Earth completes its gate a few months ahead of schedule. They don't need a full-sized space ship to travel. The shuttle is about jumbo jet sized and can carry over one hundred people and their luggage. Kamaki, Anlo and Septimus pilot the space shuttle. Except there are only four passengers with them on their way to visit Earth. They expect to be full on their way home.
The shuttle lands in Utah. The doors open and the ramp slides out and down to the ground. Elder Coo steps out first as President Manhunter steps forward with two body guards to greet her and her companions.
When Elder Coo steps off the ramp, President Manhunter shakes the tall, imposing, dignified woman's hand as she greets, "Elder Coo, welcome to Earth. It is so good to finally meet you in person."
"It is very good to meet you in person also, President Manhunter," Elder Coo greets in return. "I hope you remember Kamaki of House Izza."
"Kamaki," the president greets him cheerfully, "welcome back."
"It is good to be back for a visit," Kamaki smiling brightly as he shakes her hand.
President Manhunter hears a little girl's voice, but she's not speaking English. Then a woman's voice and a man's voice. She looks up and recognizes Anlo. He's holding a toddler, a robust girl, and the hand of an older child, the little girl she heard. The girl's other hand is holding the hand of a pregnant woman. She is dressed in the same fashion as Elder Coo, but she's much too short to be Nokotoan. Then there is another man behind them that resembles Anlo, but he's noticeably taller than Anlo. They come down the ramp together. The pregnant woman looks very familiar to President Manhunter.
"President Manhunter, I hope you remember Anlo of House Voltrand," Elder Coo motioning to Anlo as he steps off the ramp with the others. "This young man with him is his youngest brother, Septimus. Those are their two daughters and their mate. I think you may know her. This is the planet of her birth."
The petite pregnant woman steps up to the president and puts out her small hand, "It's good to see you again, Madam President."
Surprised recognition washes over the president's face as she shakes her hand, "Zeta, Zeta Clifton, welcome home."
Zeta smiles, "I'm not Zeta Clifton any more. I'm Zeta Voltrand of House Voltrand. Do you remember Anlo?"
"Yes, of course," President Manhunter shaking his hand, "Welcome back."
"Thank you," Anlo nodding to her.
Zeta continues, "And this is his youngest brother, Septimus."
Septimus shakes her hand enthusiastically with a big happy smile, "It is very nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too," responds the president with a smile, "Welcome to Earth."
"Thank you very much," says Septimus.
Zeta goes on, "And these are our daughters, Akanke' and Nasya. And this swelling in front of me are our next two children."
"I think I know why I didn't recognize you," President Manhunter tells Zeta, "It's not that you look very different. Your clothes of course are different and your hair style is different. But that's not it… You're a different woman than the one I met five years ago. You're a different person now."
Zeta nods her agreement, "That's very true. This world isn't my home any more. I'm here to work, collect my first two children and take them home to their new fathers and grandparents."
"Work," questions Manhunter.
"Zeta is Advisor Voltrand," explains Elder Coo, "She is the Elders' Council's number one advisor and my personal assistant. I have named her to succeed me on the Elders' Council when I expire."
"Are we going to see Gabe and Jasmine soon," ask Akanke'.
"Yes," answers Zeta, "we will see them very soon."
"Akanke', it is rude to interrupt when leaders are talking," Anlo scolds softly.
"She speaks English," says the president pleasantly surprised.
"Of course I speak English," says Akanke' matter-of-factly. "I speak English, Kotowahn and Xapanduian."
"Akanke'," Septimus says in a soft scolding tone as her picks her up.
"Aw, no-nyo," Akanke' pouts. Septimus seldom scolds her.
"No-nyo," repeats President Manhunter. "What does that mean?"
"Seventh father," answers Elder Coo.
"Seventh father," questions President Manhunter. "One can only have one father."
"I have seven," states Akanke'.
"Seven," shouts Nasya.
"Nasya," Anlo says scoldingly. "Akanke', you are setting a bad example for your younger sister."
"President Manhunter," Elder Coo getting her attention, "you do remember we are a world with a shortage of females?"
"Yes, I remember," responds the president.
"Because of this," explains Elder Coo, "for many generations, brothers have shared a mate. I myself have two mates. Zeta has seven. But the others do not speak English or just not well enough to bring along and are needed to oversee their farm."
"So all the women that volunteered to go to your world ended up with multiple husbands," says President Manhunter surprised.
"Yes," confirms Elder Coo, "most only have two or three. None has more than four. Except Zeta, but she was not a volunteer."
"President Manhunter," Zeta getting her attention, "They are all happy. So happy, none of them wish to even return to Earth for a visit. There was culture shock at first. I know, I had it. But we all adapted. Some a little better and faster than others. Yet none of us would change a thing now. Well, I would change one thing. I would have Gabe and Jasmine there with us from the beginning. Being separated from them has been a major source of stress for me."
"We need to settle in," says Elder Coo, "Zeta has assured us there should be plenty of room in her old home for all of us."
"Yes, of course," says the president. "Do you have any bags?"
Anlo presses some buttons on a remote control. The ramp pulls back up and in and the doors shut as a door with a ramp opens in the under belly of the shuttle. Anlo hands Nasya to Zeta. Septimus sets Akanke' down by Zeta, and Zeta takes her hand. Kamaki, Anlo and Septimus enter the underbelly and come back out carrying bags. Anlo presses another button on the remote and the door to the under belly shuts tight.
"There is quite a list of people that want to visit your world," shares the president as they approach the vehicle.
"We have a list for you as well," responds Zeta. "Now that the gate is complete and functioning properly, you now have access too many worlds and they you. Our list contains the names and locations of worlds you need to be wary of. While all contain technology you would be interested in, they are all dangerous worlds to become involved with and will be looking for ways to exploit your naiveté when it comes to dealing with other worlds. Do not hesitate to ask our advice."
"What is this thing," ask Akanke' pointing.
"It's called an automobile. It's a vehicle for transporting people and things over land," explains Zeta.
"Why don't we just use a transport pad," ask Akanke'.
"They don't have any here," answers Zeta.
Akanke' has many questions as they ride to Zeta's old home. Nasya falls to sleep.
"This is it," says Zeta.
"Are we there," ask Akanke' excited.
"Yes, we're there," confirms Zeta.
"Where are they? Where are they," ask Akanke' excited.
"Calm down," Anlo tells Akanke'. "They are not expecting us. They may not be home."
They begin to unload from the vehicle.
"This looks like a pleasant place to grow up," comments the president.
"It was," confirms Zeta. "When I was growing up, the yard was always full of kids; me, my parents, foster children and neighborhood kids. I had a very happy childhood here."
"Mom!" a boy's voice yells. Then Gabe is running to his mother with Jasmine and Mary right behind him. After a nearly five year separation, Zeta is holding her first two children again.
"Mommy… Mommy," Jasmine keeps repeating as she cries.
Without letting go of Zeta, Gabe grabs Anlo, "Dad!"
Anlo hugs them all to him. "Everything is all right now," assures Anlo. "We are all together now and we are going to stay together."
"You've both gotten so big," says Zeta through her tears, "Gabe, I think you're a little taller than me."
"But I'm always your boy, Mom. No matter how big I get, I'm always your boy."
"Mommy, I've missed you so much," cries Jasmine.
Zeta covers both their faces with kisses, "I've missed you both so much."
"Gabe, Gabe, it's me Akanke'," tugging on his shirt.
Despite the fact she's a little big for Gabe to pick up, he picks Akanke' up.
"Jasmine, would you like to hold Nasya," ask Septimus and Jasmine eagerly accepts Nasya from Septimus.
"Mary," Zeta turning to her. Mary steps into Zeta's arms crying. Zeta strokes her hair as she tells Mary, "It's okay. It's okay, it's over now."
Once the tears have started to dry, Zeta stoops to pet her two dogs that have missed her too.
"Let's get the bags," says Zeta, "and go inside… Madam President, Elder Coo, Gentlemen, welcome to my childhood home."
Zeta holding Mary's hand with an arm around Jasmine, shows them inside.
"My parents were foster parents," Zeta shares, "so we had more room than two parents with an only child needed. Large living, dining and kitchen all open to the second floor which makes it easier to yell up at kids. This is the master bedroom. Anlo, Septimus, put our bags in here and watch your heads. This is the nursery gone messy playroom."
"Toys," shouts Akanke'.
"Gabe, Jasmine, you have to keep anything with little bitty pieces parts away from Nasya, She's still putting things in her mouth and we don't want her choking on anything," Zeta tells them and they nod their understanding and carry their little sisters into the playroom.
Zeta continues, "Home office here, bathroom and a guest bedroom here. Elder Coo, we'll put you in here. Sorry, if the bed is too short."
"It'll be fine, Zeta," Elder Coo takes her bag from Kamaki and ducks inside the room.
"Kamaki, we'll put you upstairs," Zeta leading the way. "This is Gabe's room, then Jasmine's and Mary's. You'll be in this last bedroom. Sorry about the bed being too short."
"I sleep curled up any way," Kamaki unconcerned.
"Everybody make yourselves at home," Zeta shouts as she heads back downstairs.
"I put water on for herbal tea," Mary informs Zeta.
"Thank you, Mary. You're the best," Zeta hugging her again.
"I'm so glad you're home," says Mary sincerely. "I'm such a poor substitute for you. I can't fill your shoes in any way."
"Last I checked, our feet were the same size and you were quite fond of my shoes," Zeta responds smiling. "I'm sure you've worn the heck out of them."
Mary chuckles, "I may have worn out a few pairs."
"Have a seat, Madam President," invites Zeta motioning to the kitchen table.
"Please, call me Naomi," insist the president. "I'm in the middle of my second ten year term as president and I just can't get used to that Madam President stuff. Being president is my job, not my name or who I am."
"Naomi it is," Zeta happy to oblige. "What were you going to make the kids for lunch," she ask Mary.
"I have no idea," responds Mary. "I just kind of wait for them to say they're hungry and tell me what they want."
Zeta smiles and shakes her head. "I guess that works. But we have too many people for that today."
Mary nods her understanding, "So like soup and sandwiches maybe?"
"That sounds fine to me," answers Zeta. "Naomi?"
"I'm not picky when other people are cooking," answers Naomi.
They hear a loud bonk and a cry of pain. Septimus rubbing his forehead followed by an amused Anlo comes around the corner from the master bedroom.
Zeta pulls out a chair for Septimus. "Sit down and let me take a look." She has the look of an amused wife who warned her husband to be careful but hit his thumb with a hammer anyway.
"Hit your head already," teases Kamaki coming into the kitchen and seating himself.
"Is he alright," ask Elder Coo coming in and seating herself too.
"No blood," answers Zeta, "just a bump on the head." She kisses Septimus bump.
"Here's some ice," offers Mary.
"Thank you very much," Septimus accepting the hand towel with ice in it and placing it on his head.
"So peanut butter and jelly for the kids," Zeta suggest to Mary.
Mary nods, "I'll get started on those."
Zeta opens the pantry. "I love the way you shop, Mary. There is like canned everything in here."
"You know I've never been good at cooking like you," responds Mary spreading peanut butter on wheat bread.
"Hey, bean with bacon soup," Zeta pulling out a few cans, "one of my favorites. And we got stuff in here for making a cake. I'm baking a cake later."
"Can I help with anything," ask Anlo.
"You can grab me a large pot from that cabinet," directs Zeta.
There's the distinctive loud unhappy squall of Zeta's youngest child. Then Gabe telling her firmly, "No, you can't play with that, it has too many little pieces parts." Then Nasya comes running into the kitchen.
Nasya grabs Zeta by her rasai and looks up at Zeta with big tears running down her round chubby cheeks from her big green eyes and screams, "I want the toy."
Gabe comes with the toy in question and shows Zeta the toy in question. "Mom, it has too many little pieces and she's putting stuff in her mouth."
"I want the toy," Nasya cries.
"Gabe is right," Zeta tells Nasya calmly. "You can't play with that toy. It has too many small parts. When you stop putting things in your mouth, then you may play with something like that.
Gabe, just put it on top of the refrigerator."
As Gabe puts the toy on top of the refrigerator, Nasya falls out screaming on the kitchen floor. Zeta doesn't pay her any attention. She hugs and kisses Gabe and tells him, "Good job."
"Is there anything I can help with" ask Gabe. He figures if none of the adults are worried about Nasya lying on the floor kicking and screaming, he's not going to worry about it either.
"Mary, could you use some help with those sandwiches," directs Zeta.
"Yeah," Mary nodding, "I've got four peanut butter and jelly."
"Grown-ups aren't going to want peanut butter and jelly," Gabe opening the refrigerator and pulling things out. "We have ham, turkey, beef bologna, lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, pickle slices, Swiss, pepper jack and American cheese."
"Make a couple of extra peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cut all the sandwiches in half so everyone can try different sandwiches," directs Zeta.
"Terrible two's, ay," says Naomi referring to Nasya on the floor having a fit on the floor.
Zeta smiles, "She's usually our timid two. But new environment, new people, she's seeing what she can get away with. And Akanke' is our precocious four. Gabe is eleven now. And Jasmine is nine."
There's a small skirmish over who's going to sit beside Zeta. Anlo and Septimus had both thought they would sit on each side of her like they're used to, but Jasmine and Gabe both want to sit beside her. Both Anlo and Septimus move over a seat so they can sit by their mother. Nasya sits with Anlo, and Akanke' sits with Septimus.
"What's it like having more than one husband," Naomi ask Elder Coo.
Elder Coo kind of shrugs, "What's it like only having one?"
Zeta coughs loudly deliberately hoping the president and Elder Coo will take the hint. She hasn't gotten around to discussing her multiple mate status with her children and Mary.
"You have more than one husband," Mary ask Elder Coo.
"Yes," confirms Elder Coo, "I have two."
"How many wives do you have," Mary ask Kamaki.
"None," answers Kamaki, "I am single."
"Kamaki," Zeta looking to change the subject, "is a bachelor, Mary. And he's one of the smartest people I've ever met. Not only is he a trained astronaut, but he's a doctor too."
"You have to study hard to be a doctor, don't you," ask Gabe.
"Yes, yes, very hard," confirms Kamaki, "But it is very rewarding work. I delivered both Akanke' and Nasya, and I'll deliver the next."
Jasmine giggles.
"What is funny," ask Septimus.
Jasmine giggles again, "He's seen Mommy's va-jay-jay. Only a husband should see his wife's va-jay-jay. He's not a husband, but he gets to see women's va-jay-jays because he delivers babies. I think that's pretty sneaky."
"Jasmine, he's not being sneaky," Zeta tells her oldest daughter. "He's not a doctor so he can peek at ladies' Va-jay-jays. He's a doctor so he can help people. And he's not just an OBGYN, he's also a pediatrician and a family doctor."
"Wow," says Mary, "that's impressive."
"Not really," says Kamaki humbly, "I am an only child and I have no family of my own. I have no distractions to keep me from focusing on learning and training."
"Gee," says Gabe thoughtfully, "that sounds lonely."
"It is sometimes," admits Kamaki.
"Is that why you died your hair purple," ask Mary. "I think it looks great, but is it your rebellion, rage against the machine thing?"
"I do not understand the question," Kamaki looking to Zeta for assistance.
"That's his natural hair color," Zeta informs Mary. "It's not dyed. They don't dye their hair. Plus, Kamaki's not a rage against the machine kind of guy."
"So this is your natural hair color," Mary ask Kamaki.
"Yes," confirms Kamaki.
"May I touch it," ask Mary. "May I touch your hair?"
Kamaki shrugs, "Yes, you may."
Mary is fascinated by the long silky purple strands, "It's so beautiful."
Luckily, much to Zeta's relief, the subject of multiple mates doesn't come back up.
"I'm sorry," Zeta apologizes to the president and Elder Coo after she shuts the door to her home office. "For the last five years, I've only gotten to speak to my children and Mary once a week and the fact I now have seven mates just never came up. It's one of the things I plan on discussing with them very soon. I don't want to get home with them and have them shocked by it. There will be enough culture shock to go around."
"How is your sister going to react when she learns you haven't come home to stay," ask Kamaki.
"I'm hoping she'll return with us," shares Zeta. "I believe she would have a much better quality of life there."
"Why," ask President Manhunter.
"I have met many of the people that were allowed to go to Nokoto five years ago and many of them were seriously dysfunctional," Zeta informs the president. "It would have taken years of expensive therapy and training to rehabilitate them properly here. I know you saved a lot of money by sending them to Nokoto. But they don't have money on Nokoto, so it's not an issue. That alone was what some of them needed because they were suffering from deep depression because they were unable to pull themselves up out of poverty here. There is no poverty there. The monetary system here keeps many members of this society down trodden. I've watched some of these people, unwanted by this world, flourish on Nokoto.
Mary was a foster child. My parents wanted to adopt her, but her mother wouldn't give up her parental rights. Mary is doing alright here. But I know I'm her rock. And I don't belong here anymore. As you noted, I am not the same person you met five years ago. I and my children are the only family Mary really has. She's commitment phobic, and she's afraid to have children because she's afraid she won't be a good mother. We have a friend named Fred that is crazy about her. He would make a good husband and a good father. Yet she keeps him as a bed buddy, a friend with benefits, she won't commit to him. I think on Nokoto, maybe that last little bit of healing will take place and she will finally be comfortable in her own skin. Finally let Fred or somebody into her heart because I know she has a lot of love to give. She deserves a full happy life as much as you or I or anybody."
President Manhunter nods her agreement and understanding.
"Here is the list of planets you need to be careful in dealing with," Elder Coo handing President Manhunter a hand held device. "If you have any questions about any of them, just contact myself or Zeta. She has advised the Elders Council and been my assistant long enough to give you any details on these that I could give you."
"Here," President Manhunter handing a small device to Elder Coo, "you just plug this into the PC here and it will allow you access to information on all the people that think they want to relocate to your world, and there are thousands of them. It will allow you to access pretty much everything there is to know about them: age, date of birth, education, physicals, psych-profiles, number of children and their names, ages, etc., number of marriages, current marital status, criminal records including any criminal activity as a juvenile. You can access them by sex, age, region or however you need to."
"Good," responds Zeta, "we can focus on people in this region. In my current condition, I'm not in the mood to bebop all over the Earth."
"Your daughter mentioned transport pads," inquires President Manhunter.
"Yes," confirms Zeta," it's the main mode of transportation on Nokoto."
"You technically have the technology already," Kamaki informs the president. "It is very similar to the gate. But it will basically eliminate the need for most modes of transportation that are still used here. And like the gate, automatically removes and destroys harmful viruses, bacteria and the like preventing things like pandemics."
"If you like," Elder Coo suggest, "you may send a team of technicians in one of your own shuttles through to our world when we go home. And we will have some of our own technicians go over transport pad technology with them."
"That sounds like a good idea," responds Naomi. "Well, I've played hooky long enough. Give me a call if you need anything. And Zeta, when you get the chance, as a woman who had one husband and now has seven, you've got to tell me what it's like."
"In a word: exhausting," responds Zeta.
Zeta turns back to Elder Coo and Kamaki, "I guess we should start looking through the names, calling people and setting up appointments for interviews. The sooner we select fifty or so, the sooner we can go home."
"We can begin tomorrow," says Elder Coo. "Show us your land and how you were living."
Zeta smiles, "Sure."
"Watch your heads," Zeta reminds as they exit her home office. Her house is quite modest when compared to the main house she shares with Anlo and his brothers.
"The house was actually destroyed by the cargo shuttle that crashed and killed my parents," shares Zeta. "The insurance they had rebuilt it. I inherited pretty much everything because I'm technically an only child. Although, my parents set up trust funds for every foster child they ever had, I don't know what became of most of them. I don't know how most of their lives turned out."
"How did Mary come to be here with your family," ask Kamaki.
"Mary, her parents and some other family members were in a car accident when she was not quite three," explains Zeta. "Her father, her maternal grandparents and her paternal grandfather were all killed. Her paternal grandmother, Nana, was left permanently disabled. I really need to go see her while I'm here. Anyway, Mary's mother was seriously injured too. Mary only had scrapes and bruises. But her mother became addicted to the pain medication, and her addiction spiraled out of control quickly.
Social Services brought Mary here to my parents just after she turned four. She was already emotionally scarred from losing so many people she loved in the car accident. Her mother went into rehab and came to her supervised visits with Mary at first. Then she started arriving late to the visits. Then she missed a visit here and there, until finally, she didn't come see Mary at all. She kept promising Mary she was going to get better, but she only got worse. She wouldn't give up her parental rights to Mary, but she did make my parents Mary's permanent legal guardians before she disappeared… This was a good place to grow up."
Zeta opens a sliding glass door and steps outside. "The property isn't big enough to be a full-fledged farm, but it's bigger than the average piece of property most homes are on. It's on the outside edge of a quiet neighborhood with good people. There are some places here on Earth where the crime rate is very high. But here, it's very low. Excitement here is when one of Mr. Brown's cows gets into his corn field next to us here.
My parents were out here in this garden when the shuttle crashed. The coroner tried to make me feel better by telling me they never knew what hit them. But I suppose it's not the worst way to die. If there's no time to reflect, then there's no time to regret. But I don't think they had any regrets. The foster children they were caring for at the time were across the street at the Henderson's swimming. They saw the shuttle come down. It just missed the Henderson home. My parents had just run back over here to grab a few things out of the garden for the cook out at the Henderson's.
I wasn't here. I wasn't living here at that time. I had my own apartment at the university. But for some reason, I can see it. I can see the shuttle coming down and wiping out my parents' lives faster than it took my grandmothers to give birth to them."
Zeta tries to wash the images from her mind. "Around back here is the chicken coop. Some of them survived, but when I first stepped back here after they hauled what was left of the shuttle and my parents' bodies away, there were dead chickens and goats. The coop had been smashed and so had the animal shed for the goats. The smell was awful. Not that they smell pleasant now. But at the time, all I could do was cry. I didn't think I would ever stop. Yet here everything is, looking almost exactly the way it was just before my parents died."
Zeta looks over at her family. Gabe and Jasmine have Anlo and Septimus milking goats. Mary is holding Nasya. Akanke is watching. It seems to be a milking contest. Zeta's dogs, 2 Border Collie mixes keep pushing up against her, happy to see her. Zeta, Elder Coo and Kamaki walk over to watch the contest.
Septimus suddenly stands up with his fist in the air as he proclaims, "I am victorious."
"Yes, yes," says Anlo standing, "you are victorious."
Then Septimus ask, "What do we do with all this milk?"
Gabe answers, "We put it through the pasteurizer and refrigerate it."
And Jasmine adds, "Then we drink it, silly."
"You don't call grown-ups silly," Gabe tells Jasmine. "It's disrespectful."
Jasmine looks up at Septimus, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be disrespectful."
Septimus gently puts a hand on Jasmine's head, "It is alright. I do not feel disrespected. I do not even know what silly means."
"Gabe," Anlo request, "Show us how to pasteurize the milk."
Gabe picks up the two pails of milk and carries them inside to the kitchen. He sets the pails on the kitchen table and pulls a machine from under a cabinet and sets it on the counter. He plugs it in and turns it on. He pours the milk in one side. The machine makes a soft whirring noise. He gets out a pitcher, sets it under a spout on the other side of the machine and turns the spout on. The freshly pasteurized goat's milk is pumped into the pitcher. Gabe puts the pitcher of goat's milk in the refrigerator to chill, cleans the pasteurization machine, puts it away and washes the pails.
Anlo puts a pleased hand on Gabe's shoulder and ruffles his dark brown hair, "Good, Gabe, very good. Thank you."
"We do our chores every day without being told," Gabe tells Anlo. "Don't we Jasmine?"
"Yep, every day," confirms Jasmine, "to show that we love Mommy and that she was doing a good job raising us."
Gabe shares with Anlo, "The Generals said that Mom was a bad parent. That she didn't know how to teach us discipline and that's why we didn't do our chores like we were supposed to, why we were disobedient, rude and disrespectful. So we've taken good care of everything so everyone will know Mom is a good parent, that she wasn't why we were bad sometimes."
Zeta hugs Jasmine and Gabe to her. "What your grandparents did wasn't your fault. You're good children. The best any mother could ever hope for." She kisses their foreheads and their cheeks. "Nobody is perfect, and you don't have to try to be… So how does pizza sound for dinner tonight?"
"May we get one that's just cheese," ask Jasmine. "I don't like mine with a bunch of stuff on it."
Zeta responds, "We'll get one that's just cheese."
"I like pepperoni," says Gabe. "May we get one that has pepperoni too?"
"We'll get one with pepperoni too," agrees Zeta. "Anlo, Septimus, Elder Coo and Kamaki have never had pizza. So we'll get a few different kinds so they can try them."
"May we go for a walk before dinner like we used to," ask Jasmine.
"Sure," says Zeta with a nod. "I think everyone would like that. Then we'll order those pizzas when we get back."
They don't get very far before the neighbors curious about the tall aliens walking in their neighborhood, start recognizing Zeta. Zeta gets many hugs. Anlo, Septimus, Kamaki and Elder Coo shake a lot of hands. When they step back into the house, Zeta takes a deep breath and says, "Goodness."
"Zeta, I think you've risen to rock star status," says Mary.
"I just hope they settle down in a day or two," responds Zeta.
"It is only natural for them to be curious," says Elder Coo.
"And they seemed genuinely concerned for your wellbeing," adds Anlo.
"Don't forget to order the pizzas, Mommy," reminds Jasmine.
"Yes, of course," responds Zeta. "Just let me find my bank card. It should be in my room."
Zeta heads into the master bedroom. Mary basically left it as it was. And she didn't take her bank card with her when she and Jasmine walked to get Gabe from school. They were only planning on getting Gabe and coming right back home. She only grabbed her mobile phone and ID as a precaution. She hadn't taken anything else with her. She finds her bank card and Mary has picked out a place that delivers for her to call.
"Pizza Mia, this is Jeff. How may I help you?"
"I'ld like to place an order for delivery with my bank card please," answers Zeta.
"Yes, Ma'am, what would you like?"
"An extra-large cheese pizza, an extra-large pepperoni, an extra-large veggie, and an extra-large deluxe meat lovers, an extra-large chicken, bacon, ranch , an extra-large order of cheesy bread, and do you have wings?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Good, I'ld also like extra-large orders of your wings in every flavor they come in."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious," answers Zeta.
"Must be some party… Okay, your total is $212 and 89 cents. Card number, please."
Zeta gives him her card number and the address."
"Well," she says "it'll be about an hour. While we're waiting, I'm going to bake a cake," says Zeta.
"But it isn't anyone's birthday, Mommy," says Jasmine.
"Do you think it'll taste bad if it isn't someone's birthday," ask Zeta.
"No," answers Jasmine.
"Besides," says Kamaki, "Every day is someone's birthday."
Zeta's cake is cooling when the pizzas arrive. They all sit down to eat.
"What do you think," ask Mary.
"Interesting," answers Kamaki enjoying his slice.
"I like pizza," states Septimus cheerfully.
"Last time," shares Anlo, "they tried to impress us with fancy dinners and fancy sleeping rooms in tall buildings. But this is much better."
"Tall buildings," says Elder Coo thoughtfully, "tall like the ones we saw on the way here?"
"Even taller," says Anlo. "They call them skyscrapers. There are cities that are so thick with skyscraping buildings that one can see nothing else, not trees or grass, just buildings."
Elder coo shakes her regal head, "Sounds like an eye sore."
"Those are actually pretty old cities," adds Zeta, "built before we really knew much of anything about taking care of our own world properly. Many of those buildings are considered historic land marks now. Besides, it's expensive to tear them down and it makes a mess the likes of which you never want to see when they bring down a building that size."
"How do they do it," ask Septimus.
Zeta explains, "They try to implode them, but it always results in a huge cloud of thick dirt and dust that spreads for kilometers. It would cover this whole neighborhood or the entire market plaza and then some."
"Why do they not dismantle from the top down," asks Kamaki, "So its parts may be recycled properly."
"Money," answers Mary, "too expensive that way."
"Yep," agrees Zeta, "it all boils down to money here. I brought in recyclers to help clean the property up so nothing reusable would be wasted. Yet a lot of wasting still happens here. Laws had to be made that required companies not to pollute as they made their products. Laws were made that required construction companies to build homes that were energy efficient with solar panels and stuff so they wouldn't be doing things that cut corners in order to create a larger profit for themselves. Greed still rules here."
"Not just here," says Elder Coo, "many other worlds too, including our own. Luckily, we never developed a true monetary system."
"Mom," Gabe wanting his mother's attention.
"Yes, honey, what is it," ask Zeta.
"Mom," starts Gabe, "Jasmine and I… we know we're big kids now and everything. But we were still wondering if we could sleep with you tonight?"
Zeta doesn't want to say no. The bed is a California king that she and Bryan bought about a year before he died. But she will already be sleeping between Anlo and Septimus and decides it's time to explain things to them. "Do you remember at lunch when the president asked what it's like to have more than one husband?"
"Yes," says Mary recalling clearly, "and Elder Coo asked what it's like only to have one. Then you changed the subject very quick, Zeta."
"Yes, I did," admits Zeta. "And I know I'm long overdue to talk about this, but with only one call a week it never seemed to be the right time." Zeta takes a deep breath, "Nokoto is a world suffering from a shortage of women. Men outnumber women a little more than thirteen to one. There aren't enough women for every man to have a wife of his own. So a long time ago, brothers began sharing a wife. As a result, nearly every woman that lives on Nokoto has at least two husbands, brothers that share her so they all have a mate. Elder Coo has two husbands, two men who are brothers."
"Whoa," says Mary wide eyed. "How does that work?"
"Very well, actually," answers Elder Coo. "Women are the heads of the households, and Zeta runs the Voltrand household with extreme efficiency."
"Mom," Gabe ask, "are you trying to tell us you have more than one husband?"
"Yes," confirms Zeta.
"How many," ask Jasmine.
"Well, Septimus is one of Anlo's brothers," responds Zeta. "Do you remember how many brothers Anlo has?"
"Six," answers Akanke' from Anlo's lap even though the question wasn't for her. "Daddy has six brothers. Septimus is No-nyo."
"No-nyo," repeats Gabe, "I thought that meant uncle."
"Seventh father," says Akanke', "No-nyo means seventh father. Septimus is our seventh father."
"Thank you, Akanke'," Zeta a little irritated with her.
"Zeta, you've been screwing your brains out with seven different men this whole damn time," shouts Mary shocked and outraged.
"It's not like that," responds Zeta teary eyed, "Don't say it like that."
"I'm saying it like it is," shouts May. "They've turned you into some kind of interstellar space slut."
"Mom is not a slut," shouts Gabe.
Anlo's fist hits the table. Not full force, but still hard enough to shake the table. "You will not say such things, Mary. You are upsetting Zeta and the children. Zeta has done nothing wrong. She is an excellent mate and mother. You have no idea how she has suffered. You do not know how hard it was for her to accept seven brothers. If she had not accepted us, we most likely would never have a mate."
Mary scoffs, "I see how gorgeous you and Septimus are. Do you really expect me to believe women aren't falling all over themselves for you and your brothers?"
"On our world," answers Septimus, "We are not special in any way."
"My ass," says Mary crossing her arms.
"You got no room to talk anyway," Gabe tells Mary, "not with all the different boyfriends you've had."
"Who I do or don't have sex with is none of your business, little boy," says Mary angry.
"And who Mom is having sex with is none of your business," Gabe fires back. "Mom's partners are her husbands, not guys she picked up at the bar."
"Mary, have you been bringing strange men home with you," ask Zeta extremely concerned.
"Gabe is old enough to keep an eye on things," responds Mary. "They're always asleep when I get in. And I never go upstairs where the kids are."
"She takes them to the guestroom by your office," shares Gabe.
"Mary," Zeta's voice raised.
"I thought they were asleep," says Mary. "We're always very quiet."
"Not as quiet as you think," adds Gabe.
"Mary," Zeta's tone scolding.
Mary pushes away from the table, "My sex life isn't anyone else's business."
"When you're bringing strangers around my children, it becomes my business," states Zeta.
"Well, now that you're back," says Mary, "I can get my own place again and move back out. My sex life won't be your problem."
"It doesn't matter," says Zeta, "you don't need to move out. You can stay in the house if you want. Once our business is concluded, we'll be returning to Nokoto and we'll be taking the children with us, of course. I was hoping you would want to return with us. But since I'm an interstellar slut, who picks up strangers at the bar and brings them home to have sex with around my sister's children that I'm supposed to be caring for like they're my own while she's trapped light years away, I'm sure you'll be glad to be rid of me."
Mary runs upstairs and slams her bedroom door shut behind her.
"Are you okay, Mommy," ask Jasmine.
"Yes, I'm fine," answers Zeta wiping away a tear. "My apologies to everybody. That didn't go well at all and I wasn't expecting it. What I was trying to explain is both Anlo and Septimus will be sleeping with me. The bed will be a little crowed.
Gabe, do we still have that air mattress in the linen closet?"
"Yes, Mom," confirms Gabe.
"Is it alright if we blow it up down here in the living room for you and your sisters to sleep on," ask Zeta.
Gabe nods, "Yeah, that's okay."
"Mommy, what will happen to our animals," ask Jasmine.
"I guess we just have to find new homes for them," answers Zeta.
"Even Jack and Jill," Gabe asking about their two dogs.
"I'm afraid so," answers Zeta.
Anlo looks over at the elder, "
Zeta shakes her head, "
"
"
"
"What's going on," ask Gabe.
"Elder Coo says we may take the animals with us," answers Zeta.
"Even Jack and Jill," ask Jasmine.
"Even Jack and Jill," answers Elder Coo.
Gabe and Jasmine rush around the table hug Elder Coo and say thank you.
"You are both welcome, children," Elder Coo tells Gabe and Jasmine.
"I'll get the air mattress," Gabe calls running for the linen closet.
"I can help," Jasmine running after him. Zeta kisses Nasya and hands her to
Septimus, "I need to frost my cake."
The extra pizza has been put in the fridge. The children have had cake with a glass of cold milk. Anlo and Septimus are helping Zeta settle the children onto the full size air mattress for the night.
"I brought a bedtime story," Jasmine handing a story book to Zeta. The title of the book is Mama, Do You Love Me? It's one of Zeta's favorite story books. A couple of pages into the story Zeta starts to cry, but she makes it through the story.
"Don't cry, Mommy," says Nasya wiping Zeta's tears with her chubby little hands.
"Oh, Mommy's fine," assures Zeta. "I have the most wonderful children ever and I love you all so much. And I missed Jasmine and Gabe so terribly much. I'm very happy that from now on, we're going to be together. Now, give me kisses." Zeta collects her good-night kisses. "Good-night my darlings, sleep well."
"We will," assures Gabe.
Zeta checks on Elder Coo, "Is there anything you need before we retire for the night?"
"I'm fine, Zeta," assures Elder Coo. "Thank you and have a good-night."
Zeta pauses by the bottom of the stairs to look up at Mary's bedroom door.
Kamaki ready to go up to his room for the night ask, "Would you like me to try to speak with her?"
"She's more likely to speak with you than me," answers Zeta. "I really hurt her feelings."
"She hurt your feelings also," reminds Kamaki understandingly. "And she said some things in front of the children that should not have been said."
"But she's still more fragile than I am," says Zeta. "She didn't even come down for cake when I called."
"I will take her a piece and a glass of milk for you," volunteers Kamaki. "Try not to worry. You are sisters. It will be fine in the end." He kisses Zeta's cheek.
"Thank you, Kamaki," Zeta says gratefully.
As Anlo shuts the bedroom door so Zeta will stop trying to see the children on the air mattress in the living room, Kamaki carries a slice of cake Zeta cut and the glass of milk she poured upstairs for Mary.
"Come, Zeta," says Anlo softly.
"You need to rest," adds Septimus guiding her toward the bed.
Kamaki knocks on Mary's door. "Go away," Mary shouts. Kamaki knocks again. "Go away!" Kamaki knocks again.
Angry, Mary says stepping to the door, "I said…" she yanks it open and stairs up at Kamaki standing there with a plate, fork and slice of cake in one hand and a glass of milk in the other. He's quite simply the tallest person she has ever met. His skin is a pure shade of brown not found among humans, his eyes like large green emeralds and his hair that beautiful long silky royal purple.
"I bring an offering of peace," says Kamaki.
"I think you mean peace offering," says Mary looking up at him.
Kamaki looks thoughtfully at Mary, "That is what I said, yes." She is nearly as small as Zeta, but it's obvious they are not biological siblings. Mary is several centimeters taller (a couple inches). Her eyes are a slightly lighter shade of brown than Zeta's, her skin fair, her lips thinner, her hair a straight mousy brown and not nearly as thick as Zeta's. And she's not as curvy as Zeta. Kamaki likes curvy women with large breasts. Of course, she hasn't had children yet and that often helps a woman become curvier.
"May we speak," ask Kamaki.
Mary shrugs, "Sure," and she steps back out of the way as she motions him into her room.
Kamaki ducks as he steps inside her room. Mary shuts the door. Then he hands Mary the cake and glass of milk. Mary sits the glass of milk on her night stand, sits on the edge of her bed and takes a bite of cake. She cocks her head toward the edge of the bed beside her, "Take a seat."
Kamaki sits on the edge of her bed.
"Did Zeta send you," ask Mary.
"She is concerned," answers Kamaki, "but I offered to come speak with you. She did not say it directly, yet she is sorry she hurt your feelings… You hurt her feelings also. Did you intend to hurt her feelings?"
Mary shrugs, "I don't know."
"Are you angry with her," ask Kamaki.
Mary thinks for a few moments, "Yeah, I guess I am."
"What about," ask Kamaki.
Mary thinks for a moment, "It's a combination of things."
"I am a good listener," says Kamaki.
Mary sighs, "She has this way of always turning lemons into lemonade. Only she could end up on some strange planet and not just snag herself one gorgeous hunk for a husband, but seven. Just like she snagged Bryan."
"You had feelings for her husband," ask Kamaki.
"I saw him first," shares Mary sounding a bit childish. "She hadn't even noticed him. But she's so beautiful, every time we went out all the men notice her first. Not that half of 'em were brave enough to try to talk to her. But the ones that did only talk to me after trying to talk to her first and it didn't go the way they were hoping. It usually didn't take them long to figure out she's not a party girl and she wasn't going to put out."
"Put out," questions Kamaki.
"Have sex," clarifies Mary. "She was saving herself for marriage. Bryan was the first and only man she had sex with until she ended up on your world…
We were at the karaoke bar, and I spotted this tall hunk. He was this gorgeous blond Adonis. Every woman in the bar was trying to talk to him except Zeta. She's never checking anybody out. But he was staring at us, or rather her. But I decided I'ld try to talk to him anyway. So I walked over there, introduced myself to him, he barely glanced at me and asked me who my friend was. I told him, "My sister, Zeta." Then he walked away from me to introduce himself to her. I figured fine. After he talks to her for a few minutes, he'll figure out she's not going to party with him. She laughed at something he said. They talked for over an hour. He hung on her every word. She went to the lady's room, and I tried to talk to him again. I told him she's not going to put out and he's wasting his time. He laughed at me and asked me what was wrong with me. He said to me, 'Wow, you're a piece of work. I bet she would never do what you just did to her… Listen, you're a really cute girl, but I'm very interested in Zeta.' Three months later, I was in Vegas watching them get married."
"Would Zeta do something like that to you," ask Kamaki.
Mary shakes her head sadly, "She would never deliberately try to sweep a guy I was interested in out from under me like that. But I've done it to her more times than I can count. I really suck at being a sister."
"Zeta mentioned someone named Fred," inquires Kamaki, "said you have been seeing him off and on for years."
Mary laughs harshly, "Fred acts like he's crazy about me in front of Zeta. He just uses me as a way to stay close to her. Yeah, he has sex with me, but he's thinking about her. He really hasn't had much time for me while Zeta's been gone. When he learns she's here, he'll show up. Other than that, while she's been gone, he only seeks me out after he's gotten really horny. He'll show up, play with her kids, read them a bedtime story, drag me down to the guestroom by her office, bend me over, bang me and leave. If he's really in the mood, he'll have me fluff him back up, start off banging me vaginally, but finish in my anus. After Zeta, had been gone over a year, and he wasn't coming around much, I started to get lonely. I figured, what could it hurt if I went out once in a while? I might get lucky and finally meet someone that looked at me the way Bryan looked at Zeta, the way Anlo and Septimus look at her.
I don't understand. I do everything they want. Zeta would never blow them or let them do her anally. I let them do whatever they want to me. They'll date me for a month or two, then they dump me."
Kamaki puts an arm around her, "You give too much too soon. You are letting these men take advantage of you. It is obvious your method does not work, and it is dangerous."
"What I do with myself is my business," insist Mary. "My sex life is none of Zeta's business."
"I do not think Zeta wants in your business," responds Kamaki. "Yet bringing strangers here where her children are, you not only endanger yourself, but them also. I know that some human males use drugs on women. One of them could have drugged you and not only have harmed you, but the children also. And if something had happened to you, who would have been left to care for them until Zeta's return. There are many things to consider."
"I know you're right," admits Mary leaning into him. "Zeta would never behave so foolishly. Why aren't I more like her? Her parents raised me. It's no wonder no man really wants me."
"You do not need to be more like Zeta," says Kamaki. "There is nothing wrong with Mary. You just need to be more secure with yourself, love and respect yourself. How many men wanted Zeta before her husband, but nothing happened?"
"All of them," says Mary.
"And did they really want her," ask Kamaki, "or just a night of pleasure with her?"
"Just a night," answers Mary.
"But Zeta would not settle for that so they moved on to someone who would," explains Kamaki. "You have been setting yourself up for failure by not having higher standards for yourself. You are precious, Mary. But until you recognize and value yourself as precious, none of these men you are encountering will."
"You really think I'm precious," ask Mary.
"Yes," confirms Kamaki, "it is different on my world. Because females are rare we are taught to treasure them. It is not a perfect world, but we are continually working to make it better."
"Do you think someone like you could ever want someone like me," ask Mary.
"Do you just want to be wanted," ask Kamaki, "or do you wish to be loved and cherished?"
Mary is confused. She had thought that being loved and cherished came along with being wanted. But she was apparently wrong. She finally answers, "Loved and cherished."
Kamaki smiles at her, "I could love and cherish you, Mary. But is that what you truly want? Are you really ready for such a thing? Are you ready for that type of commitment? Or will you continue to run from it like you have been?"
"I don't want to feel like this anymore," answers Mary.
"That is good," Kamaki tells her. "That gives us something to work on."
Kamaki tips her chin up. He hesitates for a moment thinking he shouldn't. She is a deeply wounded individual. Yet so far, women like her, with lots of love, patience and kindness have turned into excellent mates on his world. If she chooses to come to their world, it would be as a Voltrand family member, not a female volunteering for mate assignment. He could and would be able to claim her as his mate. So, he kisses her. It's a deep probing kiss. Mary can't catch her breath as she wraps her arms around his neck and slides onto his lap. She can feel the power and strength in his hands and arms. She's never been more turned on before in her life. Then Kamaki ends the kiss.
"Is something wrong," ask Mary eager for him to make her feel more.
"Nothing is wrong," assures Kamaki. "But just as you must not give too much too soon, neither must I."
Kamaki puts her off his lap and kisses her good night, "Good night, Mary, sleep well." He shuts her door behind him and takes a deep breath. It was hard for him to walk away from the opportunity to mate. But he wants more from Mary than the simple act of mating. And he plans on getting everything from Mary he wants. He doesn't want to move too fast, but he doesn't want to miss what may be his only opportunity to have his own mate.