𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭

It takes Bridget 3 days to decide that she wants to be Ryder's friend for real. On Thursday she pulls him aside at lunch again and accepts his offer.
"I'll pick you up at 7." He tells her with a grin and Bridget blushes.
"Alright what should I wear?" She asks.
"Something casual, comfy, and modest. A dress is preferred." He states with a small blush of his own.
"Alright thanks!"

With that over Bridget heads back to Dalia and eats her lunch quickly because she has to get to AP Bio. She works so hard to get somewhere because in a year and a half she will be out on her own. Once you graduate you are out of the orphanage and onto college. Bridget and Dalia plan to be room mates at the local college when they go.

When Bridget walks into Bio she is quickly set upon by her partner Tyler. He has tons of questions about the homework and it takes her 10 minutes to explain it to him but when it is all over they have to get to work on a film project about an endangered animal.
"What animal should we do?" Tyler asks with a look of concern on his face.
"I think you should calm down first. I have a camera and I think we should film this in an old documentary style. As for the animal it should be local!" Bridget says calmly. She has a plan and knows what to do.

The rest of class is spent researching and taking notes. Tyler is a very anxious person but Bridget is always calm. She is good under pressure and knows when to be pushy or to back away. Their project is on the Bald Eagle. It was once endangered. Bridget plans to tell how they became endangered and their road to recovery.
"Alright, tonight you need to get this all together in a timeline. I'll get my camera ready and find some good pictures to use." She tells Tyler as they pack to leave Biology.
"Okay, good work today!" Tyler exclaims and Bridget just nods and heads to her next class.

* * * *

The rest of the day is just normal school. When Bridget gets to the orphanage that afternoon she has a slight panic attack.
A DRESS! MODEST! COMFY! How can one item be all that! The worst part is Bridget doesn't own a dress. She has one skirt that she wears for Christmas mass which is mandatory.
"Alright!" She sighs and starts digging but suddenly there is a knock on her door.

It is Dalia!
"Oh my God! I'm so glad you're here!" Bridget sighs and Dalia just smiles.
"What is the criteria?"
"Modest. A dress is preferred."
"Okay. You have that skirt."
"Yeah, that skirt is a black and white plaid!" Bridget cries.
"We'll roll for now, a maroon sweater?"
"Just bought one last week!"
"Okay, now with your black boots and my magic hairdo you'll look perfect!" Dalia exclaims.
"Okay." Bridget sighs and sits down. She hats fancy hair.

Moments later Dalia has worked her magic and Bridget looks good in a maroon sweater, black and white plaid skirt, and her black boots. Her hair is pulled into a low, humble knot and she has rosy cheeks.
"You look so beautiful and you don't even have makeup on!" Dalia exclaims.
"Do I need it?"
"No!"
"Okay, well lets get to the front so I can tell the mother where I am going." Bridget says.

"Why can't you go to this evenings services?" The mother asks.
"Because I don't like them!" Bridget exclaims.
"You are here out of the goodness of our hearts! If I let you go, Friday you have to attend mass." The mother lectures.
"Yes ma'am. Now can I go?"
"Yes. We'll see you by 11?"
"I think. I'll be back as soon as we can get back." Bridget affirms.
"Okay, do you need money."
"No ma'am, I make my own money. Thank you though." Bridget responds and heads out to the front.

After a few minutes a black suburban pulls up and Ryder steps out.
"Hey, um thanks for doing this." Bridget murmurs as she gets in.
"So this is my mom, Gina. This is my dad, Ryan. And finally my sister Rae." Ryder introduces the people in the car.

"Hello, nice to meet you. Thank you for taking me." Bridget says and the woman smiles.
"So why did you want to come?" The girl Rae asks.
"Well I want to be friends with Ryder. There is a quality about him that I would like to know better. He said this was the only way we could hang out so I accepted." Bridget responds honestly.
"What about your missing piece?" Gina asks.
"How do you know about that? If you don't mind me asking."
"Honey I watch your book reviews. You have good taste." She tells Bridget and she blushes at the complement.
"Okay so maybe also want to find something. Ryder has a drawing personality. It made me feel whole." She says tentatively and looks over at Ryder. He is flushed and looking out the window.

"Well your missing piece may be an absence of God in your love. Maybe you need the true way of serving God." Gina explains.
"I don't know. I really don't think church is for me...." Bridget sighs.
"You won't know until you give it a chance." Rae says.
"You look great for the first time going to an Apostolic church." Ryder pipes up from the window.
"Um thanks. So do you always wear skirts?" Bridget asks Gina and Rae who both are wearing long skirts and modest shirts.
"Yes. We believe that pants are a man's attire. We must be modest. The bible says in Deuteronomy 22:5 that 'The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God' " Rae quotes and Bridget smiles.

Rae could only be about 12 and she was really smart.
"So how do you live as an Apostolic?"
"Well we don't watch tv, go to concerts or places like the club or bar. We don't have sex before marriage. We have standards of dress, go to church 4 days a week. It is a lot of first but you get used to it and it is a real strength." Ryder explains smiling gently at Bridget.

Bridget felt a pull at her heart and knew Ryder and Gina could see it. She was flushed and felt a need growing in her. Her missing piece was feeling more attainable. She felt like crying and laughing at the same time.
"We're here!" Rae cried out and jumped from the car.

The building is a big, dark, and old building. It used to be a grocery store. Bridget shivers and Ryder gives her a reassuring smile. As they head into the building, again something tugs at Bridget. She wants to laugh and cry at the same time.
"I want to introduce you to a good friend of mine." Ryder abruptly says.
"Who is it?"
"Her name is Leah. You can sit with her."
"Why can't I sit with you?" Bridget asks him feeling even more scared.
"The girls sit on one side and the guys on the other."
"Oh."

They reach the sanctuary and Bridget stops stunned. The room is huge, black, and tan.
"This place is beautiful!"
"I love this place. We only just moved in three years ago." Ryder tells her.

They are stepping into the huge room when a girl sways over to Ryder.
"Hey! Who is this?" She chirps.
"This is Bridget and Bridget this is Leah." He makes the introductions.
"Nice to meet you!" They both say simultaneously then start laughing.
"I'll take her from here!" Leah smiles and Bridget instantly feels at ease.

They head to the front of the sanctuary. Bridget feels the stares of the church people. Finally, they reach the seat and kneel down.
"We pray for half an hour or as long as we can. It is how service always begin." Leah tells her.
"Okay." Bridget says and puts her head down.

She prays for the kids of the orphanage, her missing piece, and finally for a family. It is hard for her to stay in a prayer mode for a full half hour so she just sits with her head down thinking. A sort of peace washes over her. It is a good feeling but she longs for more.

When prayer is over there is a praise service. They sing hymns, upbeat worship songs, and finally there is a high praise moment. Bridget doesn't know what to thank God for except for the place she has to live and the friends in her life. After praise service the choir sings and shivers go down her spine. The song is beautiful and the tears finally fall. Leah pulls her close and urges her to pray.
"God I don't know why I feel this way but my life is in shambles. I've never felt this way, if you'll help me and show me what I am missing, I do what ever you want. I want to be the best I can be." She prays and Leah prays with her tears in her own eyes.
"Bridget you are feeling the Holy Ghost. Let go and let God!" She urges and so Bridget tries. She closes her eyes and lets the feeling wash over her. Her worries slip away, peace, and an extraordinary joy washes over her.

The service ends but once the feeling is over she feels the same as before.
"Why is the good feeling gone?" She asks Leah.
"God has more in store for you. Will you come again?" Leah asks.
"Yes, I want to have that feeling always." Bridget sighs in memory.
"We have church again on Sunday Morning. Us young girls have a Sunday School class. You should come, I'll pick you up at 9:30 if you are interested." She offers.
"Yeah but I have to be back for the noon mass. It is required for me to do." Bridget tells her.
"Well see if we can get you out of it. I'll have my dad call and ask for you to be let out for the full day. I really want you to be saved."
"I'm not saved?" Bridget asks surprised.
"No, in order to be saved you need to Be Baptized in Jesus name, Repent of your sins, and have the Holy Ghost."
"Why?"
"It is what the bible says in Acts 2:38."
"I'll have to read it" Bridget says and vows to study and pray for the next few days.

When she gets back to the Orphanage Dalia is waiting for her in her room.
"Why were you crying?"
"You have to go! I was crying because of the choir song. I felt something, I had the spirit of God moving in me! It felt so good, I... I.... Well you just have to see it to believe it!" Bridget explodes in excitement.
"Ohhh Kay... Maybe next week. I have mass to go to on Sunday, you have to go too!"
"I think Leah is going to see if her dad can get me out for the whole if Sunday. Do you want me to see if she can get you out too?"
"No, mass is important. I have and obligation to God and the Saints to keep the Sabbath holy!" Dalia cries a little offended.

Dalia is a devout Catholic. She goes to every mass, service, and festival the church hosts. She is in the out reach program and is always trying to get Bridget to join.

"Well I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow." She yawns and Dalia heads to her own room. They did not end their day on a good note.

As she falls asleep Bridget prays and plans. There is something to the way Ryder lives and she wants the peace and joy he has. She wants to serve the lord. If it is a sin to wear pants then shopping is in order!