Chapter 30: Delay of Game(s)

October 3, 2002, Oswego, Illinois

🎤 Ashley

"Matthew is really good," I said quietly to Birgit, who was sitting next to me in the theatre.

"Of course he is," she replied. "He's an Adams! Even if his last name is Clarke!"

The whole cast was really good, but Matthew did an excellent job as Professor Harold Hill, and once again, he was kissing Maggie Jones on stage. I'd actually seen him kiss her more than I'd seen him kiss Chelsea because they were very private about that, mainly because Chelsea was eighteen and my brother was fifteen.

Maggie was cute, and I wondered if Matthew had considered taking Dad's approach to life. I doubted it because he and Chelsea had been a couple for my entire life. I expected him to never, ever be with anyone else, which I thought was true about Albert and Jane. And Stephie, if she ever got her head out of her butt, would be the same with Nicholas.

I was more like Birgit and Jesse in that there was no way I was going to tie myself to one person before I graduated from High School, and probably not before I graduated from college. After all, High School and college were supposed to be fun and a time to experiment, not a time to be in an exclusive relationship! But it was their choice, so I would never say anything to any of them. Well, except Birgit, who I liked to tease because it was SO easy to do!

"We are just that good, aren't we?" I said back to Birgit.

"Duh!" she giggled.

"SHHH!" some woman behind us hissed.

I rolled my eyes, though she couldn't see, because the cast was singing and it was LOUD so that my whispers to Birgit couldn't have interfered with her hearing the music and singing. When the play finished, Dad, my moms, Suzanne, Yuriko, Natalie, my sisters, Albert, Jesse, and his moms all left the theatre and headed to Aunt Elyse's house. Matthew would come home with Eduardo after changing out of his costume.

"Where's Chelsea?" I asked Aunt Elyse.

"In the city," Aunt Elyse replied. "She has class in the morning. She'll be here tomorrow night."

Matthew arrived about ten minutes later, and we all had cake and ice cream, including Dad, because Birgit and I had made an almond flour cake for him, and we'd brought some of the ice cream made with Stevia, which he could eat. That made him much happier, though he never really complained about his diet limitations.

When we finished our cake and ice cream, we piled into three cars to head back into the city.

October 4, 2002, Chicago, Illinois

🎤 Birgit

On Friday afternoon, after school, I did homework with Fangsu so that I didn't have to worry about it for the rest of the weekend, then got ready for my date with Philip. I still wasn't sure how to approach the entire topic of sex with him, and I didn't just mean fucking, but even kissing. I was sure part of it was because I was fourteen, but I was reasonably sure part of it was because he was totally inexperienced.

On the other hand, I was positive Bob had gone for his STI test, and when he came over on Saturday so we could do our next Photography Club project, he'd ask the question I'd suggested, and I'd have to decide if I wanted to fool around with him or not. I obviously could, but what I didn't want to do was mess up the good thing we had about photography. I was pretty sure he'd be OK with just sex, but I also got the drift that he was looking for a steady girlfriend, and I wanted no part of that!

Then there was Julie, who hadn't done more than make out but who had made it clear when she'd left on Tuesday that she was interested in getting together again. Peter hadn't objected, and he certainly hadn't complained about two blowjobs from me, plus a pretty good fuck in between. We'd missed our usual Thursday afternoon because of Matthew's play, but Peter never complained when we missed an 'appointment', as Aunt Melanie had called her times with Dad.

"What are you doing tonight?" Patricia asked, coming into the room.

"Going out for Chinese food, then I'm not sure because there's nothing good at the theatres that we can all get in to see. What are you doing?"

"Your mom is taking me to my friend's house. We're going to watch Snow White."

"What's your brother doing?"

"He's at Bobby's house. I'm not sure what they're doing. Some boy thing like video games, I'm sure!"

"They'll figure out why we're better than video games, eventually!"

"Yuck! Not my brother!"

I laughed, "I didn't mean that, obviously!"

"But Bobby is cute!"

I laughed, "Which is, of course, what I meant!"

[Aurora, Illinois]
🎤 Matthew

"You were awesome!" Chelsea said when I arrived home after the performance.

"Thanks!"

"Are we doing anything tomorrow?"

"That's up to you, really. Maggie and Mark have a church thing, but the guys are available. But if you just want to hang out together, that's OK with me."

"Let's just hang out together. Do you think we could borrow your mom's car and go to the mall? I need a better Winter coat, maybe a parka because it gets a lot colder here than it does in Cincinnati."

"I'm positive Mom would be OK with us borrowing her car. We could have lunch out, too."

"Cool. Do you have homework?"

"Yes. I plan to do it tomorrow morning, and I should be able to finish by the time the mall opens. Do you need to study or do homework?"

"I finished most of it on the train, so I can finish tomorrow morning while you do yours."

"Awesome! Let's get some snacks and cuddle in front of the TV."

[Chicago, Illinois]
🎤 Birgit

We had a great time at the Chinese restaurant, and everyone agreed there were no movies we could all see, so we decided to go back to our house. Some of the older kids wanted to see Red Dragon, which was a continuation of the 'Hannibal Lecter' story, but it was rated 'R'. That meant most of us couldn't get in because the dumb government felt it was 'inappropriate' when I could, without any restrictions, get any movie I wanted via Netflix, HBO, Showtime, or Cinemax. After a debate, with the guys wanting to watch Enemy at the Gates, the girls won, and we agreed to watch Bridget Jones's Diary.

After popping popcorn and making sure everyone had a drink, I sat down next to Philip, and after about ten minutes, snuggled close. He didn't push me away or say anything, so I rested my head on his shoulder. If I could just get him comfortable with the idea of kissing, I was sure it would lead to what I wanted because I was completely irresistible! Well, to any sane guy who wasn't freaked out about me being fourteen, anyway.

As the movie played, I contemplated if I should try to push things forward, but I decided it was better to simply bank my gains and just give Philip a 'good night' kiss on the cheek because I didn't want to drive him away. It still amazed me how difficult it had been for me to have sex the first time and how difficult it was to find an older guy.

I was positive that if it were the '70s or even the '80s, it wouldn't have been nearly so difficult, but society had decided I wasn't in control of my own body, and the same idiots who said I couldn't consent to sex were trying to make abortion illegal, taking away even MORE of my control over my own body! Society just needed to butt out and let me live my life the way I wanted and allow me to control my own body.

When the movie ended, I walked Philip to the door, kissed his cheek, and we agreed we'd see each other the following Friday.

🎤 Jesse

When the movie ended, most of the gang left, and Ebele asked if I'd walk her home so she didn't have to call her parents.

"It's before curfew," I said. "I'll do it, obviously, but why?"

"Dad is concerned about me walking alone because of all the crime."

I rolled my eyes, "The TV news and newspapers blow it totally out of proportion! Walking from here to your house is about as safe as any place in the city! It's not like you're walking through Cabrini-Green!"

"I know," she replied with a smile. "It's my dad, not me! He's a bit overprotective."

"I totally get that, but how far is he going to take it?"

"It's not too bad because he's OK with me walking when it's light out. It's not nearly as much a problem during the Summer, but now that it's getting dark earlier, it's inconvenient."

"OK. Then let's go so I can get home before the city curfew."

We left the Compound and headed towards Ebele's house.

"Were you serious about what you said last week?"

"Which thing?" I asked.

"That you would be happy to demonstrate to an interested girl who's had an STD test."

"I was totally serious. Are you interested?"

"Yes, but Jesse, you have to promise not to go further than I want."

"I'd say 'obviously', but I know there are guys who do take things further. I promise."

"Can I come over tomorrow?"

"We have a hockey game at 1:00pm, so either in the morning or after 3:30pm."

"I could come over around 9:00am if that's OK."

"It is."

"And could you give me a ride to the hockey game?"

"Absolutely!"

When we reached her house, she said 'good night' and went inside, and I turned to head back to the Compound.

October 5, 2002, Chicago, Illinois

🎤 Birgit

On Saturday morning, Dad, Mom, and Suzanne were up early, as they usually were, so they could walk my other mom to work. Once they'd done that, Suzanne, Dad, and I went out for our run, then returned home. Suzanne and Dad showered together, and I showered alone, then went downstairs so I could have my cuddle time.

"What plans do you have today?" Dad asked as I snuggled close.

"Well, if it were up to me..." I teased.

"Besides your fantasy, that has to remain a fantasy!"

"Are you ever going to be able to tell me the real reason why? I mean, the one besides my moms saying 'no'?"

"No," Dad replied. "And your moms saying 'no' would have been sufficient in any event. Remember, that was their advice; they didn't forbid it. That said, even had they said 'yes', the answer would still be 'no' because of the reason I can't share with you."

"That sounds an awfully lot like 'because I said so'," I countered.

"It might, but I honestly do have a very good reason, just one I can't share with you. And you know I almost always share my reasoning."

"Do my moms know?"

"Yes. And they agree it has to stay private."

I'd wondered what it might possibly be since he'd first mentioned it, but I had no idea even where to begin. I knew it had to be something big, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it might be. I also wondered if Ashley was correct about Dad being willing to do it had I kept it totally secret. I wasn't so sure about that, given there was some other reason besides my moms.

"Is there an afternoon class at the dojo today? I saw that Jesse's game is listed as '1300' because of Albert's insistence we use military time!"

Dad laughed, "It does ensure no confusion! Miyu will lead the class today. Why are you asking?"

"Because Bob will be here for lunch, and I was hoping to be able to skip today."

"That's totally up to you, Pumpkin. You're responsible for your own progress both towards your black belt and as a black belt. You know I miss from time to time, and the key is to not make a habit of missing, as it becomes easier to miss than to attend."

"Which is why we encourage new students to attend at least three times a week so that they develop good habits."

"Exactly," Dad agreed. "And why one of the black belts follows up with anyone who misses a class without calling first. It's about accountability, and accountability is a key to success."

"Kind of like me not wanting to disappoint you, right?" I asked.

"Very much like that. What are you and Bob going to do?"

Well, my answer should be that it depended on him showing me a clean STI test, but my period had started the previous night, and I doubted Bob would want to lick me the first time when the playground was covered in blood! There was also the question of whether or not it was a good idea. I still wasn't sure, not that I didn't want to, because I did, but I also didn't want to mess things up with my photography buddy.

"Besides lunch, I'm not sure. He might hang around tonight while you have Guys' Night and Girls' Night Out, but someone would need to give him a ride home before midnight."

"I'm sure we can manage that."

"Are you playing poker tonight?"

"Yes, but someone who is knocked out could use my car to drive Bob home if I'm still playing."

"Thanks, Dad! You're the best!"

"I know!" Dad replied.

"HEY!" I protested. "You can't steal MY answers!"

"Sorry, Your Worship!" Dad teased.

"In my dreams!"

"Breakfast!" Ashley called out.

"Be right there," Dad said.

I snuggled close to get my three extra minutes of cuddling.

🎤 Jesse

Ebele arrived just after 9:00am, and I decided it was best for us to go to the Duck's Nest in the basement, rather than introduce her to my moms and take her right up to my bedroom. That way, if she was nervous, or had second thoughts, or whatever, there would be no pressure and no potential embarrassment.

"How can this work with your moms home?" she asked after we went downstairs.

"My moms won't say anything," I replied. "And I'm allowed to entertain in my room if I want, and they won't ask any questions."

"They'd really let you do that? While they're here?"

"They believe, just as my dad does, that it's up to me to make those decisions, and so long as everyone consents, we use birth control, and everyone has a clean STI test, that it's not their business."

"My dad thinks my body is his business! Like he owns it or something!"

"I do believe my sisters would commit patricide if my dad had that opinion!"

"Your whole family seems pretty mellow."

"We believe that every individual is best suited to decide what is right for their own self, with the goal of never doing any harm to anyone. It's an ideal and almost impossible to achieve, but it's our guiding principle."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Always."

"Have you ever been with a black girl before?"

"One," I replied with a silly smile, "And, as it turns out, all the parts are in the same place, look the same, feel the same, and taste the same! Well, with minor variations between girls."

"You've been with a lot of girls, haven't you?"

"More than one," I replied. "And that's all I'm going to say."

"I know at least two," Ebele observed.

"Only if they told you," I replied. "I try my best not to talk about it because I'm positive you don't want anyone to know about what you asked me to do today, right?"

"Right," she agreed. "I had my test, and it was clean."

"I do need to see the test paper," I replied. "I trust you, but that's my dad's rule for any of us to have freedom to do any of what you and I might do."

Ebele opened her purse, pulled out a folded sheet of paper, and handed it to me. It was, as she said, clean, so I handed it back to her, and she put it back in her purse.

"Am I supposed to look at yours?"

"Absolutely," I said.

I pulled my wallet from my pocket and showed her my STI test card.

"You promise that if I take my clothes off, you won't do anything I don't want you to do?" Ebele asked.

"I promised you that," I replied. "Honestly, if you don't trust me, then it's probably best if you go home."

"I don't want to go home!" Ebele protested. "But..."

She paused, so I completed her thought.

" ... you're nervous," I said gently. "That's normal. How much have you done?"

"Nothing," Ebele admitted.

"And you want the first thing you do to be me putting my mouth between your legs? I'm thinking a kiss might be a better way to start."

"It would be kind of strange to have that done before I had my first kiss."

"It's up to you," I said.

"You don't seem excited about it," Ebele said.

"If I did seem excited, I'm concerned you'd be concerned I wasn't going to keep my word."

Ebele frowned, "I'm making a mess of this."

"May I make a suggestion?"

"Yes."

"Let's go use the sauna, just you and me, and get used to the idea of being naked together. Then, another day, you can ask again."

"You're not upset?"

"No. What do you think of my plan?"

"It's a good one," she replied.

"Then let's go to the sauna."

🎤 Birgit

Bob arrived at about 11:30am for our lunch, and we took our food to the Indian room so we could have some privacy from my sisters and cousins. While we were eating, he pulled a folded paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and slid it to me. I recognized immediately what it was, and it showed, as expected, 'negative' for each test result. I pushed it back to him.

"Do you want to fuck?" he asked with a smirk.

I had promised an immediate answer, but I also needed to express my concern.

"Yes, but there are conditions and a caveat."

"I have some, too!" he said with a smirk. "What are your conditions? I mean, besides the STI test, which I just showed you?"

"First, I'm not looking for a boyfriend; second, it can't interfere with photography; third, it stays private between you and me."

"Fair enough; I accept!" Bob declared.

I felt I had to let the use of the 'F' word go, and I'd teach him THAT another time.

"And your conditions?" I asked.

"Given I believe you're experienced, you agree to teach me everything!"

I giggled, "Be careful what you ask for!"

"Are you kidding? If you're the sex goddess you've implied you are, then I've come to the right place to cum!"

I laughed, "I'd say! Next question — how much have you done?"

"Kissing, touching, and giving oral."