[]Backup 2] Economics 101, a Novel, ch_09 -- In the Islands

[JMR201802100930: backup of http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/08/economics-101-novel-ch09-in-islands.html.]

[JMR201804071908: edits]

He was quite insistant that you would need another room, but we did not believe him.
-
He was quite insistent that you would need another room, but we did not believe him.

--

Why don't you go check your accomodations?
-
Why don't you go check your accommodations?

--

About two weeks into their stay on the second island, they they wrote letters to professors they had been talking with at Harvard and Berkeley, detailing their work to that point and the adjustments they were making to their approaches with both research and service.
-
About two weeks into their stay on the second island, they wrote letters to professors they had been talking with at Harvard and Berkeley, detailing their work to that point and the adjustments they were making to their approaches with both research and service.

--

"We appreciate your forebearance."
-
"We appreciate your forbearance."

--

[JMR201804071908: end edits]

[JMR201804031323: edits for Xhilr.]

There is a large city about an hour to the north, which has a major airport.
-
There is a large city about a chit to the north, which has a major airport.

--

At the last layover before they reached the main island, the five of them met with the first counselor to the President of the district of the Church which nominally included the islands to which they were going.
-
At the last layover before they reached the main island, the five of them met with the first counselor to the president of the district of the Church which included the islands to which they were going. (Nominally included, since there were no actual Church operations in those islands at that point.)

--

Visiting teachers are assigned from the Relief Society, and home teachers are from the priesthood quorums. In the less fully organized branches and wards, they sometimes had couples assigned to be both at once. It wasn't official policy at the time of this story, but it is sort of semi-officially allowed now.
-
Visiting teachers were assigned from the Relief Society, and home teachers were from the priesthood quorums. In the less fully organized branches and wards, they sometimes had couples assigned to be both at once. It wasn't official policy at the time of this story, but it would later become a recognized practice.

--

I have letters for you from them.
-
I have letters for you from them here.

--

Wait a minute, you say?

Okay, I have a small confession. This is not just a slightly alternate history, this is a different planet.

But there are lots of parallels that I have taken the liberty of translating to artifacts of your own world's history.

"Mormon", for instance. Their Church has a similar history to the Mormons of (ahem) our world, and they believe in a Savior/Messiah with a name cognate of "Jesus" ("God is help") and a title cognate of "Christ" ("Annointed").

(And the prophet who abridged their new world scripture was named a word that seems to be a bi-lingual pun on "more good" and "eternal love", pointing to having a hope of literally following their Savior as they progress from grace to grace, thus, "Mormon" is not exactly a bad translation.)

And their Jesus teaches of repentance and redemption, of salvation by faith on His name, and the idea that the Creator of their universe is a friend, not an enemy, to His children. Thus, Christianity is a good fit for the broader religious context, as well.

(And there history is filled with cases of religion being perverted to ill purpose by those who prefer power to faith, just like ours.)

There are other differences, beyond the ones which necessitated this aside about the parallels. But the differences shouldn't be too surprising. Policy should reflect the historical and social context.
-
Wait a saichi, you say? (Or a minute. Three saichi.)

This is, indeed, a different planet. These are not Mormons. The epithet, and the name of the ancient prophet and the scripture from which the epithet is derived, is "Ehyephoot".

The official name of their Church may translate well as "The Church of Jesus Christ for the Saints of the Latter Days" or "The Church of Yeshua Messiah for the Believers of the End Times" or something. There may be many parallels which I depend on in telling this story, but it is not the organization with which you are familiar in your world.

Different world, different history, different social context, no matter how much is similar. Policy reflects the needs of the social context, so I must beg you to bear with the things you find odd.

Pretty please?

--

Bobbie and Karel looked in surprise at the first counselor together. He smiled reassuringly.
-
Bobbie and Karel looked together in surprise at the first counselor. He smiled reassuringly.

--

You both have been missionaries, and you understand that the happiness of these people is God's only concern."
-
You both have been missionaries, and you understand that the happiness of these people is a very high priority for God."

--

He's a good man. But if they don't get along, he'll help them find other arrangements.
-
He's a good man. If they don't get along, he'll help them find other arrangements.

--

Bobbie and Sister MacVittie insisted they could walk, so they spread the luggage across the four taxis, and everyone walked the fifteen minutes to the bungalow.
-
Bobbie and Sister MacVittie insisted they could walk, so they spread the luggage across the four taxis, and everyone walked the three punji to the bungalow.

--

"Oh, I like him. I think he likes me. But it's hard to get his attention when he spends most of his time on the main island."
-
"Oh, I like him. I think he likes me. But it's hard to get his attention when he spends most of his time flying around the islands."

--

"Quickly!"
-
"Quickly! She'll know what to do."

--

On the Sabbath, the chief and his consort, and the shaman and his concubine, came to observe their meetings, making the hut a little crowded. They expressed neither approval nor disapproval after the meetings were over, remaining to listen and talk for a bit, then going to take care of other business.
-
On the Sabbath, the chief and his consort, with the shaman and his concubine, came to observe their meetings, making the hut a little crowded. They expressed neither approval nor disapproval, remaining after the meetings were over to listen and talk for a bit, then going to take care of other business.

--

Sabbath. Day of Rest.

As I have mentioned, they have a week of seven days. Seven days approximates the period of their nearer moon, which could partially explain why they have a seven day week in spite of their general standardization on powers of two. But not fully.

--

In the evening, there were more ceremonies.
-
In the evening, there were more ceremonies, which Karel and Bobbie were requested to attend.

--

But when Karel traded for a beaded reed curtain to hang between them, the family indulged them in that much.
-
But when Karel traded some materials for a beaded reed curtain to hang between them, the family indulged them in that much.

--

But  their host family did not take offense.
-
And their host family did not take offense.

--

And on the last island, they were again not allowed to stay with separate families. Again, they put up a curtain.
Lest you misunderstand, they were able to develop good relationships with the islanders on both the third and fourth islands, but, on the subject of where they stayed, the islanders just smiled and were insistent.
And lest you should find fault with the islanders, according to the traditions they lived by, Karel and Bobbie would have been guilty of no sin had they given in to temptation and crossed the curtain.
-
And on the last island, they were again not allowed to stay with separate families. The shaman and the shamaness were their hosts. And again, they were allowed to put up a curtain.

Lest you misunderstand, they were able to develop good relationships with the islanders on both the third and fourth islands, but, on the subject of where they stayed, the islanders just smiled and were insistent.

"Do you understand?" one woman asked Bobbie one day on the fourth island, while they were working with several other women, collecting breadfruit for a communal feast. "It is not just that we can see the connection you and Karel have. Under our traditions, if you were alone, you would be required to entertain men."

"Really? Then I am glad you insisted we stay together."

The shamaness said, "Our island is not as progressive as some. I hope your reports will not speak ill of us for it."

"Should I not mention this?"

"No," the wife of the chief said, "just please don't judge us ill for it."

"Can I discuss this with Karel?"

"Maybe. I suppose it would help to talk more about it rather than less."

The next day, the chief, the shaman, and a small group of other men met with Karel.

One of the men said, "We understand that Bobbie knows that there are two reasons we have for asking you to stay together."

"She mentioned that she had heard something about being required to entertain men if she were not with me."

Another explained, "We have not had a brothel on the island for a generation. Bobbie is independent."

"She is that. You know it is a valued trait in our culture?"

"In ours," the chief said, "many were calling her wanton. Some of the women wanted to send you both away your first day, without waiting for a plane to take you."

"We appreciate your forebearance."

The shaman said, "That you hold hands at night speaks well of you. That's something we can understand."

The chief added, "You see, we try to avoid situations in which male-female relationships would cause problems. Such problems cause wars."

Karel nodded. "Understood."

That evening, after Bobbie and Karel discussed their day's research, Karel told Bobbie what he had learned.

Bobbie grinned and reached for his hand. "Should we radio for Wycliffe to come take us to a temple?"

The shamaness looked up from her chemistry work. "That would be counter to your course."

--

"It has been our pleasure. Don't wait too long to get married."
-
"It has been our pleasure," the shaman said.

The shamaness added, "Don't wait too long to let your legal records enable your realities."

--

Bobbie and Karel carried part of their luggage out of the hut that served as the airport building on the last island towards the plane waiting on the beach.
-
While Wycliffe loaded fuel from the supplies shack into the plane, Bobbie and Karel brought their luggage to the beach.

--

They loaded the last of it, Karel helped Bobbie climb in, and they waved a final goodbye.
-
They loaded the last of it, Bobbie let Karel help her climb in, and they waved a final goodbye.

--

[JMR201804031323: end edits for Xhilr.]

Previous: Fifth Semester, Getting Ready for the Islands

Table of Contents

Now we thik we know how Karel and Bobbie got to the islands without getting married. But let's go ahead and get a glimpse of how things went in the islands.

---

Orson Hyde University campus is nestled against the foothills of a very long mountain range. It is a part of small city that sits between a lake and the mountains.

There is a large city about an hour to the north, which has a major airport. It was this airport at which they said goodbye to their families and left in the company of the MacVitties, after completing their preparations at the university.

During the trip, Bobbie did not pay much attention to the men giving her the eye. She noticed some of them, but she didn't pay much attention.

In the passenger cabin after one layover, she said, "Karel?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you noticed the guys looking at me?"

Karel replied, "Have you noticed me noticing some of the women around? Sometimes a guy gets distracted."

"Are you trying to make me jealous?"

"Maybe, but I was really just thinking that beauty draws the eye. You distract me, too, you know."

Brother and Sister MacVittie studiously ignored this conversation. Their son smirked quietly to himself.

"Telling me I'm beautiful again."

"Just telling it like it is."

"Heh. Thanks. Well, anyway, guys used to hit on me a lot."

"You've mentioned that before."

"Now it seems like I can mostly ignore them before they get that far."

"That's a good thing."

"I'm sure part of that is because I'm with you and don't seem unattached."

Karel cleared his throat.

"And I've gotten into the habit of dressing down a bit."

"When you doll yourself up, you're just gilding the lily."

"Give me a break."

Sister MacVittie leaned across her husband's lap and said, "He's just telling you the truth."

Bobbie looked at the back of the seat in front of her. "I know I am cursed with good looks. But that's actually kind of what I'm trying to talk with Karel about."

"I guess I'll keep my nose out of things."

Professor MacVittie thought it was the better part of valor to stay out of things, too.

But Bobbie was no longer just talking to Karel. "Something's changed inside me. I used to be like a deer caught in a car's headlights when guys looked at me. Now it doesn't mean that much to me. And I think that means guys mostly don't feel as motivated to hit on me."

Karel said, "Mostly. But I've warned a few off, so far."

"And you've missed a couple."

"Yeah. but I'm trying."

"It's okay. I was able to warn those guys off, myself. And I don't feel upset about it any more."

Professor MacVittie finally spoke up here. "That's an important thing. I hadn't realized you were struggling so much with that."

"Guys are generally more civilized at Orson Hyde University."

"Not all that civilized. I think I have said some things I have to apologize for."

"No, you've never offended me."

"I'm glad of that."

Sister MacVittie asked her husband, under her breath, "Pray tell, what is it you think you might have to apologize for?"

He replied, as quietly, "Complimenting her on her looks without thinking how she would take it."

"Oh, that's all." She squeezed his hand.

---

At the last layover before they reached the main island, they met the first counselor to the President of the District of the Church which nominally included the islands to which they were going.

"I have been authorized to form a traveling branch of the Islands, and to call the two of you to preside over the Island Traveling Branch, Karel as the branch president, and Bobbie as the Relief Society president. Do the two of you accept these callings?"

"Sure."

 "Yeah. Uhm, Yes."

"This means you are authorized to hold your meetings and so forth."

"Okay."

"Your branch is a dependent branch, so you will need to coordinate some things with the parent branch, district, and mission presidencies, as described in the handbooks."

He gave them addresses and long distance phone numbers to contact them by.

"Your own home teachers and visiting teachers are assigned out of the parent branch until and unless better arrangements can be made. They happen to be your parent branch second counselor and his wife."

---

Visiting teachers are assigned from the Relief Society, and home teachers are sent from the priesthood quorums. In the less fully organized branches and wards, sometimes they have couples assigned to do both at once. It wasn't official policy at the time of this story, but it is sort of semi-official now.

---

"I don't expect that they will actually be able to come visit you here in the islands, but you can keep contact by mail. And they have told me that, if there is an emergency, you can call them collect."

"If we can get to a phone." Karel commented.

"Radio can be patched in. And you will be in their prayers."

"That will be helpful." Bobbie nodded, swallowing suddenly.

"Since this is the district, the mission president has authorized me to authorize the two of you to perform baptismal interviews. The district president has authorized you to perform all non-temple ordinances, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, Karel presiding and Bobbie assisting, as necessary, as explained in the manuals."

---

Wait a minute, you say?

Okay, I have a small confession. This is not just a slightly alternate history, this is a different planet. Lots of parallels that I have taken the liberty of translating to artifacts of your own world's history.

"Mormon", for instance. Their Church is one with a similar history to the Mormons of (ahem) our world, and they believe in a Savior/Messiah with a name cognate of "Jesus" ("God is help") and a title cognate of "Christ" ("Annointed One").

(And the prophet who abridged their new world scripture is named a word that is a pun on "more good" and "eternal love", pointing to having a hope of literally following their savior as they progress from grace to grace.)

And their Jesus teaches of repentance and redemption, of salvation by faith on His name, and the idea that the Creator of their universe is a friend, not an enemy to His children.

And there are a few differences, such as the ones I just mentioned. But maybe it shouldn't be too surprising. Policy should reflect the historical and social context.

---

"Now, in addition to my calling as first counselor in the district, I am first counselor in the temple presidency for the temple for this district."

"Oh." Bobbie blinked.

"Be happy to have you visit if you decide you have reason to get up that way."

"Understood." Karel nodded.

"I know you've heard it before, but it will be to your own benefit, as well as the benefit of the Church, that you set the best example you can for the people of these islands. You both have been missionaries, and you understand that the happiness of these people is God's only concern."

Bobbie and Karel both agreed.

After more discussion, he sent them on their way, with the blessings of God.

And they flew on to the main island near where they would be doing their research.

---

"Yo. You must be the professor and family and students."

"Sheldon MacVittie. Would you be Zedidiah?"

"He's Zedidiah."

"Hi." Zedidiah raised his hand in greeting.

"I'm Wycliffe."

"Good to meet you."

"Yeah. Likewise. Luggage there?" Wycliffe indicated the trunks and other luggage stacked neatly at the edge of the tarmac, where the MacVittie's son was keeping an eye on it.

"That's our stuff," Bobbie confirmed. "Do we have too much?"

"It should fit in one go, right, Zed?"

"Yeah. A little tight, but it'll be okay for a short hop."

Karel started chuckling as Wycliffe examined him and Bobbie.

"Wycliffe, do you mind?" Bobbie was also chuckling.

"Just wondering if I dare make a pass at the prettiest lady I expect to ever see in these islands."

"You just did." Bobbie laughed.

The MacVitties kept a watchful eye, amused, but ready to take action. Karel didn't seem worried.

"Wye, not the paying customers." Zedidiah looked up from the mental calculations he was making about how the luggage might fit in their plane.

"She yours?" Wycliffe asked Karel.

Karel shook his head. "She is her own, but I wouldn't try taking liberties with her."

Wycliffe grinned. "I'm not sure whether I'd be more worried about your response or hers if I did."

Karel and Bobbie both laughed.

"Wye! Knock it off!" Zedidiah stopped his examination of the luggage and came back. "I must apologize for my partner."

"No offense taken," Bobbie was still laughing. "An open pass is a bit refreshing, even if I'm not planning on picking it up. I'll be a bit too busy. Sorry."

"Understood. 'Though I'm not quite sure how you two fit together."

Bobbie and Karel looked at each other, amused, and Wycliffe watched them.

"Leave it alone, Wye, and help me figure the luggage out."

"Yeah. Lemme help you work that out."

And both of them went over to the luggage and started measuring pieces with their hands, talking about where to load them in the plane's cargo area.

"Do you think we can trust them?" Professor MacVittie asked.

"I think so." Bobbie replied.

"He's not entirely harmless," Karel pursed his lips to one side. "But I get the feeling he isn't one to take advantage of people. Just says what he thinks."

"I think I agree," Sister MacVittie said.

Wycliffe went into the building, and Zedidiah returned. "We're pretty share we can take it all in one trip. If not, we have a friend or two who would be willing to fly the rest out with the mail or something. But you'll need a couple of taxis to where you're staying tonight. Wycliffe has gone after them, and for someone to take care of your paperwork."

"You took care of a place for us here?"

"No, the islanders did. We told them about you and they decided where you'll stay. That's the way they work. You can walk there, but the luggage can't, and that's why you'll need the taxis. Ah. Here comes Officer Paalo."

An islander approached them from withing the building. "Hello! Welcome to the islands."

"Officer Paalo can stamp your visas."

After introductions all around, Officer Paalo counted their pieces of luggage without bothering to look inside, scanned quickly over their immunization paperwork, took notes in an official-looking logbook, and gave them visa stamps in their passports.

"Oh. You're not married?" he asked, handing Karel and Bobbie back their passports.

"No, ..." Karel replied.

"Not engaged?"

'No." Bobbie replied with a shake of her head.

"Then I should ask. We were under the impression you two would be staying together. Wycliffe informs us that we may be mistaken."

Karel looked at Bobbie, and she just closed her eyes.

"Uhn, that would not be appropriate," Karel said, reaching out to reassure Bobbie with a pat on her arm.

Bobbie opened her eyes. "Definitely not."

By that time, Wycliffe had returned with not two, but four taxis.

"Change of plans. The bungalow they 

"When they found out your students would not be sleeping together, they decided to change your ac

Professor MacVittie introduced himself and gave them contact information for the university and requested to be contacted immediately if anything untoward happened while carrying Karel and Bobbie from island to island.

Then Wycliffe and Zedidiah introduced them to Officer Paalo, who stamped their visas as a representative of the government and gave their luggage a cursory check, and took care of other such necessary paperwork.

And Karel and Bobbie went over their schedules with Wycliffe and Zedidiah.

The MacVitties spent a couple of days vacationing while Karel and Bobbie made contacts, learned a little more about the islands, and reviewed their preparations.

Then Zedidiah flew the five of them to their first island, which was close by. Zedidiah and Wycliffe generally flew without co-pilot, saving the weight for cargo.

On the first island, Zedidiah introduced them to Nazoru and his daughter Hanaka, who were fairly comfortable with foreigners and with English, and could serve as intermediaries if necessary.

Nazoru and Hanaka offered to let them both stay in their hut. They were surprised and somewhat amused that they wanted to stay separately.

Ultimately, it was decided that Bobbie would stay with Hanaka and Nazoru, and they found another family for Karel to stay with.

And they found a family for the MacVitties to stay with, as well.

Nazoru and Hanaka introduced them to many of the people on the island, and Karel and Bobbie got to work and met more. At first, they just let the islanders teach them how they lived. Then they started helping out when they could see ways they could help.

They compiled their notes in the evenings, being careful to change names and otherwise keep the private information private. They found it worked best to go over their data with the families they stayed with, for accuracy, and also to assure that the private information was kept anonymous and private.

Again, the MacVitties stayed out of the way, leaving the work to the students. Their job was simply to be there if they needed help. On the other hand, they were also interested in the island life, and spent most of their time learning how the islanders lived. Professor MacVittie took some notes of his own, but refrained from recording details that might be private.

Towards the end of the week, they got together to compare notes. Other than that, they spent as much time working separately as together.

Sometime during the first week, one of the islanders came to Karel looking for medical help. One of the children had cut her leg. They were surprised when he deferred to Bobbie, insisting that he be there even though Bobbie did the actual cleaning and bandaging up.

They asked about the usual procedure, and the islanders explained that the village elders had already prayed over the wound. But they knew that foreigners did some other useful things, so they had asked.

The next time, Bobbie and Karel had the parents come, and let the parents perform their traditional first aid. Bobbie showed them a few more small things they could still do when she and Karel were gone.


Nazoru and Hanaka joined their first Sunday services, watching with interest. Afterwards, they asked Bobbie and Karel about their beliefs. They continued to join the services for the whole month, and continued to ask questions.

Other islanders also visited during the later Sunday services.

After two weeks, Zedidiah came to pick the MacVitties up. They were sad to go. (And the family they had been staying with was sad to see them go so soon.) Professor MacVittie took Bobbie and Karel's initial reports back to the university with him, with some letters home, and to Dan and Kristie and other friends.

During the month on the first island, Bobbie and Karel participated in the birthing of two babies. Again, they let the islanders teach them what they usually did, trying to avoid teaching them things they would not be able to continue after they left.

And then Zedidiah picked them up and flew them to their next island, introducing them to islanders who would help them get started before he left.

And Zedidiah took their reports and other mail with him to send on.

---

And that was pretty much the way it went on each island.

Except that on the third and fourth islands Wycliffe picked them up. The distances were longer, and Wycliffe had more experience with long distances.

While they were on the second island, they wrote letters to professors they were talking with at Harvard and Berkeley, detailing their work to that point and adjustments they were making to their approaches.

A plane came in after about two weeks, and they sent those letters with the pilot.

On the third island, they got enthusiastic responses from their respective schools, both hinting at the possibility of assistant professorship positions.

On the last island, having become accustomed to their work, they had a little time, maybe once a week, to spend together walking on the beach and talking. Not wanting to tempt each other, they focused on their work and refrained from even holding hands.
 

---

"Got everything?"

"Double and triple checked."

Bobbie and Karel were pushing their luggage out of the hut that served as the airport building on the last island, to the plane waiting on the airstrip.

"I'm gonna miss these islands."

"Me too. In some ways it seems like I've been back on my mission."

"Sans companion?"

"No, not really."

Karel and Bobbie looked at each other. Wycliffe must have missed the meaning that passed without words between them in that look.

"I've been silly."

"No you haven't."

"I wish I could just ask Wycliffe to let us fly back by ourselves. I really want to talk with you all by ourselves."

"Would you be okay navigating over ocean?"

"True. The weather's different, and you have to depend more on instruments."

"And, of course, it's their plane, not ours."

"Do you think those two joke about us?"

"Listening to their chatter on the radio, yeah. Does it matter?"

"Guess not."

"Let's get our luggage on the plane."

"Hi, Wycliffe! Good to see you again."

---

And now we know enough to continue with the story.

Table of Contents

Next: Bobbie and Karel -- Changing Priorities

---

The previous backup for this chapter is here: http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2016/08/bk-economics-101-novel-ch09-in-islands.html.

(There is no second draft of this chapter yet.)

Backup: Sociology 500, a Novel, ch 3 pt 1 -- Metaphors, Study Groups, and Religion

[JMR201702111545: edits -- ]

Even though I personally think the story of how Karel and Bobbie and Dan and Kristie met is interesting {replace}all by{with}in-and-of{replace.} itself, I really only tell it to set up the second and third parts of the trilogy.

And the novel wouldn't serve any real purpose. {replace}Or{with}That is{replace.}, it wouldn't be the novel I want to write.

{replace}Oh, drat.{with}Woops.{replace.} I just let a spoiler slip. Partial spoiler. Sorry.

Well, let's find out a little more about what university life is like for single E-P-ists at their Church-run university. And find out a little more about Karel and Bobbie and Dan and Kristie{strike} and their friends{strike.}.

It was before {replace}one of the study sessions{with}a Tuesday study session{replace.}, when only the four of them were gathered in the library, that Kristie started talking about missions.

A testimony is the kind of belief that gives people the confidence to do things in the religious sphere, and especially to keep going when things get hard. It's what{add} religious{add.} faith is based on.

But members of the Church in general, in the consideration that {replace}we{with}they{replace.} are all part of God's big family, are called brothers and sisters, no matter what {replace}our{with}their{replace.} other callings are.

{replace}And everyone{with}Kristie didn't think she was as ready as the others. "I don't have any names to do work for. I guess I haven't been doing my genealogy research."

Dan replied, "I don't either, but the temple usually has a lot of people on file. Or maybe Bobbie or Karel has some names of ancestors to do work for?"

Bobbie said she hadn't.

And Karel said, "Me neither. I'll call the temple to check, but I'm sure they'll have names in the temple files."

Kristie being thus satisfied, they were all{replace.} agreed. None of them had classes the next Friday morning, so they decided to go together then. As other students in their group came, they talked about it, and some of {replace}the students{with}them{replace.} decided to join {replace}them{with}in{replace.} on Friday.

[JMR201702111545: end-edits -- ]


[JMR201702111545: backup of http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2017/02/soc500-03-01-metaphors-study-groups-religion.html -- minor but necessary stuff.]

TOC

Previous

Now that you've gotten this far into the story here, I have a confession.

Even though I personally think the story of how Karel and Bobbie and Dan and Kristie met is interesting all by itself, I really only tell it to set up the second and third parts of the trilogy.

Well, that is as it may be.

The characters in this story sometimes do not behave in ideal ways. They do some things that don't make sense.

But does any human always behave sensibly?

If our four friends always behaved sensibly, the second part of this trilogy would be very abbreviated, and the third part would not exist.

Of course we can say the same about any trilogy, or about any novel, really. Novels are interesting precisely because they allow us to watch metaphors of people solving analogues of our own problems.

(Is "math" a four-letter word? heh. I'm an applied mathematician, a software engineer. In my world, yes, metaphors can solve problems.)

Metaphors of people. My college technical writing teacher is whispering, metaphorically, in my ear, that I should say it something like this:

Fiction lets us watch the author solve problems in metaphor.

No, that's ambiguous.

Fiction allows us to observe the author using metaphors to present solutions to problems.

No, that's so obvious that you miss what I'm trying to say. Let's try this:

Fiction is basically computer games or simulations that run in the mind. The characters in novels are metaphors, or proxies, for ourselves, and for our neighbors and friends. In reading fiction, we observe ourselves, our friends, and our neighbors performing simulated solutions to simulated problems, through the proxy, or metaphor, of the characters.

Oh, I give up. Anyway, fiction can help us think through the problems we are trying to solve.

If we want to think through the solutions properly, we have to understand the characters in the story.

Our four protagonists are religious. That means that we can't properly see them if we refuse to look at things religious.

Without discussing religion and certain other non-politically-correct topics, the whole trilogy would quickly become a tangle of random romance. And the tangle of randomness in my mind is not nearly as entertaining as that in, say, Joanne Rowling's or George Lucas's minds.

And the novel wouldn't serve any real purpose. Or, it wouldn't be the novel I want to write.

So I hope you'll bear with bits of topics religious and discussions moral from here on out. And some boring details of Church organization, too. And some wandering into metaphysics and ethics, and the ethics of metaphysics and vice versa, probably. Boring, boring, boring stuff, without which, we will have no idea whatsoever how Bobbie and Karel could end up on a desert island all alone together, not married to each other, in the second part of the trilogy when they have finished their fieldwork.

Oh, drat. I just let a spoiler slip. Partial spoiler. Sorry.

Well, let's find out a little more about what university life is like for single E-P-ists at their Church-run university. And find out a little more about Karel and Bobbie and Dan and Kristie and their friends.

---

It was before one of the study sessions, when only the four of them were gathered in the library, that Kristie started talking about missions.

They were talking about different ways to get teaching experience.

"Does church teaching count for teaching experience?" Kristie asked.

"Of course!" was Dan's reply.

"Well, yeah." Karel thought more needed to be said. "It counts as informal experience. What you learn from the experience can be useful in the non-church classroom and in discussing teaching methods, but you can't use it to fill degree requirements. In church, we don't keep the kinds of records that schools and school districts and management can refer to."

"No grades?" Kristie postulated.

"That would be one of the problems."

"Grades in Sunday School. That sounds terrible." Bobbie was not happy with the thought.

Karel continued. "That's the dichotomy. The value of what we do for God often can't be directly transferred to the world around us, as value. That's part of the sacrifice we make when we engage in church service."

"Even missions?" Kristie was thinking about this. "I've been told it's okay to put our missions in our curriculum vitae."

Dan took a more enthusiastic view. "We can definitely tell people about what we have done in church. Whether they accept it as meaningful to them or not is up to them, but we should not be ashamed of it."

"Right." Karel concurred.

Bobbie was not satisfied with leaving things at that. "We definitely shouldn't hide our missions or our church service. Jesus Himself said, 'Let your light so shine.'"

---

I guess I have to explain why I translate the name of their ancient prophet as "Eternal-Progression" (abbreviated "E-P") but still translate the name of Messiah or Christ as "Jesus".

I could have used "Joshua" or "Immanuel", perhaps, but why? If I intend for it to be meaningful, it's the same name.

Translating the name they invoke for the Anointed Messiah, or Christ, basically returns us to "Jesus", or one of the cognates of that name, because of the meaning: "God is with us," or "God is our help," and the intended lack of restriction or limit on who "we" are.

---

Karel replied, "I didn't say anything about hiding anything. We just shouldn't expect that teaching Sunday School will fill student teaching requirements or things like that."

"It'd be nice if it  did." Kristie said wistfully, and everyone nodded in agreement and went back to studying.

Then Kristie remembered something else she wanted to ask. "Say, Dan, you said you went to the Swiss-Austrian Mission, right?"

Well there was, in fact, a continental area similar to Europe, and a country like Switzerland within that area, that tried to stay neutral during wars. And there was a country similar to Austria nearby. And the mission at the time we refer to here was named after those two countries because there was a higher concentration of E-P-ists in those two countries.

And the languages spoken were from a country similar to France and another similar to Germany. And there was a country similar to Spain, nearby, as well. So I will use French, German, and Spanish as proxies for the languages he had used on his mission.

"Right."

"So you spoke French and German?"

"Y también español."

Again, drawing on the parallels for the words, rather than the actual words they used.

"¿Es Verdad?"

"Si, si."

And Dan and Kristie started talking in Spanish about their missions.

Karel complained, "¡Yo no hablo español!"

Everyone laughed.

"So, Kristie went to the Spanish-American mission, but how do you speak Spanish, Dan?" Bobbie asked.

"I took some in high school, and the Swiss-Austrian Mission pretty much was called on for all parts of Europe that didn't have Church organizations. So they asked me to prepare to teach in Spanish as well as French and German."

"So you speak three languages besides English."

Well, we have to call the language they spoke something here. The parallels are there, we might as well call it English even if it would not sound like English to us.

"Yeah."

Kristie said, "I only speak Spanish and English." She paused for a moment, and then she asked, "Do you guys still feel like you have a testimony?"

---

This "testimony" thing that Kristie is asking about is basically a conviction or a strong belief. It is also often called a "witness", as well. It is not a mathematical or scientific proof.

Outside the religious sphere, what we call a testimony here might be compared to a mathematician's conviction that the concept of a unit vector has fundamental meaning. Less abstractly, it's similar to the confidence that we all have that one plus one is two most of the time.

We may not be fully able to define the contexts in which adding one and one gives two, and we may not be ready to fully understand the concept of a unit vector, but we know that those contexts are important to us in our day-to-day lives.

Without some sort of conviction, or without even a hunch, a mathematician will have a hard time choosing where to start working on a problem or a proof. Without a start, no math gets done.

These convictions get discussed, examined, agreed upon, and formally described as axioms. Axioms become the foundation of theorems, proofs, and, well, everything useful in mathematics.

A testimony is the kind of belief that gives people the confidence to do things in the religious sphere, and especially to keep going when things get hard. It's what faith is based on.

---

Dan said, "Well, yeah!"

Karel asserted, "I haven't changed my mind."

Bobbie thought a moment. "I definitely have a testimony now, but it isn't the same one I had when I was a missionary."

"Oh?"

"When I first went out, I wasn't sure the atonement and the redemption would do me any good. I just went to be a nurse where they needed nurses."

"Well, those are good reasons." Dan didn't see anything wrong with that.

Karel nodded in agreement. "Important reasons. Reasons that help you help others. Anyway, how did you feel when you returned?" he asked.

"I finally began to believe I could also be saved. That's part of the reason I started saving up to work on the PhD."

Both Dan and Karel wanted to ask more, but they both felt impressed to leave it alone until Bobbie volunteered more.

"So your testimony is stronger now?" asked Kristie.

"I think so. How about you?"

"I'm not sure. I saw a lot of things that I didn't expect when I was a missionary."

Dan guessed at her thoughts. "So, were you disappointed in people who weren't perfect?"

"Yeah. I guess so. I just thought things would be so simple. Some of the elders behaved pretty badly."

---

Simplifying things a little too much -- the men who serve as missionaries are generally called "elders" -- even the young men.

On the other hand, women who serve as missionaries are called "sister missionaries" or just "sisters".

But members of the Church in general, in the consideration that we are all part of God's big family, are called brothers and sisters, no matter what our other callings are.

---

Dan looked down at the pencil in his hand. "I made a few mistakes when I was a missionary, too." Then he looked up at Kristie. "Don't hold it against them. Some of them will have changed their ways, anyway."

And Bobbie and Karel concurred. Karel said, "I know if I'd had to be perfect, I wouldn't be here now."

"Thanks. I tried not to judge them, but it's hard."

"Hey," said Bobbie. "I find that, when I go to the temple, it's easier to forgive people. I've set a goal to go to the temple at least once a month during school. How about you guys?"

---

Just so you know, in the time frame in our world corresponding to the time frame of this novel, the nearest temple would have been an hour drive to the north of BYU. The Provo temple would not be built until some ten or more years later.

In this novel, however, the temple on the hill above the OHU campus has already been built, so a visit to the temple is only fifteen minutes or so from campus by foot. So you see that OHU is not just a proxy for BYU.

---

And everyone agreed. None of them had classes the next Friday morning, so they decided to go together then. As other students in their group came, they talked about it, and some of the students decided to join them on Friday.

---

Previous

TOC

Next

---

[There are no previous versions.]

---

[The original of this chapter can be found in this chapter of the first draft: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch05-first-semester.html.]
[JMR201702111545: end-backup]
 

Sociology 500, a Novel, ch 3 pt 1 -- Metaphors, Study Groups, and Religion

TOC

Previous

Now that you've gotten this far into the story here, I have a confession.

Even though I personally think the story of how Karel and Bobbie and Dan and Kristie met is interesting in-and-of itself, I really only tell it to set up the second and third parts of the trilogy.

Well, that is as it may be.

The characters in this story sometimes do not behave in ideal ways. They do some things that don't make sense.

But does any human always behave sensibly?

If our four friends always behaved sensibly, the second part of this trilogy would be very abbreviated, and the third part would not exist.

Of course we can say the same about any trilogy, or about any novel, really. Novels are interesting precisely because they allow us to watch metaphors of people solving analogues of our own problems.

(Is "math" a four-letter word? heh. I'm an applied mathematician, a software engineer. In my world, yes, metaphors can solve problems.)

Metaphors of people. My college technical writing teacher is whispering, metaphorically, in my ear, that I should say it something like this:

Fiction lets us watch the author solve problems in metaphor.

No, that's ambiguous.

Fiction allows us to observe the author using metaphors to present solutions to problems.

No, that's so obvious that you miss what I'm trying to say. Let's try this:

Fiction is basically computer games or simulations that run in the mind. The characters in novels are metaphors, or proxies, for ourselves, and for our neighbors and friends. In reading fiction, we observe ourselves, our friends, and our neighbors performing simulated solutions to simulated problems, through the proxy, or metaphor, of the characters.

Oh, I give up. Anyway, fiction can help us think through the problems we are trying to solve.

If we want to think through the solutions properly, we have to understand the characters in the story.

Our four protagonists are religious. That means that we can't properly see them if we refuse to look at things religious.

Without discussing religion and certain other non-politically-correct topics, the whole trilogy would quickly become a tangle of random romance. And the tangle of randomness in my mind is not nearly as entertaining as that in, say, Joanne Rowling's or George Lucas's minds.

And the novel wouldn't serve any real purpose. That is, it wouldn't be the novel I want to write.

So I hope you'll bear with bits of topics religious and discussions moral from here on out. And some boring details of Church organization, too. And some wandering into metaphysics and ethics, and the ethics of metaphysics and vice versa, probably. Boring, boring, boring stuff, without which, we will have no idea whatsoever how Bobbie and Karel could end up on a desert island all alone together, not married to each other, in the second part of the trilogy when they have finished their fieldwork.

Woops. I just let a spoiler slip. Partial spoiler. Sorry.

Well, let's find out a little more about what university life is like for single E-P-ists at their Church-run university. And find out a little more about Karel and Bobbie and Dan and Kristie.

---

It was before a Tuesday study session, when only the four of them were gathered in the library, that Kristie started talking about missions.

They were talking about different ways to get teaching experience.

"Does church teaching count for teaching experience?" Kristie asked.

"Of course!" was Dan's reply.

"Well, yeah." Karel thought more needed to be said. "It counts as informal experience. What you learn from the experience can be useful in the non-church classroom and in discussing teaching methods, but you can't use it to fill degree requirements. In church, we don't keep the kinds of records that schools and school districts and management can refer to."

"No grades?" Kristie postulated.

"That would be one of the problems."

"Grades in Sunday School. That sounds terrible." Bobbie was not happy with the thought.

Karel continued. "That's the dichotomy. The value of what we do for God often can't be directly transferred to the world around us, as value. That's part of the sacrifice we make when we engage in church service."

"Even missions?" Kristie was thinking about this. "I've been told it's okay to put our missions in our curriculum vitae."

Dan took a more enthusiastic view. "We can definitely tell people about what we have done in church. Whether they accept it as meaningful to them or not is up to them, but we should not be ashamed of it."

"Right." Karel concurred.

Bobbie was not satisfied with leaving things at that. "We definitely shouldn't hide our missions or our church service. Jesus Himself said, 'Let your light so shine.'"

---

I guess I have to explain why I translate the name of their ancient prophet as "Eternal-Progression" (abbreviated "E-P") but still translate the name of Messiah or Christ as "Jesus".

I could have used "Joshua" or "Immanuel", perhaps, but why? If I intend for it to be meaningful, it's the same name.

Translating the name they invoke for the Anointed Messiah, or Christ, basically returns us to "Jesus", or one of the cognates of that name, because of the meaning: "God is with us," or "God is our help," and the intended lack of restriction or limit on who "we" are.

---

Karel replied, "I didn't say anything about hiding anything. We just shouldn't expect that teaching Sunday School will fill student teaching requirements or things like that."

"It'd be nice if it  did." Kristie said wistfully, and everyone nodded in agreement and went back to studying.

Then Kristie remembered something else she wanted to ask. "Say, Dan, you said you went to the Swiss-Austrian Mission, right?"

Well there was, in fact, a continental area similar to Europe, and a country like Switzerland within that area, that tried to stay neutral during wars. And there was a country similar to Austria nearby. And the mission at the time we refer to here was named after those two countries because there was a higher concentration of E-P-ists in those two countries.

And the languages spoken were from a country similar to France and another similar to Germany. And there was a country similar to Spain, nearby, as well. So I will use French, German, and Spanish as proxies for the languages he had used on his mission.

"Right."

"So you spoke French and German?"

"Y también español."

Again, drawing on the parallels for the words, rather than the actual words they used.

"¿Es Verdad?"

"Si, si."

And Dan and Kristie started talking in Spanish about their missions.

Karel complained, "¡Yo no hablo español!"

Everyone laughed.

"So, Kristie went to the Spanish-American mission, but how do you speak Spanish, Dan?" Bobbie asked.

"I took some in high school, and the Swiss-Austrian Mission pretty much was called on for all parts of Europe that didn't have Church organizations. So they asked me to prepare to teach in Spanish as well as French and German."

"So you speak three languages besides English."

Well, we have to call the language they spoke something here. The parallels are there, we might as well call it English even if it would not sound like English to us.

"Yeah."

Kristie said, "I only speak Spanish and English." She paused for a moment, and then she asked, "Do you guys still feel like you have a testimony?"

---

This "testimony" thing that Kristie is asking about is basically a conviction or a strong belief. It is also often called a "witness", as well. It is not a mathematical or scientific proof.

Outside the religious sphere, what we call a testimony here might be compared to a mathematician's conviction that the concept of a unit vector has fundamental meaning. Less abstractly, it's similar to the confidence that we all have that one plus one is two most of the time.

We may not be fully able to define the contexts in which adding one and one gives two, and we may not be ready to fully understand the concept of a unit vector, but we know that those contexts are important to us in our day-to-day lives.

Without some sort of conviction, or without even a hunch, a mathematician will have a hard time choosing where to start working on a problem or a proof. Without a start, no math gets done.

These convictions get discussed, examined, agreed upon, and formally described as axioms. Axioms become the foundation of theorems, proofs, and, well, everything useful in mathematics.

A testimony is the kind of belief that gives people the confidence to do things in the religious sphere, and especially to keep going when things get hard. It's what religious faith is based on.

---

Dan said, "Well, yeah!"

Karel asserted, "I haven't changed my mind."

Bobbie thought a moment. "I definitely have a testimony now, but it isn't the same one I had when I was a missionary."

"Oh?"

"When I first went out, I wasn't sure the atonement and the redemption would do me any good. I just went to be a nurse where they needed nurses."

"Well, those are good reasons." Dan didn't see anything wrong with that.

Karel nodded in agreement. "Important reasons. Reasons that help you help others. Anyway, how did you feel when you returned?" he asked.

"I finally began to believe I could also be saved. That's part of the reason I started saving up to work on the PhD."

Both Dan and Karel wanted to ask more, but they both felt impressed to leave it alone until Bobbie volunteered more.

"So your testimony is stronger now?" asked Kristie.

"I think so. How about you?"

"I'm not sure. I saw a lot of things that I didn't expect when I was a missionary."

Dan guessed at her thoughts. "So, were you disappointed in people who weren't perfect?"

"Yeah. I guess so. I just thought things would be so simple. Some of the elders behaved pretty badly."

---

Simplifying things a little too much -- the men who serve as missionaries are generally called "elders" -- even the young men.

On the other hand, women who serve as missionaries are called "sister missionaries" or just "sisters".

But members of the Church in general, in the consideration that they are all part of God's big family, are called brothers and sisters, no matter what their other callings are.

---

Dan looked down at the pencil in his hand. "I made a few mistakes when I was a missionary, too." Then he looked up at Kristie. "Don't hold it against them. Some of them will have changed their ways, anyway."

And Bobbie and Karel concurred. Karel said, "I know if I'd had to be perfect, I wouldn't be here now."

"Thanks. I tried not to judge them, but it's hard."

"Hey," said Bobbie. "I find that, when I go to the temple, it's easier to forgive people. I've set a goal to go to the temple at least once a month during school. How about you guys?"

---

Just so you know, in the time frame in our world corresponding to the time frame of this novel, the nearest temple would have been an hour drive to the north of BYU. The Provo temple would not be built until some ten or more years later.

In this novel, however, the temple on the hill above the OHU campus has already been built, so a visit to the temple is only fifteen minutes or so from campus by foot. So you see that OHU is not just a proxy for BYU.

---

Kristie didn't think she was as ready as the others. "I don't have any names to do work for. I guess I haven't been doing my genealogy research."

Dan replied, "I don't either, but the temple usually has a lot of people on file. Or maybe Bobbie or Karel has some names of ancestors to do work for?"

Bobbie said she hadn't.

And Karel said, "Me neither. I'll call the temple to check, but I'm sure they'll have names in the temple files."

Kristie being thus satisfied, they were all agreed. None of them had classes the next Friday morning, so they decided to go together then. As other students in their group came, they talked about it, and some of them decided to join in on Friday.

---

Previous

TOC

Next

---

[Previous versions of this part are backed up here: http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2017/02/backup-soc500-03-01-metaphors-study-groups-religion.html.]

---

[The original of this chapter can be found in this chapter of the first draft: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch05-first-semester.html.]

Backup: Sociology 500, a Novel, ch 2 pt 5 -- Letters Home

[JMR201702100915: edits -- fixing late-night writing mistakes]


I thought I'd let you read their {strike} first letters home after the {replace}semester started{with}events of the last chapter{replace.}.

({add}and {add.}Dad and the rest of you guys, too, of course.)

I'm getting settled in, {strike}got {strike.}my{add} class{add.} schedule{add} is{add.} arranged, {add} and I'm {add.}getting started with classes.

The part time job at the hospital is going to work out okay{strike}, at least{strike.} for this semester{add}, at least{add.}. I've told them I can't let it interfere with studies, and they seem to understand{strike},{strike.} as much as management can. The bank is set up okay, there's a decent store within walking distance, and I've got room in my budget for a little socializing.

The rest of my roommates are okay, too. I can understand them, and they seem to understand me{strike} okay, so far{strike.}. {replace}There's a bit of teasing, but it's relatively harmless. Kristie and I can give as good as we get, if necessary, and we can hold our peace, and let them have their fun, too.{with}Some of them talk too much about the guys, but I think Kristie and I can deal with that.{replace.}

Do you remember, Mom, reading about Karel Pratt in a newspaper article you showed me a few weeks back{replace}? Former{with} -- the former{replace.} football player working on his doctorate? That's {replace}that{with}the good-looking{replace.} guy I met in the department office back in January. He's in my education topics class, and a couple {replace}more{with}of others{replace.}.

He seems a bit of a klutz, but not really. And he's sweet. It looks like {add}he {add.}knows how to take care of his responsibilities, and how to watch out for other people{add}, too{add.}.

{repace}He{with}And he{replace.} has a friend, Dan Claymount, who is also a really nice guy. A bit more socially forward, and a real gallant. They were teammates on the football squad here about five years ago. I like his looks, too, for what that counts. And he's in the education topics class{add} with us{add.}, too. Fun {replace}stuff{with}things happening{replace.}, huh?

For some reason, {replace}they{with}Dan and Karel{replace.} don't room together.

{replace}
We've signed up for a ballroom dance class together, Kristie, Dan, Karel, and I. Can you believe it? Ballroom dance.
{with}
The four of us went to Dan's stake's dance Friday night. It was a lot of fun. Both Dan and Karel dance really well. I was thinking it would be fun to take a modern dance class together. But Dan suggested we all sign up for a ballroom dance class, and it looks like that's what we'll do. This is going to be fun.
{replace.}

{add}We also started a study group that grew a little bit. {add.}The four of us will be studying together. A lot.

Mom, I'm a little bit confused. I like both Dan and Karel. A lot. Kristie does, too. She's had this crush on Karel forever, since Dan and Karel were on the football {replace}time{with}team{replace.}. He was her {replace}white knight once{with}White Knight once when she was a damsel-in-distress{replace.}.

I'm really excited about classes and {replace}things{with}school{replace.} this semester. It is all coming together quite nicely.

[JMR201702100915: end-edits -- ]

[JMR201702100915: backup of http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2017/02/soc500-02-05-letters-home.html because I missed some trivial and important stuff writing in the middle of the night.]

TOC

Previous

I thought I'd let you read their first letters home after the semester started.

---

Dear Mom,

(Dad and the rest of you guys, too, of course.)

I'm getting settled in, got my schedule arranged, getting started with classes.
 
The part time job at the hospital is going to work out okay, at least for this semester. I've told them I can't let it interfere with studies, and they seem to understand, as much as management can. The bank is set up okay, there's a decent store within walking distance, and I've got room in my budget for a little socializing.

I told you about my roommate Kristie already. She's going to be a good friend, just as I thought she would be. She's in my education topics class.

The rest of my roommates are okay, too. I can understand them, and they seem to understand me okay, so far. There's a bit of teasing, but it's relatively harmless. Kristie and I can give as good as we get, if necessary, and we can hold our peace, and let them have their fun, too.

Do you remember, Mom, reading about Karel Pratt in a newspaper article you showed me a few weeks back? Former football player working on his doctorate? That's that guy I met in the department office back in January. He's in my education topics class, and a couple more.

He seems a bit of a klutz, but not really. And he's sweet. It looks like knows how to take care of his responsibilities, and how to watch out for other people.

He has a friend, Dan Claymount, who is also a really nice guy. A bit more socially forward, and a real gallant. They were teammates on the football squad here about five years ago. I like his looks, too, for what that counts. And he's in the education topics class, too. Fun stuff, huh?

For some reason, they don't room together.

We've signed up for a ballroom dance class together, Kristie, Dan, Karel, and I. Can you believe it? Ballroom dance.

The four of us will be studying together. A lot.

Dad, guys, don't read what follows. Only Mom. It's girl stuff. (I know you'll all read it anyway, but I take no responsibility for anything you misunderstand about it.)

Mom, I'm a little bit confused. I like both Dan and Karel. A lot. Kristie does, too. She's had this crush on Karel forever, since Dan and Karel were on the football time. He was her white knight once.

Karel's my age, and Dan is just a little older than Kristie, not that age counts for much.

It just feels comfortable being with them. Well, it's a lot like being with you guys. Near as I can tell, they feel the same.

I'm glad we're going to be studying together so much.

I think I'm going to have to trust God on this one, because I'm getting no clues.

Love to both of you, and Rick and Gary, you two, too.

Bobs

---

Mother, Father,

I'm really excited about classes and things this semester. It is all coming together quite nicely.

I know you wanted me to do the Master's degree closer to home, and I know you're worried about me finding good companionship among these E-P-ists. I don't think there's anything to worry about. I've made three special friends who don't care at all about any kind of social standing -- they've been members of the Church all their lives, and they know I'm a convert, and they treat me as one of their own.

We will be studying together quite a bit this semester, including taking ballroom dance together. I'm sure you will both approve.

Roberta is my roommate. She's a bit older, but she's steady. She's a nurse and a student of dance, and she is doing PhD work in anthropology. She's also been what the Church calls a service missionary -- She spent three years in an island country, teaching about health, hygiene, and Jesus, and being a nurse where they needed nurses. She's already teaching me a lot.

Daniel is a football player. He's just a little older than I. He was on the team here five years ago, and he played professionally after college. But he's a good E-P-ist boy, no drinking, no womanizing, responsible about his money. And he cares about people.

I will admit, he didn't particularly hide his appreciation of my appearance when we met, but he no longer makes an issue of it. He really knows how to behave himself like a gentleman. He is as much of a gentleman as any of the men you have arranged for me to meet in the past, far more than some.

Karel is a bit of a riddle. He's about five years older than I am, about the same age as Roberta. He is also a former football player -- Daniel and he were teammates, and they remain friends.

I met Karel once, a long time ago. Maybe you remember me mentioning him, Mother? He stepped in when a group of boys were misbehaving towards me.

He is not aggressive, but he is no less a gentleman than Daniel, and no less solid, I think, even more responsible than Daniel.

I'm talking a lot about my new friends. It's really nice to have friends I can just be myself with.

I have met my professors and arranged to meet with them regularly to discuss my academic progress. The department head has agreed to report to you, should I fall behind in my classes, per your requests.

I have full confidence you will be pleased with my continuing work here.

Your faithful daughter,

Kristine

---

Hey, guys, it's me!

I'm here safely. Karel is on campus, for some reason. So we're not roomies. But we are hanging out together. And some. Blame it on Karel, but we've met the two most wonderful women in the world. Besides Mom and Shel and Debs, of course. We're studying together and taking a ballroom dance class together and, just maybe, Karel has met someone as cool as you, Sheliah. Maybe me, too. I'll let you know.

love you guys,

Dan

PS -- They're names are Bobbie and Kristie. Debs, Shel, you may have doubts because they are beautiful. But they are really cool. Inner beauty, to match, so, there. Nanners. And they understand the Gospel.

---

Hi.

Just letting you know that the semester has had a good start.

Not much to report, except that Dan and I have made friends with two of the nicest women we've ever met. Bobbie, Roberta, that is, is in the pre-PhD track in anthropology with me, working in island culture. The professors are encouraging us to work together, but we've managed not to let that cause problems. Kristine, who goes by Kristie, is her roommate, and working on a Master's in education, like Dan.

They are both returned missionaries, and we can talk about the doctrines of the Gospel with them.

We have classes together, and we have arranged to study together.

The car is running fine, Dad. I don't yet have any place to tear it down, but the way it's running, I won't need to.

The dorm laundry and cafeteria are just fine, too, Mom.

The dorm phone number is (elided).

Dad, the next time I see you, I want a father's blessing. I'm foreseeing some difficult, but wonderful choices that I'll want God to give me special help with.

Love you all,

K

---

Previous

TOC

Next

---

[There are no previous versions.]

---

[The original of this chapter in the first draft is here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch04-going-by-four-letters-home.html.]
[JMR201702100915: end-backup]
 

Sociology 500, a Novel, ch 2 pt 5 -- Letters Home

TOC

Previous

I thought I'd let you read their letters home after the events of the last chapter.

---

Dear Mom,

(and Dad and the rest of you guys, too, of course.)

I'm getting settled in, my class schedule is arranged, and I'm getting started with classes.
 
The part time job at the hospital is going to work out okay for this semester, at least. I've told them I can't let it interfere with studies, and they seem to understand as much as management can. The bank is set up okay, there's a decent store within walking distance, and I've got room in my budget for a little socializing.

I told you about my roommate Kristie already. She's going to be a good friend, just as I thought she would be. She's in my education topics class.

The rest of my roommates are okay, too. I can understand them, and they seem to understand me. Some of them talk too much about the guys, but I think Kristie and I can deal with that.

Do you remember, Mom, reading about Karel Pratt in a newspaper article you showed me a few weeks back -- the former football player working on his doctorate? That's the good looking guy I met in the department office back in January. He's in my education topics class, and a couple of others.

He seems a bit of a klutz, but not really. And he's sweet. It looks like he knows how to take care of his responsibilities, and how to watch out for other people, too.

And he has a friend, Dan Claymount, who is also a really nice guy. A bit more socially forward, and a real gallant. They were teammates on the football squad here about five years ago. I like his looks, too, for what that counts. And he's in the education topics class with us, too. Fun things happening, huh?

For some reason, Dan and Karel don't room together.

The four of us went to Dan's stake's dance Friday night. It was a lot of fun. Both Dan and Karel dance really well. I was thinking it would be fun to take a modern dance class together. But Dan suggested we all sign up for a ballroom dance class, and it looks like that's what we'll do. This is going to be fun.

We also started a study group that grew a little bit. The four of us will be studying together. A lot.

Dad, guys, don't read what follows. Only Mom. It's girl stuff. (I know you'll all read it anyway, but I take no responsibility for anything you misunderstand about it.)

Mom, I'm a little bit confused. I like both Dan and Karel. A lot. Kristie does, too. She's had this crush on Karel forever, since Dan and Karel were on the football team. He was her White Knight once when she was a damsel-in-distress.

Karel's my age, and Dan is just a little older than Kristie, not that age counts for much.

It just feels comfortable being with them. Well, it's a lot like being with you guys. Near as I can tell, they feel the same.

I'm glad we're going to be studying together so much.

I think I'm going to have to trust God on this one, because I'm getting no clues.

Love to both of you, and Rick and Gary, you two, too.

Bobs

---

Mother, Father,

I'm really excited about classes and school this semester. It is all coming together quite nicely.

I know you wanted me to do the Master's degree closer to home, and I know you're worried about me finding good companionship among these E-P-ists. I don't think there's anything to worry about. I've made three special friends who don't care at all about any kind of social standing -- they've been members of the Church all their lives, and they know I'm a convert, and they treat me as one of their own.

We will be studying together quite a bit this semester, including taking ballroom dance together. I'm sure you will both approve.

Roberta is my roommate. She's a bit older, but she's steady. She's a nurse and a student of dance, and she is doing PhD work in anthropology. She's also been what the Church calls a service missionary -- She spent three years in an island country, teaching about health, hygiene, and Jesus, and being a nurse where they needed nurses. She's already teaching me a lot.

Daniel is a football player. He's just a little older than I. He was on the team here five years ago, and he played professionally after college. But he's a good E-P-ist boy, no drinking, no womanizing, responsible about his money. And he cares about people.

I will admit, he didn't particularly hide his appreciation of my appearance when we met, but he no longer makes an issue of it. He really knows how to behave himself like a gentleman. He is as much of a gentleman as any of the men you have arranged for me to meet in the past, far more than some.

Karel is a bit of a riddle. He's about five years older than I am, about the same age as Roberta. He is also a former football player -- Daniel and he were teammates, and they remain friends.

I met Karel once, a long time ago. Maybe you remember me mentioning him, Mother? He stepped in when a group of boys were misbehaving towards me.

He is not aggressive, but he is no less a gentleman than Daniel, and no less solid, I think, even more responsible than Daniel.

I'm talking a lot about my new friends. It's really nice to have friends I can just be myself with.

I have met my professors and arranged to meet with them regularly to discuss my academic progress. The department head has agreed to report to you, should I fall behind in my classes, per your requests.

I have full confidence you will be pleased with my continuing work here.

Your faithful daughter,

Kristine

---

Hey, guys, it's me!

I'm here safely. Karel is on campus, for some reason. So we're not roomies. But we are hanging out together. And some. Blame it on Karel, but we've met the two most wonderful women in the world. Besides Mom and Shel and Debs, of course. We're studying together and taking a ballroom dance class together and, just maybe, Karel has met someone as cool as you, Sheliah. Maybe me, too. I'll let you know.

love you guys,

Dan

PS -- They're names are Bobbie and Kristie. Debs, Shel, you may have doubts because they are beautiful. But they are really cool. Inner beauty, to match, so, there. Nanners. And they understand the Gospel.

---

Hi.

Just letting you know that the semester has had a good start.

Not much to report, except that Dan and I have made friends with two of the nicest women we've ever met. Bobbie, Roberta, that is, is in the pre-PhD track in anthropology with me, working in island culture. The professors are encouraging us to work together, but we've managed not to let that cause problems. Kristine, who goes by Kristie, is her roommate, and working on a Master's in education, like Dan.

They are both returned missionaries, and we can talk about the doctrines of the Gospel with them.

We have classes together, and we have arranged to study together.

The car is running fine, Dad. I don't yet have any place to tear it down, but the way it's running, I won't need to.

The dorm laundry and cafeteria are just fine, too, Mom.

The dorm phone number is (elided).

Dad, the next time I see you, I want a father's blessing. I'm foreseeing some difficult, but wonderful choices that I'll want God to give me special help with.

Love you all,

K

---

Previous

TOC

Next

---

[Previous versions backed up here: http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2017/02/backup-soc500-02-05-letters-home.html.]

---

[The original of this chapter in the first draft is here: http://free-is-not-free.blogspot.com/2016/05/economics-101-novel-ch04-going-by-four-letters-home.html.]

Sociology 500, A Romance -- Table of Contents

Every work of fiction creates an alternate world. Even historical fiction does. That's implicit in the definition of fiction.

Since you, the reader, are being kind enough to give up some of your time to read this story, you need to know something in advance about the world in which Karel and Dan meet Bobbie and Kristie.

That is, I'd like you to know some things about it.

It does look a lot like our world. There is a union of independent states similar to the United States of America here. It has a Constitution and a Declaration of Independence and a Bill of Rights and a history very much like our USA. There is a Christian religion in this world, with a Bible. And there is a restorationist Christian church with a companion scripture similar to the Book of Mormon. There are even states parallel to such as Hawaii, New Mexico, and Texas, and countries parallel to such as Japan and the Philippines.

As much as I can without causing confusion, I will borrow names from our world.

You will find some differences, of course.

In the world of this novel, that book of companion scripture, being named after the ancient new world prophet who abridged it, has a name that can be translated as "Eternal Progression". Since that is a mouthful, I'll abbreviate it "E-P"^†. And the restorationist church will be commonly called after the book, with the resulting confusion about whether E-P-ists are Christian or not.

You ask why you should care about this?

The protagonists of this novel are of the E-P-ist faith, and will do some things that you might not expect.

The university where most of the story takes place would not be called Brigham Young University. It kind of looks a lot like BYU, and it is even located in a town a bit south of the Point of the Mountain. But from the way it was named and its history and so forth, it would make more sense to call it Orson Hyde University. And there are some policy differences at the school that you may notice.

Speaking of points of policy -- considering that it's a different world, perhaps you will not be overly disconcerted if the E-P-ist church has certain points of policy different from the Mormons, as well.

I think that will be enough that you won't be too surprised. Thus --

Sociology 500, a Romance^‡

by Joel Matthew Rees

Copyright 2017, all rights reserved.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1 -- Introductions
  
  • Part 1 -- in which we meet Bobbie, and she is accepted to graduate school.
  • Part 2 -- in which we meet Karel and Dan, and they are admitted to grad school, as well. 
  • Part 3 -- in which I talk about football and engage in a little recreational invention.
  • Part 4 -- in which we get to actually meet Kristie, and Bobbie and Kristie meet Karel and Dan.
• Chapter 2 -- Going by Four
  
  • Part 1 -- in which Dan and Karel discuss their luck with women.
  • Part 2 -- in which Kristie and Bobbie talk about about men.
  • Part 3 -- in which our four protagonists go on a double date and find that they do like each other. 
  • Part 4 -- in which our four friends study and dance and set some patterns for the next couple of years.
  • Part 5 -- in which we read their letters home.
• Chapter 3 -- The First Semester
  • Part 1 -- in which we get to listen to our protagonists talk about many things, including much that is religious in nature, before a study group session.
  • Part 2 -- in which the protagonists and some friends visit the temple and talk a little about the physical meaning of being a proxy. 
  • Part 3 -- in which Bobbie and Karel explain a little about the temple to Mrs. Burns.
  • Part 4 -- in which we meet Piers (again), and he invites Bobbie to a movie that Karel doesn't like, and our friends talk a little about social and sexual issues. 
  • Part 5 -- in which I introduce more of the people our four protagonists socialize with, and talk a little more about the world they live in. 
  • Part 6 -- in which I moralize about beauty and love and introduce more history of this novel's world, and we meet more of our four protagonists' friends. 
  • Part 7 -- in which I invent a solar system and our friends play Pit. 
  • Part 8 -- in which we attend a class with Dan and Kristie and learn a little about their calendar.
  • Part 9 -- in which we continue to observe their class and learn a little about their computer technology. 
  • Part 10 -- in which I commit the literary folly of asking you, the reader, to put up with an extended passage written in a language for machines after talking a little about the computers of their world and time.
  • (placeholder)
• (placeholder)

---

†I had thought to use the name "Straitgate" (partial Japanese-English pun) as the name of that prophet and the book he was the editor-in-chief of in the alternate world of this novel, but there are already organizations with that name. Using that name might invite confusion.

(I was thinking of Jesus as being the gate and considering that the gate is very hard to get through if you don't conquer your pride, ergo, "strait".) 

I had also considered "Moregood", but I might as well just use "Mormon" if I do that. (The interested reader might research why.)

Which left me scratching my head. Thinking of repentance as a "proceeding forth to return to that God from whence we came" brought back a name that has some special meaning to me -- "Forth". And I decided the confusion might be something I could deal with, and maybe the Forth Programming Language community would not be too upset at me for presuming to use it.

"Turn" or "Return" might be more appropriate, but "Forth" also sort-of evokes the idea of "doing more good".

But, no, after more thought, I decided that I need as much separation as possible for certain elements of the plot. (People get upset when you talk about certain things.)

So I will use the abbreviation "E-P", for "Eternal Progression". Maybe I'll be able to provide a satisfactory explanation somewhere in the story.

Ultimately, I know someone will be dissatisfied, but no proxy name I could use will satisfy everyone, and I do want to make it clear that this is an alternate world.

(The Programming Language Forth will get some mention along the way.)

---

‡For the curious, this novel is essentially an edited extract of The First Draft of Economics 101, a Novel, and is named in a similar pattern. Perhaps you will understand that I plan it to be the first of a trilogy.

---

[Previous versions backed up here: http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2017/02/backup-soc500-00-00-toc.html.]

Backup: Sociology 500, A Romance -- Table of Contents

[JMR201704121729: edits -- Trying to clean up the introduction of E-P.]

{replace}
In the world of this novel, the name of the prophet and the book of companion scripture will be translated as "E-P"†, for "Eternal Progression". And the restorationist church will be commonly called after the book, with the resulting confusion about whether E-P-ists are Christian or not.
{with}
In the world of this novel, that book of companion scripture, being named after the ancient new world prophet who abridged it, has a name that can be translated as "Eternal Progression". Since that is a mouthful, I'll abbreviate it "E-P"†. And the restorationist church will be commonly called after the book, with the resulting confusion about whether E-P-ists are Christian or not.

You ask why you should care about this?

The protagonists of this novel are of the E-P-ist faith, and will do some things that you might not expect.
{replace.}
 
[JMR201704121729: end edits.]

[JMR201704121404: metadata edits -- Changed the name of the novel. Good thing this doesn't affect the URLs.]

Sociology 500, A {replace}Novel{with}Romance{replace.} -- Table of Contents

-----------

Sociology 500, a {replace}Novel{with}Romance{replace.}‡

[JMR201704121404: end metadata edit.]

[JMR201704071911: edit -- incidental stuff from the calendar]
(The Programming Language Forth will get some mention {replace}in the third book of the trilogy, by{with}along{replace.} the way.)  
[JMR201704071911: end edit]

[JMR201703111521: metadata edit]

{replace}Straitgate{with}E-P, Eternal Progression{replace.}

[JMR201703111521: end metadata edit]

[JMR201703081923: edits -- Simple stuff that needed fixed.]

In the world of this novel, the{add} name of the{add.} prophet and the book of companion scripture will be translated as "E-P"†{add}, for "Eternal Progression"{add.}. And the restorationist church will be commonly called after the book, with the resulting confusion about whether E-P-ists are Christian or not.
--------

The university where most of the story takes place would not be called Brigham Young University. It kind of looks a lot like BYU, and it is even located in a town a bit south of the Point of the Mountain. But{add} from{add.} the way it was named{add} and its history{add.} and so forth, it would make more sense to call it Orson Hyde University. And there are some{delete} minor{delete.} policy differences at the school that you may notice.
--------

Part 4 -- in which we meet Piers{add} (again){add.}, and he invites Bobbie to a movie that Karel doesn't like, and our friends talk a little about social and sexual issues.
--------

Which left me scratching my head. Thinking of repentance as a "proceeding forth to return to that God from whence we came" brought back a name that has some special meaning to me -- "Forth". And I decided the confusion might be something I could deal with, and maybe the Forth Programming Language community would not be too upset at me for presuming to use it.{replace} {with}

{replace.}"Turn" or "Return" might be more appropriate, but "Forth" also sort-of evokes the idea of "doing more good".
--------

So I will use the ab{add}b{add.}reviation "E-P"{add},{add.} {delete}({delete.}for "Eternal Progression"{delete}){delete.}. Maybe I'll be able to provide a satisfactory explanation somewhere in the story.
 
[JMR201703081923: end-edits]

[JMR20170204: edits. On-going addition of chapters, changed the TOC structure to a two-level index.]


[JMR201702031105: edits]
{global replace}Forth{with}E-P{replace.}
{add}
But, no, after more thought, I decided that I need as much separation as possible for certain elements of the plot. (People get upset when you talk about certain things.)

So I will use the abreviation "E-P" (for "Eternal Progression"). Maybe I'll be able to provide a satisfactory explanation somewhere in the story.

Ultimately, {add.}I know someone will be dissatisfied, but no proxy name I could use will satisfy everyone, and I do want to make it clear that this is an alternate world.
{add}

(The Programming Language Forth will get some mention in the third book of the trilogy, by the way.){add.}
[JMR201702031105: end-edits]

[JMR201702031036: Changed "Straitgate" to "Forth" and added an explanatory note.]

[JMR201702030939: backup of http://joel-rees-economics.blogspot.com/2017/01/soc500-00-00-toc.html before rework incidental to the Straitgate stuff.]

Every work of fiction creates an alternate world. Even historical fiction does. That's implicit in the definition of fiction.

Since you, the reader, are being kind enough to give up some of your time to read this story, you need to know something in advance about the world in which Karel and Dan meet Bobbie and Kristie.

That is, I'd like you to know some things about it.

It does look a lot like our world. There is a union of independent states similar to the United States of America here. It has a Constitution and a Declaration of Independence and a Bill of Rights and a history very much like our USA. There is a Christian religion in this world, with a Bible. And there is a restorationist Christian church with a companion scripture similar to the Book of Mormon. There are even states parallel to Hawaii and New Mexico.

As much as I can without causing confusion, I will borrow names from our world.

You will find some differences, of course.

In the world of this novel, the prophet and the book of companion scripture will be translated as "Straitgate". And the restorationist church will be commonly called after the book, with the resulting confusion about whether Straitgatists are Christian or not.

The university where most of the story takes place would not be called Brigham Young University. It kind of looks a lot like BYU, and it is even located in a town a bit south of the Point of the Mountain. But the way it was named and so forth, it would make more sense to call it Orson Hyde University. And there are some minor policy differences at the school that you may notice.

Speaking of points of policy -- considering that it's a different world, perhaps you will not be overly disconcerted if the Straitgate church has certain points of policy different from the Mormons, as well.

I think that will be enough that you won't be too surprised. Thus --

Sociology 500, a Novel*

by Joel Matthew Rees

Copyright 2017, all rights reserved.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1 part 1 -- in which we meet Bobbie, and she is accepted to graduate school.
• Chapter 1 part 2 -- in which we meet Karel and Dan, and they are admitted to grad school, as well.
• Chapter 1 part 3 -- in which we get to actually meet Kristie, and Bobbie and Kristie meet Karel and Dan.
• (placeholder)

* For the curious, this novel is essentially an edited extract of The First Draft of Economics 101, a Novel, and is named in a similar pattern. Perhaps you will understand that I plan it to be the first of a trilogy.
[JMR201702030939: end-backup.]