Chapter 7
And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter: which thing ought not to be done.
—Genesis 34:7
Following a vague interval that they somehow knew was longer than it felt, Megan said to the others, who were still sitting on the sofa with her, “I’m really sorry to be a party-pooper, but I feel like I might be getting the flu. I’m sort of nauseous.”
“No problem, Meg, we’ll all go,” replied Jill as she rose to exit. But she almost sat down again with a feeling of having just stepped off a merry-go-round. Holly quickly agreed that it was time to leave, for she wasn’t feeling that great herself. Kevin politely asked if he should walk them back to their dorm. But they all refused the offer because it was such a short way. They thanked him and apologized for needing to leave his party early. He saw them to the door, and as they were leaving, said to Holly, “See you on Monday in the solarium.” He made his salutation with an insinuating smile that she did not like. She imagined him as a snake in her little study paradise.
After he closed the door, they made their way around the house, down the little trail, between the restaurant and bagelry, and down the half block of Blue Ridge Street. As they walked again across the Raley lot, Megan suggested that maybe the punch had been spiked a bit, “For I feel sort of drunk.” Holly didn’t say so, but she felt like she had after she had made love with Aaron during her senior year. As soon as they reached the suite, each of them used the bathroom and went immediately to bed . . .
Lauren only played in the first half of the concert and so left the Troyhill at intermission. She returned to Gorman before nine, expecting to arrive there long before the others. To her surprise, they were not only home, but all were sound asleep on top of their bedspreads. And nobody had bothered to put on her pajamas. It made her curious to hear about that frat party. Seeing the unusual opportunity to catch up on some sleep, Lauren was in bed by ten o’clock.
Gorman 924 was like all suites on the ninth floor. Two bedrooms just big enough for bunk beds, two closets and two built-in desks, joined by a small, common sitting room with a large window. 924, 926, and 928 overlooked the football stadium. The bathroom, furnished with a toilet, shower, and long counter with two sinks opened from between the bedrooms into both. Jill and Lauren shared one bedroom and Holly and Megan the other.
Holly and Megan were early risers, but Jill was usually even earlier. When Lauren woke at nine, she lay in her top bunk and listened for their conversation to filter in from the common room. She heard nothing at all. She thought that perhaps they went for an early workout at the McGinn? Maybe they decided to go to Baguette Boy Kitchen for bagel sandwiches? They probably didn’t want to wake her to ask if she wanted to come along. Did they leave her a note? Descending the bunk ladder, Lauren was very surprised to see Jill still asleep. She was exactly as she had seen her the night before. Jill had not ever put on her pajamas or gotten under her blankets. Lauren was becoming alarmed. She went into the other bedroom to discover that Holly and Meg were also exactly as they had been. She just knew something was desperately wrong with this scene. Lauren advanced to Holly’s bottom bunk and began shaking her. Holly groggily opened her eyes, mumbled “g’morning,” and promptly fell back to sleep. Lauren returned to her own room and fiercely jostled Jill into consciousness. That state was short-lived. With a slurred “not feelin’ well,” Jill returned to oblivion. Then Lauren spied something that sent her into panic. Peeking out above the top of the same jeans Jill had worn at dinner last night and below the ribbing of the same sweater, she saw Megan’s paisley underwear stained with blood.
Lauren immediately reached for her phone and called the number her mother had entered onto her opening screen.
“Campus Police Emergency Desk.”
“I want to report three possible sexual assaults. We’re in Gorman Hall suite 924 . . .”
Chapter 8
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion.
—Psalm 20:1–2
A campus policeman and an open-faced woman from the counseling center arrived not ten minutes later. Jill, Holly, and Megan weren’t aware of their entrance. Lauren gave a clear, brief explanation of the reason for her call. The counselor turned her attention to the other three and was able, with the policeman’s help, to bring them to the surface.
The woman, Janet, was calm, kind, and efficient. In answer to her question, “Have you been sexually assaulted?” Jill raised her shoulders and asked, rather than stated, “I don’t know?” Holly said, “Maybe.” Megan said, “No.” When Janet asked Jill why she was wearing Megan’s underwear, Jill looked down, lifted her sweater and definitely stated, “I don’t know.” With Lauren’s help as to times, Janet was gently able to get the basic story of the night before out of the other three. She was particularly interested in the details of the punch, and how they each felt on the way home. She several times reminded all four of them that they had done nothing wrong. Megan vaguely wondered why she said that, of course they hadn’t.
After she understood what she could for the time being, Janet quietly told the girls that she suspected that they had been drugged. “I am concerned that you may have hidden injuries. I would like you to come with me down to the Watauga Medical Center and have a forensic exam by a sexual assault nurse before you have a shower, use the toilet, or change your clothes. The exam will be paid for, but it will probably take several hours. It is your choice.”
Jill’s “Well, OK” was confirmed by the other two.
A minute later Lauren was all alone in 924 holding in her hand a copy of “How to Help Victims of Sexual Assault,” and holding in her mind Janet’s unqualified statement that she had been a good friend and had acted wisely. She was also left with the promise that another counselor from the center would be stopping by soon to check on her.
Down at the hospital Jill, Holly, and Megan all learned that they had sex within the past twenty-four hours with at least two men. But no evidence of drugs showed in their urines. Janet explained that this lack of evidence confirmed her suspicion that GHB, a drug known locally as Georgia Home Boy, had been in the punch. Unfortunately, this lack of evidence could not be used by the prosecutor. The SANE kits were stored, and several decisions made. Yes, they wanted protection for STD’s. Yes, they would take an emergency contraceptive pill called ella. Yes, they would report the “event” to the Poplar Police since it happened off campus. Yes, Megan would return tomorrow for some minor gynecological out-patient surgery. Yes, they wanted to prosecute Kevin Parsons. Yes, they would talk to a deputy DA for Watauga County. Yes, they felt safe returning to Gorman 924. Yes, they felt “yes” was the right thing to do. But yes, it was the most horrible day of their lives. Yes, they felt an overwhelming and crushing vulnerability. Yes, they were exhausted in every way possible. Yes, they felt ashamed, guilty, betrayed, and violated. Yes, they felt stupid and naïve. Yes, they were victimized and powerless, in spite of many kind people helping them.
As they were preparing to go, Holly said, “I now know what it means that women are the weaker vessels. Paul’s letter just doesn’t go far enough. Women are objectified and treated as inanimate meat, non-persons so vulnerable they have no power over their own bodies. We are seen as things to use.” They all cried into a group hug.
None of the girls heard the sexual assault nurse say to Janet, just as they were leaving, “Because of her dates, regularity, and exam, I think it very likely that Jill ovulated only yesterday.”
“Well, let’s hope nothing comes of it,” replied Janet quietly.
Jill, Holly, and Megan experienced a revolutionary reassessment of the world that Saturday. That the counselors, lawyers, doctors, law enforcement personnel, nurses, etc. could carry