Safiya's Initiation: Lesbian Rituals with her High Priestess Mom!
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Safiya filled the chicken's water trough with fresh water from her bucket as the chickens milled around her feet, parched from the hot day.
"It wouldn't be so bad if all of you would just stay in the shade." She said to them as they fought for drinking spots. A white chicken, Dolly, hurried after her when she headed for the exit.
"No, Dolly." Safiya said, quickly closing the gate so Dolly couldn't escape. She was a clever one. Well, that was done for now... she would check on the chickens later. It was time for lunch!
As she walked along the stone pathway back to her house, enjoying the crisp spring air, she looked up at the tall stone tower nearby. It looked like Gerald was watching the north wall today. Though they lived out in the wilderness, surrounded by evergreens, there was always a danger that someone might happen upon them and wish to do them harm.
The commune was large enough that it was visible from the air, a smooth patch of green with various white houses amongst the darker green of the forest. Gerald was one of the guards for the watch tower, keeping their commune safe. When he saw her looking, he waved to her. She waved back. Then she headed inside.
The house that she lived in with her mother, the high priestess, was larger and grander than the rest. While it was made from stone like the others, beautiful, brightly colored artwork was painted on the walls and the archway of the entrance. Multi-colored vases were positioned on the front. Safiya took off her outdoor shoes as she entered the home, slipping into her comfortable leather sandals.
"Mother?" She called out.
"In here." She heard her mother answer. She walked into the living room to see Mother reclining on the couch while Ezra massaged her feet. The air inside was nice and cool, Mother had opened the doors leading to the courtyard and the summer breeze that blew in was refreshing.
"Hello, Safiya." Ezra said in his usual gentle voice. Safiya rarely saw the assistant leave Mother's side, although in the evenings sometimes Mother dismissed him for the day when she wanted to be alone with Safiya. Sometimes he slept over on the couch when he and Mother stayed up late to work on plans for the commune. With the adoring way he always looked at Mother, she was sure he would prefer sleeping in bed with her. Or perhaps at her feet like a dog.
Safiya grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl.
"I was just about to make lunch, are you hungry?"
"Starving." Mother said as she looked over at her daughter with a wane smile. They both had long black hair but the resemblance stopped there. Safiya's hair was only shoulder length and normally tied up for the chores she had to do throughout the day.
Mother spent the majority of her day performing rituals and walking around the commune with Ezra, conferring with her officials and the other residents, and thus her hair could afford to be long. Mother was voluptuous and the fact that her hair stopped mid-breast made it very difficult for men and women alike to avoid staring at her chest when she was around. Mother seemed to enjoy the attention, often wearing dresses with plunging necklines or her lavish, ornate necklaces as often as she could.
Safiya hoped to one day look as attractive as Mother, but considering she was already eighteen and was still looking very lean, she had to give up any hope of that.
Safiya peeled the orange and tossed the peel into the waste bin. She offered some to Mother, who took it. She offered some to Ezra who politely declined.
"I think it's time you left, Ezra." Mother said. He bowed low and headed out of the room. Safiya went into the kitchen, eating the rest of the orange. Mother followed behind her.
Mother took a seat at the kitchen table as Safiya got to cooking. She heated up some aish baladi using the frying pan and then cut them open and stuffed some cooked chicken, vegetables and some cheese inside. She put them on separate plates and brought them to the table. She passed Mother her plate and picked up her own flatbread and took a big bite. She was so hungry!
Despite saying she was starving earlier; Mother was looking at the photo of the pyramids. Safiya had lived here in the commune all her life, but Mother spoke often of their ancestral homeland, and how she wished for them to return one day. But this was the only place where they could practice their religion, away from prying eyes. Safiya would have loved to go too, but for a different reason. The commune was small and she was so bored! She yearned to meet new people and learn new things. She had never even seen the outside world! She was very excited for her rite of passage. When she passed it, she would be able to leave the commune for a period of time.
"So how was your day?" Safiya asked, hoping to break Mother out of her melancholic mood. It was successful, Mother started talking about her day. The neighbors were planning on building a bridge across the river nearby so that they could reach the plants on the other side easily. They would have to recruit some residents for the construction. Of course, nothing went smoothly, she said with a tone of annoyance as she picked up her sandwich with her nicely manicured nails and took a bite. The residents were split on the issue. Some did not want the beauty of the lake to be ruined by a large obtrusive bridge while others were eager to make the walk to the other side a lot shorter.
"I wouldn't mind a bridge." Safiya said as Mother chewed, listening. "The plants have been mostly picked over on this side anyways. Too many people performing rituals and making poultices."
She frowned as she remembered something. "It's the four-leaf clover for the April ritual, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's right." Mother said nonchalantly.
"I saw lots of people using the five-leaf." Safiya said.
Mother froze. "Safiya! Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" She said, horrified.
Safiya shrugged. "I only just remembered."
Mother was already standing up, dusting off her hands. "I'll have to make an announcement." She said, shaking her head. She hurried out of the kitchen. Safiya sighed. And it had been such a nice meal too, relaxing and chatting with each other. She wrapped Mother's half eaten wrap in plastic wrap and placed it in the fridge. Finishing her own, she went outside again.
She checked on the chickens again. They were finally resting in the shade of the big oak tree. Safiya went to complete some chores. She did the laundry, then went to check on the solar panels on the roof. Food supplies needed to be checked too, so she could give the checklist to the guys when they went into town.
It was already supper time when Mother returned. "Sit down, Mother. Dinner's almost ready!"
"Smells delicious." Mother said as she went to set the table. She looked tired but happy. Safiya felt tired too.
"You did well today." She heard Mother's voice behind her, low and approving.
