Two hours after her ska-drek had arrived, almost to the minute, Jellia stood in the great room, her heart pounding, the boiled grain in its covered dish, the vegetables and meat stirred all together in their dish, the spicy sauce on the side, and watched Mother and the man come down the stairs, his hand still groping her.
“Very good,” the man… Skradek… Illoh… said. “Let us eat.”
Mother stared a bit confusedly at the dishes, and Ska-drek got a slight grin. “Let me help you, my Dear,” he said, and served her some grain, covered it with vegetables and meat. “Help yourself to the sauce. Carefully. Everyone likes a different amount of spice.”
Jellia had tasted the sauce (several times) and so knew just how much to put on. Less than ska-drek but Mother, after one taste, had avoided it entirely.
Jellia was bursting to say something, but it was hard to think of what to say! She didn’t think they would be interested in her simple little trip to the store, which they both must of have done dozens of times before. And she certainly couldn’t ask Mother how her date had gone… not with the other person involved right there!
A reminder: This story is a light dystopia, but it is a dystopia. There are and will be things in it that everyone won’t like, and will find offensive. You were warned.
So the meal was almost silent until ska-drek said, “Tell us about your trip to the store, Daughter.”
“Oh, it was wonderful. Nothing I could ever have done back at home…” at his look she corrected… “back on Ephemera. Oh, all the Karens would have had a fit. I ran most of the way there, which was wonderful, and saw so many people…”
Ska-drek kept her talking the rest of the meal and then, when everyone had eaten all they wanted and she was drinking her second glass of hard… which she didn’t actually like but was busy drinking because she would never have been allowed back home… he rose and signed for Mother to rise as well. “Excellent meal, Daughter. Now, you will clear up in here and in the kitchen, until all is perfect. Then you will go outside an amuse yourself in the neighborhood or the park, returning home between the hours of eleven and midnight. You will be in bed by…”
“Oh, I don’t really feel like going outside again,” she said. “Can I just…”
She stopped at his look and gulped. Ooops.
“On the wall of the kitchen is a physical chastisement implement,” he said. “You will bring it to me.”
When Jellia, almost crying, brought it back he held up his hand. “Now, Daughter, what does it mean, according to code, if you hand me that stick?”
Jellia did break down. This was so awful! He should just get it over with!
“I… In the case of physical chastisement done under contract, if the contracting party brings the instrument to their authority, the act of handing them the implement constitutes agreement and takes away appeal.”
“And if you don’t hand it to me?”
“That would be breach of contract and I… if I was a native I would have to move out. But since I am under exo contract, I would have to go back.”
“Very good,” he said, and held out his hand.
When he was done and she was frantically biting her lip not to cry over the humiliation of the thing, he asked, “Now, what part of code did you break?’
“I… I don’t remember the exact number.”
“Nor do I expect you to. You may look it up and read it to us.”
Whenever someone in legitimate authority states something as a direct command, that authority may only be interrupted or gainsaid by:
1) The person under command communicating information that the authority might not know that might affect the command
2) The person under command being uncertain as to the meaning of the command
3) The person under command making a legitimate appeal.
“Is that clear?” ska-drek said. “Do you have any questions about it?”
“Yes, ska-drek, no, ska-drek.”
Then put the stick back, clean the dining room and kitchen, and go out. I will expect you back no earlier than eleven, and in bed with your lights out no later than midnight. You will normally be excpected to set your own hours, but tonight will be a special case.”
“Then, in the morning, you are responsible for making but not cleaning up breakfast, and I will expect you to be gone all day.”
“Yes, ska-drek,” she said, and taking the stick, she left for the kitchen. She would clean the dining room later, when they were gone!
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.
If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!
If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.
Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Links
Contract Marriage
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
-Added out of order- Jellia meets a new girl on the shuttle, from a strange culture!
Decon
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
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
Jellia rejoices in the new planet!
The House
Jellia explores her new house.
Shopping and Greeting
Jellia uses her new ‘kesh liberty’ and runs off to do some shopping. And has to kiss everyone all the way home.