Chapter 2: Mother Teaches with Pleasure and Punishment
The next afternoon Asher's graduation open house had finally arrived. There were rows of tables arranged in the front yard of Asher's house. A white canopy was waiting to shield guests from the burning rays of the sun. There was a large banner that read, "Congratulations Asher-Class of 2122".
Soon, Asher was standing out front, greeting guests as they arrived. He said hello to many family and friends, some he didn't even recognize.
He recognized his Grandma Karrah instantly. She was Abigail's mother. Asher could tell where his mother's looks came from. At the age of eighty five years she was well past her prime but you wouldn't know it. Her mind was sharp and she was healthy as most women half her age. Asher always liked spending time with her as a child.
He saw Grandma Karrah approaching and then he noticed Skye not far behind. It occurred to him that he had never had the opportunity to introduce the pair.
As Karrah reached the canopy Asher gave her a warm hug. He said, "It's so good to see you Grandma Karrah."
Karrah smiled and said, "You too Asher. I swear you get taller whenever we are apart, or maybe I'm shrinking!"
Asher stepped back and said, "You're not shrinking Grandma, I do think I've grown since we were together."
Asher turned and motioned to Skye. Grandma, I don't believe you've ever met my close friend Skye. This is Skye Winslow. Skye, this is my Grandma Karrah, she's my mother's, mother."
Skye extended her hand to Karrah and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Uh."
Karrah shook Skye's hand and said, "It's Mrs. Antioch, but please call me Karrah."
Skye nodded and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you Karrah."
Karrah looked Skye up and down. She said, "Asher, how come you never told me about this lovely young lady?"
Asher's face reddened slightly and he said, "Oh well uh, grandma, I uh..."
Skye interrupted, "Well I've been away at college so I don't think Asher thought about me too much."
Skye smiled at Asher and said, "But he and I will be at the same college this fall."
Karrah smiled and said, "Well that's marvelous. You and I need to discuss this over lunch. I'm going to visit with my daughter for a few minutes but then I'm going to find a spot under the canopy to eat. Would you care to join me?"
Skye's eyes opened wide and she smiled at Karrah. Then she looked at Asher. Asher said, "That's a great idea. I won't have time to eat anyway, plus you two can get acquainted."
Skye looked at Karrah and said, "We'll then it's a date. I'll see you in a few minutes."
Karrah walked away and Skye smiled at Asher. She said, "Well Asher, congratulations are in order. How does it feel to be a high school graduate and now a university student?"
Asher took a deep thoughtful breath. He said, "It feels great. I liked high school but I'm really looking forward to college."
Skye noticed more people approaching. She looked at Asher and said, "I'm looking forward to it as well. We should spend more time together this summer."
Asher nodded and said, "Absolutely."
Skye said, "Well, it's time for me to get to know grandma Karrah."
Skye turned to walk away, looked back over her shoulder and said, "Call me."
Asher nodded and said, "I will."
A short time later, Skye was carrying her plate of food and scanned the tables. She spotted Asher's grandmother sitting alone. She went over and said, "There you are Mrs. Antioch. Mind if I join you?"
Karrah looked up. She said, "It's Karrah, remember? I've been waiting for you young lady. Sit, sit."
Skye took the seat directly across the table from Asher's grandma.
Karrah said, "So you and my Asher will be going to school together in the fall?"
Skye nodded and said, "That's right. I'll be a junior and he'll be a freshman."
Karrah smiled and said, "Well I am, of course biased, but Asher is a very fine young man."
"Oh, I agree, and he's rather easy on the eyes," Skye quipped.
Karrah laughed and said, "Oh yes, good looks run in the family, biased again I know."
Skye countered, "Oh no, no, you are right."
Karrah nodded and said, "Yes, it's true. We had good genes even before scientists knew how to edit them, or whatever it is they do now."
Skye cautiously corrected Asher's grandma. She said, "Well, actually it's not legal to edit genes to alter appearance or gender, it's only legal to eliminate disease or birth defects."
Karrah said, "Well, that may be so, but it's perfectly fine to mess with intimacy."
Skye knew that Karrah was referring to the erection inhibitor but she didn't want to discuss it with Asher's grandmother. It was a hotly debated political topic.
Skye tried to think of a new subject but Karrah continued, "My parents had it easy with me. I was born just before people decided to meddle in gene biology. Two years after I was born, the erection inhibitor decree was passed by the world health organization. My sister was four years younger than me. Her birth had to be sanctioned."
Skye said, "So you must have been born before the year 2039."
Karrah nodded and said, "You know your history young lady. I was born in 2037, two years before the erection management decree took effect."
Skye nodded and said, "So you have a younger sister?"
Karrah frowned and said, "Had; I lost her a couple years ago."
Skye frowned as well and said, "I'm so sorry."
Karrah looked thoughtfully to the distance and said, "I feel fortunate to have had a sister. Nowadays couples are only allowed to have one child, there are no more siblings. After her, our parents weren't allowed to have any more children. It was the same with me."
Skye smiled and said, "I agree. I would have loved to have a sister or brother but the world population was getting out of control so I understand."
Karrah said, "Yes it's true. I suppose it's for the best, but population control got off to a rocky start. I had difficulty getting pregnant. I didn't have Abigail until I was almost fifty."
Skye smiled and said, "Well I'm glad you kept trying, because she grew up and had Asher."
Karrah nodded and said, "Yes, he's a handsome young man," she took a drink of her lemonade and said, "So, what are you studying in college?"
Skye said, "I've just declared my major. I'm going to be a geneticist."