Brother Willy's Traveling Salvation Show by W. Scott Mitchell Page B

him?”
    Carlie replied in a less than enthusiastic voice, “How could I forget.” After a long pause she continued, “Only it wasn’t Scott in the tent that night.”
    Beth began to argue with her. I’m sure we were with Scott. I wouldn’t forget something like that.”
    Carlie replied with a casual tone of voice, “Maybe you had too much to drink. It was not Scott. He was in his apartment with a stomach virus trying to do a paper for Econ. You and I were doing that weird guy from the biology department. I still don’t understand why Scott’s number came up on my caller ID.”
    They were all silent until Carlie spoke again. “Oh my god, you’re not pregnant, are you?”
    Beth was almost screaming at the phone. “No, I’m not pregnant. I’ll call you back.”
    Michelle calmly looked out at the ocean, but her attack was cruel. “This is so awkward. Apparently you really don’t know who’s screwing you from one time to the next.”
    Beth did not appreciate Michelle’s comment nor was she in a position to argue, but she did appear hurt and confused. Still, she raised another point. “If you weren’t there then why did you say that Jenifer put on a real show that night but that you couldn’t remember me?”
    Scott replied with some forethought and a lot of indifference. “Look at the difference between your bathing suits. You and Michelle have on similar attractive suits and you both came out to get some sun today. Jenifer has on a suit that screams ‘look at me.’ She likes showing guys what she has, which is fine with me, if she wants to. It would be the same situation in a dance lineup. She would need to call attention to herself and you are more reserved.”
    Jenifer was rightfully offended by his comments. She turned her attention to Michelle assuming her a weaker target of her anger. “Well at least I have something to show off.”
    Michelle also spoke before Beth started to stand up. “Jenifer, it is never about how much of something you have. It’s about knowing what to do with what you have. Besides, at least mine are real.”
    Beth also turned to Michelle. “We’re not finished with this.”
    Michelle leaned back on her towel and closed her eyes. “Yes we are.”
    Scott looked at the expression on Beth’s face, having some appreciation for how she must be feeling. He knew she was hurt, and embarrassed. Michelle’s comment about Beth not knowing whom she was sleeping with was harsh and he saw the hurt in Beth’s eyes.
    Scott considered his options for a moment and replied, “No, we are not finished with this yet. Beth, I understand you’re angry and hurt right now, but there’s something you should know about what happened that Friday night”.
    “Haven’t the two of you made a fool out of me enough for one day?” She asked.
    Being completely serious, Scott pointed out what he thought was an accurate statement. “No, you made a fool out of yourself and we just pointed it out. Having said that, there is a very good reason you made a fool of yourself and I don’t think you understand some things that might help you sleep a little better tonight.”
    Beth calmed down, looking directly in his eyes as if trying to decide if she could trust him. After a long pause, she replied, “What are you talking about?”
    Scott turned so that he was not only facing her, but also looking in her eyes. “There is a reason you actually believed I was in the tent with you and Carlie. Every year, all the guys take our camping equipment to the campsite the night before the canoe trip. We set up camp so everything will be ready when we get there and we don’t have to carry our equipment in the canoes. I went to the camp on Thursday night and set up my tent and sleeping bags. All the guys put a little sign on the front of their tent. My sign said ‘Scott’s Place’. I let another guy use my tent after I got sick on Friday.”
    Jenifer was calm, but questioned the validity of his explanation. “Are