“What do you suggest then? They’re making friends, and at some point will want to do teenage things, how do you plan to keep them locked up?”
“Goddess above, Jasmine, they’re not in prison! And I need your help to develop a strategy, not your sarcasm. If you want me to say I didn’t think it through when I demanded they attend my schools, consider it said. Now, let’s think how we can fix this without putting our pups and the Nation at risk.”
Narrowing her eyes at him produced no response. “Right now I can’t think of anything. I’ll explain they can’t accept the invitations they’ve received and tell them why. Also, I’ll say they can start attending day parties when their mental links come online and if we approve the public location. No house parties. That’ll buy us some time to come up with solutions by the time they’re teens. But understand this, if they choose to go away to college, they’re going.” She wouldn’t hinder her children from learning all they could and reaching for the stars.
Silas grunted as his eyes returned to the blue-greenish mixture. “By then, they’ll be able to fully defend themselves and will only need one guard to watch their backs.”
“We’ll see.” As necessary as these discussions over the children were, they drained her. Silas looked at things from one perspective, which often clashed with hers. One of the reasons the twins were so well adjusted stemmed from the fact she’d allowed them freedom to explore, within boundaries, and communicated with them every day on the differences between right and wrong as they grew.
“Jarcee says my princesses enjoy their self-defense training, take to it as naturally as the boys. I want my girls to kick ass just like my boys.” He pulled her close, his hardness pulsed against her.
“So they said. Jackie surprised me by how much she likes that class, it’s her favorite.”
“Oh, what about Adam? Gym?”
“Yes. All he talks about is playing sports.”
“He’s a team player, which is important in the pack. Renee’s is art, what’s David’s favorite class?”
“Computers. He asked for a real one, not like the ones in the nursery. I told him I’d talk to you and get back with him. Maybe for Christmas?” She looked at him.
“That’s months away, why not get him one now?”
“Silas, a computer is expensive.”
“What?”
Seeing his frown, she patted his chest. “Hear me out. He just started school, there are computers there for him to use. If this obsession for a computer continues, then he can have one as a Christmas gift. The kids don’t get whatever they want, when they want it, just because we can afford it. I won’t have spoiled brats.”
His frown deepened. “Spoiled? Brats? Why? Because we buy him a computer? Help me understand.”
“The first day they came home from school, Renee asked for cell phone because she saw a kid with one in their class. When I asked who she planned to call, she admitted no one. One of the boys told Adam he should get a pair of sneakers like his and showed him the price tag of $100. Adam actually asked if I would buy them. And that was the first day.”
“Money’s not an issue we can afford it, Jasmine. Although I’m not sure about the kids having phones, those can be tracked.”
She ground her teeth and stabbed him in the chest with her finger. “Damn it, Silas you’re missing the point, several points. It makes no sense to pay that much for shoes or clothes that they will outgrow in a month or two, I don’t care how much money we have. The parents who give cell phones to their children probably work far distances and use that as a means to stay in touch until they can pick up their children from wherever they are after school. Rese and Rone didn’t have cell phones until they started playing sports and had to remain after school so they could call me to pick them up. Phones are not toys.”
“Calm down, Jasmine, you made your point.”
“No,
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley