Ecstasy Island/The Kensington Family/8

Yoarke and his staff expertly guided the family back to their huts. Alex and Marci went back to their hut, and Nathan, Nuhri, and Amber back to the parent's hut. Nathan passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow. He woke in the morning to delicious smells permeating the hut. He saw Nuhri at the fireplace roasting some small birds. Amber watched her intently as Nuhri showed the four year old what she was doing. Nathan was concerned for Amber for a moment, but it seemed that Nuhri had Amber's safety at the forefront of her mind. As in many primitive cultures, it seemed that Nuhri was much more mature than one has come to expect of her age. He still wasn't sure how he was going to deal with having a twelve year old wife when he went back to the States, however.

Yoarke and the resort staff arrived with breakfast, and the family once again assembled. Yoarke had a parrot resting on his right shoulder. As the porters laid out the meal, Yoarke addressed the family.

"I've a little present for you," he said. He put his hand up to allow the bird to climb on, then pointed it to Nuhri's shoulder. The parrot climbed onto Nuhri's shoulder, and settled in. "This is Babel. He knows almost every language known to man. He will serve as your translator and tutor while you are on the island. He is a very good instructor, so hopefully, by the time you leave you will both know enough of the other's language that you can carry on from there yourselves."

Babel said some words in the native language, to which Nuhri said, "Beli nuzo, Babel."

"You're welcome, kinslayer," said Babel as he looked at the birds that she had roasted. "I kid," he added quickly, "I didn't know those guys, skwark!"

"Given the circumstances," said Yoarke as Babel translated for Nuhri, "I thought I should come in person. We can give you some time to settle in to your new family dynamic, or we can continue with the planned activities. Which do you prefer?"

"I think that we'll have enough time between activities to figure things out," said Nathan. "I believe today was the split bonding experience, boy's day and girl's day?"

"Yes indeed," said Yoarke. "Today is all about bonding with the family members of the same gender. Instead, you and Alex will spend the day together, and Nuhri, Marci, and Amber will spend the day together. I would like to make a little suggestion, however."

"What is that?" said Nathan.

"I think that this experience would be more effective if you were willing to forget your relationship with your son for the duration. This would allow you to bond without all of the baggage we accumulate in a familial relationship. If you did so, of course you would regain all of your memories once the day ends."

"I suppose that couldn't hurt," said Nathan. "If you think it would help I'll give it a shot."

"Well then," said Yoarke, "let's get you closer as a family!"

Girls Day

Boys Day

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Author note: Suggestions on the course of this story are welcome. I'm developing the story as I go, and some input would be helpful right now. --Elerneron (talk)