LiTTLE CHERiNE Book 01 - post167
She took my teasing seriously, but her attention was diverted for a moment. “I do not like that ‘Claw’ you called me!” Her little face was set in a most ferocious look.
627
“But it is so apt! You are just like a baby tiger, your claws come out at the slightest suggestion of danger.”
I felt her swell with pride. “You think I am like a baby tiger!”
“I hope you do not prove me wrong. I love baby tigers.” I quickly gave her a kiss.
She threw her head back and laughed. “Robbie, which is more dangerous? A baby tiger or a baby lion?”
“Don’t get too ambitious girl. Cherine is far more dangerous - she is very, very intense about protecting me. That is why she is my little cub lion.”
“I’ve heard. I cannot believe she nearly killed her own mother for you.”
“She was not trying to kill her. More of a case of not thinking of the effects her powers were having on her mother.” I sighed. “I’m so glad that all turned out alright. We don’t need any Greek tragedies for our family.”
At the hotel, as we signed in and unpacked, I wondered about the local girl. Cherine has given her the ‘thumbs up’, but it did seem strange that she not only knows we have a flat, but also went in and cleaned it. She did not strike me as the type of girl who would enjoy that kind of work. I sensed there is something mischievous in the situation - like she is making fun of me, or of somebody else. It would have to be the someone else, which only serves to make me more curious about him. Since I have no intention of dealing with her while Claudia is with me, I rid myself of thoughts of her by concentrating on my sweet but sometimes bloodthirsty little Claudia. 
We decided to go to visit Britta and Andrea. Claudia wanted to go as an adult which suited me fine. As much as possible I want to avoid being seen with my little girls at their true age. All I need is stories to start circulating about us again - Petsas is not a nightmare anymore, but no point in provoking him - or fate.
628
I phoned Britta and we met her at the beach near her home. She stared at her grownup little sister and crying gave her a hug. Claudia is taller than her and her beauty at eighteen is more apparent. Never mind apparent - she is stunning! I had been tempted to make myself look a bit more ‘interesting’ to look more a suitable companion for her, but Claudia had protested, so I’d made do by ageing myself. Andreas shook my hand gravely, a look of awe still in his eyes.
Claudia may have looked older, but she was an eleven year old bursting with glee at the effect she was having on everyone. She was vivacious and lit up the whole taverna with her presence. We could feel all the male eyes trying not to stare and the resentment of the ladies. Musing I wondered; why is it that a woman who acts like a little girl is so attractive to grown men? What need does it fulfil? Then there are those men, so strong, determined to be the patriarch. The way they treat their women, they end up forcing them to become like little girls, obedient to ‘daddy’. Is it possible that they all are just camouflaging, hiding from themselves their true wishes and needs because they have been taught it is immoral? Would it not be better if they could treat their women with the respect they deserve and love them as they need to be loved?
A woman of about thirty, passing our table on her way out, stopped and spoke to Claudia and Britta. “You are both really gorgeous. Don’t let these sour faces get you down, they are just jealous, enjoy yourselves - we are only young and lovely for a short time, so make the most of it.”
Gallantly I stood up, pulling out a chair for her. “For those kind words you are now obliged to join us for a drink.” I smiled at her, but she hardly turned to look at me. She sat and giving me her order, turned back to the girls. For the next forty minutes her attention was devoted solely to them. I am very slow and it took me a while to understand. Both girls were highly amused, but remained polite and friendly. Finally she left.
“We had a bit of competition there Roberto. You did not realise?”
“No Andrea, how could I guess she is a lesbian.”
“Ah, so you are not so wise! You do not go out much to clubs?”
“Jesus! Clubs! I’ve got a whole club of my own, why should I go out?” He laughed and Claudia pinched my leg under the table.
Softly she murmured to me, “Wait till we get back. Cherine will get you for that.”
“Your Cherine, she frightens you Roberto?” I saw he was not teasing, he was serious.
“She would like to think so Andrea. No, my only fear is that I love her too much and, even worse, that I do not love her enough.”
He glanced at Claudia. “You say so in front of all the others?”
“He has never hidden it Andrea. We do not mind, he seems to have a way of loving each of us in a special way. If she is his best love it is because she is the most special of us all.”
I don’t know how many times I am going to have to make this protest. “You are wrong my love. Not one of you is more ‘special’ than the others. You each have your charms, etc. Cherine is just loved more by me because I happen to love her more.”
“Britta told me you are foolish with the women, you are too open.” Poor Britta blushed and it was obvious she wished the earth would swallow her. I hope he has a nice dogbox.
I chuckled. “Another friend accused me of that, so Britta is in good company. Claudia, would you have me pretend?”
“Since you cannot, I can see and I can feel exactly how you feel, if you did pretend, you would be insulting me.”
“See Andrea? Think of it this way. You and Britta, you will find more people to bring into your circle and you will love each of them, for they could not otherwise become part of your circle. If you love Britta more, or maybe a new member of your circle, you could not hide it. None of us can love everyone to the same degree. Pretending would cause more unhappiness and you would lose their trust.”
629
Andreas stated, “If she loves someone new more than me I would be unhappy, whether she pretends or not.”
“You are forgetting, no other person can join your circle unless you both love that person deeply. If you love that person too, how can you resent…”
“I would!!”
Claudia took my hand. “Maybe it is different for us because of you Robbie. Maybe it will not be the same for everyone else.”
“How can it be different because of me.”
Claudia smiled. “Robert love, I’ve heard the other girls discussing it, so I have the words. You feel so much love, it is so strong, it is more than I could ever dream anyone would love me. You make me so happy, how can I resent it that you maybe feel a bit stronger for Cherine, or maybe even Wendy…” She paused, following a thought. “I was about to add Dommi to the list and then I realised that I would have to add all the girls, but that I would be wrong. Apart from Cherine, I don’t think you love anybody more than the others, you just love each of us in a different way and for slightly different reasons. Dommi is also special because you have more shared memories with her. Anyway, even if you do love all the other girls more, so what, I also love them so much for letting me join you, how could I resent them?”
We carried on in this vein for a while and wandered off to other subjects. I saw it was getting late and I knew I had a long night ahead of me. We took our leave and returned to our hotel room. I looked at Claudia, expecting her to return to her normal age.
“Robbie, would you mind very much if we went to that bar where they all sing. It is so romantic, I love it there.”
For those readers who have not understood, when they speak using telepathy, what they say is enclosed within stars, and the thoughts exchanged are in italic.
e.g *Hi, I bet you are wishing you could read thoughts.*?
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)6th July, 2018
* posted on Steemit: 6th July, 2018
Μόλις κατάφερα και το διάβασα! μαλάκωσε καθόλου το κρύο;; έχετε ακόμα διακοπές; το άλλο έργο σου δε έχω προλάβει να υο διαβάσω ακόμα... ελπίζω αύριο...
NEWS...cold front coming tomorrow (must have arrived, in last half hour, my room is much colder.
Re Ivgos posts: Am thinking of cancelling - i gynaika pou me parakalese na to kano post, ksafnika me agnoei. Den ksero ean tha yparhoun alloi pou that theloun na to diavasoun. Einai pio poli style 'adventure' apo to Little Cherine.
Fantazomai pos i zesti ehei arhisei na sas vasanizi kathos o Avgoustos plisiazi.
Enjoy your Sunday...and build up your energy for reading from Monday again...
Ευχαριστώ, ναι, η ζέστη εζει έρθει για τα καλά... θα παμε παλι για μπάνιο στη θάλασσα... :)
καλή Κυριακή..
Ean theleis kali efimerida, sta Ellinika, gia na kseris ti ginetai
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tan anoiksi i selida, kane click epano stin Elliniki simaia.
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