The Path to Peace

"I don't think so." The officer was not going to be easy, but I noticed he liked looking at me.

I leaned over to whisper in his ear, and give him a nice whiff of my perfume, "Let us go in and I'll buy you dinner."

He looked around, "I could get in big trouble for this."

"I promise, it will be OK, and we'll have a nice dinner." I gave him the best smile I could.

"OK, but at the first hint of trouble you're all out of there."

I looked over at Annie, standing off to the side. "Wait here, we'll be out soon."

As we walked through the door Scott stood with a surprised look on his face and said, "Giselle," then, seeing me he got even more surprised, "Helen? Mr. Norbert." Then looking back and forth between Giselle and me he asked, "What's going on?"

"Relax Scott, we're here to get to the truth." I answered.

"The truth is that I..." Scott started, but I interrupted him.

"Scott, just be quiet for a minute." I could see that Giselle kept her head down. She couldn't even look at Scott. I reached over and took one of Scott's hands in mine. "Mr. Norbert, could you go over and take Scott's other hand, please." Mr. Norbert was about to protest, but I persisted, "please, Mr. Norbert. Five minutes." He reluctantly walked over and took Scott's hand. "And now, Giselle, if you would take your father's other hand and my hand, please."

I had purposely positioned everyone so that Scott and Giselle didn't have to hold hands. "Let's all close our eyes. Try to clear our minds." I didn't know what to expect. I hadn't known what I was going to say before I said it. Instead of seeing darkness when I close my eyes I saw a room. It was as if I was in the room, in a corner. Into the room walked Scott and Giselle. They were talking and laughing, though I couldn't really make out what they were saying.

I realized I was looking at Giselle's bedroom. Scott and Giselle sat down on her bed. They were kissing passionately. I saw Scott's hand start to explore Giselle's chest. She not only didn't try to stop him, but she stopped kissing him unbuttoned her shirt. As Scott buried his head in her cleavage Giselle reached down and opened Scott's pants. She pulled his now erect penis out of his pants. Any second they were going to have sex, still mostly dressed. Suddenly in walked Mr. Norbert.

"What's going on?!" he bellowed.

Giselle was obviously startled. She jumped up and said, "Daddy, that goodness you're here. " She ran over to him and threw her arms around him. Then the scene faded out.

I opened my eyes. I could tell from the look in Giselle's, Mr. Norbert's and Scott's eyes that they had seen the same thing I had. I had been as clear as if we had been watching on TV. There was no doubt that Scott was innocent.

Mr. Norbert looked at Giselle. "Is this true?" he asked, "What I saw going on was consensual?"

"Daddy," Giselle stammered, "I was afraid of what you would do."

"So you were going to send this young man to jail just so you wouldn't get in trouble? We'll talk more about this at home. Scott, Mr. Schneider, I'm sorry. Detective, we won't be pressing charges."

The police officer looked confused. "What happened? What's going on?

"I'll tell you all about when you pick me up. Here's my phone number." I picked up a pen and wrote my number on his hand. "Call me for the dinner I owe you." We all left the interrogation room, and Annie fell in next to me as we headed for the door.

As we were walking out of the station, Scott was the first one to recover his wits. "What happened in there? I mean, thanks, but, what happened in there?"

We all stopped on the sidewalk outside the police station. Giselle, Scott and Mr. Norbert were looking at me. "You mean the vision?" I asked innocently.

"How did you do that?" Mr. Norbert asked directly.

"I didn't actually do it. I just sort of made it possible for it to be done." I answered, not quite sure how to explain it. "I sometimes have the ability to facilitate things."

"How?" Scott asked.

"I have a relationship. A friend of mine, Sally, " I started to explain, but Scott interrupted.

"Isn't that your friend who died last year?" he remembered.

"Yes, she did. I have been asked to help start a new movement, The Path to Peace."

Scott was now speaking for all three of them, "Who asked you?"

I knew it was truth time. "Well, God has asked me. Sally is helping me."

"So you talk to God?" Scott asked.

"I usually talk to Sally. But what we experienced today was from God." All three of them looked a little bit stunned. "Let's go somewhere where we can talk," I suggested.

The five of us got into Mr. Norbert's car and I directed them to Sanctuary. As we were riding I mouthed to Annie "call Mike," which she did. He arrived right behind us.

When we were all inside and sitting down comfortably, I told them the whole story, from the beginning.

"So let me get this straight," Mr. Norbert asked first, "sex is OK. We should engage in sex whenever possible, freely. Even worship through sex?"

"Yes. Mr. Norbert, before you interrupted Scott and Giselle, did it look like they were having a good time?"

"Call me Fred. Yes, they did but look what it led to. Lies and deceit."

I looked over at Giselle, "It only led to lies and deceit because she knew you would be angry with her. If she believed that you'd be happy that she was having a good time she wouldn't have lied to you, or the police."

"But what about a woman saving herself for her husband?" Fred was still finding objections.

"That's an artificial concept. Most husbands to be would gladly have sex with their future wives. And most do. We need to stoop thinking of a woman's body as 'used' just because she has had sex. What a husband and wife share is love, a deep emotional attachment. That may make the sex better, which is great. Just because I've had sex with Mike," I continued, gesturing towards Mike, "doesn't mean I can't love someone else. And if I do fall in love, should my husband think of me as damaged because I've had sex before?"

I could see that Fred was finally understanding, but wasn't yet sure. He asked, "This message comes from God. That's what you want me to take on faith?"

"No," I replied, "not on faith. And I don't want to convince you of anything. Look inside yourself. Ask yourself what you witnessed today. If you decide that you believe, then we'd love to have you join us. If not, that's OK too."

Fred had visibly relaxed. "You don't believe in hard-sell, do you?" he asked.

"I'm not selling anything. I just point out the path. Those who with to take it are welcome to. "

Scott got down to business. "So, what do we have to do to join? How much, or what."

"First of all, to answer the cynical 'how much' question, the answer is zero. You don't pay to believe or to join. But, you must show us, the members, that you are sincere."

Giselle finally spoke up. "How?"

"By demonstrating that you can free yourself. Our new members demonstrate their openness by masturbating for the assembled congregation." I could see they were all a little bit taken back by that. The thought of masturbating in front of us was enough to make each of them run away.

"Before I would ever think of any of you taking that step, I would like to have you observe us as we congregate. We all try to congregate on Saturday. You're invited to come back this Saturday at 11:00 to see how we worship. Then, when you're ready, if ever, you can join us in worship."

We talked for a while longer. Scott, Giselle and Fred left together, all promising to come back Saturday. I turned to Mike and Annie, "I came here hours ago to talk to Sally. If you two don't mind, that is what I'd like to do now." I stood up and undressed.

"Enjoy" Mike said from his seat on the couch.

I went back to the place I had been on the mattresses hours before and started to caress myself. As I got more excited, Sally arrived. "So, looks lie you've got some more recruits."

I realized that was why I had wanted to talk to her in the first place. "Couldn't you tell me what was going to happen?" I asked.

"I didn't know. But you followed your instincts and it all worked out."

"Will they all come back?" I wondered.

"I don't know. They don't know yet. They all witnessed your connection, but they're not sure. I suspect they'll show out of curiosity."

"I hope. So, what's next?" I always asked this, and never got a real answer.

"If they join you will have made more progress than you realize. Just relax and enjoy yourself till Saturday."

"I think I will." A great load had been lifted, at least for now.

As I came out of my orgasmic state I saw Mike and Annie. They were on the mattresses too, feverishly engaged in a 69. I was so content from my own orgasm I just lay there and watched them make love. It was so beautiful.

I got to Sanctuary early on Saturday. I wanted to make sure we were ready. Mike, Grace and I were sitting around in bathrobes talking when Giselle and Fred arrived. I got up and gave each of them a kiss on the cheek. "Please sit. Relax. We'll get started as soon as Annie gets here."

Just then Annie arrived with Scott. I was very happy. I kissed Scott on the cheek and gave Annie a big hug.

"Let me get into a bathrobe," Annie said. Then, without missing a beat she stripped off her clothes, hung them up and put on a bathrobe. I could tell that Fred and Giselle were a little bit surprised by Annie's casual nudity. Annie joined Mike and Grace on the mattresses. I walked to the middle of them and dropped my robe.

Standing totally naked in front of everyone, I began. "I'd like to welcome our guests. As I told you the first step down the Path to Peace is to get comfortable with your body and with pleasure. These meetings are very unstructured. We talk about our lives. We talk about how our journey along the Path is affecting our lives. We are also free to express ourselves in whatever physical way we choose. This morning I will be masturbating. I have decided on this type of physical expression this morning to show our guests that we are serious about shedding our shame. I want each of you to feel free to express yourselves any way you'd like either during my example, or after."

I sat down and started to masturbate. I could tell that Scott, Fred and Giselle were a little bit shocked. I also quickly noticed that Scott was very excited. Before I got lost in my glow I saw Annie take Scott's hand and escort him onto the mattresses.

Sally was in a playful mood. "Mind if I join in?" she asked. She lay down next to me.

"Not at all." She and I kissed and caressed. For quite a while we explored each other's bodies with our fingers and tongues. We both had wonderful orgasms. We then held each other for a little while. "You know, it's been a long time since you got laid." Sally said, breaking the silence.

"I know. But somehow, Mike and I haven't been meshing lately. Physically at least."

"There are other guys, you know."

"I haven't really found anyone else yet." I really hadn't been looking.

"There is always that nice cop you met. "

"Actually, I have a date with him tonight. Thanks for reminding me."

"My pleasure. You'd better get back to the world."

I came out of my glow to see Annie giving Mike a blow-job on the mattress next to me. I lay there and watched as his hips bucked. I could tell from his motions and her reaction when he unloaded his seamen into her mouth. Annie swallowed it all. Giselle and Fred both looked mesmerized.

The three of us got up. Annie and I put on our robes. Scott asked, "Got another robe I can borrow?" I gave him one of the extras I had around.

As we all sat down Fred asked, "Do you have to put on a show? To join, I mean."

"It's not a show, Fred." I tied to explain, "It's a way to show the rest of us that you are willing to expand your ideas. It's showing a willingness to take the first step down the Path to Peace. The Path can only be followed publicly, in front of others on the Path."

Giselle stood up, and without saying a word she walked to the center of the mattresses and stripped naked. She grabbed some of the pillows around, lay down, got comfortable and immediately started to masturbate. I could tell Fred was uncomfortable with watching his daughter masturbate. I went over and sat next to him. I spoke to him softly, "Fred, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. You daughter is a young woman. What she's doing is perfectly normal. As her father, focus on the fact that she's experiencing a lot of pleasure right now. There's nothing dirty about it."

"This is going to take a while for me to get used to," he answered, but he didn't get up or turn away.

Mike's breathing was getting a little rapid. I wasn't surprised when he got up, dropped his robe, sat down and started to stroke himself. Watching Mike pleasure himself was very enjoyable. Sitting next to Fred I noticed that he too was getting aroused. I guessed that he was finally getting used to it all.

Giselle's cries of pleasure started to subside about the same time that Mike achieved orgasm. Watching my oldest disciple and my newest masturbate at the same time made me feel happy. We were getting somewhere.

"Grace, you've been awfully quiet this morning. Is everything OK?" I was actually surprised that she hadn't joined in either alone or with Mike.

"I'm fine, Helen. I have a date tonight and I find that if I have sex during the day I'm a little bit too sensitive at night. It's better if I wait."

"You know that's fine too."

Fred's excitement had passed, and he again had questions. "So, I just watched my daughter masturbate. Is it OK to have sex with her." I could tell from the tone of his voice that the very idea of that bothered him.

"The short answer to that Fred, is 'no'." I needed to explain some things to everyone at this point. "The long answer is this. Intercourse between 'first tier' relatives is forbidden. That includes parents and children; and brothers and sisters. Having said that, giving a close relative an orgasm is not strictly forbidden. Obviously, any contact between an adult and a minor is strictly forbidden. But, anything between consenting adults, with the exception of actual intercourse between 'first tier' relatives is perfectly OK. While we're on the subject of what's OK, during heterosexual sex birth control is strongly recommended, except when both partners are interested in having a baby. "

I had given them a lot to think about. The discussion moved away from The Path to Peace and into the normal daily stresses. I was chatting with Grace when Fred came up to me. "Can we talk, in private?" he asked.

"Sure. Let's go over there." I pointed to a corner area away from everyone else. "What can I do for you, Fred?"

"You mentioned birth control for heterosexual couples." I nodded. "How do you feel about homosexuals?"

I was beginning to understand him a little better. "Fred, we welcome people no matter what their sexual preference is. Our only rule is that sex needs to be consensual. There is nothing wrong with two or more men giving each other pleasure, or two or more women. "

"So you would accept a gay man into this Sanctuary." He still needed reassurance.

"Not just accept, but welcome. Gay's can feel at home here. They are not tolerated, but embraced. We embrace diversity of all types."

"I'm not sure how my daughter would react."

"She doesn't know you're gay? Why don't you tell her?"

Fred started to protest that he wasn't gay, but instead asked, "How did you know?"

"You didn't get excited till Mike started to masturbate. Then all your questions. It wasn't hard. Giselle's mother, does she know?"

"Her mother died when she was very young. Yes, she knew. She divorced me when she found out. Then, a year later she died in a car accident. I've never told Giselle."

"Told me what?" Giselle had come up behind us. I don't think she meant to eaves drop, she just saw the two of us talking and was curious.

Fred looked at me, then said to Giselle, "We were talking about sexual preferences. Did you realize that The Path to Peace embraces homosexuals on an equal basis with heterosexuals."

Giselle wasn't fazed. "I would have assumed that, from what I've learned so far."

"So, being around gay people wouldn't bother you?" Fred explored.

"No. Should it?" she countered.

I could see Fred had made a decision. He asked, "What would you say if I told you I was gay?"

"Finally!" Giselle said, "I thought you'd never tell me!" She gave Fred a big kiss.

Now he was confused. "You knew?"

"Daddy, I'm not stupid. You've always watched guys walk by, not women. Somehow, I've always known."

Fred couldn't believe it. "So why didn't you say anything?"

"I figured when you were ready to tell me you would. No more secrets, OK?"

Fred agreed.

"So Fred," I changed the subject, sort of. "If you're going to join our little community I'd like your help."

"What would you like me to do?"

"It's easy for me to embrace the gay community, but it's hard for me to address their issues. I want you to be my guide and liaison to the gay community. Make sure I don't offend them accidentally. At the same time help me recruit gay members. I don't want a token or two. I want this Sanctuary to represent the world as it is."

"Now that I'm out. I'll se what I can do." Fred promised.

The Family Grows Again

That evening, as I was getting ready for my date with Joe Kingston (the police detective from the other day), I was trying to figure out how to explain to him what had happened in the interrogation room. I had promised him dinner, and had offered to explain why Giselle and Fred had suddenly dropped the charges. I had no idea what I could tell him that wouldn't seem like I was crazy. Even worse, I'm sure that the entire scene had been witnessed through the one-way glass. To an observer the four of us joined hands. Then after a few minutes of silence, we all opened our eyes and agreed to leave together. Joe wasn't going to take some lame excuse.

He knocked on the door promptly at 7:00. I was ready, and since Annie wasn't home I answered the door. For a moment I was surprised at how nice Joe looked. I had only seen him at work, and even then I had other things on my mind. Now he was dressed for a date. He wore all black. I could tell just by the way he carried himself that he was very muscular underneath the shirt.

"Good evening Joe," I motioned for him to come in, "I'll be ready in a second."

As he entered he commented, "You look very nice."

"Thanks." I had worried that what I was wearing was too casual. I was in a skirt and silk t-shirt. I put a blazer on, and was ready. "Let's go."

"Now that's what I like," Joe commented as he opened the door, "a woman who's ready on time."

As we walked down the hall Joe confirmed that it was going to be a tough night. He didn't waste any time, "You going to tell me what happened at the station?"

I decided not to play dumb, but I didn't want to get into it until I could look at his reaction. "Patience Joe. I'll explain everything at the restaurant, over dinner." Now, if I only knew what I was going to say.

As Joe held the car door for me, I asked, "So, is the only reason you asked me to dinner to satisfy you're curiosity?"

He laughed and said, "No. Actually, you asked me out if I remember the deal. "

"True." I agreed.

"But you intrigue me. Not just what went on in the interrogation room, but even being able to convince that girl and her father to go in there with you. You could convince a rattler out of his fangs."

"Interesting expression," I thought. "So, where're we going?"

"A little bistro I know of. Excellent food. Fairly small, with good service, and it's fairly casual. It's a good place to talk."

I decided to needle him a little. "Do you take all your dates there?"