Doing Things My Way

Doing  Things   My Way

A benefit of being a bachelor is that you can do things your way. No spouse or significant other to answer to. That is Martin Shopka’s edge. His freedom to do what he wants is the foundation that unnerves Jill. He is beyond control. His beard and his smoking serve as symptoms of his unrestrained power.

Jill’s father, when he was drinking, was beyond control, was violent. He too had a beard and smoked. Jill transposes her father’s undesirable characteristics to Martin. Her dislike for Martin solidifies.

Martin’s unpleasant attributes belie his true nature, a nature that Jill can’t see. Martin helps organize some of the church’s father-son outings. He asks how Jill is doing when she is in the hospital. At Daniel’s wedding Martin’s smoking friends question whether Jill is a good wife. Martin defends her.

Joseph sees Martin as a good friend. Martin rents land from Joseph for his horses. He invites Joseph and Daniel to ride his horses whenever they want. Martin sells Hoss, a gelding, to Joseph so Joseph’s daughter, Amber, can ride a horse. When Joseph fails to find a buyer for his land, Martin purchases it. Yes, Martin benefits from his business transactions, but so does Joseph

Jill sees Mr. Shopka as a person who doesn’t care what others think of him. Her experience has taught her that such a self-confident person can be harmful to others. Ironically she seeks the same self-assurance. She chooses to further her education while raising a family. Members of her community disapprove. Jill home schools her children causing more friction with her neighbors. Jill doesn’t care.

Ugly is a bearded smoking man. Like beauty, ugly is skin deep. Why Martin made those choices is unknown. Perhaps he wanted to be like other men in his church. Why wasn’t he married? His past wasn’t revealed. Without knowing Martin’s background Jill lets Martin’s surface features dictate her attitude. Like Martin, Jill exhibits some disturbing behaviors. As reader you know about Jill’s childhood. You can be more understanding.

To know the real person takes time and patience.

What story can you tell to show how initial impressions of a person can be misleading?

In Baggage Burdens. Jill ignores Martin Shopka for what she saw as his unacceptable way of living. When Jill fails to follow the conservative lifestyle of the Orthodox Community church, they ignore her. The price of failing to conform with  community mores is the subject of the next blog.