Chapter 105 - Misunderstanding

The Shinn girls were growing up so fast or at least that was how it seemed to Delia and Cordell. Especially Jewel. She was a huge help with her younger sisters and loved taking care of Corrie, even pitching in to help keep the house clean even though, unbeknownst to her, her father could do it with a simple clap of his hands.


It should have come as no surprise when Jewel asked if a boy she had met at school, Hanson Gilbert, could come to their Holiday Party.

Delia thought it was sweet, she had been here before, but Cordell didn't like the idea of Jewel having a boyfriend and when Delia said "Of course sweetheart!" he just scowled.

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The day of the party came and everyone dressed up.  After their guests arrived, they all gathered around to unwrap their gifts. Alia and Joy got the 'keys' to new bicycles for each of them to ride to school on the nicer days.

Cordell gave his wife a new negligee. She just giggled when she opened the gift and turned red in front of her daughter's guest.











Delia gave Cordell a much more practical gift.  A new watch.

Next, it was Jewel's turn to get her present that Hanson had given her. As she picked up his gift she looked at him a little too seductively for a 16 year old.  The look didn't go unnoticed by Cordell and it was all he could do to stay seated.

Fortunately, the gift was innocent enough, a scrapbook for her school mementos. That was all Cordell could take and quickly decided the party was over and escorted Hanson out the door much to Jewel's dismay.

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Later that week, Jewel invited Hanson to come home from school with her. She felt so bad about the way her father had acted at the party and wanted to make it up to him. When they got there, she sent Joy and Alia upstairs to watch television in her parents room so she and Hanson could watch TV downstairs - alone.

Her father was in the basement working out, baby Corrie was asleep and her mom was at work.

After getting rid of all distractions, Jewel turned on the TV and she and Hanson sat down together. It didn't take long for him to reach over and put his arm around Jewel. Then when he began to kiss her she lost all sense of anything else around her. The only thing that existed in that moment was her and Hanson and his lips on hers.

That turned out to be a huge mistake. The next thing she knew her father had come up from the basement and started yelling.

"JEWEL SHINN!!!!" yelled Cordell as he walked into the room.

Hanson jumped up and started stammering.

Cordell stuck his finger in Hanson's face and screamed, "Just what do you think you are doing taking advantage of my daughter like that and what kind of an example is that for her younger sisters! Get out!"


"Daddy! No!" exclaimed Jewel.

"I will talk to you later young lady!" said Cordell angrily as he turned and walked off in a huff.

Joy heard the yelling and ran downstairs to see what was going on. She sat down on the couch afraid to say anything just watching. She had never heard her father yell like that at anyone.

"Hanson, I am sorry. I just got caught up in the moment. You don't hate me do you?" asked Jewel apologetically.

"No, but next time I come over make sure he isn't here. I gotta run before he literally kicks me out the door. See you at school Jewel," said Hanson as he left as fast as he could.

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Not only did the yelling bring Alia and Joy downstairs, it also woke up Corrie. Jewel went to pick her up and calm her. When her father walked in the room she let him have it while she tried to console Corrie.

"How dare you yell at Hanson like that. You not only upset him, you also upset Joy and Alia and woke up YOUR baby!" yelled Jewel and added, "That I am taking care of!"

Cordell was incensed at her comments and began to yell, "Don't you talk to me that way young lady. I am your father and you shall respect me! You and that boy were all over each other! I thought you had better sense than that. I forbid you to see him anymore."

"I will see him if I want to!" replied Jewel defiantly, "YOU can't stop me. And don't talk to me about being 'all over' each other. We were only kissing. You and mom are on each other all the time. God, you practically have sex in front of everyone!"

Cordell was shocked. "WHAT did you just say to me? You are grounded! Don't you ever talk about your mother like that. Would you rather we were fighting all the time? God, Jewel.We are MARRIED consenting adults. I adore your mother. YOU, on the other hand, are 16. You are not married and too young to be carrying on like that - ESPECIALLY in front of your little sisters."

"I - I am sorry...That just came out," said Jewel as she began to cry.

"Still," said Jewel through tears, "We weren't doing anything wrong. Only kissing. Please Daddy, don't tell me I can't see him anymore. I really like him. I am really sorry for the things I said."

Corrie was clinging to Jewel almost ready to cry. Cordell tried to take her from Jewel, but she just clung even tighter to Jewel shrinking away from Cordell saying, "No, Jewjew!"

Jewel just looked at her father. "See what you are doing. You are upsetting her. Please, no more yelling."

Cordell knew she was right and gave in. "Okay, my sweet Jewel, so young but so grown up. You aren't grounded. But, if I catch you acting like that again, or you ever talk to me or your mother like that again, you WILL be grounded - until you are 30!"

The next thing they heard was Joy coming into the room since the yelling had seemed to stop.

"Daddy - do you hate Jewel?" she asked and started to cry.

Cordell looked at Jewel holding his youngest daughter and almost cried himself. How had he let this happen? Where the hell was Delia when he needed her?

Cordell turned to Joy, "Oh of course not Farah Joy. Please, don't cry. I love Jewel very much. We just had a - uh - misunderstanding."

"Because she - ewww -  kissed a boy?" she asked.

Cordell decided to change the subject. "Let's get a book and I will read you to sleep. How about that?"

Jewel rolled her eyes and went to feed Corrie leaving her father to deal with the aftermath that was Joy.

Joy went to sleep almost immediately. Cordell just sat and watched her sleep remembering how happy he was when he found out Delia was pregnant with her and then getting a surprise when Delia delivered two little girls. His little harem had grown. How long before they too would be bringing home boys. He didn't think he would be able to bear it. But right now, he needed to see to Joy's twin sister Alia. He so wished Delia hadn't gone back to work. He could certainly use her help about now.

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The next morning, Alia, who pretty much hid out during the whole argument, asked Jewel the same question her sister had asked her father the night before.

"Does Daddy hate you Jewel?"

Jewel just smiled at her little sister. Twins she thought and said, "No Ally, he doesn't."

"Do you hate Daddy?"

"Oh, Ally, of course not. We just had a disagreement. He didn't like that I was... uh... Hanson... was... uh...."

"Kissing you?" snickered Alia finishing Jewel's sentence.

Jewel just laughed. "Yes, baby, he didn't like me kissing Hanson. But we are okay now."

"Ewww," said Alia and started singing, "Jewel and Hanson sitting in a tree,"

"Stop it or I will make you sit in the back of the bus!" threatened Jewel.

But Alia wouldn't be stopped and kept on with her rhyme, "K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love...."
 "Uh, why did you make Alia sit in the back Jewel?" asked Joy.

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