Our freshman year ended and summer began with a fury. Our youth pastor had this huge summer trip planned for the youth group where we would be traveling all the way up to the east coast doing a play at a number of different churches along the way. This required lots of rehearsal time. I was in the choir and had a small role in the play, so I attended numerous rehearsals. Joey actually got the lead role in the play as well as some solos so his schedule was rather busy. We didn’t often get a ton of time to talk or hang out during these rehearsals, but I didn’t mind. I was happy just to be in the same room with him.
He really was a gifted actor. And man, that guy could sing! I loved watching him during rehearsal. The only problem was that his character in the play had to fall in love with another character in the play. This would be perfectly fine if the character his character fell in love with was played by me. But alas, it was not. It was played by an older, drop-dead gorgeous girl in our youth group. His affections for her were all in character and ended as soon as the director yelled “cut,” but it was still hard to watch.
It was especially hard to watch him sing a solo to this girl. The song was “Only One” by James Taylor. Each time he sang that song to her in rehearsal, I found myself wishing that she would get drastically ill all of a sudden and they would need a stand-in (i.e. me) to fill in for her role. I desperately wanted Joey to sing that song to me.
A number of weeks before our scheduled departure for this tour, I got a letter in the mail. It was from Joey. It was odd that he would send me a snail mail letter when we saw each other nearly every other day at rehearsals or church. A snail mail letter meant one of two things: 1) really bad news or 2) really, really good news. I had a fluttering feeling in my stomach this was the really really good news type of letter. I was right. I opened it and read:
Dear Kelly,
I feel awkward in writing this letter to you, but due to the recent changes in schedule at church, I feel it is the only way -right now - to say such things.
I wanted you to know that what I have to say to Rushabi - in the play - is extremely difficult for me to say. “I would only say those things about you - you’re the only one.” (a line from the play) Sorry, I don’t have a lot of experience in writing - that may have sounded a little cheesy.
I also wanted to know if my sudden interest in you has made you uncomfortable in any way. Such as my sitting next to you at just about anything or our long but ever so short good-bye’s. (Sorry, I’m starting to wax poetic.) The last thing that I want is for you to feel annoyed by me. I ask this not to question your honesty - God forbid - but it is merely that you have such a sweet personality, I cannot imagine you to be annoyed by anyone. But in the most sincere way I need to know this. Like I said before, I would rather be turned down by you than you having to quietly endure my company. I just want you to be happy.
By the way, I would have asked you out on countless dates - but my parents won’t let me until I’m 16. So, are you busy September 14th? (his 16th birthday)
I just re-read the last paragraph and it seems to be just a little chauvinistic - I apologize - it must have been that my male ego took a big risk.... but I’m told that it’s usually rewarding to take the risk.
Love,
Joey
II Timothy 1:7
