The Mennonite 19 CGW
Everything was starting to settle down; the children were doing great and growing up. Izaiah was slowly coming out of his shell and starting to enjoy life, for that we could thank the kids. I was working at the office when someone knocked on the door, I opened it and there stood the Elder and his wife I welcomed them into the office and offered them a seat, I'm sorry but Micah isn't here Elder, to which he responded we have come to speak to you, how can I help you I said in a puzzled tone. I understand that you have inquired about the spot of land next door but were turned away for what reason did you wish to purchase it. I started out to outline my idea about building with investors a drying station for lumber and also a pressure treating facility to assist the Mennonites with their home building industry. I went on to explain to the Elder that the chief complaint about their homes wasn't quality of the build but the warpage of the green lumber and because of all of the termites in Belize they needed to use treated lumber on the beams and lower joist. See said his wife I told he is a smart man, the Elder spoke and asked; what about workers who will you hire. First any Mennonite that wants to work would be the first choice then local Belizeans. The Elder asked; What are you going to do here with all of these workers cabins that are empty, I said; I would love to remodel them and make them available to folks in need sir. Good he said; that's what I needed to hear, there are many of our people that don't fit in with their sects provisions and must leave, they go into the outside world without being prepared and never fit in and fall prey to unfavorable people they need a place like this that will accept them for who not what they are if you understand. You mean like us. Yes Clayton, you are good people and treat others with kindness and respect and these young people need to be loved and understood so if you have a dollar and a pen handy lets sign the contract of sale on the property next door, all of the Elders from all of the sects will support and finance the construction of the new lumber plant and we will pay for and remodel the 21 cabins that are not being used so that our youth will stay. I must speak to Micah about the cabins. The Elder said; we are confident that you will be successful and we will start in the morning. As they left his wife hugged me and said; bless you Clayton. I was standing at the office door as they pulled out of the driveway in their buggy when Izaiah walked up and said; what did the Elder need? Come over for supper later and we will talk and not showing up isn't an option and stop by Zach and Isla's and tell them the same 6pm sharp and don't be late. That night at the meal I dropped the bomb on them about everything Micah, Izaiah and Zach just sat there at the table with their mouths hanging open and dumb looks on their faces, Isla on the other hand was excited as she could be and asked all kinds of questions. Everyone was up bright and early the next morning when people started to arrive with tools and supplies ready to work and work they did on the first day 4 cabins were finished and ready for the first people to arrive. As people started there was a young man standing around, he stood 6'2" thin dark hair and the bluest eyes next to Micah's I had seen on a man. He picked up a small backpack and started to walk down the drive way I spoke up what's your name young man; he turned around and walked back and said; it's Zeak sir I'm 21 and have no place to live, my folks and sect shunned me when I wouldn't marry a girl that I had no interest in. I asked do you have any Identification, in my bag sir, he responded he was talking to me but his eyes never left Izaiah, the young man was clearly taken with him. He removed his Id and passport from his bag and handed them to me I looked them over, I called Izaiah over and said; let me introduce you to Izaiah he lives here his home is the cabin in the back, Izaiah this here is Zeak he needs a place to spend the night and shower can you put him up in your home Izaiah just looked at me. I asked; Izaiah if he could follow me to the office, no sooner than we entered the door he started to complain about people in his space. I said; Izaiah shut up I love you but sometimes you can be so damned thick headed, Lars died honey you didn't, he would tell you to go for it. He had a confused look on his face and said; I'm not following you. I've been watching that young man all afternoon and he hasn't let you out of his sight, he has it bad very bad, don't break his heart and don't hurt him; give him a chance see what happens. Izaiah said; ok. We walked out of the office and went to Zeak and Izaiah said; you can bunk with me if you take a shower and you don't snore. We were up the next morning by 6am, Izaiah was in a great mood he was like a new person, Zeak was walking a little funny, and I knew what happened. I handed him a cup of coffee and said; I can see that you two had a great time together so does this mean you will want to stay here permanently he blushed bright red. I said; lets me and you go to the office and talk for a few minutes. We entered the office and offered him the sofa to sit on mostly because it was very softly padded. So let's talk how are you doing and do you have any questions, if so I'm here to answer them. He said does it always hurt like that, I said the first time is always the hardest time and if your first time is with someone as large as Izaiah is downstairs it can really hurt but it will get better the more times you do it with each other. But I warn you don't break his heart, if you decide that you want more people than Izaiah to have sex with you must to use protection. Zeak said; if he will have me I will stay with him forever, I fell for him the first time I saw him but I didn't think I had a chance with a man like him. Don't worry Zeak I'll talk to him later on today and we left the office and he went to work. Micah remarked that Izaiah was like a new man, he wondered what got into him today whatever it is he was glad for Izaiah. At about 10 am I told Izaiah we needed to talk in the office for a few minutes one of the others can fill in for you here. Izaiah was sweaty and covered in dirt and sawdust I pointed to the side chair that was wooden and said sit down he did and said; what's up Clayton. Well how did it go last night Izaiah did you two get along last night, Izaiah straightened up and said; that's nobody's business. Come on Izaiah you are all smiles and in a great mood, Zeak is walking bowlegged it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened last night; now it was Izaiah's turn to blush. He stuttered and lost his words. I said; Izaiah you were his very first and if you will have him he will stay with you forever and become your other half, if you don't want to commit to another tell him soon so you don't break his heart and crush his world. Izaiah said; he would stay with me forever if I asked him to, is that what you are saying. Yes; you thick headed fool he will, if you ask him to. Izaiah jumped out of the chair and said; yes, hot damned I'm the luckiest man in the world. Izaiah calm down before the whole world hears you. To which Izaiah said; I don't care what people think to find someone to love is hard but to be lucky enough to find someone to love twice in a lifetime is a blessing. When we broke for lunch Izaiah and Zeak headed to his cabin. Micah asked; where is Izaiah headed to. I said; in due time Micah and you will know, he was so thick must run in the family. Zach made the comment; holy crap which caused Isla to pop him on the back on the head. As the day ended another 4 cabins were completed, I told the family that we were Gathering for supper at Zack and Isla's for supper now get cleaned up and meet there in 45 minutes. We arrived and sat at the table waiting on Izaiah to arrive, sorry we're late everyone said; Izaiah as he walked in followed by Zeak; Izaiah pulled Zeak forward and stood him in front of him he wrapped his arms around his midsection. I would like to introduce Zeak to everyone, then the turned Zeak's head toward him and kissed him in front of everyone. Micah and Zach sat at the table with their mouths open, I looked at Isla and we both drew back our hands and popped them on the back of their heads, Izaack said; I bet that hurt, Makayla responded; you know it did. We all stopped what we were doing and laughed at what the twins said. Makayla got up from the table and walked up to Zeak, He went to his knees to talk to the child we all watched this event very closely, she asked him; are you going to be living with Da now that Shithead is living in Heaven, to which he responded; only if it is ok with you young lady. Makayla said; you seem to be okay and he isn't being such a grumpy bear now that you are here so okay you can stay and she hugged his neck. Izaack approached Zeak and said; Da's thick headed and a bear, but he's a real big softy when you get to know him and he hugged Zeak's neck. Isla stood up and went to Zeak hugged his neck and said; welcome to our family I hope you will be happy he with us now take a seat. Zeak sat down a little too fast and let out a groan, Zach said; that will get easier in time too not to worry Zeak. To which Isla slapped him on the back of the head causing him to say; ouch that hurt. Makayla said; looks like thick headed runs in this family. That really broke the ice and we all laughed. Micah said; let us give thanks for this family and the food that lies before us. As we ate we talked and got to know about Zeak and what brought him into our lives, he had been raised up in the creek sect and his first 21 years had not been easy ones in fact most children in the outside world wouldn't have made it. Micah spoke up and said; this is your new life and your chance to find happiness with life. Izaiah I know that I have been blessed to find someone special to share my life with once again and he hugged Zeak tightly. Zeak spoke and said; it will take me sometime to fully open up to everyone I cannot believe that you are so open about the way we are. Isla spoke up and said; We here are the way God made us and we accept each other for who are not what we are and this work just fine for this family. I said; that the adults would talk later about our history so Zeak can better understand us. Makayla said; oh boy a grown up talk we know what that means. Zach spoke up and said; that's enough young lady, Makayla said; yes momma and started to finish her meal. Zeak looked puzzled I'll explain that later also said: Micah. As we finished the meal the kids were sent to bathe and get ready for bed, Micah sent to the twins back so they could brush their teeth, Zach took care of Izabella, and I got Clay ready for bed. Isla said; you can help me with the dishes Zeak, Izaiah you can bring us the dirty dishes and clear the table. After the dishes were done and the kids were in bed we sat down and told Zeak our story in every detail. The good, the bad, the ugly and everything in-between. Zeak listened in amazement to our story he couldn't believe that a group of people could be so strong to which Izaiah said; as a family we can stand up to anything. So Zeak are you going to stay with our family asked; Micah. Only I you will have me here, Izaiah spoke up and said; your stuck here and you aren't going anywhere and kissed Zeak very passionately, will you two get a cabin retorted Zach and he laughed. Zeak turned beet-red they got up to leave Zeak said his goodbye's Izaiah was in such a hurry he practically pulled him out of the front door. Micah said; Izaiah's got it so bad let's hope they make it to the cabin and don't end up in the yard like a couple of dogs in heat, Isla it wouldn't be the first time Micah, and if they did I would just use the water hose on them and the cold water would cool off their hot ass's. Spoken like a true smart ass Isla I responded. We laughed and we went our separate ways, after we arrived at our cabin we got ready for bed because tomorrow was a new day and there was still plenty of work left to do. No sooner than we slipped into bed Micah was all over me, we made tender love for 3 hours by the time we finished Micah was exhausted and I was very sore. Tomorrow was going to be a great day our family, it was complete again. Before we knew it all of the cabins were finished and young people and a few that weren't so young were showing up both male and female. We added a meeting/dining hall soon after. The construction of the lumber processing plant was ahead of schedule; soon we found the need to add more cabins and a playground for the children. We soon went from 25 cabins to 75 cabins with the capacity to add more when nedded, the community was a success in the eyes of all of the Elders from the different sects and the families who loved one's that now lived here and called it home. When all was completed at the plant and it was going full force we were even taking in lumber from outside sources for processing it was a success, every man and woman that wanted to work at the plant from our community had a job there if they wanted it; there were no free rides here. The elder Smyth became ill and passed away another took his place; he worked with our community hand in hand to make it better. A meeting was called by the elders and all were to attend no exceptions allowed. The elders passed around a hat and placed pieces of paper in it. The senior elder went to the table and took out the papers and read them all, he approached the ushers and passed on his orders. He stood at the front of the congregation and announced that a decision has been made; all were in agreement in the choice for the newest elder. The ushers walked up the isle and stopped at Micah and asked him to step forward, he almost passed out. Everyone was shocked and surprised but no one more than Micah. He was escorted to the front of the hall and presented to the Sect as their newest Elder, The senior elder said; the choice was made on merit of acceptance of thy fellow members, the capacity for understanding of tolerance, and how he with his family had accepted others that would have been lost the community otherwise, This is what a wise man is supposed to be, no one shall ever question him or his choices. I was worried about Micah he was white as a sheet. The ushers headed back up the isle and stopped at our isle once again they motioned for me to follow them, they led me to the front and had me stand beside Micah, The Elder announced; let us introduce to you Elder Micah and Clayton his life mate, they will be shown all of the respect that their position in this community commands. One by one the members came by to greet us, I smiled because this meant that we were truly a part of this community.