Chapter 4

The next morning both of the girls were in my bed, as I lay on my back, each with a leg thrown over mine, and a hot little hand clasping my stiffy as if it was a security blanket. They were both nude, surprise surprise. I groaned because I had to pee, and managed to get up without waking either of them. I brushedX2, and went down to see if Mom needed any help being domestic.

I never worried about Mom or Dad finding the girls naked in bed with me, because due to their free range children ideas, once they assured that there was no coercion involved, they would allow us to make our own choices. My choice was to not make a big deal about it, and to let the girls get their daily allowance of human contact however they chose.

Mom was making waffles for breakfast, which was right up there on my list of favorites, just after blintzes or Swedish pancakes, in the fried cake category. she had me beat the whipping cream, or whip it, whatever. I preferred to use the hand beater, as I had more control over the final product. If you over beat the cream, you get butter, which isn't that bad for waffles, but better is just a nice firm whipping cream. I don't over sweeten, and Mom had made a nice blueberry topping, thick and lumpy with blueberries.

She enjoyed cooking for her family when she had time, but appreciated my help when she came home tired after work. She wouldn't spend all her free time today getting reacquainted with Dad, but would throw together a nice supper for the family at some point as well. I was sure she had added stuff to the list I had made when she shopped on her way home last night. I hoped that the girls wouldn't be too full of carnival crap to enjoy it.

After cleanup from breakfast, Mom drove us over to the boardwalk, and gave me twenty dollars to help pay for the rides. I got twenty a week for my watching the girls and cooking the dinners, so I was flush with cash, but the rides were not cheep, and the twenty bucks would help out.

I went and got the special, an all day pass for $15 each, which was actually a very good deal if you even rode the rides more than three times. We rode the rides a lot more than three times. As I had feared, my ears were ringing with the piercing screams of the double trouble, but it was worth it.

There was one dark spot to the day, but everything turned out alright in the end. A goofing kid defeated his restraints on the Ferris wheel, and had slipped, engendering screams which were more shrill and alarming than usually heard at the carnival. I turned the girl's heads into my chest to protect them from witnessing the near tragedy, and used their obscured sight to tie a knot in the drawstring of my sweatshirt while willing and Causing.

When the kid was finally lowered to safety, he had fainted but his hand was grasping the safety bar so hard they couldn't get his hand loose, until one if the paramedics thought to diddle the kids funny-bone, pinching the nerve in his elbow until his hand released. So, all is well that ends well, I guess that kid's guardian angel was paying attention this time.

At about four, we were all tired out, and I called Mom, who must have also been tired out, because she came to pick us up right away, and when we got home, it was almost time for dinner. She had made chicken and dumplings, one of the girls' all time favorite, and it was indeed tasty. Myself, I wouldn't use quite so much celery, but everyone has their own methods.

I would have de stringed the celery, and cooked it longer, perhaps sautéing it with the onions and mushrooms. Oh, she didn't use mushrooms, never mind. I would have to remember not to ever make chicken and dumplings, hers was good enough. Chicken with mushroom gravy and rice or potatoes, though. Hmm.

The next day was Sunday, and we all dressed up nice and went to church. It didn't offend me one bit, my beliefs were not so much religion as understanding my place in the balance of the Universe. I was a child of the Universe, and that didn't prevent me from being a child of god, in fact, they were probably much the same thing in a general way.

Besides, the Lutherans were probably only one step up from the Unitarians when it came to being more of a social club than a religion. The sermons were more about brethren and outreach than hell fire and damnation, and the deacons were more about setting up the picnic tables and folding chairs than passing the collection plate or knocking knobs with a polished staff to make certain you didn't doze during the sermon. I suppose if you were snoring, they might nudge you though.

I usually hung out in the annex in the basement entertaining the younger children anyway, and keeping an eye on the mischievous pair. Afterwards, we practiced polite mingling over coffee and desserts. The younger kids had punch, as the Koolade was called in these parts. Lutherans are all about dessert.

It was here that I learned that Miss Tiff had bounced the negativity and curses to four of the coven, from a pal, who described the scene but didn't know what it meant. I knew what it meant because I was the one who had crafted the intention. I wondered if any of them would show up for school, and then had to grin, there was a Monday night practice game against Lower Township, they had to show up. I almost felt sorry for them.

Sunday night Mom got to do her parenting stuff, and help the girls remember their homework they had neglected thus far this weekend. Free range children still had to get good grades, that was part of the deal. Choices were fine, but some things were obligatory, and schooling was one of them.

It was mandatory to attend, and mandatory to do your very best, also. The girls didn't mind doing their homework, and were pretty good about it, as long as they were not missing out on doing something more exciting, so after they finished their school obligations, we all sat down to a family game of Risk. It was fun, and funny.

Dad always wanted to dominate Hungary, and whatever other countries he could conquer. I guess it was kind of like always wanting to be the top hat when playing Monopoly, or something, but you could use that against him, and we all did.

Holly would always attack, so it was wise to re enforce your borders on her side, and Mom was willing to negotiate treaties with anyone, even if they were conflicting with her other treaties. You had to pay attention to just what her treaties with the other players were if you didn't want to begin pulling your hair out, if you allowed yourself to take it so seriously. Remember, just a game, just a fun family game.

Beth was the cutthroat one, hanging back until a timely commitment would gain her most of the board. She was able to control her hostility, unlike gang-banger Holly, who went for blood anytime she could. Beth would play placidly and conservatively, until suddenly, she swooped in from the flanks and obliterated you.

Me. I lost, Beth won, Dad was Hungary. Holly was wiped out to a man, and Mom was allied with everyone. Just like always. How did I lose, knowing all that?

Monday I woke up alone, and was the first one into the kitchen. I whipped up some bacon, hash browns, and scrambled eggs for everyone, putting it into the oven to keep warm. I started the coffee, and the scent predictably drew my bemused Mom into the kitchen. She set the table, and we all sat down to breakfast together, the girls still in their nightgowns. After the traditional physical rituals of farewell, I got my bike and left for school.

Another day which threatened but didn't deliver on a promise of rain, I rode my bike to school in spite of the dreary looking sky. The whispers in the Sophomore section of the Quad were about the four senior cheerleaders, who were pioneering a brave new look today. wearing black and orange baseball football helmets, they were wearing football jerseys and jackets.

All their hair was tucked up in the helmets, and they had black anti-glare under their eyes, which were hidden behind dark glasses anyway. Bets were being taken as to if the fad would take hold, and sweep the school, at least on game days.

In PhysEd, the 'coach' as he liked to be called, was preoccupied with going over play schematics for the practice game and just had them running laps. No screamed last names, no whistle. Everyone was happy to slog around the gym, silent but for the squeaking of rubber soles against the varathane coated wood floor. No one wanted to draw Coach's attention or ire.

In English, Miss Tiff was happier, although she tried not to let it be obvious. I could tell. The comments between classes had almost stopped, and it was just normal girls who were trying to gain points by picking on a 'target', and not the coven and cohorts. If Miss Tiff had been snobbish as a queen bee at her former school, she was no longer that person anymore. She would befriend anyone who was at all friendly or even accepting of her, no matter their social status.

In History, I thought about defensive spells, ways I could ask the Universe to help me in need, if I requested it. I also reviewed all the former ways I had Caused, and thought about how they might translate into other situations. I looked very inattentive, but then I always did in this class, and the teacher wasn't willing to risk me defending against an ambush question again.

In science, Miss Tiff was all business, as I had requested. I did ask her if she was going to attend the practice game with Lower Township, sort of nudging her that it would be a swell idea for her to be there. She got with the program, and I mentioned that the Dean's list section would welcome someone with her academic qualifications, and she might find new friends there. She smiled gratefully at me. Wow, that felt good.

I would be buried among the Sophomores, protected and camouflaged in my natural element, invisible and undetected. I left my bike at school, it should be alright until after the game, and took the bus home. I made shrimp salads for snack, and meatloaf for dinner.

Dad was willing to drive me to the game, and since I had a helmet and reflective vest as well as blinking lights, he was ok with me riding back after the game. The bike trails in Cape May County were among the best in the country, and had been built earlier than almost any other bike system in the country.

Yeah, I could have Caused a certain outcome for the game, but that wasn't the way it was meant to work. There was no reason it mattered to the Universe who won or lost, it was just a game, and the losers would get over it. I didn't really care either, who won or who lost.

Those dumb jocks looked really stupid with their anti-reflective black smudges under their mascaraed eyes. At least they had removed their jewelry and studs/ Lower Township was All American type, with short haircuts and clean bright faces. They were the sons of fishermen and crabbers, not many tourists filtered down to the point. They worked summers out on boats, not like the Middle Township boys, who if they had a job at all, was in some retail shop or souvenir stand, or some greasy fish and chips joint.

Even so, there was a larger pool of talent to pick over in Middle, plus the witches were not averse to using charms and spells OT affect the game's outcome, so yay. Hooray for Middle, go team. Lower will get over it, again. It was funny watching the cheer squad, four of them dressed as bench warmers, in jerseys and helmets. I wondered how long they would wear them for.

I kept my eye out for their warlock, knowing that he was the one directing the efforts of the coven. Cut off the head, and the body will die.