'll be all right." She patted him on the knee.

Melissa looked from one to the other. Bobbie was open to talk, but she couldn't read Karel's expression. But he didn't seem to unwilling to talk about it, so she decided to go ahead anyway. "Would you be worried, Bobbie, if your husband masturbated sometimes?"

And Bobbie answered, "I wouldn't think it's a problem."

Karel didn't say anything.

Bobbie asked, "Well, do you disagree, Karel?"

"Uhmm," Karel was feeling anything but comfortable. "It's not a simple question."

So Bobbie shrugged and said, "Oh, ignore him."

"Well, for instance," he continued, "reading, I mean, looking at pornography is not good. If it includes pornography, I would think that would be a problem."

"Playboy or that kind of thing?" Melissa asked.

"Matthew 5: 28. If a man looks at a woman to lust after her he has committed adultery with her in his heart. I'm pretty sure that covers pornography, too."

"When I met Winn, I know he sometimes read Playboy. I think he got it from a friend. But I told him I didn't want to feel like I had to compete with those air-brushed pictures of impossible physically ideal women, and he promised he wouldn't look at it any more. I've never seen it in the house since we got married."

"That's good."

Bobbie nodded in agreement.

Karel continued. "I think what you just said is a big part of the problem with pornography. The images are artificially altered to match artificial ideals. It's sharing things that shouldn't be shared, and, to ease the discomfort people naturally feel, they airbrush out the individuality. So it ends up very similar to worshiping a false god. Or becoming fanatical about a false ideal."

"Nicely put, if wordy." Bobbie said. Then she teasingly asked, "How is it that you know so much about this?"

"Uhm," Karel turned slightly pink. "Well, I guess I've thought about it a bit. A bit more than I think I wish I had. Sometimes football players bring stuff into the locker room, and you end up seeing things you wish you hadn't."

"Sorry." She looked away, realizing that she was pressing into areas Karel might not be ready to talk about with her and Melissa both present. "I shouldn't tease about this." And Bobbie turned back to Melissa. "But that isn't really about your question, is it?"

"No. The bishop wants him to abstain for a month before he performs a baptism."

"Abstain from sex?" asked Bobbie.

"No, just doing it by himself."

Karel said, "I'm not sure Winn is going to be happy about being talked about behind his back. Some guys are kind of sensitive about it."

But Bobbie asked, "Is his abstaining from it going to cause problems for you?"

"I don't think so. I mean, I think I would rather he get a little relief by himself than pressure me for sex when I'm not interested. But I just wonder why it's a big deal."

Bobbie said, "I can't say I know why." And, forgetting his discomfort, she asked, "What do you think, Karel?"

He sighed. "It is my understanding that a guy who doesn't try to control himself is more likely to try to force someone else, for example."

"Hmm." Melissa had to think about that. "So it's kind of like emotional endurance training or something?"

Bobbie said, "I don't think that's guaranteed. I knew a bishop who was really strict with the guys in the Aaronic Priesthood, and his son was one of the guys who couldn't keep his hands off of me."

"Ouch." was all Karel could say.

"Then this isn't a general rule?" Melissa was surprised.

"Which?" Karel asked.

"His son was definitely doing things he shouldn't have been doing, if that's what you're asking." Bobbie replied to what she thought Melissa was asking.

Then Karel replied to his interpretation of her question. "A bishop is responsible for getting revelation on how to interpret many parts of Church policy. Sometimes bishops get it wrong, and sometimes members of their wards suffer for it. But that's also part of what Jesus' atonement helps us with. Otherwise, we could never dare take part of the burden of the Church. God would have to do it all."

Bobbie was not happy with what Karel was saying, but she kept quiet.

"Not a general rule ..." Melissa wanted a bit of confirmation.

Karel nodded and continued. "Maybe your bishop thinks your husband needs to develop some personal strength through this. Maybe it will help him have the courage to talk with you about it. And not just joke or make demands, if he tends to do that."

"Maybe I can see that. Up until now, we just really haven't talked about it very much, left it up to our moods." She smiled a little shyly. "Maybe we need to talk about it more." Then she apologized. "Maybe I shouldn't have asked you guys about this."

"It's okay." Karel said.

And Bobbie said, "Yeah. What we think doesn't really matter. What matters is what you and Winn and God think."

"And your bishop. He's supposed to be able to help you help each other, and help you figure out what God wants."

Again Bobbie was unhappy with what Karel was saying, but again she kept her own counsel.

About this point, the conversation stalled, and the silence dragged a bit.



As I mention later on, back around the 1950s and '60s or so, there seemed to be a bit of disagreement among some of the leaders of the Church on the topic of how strictly the Church should treat masturbation. For those who might have questions on the subject, I suggest discussion with your nearest bishop.




"Did someone forget to turn on the heat today? This room feels a little cool." Professor White asked at the door.

"Don't give up. Talk with Winn about it and do what you think is right." Bobbie said as she stood up to leave.

And Karel nodded as he followed suit. "Hang in there. And pray about it."



After talking with their professors, Karel and Bobbie walked to the library to meet Dan and Kristie. But there was a wall between them now.

"I didn't think you were a Pharisee."

"Huh? What did I say?"

"Not entering in yourself, and keeping others who would enter from doing so. Or something like that."

"Uhm, taking away the key of knowledge, towards the end of Luke 11. But we don't know that their bishop is doing that. He may have good reason for wanting her husband to practice a little self-control."

"That guy told me he wasn't allowed to masturbate by himself, and then he threatened to tell his father I was trying to make him disobey the law of chastity."

"Oh, man. Badly, badly confused. Did you talk to his father?"

"He called me in to his office and asked me to tell my version of things, so I did. And then he disfellowshipped me. Said I had tried to seduce his son."

"Oh, ..." Karel winced and searched for words. "Ouch! Crud. I mean, woops. Sorry to swear."

"Say 'shit' if you mean 'shit'."

"Crud has a little broader use, although I probably should have said, 'What a terrible mess.'"

"If you had said that, I wouldn't have believed you meant it."

Karel grimaced. "Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about it. Maybe it's too late to suggest now, but did you take it to the stake president?"

"Nobody told me I could. But that guy's dad was released from being bishop about three months later, and he ended up excommunicated. Apparently he couldn't keep his own hands off of one of my friends. Like son, like father. I don't hold it against the Church, but my father did for quite a while."

"I'm sure that didn't help the ward, either."

"The next bishop called me in practically immediately after he was called. Apologized, and told me the whole disfellowshipment thing had been erased from my Church records. And the ward quit being so Pharisaical after that. Eventually my father quit complaining about it, but I think it still bugs him."

"What happened to their family?"

"They joined a baptist church, and raised a fuss about evil Mormons."

"That's too bad."

"Yeah. But they were only welcomed there until the members of that church figured out what was going on. After about a year of warnings, they asked them to find another church to attend. I heard the family divorced about then."

"It's too bad he wouldn't repent. Must have been hard on the ward, too."

"At first, but the ward recovered. And it actually helped the relationship of the ward with the rest of the community. Members of that church and our ward had to talk about the problems they were causing, and we ended up making a lot of friends. Then they warmed up to us participating in a lot of community activities -- Scouting, Lion's Club, candy striping, .... Overall, our relationships in the community improved a lot after that."

"Seems like a lot of things worked out okay, then. Do you ever hear how things are going with their family?"

"The father started his own church in another town and regularly publishes anti-Mormon stuff that most people ignore."

"That's too bad." Karel paused. "It's good that you can talk about it like this."

"I learned somewhere along the line that I had to just let it go and forgive him, or it would tear me apart."

"That's good." He paused again. "I still don't think trying to exercise self control is a bad idea."

"I'd agree, but those are powerful forces. Innocent people can get hurt."

Karel didn't know what else to say, so he said nothing for a while. As they entered the library, he finally said, "I think we're going to have to agree to disagree about this."

"Fine by me."



Towards the end of January, the four of them were walking to the gym for the folk dance class, and Dan said, "Let's go snowshoeing this Saturday."

"Can we rent snowshoes?" Kristie asked.

"Same place we rented the skis."

Bobbie said, "Well, you two go ahead. I have a date for Saturday."

"Karel!" Dan exclaimed, giving him a nudge.

"Uhm, I have a date, too. I'm taking the sister of one of the guys in the dorm to the art museum. She's an engineering student."

Kristie exclaimed, "Bobbie?"

"One of the students in the class I'm TAing for wouldn't take no for an answer. He's not really my type. But, I guess, if I'm going to meet other guys on campus, I have to start somewhere. He found out I have the master's in dance, so he asked me to a modern dance performance."

Dan and Kristie looked at Karel and Bobbie with an expression like they were traitors.

Bobbie said, "I have to do this."

And Karel said, "Bobbie needs our support. Besides, if we're supposed to be patient, maybe we should all still be meeting other people, too."

Kristie said, "Dan, you and Karel go ahead without us. I need to talk with Bobbie."

Dan looked at Karel, and Karel shrugged. "Okay." And they went in ahead of the girls.

"What are you doing?" Kristie didn't hide the urgency in her voice.

"What do you mean?"

"I know that there is no guy better for either of us than Karel and Dan. What is happening here?"

"For you, maybe. And maybe just now. I'm not getting that answer for myself."

Kristie looked at Bobbie, but she would not meet her eyes.

"Bobbie, if you're still worried about what I said last fall, about taking Karel away from me, please, don't worry about it. I was feeling insecure then. Hanging around together has, well, shown me that I don't need to be insecure."

"Maybe that's all God wants of us. To learn we don't have to be scared of people when He is our Friend."

"I know I can't receive revelation for you, but I don't believe it. We weren't meant to be broken up."

"But that doesn't mean we have to get together. I mean, seriously. Four-way marriage sure isn't allowed."

"Don't joke about this. Don't run away from happiness."

"I'm not. But I need room. For now." Bobbie looked up with pleading in her eyes.

"Well, ..." As they met each others' eyes, something passed between them that you and I would not be able to put into words. "... it's not like I really can tell you what to do. But if you need to talk, remember, I can be here for you just like you've been here for me."

"Thanks."

And they exchanged hesitant smiles and hugged each other and went inside the gym.



More of the second semester will be linked here when it's ready is here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/07/economics-101-novel-ch06-pt2-dating.html.

(The chapter index is here: http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.jp/2016/04/economics-101-novel-index.html)