Jack was a playboy before meeting Sam's mother Madeleine. Here is the background story to why.
A quick disclaimer: In real life I'm against any form of violence, no matter what age or gender, racism or anti-Semitism.
I thought about how much self control Jack has, how young (sixteen) he is and what reaction to the situation he finds himself in, is reasonable to expect in reality. I also asked my better half for advise and followed it, so thanks for that EW.
When Joellen Moser saw the new student her heart beat faster. Jack Richards was tall and gawky. His hair was honey colored and his eyes amber. She had expected Jack's skin was fair and freckled. Instead it was slightly bronzed. No freckles in sight.
Joellen was the opposite. She was dark haired, had blue green eyes, was a little bit plump and on the smaller side.
Her brother brought the new guy home after the debating club finished, where they were both members. Joellen's parents welcomed the well mannered young man into the household.
Joellen admired Jack from afar. Her brother saw her as a nuisance, so she didn't have high hopes Jack was interested in her.
Everything changed when Jack was waiting for her at school and carried her school books. He was a little bit nervous when he asked her, if she wanted to go to the movies with him. Of course she wanted to and from then on they were an item.
Jack took her out to cheap diners, ice skating and an Elvis Presley performance. Tickets to get for that were very hard.
They exchanged their first kiss there. Joellen started dreaming about a big white church wedding and children.
One day on the way home Joellen asked Jack, if he would come with her and her family to mass on Sunday. She had never seen Jack at church. Maybe his family went to a different one or belonged to another branch of Christianity. Jack shuffled with his feet and seemed embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I can't." "Why not?" Jack didn't dare to look into Joellen's eyes. "I'm Jewish." It was the least Joellen expected. She was prejudiced, having heard all her life only the worst about Jews. Joellen was disgusted, when she thought she had kissed a Jew and let him touch her.
She truly believed Jews wanted to accumulate power, wealth and influence at all costs to dominate the world, amongst other things. She shouted angrily at Jack: "Your people have killed Jesus!" Then she spat into Jack's face. He reacted in reflex and slapped Joellen. She touched her cheek in shock. Joellen's eyes filled with tears. She ran away.
Jack was himself shocked. He had never slapped a girl before and never afterwards. His parents had taught him this was a no no. Jack was sorry about it and not proud, but he was also very angry and hurt. He had thought Joellen was different.
Jack had decided to keep his religion a secret at school, because he feared he was going to be an outsider and would encounter trouble and anti-Semitism, if he was honest from the beginning. Nothing did indicate he was Jewish. Previously he had lived in a Jewish working class suburb of Chicago. His parents decided to move into an upscale Christian area, when Jack's father expanded his business.
Joellen felt betrayed. She would have never gone out with Jack, if she had known he was Jewish.
The slap was unforgiveable in her opinion, and it confirmed only her prejudices.
Her first instinct was to tell everyone in Jack's class the truth. Then she had second thoughts. It was too embarrassing and the risk was too high she would be teased or outcast, because she had been an item with a Jew.
Instead Joellen decided to ignore Jack. She tried everything to avoid him. Sometimes when he sat in the canteen near her, she told anti-Semitic jokes. Joellen did everything to push Jack away.
Even though Jack was hurt by Joellen's original reaction, he tried to apologize and maybe give their relationship a chance. When she ignored him and told bad jokes, he realized it was over. In his opinion she was narrow minded and a racist.
Joellen made sure she never dated a Jew again.
Jack nursed a broken heart and swore he was never going to be hurt like that.
He turned into a ladies man. Women seemed to genuinely like him. Jack was charming and attentive until he got, what he wanted - sex. Some thought they could change him, but failed.
Only someone special managed to conquer Jack's heart. It was against both their wills and took a huge leap of faith on Jack's side.
©2011
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