Dorsai - Jan

By that time, the coffee had finished, and when all of them had their beverage of choice (Susan made a small show of dumping hers for a fresh cup, black), Kelly asked "So, what's for breakfast?"

I responded by telling her "Beats me – whatever you all fix, I guess – but make plenty for me, too."

Candice wasn't sure that I was joking; Susan, Robyn, and Sandra seemed _pretty sure_; Kelly and Jan knew it.

Seeing the look on Candice's face, Kelly told her "He gets like this, sometimes. Positively Neanderthal. The only thing to do, really, is humor him. We'll fix something to eat, and toss some of it to him. When he's got a full belly, he's a lot more agreeable.", teasing me.

Jan added to it, telling her "Yeah. I'm not sure why we keep him around, but I suppose he has his good points."

All of them were watching me, to see what kind of reaction I'd have.

I sat there a couple seconds before saying "I guess that's true. But you have your good points, too – two of them, each, that I can see.", completely deadpan.

The first ones to get it were Jan and Kelly, who were used to my humor: both went into hysterics. Next was Robyn. Then Susan, then Sandra. Last to get it was Candice – but when she did, she made up for the lost time by almost collapsing on the floor, she laughed so hard.

Finally, Susan spoke up, telling me "Fine. We'll figure something out, and feed you. Until then, the kitchen is the woman's domain, so get lost, your Highness." – making all of them giggle.

I stood up, and topped off my coffee as all of them watched Jan make a show of giving me the Evil Eye. I told her "Excellent – you know your place, then.", and headed into the den, accompanied by another round of giggles.

A few minutes later, Candice came in, bringing me a toasted bagel slathered in cream cheese. Handing it to me, she smiled and said "Kelly said I should bring this to her Lord and Master, and see if it meets with his approval."

I took a small bite, chewed a moment, then swallowed it before telling her "Dame Kelly has done well, and pleased her Master. As reward for her efforts, I wish her to know that I shall keep her. You are a comely serving wench, so you may stay, as well. I shall decide about the others later. Now, be gone with you.", the last with a back-of-the-hand shooing motion.

She grinned at me, and headed back into the kitchen; a minute later, I heard a round of giggling and laugher when she repeated what I'd said.

As I worked my way through the bagel, I turned the TV on, and started watching the Saturday morning cartoons, starting with Bugs Bunny. A couple of cartoons later, the whole crew of them came in, Kelly carrying a tray of assorted toasted bagel slices with cream cheese separate; Jan bearing a carafe of what I knew to be coffee. Sandra had a pitcher of orange juice; Robyn, a tray of glasses. Susan followed with a double handful of napkins, with Candice brining up the rear with coffee cups.

When all of them were in the room, they all kneeled in front of me – in unison – before Kelly said "Breakfast is ready, Master. May we join you?"

"Sure, why not. You're all a helluva lot better looking than Bugs Bunny, that's for sure!" – getting smiles from all of them.

Jan handed the coffee to Sandra as she dragged one of the larger tables to a more convenient location. With it in place, all of them quickly put their loads down, and found seats – Kelly next to me on one side, Susan on the other. Candice sat on the floor, resting against one of my legs, Jan matched her on the other side. Sandra and Robyn took up station next to the table.

As we ate, I notice that they all took turns responding to my requests: when I asked for another bagel, Sandra selected one for me and put cream cheese on it – Robyn got up and brought it to me; when I asked for the coffee, Candice got up to get it, pouring it for me. When I asked for some orange juice, Jan poured and Susan handed it to me. Kelly made it her job to clean up any stray bits of cream cheese that escaped onto my skin.

When I'd finished eating, I leaned back and put my arms on the back of the couch, my hands resting on Kelly and Susan's shoulders, saying "You know, I could get used to this kind of treatment!" – and having Kelly say "Too bad you won't get the chance!", to their laughter.

After we'd all finished, and during one of the commercials, they all got up and started carrying things into the kitchen, taking their time and making more trips with less to carry. When I started to get up to help, Kelly eased me back down, saying "Just stay here. I think somebody wants to talk to you while the rest of us are in the kitchen, cleaning up."

I looked at her inquisitively, but she just ignored it, and went on with what she'd started to do. All of them disappeared into the kitchen, except for Candice, who came over to sit on the couch with me.

Turning herself a little, so that she was facing me, she pulled her leg up to rest it on the cushion as she put her arm on the back of the couch.

I mirrored her, and then waited for her to say what was on her mind.

After looking at me for a few seconds, she finally spoke.

"I heard a lot lost night, about you, about Jan and Kelly, and even Sandra and Robyn. It got me thinking about stuff. A lot of stuff – like what kind of person I want to be, and the wonderful changes that I've seen in Kelly, and even Jan. I watched how you talk to all of us, and how you behave around us, and all the things that you've done with us, and for us. When I went to bed last night, Susan woke up – even though I was being real quiet – and wanted to talk with me for a while. She told me a little bit about what she had been feeling and thinking before she talked to you, and how she felt better afterwards."

I nodded for her to continue.

"When I got here yesterday, I was still kind of nervous to be around you. It's not that I thought you would do anything to me, or say anything to me, or anything like that. It was just that you and Jan and Kelly are so relaxed around each other, and you're all so willing to open up to people that it was kind of scary. I mean, MY family isn't like that, at all. We love each other and all that; it's just that we don't talk and joke around and everything like you three do. After being here this morning, I kinda wish we did, but I know it won't be like that – we'll still have fun with each other, just not like you do."

I nodded again, and she went on"When you and Jan and Kelly were joking this morning about making breakfast, it really surprised me at first, and I thought you were all serious. But after a bit, I realized that you*were* just joking, and made me think. I realized you were teasing them by acting like that – and that you wouldn't act like that unless you knew that they wouldn't take you seriously. And that they only way you could know that is if you really, truly knew THEM, and they knew you, and would know that you were teasing them. I really finally understood just how much you all love and trust each other that you could joke around that way. Then I thought about the way that Jan and Robyn teased you and Susan – I could see the change in her; she's never been that happy and relaxed, that I've seen. And I thought about the way that all of us were kidding with you and teasing you, and how you were giving back as good as you got. I realized that I had never seen any of us doing that before at any of our houses – never mind with all of us naked; and a guy there, too! Then when I brought you the bagel, you joked around with me, and even teased me a little bit about being – what was it? – a 'comely serving wench', like I wasn't any different than the others."

I smiled, and told her "You aren't, near as I can tell."

"See, that's what I mean. You've made love with all of us except Susan and me. Before we brought out breakfast, Susan told us all about how she felt when she kissed you that last time; she told me that she felt so close to you that it was almost as though she had made love with you, even though it was only a kiss. So it was kind of strange for me, knowing that all of them felt that close to you, when I brought you that bagel. But you still joked with me like you did with them; and it made me feel really good inside, and made me understand something about you."