Eng found us a funny little house. She thought it would be cute to put a letter on the wall.
Neither of us realized the house came with a name “Alpha Crappa Far”, which must mean “the door’s open, come on in and party!”

You know all those guys in black that I thought were watching me? Well, the blond I had been fooling around with walked right into our house (just like everybody does), slapped cuffs on me and dragged me off. What the HELL; was this some jilted-woman crap? Were her friends waiting to beat me up? Glad Eng was at class. I think I wet myself. "You're going to the dark house", she cackled, "Everyone is waiting for you!"
The house was out of a horror movie, and when everyone starting ripping off my clothes...well I need a new look anyway.
But they put a snappy black suit on me, and stood around cheering me! "Come on in, help yourself to a drink." Said a girl that looked like a vampire. "Look, I'll teach you our secret handshake". I guess I was honored, but it looked more like The Chicken Dance to me.
I was told to keep their identities, and the "handshake", secret (like I would try all that flapping and kicking on anyone else!) There were lots of things to play with at the Secret Society house, but I decided that hacking grades, making money, or having someone eaten by their "experimental plant" were not good ideas.


==================================
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH---
Delta had become a teen. Good thing she wasn't interested in college, there just wasn't enough money. Besides, she had terrible grades. She often skipped school to work in the gardens, or cooked with Beulah. But their weren't many teens around, and she was interested in..you know...boys. Some strangers came by one day, college kids on a hike in the mountains. One boy, Pooter, was especially nice. She fed them lunch, spilling her lemonade when he touched her hand. And he played with Mary's toddler Clovis.

He was SO nice! He kissed her. Just a sweet little peck.



Then somehow they were sitting on the front porch without much clothes. When Beulah walked by; "Are you children THAT hot? Maybe a nice cold dip in the pond?" She just stood there smiling at them, as they both fumbled - red faced- with their clothes. Pooter said he was just leaving. Delta remembered she had laundry to do. It wasn't till that evening that she found his shirt under the bench. She hid it under her pillow, and sniffed it as she fell asleep.
===============================================






As the semester passed, Eng was getting her grades up, but seemed to be sick. Maybe it was all the stuff going on.


One night I saw a familiar face...

As he took Eng away, I ran after them. "It's alright baby, it's just an initiation to a secret society. I mean, they won't HURT you, it's an honor. It'll be OK!" But they were stuffing her in a car. I knew what would happen.


================================
I asked the family to visit, and got some big surprises.
As usual, other students had "dropped in". When Mom, Pop, and Delta showed up they went straight to the hot tub. I think the house was furnished by flower-children; Eng thinks it's cute. Some of the Frat boys had brought over a flower-shaped hot tub, said it matched our style (what? I don't HAVE a style). I didn't mind, at least it gave people something to do besides raid our frig. I introduced Delta to Pooter...

I think they've met...

I fixed lunch, and everyone toasted our engagement. I noticed Pooter was giving Delta his famous "eye kiss". Geez, I've seen seasoned college girls faint from that...


I was talking to Mom about Eng being sick, when she asked where Delta had gone

I found her...
Pooter...my little sis...MY BED! Pooter was a wild man, stuff like setting the kitchen on fire, partying, and doing every co-ed he could - in PUBLIC if possible.

"What the hell do you think you're doing! This is my little SIS" I yelled.
"Chill, man, she's 17"
"She's had a sheltered life, she's a virgin! well OK she WAS a virgin... But she's not just another fish in the sea!"
Pooter interrupted my rant; "Hay dude, I know she's special to you. She's special to ME! I'm not just 'fishin' here, I'm serious about her."

"OK", I said, calming down. "You've said you didn't know where you were going after college. I'll be going back to my house till I decide where to go next. Why don't you come with me. Get to know our family, get to really know Delta. See if you're really serious about her."
Pooter looked as serious as I've ever seen him when he agreed.

Meanwhile, Eng was confiding to Beulah that she was pregnant.
"Why that's wonderful!" Beulah blurted, then "Oh, dear, you need to get married right away."
"That's a problem", Eng said, "I won't be the cause of Scot quitting college. And I don't think I'll be ABLE to stay in school. I'm sick a lot, and my grades are suffering. I may have to drop out." Tears came to her eyes as she continued. "I don't have family. I don't know what to do.."
"Well, you just move in with us! There's always room for one more. Scot could come down some weekend and you could have a quiet ceremony. And when you have the baby, you'll have lots of help. And Scot is so smart, I bet he could finish college lickedy split."


As I said goodby, Pooter told me he loved Delta. Delta blushed. He better be serious!

================

The party continued. Eng still was sick, and still failing.

The end of that semester she quit college.