Once upon a time, I was on facebook wandering through profiles aimlessly, when I came across the roommate of a friend of mine, Claire. Claire's roommate had posted a few videos of her and Claire, so I decided to procrastinate on a project and enjoy the time I had to waste. From the first time I saw Becca Clay in a video on the internet, I wanted to meet her and experience her humor in the flesh. Noticing that she had been to the same summer camp that I had been to, I took delight in the chance of maybe meeting her one day, though that was a bit creepy.
The car ride to Abilene was a torturous one. One of my best friends in the youth group has a secret problem with controlling her gas levels, so it was not just six and a half hours in a van, but the van smelt like my grandma's bathroom. Thats an over exaggeration, it wasn't that bad. But nonetheless, my legs were numb and I was anxiously awaiting the second when I could get out and experience the freedoms of college. Well, for a weekend college visit anyway. Then suddenly, in the distance, a light tower peeked through the horizon, and the bible building of ACU was in sight. I gulped down my last sip of sweet tea and just stared in excitement.
Donna pulled up the van to Gardner Dorm, a place that I had not been inside since two years before at Mpulse. I called the sweet girl I was staying with, Kasey Smith, and could barely hear her over the screams of the girls and hoots of the boys in our van.
"Hey, we're here!" The words that I was waiting to say for three weeks.
"I'll be down in a second!" Kasey giggled and the sound of her steps carried through the phone.
About ten girls flooded out of Gardner dorm to greet us. First, Ainsley Haley, then Amy Robbins, Beth Johnston, Taylor Edwards, Kelcie Broom, and everyone else who had a connection to the Clear Lake Youth Group. They helped us take our bags into the dorm.
The RA at the desk had a few freshman girls around her and seemed to be very inviting. "Hey girls! Welcome to ACU. Are you guys staying in the dorms for the next few days? Can I get your names in case there is any kind of random fire emergency?"
We lined up, in conversation with our friends that we would be staying with, when all of a sudden, it's my turn to tell my name. "Hi, I'm Marissa Ramos, and I'll be staying with Kasey Smith."
A voice from beside the lady at the desk spoke out to me, "Oh, Marissa... You're friends with Lauren Mullins, right?"
I turned and looked at who was asking, and there she was. Becca Joy Clay. In the flesh. She knew who I was. Maybe I'm not really that much of a creeper at all.
"Yeah girl, she was my counselor at Kadesh."
"Yeah! It was you who wrote something on her board. I was the one who erased what you wrote because I thought Kadesh 3 was so much better than Kadesh 2."
"Oh. Well, that's cool! What's your name?"
"I'm Becca Clay."
Psh. Of course I already knew her name. Just didn't want her to think I was a total creeper. I really want to talk to her some more though...
"Ok, you're all set! I hope you guys have fun this weekend!"
"Thanks. Nice meeting you Becca!"
Kasey showed me up to the second floor. I got my stuff situated in her room while she checked on some of her girls. When a little later, Becca walked in and asked me if I had seen Kasey. I told her she was with her hall, and Becca and I talked for a few minutes about her new roommate, Claire, and a few of the things her old roommate used to do that drove her insane. I liked this girl.
The next day, I woke up around 8:30 in the morning to attend the Wildcat Preview Tour which I had already been to 3 times. I used to think you could never get to much of ACU. I can see clearer now. But chances are I'll go to them again and again, twice a year until I'm actually a student. Then when I am, I'll be the one giving the tour. After a long day of walking and keeping up with all that college had to offer, I returned to the dorm. I just wanted to sit and hang out. My friend Carolyn was with me, and as we walked up the stairs and headed towards Taylor Edward's room, I saw Becca sitting in a chair in the hallway.
"Hey, lets go see Becca. You need to meet this girl."
"Uhh.. sure thing." Carolyn was pretty exhausted from the tour, but she was up for not doing much.
Becca was on her computer, most likely stalking people on Facebook, when we came to greet her. "Hey girls! How are you liking campus?" She asked us questions and told stories about her friends and life in the dorm. There was a stairwell directly across from her chair and every so often, people would come up the stairs and ask her about an interview that she had with the Residence Life staff. I quickly came to know that the chair she sits in is referred to as "Becca's Lady Chair." Why lady? Because there is a stylish fabric pattern of women in skirts and handbags on the cushion of the chair, and it was just too odd of a thing to go unnoticed. Becca sugar-coated every story she told with exaggerated humor that had all of ACU roaring with laughter within minutes. She doesn't like being judged by people because she is a preacher's kid, she uses the term "fetch" in almost any situation, and she loves Jesus with all that she is. By midnight that night, I was still sitting beside her in a chair, enjoying fellowship with my new friend. She glanced over at me and loudly whispered, "You know, Marissa, I feel like we've known each other for a long time."
"Besides the fact that we stalked each other on Facebook, I feel the same way, Becca Joy."
