Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:21:57 -0400
From: Barry Gold <barry.gold69@gmail.com>
Subject: Life Goes On

Sarah & Allison
Life goes on


As soon as they could, Sarah and Allison invited Rikki to join one of their
afternoon, after-school soirees, this time at Allison's house. Rikki used
Sarah's cell-phone to call her mom and let her know where she'd be. Her mom
told her to have a good time and she'd pick her up about 9 pm again.

As the guest, Rikki got to shower first. "Go ahead and wash your hair if
you think it needs it. Sarah and I do each other's hair all the time."

"OK." She came out dressed in shorts and a T-shirt with wet hair.

"Your turn, munchkin." Sarah came out wrapped in a bath towel with wet hair
too. Allison was last and straightened up the bathroom while Sarah started
on Rikki's hair. When she was done, Allison sat in front of Rikki. "Don't
worry about the braid, Sarah will do that. Just dry for now." Rikki
wondered why they didn't dress but didn't say anything.

About the time Sarah was finished with Rikki's hair, Allison's hair was
ready for braiding. Rikki and Sarah traded places. Rikki started combing
Sarah's hair while she braided Allison's. When Allison's braid was done,
she took over finishing Sarah's hair. "You seem quieter than usual,
Rik. Something happened?"

"My father flew in for a visit over the weekend. It's never fun when he
comes."

Sarah continued, "You did feel a little tense when I was doing your
hair. Would you like a neck rub?"

"That would be nice, but I couldn't bother you."

"Don't worry about it. Sit. Allison is usually a bear after a game until I
work on hers." Rikki sat in front of her and she started working on Rikki's
neck and shoulders while Allison finished her hair. Down the back of her
neck, Rikki's head lolled forward. Across her shoulders, you could almost
hear Rikki purr.

"So, your parents' divorce wasn't amicable?"

Rikki tensed and Sarah shot Allison a *you're not helping here'
look*. Allison changed the subject to their homework assignments and Sarah
had Rikki turn her chair around so she could work on her back too. Sarah
worked until she thought she'd worked out as much of Rikki's tension as she
could.




"Ladies, it's time to get started on homework and dinner. Rikki, we'll meet
you in the kitchen after we change." Rikki turned at the bedroom door and
saw Sarah and Allison kiss briefly, but tenderly.

Rikki had her English book open when Sarah and Allison made it to the
kitchen some minutes later. Allison started getting out what they needed to
cook with while Sarah started the coffee. They all worked on their
assignments while the main course cooked. Rikki was working on the salad
when Allison's mom got home.




Allison was checking on the entrée and bounced over to plant a kiss and hug
on her mom, "Good afternoon, my Lady. Your faithful servants have been hard
at work, preparing this evening's repast."

She inhaled a good whiff, "Excellent work. Would you bring a cup of coffee
and the mail and join me in the living room?"

"My pleasure."

Allison's mom kissed the top of Sarah's head and looked towards Rikki, "And
who is the new addition to the staff?"

"This is Rikki Laveque. She's a recent transfer and in my English and
History classes. She's a defender on the soccer team and plays basketball
too."

"Welcome to the castle, Rikki. I hope these two aren't working you too
hard."

"No, ma'am. Not any harder than I do at home. Thank you for having me
over."

"Not a problem. If I don't see a different face every few days, I wonder if
something is wrong with the girls. I hope you will come back soon."





When Allison joined her mom in the living room, she came to the point:
"Rikki seems to be a nice girl. Does she know about you and Sarah?"

"She may. We haven't been in her face, but we haven't been hiding it
either."

"Is this another of your crusades?"

"I don't know. Her parents are recently divorced and I think it wasn't
amicable. She doesn't have a good relationship with her father. She needed
a friend. I thought seeing you and dad together might be good for her."

"Ally, darling," pulling Allison onto her lap, hugging her close, and
kissing each eye. "I know you mean well and your instincts are usually
pretty good, but this could blow up in your face very easily."

"I know that, Mom. At this point, I'm just trying to be her friend."

"You promise you'll let me know how things are going?"

"You bet."

"How soon till dinner?"

"I'll check. It shouldn't be long."





While Allison and her mom were talking, Allison's dad came home. Sarah and
Rikki met him at the door. Sarah kissed him on the cheek and hugged him,
"Good afternoon, Mr. White. How was your day?"

"Evening, sunshine. Had an interesting day in class and some good results
in the lab. Who's the new face?"

"This is Rikki Laveque. She's a recent transfer to Allison's school."

"It's nice to meet you, Rikki. I've heard that name before, are you related
to Gustav Laveque?"

"He's my father."

"I was at the University of Minnesota and both the school and my consulting
company had dealings with his shipping company. Welcome to the house,
Rikki. I hope you will come back soon."

"Thank you, Mr. White."

Sarah took over. "She will if Allison and I have anything to say about
it. Dinner will be ready in about 15 minutes. Coffee?"

"Yes, please. Thanks, Sarah."

Allison poked her head out of the living room, "Hey, munchkin. How long
till we eat? Hi, dad."

"About 15 minutes. I could use some help setting the table and getting
things ready."

Rikki spoke up, "I'll help, Sarah."

"Thanks, Rikki."

Allison's dad went into the living room. "Evening, Ally. It can wait till
later, but I know Rikki's father." A moment later, Rikki brought in a cup
of coffee, set it on the table beside him, and went back to the kitchen.

"OK, dad." They worked through the mail and talked about everyone's'
day. After about ten minutes, Allison got up, "Time to wash up. Dinner
should be ready in a few minutes."

"We'll be right there, darling."



Allison's mom and dad entered the living room to find Allison pulling her
mom's chair out, Sarah and Rikki pulled out her dad's chair. Rikki sat in
the guest-of-honor's chair to his right. Allison sat to her right, Sarah on
the other side.

Allison's mom took a big whiff, "Good and faithful servants, if dinner
tastes as good as it smells, you have done your usual excellent job."

Allison giggled, "Thank you, my Lady, I think you'll be pleased."

Conversation continued around the table. Rikki was asked how she liked her
new school and the town. They talked about how the sports teams were
doing. They talked about classes and assignments. Mr. White talked about
his classes at the university and his consulting business. Rikki wasn't
forced to take part but she wasn't allowed to be quiet for very long
either.

Allison's dad picked up his napkin, "An excellent effort as usual,
ladies. My compliments."

Allison continued the part she'd been playing all afternoon, "Thank you, my
Lord. If you and my Lady would like to repair to the salon, someone will
bring your aperitif in shortly."

"Thank you, all."





Sarah put two cups of coffee on a tray and took them into the living room
while Allison and Rikki started clearing the table. "Is every night such a
production?"

"Not every night. Some nights we don't know how to prepare what's on the
menu. Those nights, we help and learn. Some nights, Mom wants to cook, so
we set the table and clean up. If we have tests or projects coming up, both
our moms prefer we concentrate on homework and we're excused from kitchen
duty. Both Sarah and I realized that knowing how to cook would be a good
thing if we went away to college. It's simple and fun and really helps out
our parents. And it's an easy way to say 'thank you for all you do for
me'."

Sarah began loading the sink with dirty dishes, "I'll wash..." Allison
said, "I'll finish putting things away..."

Rikki, seeing where this was going. "I guess that leaves drying for me."

Sarah could tell Allison was in a mood when she piped up, "Well,
munchkin. Do you think Rikki is ready for induction?"

Sarah had no idea where this was going; she just followed Allison's lead,
"Sure."

Rikki wasn't sure about this, "Induction?"

"Yes, induction. You've already completed the first half of the
initiation. Sarah and I will do the other half now if you agree."

Rikki repeated, "Induction?" Sarah could tell Allison was having fun.

"Yes, induction. Into the sacred and ancient order of S.H.E." Sarah was
having trouble not laughing out loud.

"S.H.E.?"

Allison scooped up some suds from the dish water and draped her hands
around Rikki's neck. Sarah did the same from the other side. "Yes, the
sacred and ancient order of Soapy Hands Extraordinaire. Do you promise to
help out around the kitchen at home, just because it's fun?"

"I do."

Then Allison planted a monkey kiss, (braaaaap), on one cheek and Sarah did
the same on the other. Rikki started laughing and throwing soap suds.

Allison's mom came in to see what the commotion was all about. "I'm glad
you're throwing suds instead of my dishes. Just be sure there are no
slippery spots on the floor." She went back to the living room, shaking her
head.

When the dishes were done, the girls went back to their homework. All their
assignments were completed and checked by Allison's mom. They were watching
TV when Rikki's mom arrived. She was invited in, but asked for a rain
check. Rikki got a hug and kiss on the cheek from Allison and Sarah and a
standing invitation to join them anytime.





After Rikki left, Allison's dad called Sarah and her into the living
room. "Let me tell you what I remember and then we'll talk about it. Gustav
Laveque is Rikki's father. He's an executive in a large shipping company
based in Montreal. When I was at the University of Minnesota, both the
University and my consulting company had dealings with his firm. His
personality is classic Type A – micromanager. We had to deal directly
with him, not one of his support staff. He's also old world French Canadian
who supports the Separatist Movement.

"Her mother is Jessica Laveque, an American. She's primarily known for her
sculptures, though she does have a following for her paintings too.

"Rikki has an older brother, Richard, who apparently doesn't get along well
with his father.

"Their divorce was anything but amicable. Both sides played to the media
whenever possible. Gustav couldn't believe that Jessica would have the
temerity to want to leave him. The settlement was supposed to be enough to
leave her and Rikki well off for life. Rikki's college education would be
paid for.

Any questions?"

"Is it likely that Rikki has had any experience with boys?"

"No. If she wasn't attending an all-girls school, the only way she would be
allowed to be in the same room as boys her own age is with other adults
present."

"Her relationship with her father seems to be very strained. She was very
tense today. When we asked why, she said her father had flown in for a
visit over the weekend."

"That wouldn't surprise me. Gustav's relationship with Rikki is defined by
power and control. Very likely, Rikki was verbally abused, possibly even
physically. She probably tries to avoid visits with him whenever
possible. Anything else?"

"No, dad."

"Well then, I do. I was talking to your mother and she told me about your
earlier conversation. I agree with her. This is something that could blow
up on you very easily. I cannot and will not try to replace Rikki's
father. I will treat her as I do you girls; with dignity, respect, and
love."

"That's all I can ask, dad. As I told Mom, I'm just trying to be her friend
right now."

"You will let us know how things are going? There is one more thing I agree
with your mom on. We both think you should tell Rikki about your
relationship with Sarah."

"Why, Dad?"

"She's new to town and doesn't know about your history. She probably has no
experience with boys. She may have experimented with some of her girl
classmates. If you spring a full-blown relationship on her, you may scare
her. Remember, the primary relationship in her young life, her parents,
suffered a very public meltdown. She probably looks at all relationships
the same way. She may be hiding bisexual or lesbian feelings because she's
been taught they're wrong. If you want to be a true friend to her, be
honest. Show her that her past experiences do not necessarily reflect the
rest of the world."

"I understand. Thanks, Dad."

"Yes. Thanks, Mr. White."

"Now, off to bed with the two of you. The adults would like some quality
time alone."

Allison made a face. "Eeewwwww. Gross." She grabbed Sarah's hand and ran
out of the living room.



Afterword:

The series of 5 stories that begins with 'Life' is a departure. In addition
to introducing new characters, the parents are much more involved. I would
appreciate any comments you have. My thanks to Lady Shay. She is the
creator of Rikki Laveque.

-Donal


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Copyright 2004 Donal