Saga of the Harris Clan

© 2011 by Walt Fergus. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 12/20/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4685-0637-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-0636-5 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011961198

Printed in the United States of America

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John and Susan Harris having filled their commitment to the Clan. In return as promised the Clan watches over and protect them and all their offspring, including the bonding of the Harris male to any female that results in the passing of body fluids between the male and female i.e. As with open mouth kisses. This follows the lives of the Harris family’s through the good and not so good times as children the grow up, marry and have families of their own.

Sara Harris received a telephone call from a church asking if she was still interested in going to Mexico with the church work group if she was going she should apply to get her passport. The church furnished a list of items that were mandatory to be taken. She told them yes, she wanted to go and she had her parents permission. She had everything required when it was time to leave.

Sara was excited and wrote home regularly telling of all the new things that she saw, what they were doing, with photos of the building as it progressed. She was learning Spanish and was working hard.

Sara had been gone a month when her letters began to be farther apart. In one of her letters she mentioned that she was now working with a cute young man. Inquires about the cute young man from her mother did not bring any response from her daughter. A couple more short notes arrived then nothing.

When Alice got no reply from her letters and the letters started being returned, she became very concerned and called the church that sent the group out. The secretary at the church was surprised that Sara was not home, as she had received word from the group leader that Sara had quit. Sara had told the supervisor that she had an emergency at home and needed to leave. Sara had left the church site a month ago and the secretary thought that Alice had been notified. Alice called the police, notifying them that her daughter was missing. The police had her submit a missing person report. They would let her know if they found out anything.

Susan Harris called her daughter-in-law. Had Alice heard anything from her daughter? What had the church any more information other than Sara was supposed to have left because of an emergency at home? Alice told her that she had heard nothing more either from the church group or the police and promised to let Alice know if she hear any thing.

Sara had been missing for almost six months when the phone rang. Alice, answered it. There was a pause, Mother, it’s Sara.

Sara honey where are you? Are you all right, where have you been? Your father and I have been very worried about you, Alice said.

I’m at the bus depot. Can I come home? Sara asked.

Yes, baby come home. You take a cab and come right home, Alice said.

I don’t have any money and I’m not very clean. Could you come pick me up, please, Mother?

I’ll meet you out in front of the depot in thirty minutes. Alice grabbed her purse and keys, trying not to break too many speed laws on the way to the bus depot. She was lucky a car pulled out of a parking space just as she was driving up. She looked around but didn’t see her daughter. The only person she saw at the entrance to the bus depot was a very pregnant young woman in dirty ragged clothes.

No Sara. Maybe she was still in the depot. Alice knew that she was just a little earlier than she had told her daughter. As she got out of the car and started towards the depot entrance she heard a voice. Mother.

She turned toward the voice. It was Sara.

I’m sorry Mother, but I could not go on any farther. I used the last of my money to get here and I haven’t eaten in four days. Will you let me come home? Sara pleaded.

Get in the car. I will get you a milkshake at the drive in. It will help until we get home and I will fix something for you to eat. Alice stopped at a drive-in and got a small milkshake for Sara on the way home.

Go clean up. Take a bath; wash your hair. Do you need help? I will fix some soup and help you if you need anything, Alice said. Tina will be home very soon. She can fix you something more to eat."

Alice insisted that Sara take a warm shower, and helped Sara wash her hair. After Sara was clean, Alice insisted that Sara spend some time in the hot tub.

Tina was surprised when she came home and found Sara there. Alice asked Tina if she would fix Sara some soft boiled eggs to eat and milk to drink.

After Sara finished eating, Alice, Tina and Sara sat at the table and said nothing. No one questioned Sara. Finally Sara could not stand it any longer and broke out crying. Alice took her by the hand, took her into Sara’s bedroom and put her to bed. Alice sat down beside the bed and held Sara’s hand until she finally went to sleep.

What happened? Tina asked.

I didn’t ask. She is in no condition to answer too many questions right now, Alice replied.

When James arrived home he wanted to know why Alice had not called and told him that Sara was home. Where was she now?

Tina and I have been very busy, Sara is not well. She hasn’t had much sleep, hadn’t eaten for three or four days, and she is very pregnant, Alice said.

Where is her husband? James asked.

We don’t know. She was in no shape to tell us anything, other than ask if she could she come home, Alice said.

That night Tina and Alice took turns sitting beside Sara and held her hand as she sobbed in her sleep. Sara slept for eighteen hours straight. Tina washed the clothes that Sara had worn home but the clothes were so worn and torn Alice threw them out. Neither Alice or Tina had any clothes that would fit Sara, so they settled for dad’s bath robe.

When Sara woke up she was hungry. Alice fed her chicken soup as that was all Sara was able to swallow. Alice sat and watched Sara eat, but did not say or ask her anything.

Sara hung her head, I’m sorry mama, I made a terrible mistake, can you forgive me?

Take your time baby but tell me what happened, Alice told her.

"While I was in Mexico, I wasn’t that happy doing the work that they assigned to me, or the way we were housed. I told the leader of the church work team that I wanted to go home. The leader had kept our passports and would not let us have them. He told me that we came as a group, we would finish the job, then go home as a group. I met a man who said he was down there on a buying trip. He was real good to me and even bought me some things. I complained to him that I wanted to go home. He offered to take me across the border, but I would have to get home from there on my own. I met him one evening and ask him to take me back to the states when he went again. He did, and left me in Laredo. I hitchhiked for a while, then run out of money. I got a job waiting tables. It was a good job and I was getting good tips. After I had been working at the restaurant for a while, one of the regular customers that was real friendly asked me for a date. Three dates later, he ask me to marry him. One night I had a bad day at the restaurant and he was so comforting, he made me feel much better. I moved in with him. That night, he asked me to marry him again, I said yes and slept in his bed from then on. He told me that he was married, and his wife was divorcing him. The divorce was to be final in a month, then we could get married.

There was always a problem. The divorce date was pushed back another month. I found out from a friend, the man was married and there was no divorce. It seemed that his wife traveled a lot for her employer. When she was traveling he would pick up a young woman, gave her this divorce story, and move her in to his bed. When his wife was home, he would tell whoever he was living with at the time, that he was traveling. I moved out while he was ‘traveling’ and started hitchhiking home," Sara said.

Three guys picked me up and would not let me go. They took me to a house, and raped me a lot. One night they got so drunk they didn’t tie me up or lock my door. I stole their money and left. It was just enough to buy a bus ticket here, Sara said. Then she broke down and cried.

You’re home. I am glad, and I’m sure James and Tina are glad, too. Don’t worry we will take care of you. Tomorrow we will get a doctor’s appointment, and have you and the baby checked out, making sure that everything is all right. Tina is shopping for some clothes for you now. After the doctors appointment, we will take you shopping. Then you can get whatever else you need. Alice said.

Alice made a doctor’s appointment, explaining why. The doctor would see her first thing in the morning.

Sara was there at the appointed time. While the examination was being performed, Alice did the necessary paper work.

Other than malnutrition and thankfully no sexual diseases, Sara was fine, and it appeared that the baby would be fine also. The doctor told them that the baby was due in about two months.

Alice was surprised the baby was due so soon. Sara had only been gone a little over seven months. Could that have been the payment to get back to the states or was there another reason she wanted to come home?

Alice and Tina went back to work while Lilly watched Sara.

For the rest of the time until the baby came Sara was a very subdued young woman. She went into labor early on a Sunday morning. James and Alice rushed her to the hospital, but it was almost noon on Tuesday when a baby boy was born. She named him Nathan.

When James saw the baby he was shocked. The baby was black. It was his daughter’s child, he was part of the family regardless. Alice was a little more upset but she agreed with James. Sara was their daughter, and she and her child would be welcomed back into the family with love.

Alice had a day off but was back at work on Tuesday. Everything was in a mess. A major project that was supposed to start was on hold. Everything had been completed before beginning, the plans checked, and all the necessary documentation completed. Construction was supposed to start immediately. However the customer changed his mind just as construction was starting. There were a couple of major changes to be made that required a new set of plans and change in some of the documentation. Then he insisted that the revised plans be ready to go to construction in two days.

Overtime was authorized. Alice and her crew worked all afternoon and most of the night on the revised plans. Then another crew did the documentation, while Alice and her crew went home to sleep. Alice returned to the office before closing time. She and the other team chief went back over the documentation. When they both agreed, both signed off, and delivered the project to the mail room for the contractor to pick up. She was just finishing putting everything away so she could go home, when Tina called. Alice are you about ready to come home? Charlie’s at the bus station and needs a ride home.

All right Tina. I was just getting ready to leave, I will swing by the station and pick him up, Alice said.

Her driver, JAK, was waiting at the curb with the car for her as she came out of the office, JAK we have to go by the bus depot and pick up Charlie, Alice said.

Charlie and two very pregnant women were standing at the loading zone when they pulled in.

Alice opened the door so Charlie could get in. There was not enough room in the car for Charlie and the two women, with their luggage. JAK managed to fit all the baggage into the trunk. Charlie rode in the front seat with the driver and the two young women sat in back with Alice.

Alice, these two women are my wives Tina Marie and Marra. Ladies this is Ms. Alice, my mother’s sister wife. It was a very silent ride to the house. JAK unloaded the luggage and took it into the house.

Mothers, this is Tina Marie, just like your name, and this is Marra. They are my wives, as he pointed to each woman.

When did this happen? Tina asked.

We have been married a year, in two different states. They have marriage certificates to prove that they are married.

What happened to school, and the part time job you told me about? ask Tina.

I was dropped for poor grades and not attending classes. I had a good job. Now I have lost my job, and both of my wives have lost their jobs. They can’t work now until after the babies are born. The rent was due and we had just enough money for three bus tickets here, Charlie said.

Lily, set out three more settings for supper, Alice said.

"Charlie, your room is the only one that is not in use now. The three of you are going to have to make do until we can arrange something better. Take