Tomorrow . . . I'll Do It Tomorrow

(fiction by Mary Brown)

I was lying across my unmade bed, listening to my new CD and skillfully ignoring the stack of schoolbooks on my desk.
"Kristi, Honey, there's someone here to see you."

Mom's voice drifted into my consciousness. I rolled over on my back and opened my eyes.

"Send 'em up, Mom," I said, figuring it was Janice, my best friend.

A few seconds later there was a tap tap tap on my door.

"C'mon in, door's open!" I yelled and reached over to turn down the volume on the stereo.

A familiar yet unexpected visitor came through the door. I jumped up from my bed, self-consciously smoothing my disheveled hair.

"Well, hi, gee, uh, I wasn't expecting you," I stammered and stared at my surprise caller.

"Hi, Kristi. Sorry to interrupt, but I hadn't heard from you for so long, and I wanted to touch base."

The voice was warm and friendly.

I reached over to straighten my bed, kicking yesterday's clothes under it. My visitor glanced around my room, and I became conscious of the clutter as I scurried to clear off a space.

"Here, sit on this chair," I said, flustered.

I took the stack of records from the chair and put them on the rumpled bed.

"How have you been, Kristi?"

"Uh, fine, yeah, OK. I meant to check in with you, but I've been so busy lately. I just got done with finals, basketball tryouts were last week, and our choir is getting ready to go on tour." I hurried through my list of excuses.

"I know," came the answer, "and I'm proud of all you're involved in."

Those eyes, so intense. I was unable to meet their gaze.

"I have a job for you, Kristi."

"That reminds me," I interrupted. "Remember the time you asked me to go to the nursing home and visit with the lady who fell and broke her hip? I didn't make it over to see her, but I heard she died, so I guess it didn't matter. I really meant to, but something came up. I can't remember exactly what."

My caller sat quietly, just listening. I nervously fiddled with my bracelet, wishing I'd known I was going to have a visitor.

I continued to hem and haw.

"If your project could wait a few weeks, I'll have more time and be able to help you. But right now, with all the things going on at school, I just don't know how I can do it."

"Kristi, I need this done immediately. It won't wait, and I was hoping you'd be able to help me."

"Honest, I'd like to, but I'm on overload already. You do understand, don't you?" I smiled apologetically, thinking I sounded convincing enough. Certainly I couldn't be expected to drop everything.

"Yes, I understand, but I have to be honest with you. It's disappointing, Kristi, that everything else is more important than our daily chats. I miss talking to you, and I wish you had time to do my work. I'm afraid this time I'll have to choose someone else for the job."

The tone of our conversation hadn't changed, but suddenly I felt so ashamed.

"Soon, real soon, we'll have those times together again. I promise!" I said, trying to sound sincere.

My guest got up to leave. I stood up to open the door and found an arm around my shoulder.

"I'm glad we had this time together."

"So am I. Thanks for coming by. I'll get back to you as soon as I have a minute."

"Goodbye, Kristi."

"Bye, God."

I closed the door and sighed heavily. Tomorrow. I'll have time for Him tomorrow. I took my English book off the desk and sat down to study.

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This article appeared in Brio magazine. Copyright © 2003 Mary Brown. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Illustration by Shawn Finley.