The Ark

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

Birthday thoughts...19

When I drop Reyna off at school the next morning, the teacher is not in view. I get a kiss on the cheek and that’s all there’s to it. I take off to Tacloban and the Bureau of Immigration.

It takes more than two hours, mostly sitting and waiting my turn, but the visa has a new stamp on it and I’m good for another sixty days.

Ann has been in contact with the seller of the property we are acquiring. As the money is here and he wants to get his hands on it, we contact both our lawyer and the bank to move up the date. The sale will occur tomorrow afternoon, my birthday.

Once again, when I return to Reyna’s school at the end of the day to pick her up, there’s no sign of the teacher. We see the guard, who waves at me in a friendly fashion. All is quiet.

I get a text from Bim. She and Niana are coming back as scheduled tomorrow. They should arrive late afternoon.

In the grand scale of things, this has been a nice day. No new gals, no new problems, just a day of getting errands done. As they say back home, three up, three down, no hits, no runs, and no errors. We remain where we were. I can go to bed with peace of mind and no issues disturbing my sleep.

Oh, it’s true that Ann and Nelia do their damnedest to delay the sleeping part. While having two of them in bed at once shortens the number of days between sleeping with each of them, only one of them gets cum. So maybe cum isn’t as important to them as they claim. I’m confused about the thing. I’m in Ann first, and she is a scrappy gal, all muscle and bone. In a way, she’s a bit too much for me, as I’m just not as physically able as she is. It’s not that she’s complaining. She isn’t, but I feel like she wants to pat me on the head and tell me, ‘it’s all right’ at the end of being inside her.

Nelia is too busy thanking Jesus to even notice that I’m no great specimen. We make love and I swear she is praising the lord upon each stroke. I’m no lothario but it doesn’t seem to matter. Nelia just gets her body underneath mine and opens wide to accept cock in cunt. There’s nothing particularly erotic about it.

Yes, it’s sex. Yes, we love each other. Yes, cum exits me and enters her. Yes, she’s happy. But it’s not wild lovemaking. There’s no great existential, orgasmic moment. It’s her body welcoming me inside her and happily accepting the final result. What’s probably just as important to them is knowing that a certain part of their lives, the one where they were needing both love and safety, has ended in success. There are, now, other items to check off a list. These two items, important as they were, aren’t on it any longer.

As important to them as it is, on my side, I’ll never again wonder if I’ll ever be truly loved. I am. That empty part of my life, the twenty plus years of frustration, is now over. I’m loved and, if not completely settled, there’s a working plan.

This is my sixty-sixth birthday and, truth be told I’m feeling the years weigh on me. There’s no second celebration, but all here have noted it and there are repeated comments.

I take Reyna to and from school each day, and I’ve not seen her teacher. Reyna only says that the gal isn’t bugging her. I gather she hasn’t heard anything from anyone about what transpired with her teacher. Clearly, Reyna is still pretty incensed that the teacher was mixing where she didn’t belong, but nothing further has occurred.

Today we spend far too much time both at the bank and then in the lawyer’s office.

The bank was ready for me, and yet it takes a good three-quarters of an hour before we are able to leave, with an armed guard accompanying us, to the lawyer. The guard might be overkill, but what the hell, the few pesos spent bring peace of mind to all. I figure it is worth it.

The lawyer uses an out-of-date computer running Windows 3.1, a cheap inkjet printer and a tiny photocopier to create the documents that must be signed by all. You would think, as he had a few days to get ready, the documents would be ready. They aren’t, and the creation of them takes over two hours, while we just sit and wait.

Finally, it’s done.

I spend an hour at the coffee shop before swinging over to the airport, as I need to check my email.

It looks like repairs will be completed on the house in about a week. The real estate agent is OK with the contractor’s offer to put in some replacement carpet. I send an email to the contractor to go ahead with that. I don’t give a shit what color it is. I’m not going to live there. If it increases the sale price of the house, all is well and good.

I’m to meet Bim and Niana at the airport this afternoon. They have a small valise that’s in checked baggage, and I wait anxiously to see them emerge from the terminal. I need to get back in time to pick up Reyna.

Finally, emerge they do. I’m happy to see Bim. Niana seems like a sweet kid, but she’s shy; I’m a white guy, and she seems scared of me. Bim promises that it won’t take long before the kid comes around. I’m not worrying. The girl is six. This is hardly a big deal. I’ve got time and there’s no reason to not be very patient.

The biggest problem we have is riding back to the house.

First, Bim wants Niana to sit in the middle, between me and her mom. Niana isn’t wanting to, but she does anyway, as Bim tells her to knock it off and get with the program.

The second problem is the carrying of the luggage. Placing the valise between Niana and Bim, we are far less safe than is comfortable to my way of thinking, but Bim sees no problem with it. And so it is, as we leave the airport.

We get back home just in time for me to get Reyna.

Once again, there are no issues. Another successful day without problems. Another day without a new gal wanting to join in. Thank God, that part is over.

We are all back together. Bim will sleep with Niana tonight. I’ll be with Cincer, just the two of us.

Cincer has got to be the brightest of us all, and I do include myself in this. That she is attractive is a killer combination. That she wants to be with me, makes no sense until she explains it, and then OK, I get it. But it’s only because her life is here in the Philippines. With her brains and beauty, if she was living in the US, I don’t think she would even know I was alive. And yet, and yet, here she is. She knows she has my heart. I know I have hers.

Ira, come, be mine alone tonight. This the very first time it just the two of us. You know this, right? … That day I meet you at MoA, I hear what you say, I think, no one tell the truth like this. I think, maybe this the one for me! I right. Now, Ira, show me your heart. No one here but me. Show me.

Show her? How do you show someone your heart? It isn’t a real heart. That blood pumping muscle is hardly the thing she really wants to see. How do you show love? Especially when both of us know she isn’t the only one.

I don’t have a clue. I never planned on loving six females. I never knew it was even possible to love two females equally. But six is the number and, as crazy as it sounds, I love them all. Is it true love? Yes. How do I know it’s love and not lust? I know it sounds nuts but, it’s easy. If I didn’t have sexual relations with any one or five of them, in some ways, it wouldn’t matter. In fact, it would make it easier.

But the reality is that they would not feel safe and truly bonded to me, and I guess I would worry about it, too. So, in a way, the sex stuff is really needed.

That is especially true with the younger ones. Yes, Lorie is almost 18; yes, when she crosses that threshold she isn’t jailbait any more, but what business do I have being her lover? For that, matter Nelia isn’t much older at nineteen… but the really young ones, Ann and Reyna … I would be happy to just be the nice uncle at this point. Yes. I’d love them but, well, you know.

Does it feel good when I’m inside them? Damn straight it does. Do I have any business being inside them? There’s the rub, if you will allow the Shakespearian reference. They want it, so… yeh, on a mental health issue I would prefer otherwise, but that ain’t life as we know it, now is it?

But tonight I’m not with a really young one, though based on my advanced age, by US standards, she’s still way too young for me. Cincer was born twenty-eight years ago. Subtract 28 from 66 and you get 38. She’s thirty-eight years younger than I am.

To put it another way, if I’d had kids in my twenties, she’d be a granddaughter. And of the six, she’s the oldest. Does that help you see why this is so nuts?

Still, here she is asking me to show her my heart. What am I doing? I’m crying. Not outright sobbing, but crying.

How can I show you what can’t be shown, but only felt? … CiCi, I never want to be without your love. I never want to be separate from you in any way. But, how can I show that? I don’t know. All I know is that I want to see your face every morning. I want to hear your voice and your honest truths. I need you to keep me on a straight path. And tonight, my love, I want cum to enter you and make something that will forever be yours and mine. Is that enough?

Yes, that what I want. Come my love. Make history with me.

Cincer is a woman in every sense of the word and, as we embrace, as I enter her, there are only the hallmarks of a coupling between two fully consenting adults. She is no less the active participant than am I.

Cincer’s legs lock around me as she pushes her cunt up, insisting on the deepest penetration I can muster. Her arms are on my arms. My arms are on her shoulders. There’s a need pushing us both forward. Tonight is not about enjoying the moment. It’s about creating something lasting. We have expressed it and we now live it.

I feel her cunt open to me. I feel my need to fill her. I feel the love in her heart. I can only hope she feels mine, as I fill her cavity with all that there is within me.

Did she cum? I honestly don’t know. Tonight it was the last thing on my mind. It wasn’t to make her day. It was to make us something far more lasting. If God is smiling on us, maybe we have.

Thank you, Ira.

Why?

You, silly. You really love me. It easy to know. This not about being a great lover tonight. Tonight it all about being my loving husband. That what you do. I know, you know this.

Yes. I’m glad that you feel what I feel.

Ira, I will say something. Promise you not be angry with me for saying what in my mind?

Yes, I promise.

OK, I hope this true, that you not get angry. I think you wish it just me and Bim. That what I think.

You are a very smart wife, CiCi.

I right?

Yes. But I have the others, and I do love them, so no choice, but yes. You are right.

You a good man. It true, the others love you. This real and I glad you love them; I glad you good to them. Bim agree with me. But Bim and me, we know your true heart.

CiCi, promise me one thing?

What that?

Always tell me the truth. Even if it hurts me.

Ira! Oh, Ira. I always tell you true. You only hurt if it a lie, I think. Yes, this I believe. … Hold me. Hold your woman.

Friday, my nineteenth day in the Philippines, and another school day. A day for Bim to enroll Niana in first grade. Another day for me to take Reyna to school.

It’s just nineteen days, and so much has happened that it feels like a lifetime. Not three weeks, and yet, my sixty-six years in the USA feels like ancient history that is to be remembered but not yearned for. It’s what was, and not what is. What is, is here before me.

Twelve kilometers to the school. The road is good. Yes, sure, there are slow-moving vehicles I must pass. But on a motorcycle, as opposed to a four-wheeled vehicle, getting around them is of no consequence. Reyna doesn’t mind a bit of speed every once in a while. She holds on tight, as much as a matter of love than for any other reason.

This time, when we reach the high school, her teacher is outside waiting for us.

Reyna gives me a kiss every day, but this time, knowing her teacher is watching, it seems, she makes it on the lips instead of a cheek. And then a second one on my forehead, before taking off into the school.

I’m about to take off, my task complete, but I see the teacher approaching me, and to leave as she does would be cowardice and simply wrong. I wait upon her approach.

Was that kiss, for me? Was Reyna challenging me?

Yes, I think she might have been doing that. It surprised me. That’s for sure.

Sir, I hear gossip you buy land yesterday. I confused for many reasons.

Oh?

Yes, I know foreigners may not own land here. So that confusing.

Yes, I understand the same thing. I own no land here for that very reason.

But you bought the land? How is that?

I lent money for six Filipinas to own five hectares.

Six?

Yes.

These six, they are your girlfriends?

The six are Filipinas I care about and for. I want to make sure that they have something of value when I die. Do you think this is another violation of your cultural values?

Oh! I am sorry, Sir. I am not accusing you of anything like that! May I ask, who are these six?

No, you may not, as it’s none of your business. Respectfully, Miss, my life is not your concern.

May I ask what you will do with this land?

I’ll answer only because it’ll be public knowledge soon enough. I’ll build a home on the land and we will farm some of it.

So, you are truly staying with us?

It seems so.

Sir, I have a confession to make.

Really?

Yes, I know the names of your six. One of them is Reyna. From what you say, Reyna is one of the land owners.

And if she is, what is the problem? I admit, I’m not happy with any of this. It’s probably coming out in the tone of my voice.

Oh! None, Sir! It not a problem. I only wish to say that a man who gives land to his women, he is respecting an old custom here. It a very old custom and one worthy of the respect of all. Now, no one will question anything between you and Reyna. You act honorably. All know this.

I see. Well, I’m glad that there will be no problem between you and me. It was bothering me.

Sir, there no problem. But may I enquire if I might seek your assistance?

Damn, please, please don’t tell me she wants to climb aboard.

What is it?

There a child in one of my classes. Her parents, they dead. She live with neighbors of her parents, but it cannot continue for long this way. Maybe you assist?

Miss, I doubt I can do anything for the child. However, I have someone in my home who is good at solving problems. If you will explain to Reyna what the issue is and tell her that she is to discuss it with Ann and not me… that may work. I’ll let Ann know that she may hear about this.

Thank you for your willingness to assist in any way. And Sir, I hope we can be friends. Please call me Debbie. I would like that.

OK, Debbie.

And Sir, please tell Miss Cincer, I apologize to her. I am sorry I am rude to her.

OK, Debbie, I’ll tell Cincer.

Sir, can we be friends?

Debbie, I don’t think you want to be my friend. I bed my friends, or haven’t you figured that out yet?

What I get is a smile and a, Yes, I think this too, Sir.

Debbie, don’t you think a man with six friends, has enough friends?

Maybe not, Sir?

Debbie, do me a favor and stay with your boyfriend or husband. I’m sure he is a nice guy.

There none, Sir.

As pretty and as employed as you are, I’m really not convinced of that. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but it just doesn’t make sense.

Thank you for thinking that others would be interested in me. Yes, it true, others they sometimes interested. But it also true. I not attached myself to anyone.

Debbie, in all honesty, I don’t want to add anyone else to my household and I truly don’t think, as nice and good looking as you are, that you would fit into our home and my life. Of the women in my life, one or two might be willing to say, yes, to you. But, I doubt that either Lorie or Cincer would say yes. … And, I doubt once you meet them, you would want to join the household. Cincer knows I don’t want to add anyone else and so she would be a block. Lorie has additional requirements, which will make it difficult for anyone else to join them.

But you not saying no?

I don’t need to. You will not get past Cincer and Lorie.

If I do?

Then think about Reyna and yourself, what are you opening up?

Now I get a look that tells me I’ve struck a nerve.

Are you going to…

I didn’t before, but others did. Or didn’t you get that point?

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Birthday thoughts...20