It happened in Church - October 19, 1962
Chapter Forty Six - Good woman gets the pic
Saturday 03 Nov (continues)
Slave Driver
‘Miss Marie was a slave driver. A very nice one, but’, Brother Kevin thought, ’she would have made an excellent Marine Corp Drill Instructor. In the 120 minutes since the staff meeting, she had spoken to him by phone no less than 6 times. She never ordered, merely stated, “Could she please have a status check on this activity or that?” He quickly realized that where John would wander around; she was delegating. Little did Brother Kevin realize what a task master they had?
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Agenda Setting
“Adjutant Miss Abigail, would you please have the Duty Officer to extend my compliments to Master Sam and inquire if he could meet with me at 15 before lunch and extend my compliments to Master Brian and inquire if he could meet with me at 30 before lunch. And, invite all Sixths and Master Brian to meet with me immediately after lunch.” “Yes, Miss Marie. I am studying you. You’re a model.” “Thank you dear, that’s a nice thing to say, but I’m just warming John’s seat.” “No, Miss Marie, I don’t think so.”
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Put Brian In Motion
Brian arrived a few moments early. He knew Marie’s hot button about precise time. In the old days, before he saw her cry over an imaginary dead cat, he thought her just selfish of her own time. Now he could see her trying to control her imagination by strict limits. Brian was beginning to love his Classmates. Not sexually, although he had to admit she was hotter than he’d realized, but like the sister he never had.
“Yeah, Boss Lady Toots, what can I do to put us in Vermont?” “Don’t call me Toots! Would you please go and pull the ten stacks we made. (They had sorted the profile sheets into the four major piles and the six singles.) I want to get us some help with the map problem.” “As good as done, comrade temporary speaker toots.” “And don’t call me toots.”
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Get Sam Planning
Sam arrived at the appointed time with Isabella grafted to his hip. For a guy who trying to emulate a homosexual, he’d made a remarkable change. But Marie saw how some conversation with Isabella would do that.
“Bon Jour, Miss Marie.” Isabella said. “Hi Boss, what can I do more to put us at Vermont’s door?” “Well now that you mention it. Here’s what I need from you. And showed him her ‘clouds’ picture.” Brian liked lists. She had drawn clouds connected with arrows. Each cloud was labeled: Exit Day / Church, Jeopardy, Connected, OPs. 6 Individual, 4 site, trek. “Kool! You drew the sequence and itemized.” “Yes, can you start bullet pointing the ones I don’t know and as my second activity after lunch, let’s work it together. Here’s what I have on Kabuki. After we do what I call the main line. If we can still see, we’ll do more.” “No, no, Miss Marie,” Isabella giggled “That you fee mism is mine, I told Sam when we get to Vermont, he will learn some French, and when he answers John’s question I’m going to **** *** ***** his eyes glaze over and if he could still see, I’d *** ** ** * *** ***** ** **** ****************** so he couldn’t see.” Marie started singing ‘Marie had a little lamb’ (Yeah her Mom never liked Mom’s real name Mary that why she was Marie!). “Very good, dear. I’m sure Sam is very motivated. But could you do me a favor, I’m busy here. The technical details distract me. And, John’s not available to distract me, so put a cork in sister, or I’ll put a cork ** **** **** *** **** ***! So far up, you’ll need a ******* *** and a ***** to get them out! Thank you Sam!” Interesting. He didn’t know that Marie had mining experience and had served with the Sixth Fleet. That expression was one they had in their ‘bawdy unit history book’. Marie would certainly ‘break legs’ when she needed to. He better get the outlines done before she switched from legs to curtain rods. Sam had plans for his. Big plans.
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Six Minutes Free
Her morning done. She had six minutes until lunch. Clean sweep of her mental list. Her afternoon was free of all but one administrivia item. She was going to work Sam until his curtain rod shrunk. And she had to organize a drill. She allowed her self a minute to be worried about John. She ran over her remarks on the mental page. Then her wonderful mind presented her with a picture. Isabella without make up. Make up after two weeks in the Shelter. Isabella had make up in Church. Where did she hide it? When Marie cattily stripped Isabella of the makeup in that picture. She looked like a drab little Sixth. And, Isabella’s hair it wasn’t frumpy like all the other girls. Isabella had a brush in Church. And, now Marie smelled a rat. She was dominantly visual, but that doesn’t mean the other senses are dead. Just that a person relies mostly on their dominant one; use it the most, is most attuned to it, and prefers it. Marie had just smelled a very tiny hint of perfume. She looked at the clock, it was 1301 and thought ‘dear saint taq, i’m going to be late. help me be on time. marie’ (So summoned, Saint Taq reviewed the events of the day. He was mildly amused. Marie didn’t pray for John, her Classmates, or herself. She prayed to be on time. And, she had found one of the deeply hidden silver bullets. A foul mouthed broken bird who had … well you know. He petitioned the Lord to open Marie’s ears like the deaf man in the Bible.)
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Lunch-less Lunch
Marie stood up in front of the restless lunch-less lunch crowd. “Dearest Classmates, if it suits you, I have some modest news, an observation, and will take your questions.” It suited. They were quiet and attentive as soon as she started moving to the front. “Thank you. Your Staff has elected me as the Temporary Speaker. The vote was 6 for 1 against. I was against it. So when Miss June creates the NOC wall in the Latrine, this decision should be duly noted. (laughter) I don’t think I am much of a leader in these things I know little about. Please help me if you see me making a mistake, overlooking something, or know a better way. After all, I’m just a girl; what can I know?” (There was general laughter and people figuratively feeling for their wallets. Anyone who under estimated Marie didn’t know her ‘break your leg’ for the ‘broken leg medal’ ethic. They were assured that stuff would be done.) “I see that though we all agreed that carrying our weapons was a good idea, some of us, even leadership, has been remiss. Perhaps a turn at toilet duty might spark memories.” (Compliance was 100% after that.) “I think were ready for the three questions.” Three individuals stood up. Kayla, Kaitlyn, and Morgan. All her fellow Eighths. First looked agitated, second was fidgety, and the third looked merely upset. Marie could see why John didn’t like this duty. “Thank you Classmates for being so economical. Since “Miss Kayla looks the most aggrieved, you probably want me to start with her.”
“Miss Marie, some of our fellow Eighths think that we will … we should … you know … with them before we go to fight because we will die without ever … you know. That’s not right. What should we do?” “I’ll pray on that and get back to you. OK, done. My uncle vin told me that ‘boys talk; men do’. Since the beginning of time boys have tried to convince girls to have sex with them. Unfortunately, boys don’t understand that women don’t have sex for fun. It’s fun. Or so I am told and I think I believe it. Women have sex to make babies, families, and homes. We are the well-spring of the future. We’ve been taught, and I believe that, in marriage, the love of a man and women is the closest thing we have next to God’s love. Love inside marriage is a reflection of His Love. Sex without love is what animals do. Even animals have more sense. Female birds try to destroy the male’s nest as a test of how good a provider they have … before they mate. And, what will these boys do if you don’t die but become pregnant. Would they marry you and support you and the child? Would you even want them? And, the final straw, would you have sex with someone who smelled like they do? I don’t ever want to follow some of us into the loo. Kill us? The bad guys will probably think were a family of skunks.” Laughter. “Seriously, judge them against some of the other men you see. You’ll find they are just boys trying to score cheap sex. Frankly I’m ashamed to be in the same Class with anyone who was so venial. I invite them to come and try that line on me. I’d like to get to know them. OK?” “Yes, Miss Marie, to summarize, no sex, take a bath, talk to Miss Marie.” “Good girl.”
“Miss Kaitlyn?” “Miss Marie, as we get closer to Exit Day, are we really going to have to kill people?” “Miss Kaitlyn, you have four younger sisters at home. Right?” “Yes, Miss Marie, my Dad wants a son, so every two years Mom winds up ‘with child’ and seems to have a girl.” “Probably the Lord’s plan to have enough women to do the work. No, seriously, and you love your sisters, even thought they can be annoying?” “Yes, Miss Marie.” “So if a Bravo Golf was to try and rape your sister, you’d kill to stop him; right?” “Yes, Miss Marie.” “If someone was going to kill any of your Classmates, what then?” “I’d do what needs doing.” “Yes, we women do. Did you know John’s paternal grandmother traveled the Oregon Trail, bore 13 children, and fought Indians and Outlaws? She’s in her 90’s now. I’ve read her letters. Women can kill when it’s needed. We may not be as physically strong as men, but who seems to get to change all the diapers? Don’t worry about the words and labels. Just do what’s right. OK?” “Yes Miss Marie. And thank you. War is cruel.” “Yes, when we get out of here. We’re going to have to fix that. You know we control something that can get it done. Not the ballot box, but the other box. (A giant sucking sound as pure Miss Marie used a rude idiom.) We can end war. See Isabella is transforming all of us.” (Laughter.)
“Miss Morgan?” “We all understand worst case. But as we get close to Exit Day, we’re all beginning to understand the implications of Exit Day. I don’t want to be too graphic, but what do you think?” Marie had criticized John for this very topic. How would she do? “That is an extremely hard question to answer. The man, I love, and have selected to head MY family, sire my children, has told me, in complete candor, what he thinks the worst case is. I just don’t know if he’s right? If he’s wrong, we have just wiled away the hours in an amusing game. If he’s right, we may be able to save everyone’s life. I don’t know? I know what I’d like to believe. I KNOW that Brother Kevin has evidence that John’s right. I KNOW I felt the ground shake. I KNOW I saw Bravo Golfs do terrible things. But, I know what I want to believe. Does that very bad and obtuse answer tell you what I think?” “Yes, Miss Marie, you were very clear and very open.”
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Musing gets interesting
She retraced her drawing with the pen closed. Over the clouds connected with arrows. Over each cloud’s label: Exit Day / Church, Jeopardy, Connected, OPs. 6 Individual, 4 site, trek.
She thought about Kabuki. When the letter is written, we should offer succor to anyone that they needed brought home.
If when they were ’shopping at the depot, they’d have to really look hard at the possibilities. She needed to talk to John about what would be value. Obviously we wouldn’t bring Maple Syrup.
Maybe our soon to be friends in Vermont could tell us what they need?
“Adjutant?” “Ahh, Miss Abigail again; bucking for promotion” she teased. “Well, would you please have the Duty Officer to extend my compliments to Miss June, Master Sam, and Brother Kevin and inquire if they can join me in an hour?” “Yes, Miss Marie. Thank you, Miss Marie. You’re my hero.” “Isn’t it heroine?” “No, Miss Marie, in our new world run by women, there will be no sex discrimination. We control the box.” With no hint of self-consciousness or shame. “Dear, that’s not a nice way to say it. And, box is very crude. I’m sorry I used it but I was … incensed that war should happen. Maybe you could say ‘we control the future generations’?” “OK, but those balls will be blue before I let my man start another war.” Knowing she’d done all she could, Marie said, “When this is all over, we should talk my dear. We should really talk. Now away with you. Carefully mind you.”
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Getting More Help
Adam , Anna, Brandon, David, Isabella, James, John6, Julia, Nathan, and Sarah showed up on time. They all knew Marie’s reputation punctuality. Brian brought the papers.
“Thanks, Classmates. I know everyone is trying their utmost to get us to Vermont. I have an important task that you can do. If you feel up to a challenge?”
There was complete enthusiasm.
“I would appreciate if you could help me get sketches of each of our targets as soon as humanly possible. I need you to work as a team. This project is critical to complete our recoveries as quickly as possible. Here’s how I envision it. The targets are: 125 Vermilyea, 549 Isham, 25 Indian, 100 Post Avenue, 62 Seaman Avenue, 211 w 211th Street, base #1 South, base #2 East, base #3 West, and base #4 North. Feel free to make such changes as you see fit. At the end of you work in at most three or four days, each page needs a sketch on the back of the individual page for that recovery. There are 77 pages. Six are individual. I’d think that the first six of you would take those on first. When done circle back and help your four Classmates laboring with the others 73. There’s an average of 18 in each base location. The six returnees should pick up with base #1. And finish up PDQ. Then seven chase base #2. Then eight chase base #3. And everyone jumps on base #10. See we have to be ready as soon as we can. Once the last base is recovered, we hit the road. Get us going please. I am available for questions at any time.”
“Master Brian, if you could be so kind to chase this for me and give this a good launch. Please choose some one to be the team’s represent your effort at the nightly staff meeting starting tonight. Please jott down the progress. It would say, “0/6 & 0/#1’s count & so on. With Master Brian’s help you should be able to at least report eleven tonight. More would be impressive. You get the idea. Please help us. Thanks.”
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Squeezing out more rifles
She called Sam for the Lurp and backup names.
She created the following table of organization:
Lurp and Backup
Brother Kevin, Linda, Lisa, and Isabella
Andrew (8)- Daniel (7) - Joshua (8)- Dylan (7)
Kaitlyn (8)- Joseph (7) - Ava (8)- Destiny (7)
*** begin quote ***
The Exit Day incursion into the Church would use the rifles (R) as marked:
Lurp: Brother Kevin (shotgun), Linda (R), Lisa (R), and Isabella (A)
Sam (R) with Kayla (R) & Taylor (R)
Roy (R) with Michael (R) & Tyler (R)
Jody (A) & Brian (A)
OP: Sarah (A) & Zachary (A)
Office Firewall: Marie (R) leads Matthew (R) & Nicholas (R)
June has ’sheep herders’: Kaitlyn, Morgan, Sten, & Timothy
The Lifeboat fire team: John (Shotgun) leads Andrew, Ava, Daniel, Destiny, Dylan, Joseph, Joshua (with the seven rifles).
*** end quote ***
Marie was a master delegator. Running a playground for the Nuns required master’s sense of timing and diplomacy. For example, one common delegation in disputes was to assign teams to the combatant’s that required cooperation. It’s always easy to misdirect and motivate by delegating. The one key is that, while you COULD do it yourself faster and better, the key was that, in delegating, you were free to do other things IF you could let go. Like every ship’s captain, you only had to worry about if delegating would put the holes above or below the waterline.
Miss June, Centurion Sam and Brother Kevin arrived as requested. The purpose was to organize an exit church drill for tonight before dinner. She shares her vision of the Lifeboat fire team with rifles allocated just a little differently. Marie, a normally positive person, suddenly was concerned about holes below the waterline. If we met Bravo Golfs in our push into the Church, then we’d need to be able to ‘disperse’ out the back door. Sam would have to hold the opposite vestibule at all costs if things went badly. Using the phone in that stairwell, he’d have to call the Office and give the bad news. Maire would pop the door and the Life boat fire team would join Sam. Three to bolster his holding and four to push out the Church door. After that John, Miss June, and Marie would be ‘making it up as they went.’ Miss June would have to help ensure that everyone knew where they were to be, and what to say. Sam would have to quickly talk to all the fire teams. And, Brother Kevin would have to help make it all happen. Marie wanted them to have the rebel roll (a rolled blanket) with a krat, canteen, and an atlatl plus 15 darts. Just like they would have if they were evacuating. Everyone has to get in their mind what the day will look like, sound like, and feel like.
An adjutant said “Excuse me, Miss Marie.” “Yes, Master Kyle. Master TomT’s complements. Master John is waking up. Master TomT requests the pleasure of your company at your earliest convenience. Priority 2 Green.” “Thank you, Master Kyle, that’s the best message I have had in a while. Please tell him I’ll be there directly.”
Turing back to the group, “Miss June, Sam, Brother Kevin, I’m now going to excuse myself. Can you please make this happen? I want to go. Can you do without me?” Everyone said “go, go!”
She left on wings. She didn’t run. Running in the shelter was forbidden. Let’s just say, the adjutants couldn’t keep up. What would she find? The Shelter was a hundred miles on the diagonal.
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What will Marie find
She approached the corner with reservations. She could imagine a host of problems; not the least of which he could have fried his brain. She needed him to take the load off her shoulders. She knew just how heavy it was.
He was standing outside supervising the demolition of the ‘apartment’. He looked good. But, was he good? The day was basically over so he’d get another good rest.
She approached with trepidation. “John, are you OK?” He turned at her call. “Sure, toots, why wouldn’t I be?” “You couldn’t stand up was one clue. What happened?” “I really don’t know. I think I was just tired, stressed, or exhausted. I feel fine. I think we have to lie down and sleep. Sitting up, sleeping at parade rest, is not restful. We’ll have to be careful to not sin, but I think I need to sleep.” “We can try it.”
Marie wanted to get business out of the way first. “The Staff made me Temporary You. Can I give it back? It stinks. Since I didn’t know how long you were KOed for, so I started working it like I can work. Hope that’s OK?” “Marie, whatever you did is fine. Why don’t you announce the recursion at Dinner or the Staff Meeting?” “Don’t get upset but I’ve been bossing everyone around. Upset? Why would I be upset? You do what you have to do.”
Dinner
The Classmates assembled for dinner. She made some introductory remarks. “Classmates, Speaker John has returned from his mental vacation, but will not resume his duties until tonight’s staff meeting. We will be at Exit Day shortly. Each day before dinner, we will have an exit day drill before dinner. This will become our pattern. We’ll drill the next upcoming activity. So, let’s show Speaker John that we didn’t waste our time. Let’s assemble for roll call.”
Now they were good little Catholic school students. As most prison inmates, they could line up or form up in any shape, manner, or order you could dream up. Explained one, they’d quickly and silently assume what ever position you wanted. There were some wags who said if the Nuns wanted the children to stand on their heads for prayers they could have without missing a beat.
The Classmates moved to a formation that split into 8 by 2 groups. By class. By sex. In a few minutes. Miss Marie continued. “Classmates, check left, check right, check back, check front, hands?” In normal times, attendance in a large formation was everyone’s job. This was the exact formation that was used in the morning at the schoolyard after first bell. Everyone had an assigned space. It was every individual job to know there neighbors. If one of the four was missing, you were supposed to raise your hand. Attendance literally took itself. Quickly and quietly. Just like the Nuns liked little children. “Brother Kevin, do we have everyone?” Falling back on his Marine Corps roots, “Other than the one still on patrol, all present and accounted for.” “Then, Classmates let’s move to our positions. The office door is the escape stairwell. Thanks you.” Everyone moved to their spots. Like good little robots. The Life boat fire team took their position in front of the door in a standard 2 by 2 cover formation. To each side of the door, the Class formed two lines. Ages interspersed. Sex interspersed. Marie’s firewall formed behind them. Lurp lined up at the stairwell door. With Sam and Roy’s fire team in line behind lurp. Jody and Brian inserted them selves after Sam and before Roy.
John was impressed. Marie and he walked quickly around and groked each group. John noted the rifles were deployed economically, with substitutes used where ever possible, to give the Lifeboat the biggest fire team. If this goes bad, they’d need as much as possible. Everyone had their rolls and a weapon. John stopped once or twice and talked with the Classmates. Usually with the little one who were anxious to impress.
Miss Marie said “OK, where are we going?” The Classmates in unison “Hero, 1 Ladd Road, Pownal, Vermont”. “And, how are we going” “207 street, Fordham road, boston post road, route 7 to pownal”. “Thank you, Classmates that was perfect. Dinner time!”
Everyone was in a good mood.
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Joke
Brian was back trying his hand at comedy.
Q: “Knock, knock….Who’s There?…..Ashe……Ashe who?”
A: Bless you!
Q: “Knock, knock…..Who’s there?…..Nobel……Nobel who?”
A: “No bell, that’s why I knocked!”
Q: “Knock, knock…..Who’s there?…..Leaf……Leaf who?”
A: Leaf me alone!
Q: “Knock, knock….Who’s There?…..lettuce……lettuce who?”
A: Lettuce in and you’ll find out!
Q: Knock-knock…..Who’s there?…..Aaron……Aaron who?
A: Why Aaron you opening the door?
Song
Unbelievably, Miss Jody stepped to the front, and in a gravel voiced delivery, and a swaying manner, gave a good rendition.
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)
Artist: Scott McKenzie
If you’re going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you’re going to San Francisco
You’re gonna meet some gentle people there
For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair
All across the nation such a strange vibration
People in motion
There’s a whole generation with a new explanation
People in motion people in motion
For those who come to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
Poem
Miss June stepped to the front. She was obviously praying. “I’m Miss June, but then you knew that. What you didn’t know is that I have trouble memorizing material that I read or hear. No one understood; no one understands. So, to succeed, I compensated. When I have to memorize something, I try to get someone to read it while I write it. Like I was blind. In a notebook if appropriate, on an invisible chalkboard if not. I found this crutch, when I found books on tape in the library. Because I asked the Librarian nicely, she let me use the room for the blind patrons. It had a chalkboard. So I could hear the text and write it on the chalkboard. I was astonished to find that I could remember it if I rewrote it on my board. The interesting part was that all I had to do is think about rewriting it, and I could remember it. No one ever listened when I tried to explain. As my Classmates, if you have a problem, tell me. I know what it means to be ignored. Here’s the thing that I learned on that first day in the library.” She began to write on an invisible chalkboard.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers
Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops-at all-
And sweetest-in the Gale-is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm-
I’ve heard it in the chillest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb-of Me.
She brought the house down.
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Staff Meeting
Master John opened with “I’m sorry I was unavailable today. But I understand I was ably replaced. I see some new faces. So Miss Marie was obviously busy. Let’s see where we are.”
Centurion Sam reported that he’d have ‘Connected” bullet pointed in the AM.
CoS Brother Kevin reported that Marie was a slave driver, but that everyone was busy, and anxiously optimistic.
G1 Personal Marie reported that she was glad to be returned to her nominal role of Personnel. She had thought of two items on Kabuki: (1) we should offer to pick up anyone on their route; and (2) ask them if there was anything they could bring. When they hit the depot, they would take all the bills of lading for further study here in the Shelter. We’d also use the time to go into the transit yard next door and find the bus and stage them all when the Driving Teams arrived. She summarized the sex question and advised all hands to put a stop to that nonsense.
G2 Intelligence Brian reported that Adam would report for the ‘mapping team’. Adam reported that they had all six individual sites mapped and sketched, and had 15/71 of the others done. ETA sometime tomorrow. John was surprised and Marie applauded them. Adam “Thanks to the Staff for the opportunity to help in some meaningful way.” Brian reported the quality was excellent.
G3 Training Roy reported that all Sevenths and Eights were now ‘riflemen’ that meant they could reload.
G4 Logistics Jody reported that they had 6 tanks of water with no way to take it with them, krats galore, and about 20 darts for every Classmate. She was keeping a running tally as Miss Marie wanted.
G5 Morale June reported the Mural was done, ceremony ready, and everyone was chomping at the bit. Everyone could code at 10 cps. John asked her to have all First and Seconds stop practicing immediately. We needed some obvious beginners to be plausible.
John said “Thank you my friends. I see I can goof off more often.”
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Time with Marie
Marie and John walked back to the Queens Corner. She was quiet; he talked about what a great job she’d done. “No, John all I did was run out your plan. May I critique you? With love?” “Sure, you need to lead; not run around the shelter. You need to help Brian with the six inches, the seam, and every other room. Delegate everything else other than the things that you can do best that no one else can. Use your staff.” “I’ll take it under advisement. Now what was Miss Isabella saying you should do? Something about six ways? No one would tell me. They kept saying I had to ask you.” Marie was blushing and John was chuckling. As the darkness fell, Marie did the skirt flap. Getting some extra help for her virginity. She arranged the blankets and lay down. She patted the blanket next to her. John lay down. She snuggled up and whispered in his ear “A good girl wouldn’t say such things to a man. But you are my betrothed. After we find the priest, I’m taking Isabella’s advice and *********************** six ways ************!” John was shocked. Marie laughed “Now sleep on that. And keep your curtain rod to yourself!”
John thought he was going to have a hard time going to sleep because it did feel like a curtain rod. But John was unaware of the instant on instant off nature of curtain rods. After a few minutes of no holster, or no apparent appearance of one any time soon, Wee Willie Winkie shrunk back to thumb size. Ready for another day. As John dozed, he wondered: were there six ways. What were they, and how did his virginal queen know them. After the priest in Vermont, if Marie could demonstrate such understanding, he have to ask her who he should thank.
She was pleased to have him back. Maybe she should try groking the shelter. Tomorrow was another day.
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The Eighth Women Gather The Women and Girls
After that most upsetting question, Miss June gathered the Shelter Sweeties minus Marie. In executive session, they decided that they’d carve out a dormitory for the females. As it got time for bed, the female population excused themselves for a ’shelter sweetie’ meeting.
Like a herd of wild female animals, they bedded down near the Queen’s Corner in sort of class order with the Eighths on the outside row. Only Isabella needed instruction as to what was happening and why. Sleeping with women was as attractive as sleeping near Sam. And she more than others, like Jody, knew what could happen. The Eighths slept head to toe. Every Eighth having a rifle certainly made a distinct impression. Cow elephants guarding their collective calves of all ages might come to mind. While not physically genetic mothers, ‘aunts’ tend to be just as aggressive in defending children.
Several strange ideas and plans evaporated from certain groups of males as the opportunity for easy sex disappeared from the possibility spectrum. What you can’t acquire by guile, you might think you can acquire by force. Who would think they could have such ideas? With their ’sisters’? Luckily they didn’t think to turn on the younger boys. That was too homosexual even for their raging hormones. They needed some exercise and some other life or death action to clean their brains of these chemicals.
But estrogen in and around raging testosterone, which has no acceptable channel, nor way to release, can cause young boys fantasies of rape, bondage, and sexual fulfillment. Facing death, the male, as a survival mechanism, will seek to leave an heir. Armies have left these traces in the wake of every battle.
There were no incidents in these pre-fight days.
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