There He Is
“There he is,” Illoia whispered to Aleshia as the two, along with all of their peers, went down in the deep curtsies that was the female equivalent of a military salute of honour. “Your young hero.”
“Well, the uniform is impressive, you must at least admit,” Aleshia rejoined.
“You don’t think it a bit overdone?”
“My dear,” Aleshia drawled, as the two stood with the rest of the lasses and the soldiers’ salutes slapped down, “When you have won the Dictator’s Own even once, you cannot be said to ‘overdo’ anything. He could have retired, for life, with just one, you know.”
“So he must be insane as well as, well, brave or whatever.”
“Or simply very loyal.”
Illoia turned to glare at her. “My dear,” Aleshia drawled, “Do not be such a fool. That is my role. There are several reasons why a lad might decide to be a hero instead of retiring quietly to the country. Some of those reasons might mean he is also a pumpernickel. But not all of them. And by the look in his eyes, none of his.”
Illoia turned to look at the hero’s eyes, but she met them far too full on. Flushing angrily, she turned back to Aleshia. “You did that on purpose!”
Aleshia giggled. “Perhaps I did. He was looking at you. But, there, now, he isn’t.”
Illoia risked looking back, and sure enough, the hero wasn’t looking at her now but was, instead, being greeted by the chaplain. A safe enough choice, politically speaking, for both of them. Chaplains were outside the chain of command and the chain of politics. Neither fish nor fowl, most seemed to actually be motivated by religious reasons since the job of chaplain paid little else.
Talking with Tomirosh seemed to have started some sort of ritual, for after talking a few seconds, the chaplain turned toward the room and put his hands behind his back. He was followed seconds later by all of the lads, the soldiers and sailors, and as they had become silent, the lasses, starting with the wives, stopped talking as well, and soon the entire room was silent, staring at the Chaplain.
“Let us ask the Almighty for His blessing,” the chaplain began. “Almighty and Merciful creator, we gather here tonight to honour You in fellowship and, if it be Your will, to join young lives together in Your institution of marriage. We know that that institution gives us a glimpse of Your relationship with us in this age and the other, and pray that we may honour You in it, as in all things.
We pray as well that you may bless them with fruitfulness…”
At the end of the very long prayer heads came back up and in seconds everyone was talking again, even louder than before.
“Are you hungry, Dear?” Aleshia asked her, waving a hand at the food tables.
“Oh, we can’t go get something to eat ourselves!” Illoia countered. “We must leave something for the lads to do.”
Aleshia laughed, and the two turned back to the circle of lasses that were shyly waiting to be noticed.
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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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Links
Intro // Podcast Version
She was pretty, popular, snobby, and a planetary governor’s daughter. He was the son of shopkeepers, a social misfit, and a decorated hero. She thought she was there to dance. He had other ideas.
A Dance // Podcast Version
As a governor’s daughter, Illoia usually avoided such events, but when the captain made the announcement that there was to be an Article 17 dance, she, too, was forced to attend. If only the scum hadn’t been there too.
The Unbridgeable Chasm // Podcast Version
Eukles and Meriones, brave military leaders, quail at cross the gulf between themselves and asking a lass to dance.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Jellia goes to school and gets to tell everyone about her new adventure.
First Work
Fenestra goes to work, and tells her coworker about her new opportunity.
Writing Class
Jellia writes a poem (a limerick) and tells her classmates more about her new adventure.
Trader Galloway
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
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
In which Jellia starts using some new words at school, and everyone gathers round to find out what they mean.
Kesh-i Cooking Class
In which Jellia finds out that children (Kesh-i) on Libertas are expected to cook.
Trade Master Training
In which Fenestra begins her training for her new role, with an old enemy.
Two Week Date
In which Fenestra and Alex decide to date for the next two weeks.
The Facts of Life
In which Fenestra brings Alex home, and Jellia isn’t impressed. Although she is interested in how dating works for boys.
Snips
In which Jellia spends time snipping with a boy, and brings him home.
Kissing
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!
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.
🎶 There he is . . . Mr. America! 🎶
The two girls are still annoying, but at least conversant in recent history. Though I would like to know what Our Hero has *done*, and if they are in a war, who (or what) are they fighting.
Nice that the meeting starts with prayer.