He couldn’t believe his eyes.  How was it possible? His beautiful Jenny. Barbara must never find out. 

He peered again then quickly closed the gym bag. Oh why had he ever opened it up? It was Pandora’s box now;  he’d never be able forget what was in it. Where should he put it? Should he even touch it?

“Lewis, did you find the keys?” His wife’s voice echoed down the hall.

He straightened quickly and widened his eyes innocently. “No, honey, I haven’t found them yet. Sometimes you leave them in the car. Have you looked in the garage?”

Barbara entered the room with her hands on her hips, frowning. “Why would I leave them in the car?”

“You do that when your mind is elsewhere, sweetheart.  I’ve found the keys in the ignition several times.” He looked down at the gym bag.  It couldn’t stay there, not with Barbara going through the house looking for her keys. When had Jenny done this? What was she thinking?

Barbara shook her head then moved towards the garage, her cream-colored cardigan sweater tucked into the crook of her elbow. Her mid-calf navy skirt and modest floral blouse swished as she opened the door into the garage. He smiled wanly. She must never find out about this.

He quickly unzipped the gym bag to take another look. The glossy magazine was filled with smut and perversion, utter garbage. Naked men and women in positions that were, frankly, unnatural and obviously photo-enhanced. He was sure of that. Could any of that be natural?

He wanted to remove it from the house immediately but knew he must wait for Barbara to leave for her daily women’s bible study.

The garage door opened back up, and Lewis shoved the magazine into the bag, zipping it quickly. Her face looked puzzled as she came back empty-handed. “I just don’t know where I would have left them.”

He kicked the bag into the closet and shut the door. Out of sight, out of mind, at least until Barbara left the house. She would be destroyed if she saw this. Their only daughter Jenny was 15, hardly a baby. But she’d been rebelling in little ways recently – bringing home a boy for a study session (only allowed under strict conditions and NOT without prior permission), or asking to go to the school dance (Lewis could not condone the unsupervised mingling of the opposite sexes). In most ways, and to all outward appearances, Jenny was an obedient child who dressed modestly, loved God and praised Jesus. But THIS. He was at a loss.

“I’m going to check again in the bedroom.” She looked at her watch and sighed. “I hate to be late.  Dear, if I can’t find mine, can I borrow yours?”

He bridled slightly. “Now Barbara, we’ve talked about this. Righteousness before God begins with accountability to hearth and husband. Your distraction from mundane tasks compromises the integrity of our household and sets a poor example for Jenny. I fear that she will follow the same path.”

“Yes, dear, it’s a curse I pray to be relieved from daily.” She sounded tired, and he felt a surge of pity as she went down the hall to the bedroom. Women shouldn’t be blamed for their limitations, and maybe he shouldn’t be so tough on her.  He heard her moving around in the bedroom and opening and closing drawers. Perhaps she could use his key, just this once. It would get her out of the house and give him a chance to get rid of Jenny’s disgusting bag of smut.

“I give up.” She came out of the bedroom, laid her cardigan on the kitchen chair, and walked to the sink, placing her hands on either side of the counter and staring out the window silently.

“Though it goes against my better judgement, I will lend you my keys this time. I know how much you look forward to this study group.”

She turned towards him, and his heart swelled with tenderness at the relief in her eyes. He pulled a key ring out of his coat pocket and removed the key for her. “Please use this as an opportunity to examine how your forgetfulness could have driven a wedge into your study of the sacred. It’s all related, dear.”

“You are very right, Lewis. Thank you for holding me accountable. And thank you for your generosity.”

She took the key from his hand, stood on tiptoes and kissed his right cheek. His face warmed with pleasure at this unexpected affection, and he fought back a sudden image of his face plunging down into her flowery blouse and nuzzling her breasts. Rather, he stood tall and rigid and watched her glance down at her wristwatch, grab her cardigan and walk to the garage door, stopping at the closet. She opened the closet, picked up the gym bag, threw it over her shoulder and walked out the door into the garage.

Horrified, Lewis ran after her. “Wait! You’ve got the wrong bag!” He ran into the garage as she was putting the bag on the back seat of the car. “You’ve got Jenny’s bag.”

“Don’t be silly, dear. This is mine. Jenny never carries a duffel. She uses a backpack, like all the kids.” She closed the door and got into the driver’s seat.

Lewis’ mind was whirring. He ran down the steps and put his hand on the driver’s window. Barbara lowered the window as the garage door opened behind her, and she started the car. “Yes?”

“That bag.” He found himself stuttering. “That bag is full of evil, Barbara. I’ve seen it.”

As Barbara’s eyes filled with sudden understanding, his eyes were drawn inexplicably again to her ample bosom and the buttons that enclosed them. He was compelled by a sudden desire to rip them off and ravage her with his tongue. What was happening to him?

“A thorough study of the devil, Lewis. One must understand evil before it can be defeated.”

Lewis gaped at her as she put the car into gear and backed out of the garage. She closed the garage door, and his world grew dark.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Elizabeth Oldham