Chapter 3: Dinner Is Served

When everyone had gathered in the dining room, Lesa took charge of the introductions. "Everyone, this is my eldest, Sara. She's my biggest helper and a very capable caregiver to her siblings. This munchkin is Franklin and Miss Mischievous here is Samantha. Kids, this is Ms. Johnson, Ms. Owens, Mr. Caulfield, Ms. Olson, and Ms. Nokamura." Scanning the group with her eyes, she gestured with a forearm sweep, "Please, sit anywhere."

Lesa took a seat at the end of the table nearest the kitchen.

The table had been set for twelve with very nice china, flatware, and crystal glasses. There were pitchers of water, iced tea, and carafes of red wine along the center of the table. "You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Crews," Janet remarked. "It's very spacious and elegant."

"Thank you. Would you and Ms. Johnson please start passing the platters of spaghetti around? It will be easier if we do this family style."

"Well, if we are going to do this family style," Sara remarked, "I would like to be referred to as Sara; not 'Ms. Johnson', even though we're in such an elegant room with formal table settings."

Turning to her right she continued, "Hi, we both have the same first name. Isn't that cool? Would you like me to hold this while you help yourself?"

The younger Sara just nodded as she slid some pasta to her plate with the specialized pasta spoon. The bare-breasted Sara passed the platter to her left and then held the bowl of sauce for youngster.

With two bread baskets, platters and bowls it only took a couple of minutes for everyone to load their plates and begin eating. Lesa sat between Franklin and Samantha and helped them cut the spaghetti into bite-size lengths. Franklin was not pleased with the assistance, but endured it quietly.

All three of the kids were mesmerized by the swirling design on Sara's otherwise bare breasts. While the kids were used to such displays in public, this was the first time they had seen such at the table.

Sara noticed them noticing and looked at Lesa, "I have a wrap in my shoulder bag. I can get it if it would make everyone more comfortable."

"I'm sorry, please don't bother. Children, mind your manners. It's not polite to stare. But, it is a beautiful pattern, isn't it. Notice how the swirl pattern seems to draw your eyes away from her lovely breasts and up to her beautiful face. It has to have been done by a very skillful artist, don't you think?" Lesa's scolding was clearly pro forma. Her praise of Sara's display actually focused everyone's attention on the pert breasts and blushing face, and gave the kids an excuse for a very close examination.

"Now, would anyone like some grated parmesan?" This remark broke the silent trance that had settled around the table.

From the far end of the table, Jake leaned forward a bit. "Ms. Crews, you have wonderful children. Would it be all right if they called me 'Jake'? I'm actually not much older that Sara."

His casual remark triggered inward thoughts by all four of the college girls, but it was Janet who looked to her right and asked, "Just how old are you, Jake?"

Clearly Jake had been focused on making the children comfortable and had let his situational awareness slip. Caught flat-footed he mumbled, "Sixteen".

"What was that?" The question came from Sara Johnson, but everyone looked at Jake who just sat silently, playing with the pasta on his plate with his fork.

"He said 'sixteen'," Janet spoke up without changing her focus from the embarrassed teen. "I knew you were younger than the rest of us, but didn't think you were THAT much younger. There has to be an interesting story here. How did you swing being a Georgia Tech senior at sixteen?"

"I started taking college level classes when I was a high school sophomore." After his brief answer he pushed a big forkful of pasta into his mouth in an attempt to end the conversation.

"At sixteen you should BE a high school sophomore," Leslie said from across the table.

Jake just shrugged while slowly chewing his mouthful of food.

"Wow, he's only three years older than me," this was the first sound Sara had made since entering the room and Jake was grateful that everyone's attention had swung to the far side of the table.

"Yes, and he has your keen fashion sense," her mother observed. They were both wearing sci-fi themed T-shirts and faded jeans. The outline of a training bra could be seen in the drape of Sara's loose fitting T-shirt.

"Mom!" Sara exclaimed.

"Okay, okay. No more bear baiting by the mom. Since only the room and I are formal, perhaps the rest of you can tell Sara, Frankie, and Sam how you would like to be addressed."

It was clearly an attempt to change the subject of the conversation, but Leslie spoke up, "Leslie, Janet, and Misty," pointing to each girl in turn. She then turned and gave Jake a friendly smile before resuming the conversation as though there had been no interruption. "Let me rephrase my remark as a question. How is it that someone who should be hanging out with high school sophomores, is hanging out with college seniors?"

"I complained of being bored with school. My parents hired a tutor when I was eleven and within a year he got me accepted into night school at the local junior college. I was able to apply those classes to both my high school and college diplomas. I graduated from high school last year and was accepted here as a mid-term junior." Jake again tried to divert everyone's attention to eating.

"That's a very impressive accomplishment, Jake." Lesa remarked. Turning to Leslie she continued, "Not subtle Leslie, not crude, but not subtle at all. Jake is clearly a focused and dedicated young man. I'm thinking that a more interesting story would be the dynamics of you, Sara, and our recently departed jock, Mr. Clark. I'm wondering why he arrived with you and clearly wanted you to leave with him, but focused most of his attention on Sara while here?" Lesa again made an attempt to swing the conversation off of Jake.

"Hey, that's personal," Leslie responded.

"So's Jake's age and his academic achievements," Lesa responded. "I hosted this gathering with the hope of bringing myself and my daughter up to speed on current interpersonal relationship standards. She will be obtaining her majority this fall and I'm at a loss as to what can be done to prepare her. So, please, educate me."

Leslie looked at Sara; then glanced at Jake, Janet and Misty across the table. It was clear that she really didn't want to talk openly about what she considered her personal life.

Where there was no response for several seconds, Lesa tried a different approach. "I have no desire to make anyone uncomfortable. I apologize for doing so. However, with four young women here who appear to be very comfortable with the current fashions and social mores, I was expecting you to be comfortable talking about it. I'm truly sorry for offending you." While her words were graciously ending the line of discussion, her eyes were pleading for them to continue.

Janet decided that someone should respond to their hostess and offered her opinion. "The underlying motivation of outrageous dress and behavior today is survival. It's a minefield of getting the attention of a Confederacy selectee without encouraging predators. Rapists are being relentlessly pursued and prosecuted, but where does rough, consensual sex end and rape begin. How do you distinguish between empty and genuine promises? CAP scores above six-point-five are above average, but not uncommon. They do NOT, however, exclude the person from being a user, abuser, or even from being a predator. Right, Leslie?"

Back in the spotlight, Leslie's shoulders slumped a bit. "He's not really a predator, and only gets abusive when he's been drinking. Yeah, he can be overly critical of the shortcomings of others. It's just his way of dealing with his own shortcomings." Glancing at the kids she held up her left had with her thumb and forefinger about 5 inches apart.

Misty snorted and started choking. Janet tittered as she turned to see if Misty was breathing, and turned back when Misty covered her mouth with a napkin and began coughing and gasping.

The younger Sara turned a puzzled face to her giggling mother who leaned in close, "He has a smaller than average penis. This can be a real blow to a macho guy's ego." Sara started giggling along with her mother.

"God, don't tell him I said that! He'll kill me!" Leslie covered her face with her hands.

"Misty and I will continue to avoid him, unless we're in a large group, right Misty?" Janet turned to Misty who just nodded. Continuing, Janet asked, "What do you see in that prick? Why don't you just tell him to kiss off?"

"Well, he has a 7.1 CAP score. He's a lot smarter than you'd expect for a jock, and he's nice to us most of the time. He's really great when he gets back from playing soldier with his ROTC buddies, or when we're having a great road trip with the team. He just gets abusive when the he and a couple of teammates drown their losses in beer. But, it goes back to what you said earlier: survival." Leslie was clearly looking for acceptance. "Someone like Ralph would be a much better boyfriend, if he had any social skills. He's certainly a better lover, but he only has a 6.2 CAP." Again, Leslie's eyes got big and she clamped her hand over her mouth.

"Okay, it seems clear that we should all keep our deep, dark secrets to ourselves with Leslie in the room," Janet quipped rolling her eyes. "And just how would you know that Ralph is such a stud?"

"Okay, hold that thought." Lesa interrupted Janet and Leslie. "We're going to need some ground rules before moving forward with this line of discussion. I must say that I'm fascinated, but I really don't want to be part of a gossip ring. I'm going to make a BIG pot of coffee. Please leave the dishes where they are when you finish eating and make your way back to the study. Sara, will you please get Frankie and Sammy ready for bed? Once they're tucked in you're welcome to join us in the study."