“Wait, you never threw your secular music in a bonfire?” Ash asked in exaggerated shock. “Are you sure you grew up evangelical?”

“Please,” McKenzie replied. “I was wearing WWJD bracelets before and after they were cool.”

“Are we competing for something?” Ryan asked, looking around the circle at his friends.

“It’s easy,” Ash explained. “Since we all met at a Christian college, that means we’ve had some very niche experiences. Like, how many of you went to that Acquire the Fire rally?”

Groans and cheers in equal measure as more than half the group raised their hands.

“Weak,” said Hope.

“Excuse me?”

“This is all casual stuff,” she said. “I was getting into religious debates in my public high school.”

“Oh no,” McKenzie said. “What class?”

“Biology of course. Someone had to inform the teacher that the textbook was wrong about evolution.”

“You got me,” Ash admitted. “I was never that intense.”

“Alright, your turn, Ryan,” McKenzie said, “you were a pastor’s kid. You’ve gotta have something that can beat Hope”

“Oh. I . . . uh,” Ryan floundered. “I’m gay.”

. . .

“Wait, what are we competing for?”

“Honestly,” Ash said, “growing up evangelical and then coming out as an adult: pretty legit.”

* * *

Story by Gregory M. Fox