The Ark

Copyright © 2020 by VeryWellAged

Birthday thoughts...16

Author's note: These chapters are NOT stand-alones...The story starts here.

Birthday thoughts...17

The pig is cut up into chunks of meat with a machete by one of the men. I gather this is a task relegated to the men, who then hand large trays of meat to women, who then arrange the same on serving platters and distribute those to the diners. There are bowls of banana ketchup which the pork is dipped in, as well as gray-green sauce from bottles with the label Mang Tomas. There are three birthday cakes on display with my name on each. None of the cakes are being touched.

There are platters of lumpia¹, bowls of what I’m told is goat caldereta², a noodle dish I’m told is called bihon³. There’s a huge bowl of a macaroni salad with canned fruit cocktail in it. It’s incredibly sweet. There’s fried chicken. And there are bowls and bowls of white rice. The eating goes on for the better part of two hours as more and more folk appear. No one is leaving. But as the new ones start to eat, those who came earlier, move on to after dinner activities.

The party has now been going on for hours.

The women are drinking sweet red wine over ice. The men are getting smashed on Red Horse beer over ice, and on bottle upon liter bottle of Tanduay Dark Rhum. For some reason there’s an H in rum here. Once again, even in small things, I don’t know the culture. There are tables of card players.

There are those who are busy with the karaoke. I have been induced to sing a few songs. There’s a catalog listing the songs available along with a number to input into the machine to bring the song up. I find a couple of Billy Joel songs I can sing. Having completed that, I’m off the hook for further songs.

I know where three of my gals are, but don’t have a clue where Ann or Lorie are. I’m also aware that I haven’t seen Reyna since this afternoon, not that I want to see her again, but only that I have seen everyone else numerous times.

Nelia is bringing more ice out to the men who are drinking the Red Horse. I gather it’s common here to drink beer over ice, something I would never consider doing. I ask her where Ann is as I want to ask her about the prayer and what she might remember about what was said.

Nelia gives me an odd smile and suggests I look in the back bedroom upstairs.

I’m immediately concerned that Ann has been drinking and maybe is ill or hurting; I make the trip up the stairs and down the hall as quickly as my sixty-six-year-old legs allow. Opening the door tells me far more than I want to know.

I now know where Ann, Lorie and Reyna are. They are all before me, naked and engaging in sex play. Reyna’s mouth is attached to Ann’s cunt. Lorie’s mouth is attached to Reyna’s cunt. Ann looks at me and simply says, She’s ready for you now, Po.

This is beyond a weird place for a conversation, but what the fuck. Ann, during the prayer, I heard Reyna’s name. What was said?

Tita⁴ Desa say we celebrate many things! Your birthday and Reyna joining our family. Po, she truly ready now. Please join us.

Ann how old is Reyna?

I told you!

No you didn’t. Not really. What is her birth day, month and year?

I not know exact!

Reyna, stop eating Ann’s cunt and tell me.

The kid does stop. Her cheeks awash with Ann’s fluids. She looks scared. January 28, Po.

What is the year?

She really doesn’t want to tell me. That much is clear.

If you don’t tell me, you can’t stay. It’s that simple.

1990, Po.

You’re fourteen?

Fifteen soon, Po.

Fifteen in three and a half months, fourteen now.

Ira!

What, Ri?

All know she to join you. All know her age. Everyone happy for you and for her. Why you make a problem?

And once again I hear loud and clear that I don’t understand the culture. … I don’t. Clearly, I don’t. I stop trying to understand. I stop trying to fit all this into a morality that is evidently meaningless here.

I undress.

Reyna is cute. Visually there’s no problem with her. But what about the rest?

Reyna, have you been told about the rules?

Here she is, naked, cunt juices remain on her cheeks as she answers, Po… I not to lie, ever. I not to tell you what to do. I may tell you, you are wrong, but I must tell you why I think that. I to be good to the others in the family. That what you mean?

Yes, that will work.

It’s time I just threw out the rule book, as it has no value here. I’m about to have sex with someone who, by that rule book, no matter how I might try to interpret it, I clearly shouldn’t. But here and now it seems I clearly should. What good is a rule book when none of the rules make sense anymore and, in fact, contradict reality?

Once on the bed, I grab Reyna’s small body and drag her by her hips, putting her under me.

Her skin is brown. Her hair is a thick mat of black. Her eyes are bright, even in the dim light of the bedroom. And even in this light it’s clear that there’s no makeup on her. Her body is as honest as it can be. Her breasts, what there are of them, mound gently, up to very dark brown nipples. Her cunt is shaved. I have no idea if it was done in preparation for today’s activities or if it’s the normal state of things with the kid.

My fingers glide over her cunt. She has been engaged in sex play, so I figure she’s not dry; my fingers confirm that assumption. Leaning down, as I’m over her, I kiss the kid. Why do I do it? I suspect that the idea of just fucking her straight out seems far too coarse an action. If she wants to be a wife, then a kiss is in order.

She not only allows the kiss, but it sets her into an explosion of emotion and action. Her hands fly up and grab the back of my head. She pulls herself up to me, her tongue invading my mouth. Her breath invades my lungs… and at the same time she is crying, moaning, whimpering.

Her companions have removed my slacks. My cock is hanging at her virginal portal and, as Reyna’s emotions are transmitted to my mouth, chest and ears, I push in to her waiting cunt.

She is small and the fit is difficult; it’s so difficult that I can’t tell the difference between the resistance of a membrane and the resistance of a tight channel. In either case, persistence, and repeated short strokes, allows me to find bottom.

My cock is tightly nestled in a hot glove. My head is clamped to her with the vice-grips of her hands holding me in place. Her vocalizing is of the most primitive of sounds. They are sounds of mating. They are sounds so ancient and basic that they are both instantly recognizable and without words to describe.

Lorie and Ann are bystanders. Though on the bed, they are not engaged and I don’t want them to be. This is between Reyna and me. My manhood makes the journey back and down repeatedly. The way is smoother now. Reyna’s legs are spread wide, very wide. Her eyes are wide open and staring at mine. She is not fantasizing of someone else. She is experiencing me as I am, taking her as she is. It’s as real as it gets. There’s no artifice. We are two bodies, engaged with each other, without distraction, brutally and physically honest as to what we are about: fucking.

Though there’s a fan in this room, there’s no ‘aircon’ and I’m beginning to sweat. That sweat is dripping on Reyna. She might have wished to change position or seek a towel. She doesn’t, but she does stop kissing, pulls her head back and gives me a gleaming smile, all the while looking right at me.

That, for some reason, triggers something inside me and cum floods Reyna’s cunt.

Reyna and I just lie there together on that bed. I’m a sweaty mess. She spies a towel, gets up, grabs it, and comes back to bed. But instead of giving me the towel, she starts wiping me down, and doesn’t stop for a good five minutes, until I’m done sweating.

Her smile is simply brilliant. Bright white teeth across that brown face, just glowing with happiness in that dark room. I just have to kiss her again. I move to begin the kiss and she just takes it from there. Her lips lock on to mine in a kiss that reprises the passion we just experienced before.

It’s an amazing feeling. There’s no faking it.

By the time I get cleaned up, dressed and downstairs, Reyna has already left the room, following a series of thank you kisses. I expect, as I walk down the stairs, to find that the party will be pretty well wrapped up. I’m wrong. It’s still going strong, but as I appear, all fall silent. All are looking at me. I have no clue what it’s about.

My gals, Bim, Cincer, Nelia, Lorie and Ann are all there, beaming with smiles. I don’t know why.

And then Reyna runs to me, hugs me and pulls me down for a kiss. The entire assemblage erupts in clapping and sounds of joy. I’m surrounded by many who are slapping me on the back. I feel like I was supposed to walk out with a bloody sheet.

I was afraid of someone wanting to kill me for taking a child so young. The only killing I’m getting is of the kindness variety. Go fucking figure.

I’m pulled by all my gals to sing a bit more. I find Fire and Rain by James Taylor and sing that, before singing a couple of John Denver tunes, Annie’s Song and Country Roads.

I decide to just go to bed by about midnight. I have no idea when the party winds down, but am awakened at six in the morning when the karaoke is turned on and loud singing starts again.

My bed holds Cincer, Bim and Nelia, but all seem to be sacked out. It’s been one hell of a party.

There’s plenty of food in the fridge (I just can’t call it a ref) for a breakfast, but I also grab a bit of birthday cake. It’s Monday, and even though I know it won’t really be there, I’ll check my bank account later today. I have no urgent ‘have to’ things on my list. Sometime this week, I need to check in at the Immigration office and get my visa extended, but I don’t have to do it today.

I do want to check my email and so, when I go into Tacloban to check at the bank, I’ll bring my tablet with me and go to the coffee shop that has WiFi for its customers.

And, as I’m going into the city, I’ll first get my lunch at MickeyD’s. Gotta have my Big Mac.

As I’m finishing up my birthday cake breakfast, I’m joined by Lorie, Ann and Reyna. Lorie turns on a rice cooker which still contains rice from last night. Ann finds another bowl of rice and, with Reyna, starts making some garlic fried rice. Lorie gets the bihon out of the fridge and puts it in a wok to heat it up.

As all this is in motion, Lorie inquires, What your plan today?

I explain what I expect to be doing, only to be told that Lorie will come with me. So I ask, What are you needing to do in Tacloban?

Nothing, I just come with you. Maybe I will try a burger at McDo!

I seem to have my shadow resuming her role. Ann and Reyna seem totally unperturbed. But then Ann asks, Ira, will you take Reyna to school today so no need for a tricycle?

At least the kid is still in school! Sure, when do we need to go?

Maybe an hour.

Is it far?

No, not far. It just nice for you to bring her, I think.

OK, I get the point. This is show and tell.

When we leave, Reyna is wearing a blue and white plaid pleated skirt, a white blouse with loose-fitting large collar, a thin blue and white plaid tie, white ankle socks and skimpy black leather shoes. The blouse is not tucked in but, rather, has a belt-type affair at the bottom and is outside the skirt at hip level. It’s a cute uniform, and only serves to remind me of how this is so wrong by all I know. Last night I resolved to throw out the rule book. This morning, that resolution isn’t so easy to fix in my head.

Lorie does have a burger and fries. But I have to order a side of rice for her. If there’s no rice, she informs me, it’s just not a meal.

It would be nice if MickeyD’s had WiFi, but it doesn’t. So the next stop is a coffee shop that does.

There’s not much to report regarding the email. Things are proceeding with the house. The real estate agent will wait until the house is painted and there’s new carpet down. My contractor tells me he can get ‘standard’ neutral colored carpeting installed now for a good price, as it’s what he always uses and he gets a bulk discount because of how much of it he buys. I tell him to go ahead, and notify the real estate agent of the plan.

I don’t need to look at the dating site, as I’ve closed the account. Lorie was not aware of that. I think she might have been looking to make sure I didn’t turn anyone else away. If that was the reason for her coming with me, she has wasted a trip.

My trip to the bank is a surprise. The money has arrived. I speak with a bank officer and tell her that my plan is to take most of what has just been transferred in, out of the account a week from tomorrow. It amounts to six hundred and seventy-five thousand pesos. She suggests that I arrange for an armed guard to accompany me when I come for the cash. I appreciate the caution, asking for a recommendation in that regard, and receive one.

Lorie has been waiting for me outside the bank, hanging out close to my bike. It’s a successful trip for me. I’ve no clue what Lorie gets out of it. But she just seems to need to be with me.

I find it interesting. Ann is fully connected to me. Of that I’ve no doubt. But she acts independently, not needing to be with me. Nelia is firmly connected, but doesn’t seem to have a territorial bone in her body. I’m the gift Jesus has given her. She relishes the gift, and will never betray me, but the gift has set her free in a way. She doesn’t need constant closeness.

These three have been the youngest until Reyna appeared. All three are fully attached to me, and yet, there are three different ways of being connected.

How Reyna will be is not clear yet. Today, when I took her to school, she didn’t seek to do anything overt, such as kissing. All that was said was a ‘thank you’ and a sincere smile. Yes, others noticed me, but nothing was said.

As to my oldest two, they are in town looking for work. I find that incredibly smart. It’s not that we need the money. But they need to be doing something, and having their own money makes plenty of sense.

It’s unclear how successful their job search will be. I can only hope they will find success.

Just before Lorie and I ride back to the house, I get a text from Bim. She needs to meet with me about Niana. And so, back to the coffee shop we go for the meeting.

Bim’s folks are happy to hear that she will reunite with her daughter. There’s a matter of a couple of hundred pesos before the form 138 will be released. It’s no big deal and it will be taken care of once she gets there.

It’s too late to go today, to get to her folks’ place. But, if she leaves early tomorrow morning she should be able to get all the way there and possibly even get to the school to resolve the payment issue.

The flight is inexpensive enough that I’ve sufficient cash in my wallet to cover both a round-trip fare and a one-way fare for her daughter. And so, with pesos in hand, Bim, a few minutes later, takes the bike she is using and rides over to where she can purchase the tickets. Her leaving tomorrow morning, Tuesday, even allowing for screw-ups that may burn a whole day, still allows her to be able to fly back here late Thursday. That’s the plan. She won’t be gone for long.

But just before she left to get the tickets, as she straddled her bike, I got a request. OK if we together tonight?

Yes. Absolutely, yes.

We see Bim’s taillight in the distance as Lorie asks her own question.

Ira, if my nanay want to come, you allow?

I don’t think she will ever join us, Ri.

Oo, true. But to visit?

Am I so mean that you think I would not allow your mother to visit? Yes, of course she can visit.

My friends? Can they visit?

Will your friends be able to pay the fare to visit? Really?

Maybe.

Ri, do not ask me to add your friends. OK?

Lorie says nothing. And with that, I get back on the bike, with Lorie following suit.

When we get back to the house, Ann asks if I’ll ride over to Reyna’s school and give the girl a ride home. I do it, but wonder if I’m becoming a school bus for one.

The school is about twelve kilometers farther away from where our place is, in relation to the bridge to Tacloban. There’s washed out yellow paint and washed out teal trim on the concrete fence around the school. Maybe it’s got great academics, but it’s a rural school. That much is clear.

When I get there, Reyna is ready to climb aboard, but is surrounded by other girls, each with a big smile on her face. Are they just happy for Reyna or do they want to climb aboard? In truth, it may be better if I don’t try to find out.

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Birthday thoughts...18