Strange. That was all that could be said on anyone's side as they looked into two different screens, eyeing the other group apprehensively. On one side, looking into the big screen TV in the Wheeler's apartment, Matthew, Madeleine, Trixie and Jim, each couple on a separate couch. On the other side, in the Manor House, looking through an even larger television screen was the rest of the Bob-Whites (minus Dan), their parents, and Miss Trask.
The revolutionary technology that Matthew Wheeler's company made full usage of was, as of a few months ago, made available on TV sets as well. It was a faster, clearer version of Skype- almost as if everyone was sitting in the same room. Only about a 0.00001 second lag, which, needless to say, was imperceptible. Naturally, the Manor House and all other places owned by Mr. Wheeler had the upgrades, allowing such a simple and cost effective way of having the conversation half the group was anticipating and half the group was clueless about.
The teens looked at each other anxiously, all wondering exactly what was going to happen. They had all greeted each other already, but no one said anything about the matter at hand- Trixie was dying of curiosity, while the other Bob-Whites were on their way there.
Much unbeknownst by everyone else, a few of the people present were studying certain others carefully. For example, Peter Belden was looking between Trixie and Jim, Brian doing the same thing for almost the same reason. However, Brian also had to look a little worriedly at Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, hoping they couldn't sense some sort of inappropriate connection between him and their daughter. Jim was pretty much in the exact same position as Brian- except instead of worrying about his parents he worried about Trixie's parents, and instead of looking curiously at Trixie and himself he looked curiously at Honey and his best friend. (Of course, all of that looking happened in less than two minutes, meaning they were either very good at it or the results were inconclusive.)
Finally, after a small moment of silence, Miss Trask cleared her throat. The adults seemed to read each other's minds, and after an awkward moment, it was Helen Belden that spoke. "Well," she began with a breath, "I suppose our children are wondering what on earth we're gathering them together for?"
Peter muttered something under his breath, and then, loud enough for everyone to hear, he said, "Well, they obviously aren't children anymore if we're having this discussion."
Helen sighed, exchanging a knowing look with Madeleine through the screens. Mrs. Wheeler gave a little cough. "We've thought hard, and, because of recent events and the fact that you are all young adults now, some of you legally adults," she paused, everyone looking around a little bit sadly, "we've decided that we needed to have a small talk with you guys." She smiled reassuringly.
It was, surprisingly, Trixie who spoke next. She blushed as the words came out of her mouth. "But we've already had this conversation. All of us." She smiled bashfully. "Just not together."
Matthew Wheeler looked appraisingly at the young blonde. "Well, one of you has figured it out."
The younger members of the group looked at each other and at Trixie, realization slowly dawning on their faces along with a bit of trepidation. They weren't seriously going to get the talk again, were they? In front of everybody?
The teens stole glances at their parents, and for the males, that included the parents of their girlfriends.
Brian could almost feel Mr. Wheeler's eyes drilling into his head. He didn't look to see if he was just imagining, though. He didn't want Honey's dad to read his mind. Or his past interactions with his daughter.
"We know you've all had this conversation before, but we just think that it needs to happen again. Especially because you're getting older." Helen smiled at the group.
"And we know that maybe we need to go over some things, as a lot has changed since you were fifteen and relatively innocent." Mrs. Lynch and the other mothers shared knowing looks as they thought about how not-so-innocent their children were now. Sure, they were all certain that their children hadn't gotten that far in their relationships, but most of them had been together for over two years and they all knew that the attractive youngsters were having problems keeping their hormones at bay.
Mr. Wheeler cleared his throat. "What we're trying to say," he started, "is that we know it's been hard, and that it's getting harder, and we're just making sure you know what to do and…" he looked around uncomfortably, "what we think."
(Mrs. Wheeler allowed herself a moment of triumph. The wonders of feminine power, she thought inwardly.)
None of the teens said anything, but all of them were thinking the same thing. What do you guys think? What are we supposed to do when all I can think about is me wanting her/him so badly? A sigh went through the room.
All the parents looked at their children sadly. They knew that the young couples wanted to let it out, to tell everybody about their grievances and contribute to the conversation, but it would be too awkward. To suggest was to admit that the problem was a real one, and none of them wanted to admit to anyone else that the feelings and urges were real and unrelenting.
Mrs. Wheeler voiced their thoughts. "We know that you guys aren't going to be very open about anything, so we'll do most of the talking if you want. But you are going to need to say a few things if you want this to get anywhere."
Brian and Jim looked at each other through the glass, years of friendship lending to the ease in which they read each other's expressions. It was awkward, but they understood, nonetheless. As they eldest, they agreed that they may want to talk first, because if they didn't, they doubted anyone else would.
But perhaps they'd let their parents say a bit more, at least for a little while.
Mr. Belden spoke next, his voice dry and evidently sarcastic. "Now I guess, since everyone is ready to stop beating around the bush, that we should say the topic of this conversation without hiding the word 'sex' behind pretty little synonyms." He watched bemusedly as the teens and just-older-than-teens looked down, redness staining some cheeks while paleness stained others. He also noticed that his fellow parental cohorts seemed relieved that someone had finally dropped the 's' bomb, making it so much easier for them to get on with it.
"We know that it's been hard for you guys to live a life of… abstinence," Mr. Lynch got out, "But we know that you know that so far, it's been the best idea."
"But," Mrs. Belden began, "We suspect that now, it's been harder to believe that abstinence is the best, as it certainly isn't the easiest."
"And," Mrs. Wheeler added, as now the words were flowing out of their mouths, much easier than before the catalyst which was Peter Belden's frankness, "We want to tell you that it's normal, and that we want you guys to know your options."
Despite her jitteriness, Trixie couldn't help think that their parents were making it sound like they were pregnant. But they're actually discussing how to make sure we don't get pregnant.
"And we hope you know that while most of us believe that you should just keep abstaining, we—"
"By 'most of us' my husband means most of the fathers in this room," Mrs. Wheeler corrected, looking wryly at her husband.
"—we know that we'd be hypocrites if we forced abstinence on you," he finished, shooting his wife a tired yet triumphant look.
Honey, Di, and Trixie somehow managed to meet eyes, a three-person conversation that conveyed their surprise. Where their parents saying that… that they were allowing them to—to… to do it?
Their confusion was addressed once more. "We're not saying that you should," Mrs. Lynch said, "or that we're giving you free range. We're just saying that we know what you're going through, and it's natural, and that now's the time we should discuss if you guys are ready for it."
"And we all know that we're not expecting you to be ready, and—"
"We're hoping you're not," Peter interrupted his wife, receiving a glare.
"—And," Helen continued, "we know you're probably not. But there will be a moment when you are ready, and if that happens, we want you to realize that it's your life."
Madeleine nodded in agreement. "And we want to help you guys make the best choices for your life."
Trixie couldn't help but think of Jim's school and Brian's dream career. They were both so dedicated to doing something good with their lives, and Trixie knew that if something happened to take those dreams away from them, none of the Bob-Whites would forgive themselves. She squeezed Jim's hand, hoping no one noticed. He squeezed back, rubbing a small circle on the back of her hand before letting go.
"While we all agree that perhaps abstinence is the best choice," Mr. Lynch said, "and probably what we'd all recommend the most, we know it's not the easiest choice, and it's sometimes the hardest choice."
Mrs. Lynch looked fondly at her daughter before continuing. "Yesterday we discussed it," she began, looking around to the adults in the group, who were looking at her to break the news, "and we've decided that we would like you at least to abstain until the girls finish high school. That way, with school out of the way for the summer, you can really think about it and make a good decision."
It seemed as though the whole room let out a breath. Until the girls finish high school. The words rang through the rooms.
"We really recommend you wait until you get married," Peter said to interrupt the reverie, "because I can see on all your faces that you're thinking about the last day of school."
The Bob-Whites all blushed, looking down into their laps.
Mrs. Belden exchanged looks with the other women in the room, and they all supressed smiles. Leave it to Peter to end things on a pleasant note.
"I suppose that's almost it, except we have one or two more things," Miss Trask said, reminding the parents about one other thing they had forgotten about.
"Oh yes," Mrs. Wheeler remembered, smiling slightly at Miss Trask. "Protection."
A silent groan went through the room.
"While we know you've heard it a thousand times, we're going to say it again," Mrs. Belden said, smiling at the youthful faces trying not to show their embarrassment. "Use protection. Condoms, birth control pills—"
"Abstinence," Mr. Wheeler added, exchanging a small grin with Peter. Neither of them wanted to have this conversation- they figured that without it, their kids would just think that no was the answer, which was fine by them.
"We want you to buy some, even if you're not planning on using them anytime soon."
Even though you're not planning on using them anytime soon, Peter thought, hoping that his kids were thinking the way he was thinking. Okay, maybe just Trixie. He knew that it wasn't exactly fair, but it was the truth. His daughter was different to him than his sons, and that was just the fact of the matter.
A small silence engulfed, and the teens sat there, thinking about their lives which got so much more complicated every day.
Until the girls finish high school. Well, some of them thought, that definitely helps.