Chapter 4

Lily broke down and told me about the brutality she endured the night before. Arthur took advantage of her not understanding what the rules of engagement were. He knew better than to do things as underhandedly as he did. he was a disgrace to us all and most certainly made a negative opinion to us all. Lily could tell I was upset with how he took what wasn’t his to take. I opened my arms and comforted her and tried to tell her this was not what she should or would receive from any of us. I kissed her cheek and I think it was misunderstood. She was hurting and I was there for her. When I turned to face her Lily kissed me but it was not from niece to Aunt as I would have expected. Lily had seen more between us than I had. Lily was in her own way saying she wanted to share my tent. How do I explain that I have no interest in girls that way.

We walked back to camp and it was empty. There were a lot of activities going on and it might be for the best. I did take Lily into my tent and just as I would for anyone else I closed the flap. My interests were not as she may think her obligations were. I knew she had special relations with her mother but that doesn’t mean she had to have them with me. I actually preferred she didn’t. She cuddled with me and I held her as tight as I could. She asked if her body would ever feel right again and I said it would just be patient. She had her body violated in a way that I myself couldn’t share or comfort her experience. Nobody has ever forced anal on me and it wasn’t fair her small delicate body had to be traumatized that way. I knew she felt obligated to show me she was here for my pleasure but I took the time to show her my need for her was to do as we were doing, comforting each other.

Lily was my niece and I loved her. it was a different love and for that I would do something I never thought was in me. I would seek family vengeance on the man who overstepped his rights. Joe could never know of this or he would take matters to far, but some of the mother’s might be of use. Arthur had put a cloud over my sunshine this week and it was leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

After a while Lily fell asleep and I left her in my tent. To avoid any disturbances I closed my flap upon leaving. Better she rests as long as possible and with the flap closed nobody would enter.

I walked around, watched the fun happening around me. It was like our private carnival going on. Food smells coming from everywhere, laughter from east to west, and so many different sights to sit back and soak in. it was a refreshing pace from the life of school and city living. When I seen Joe horsing around with little Amanda it reminded me of the first time we attended. I would be Amanda and I would look forward to sharing myself with a man of experience. joe and I seen eye-to-eye on a lot of things both then and now, the love of those that come to us being on top of the list. This was our utopia, our separation from the cynical reality we were forced to live in. My steps were slow as I enjoyed the sights and sounds of young boys being just that, young and full of energy. So many beautiful faces and desired bodies, a woman can get lost in the amazing surrounding. I for one had spotted a young lad I didn’t know. He was off on his own, not playing ball or socializing. I went to sit with him, introduce myself and ask who his family was. What I discovered was horrifying and my heart sank for him. How was this even possible out here? What kind of disturbed person does something like this?

His name was Charles but he said everyone called him Charlie. I laughed as I said my name is Charlette but everyone calls me Char. He found some amusement in that and it was how the ice was broken between us. Charlie said he came hiking with his dad and when he woke up he was alone. All his father’s things were gone and he was left with only what was in his tent. He heard us and came to look for his dad but realized he wasn’t here but he was hungry. His father deserted him in the middle of nowhere. I hope he at least figured out we were not that far away and that Charlie would be found.

Charlie was not a day over fourteen but a small, structured boy. He may have had some outdoors experience but none on being on his own. I felt for him and he reminded me of someone I knew not that far back in my memories. I invited him to our camp where he could eat as much as he wanted and sleep in my tent. He took out a handful of coins from his pocket, his offering for my hospitality. I couldn’t except it and led him to camp. Kimberly was soaking in the sun and when I told her the situation her maternal instinct kicked in. Between the two of us Charlie was in good hands.

He never left my side that day which I found adorable but it also meant my day was without the joys that I came here for. By nightfall I had all but given up on connecting with a sweet young man. For tonight Charlie would be my responsibility. We went into my tent and even though it was not for intended purposes I closed my flap. Tonight I would have to be the sweet adult looking out for an innocent boy.

Once we settled he said he talked a lot with Lily today. He liked her and said she told him that it was customary for boys to sleep with the moms. I hugged him and said she was right; our customs were boys sleep with women and girls sleep with men. He asked if he was keeping someone away by being here with me. I don’t think he grasped the interpretation of what Lily had told him. I said he wasn’t and when we got comfortable he put his arm around me and said he never knew his mom, she left this world when he was a baby. Charlie tugged at my heart strings as he told me his struggles. I leaned over and kissed his forehead and when I did he asked if he could be the boy Lily talked about. I asked him what exactly Lily said about our special group.