Boswell, LaVenia by THE DAWNING (The Dawning Trilogy)

weren’t, Jas.  Why, that would be terrible.  Just terrible!”  Trying to calm down she slowly relaxed and managed to smile back at him.  “So, Jas, what are your plans now?”
           “Law,” he answered.
           “Law?  Hum, yes, you’d also make a good attorney.”  Digging into the sand with her fingers she began to form a mermaid leaning on a small coral reef background.  “What kind of law?” she inquired.
           Jason watched in amazement as her fingers deftly created a beautiful statue out of nothing but damp sand.  “Estate planning and limited family law - I believe.  Not divorces.”  He stated that last part adamantly for clarification.
           Jennifer remembered he was also a pro-lifer, which they had argued over a few years back.  She felt a woman had a right to determine if she wanted to allow a pregnancy to continue or not, especially if the father wasn’t involved.  Jason’s feelings about God prohibited him from wanting any possible new human life from being destroyed.  That was the last big disagreement they’d had.  It was when she turned away from him, allowing their many years long friendship to become almost icicle cold.
           Taking a deep breath, she realized she didn’t want a disagreement to come between them today, they had been having a good time.  So, she would avoid sticky subjects - except, she would not remain silent if he ever mentioned being a priest to her again.  That was just not to be allowed.
           “You’ll do well, Jas, no matter what you decide,” she told him as she finished her mermaid.
                They returned to silence as they sat beside one another and enjoyed the sound of sea gulls, ocean waves and people’s laughter from the house behind them. It felt like the good old days, when they were young and enjoyed being together, being quiet.
     

 
     
    It Often Turns Around To Bite You . . .
     
     

7 – HORROR AND DANGER
     
     
    It was Wednesday, during the week following the beach party.  Jennifer walked down the hallway at school hurrying to her next class.  Suddenly she noticed two younger boys trying to give her lecherous grins, with eyebrow wags and whistles added, while pointing and laughing as they walked by her. 
                Once in the classroom there was a dirty look or two thrown her way by several girls who then whispered behind their hands.  Several guys were definitely giving her flirty looks who’d never noticed her before.  Not that she’d wanted them to, but . . . it was just too weird!
                What could possibly be going on?  She looked down at herself and could see nothing wrong.  Puzzled, she took her seat pondering what could have her classmates acting so peculiar toward her.
                Finally and happily her final high school years were coming to a close.  Graduation notices would soon be mailed and all the senior rings and mementoes had already been purchased, at great sacrifice by her parents she was sure.  Her parents never complained when she brought in yet another school announcement.  It seemed to be one thing or another that only seniors could get all the time.  They wanted her to have it all, although she thought most of it was a waste of their good money. 
                Jennifer felt terrible that her poor dad and mom had to spend so much money on all her graduating memorabilia.  She tried to convince them to save it for her college graduation instead, but they wouldn’t have it.  The worst part was that she didn’t have any money from a job to help them out.  Since a number of her classes were advanced and college credit they had refused to allow her a part time job, saying they wanted her to study and enjoy her last year in high school.  All the crazy hoopla started recently, while it was still January.
                Worrying over how her family was handling all her expenses