One of us.. abstained

My boss handed me a letter of invitation from our local government to participate in a seminar about sexuality. As a head teacher, I was chosen to be the representative of our school. 

When I arrived at the venue, I was surprised to know that only a few people participated in the seminar. While waiting for the presentation, I had the time to read the documents provided to us and found very interesting topics. The purpose of the seminar was to help the community be aware of how to prevent early pregnancy and disease. As I continue reading, I found out that abstinence was not given highlight in the presentation. When the speaker arrived accompanied by a local doctor, they asked if there were any questions. I asked why abstinence did not play a very important role in the material they provided. 

To my surprised, I heard an enormous laughter from other people. I even heard someone call me a jerk for asking such a stupid question. I looked at the speaker and the doctor but they didn’t answer the question as I drowned in embarrassment. I sat down and thought of words for me to reason out and defend my question. But I was so ashamed that I can no longer stand up. The speaker told me that the only thing they do is to teach facts and the people at home are the ones responsible for moral training. For the next two hours I sat in silence as the other topics was explained. 

There was a 15-minute break before we move on to the next topic. 

“Krispy Kreme,” announced the Usherette at the back. “Please put your name tags on as you get your donuts and you can mingle with other participants.”

Everyone went to the back. As I looked at them mingling with each other and putting their name tags on and shaking hands, I sat deep in thought. I uttered a silent prayer and asked God for guidance. Before I said “Amen”, I was interrupted by the speaker asking me to join the others.

I said “No”.

She is persistent and asked me to join the other participants.

I said "No. I am okay here."

She then smiled at me sweetly as she offered me to put my name tag on. As I looked at the name tag, I heard a very still small voice saying, “Don’t put your name tag.” 

So I said, “I’ll just wait here.”

When we were called back to continue the discussion, the speaker thanked everyone for putting their name tags on and for taking time to mingle with others. I noticed that she stared at me. Then she said, “Now I am giving you the lesson for this seminar. Everyone please peel off your name tags.” I watched in silence and observed the crowd. “Now, at the back of the tags, I drew a small star. Who has it, please?” 

The gentleman in front of me raised his hand and said, “Here it is!”

“Very good!” She said. “The tiny star at the back of your name tag represents disease. Sir, can you still remember whom you shook your hands?” 

He pointed to three or four people. 

“Very good.” She replied. “The handshake on the other hand represents intimacy. So the people you have contact with now have the disease. There was laughter and joking among the participants as some of them handshake with another man. She then continued, “And whom did the four of you shake hands with?” There is another round of laughter and joking from the participants. The speaker pointed out very clearly, and she explained how quickly the disease is spread. 

“Since we all shook hands, we all have the disease.”

Then I heard the still, small voice again telling me to “Speak now, but be humble.”

I raised my hands and rose from my chair with conviction. I apologized for anything I said a while ago and congratulated the participants on the excellent lesson the seminar is pointing out. I concluded by pointing out, “Not all of us were infected, I said.

“One of us...abstained from not having intimacy with people I don't know. Hence, I am disease free."