Chapter 5: On Guard for Thee

Jordan and Molly were sick and tired of their mother’s heavy-handed regime. As far as Peggy was concerned, there would be no modern music (not even “Christian Rock”), only hymns and classical. They were prohibited from dating before 18. They were expected to be virgins until their arranged marriages.

Peggy’s submissive behavior towards their father, her antique beliefs, and her rigid discipline infuriated them. Then, she discovered their secret morning training sessions and simply exploded.

Once again, she startled Jordan with a cruel slap, driving her to the floor. Wheeling on Molly, she lashed out for another slap, but Molly forcibly blocked her.

“DON’T! Just don’t.”

“Fine. Your father will deal with you brats. There are boys at that place, aren’t there? You’re all wrestling with them on the floor, being slutty. I know it. Just go to your room until he gets home.”

Once again, Molly was tending to her sister’s bruised face and wiping away her angry tears.

“They plan to marry me off to some jerk to produce grandchildren as soon as possible. They would have already done it to both of us, except the pastor warned them that he wouldn’t approve any more under-18 marriages. You know why?”

“No.”

“After the fundamentalist Mormon sect was exposed and prosecuted for marrying off children under 15, he suddenly decided on new doctrine. It seems we have dodged the marital bullets for a little while.”

“Yeah, but we’re not going to get any money for college. I’m not going to wait around here any longer for that future. I’m going to talk to Aunt Lisa.”

Michael’s decision was to punish his daughters by caning them on their panty-covered butts, leaving welts that persisted for several days.

The next day, Jordan borrowed Bailey’s phone, got in touch with her aunt, and explained her situation in detail, including how she had been physically mistreated. Lisa already disliked Peggy and never understood her brother Michael’s attraction to her. Jordan, however, knew the reason.

“I do the laundry sometimes, Aunt Lisa. My mother’s bra size is 38 DD.”

Lisa exploded into bitter laughter.

“Sweetie, those two nuts are in a cult with a Christianity paintjob. What does Molly think?”

“Molly is just as mad as I am. But she says she can stick it out for a little while longer\, because then she’ll be 18, graduated from high school, and she can move in with her best bud Bailey O’Connor.”

“Oh, I know Bailey. She’s great. Do the O’Connors have enough money to live on with one more?”

“Molly says they will be fine.”

“Alright, but you can’t stay in the clutches of those two, uh, parents. Hey, here’s an idea. Would you consider living with me here in Surrey?”

“In Canada? Are you serious? Really?”

“Cross my heart.”

Instead of hearing a direct answer, Lisa heard a muffled shriek. Jordan was sitting on her bed and crying happily into her pillow. After ten seconds or so, she picked the phone back up and accepted, with sniffles.

“I’d love to, but how?”

“You’re sixteen and a half and have your driver’s license, right?”

“I do. (Sniffle.)”

“Then you can cross the border without any problems as a visitor, a tourist traveling with me. Just pack a carry-on bag with the stuff you need. I’ll come and get you. We’ll go through Border Services together. Yeah, I’ll just fly down and pick you up.”

“I don’t know what to say. (Sniffle.) You’re like an angel.”

“What will Peggy and Michael say?”

“All we do is scream at each other. They can’t abide me being normal. Like, my wearing pants causes a 15-minute argument. Plus, they are running out of money and I’m another mouth to feed. I think they will do a lot of yelling. But Mom and Dad won’t bother to try and get me back. (Sniffle.) I think they’ve considered writing me off as a ‘heretic.’”

“All right, we have a plan. Keep everything secret, except you should tell my other favorite niece so she won’t worry. Also, please tell Molly that I love her and that she’s also welcome here in Canada. Shit, now I’m crying too. We’ll try for next Tuesday, I’ll send details to you in email. Bye, sweetie.”

Just then, Molly appeared at the door.

“Jordan! What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Happy tears! Shut the door and come sit with me, sis.”