Sabrina was wearing a dress that went to just above her knees. To me, it looked as if she was dressed to go somewhere special, Jean. of course, knew who she was but the other kids stopped what they were doing to look at the strangers who’d just walked into their world. Elle introduced her to the other ladies and also to the kids by saying that she was an author, although, to me that was a ”stretch”. Someone asked what kind of books she wrote and I don’t remember her answer. But what I do remember was her asking the kids if they wanted to help her write a story. Her lisp and the fact that the sounds it made were like baby talk didn’t deter the kids as they gathered around her. What I witnessed was a bit amazing.
She proceeded to sit down on the lawn, yoga style. True to what I’d witnessed in the past, she was not overly concerned with modesty and as she positioned herself I was able to witness a bit of an upskirt. But what followed was a surprise. I won’t go into detail but she, somehow, mesmerized the kids as she drew ideas from them and wove a tale that held their interest. Aurelia was especially impressed. I don’t remember how long before she was through, but I, too, was impressed. I’d considered her “an airhead” and a dreamer but this little performance started to change that impression.
Naturally, I was taking pictures but, because of the expense of Polaroid film, was using a cheap Kodak film camera. As mentioned in the previous post, the weather had warmed to the point of being warm enough for shorts. Never one to shy away from a chance to take a VPL, I managed to get one of Elle as we cleaned up after all the guests had left.
I’d not focused on the news that Nanci had delivered about a special school board meeting until after supper. I decided to call Jon (the milkman) as he was on the board. He was seldom home and this time was no different. Ginger answered the phone and after she told me asked to speak to Elle. I didn’t think anything of it as they were good friends and talked often. When she hung up the phone she came into the den and had a troubled look on her face. I asked about it and got one of the usual “it’s girl stuff” answers. I knew that if I didn’t “push” I’d eventually get the answer.
I’d hoped for some “special treatment“ at bedtime but Elle played the ”I’m tired“ card”. However, she seemed wide awake. With the lights out she rolled over towards me and asked how much hospitalization coverage we had. That, for sure, was out of nowhere. Even though it was dark I sat up and asked why she wanted to know. As she sat up she turned on her bedside lamp and had a funny look on her face. There was a definite pause before she said she might want to have an operation. That woke me completely up.
Then she told me about Ginger. Her “dribbling” had gotten progressively worse. After an embarrassing experience with her in-laws, her mother-in-law insisted that she go with her to a gynecological specialist in the city. The results of the examination showed that she had a “pelvic organ prolapse.“ I, of course, had no idea what that was. I listened as Elle tried to explain. Basically, the fact that Ginger had had four children, one right after the other, had left her inner muscles little time to recover. Because of that her bladder had dropped and was causing her incontinence. At that point I could see where this conversation was headed.
Elle went on to explain that Ginger was contemplating a fairly new procedure to somewhat repair the muscle damage. Elle didn’t get the name of it but understood that the doctor wanted to insert a sling like thing inside her to hold the bladder back in place. Elle, hearing about it from Ginger, was excited about the news and immediately thought that it might be applicable to her and her own incontinence. Hence, she asked about insurance coverage as Jon’s didn’t cover the procedure. What I was hearing was all new(s) to me so I didn’t have an answer for her. We talked about it for a while longer before turning out the light. I remember lying there and, selfishly, I admit, wondered what would happen to our ”wet play“ if she were to have such an operation and it worked.
Nothing more became of the discussion when morning arrived. We were all too busy getting ready for work and school. Thankfully, there was nothing of importance pending for me at work. However, if you remember back a few posts ago I’d mentioned about the new minister arriving with his family and the need for the church members to get the house cleaned and ready for their arrival. No one individual had taken charge which meant that on the eve of their arrival there was still work to do. I stopped by on my way home and saw that the lawn still needed to be cut and that no one had emptied the trash containers. At home I made a few frantic calls and put together a few of the younger members that I knew. We agreed to meet at the manse at 7pm and to do one last ”sweep“ of the place.
The driveway was blocked by a small flatbed truck as I tried to pull in. I wasn’t happy about having to be there in the first place and the last thing I wanted was to have something or someone create a problem. As I walked up to the truck this rather large young woman hailed me. She introduced herself as the minister’s older daughter. During the interviews he’d mentioned that he had an older, married daughter but that was all. I was flabbergasted when she told me that she was there to leave off her things. I know I wasn’t all that polite and I also don’t remember exactly what I said to her. In the middle of that exchange this also large man appeared along with a child about 4 or 5 years old. He’d heard me questioning the woman and was ready to take me on. Thankfully, two more (male) members of the parish had arrived during my time with the woman. At that point we had a bit of a standoff.
Since the phone hadn’t been connected there was no way to reach the minister (pre cell phone days). The three of us representing the church were uniform in our stand that the home wasn’t to be occupied until June 1st. All I knew was that it had to with insurance. Secondly, we all had understood that the minister’s ”family“ consisted of he, his wife and two younger children. The couple were incensed that we’d turn them away since it, technically, was only about 5 hours until it was ”legally“ June 1. There was no hesitation when we three just shook our heads as one of them tried to explain it was all about insurance. It took until 8pm for them to leave. I’d had some ”reservations“ about the hiring of the minister. I couldn’t put my finger on the reason at the time and, after this confrontation, I had started to get an idea of what it was.
It was dark by the time the three of us headed for home. I, for one, was really upset and decided to call Bret to tell him I’d be a little late getting to work. I also called the Senior Warden (the head of the local church board). I wanted us to be at the manse when the minister and his ”family“ arrived so that both he and someone from the church could/would get the matter out in the open. I didn’t want a he said... she said” situation.
Without wasting time, the problem was that the minister had been less than forthcoming during the interview. In truth, he and his wife had taken their daughter, her husband and their child in and were supporting them. They were also supporting a young man who they’d taken in many years prior as a foster child. The church had thought there would be just four people inhabiting the manse but now it was eight. The arrangement was that the minister and his ‘family“ would have the use of the house and with all utilities paid. We had a handle on just what those costs were for a four person family from the records of previous minister. I remember the Senior Warden saying, when we were out of earshot of the minister, that we’d been ”hoodwinked”.
To be continued...
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