"Jon, Ray called while we were gone. I don't know how he did it, but he got a judge to view the tape you made for the police. Everything's filed and approved; in thirty days this nightmare will be over. He also had the judge issue a restraining order prohibiting Herb from coming anywhere near any of us, just in case he makes bail. Ray didn't seem to think that was going to happen, but he said it was better to be prepared. I also gave him all of our new cell numbers, so he can get ahold of us," Barbara said. "Pastor Wills also called to say how terrible he felt about the whole situation. He said that if he'd had any idea Herb was capable of such a heinous act, he never would have let him have free run of the church. He said he was looking forward to seeing us in church on Sunday."
"I hope you don't think badly of me, but if I never set foot in a church again, it'll be a week too soon for me. I've never really liked all that indoctrination. I know it's all supposed to make you a better person, and maybe it has, but I just don't agree with most of the stuff they preach," I said.
Casey smiled, but didn't get involved in this conversation. Erin, however, picked it up. "Barbara, I can't see how they can say that being gay is evil and a sin against God, the same God that is supposed to be all about love and forgiveness. How can they say what we have found is wrong when they are not even part of it? I mean, okay, so it wouldn't be something they would want, great, they don't have to do it. I love all of you, and I'm not even slightly ashamed of it. What we do together is no one's business but our own."
"I agree, but I didn't want to impose my beliefs on either of you. Herb was the one who insisted we all attend church. If no one wants to go, we won't. If Pastor Wills calls again, I'll tell him we simply are no longer interested," Barbara said.
"Well, since that's settled, I think I should mention that I've invited Bill and his family over on Sunday for a cookout. That way Jon can ask him about all the new equipment we bought from him," Casey said.
"That sounds like fun. We haven't had a cookout in years; Herb didn't like them. Fuck him, he's gone finally," Barbara said, chuckling.
Erin took on a shocked look. "Mother! You kiss me with that mouth?"
Barbara leaned over and kissed Erin passionately. When they broke, she said, "Yes I do, and you seem to like it very much."
"Yes I do," Erin panted.
Dinner was pretty much over, so Erin and Casey started clearing the table, while Barbara and I moved out into the living room. I picked up Princess and strummed a few cords, humming to myself and thinking up songs I'd like to play with her.
"Jon, what was that tune you were just humming? It sounds familiar."
"It's an old satiric, seventies-era, protest song by Phil Ochs. I thought it was fun, but I only heard a little bit of it, so I doubt I know all of it." I began picking out the simple cords into a lilting melody, then sang.
"Oh, I'm just a typical American boy from a typical American town
I believe in God and Senator Dodd and a-keepin' old Castro down
And when it came my time to serve I knew "better dead than red"
But when I got to my old draft board, buddy, this is what I said:
Sarge, I'm only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I got eyes like a bat, and my feet are flat, and my asthma's getting
worse
Yes, think of my career, my sweetheart dear, and my poor old invalid
aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-goin' to school
And I'm working in a DEE-fense plant
I've got a dislocated disc and a wracked up back
I'm allergic to flowers and bugs
And when the bombshell hits, I get epileptic fits
And I'm addicted to a thousand drugs
I got the weakness woes, I can't touch my toes
I can hardly reach my knees
And if the enemy came close to me
I'd probably start to sneeze
I'm only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I got eyes like a bat, and my feet are flat, and my asthma's getting
worse
Yes, think of my career, my sweetheart dear, and my poor old invalid
aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-goin' to school
And I'm working in a DEE-fense plant
Ooh, I hate Chou En Lai, and I hope he dies,
One thing you gotta see
That someone's gotta go over there
And that someone isn't me
So I wish you well, Sarge, give 'em Hell!
Kill me a thousand or so
And if you ever get a war without blood and gore
I'll be the first to go
Yes, I'm only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I got eyes like a bat, and my feet are flat, and my asthma's getting
worse
Yes, think of my career, my sweetheart dear, and my poor old invalid
aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-goin' to school
And I'm working in a DEE-fense plant"
I finished picking out the short song, and smiled at her. She was laughing at the lyrics. "Where on earth did you ever hear that?"
I frowned slightly. "I can't remember, but I thought it was cute, so I remembered it. I think I can almost remember every song I've ever heard."
"Well, I plan on testing your memory, lover. The Joe Cocker song you sang to us in the mall made me come in my panties," Casey said.
Erin snorted. "What do you mean? You're not wearing any panties."
"Neither are you, slut!" Casey said and stuck her tongue out at Erin.
"No, I'm not, and I have the perfect place for you to stick that tongue," Erin replied.
"Girls behave! Or I'll ask Jon to not spank either of you!" Barbara said, giggling.
The girls all sat down on the sofa, as they calmed down. "Jon, I know why you didn't tell us about playing, but I'm really amazed that you're so good. It's like you've been playing for years," Erin said.
"Well, I have been playing for about three years, but only in one of the practice rooms at school, and that for only a about an hour every other day. I think what might have made the difference was that Mr. Gains believes like B.B. King: that an instrument is a part of your soul while you play it. The more you play it, the more it becomes part of you. If you get good enough, the guitar will teach you its language. Then you can talk to any of them. If they like you, and trust you enough, they'll play really well for you. If not, the music will sound horrible no matter how good you are," I explained. "I thought he was full of it until one day, while the old girl and I were in the practice room, she started talking to me. The next time Mr. Gains listened to me play, he just smiled and nodded. 'Now you understand, ' he said to me."
"So, have either of them told you their names yet?" Casey asked, seriously.
"No; neither of them have been owned before, so I have to name them. Before I do that, I want to get to know them a little better. So for now, this one is called 'Princess' and the Les Paul is called 'Goddess'." I had been playing a soft melody while we talked, and when I told them this guitar's name, the sound immediately got better.
"It sounds like she approves," Barbara said, a little awed by such a graphic example of what I'd told them.
"Like with us, these two guitars will become a part of me. There is an old Klingon saying: 'If you stare into the void, the void also stares into you.' The more time we spend together, the stronger our bond will be. I feel it's the same with these," I said.
"Well then, we should go meet your other lover as well. I could have sworn I heard her cry when you put her down today at the store. I thought I was imagining things, but now that I've met Princess, I don't think I imagined it," Casey said. "Welcome to the family, Princess."
As I moved to the stand to place her there, Erin said, "You should bring her out with us, so she can meet her sister. I'll carry her stand for you."
So we all trooped out to the garage to see if Goddess was ready to sing. Indeed she was, and she seemed happy to meet her sister too. I swear Goddess laughed when Erin gave her a few playful strums while I was playing Princess.
Erin looked up at me in awe, and a little fear. "I didn't do that, did I?"
"I think Goddess likes you," I said, smiling at her.
"Will you teach me how to play, so I don't hurt her?" Erin asked quietly.
"I can try, but I'm still learning myself. The important part is that you already believe in them. Learning how to touch them comes easy. They'll teach you more than I ever could, you just need to learn how to listen," I said, realizing I sounded like some new age guru myself.
We played and talked until my fingers started hurting, so we said good night to our two newest family members and headed for bed. Barbara and I made love again, while Casey and Erin made love beside us. We fell asleep cuddled into one big pile of soft naked skin.