TRANSITION PLAN CHAPTER 66: In His Majesty's Service Part 15
The jungle was now truly filled with wonders for Jeanne because Jack made it all come alive for her. But as wondrous as it was along the way, nothing was as spectacular as what she could see now. They came to a clearing, dominated by a small lake, fed by a rushing stream coming off a mountain in the distance behind the tropical canopy whose misty tops could not be seen above. The clearing had soft grasses growing and was well suited for children to play. Surrounding the lake were clumps of palms and other tropical trees, many with vines reaching over the water, and several rock outcroppings and low cliffs perfect for climbing and jumping. It was idyllic. The children's chatter flushed a herd of gazelles that had come to sip from the sweet fresh water of the lake. Jeanne gasped at their agility and gracefulness. Families of monkeys and other small primates were startled and disappeared into the upper canopy. The squawks of parrots and other wild birds in the area gave a soothing musical tone to the setting. The duiker family that hid during the encounter with Tantor reappeared and ran ahead of the humans to sip from the water briefly before vanishing into the woods. Jeanne squeezed Jack's hand harder.
Jeanne gasped and looked at him expectantly, "Jack… ohmigosh… it's so lovely! But is it safe?"
Jack explained, "This is a peaceful place. Animals only come to drink or rest and even enemies just share the water. There are never any crocodiles or snakes here. The water comes from a mountain stream. It's way too cold for crocs. The water isn't 'right' either. It's too clear. They can't hide and there's not enough junk in the pond to put their kills. Don't go near dark water."
Jeanne shuddered.
Jack quickly assured her with his disarming smile and a gentle squeeze of her hand, "But it's a perfect place for humans and apes to have fun on a hot day."
For certain, all his friends already were. Jack's buddies, upon seeing the inviting pond as they entered the clearing, took off on a dead run, leaving Jack and Jeanne behind. The kids prepared themselves quickly for the water by leaving their only items of clothing - their ankle and wrist bracelets, and necklace jewelry - on the shore, and plunged into the cooling waters to get instant relief. They all laughed and splashed. Several boys floated on their backs completely relaxed, spitting fountains of water out of their mouths, which amused the girls.
Ndidi teased Jack and Jeanne from afar, motioned them to the pond, and called out in her native tongue, "C'mon, slowpokes. You're the last ones in the water."
Jeanne saw the beautiful lake and want to go in, but hesitated.
"It sure looks inviting…" she tried to tell herself, muttering in Igbo to answer Ndidi, but Jack could hear the trepidation in her voice.
Jack encouraged her in French, "Join us, Jeanne. Believe me. It really is safe in this pond. There are no dangers. You can swim, right?"
Her reluctance was not about swimming, but Jack was clueless.
She turned to reassure him, "Oh yes. I love to swim. I have a pretty yellow bathing dress and sun parasol my mother got for me back home, and… oh… it's all gone now…"
She realized that and every other nice outfit she owned were all consumed in the attack in Morocco, and she was saddened.
"It's OK, Jeanne. That was a long time ago. You are with friends now," Jack said reassuringly put his arm around her. She snuggled into his grasp, needing his comfort.
The warmth of Jack's touch helped her a lot, and sniffing back a tear, she approached the lake in her stifling uniform, mulling how to swim with them. He was patient. The others were not, even though everyone tried to help her feel comfortable about swimming with them. There were a lot of smiling faces.
"You guys are missing all the fun. Jump in with us!"
"The water feels great! It's so nice and cool in here."
"C'mon Jeanne. We'll have way more fun with you!"
"Yeah! Join us. Please?"
She pursed her lips, trying to decide what to do.
Jack could see she was not ready. He really didn't know the reason for her hesitancy, even though it was staring him right in the face. But he didn't want his excited friends' encouragement to feel like pressure, so he called out, "Not yet, guys, I have to help Jeanne. Remember this is all new to her."
Ndidi ignored her friend, preferring the direct method. She pointed at both of them and ordered with her most commanding voice and expression, "Jack and Jeanne. Get in the water. Now."
That insistent call was just too much for the eight year old boy. He couldn't suppress his desire join his friends any longer. Without thinking, Jack skimmed off his loincloth and leaped into the water in an instant, without giving it a second thought that he was standing right next to Jeanne. He surfaced, tossed his head around shedding water from his dreadlocks like a shaggy dog, and gave Jeanne a great big grin, to the cheers of all his friends.
Jeanne's worry subsided, at least for a moment, in the humor of this situation. She put her hands over her mouth and laughed loudly. He was even more handsome to her dripping wet. She got goose bumps with the joy Jack gave her, especially now that this time she didn't have to worry if she had killed him.
As she continued to laugh, she reached down, held up Jack's abandoned loincloth by the strap, and jiggled it in the air at him. It was obvious to her that he had instinctively jumped into the water like he always did with his other girl and boy jungle friends.
Giving him her best raised eyebrow, she smirked and teased, "Did you forget something again, Jonathon Robert Clayton the Fourth?"
Realizing what he just did without thinking, his eyes grew wide; he blushed, dropped down in the water for some cover, and said, "I'm so sorry. If you want me to uhh… change back, Jeanne, I will."
She laughed, "No Jack. It's OK. I really want to join you guys."
He smiled in anticipation of her promise. She poised to dive in, striking a compromise between swimming with her friends and doing what her mother required.
Jack stopped her, with genuine concern, "Jeanne, no! Don't ever swim in clothes. They will never dry out. They'll rub you raw and you'll feel worse. Your clothes are too heavy to swim in deep water. You'll wear out. You could drown."
She returned to being perplexed, and started to whimper with her conundrum, "I want to. But Jack… Mama told me I can't do that…"
And then her dilemma became obvious to Jack. While the other children splashed and invited Jeanne to come play, the conflicting rules of her two worlds – the one she grew up in and the one she wanted to be part of - were in turmoil within her.
Ndidi had a simple solution. She stood and struck a pose emphasizing her beautiful dark brown body for Jeanne, and she made a sweeping gesture at all her fellow Nigerians laughing and splashing naturally, and then pointed at Jeanne with a smile and then at the water below. It was a silent, sweet personal invitation from Jeanne's friend to join them and be like all her other friends. Jeanne understood exactly what Ndidi meant. Swimming this way was perfectly normal for Jack and the other children, which was no different from anything else they did together, and she should be part of all of it just like them.
That wasn't the only encouragement she got. She stared at the crystal clear water and her gaze turned to Jack, patiently waiting for her to dive in, and absorbed the sight of all her other Nigerian friends laughing and playing in the water behind him. Their natural bodies were breathtaking, especially Jack's. This was indeed the way the Nigerians lived.
She wanted this so much. She was proud of her dancer's physique and had no reservations about Jack and her friends seeing her. But it wasn't that simple.
Even at almost nine years old, Jeanne knew that she wasn't just diving into the water. She was about to dive into a whole new world with Jack and the Nigerians. She knew what her choice should be but couldn't make it. She was struggling obeying her mother's 'old world' wishes or embracing the customs of her new jungle friends. She desired to join Jack and the others, but was frozen in place.
Ignoring his noisy and frolicking friends and concentrating on Jeanne's feelings about this, Jack encouraged softly, "It's OK, Jeanne. Jump to me. I'll catch you. I'm right here."
He reached out his arms to her, and he smiled that spectacular smile that was impossible to resist. Jeanne wanted to be in those arms desperately. He was always right there for her.
Jeanne lamented, "But Jack, I will be totally disobeying my mother. I want to change… but don't know how."
Jack told her a story to help her, "I asked Mom once what made her change. Why she made the choice to be with Dad in the jungle, and live like him and the gorillas. She could have just gone home to be a 'normal' English girl and had a normal English life with Grandpa Porter. Mom thought her 'English way' was the right way. The only way. "
Jeanne completely understood Lady Jane's similar dilemma, and asked, "So what made her change?"
"Well, Mom fell in love with Dad. But love wasn't enough to keep her here."
"What did your dad say to convince her?"
Jack Clayton, a very smart boy, showed just how intelligent he was, "It wasn't just him. It came from inside Mom. Grandpa Porter saw it in her and told her to stop holding back. Mom told me the day she stopped fighting the jungle, and began living in the jungle, she started to love the jungle and everything and everyone in it. And all its ways. Like Dad did. Mom became, like Dad says, 'of the jungle'."
The truth flashed before Jeanne. She and her parents had been fighting all of Africa and its culture every step of the way from Morocco. Even over the past couple of months of living and playing with the Nigerian children, the stress of clinging to the 'French way' in the midst of a completely different culture pressed on her daily. A great weight lifted from her shoulders.
Thus freed by this revelation, Jeanne's emotions washed over her like the inviting cool water. The combination of the exotic jungle, this handsome English jungle boy whom she adored, his friends in the lake before her, and the new freedom she felt compelled her to finally make the leap of faith that eluded her for so long. This was her decision, not her mother's.
She said softly, with an equally soft smile and a sparkle in her eyes only for him, "I think I understand now, Jack."
Her frumpy small uniform and foundations fell on the shore where she stood, and she enjoyed Jack's dazzled reaction. Jack held his breath seeing all of her deep olive skin. Jeanne took down all her thick, shiny black hair intentionally slowly from the bun she wore all the time, shook it, and combed it out slowly with her fingers. The cascade of long black strands tumbled all around her shoulders and almost totally down her back that she turned around to show him. Jack nearly collapsed in the water.
Of all the simple, natural society of Nigerian girls and women that were a daily part of his life, and of all the young girls of English high society and fashion, Jack knew that Jeanne was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. The boys and girls could also see it was true, and they were all completely silent and motionless in the water. Her beauty was truly stunning to all of them, even to Ndidi, who was the loveliest of all the Nigerian girls, including many of the older teen girls in the village.
Jeanne was ready. With a bright beaming smile that warmed Jack's heart, she lilted the famous line of the old children's game, "Ready or not, here I come!"
She leaped forward, plunged into the water directly toward his open arms, and entered that brand new world with Korak and his friends.
For the first time in months, she felt refreshed and completely relaxed with the rush of the cool soothing water all over her body in a way she'd never experienced before. Popping up right in front of Jack, she grinned broadly, reached to him, and enveloped herself into his open, comforting embrace in the water while inhaling a big gulp of air. Her wet, straight long black hair glistened in the filtered sun. She heard the rising cheers of their friends about her joining them.
Jeanne exclaimed, as she looked into his eyes with their foreheads touching, "Jack. Everything feels and looks so wonderful – especially being right here with you!"
All her emotions for him came out. They hugged tightly in the cool water, with a whole new set of sensations that came with that.
He was still completely staggered by her attractiveness and their new feelings, but he managed to say, "I'm glad Jeanne."
With their faces just barely apart in their hug, she asked, "Why didn't you tell me sooner how much fun swimming like this is?"
"I… I did…" he stammered.
She laughed, "Yes. So you did."
Girls were so confusing.
But there was no confusion about what Jeanne did next. She tightened the grip around his neck and shoulders. She smiled and bravely kissed him right on his mouth. Their first kiss was mind-reeling to Jack, and after his eyes flew open with the initial pleasant shock, he leaned into it, and closed his eyes. His kiss felt just as amazing to her. Their mouths tingled with the first-time feeling as they broke the kiss but continued to hug. It was incredible. He touched his lips with his fingers. The tingle lingered.
She giggled excitedly, and put her fingers to his lips and then to hers, "Yes, Jack, it's the same for me too."
They just looked at each other and blushed a bit, but their eyes never left the other. They leaned together and kissed again, this time with more confidence, and with a deeper feeling inside.
Jack was even more speechless when they broke the second time, but he blurted with a broadening smile, "Uhhh… Jeanne… that was…"
There was quite a commotion behind them as all their friends got to see the kiss they'd all hoped for some time, with a lot of satisfied shouts and yelps for them. It didn't bother them a bit, and in fact encouraged them to enjoy another, longer kiss. The cheers got louder behind them.
Ndidi noticed Jack's happy tongue-tied behavior, but to save Jack from himself, she smiled, and teased them, "Are you two gonna swim or just smooch all day?"
"Do we have a choice?" He quipped, which thrilled Jeanne, and made both girls and everyone else laugh.
Jeanne thought that was very funny as well as sweet, but she also interrupted before Jack could say anything else, and ran her index finger along the ridge of his nose. She'd seen her mom do that to her dad and it always seemed to make him happy, "Silly jungle boy, let's go swim. Time for more kissing later."
Her promise of kissing later was very exciting and he got a stupid, dreamy look in his eyes.
Jeanne splashed him vigorously back to reality and he choked on the wall of water in his face. From all their games, Jack already knew Jeanne knew how to play rough like a boy, and so he had no qualms at splashing her back furiously. She shrieked happily and swam away from him fast, sending huge splashes in his face. She could swim very well. They joined with the others in a highly competitive water fight. The pair mostly concentrated their 'attacks' on themselves, with every method of kicking and splashing water, leaping on and dunking their 'victim', and diving into the water right next to each other, causing enormous wave ripples and fountains of water to wash over their 'target'. They joined forces with the other children in team fighting, with Jeanne either piggyback or riding on Jack's shoulders in the water battles against their friends. Their battles were most often against the team led by Ndidi and her new Oyo boyfriend, and another boy and girl from different tribes who liked each other too. While the battles against the other children were really fun, their closeness felt even better.
They couldn't stop laughing with their buddies, and the two of them had enormous fun together with Jack's Nigerian playmates. The kids chased each other in and out of the water. In one swift move she'd learned from the fighting style of the soldiers, when Jack caught her running out of the shallows, Jeanne rolled Jack to the ground using his own strength against him, pinned Jack's shoulders to the sandy beach, and were face-to-face as she sat on his stomach to keep him from twisting his way free. They shared a silent moment of stunned surprise, and blushed. She kissed his forehead for just an instant, then she jumped up and ran back into the water, taunting him, and they went back to their boisterous playing. Ndidi and the others roared with laughter that Jeanne had pinned Jack.
He caught up with her quickly, and suggested that they swing together on a vine into the water from a big rock cliff rising above the water. She was very excited to try that – both the climb up to the cliff and the swing together. They fell into the water hugging and yelling together as they dropped and created an enormous splash that washed over the others. Underwater, they held hands as they swam together toward the shore each admiring the other.
Reaching the surface, Jeanne shook the water off her hair, pulled it back, and then readjusted Jack's dreadlocks over his ears as they hugged, ready for another swing into the lake. She confessed, "I've never had so much fun with anyone in my entire life, Jack."
"Me too," he admitted. It was true. Every moment with Jeanne was exciting in a completely different way than being with his friends, the Mangani, his parents, and sister, especially now.
He stole a quick kiss from her. It felt just right.
"It's later", he joked.
"So it is," she giggled, understanding exactly what he implied, and returned his sweet little kiss.
As the afternoon continue, during a much-needed rest for the group of exhausted friends, she ravenously ate her first wild jungle food snacks. They were just some exotic fruits that Jack showed her how to select and said the gorillas liked. The sun was high overhead and now shone down on them unabated, so he showed her how and where to put on the protective oils from the plant pods to prevent a sun burn, despite her dark complexion and his tan. They helped each other.
After the rest break, they all played most of rest of the afternoon, doing much of the same thing - jumping, diving, and swinging together on vines into the water making huge splashes.
There was still so much new to do. The last thing Jack and Jeanne tried was sliding together in the frothy mountain stream that fed the pond. They laughed and shouted for joy on each run down the smooth creek bed, usually together, and enjoyed the climb up the rocks as much as the sliding. They helped each other climb the steep incline. Several of the others, who were as adventurous as they were, joined them on the climbs ending in the exhilarating slide into the lake.
Late in the afternoon, everyone was completely worn out. They recovered on the sandy shore of the pond next to each other with their friends. Jack and Jeanne lay on their sides facing each other with their heads propped up with one arm and hands entwined with their free arms. They were sneaking little pecks as they chatted. It felt good to both to be that close, and even amidst the other children, it was like they had their own private world. Ndidi was happy for them. But she was happier to have that sweet Oyo subchief's son next to her holding her hand next to her sharing their affections too. That special friendship was developing rapidly as well.
When everyone had caught their breath, Ndidi got a serious look on her face, stood up, and announced, "Jeanne, we have something for you, now that you chose to be like us Nigerians today. We've been waiting to do this for awhile. This is the right time."
"Really?" puzzled Jeanne, pleasantly surprised, and not knowing what they could possibly give her.
"My dad and mom and everyone in the village love how you've tried to live, eat, work and play like us Nigerians. Aside from Jack and his family, few 'outlanders' have ever tried that. You're a special friend. So we made you something special."
Jeanne choked up and gave her friend a shy look, but managed to say in Igbo, "Thank you, Ndidi."
Each of the girls came forward and gave Jeanne a heartfelt hug, then presented to her either a decorated wrist or ankle bracelet. She also received several beautifully beaded or woven necklaces, and even a couple of rings the girls had made. Everything had been color-coordinated to match her tastes with her favorite colors. Only one boy came forward. Jack. He gave her a tender smile when he presented to her an extra bracelet for her left wrist that Jack that seemed fancier than the others. Finally, Ndidi motioned Jack to present her a simple strand of leather for around her waist that Jeanne knew completed a typical Nigerian female's outfit. He tied it off. They were very close, she smiled at him, and gave him a little peck on the lips, resulting in more amused snickers by their friends. To the cheers of the others, Jeanne modeled her complete Nigerian 'outfit' with a broad smile, and did an authentic Nigerian dance move to accent her new look, which brought even greater appreciation from the children. With her dark olive complexion and long, jet black hair, she really truly did look Nigerian, and her color nearly matched several of the children with lighter tones. Her brand new bracelets, anklets, rings, and necklaces clinked together like muted bells and chimes. Jeanne was delighted that her new adornments sounded exactly like the familiar sounds of the women and girls in the village. She was nearly overwhelmed emotionally with the attention the children gave her and all these special gifts.
Ndidi was not done. She announced in a royal tone that nearly matched her father's, "As the Nigerian Chief's daughter, today, dear friend Jeanne, by my dad's request, I say that you are an 'Honorary Nigerian.' You are now properly dressed like any Nigerian girl or woman should be in our village."
Jeanne teared up, looked everyone in the eye, and choked, "You're the best friends I ever had."
Ndidi and Jeanne hugged warmly as any real sisters would, and all the others joined them in a group hug. The exhilaration from the hug with her friends was a feeling she had never had before. She beamed a smile at Jack as she sat down and took his hand. Jeanne knew that this changed everything. She didn't feel naked at all. And she knew then she absolutely had to talk to her mother. But she was still afraid.
The kids continued to relax, but Jack and Jeanne went for a lazy walk around the pond and waded in the water up to their knees holding hands before they sat together on the water's edge with their feet ankle deep in the water, playing with each other's toes. They both laughed softly nudging each other and grooming the tangles out of the others wet hair. Jack discovered pleasantly that Jeanne had very ticklish feet. They were chatting about all kinds of things about life in the jungle, when they heard Tarzan's jungle yell for them from the village. Jeanne was startled hearing a noise she had never heard before, but Jack quickly calmed her. Everyone was silent and looked at Jack. They knew only he could understand exactly what that call meant.
"It's Dad. It's time to go, guys. I have to tell him we're on our way back," Jack smiled and stood up right next to Jeanne.
She watched him as he strained forward and called his own version of the jungle yell back that they'd start back to the village.
"That was impressive, Jack," she said and smiled as he sat down.
He shrugged, "My dad taught me. You should hear Mom, too, especially when she's angry at me. It's like a jungle radiotelegraph. We can find each other over great distances that way. And talk to many animals at once. Lily hasn't really figured it out yet. It always sounds like someone stepped on a cat when she tries. But Mom and I keep teaching her. I need practice anyway."
Jeanne laughed, but felt good that he was so kind and helpful to his baby sister. She put her arms around him, hugged him tight, and admitted, "I had a great time today jack. Swimming and everything was so much fun. Let's come back soon."
Jack was delighted, "Living in the jungle is great, Jeanne. It's much better than England."
She nodded emphatically in agreement.
He further admitted, "And with you here, it just got better."
Jeanne blushed but quickly agreed, "I could get very used to this, Jack, with all our Nigerian friends. And the Mangani… next time we come here, Jack, alone, teach me more about living as you gorillas do. I want to know."
It was a sincere offer and desire. He did not miss the fact she honored him being a Mangani ape.
But realizing they had to go back, she got worried again. Reality came crashing back. Today's activities were in direct defiance of her mother. She would likely be severely punished.
She stood up among them all still 'dressed' like all of them and said, "Friends. I've had a great time today, but please… you can't tell my Mom and Dad about today…"
She paused. This couldn't remain a secret. She realized she had to say something to her parents, especially since the Chief's daughter herself made Jeanne an Honorary Nigerian at Abassi's request. She knew she must behave Nigerian starting tomorrow. To do otherwise would be an insult to the Chief and to her friend. She knew Abassi would tell her parents about this unique honor soon. It might too late already. She had to be brave. She explained, "Not yet anyway… I… I need to take care of this my way before we all go play tomorrow as Nigerians."
There was a roar of approval from her friends.
As the other children assembled and put their jewelry on for the journey back, Jeanne examined all her pretty new adornments and asked, "Why the extra bracelet for my left arm, Jack?"
Jack instantly said, "Because it is a sign of a special friendship between a Nigerian boy and a girl, Jeanne."
"That's sweet, Jack," she admired it and noted it had hazel stones that matched her eyes and green ones that matched his. She blushed. He'd been working secretly on this for awhile.
She put her hands on Jack's rock hard shoulders and gave him a very serious look, "This means much more, doesn't it, jungle boy?"
Jack returned the grip on her delicate shoulders and her gaze, "Yes, Jeanne. It means we'll promise to always be les amis tres intimes."
The words he used were the words that meant a budding relationship between a girl and a boy. There was no real English word for it, though the American slang term 'going steady' was close. A thrill ran through them both.
"That's really sweet, Jack. Yes, I promise that. Very much."
They hugged and kissed again, letting their feelings rise, and admired her special jewelry from him, letting it jingle against the other jewelry, "Thank you for your bracelet Jack. I love it."
"And you", she thought, but was not brave enough to say it aloud.
She wondered if her mother and father experienced these feelings for each other so quickly – barely a couple of months - after they met, also as children. Her mom and dad met only a year older than she and Jack. She would ask her mother about their beginnings.
Jeanne and Jack lingered, letting the others run laughing ahead of them. Her expression changed to a sour look.
"What is it Jeanne?"
Despite the joy she had felt, Jeanne was fretting terribly inside again, and grabbed both of his hands in hers emphatically. Her mind was racing, and everything just spilled out. She needed more reassurance, "Jack. I'm still worried about what I did today. I don't know what to do now. Should I keep this a secret? Or should I tell Mama et Papa? Goodness, Jack… Ndidi made me a Nigerian today. Her dad is Chief. He decreed it. That means everything to me. And how can I say 'no'? I know tomorrow everyone is expecting me to wear my Nigerian 'clothes'. I do want to keep swimming and playing with you and our friends. I want to keep seeing you like this. I want to be with all of you every day, like… like a real Nigerian girl. Not just a guest that everyone likes, but is always an 'outsider'."
She buried her head on his shoulder. She was crying. Only a few moments ago she was laughing and smiling. Dealing with girls was a big challenge. But Jack willingly accepted the challenge of this one.
He lifted her chin and smiled gently at her, "Well, Jeanne. Secrets don't keep. Not for long. Moms and Dads always find out. And then there's a lot of crying and yelling. I think you should talk to your mom. If you really want to be Nigerian and live like us, then tell her you want to be Nigerian. I think she'll understand better than you think. Especially when tell your mom and dad that Chief Abassi and Ndidi made you Nigerian."
She tugged at her long hair nervously, "Do you really think she will? And Papa too?"
"Yes. She let you come here. That was harder to do. Yes, your dad will too," he said simply, and took her anxious hands in his and stroked her hair more tenderly.
"I… guess you're right. I will try, Jack," she noted encouragingly, but still sniffled a little.
Those powerful green eyes were there to support her.
She smiled a little brighter and added, "You know, if you hadn't told me your mom's story, today would have never happened, jungle boy."
"You wanted me to," he grinned. He knew she felt better if she could tease him again.
"Yes I did. Your mom's story is a lot like my story too," she said demurely.
In a moment of silence standing in admiration of each other, she admired her new bracelets, but especially the one from Jack as she felt the smoothness of the metal and stones. She savored his words describing the meaning of the bracelet he said earlier in a whisper back to him, "Les amis tres intimes pour toujours…"
He answered quietly, "Oui, chere copine."
Hearing that, she cuddled closer to him, she said with great satisfaction, "Merci, mon copain…"
In a moment of intimacy alone, they finally said the words everyone used but them. 'Very close friends forever'. 'Boyfriend' and 'girlfriend.' It all felt just right.
He smiled, kissed her, and they hugged. They knew they had to dress and leave, and although they didn't want to, the pair started back to the village. Nothing would be the same after today. Everything about their relationship was deeper and more emotional. She touched his hand and they naturally entwined fingers. They both smiled broadly at each other, and near the village she put her hair back up its bun and they entered their families' parts of the longhouse.
She knew she had to talk to her mother in the evening alone after dinner. Before someone congratulated her parents about her being Honorary Nigerian.
They returned to the village, and needed to go to their separate family areas in Abassi's longhouse. But she could hardly stand to be apart from Jack for even a moment, and prayed her mother's reaction wouldn't cause her parents to separate them forever. She drew the deepest breath in her life, and walked into the long house.