Solstice - Chapter 21
Alex sat outside thinking. When he had arrived in Xanadu, he was nineteen. In Xanadu time, six years had passed, and he was now twenty-five. His oldest child had turned eighteen that day. Calculating in earth time, he laughed at the thought of being thirty-seven.
His other seven sons would be turning eighteen in the next few months, and a year after that he would be passing the Papas job to them. His oldest two daughters would be eighteen in a month. 'Alex, you ARE one of the old ones,' he thought.
In three years, Alex, Ariana, and Terra would leave Xanadu to begin reclaiming the planet. He still wasn't sure what his role would be other than to somehow keep them safe. He wasn't sure he wanted to know yet.
Realizing he had eaten everything on the tray, he went back inside and climbed in bed with his mother. He was soon asleep.
*****
Alex was usually an early riser, but when he woke the sun was already up and his mother gone. He recalled his personas that had been with his wives and went to the kitchen for coffee.
The house was packed with everyone waiting for Titanus to begin the traditional breakfast. Cletus was in the small kitchen cooking. Alex got his coffee then began greeting everyone. His daughter, Terra, was sitting on the couch. She looked troubled. He sat beside her and stared, a tactic he had learned when she was about ten. It always worked. She ignored him as best she could, then after a few minutes began grinning.
"Leave me alone. I'm mad," she said, trying not to smile.
"Then why are you grinning?"
"Because."
"Because what?"
"Because when you stare at me like that it makes me happy."
"I see. You're mad and happy at the same time. What are you mad about?"
"I'm turning eighteen in a month, but we aren't having a party for three months. Pontus and Artemus have the same birthday as mine. They're mad too."
"Who said you have to wait three months?"
"Our moms."
"Is there some rule I'm not aware of?"
"I don't know of any."
"I'll talk to them and get back with you."
"Dad, you're the greatest. I knew you could fix it."
"Whoa! I never said I'd fix it. I said I'd talk to them."
She jumped off the couch excitedly. "Same thing. I'm going to go tell Artemus and Pontus."
Ariana sat down next to him. "What's she so excited about?"
"Uh, I promised her an iPhone for her birthday."
"Right. Truth please?" she asked.
"Why is her birthday going to be celebrated two months late?"
"Oh, that again. I thought we'd do it at the fall festival. We've got Pontus becoming Epapas. Terra and Artemus with both virginity and promises. It makes more sense to do it all at once. I haven't checked with Ally, but there may be others on the virginity list."
"Babe, I think the combination of taking their virginity and that herb concoction from the promises ceremony is too much. I've never liked that. Having an Epapas in a group cuts my work dramatically too. Getting the Epapas' started is a priority, as far as I'm concerned."
"Why?"
"I try to make the virginity rite as enjoyable and loving as possible. That herb would turn an already irritated vagina into mincemeat."
"So, what do you propose?"
"Do them separately. The virginity on their birthdays and promises at the fall festival. It's not like we're overwhelmed with engagements on weekends. We've got about a hundred virgins in the next year. Doesn't ten every month sound better than twenty-five at a time at our four festivals?"
"Let me get the Mamas', mothers, and mom together and we'll discuss it."
"I'll abide by whatever you ladies decide to do."
"I know. By the way, Cletus stashed a plate for you in the kitchen. You'll have to sneak it outside to eat. Mom said Titanus probably won't be up for a while."
"Thanks, I'm starved."
*****
It was about two hours later before Titanus bounced into the kitchen. He was glowing and excited to continue his celebrating. After eating, he was out the door and on his way to the big building to get started.
Alex, Cletus, and Robert, Cletus' roomie, worked together and had the kitchen in order quickly.
Ariana and a large group of women had a meeting outside that lasted about twenty minutes. The women agreed that bringing the Epapas' onboard quickly was a priority. They also agreed the virginity rites and promises should be done at different times. Alex was given the task of informing Terra and Artemus about it all. Since Pontus still wasn't fully aware of what his birthday celebration entailed, an edited version would be given to him.
Alex transported himself to where Terra and Artemus were sitting by the lake.
"Ladies," he said, walking up to them."
"Hi dad," they both chimed.
He sat on the grass next to them. "Here's the deal. You already know everything that's happening at the festivals, right?"
"We do," Artemus replied.
"On your birthday, we'll have a celebration. We'll do the virginity rite then. At the fall festival, we'll do your Emamas and Promises."
Both girls grinned. "How about Epapas for Pontus?" Terra asked.
"We do that on the birthday too, but that's all he'll know until I tell him the rest just beforehand."
"Dad, thanks. I knew you could fix it."
"The birthday thing probably won't be as well attended as the festival will," Alex told them.
"Dad, is there a rule about us not being with our future Epapas before the promises?" Terra asked.
"I have no idea. Ask your moms about that."
They looked at each other and grinned. "Or Grandma?" they both asked.
"She would know. Will you be seeing Pontus?"
"Yeah, he should be here pretty soon. We're going canoeing," Artemus replied.
"Fill him in on the birthday thing, please."
"We will," Terra replied.
Both girls kissed their father goodbye and he returned to the festival.
"Mission accomplished," he told Ariana and Adara, who were standing in a group of clothed women.
"Thanks. Why is Nomena pissed at you?" Adara asked.
"Beats me. I was with you two last night."
