PENA'S STORY: Part 16: An-An grows up
My daughter An-An rapidly developed into an inquisitive young lady. She had a defiant streak but always sat down with me when problems arose in her life. Michael and I had decided not to subject her to the same trauma I had experienced with the teachings of the church; it instilled a heavy sense of guilt that required weekly confession. Instead we would spend an hour together in An-An's bedroom each Friday evening where she could open up without fear of reprisal. She would change into a set of gold-colored clothes that were reserved for the purpose and she would call out "Let's talk, Ima!" I had instilled a desire for truthfulness into her life early on; I never judged her and she would confide in me fearlessly. She finally discovered her genitals would bring pleasure when stroked and I dug out Mother's old anatomy book and explained what was happening at our next meeting. I gave her the same advice that Mother had given me all those years before. I felt it was time to prepare her for the transition into womanhood and she was totally fascinated by the idea of shedding blood every month. The next time we met for our weekly chat, An-An told me of her experimentation in self-pleasure and I praised her. She asked me if I pleasured myself too and I told her I had also experimented when I was her age and still occasionally pleasured myself even now. She reached out and squeezed my hand. I had cautioned her about discussing the topic of sex with others and she promised to keep the information within the walls of her bedroom.
An-An excelled at grade school and was valedictorian at her graduation from high school. She was offered a place at law school and studied diligently. At one of our weekly talks, An-An told me she found herself attracted to another girl. I asked her to elaborate. She found boys boring and selfish. One of her classmates, María, had been giving her a lot of attention and they had held hands as they walked in the park together. That evening she felt a gnawing sensation between her legs. She had slipped her hand under her nightdress and sought out her clitoris. As she slowly pleasured herself she imagined that María was doing the touching and had experienced a really intense orgasm. The next day María had kissed her lips softly and now she needed some advice. I asked An-An to invite María over the next Friday for supper. The three of us would talk it over in An-An's room afterwards.
María was an attractive well-proportioned young lady and I felt comfortable with her presence at supper. I was surprised when María rose after the meal and began taking the dirty dishes into the kitchen. I realized it would give An-An and I chance to be alone together before we began our Talk. María was a good communicator and expressed her thoughts and feelings to me in a clear but passionate manner. An-An was listening carefully before responding and I realized the two girls were presenting their case as if in court. I reminded them to take their true feelings into account and knew I would have to take on the role of Judge and Jury. I called María "to the Bar of the Court" (in this case it was the kitchen) and she expressed some of her deeper feelings to me. I told her she needed to be comfortable telling An-An what she had just told me. She nodded and we re-entered the "courtroom". I asked An-An if she would like María to spend the night here. She replied "Ima, Please!" and I turned to María who nodded enthusiastically.
The next morning we breakfasted together. The look of joy on the two girls' faces said it all. They had showered together and lay naked on the bed exploring each others' bodies before falling asleep. I knew An-An would not defy me if I had said no but felt that the experience would benefit her more than it would harm her so I gave my blessing to their relationship. An-An would spend alternate weekends at María's apartment and they would sleep here the other weekend. Both girls regularly asked me for advice which I gave lovingly. Michael had no problems with what his daughter was doing but hoped she would eventually settle down and give him grandchildren.
An-An became more mellow but her defiant streak remained. She was doing really well at law school and at the start of her final year one of the Elders, Melissa, called me to discuss the possibility of An-An herself being invited as a member. Now the female line in my family had been members of the Society reaching back into the distant past. It would not be automatic that my daughter would be invited but the Elders decided unanimously that An-An should take her place in the line of succession provided she graduated with a high enough score. Of course I could say nothing to my daughter; even Michael had to be kept in the dark. An-An graduated with Magna Cum Laude (with great honors) and the die was cast!
part 17 to follow...
Index