Welcome to my world by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

Our wealth grows

There is monetary wealth and there is the true wealth, family. Contrary to the advice we gave our young families, it seems that only Chris’s family is following that. We know they are enjoying themselves but most of his wives are underage and Marsha is a regular coming for the potions.

That is more than we can say for the others.. Each of the other families have one wife that is pregnant. At least they are keeping it to one at a time. The others, of age are also taking the potion.

I have found that even Bridget is pregnant. Another thing, all the men did not know that the ones that are pregnant stopped taking the potion. They have learned that the wife’s counsel is the most secretive and scary thing on this world.

Luckly, my wives started it and the daughters have continued the rule. No combat for pregnant women. Especially now that my son, junior has been born. He will be treated the same as what will be his nephews and nieces. All will be raised as we raised our children, one family. It turned out really well for my daughters.

Now each day, one family goes out hunting. That is also to see just what is happening on our land. Now we will no longer tolerate poachers. Today it is Charle’s family. Even the young ones go out. It is a good learning time.

There is one problem today, they have run into an intruder but it is not what you would expect. These ones are flying the white flag. It is a very rag tag party of four. All female. They explain that they lost their husband and were thrown out of their home.

“We had heard that Samuel has a very large land area. We were wandering because we do not know where the home is. We came to ask if we could be allowed to have a small hut somewhere here and just trap what we need.”

They look real but they do need to be brought in front of Samuel. We have some fresh kill so they are led back to the home.

I look at them and they show that they have not been eating like they should. They are not on starvation rations but they also have not had an abundance for a while. Their clothes are dirty and torn.

“First, my wives and daughter first wives, take these women into the bath. You four will pardon the intrusion but we need to see if you are really telling the truth. Time alone, wandering, you should have a certain amount of, shall we say, wear and tear. Only the wives will be able to assess. We will have new clothing for each. You will have a meal with us and then we will talk.

My ladies, do not hold back. Ask them all the questions you need to ask. We need to find out if they are real or a decoy.”

They are taken to the bath, women’s side of course. That shock spell is no longer active. If these are real, it may need to be turned on again.

Now clean, good clothes and fed, we assemble. Everyone is seated, a family tradition. Everyone is on an equal footing at these types of meetings. Now that all are considered married. The safety issues are for the heads to preside. I do not really feel that this is a safety issue. Either way we decide, these four will not be a threat.

Just my gut feeling.

We are introduced to them by Atasha. By age, there is Gretta 24, Charlett 22, Marnie 22 and Dedra 21.

I now ask for the woman’s report but first I tell those four, “The reason we hold these meetings and in daily life is that everything said in these meetings is public. That includes my instruction to my women. What they asked, what your responded and including their observation of your condition is. All will voice their concerns. We will ask you to make your appeal formally then we will give you are answer. If it is that you stay, the wives then will render their decision as to your status. Know this, if it is decided that you can stay, it will not be in some hut. You will be within this compound. Can you live with this?”

The four say yes.

Their body conditions were given. They truly appear to have been exiled. “They have the typical appearance of being on their own for a while. Not made up to look it. The wives feel that there is no apparent deceit.

“Then who of you four will speak?”

Gretta says that she will. “We have been alone for almost two months. Our husband was killed during a hunt but we suspect that it is not the truth. He was a wealthy man but kind. He refused to give assistance to another family because they were a greedy lot. After that he was killed. It was ruled as an accident but all we owned was taken by the village for reparations of some trumped up offence he did. That is why we were thrown out. Or should I say driven out.

We ask nothing but to finally be able to settle somewhere. We do not ask for a hand out. A small piece of land that we can farm. A portion of that crop for rent. We ask for the permission to be able to hunt for our meat.”

She sits back down.

“I grant your petition with a modification. We will have you stay here in the mansion. We have plenty of room. You will help with all the chores. Now Atasha, what do the wives have to add about conditions?”

“After we are comfortable with you, you will be assimilated into our families. The rule here is that you each will be youngest sisters to the current wives even though you are definitely older. Can you live with that? Each of you must answer.”

They all say that being in the compound is more than they could have hoped for. Being broken up is to be expected. They feel lucky to have been invited because most times, widowed wives are at best tolerated but never to be accepted into another marriage.

Aside from the meeting, my wives say that they will restrict them to the four oldest men’s families but that will be at a wives meeting. Right now, the four are shown where their rooms are. All are grateful to even have a roof over their heads again let alone something other than the ground to sleep on. It was the first time, since they were expelled from that village that they have had a bed to sleep on.

Each have their own room again. This time they know that they will be watched. They do not mind. That is exactly what they would have done if the shoe was on the other foot. They each know that it is an honor to be even considered to enter his clan.

For the first time in quite a while they have a night of nice dreams.

In the morning, the wives are greeted to the smell of breakfast. Each of the new ones are either cooking or cleaning. The four are hard at work. This is the morning of their first day. They need to do this to show their gratitude.

Samuel’s wives are impressed but they will not discourage them just now. Samuel knows and he eats what they cooked. They cooked what their husband ate, not the scrambled with ham. He ate the three over easy with toast.

Later I complemented them but Atasha told them that each of the wives had their tasks and breakfast was hers. She also did thank them for their effort. She later in the morning took them around and assigned them each separate chores. They were satisfied that they were not being seen as freeloaders.

Soon they were fitting in so much so that they now were also being asked to help the expecting wives of the daughters. This is the start of assimilation into the sub families. Each accepted the roll as the youngest.

Again, they knew that this would be the ultimate disposition. All that counts is that they will survive. Even though they will be in different houses, they still will be sisters to each other.

Now the hunts are back to full strength. The four help out the other three families that do not have new.