Oh, this was weird! Jellia was going to Garden Party, but not as an employee! She was sitting in Ska-drek Iloh’s skimmer, with her whole family, and they were going to Garden Party… all together! She was getting in free because she had worked up enough hours, but everyone else was going normally. And she was going as a regular person!
The skimmer pulled over, surprising her, and a whole host of kesh-u piled out of a house and into the skimmer. “Oh, you must be Jellia!” the oldest girl said, shouted really, and she was suddenly being kissed in profusion… most of which were actual kisses! “We get to go with cousin Iloh in his skimmer! My parents will be coming later but cousin Iloh said we could come with you!”
“I’m sorry, I missed your name,” she said.
“Oh, I’m Kaatherine, a second cousin on cousin Iloh’s side. My mother’s mother is his sister.”
Her mother’s mother…? Jellia was so not used to these relationships. With everyone having all of these children how many cousins did Iloh have? How many did she have? She belatedly remembered her packet laying out the relationships and all of Iloh’s relationships were now hers. And not only now, but even after he had left he would leave the relationships behind.
This was… well, it was awesome if she could keep some of them going. “So, tell me who all these people are,” she asked Kaatherine. “I so missed the names with all of the kisses.”
Kaathrine giggled. “Oh, well, there are kesh-u from three different families here. You have me, Kaathrine, and Dendin…”
They had barely gotten through the names when the skimmer pulled up at Garden Party and everyone climbed down. “Hey, Jelly,” Margaret said, as Iloh paid for their group. “Working today?”
“Nope. Having a party with the family.”
“Oh, down on Beach 3? I heard about that. I think Mark and Drendia will be handling you lot full time.”
“Well, I think there’s going to be a lot of us.”
Jellia followed the crowd, her group, through the front gates (the first time she had ever been through them) and into the changing room. She had been in there before, but only to help people, never to actually undress! In fact, it took her a second to figure out how to use the lockers… the ones in the staff room didn’t lock.
And then she was out with the group… a few kids being helped by their ska-drek-a… and everyone was looking at her. “We’re at Beach 3,” she kind of yelled, “Follow me!”
She took off running and weaving through the various crowds and past the various pools till they came to the ocean and, off to the left, was the sign ‘Beach 3: Reserved’ and she ran over there.
“Hey Jellia,” Mark said, as she ran up. “Not working today?”
“Nope! I’m a customer! You’ll have to be nice to me!”
He grinned. “I hope I’m always nice to you. Any initial orders?”
“Well, why don’t you bring an assortment of soft and we’ll put it in a cool box in the middle of the beach, and the kids can just come and get them. Where’s Drendia?”
“She’s lifeguarding you lot,” he said, and pointed to the chair.
“Oh, cool. I wonder, do you think we could kick a couple of the kesh-teachers loose? Have them down at the beach helping littlies?”
She started to open her wrist comp but at Mark’s look she stopped, and blushed. “Sorry, don’t want to keep you from earning your tips!”
“I’ll see who I can get,” he said, “ and I’ve put in the order for the soft.”
She watched him go and almost shivered. This was sooo odd!
“Are you enjoying yourself, Daughter?” she heard, and turned to see Iloh and Ska-drek-a. Wow, this seemed so odd, seeing them on the beach not in the house. Well, that was silly, she’d seen them at a restaurant. Still, the beach was definitely a different look.
“Oh, yes, I’m just trying to adjust to not working. I keep expecting them to flag me down.”
“Well, perhaps if you go swimming you can get over your feeling. I believe that there is a name for that feeling, but I forget what it is.”
That was a good idea and she ran off and swam off to Bouy 3. She climbed up on it, joining four kesh and Clinton. “Out duty today, Clinton?” she asked. Out duty meant no direct tips, just his share from the general pool; but it was only given to the very best of swimmers, so it was kind of a pride thing to be given it.
“Yup. I thought I was going to have to jump in and save you.”
Jellia scoffed. “I may be new to the planet but I can swim fine! And you know I swim most times I come for work.”
“Yes, I wasn’t actually worried. Are you working later?”
“No, this group is, or, are, all related to me, somehow. I am so not used to this. Back on my old planet I had my mother. My grandmother. That was it. My progenitor, saw him once a year, might seem him more once I came of age. That was it! We could have a family reunion in a walk in closet!”
She stared at the beach, as more and more people were coming in. “I have no idea who any of these people are!”
One of the kesh sitting there jumped up next to her. “I can tell you most of them,” he said. “Let’s start with the oldest. That old kesh, there, with the cane. He’s grandpa Charles. He’s almost one hundred and ten years old. He’s not exactly my grandpa, but everyone calls him grandpa. You should call him Grandpa. Grandpa’s a word from another planet.”
“Next to him, helping him, is Crystina. She’s a cousine, but she’s actually grandpa’s great, great kesh… one of the older ones. She loves helping and is almost always with grandpa. I think she will be a nurse when she get’s older. With old people. Now, walking behind her…”
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 // 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.