Synchronicity For Six Pt. 23

Synchronicity For Six, Part 23

'Synchronicity For Six' immediately follows the events in 'Spirits in the Material World'. This Part continues from where Part 22 left off. No effort will be made to catch the reader up with the characters or their situations. The prequel to 'Spirits', 'Every Thing She Does is Magic', provides some additional background on some of the characters but is not necessary to understand and, hopefully, enjoy 'Synchronicity for Six'.

Friday, May 21, 2021

"Margaret, it looks like your ride is here," Jack announced to Maggie. He saw her looking up at the clock on the wall. "Yes, yes, I know it's only four o'clock," he assured her when she began to protest. "I'll take care of closing up. Go have fun with your boyfriend at your prom, and don't make too big of a scene at your graduation tomorrow, either!" he remarked with a big smile.

"I will and I won't," she assured him with a heartfelt hug and sweet kiss to his cheek before practically skipping out the door and into David's arms. A brief honk of the car's horn by Alan startled them out of their embrace, and David held the door open for Maggie to get in.

Alan drove while Rose rode shotgun, keeping Alan engaged in discussion. Maggie and David started simply holding hands with her head leaning on his shoulder. One of the two initiated stroking with fingers, and very soon thereafter the lip‑lock began in earnest. Maggie and David didn't make out all the way from Middleburg to Centreville, just a goodly portion of the trip.

Alan and Rose were amused and envious at the same time of their children's capability to be so absorbed in each other for most of the trip from Middleburg to Centreville. But someone had to be responsible, and Alan would never shirk the obligations of being the father. Although Rose, with her smile, curves, and outright lustiness, could make a solid argument for setting some things aside for a while. He was content simply by holding hands with his fiancée, who, in three short weeks, would become his wife.

Alan reminisced about some of the longer car trips he and Laura had taken when the boys were much younger. About how they had to keep their sons engaged by playing the License Plate game or the Alphabet game. He chuckled to himself when he realized that neither of the two in the backseat would be willing to play those games on this trip.

For her part, Rose was grateful that Alan liked to hold hands with her. She recalled how her ex‑husband, Ron, had been strictly 'don't touch me; don't distract me' when he was driving them anywhere. Consequently, they seldom took car trips when the girls were little. Then he decided that day‑to‑day fatherhood was not for him.

Gently squeezing Alan's hand in hers, she thanked the heavens and the angels and maybe his late wife, Laura, for bringing Alan and his sons into her family's life. She may have come to the game a little late, but he was everything she had ever wanted in a lifetime partner. Kind, gentle, loving, patient, consistent,... her list of adjectives describing his impact on her family's lives seemed endless. When she knew he was focused on the road and not glancing at her, she allowed a sneaky smile to cross her lips. She planned to rock his world tonight, once they had discharged their chaperone duties.

When the hotel came into view, Rose turned in her seat and addressed the pair in the backseat.

"Hey, kids. We're almost at the hotel. You might want to make yourselves presentable before others see you."

Reluctantly, Maggie pushed back from David. She ran her fingers through her hair, which had become slightly mussed during their canoodling session. David also brushed his hair back from his face, realizing it had been some time since he last had a haircut. It was longer than he usually kept it, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

As they entered the lobby, David pointed out to Maggie the sign welcoming the Centreville High School Senior Prom. Maggie nodded, noting the Prom would be in ballrooms A, B, and C, down the hallway the sign directed them towards. Alan got them checked in, requesting adjoining rooms. In the elevator, he handed the two key cards for room 411 to David and Maggie.

"We're next door, in room 409," he remarked. "Go ahead and get changed. There's no need to text us when you're ready. Your momma and I, as chaperones, need to be in place by seven o'clock. Don't get too distracted," he finished with a small chuckle, then guided Rose out of the elevator with his hand in the small of her back. David bowed his head slightly and gently shook it at his father's practicality and realistic perspective. It was so nice to have a parent, make that parents, who were so supportive and understanding of his relationship with Maggie. He guided Maggie to their room and made sure both keys worked in the electronic lock. The door had barely shut when Maggie began to tug his t‑shirt over his head.

"Come on, Davey. We've got time. I'm so horny from making out with you in the car, I can't stand it any longer," she panted, reaching to undo his belt.

"Magpie, I only brought three condoms with me," he said, trying to forestall her runaway train.

"That's okay, I brought a dozen," she said in between kisses. "You've got to give it to me, now, or I'm going to be all over you in front of everyone. I don't think either of us wants that to happen, especially not in front of our parents."

It was never a difficult thing for Maggie to talk David into having sex with her. By the time he had extracted a condom from his pocket and removed his shoes, socks, jeans, and boxers, she was nearly naked, unfastening her bra and tweaking on her nipples. He swept her up, gently laid her on the king size bed, and gave a quick lick to her already dripping pussy. He carefully ripped the package open and rolled the condom onto his erection while Maggie began to stroke her now gushing pussy.

"Give it to me, now!" she commanded, using her best impression of Zuul's voice while trying not to alert their parents next door.

He started off gently, but soon had to ramp up his efforts while muffling her strident demands at the same time. His knee slipped on the coverlet, which slightly changed his angle of attack. He began to strike her G-spot, and Maggie went off like a Roman Candle on the Fourth of July.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! That's IT! Oh, God, more, more, more, Davey!"

Alan and Rose could clearly hear Maggie's exhortations from David and Maggie's room. Alan looked at the clock by the bedside, then waggled his eyebrows at Rose. With a wry smile twisting her lips, she gently slapped his arm and admonished, "I've got something special for you tonight, once we're done. We need to be on time and be the proper chaperones we've agreed to be." Decorum was the word of the day as they walked to the elevator, arm in arm.

"Ms. Lawson! I'm so glad you two could be here tonight!"

Rose turned at hearing her name and recognized the senior class faculty advisor who had requested Rose and Alan to be chaperones. Greeting each other with quick hugs, instructions for what was acceptable behavior were quickly provided. They entered the ballrooms where a few of the early‑bird students were sitting at large round tables. The DJ crew was completing their last‑minute sound check. Rose noted the long banquet tables set up at the far end of the room, currently laden only with decorations but awaiting the dessert buffet to come.

= [] = [] =

"All right, everybody," Julie called out to the assembled Day Camp counselors who accepted her invitation. They were all seated around the fully extended dining table in her mother's dining room. "My name is Julie Lawson, and I'm Mrs. Gladstone's new Assistant Director. A quick bit on my background: I just completed my third year at State as an Education major with a focus on Secondary, that means 'high school', Education. I'll be student teaching this fall semester with Mr. Bump, then back to State to finish my degree by next May. I've never worked Summer Day Camps before, so I don't know offhand what challenges you'll encounter. But I'm here to help you in any way that's feasible.

"Now, let's quickly go around the table and introduce ourselves, keeping it brief, please. Tell us your name, what age group you've agreed to work with, and what drew you to being a Day Camp counselor. Katie, can you please go first?"

"Hi, I'm Katie O'Shea. I'll be graduating next week and heading to State in August. I'll be working with the 8-year‑olds. I've never worked with children that young, but I'm considering Elementary Education, so this should be a good experience for me."

"Thanks, Katie. Next?" Julie kept the introductions going quickly and smoothly around the table. Only two of the counselors had done this previously, and they had accepted the assignment of the 12‑year‑olds.

"As you two have done this before, do you have any suggestions or recommendations to share with the rest of us?"

"Yeah, we're basically tax-paid babysitters, I mean, child care providers, but good stuff can come from this," one of the experienced counselors explained. "I'm looking forward to renewing friendships with a couple of the kids from last summer. You gotta like working with kids and keeping them engaged and on‑task. At least we're outside and in the shade under the pavilions in the park. If you know any of the lifeguards working the pool, that can be good, too."

Katie and Julie just smiled at this last bit, and were questioned about their reactions.

"My boyfriend's younger brother, David, is a Supervising Lifeguard this summer. I think we can arrange for some periods for pool access for the campers."

= [] = [] =

"Hey, Ms. L," Abbie chirped as she tugged a tall, African‑American male along behind her.

"Hello, Abbie. Who's this hunk?" Rose inquired.

"Ms. Lawson, this is my date, Michael Clarke. Michael, this is Maggie's mom, Ms. Lawson," Abbie said in introduction. While Michael politely shook Rose's proffered hand, Abbie looked around the filling room. "Where are Maggie and David sitting?"

Biting back a smirk, Rose replied, "I don't believe they have made their entrance yet. But it's still early."

Abbie pondered the response, then blushed slightly as she realized they probably had a room at the hotel, no longer having a local residence. Which gave way to thinking about what they might still be doing in said room.

"Right. Okay. So, when you do see them, tell her we've got a place saved for them at our table," and Abbie gestured to the waving Joy and Donna.

"Will do. It's great to see you again and very nice to meet you, Michael," Rose answered.

As the oriental girl and her African-American escort walked away, Rose turned to Alan.

"Honey, would you please contact your son? Maggie's friends are now here, waiting for the two of them."

Alan extracted his phone from his pants pocket and sent an inquiring text to David. It took a couple of minutes for the message to be noted as read, but no response was forthcoming.

"He's read my message, but didn't respond. I hope they'll be on their way shortly," Alan remarked softly to Rose.

= [] = [] =

"Come along now, Miss Lawson," David said, holding the door open. He patted his shirt pocket to assure himself that he had a room key. According to his phone, which he stuffed into his pants pocket, it was now 7:25, well past the official starting time of the Prom.

He had to admit that his Kitsune Girl cleaned up really well. She was in the pale green bridesmaid dress she'd gotten for the upcoming wedding and matching two‑inch heels. Her auburn tresses had been carefully pinned up, exposing her delicious neck and highlighted by the gold heart pendant that Poppa had recently given her. Her emerald earrings added a very nice counterpoint since they didn't dangle.

'Wait a minute!' he thought. 'Were those seams running down the back of her legs? That's what the girls had been out shopping for on Wednesday evening.'

From Maggie's perspective, David looked very classy, dressed in his tuxedo, crisp white shirt, and matching pale green bowtie. His patent leather shoes gleamed in the soft hallway lighting.

David finally replied to Alan's text, informing his father they were on their way at last.

They took the elevator to the ground floor, then followed the signs and the music to the ballrooms. Maggie's heart felt like it was in her throat, although she couldn't discern why. She looped her left arm in David's right one as they approached the doors. She fumbled with her clutch to pull her phone out to show the electronic tickets that Abbie purchased for them using Maggie's transferred money. The Junior class officers opened the ballroom doors for them, and they stepped into a wall of music.

Maggie pulled David to a halt, and they stood for a few moments in the doorway, taking in the sights and sounds. Alan and Rose walked up and kissed the other's youngest child on the forehead, wishing them a wonderful time and pointed out where Maggie's posse was waving vigorously to them. Rose had to wipe off a little lipstick from David's forehead with her thumb before allowing them to proceed. Alan handed her a handkerchief to wipe her thumb.

Many around them hushed their conversations as Maggie glided past with David in tow. They couldn't place either of them, recognizing neither David from the Winter dance nor Maggie for who she had become. The Posse, however, jumped to their feet, squealing in delight and hugging their missing member tightly. David introduced himself to the other guys around the table before reaching for a bottle of water in the center ice bucket.

"Are you guys going to dance with your ladies?" David inquired.

"Yeah, when the DJ plays something from this century that we can dance to," snarked Donna's flame‑haired escort, Sven Haroldson. "They seem a little stuck in the 70's and 80's."

"Let's see what we can do about that deplorable situation," David said as he stood and walked to the DJ's set up. He saw a sign for the DJ, "Orpheus", and thought back to the dance in December. Yep, this was the same crew, and David knew how to get their attention. He waved a $20 bill, and the main DJ came to speak with him.

"You may or may not recall, but back in December I asked you to play 'So Happy Together' for my folks. You didn't have The Turtles' version, but you did have Weezer's."

The DJ looked a little blank for a few seconds, then recognition flared in his eyes.

"Yeah, I remember now. Still don't have The Turtles version, but Weezer's version is here."

"Cool. Could you play that later? But first, some of the guys at my table would like to hear something danceable and a little more recent, maybe like Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect?'"

"For your Andrew Jackson donation, sure, man. Give us a few minutes to locate it." The bill quickly disappeared into the DJ's pocket. David returned to the table and gave the guys a 'thumbs up'.

"Get your date ready to go dance. It'll be 'Perfect'," he promised.

= [] = [] =

Aside from Alan and Rose having to break up two couples for being too obvious in their grinding on each other, the 2021 Senior Prom for Centreville High School went smoothly for everyone else.

Donna, Abbie, and Joy each asked Maggie if they could have one dance with David, much like they had at the Winter Solstice dance. Maggie agreed on the condition that she could dance with their dates at the same time. David didn't look happy about that, but had to allow that Maggie was her own person. She always returned to his side immediately after and whispered how neither Michael, Sven, nor Robert (Joy's date) could hold a candle in comparison to David.

At 10 o'clock, the dessert buffet tables opened up, and suddenly there was much less competition for dancing space. The quartet of couples collectively agreed to let the line die down a bit before heading to the buffet. When they finally went through, most of the desserts had been replenished, so they didn't miss out on much by waiting.

While they were enjoying their assembled treats, they shared how mind‑numbingly boring high school had become since Spring Break. Eventually, the discussion turned to their plans after graduation. The three guys were quite surprised that all four girls had chosen to go to Missouri State. Robert and Michael would be attending two different in‑state colleges. Sven looked sad and hoped to get some community college credits while staying home and working on his dad's farm.

"There's nothing wrong with being a farmer; in fact, it's crucial," David offered in support. "We'd all starve if it weren't for people willing to farm the land and raise the livestock. Remember, many of the Founding Fathers who built this country were farmers!"

Maggie just stared at David in surprise. 'Where did all that come from?' she wondered.

Donna grabbed Sven's hand and pulled him out onto the dance floor for a slow dance. The rest of them could see the two talking as they swayed, with their heads close together and looking into each other's eyes. At the end of the song, Donna gave Sven a tender kiss on the lips, then led him back to the group's table.

"We're going to head out now," Donna said with a wink at Maggie, Joy, and Abbie. "We'll see you all tomorrow morning at 9:30 for pictures."

Abbie and Michael soon decided to call it a night soon after Donna and Sven's departure, claiming they, too, needed to be rested for Saturday's events. Joy looked at Maggie and David, who shrugged indifferently.

"Our contingent has two rooms upstairs," David explained, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at his father and Rose. "We may very well be one of the last ones to leave the prom."

"What are your plans, Joy?" Maggie asked.

"Robbie and I also have a room here. We plan to follow family traditions," Joy related with a slight blush. "And, yes, that means exactly what you're thinking, Mags."

Maggie smiled broadly at her friend's clarifying things without being too explicit.

"Well, we paid good money for these tickets. We should get our money's worth, right?" Maggie said, standing and reaching for David's hand. "Come on, you two," she directed at Joy and Robbie. The two couples walked confidently onto the dance floor and enjoyed the music as well as each other's company.

"Meet up for breakfast?" Maggie asked Joy as they exited the ballrooms.

"I dunno, Mags," Joy answered. "Maybe just meet at our usual place at 9:30. I don't want to rush things."

"I understand completely, Joyful. We'll see you tomorrow morning at the school."

Maggie gave Joy a firm hug, wishing her friend a pleasant evening. The couples took separate elevators to their floors.

"Come on, Davey," Maggie said, tugging on his hand. "We've had our frantic frolicking earlier. I want to cuddle and be the little spoon to your big spoon tonight."

= [] = [] =

The ballroom was nearly empty. Only four couples remained in addition to the two other adult chaperones. All in all, it had been a well‑behaved bunch of kids. The DJ announced this was the last song, and Alan led Rose out among the dancers. It was a nice, slow ballad, and Rose wrapped her arms around Alan's neck and placed her head on his chest. Once the song had ended and she opened her eyes, she and Alan were the only ones on the dance floor. The teacher advisors for the Senior class, said they would stick around until the DJ had his equipment packed up.

Taking that announcement as permission to depart, Alan and Rose left, arm in arm. It was just before midnight, and there was still a bit of a line waiting for the two elevators, only one of which seemed to be working. The car was still jammed full when it was their turn. Rose stood in front of Alan and subtly ground her behind against his front. She quickly discerned that he was looking forward to getting her alone in their room, and her grinding became more focused.

"I need a couple of minutes in the bathroom, love," she said as she took her overnight bag into the lavatory. Alan removed his clothing, leaving him in his boxers. He reclined on the bed, watching the bathroom door, waiting.

"Close your eyes, please, Alan," Rose called from the dark bathroom as she slowly opened the door. Alan shut his eyes, smiling in anticipation.

Noting his compliance, Rose stepped softly and carefully into the room. The soft whisper of satin and nylon pricked at Alan's hearing, which was enhanced by his closed eyes.

"Keep your eyes closed, Alan. This is my treat for you tonight, my love."

He first smelled the perfume she had reapplied. Then, he felt her climb onto the bed, then her hands tugging on his waistband. He lifted his hips in cooperation. Once she had gotten him naked, he felt her fingers wrapping around his rapidly inflating penis, then a quick lick from her tongue caused him to squirm slightly. Some more smooth fabric rubbing on other smooth fabric, then the unbearable sensation of satin caressing his sensitive rod. He couldn't take any more, and had to open his eyes to view her 'treat' for him.

Rose was in a jade green satin nightgown that barely covered her butt. The trim around her neck was black lace, and her nipples were rock hard and denting out the smooth fabric cascading from her shoulders to her ass. She was allowing the bottom hem of her nightgown to stroke his cock, teasing him.

But it was the ultra‑sheer, smoky black thigh‑high stockings rubbing on his bare legs that made him lose his mind. Rose rubbed her legs against his, the ultra‑sheer stockings whispering out their inescapable sirens' call to Alan. Straddling his legs, she caressed his burgeoning erection with her incredibly aroused pussy.

She knew he had a nylon stockings fetish, and she took advantage of that whenever the inspiration struck. She also knew that many (most?) men have an impregnation desire and she was plucking those chords to beat the band. She couldn't get pregnant; she had her tubes tied while still in the hospital after Maggie's birth. But she loved to tease and incite Alan to great heights of passion.

She recalled the Thursday of the week before when she teased him when he got home from work, and how he had reacted later that evening. She wanted a lot more of that from him.

"Fuck me, Alan! Breed me! Shoot your cum deep inside me, try to get me pregnant! Come in me. Find my eggs; knock me up! That's what you want, isn't it? Me, barefoot and pregnant, dancing around in our kitchen. Fuck me, now!" Rose grasped his hard cock, positioning the head between her dewy lips, and impaled herself on him.

Alan's senses were overloaded, between the sight of his beautiful fiancée in her new nightgown and sheer hosiery, the feeling of her satin nightgown rubbing on his body as she squeezed his thighs between her ultra‑sheer stocking‑clad legs, and the inflammatory language spilling from her mouth. He tried his best to hold off, but he ultimately failed and filled her womb with his hot seed, precisely as she had wanted and demanded.

It had been a long day with a fatiguing drive, topped by remaining watchful for unacceptable youthful antics. Alan shut his eyes, 'just for a minute,' he told himself, and he was quickly gone to the Land of Nod. Normally, sex recharged him, but not tonight. Rose dismounted and cleaned him up as best she could with her mouth before retrieving a warm, damp washcloth from the bathroom and then cleaning both of them up. She very carefully removed the expensive, sheer stockings and cuddled up in Alan's arms for a good rest herself.

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Precisely at 9:30, Maggie arrived at the flagpole where she and her friends had rendezvoused over the years. Abbie and Donna were already there, and Joy soon came up behind Maggie. The girls were in their rented gowns with matching rented mortar boards on their heads. At least they would get to keep the tassels they had paid for.

Maggie had been at the school for half an hour already, as she had to pick up her graduation paraphernalia, including several cords she wore around her neck. Top ten percent in her class, National Honor Society, and GPA over 3.0. She ended up being #4 in her class, as three others barely surpassed her, GPA‑wise, during the last semester which she didn't have to attend. Still, #4 out of 422 was nothing to sneeze at. And she was gratified to be done with the petty high school infighting.

She had not realized how much she didn't miss sitting through classes until today. She and her best buds, Abbie, Joy, Donna, and now Katie, would all be off starting a new chapter in their lives at State in August, where, ironically, they would have to sit through classes again. There was the predictable amount of hugging and soft squealing between the four of them. After fixing any of the mortar boards that got knocked askew, Maggie asked an important question.

"Are you all able to come down to Middleburg next weekend for a big Graduation Party?"

Abbie and Donna quickly reaffirmed their intentions, but Joy made a small face, twisting her lips in consternation.

"What's the matter, Joy?" Maggie asked. "Oh, your family's annual camping trip." She recalled and grimaced in sympathy.

Joy straightened up and said, "You know what? I'm not going to go with them. I'd much rather spend the time with you girls, and they'll just have to get used to the idea that I'll be on my own. We did talk about it some, back in March, but nothing was ever settled. I'm deciding that the rest of my life begins now!"

"Abbie and I are riding down together, so that should make things easier for you," Donna offered.

"Yes!" Maggie exclaimed with a fist pump. "We'll work out the details before Tuesday. It's gonna be so much fun being all together for the weekend! Oops, we've gotta go get lined up before Mrs. Hartmann blows a gasket. C'mon!"

= [] = [] =

Tom, Julie, and Katie pulled into the parking lot at the high school at 9:40, a little later than they had hoped. They had to park a short walk from the football field, but they were still ahead of many others.

"Momma's waiting for us at the gate," Julie announced, reading a text on her phone as they hurried along.

Rose led them to where Alan and David had staked out spots in the stands for the six of them.

"Ah, there you are," Alan remarked with a grin. "It's a good thing you got here when you did; I was about to have to fight off some people for these choice seats."

"My navigator had to stop for an output break as we entered the city," Tom explained, and Julie lifted her head.

"A girl's gotta go when a girl's gotta go," was her pert comeback.

Their seating plan was Tom at the far end, then Julie, Alan, Rose, Katie, with David already sitting on the aisle. As he stepped past David, Tom murmured, "Don't give in to temptation."

"What are you talking about?"

"You'll know when it comes. Don't give in. They won't understand," Tom answered with a cryptic smile.

The bleacher seats were quickly filled, and then the high school band began playing Sir Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance". David's face drained slightly of color. This was what Tom had warned him about. It was a song he remembered from campfires at Scout camps. David began to hum along to the well‑known song, except he was thinking of the words the Boy Scouts used to sing.

'My turtle swims sideways; your turtle swims upside down; my turtle swims sideways; your turtle is dead!'

David looked down the row at his father and could see a laugh twitching at Alan's lips. Then he heard those same words coming from somewhere above and behind him. He craned his head, trying to find the source, and saw a boy five rows back, maybe twelve years old, with his mouth moving and making clawing motions with his hands. David turned back to watch the graduates march onto the football field. He quickly realized that he would never, ever be able to hear that music and not think of those juvenile, yet amusing, words.

He thought that Maggie would be close to the middle of the procession, if they sorted the graduates by surname. Sure enough, she came very near the middle, waving generically at the people in the stands. Not far behind Maggie came Abbie, who had such a serious expression on her face. Joy and Donna were near the end, given their surnames.

With over 400 graduates receiving their diplomas, the ceremony took several hours. Fortunately, while the weather was pleasant, it was overcast, so the sun did not beat down unmercifully on either the graduates or their loved ones in the stands.

At last, the superintendent was able to give his benison over the assembled graduates, and the mortarboards went flying skyward in celebration.

Monday, May 24, 2021

Gil caught up with Alan in the break room as they each brewed a cup of coffee in the two Keurig machines.

"How'd the prom and graduation go?" Gil inquired.

"Very smoothly, Gil. I only had to break up two couples who were being too demonstrative for propriety's sake. Nothing untoward happened at the graduation. We were a little tired from all the emotions at play, so we laid out of church yesterday. Weren't you and Susan looking after Steve's little girl?"

"Yeah, they arrived yesterday afternoon. Daphne was very happy to see her mommy after a month apart. Everything was packed up and packed out by the movers on Saturday, and it all should be delivered tomorrow."

"Then it's a good thing the closings are scheduled for late this afternoon," Alan reminded with a smile.

"It is indeed," Gil confirmed, thinking of the two nice commission checks that Susan should receive from her realty company. He had promised her that if she pulled off her property swapping idea, they could visit their daughter and her family on the West Coast. It seemed a little dishonest to accept the full share of the sales commissions for something that required so little time and effort on her part, but then the realty company hadn't done anything and was keeping half of the commissions.

The two couples, along with Susan, met at the AgCU offices where Rose had arranged for the closings to be held in the large conference room. Alan had the cashier's check prepared for the purchase of the Millersville Road property. All the money shifting would not be delayed if they used AgCU cashier's checks or transfers between AgCU accounts.

Alan and Rose purchased Helen's parents' property for the $390,000 they had agreed on, and many papers were signed and notarized. Helen immediately deposited the money she received in their AgCU account, and authorized the immediate payoff of the loan her parents had left her with. After resolving that obligation and paying the sales commission to Susan's realty company, Helen and Steve were left with $261,600. After a brief output/input break while a cashier's check was prepared, Helen and Steve purchased Alan's house for the agreed upon $230,000. Alan paid the commission on the sale to the realty company, then immediately paid off the $200,000 bridging loan.

They parted with hugs, handshakes, and well wishes for the future.

"We've got a new home!" Helen exclaimed once they were in the car. "I want to sleep there tonight," she continued, surprising Steve.

"Let's talk about that a little," Steve temporized as they drove to relieve Gil of their children. Gil had stayed behind to play grandpa with Peter and Daphne while the others were handling the property closings.

"We have nothing to sleep on, despite having our pillows and the box of linens we didn't send with the movers," he explained. "I'm not inclined to trade a good bed for a hard floor. I'm sure the kids would like to 'camp out' in the house tonight. I'm hoping that she will look after them tomorrow so they're not underfoot for the movers. It'll feel like our home once the furniture is moved in."

Crestfallen, Helen acknowledged Steve's argument with a bowed head, then suggested, "Let's go get the kids and visit our new house."

= [] = [] =

"So, where are Tom and Julie?" Alan asked, noting the couple's absence as his family sat down for supper.

"They're enjoying a quiet meal in their apartment," Rose explained. "They're going into St. Louis tomorrow so Tom can complete his onboarding paperwork for TWA. It must be done before he can start work next Tuesday at his assignment in Millersville."

"Quiet meal. Heh, heh," David chuckled under his breath, but not quietly enough to avoid Maggie slapping his arm.

"So, Poppa, this place is now officially yours?" Katie asked, casting her eyes around the room.

"Ours," he corrected. "Yeah, and I no longer own the house on Elm Street," Alan declared, then bit his lip as he looked away briefly. After a moment, he returned his attention to Katie.

"You have three more days of school left?"

"Two and a half, actually. Thursday's a half day, with a noon dismissal."

Alan asked Katie and David about this week's graduation and prom plans.

"The graduation ceremony will be in the gym at school at 7:00 pm on Thursday. I asked Larry to make sure Aunt Michelle was there by 6:30. I'll need to be there by 6:00."

"I assume you'd like for us to be there as well," Alan said.

Katie's eyes widened with surprise at his quasi‑question.

"Of course I want you guys there!" She touched her pendant with her right hand. "You're my family. I don't know how I would have made it without your love and support." Small tears began to well in the corners of her eyes.

"Okay, I just wanted clarification," Alan pacified her. "What about your prom?"

Katie sniffed back the developing waterworks and replied, "That's Friday night from 7:00 to 11:00 at the Holiday Inn by the interstate."

"We'll have photos taken here before we drive there in my Jeep," David supplied. "I can't wait to see you coming down the long staircase, all dolled up," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"And I can't wait to see you looking like a stunned mackerel," Katie riposted. "'Close your mouth, please, Michael. We are not a cod fish,'" she continued, quoting her favorite Disney movie, 'Mary Poppins.'

Maggie sat back and enjoyed the banter between the two. The three of them had agreed about the interpersonal boundaries for the prom. At times, she felt a little guilty for having snagged David, but she knew he had little interest in any of the high school girls after 9th grade when red-headed Rebecca Walsh moved away. All three of them knew that David was 'all in' with Maggie, and Katie respected that.

Once they were in their rooms for the night, Maggie remarked, "You know, it's too bad you don't have any cousins you could fix Katie up with."

"Yeah, but with Mom and Dad both being only children, there isn't a whole lot of family tree to go shaking the branches for. We'll just have to find her a good guy once we get to State."

Maggie then proceeded to silence David in their most favorite way.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

The whole household accompanied Katie to the high school when she had to be there by 6:00 pm. They were among the few early birds, and easily found seats with excellent viewing angles. Thinking ahead, David considerately saved room for his friend, Larry, and Katie's aunt, Michelle.

It was fortunate that the ceremony was being held indoors, as the heavens unleashed a downpour of seemingly Biblical proportions just before the ceremony began at 7:00.

For both David and Tom, it was an odd feeling of coming home yet being a stranger. More things had changed since Tom graduated five years earlier than they had for David in just the last year. Both young men reacted when they realized how familiar yet alien things now seemed at their high school.

Katie's grades merited gold cords around her neck as she marched in wearing her white robe and mortarboard cap. Her seat was almost in the exact center of all the graduates. She kept scanning both sides of the stands in the gym, looking for her two families, not expecting them to be sitting together. She finally found them as she crossed the stage to accept her diploma and congratulations. After shifting her tassel from the right side to the left, she smiled broadly and gave a little wave as she carefully descended the steps.

Upon regaining her seat, she reflected how so many of her graduating class whooped and hollered, making a big show at having completed high school. She realized that for some, this was the high point of their lives, that going to college would not be in their futures. For many, their next steps were getting jobs, getting married, and having families would all be less meaningful than today. She thought once again how grateful she was for the love and support from her new family. Less than four months ago, she had no idea how she would be able to go to college.

Katie opted not to throw her cap into the air at the end of the ceremony, but waved it all about. Being stuck in the middle of that sea of humanity, she chose to sit back in her seat and let the chaos swirl around her. She knew where her Momma, Poppa, and the rest of her new family were, along with her 'Mom' and 'brother.'

When the tide of humanity had ebbed, Katie made her way to where her families were still waiting for her. Michelle was given first dibs for the congratulatory hugs and kisses, with Larry standing nearby.

"Thanks, Mom," Katie said once she could. "It's not like this is the end of the road for me, unlike some of the others," as she gave a fluttering wave of her hand.

"Larry tells me there's a graduation party on Saturday at your place," Michelle confirmed with Rose, who nodded in agreement. "May we please come?"

"Of course! You all would be quite welcome!"

"I don't think Brendan or Sharon have much interest in attending, but we'll both be there. What time?"

"Maggie's friends are driving down from Centreville, so we could have the grill going by, say, 1:30 or 2 o'clock?" Rose said, getting a nod of confirmation from Alan. "Could I ask you to make some potato salad to share? It's the one picnic‑type thing that I don't make well." Michelle nodded yes with a shy smile.

"We'll see you on Saturday, sweetie," Michelle said as she and Larry departed.

Once her cousin and aunt were out of earshot, Katie let loose with a loud snort of amusement.

"Asking a woman with an Irish name to bring potatoes? Could you be any more cliché?"

"I didn't intend anything by asking her," Rose defended herself. "I just thought she'd feel less self‑conscious if she brought something to share."

"Depending on how good it is, maybe we could ask for her recipe?" Alan suggested as they began to make their way out of the gym.

"Oh! I've got to turn these in," Katie said, fingering her cap and gown. "Here, Mags, I'm trusting you with these," as she handed her sister the tassel and the gold cords. "David, would you please hang onto this for me?" She handed her diploma in its case to him.

"Gee, now I've got two Middleburg High School diplomas. One for each hand, I guess." He didn't even try to avoid Maggie's playful slap.

Friday, May 28, 2021

When David picked up Maggie from the jewelry store, his rented tux was hanging from a hook above the rear door behind him.

"Are you sure you want us to go through with this, Magpie?" he asked as he started to drive them home.

"Why not? I love and trust you both, and you both know what I will and will not tolerate." Maggie paused for about fifteen seconds that felt like an eternity to David.

"She needs this, Davey. Larry couldn't be her date for reasons we've already discussed. There's nobody else for her. You were always her unrequited crush. Now she gets to have her dream come true, as much as you can do so." Maggie then stayed quiet for a minute.

"I probably should write out and sign a permission note for you to whip out if one of those snotty girls from church tries to get in your face." Maggie pursed her lips, deep in thought. "Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do."

"Did Jack get Chrissy to cover for you again tomorrow?" David asked, trying to change the subject.

"I think so. I know she filled in for me last weekend." Maggie chuckled as she remembered Jack's words from Tuesday. "This is just a job for me, but I must be doing something right. He misses me so much when I take my monthly day off."

David pulled her left hand to his lips and kissed it while he kept his focus on the road, then replied, "You do all kinds of things right, my Magpie."

As soon as the pair arrived at home, Maggie disappeared upstairs into Katie's room to help her sister get dressed for the prom. The light pink bridesmaid's dress that would be worn to the wedding was getting a 'dress rehearsal' tonight. David opted to get dressed in his parents' en suite on the main level so he would be ready at the bottom of the stairs to take in an 'all dolled up' Katie.

For her part, Katie had splurged a little and had her ebony hair trimmed slightly and artfully styled with most of her hair up on her head and a few artful ringlets dangling down her neck. They went with Julie's pearl earrings, feeling that Maggie's emeralds wouldn't work as well. She briefly considered also wearing Julie's pearl necklace, but the rose‑gold heart pendant meant more to Katie than almost anything in the world.

Katie tried going bare‑legged, but it just looked incomplete. Suntan pantyhose looked much better, but Maggie convinced her to try some black pantyhose to coordinate with Katie's black hair and contrast with the pink of the dress. Rose's contribution was to offer a new pair of sheer black stockings with a white garter belt. Once the ladies finally got the seams straight, Katie's look was perfect. A very light application of blush and pink lipstick completed the look.

At 6:30, everyone except Rose and Maggie had gathered at the base of the stairs for Katie's grand reveal. Rose held Katie's hand as they carefully descended the long staircase. As David had predicted, Katie was "all dolled up." As Katie had riposted, he stood there with his mouth agape at the absolute vision of loveliness coming down to him. Alan and Tom, likewise, were stunned at how well Katie "cleaned up". She cautiously stepped towards David, closely examining his expression.

A million thoughts raced around David's mind, most of which began with 'Why?' or 'How?' His look of near‑worshipful adoration gave Katie pleasant tingles as she reached to close his mouth, which was still standing open in his surprise.

"Is that for me?" she asked, gesturing at the corsage in his hands.

At his nod, she held out her left hand for him to slip the elastic over her wrist. Maggie pulled Katie into one last sisterly hug and whispered, "Be sure to kiss him good. Don't worry about winding him up; I'll take care of him once you bring him back to me."

Maggie then turned to David and handed him a card in an envelope, which he placed in his jacket's interior pocket. The card read: "I, Margaret Kathleen Lawson, hereby give my permission and thus instruct my boyfriend, David Michael Harrison, to escort my sister, Kathleen Margaret O'Shea, to her Senior Prom with all the dancing, kissing, and touching rights assumed as her date." Signed - Margaret Kathleen (Maggie) Lawson, 28 May 2021.

"Here's your Get Out of Jail Free card, Davey. I expect a report of how often you had to use it. Now go and make her night special." She kissed him firmly on the lips and grabbed his ass, making sure everyone saw her reaffirming her claim on him.

David took a few seconds to recover from Hurricane Margaret, then extended his left arm for Katie to take. Rose and Julie forced the couple to pause at the bottom of the stairs for photos. When a dozen pictures had been taken, the two were permitted to exit the house and drive off.

David made sure she was safely in the passenger seat before he closed the car door. He did not want anything to mar how absolutely beautiful Katie looked tonight. Once they were on their way, he kept his right hand on the shifter, not intending for it to be an invitation for contact, but not averse to it either.

"Do you want to stop somewhere along the way and get something to eat?" David inquired once he got them rolling toward the Holiday Inn.

"No, David. Thank you for offering, but my stomach's full of nervous butterflies and I don't think I could keep anything down," Katie answered. Then she placed her left hand on top of his right one, and her nerves settled a little. "I think they'll have stuff to eat at the Prom. Mags never said much about her Prom last week. Would you tell me what happened?"

David sensed she just wanted a little distraction, so he told of the massive dessert buffet which had opened at 10pm. He related about the rest of the Posse's dates and how Donna and her date, Sven, had been the first ones to leave with Abbie and Michael not far behind. Joy and her date, Robbie, had a room at the hotel and stayed to the end with Maggie and David.

"Let's review what we understand Maggie's boundaries are for us, okay?" David asked once he saw the hotel come into his view.

"Dancing together, obviously," Katie began. "Some touching will have to happen as well, just not on parts normally covered by a swimsuit."

"And kissing," he added.

"Yeah, that, too, I hope," she confirmed, blushing.

"Okay, so we're clear on what is permissible."

He had decided that Katie deserved to have the full, formal date treatment. Once in the valet line, he entrusted his Jeep to the valet, then hurried to open her door.

Katie twisted in her seat, then remembered she still had the seatbelt fastened, which she then unbuckled. She accepted David's proffered hand and gracefully descended from the Jeep with her clutch in her hand. With her arm looped through his, they quickly found the signs directing them to the ballrooms. Katie extracted her phone from her clutch and pulled up the QR code for her two tickets.

Soon enough they were at a table near the back of the room. Middleburg, being a larger school, had hired a band rather than a DJ. David made sure they were not near the amplified speakers so they could converse and not have to shout at each other. Pretty soon, some of David's acquaintances came by, very surprised to see him there.

"Who's the stone‑cold fox?" one of them asked about Katie in too loud of a voice. It was obvious to David that alcohol had already overridden the fool's good sense. Katie blushed at the unpleasant compliment, knowing the drunk jock had sat behind her in her fourth period English Lit class.

"She's my date, Jack," David said between his gritted teeth and rose to his feet, but not rising to the bait of the jock. "If you don't recognize her, that's your loss. C'mon, Kat, let's show this lout how we enjoy dancing."

"But I don't dance," she whispered.

"Yes, you do. Just remember what we do at home. Follow my lead, and I'll keep things simple for us."

They wended their way between the tables to the central dance floor, and he turned to gently take her into his arms. She looked a little nervous, so he gently brushed his lips across hers. Then they began to move with the rhythm of the music.

David put his lessons and experience to excellent use as he subtly guided Katie around the dance floor. They stood out from most of the dancers who seemed to have their feet attached to the floor. Some stepped back to give the pair a little more room. Guided by David, Katie twirled and spun in the safety of his arms. He dipped her, much to her surprise, and they smoothly flowed around the dance floor.

It wasn't very long before she pleaded to rest and catch her breath, and he sat her at a table near the dance floor before retrieving her clutch from their original table. He thanked the girls there who had been keeping it safe, and they each asked for a dance with him later. He knew most of the girls as they all were just a year behind him in school.

"Check with your dates first, please," he requested. "I don't need any more drama tonight, after Jack's little performance."

He then returned to Katie's side, handed her the clutch purse, and observed, "It looks like the hors d'oeuvres line is now open. Would you like me to fix a plate for you?"

"Yes, please, just a little bit, but nothing that could stain this dress, please."

He soon returned with two plates for them and hustled off to get drinks. Katie waited patiently for him to return before sampling what he had acquired for them. He had gotten only non‑messy finger foods, so there was no chance of their forks colliding when reaching for the same item. He gave a wan smile as a random thought crossed his mind.

"What? What is it?" she asked.

"Just something my departed mother once told me. 'Sometimes you have to change your perspective to see the whole picture.' She was trying to reassure me that not having a local girlfriend was far from the end of the world; that I might have to look in other places to find who I was destined to be with. I'd have to say that the same thing applies to you. I'm sorry we can't be closer than we are. You're ultra‑rare, Kat. A one-in-a-hundred dice roll.

"I'm honored that you allowed me to be your date for this," he continued and waved his hand, indicating the room. "Even though he was drunk off his ass and didn't recognize you, Jack was right about you, tonight especially. You're a stone‑cold fox, Kathleen Margaret, and I'm sorry that I didn't realize it sooner."

Katie couldn't say anything in response to his admission, so she simply took a drink of her water and allowed a tear to well up in her eye. After a moment, she lifted her head, sniffed back a little mucus, and dabbed her tear away with a napkin while pasting on a sad smile.

"Come on, Davey. We came here to dance."

She stood and extended her hand to her date, and they made their way back onto the dance floor. The band leader chose that moment to begin playing 'Can't Help Falling in Love', a nice, slow dance song. David pulled Katie to his chest, and they did a simple box step for the three minutes of the song. When it was over, he gave her a brief but heartfelt kiss before leading her back to their table.

The three girls who had guarded Katie's purse approached David and Katie and asked him for a dance. Katie thanked the girls for their help earlier, then insisted that David fulfill their requests.

David led each girl to the floor and danced with each for two songs, usually one fast and one slow song. While he 'paid' the guardians back, Katie sat at the table and thought about what Laura had said: 'Sometimes you have to change your perspective to see the whole picture.'

She realized that while much of her perspective had changed when she became a member of the Harrison family, she had never really let go of hoping for David to 'come to his senses' about her. She needed to look in other places for her guy. Middleburg was simply too small of a pool. That was why so many girls in small towns ended up in unsatisfying relationships and marriages. Maybe that's what had happened with Aunt Michelle and Uncle Brendan.

Once he had fulfilled his promises to the other girls, David remained close to Katie for the remainder of their time at the Prom. When the band took a break at 10 pm, Katie indicated that she had experienced enough of her Prom and was ready to go home. Which was fine with David because his first shift on Lifeguard duty began at 10 am.

The valet retrieved David's Jeep, and the other valet moved to open the passenger door, but David intercepted him with a small tip for him and his companion. David made sure that Katie was safely in her seat before closing the door and getting in behind the wheel.

Katie asked him to pull over into the parking lot of a grocery store, and then to park the car. She unbuckled her seatbelt and his, and gently pulled his face to hers.

"We've done the dancing, the touching, and some very light kissing. Now I need a real kiss from my date," she said, and proceeded to tenderly and soundly kiss him for ten minutes according to the clock on the dashboard. Reluctantly, she pushed herself back and clasped his hands in hers.

"While you were dancing with those other girls, I was thinking about what you told me your mom had said. I could see that it applies to my life, too. I've been holding out hope that you would somehow 'come to your senses' about us," as she made air quotes. "Tonight, it was me who came to my senses about how right you and Magpie are for each other. I need to be fishing in deeper waters, so to speak, because this Middleburg pond is simply too small and too shallow. So, this is my saying 'thank you', my brother. I have and always will love you dearly. Now, let's go home, please."

Rose and Maggie were still up, waiting for David and Katie to return. Rose pulled Katie into a hug, then pushed her out to examine the girl at arms' length, carefully scanning her face.

"What happened? What's wrong?"

"Nothing bad happened, Momma, and nothing's truly wrong," Katie answered, not meeting Rose's penetrating gaze.

"Horseshit. Come, sit with me on the sofa and let's talk about it. Magpie, please take David upstairs, but be kind; unlike you, he has to go to work in the morning, and lives may depend on his being awake and alert," Rose commanded.

Maggie tugged on David's hand to lead him up to their bedroom. He looked over his shoulder in sympathy at Katie and mouthed, "I love you, Katie." He followed Maggie's swaying behind up the stairs. Rose and Katie watched the pair all the way to be sure they went to bed.

Once David and Maggie had disappeared and were out of earshot, Rose led Katie to the sofa in the living room. Once they were both seated, she lovingly cupped Katie's chin. The waterworks slowly began, and Rose kissed away the tears as best she could.

"Talk to me, Kathleen Margaret O'Shea-Harrison."

"If only that were true," the girl softly blubbered. Rose just sat there, waiting silently. At last, the words began to tumble from Katie.

"One of the jocks, Jack Dorsey, already drunk, approached us shortly after we first sat down. He didn't even recognize me, even though I sat in front of him in one class all year long. I know I cleaned up well, but I didn't think I was unrecognizable."

"You are and always have been a beautiful girl," Rose affirmed.

"Thanks, Momma. Jack called me a 'stone-cold fox'." Rose smirked at the same phrase that David had used back in November to describe Maggie. "David agreed and apologized to me for not realizing it all along. But he's made his choice," and her eyes lifted toward Maggie's and David's room above the dining room.

"When these Harrison men make their decision, it nearly takes an Act of God to get them to change their minds. I don't know if it's genetic, environmental, or something their Boy Scout training instills in them, but I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China," Rose declared.

That got a smile out of Katie before the girl continued.

"We danced, we held hands and touched, and we kissed, both publicly and in private. I've finally let go of hoping he would 'come to his senses' about us. To use a phrase Pastor John would recognize, 'I've turned my face toward Jerusalem.' I now accept that there is no acceptable boyfriend for me in Middleburg.

"Mags and David have both promised to help me find someone once we are at State. Maybe they unconsciously recognized all along how small the pool of suitable guys for me is here."

"So, what I'm seeing in you then is acceptance?"

"Yes, Momma, that's it. I had fun tonight, but I was ready to come home. While kissing Davey was nice, I could never try to take him away from Magpie. I love them both too much to do that."

"Good! We have some girls coming down from Centreville tomorrow, and we'll need some help getting things ready for a graduation celebration, if you are able."

"Sure thing, Momma." Katie arose and headed to the stairs.

"You do look extraordinary tonight, especially in those seamed stockings," Rose remarked, thinking, 'it's a good thing Alan can't see that.'

"You would know, wouldn't you, Momma?" Katie flashed Rose a brilliant and knowing smile and headed up to her room.

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Alan was up with the sun that Saturday. Some habits were harder to break than others. Rose was awake as well and doing everything she could to encourage Alan to remain "up". She straddled him, reverse cowgirl, and lowered herself onto his tumescent and very pleasing cock.

"Oh, Alan, you fit in me so perfectly," she sighed.

"And you fit me, too, so very well," he breathed.

Alan lay there with his hands on her hips as they rose and fell, and enjoyed her ride on him. He caused his pussy pleaser to twitch inside his soon‑to‑be‑wife, accentuating her pleasure in him. He felt very well rested, having gone to bed early on Friday night. He had slept well, comfortable in the knowledge that David would ensure that Katie was safe at her Prom and then safely home.

'When you're the parent of a boy, you have to worry about that one boy. When you're the parent of a girl, you have to worry about every boy,' flitted across his mind. The addition of the girls to his life was still something he was adjusting to. Rose had made sure her girls were all protected, but old habits die hard. Alan had repeatedly read the riot act to both Tom and David about making sure any female under their care was safe and treated with respect. Now, with the addition of Maggie's 'posse' into the population this weekend, David was going to be very preoccupied when he wasn't at work. Alan needed to have a couple of serious heart‑to‑heart discussions with his youngest son before the summer was over.

Rose could feel Alan's cock twitching more and more as she rode him. God, but she loved these early morning trysts. She almost wished that she had not gotten her tubes tied after she had Maggie. It was all due to Ron's attitude towards fatherhood and parenthood that caused her to take that preventative and irreversible action. She would have loved to have a baby with Alan. She loved to tease and then reward him. Dancing around her kitchen barefoot and in the peasant skirts. Barefoot and pregnant. God, how that resonated within her fantasies.

"Oh, Alan, come for me. Come in me. Fill me with your cum, my love!" He was almost there, just needing something to tip him over the edge. "Do you remember the 'fun' we had last Friday night? That satin nightie and no panties? My legs in the ultra‑sheer stockings rubbing on your cock? Hmmm? Oh, you feel so good, Alan. Give it to me now! Cum in me, Alan. Cum for me, now!"

Alan groaned as her words spurred his memories and his reflexes. 'Houston, we have lift off.' It had been a couple of days since they last had sex, and Alan's outpouring was prodigious. Three, four blasts of semen filled Rose's womb, pushing her over the edge yet again.

= [] = [] =

David awakened and was out the door by 9 am, headed for the large outdoor city pool located at one end of the city's main park. He wanted to be early to set a good example for the other lifeguards. He would have preferred to remain in bed and snuggle with his girlfriend, but he had a job to do and others were counting on him. He needed the jolt he got from a Fourbucks espresso drink, so he left home a little earlier than he otherwise needed to.

David knew all but the newest lifeguard, who wasn't scheduled to work until Sunday. They were all really decent folks who didn't bring drama to the position and who looked out for each other. He respected each of them, and they nearly revered him. Twenty twenty‑one was promising to be a good summer for everyone!

= [] = [] =

Alan had arranged for a large canopy to be delivered and set up on the west side of the house, away from the driveway and garage. The setup crew arrived at 10 am from St. Louis. All this was a surprise to Rose and the rest of the family. The covering was rented for two weeks, so it would serve for their wedding reception as well as today's graduation party. Leaving it up would save extra tear down and set up expenses.

Alan dragooned Tom into helping pull out their three folding tables from the basement while Julie, Maggie, and Katie were sent to collect chairs from the garage. They would probably have to borrow more tables and chairs from the church for the wedding reception, but they had enough for the smaller party today.

They had just completed these tasks when Donna's older pickup pulled into the driveway. Maggie spied Abbie and Joy in the cab with Donna, and squealed with her delight. The girls emerged from the truck and swarmed both Maggie and Katie excitedly, much to Katie's surprise.

The three girls grabbed their overnight bags and they all trooped upstairs to choose their rooms. Donna and Joy chose the guest room on Katie's side, so Abbie would stay in the guest room on Maggie's side.

"We brought our swimsuits because you said you had a pond," Abbie remarked once they gathered around the dining table.

"The pond is spring fed," Alan informed them, "and very likely too chilly for anyone to enjoy getting into. None of us has dared to try it yet." At the girls' crestfallen expressions, he continued.

"However, we happen to have an 'IN' with the lifeguards at the town's main pool." Maggie's expression of delight lit up the room.

"Oh, heck, yeah!" she exclaimed. "Let's go and get our suits on. We'll give David a surprise visit," she enthused. The five females quickly dashed upstairs to get changed.

"So much for my helpers," Rose muttered. "Tom, are you and Julie gonna bail out on me, too?"

"Someone should try to keep those kittens herded," he rationalized. "We won't stay very long," and he got a nod from Julie, "so if you need us to pick something up, just text one of us," he offered graciously.

There were quite a few people at the pool on Opening Day, including some recent high school graduates. Tom paid the non‑resident fee of $5.00 each for Julie, Maggie, and the three from Centreville. He and Katie had their resident cards and were free. Fortunately, Alan had given Tom some money to cover "incidentals", and the seven entered the pool area.

"We need to get resident cards," Julie said to Maggie. "Maybe Momma, too. This won't be our last visit to this pool, especially if the pond remains chilly." Maggie nodded her agreement, knowing that whenever she could, she would first tease, and then reward David. The girls staked out a semi‑shaded spot to lay out their towels, making sure David had an unobstructed view of them displaying themselves. Many of the other guys in the pool area also took note of the girls subtly flaunting their bodies.

David saw the party enter the area, and he waved at them briefly before returning his attention to the people in the water. He was there to keep people safe, and he took his responsibility seriously.

Tom went to the snack bar to get them all drinks, again on Alan's dime, and he overheard some of the boys talking about the girls. They wondered who the girls were, where they were from, and how often they might return. Oddly enough, none of them recognized Katie, perhaps because they were looking at the girls' bodies and not their faces.

"Guys, just stop right there. A, the one in the hot pink is my fiancée; B, two of the other ones are my sisters; and C, our brother is the head lifeguard here. You don't want to go there. Looking is free, and I'm sure they appreciate your looking. Just keep your comments to yourselves, please. How would you like someone else to talk that way about your sisters or cousins?" Embarrassed at being called on their comments, the boys scurried away. Tom paid for the drinks and took them over to where the girls had claimed their space. After handing them out, he asked about their plans.

"If your objective was to be noticed, I'd say you have achieved that. Several of the boys over there," and he waved generally at the other side of the pool area, "were sharing their crude remarks within my hearing while I was getting your beverages." Tom sat next to Julie and held her hand while looking sternly at the boys.

"I think our collective objective was to torment David," Maggie answered. "He does seem to look at us frequently."

The rest of the girls grinned their agreement with Maggie, and they all got out their sunscreen. When asked to put sunscreen on the girls, Tom demurred, stating that only Julie merited his hands on her skin, and vice versa. The other five did not press the issue and made sure everyone was properly protected.

A shadow fell across Maggie's face as David was spreading his towel nearby.

"I'm on a fifteen‑minute break," he explained, "and seeing how there are beautiful girls here who are near and dear to my heart, I thought I'd spend that time with you. Why are you all here?"

"Poppa says the pond's still too cold to enjoy swimming in, and this also gets us out of having to help Momma with much of the preparations," Katie explained, shading her eyes to look at his face. They all sat there just chatting, then someone called out for David.

"The pool closes at 5 o'clock, so I should be home by 5:20. Save me some cake, would ya, please? And some ice cream?" David asked, rising to his feet. Maggie looked stricken as she did not recall any discussion about cake or ice cream. Tom was already on the phone with Rose.

"I have a sheet cake on order at Walmart for pick up at noon. It would be a great help if you could pick it and some ice cream up. It would save a trip for your father. Get two large tubs of ice cream; one chocolate and one vanilla. We still have plenty of toppings."

"Okay, Momma. Is the order under your name or dad's?"

"It's under 'Harrison', clever boy. Nice of you to think of that. Don't let the girls get too much sun," she requested.

"They've covered themselves with sunscreen well, so any scorch marks you might see would have come from all the male gazes they've attracted. We'll be getting back about 1:30."

"That'll be fine, son. Keep an eye on those girls and make sure they get home, safe and sound, please."

"I will. Bye, Momma."

"It's nearly 12:30 now," Julie remarked once Tom had ended his call. "I don't feel like getting in the pool. I'd just have to shower it all off once we get home." The other girls raised their heads at Julie's words, considering them.

"We all came down to spend time with our 'long lost' friend and our new friend," Abbie summarized.

Donna chimed in with, "I don't feel the need to get wet, either. It does feel nice to lie here in the sun, though. You guys have nice sunshine here." The other girls laughed at Donna's last sentence.

Tom recapped the situation. "Okay, sunbathing it is. I need to leave here by 1 o'clock to go pick up the sheet cake and ice cream. I know Jules will come with me, but I don't think you five can fit into Katie's car, so one of you will need to come with us. The rest can stay here a little longer, but you don't want to be much later getting back to our place."

"I'll come with you two, Tom," Joy volunteered.

"Okay, ladies. Enjoy your teasing time, but stay cautious. I'm going to go talk with David until it's time to leave."

Once he was standing in the small shadow that David's elevated Lifeguard's seat provided, Tom softly spoke with his brother.

"Joy's coming with Jules and me, because Momma asked me to get the cake and ice cream from Walmart. Some jerks over by the snack bar were mouthing off about the girls earlier, so please keep the other four safe once we leave."

"I know who those troublemakers are, Tom. The girls will be safe, I promise you," David replied quietly in return, not taking his eyes off those in the water.

"From what I'm seeing here, you're doing an excellent job, David. Despite our differences, I'm proud to have you as my brother. See you at home later." Tom began to walk slowly around the pool area to the entrance, all the while keeping his stern gaze on the boys who were still hanging around and ogling all the girls.

Julie tapped Joy on the shoulder, and they picked up their towels and bags and followed Tom.

There were no problems picking up the whole sheet cake and the tubs of ice cream from Walmart, and they were back home shortly after 1:30. There were a few other cars already parked in the grassy area beside the driveway as Tom pulled up close to the garage. Katie's car was in her usual spot, so the girls had returned from the pool as well.

They took the cake and ice cream into the kitchen, where Mrs. Johnson directed them to put the ice cream in the freezer and to take the cake outside to the tables where the canopy had been set up.

Joy went upstairs to change out of her swimsuit. As she reached the top of the stairs, she heard her friends' voices.

"Did you see those jerks just standing there and undressing us with their eyes?" Maggie complained.

"Oh, like you would have done anything with them, especially with 'Mr. Perfect' lurking above," Donna scoffed.

"Sssshh. Don't even think that about either of those guys," Maggie cautioned, and everyone turned to see Joy walking in.

"No, they're not perfect, but they're awfully close," Joy remarked, slyly. She'd had a good conversation with Julie while at the pool. "Let me get changed, and we can get this party started."

All the girls helped carry the food and drinks out to the tables under the canopy. Maggie was pleased she recognized all of the women helping Rose make this a pleasant event. Maeve Johnson, Susan Larsen, and Mary Henderson were there from church. Katie's Aunt Michelle was organizing cold foods out of everyone's way. It was only when Katie hugged her aunt that she realized that the girls had returned. Gil Larsen and George Henderson had teamed up against Alan and Larry O'Shea, inaugurating the horseshoe pits on one side of the pond. Anything to keep from being dragooned into dealing with the food.

With many hands, the work was quickly completed, and Rose sent Tom to fetch the menfolk.

"David said he should be here around 5:30," Julie advised.

"Here comes Jack now," Maeve announced as her husband pulled into the driveway.

"Who's minding the store?" Maggie asked.

"Nobody. We decided that today was a special enough event to close the store at 2:00. It's a holiday weekend, and we don't expect to miss a lot of business," Maeve explained.

Just then, Pastor John and Ruth pulled in and parked on the grass by the driveway. Jack waited for them to emerge, and they all walked around to where the canopy was. Warm greetings abounded, and Rose declared that the food was ready.

"Pastor John, would you please ask the blessing?" she requested of the person who had the most experience in praying. John dipped his head and inhaled because it seemed like everyone always expected the pastor to do the praying.

"I'll do it," Alan declared as he reached for nearby hands. Once everybody had clasped a hand, he bowed his head and solemnly, yet briefly, asked for God's blessing on the food, on the event, and on everyone gathered there.

The afternoon was passed very amicably with lots of discussions about plans for the future. The girls had requested each other as roommates, but there had yet to be confirmation of room assignments from State. Only Maggie and Abbie seemed to be focused on specific majors; Maggie choosing Chemical Engineering and Abbie going for Pre-Med.

Katie was the only one of the five who was uncertain how to pay for her college education. She had not yet heard anything about the scholarships she had applied for, and she tried very hard not to fret about things beyond her control. She remembered that promises had been made that her education would be paid for, but the specifics had not yet been confirmed. She didn't like the idea of multiple years of student loans only to be economically burdened to repay them, like Julie would be.

David arrived shortly before 5:30 and was surprised at all the cars. He followed the sounds coming from the far side of the house and was welcomed raucously by everyone there.

"Did you save any cake and ice cream for me?" he inquired with a broad grin.

"Yes!" Maggie affirmed. "We had to take the ice cream back inside to the freezer to keep it from melting."

"Cool!"

"I sure hope it is. C'mon, Davey, let's get you all sugared up." Maggie led him away by the hand, to the great amusement of everyone watching.

"Bring the big bowl when you come back, please!" Rose called out.

Maggie waved her hand in acknowledgement.

"Gentlemen, let's move some of these tables to give us some space to dance," Rose directed.

Maggie and David returned, her carrying the large Corelle bowl and he had a slightly smaller bowl full of cake and ice cream. Mary and Maeve looked curiously at Rose, trying to figure out their friend's request for "the big bowl."

"I've got this, Momma," Tom said as he accepted the amplifier from Maggie. He cued up a song on his phone, placed the phone in the bowl to serve as an amplifier, and nodded to his father. "I tracked this down just for you and Momma." He started the song.

By the time Johnny Rivers had begun to sing about swayin' to the music and slow dancin', Alan had pulled Rose to him, and Tom was reaching for Julie. Amazed looks appeared on the older adults' faces as they recognized the song from the late 70's.

"Again!" Rose called as the song was ending, so Tom hurried to repeat the tune. Katie slipped over to play DJ, pulling up the playlist she and the others had assembled.

David was focused on the contents of his bowl, so Maggie approached Maeve and asked, "May I please dance with your husband, Mrs. Johnson?"

At Maeve's nod, Maggie pulled Jack by the hand out to where the others were shuffling and swirling. Mary yanked George out of his chair and plastered her body against his. Susan and Gil were not far behind.

David eventually set his nearly empty bowl aside, approached Maeve, and asked her to dance with him. After a couple of songs, Jack reclaimed his wife and Maggie happily flowed into David's arms.

Donna spied Larry just sitting in his chair and pulled him to his feet.

"I don't dance," he began.

"Just stand there and sway with me," she directed.

After a minute of rocking back and forth, Larry shuffled his feet and awkwardly did a simple box step with the blonde, who pulled him tightly and briefly laid her head on his chest.

As there were four more females than males, the men never got to take a break; there was always a female ready to partner with them. After an hour and a half, everyone had had a chance to dance, and the consensus was to call it a night.

Maggie and Katie thanked all of the people who had come to the celebration their graduations as they made their way to their cars. Hugs and cheek kisses abounded, and the smiles seemed unending.

Rose looked with dismay at the grass all trampled, scuffed, and bare in places, but Alan simply chuckled. "We know where to have them place the dance floor for our reception, won't we? It'll be okay, dear. Grass grows really well on this side of the house."

To be continued in "Synchronicity For Six, Part 24."