[JMR201804071900: edits]
Stephanie was only a couple of minutes with Sister Ivie, and then she returned with Bobbie to their floor.
-
Stephanie was only a half a punji with Sister Ivie, and then she returned with Bobbie to their floor.
--
Karel stepped outside while she talked a minute or two with Jeremy alone.
-
Karel stepped outside while she talked a half a punji with Jeremy alone.
--
Bobbie said, "I think I can ask him to do that."
-
Melissa said, "I think I can ask him to do that."
--
Disussion of standard grading methods, cultivation techniques, genetics, and various similar topics proceeded for about five minutes.
-
Discussion of standard grading methods, cultivation techniques, genetics, and various similar topics proceeded for about a punji.
--
About ten minutes before the end of the class, Sister Momodani stopped the discussion and asked, "What if you had a commodity that, once produced, could be sold any number of times at any price you could get the buyer to pay?"
-
A couple of punji before the end of the class, Sister Momodani stopped the discussion and asked, "What if you had a commodity that, once produced, could be sold any number of times at any price you could get the buyer to pay?"
--
[JMR201804071900: end edits]
[JMR201804010327: edits]
"Two from my floor, but seven from the building, in all," Kristie replied.
-
"Two from my floor, but seven from the building, in all," Kristie replied, still whispering.
--
Karel caught Bobbie's eye and raised a finger to his lip.
-
Karel caught Bobbie's eye and raised a finger to his lips.
--
I will assign a third of you to argue for intellectual property, a third of you to argue against, and a third of you to seek a different approach than either our current laws or intellectual property. Study groups should expect to be spread out across all three topics. For now, research all three sides to the debate. Oh, and after we set up the debate teams, we'll talk more about how the social and cultural context affects value and prices, so be prepared to talk about that, too.
-
I will assign a third of you to argue for intellectual property, a third of you to argue against, and a third of you to seek a different approach than either intellectual property or our current laws. You in study groups should expect to be spread out across all three topics. For now, go ahead and research all three sides to the debate. Oh, and after we set up the debate teams, we'll talk more about how social and cultural context affects value and prices, so be prepared to talk about that, too.
--
[JMR201804010327: end edits]
If intellectual property laws are passed, he could control what people do with the devices even after they have bought them."
"Why is that?"
-
If intellectual property laws are passed, he could assert legal control over what people do with the devices even after they have bought them."
"Why is that?" Sister Momodani asked.
--
"Okay, we're out of time today. Next time we will set up a debate. I will assign a third of you to argue for intellectual property, a third of you to argue against, and a third of you to seek a different approach than either our current laws or intellectual property. For now, research all three sides to the debate."
-
"Okay, we're out of time today. Next time we will set up a debate. I will assign a third of you to argue for intellectual property, a third of you to argue against, and a third of you to seek a different approach than either our current laws or intellectual property. Study groups should expect to be spread out across all three topics. For now, research all three sides to the debate. Oh, and after we set up the debate teams, we'll talk more about how the social and cultural context affects value and prices, so be prepared to talk about that, too."
--
[JMR201803311746: end edits]
[JMR201803291403: edits]
"Hey Joel, I saw Kelly at the main cafeteria today. She waved."
"Yeah. I'm eating elsewhere so we don't accidentally meet. She says in her letters the language is coming along, but she's sure wishing the visa would come through."
"Any guess on the time?" someone asked.
"Maybe two more weeks."
-
"Hey Joel, I saw Kelly at the main cafeteria today. She waved."
"Yeah, she's still here. I'm eating elsewhere so we don't accidentally meet. She says in her letters the language is coming along really well by now, but she's sure wishing the visa would come through."
"Any guess on the time?" someone asked.
"Maybe two more weeks."
"It's been a long wait. Is she just studying all day?"
"They've been giving her and her companion time to proselyte in the afternoons. If the visa doesn't come soon, she may get a temporary reassignment."
--
"Are Bobbie and Karel and Dan also being called to do this?"
-
"I think so." She paused. "Yes, I'd love to. Are Bobbie and Karel and Dan also being called to do this?"
--
Bobbie and Kristie looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Or maybe we could go into role playing game mode and just say we all have a ton of moog each," Kristie said.
-
Bobbie and Kristie looked at each other and shook their heads. Kristie said, "Or maybe we could go into role playing game mode and just say we all have a ton of moog each."
--
=line=
Several times during the third semester, our four friends' bishops called them each in and interviewed them, trying to appraise their progress towards their eternal goals and encourage them. They were each honest with their bishops, and I won't tell you what that consisted of. It's their business, not ours.
The upshot of it was apparently that they were waiting for something they couldn't quite put their fingers on.
=line=
-
=line=
--
[JMR201803291403: end edits]
[JMR201803282317: edits for economics role play]
At about ten thirty (F:00), the RAs called the battles in and sent the students back to the dorms under the light of the hinter moon.
-
At about ten thirty (F:00 o' clock), the RAs called the battles in and sent the students back to the dorms under the light of the hinter moon.
--
And, of course, they emphasized helping everyone feel comfortable, to give all as much chance as possible to commune with the true Spirit.
-
And, of course, they emphasized helping everyone feel comfortable, to give all as much chance as possible to commune with the true Spirit of truth.
--
Several of the students still looked doubtful. Others nodded their heads. One said, "Makes sense. What seems funny to us may be important to others."
-
Several of the students still looked doubtful. Others nodded their heads. One said, "Makes sense. What seems funny to us may be important to others."
=line=
There was another survey class that our four friends attended together during this semester.
"We're going to have a little simulation today." Assistant Professor Chiaki Momodani passed out slips of paper that said "Commodities" on one side and showed bundles of wheat-like grain, labeled "1 ton moog" on the other. "The goal of today's lesson is to establish a foundation for a real understanding of the underlying principles of buying and selling and getting gain. Do each of you have one ton of moog?"
Students looked around at each other. Some looked puzzled, but most of them nodded.
Dan spoke up. "Karel, I seem to have an affidavit that asserts I own a ton of imaginary moog."
"Or an imaginary ton of moog." Karel replied.
Some of the students laughed.
Bobbie and Kristie looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Or maybe we could go into role playing game mode and just say we all have a ton of moog each," Kristie said.
Most of the students laughed.
Sister Momodani chuckled. "I knew I could count on you guys."
Bobbie added, "But we have nothing to gain in trading these."
"Shush. You're getting ahead of me." More laughter. "Well, does anyone have a suggestion how to get trade started in this situation?"
Piers put his slip on his desk and wrote, "Piers Grade A" on it. Then he lifted it up and said, "What do I have for a ton of Piers Grade A moog?"
Some of the students laughed, others grumbled.
"Nice. Anyone have a comment?"
"How do I know his is any better than mine?"
"Very good question. Any answers?"
Disussion of standard grading methods, cultivation techniques, genetics, and various similar topics proceeded for about five minutes.
Then Sister Momodani passed out another set of slips, labeled "Commodities" on one side and showing random commodities on the other. "How about now? Is trading going to be any easier? Yes, Kathy?"
"It would be easier if we could break these packages up."
"True. Do you have a thought, George?"
"What if I can't find anyone who has something I want and wants something I have?"
"Do you have an answer to that, Tim?"
"Find somebody who has something you want, then find someone who has that?"
"Is there an easier way?"
Bobbie asked, "I know some of us don't like money," she caught Karel's eye. "But are we going to do this without money?"
"I don't hate money," Karel grumbled.
Much laughter.
"So Bobbie, how would money help?" Sister Momodani asked.
"We wouldn't need to trade for anything specific, we could just sell what we have and buy what we need."
"What do you think, Karel?"
"Who sets the prices?"
And most of the remainder of the class was spent in discussion of market mechanisms. Regulated prices were mentioned, along with cartels, monopolies, patents and copyright, trade associations, guilds, natural disasters, fashion, health of the economy, and so on.
About ten minutes before the end of the class, Sister Momodani stopped the discussion and asked, "What if you had a commodity that, once produced, could be sold any number of times at any price you could get the buyer to pay?"
Karel caught Bobbie's eye and raised a finger to his lip. Bobbie looked at Sister Momodani, and she raised her hand as if to say, "Please wait."
"I mean, I could sell it to Bobbie, and sell it again to Karel, and then to Dan and Kristie and each of you in this class, and to each of your friends. And I could set the price for each sale."
Kathy said, "In church we talk about giving love away, and it doesn't diminish our supply of love."
"True. But that's a kind of interaction that, at least for now, our lawyers and government are wisely keeping their hands out of." Many of the students laughed uncomfortably as she passed out more slips of paper. One side of the slips said, "intellectual property". The other had blank lines. "Some say that patents and copyrights should be classed as 'intellectual property'. What do you guys think?"
Piers complained. "But patent and copyright is the right to deal in a certain product in the market. If it's an exclusive right, you can't sell it twice. Not for the same period at any rate. Non-exclusive rights would be kind of like when we all had 1 ton of moog."
"Bobbie?"
"Being able to claim ownership on what's in another person's mind would be handy if you wanted the power to take that person to court any time you wanted to."
"Is that what intellectual property means, Karel?"
"Those who advocate intellectual property won't admit that is what they are trying to do, but I don't see any way to avoid the eventuality of that interpretation."
Dan chuckled. "Speak English, Karel."
"When they try to pass laws enabling intellectual property as a legal concept, they're asking us to trust them never to abuse the ephemeral property rights."
"Try again."
"Let's back up, Karel. Can you explain the concept a little more fully?"
"I worked in a company that made semiconductors. My ex-boss wanted to patent ideas, but current law requires him to present a functioning example of a device to the Union of Independent States patent office. He has patented several devices, and if anyone deals with one of those devices without his permission, he has the right to sue them to prevent that, and to sue for damages in the marketplace, as well."
"So he controls what people do with those devices."
"Under present law, he can only control manufacture and sale, because those are marketplace activities. If intellectual property laws are passed, he could control what people do with the devices even after they have bought them."
"Why is that?"
"Because he would own, not just the right to control dealing with the device in the marketplace, but the abstract patented device itself. In effect, you would no longer be able to buy one of the devices, only the right to take it home, or to your company, and use it the way he says you can." (The question of how different the laws of the UIS were at this time from your laws is left to the reader to investigate.)
"Okay, we're out of time today. Next time we will set up a debate. I will assign a third of you to argue for intellectual property, a third of you to argue against, and a third of you to seek a different approach than either our current laws or intellectual property. For now, research all three sides to the debate."
--
[JMR201803282317: end edits for economics role play]
[JMR201803230220: edits for xhilr]
Well, if they could have such a king as Solomon, taking so many wives, at least one of them might have written a long poem similar to the Song of Solomon.
-
Well, if they could have such a king as Solomon, taking so many wives, at least one of them might have written a long poem similar to the Song of Solomon. And one of those wives did.
--
"I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem," he started, looking at Karel.
"Nice one." he looked at the young men and women around him and nodded. "Let's all just make sure we don't wake Solomon up when he's finished reading."
The student raised his eyebrows. "I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please."
-
"I demand of you, O ye daughters of the Holy City," he started, looking at Karel.
"Nice one." he looked at the young men and women around him and nodded. "Let's all just make sure we don't wake the king up when he's finished reading."
The student raised his eyebrows. "I demand of you, O ye daughters of the Holy City, by the stags and the does of the field, that ye do not disturb, nor awake my love, till he please."
--
[JMR201803230220: endedits for xhilr]
[JMR201803200028: edits for xhilr]
Eleven o'clock. I've been glossing over this. Their time units are actually base sixteen, eight hours before noon and eight after. Entropy-wise, the length of the day is a few minutes shorter, if comparing entropy rates there and here makes any sense at all. But did you really want me to tell you it was about F:80 of their clock?
=picture= of hexadecimal clock with 12 hour clock (link to http://math-and-english.blogspot.com/2018/03/games-with-time-units.html)
Oh, and Friday. I've been glossing over this, as well. They have a two-day weekend, so it's the night before the weekend. Their weekdays are named, but you won't recognize the names. You won't mind if we continue to use the weekdays you're familiar with, will you, since there are seven?
-
Eleven o'clock. I've been glossing over this. Their time units are actually base sixteen, eight hours before noon and eight after. Entropy-wise, the length of the day is a few minutes shorter, if comparing entropy rates there and here makes any sense at all. But did you really want me to tell you it was about F:80 of their clock?
=picture= of hexadecimal clock with 12 hour clock (link to http://math-and-english.blogspot.com/2018/03/games-with-time-units.html)
Oh, and Friday. I've been glossing over this, as well. They have a two-day weekend like we do. It's the night before the weekend. Their weekdays are named, but you won't recognize the names. You won't mind if we continue to use the weekdays you're familiar with, will you, since there are seven?
--
[JMR201803211702: end edits for xhilr]
[JMR201803200028: edits for xhilr]
Then they all want their separate ways for summer.
-
Then they all went their separate ways for summer.
--
They were hiding outside their dorm buildings a little past eleven on a Friday night.
-
They were hiding outside their dorm buildings a little past eleven on a Friday night.
=line=
Eleven o'clock. I've been glossing over this. Their time units are actually base sixteen, eight hours before noon and eight after. Entropy-wise, the length of the day is a few minutes shorter, if comparing entropy rates there and here makes any sense at all. But did you really want me to tell you it was about F:80 of their clock?
Oh, and Friday. I've been glossing over this, as well. They have a two-day weekend, so it's the night before the weekend. Their weekdays are named, but you won't recognize the names. You won't mind if we continue to use the weekdays you're familiar with, will you, since there are seven?
=line
--
Karel went in to talk with Sister Ivie, the dorm Mom for Bobbie's building, and then followed Bobbie and Petra. At the bottom of the stairs, he could see the backs of their heads. They seemed to be quietly watching something. As he rounded the wall and entered the basement lounge, he saw that they were looking at two students sleeping on each others' shoulders on one of the couches. There was a basket of clean laundry in front of them.
-
Karel went in to talk with Sister Ivie, the dorm Mom for Bobbie's building, and then followed Bobbie and Petra down the stairs. From the bottom landing, he could see the backs of their heads, where they seemed to be standing quietly, watching something. As he rounded the wall and entered the basement lounge, he saw that they were looking at two students sleeping on each others' shoulders on one of the couches. There was a basket of clean laundry and another empty basket in front of them.
--
At about ten thirty, the RAs called the battles in and sent the students back to the dorms. They checked for stragglers, warned them about curfews, and returned to the dorms, themselves.
-
At about ten thirty (F:00), the RAs called the battles in and sent the students back to the dorms under the light of the hinter moon. They checked for stragglers, warned them about curfews, and returned to the dorms, themselves.
--
"Says she's enjoying the Book of Mormon. Much more interesting now. And she took some of her preparation time this week to read Hosea."
-
"Says she's enjoying the Book of Ehyephoot. Much more interesting now. And she took some of her preparation time this week to read Squiye."
--
=line=
Their stake presidents recommended our four friends to be called as temple workers.
=line=
"You wanted to see me, Bishop Green?"
-
"You wanted to see me, Bishop Green?"
--
=line=
The interviews with the other three were similar.
Karel and Bobbie had regular meetings with the supervising professors.
=line=
-
The interviews with the other three went similarly.
=line=
Karel and Bobbie continued to have regular meetings with the supervising professors.
--
"Winn has troubles at work."
-
"But Winn has troubles at work."
--
"Hey, what could it hurt? I'll quote from Song of Solomon."
-
"Hey, what could it hurt? I'll quote from Song of Solomon."
=line=
How is it that their Holy Book had a book similar the Song of Solomon? A City of their God, a City of Peace, we can understand. And a king similar to Solomon, we can understand. Well, if they could have such a king as Solomon, taking so many wives, at least one of them might have written a long poem similar to the Song of Solomon.
=line=
--
Someone started a game of the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Others gathered around to read the Song of Solomon.
Karel eavesdropped on the readers for a few minutes, and then said, "Some people accept the Song of Solomon as a metaphorical description of the love of Jesus for the Church. Be careful not to treat it too lightly."
-
Someone started a game of remembering names of books from their Book, similar to the game Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Others gathered around to read from this book that was similar to the Song of Solomon.
Karel eavesdropped on the readers for a few minutes, and then said, "Some people accept this book as a metaphorical description of the love of the Savior for the Church. Be careful not to treat it too lightly."
--
[JMR201803200028: end edits for xhilr]
(The framing story starts
Introductions and characterizations begin here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch01-introducing.html.
In the five parts of the last chapter, we get to watch them get serious about life in their second semester as graduate students: 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.)
The second year started out as more of the same.
Sort of.
"What are you doing out here, Bobbie?" Kristie was whispering.
"Same as you, I'd guess." Bobbie whispered back. "How many?"
They were hiding outside their dorm buildings a little past eleven on a Friday night.
"Two from my floor, but seven from the building, in all."
"One from my floor and four more from our building. I told the other RAs we should just post a note telling them to knock on the dorm Mom's door, but they seem to think we have to go after them."
"We have to suggest sitting down to re-read our job descriptions together, I think."
"Hi, girls."
"Dan! You scared me," Kristie whispered. "Sshhh! Are we that bad at hiding?"
"I knew you'd be here." Then he said, in a loud voice, "I was sent here to tell some unnamed women that the Yale wannabees have canceled their plans for a panty raid and they won't be needed to let the invaders in, after all."
"Oh." And Kristie and Bobbie came out of their hiding places, laughing.
Bobbie said to herself, "Too bad." But then she called out, "Okay, girls, wherever you are, let's go in. Maybe we can have some semi-official coed games tomorrow at dusk, instead."
At first, there was no response. Then, one-by-one, eleven women came out of their hiding places, complaining and joking.
After counting, Bobbie called out again, "Stephanie. Where are you?"
No response.
"Stephanie? She wasn't with us." The erstwhile hiders looked around at each other.
Kristie and Bobbie looked carefully at their residents' faces and decided they weren't lying.
Just then Karel came up behind them.
"We have one man unaccounted for in my building. Any of you women know where Jeremy Snow is?"
No one knew.
"Well, since I'm here, I'll tell you about the games tomorrow. The semi-official games of capture-the-flag are semi-official. Tomorrow. About dusk. And not in the dorms. We love you all, but we do have to try to avoid activities where students who don't want to participate could get their feelings hurt."
"You love us? What is Bobbie going to say?"
Bobbie grinned and replied, "Bobbie loves you guys, too. And if anyone finds out what's up with our two missing students, let us know. Check in with your dorm Moms on the way."
The women returned to their dorms, laughing and still complaining.
Karel said, "Let's check the laundry rooms and kitchens in each building. Stephanie is one of yours, Bobbie?"
"Yeah."
"Let's start in your building."
Dan and Kristie went back to their dorms to update the other dorm Moms, and Bobbie went inside, recruited another RA named Petra, and went down to the basement.
Karel went in to talk with Sister Ivie, the dorm Mom for Bobbie's building, and then followed Bobbie and Petra. At the bottom of the stairs, he could see the backs of the two women RA's heads. They seemed to be quietly watching something. As he rounded the wall and entered the basement lounge, he saw that they were looking at two students sleeping on each others' shoulders on one of the couches. There was a basket of clean laundry in front of them.
Karel cleared his throat. Neither of them woke up. Then he checked the laundry machines.
"Third dryer." Bobbie said.
There was a load of men's clothes in the third dryer, which had stopped.
"They're so cute!" Petra sighed.
Karel chuckled.
Bobbie called, softly, "Stephanie!"
And Karel said, not so softly, "Jeremy."
Jeremy woke up first, groggily. He looked up at the RAs and shook himself awake, trying to figure out where he was. Then he looked at the woman beside him. "Steph." He said gently.
Then he kissed her and she woke up. "We are being visited by angels," he said.
Karel looked at the ceiling, Bobbie closed her eyes, and Petra covered her face.
"Warn us before you do that." Petra said.
Stephanie blinked and looked up at the RAs. As comprehension returned, she started to panic. "Ah-are we in trouble?"
The three RAs grinned, and Karel said, "Probably not. Jeremy get your clothes out of the dryer and let's go talk to our dorm Moms."
In Sister Ivie's office/living room, Jeremy and Stephanie apologized.
Sister Ivie asked the two of them, sternly, "Do we need to make a rule about men not using laundry in the women's dorms?"
They weren't sure what to say.
Then she smiled. "I'll need to ask Stephanie a few questions before she goes to bed. Bobbie, could you wait outside?"
"I'll be waiting."
"Thank you for helping, Petra."
"Sure."
"And, Jeremy, would you take Karel back to your dorm with you?"
"Uh, ..." Jeremy looked confused at the question.
"I'm sure he will," said Karel.
"Oh. Okay." Jeremy agreed.
And Petra and Karel and Jeremy left.
Stephanie was only a couple of minutes with Sister Ivie, and then she returned with Bobbie to their floor. They talked quietly, giggling, as they climbed the stairs, and then Bobbie gave her a hug and they said goodnight.
When Karel and Jeremy their building, they stopped in Sister Vincent's office to talk. Karel stepped outside while she talked a minute or two with Jeremy alone. Then they climbed the stairs to their floor together.
"I guess I blew it."
"Blew what?"
"Curfew and all."
"If you told Sister Vincent the truth, nobody's hurt."
"Oh."
"You missed some excitement, but not much."
"Excitement?"
"Some of the younger men who seem to think they are at an Ivie League school or something tried to organize a panty raid tonight."
"That's sick."
"A little misogynistic, perhaps. Innocent bystanders could get hurt."
Jeremy was quiet for a moment. "You're not mad about having to go get me or anything?"
"You wanna help entertain the troops at the substitute battles tomorrow?"
Jeremy wasn't following him.
"We suggested they have a coed capture-the-flag battle or two tomorrow night instead of the raid that got busted tonight."
"Uhm, I'll have to ask Stephanie what she thinks. I don't think she'd be happy if I went without her."
"If she's up for it, I could use an ally or two."
"You aren't mad."
"Just be careful about the time, and what you do together. They say all's fair, but love is not always safe." Karel gave him a hug and said, "Sleep tight."
Jeremy and Stephanie joined the battles the following night with several of the most of the crowd that seemed to want to behave like they weren't at a Church college and several of the RAs. There was some grumbling as they started, especially at the warning to play gently because it was a mixed gender game. But the excitement of the mock hunt in the dusk and the opportunity to chase members of the opposite sex seemed to partially mitigate the complaints.
At about ten thirty, the RAs called the battles in and sent the students back to the dorms. They checked for stragglers, warned them about curfews, and returned to the dorms, themselves.
"How was it?" Karel asked Stephanie and Jeremy on his way inside.
"We had fun," Stephanie said. "I'd never done that before."
"She captured two flags."
"Not without your help."
"Thanks for inviting us."
"Thanks for helping out. Curfew's midnight tonight, but don't be too late."
They both said they would watch the time, and Karel went inside.
Since our four friends were really busy, they remained as alternates on the folk dance team, and the team recruited a replacement for Kelly.
However, since they were on the team at the start of the semester, they registered for the team's class instead of another dance class. Bobbie was a little disappointed, because Karel, Kristie, and even Dan had all expressed interest in taking modern dance.
Kelly and Joel wrote each other, and Joel kept the team updated on Kelly's progress with the language.
"Hey Joel, I saw Kelly at the cafeteria today. She waved."
"Yeah. I'm eating elsewhere so we don't accidentally meet. She says in her letters the language is coming along, but she's sure wishing the visa would come through."
"Any guess on the time?" someone asked.
"Maybe two more weeks."
And someone else asked, "How's she doing on the scriptures?"
"Says she's enjoying the Book of Mormon. Much more interesting now. And she took some of her preparation time this week to read Hosea."
"What did she think?"
"She says she thinks gets the symbolism now. And she no longer thinks the Lord is telling her she's a bad girl every time she reads the word, 'repent'."
"Wonderful! That can be so hard to get over."
Their stake presidents recommended the four of them be called as temple workers.
"You wanted to see me, Bishop Green?"
"Kristie. Glad to see you. Come in, come in. Have a chair. Make yourself comfortable."
Kristie sat down. "What did you want to see me about?"
"You and your three friends go to the temple pretty regularly."
"Yes."
"We have decided to ask you to become a temple worker."
"You mean, check recommends at the door?"
"I think that's one of the things you'll be asked to do. But you may also be asked to help out in the ordinances themselves."
"Me?"
"What do you think. Are you willing to do it?"
"Are Bobbie and Karel and Dan also being called to do this?"
"Depends on their bishops is all I can say."
Karel and Bobbie had regular meetings with the supervising professors.
"Hi, Melissa."
"Oh, Bobbie. Neither of your professors is here yet. Can you wait?"
"I'm early. I thought Karel would be, too. How are things going?"
"Oh, good and not so good." Melissa put her hand on her stomach.
"Morning sickness?"
She nodded.
"May I?" Bobbie put her hand out.
Melissa laughed. "Nothing to feel yet." But she took Bobbie's hand and placed it on her belly.
"Not yet." Bobbie agreed.
"Winn has troubles at work."
Karel came in the door as Bobbie sat down. "Troubles at work? What kind?" he asked as he sat down beside her.
"I'm not sure. He won't tell me. Except the boss is talking about not being able to pay wages next month."
"Oh, dear."
"I guess this is where the trials come in? The home teachers have been warning us that all new members have trials."
"Maybe. Anybody who tries to change for the better is generally going to find some opposition. Losing a job is not necessarily one of the usual trials, though."
Bobbie gave Karel a look of appreciation. "Have you talked with his boss?" she asked.
"Yes. He said something about the usual orders not coming in, and that the company is looking at branching out in new directions. He wants all the employees to skip wages every other month for a half a year so that he can invest the money in some new business."
Bobbie and Karel looked at each other.
"Who all have you talked with about it?" Bobbie asked.
"My home teachers, family, some professors here, the bishop, some friends. But it's hard to talk about it when I don't even know what the new business is."
"Does Winn?"
"He won't tell me whether he knows or not."
"And the boss wouldn't tell you?"
"He says to trust him. He's a former bishop."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Karel asked, a bit sharply.
Bobbie looked a little surprised at Karel's small outburst.
Melissa continued, hesitantly, "He said, 'Once a bishop, always a bishop.'"
"Last time I heard a former bishop tell me I should trust him because he was a former bishop, he was in trouble. He was selling something to people who shouldn't have been buying what he was selling."
Bobbie said, "Well, I know I don't necessarily trust all bishops, but they generally don't call people you can't trust."
"Stewardships have limits. A true steward won't assume responsibilities outside his current stewardship."
Bobbie looked troubled.
Melissa looked troubled, too. "Oh dear, I'm causing another fight."
"Karel, maybe I have doubts about this, too, but, should you judge a man so quickly and harshly?"
Both Bobbie and Karel were praying in their hearts.
Karel looked for a more moderate position. "Anyway, I'd suggest you ask Winn to pray with you about what to do."
Bobbie said, "I can agree with that."
Professor White came to the door. "Sorry to be late."
"Thanks for letting me talk about it."
"Sure. And take care of yourself."
Melissa smiled and put her hand on her stomach. "Okay."
As they followed Professor White, Karel quietly asked Bobbie, "Is, I mean, are they, ...?".
And Bobbie nodded without saying a word.
"What a time to be worrying about work."
The next time they went to the temple, when they presented their recommends at the door, they were shown in to a different room than the usual one. Other newly called temple workers were waiting there, as well. Soon, the temple presidency greeted them.
And even if I knew what their instruction consisted of, I couldn't tell you much. But they did start with simple things, like checking recommends at the door and guiding other visitors in the temple from one place to another.
"Kelly's visa came in!" Joel seemed as excited as if it were his own.
"When does she leave?"
"She's already left. Her next letter will be from her first assigned area."
Karel stood up, looked around the lounge, and said, "I really don't want to play the heavy, here, but too many guys have been way too close to the girls they are with for way too long. Let's all stand up and stretch and repeat a favorite verse from the scriptures."
"Huh?"
"You gotta be kidding."
"Hey, what could it hurt? I'll quote from Song of Solomon."
Karel shook his head half in disbelief, chuckling. "Do you remember it?"
"Wait, I'll go get it."
When he came back down with his scriptures, everyone was waiting, expectantly.
"I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem," he started, looking at Karel.
"Nice one." he looked at the young men and women around him. "Just make sure we don't wake Solomon up when he's finished."
"I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please."
Laughter ensued.
"I think the mood has lightened a bit. Carry on."
Somehow, the mood had lightened significantly.
Someone started a game of the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Others gathered around to read the Song of Solomon.
Karel listened in for a few minutes, and said, "Some people accept the Song of Solomon as a metaphorical description of the love of Jesus for the Church. Be careful not to treat it too lightly."
"But, ..." and one women quoted a verse.
"If you don't like people making fun of our temples, don't make fun of what they believe in."
"I can't understand it."
"You don't need to."
"What about you?"
"I don't need to understand their belief, either."
Several times during the third semester, our four friends' bishops called them each in and interviewed them, trying to appraise their progress towards their eternal goals and encouraging them. They were each honest with their bishops, and I won't tell you what they said. It's their business, not ours.
The upshot of it was apparently that they were waiting for something they couldn't quite put their fingers on.
The link to the next of the characterization chapters
(The chapter index is here: http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.jp/2016/04/economics-101-novel-index.html)
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