Explained: The Wedding Guest - I
This explanation piece references the original version of the story written in 2017, the story has since been updated however the references are still applicable.
Her
"She had planned for this day..." ~ Proverbs 7:12 "She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner."
"The dress would not be missed by male and female guests alike. She nicknamed the green dress her "jealousy-jealousy" dress - she would make the girls jealous and cause the guys to get jealous of one another. The knee-length dress was made for her petite frame; it was tight fitted and cut with a deep plunge line..." ~ Proverbs 7:10 "The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart." | Green dress: from the saying "Green with Evy."
"...the same part her victim would touch as he guided her to the dance floor once she had caught his attention." ~ Later in the story, he touches her lower back to guide her to the dance floor. This act was her confirmation that he was the one she'd pursue for the rest of the night. "He did as instructed, still smiling, but to prove that he was in control, he stood up and offered out his hand to assist her as she stood, he then occupied the space next to her on her left and placed his right hand on her lower back. She gasped quickly and turned to look at him, "You are a gentleman after all."
"To her devout Christian mother..."~ I mention this to imply that she was a girl/woman who grew up in a Christian household. Later on in the story, she mentions being active in the church.
"...as she was use to doing on such occasions. Tonight, like the other times, it was all or nothing." ~ Proverbs 7:11 "She was...never content to stay at home"
"She was going to STEAL the show, KILL it in this dress and DESTROY the dance floor - she just needed to find the right man to make sure all this planning would not go to waste." ~ John 10:10 "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy..."
Him
"He was the kind of guy who would go to the gym to lift weights and have someone capture his session on Snapchat, he loved himself..."~ I gave a detailed description of the guy to help paint the picture of who he was and how he was. There is nothing to say that he wasn't a smart person, but it was the build-up to show that he lacked "spiritual wisdom". He loved and worked on his outer appearance, but failed to work on his spiritual appearance.
"...although the concept of marriage never appealed to him personally..."~ Because he didn't value marriage (or value himself or women) it was easy for him to "fall" for this woman and her scheming ways. Had he valued himself, women, marriage and his singleness, chances of him giving into seduction would have been very slim. Both men and women alike, who assume the lifestyle of the woman in this story, can often tell who they can approach and win over with their words. (Proverbs 7:7).
"...he knew Nigerian weddings were the best. They were 'LIT'."~ Because Nigerian weddings are! 😜
"He smirked at himself just at the thought of what the night may entail."~ He was ready for a promiscuous night and it meant he was ready for whatever.
The Wedding Reception
"Behind was a wall of white roses, accented with small Victoria Blue Myosotis Scorpioides (also known as "Forget-Me-Nots" - nobody was going to forget this wedding, that's for sure)."~ I typed in Google "blue flowers" and "Forget-Me-Nots" came up. It was appropriate because the guy would not be allowed to forget the moment he met this woman and the events that followed. Later in the story, he has trouble sleeping because of the nightmares filled with images of this woman.
"The dimly lit room was celebrated with warm-toned mood lighting reminiscent of the sun setting."~ A lot of the description of the wedding reception room and features were inspired by the many weddings I've had the pleasure of attending, this description, in particular, refers to Proverbs 7:9 ~ "It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell."
"For a moment he had his eyes on the newlyweds, but he felt like he was being watched, he could not help but put his head up, and there she was staring right at him. Chills ran down his spine, she was gorgeous, but that was not it, it was something else and he could not put his finger on it."~ Proverbs 7 is written in a narrative tone, that is, someone is telling the story of how a young man got caught/noticed by this woman. If the narrator had been watching, it would also mean that the woman had been watching people pass by her house.
"...forced himself to push his uneasiness to the side, "I need a drink.""~ This is where I start with alcohol reference and all of sudden everyone is needing a drink. There is nothing wrong with drinking and enjoying alcohol, the problem occurs, when one engages in getting drunk. Alcohol is a relaxant drug, it relaxes the mind and other muscles (hence why people can't walk in straight lines or have slurred speech). The theme of alcohol is to emphasise the point that it's easy to lose sight of what's right when one isn't in their right mind (literally).
The Dance Floor Is Open
"...a feast for Kings. The bar was no exception, offering all types of drinks and cocktails."~ Kings. I capitalise the word "King"/"Kings" throughout the story as if it were someone's name to show the importance for men (and women alike) to understand that we weren't created to live lives without focus on who we truly are in Christ Jesus. Once you accept that there is more to life than just being awake you'll approach life differently, your actions and decisions will reflect who you are. Losing sight of who you are in Christ Jesus will leave you trying to find yourself in other things and/or being easily swayed to fanciful fads that will do nothing but diminish who you really are.
"..it must have been her necklace that reflected in his glass. He thought her necklace was interesting..."~ Early in the story the description of the woman mentions that her necklace pendants were a lock and key, I mentioned this to give the impression that she "locks" her victims and that she's a trap. It was the "trap" that caught his attention while at the bar. Proverbs 7:22 "...He was like a stag caught in a trap..."
"...but he was definitely looking at her."~ In the story, I added italics to the word "definitely" for emphasis. He had not just seen her, but he was taking her in with his eyes, he lusted after her.
""So are you just going to stare at me all night or will you be a man and order me a drink?" She turned to him, "You seem like a man familiar with his spirits, get me something you think I'd like. And once you've given me my drink, we will head to that table and do the small talk thing, I'll laugh, you'll look at me some more and then you'll ask me to dance and in that order. So. My drink please."...It took a few seconds for him to process everything she had just said. Did she just say that? No! WOW! He had never met a woman so direct in his life, some may have even called it a bit brash. It's as if she had practised this speech, you would think she had prepared these words especially for him."Proverbs 7:11 & 15 "She was the brash, rebellious type...You're the one I was looking for!" This would be the first speech she'd give the guy, demanding and instructing him. He mistook it for confidence and bravery, but he failed to see that she was really in control of the night, hence why in the story he is always fighting for control to make it seem that he was the one running the show. Her speeches are almost hypnotising. And when she mentions "spirits" she wasn't talking about alcoholic spirits. "Taken aback, he thought he would regain control of the situation, his ego slightly bruised, but it was fine, she was very cute."
"For the life of him, he didn't know why his mother's words came to him in an instant "My small King, do not waste your time and strength chasing women about town oh!! The trouble you'll face at the hands of these small-small girls is no small thing at all. I call you my small King for a reason because you'll one day be a King to your wife so please remember it is not for Kings like you to get drunk on wine and all these alcoholic concoctions. That's how you'll now go and forget who you are. Se you've heard me?""~ In my previous stories I've added moments where the main character is remembering something or someone from their past and I have done so in this story by taking the mother's speech from Provers 31:2-7 ~ "O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more." Also, people tend to forget that the words of Proverbs 31 came from a woman - not a man.
""Marriage stuff." She repeated while giggling and shaking her head."~ He'd later find out she was married, her giggling was her saying "if you only knew" and also because she did not respect or value her marriage.
""You compliment me as if I don't already know I look beautiful. If it'll make you feel any better, I wore this dress for you." Her sly smile came back again, implying all sorts of things."~ Proverbs 7:15 "You're the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!"
"While he continued to laugh at the fantasies in his mind, she looked at him intently, as if searching for his soul. It scared him - only for a moment but he eventually concluded that it must be the alcohol."~ To show that nothing about her was innocent. Their actions would both affect their souls, spirits and bodies. Culture has cheapened sex and mocks the confines of which it should be had (in marriage), and because of this people downplay how it truly affects them by concluding that "it's just sex", even though it really isn't.
"Some of the female guests had caught on to her game..."~ We females can spot the game from a distance. 😌 It also goes back to Proverbs 31, the words of an observant Queen, she had seen and mastered the art of spotting game, that she could advise her son, King Lemuel.
"She whispered in his ears, "I think the girls over there are talking about me." He stood back mid-dance and took in inventory of her with his eyes, "They're jealous of you that's all." He smirked in response as he moved closer to her."~ Going back to her description, "The dress would not be missed by male and female guests alike. She nicknamed the green dress her “jealousy-jealousy” dress – she would make the girls jealous and cause the guys to get jealous of one another."The girls weren't jealous, but his declaration was a tick for her checklist. Later, one of the male guests also gets jealous "This particular guy was slightly jealous, he thought "every wedding this dude always gets one babe shaaaa, him and his everyday shine-shine Colgate teeth. Kai!""
""My guys, please step back and watch a real player do his thing, take notes if you have to because this will be the first and last time I show you how I work..." They all laughed stupidly."~ Proverbs 7:7 ~ "I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense."
The Beginning of the End
"...then threw her arms around him, had she been a wrestler, he would have thought she was about to put him in a headlock. Before he could gather himself, she kissed him. Hard."~ Proverbs 7:13 "She threw her arms around him and kissed him..."
"There was nothing romantic about this kiss. The kiss had been filled with so much lust and hatred, he could have sworn he was being poisoned, that is what it felt like, but he could not stop her. No... no, he could have, but he did not want to."~ Lust eventually breeds hatred. There is nothing loving or sacrificial about lust. It was a game for both of them and a race to see who'd win. Selfish ambition.
"...I'm a good Christian girl, as a matter of fact, I sing lead in the Young Adults Choir. Every Sunday. I make rehearsal on time on Wednesday's too." She laughed like a crazy woman...The kiss silenced him more than her soft hands had done earlier and he stayed so as she continued to speak." ~ Proverbs 7:13&14 ~ "...and with a brazen look she said, "I've just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows."" implying that she followed the customs of the time, having to complete her offerings at the Temple (in today's terms, church). The guy was left speechless - throughout Proverbs 7 there is no mention of the guy speaking or rejecting her invitation.
"Well, I'm nowhere near single. I'm actually very, very married...Listen. My husband is away for church business with a few of our church leaders and based on the call I just had with him, he won't be back anytime soon..." ~ Proverbs 7:18, 19 & 20 "Let's enjoy each other's caresses, for my husband is not home. He is away on a long trip. He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won't return until later this month.
"...Much to my pleasure, I'm too tipsy to drive home this evening, and being the wise woman that I am I already have a room booked downstairs. Fine men like you don't do well by dismissing such invitations from pretty women like me, so don't spoil the evening by telling me you won't join me tonight, because we've both anticipated this very moment. The room is cute, you'd like it. I asked the hotel staff to make it extra comfortable and the mini-bar is well stocked.""~ Proverbs 7:16-18 "My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen. I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning..."
"He was still mute as she continued, "I won't ask you whether you're coming or not, because you will and plus, you need to a story to tell the guys right?" She motioned to have him turn his head, the guys and some of the girls were looking at them from the banquet hall."~ She fed his pride and ego by claiming she'd be worth the story he'd eventually tell the guys. The guys would 'praise' him for getting with her, but it was a trap. Provers 7: 21-23 "So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap,[a] awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life."
"She smiled at him "I'm on the sixth floor, room 606. Meet me when you're ready."" ~ There was nothing 'right' about this woman. Proverbs 7:27 "Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.” The floor number and room number are a play on Revelation 13:17 (also referred to as the mark of the beast) "...His number is 666." Wherever this guy was heading to would not be safe.
It Was All A...
People asked me if he had been dreaming all this time or had it 'actually' happened, and I was happy to get this question because that was my intention - to leave people figuring it out. Was it a dream or did it happen? It happened, however, his dreams will cause him to replay that day over and over again.
"He searched for his phone and dialled an all too familiar number. Thank God for the time difference, because he knew his mum would still be up, probably praying or something."~ Thank God for praying parents. As a Christian, it's also important to pray for others as much as you pray for yourself (if not more) and also be known as someone who prays and chooses to pray for others.
"My son, wait, let me get your father so we can both pray for you."~ I didn't want to give the impression that the guy did not have a present father. He had a righteous father in his life, someone to imitate but he chose not to.
"My son, things will be fine, we have prayed, you have no reason to feel guilty or be afraid but now it's up to you to turn from the lifestyle that got you here in the first place. It's time you turn to Christ for yourself. Confess your wrongdoings to Him, and with His help, you won't get caught up in such messy situations again. If you can do this you'll be free to have the best sleep you've ever had." ~ John 5:14 & John 8:10-11 ~ "But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.”"..."Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more."
"His dad was the joker in the family but often spoke truth when telling his jokes. He knew that what his father had said was true and as much as he wanted to sleep first, he knew what he had to do right then."~ He realised for himself, that he had to pray for himself.