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Child Brides of India
By: C. Stanton Leman
Chapter 87: Miko Visits (MFFfg, rom, no sex)
When Miko left, the three of us looked at each other and
Priya smiled then quipped, "Well, THAT went very well don't
you think?"
"Very well indeed!" Monaavi chimed in.
"You shameless hussies!" I retorted, "A
couple of
matchmaking hussies!"
Priya feigned a slave's overindulgent homage with,
"Oh
master, we only live to see to your every desire and
happiness."
"When did I say I wanted another wife?" I
asked blindly.
"It's our tireless duty oh Master," Monaavi
bowed following
Priya's lead, "To anticipate your every need and whim."
"All right, get serious now," I said, trying
to direct the
conversation, "What do you think?"
"I think," Priya answered after a giggle,
"That she's
sincere. Her actions verify her statement in that when she
found out I was delivering and requested to be assigned to
me. I told Monaavi that I fully expected to hear from her.
Basically because of her actions with Leeya: she just
seemed TOO understanding. When she found out Leeya's age
and she didn't flinch, I knew that her suspicions were correct."
Monaavi put in with, "Sean, she's opened herself up
to lose
her license and be fired for having initiating a desire for
personal contact with a patient. It took all the courage
she had to say what she just said."
"Yeah," I agreed, "But she's also got the
goods on me and
could report me."
"You're not stupid, Sean," Priya said,
"She'd never do
that. She'd blame herself for everything and go to prison
herself before breaking your confidence. She somehow felt
safe in coming to me, and it took a lotta guts to admit to
us she's attracted to our husband."
"I just can't grasp her thinking though," I pondered
out
loud, "I mean, even if she knew of our familial
arrangement, what would possess her to make the overture?"
"Validation." Monaavi answered, "Look
Sean, I've never been
hurt like she or many of my college friends were, but I've
helped deal with the effects. You've heard the expression
"Once bitten twice shy?" She's had an experience that's
been traumatic for her and she doesn't trust herself enough
to trust again and let someone in. A guy may seem be too
good to be true and as soon as he gets in her pants, his
real colors come out. All girls who've been burned look
around and they get the feeling that all the good men are
taken. Her appraisal of you is validated by our
interactions and how we express ourselves unconsciously.
She's also aware that you're not a one-woman man and we
accept that."
Taking a drink of water Monaavi continued, "She
thinks that
since we are accepting of being in a multiple partner
relationship, that she might have a chance to be part of
that. I think she's really thought this out and sees this
as a complete package for her: a loving spouse and a needed
support system with us. There's also the fact that your
actions would be tempered by the fact that you'd be watched
by us girls and any assessment she'd make is verified or
denied by using your wives as a sounding board. I think
she's made a compromise within herself thinking she's
willing to give up on an exclusive one-on-one relationship
for one where she's still loved and supported, at least
that's how I see it."
"My gosh," I replied shaking my head,
"Are we THAT
obvious?"
Priya shuffled on the bed and answered, "Love needs
to be
expressed and we express it. We're always gonna run the
risk of someone seeing that."
"Boy!" I chuckled, "Are Mom and Dad gonna
be shocked with
this one!"
Priya giggled and remarked, "No more shocked than
hearing
you poke Leeya."
"Geez!" I resigned, "You guys never
quit!"
Just then, Dr. Simpson walked in with a warm smile and
greeting. He walked over to the bed and examined Priya
saying everything looked fine and that after Malina had
been in the hospital twenty-four hours, she'd be given her
hearing test. If everything checked out, Priya and Malina
could come home this afternoon.
He said he had something he wanted to discuss and asked
to
be seated. Offering him a seat, he sat next to me and
coughed to collect his thoughts, looked at Monaavi and I
and turned to Priya to speak. I asked him if he wanted us
to leave so he could talk privately with Priya but he said
we could stay.
He began by saying, "Priya, I'd like to talk to you
about
something that concerns your family. Now, if I only get
answers from you, there's a doctor/patient privilege and I
can't reveal what you tell me. If you speak Sean, it's not
privileged information, do we understand each other?"
"What's this about?" Priya asked, worried.
"It's about your lifestyle," Dr Simpson
replied,
"Understand that I'm a doctor: your doctor and Monaavi's
doctor and my only concern is for your health. It's not my
position to make judgments on how you live, so no matter
how you answer, you'll get the same level of care from me,
understand?"
"I understand," Priya said pensively,
"But what does my
care have to do with my lifestyle?"
"Let me qualify something first," he answered,
"Then I'll
answer your question with my own observations. I've been
trained to observe my patients very well. In order to
ensure that my patient is supported through this difficult
time and has as few stresses as possible, her mental
wellbeing and relationship with her spouse are integral to
her care. A loved and supported wife makes for a normal,
healthy pregnancy and delivery."
He paused for a moment and Priya urged him, "Go
on."
"Now remember," Dr. Simpson re-iterated,
"Whatever you tell
me is privileged: even in a court of law it won't be
revealed, but what you answer will determine what I say
next. Understand?"
"I understand," Priya affirmed, "What's
your question?"
"Mind you," He revealed, "My only concern
in asking the
question is for medical reasons. It is my observation,
having had both you and Monaavi as patients and conducted
both of your deliveries, is that you, Monaavi and the
preteen girl present at both of these deliveries are all in
an intimate, polygamist type of relationship with Sean. Is this true?"
Monaavi gasped and Priya silently answering by the
shocked
look on her face, turned to me for a sign to verbally
answer or not. I figured that the information was secret
and he must have had a valid reason to ask, so I nodded for
her to answer.
Priya looked at him with a stoic look and replied,
"You're
a very observant man."
"I know I'm observant, Priya," he countered,
"But you
didn't answer my question."
"Yes," Priya confirmed, "We are. What's
this got to do with
my treatment?"
"I'll tell you why," he answered, "As you
know, when you
first came to see me, I took a medical history from you.
You lied to me about when you started having sex: THAT
could have caused complications. I'm an experienced
gynecologist and know a woman's anatomy with precision and
I knew you'd been having sex for at least four or five
years, which would have put you about eleven. It makes no
difference to me, nor is it any of my business when or why
you chose to start having intimate relations, but I assure
you my bringing this issue up is for medical reasons only."
"And what are they?" Priya asked.
"As your doctor and Monaavi's," he answered,
"I know your
histories, but what of the young girl? If she's sexually
active, she needs regular gynecological exams and care.
Would you go to another doctor and run the risk of keeping
him in the dark when she needs treatment? I can better care
for all of you, knowing what your family history is, much
better. I can care for all of you and you can have the
confidence that your life is secret with me because it's
not an issue with me. As long as she never reveals openly
to me that she's engaging in sex with an adult until she's
eighteen, I can overlook the fact that I tacitly know as
long as she's not being abused. I'm offering you care for
all the women in your family with discretion only because
I'm quite sure I understand that this is a very loving and
supportive relationship. I have as much, if not more, to
lose by offering my services in this way."
"Then why offer?" Priya asked.
"I've been around long enough to know and treated
hundreds
of patients" Dr. Simpson revealed, "That I understand there
are many ways a loving relationship can express itself.
With ALL my patients, my primary concern is their physical
and mental health. I don't judge people, I just treat them.
Regardless of how they choose to live their lives, they're
entitled to the best medical care I can give them. And I
will admit that I would like to examine the young girl and
make sure for myself she's in a loving, stable environment.
This will be borne out over time as I see her as her
doctor. Well, that's what this discussion has been all
about, any questions?"
Knowing her information was privileged also, Monaavi cut
in
with, "Yeah, just one: is it THAT obvious?"
Dr. Simpson chuckled and replied, "That young girl
is so in
love, a blind man could sense it!"
We had to chuckle with him as he rose to leave. He
patted
Priya's leg and said, "Everything's fine, you and the baby
can go home today after her hearing test, OK?"
"Thank you Dr. Simpson," Priya replied.
"The nurse will be in with your discharge
instructions. I
want to see you in six weeks, and make an appointment for
the younger girl: what's her name?"
"Leeya," she answered.
"Fine. Make an appointment for Leeya at the same
time and
I'll see you both. Gotta go, see you later and good luck
with the little one. Bye now." He said as he turned to
leave.
"Bye, and thank you again," Priya responded.
A few minutes later the nurse came in and we filled out
the
birth certificate and social security card information and
purchased the photos. She gave Priya her discharge
instructions and left. An hour later, our pediatrician came
in and gave Malina her physical and said she was ready to
go home.
Priya's lunch came, but knowing we were going home soon,
she didn't eat. The baby woke to be fed and Monaavi
summoned the nurse for the pre-pumped colostrum Priya had
pumped. After warming it, the nurse returned and Priya
bottle fed Malina her gift then handed her over to Monaavi
for feeding. Priya pumped as Monaavi nursed. A nurse came
in and said that after her feeding, they'd take Malina to
the nursery for her hearing test, then she could go home.
Malina returned about one-thirty from the nursery and I
changed and dressed her to go home. While waiting for the
nurse to accompany us to the car, I went and had the valet
bring the car, giving him a fifty.
A few minutes later, they wheeled Priya out the door in
a
wheelchair as Monaavi pushed the basinet. The nurse checked
our ID bands and said we could take the baby home. I helped
Priya into the car, then buckled Malina into the car seat
with the nurse looking on. When I'd finished, the nurse
checked everything and with a pleasant goodbye, Monaavi and
I got in the car and we headed for home.
We arrived home about two forty-five to awaiting hugs,
kisses and coos for mother and child. Monaavi took Priya
and Malina upstairs to rest, as we sat at the table and
talked. Monaavi returned about fifteen minutes later and
joined us.
When Monaavi sat down, the grilling began when Mom
asked,
"All right you two, what's going on?"
I looked over at Leeya and she had a guilty look on her
face as she shrugged her shoulders. I sighed as I first
looked at Monaavi, then at Leeya and replied, "What
specifically do you mean?"
"Don't play games with me, Sean," Mom warned,
"The little
snot spilled the beans."
"I'm sorry," Leeya whined, "It just sorta
slipped out."
"Well?" Mom asked waiting.
"Mom…" Monaavi said, before being cut off.
"Shut up, Monaavi," Mom ordered, "I asked
Sean a question."
I then went into the entire detailed explanation of what
Priya said to me on the phone last night and our subsequent
meeting with Miko this morning. I also told her about our
discussion with Dr. Simpson.
"God!" Mom said sharply, "You guys are
full of surprises.
When's this shit gonna end: when you've got one for every
day of the week? At least now your getting them old enough
to legally play."
"Mom," Monaavi put in, "It's not like
that. Miko, through
astute observation, deduced our family dynamic. She sees
our unique family arrangement as a way to find her own
happiness and she's only hopeful, not expecting a
relationship with us. She's like us Mom, she'll fit in and
she's a wonderful person who's reaching out to be loved."
"Who's idea was this anyway?" Mom asked.
"Priya's and mine," Monaavi admitted.
"And she agreed to wait until Leeya had her first
before
having a child?" Mom asked her.
"Yes," Monaavi nodded, "With open
arms."
"Well," Mom said, "Your father and I
aren't very happy
about this, but we'll just wait and see what she's like.
You guys are the one's that have to live with her, so
there's really nothing more we can say. You Ok with this snot?"
"For now," Leeya answered, "I wanna hear
she'll respect my
rights first."
"When's she coming?" Mom asked me.
"After Priya and the baby are settled in," I
replied, "I
told her I'd call her."
Shaking her head Mom commented, "Just think:
ANOTHER
country heard from. She's Japanese isn't she?"
"Yes," I confirmed, "Born in Osaka but
she's a US citizen
now."
"From what I remember," Mom recollected,
"She's a very
pretty woman: still looks like an older teen."
"She's REAL pretty," Leeya nodded, "And
nice too."
"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Mom
replied, "Won't we?"
Everyone just nodded in agreement.
The next week or so went pretty well with Malina. Her
nightly feedings were ranging from about midnight to five
am after two weeks. Her skin color was slowly darkening and
she now had a medium mulatto-type complexion. Her huge
black eyes were the focal point of her beautiful face, and
like all babies, relished in being cuddled and held.
Priya now had enough confidence that she nursed Malina
directly from the breast, even though she only produced
about an ounce total per feeding. Monaavi was selfless and
let Leeya nurse what she could give and as a result,
Monaavi suffered from engorged painful breasts many a
night. She would pump what she could but sometimes it
wasn't enough. She'd pump, bag, label and freeze what
wasn't used for future use. She felt it was a small price
to pay for letting her sisters experience the joy of
nursing a child.
I called Miko about one pm on Tuesday the following week
and woke her up. After she was awake enough to realize who
had called, she perked up and said she was happy to finally
hear from me. Miko said she'd had a delivery that went on
for hours and just got to bed about an hour ago. I asked
her when her next days off were and she replied that she
had worked ten days straight and had a four day respite
starting on Thursday. I asked her when she'd like to come
over and she replied that since she'd get off work on
Wednesday at midnight she'd like to visit on Thursday
morning if it wasn't a problem.
Miko wasn't expecting it but I asked her if she'd like
to
spend a couple of days with us or simply do day trips. She
seemed to blush over the phone and meekly requested to stay
for her entire long weekend and I agreed. We arranged for
her to come by around eleven am and I gave her my address.
She said that she'd get directions from the Internet
because she didn't understand some of the directions I gave
her. I apologized for waking her and told her to go back to
sleep and get her rest and she thanked me for thinking of
her. We disconnected with polite goodbyes.
We decided to have her bunk with Leeya. Leeya wanted
Miko
to stay with her, so Attiya moved in for the four days with
her mother.
The next two days were nervous ones for all of us. It
was
kinda funny because all of us sat around the table trying
to learn some basic Japanese phrases. Monaavi was like a
busy bee, conducting class, pumping, helping with the baby,
nursing and attending to Priya.
Priya's recovery was painful and slow: not like
Monaavi's
who seemed to have been bred to bear children without too
much difficulty. Her episiotomy was healing slowly and the
eighteen hours of labor had really taken its toll on her.
She took it with pride and kept her spirits up, knowing she
was now a mother and happier for it. She had a good friend
from school keep her abreast of assignments and lectures so
she wouldn't fall behind and also turned in her work for her.
The twins were well behaved (a big surprise) during this
period after Malina came home and were very affectionate
and gentle as they handled their little sister. They were
now doing advanced first grade work at five and a half.
Tina, who was taking after Leeya and seemed to have a
knack
for kids, did her share to help out and she was now a full
year ahead in her studies. Attiya chugged along
academically and was on grade and doing well. Although
fairly quiet, she was very communicative when she had
something to say and she said it plainly. Her skill on the
piano was simply incredible!
Leeya, the little nursing mother, was now two and a half
grades advanced and at that rate, would graduate high
school when she was fifteen. She still tutored, nursed and
helped care for the twins like an adult.
Mom, ever in control, ran the household, coordinated
everyone's tasks and assigned new ones. Dad just spent his
time hanging out with Adib, fishing at the pond, puttering
around the garage or spoiling his grandbabies and was often
seen in the family room asleep with Malina asleep on his
chest. He really treasured that child!
Malina was getting darker by the day and was now
becoming a
beautiful creamy light chocolate brown. She'd smile and coo
just about every time you spoke to her and was a very happy
and spoiled little princess (thanks to Poppy).
Me, I was just the toe sucking letch that went to work
to
pay the bills. Seriously though, I worked hard and we were
slowly coming out of our financial slump and making good
profits again. The more I did this job the more I admired
and appreciated my Dad and all the years of hard work he'd
put into this company.
Monaavi had given up her room to Adib and Salima while
they
were here and was doubled up with Priya and the baby.
Salima spent her time with Priya when Monaavi held classes.
When not with Priya, Salima spent a lot of time with Mom,
talking about life, family and the future. Adib: he and Dad
were like two old fogey's patting each other on the backs
for their having sired such successful and fruitful children.
Adib and Salima were a little apprehensive about Miko
but
kept an open mind simply because they'd come to trust
Priya's, Monaavi's and my instincts with regards to our
family. They were concerned about her non-Muslim faith and
her Japanese culture more than anything else. Mom teased
them, saying it was a good thing to gain some religious
parity among the clan.
Thursday morning came and everyone was in a buzz waiting
for our oriental guest to arrive. Just for the hell of it,
at ten-thirty I looked at the security monitor and brought
up the camera that covers the entry gate. I saw a car
parked just inside the drive and noticed by the emblem on
the hood that it was an Acura. I told everyone that I
thought she was at the gate and we waited for the intercom
to buzz.
We waited.
We waited some more and I checked the camera: car's
still
there.
At precisely eleven O' clock, the buzzer sounded. I
answered, "Hello?"
The voice on the other end was Miko and she replied,
"Excuse me, I'm here to see Mr. Sean Michaels please."
I buzzed the gate and watched on the monitor as it began
to
open and said over the speaker, "Come on in Miko, Just
follow the drive up to the house. I'll meet you outside."
"My gosh," Mom observed, "She's so polite
and formal."
"She's really frightened Mom," Priya remarked,
"Let's try
and make this as easy as possible for her everyone, OK?"
"Oh hell Priya," Mom retorted, "No one
can be as friendly
as this bunch, don't worry about it, she'll be fine: just
wait and see!"
I went outside just as Miko's silver Acura Legend pulled
up
and stopped. She removed her sunglasses, opened the door
and slowly exited the car. Every time we'd seen her, she
wore baggy scrubs at the hospital. She now wore a pair of
tight jeans and a flowered halter-top. As she exited the
car, her long straight black hair blew across her face and
she smiled demurely as she took a finger and pulled it from
her face.
Miko stood about five feet tall and weighed roughly one
hundred and five pounds or so. She had a very fair,
flawless complexion for an Asian, her skin being almost
white. She had pert, smallish breasts, about an "A" cup,
with a tight, cute and compact butt, a thin waist, small
hips and slender longish-looking legs for her height. She
wore white, strapped sandaled pumps that showed small
slender feet with tiny stubby toes, the nails painted a
deep red to match her fingernails and lipstick.
She has smallish, shell-like ears similar to Monaavi's,
large expressive black almond-shaped eyes with a small
mouth and normal sized lips. Her warm and inviting smile
showed her small pearly white teeth and lit up her face.
Miko Ozawa was indeed a very pretty, petite, exotic
bombshell that got your motor running!
"Well hi there!" I greeted, "Glad you
could make it."
'Thank you for inviting me," she replied
respectfully.
"Let's go inside and meet the gang," I invited
as I
motioned to the door.
"Thank you," she replied and started for the
door.
She stopped at the back door and I reached around her,
opened the door and invited her inside. Miko stepped into
the breakfast area to see what probably looked like a
throng of people. She stopped dead in her tracks at seeing
so many people and as I closed the door behind me, everyone
greeted her with "Konnichiwa!"
Miko blushed a nice shade of rosy pink, put her hands
together between her legs and bowed gracefully and returned
the greeting with "Domo arigato, konnichiwa."
Priya and Monaavi moved to her, embraced her and invited
her to sit at the table. Miko was still a little
overwhelmed by the crowd and was in a state of continual
blush as the introductions were made, with a slight head
bow after each introduction. When they were finished, Priya
giggled, "A big family, huh?"
Miko nodded and replied shyly, " Yes, very big indeed."
Mom, feeling empathy for her said, "Miko, why so
shy?
You're were so much in control at the hospital."
Miko blushed again and replied, "Because there, a
baby's
life and its mother's is at stake. Every time a mother
delivers a child, I'm proud to have done my part to make
that process a happy one. People's lives depend on me to be
the best nurse I can be and make their experience as
pleasant as it can be, under the circumstances. Here, I'm
just a woman meeting new people. I've always been very shy
and I don't socialize much. You must forgive me for being
so awkward."
Priya reassured her by taking her hand and saying,
"You can
be yourself here, don't worry."
Miko's eyes started to well up and Mom tried to sooth
her
with, "Miko, please don't cry, everyone here has waited
with the anticipation of meeting you for several days.
What's wrong, Sweetie?"
Bowing her head as I handed her a napkin, she replied,
"I
just feel embarrassed because everyone probably knows why
I'm here. This is a very personal thing to me, and it
frightens me that everyone knows my personal history and
secret feelings, also I don't want to disappoint anyone."
"Miko, look at me," Mom said firmly.
Surprised by Mom's forceful tone, she looked up
wide-eyed
with full attention on Mom. Mom said openly, "Yes, it's
true, everyone knows. Let's get this out of the way so we
can have a pleasant friendly stay. When you're in the
hospital working, and you're not sure of the medical facts,
it's frightening, yes?"
Miko nodded.
Mom continued, "But when you have the facts and
know where
you stand, it makes things a whole lot easier right?"
"Yes Ma'am," Miko replied with a nod.
"Alright then," Mom said, "Here's where
you stand. Priya's
parents, Adib and Salima, along with Sean's parents, John
and I have reservations about what's happening. Not with
you personally, but the situation. But we trust our
children's judgment and we have not and will not prejudge
you. We will keep an open mind, trusting that you are a
person suited to fit into their family. We as parents have
no say as to whether or not they accept you: that's purely
up to them."
Taking a sip of water Mom continued, "What I WILL
say is
that you will be treated with the utmost respect and shown
every courtesy and we'll try to understand you, your
feelings, your culture and your religious beliefs and try
to make your stay with us a fruitful one. Everyone sitting
here knows how hard this must be for you and we admire your
courage for following your heart. The people within the
marriage you seek to become a part of have determined that
they want to verify if their feelings that you CAN become a
part of this family are true. I can't be any plainer than
that. Just be yourself, trust your instincts and
communicate your feelings to those that count. If this is
meant to happen, it will; if it doesn't, then it's for the
best. Either way, you'll always be welcome in our home with
open arms. Now… did I scare you to death or help alleviate
your fears?"
"Domo," Miko answered with a slight head bow,
"I appreciate
and thank you for your candor. I do feel less frightened
knowing from what footing I begin my journey."
"Well," Dad injected, "Knowing the little
snot here (points
to Leeya), your journey will be an interesting one!"
Everyone laughed as Leeya feigned a pout.
Mom remarked, "You'll have to excuse us but we can
sometimes seem rude or irreverent, but it's done in loving
jest. Having said that, (turning to everyone) do we put her
on a spit and grill her now or do you want to slow roast
her?"
Miko blushed and asked politely, "May I
speak?"
"You'd better," Mom jokingly replied.
"I think," Miko said, "The best thing to
do now is for me
to answer any questions you may have about me. That way, we
can devote more time to getting to know each other."
"Alright folks," Mom quipped, "She's
chosen to be grilled
now, so ask away."
Adib asked her what she knew about the Muslim faith and
she
replied that she believed that both Muslims and Christians
believed in the same God: the God of Abraham but she knew
little of the workings of Islam: its customs, its rituals
or doctrine except that we follow Mohammad and our God is
called Allah.
"Could you," Adib asked, "If you join
this Muslim family,
adhere to and obey certain observances and customs?"
"Yes I could," Miko answered, "As long as
I wasn't asked to
violate my faith."
"Would you consider converting?" Salima asked.
"No one knows the future," Miko responded,
"But right now,
no, I'm happy with my faith."
Salima asked her if she'd wear a veil in public, follow
a
dress code, eat our diet and pray with us at morning and
evening prayers.
Miko answered with, "I would wear a veil as
required and
eating a certain diet isn't a problem. I will dress as a
modest married woman should and I will pray when my family
prays: they to Allah, me to Jesus Christ."
"May I ask a question?" she added.
"By all means," Salima replied.
"How come none of you are wearing veils now?"
Miko asked.
"We are at home and with our families," Leeya answered,
"It's kinda like wearing a nightgown at home: families are
allowed this informality but not in the outside world."
"Oh, I see now," Miko replied, "Thank
you."
"Jesus!" Dad blurted out, "Why can't the
Muslims and Jews
get along like this?"
"What about your Japanese heritage and
language?" Mom
asked, "Would you want your children to learn to speak
Japanese, and what of the other children?"
"Hai." Miko firmly answered with a nod,
"Yes, I'm proud of
my heritage, language and culture. I would be honored to
teach anyone who wanted to learn Japanese history, culture
and language and I would expect my children to learn as
well, along with the languages of their other sibling's tongue."
"Well spoken!" Mom commended, "Speaking of Japanese, what
does Miko mean?"
"It means," she replied, "Beautiful
fragrance."
"That's pretty," Salima remarked.
"I don't know about the rest of you," Mom cut
in, "But I
think we've covered the general areas, the rest is for the
kids to share between themselves, agreed?"
"Now," Mom added as she stood, "Who's
ready for a barbeque!"
When food was mentioned, everyone approved. Dad and Adib
headed to the deck to prepare the grill and Miko asked,
"May I help prepare something?"
"Why yes," Mom smiled and replied as she gave
her a squeeze
around the shoulders, "God help you young girls: a wife
that cooks!"
Mom quickly put Miko to work cutting the vegetables for
the
salad. We stood in wide-eyed amazement at our Asian guest.
Holding a meat cleaver by the blade she began cutting
everything so fast she looked like a human food processor!
Priya asked her, "How do you do that?"
Without breaking her rhythm, Miko turned to her and
said,
"Do what?"
"That!" (Pointing the chopping blade) Priya
asked in
amazement.
"Oh," Miko replied, "Momma taught me as a
child."
The preparations finished, the steaks and lamb kabobs on
the grill, Miko spent time playing "It" with the twins and
Tina in the yard.
It didn't take long for everyone to see she was great
with
kids and they took to her readily with open arms. When
dinner was served, my ornery girls seated Miko next to me.
Miko seemed flustered and blushed hotly if any contact was
made between us during dinner.
Seeing Miko's giddiness, Priya joked, "Miko, he's
harmless,
he's just a toe sucking wimp. If he plays with your knee
under the table, just slap him up 'side the head."
Miko choked on her iced tea and had to cover her face to
hid her nasal discharge. Monaavi joined in and quipped,
"But then if you WANT him to play with your knee, just
scoot a little closer."
With everyone watching this verbal play, after wiping
her
face Miko scooted a fraction closer to me. She immediately
covered her face with embarrassment and blurted out, "I
can't believe I just did that!"
It was good for a laugh as I exaggeratedly fondled her
knee
(a very nice small one at that!) to much wiggling. Mom
smiled wryly and quipped, "A Freudian slip I presume."
"Naw," Monaavi chimed in, "I teach
science: it was
definitely a chemical reaction."
Miko blushed a bright pink and said, "God! I'm so
embarrassed!"
"Don't be," Leeya added, "It's all about
them there
tingles, right?"
"Tingles?" Miko asked.
"Yeah," Leeya replied, "I'll tell ya
later."
"There she goes Miko," Priya joked wagging her
head, "She's
the resident sex Ed teacher here."
Miko's mouth dropped, her eyes bugged out looking at
Leeya
as Leeya giggled. Miko suddenly realized what tingles Leeya
was talking about and gasped, "Oh-my-Gosh!"
Mom chuckled and said, "Sorry Miko but one of the
disadvantages to having so many sister wives is that
there's nothing that's out of bounds, better get used to it
because they can get mighty feisty sometimes."
Priya looked at Leeya and scowled, "Harlot."
"Dirty wench," Leeya exchanged.
"Do you ALL have nicknames?" Miko asked.
"Uh huh, Priya's is the nastiest," Leeya
noted.
"But I got the most," she added proudly.
"I'm afraid to ask," Miko replied.
"Well," Monaavi explained, "I'm the long
nippled screamer,
also currently the cow, Priya is the bald pussy nasty girl
and dirty wench and Leeya has several: naughty harlot,
fuzzy little beaver, little minx, dirty little girl, horny
snot- whatever comes to mind, and Sean is the dirty 'ole
letch. If you marry the letch, give us a week, we'll come
up with a good one for you."
"Gosh," Miko said, "I wonder what
nickname you'd pick for
me?"
"Slut's still open," Monaavi quipped.
Standing her ground, Miko replied, "That's a tough
name to
live up to."
"Don't worry," Priya added, "the letch'll
teach you."
Biting her bottom lip in mock anger, Miko stuck ME in
the
arm with her fork: Ouch!
Miko looked at Leeya wide eyed and asked, "Are you
THAT
active?"
"Uh huh," Leeya admitted slowly as she nodded
yes.
Priya explained to Miko, "Look Sweetie, we have no
jealousy
or secrets from each other. It takes an open mind and some
humor to watch your husband close the bedroom door with
someone other than you. We share each other's experiences
and there's no shame with any of us. This lifestyle has its
advantages and disadvantages. You gain a sisterhood but in
doing so you give up privacy. We have no secrets between us
and everything is open: that's why we aren't jealous of
each other, got it?"
"Wait 'til she has her first family night!"
Leeya teased.
"W-w-what's a family night?" Miko asked
surprised.
"That's when we have a big org-ee," Leeya
teased some more.
"That's orgy Leeya with a soft "G" not a
hard one," Monaavi
corrected.
"Do you REALLY have orgies?" Miko asked
shocked.
"Naw," Priya ribbed, "She's just pullin'
your short hairs."
"My God!" Miko blushingly exclaimed, "You
guys are so
open!"
"Alright kids," Mom cut in, "Play nice.
Miko, these scarlet
women are just trying to shock you. Ready to leave yet?"
"Never been to an org-ee before," Miko
rebutted with a
blushing giggle.
"Lord help us!" Mom pined to the heavens,
"She'll fit right
in."
"Being very serious Miko," Priya explained,
"Sex is a very
big part of our relationship: just like in any marriage but
because there's more than one wife, there's just a lot more
of it. Our love is so deep for each other it makes the sex
fantastic. Here at home, we feel no shame in talking about
it between ourselves: why should we? Sex is an expression
of love and we don't hide our feelings, and we never will.
To be frank, if you join us, there will be even more sex,
and with it comes more to talk about (giggle). If this is
going to be a problem for you, speak up now because it
would be tragic to admit it later on."
"With those I trust with my life," Miko
answered, "I could
share anything."
"Enough said," I put in, finishing the
discussion.
We'd talked for what seemed like an hour but was
actually
three. It was now five pm and everyone was stuffed and the
everyday tasks of life interrupted us. Malina woke crying
to be fed, all the kids had to be bathed and readied for
bed and we still had the cleanup to do.
Miko offered to bathe the twins and wash their hair
while
Guernsey cow, chocolate cow and baby cow went for the group
baby feeding. I helped my parents clean up the deck and
dishes. Miko came down looking sexy, the ends of her hair
wet and her top a little wet also.
Once the necessities were completed, everyone migrated
to
the family room. It was a nice cool, clear, spring evening
so my wives and I, along with Miko, decided to sit out on
the deck and talk. We made another pitcher of iced tea and
headed outside.
Once seated, Miko filled us in a little of her history.
She
went to high school in San Mateo, California, an upscale
suburb of San Francisco. She obtained her nursing degree,
specializing in neonatal and pediatric nursing, from
Children's Hospital Medical School in San Francisco.
She began her career working in pediatric emergency at
Children's Hospital because at the time, there weren't any
slots open in the OB/GYN or the NICU. That's where she met
the intern she became involved with.
Monaavi asked her how she came to Maryland and she
replied
that she had another Japanese nursing friend who worked at
GBMC. She came back here to visit after her breakup for a
couple of weeks and took a tour of the hospital. She liked
the environment and they had an opening in Labor and
Delivery, so she applied. She's been here ever since.
Miko told us she occasionally works in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) when they are short staffed,
such as holidays or vacations, but works primarily in L &
D. She told Monaavi that her NICU experience had honed her
skills so that she's able to accurately spot problems
quickly, like she had recognized with Cinny, having the
cord wrapped around her neck.
Leeya asked her if she'd seen a baby die and Miko teared
up
and silently nodded yes, then said, "It's a bitterly tragic
and sad thing to experience. The first time it happened to
me, it shook me so bad that I was off for a week, had some
counseling and wondered if I could continue to work. The
saddest thing is when a fetus is alive and well right up to
delivery and complications arise and for some reason, the
child either dies at childbirth or shortly thereafter. When
this happens, we feel as hopeless as the grieving parents
because even if there was nothing we could do, we feel we
failed somehow and grieve inside over the loss also."
"What DON'T you like about your job?" Priya
asked.
"The shift work," Miko answered, "Once in
a while, I have
to work all three shifts in a week, but usually either
evening shift or graveyard. I chose these shifts because I
don't really have a personal life and it gives the married
girls a chance to be home with their families. If I were to
get married, I'd try to work days as much as possible, but
there'd still be some shift work."
"Miko?" Leeya said softly, "I need to ask
you a question in
front of everyone here and it's very important to me."
Miko looked down, smiled softly and looking back up at
Leeya replied, "I know what you want to ask but ask your
question and I will answer."
"Since I married Sean six years ago," Leeya
began, "I've
dreamt of having a baby. It's more than the little girl
dream that all girls have, because I'm really married and
love Sean with every breath I take. Even though I can get
pregnant now, I must wait until I finish school. Monaavi
and now Priya had had a child with Sean, and Sean and my
sisters have promised that my time will come. If you join
us, you can have a child now, but would you wait and let
me, as second wife be next? I know that would mean that you
would probably be past thirty, but this is important to me:
could you wait until I'm pregnant to become pregnant too?"
"I've been asked this question by Sean," Miko
answered,
"And being the fourth wife, and deferring to your status, I
would honor the promises made to you and wait my turn. My
hope has only been for one child, but if I were privileged
to have more, it would be a blessing I never expected to
receive. I will honor you and defer to you as my position
calls for me to do, and wait with anticipation for my time
to come."
"This is all new and strange for me," Miko
continued,
"Because you have a protocol that I'd need to learn. I
never expected that I would ever be in a situation where I
would share a spouse if I married, but seeing the
possibilities before me, and what I feel in my heart, I
would gain more than I would give up. I'll be perfectly
honest because you have given me the chance to show I can
be a part of all of you, you have made me feel that I'm
worthy to be loved and deserve to be loved. If I can feel
as loved as the three of you, my life would be filled to
overflowing. I am humbled by your faith and trust in me. I
will honor your faith and customs, as I hope you'll honor
mine, and work as diligently to contribute to this family
as I do to help a child take its first breath."
"That's very touching Miko," Priya said,
"If we didn't
believe that from the very beginning, you wouldn't be here.
By considering a new sister, our whole dynamic would be
changed forever. Although this may sound prejudicial, one
of the main reasons we feel you can add to our family is
the fact that you're Asian. Although many don't believe
Indians are Asians, we are. Our concept and approach to
being women is different: many of us are more tolerant,
less self-centered: this may be due to a difference in
cultures where here in America All too many people: men AND
women, are more concentrated on the "me" syndrome. We're
raised to be a supportive part of something bigger than
ourselves: family, society and work."
Monaavi added, "I've learned since joining this
family that
we strive harder to be selfless in our decisions, such as
with our children. It makes no difference who the mother
is, they are ALL our children as if we had borne them
ourselves: no one is given less love or importance.
Although there's a well defined hierarchy, all of us wives
are equal, with the same rights to have our needs met. No
one's needs take precedence over the other. How often do
you see eleven year-old with the same rights as a
twenty-nine year old? Priya sees to that."
"It seems," Miko noted, "That little
Leeya carries a lot of
weight."
"Don't let her size and age fool you," Priya
revealed,
"Mentally, emotionally and sexually, she's a very mature
woman."
Looking at my watch I said, "It's getting late, we
should
say evening prayers."
We cleaned up the glasses and such, went inside and
upstairs to pray. When we entered the bedroom and Miko saw
the giant bed, she blushed with hand-covered mouth. Seeing
this, Priya quipped, "That's where the org-ees take place.
If you join us, that big bed will get a little more crowded."
Miko just blushed and giggled.
She watched intently as we laid out our prayer rugs and
took our places. She knelt next to Leeya and started to
pray with folded hands and head bowed as we began. As we
bowed and prayed, Miko remained kneeling erectly with eyes
closed and hands folded, praying silently.
When we'd finished and readied for bed, Leeya took Miko
downstairs with her. Monaavi went to Priya's room with
Malina while Priya and I remained in my room.
After undressing and getting into bed, Priya and I
discussed the day's events. I had some concerns about the
way Miko's first day had gone and said to Priya, "There's
something we need to discuss."
Continued in Chapter 88…
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