A Little Charge
Jellia was standing and watching the littles in the Little Wave pool when a Ska-drek-a came up with a littlie, handed her to her, and said, “Watch her please, I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
Jellia, frozen, watched the ska-drek-a walk off, while she held the littlie at arms length! What??!
Then, recovering, she set the littlie down at the edge of the Little Wave pool and watched her dart away into the pool. What was she going to do?
Then she noticed Frank. Frank was a way older employee. She figured he must be retired from some other job and came here just for fun. But, anyway, he had been here forever, he would know what she should do.
Sorry for the accidental repost of an earlier chapter!
“Frank?” she said, having worked her way around the pool to where he stood, his eyes on the dozens of littles frolicking in the artificial waves. The kesh-u would look around until they found an area where two wave patterns came together creating an area with twice as high waves, and run to catch them before the pattern changed again.
“Hello, Jellia. Having a nice day?’
“Well, yes, I am. Or I was. Some ska-drek-a just up and handed me a littlie and told me to watch her!”
“Good for your tips, that,” he said.
“But, what am I supposed to do? I’m here to get orders.”
He looked at her, “Well, watching a littlie is an order, I suppose. I guess you have two choices. Take her with you when you go… maybe on your shoulders… or leave her with me. Or some mixture. Which one is she?”
“The one with her hair tied back up high… that one there,” she said, just as the littlie concerned took a tumble. Jellia was going to race out to her, but Frank put his hand on her arm and, sure enough, a slightly bigger child laughed and hauled her up.
He looked at her, and looked at me. “I think you could do it. But if you can’t, then leave her with me between runs. Just keep coming back here.”
“Umm, Ok. Oh, bother, an order.”
“Can we have one order of cubed steak over rice, one of creamed chicken over noodles, and two light red beers, please,” the ska-drek-a said when I came up.
Jellia quickly put that in her comp and then, turning back to the pool, saw the littlie right in the middle. Oh, well, she had it to do.
Jellia waded out into the pool, the water lapping at edge of her skirt, grabbed the littlie and put her on her shoulders. Then she waded out and started back to the kitchen, water dripping down her back. Luckily she was too old for a swim diaper or Jellia would have been even wetter.
“Hey, Jelly, who’s the passenger?” Bob asked Jellia when the two arrived at the kitchen where her order was just being boxed up.
“I don’t know her name,” she admitted. “I got handed her a few minutes ago.”
“Good tips!” he said, handing the kid an egg roll, one of the smaller ones.
“I hope so,” Jellia said, mostly to herself as she grabbed the carry box with one hand and tried to make sure the littlie didn’t slide off with the other. She was pretty good at sitting, though, so she wasn’t really worried.
“What’s your name?” Jellia asked the littlie, as she trudged through the sand… a shortcut to the Little Wave pool.
“Beia!” the littlie said, pounding her on the head. “Gotta go potty!”
“Oh, bother. Ok. I have to take this box to those people at the pool and then I’ll take you. I have to go too.”
“Who’s the passenger?” the ska-drek-a asked Jellia when she put down the box between their chairs on one of our little tables.
“Oh, one of the customer’s kesh. Her name is Beia, or so I’m informed. I hope you enjoy your meal, I’ll be back later to pick up the box.”
“Thank you, Dear,” the ska-drek-a said. “Tell my en-drek that it’s come, will you? He’s over there chatting with that ska-drek-a.”
Jellia turned and looked where she was pointing. Back on Ephemera she would have said he was flirting, but she guessed that that wouldn’t even occur to anyone here. “Yes, ma’am,” she said and, Beia still on top, she hurried off.
“Excuse me, Sir, your order has come,” Jellia said, when she got there, pointing back the way she had come, where the daughter already was plying her chopsticks on the chicken dish. Jellia didn’t really like trying to eat noodles with chopsticks, but they supplied both with every meal, so to each their own.
“Oh, thank you,” he said, and then the daughter he was talking to said, “Could I trouble you for a chopped steak over rice and red beer myself, please?”
Bother! “Certainly ma’am,” Jellia said, and input it with a two minute delay, then hurried off.
“Go quick,” she said to Beia, plopping her down on a potty and hurrying off to do her own business.
“Did you go?” she asked her when she got back, and got a nod in return.
Quickly lifting her up she ran off to the kitchen, where her order wasn’t quite ready. “Gonna get your exercise today!” Bob said to her.
“I wish it counted!” Jellia said.
“Counted?”
She held up her wrist, “For school.”
“Oh, it will. It takes your pulse and all, it will give you extra credit. Not that you need it, I’m sure.”
“Umm, thanks?”
He laughed. “Well, you are in good shape. But what I meant was I can’t see anyone not getting their steps in while working this job.”
“Oh, true,” she said, then picked up the box and darted back toward the pool.
“Whee!” Beia said, pounding her on the head.
“Yeah, whee. I still can’t believe I’m doing this. I finally get used to having a job, and now I have a kesh.”
“Here you go,” she said, arriving at the couple and the ska-drek-a who were sitting around watching the Little Wave pool.
“Oh, thank you,” the ska-drek-a said, handing her a coin, and then handing another to the kesh on her shoulders. What was Jellia supposed to do about that?
In the end she didn’t do anything, just ran from one spot to another. Having this littlie on her shoulders seemed to actually attract customers. But she was exhausted…
Frank -> Jellia: The Ska-drek-a of your backpack is here.
Jellia -> Frank: Coming!
“Oh, there you are, Dear. Did you have a good time? Wave wrists with me, Darling, and thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome,” Jellia gasped. She had half expected the ska to be upset that she hadn’t been right there when she came up.
Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
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If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.
Von also writes as ‘Arthur Yeomans’. Under that name he writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction from a Christian perspective. His books include:
The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid
and
Arthur also has a substack, and a website.
Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Links
Contract marriage is an adult dystopia examining the issues of marriage. Like 1984 and Brave New World, Contract Marriage treats the relations between the sexes as a fundamental aspect of how a society is formed and, thus, how a society can go wrong.
Unlike those dystopias, Contract Marriage isn’t all horrible all of the time. The characters for the most part have a good time and get along in their society. But the issues of sexuality, of marriage or not, monogamy or not, faithfulness or not, and gender roles… keep coming up and causing tension and conflict and joy and pain.
My desire is that my readers would be thinking along with my characters about these issues and perhaps even arrive at the same place (minus the flying cars).
Introduction // Podcast Version
In which I lay out the themes that I intend to explore in this light Dystopia, and ask others to participate.
Trade Master: First Chapter // Podcast Version
In which Fenestra, our heroine’s mother, puts in her application for the job of 'Trade Master’ on the planet Libertas, and finds out that it isn’t that easy.
En-Drek Contract // Podcast Version
In which Fenestra finds out that, on Libertas, everyone must be in an ‘En-drek’ contract… a long-term, live-in, heavy date between a man and a woman for the purpose of producing one child after the other with one date after the other.
Disappointment and Meditation // Podcast Version
In which Jellia, the daughter and our heroine, finds out about her mother’s job opportunity, including its difficulties, and commits herself to meditating on the situation. (And internally commits herself to encouraging her mother to take the job.)
Decision Reached // Podcast Version
Jellia tells her mother that she thinks she should take the job, and so her mother puts in her application… and gets the job!
First School // Podcast Version
Jellia goes to school and gets to tell everyone about her new adventure.
First Work // Podcast Version
Fenestra goes to work, and tells her coworker about her new opportunity.
Writing Class: Podcast Version
Jellia writes a poem (a limerick) and tells her classmates more about her new adventure.
Trader Galloway: Podcast Version
In which a man comes over for a ‘date’ (Ie to sleep over with her mother) and to tell them all about his time as Trade Master for their company on Libertas. And as how he was almost executed for asking a woman out on a date.
Shopping: Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother go shopping for the last time, and we explore some of the nature of the planet she is leaving.
Language: Podcast Version
In which Jellia starts using some new words at school, and everyone gathers round to find out what they mean.
Kesh-i Cooking Class: Podcast Version
In which Jellia finds out that children (Kesh-i) on Libertas are expected to cook.
Trade Master Training: Podcast Version
In which Fenestra begins her training for her new role, with an old enemy.
Two Week Date: Podcast Version
In which Fenestra and Alex decide to date for the next two weeks.
The Facts of Life: Podcast Version
In which Fenestra brings Alex home, and Jellia isn’t impressed. Although she is interested in how dating works for boys.
Snips: Podcast Version
In which Jellia spends time snipping with a boy, and brings him home.
Kissing: Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother both have a sexual ‘last fling’ before they leave, and Jellia practices the new kisses she will need for her new planet.
Off Ephemera // Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother arrive at the shuttle port, go through some annoying formalities, and take off!
And Fly! // Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother board their spaceship, and Jellia starts doing her homework.
Abstinate // Podcast Version
In which Jellia gets bored, rejects an older gentleman, and rejects her mother’s idea of dating.
Older Kesh-u // Podcast Version
In which Jellia learns more about what Kesh-u (children) are allowed to do on Libertas.
Fertility // Podcast Version
In which Jellia and her mother are taken off birth control by an odd doctor.
New Girl // Podcast Version
-Added out of order- Jellia meets a new girl on the shuttle, from a strange culture!
Decon // Podcast Version
Jellia and her mother arrive on their new planet, go through an awful decontamination, get sent to a briefing, and receive their first kiss/greeting!
Briefing // Podcast Version
Jellia and her mother are warned that the laws on Libertas can be very serious.
En-drek File
Fenestra reads up on her new ‘en-drek’.
Justicia // Podcast Version
Jellia rejoices in the new planet!
The House // Podcast Version
Jellia explores her new house.
Shopping and Greeting // Podcast Version
Jellia uses her new ‘kesh liberty’ and runs off to do some shopping. And has to kiss everyone all the way home.
Ska Illoh Kiladi // Podcast Version
Jellia meets her new Ska, who has business with her mother.
Ooops // Podcast Version
Jellia makes a mistake, gets chastised, and hates it here!
Neighbours // Podcast Version
In which Jellia goes off the cry, and meets neighbours.
Breakfast // Podcast Version
Jellia wakes up, makes breakfast, and runs off for a new day!
Kesh Liberty // Podcast Version
Jellia takes off for town with two younger kesh in tow, and has a fun time shopping!
Dinner // Podcast Version
Jellia comes home from her day in town, raced to unpack her new noodle machine, and cooks dinner!
Testing // Podcast Version
Jellia shows up at her new school, has to check herself it, gets tested for math, art, engineering… and whether she’s mature enough for a live in date.
Great Room // Podcast Version
Fenestra was finally Trade Master, and finally by herself, and finally got to start her new work! Sitting in her new living room in her PJs!
Great Hopes // Podcast Version
Iloh Kiladi shows up at work and gets grilled on how his new relationship is going.
Physio // Podcast Version
Jellia has to do ‘Physio’ at school… which involves running and climbing and getting sweaty.
Engineering // Podcast Version
Jellia finds out that what her engineering teacher cares about is that she learn, not that she come to class.
Basic Bio // Podcast Version
Can there be anything more embarrassing than being at a new school and having all the other girls discuss where you are in puberty?
Pastels and Colic // Podcast Version
Jellia’s next was with pastels, and they had a nursing mother and her baby for a study! Until the baby started crying.
Physio // Podcast Version
PE by any other name would be as annoying.
Report // Podcast Version
School is done for the day, and Ska-drek picks her up… and quizzes her on how it went!
Second Day // Podcast Version
Jellia begins her second day in school all excited, and much less nervous.