Mycah’s family had never washed anything and that was obvious. The point was not that they did every piece of their clothing, just that they started to learn. Free men knew how to care for themselves and did so independently. This was just one of many things we had to teach them.
Rose’s instruction on the use of the camp’s washboards were still fresh in my mind. I taught the boys the way I had learned and they did a fair job on the item or two they cleaned. We did most of the work, but one or two of the young ones started to get the hang of it. I encouraged and congratted them each time they did it right. The boys liked the feedback and tried very hard.
“You do well instructing, Ciara,” Hodlen said appreciatively.
I blushed at thepliment.
“On Earth, Jonathan would have been mine to care for and teach. Women do most of the child care where I am from,” I said simply. “I enjoy being part of his life in every way.”
I saw a faint smile start on Hodlen’s face. “Do you know letters and numbers?” he asked. “Do you know how to use a sword, in addition to, the gun?”
It was hard not to puff with a little pride. I’d made a point to learn about the things he talked about. I also knew a great deal about the and its inhabitants. Men from the camp had taught me and I’d been reading. Frankly, I felt quite well versed.
“The ving women, as well as Damien and his Brothers, taught me to read and write,” I told the men, “and I have enjoyed having this skill. I read about the world around us and even wrote some children’s stories. My friends and I wrote about things we thought the children should know.”
“And swords?” Hodlen’s Brother, Kee, asked again. “You obviously know the guns, you handle them with ease, but do you know swords?”
I shifted my weight andughed a little. “Damien and his Brothers were Warriors and they taught me the fundamentals of sword work. Men from the camps have taught me to fight. I am hardly in any condition to show you right now, but I can easily use a sword.”
“And you like children,” Tos said sounding excited. “You enjoy teaching them.”
I smiled and answered affirmatively. Being with the little family made me very happy.
“So you could Keep Mycah’s family in the day,” Hodlen said with authority. “We do not need to use unrted Child Keepers.”This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.
I was startled and looked up at the men. Doing what he said would be a dream for me, but I wasn’t sure it was possible. Obviously, I’d gone to school on Earth, but I had not trained to teach. I didn’t know exactly how the children were organized here and I didn’t want our boys to have an education too far from the norm.
“The young ones are all kept together in the day,” Damien said gently, pausing in his work. “The various men that care for them work as a team based on age, although each is responsible for only a few families. You learn very quickly, Ciara, and I know you want to do this.”
Bane snorted and looked around before he spoke, “You can’t tell us you wish to continue to work as a shopkeeper.”
Some of the old prejudices were still there and Kein shook his head as he scolded Bane. Shopkeepers were necessary. Bane needed to amend his way of thinking.
“He’s right, though,” Christof said quietly. “You don’t enjoy the jobs here the way you enjoyed writing for the children or spending time with the young…”
“Rose could help me,” I contemted. “We could work as a team. She knows more about teaching than I do. I’m sure she’d be willing.”
It was decided, as far as the family was concerned. I was going to teach our young. The education of Mycah’s family would be my responsibility. Everyone was sure the Administrators would approve this change in jobs. It was the appropriate thing to do.
After our lesson on cleaning, we hung up the wet garments and stripped out of our clothing. Evan and Rynal took the protective wraps off of Jonathan and Aiden. We all examined the marks and I was shocked. Everything was almost entirely healed. The boys looked as good as new. Tos assured us the Healers would take the stitches outter today. The skin was holding together just fine.
Mycah’s family was a little hesitant to get in the water after we finished examining them. Our attention to their wounds had reminded them of the excitement the day before. The aliens had been frightening and too much for the young family to handle. We coaxed them and pointed the guards in the bathing pool out to them, but they wouldn’t get in until Damien’s family patrolled the pool.
“They trust family,” Hodlen said watching my men make their sweep. “Your family has done a good job with them. This is how they should feel. We had thought it would take much longer to earn their trust.”
“Evan and I loved Jonathan with our entire being when he was born,” I told the man stoically. “We would have done anything to keep him. It nearly broke us when he was taken. I cannot imagine giving up as many male offspring to thepounds as you have.”
Hodlen was thoughtful for a moment before he spoke.
“Our mountain home was a dangerous ce,” he said looking out across the pool. “My Brothers and I knew that our young would grow strong in thepounds. The Great Harmonious Spirit was at work and we would not be separated forever. We never doubted that they would join us eventually. It is a pleasure to finally be able to care for at least one family as we should, though.”
I nodded as Damien and his Brothers bounded out of the water in front of us. They were dripping wet and grinning broadly with their teeth down. They looked ferocious, but I knew the visual was to reinforce to the children we could protect them.
“No aliens,” Evan said, shaking the water out of his hair, “just lots of ces to swim.”
“We bathe together and then learn to swim together,” Damienmanded, eyeing Aiden and Jonathan. “You two need to help your Brothers learn to swim. No one goes off on their own today.”
Hodlen and his Brothers were impressed Aiden could swim. After our bath, the men all practiced swimming some. The boys progressed very quickly, probably thanks to the Aiden and Jonathan’s influence.