Peace talks
Lunch is simple but good. Canned corned tuna and rice. Nothing fancy but, I like it. The driving lesson lasted two hours and lunch is done. We have not seen Sarah. Emelyn joined us for lunch and shares what she knows. I am not sure I learn anything. But the retelling of their experience at least provides a few laughs.
The ants really messed with Sarah far more than with Emelyn. Emelyn doubts that Sarah got much sleep. For that reason alone, she suspects we won't see her until dinner but, Sarah has got to be so hungry that we will see her then.
Emelyn asks for a driving lesson and so after lunch we spend two hours together. We don't talk about the last couple of days. I don't think there is a need. All I tell her is that I missed her. She smiles and says she missed me. That's it. But we do talk about her girls.
You have Jonalyn last night?
Yeh. And Joriz tonight.
Good. I text Jonalyn. She is very happy.
That makes me happy.
Yes, I think it is true. Ron, what we going to do about Judith?
I sent her to Pearl.
I know this. Jenny tell me. But what we do about her? She is not like us.
Well, she is Ros's niece. What do you mean?
She has a sex problem.
OK, is it a problem or something that will go away?
Problem I think.
I see. So no fixing it?
True. What we do with her. She not belong.
I agree, Emelyn, but I do not have an answer.
She dangerous to us. Same as Sarah.
Could be.
You fix it.
OK.
When the lesson is over it is time to go pick up a little bit from the grocery and get the girls. Jenny and I leave together.
Emelyn is worried about Judith. What did you tell her on the ride home?
I tell her what is happening.
Well, she knows Judith a lot better than we do. If she says it is a problem, I think we better pay attention to her.
You have a plan?
No, but, if possible we need to have a plan to move her attention to someone else.
Elvie doesn't think you can.
I will see what Ros and Pearl say about it.
Food purchased, we pick up the girls and start the return trip. Melissa asks, Poppop, why isn't anyone asking who is tonight?
Because they already know.
You do this when I am not here? Not fair!
No silly. Joriz please explain it to our little miss pouty face.
Hey!
Well?... Go ahead, Joriz
It is me. Jonalyn go yesterday so today is for me.
Oh. OK, I see. So no one had to ask? It was understood?
Yes.
Why do you want him, if he already has your sister? Don't you want someone of your own?
He is my own. He is our own. No one else gets him. He say that!
Easy! Sorry! I didn't mean to get you angry! Poppop! Please I am sorry I've made Joriz angry.
Melissa, you live in a world where you are the center of your universe. When everything is all about what you want and what you get. It is not that way here. This is not a 'me' culture. It is an 'us' culture. Joriz isn't angry with you as a person, she is frustrated. She doesn't get why you and Aubrey can't fathom why it is part of life to think of the group as a unit and not a collection of parts. ... Look, in a US school the best get pushed ahead, the middle stay on track and the slow get left behind. Here, the best help the slow so that all can advance together. It may not be something that you are comfortable with but, that is the culture of the Filipino. It is something they have pride in and think is the right way to live. They think your way is selfish and rude. ... Joriz, did I say it right?
Yes. That is correct for us. I not know about the US, Sir Ron.
Do you understand a little better Melissa?
Poppop! Yes, now I understand what I have been seeing these last two days here. I didn't understand why the teachers were calling on the kids who couldn't get it and why the other kids would then form a sort of team if needed to get the kid up with them. I must have seen it two or three times. It was weird to me and I couldn't figure it out. So it is the same way with, what do I call of you, a family?
Sure, we are a family.
OK, so you function the same way? No one is left out and no one is left behind?
Yes.
But it is a closed group.
Yes and so are the classes. A member of one class is not responsible for a student in another class. All are closed groups. Some here call the other members of their group, their batchmates.
OK, I think I understand. Joriz I am sorry I asked a stupid question.
OK. It is OK. Ron, we get text Mother is back. Sarah will know I am with you tonight?
Yeh, probably. Aubrey knows and Melissa here knows. I suspect that somewhere along the way their mother will find out.
You still want me?
Joriz, I always want you. Do you mean do I want you tonight? I do. You and your sister are like Yin and Yang1. If one of you is with me and then if I am not with the other, there is no balance. It's bad Feng Shui2!
Hala! comes from Pearl. He figured you two out. It took me far longer to understand.
I was just joking but maybe it is also true, they are really compliments of each other. Rather than blend, each represents a pure essence. Go figure, the unconscious mind works when the conscious fails to grasp. The fact that Pearl got it is news and welcome at that. It means to me she has an organic sense of the nature of what people are about. That may be helpful right now.
Pearl, I had a conversation with Emelyn and she thinks our plan with Judith is dangerous. Is there any reason why I should be concerned?
Sir, I too think about this. Emelyn is right. Judith is a problem.
If true, the only way I see it is to find someone else in whom she might be interested. Is there another way?
No, Sir. I think you are right.
Yeh, well it is a nice thought but I don't have any idea how to do it.
And then a voice who hasn't spoken, speaks now. I think I do.
You have a plan or an idea, k'Ren?
Maybe. I know a girl who has a crush on Judith but is afraid to act on it.
You friends with her?
Not really but, I know who she is. She knows we are friendly with Judith. Maybe I can convince her to make a move on Judith. I don't think Judith will be mean to her and maybe it will work.
Immediately Jonalyn is seemingly concerned. k'Ren, you thinking of Czaren or EuNice?
Czaren.
Her uncle is a Senior Inspector in the PNP3 You think that a good idea?
EuNice is in love with Reyman. You have a better one?
I think you better find someone else, not us, to push her to Judith.
How about me? I leave in a few days and then you can all claim that you had no idea. So says my granddaughter. I can't think of a more stupid suggestion.
No, it tracks right back to me. Sorry Melissa but, that one won't work.
But Melissa isn't done. Do any of you know enough to copy Judith's hand writing?
Pearl says that her mother can.
OK we slip a note to Czaren in a way she doesn't know who gave it to her, and the note is from Judith. It tells her that Judith understands Crazen is interested in being good friends with her. If this is true she should come to Judith's office, tell Judith she wants to be special friends and touch Judith's cheek. No one will track anything back to us and if it works, Judith is no longer a problem for us.
I can only hope.
We are assembling for a big dinner. I hope it is one without machetes. Word is it that Sarah will join us. Aubrey and Melissa have been with her for the better part of an hour. I gather it is a sort of a congress of America Females. No one else is invited to attend.
Aubrey and Melissa know that even though dinner is supposed to be at six thirty tonight, it means little. We operate here on Filipino time, which means when everyone shows up or everyone else gives up and starts. Still Sarah and her two still function on American time. As it is currently six twenty-five, I suspect we will see them very soon.
At six twenty-eight the three appear in dresses. Sarah comes to me and says, Let's start over. It's good to see you, Dad.
It's good to see you, Sarah.
Dad, I admit, I am still having a hard time with all this but, I am now convinced that no one here, no single person, is being abused or taken advantage of. I understand that you all really do love each other and want to stay together. I will do nothing to interfere with that. Not now and not ever. You have my promise. I want a promise from you too.
What is it?
I want my girls to know their grandfather and their aunts and uncles as they come along. And so I want your assurance that my girls will always be safe in this house.
Safe from me? Sarah!
No, Dad, safe from the other females in this house who might try to seduce them... Joriz ... and safe from their own inappropriate inclinations in the future.
Sarah, I can promise you that Joriz will not attempt anything again. I can assure you that if I am apprised of something untoward, I will stop it. However your daughters are getting of an age when neither you nor I will have any control of their choices. As such that part I cannot promise.
I know as much. OK. Let's eat. I'm starved. Susan, where are you sitting? I will be next to you.
The meal starts well enough. The food is good and the talk is cheerful. The girls get into a giggling fit when Jonalyn tells Joriz that she is a serial sex offender. As that quiets down, Sarah asks, Who is with you tonight, Dad?
MOM! Aubrey is totally pissed and furious with her mother.
Sarah looks at her and asks, What is the problem? Isn't that the normal thing that is done here?
Mom, we don't need any more problems!
Aubrey, there is no problem. Dad?
Me, Ma'am. I am with your father tonight. The rest of us already know this. Your father was with Jonalyn last night and so I am allowed to be with him tonight. It is good Feng Shui!
Excuse me? Feng Shui?
Yes. If I am not with your Father tonight then the universe is not in balance.
Sarah closes her eyes, breathes deeply, her hands resting on the table. Dad, would you please explain?
Do you see much difference between Jonalyn and Joriz?
No, of course not, there are twins.
Yes, they are physically, certainly. And each of us has a personality that is in parts extrovert and introvert, athletic and observer. With twins we expect the mixes to be similar between each. But with these two, it is if there is pure decisive and cock-sure in one and pure considerate and empathic in the other. It is like the pure essences were separated at birth and the only way to have a balance of it is to put the two of them back together so to speak. They are the yin and yang. Separate but inseparable. To be with one and leave the other wanting is a bad business. Since Jonalyn was with me last night, it is essential that Joriz join me tonight. I don't think anyone of them at this table thought differently.
OK, you are not putting me on?
Ask your daughters.
Aubrey?
Mom, I don't know about the Feng Shui stuff but, everyone here knew that if Jonalyn was last night, Joriz has to be tonight.
Melissa do you have anything to add, child?
What Poppop says about them is really true. They look identical but they do not think identical. But they do seem to complement each other. It is weird. Pearl knows about this.
Pearl can you add anything?
No. Your father is correct about they be opposites. And he is correct. It is a mistake if he not with Joriz tonight. No one here want to see what happen if it not occur.
Dad, you certainly have put the whole thing squarely in my face. But you are right. I can't accept it and not accept it. It is all or it doesn't really work. So no problems from me.
Mom? Melissa is tugging on Sarah's arm?
Mom, I don't think you get it yet. They want to be in Poppop's bed even more than him. I don't mean he doesn't love them. I really think he does. I believe that now. But the sex part? It's them. Jonalyn wanted him desperately last night. She told me. And Joriz just about tore my head off when I said why don't you want a guy of your own? He is hers, Mom. He is. He is all theirs. Mom, they love him as much as you love him. And Mom, being fourteen here is different from being fourteen in Rochester. This world is different.
Dad, I don't know how you convinced both my girls in the time I was gone but, you have. I was willing to hold my nose and just get through this. They spent an hour telling me I have been brainwashed by a propaganda machine. Turning to Joriz, In four years you will be giving me a sister or brother. It is best we be friends. So let's start with you not calling me Ma'am. My name is Sarah.
1 - How opposite forces are complementary. Chinese.
2 - Finding harmony between everyone and the environment. Chinese.
3 - Philippine National Police.