School started again the day after Labour Day. Grade 11 was often considered the toughest year of the five in high school. The work load was demanding, lots of homework and lab assignments. It seems to be the year when students get the most involved with extracurricular activities. I was no exception, nor were my wives.
I tried out for the senior football team and quickly became starting centre, no surprise, really. Most of last year's Junior Championship team moved up to the senior team. Because we were a solid unit, the coach tried to keep us together as much as possible. It was also a rebuilding year for the senior team, as many of the key players graduated this past spring. We had practice every day, sometimes for two hours or more. We played one game a week, half of them away. Fortunately, football season in Canada at that time only ran from September to late November. It was intense but relatively short.
I was heavily involved with Cadets. I gave up my largely ceremonial and administrative position as a platoon commander and took over as the Company Sergeant Major. It was a downgrade in actual rank, but a much more important and prestigious position within the Corps. As CSM, I was directly involved in the actual training. I taught courses in foot drill, map and compass, and fieldcraft. After-school training was only one day per week, but we had at least one weekend exercise per month. Along with my regular homework and assignments, I had to prepare lesson plans for all the courses I taught.
The class I was in was an experimental one for advanced students, started the previous year based on our performance in Grade 9. Our workload was heavier than mainstream, and we were expected to be more involved in school activities. This wasn't just a class of nerds and browners. My classmates included the president and secretary of the Student Council; the Editor of the Year Book and several staff, of which I was one; the star quarterback and two running backs for the football team, and various other of the premier athletes and leaders in the school.
At home, I still worked on the farm. Dad had a day job, so between us we had to find time to farm as well. With the crop all in, the next order of business was getting the ground ready for next year. Dad's brother helped, but we still had lots to do. As long as the cattle were on pasture, the workload was light, but in the late fall, we had to start feeding. Daily chores consumed a part of our day.
I had an extremely busy semester, as did my wives. Our time together was limited to whatever we could steal away from our other activities. Of course, the girls had each other, but they were both so addicted to vaginal sex that a steady diet of girl-on-girl wasn't quite satisfying to them. They complained constantly that Sweet Pussy and Miss Pussy were literally starving to death. Our evenings usually meant an hour or two after football practice then I went home to hit the books. I often ate supper at their house so we could be together. Dolly was absolutely wonderful with me in this way. Mom and Dad shared the chores and farm work so I had a little more time. Val even helped. She became quite proficient with some of the equipment.
Riekie was in Grade 13. She would graduate next spring and move on to pre-med and med school the following fall. Because of the emotional content of the summer, Riekie's academic achievements have been understated. Not only beautiful, my Second Wife was stunningly brilliant. Only a year older than me, she was two years ahead, having skipped a grade in public school. Her grades were always in the high nineties. When in school, she was totally focused. She didn't go out for the extracurricular activities much, but she was an on-again-off-again member of the chess club and debating team. She always tried to carry an extra course or two. This year was no different. Grade 13 was considered in those days not to be just the prep year for university it was basically first year of a general arts university programme. Riekie carried two extra advanced science classes to help prepare her for med school. Her work load would have killed a lesser person.
Carol was an average to above-average student academically, but excelled at art, her chosen career path. She carried extra art classes and was involved in the Art Club. She had the most 'free' time of the three of us which still wasn't much. Because she had a little extra time, Riekie and I put her to 'work' as our secretary. She managed our schedules and made sure we had special assignments in on time. If we needed extra books for our research, she was often the one making the trip to the library with a bibliography, finding them for us. She also made sure the books were returned on time.
Bob was/is brilliant. Unfortunately, his mind was so far ahead of what we took in school, he wasn't particularly focused. He aced any of the science courses, but just scraped through on the more mundane academic material because he just couldn't be bothered. He was very active in the science and chess clubs, and of course, all those projects he and I dreamed up on the side.
Being so busy, the fall just blew by. I had the girls out to the farm two or three times. We enjoyed some wild, noisy lovemaking, the girls trying to feed their starving Pussy creatures enough to tide them over, but it was getting a little cool out in the long grass...
We had hoped to be able to arrange a weekend stay-over, but with our busy schedules and workloads, we couldn't manage it. The one weekend we thought was clear got cancelled because the football team had to play an overnight away game as part of the championship playoffs. My wives threatened to do extreme bodily harm to whoever drew up that schedule. We won COSSA that year, too.
The first week of September, before my schedule got too hectic, I visited the local jeweler where I thought Carol got my ring. I showed it to him, and he remembered a young lady buying it earlier in the summer. He said it was a very unusual design. He'd hated to break a set, but she seemed so in love, he sold her the man's ring separately. He still had the matching lady's ring and showed it to me. It was the same as mine, but smaller, daintier, as befits a lady's hand. Where mine had an Alaskan black diamond, the lady's had a small true diamond. It was beautiful. I asked him if he could get a second, identical ring. He said he could, but it was a very special order to have a ring duplicated, so would cost at least double the first one.
I asked the price of the first one. When he told me, I almost fainted! I had no idea! Mine would have been even more! Riekie's was going to be at least twice that again! Carol had spent a small fortune (to me at the time, and still a significant sum today) on that ring! The true depth of her love to spend that much money on my ring just deepened my resolve. I asked how much down payment he required. It was almost everything I had just to put money down.
I made a fast trip to the bank, almost wiped out my small savings account, and returned to put a deposit on the rings. I ordered the second one, and got a receipt to show my folks. I showed him the engraving inside mine, and told him I wanted three names with the same inscription on these two. He said he could do it, but it would have to be micro-engraved because of the length of the sentiment and the three names. It would be more expensive. I also wanted Riekie's name added to mine, jacking the bill even higher. The final inscription for all three read 'Riekie, Carol and Dave 1965 Hearts Entwined Forever'. The total bill was staggering. Dad said they'd pay, but I was still scared to show him the bill, and I vowed I would pay him back somehow.
I told the jeweler I needed them for Christmas. I gave him my phone numbers, both home and my own. He said he'd call when they were ready, but it would be the first of December. Special orders like this took extra time.
When I showed Mom and Dad the bill, they just about fainted too, but Mom said she suspected it was pricey because she recognized the workmanship and quality in my ring. It would be tight, but they'd manage. I told them I would repay them somehow. Dad would hear nothing of it. It was their wedding present to us. I was touched by their willingness to do this, but these were my wives' wedding rings. They had to come from me. "No! Dad, these are from me to my wives. I MUST pay for them on my own. I don't know how or when, but I WILL repay you. Your love, support and happiness for us is all the wedding gift we need from you."
It took me a couple years working at part time jobs, even after the dark times, to repay them. My first pay cheque from Northern made the final payment. It was bittersweet at the time.
With the football playoffs over in November, and another COSSA championship, my schedule eased a little. It was mid-term exam time, and most school activities were reduced so students could study. With studying and finishing up last minute reports and assignments, my wives and I didn't get a lot of time together. Our love, though, seemed to deepen and strengthen as the enforced separation of busy schedules kept us apart.
At school, it was hard for anyone to tell the three of us had a relationship. A casual observer would have thought we were just good friends. The girls weren't out to win any beauty prizes or attract other boys. They dressed quietly and conservatively. They attracted little attention from boys. No one knew that under those conservative skirts two hot young pussies were always bare and usually wet, with the exception of their monthlies, when they wore loose slacks to let me know.
Speaking of their monthlies, we had watched very closely for the appearance of their first after our frenetic sexual activity the last week or so of the summer. They both had been so close to their fertile time by Labour Day we fully expected we would be parents. Their periods both arrived within a day of each other. We were very pleased, but a little disappointed, too. Even though we had relatively little opportunity, we had unprotected sex whenever we could, with all the risks of pregnancy known to us. Thus, we all waited expectantly for those monthlies, every month. If they weren't able to tell me directly, the slacks were our signal.
We didn't do the usual teenage lover thing in the hallways and the back stairwell. When we met in the halls, it was with a sweet smile and a discretely blown kiss. We rarely had lunch together. There were three lunch periods and due to class schedules, we were all never able to get the same one. If we did, it would be only two of us. We never managed all three at lunch at the same time. Whenever we did manage some arrangement of a twosome at lunch, we talked quietly and held hands under the table.
Mid-term (Christmas) exams came and went. We all felt we'd done well, but Riekie, ever the over-achiever, felt she could have done better. Bob would be satisfied if he passed. Carol was trying to keep up a standard set by her parents, so she had to work extra hard. I found most subjects easy, and my voracious reading helped. My studying was not as intense. Thank God. Of the four of us, I had the busiest schedule.
Christmas break started just a few days before Christmas. I had to cram all my Christmas shopping into just a few days. Despite my insistence on repaying my parents for the rings, Dad continued to pay me my usual allowance regularly for my farm work, and I got a few small jobs helping the neighbours. As we no longer raised pigs, of which I usually got two for myself, Dad gave me a steer, which I was able to sell for a good dollar in time for Christmas. I had enough funds, then to do my Christmas shopping. I wanted to get everyone something, including Dolly. The girls were getting their rings, but I wanted something extra. Dad said I didn't have to start paying him back until I got a 'regular' job. He wouldn't take a penny until then, so I had a little money to work with.
From my occasional work for neighbours, I was able to make small, token payments to the jeweler. It wasn't much, but was good for my self esteem, and kept me up-to-date on the progress of the order, without making a nuisance of myself to the man. Riekie's ring was delayed. I was concerned it wouldn't be ready in time. Just two days before Christmas, he called and said they were ready.
Dad and I went in to drop mine off for the final engraving and pay up. He showed us the two rings. You could hardly make out the micro-engraving, but under a glass, there it was in a beautiful flowing script:" Riekie, Carol and Dave 1965 Hearts Entwined Forever'. The craftsmanship was superb. Dad knew how much I'd already paid by myself, so he was already writing out his cheque for the balance as shown on my receipts when the jeweler stopped him. They had known each other all their lives and were casual friends.
"Don, don't write that up just yet. I have something to say. This young man has impressed me with his love for these girls, and his insistence on paying as much as he can on his own without your help. He didn't flinch at the price quoted, didn't haggle, and dug deep to make sure he got what he wanted. You've always impressed me as a man of honesty and integrity. You've done a superb job of passing those values along to young Dave, here.
"I've seen many young men come through here over the years, ordering special gifts for their ladies. As often as not, they get cold feet, forfeit their deposits, and I get stuck with the order. But Dave here has been so mature and responsible, paying what he could, and waiting for these rings so eagerly, I am very impressed. I see he wears the matching ring, so I know there's something VERY special about all this. Because of his maturity and obvious devotion to his young ladies, and because you and I have been friends so long, I've decided to make you a better deal. I'll only charge you half the value of the second ring, making it the same as the first. The engraving is on the house, and if Dave sees anything else he wants to get as gifts, it will also be half price. Such love, devotion and maturity deserve it."
I was overwhelmed by the man's generosity. I didn't know what to say, except "Thank you." I knew full well this man had me as a loyal customer as long as he stayed in business, and I would recommend him to anyone wanting fine jewelry. His son took over the business a few years ago and continues the same tradition of fairness and craftsmanship as his father. He still gets all my business and I still send customers his way.
I was nervous of taking him up on the offer of anything else for half price, but there were some items I thought would be excellent gift items for the people on my Christmas list. There was a beautiful moonstone pendant on a fine silver chain I thought would a good gift for Mom. I got one for Dolly, too. Mom's was oval. Dolly's was rectangular. I also saw two heart-shaped silver lockets with a small moonstone set in the face. I thought the moonstones would be a nice symbolic touch for the Goddess. They would be the perfect Christmas gifts for my wives. A nice birthstone ring for Val and a gold signet ring for Bob rounded out my shopping list. I couldn't get Dad's gift with him standing there.
With the engraving I wanted on the lockets, even at half price, it came to quite a bit more than I had, but the jeweler said I was good for it, and let me charge the balance. Dad co-signed the bill as a show of faith it would be paid. I made sure I paid that bill before another month passed. It took all the Christmas money I got from my grandmother and other elderly relatives, plus scrounging work from the neighbours, but I did it.
We made arrangements to pick up all the gifts the next day, Christmas Eve. They would gift wrap everything except the rings. I asked to have '<insert name of wife here> I Love You Forever, David' inside each locket, ensuring he knew Carol's had to say 'Carol Anne'. I took off my ring and handed it over for the change in the inscription to include Riekie. I felt naked without it.
After we finished at the jewelers, exchanging 'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year' with him, Dad dropped me off at the Scotts' so I could spend a little time with them.
Their father was home for the Holidays. We'd hardly seen him since the summer. His company a contractor for the Apollo programme, sent him all over the place, especially Florida, so he was away on business trips a lot. Bob Sr. liked to take a drink when he was home, and usually ended his evenings more than a little tipsy. I didn't like him drunk. He became crude and abusive. Fortunately, when I got there, he was in a mellow Christmassy frame of mind, and welcomed me with a big "Merry Christmas, Dave!" Our thinly veiled hostility from the summer didn't show for this one time.
We exchanged pleasantries then the girls grabbed Bob and me and we disappeared into their room to neck and play records. Bob was with us to keep us from going too far and keep Bob Sr.'s suspicions at bay. Sex wasn't an issue, though: the girls jeans indicated the time of the month.
Whenever Bob Sr. was around, Riekie and I acted like friends as much as possible. Carol and I kept our groping and kissing to a civilized minimum, partly to keep him quiet, and partly in deference to poor Riekie who was cut out. How he missed the torrid looks we all gave each other, though, was a mystery.
I noticed at different times that Bob Sr. seemed to give his daughters, especially Carol, very appraising looks, like a man on the make. He was particularly taken with Carol's legs (as was I), and one time, when he was a little too far into his cups, passed comment on what beautiful legs she had. This day, I saw him giving their trim jean clad butts a very appraising look. I thought his looking at the girls was odd, but just put it down as a father being proud of two beautiful daughters, and a little over sensitivity on my part of any male giving my wives the once-over with their eyes.
I was only able to stay a little while. They had to attend mass at Bob Sr.'s insistence. He was raised Catholic and Dolly converted when they married. She never did say what she converted from, but we now had our suspicions. I wasn't Catholic. My family raised me a Baptist, but I stopped going to church when I was 14. Mom and Dad were open-minded about religion, and let me make up my own mind. I saw nothing in any of the organized religions to attract me, so no longer attended. I had thoughts on Higher Powers, I just didn't like the formally structured churches. I made one exception. Christmas Eve I would attend Christmas Eve Mass with my wives, as a concession that they be allowed to come to my house for a Christmas Eve party afterward.
Since Mom and Dad's revelation about the Goddess, and their Wiccan heritage, the girls and Bob had gone to mass only when their father was home, just to keep peace in the family. My parents stopped going to church all together. Mom said she'd only gone in the last few years because it was the church she grew up in, and had a lot of friends there. Since she reaffirmed her devotion to the Goddess, she said she could no longer be a hypocrite.
That stopped the parson's visits, too. He came to the house once, after Labour Day, to ask why my parents had missed services. He was told politely, but firmly, they no longer needed the church, and his own services as tender of the flock were no longer needed by them. He never came back.
The big living room and dining room were now open all the time. The dining room became an extension of the kitchen. The big table became a place to do homework, play board games, and assemble jig-saw puzzles. I had my own desk in my room, but found myself using the dining room table for homework more and more. I enjoyed being close to my family, instead of locked away in my room.
The big living room became a place for quiet reading and conversation, away from the noise of the TV. Both rooms developed a lived-in and homey feeling like the rest of the house. They were no longer cold, formal places. Dad pronounced his eminent satisfaction at the changes, saying it was good to have his whole house back from the parson.
Bob Sr. called upstairs it would soon be time for mass. I called Dad and he picked me up. The girls and I said good night in their room so we could kiss properly, and didn't walk me to the door. For Bob Sr.'s benefit, my leaving without an escort to the door made our relationship seem more casual. My dad noticed the lack of front door kisses and hugs. He thought we'd had a fight. I explained to him how we acted around Bob Sr. Dad just shook his head. It was incomprehensible to him that a parent could be so controlling.
Next day, Christmas Eve, Dad and I stopped by the jeweler's to pick up my gifts. They weren't quite ready yet, so Dad ran some errands while I waited for them to be wrapped. I wanted to get Dad's gift, but wasn't sure what to get him. While he was out running his errands, I talked to the jeweler. He had known Dad a long time, and suggested I get him an old-fashioned pocket watch with a fob and chain. He said he remembered Dad as a young man having one, and it was his prized possession.
I took his suggestion. He produced a beautiful gold pocket watch with matching fob and chain from under the counter. I said I couldn't afford it, even on charge. He said it wasn't a new watch. It looked like new, but had an antique glow to it as well. It was perfect. Someone brought it in for repair years ago, and never reclaimed it. He'd seen the quality of the timepiece, and ensured not only was it repaired, it was refurbished. He let me have it for a tenth of its value, and even quickly engraved 'The Best Dad in the World' inside the cover. It was engraved and wrapped by the time Dad returned.
We got our gifts home and stashed under the tree. Since Mom had gone back to the Old Ways, Christmas at our house took on more of the original 'pagan' rite it was spawned from. We had a big tree with lots of lights and mistletoe prominently displayed. Dad explained that our modern celebration of Christmas came out of the early church becoming alarmed that their parishioners were still celebrating the old winter solstice festival of light and the Roman saturnalia. The church declared the Christ child's birthday to coincide with these festivals, and thus usurped them.
At our house, this year, Christmas was the celebration of Light. A stranger entering our home would have noticed a few oddities, such as the unusually prominent display of the mistletoe, and an unusual amount of real holly, but would still recognize the familiar Christmas trappings, all of which had their origin in Old Europe. We didn't have a fireplace, but Dad built a fire pit on the front lawn and kept a large Yule log burning through the whole season.
We had a light supper, as Mom had a feast prepared for when our guests arrived. Right after supper, Dad took me back into the girls' in time for us to attend early mass. The whole family went. It was a learning experience for me. I was intrigued by the rituals and ceremony. The girls and Bob were bored. They begged off communion, saying they'd taken it the night before. You could see they were distancing themselves from their father's religion.
After mass, we returned to their house. Dolly gave us all a small glass of wine, and we had a snack. I gave Dolly her Christmas present. When she opened it, her eyes grew huge! She was absolutely delighted with it. Dolly and Bob Sr. gave me a nice watch. I was touched. I hadn't expected anything from them. We finished our small celebration at their house. The parents would be occupied most of the evening with the little guys, getting them to bed and dragging out all the Santa Claus gifts for them, so we were free to go. The girls changed their clothes to a more party like garb, Bob Sr. let us have the wagon and we all drove out to my house for the real party.
Despite the winter weather, the girls wore full skirt party dresses similar to their summer ones, but slightly warmer. They were both still on their period, but wanted to look pretty. They certainly succeeded. Mom wore the same type of dress. Their concession to the cold was nylon stockings over their beautiful legs.
I've remarked before about Carol's legs. They were stunning. Riekie's legs were beautiful, but not quite as striking as Carol's. Riekie agreed with me on the appraisal, and took no offence whenever I commented on those legs. Similarly, Carol agreed with me on the area where Riekie outshone her in physical attractiveness. Riekie simply had the most beautiful pussy in the world. It was too bad that her crowning beauty couldn't be publicly displayed like Carol's legs could be.
We had several other guests for our party. Dad's brother Doug, his only surviving relative, and a long term bachelor was always at our functions. My grandmother and several of my aunts, uncles and cousins from Mom's side were there as well. Heather had a ball playing with her young cousins.
Val commandeered Bob, and managed to maneuver him under the mistletoe several times. He blushed beet red all the time. I don't know why he never asked her out. The attraction between them was obvious. Maybe if they'd stayed in our town longer, he would have eventually worked up his nerve, because I'm sure that's what the problem was.
The party was a big success. The extended family present all exchanged gifts. They had a system where everyone drew names and bought for just that person. It kept costs down overall, and allowed that one gift to be something just a little extra. Mom thought the girls and Bob would be embarrassed by not participating, so she got each a small gift so they could be part of this family tradition.
My girls were a huge success all by themselves. Dad took it upon himself to squire them around, one on each arm, showing them off to all and sundry. The men were all eyes, and even the ladies were appreciative. My wives' sweet dispositions and easy going nature charmed them all.
We danced and ate and joked and laughed. Every one had a grand time. Mom's feast was to die for. I didn't know where I'd put the traditional Christmas dinner I knew we were having the next day. Because most of our guests had young families, they all left early so they could get the kids to bed and get the Santa Claus thing done. Soon we were down to just my family and the Scott kids. I was going to give my wives and Bob their gifts tonight, as I wouldn't be seeing them on Christmas Day. Mom and Dad knew this, and that I wanted a quiet time for it. Dad said traditionally the gift exchange was done on the eve of saturnalia, so we were quite in keeping with the Old Ways.
Heather still expected Santa Claus to come, so Mom took her up and tucked her in. The rest of us helped Dad get all the toys and gifts for her under the tree while Mom told her a story and got her to nod off. When she returned, Mom had changed from her party dress to a floor length, white cotton gown with a princess waist and a silver belt or sash. Her hair was down, and she looked radiant.
She supervised the final gift sorting for Heather. I knew there were other gifts she and Dad would set out for Val and me after we settled down for the night, too. Once the commotion was settled, the girls and I cuddled up on the couch. We exchanged some very warm kisses, totally relaxed with my family. We had got under the mistletoe a couple times earlier, but with Dad hogging them to himself all evening, we didn't get very much of that.
Dad started our private gift exchange by giving Mom her present. She got a really pretty pearl necklace she'd been asking for with matching ear rings. Mom gave Dad the electric drill he'd been wanting. The girls, all three, Val, Riekie, and Carol got lovely necklaces and matching ear rings from Mom and Dad. Bob got a soldering gun from my folks that he'd wanted. I knew about it, and told Dolly not to get him one, too.
Bob gave Val her own transistor radio. I got a Beach Boys album I'd been wanting. Mom and Dad each got a gift certificate to Sears, because, as Bob said, he 'didn't have a clue what to get them'.
The girls got Mom a beautiful cut-glass vase in her favourite pattern. It was quite expensive, and they pooled to get it for her. Carol had sketched Dad with our old black lab, Clyde, and presented him with that drawing. He cherishes it to this day. Riekie got him the latest Louis L'Amour novel in hard cover. My girls certainly knew how to please him.
I gave Bob his ring. He loved it, even though he wasn't big on jewelry. Mom was ecstatic over her pendant. It went perfectly with her current outfit. She wears it to this day. Dad's mind was blown by the watch. He'd wanted another since the day his old, cherished timepiece got lost while he was overseas during the War. Val loved her birthstone ring and kissed me in appreciation. She must've been watching how my wives kissed, because she put a little more into it than a sister should normally give a brother. It was very sweet of her, though. Later she told me she was checking to see if I was as good a kisser as my wives said. She pronounced them telling the truth. My wives were totally delighted with their lockets, but seemed a little disappointed, too. I suspected they thought it was their rings. I got huge kisses from both, just the same.
The girls each got me a gift, too. Riekie got me the Righteous Brother's album I wanted and a small, expensive keepsake box containing a lock of blonde hair. A little note inside said. 'Merry Christmas David, from Sweet Pussy'. I gave it a quick sniff. It was Riekie, all right! I loved it. Carol had been doing more artwork. She had somehow found the time to do a self portrait of herself in the nude. It was breath taking! Each of my wives had given me something of themselves as Christmas presents.
With all the gifts out of the way, I pulled the three ring boxes from a secret stash. They hadn't noticed I wasn't wearing my ring. I stunned them when I went down on one knee before them...
"Carol Anne, Riekie my sun rises and sets in you both. I love you both more than words can describe. This past summer we pledged ourselves to each other by an ancient rite, and made our own new family. You gave yourselves to me as my wives. We joined ourselves together under a bridal knot. We expressed undying love for each other. Will you now accept these rings from me, and renew our vows to each other?"
Together, they answered, tears of joy and love in their eyes. "Oh, David! We will!"
Dad had expected some drama, but not quite this. Bob was surprised, but not overly so. Val was floored. None us even remotely suspected what came next.
Before I could present the girls their rings, Mom stepped forward. She looked absolutely regal in her long white gown and flowing hair. I'd never seen my mother look so strong and beautiful. I could see Dad was bursting with pride and love for this woman we didn't know any more. She took the three ring boxes from my hand.
"Carol Anne, do you have the knotted cord with you?"
Carol replied. "Yes, I do. I keep it with me all the time. It's in my purse."
Mom asked Val to fetch Carol's small purse. When she brought it, Mom asked. "Carol, will you get it out for me please?"
Carol dug the piece of string out of her purse and handed to Mom, with a look of question and wonder. Mom had suddenly taken on an otherworldly appearance. She took the string, raised the open loop into the air and pronounced. "The Goddess is pleased."
Mom gave a little preamble speech. "These rings are the symbol, worn everyday, of the knot you will tie."
She handed me Carol's ring. "David, place Carol Anne's ring on her hand and say. 'Carol Anne Scott, I thee wed'."
I slipped her ring onto Carol's hand "Carol Anne Scott, I thee wed."
Mom handed me Riekie's ring. "David, place Riekie's ring on her hand and say. 'Riekie Scott, I thee wed'."
I slipped Riekie's ring onto her hand. "Riekie Scott, I thee wed."
Like mine, the girls' rings only fit the third finger of their left hands.
Mom handed my ring to the girls such that they both held it. "Carol Anne and Riekie take David's ring, read the inscription inside aloud together and place it on his hand together. Say 'William David Lloyd, we thee wed'."
Carol and Riekie read the inscription as one voice. "Riekie, Carol and Dave 1965 Hearts Entwined Forever."
Carol smiled sweetly at the change I had made then together she and Riekie slipped it onto my third finger where it belonged.
They again spoke as one voice. "William David Lloyd, We thee wed."
Mom then had us join our ring hands. Aside from repeating Mom's words and the girls reading the inscription, none of us had spoken a word while we exchanged rings. Once we held each others' hands, Mom then wrapped the string cunningly around all three, binding us together. She spoke, her voice soft, but commanding.
"The inscription is identical on all three rings. You three wed yourselves under the sacred knot, and promised rings to each other. Those rings are now exchanged with a new declaration that you are wed to each other. Now, under the sacred knot, you will bind yourselves to all. Say together after me. 'We, Riekie Scott, Carol Anne Scott, and William David Lloyd take solemn oath and promise before these witnesses that we are now wed, each to each and all to each other in love and friendship forever."
The three of us repeated the vow in unison.
Mom produced a special cake she'd secreted somewhere in the dining room. It wasn't a wedding cake as we knew it. It was small, and more like a bread. She had the three of us cut it into three more or less equal pieces with our still-bound hands. She bade us each take a bite of a piece then a bite from each others' until all three pieces had been bitten by each of us. Then she took the remaining bits and passed them to the others. She took a small bit of each herself. By the time everyone had a bite of each piece, the cake was all gone.
Mom spoke again. "You three, Riekie, Carol Anne and David are twice joined by the sacred bridal knot. Tonight you have exchanged rings and said a vow to each other, declaring and promising eternal love and friendship. You have shared the bounty of the earth represented by this cake with each other and your friends. As one of Her earthly representatives, I give you the blessing of the Goddess and pronounce you Wed in Her sight and to the world. David, please kiss your brides."
Stunned by Mom's actions, I was a little slow to react. She laughed suddenly and cocked her head to one side. I woke up and took first Carol Anne, then Riekie into my embrace and kissed them hungrily. It was a little awkward with our left hands tied together like that. I had to have my arms around both while I kissed each, but we managed in fine style after all.
When we separated from our kisses, Mom moved closer and kissed each of us sweetly on the lips. She then motioned for Bob, then Dad, and finally Val, to do the same. Bob and Dad got sweet kisses from the girls, and a hug and handshake from me. Val got three sweet kisses.
After all the kisses, hugs and handshakes, Mom spoke again. "Now the circle is complete." I wasn't sure what she meant. Where had I heard that before?
We had a little more to eat. Carol, Riekie and I were lost to the world in our love for each other. This was a magical time for us. My folks not only accepted us, my mother had made sure the vows were said properly to please the Goddess.
Soon, though, the party had to break up, and my wives had to return to their family home for Christmas Day. We said tearful goodbyes and kissed long and hard under the mistletoe. The three of us clung to each other for a few minutes before they got in the wagon and drove away. 'Merry Christmas'' was the last exchange we had that night.
That was the best Christmas I ever had.