So Responsible
Jellia leapt off the skimmer and hurried inside, not even waiting to watch it go. It was six fifteen, she had fifteen minutes to get dinner on the table or get physically chastised, and she did not want to get chastised today and ruin her wonderful day.
“Good evening, Darling,” Mother said, and Jellia paused to kiss her.
“Good evening, Mother, I am in a rush I have to get dinner on. ska-drek said six thirty.”
“Yes, he told me. He’ll be down in a minute.”
Mother followed her into the kitchen. “You are becoming so responsible,” she said.
“Getting chastised can do that,” Jellia said, repeating a Libertas proverb that she had heard from everyone at school. Often right after she or someone else had gotten chastised. And often accompanied by laughs. She opened the status unit and pulled out some sliced meat, and then cheese, and then the broad pickles that they had here. She didn’t like them as much as pickled cucumbers, but they were very useful for sandwhiches.
She decided a cold dinner was best served in the kitchen so she arranged it all on a platter on the buffet, then got out some Rose hard and, for herself, some soft. She had finished off a couple of bottles of hard at work and didn’t need any more alchohol in her system.
She raced over, focused the lights, then got out plates and forks and all and, just as she slid the last fork in place, saw ska-drek come in and, glancing at the wall clock, saw it was six twenty-eight, sighed in relief, and went and kissed ska-drek.
“Excellent job, Daughter,” he said, kissing her back. “And how was your day at work?”
“Oh, it went zoomy,” she said, sitting down and, waiting for ska-drek and Mother to finish, took a piece of flat bread and began arranging her own sandwhich. I’m tired, but in a good way. I met just tons of people.”
“And your pay?” ska-drek asked.
“Oh, I don’t get paid, I get tips,” she said. “And I haven’t even looked at them yet. I got some tips snipped to me.”
“Well, take them out. You do not wish to be behind in your contribution.”
Jellia took the coins out. “My what?”
“Your contributions to the household.”
“Oh. I didn’t know… I guess that was in the packet but it has been a long time.”
“Whenever you are faced with a new endeavour you should do your research, Daughter. Like your Mother and I, eighty percent of your earnings go to your ska-drek-a to run the house. Although, of course, you spend a good deal of it yourself, doing shopping for the house.”
“Oh, well, umm, yes.” She piled her coins up and soon had them counted.
“Let us arrange a jar for you, ska-drek said, “since you will be getting your funds in solid. Do you have anything in your stock, My Dear?”
“Well, yes, there is an old pickle jar,” Mother said, rising to get it.
“There, Daughter, an art project for you. Decorate this jar and label it household funds. We will leave it here, or in the great room, as you decide, and you will put your contribution in it immediately after every shift… or after you make dinner, anyway. Set up your snip tips to deposit automatically.”
“Yes, ska-drek,” Jellia said, turning the jar over in her hands. How odd, to feel like she was contributing to the household. How odd working, for that matter. And taking her own skimmer. And being only a few months from having her own en-drek… or en-e-drek, anyway. And not dating. And not getting propositioned every few minutes. My word, if she had this job back on Libertas!
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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.