Ska Iloh Kiladi

Mar 22, 2024

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They went off toward the door and, Jellia hanging slightly back, Mother opened the door. Standing there on the porch, regarding them with a calm but serious look, was an older man. Not quite mother’s age, she knew, but he looked older. His serious look, the grey streak in his dark brown beard, the way he held himself. Not nervous, just determined. And in fine shape. Well, that would be good for mother.

“I am Ska Illoh Kiladi, en-drek ,” the man said.

“Oh, yes, come in,” Mother said.

Her new ska-drek was tall, with slightly darker skin than Mother or Jellia, and black hair. He had a very nice beard and a very serious look on his face. He took a step into the house, closed the door, and went over to Mother. He put his hand behind her head, she seemed to tense up a bit, and he kissed her. And not quickly either. Mother seemed to have recovered her composure and when he was done she kissed him back… not spending all day, but not hurrying either.

“And you are Jellia,” the man said. “Come, let me teach you the greeting between ska-drek and daughter.”

This had been one of the kisses she had practiced the most with her girlfriends, so she was almost totally ready when he cupped her cheek and kissed her. And her return kiss was better than what she had done at the shuttle port, anyway, even if she would have to learn how to lean forward at the right angle and speed and all. She totally missed the actual kiss but he didn’t say anything.

“Now, what were you doing when I came?” he asked, straightening up.

“Oh, I went to the store,” Jellia said, pleased to be able to tell someone else. “It was my very first time to do so, and I got stuff to cook for dinner… if you would like me to?”

“I very much would. That would be good. Now. I do have a word of instruction for both of you. Next time… which will not be for several months… next time a ska-drek is expected you and your ska-drek-a should meet him on the porch.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I forgot!” Mother said.

“I will excuse it this time,” ska-drek said. “I don’t wish to begin our relationship with physical chastisement. That will come soon enough, no doubt. Now, Daughter, you may indeed prepare our evening meal. Plan on having it ready in two hours, if you please. Your ska-drek-a and I have a task to accomplish.”

She stared after them as they went upstairs. Mother was calm but a bit disant, and the date was groping at her, but calmly. Somehow this date seemed very different from the other times her mother had had men over. Her mother had had men over before, lots of them, but this man en-drek Iloh, was just going to live with them and date her mother day after day after day. And be there not only at breakfast, but at dinner and maybe even sometimes noon meal.

She stood staring up the stairs and trying to imagine the new relationship for several more minutes, then shook herself and went off to the kitchen. She set up her wristcomp with big numbers counting down to when she was supposed to have dinner ready and began working.

Oh, this kitchen was fantastic. She went over to the ‘air grill’. She had heard of this at home but hadn’t known anyone that had one. She turned it on and listened as the super hot air rushed out of the almost microscopic holes in the grill, the air being sucked up and recycled by the hood on top.

It wasn’t time to air grill the meat and vegetables, though, so she turned off the grill, opened her comp and reviewed the recipe. Right, start the grain soaking. She could start that now, as long as she left it for at least a half an hour it didn’t matter if she soaked it some more.

She put the water in a bowl, and added the grain to it… after checking her comp to see how much grain was needed. Then she got out the meat and cubed it, and rolled the cubes in the spices and put them, too, in a bowl on the counter. Then she sliced the vegetables… and waited. And had a glass of soft… and waited.

Finally it was time to put the grain on, so she poured it out of the water it was in, put new water in a pot, put the pot on the stove, checked the recipe again, and put the grain in the water and turned it on. And waited.

Finally, finally it was time to start air frying the vegetables and, with a grin, she turned the air fryer on and heard its lovely hiss. Then, startled, she remembered that she would need a dish to put the vegetables in and frantically searched and found one in the cabinets. The ska before had kept things really well organised.

She raced back to the air fryer and threw the vegetables out, almost chortling at the way they danced and spun in the air. She only had to use the long handled flippers a few times as they got too close to the edge. Then she grabbed the slotted scoop and put them in the container.

Finally it was time for the meat and, once portion at a time, she put the meat on the grill and watched it dance… much slower but much more interestingly. The vegetables had sort of browned at their edges, especially the onions… Which she was glad that onions grew on this planet… but the meat was really, really fun to watch as it spun and got brown. Most of the spices blew off, but the recipe said they would have largely done their work.

She went over to the burner and put on the water for the sauce, and added the peppers she had chopped and the spices it called for, along with the sliced fruit which would make the spice thick. The fruit disappeared almost immediately into the sauce… kind of melting and dissolving.

Then her first batch of meat was ready and she put it on top of the vegetables and closed the lid and put on the second batch… oh, this was such fun!

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!

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.