Chapter 7: Dining Out

The trolley ride from the academy to the Siminov home took the usual two transfers, followed by a short walk to the family front door. Unsure of the protocol of entering while accompanied by Mykel, I knocked and waited for someone to answer, and it happened to be Kivar. Quick-witted as always, Kivar yelled into the house, “Ivanka, there are two people in uniform at the door who wish to speak to you,” he then grinned and winked at me.

Ivanka came scampering to the door, her pubic region freshly shaved. Marcia realized it was near the start of the university semester. Ivanka had either just received her second twenty-five lash switching or was due for it tomorrow.

“Stand for inspection,” Mykel snapped the order, playing along with Kivar, and Ivanka followed the order about facing and showing the two uniformed guests her bruised and welted bottom and thighs.

I giggled and blurted out, “Got you good this time, you naughty school girl?”

“Oh,” Ivanka feigned anger when she realized it was Marcia in the female uniform, “It is only you two. Come in and make yourselves comfortable.”

Kivar, beside himself laughing, ran to get out of his older sister’s sight. Seeing Momma and Poppa Siminov in the kitchen, I quickly introduced Mykel and then asked if they might use Ivanka’s room for a moment.

Both girls excused themselves while leaving the door open and removed the uniform to be as nude as the rest of the Siminov family.

“Ah, that is more comfortable,” Mykel stretched and grinned. He asked Kivar, “Have you ever thought of a career in the military?”

Ivanka muttered, “No, he is destined to go on stage at the Socrates club as a comedian.”

Brought howls of laughter from the adults, although the twins did not get the joke. Ivanka promised to explain things later, alone, and this satisfied Kaleen, and Martina was more fascinated by their military guest than a lame joke at the moment.

“What are your intentions toward my daughter, Marcia Shevat, Lt. Mykel Drakov?” The question came after a dessert of fruit and tea while the family sat in the dining room.

“Ivan Siminov, I am here formally requesting your permission, and that of your family, to court your daughter Marcia Shevat,” Mykel answered formally.

“You may do so in this home and of your parents. You may also do so while well chaperoned and in public.” Papa Siminov gave the formal blessing.

Mykel would have to send a gift, by courier, to the Siminov by Wednesday of the following week to acknowledge his honorable intentions. He has chosen a family gift that would be both unique and one the family would not expect.

After exchanging goodbyes, the couple, now again in uniform, left to take the double trolley trip back to the academy and Mykel’s parents’ residence. Dinner at the Drakov’s was more formal, with orderlies serving several courses of food and polite conversation held to a minimum. Talk about duty, class schedule, and cadet disciplining arose, including me having to take the college course in the proper administration of corporal punishment.

She was to continue in her post as Instructor of Aquatics training and Water Safety. Her courses in Leadership, Organization, and Structure of Danubian Society, and Military Law and Protocol had been going very well for Marcia. To set up the college course to appreciate the different cultural backgrounds the American student/instructor brought to the class discussion.