Makarovia! Yes, I Know Where That is! Sophomore Year - 80. Losing Innocence

You've heard it before.  I'm saying again.  We are normal!  I get preachy again.  My father was a preacher, it's in the family.   If I can get one person to get this, I'll have done what I hoped to.   We are normal.  Save yourself from the Hell I lived in.  Find love and find your life.   Don't let it just pass by.  You know what I'm saying, Daniel.   You knew my parents.   I miss you, baby.  
I need to thank Mark in Oakland.  You were the friend I talked with..   Thank you, buddy!  

Losing Innocence

Olek had a few things to do with some people, so he went to take care of that. Mario told us he'd call his sister and a date would be agreed on. Mario and Mom were now speaking more privately. Helga walked off with my grandmother. All promised to meet before dinner.

Yuri was getting his emotions in check and looked a little embarrassed as Boris was comforting him less. I often teased people and I did often with Yuri and Boris. You know how I feel about emotions. I touched his shoulder.

“Please tell me,” I said softly to him, “you aren't ashamed to show emotion.”

Yuri looked more embarrassed. “Well...”

“Yuri!” I said kindly. “You felt something deep enough to bring tears. The toughest men can do that. There's nothing wrong with it.”

“Maybe,” Yuri chuckled, “but I'm glad my men weren't here.”

Peter chuckled, “You're safe. None of them were here.”

I nodded, "Nothing but the family here, you're tough man persona is safe for another day."

“Are you okay?” Boris asked and Yuri nodded. Boris kissed Yuri quickly and stood up. “Good, I want to check out what they're preparing for dinner. Henri has all of us spoiled.”

We watched Boris do a quick trot toward the kitchen.

Peter grinned, “At least our family doesn't change much.” “Somethings are consistent."

I agreed. "I feel secure."

We made sure Yuri was really alright. It was a few hours before dinner and it wasn't fair, I know, but our luggage was brought up to us. We had been gone for two weeks. Peter nor I traveled with excess luggage. Almost everything had been washed once since we got on the Duchess. Who needs more than a week of clothes? We both had some dressier clothes just in case but didn't wear them. They were hung up for us and you know I had issues with that help in the beginning. If someone else put them away, how would I know where anything was?

Clothes that we'd worn were being laundered and put away. I got over it with Boris, but I didn't know who was doing it now. It was like fighting the tide! So, I stopped resisting.

For the first time in two weeks, Peter and I didn't have to do anything or have to be anywhere.

“Let's find an Aussie Footy game on!” Peter announced as he led me upstairs.

We knew the networks and we had access to them, so why not? I wasn't worried about having created a monster fan. It was new for Peter and therefore more enticing.

The rooms we used looked just like before. Neat and clean, but untouched. It was vacuumed and dusted, but that's all.

This could be dangerous, too. If I let it be. I would make sure to thank those I saw and look for those who had. I didn't want to get so used to it, it was just expected. I thanked Boris and Yuri all the time. I was confident the royals not raised in that life did. I hoped. I watched Peter come in, pick up the remote, turn the television on and threw himself across the couch in one move.

I grinned at what I saw and chuckled, “I guess the honeymoon is over.”

Peter looked up shocked, “You have to be joking.” He rose up and came to me. “Our honeymoon is not over.” He pulled me closer. “And will never be.” He kissed me gently. “We love each other.”

“Yes,” I nodded. “We do. This is what I wanted all along.”

“What?”

I waved between us, “To be so comfortable with someone. What you just did was proof of that.”

“We have that.”

We did finally find a game to watch eventually.

It was during a bathroom break for Peter I heard, “Oh, my God!!”

Not knowing what was wrong, I raced into the bathroom. We never even shut the door to simply piss. I saw Peter looking at the readout of our bathroom scale. I breathed a little easier as I smiled.

“I gained almost six and a half kilograms!!” Peter said horrified pointing at the scale.

Why did we have to be different in the United States? I did a fast conversion. “Fourteen pounds.” I nodded and waved him back. “It's my turn.” I stepped on the scale and frowned at what I saw.

“You only gained five point four kilograms,” Peter complained.

I smirked at him, “Well, it may only be twelve pounds, but it might please you to remember; you're four to five inches taller than I am. Meaning, I gained more than you did." I stepped off the scale.

Peter smiled walking with me back to the sofa, “We can skip a meal or two.”

I shook my head, “That isn't a good diet plan and often backfires. We'll just increase our activity.” I grinned. "I'm with Cosmo, I want food."

We came down to the room we gathered in before dinner. There was no rush to be there at a particular minute as Henri insisted on.

As the family gathered, Olek smiled. “I know you two will want details about tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow will be a marriage,” Helga began, “Not a wedding.”

Olek nodded, “To give a legal base for what will come afterward.” He took her hand. “We fully intend to follow the customs and traditions of Makarovia,” he smiled, “with a slight twist. There will be a proposal and the year to honor promises. At the beginning of that year, Helga will be engaged to all Makarovians.”

“But she will already be your wife,” Peter said to be sure he understood.

“Yes,” Olek nodded, “My wife, but not Queen.” He held a finger up to prevent anything from being said. “She will be Queen, but not tomorrow. The people need to hear the proposal and a year later voted in as their Queen.”

“The people will have the option to keep me and make me Queen or reject me and I will just be Olek's wife.” Helga agreed and touched him mid-section. “Our child will be born to parents who are married to each other.”

Olek smiled, “We still need witnesses to sign the license.” He looked at Peter and me, “I want you two to be witnesses,” he turned to Mom, “And you and Mario.”

“Boy!” I marveled, “This is an odd family. We're all going to be on each other’s marriage licenses!”

“The announcement about what's being done will go out Friday,” Olek said.

“Olek insists on being totally honest and forthcoming,” Helga added.

That did make sense. Was it necessary? No. There were many children born to parents that weren't married. There were children born to members of royal families that were born outside of marriage. There were a few current royals with children by people they weren't married to, but I didn't know of a woman, who was pregnant with a king's child where it would be publicly and honestly admitted to the world. Makarovians should be fine and the rest of the world...who cared? It showed that Makarovia and King Olek were honest.

The dinner wasn't seafood this time. It was good. Makarovia was a melting pot and there were influences from several countries. The chicken dish that night was a Slovakian by way of Romania and Hungary. The Slovak part savory, the Romanian part added the tomatoes and the Hungarian part made it tangy.

Helga looked very happy, but I wondered if she had a family. She didn't really talk about anyone that was family. I knew she had an ex-husband but was her father or mother still in the picture? Siblings? And how did you ask questions like that? Unlike Peter, I didn't dare ask a question that personal. Olek would know if anyone would. It was another thing that had changed. It wasn't a bad change, but Olek and Peter were almost too honest with each other. If being too honest is possible. Helga wasn't offended or upset when Olek had shared some things more personal with Peter. She voiced it in surprise a while back at the beginning of their relationship. Helga must have said not to talk about it or there was nothing to talk about.

One of the reasons the Ivanovs and I got along so well was the honesty. There weren't many secrets if any. No hidden agendas.

I often heard Olek and Mom say, “most of Makarovia” when talking about the people supporting their King and Kingdom.

“You usually preface...” I stopped and smiled. I wasn't a know-it-all. My mother, grandpa, and grandma never talked down to me. We were all speaking English to keep Mario in the conversation. Mario's English was lacking only on a few things, like my Makarovian. I think English was the stronger of the languages he spoke other than Italian, “you often begin statements when explaining support with a qualifying word, such as most or a majority.” I said tentatively. “Is there opposition in Makarovia?”

Olek frowned a little, but nodded, “Of course.” Then he smiled patiently. “They are Human Beings. Not everyone is going to agree on everything."

Mom used her napkin and looked up, “If I may, being cut off from the world helped with that.” She thought before she went on. “As bad as the Soviets were with their economy or with power, there were some that saw the Soviets as a lifeline. It was better that what we were left with...”

“Which was nothing,” Olek grumbled. He looked at Mom knowing he interrupted. “Sorry.”

Mom just smiled, “Which was nothing.”

My mind latched on a lesson learned much earlier, but not by my grandparents or parents. I nodded, “The Israelites.” Again, I got unsure stares. It could be the language, so I said it in Makarovian. “Izrayilʹtyany? I think that's how to pronounce it here.” No lights came on in their eyes. “The Old Testament? The Exodus?” Still nothing. No, they weren't Bible-thumping religious zealots, but I couldn't imagine they didn't know the story or at least saw the movie The Ten Commandments. "They were slaves in Egypt four or five thousand years ago. Freed by Moses and led into the desert.” I saw Grandma nod. She got what I was saying. “It famous! They made a movie about it with Charlton Heston as Moses! The parting of the Red Sea?” I pressed on. “They were stranded in the desert with no food or water and they said it was better if they remained slaves rather than to die of hunger and thirst in the desert. The Egyptians were their lifeline like the Soviets were to Makarovia.” I saw the nods of comprehension. Turning to Peter I asked. “You went to Sunday School, didn't you?”

Peter chuckled and shook his head, “I must have missed a few Sundays. I didn’t make the connection until you explained it.”

Mom nodded with a growing smile, “The hard life and isolation kept any voice of opposition quiet. With as many refugees in hiding or just laying low, the opposition stayed hidden. Most all of Makarovia supports what we've done and will do. They are quite vocal.”

Olek nodded, “Most discussion against us is met with disapproval by the majority.”

“But there was disapproval," I said to be sure. “If only the immorality issue?”

Mom shook her head, “Not really,” she stated, “You saw the crowds in the streets and many supporters that were rallying about you.”

"They know the family's stance about that," Olek said. "Having almost half of the population like you, in a same-gender marriage; they know and loved many that are." He shrugged, "They can be reasoned with."

“When we used the same reasons to them as we did with President and Vice-President,” Mom said. “It is far too common not to be completely natural.” She looked at Olek and Helga. “The same can be said about you two. The pregnancy is ahead of schedule but definitely wanted. It isn't a mistake.”

“I do not know of many couples that don't do what you have,” Grandma said. “Some, I'm sure did wait until the wedding night, but most don't. Sex is what we're made to do.”

I nodded, “Only the fear of pregnancy and adding beliefs is the cause delays and the impatience of waiting.”

“Is there opposition?” Olek repeated, “There may be hundred or more that don't like it. Most of the opposition did the opposite of what a lot of people did. They left.” He smiled, “That's why I want to be honest. Telling the people the truth will tell people that we're Human and make...” he thought, "errors in judgment, but we face the consequences."

I nodded, “I agree.”

Olek grinned and almost quoted, “If anyone is without sin be the one to throw the stone.” He nodded at me. “I paid attention in Sunday School.” He said proudly. Quoting anything in a language you didn't learn it in was not always easy.

I grinned back, “Yes, you did.”

Mom smiled, “The truth is...” she looked a little guilty, “I insisted the teachers in the schools teach what can be proven. It has to be backed by evidence. Not what's believed based in faith. If it's taught in the classroom, there must be evidence.”

I was so stunned by this, I dropped my fork. I know my mouth dropped open.

“There is evidence that supports evolution and the origin of species...” Mom went on quickly. She worried that I was offended.

“Ha!” I said triumphantly pointing at her, “I absolutely agree!!”

Peter grimaced, “Uh, oh. Here he goes again.”

I turned and looked at Peter, “Well, it pisses me off!” I waved my hands I futility. "I am supposed to accept God created the world, fine. Leave it there. Don't tell me it was in six days and tell me how when the evidence says otherwise!" I took only a short breath, “and it should piss you off! There is a timeline given. Six days.” I shook my head, “And don't feed me that how long was a day crap. It wasn’t a parable either. The sun rises, sets, and then rises again. That is one day. And what was Adam? Cro-Magnon? Homo-erectus? But that means he had parents and grandparents! Hell, those brainiacs debated whether he had a belly button! Who cares?””

They were looking at me uncertainly. Peter took my hand, “He'll be okay.” He assured them mockingly quiet.

“And they have the nerve to say we're going to Hell?” I fumed. “We have evidence in bones and even DNA! That doesn't lie!”

Mario looked cautiously, “So, you don't believe in God?”

“Oh, no! I absolutely do!" I said urgently, “I've looked at the vast Universe by telescopes. I've looked closely at life, close up and in as much detail as possible by microscopes. The complexity is so far beyond my comprehension. Mutation and random selection can't explain it all." I shrugged, “I can't understand how anyone can see these marvels and not believe in the miraculous. I just don't know what He is." I shook my head, “We ask questions.” I smiled. “A friend of mine and I spoke and discussed the other creatures with intelligence in the world. Other primates can communicate by signs, dolphins, and whales, but we do the one thing none of them do. We ask questions.”

There were smiles now at the table.

"Has any of the others asked questions such as Who am I? Looked at the sun and asked, What is that thing?” I shrugged, “We devoted millennia to answer that question and came up with gods and myths to explain it. We want to know. If some of the groups want to pull the morality card," I shook my head, "What did God say about it? The commandments don't include same-sex relationships. There are many commandments they break daily and don't fear Hell. Why ours? Show me, don't just tell me!” I was gaining momentum and speaking a lot faster.

Olek was smiling and leaned toward Peter and asked in a loud whisper, “Is he always this passionate?”

“Yes.” Peter simply said and nodded.

I wasn't finished, “The Biblical writings are an excellent record of history,” I said, “but the old man with the flowing white beard is as fictional as Greek and Roman myths. There is no Kool-aid and cookie god!” I smiled and pointed up. “I tell Him all the time. I don't know what you are. Tell me. I want to know. The more answers I get, the more questions there are. Something or someone started all this and is holding a pattern.” I sat back. "Evidence tells us we shouldn't be here. Random chance and events took away other longer-lived species..."

Peter took my hand, “You're a preechin' to the choir, honey.”

Grandma burst out laughing. She knew.

Okay, if I could do what Peter did without thinking about it, my eyebrow would be in my hairline. His imitation of a Southern drawl was damned good. The others at the table didn't get it.

“That means,” Peter began to explain, “like the choir is always behind preachers, we are Eric's choir and behind him...in support.”

Again, there were the nods and "oh's” as they understood.

“I'm sorry,” I chuckled, “Once I get started it's hard to stop. It's like rolling downhill, I lose some control.”

Mom was now laughing as others understood, “That's quite alright. I did insist any statement taught as fact have backing in evidence.”

“And the Eastern Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches?” I asked.

Olek nodded, "When confronted and asked where God says anything, they simply point to the Commandment about adultery.” He shrugged, “Let them marry and that will solve the problem.” He shook his head, “They back off. Science helps with that. We show them evidence."

“I only know a few couples who obeyed that commandment,” Grandma said.

I nodded, "And don't tell me what the book of Leviticus says. Or what the Apostle Paul wrote to Rome or Corinth. He was biased. Not just about us, but to women!”

Peter touched me again and did the eye search again, "There has to be somewhere you keep all this."

I swatted him off lightly, “Stop it. It's just there.” I pointed at Grandma, “Grandpa was the one who started this."

Grandma nodded, “He did.” She laughed lightly. “Eric was born curious. Almost as soon as Eric could talk he began asking why.”

“I wanted to know!” I said not offended.

“His grandfather, God bless him,” She smiled. “Eric would follow Theodore everywhere asking why again and again, and his grandfather wasn't bothered a bit. He answered all of Eric's questions.”

I leaned in toward Peter, “He was my first browser before I knew about the internet.”

Mom smiled, "It sounds a lot like another little boy I knew." You know she was looking at Peter.

Yuri cleared his throat. He was free to talk, but... “The small amount of Makarovians may have more time. With the new power generators going they have enough power.” He looked at Olek and Helga, “They should have no problem backing your marriage. There were a few unplanned pregnancies in the past. Human morals didn't change. In a couple of cases, it even happened to some who were then trapped together during the snow and ice for three weeks."

Boris chuckled and shrugged, “If you're stuck like that, make sure you have options about what to do.”

Yuri smiled but continued what he wanted to say, "I've seen some cargo manifests of items imported. There are quite a few televisions and a few personal computers and modems. It won't be long before they're surfing the web and channels like professionals.”

Olek nodded, “I hope so.”

“Yes,” Yuri agreed. “But there are dangers on the Internet they will not be ready for.”

“We can't restrict what comes in,” Peter said. “There can't be any censorship.”

Yuri was again nodding, "I hate using this as an example," Yuri sighed, "but it's like they are all twelve or thirteen-year boys, going through puberty and given unlimited access and a full bottle of lubrication and uninterrupted porn!”

“That could be a phase,” Mom said hopefully. “They outgrow it.”

Yuri frowned, “Yes, but I'm not just talking about porn,” he struggled to explain. “There are groups out there that Makarovia won't be ready for; religious groups, racial supremacy groups from Neo-Nazis to Skinheads. Scam artists promising wealth to them if they send personal information and bank account access. Dating sites and scammers that prey on people there...”

“That happens in the United States and other free countries,” I said.

“Yes,” Yuri agreed, “but we're talking about millions of people here that are ripe for the picking.”

“He's right,” I said sadly. “A lot of this country's charm is the innocence and naivety.” I shrugged, “They can't understand.” I looked up at Olek. “How many computers are out now in Makarovia?”

Olek pondered a moment, “I can look on our server and get the number. There were a few hundred, not counting any businesses that use them. Most are in Stryia and Skoal.”

“We will offer them instruction to the World Wide Network,” I suggested. "Show them how to use a personal computer and how to access things on the internet and warn them of the dangers."

Olek frowned and offered, “I could make it a requirement.”

I gave a shrug, a nod and a skeptical and long, “Weeeell,” I shook my head. “The people here aren't stupid. Far from it, but they need to be warned. If they fall into a scam they don't know about...they do it because they don't know.” I raised that finger again, “but ignorance goes away with knowledge. We will offer that knowledge.”

Olek nodded, “We at least have a plan.”