Free The Ties That Bind by T. Starnes Page A

wasn't. They are called the Church of the Second Coming. It is run by this guy who claims to be, well, Jesus."
    "Seriously?"
    "Yeah, I know. But they believe in him. I guess I did, too, when I was little. Then I joined gymnastics."
    "How did that change anything?"
    "It is really unusual for anyone in the church to join anything. The kids are mostly home schooled, and no one is a member of any kind of team. You see your family and people from the church, and that is it."
    "How did you end up doing differently?"
    "Dad got real sick, and mom had to get a job. When dad got better, mom didn't want to stop working, so they decided to send me to public school. I made a friend who was in gymnastics, and I really wanted to do it. I because a holy terror at home, demanding every day. I guess I wore them down, and they allowed me to go."
    "It was a big deal at church and they got into trouble over both the public school thing and the gymnastics. But once it started they didn't want to pull me out, because they were worried it would draw too much attention to them."
    "What do you mean 'draw attention to them'?"
    "The church does stuff that most wouldn't agree with. Besides the leader thinking he is Jesus, he has something like fourteen wives. He adds a new one every couple of years, and they are always under eighteen at the time. Plus, other stuff."
    "Anyways, once I started to make non-church friends and see stuff, it became obvious what we were a part of. When I was growing up with it, it all seemed normal since it was all I knew. I was never on the list of 'Chosen Girls', but it is still expected to date and marry within the 'faith,' as they call it."
    "Huh."
    "Huh? That's all you have to say?"
    "No, well, sort of. I mean, I am sorry that it is tough with your family and I get what you mean about dating being a problem. I am sure we will have to come to terms with that at some point, and deal with it. Because, you're right. Eventually they are going to figure out our relationship. I said 'huh' cause it explained some things."
    "Like what?"
    "Well, the biggest is how accepting you were of my relationship with Vicki and Zoe, and your being okay joining our relationship."
    "Yeah, I can see that. Of course that got easier when we first had sex and you brainwashed me."
    "I'm sorry about..."
    "Cas, I am giving you shit. I didn't actually mean it. You know how happy I am. This is something I really want."
    "I'll give you something."
    I then held her down with one hand and attacked her ribs with my fingers on the other hand. After a few minutes, she was squealing for mercy.
    As she caught her breath I asked, "Is there any way you can ask your parents to get out of the church? Or, if not them, then to just let you out?"
    "No. They are very serious about the church. They know I am not as serious as them, but I have never really made my problems public. I just go, listen, and try not to stir the pot. What can I do, they are my parents? Until I hit eighteen and graduate, I have to live under their rules."
    "Well, if it's something you can more or less avoid, I guess that's the best thing that you can do. Have you talked to Vicki and Zoe about this?"
    "No, not really. They know that my parents are strange, and they have never been invited over for anything, but we haven't ever really talked about it."
    "Do me a favor, talk to them. Both of them, one at a time, or all of us together, it doesn't matter, but let them know what is going on. Okay?"
    "Yeah."
    Just then, Vicki yelled at us from the kitchen to come eat.
    We sat at the table, and my mouth started watering at all the delicious food. I really wasn't that hungry since we had just eaten, but it all looked so good I kind of wanted to eat again. Mom cleared her throat, and held up her glass of wine. We followed suit, except that everyone else besides her and Alex had soda.
    She looked around the table before speaking, "I just want to tell you all how happy I am that you are here. I love Zoe to