PENA'S STORY: Part 20: An-An accepts Membership
An-An's graduation award ceremony was due any day now. In order to reduce the pain and worry of waiting for her decision on whether or not to accept membership of the Society I had asked the other Elders to keep the date secret from me. Melissa, who had been an elder for 16 years, had been chosen to act as an-An's mentor and I had an hour's notice to get ready and attend the ceremony. An-An wore the same dress I had worn at my own award and I watched her accept her diploma with tears in my eyes. Melissa took her to one side after the ceremony and I was in internal agony as I watched An-An leave the room in her company. I went home and cried, wishing my mother was still alive to console me. I went to bed and slipped my finger down between my thighs, seeking out the place where my inner labia had been. I pleasured my clitoris for a few moments and feeling ready to face the future, I fell into a deep sleep.
I awoke bright and early the following morning and busied myself with an important case that was to be heard in court the following Monday. The back door suddenly flew open! An-An leaped into the house, gave me a stranglehold of a hug and said “YES!” as she disappeared into her bedroom. A huge wave of relief flooded through my whole consciousness and I felt the built-up tension drain from my body. I immediately phoned Michael who was in Kyoto on business. I had just enough time to tell him the news when he told me that An-An was calling him on the other line and we could catch up later. Erin was next. She whooped with joy as I told her the news. We needed to spend some together and Erin would come to Manila tomorrow. I felt totally “wiped” and retired to bed early.
As I stepped out of the shower the following morning I found myself in the presence of my beloved daughter standing there stark naked with my towel in her hands. She gave me a token rub with the towel and we just melted into each others arms. I could feel both our hearts thudding as we stood there. An-An eased herself free. Her eyes were sparkling as she said "Show me, Ima! Show me, Ima!" I sat on the edge of my bed, spread my thighs wide and slowly parted my labia. I could feel An-An's breath as she zoomed in. Her excited voice began "It's so beautiful Ima! I want mine to look the same!" I reminded her that she now had no choice in the matter and her face briefly darkened. Her smile rapidly returned and she said "I want you to look at me too, Ima!" I stood and An-An lay back on the bed and spread her own thighs. I had not seen her naked since I taught her how to insert her menstrual cup over fourteen years earlier. She was totally hairless, one less task for me to deal with! I recalled that soon after she began law school her girlfriend had persuaded her to get a Brazilian waxing and she had clearly kept up the habit. As she parted her labia I reminded myself that this was my daughter before allowing my eyes to fall on the space between them. "Like mother, like daughter" I thought to myself. An-An stood and returned to her room with a light springing step. As I dressed I could hear An-An singing happily to herself: "pa-pa-pa-, pa-pa-pa,- papageno; pa-pa-pa-, pa-pa-pa,- papagena". I suddenly knew that a Magic Flute would indeed protect my daughter as she received her initiation and felt at peace as I entered the kitchen to make breakfast
Melissa called me several days later. She had just contacted An-An informing her that her initiation would take place at 08:00 the next morning. An-An charged into the house twenty minutes later and threw herself into my arms. “Tomorrow is my ‘Date with Destiny!’” she exclaimed. We slept together in my big bed that night. We rose early the next morning and made our way to the house on the hill. Melissa was waiting in the office and told me to make myself comfortable before leading An-An down the stairs. Trudy Bishop entered the room and hugged me warmly. Trudy was now 62 and her hair was beginning to turn grey. She and Rita were now officially retired; they had recruited two young female cosmetic surgeons from America and given them intensive training. As soon as Trudy heard that An-An was to become a member of the Society she asked me if she could perform the surgery. Of course I agreed. There was no way I could bear to watch Trudy circumcise my daughter so I remained seated as Trudy made her way down to the surgical unit to scrub up. The clock in a nearby church struck 8 and I knew that my beloved daughter was about to begin her initiation. I busied myself with complex tasks to keep my mind off what was happening in the basement.
An hour later Trudy entered the office and hugged me. She told me that everything had gone to plan and I made my way downstairs to the recovery room, stopping only to don my black robe. An-An was sitting on an easy chair. She saw me and proudly pointed to her green sash. I sat down beside her and she began to relate her experience in an excited voice:
"Trudy entered the room and introduced herself to me. I felt an instant rapport with her and relaxed totally as she spread my outer labia wide. I sighed and said to myself "This is it, Annafrancia!". I found myself on a mountain top picking wild flowers. I could feel the wind in my hair. I heard a bird singing a sequence of five rising notes and a feeling of joy flowed through me. Then I heard a voice calling my name. I looked up. Melissa was sitting on a black rock in front of me. She smiled at me. The rock morphed into a black robe and I found myself back on the surgical table gazing at Melissa. There was a dull pulsing ache between my legs and I realized my initiation was over. My whole being shouted "YES!". Melissa slowly helped me to my feet and placed my green sash around my waist. So here I am, Ima! I feel like I have just been reborn!"
It suddenly hit me that An-An must had heard the magic pan-pipes of the bird-catcher! I had not mentioned what had flashed through my mind as she sang the Papageno-Papagena duet and was amazed. We chatted for a bit and kissed An-An goodbye, leaving her in the capable hands of Rachel, our resident nurse.
My beloved daughter returned home a week later. Michael was waiting for her and An-An gave him a huge hug and kissed his cheek. He had to leave on business on the Monday so she made the most of his presence. I knew she was waiting for time with me so we could have some 'girl talk' but for now we were a family and sat watching the rain falling steadily down, dashing our hopes for a barbecue. I drove Michael to the airport with my daughter sitting next to me. Back home An-An began to relate her experience in some depth. I noted many similarities with my own experience and our conversation became quite profound. At the end she told me that she did not regret accepting membership for even one second. I had felt the same way myself.
The following Sunday we made our individual ways to Quezon city for An-An's Induction to the society. An-An had been told to be at the house at 7:30 am and left home at 7. Melissa picked me up a few minutes later. I entered the Octagonal Chamber with the other elders and took my place in front of my kneeling daughter. Her eyes widened as she recognised me but her face instantly softened and a brief smile appeared. The church clock struck eight times and An-An's induction began as she slowly untied her sash and eased her robe over her shoulders. Her head was high as she took the Oath of Acceptance. She walked towards me and I allowed my own robe to fall. Our eyes met and I could see the love in her heart as she knelt and kissed each of my feet. The Elders formed a ring around my daughter and the lights slowly dimmed. Several minutes later An-An collapsed limply in my waiting arms as I saved her from sure death on the rocks below.
Before An-An had a chance to get over the shock of discovering her mother was in fact an Elder I announced that she was now a junior partner in my law practice. She almost crushed me to death in a super-hug as I handed her a set of keys. Later in the day we together visited Mother's grave, a small stone cubicle buried deep in a terrace of similar graves that resembled a miniature apartment block. We made our way home, both exhausted after all the events of the day. We collapsed into bed and I promptly feel into a deep contented sleep.
part 21 to follow...
Index