Child Brides of India

By C. Stanton Leman

Chapter 87: Miko Visits (MFFfg, rom, no sex)

When Miko left, the three of us looked at each other and Priya smiled then quipped, “Well, that went very well, don’t you think?”

“Very well indeed!” Monaavi chimed in.

“You shameless hussies,” I retorted, “a couple of matchmaking hussies!”

Priya feigned a slave’s overindulgent homage with, “Oh, Master, we only live to see to your every desire and happiness.”

“When did I say I wanted another wife?” I asked blindly.

“It’s our tireless duty oh, Master,” Monaavi bowed following Priya’s lead, “to anticipate your every need and whim.”

“All right, get serious now,” I said trying to direct the conversation, “What do you think?”

“I think,” Priya answered after a giggle, “that she’s sincere. Her actions verify her statement in that when she found out I was delivering she requested to be assigned to me. I told Monaavi that I fully expected to hear from her. Basically because of her actions with Leeya: she just seemed too understanding. When she found out Leeya’s age and she didn’t flinch, I knew that my suspicions were correct and that she was very interested in our family dynamic.”

Monaavi pointed out, “Sean, she’s opened herself up to lose her license and be fired for having initiating a desire for personal contact with a patient. It took all the courage she had to say what she just said.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, “but she also has the goods on me and could report me.”

“You’re not stupid, Sean,” Priya said. “She’d never do that. She’d blame herself for everything and go to prison herself before breaking your confidence. She somehow felt safe in coming to me and it took a lot of guts to admit to us she’s attracted to our husband.”

“I just can’t grasp her thinking though,” I pondered out loud. “I mean even if she knew of our familial arrangement, what would possess her to make the overture?”

“Validation,” Monaavi answered. “Look, Sean, I’ve never been hurt like she or many of my college friends were but I’ve helped deal with the effects. You’ve heard the expression ‘Once bitten twice shy’? She’s had an experience that’s been extremely traumatic for her and she doesn’t trust herself enough to trust again and let someone in. A guy may seem to be too good to be true and as soon as he gets in her pants, his real colors come out. All girls who’ve been burned, look around and they get the feeling that all the good men are taken. Her appraisal of you is validated by our interactions and how we express ourselves unconsciously. She’s also aware that you’re not a one-woman man and we accept that.”

Taking a drink of water Monaavi continued, “She thinks that since we are accepting of being in a multiple partner relationship that she might have a chance to be a part of that. I think she’s really thought this out and sees this as a complete package for her: a loving spouse and a needed support system with us. There’s also the fact that your actions would be tempered by the fact that you’d be watched by us girls and any assessment she’d make is verified or denied by using your wives as a sounding board. I think she’s made a compromise within herself thinking she’s willing to give up on an exclusive one-on-one relationship for one where she’s still loved and supported, at least that’s how I see it.”

“My gosh,” I replied shaking my head, “are we that obvious?”

Priya shuffled on the bed and answered, “Love needs to be expressed and we express it. We’re always going to run the risk of someone seeing that.”

“Boy!” I chuckled. “Are Mom and Dad gonna be shocked with this one!”

Priya giggled and remarked, “No more shocked than listening to you poke Leeya.”

“Geez,” I resigned, “You guys never quit!”

Just then, Dr. Simpson walked in with a warm smile and greeting. He walked over to the bed and examined Priya saying everything looked fine and that after Malina had been in the hospital twenty-four hours, she’d be given her hearing test. If everything checked out, Priya and Malina could come home this afternoon.

He said he had something he wanted to discuss and asked to be seated. Offering him a seat, he sat next to me and coughed to collect his thoughts. He looked at Monaavi and me and turned to Priya to speak. I asked him if he wanted us to leave so he could talk privately with Priya but he said we could stay.

He began by saying, “Priya, I’d like to talk to you about something that concerns your family. Now, if I only get answers from you, there’s a doctor/patient privilege and I can’t reveal what you tell me. If you speak, Sean, it’s not privileged information, do we understand each other?”

“What’s this about?” Priya asked, worried.

“It’s about your lifestyle,” Dr Simpson replied. “Understand that I’m a doctor: your doctor and Monaavi’s doctor and my only concern is for your health. It’s not my position to make judgments on how you live your life so no matter how you answer, you’ll get the same level of care from me, understand?”

“I understand,” Priya said pensively, “but what does my care have to do with my lifestyle?”

“Let me qualify something first,” he answered, “then I’ll answer your question with my own observations. I’ve been trained to observe my patients very well. In order to ensure that my patient is supported throughout this difficult time and has as few stresses as possible, her mental wellbeing and relationship with her spouse are integral to her care. A loved and supported wife makes for a normal, healthy pregnancy and delivery.”

He paused for a moment and Priya urged him, “Go on.”

“Now remember,” Dr. Simpson re-iterated, “whatever you tell me is privileged: even in a court of law it won’t be revealed but what you answer will determine what I say next. Understand?”

“I understand,” Priya affirmed. “What’s your question?”

“Mind you,” he revealed, “my only concern in asking the question is for medical reasons. It is my observation having had both you and Monaavi as patients and conducted both of your deliveries is that you, Monaavi and the preteen girl present at both of these deliveries are all in an intimate, polygamorous type of relationship with Sean. Is this true?”

Monaavi gasped and Priya silently answered by the shocked look on her face. She turned to me for a sign to verbally answer or not. I figured that the information was secret and he must have had a valid reason to ask so I nodded for her to answer.

Priya looked at him with a stoic look and replied, “You’re a very observant man.”

“I know I’m observant, Priya,” he countered, “but you didn’t answer my question.”

“Yes,” Priya confirmed, “we are. What’s this got to do with my treatment?”

“I’ll tell you why,” he answered. “As you know, when you first came to see me, I took a medical history from you. You lied to me about when you started having sex: That could have caused complications. I’m an experienced gynecologist and know a woman’s anatomy with precision and I knew you’d been having sex for at least four or five years which would have put you about eleven. It makes no difference to me nor is it any of my business when or why you chose to start having intimate relations, but I assure you my bringing this issue up is for medical reasons only.”

“And what are they?” Priya asked.

“As your doctor and Monaavi’s,” he answered, “I know your histories but what of the young girl? If she’s sexually active, she needs regular gynecological exams and care. Would you go to another doctor and run the risk of keeping him in the dark when she needs treatment? Lying to your doctor and withholding information can be fatal.

“I can better care for all of you, knowing what your family history is much better. I can care for all of you and you can have the confidence that your life is secret with me because it’s not an issue with me. As long as she never reveals openly to me that she’s engaging in sex with an adult until she’s eighteen, I can overlook the fact that I tacitly know — as long as she’s not being abused. I’m offering you care for all the women in your family with discretion only because I’m quite sure I understand that this is a very loving and supportive relationship. If I had a gut feeling that that young girl was being abused, your husband would be sitting in jail right now. I have as much, if not more to lose by offering my services in this way.”

“Then why offer?” Priya asked.

“I’ve been around long enough to know and have treated hundreds of patients,” Dr. Simpson revealed, “that I understand there are many ways a loving relationship can express itself. With all my patients, my primary concern is their physical and mental health. I don’t judge people: I just treat them. Regardless of how they choose to live their lives, they’re entitled to the best medical care I can give them. And I will admit that I would like to examine the young girl and make sure for myself she’s in a loving, stable environment. This will be borne out over time as I see her as her doctor. Well, that’s what this discussion has been all about, any questions?”

Knowing her information was privileged also, Monaavi cut in with, “Yeah, just one: is it that obvious?”

Dr. Simpson chuckled and replied, “That young girl is so in love, a blind man could sense it!”

We had to chuckle with him as he rose to leave. He patted Priya’s leg and said, “Everything’s fine, you and the baby can go home today after her hearing test, okay?”

“Thank you, Dr. Simpson,” Priya replied.

“The nurse will be in with your discharge instructions. I want to see you in six weeks and make an appointment for the younger girl: what’s her name?”

“Leeya,” She answered.

“Fine. Make an appointment for Leeya at the same time and I’ll see you both. Got to go, see you later and good luck with the little one. Bye now,” he said as he turned to leave.

“Bye, and thank you again,” Priya responded.

A few minutes later the nurse came in and we filled out the birth certificate and social security card information and purchased the photos. She gave Priya her discharge instructions and left. An hour later, our pediatrician came in and gave Malina her physical and said she was ready to go home.

Priya’s lunch came but knowing we were going home soon, she didn’t eat. The baby woke to be fed and Monaavi summoned the nurse for the pre-pumped colostrum Priya had pumped. After warming it, the nurse returned and Priya bottle fed Malina her gift then handed her over to Monaavi for feeding. Priya pumped as Monaavi nursed. A nurse came in and said that after her feeding, they’d take Malina to the nursery for her hearing test, and then she could go home.

Malina returned about one-thirty from the nursery and I changed and dressed her to go home. While waiting for the nurse to accompany us to the car, I went and had the valet bring the car, giving him a fifty.

A few minutes later, they wheeled Priya out the door in a wheelchair as Monaavi pushed the bassinet. The nurse checked our ID bands and said we could take the baby home. I helped Priya into the car then buckled Malina into the car seat with the nurse looking on. When I’d finished, the nurse checked everything and with a pleasant goodbye, Monaavi and I got in the car and we headed for home.

We arrived home about two forty-five to awaiting hugs, kisses and coos for mother and child. Monaavi took Priya and Malina upstairs to rest as we sat at the table and talked. Monaavi returned about fifteen minutes later and joined us.

When Monaavi sat down, the grilling began when Mom asked, “All right you two, what’s going on?”

I looked over at Leeya and she had a guilty face as she shrugged her shoulders. I sighed as I looked at Monaavi then at Leeya and replied, “What specifically do you mean?”

“Don’t play games with me, Sean,” Mom warned. “The little snot spilled the beans.”

“I’m sorry,” Leeya whined, “I was afraid of losing my chance to be the next to have a baby.”

“Well?” Mom asked waiting.

“Mom…” Monaavi said before being cut off.

“Shut up, Monaavi,” Mom ordered, “I asked Sean a question.”

I then went into the entire detailed explanation of what Priya said to me on the phone last night and our subsequent meeting with Miko this morning. I also told her about our discussion with Dr. Simpson.

“God!” Mom said sharply. “You guys are full of surprises. When’s this shit gonna end: when you’ve got one for every day of the week? At least you’re getting them old enough to legally play.”

“Mom,” Monaavi put in, “it’s not like that. Miko, through astute observation, deduced our family dynamic. She sees our unique familial arrangement as a way to find her own happiness and she’s only hopeful, not expecting a relationship with us. She’s like us, Mom, she’ll fit in and she’s a wonderful person who’s reaching out to be loved.”

“Whose idea was this anyway?” Mom asked.

“Priya’s and mine,” Monaavi admitted.

“And she agreed to wait until Leeya had her first before having a child?” Mom asked her.

“Yes,” Monaavi nodded, “with open arms.”

“Well,” Mom said, “your father and I aren’t very happy about this but we’ll just wait and see what she’s like. You guys are the ones that have to live with her so there’s really nothing more we can say. You okay with this, Snot?”

“For now,” Leeya answered. “I want to hear her say she’ll respect my rights first.”

“When’s she coming?” Mom asked me.

“After Priya and the baby are settled in,” I replied. “I told her I’d call her.”

Shaking her head Mom commented, “Just think: another country heard from. She’s Japanese isn’t she?”

“Yes,” I confirmed, “born in Osaka but she’s a U.S. citizen now.”

“From what I remember,” Mom recollected, “She’s a very pretty woman: still looks like an older teen.”

“She’s real pretty,” Leeya nodded, “and nice too.”

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” Mom replied, “won’t we?”

Everyone just nodded in agreement.

The next week or so went pretty well with Malina. Her nightly feedings were ranging from about midnight to five am after two weeks. Her skin color was slowly darkening and she now had a medium mulatto-type complexion. Her huge black eyes were the focal point of her beautiful face and like all babies, she relished in being cuddled and held.

Priya now had enough confidence that she nursed Malina directly from the breast even though she only produced about an ounce total per feeding. Monaavi was selfless and let Leeya nurse what she could give and as a result, Monaavi suffered from engorged painful breasts many a night. She would pump what she could but sometimes it wasn’t enough. She’d pump, bag, label and freeze what wasn’t used for future use. She felt it was a small price to pay for letting her sisters experience the joy of nursing a child.

I called Miko about one pm on Tuesday the following week and woke her up. After she was awake enough to realize who had called, she perked up and said she was happy to finally hear from me. Miko said she had a delivery that went on for hours and just got to bed about an hour ago. I asked her when her next days off were and she replied that she had worked ten days straight and had a four day respite starting on Thursday. I asked her when she’d like to come over and she replied that since she’d get off work on Wednesday at midnight she’d like to visit on Thursday morning if it wasn’t a problem.

Miko wasn’t expecting it but I asked her if she’d like to spend a couple of days with us or simply do day trips. She seemed to blush over the phone and meekly requested to stay for her entire long weekend and I agreed. We arranged for her to come by around eleven am and I gave her my address. She said that she’d get directions from the Internet because she didn’t understand some of the directions I gave her. I apologized for waking her and told her to go back to sleep and get her rest and she thanked me for thinking of her. We disconnected with polite goodbyes.

We decided to have her bunk with Leeya. Leeya wanted Miko to stay with her so Attiya moved in for the four days with her mother.

The next two days were nervous ones for all of us. It was kind of funny because all of us sat around the table trying to learn some basic Japanese phrases. Monaavi was like a busy bee conducting class, pumping, helping with the baby, nursing and attending to Priya.

Priya’s recovery was painful and slow: not like Monaavi’s who seemed to have been bred to bear children without too much difficulty. Her episiotomy was healing slowly and the eighteen hours of labor had really taken its toll on her. She took it with pride and kept her spirits up knowing she was now a mother and happier for it. She had a good friend from school keep her abreast of assignments and lectures so she wouldn’t fall behind and turn in her work for her.

The twins were well behaved (a big surprise) during this period after Malina came home and were very affectionate and gentle as they handled their little sister. They were now doing advanced first grade work at five and a half.

Tina was taking after Leeya and seemed to have a knack for kids, did her share to help out and she was now a full year ahead in her studies. Attiya chugged along academically and was on grade and doing well. Although Attiya was fairly quiet by nature, she was effectively very communicative when she had something to say and she said it plainly. Her skill on the piano was simply incredible!

Leeya, the little nursing mother, was now two and a half grades advanced and at that rate, would graduate high school when she was fifteen. She still tutored, nursed and helped care for the twins like an adult.

Mom, ever in control, ran the household, coordinated everyone’s tasks and assigned new ones. Dad just spent his time hanging out with Adib, fishing at the pond, puttering around the garage or spoiling his grandbabies and was often seen in the family room asleep with Malina asleep on his chest. He really treasured that child!

Malina was getting darker by the day and was now becoming a beautiful creamy light chocolate brown. She’d smile and coo just about every time you spoke to her and was a very happy and spoiled little princess (thanks to Poppy).

Me, I was just the toe sucking letch that went to work to pay the bills. Seriously though, I worked hard and we were slowly coming out of our financial slump and making good profits again. The more I did this job the more I admired and appreciated my Dad and all the years of hard work he’d put into this company.

Priya had given up her room to Adib and Salima while they were here and was doubled up with Monaavi and the baby. Salima spent her time with Priya when Monaavi held classes. When not with Priya, Salima spent a lot of time with Mom talking about life, family and the future. Adib: he and Dad were like two old fogey’s patting each other on the backs for their having sired such successful and fruitful children.

Adib and Salima were a little apprehensive about Miko but kept an open mind simply because they’d come to trust Priya’s, Monaavi’s and my instincts with regards to our family. They were more concerned about her non-Muslim faith and her Japanese culture more than anything else. Mom teased saying it was a good thing to gain some religious parity among the clan.

Thursday morning came and everyone was in a buzz waiting for our oriental guest to arrive. Just for the hell of it, at ten-thirty I looked at the security monitor and brought up the camera that covers the entry gate. I saw a car parked just inside the drive and noticed by the emblem on the hood that it was an Acura. I told everyone that I thought she was at the gate and we waited for the intercom to buzz.

We waited.

We waited some more and I checked the camera: the car was still there.

At precisely eleven o’ clock, the buzzer sounded. I answered, “Hello?”

The voice on the other end was Miko and she replied, “Excuse me I’m here to see Mr. Sean Michaels please.”

I buzzed the gate and watched on the monitor as it began to open and said over the speaker, “Come on in, Miko. Just follow the drive up to the house. I’ll meet you outside.”

“My gosh,” Mom observed. “She’s so polite and formal.”

“She’s really frightened, Mom,” Priya remarked. “Everyone, let’s try and make this as easy as possible for her, okay?”

“Oh hell, Priya,” Mom retorted, “no one can be as friendly as this bunch, don’t worry about it, she’ll be fine: just wait and see!”

I went outside just as Miko’s silver Acura Legend pulled up and stopped. She removed her sunglasses, opened the door and slowly exited the car. Every time we’d seen her, she wore baggy scrubs at the hospital. She now wore a pair of tight jeans and a flowered halter-top. As she exited the car, her long straight black hair blew across her face and she smiled demurely as she took a finger and pulled it from her face.

Miko stood about five feet tall and weighed roughly one hundred and five pounds or so. She had a very fair complexion for an Asian that was flawless, her skin being almost white. She had pert, smallish breasts about an “A” cup with a tight, cute and compact butt, a thin waist, small hips and slender longish looking legs for her height. She wore white, strapped sandaled pumps that showed small slender feet with tiny stubby toes painted a deep red to match her fingernails and lipstick.

She has smallish, shell-like ears similar to Monaavi’s with large expressive black almond-shaped eyes, a small mouth and normal sized lips. Her warm and inviting smile showed her small pearly white teeth and lit up her face.

Miko Ozawa was indeed a very pretty, petite, exotic bombshell that got my motor running!

“Well hi there!” I greeted. “Glad you could make it.”

‘Thank you for inviting me,” she replied respectfully.

“Let’s go inside and meet the gang,” I invited as I motioned to the door.

“Thank you,” she replied and started for the door.

She stopped at the back door and I reached around her, opened the door and with a wave of my hand invited her inside. Miko stepped into the breakfast area to see what probably looked like a throng of people. She stopped dead in her tracks at seeing so many people and as I closed the door behind me, everyone greeted her with “Konnichiwa!”

Miko blushed a nice shade of rosy pink, put her hands together between her legs, bowed gracefully and returned the greeting with “Domo arigato, konnichiwa.”

Priya and Monaavi moved to her, embraced her and led her to sit at the table. Miko was still a little overwhelmed by the crowd and was in a state of continual blush as the introductions were made with a slight head bow after each introduction. When all the introductions were finished Priya giggled, “A big family, huh?”

Miko nodded and replied shyly, “Yes, very big indeed.”

Mom tried to relieve Miko’s embarrassment saying, “Miko, why so shy? You were so much in control at the hospital.”

Miko blushed again and replied, “Because a baby’s life and its mother’s are at stake. Every time a mother delivers a child, I’m proud to have done my part to make that process a happy one. People’s lives depend on me to be the best nurse I can be and make their experience as pleasant as it can be under the circumstances. Here, I’m just a woman meeting new people. I’ve always been very shy and I don’t socialize much. You must forgive me for being so awkward.”

Priya reassured her by taking her hand and saying, “You can be yourself here, don’t worry.”

Miko’s eyes started to well up and Mom tried to soothe her with, “Miko, please don’t cry, everyone here has waited with anticipation of meeting you for several days. What’s wrong, Sweetie?”

Bowing her head as I handed her a napkin she replied, “I just feel embarrassed because everyone probably knows why I’m here. This is a very personal thing to me and it frightens me that everyone knows my personal history and secret feelings. I also don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

“Miko, look at me,” Mom said firmly.

Surprised by Mom’s forceful tone, she looked up wide-eyed with full attention on Mom. Mom said openly, “Yes, it’s true, everyone knows. Let’s get this out of the way so we can have a pleasant friendly stay. When you’re in the hospital working, and you’re not sure of the medical facts, it’s frightening, yes?”

Miko nodded.

Mom continued, “But when you have the facts and know where you stand, it makes things a whole lot easier, right?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Miko replied with a nod.

“Alright then,” Mom said. “Here’s where you stand. Priya’s parents, Adib and Salima, along with Sean’s parents, John and I, have reservations about what’s happening. Not with you personally, but the situation. But we trust our children’s judgment and we have not or will not prejudge you. We will keep an open mind, trusting that you are a person suited to fit in their family. We as parents have no say as to whether or not they accept you: that’s purely up to them.”

Taking a sip of water Mom continued, “What I will say is that you will be treated with the utmost respect and shown every courtesy and we’ll try to understand you, your feelings, your culture, your religious beliefs and, try to make your stay with us a fruitful one. Everyone sitting here knows how hard this must be for you and we admire your courage for following your heart. The people within the marriage you seek to become a part of have determined that they want to verify their feelings and that if you might become a part of this family are true. I can’t be any plainer than that. Just be yourself, trust your instincts and communicate your feelings to those that count. If this is meant to happen, it will; if it doesn’t, then it’s for the best. Either way, you’ll always be welcome in our home with open arms. Now… did I scare you to death or help alleviate your fears?”

“Domo,” Miko answered with a slight head bow, “I appreciate and thank you for your candor. I do feel less frightened knowing from what footing I begin my journey.”

“Well,” Dad injected, “knowing the little snot here (points to Leeya), your journey will be an interesting one!”

Everyone laughed as Leeya feigned a pout.

Mom remarked, “You’ll have to excuse us but we can sometimes seem rude or irreverent but it’s done in loving jest. Having said that, (turning to everyone) do we put her on a spit and grill her now or do you want to slow roast her?”

Miko blushed and asked politely, “May I speak?”

“You’d better,” Mom jokingly replied.

“I think,” Miko said, “the best thing to do now is for me to answer any questions you may have about me. That way, we can devote more time to getting to know each other.”

“Alright folks,” Mom quipped, “she’s chosen to be grilled now so ask away.”

Adib asked her what she knew about the Muslim faith and she replied that she believed that both Muslims and Christians believed in the same God: the God of Abraham; but she knew little of the workings of Islam, its customs, its rituals or doctrine except that we follow Mohammad and our God is called Allah.

Adib asked, “If you were to join this Muslim family, could you adhere to and obey certain observances and customs?”

“Yes I could,” Miko answered, “as long as I wasn’t asked to violate my faith.”

“Would you consider converting?” Salima asked.

“No one knows the future,” Miko responded, “but right now, no, I’m happy with my faith.”

Salima asked her if she’d wear a veil in public, follow a dress code, eat our diet and pray with us at morning and evening prayers.

Miko answered with, “I would wear a veil as required and eating a certain diet isn’t a problem. I will dress as a modest married woman should and I will pray when my family prays: they to Allah, me to Jesus Christ.”

“May I ask a question?” she added.

“By all means,” Salima replied.

“How come none of you are wearing veils now?” Miko asked.

“We are at home and with our families,” Leeya answered, “It’s kind of like wearing a nightgown at home: families are allowed this informality but not to the outside world.”

“Oh, I see now,” Miko replied. “Thank you.”

“Jesus!” Dad blurted out. “Why can’t the Muslims and Jews get along like this?”

“What about your Japanese heritage and language?” Mom asked. “Would you want your children to learn to speak Japanese, and what of the other children?”

“Hai,” Miko firmly answered with a nod. “Yes, I’m proud of my heritage, language and culture. I would be honored to teach anyone who wanted to learn Japanese history, culture and language and I would expect my children to learn as well, along with the languages of their other sibling’s tongue.”

”Well spoken!” Mom commended. “Speaking of Japanese, what does Miko mean?”

“It means beautiful fragrance.”

“That’s pretty,” Salima remarked.

“I don’t know about the rest of you,” Mom cut in, “but I think we’ve covered the general areas, the rest is for the kids to share between themselves, agreed?”

“Now,” Mom added as she stood, “who’s ready for a barbeque!”

When food was mentioned, everyone approved. Dad and Adib headed to the deck to prepare the grill and Miko asked, “May I help prepare something?”

“Why yes,” Mom smiled and replied as she gave her a squeeze around the shoulders, “God help you young girls: a wife that cooks!”

Mom quickly put Miko to work cutting the vegetables for the salad. We stood in wide-eyed amazement at our Asian guest. Holding a meat cleaver by the blade she began cutting everything so fast she looked like a human food processor!

Priya asked her, “How do you do that?”

Without breaking her rhythm, Miko turned to her and said, “Do what?”

“That!” (Pointing the chopping blade) Priya asked in amazement.

“Oh,” Miko replied, “Momma taught me as a child.”

The preparations finished, the steaks and lamb kabobs on the grill, Miko spent time playing “It” with the twins and Tina in the yard.

It didn’t take long for everyone to see she was great with kids and they took to her readily with open arms. When dinner was served, my ornery girls seated Miko next to me. Miko seemed flustered and was blushing if any contact was made between us during dinner.

Seeing Miko’s giddiness Priya joked, “Miko, he’s harmless, he’s just a toe sucking wimp. If he plays with your knee under the table, just slap him upside the head.”

Miko choked on her iced tea and had to cover her face to hide her nasal discharge. Monaavi joined in and quipped, “But then if you want him to play with your knee, just scoot a little closer.”

With everyone watching this verbal play, after wiping her face Miko scooted a fraction closer to me. She immediately covered her face with embarrassment and blurted out, “I can’t believe I just did that!”

It was good for a laugh as I exaggeratedly fondled her knee (a very nice small one at that!). Mom smiled wryly and quipped, “A Freudian slip I presume.”

“Naw,” Monaavi chimed in, “I teach science: it was definitely a chemical reaction.”

Miko blushed a bright pink and said, “God! I’m so embarrassed!”

“Don’t be,” Leeya added, “it’s all about them there tingles, right?”

“Tingles?” Miko asked.

“Yeah,” Leeya replied, “I’ll tell ya later.”

“There she goes, Miko,” Priya joked wagging her head, “she’s the resident sex Ed teacher here.”

Miko’s mouth dropped, her eyes bugged out looking at Leeya as Leeya giggled. Miko suddenly realized what tingles Leeya was talking about and gasped, “Oh-my-Gosh!”

Mom chuckled and said, “Sorry Miko but one of the disadvantages to having so many sister wives is that there’s nothing that’s out of bounds, better get used to it because they can get mighty feisty sometimes.”

Priya looked at Leeya and scowled, “Harlot.”

“Dirty wench,” Leeya exchanged.

“Do you all have nicknames?” Miko asked.

“Uh huh, Priya’s is the nastiest,” Leeya noted.

“But I got the most,” she added proudly.

“I’m afraid to ask,” Miko replied.

“Well,” Monaavi explained, “I’m the long nipple screamer, also currently the cow. Priya is the bald pussy nasty girl and dirty wench while Leeya has a few: naughty harlot, fuzzy little beaver, little minx, dirty little girl, horny snot - whatever comes to mind and Sean is the dirty ‘ole letch. If you marry the letch, give us a week, we’ll give you a good one.”

“Gosh,” Miko said, “I wonder what nickname you’d pick for me?”

“Slut’s still open,” Monaavi quipped.

Standing her ground Miko replied, “That’s a tough name to live up to.”

“Don’t worry,” Priya added, “the letch will teach you.”

Biting her bottom lip in mock anger, Miko stuck me in the arm with her fork: Ouch!

Miko looked at Leeya wide eyed and asked, “Are you that active?”

“Uh huh,” Leeya admitted slowly as she nodded yes.

Priya explained to Miko, “Look, Sweetie, we have no jealousy or secrets from each other. It takes an open mind and some humor to watch your husband close the bedroom door with someone other than you. We share each other’s experiences and there’s no shame with any of us. This lifestyle has its advantages and disadvantages. You gain a sisterhood but in doing so you give up privacy. We have no secrets between us and everything is open: that’s why we aren’t jealous of each other, got it?”

“Wait ‘til she has her first family night!” Leeya teased.

“W-w-what’s a family night?” Miko asked surprised.

“That’s when we have a big org-ee,” Leeya teased some more.

“That’s orgy, Leeya with a soft “G” not a hard one,” Monaavi corrected.

“Do you really have orgies?” Miko asked shocked.

“Naw,” Priya ribbed, “she’s just pullin’ your short hairs.”

“My God!” Miko blushingly exclaimed. “You guys are so open!”

“Alright kids,” Mom cut in, “Play nice. Miko, these scarlet women are just trying to shock you. Are you ready to leave yet?”

“I’ve never been to an org-ee before,” Miko rebutted with a blushing giggle.

“Lord help us!” Mom pined to the heavens, “she’ll fit right in.”

“Being very serious, Miko,” Priya explained, “sex is a very big part of our relationship: just like in any marriage but because there’s more than one wife, there’s just a lot more of it. Our love is so deep for each other it makes the sex fantastic. Here at home, we feel no shame in talking about it between ourselves: why should we? Sex is an expression of love and we don’t hide our feelings and we never will. To be frank, if you join us, there will be even more sex and with it comes more to talk about (giggle). If this is going to be a problem for you, speak up because it would be tragic to admit it later on.”

“With those I trust with my life,” Miko answered, “I could share anything.”

“Enough said,” I put in, finishing the discussion.

We’d talked for what seemed like an hour but was actually three. It was now five and everyone was stuffed and the everyday tasks of life interrupted us. Malina woke crying to be fed, all the kids had to be bathed and readied for bed and we still had the cleanup to do.

Miko offered to bathe the twins and wash their hair while Guernsey cow, chocolate cow and baby cow went for the group baby feeding. I helped my parents clean up the deck and dishes. Miko came down and looked sexy with the ends of her hair wet and her top was a little wet also.

Once the necessities were completed, everyone migrated to the family room. It was a nice cool, clear spring evening so my wives and I along with Miko decided to sit out on the deck and talk. We made another pitcher of iced tea and headed outside.

Once seated, Miko filled us in a little of her history. She went to high school in San Mateo, California, an upscale suburb of San Francisco. She obtained her nursing degree, specializing in neonatal and pediatric nursing from Children’s Hospital Medical School in San Francisco.

She began her career working in pediatric emergency at Children’s Hospital because at the time, there weren’t any slots open in the OB/GYN or the NICU. That’s where she met the intern she became involved with.

Monaavi asked her how she came to Maryland and she replied that she had another Japanese nursing friend who worked at GBMC. She came back here to visit after her breakup for a couple of weeks and took a tour of the hospital. She liked the environment and they had an opening in Labor and Delivery so she applied. She’s been here ever since.

Miko told us she occasionally works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) when they are short staffed such as holidays or vacations but works primarily in L & D. She told Monaavi that her NICU experience has honed her skills so that she’s able to accurately spot problems quickly like she had recognized with Cinny having the cord wrapped around her neck.

Leeya asked her if she’d seen a baby die and Miko teared up and nodded silently then said, “It’s a bitterly tragic and sad thing to experience. The first time it happened to me, it shook me so bad that I was off for a week, had some counseling and wondered if I could continue to work. The saddest thing is when a fetus is alive and well right up to delivery and complications arise and for some reason, the child either dies at childbirth or shortly thereafter. When this happens, we feel as hopeless as the grieving parents because even if there was nothing we could do, we feel we failed somehow and grieve inside over the loss also.”

“What don’t you like about your job?” Priya asked.

“The shift work,” Miko answered. “Once in a while, I have to work all three shifts in a week but usually, either evening shift or graveyard. I chose these shifts because I don’t really have a personal life and it gives the married girls a chance to be home with their families. If I were to get married, I’d try to work days as much as possible but there’d still be some shift work.”

“Miko?” Leeya said softly, “I need to ask you a question in front of everyone here and it’s very important to me.”

Miko looked down, smiled softly and looking back up at Leeya replied, “I know what you want to ask but ask your question and I will answer.”

“When I married Sean six years ago,” Leeya began, “I’ve dreamt of having a baby. It’s more than the little girl dream that all girls have because I’m really married and love Sean with every breath I take. Even though I can get pregnant now, I must wait until I finish school. Monaavi and now Priya have had a child with Sean, and Sean and my sisters have promised that my time will come next. If you join us, you can have a child now, but would you wait and let me, as second wife be next? I know that would mean that you would probably be past thirty, but this is important to me: could you wait until I’m pregnant to become pregnant too?”

“I’ve been asked this question by Sean,” Miko answered, “and being the fourth wife, and deferring to your status, I would honor the promises made to you and wait my turn. My hope has only been for one child, but if I were privileged to have more, it would be a blessing I never expected to receive. I will honor you and defer to you as my position calls for me to do and wait with anticipation for my time to come.”

“This is all new and strange for me,” Miko told us, “because you have a protocol that I’d need to learn. I never expected that I would ever be in a situation where I would share a spouse if I married but seeing the possibilities before me, and what I feel in my heart, I would gain more than I would give up. I’ll be perfectly honest because you have given me the chance to show I can be a part of all of you. You have made me feel that I’m worthy to be loved and deserve to be loved. If I can feel as loved as the three of you, my life would be filled to overflowing. I am humbled by your faith and trust in me. I will honor your faith and customs as I hope you’ll honor mine and I’ll work as diligently to contribute to this family as I do to help a child take its first breath.”

“That’s very touching, Miko,” Priya said. “If we didn’t believe that from the very beginning, you wouldn’t be here. By considering a new sister, our whole dynamic would be changed forever. Although this may sound prejudicial, one of the main reasons we feel you can add to our family is the fact that you’re Asian. Although many don’t believe Indians are Asians, we are. Our concept and approach to being women is different: many of us are more tolerant and less self-centered. This may be due to a difference in cultures where here in America all too many people: men and women are more concentrated on the “me” syndrome. We’re raised to be a supportive part of something bigger than ourselves: family, society and work more in that supportive role.”

Monaavi added, “I’ve learned since joining this family that we strive harder to be selfless in our decisions such as with our children. It makes no difference who the birth mother is; they are all our children as if we had borne them ourselves: no one is given less love or importance. Although there’s a hierarchy, all of us wives are equal with the same rights to have our needs met. No one’s needs take precedence over the other. How often do you see an eleven year-old with the same rights as a twenty-nine year old? Priya sees to that.”

“It seems,” Miko noted, “that little Leeya carries a lot of weight.”

“Don’t let her size and age fool you,” Priya revealed. “Mentally, emotionally and sexually, she’s a very smart woman.”

Looking at my watch I said, “It’s getting late, we should say evening prayers.”

We cleaned up the glasses and such, went inside and upstairs to pray. When we entered the bedroom and Miko saw the giant bed, she blushed with hand-covered mouth. Seeing this, Priya quipped, “That’s where the org-ees take place. If you join us, that big bed will get a little more crowded.”

Miko just blushed and giggled.

Miko watched intently as we laid out our prayer rugs and took our places. She knelt next to Leeya and started to pray with folded hands and head bowed as we began. As we bowed and prayed, Miko remained kneeling erect with eyes closed and hands folded praying silently.

When we’d finished and readied for bed, Leeya took Miko downstairs with her. Monaavi went to Priya’s room with Malina and Priya and I remained in my room.

After undressing and getting into bed, Priya and I discussed the day’s events. I had some concerns about the way Miko’s first day went and said to Priya, “We need to discuss something.”