Quiverfull
Feb. 27th, 2017 06:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
angelsloveAlexia sits next to Thomas, wondering if the rule is the same with every dinner. She folds her hands in her lap and smiles nervously as all the names of her new family are given to her. "I'll do my best to remember them," she says, feeling a little less nervous. She decides not to comment on the change of name. She always thought Alexia was pretty.
Her fingers fold loosely around Thomas' as the prayer starts. She keeps her head down, but her eyes are open, listening intently to his words. They seem committed to the element of family and togetherness, a nice feeling. When the prayer ends she doesn't speak but raises her head with the others.
As soon as Thomas starts in on the food, the others follow. There's a system, with the family taking one tray and passing it along to the next. Alexia does her best to keep up, serving herself just a little to eat, her stomach still to knotted to consider a full meal. Conversation is in full swing, with talk of chores and of daily life, all eyes turning back to her to ensure her that there will be help getting her into the schedule. She engages in the conversation from time to time, but for the most part is quiet in listening and observing. Everyone seems so happy, it's nice.
When dinner is done, everyone immediately sets to work on cleaning up save for Janet, who leaves after a parting kiss to her husband in order to put the youngest to bed. Alexia starts to stand, "How can I help?" she asks Thomas.
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He smiled at her gently. "New guests don't help on their first night. You will be added to the chore chart in the kitchen tomorrow, so when you come down for breakfast, you can check it. Everyone helps out during the day. So each section will be divided into different parts of the day. For now, you can come with me to the Study, we can talk about what the rules are and what I expect of my daughters."
He takes her hand and walks her into the study. He has her sit down in a chair and sits down across from her. He presses his fingers together and smiles. "I don't want you to be afraid. You are an exceptional young woman. But young women need to be protected. So for your protection, you need to defer to me for anything. I will give you permission if you want to go out, read a certain book, watch a certain movie or TV show. Play a certain game. I want you to be safe and be a good influence on the little girls. They are going to look up to you."
He leans back in his chair. "And of course there will be no smoking, no drinking and no drugs. And you will be homeschooled like the rest of the kids. Its just easier to keep everyone all together. Any questions? If this upsets you or you have worries, let me know. I am willing to talk and listen.
Her fingers fold loosely around Thomas' as the prayer starts. She keeps her head down, but her eyes are open, listening intently to his words. They seem committed to the element of family and togetherness, a nice feeling. When the prayer ends she doesn't speak but raises her head with the others.
As soon as Thomas starts in on the food, the others follow. There's a system, with the family taking one tray and passing it along to the next. Alexia does her best to keep up, serving herself just a little to eat, her stomach still to knotted to consider a full meal. Conversation is in full swing, with talk of chores and of daily life, all eyes turning back to her to ensure her that there will be help getting her into the schedule. She engages in the conversation from time to time, but for the most part is quiet in listening and observing. Everyone seems so happy, it's nice.
When dinner is done, everyone immediately sets to work on cleaning up save for Janet, who leaves after a parting kiss to her husband in order to put the youngest to bed. Alexia starts to stand, "How can I help?" she asks Thomas.
_____________________________________________________________________________
He smiled at her gently. "New guests don't help on their first night. You will be added to the chore chart in the kitchen tomorrow, so when you come down for breakfast, you can check it. Everyone helps out during the day. So each section will be divided into different parts of the day. For now, you can come with me to the Study, we can talk about what the rules are and what I expect of my daughters."
He takes her hand and walks her into the study. He has her sit down in a chair and sits down across from her. He presses his fingers together and smiles. "I don't want you to be afraid. You are an exceptional young woman. But young women need to be protected. So for your protection, you need to defer to me for anything. I will give you permission if you want to go out, read a certain book, watch a certain movie or TV show. Play a certain game. I want you to be safe and be a good influence on the little girls. They are going to look up to you."
He leans back in his chair. "And of course there will be no smoking, no drinking and no drugs. And you will be homeschooled like the rest of the kids. Its just easier to keep everyone all together. Any questions? If this upsets you or you have worries, let me know. I am willing to talk and listen.
no subject
Date: 2017-03-02 01:33 am (UTC)She follows, her hand loosely wrapped around his and listens, trying her best not to make any sort of reaction to the strange list of rules he was presenting. There were guidelines at the foster home, but nothing that required permissions like that.
"No, I understand," she said, turning her eyes down. For a moments he considered silence, afraid she would ruin what little standing she already had. Instead, she decided to ask about his family to get an answer she wanted. "Jessica mentioned that you would find a husband for her...how will you do that when she's homeschooled? Is there a community like yo-like us?"
no subject
Date: 2017-03-04 04:10 pm (UTC)He leans back in his chair and taps his fingers together, staring into her blue eyes. "Alexia, we are a very simple family. Long ago we decided that instead of trying to deal with the craziness of the world, we would just simplify it. And in doing that, we found peace. Isn't that what you want? Some peace? Some calmness in your life when its been nothing but upheaval? Don't you want to take the easy road? Instead of having to fight for everything? Think about it for awhile why don't you?"
He stands and kisses the top of her head. "For now go to sleep, dream good dreams."
no subject
Date: 2017-03-06 01:27 am (UTC)Her eyes fell as she listened to him. His words resonated deep within her. She had never had a true family to call her own, had been struggling for so long to just find some happiness. If she could have it here, would it be so wrong?
He kissed her head and she offered a small smile. In one night she was treated more like family here than anywhere else. "Thank you," she said softly. "I look forward to starting fresh tomorrow. With you. With our family."
no subject
Date: 2017-03-06 02:06 am (UTC)Early the next morning, Jennifer gets Alexia up early. The two of them are on breakfast duty. It's 4:30 when they make it downstairs. On the kitchen wall is a large chalkboard with all the kids names on it (except for Jasper). There is different times of the day on the chalkboard each child assigned to different chore during the day. Jennifer pulls out some eggs from the fridge.
"We have eggs for breakfast. Sometimes we get fancy and have waffles or pancakes. But eggs for the most part. Tomorrow we will probably be on laundry duty. Mommy likes to move kids around so we don't get bored with our chores."
no subject
Date: 2017-03-06 10:05 pm (UTC)Alexia had barely slept. She had been too excited, her mind to eager to wander to thoughts of her new family and the way Thomas had spoken to her. Did he expect her to change her name? Would he be disappointed if she didn’t? The sound of house full of happy voices was her main focus. It wasn’t such a change from the foster house, but it felt more real. These were voices she would hear for some time, not those that came and went daily.
When Jennifer got her up, she tried not to look as tired as she felt and followed her downstairs. “Eggs I can cook,” she said, happy that there was something she wouldn’t be entirely too unfamiliar with. Every kid had to cook at the foster home from time to time, though the food was always simple. Cooking for large groups was also something she was used to. The first real day wouldn’t be as big of a change as she was expecting.
“There seemed to be a lot of expectations for the oldest. Am I going to have to do anything different?” she asked curiously. Being eldest had to mean more than getting to sit next to the head of the table.
no subject
Date: 2017-03-06 10:24 pm (UTC)"Well, I am not really sure. I mean, you obviously have to set a good example for the little kids. Especially the girls. Um, maybe spend more time with mommy and daddy. You learn things from them. And daddy loves to have end of evening meetings. Just to check in with you and make sure your OK. At least he likes to do it with me."
Jennifer pulls out some juice and milk. "You might have to pick up some slack. Mommy is having a rough pregnancy. Other than that, you could ask daddy."