Legacy of Faith Ch. 03

"Mr. Jackson suspects the boy is being abused at home. He asked me to keep him here until he could investigate."

"He used that word, investigate?"

"That's what he said."

"Do you have a copy of the mandated reporting law?"

"Yes."

The officer turned to Matt and said, "Well, I found out who did something wrong. It wasn't you." He looked at Karen and said, "Let me talk to my partner for a minute, please. I'll see if I can sort this all out."

He left the vp's office and was back in ten minutes. He came through the door and said, "Matt, can I ask you a couple of questions?"

"Sure." Matt answered.

"Did you sleep alone on Friday night?"

"No, I slept with Momma Erynn."

"Where?"

"In her bed. Mine's too small."

"What was she wearing?"

"Pajamas. Pants and a t-shirt."

"And what were you wearing?"

"My Spiderman pajamas."

"Mrs. Peterson, you can take Matt home. He did nothing wrong. However, if we take a report on this both the principal and vice will have to answer for breaking the law."

"They didn't follow the law about suspected child abuse, did they?"

"No. They screwed up."

Karen took Matt's hand and said, "I'll come to the station tomorrow and sign the complaint. Thank you for helping get this straightened out."

"Oh, it's not straightened out. That will involve lawyers and courts, I'm afraid."

The vp said, "I just did what Mr. Jackson told me to do."

The officer looked at her and asked, "Did you sign the form that has you swear you were trained in the child abuse laws? That form says you knew what you should do and you didn't do it. And, the I-only-did-what-I-was-told defense hasn't worked since the Nazis used it in 1945."

He followed Karen out and down the hallway. Just before they got to the double doors they opened and the school district lawyer walked into the hall. He said, "Just what is going on here?"

Karen said, "It's five-twenty. School was out at three-ten. We are going home. Do we need your permission?"

"No. Are you Mrs. Peterson?"

"Yes." She and Matt walked passed him and out the doors. All the way home Karen talked with Matt, letting him know he hadn't done anything wrong.

That evening two members of the school board visited us. They called first and came over after we had eaten dinner. They wanted to talk to Karen about what had happened. Instead, they talked to the family, Matt included. From the moment I saw their car park in our driveway until after they were gone a video recording was made of the entire visit.

The two board members were concerned, they said, that they didn't get a clear picture of what happened at school. Karen told Matt that he could tell them what happened. He did. Karen then told them what the principal had done.

They asked a few questions and then wanted to leave, without any apology for the behavior of the principal or any statement about what they would be doing because of the principal's mistakes. I asked them what they were going to do.

"Well, we will meet with the rest of the board and after our investigation into the situation concludes we'll let you know what is decided."

"When?" Karen asked.

"When?" The board member asked. "When what?"

"When will the board decide?"

"As soon as we have all the facts."

"There's school in the morning. I'm concerned that Mr. Jackson may take some actions against Matt, if he's there tomorrow." Karen said.

"Oh, Matt will be safe tomorrow. Mr. Jackson is a professional. Matt will be safe at school tomorrow." The lady from the school board said.

"Has Mr. Jackson been suspended?" I asked.

"No." She said.

"Allegations have been made that he broke the law, held our son illegally and went against district policy. Now you tell us he'll be at school tomorrow. What has been done to assure the safety of the children for school tomorrow?" Karen asked.

"I'm sure Mr. Jackson knows how to behave at school." The board member said.

"We were all sure he knew how two days ago, too. Then he disregarded the law and district policy and held our son. I cannot allow Matt to attend school tomorrow or any other day until I am assured that he won't be detained illegally again. If Mr. Jackson is there you cannot assure me he will not disregard the law and policies again." Karen was on a roll.

"Keeping Matt home tomorrow is your decision, but I'm sure Mr. Jackson will be on his best behavior and Matt would be safe if he attends school tomorrow."

"You cannot make that promise. You don't know what Mr. Jackson believes about what he did. He may believe he did nothing wrong, in which case he may do it again! No, with him there I cannot trust the school to safeguard our son. He cannot go to school." Karen said.

I nodded. The two Board members looked at each other and didn't say anything.

I asked, "Since the law requires you to provide our son with an education and requires you to protect him, I would like to know what you will do to provide both those things for Matt tomorrow."

"If you believe Mr. Jackson is a threat to Matt I think maybe the best thing would be for you to keep him home until this is resolved." The lady from the Board said, as she stood. We all stood and thanked them for coming. Before they left I moved the still running video camera. The woman asked, "Our whole visit was taped?"

"No, not taped. Audio and video recorded yes, but not taped." I answered.

"I saw the camera when we first arrived." The man said. "It's time for us to go."

When they were gone I told Matt he could stay up an extra hour if he wanted, since he wasn't going to school in the morning. He stayed up. He didn't ask any of his Mommas if he could sleep with them.

Matt was out of school five days. In those five days word spread around town about Matt sleeping with his aunt, about a family with five adults and a boy child, and about a family with four single women living with a single man.

Thursday of that week I went shopping for the family. As I entered the market I was approached by the manager. We had spoken ten or so times over the five years we had been in town.

"Mr. Peterson, I've heard some disturbing rumors about you and your family. I don't like rumors. Would you mind clearing them up for me?"

"Ask me the questions you want answers for."

"Do you really live with four single women and a fourth grader?"

"Yes, and I don't think that's the question you want an answer for."

"You aren't married to any of them?"

"I'm old enough to be their Dad. I am Matt's grandfather, even though he calls me Dad."

"Isn't it difficult, living with four adult women?"

"Yes, but it has it's benefits too. Each of them is a good cook. I haven't done my own laundry in years. I haven't run the vacuum either. When I need a haircut, one of them reminds me."

"Sounds good."

"There are four days a month when I'd rather be in Oklahoma, but even those four days really aren't that bad. Now, if you would, tell me why it was disturbing to hear that I live with four women and a fourth grader?"

"I have trouble enough keeping one woman happy. I can't imagine keeping four happy!"

"Think of it this way, in your house there are two adults to solve everything, do everything and get ready for everything. In our house there are five adults to solve everything, do everything and get ready for everything. The distribution of labor never puts the burden of everything on any one person. We share the work, the play, the responsibilities and the joys."

"I didn't think of it that way."

"I think about our family a lot. I'm the one who does most of the shopping in here. I don't mind doing it and it frees the one who cooks up to spend more time making great meals for us."

"I also heard that the fourth grader slept with his aunt."

"You ever go camping?" I asked.

"Sure. We went to Carpentaria State Beach last month."

"Sleep in a tent?"

"Sure. We have an eight by eight Coleman."

"How many people sleep in that tent?"

"Four. Our whole family."

"So you slept with your son and your daughter in a small tent?" I asked, using a tone that implied something was bad or wrong about what he had done.

He paused for a few seconds and said, "I see. He didn't sleep with his Aunt. They had a sleep-over. I apologize. When I heard about it I heard it from the gutter part of my mind."

"And, for the record, I think sleeping together in a tent is a wonderful bonding experience for families. Some of the best memories kids take into adulthood are made on family camping trips."

We shook hands and parted, better friends than we had ever been. I finished shopping and headed home.

Matt was sitting on the porch waiting for me when I arrived.

"Dad, can we talk?" He asked as I got out of the SUV. I handed him a bag of groceries and I picked up the other one.

"Sure. Talk away." We took the groceries inside and he asked, "Did I do something weird when I had a sleepover with Momma Erynn?"

"Weird? No, I don't think so. You think maybe because other people didn't understand what happened that you must be weird?"

"Mr. Jackson acted like I did something bad. He wouldn't tell me what I did that was bad, but he acted like our whole family was bad."

"Matt, Mr. Jackson heard that you and Momma Erynn slept together. But he didn't understand what that meant. When he hears that two people sleep together he thinks that means they..." I paused, looking for a way to say what was so to a ten year old. He helped.

"He thought I had sex with Momma Erynn?" His eyes were wide open and he was shocked.

I nodded.

"That's crazy! I'm just a kid."

"There are adults who have sex with kids. It's wrong. It's against the law. And, some adults can't say those words even when they are talking about sex with their spouse. They say "We slept together" instead of saying "we had sex."

"Why do people do that?"

"They were taught to be embarrassed about lots of things. You know that women have periods, don't you?" I asked it as a question, knowing he knew.

"Sure. Momma Melissa had me read that book about puberty."

"Well there are lots of women who have been taught never to say, "I'm having my period." They say other things as code for having their period."

"Like what?"

"They say, "Grandma came for a visit" or "I've got the curse."

"But Grandma didn't come for a visit?"

"No. It's a way for them to say it without actually saying it."

"But, if I don't know the code, I won't understand."

"That's why in our family we don't use code. When one of your Mommas is having a period she says, "I'm having my period."

"Mr. Jackson should learn a lesson from us."

"Yup. And maybe he has." We got all the groceries put away and headed back outside. Once we were outside I headed for the barn. Matt followed. He stayed quiet until we were inside the barn.

"When my mommas sleep with you, do you have sex with them?"

I reminded myself, 'he's only ten.'

"Are there things that are private and things that are public?"

"Yeah. Private are things like secrets. Public means anyone can know."

"Have you ever seen me kiss any of your mommas?"

"Sure, lots of times."

"Are those kisses public or private?"

"Public! You did it in front of me."

"Have you ever seen me have sex with anyone?"

"No. So, it must be private."

"So if I answer your question I'd have to open the privacy between me and your mommas to do it. I'd have to turn something private into something public. Would you want me to keep private things private or make them public?"

"Keep them private. But, I hope you do."

"You hope I do what?"

"I hope you have sex with my mommas."

"Why do you hope that?" I sat on a bale of hay, waiting for the answer.

"Because I heard on the radio that people need sex when they're old."

"Oh." About that moment Notte ran into the barn. He came to us with his whole body language asking Matt to play. Matt accepted the invitation and they left me in the barn.

When Karen rang the triangle for dinner I watched Matt and Notte head for the house. I followed. I could see the various cars parked beside the house. Everyone was home.

As we ate Matt leaned to Momma Karen and asked, "Can I ask to sleep with someone tonight?"

"Sure." Karen said, "Who would you like to sleep with?"

"Kate."

"Ok. You can ask her." We had all heard the exchange and looked at Kate. She was eating slowly.

"Momma Kate, would it be Ok if I slept with you tonight?"

"You have clean pj's?" She asked.

"Two pairs."

"You remember the rules from when you slept with Momma Erynn."

"No food in bed, no jumping and no tickling." He paused, looked at me and added, "And, no sex!"

I was glad I hadn't been taking a drink at that moment. I would have sprayed everyone if I had been. I said, "Matt and I had been talking about why Mr. Jackson and others got confused when he said he slept with Momma Erynn. Now he knows he's asking for a sleepover."

Kate spoke up, "Well then, I agree to the rules. Let's meet in my bedroom at nine o'clock. Which pj's will you wear?"

"I have Spiderman and John Cena. You can pick."

"John Cena? Is he that wrestler?"

Matt grinned and waved his hand in front of his face, "You can't see me! Yup, that's him."

"I pick Spiderman."

"Ok." He faced Momma Karen and asked, "May I be excused?" Karen nodded and as he picked up his plate Kate asked, "Would you like to do some yoga tonight? I usually do about half an hour yoga before bedtime. It helps me sleep."

"Ok. I don't know how, but you can teach me, Ok?"

"Then meet me at my room at eight o'clock. You can shower and put on your Spiderman pj's after we do yoga."

"Ok." He went into the kitchen.

Preparations

Melissa said, "Six days!" I knew exactly what she was talking about. We had tickets to be aboard a cruise ship leaving in six days. Actually, we left in six days and the cruise left from Fort Lauderdale Florida in seven.

"What happens in six days?" I asked.

"We're leaving on vacation!"

Matt ran back into the room and asked, "Can I go out and play with Notte until it's dark?"

Momma Karen nodded. Three seconds later we heard the back door.

"Who's going on vacation?" I asked.

"I'm going on vacation with my husband! You!"

"Oh, that vacation. I don't know. Maybe the weather won't be so good. We could drive up to San Francisco and spend a couple of days, instead."

"It's gonna be great weather! Fort Lauderdale will be eighty-one the day we arrive. Every day will be in the eighties and the nights in the low seventies."

Karen started to laugh. "He may be your Dad, but I think I know him better than you do. He's already packed! He's as excited as you are about the trip! He checks the weather forecasts every day, too!"

I smiled. "Ok, Ok. I'll stop teasing. I am excited. However, I need to talk with all of you about Matt. Instantly I had their undivided attention. I told them about the conversation Matt and I had in the barn. Karen's reaction was to tear up, not cry exactly, but her eyes did mist heavily.

She said, "I was hoping he'd wait another year before his head noticed sex."

"At least he's with us where he'll get good information instead of myths and magic." I said.

"Or outright lies." Erynn added. We all nodded.

Melissa and I spent some time talking about the trip. I asked her to go to a store and get something for me for our trip. I told her she could do it after work the next day, if that worked for her. She picked up her keys and purse and said, "Now is better. I'll be back in a flash." I got a kiss and she was gone. I looked out the window and when her car was out of sight I went to the back porch and rang the triangle.

Two minutes later everyone was in the living room. Erynn asked, "So, what's up?"

"I have a request. The request begins with a call for privacy. No one can say anything to Melissa about this. If she hears of it, the surprise is gone. Ok?"

Each person agreed to keep it a secret.

We had a discussion, more for Matt than the rest of us, but it made him feel included, about the difference between a wedding and a commitment ceremony. I added some details. At the ceremony I proposed we would all participate, all commit our lives together as a family like we already had done, with one new wrinkle. At this ceremony we would all get rings to wear. All of us, including Matt.

They loved the idea. I let them know that when we left for Fort Lauderdale, their flight left two hours later on a different airline. We would meet at the hotel and the ceremony would be that very evening. Then when Melissa and I left on the cruise she would be wearing a ring and so would all of us. The rest of the family would fly back home on Monday. They talked about how they could all get packed and ready to go without Melissa knowing. I let Matt know I'd take care of getting someone to watch Notte.

We all heard Melissa's car stop outside and the family scattered.

Kate and Matt did yoga for half an hour, did their individual rituals and came to tell me good night at five minutes before nine. Kate was in cut off sweats, a t-shirt that had been mine and I could tell she was wearing a jogbra. Matt was in Spiderman pj's. I got a kiss from both and they were gone.

A few minutes later Karen walked in wearing another t-shirt that had once been mine. It was the only thing she had on. "Nick, may I sleep with you tonight?"

"Do you know the rules?" I asked, mimicking the questions at dinner.

"No food in bed. No tickling, no jumping on the bed, no screaming, no bellowing and lots of sex!"

"This is not a sleepover! Yes, you may share my bed with me tonight."

We left the living room and headed for my bedroom. When we got inside I noticed that someone had been in there already. The night before there had been navy blue sheets on my bed. When we entered the room I noticed the sheets were forest green. A candle was burning, dispensing a wonderful vanilla fragrance into the room.

Karen tossed the t-shirt onto a chair and helped me undress. We showered and shaved, before drying each other and heading back into the bedroom. As I sat on the bed we heard a knock on the door. I was about to stand when Karen said, "Who is it?"

"Kate." Said her voice from the hallway.

"Come in." Karen said.

The door opened and Erynn walked in. She was wrapped in a towel fresh from her shower. "I don't want to sleep alone." She stepped two steps closer and said, "I don't want to sleep at all. I need some lovin!"

"Tell us what you want." Karen said.

"No, tell us what you need." I corrected.

"I need to be dominated, treated like the slut I am. Please don't be soft and gentle with me. If I wake up in the morning with a bruise or three and I can still feel what you did to me that will be perfect." She dropped the towel to the floor and knelt on it. The pose of a submissive.

I got up from the bed and opened a drawer of my chest of drawers. I removed a ball gag from the drawer and handed it to Karen. "Gag her. It will help keep her from waking the house."

Karen examined the ball gag and looked from it to me, then at Erynn. She lifted the gag and tried it on. The ball was large enough that it was difficult for her to get it in her mouth, but she got it in. With some effort she got it back out and turned to Erynn.

"Open wide, slut!" She said to her sister. Erynn opened wide and Karen worked the blue ball into her mouth and tightened the strap around the back of her head. I handed Erynn a red cat toy ball. It had a small bell inside it so if she dropped it a noise would be made.

"That is your safe word. Drop it and the game stops. Understand?" I asked. She nodded.

"Close your eyes, please." I said. She closed them. From the same drawer I retrieved a roll of special tape. It sticks well but when removed doesn't take hair or skin with it. I tore off a six inch piece and put it over Erynn's eyes.