Revolution: Chapter Three: Knitting

Christine set out the cookies beside the dandelion and chicory tea. She checked the flower arrangement on the center table and put all the chairs in place. When she was sure everything looked perfect, she retrieved her knitting supplies from her sewing room, and her Bible from her bedside. 

Someone knocked on the door as Christine got back to the sitting room. She answered to find four women hauling their own Bibles and knitting supplies. They wore their nice dresses and their hair was styled into perfect buns. 

Ada Hart, Alaina’s mother, stood with Suzanne Conners, Nelly White, and Brittney Salzman. Christine knew none of them would not understand her ideas at first, but she planned to ease them into it.

They greeted her and she invited them in with a warm smile. Everyone took seats and began to chat. More women arrived until 15 of them sat catching up. 

Knitting circles were multipurpose. Traditionally, there was a Bible study aspect of the meeting. They would knit and take turns reading and discussing. However, Christine had a different idea.

Everyone settled in and took out their partial projects. Christine was working on a sweater for Beau.

“Well, I suppose I’ll start us in Matthew?” Ada asked. Her eyes were still slightly red. Christine wanted more than anything to tell her Alaina was alive. She shared the same light hair and eyes with her oldest daughter. 

“Actually,” Christine said, “I was thinking we could all talk?”

They stared at her for a few moments, not moving very much. 

“Talk about the chapter?” asked Ada.

“No. Just about us. What is going on in our lives."

It wasn't unheard of to simply talk about life, but it usually occurred during tasks such as preparing church dinners. Knitting was almost always for the Bible.

"Of course," Nelly said, knitting a yellow blanket for her new baby. "What should we discuss?"

"Well, how are your families doing?" Christine asked.

After a few moments of silence, Brittney said, "My youngest son, Bud, is entering the militia next week." Her two oldest children, a boy and a girl, died of measles when they were very young, so Brittney only had three surviving children, and Bud was her only son. Once he left for the militia, it Brittney would only have Bud's betrothed for company.

Christine wished she had Hunter's betrothed for company during the day, but she lived in Galilee and wouldn't move to Jerusalem until the marriage. Her father was ill and part of the betrothal contract was she would remain with him until she was 16 to help her mother with care.

More women commented on their children, explaining what they were up to and talking about their accomplishments.

"They grow so fast," Christine said. "How are your husbands?"

Everyone agreed their husbands were well. They were all militia officers, all of them worked for Marcus.

Christine was running out of topics. She wasn't aware of any interests the women had, though they had been knitting and praying together for years. What she really wanted to bring up were the papers Hunter had brought her, the ones hiding in her chimney. Perhaps she started too grand; it may be better to select a few women to speak with first. Per Doctrine, they were required to report any suspicion of unbelief to their husbands. She might tell only Ada and Brittney.

Or, not.

"Can you all keep a secret?" Christine asked. No going back.

The women around the room paused as one, lowering their knitting projects to focus on Christine, who suddenly became the most interesting person in the colony.

"I'm not happy," she said. "Are any of us? All we do is cook and clean and care for children, waiting for the day our husbands die and we're all alone, hopefully with a male relative willing to pay for our care."

They stared at her. A few shifted as if trying to separate from the conversation. "Are you well, Christine?" asked Ada. A week ago, Christine would have asked the same question if she heard someone make such a wild declaration.

"I am," said Christine. "As you all know, I lost my son last week. It got me thinking about our lives. We work and work, and we really have nothing."

Several of the women looked around. The Moore home was arguably the nicest in New Covenant. The sitting room was large enough to comfortably hold 40 people, which often happened during events such as the lavish Christmas dinners they held.

"Christine, perhaps we should go back to the Bible," suggested Suzanne. "All contentment comes through Jesus."

"This isn't discontentment," said Christine. "I think something is fundamentally wrong here."

"Christine, please," said Annette. "Let's stop this talk."

"James was an unbeliever."

That was not at all how Christine intended to handle things, but there was no taking back the words that tore out of her.

Ada dropped her knitting needles. "Really, Christine. Stop this. My daughter was not married to an unbeliever."

"I am serious. I found some things in their house. Papers that spoke of things you could never dream of."

"Christine, that's enough," said Ada. "This is ridiculous. You're very close to speaking against God."

"What if the colony is wrong about God?"

"I can't listen to this," said Suzzanne. "I have to go."

Several of the women stood to leave. Christine stood as well. "Wait. Just listen. The papers I found talked about the world before the Colony. Things were not like this. Women had rights. They could marry whoever they wanted, and even work to earn money. Even good Christian women."

"Christine, this is unbelief," said Ada. "Surely you see that. It's unbelief to even read those papers. Marcus could set you aside for this conversation."

"That's the thing," said Christine. "Why? Why should a man have so much power?"

"It's in the Bible, honey," said Brittney. "Are you sure you're well?"

"I am. If we all worked together, we could make things better, for us and all the women in the colony."

Eight of the women packed up their knitting and headed for the door. Christine had never sweat so much in her life. If any of them told their husbands, she could find herself set aside and homeless before she was able to make any change.

As more women filed out, Ada hesitated.

Once they were alone, Ada said, "Alaina isn't dead, is she?"

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