Seven Sisters

by Eileen Troemel

  ***

  "Why are we going to this doctor," Nic asked.

  "You're old enough to know this stuff," Lydia said. "Gods, I'm nervous."

  "You go and get birth control," Nic said. "I don't have any intention of fucking anyone ever."

  "Stop it," Lydia said. "We're behind. Before… before the plagues, my mom explained some of how our bodies work. I remember some of it. We talked about menstruating and how babies were made, and you know…"

  "Yeah, I know how babies are made, man fucks woman, leaves her, baby appears," Nic said.

  "Okay but we need to know how our bodies work and how to protect ourselves," Lydia said. "So you and I are going. We're both going to talk about birth control and our monthly and anything else we have questions about."

  "Does this mean you want to fuck him," Nic asked.

  "Nic," Lydia scolded.

  "Fine. You wanna be his lover," she asked changing her words so Lydia didn’t scold her

  "I don't know," Lydia said. "He kisses me and things happen. I want to know how much is biological and how much is other stuff."

  "He was busted, you know," Nic said. "When you were plowed by the ceiling. He was crushed. At the same time, he didn't try to make any of us leave you. He made it easier for Hannah and Abby."

  "His tenderness with all of you draws me," Lydia said. "His body excites me. It's not like how you’d see one of the boys from the gangs with his dick hanging out. They always disgusted me. He lets me experiment with what I like. If I don't like the way he touches me, he stops or changes how he touches me. He never holds me down or forces anything."

  "Good," Nic said. "I suppose it would be good to know more and to be protected."

  "Heidi hasn't started her monthly, but we need to talk to all of them about it," Lydia said.

  "I mean, we stole supplies," Nic said. "They know what happens."

  "But they need actual knowledge not the street knowledge," Lydia said.

  "You want to do it or have this doc do it," Nic asked.

  "I want to see what she's like," Lydia said.

  ***

  "I do not like it," Mycos said. He stood by the front door holding her hands, frowning deeply.

  "You're sending protection with us," Lydia said. "Please, Mycos. This is something I need to do."

  "You will stay with your guards," he said buttoning her jacket for her.

  "We will," she said soothing him. She pulled his face down to her, gave him a hard kiss. "Nic and I will take care of this. You and Gregor are in charge of the girls. You keep them on track for studying."

  He hugged her tight to him. "Yes, we will," he said. "Do not forget the social worker will be here at four."

  "We'll be back before then," Lydia assured him.

  ***

  Lydia and Nic sat holding hands in the waiting room. The guards waited outside. "Are you scared," Nic asked her voice trembling.

  "Yes," Lydia admitted. "Look at these other women. They're pregnant."

  "Do you think they got that way on purpose," Nic murmured.

  Lydia watched a man and woman hold hands and smile at each other. Nic said, "They kinda look like you and Mycos do sometimes."

  "I'm not ready for a baby," Lydia said. "I've got you six to take care of. You're enough for me right now."

  "What do you think the girls are doing with them right now," Nic grinned.

  "Did you put them up to mischief," Lydia asked.

  "No but Dani and Rachel put their heads together," Nic said.

  "Lydia Witter and Nicole Hunter," the nurse called.

  "You first," Nic growled, fear hollowing her tone.

  "That's us," Lydia stood up to follow the nurse.

  "Doctor Giese will see you in her office first," the nurse said. "She prefers to talk with all new patients. Then she'll do an exam. Will you both need an exam?"

  "We have questions," Lydia said. "Once those questions are done, we'll see."

  The nurse raised an eyebrow but stopped by a door. "This is it," she said. "Doctor Giese should be in there."

  "Thank you," Lydia said. She wanted to run away. "Ready, Nic?"

  "No, but let’s get it over with," Nic said.

  Both their faces white and tense, they stepped through the door. Nic clung to Lydia's hand as though her life depended on it.

  Behind a desk, a pretty brunette looked up. She smiled, "Hi, I'm Carol Giese. Let's sit over here." She stepped away from her desk to sit in a chair. "Can I have the nurse get you anything? Glass of water or coffee?"

  "No, thank you," Lydia said. They joined her but sat on the edge of the couch. Nic wanted to let go of Lydia but couldn't seem to.

  "How can I help you," Doctor Giese asked.

  "We've got questions," Lydia said.

  "Of course," Doctor Giese said. "Where do you want to start?"

  "Gods, we don't know shit," Nic burst out. Lydia laughed and hugged her.

  "She's got it right," Lydia said. She liked the looks of this doctor. "We've spent a lot of time on the streets and need to know it all."

  ***

  "You have to hold still," Dani said. "Otherwise it gets smeared."

  "You are right, I am sure," Mycos said. He looked down at the black nail polish she painted on his nails.

  "Should we do purple or red," Rachel said.

  "Purple," Dani said. "Gregor wouldn't look good in red."

  "This comes off, correct," Gregor asked as Rachel started painting purple sparkle nail polish on his fingernails.

  "You gotta take it off," Dani said. "We got stuff."

  "How long can one appointment take," Mycos muttered.

  "Did she say why she wanted it specifically," Gregor asked. "Have you…" He looked at the girls and wasn't sure how to ask the question.

  "No, we haven't," Mycos said. "She said she had questions about female biology."

  "Was she talking about her monthly," Dani asked.

  Mycos stared at her, surprised she knew such things. "Has she talked to you about these things," he asked.

  "We looked in some library books," Dani said. "It's supposed to come monthly, but it wasn't for either of them so they were scared."

  "One of the other girls said if you slept in the same space as a boy slept, you’d get a fat belly," Rachel said.

  "Yeah, and another one said if you touched a boy it would do the same," Dani said. "So they were worried."

  "Can I put a bow in your hair," Abby asked. "Does that mean if I touch uncla or dearhar, I'll get a baby?"

  "Nah, you're too young," Dani said. "You gotta get the crabbies and the yucks."

  Mycos jaw dropped. "You went to the library to look up how babies were made," he asked.

  "Nic and Lyd did," Rachel said. "We were in the kids' section. It was better than the junk they looked at.”

  "What are the crabbies and the yucks," Gregor asked.

  "You know," Dani said. "When they get their monthly, they get really grumpy. Especially Nic."

  "She's mean," Rachel said. "So you gotta watch out for her."

  "Then they shove things in their panties and we gotta bury the crud that comes out," Dani said.

  "Life on the streets," Gregor said raising his eyebrows.

  "It is a perspective," Mycos said shaking his head slowly.

  "I don't want to get the monthly thing," Hannah said. "You get boobs. Nic said they get in the way."

  "Lydia's are soft," Abby said. "It's nice to lean on them when you're scared."

  "Yeah but she don’t look like a boy which ain’t good," Rachel said.

  “Is not,” Mycos corrected automatically.

  Rachel repeated it but wrinkled her nose.

  "Plus boys like to twist them til the girl screams," Dani said.

  "Perhaps we could talk about…" Gregor tried to think of something else to distract the girls.

  "We're home," Lydia called.

  "Lydia," Abby scampered out of the room. "I got to put a bow in Gregor's hair. I won't get a big belly
though. Dani says I'm too young."

  "What have you been talking about," Lydia asked as she walked into the playroom. She saw both Gregor and Mycos having their fingernails painted by Rachel and Dani. She laughed, covered her mouth to stop but couldn't.

  "Monthly crud," Dani said. "You and Nic were whispering about it last night."

  "You were supposed to be sleeping," Nic said. She blushed and wouldn't look at Mycos.

  "On our homeworld, women are pampered during their monthly," Mycos said carefully. "Did you learn what you needed to?" He looked at Lydia, saw her blush and smile.

  "I need to talk to you," Lydia said. "Are you done getting your nails done?"

  "You can have him," Dani said. "I was gonna do his toes in red but it can wait till next time."

  "I'm not done with Gregor," Rachel said looking a little worried.

  "I will stay until you are, little miss," Gregor said reassuring her.

  "You know boys don't usually do this," Rachel whispered.

  "But you enjoy painting my nails," Gregor said.

  "It gives me practice," Rachel said.

  "You practice on me, and then I will do yours," Gregor said.

  "A light color," Lydia said as she took Mycos' hand.

  "Of course," Gregor said.

  "Where do you want to talk," he asked.

  "Can we go to your lounge," Lydia asked leading the way.

  "Yes," he said. When the door closed, Mycos pulled her close to him, brushed her hair away from her face, and kissed her gently. "All right?"

  "Hmmm hmmm," she said. She wandered the room.

  On her third pass, he pulled her onto his lap. "What is wrong," Mycos asked.

  "I've never … my dad didn't stick for the conversation about these things," she said. "But if we're partners, we have to talk these things through, right?'

  "What things," Mycos said.

  "Doctor Giese is really nice," Lydia said. She played with the top button on his shirt, tracing it with her fingers, opening it, and then closing it. "I want her to explain things to the girls. Can we arrange for her to come here?"

  "Are they not a little young," Mycos asked.

  "She said no. I don't want them to have all the misconceptions Nic and I had," Lydia said.

  "Like if you lie in the same space as a boy, you'll get pregnant," Mycos said smiling.

  "Yeah, like…" she blushed but he kissed her.

  "Tell me what else," he said.

  "I made some decisions today," she said. "I'm on birth control. It's good for six months. She said if we don't want anything to occur, we need to wait four to six weeks before we're… intimate." A deep red washed over her pale complexion but she met his eyes, watched for his reaction.

  He frowned and didn't say anything. "Are you angry with me," she asked worried suddenly.

  "Tell me why you did this," he asked tipping her face to watch her expressive face.

  "I know you want to make love," she said. She took a deep breath, bit her lip. "I know you want kids but I've got six. I want to have time with you. I want to discover what I like when it comes to being intimate, making love. I want to know how to please you. I learned a lot about the physical part of sex. I want time to discover the emotional part."

  "You want to be my lover," he asked, cupping her face.

  "Yes, but not right now. You touch me and I can't think. Why is that? You hold me and I feel safe and … " she shrugged. He recognized her I-don't-want-to-think-about-the-past shrug.

  "Safe does not sound very sexy," he growled even as her words warmed his heart.

  "Safe is everything," she said softly. She hugged him close and confessed. "I've not felt safe since my parents died in the plague. Safe is home and l… love. Safe is everything."

  "Lydia," he held her tight, rubbed his hands up and down her back. "You are those things for me."

  "I want a chance to …" she was afraid to say the words.

  "To what," he asked pulling her a little away so he could see her face.

  "I want to know what's between us is special, the way it was between my parents," she whispered.

  "You want the dream," he said remembering her words "All right," he said. "We will not be lovers for six weeks but that does not mean I am not kissing or touching you."

  "As long as I can kiss and touch you," Lydia smiled.

  "You better," he growled crushing her lips, tasting her. "I have one more thing for you to think about?"

  "What," she said her heart beating fast and her eyes on his lips.

  "I love you," Mycos said.

  "Oh," Lydia said. "Oh… I don't know.."

  "Shh," he said. "I want you to know. I do not expect you to say the words right now."

  ***

  "Sally Harris," she said holding out a small hand. "I'm the social worker."

  Gregor stared at the woman. Her red hair knotted low on the back of her head. Her clothes slightly ill-fitting, she wore a skirt, blouse, and suit jacket. "Gregor Wauzeke, Chief Protector of the Hylati family. Please enter our home."

  "I was given to understand Lord Mycos would be here for this visit," Sally said.

  Gregor smelled the dew in the Valley of Queens from home. He leaned into the woman. "He is with the little misses," Gregor said. "They were finishing their studies."

  "I understand they use the Hylatian programs for their studies," Sally said.

  "Yes," Gregor said. "We can provide an outline of what is included in their programs."

  "I will require it," Sally said reaching in her briefcase.

  "Is this a camera," Gregor asked. "We cannot allow pictures of the house or grounds."

  "I need to have a record of the girls living conditions," Sally said.

  "Security is tight," Gregor said. "We cannot allow pictures."

  "Have there been threats against the girls or the lord," Sally asked.

  "It is against the household. If you take pictures, your storage is not secure, we would have to rearrange," Gregor said. "We can do this but the girls are finally settling into their surroundings. Lord Mycos does not want to upset them with any changes to their surroundings so they feel safe and secure."

  Sally considered his concerns. She said, "I'll see what the conditions are and make a decision from there."

  "They share," Gregor said. He stopped her, touched her arm, and wanted to take the jacket off to touch her skin.

  "They don't have separate rooms," Sally said.

  "The rooms are available," Gregor said. "The whole wing is allocated for them with plenty of rooms. Dani and Rachel hate to be away from each other. Hannah and Abby share but because Abby has nightmares, Heidi and Nic almost always sleep in the same room with them. They share the bed when Abby has a bad night."

  "How long were they on the streets," Sally asked.

  "You need to ask each of them," Gregor said. "It is their story to tell and I don't want to break a confidence."

  "What is your relation to them," Sally asked.

  "Uncla," Abby called racing to him. "Uncla, I got it right! I passed!" Gregor bent down to scoop her up.

  "The math," he said.

  "Yes, I figred it out. It clicked," she said. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. "You were right. I thought about it before I gave my answer. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense, and then I knew!"

  "Because you are brilliant," he said smiling at her.

  "I am," Abby said. "Lyd says I can have ice cream for supper."

  "For dessert," Gregor corrected.

  "Awww, please," Abby begged. "I want a really big bowl of nilla and choclate and strawbrry."

  "I am certain the rule is three scoops for dessert," Gregor said. "I will check with Lady Lydia."

  "You're no fun," Abby said. But she hugged him. When she lay her head on his shoulder, she noticed the lady standing next to him. "Oh!" She moved as far from the new person as she could get and still be in his arms. She hid her face in his neck.

  "What's wrong
, ceann breagge," he murmured to her.

  "Who's she," Abby whispered.

  "This is Miss Harris," Gregor said. "She is here to make sure we are taking good care of you."

  "I'm not goin’ away, am I," Abby said gripping Gregor tighter. "I don’t wanna go away. It's safe here. Are you throwing me away too?"

  "Ssssshhhh," Gregor said swaying back and forth. "You will never be thrown away again."

  "I'm here to make sure you have all the things you need," Sally said.

  Abby buried her face into Gregor's neck, refusing to look at her.

  "She is a very nice lady," Gregor said. "She is here to help Mycos and Lydia keep you. You want us to keep you, right?"

  "Yes," Abby said. "Is she gonna hurt me?"

  "No, why do you think she will hurt you," Gregor asked.

  "Mama always hurt me after someone like her came," Abby whispered.

  "No one will hurt you," Gregor said. He turned to point towards their wing. "Look. Landros is on duty. See how fierce he looks."

  Abby lifted her head. Sally turned in time to see the man scowl and put on a tough expression. "He's got his silly tough face on," Abby said. "You know if you tickle him, he smiles."

  "Yes but do you think he will allow anyone to hurt you," Gregor asked.

  "No because he can body slam Aniton," Abby said pointing to the man next to Landros. "He said he’d body slam anyone who tried to throw me away. He pinky promised."

  "That is serious," Gregor said.

  "It certainly is," Sally said smiling at the little girl.

  "No throwing away or Landros will body slam them," Abby said lifting her face out of Gregor's neck.

  "Exactly," Gregor said. "Now will you show me your passing grade?"

  "I did really good," Abby said. "I got all of them right."

  "Wonderful," Gregor said. "Will you show Miss Harris and me?"

  Abby rested her cheek against Gregor's and stared at Sally Harris. Sally waited patiently for the girl to make up her mind. "Kay but Defur isn't coming out."

  "I'm sure you will decide what is best for Defur," Gregor said.

  ***

  Standing in the front foyer, Sally Harris said, "I'm required to make three drop-in checks. We don't give notice for these. Then there will be an interview with each of the children. I have to say typically it is required these be individual interviews, but I see they are dependent on each other. I'll speak with my supervisor about having more than one child in the interview."