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The Letters - Chapter 2
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 Created on 1-16-08
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The Letters – Chapter 2
A small quaint pub right off of the university campus was the setting of Flynn and Terra’s meal. The tables and chairs crowded the small dining room, with a tall stained bar rising along the side of one wall near the kitchen doors. The bartender leaned across the counter to eagerly talk to students trying to ease their stress. Meanwhile, the two sat down at a table to talk before they ordered anything.
“So, what are you at university for?” Terra smiled while starting to set conversation. Her nerves in this place were obvious, and the fact that she was generally a shy person was becoming quite obvious now that they were in a public setting. Her voice became higher pitched without her realizing, and she sat up perfectly straight showing no relaxation.
Flynn, on the other hand was perfectly relaxed, lounging in the wooden chair and looking to see if he knew anyone at the bar,” I’m studying religion and history. The two go hand in hand so well, ya know?”
“Yes I can see how it would make sense,” Terra grinned, never having an extensive knowledge of history besides standard UK history, world history and geography at boarding school. However, she did realize how religion affected history on enough of a scale to agree. “So, what religion are you? Does that affect your studies?”
“I was Anglican.” He chuckled, as his eyes darted to a student entering through the front door in a particularly short skirt with knee high boots and a large pillowy jacket.
“What are you now, since you’re not Anglican anymore?” Terra tilted her head curiously, completely missing the point he had just made, as her naïve little mind turned over the idea of him no longer being Anglican, therefore he must be something now.
“I’m nothing.” Flynn responded with a dumbfounded expression. “I don’t believe in anything.”
“What do you mean, you must believe in something? Everyone believes in something, even those who aren’t Anglican.” Terra continued, completely oblivious and causing a rather odd look to appear on Flynn’s face involving a single raised eyebrow, lips rolled in and bitten, along with him raising his fist to his chin as he leaned towards her across the table.
“Surely, you are playing. This is merely a game to make me think you’re cute, right? I know you’re smarter than this.” Flynn responded.
Terra turned a tomato shade of red, as she realized she was in the company of an atheist. Twelve years of Catholic boarding school had taught her to fear atheists. They were employees of the devil, but how could Flynn be that? Sure, when she first met him he was drunk and unconscious, and he made crude jokes, however, surely he wasn’t evil. He seemed highly intelligent, and very friendly. “You really are atheist?”
Flynn rolled his lips in again, and nodded slowly, not quite sure why she was behaving so differently from earlier. Atheists weren’t uncommon, especially among the university. With slight confusion, he turned his attention to a passing server and enchanted her with his eager, polite smile,” Miss, would you mind bringing us some coffee?”
“I’d be glad too.” The girl grinned and returned to her original task.
“Why are you surprised? It’s just saying that I don’t believe in any religion, no higher being. That’s all. Is that weird to you?” he leaned forward towards her.
“I just don’t understand. Especially how you can be studying religion and not believe in one.” Terra shook her head with a slightly open mouth and raised eyebrow.
“It’s simple, and actually much easier. You have to understand, all religions developed off of the need for a way to establish an ethical code of conduct in groups. It was their way of having an enforceable law without it coming from any single person, but rather from a higher being that was not human. And because these higher beings were not human, they could be used to explain anything that was unexplainable in such a way humans could try and grasp it. For example creation stories, like for you, the book of Genesis. In ancient and early modern society religion was still necessary in order to instill control over masses of people and give explanations for the unexplainable, as well as still be used to comfort. Well, now, in our developed society, we don’t really need that, besides perhaps the necessary idea of an afterlife and the existence of a soul in order to make people feel better when someone dies.” He looked at her dumbfounded expression as all this began to sink into her head, and cradled his forehead with his hand. “I’m not trying to say that you’re wrong for believing in something, for most people its necessary. I just believe that at this point, it’s hindering the further development of society.”
“How can you say that, even though our queen heads a church? Don’t you support the queen? Aren’t your ideas slightly communist?” Terra lost all her earlier humor. She no longer joked about what Flynn said in her quick witted way. This was not a joke to her.
“Our queen is a figure head. I don’t need to support her; what I need to support are the parliaments that uphold our society’s rights. And yes, I guess you could say my ideas are slightly socialist, not communist. There is a difference. However, I do see how you could say I’m communist after the Russians basically outlawed religion after the Red Revolution and all that 20th century fun they had.” Flynn sighed and quickly began doctoring his coffee as it arrived at the table. “It might be best if we don’t discuss religion anymore or we might lose our appetites.”
“Alright. So, what is your research on at the University? What are you currently writing about?” Terra questioned changing the subject.
“Currently, I am writing up my research on what you would probably know as Corinthians.” He took a large swig of his coffee, and replaced it on the saucer. “I’m trying to piece together all the information I can find on them, analyze them, and figure out a few things. There’s a lot of research to be done, but I’ve completed a lot, and so far my conclusions have been less than popular with certain circles of the university, though they have yet to actually read them. My mentoring professor just has a habit of talking to the rest of his bureau with little discretion because he’s earned tenure and is the head of it.”
Terra smiled and responded,” What other things have you done research on?”
“The origins of Islam, the affects of mass displacement of peoples throughout history, the use of Christian art to convey secret messages – which is quite obviously false. Most artists painted because nobility paid them. Everything was commissioned, so an artist would paint what they were asked to paint. There is no reason for them to paint for pleasure when they’re trying to feed themselves. Most of these artists were also illiterate and vagrant. They painted what they were taught about or stories they had heard, and for many during early history, stories came from priests and leaders. There are no secret messages just because an artist tries to paint something then decides against it and paints over it. Especially since, if they were on commission, they probably would easily change anything for the benefactor. This is rather unpopular with some of he “Da Vinci is God” people.”
The server came to the table and offered chips and perhaps a hot sandwich of the day, or any other regular dish. Flynn and Terra agreed on a basket of chips, with Terra getting a hot sandwich and Flynn getting meat pie. The conversation turned to things besides Flynn’s studies, and more towards Terra’s work and her interests in art. She was always polite, and towards the end of the meal, they both smiled and talked positively with most of the earlier tension caused by differing opinion alleviated.
“So, where around the university do you live?” Terra asked as they returned to her car.
“If you continue on this main road, you’ll see a collection of flats on your left. Turn in, and it will be in third building on your right.” Flynn pointed, directing Terra to it.
“Would you care to come up and have some tea? Meet my fish?” Flynn offered warmly. “I promise he don’t bite.” He teased.
“Sure, I’ll go.” Terra laughed and followed him up into the building and to find the door where Flynn stopped slightly ajar with the latch broken.
Comments
Please Login to post comments| On February 25th 2008 ALICHELLA16 Said : | |
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can you keep me updated? i like your style of writing. |
| On January 19th 2008 tece26 Said : | |
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I LOVE your writing style! The conversations are so real and detailed, really ets you into the story. PLEASE keep this story coming |
