July 31st, Tuesday, Parody Bookstore
11:47 am
The thrill of independence was disturbingly temporary. A
young woman seeking to break free from heavy familiar chains will be as
a dove when she casts aside everything that has weighed her down, but
flying so freely can be frightening, especially if she's spent just
about every penny she owned for the sake of this liberty. She realizes,
only too late, that cutting herself off from those suffocating people
means she must now confront all those problems mother and father once
fought--that housing, food, transportation, college fees, and other
expenses are now her responsibility. And so, in a cruel twist of irony,
throwing off one suit of chains only causes another to be thrown upon
her shoulders. She hopes that, as she draws nearer to the bookstore, she
will finally be relieved--and able, at long last, to experience life
according to her own rules.
"They don't have a 'help wanted' sign," she muttered to
herself as she touched the door. She took a deep breath and pushed.
You complete my fate
The world unwinds inside of me
You complete my fate
The halo crawls away
You repeat my fate
Rewinding all we can
You refill my place
You refill my place
Come and save me
Come and save me
You complete my fate
The heavens stroll inside of me
You repeat my fate
Revealing who we are
You refill my place
You refill my place
Come and save me
Believe in me
Drink the wine
Take my hand
Fill me up
Believe in me
Drink the wine
Take my hand
Let me follow
"Inclusion"
The young woman, unemployed and desperate, was welcomed by
an enchanting atmosphere. The world was lined with books, magazines,
comics, graphic novels, accessories, various posters and maps; the aroma
was a curtain of vanilla, cinnamon, cedar, and the musk of forgotten
tomes; the music was quiet, reflective, and inspirational. She stood in
the doorway, feeling lost but excited, her stomach knotting as thrills
climbed down her spine into her belly, to shaking hands and knees, and
each of the senses could indulge as it pleased, as if Parody were the
perfect banquet.
Let what will be, will be; she takes it all in stride
Restrained by her antiquated family, she is a deviant
Escaping life through games, fantasy, and her close-knit friends
Thuy "Terra" Huynh Tu
As Terra stepped into that world, she picked up scraps of
conversation from the back. Since there didn't appear to be any
employees prowling around--nor any customers, for that matter--she
followed the noise while trying not to eavesdrop.
"...Weekends are where we...most...nine to five...
Sundays...would really...a lot."
"That seems...suppose you'd have...to fill in for..."
"I've been...tell you...make it into the team...change
your...I can give you..."
"I appreciate it." Terra finally found them and stood there
patiently. One was a Romanesque beauty, with dark skin and hair; the
other was distinctly American, fairer and less intimidating.
"Um, excuse me." She grinned timidly, wondering which lady
to address. "I was just, uh...wondering if you guys worked here."
"Si," the Italian woman answered. "What can we do for you?"
"Uh, I was wondering if you're hiring or not." Terra was
nervous; she could be excused for her ineloquence. Their reaction was
quite distinct: both women looked at each other, plainly astonished, and
one even began to laugh quietly.
"Well how do you like that?" she said. "Is that good timing,
or is that good timing? We were just discussing that," she said to
Terra. "Do you have time for an interview?"
"Uh--really? Um, I mean...sure, yes, I definitely have time!
Thank you!" Terra's tension loosened all at once--all those chains
stifling and restricting her now felt as slippery as buttered
noodles--and she nearly floated to the manager's office.
"You came at a great time," said the older woman as she cast
her head back. She had long, shimmering hair that rippled and waved like
mahogany reflected in a lake, kept in tow with a pink hairband, her
clothes simple but very sharp: a skirt, polo shirt, and high heels, with
a green watch and several bracelets decorating her arms. She paused in
front of her door, playing with the lock, and quickly extended her hand.
"I'm Robin. It's a pretty relaxed atmosphere here, so don't feel like
you have to call me by my last name."
"Uh, okay. I'm Terra."
"Do you have a résumé, Terra?" Robin said as she opened the
door and led the younger woman inside. Perspiration freckled Terra's
skin, but Robin's assuring smile put her at ease. "It's no big deal. The
job isn't difficult at all. It's a great entry-level position. Um, have
you worked anywhere else?"
"Uh, well, I've been working on this online comic for
awhile, if that counts. I also do some freelance programming on the
side, but no...my parents really discourage me from working. Uh, but I
really want the job, Miss...uh, Robin!"
"Well, I wouldn't want to cause any conflict."
"No, you won't!" she exclaimed hastily. "I just recently
moved out and I'm on my own!"
"Oh, okay. Well, if everything's all right, I guess I should
ask if you have any questions."
"Uh, yeah. Could I ask what shifts are available? I'm going
to attend this local college soon..."
"You mean Carnegie? Fausta's going there as well--she's the
woman you saw with me. Uh, right, schedules." She plucked a calendar
from the stack of papers on her small desk--Robin's office was very
clean and organized, with several plants and a clock to give it
ambiance--and skimmed it with a pencil until she arrived at her
destination. "Fausta's covering weekends, so if you could take the
evening shift, that would really help out. I can handle most of the day
shift myself; we don't get many people here once school's in session.
Can you come in from four to ten?" Terra pursed her lips in thought. Her
last class let out at 3:45, so if she hurried...
"Yes, I think I can manage that. That's six hours, right?"
"Right. Basically, you're here to close shop and conduct
daily inventory, but you might have to stock shelves and work the
register as well."
"I can do that, no problem!" Both women smiled, and Robin
gave her a waiver sheet and tax information--a surefire sign that
Terra's troubles were at their end.
"Excellent! Just sign your life away and be here by
tomorrow."
"Oh..." Terra grimaced, "that may not work out so well. I'd
like to try out for the soccer team."
"Oh, okay, no problem. That ends at 5:30, I believe, so you
can just come in at six for a quick orientation. Wait, tell you what:
why don't you write out your school and practice schedules, and I'll
arrange it from there."
"All right." Terra was ready to burst from happiness; she
couldn't contain her broad smile. Not only was she getting a job, but
she'd be able to go to school and play sports as well! While she was
busy with paperwork, another customer came into the store and went
straight for the office. Terra glanced to see who it was; she didn't
recognize the short-haired woman with a Ninja Turtles T-shirt and black
jeans, but Robin did.
"Forget something?" she asked.
"Just wanted to remind you about our 'outing' tonight!" the
other woman whispered. Robin rolled her eyes and snickered.
"That's a good one. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. Now
could you at least pretend to work? I'm in the middle of an interview."
"Oh, sweet! One more for the party!" She winked at Terra,
giving her a thumbs-up before disappearing. Terra stared at Robin,
perplexed.
"That was Gardenia, from the café next door. We're taking
employees to a local nightclub later tonight, which...means you're
invited, I guess."
"Oh! Well, uh, that's an unusual perk."
"Not really," Robin replied softly. "Dee and I are always
trying to do fun stuff with our employees. She's got a movie night every
Saturday, I hold game tournaments, we both order catering sometimes..."
Terra turned pale with exaltation. Up until today, she believed the only
benefits to a job were insurance and paid vacations; she never could've
imagined having a "fun" boss before. And to think, she had applied at
just the right moment, when her services would be needed the most! It
must've been divine intervention.
"Sounds great!" she managed to gasp. "So, like, what kind of
nightclub is this?"
"Well, it's drug-free, if that's what you're wondering.
It's...sort of girls-only, if you catch my drift. It's not like either
of us are implying anything by taking our employees there; it's just for
fun. We figured since school would be starting in a week, we may as well
treat our workers to something nice. You don't have to come if it makes
you uncomfortable."
"Can I check it out, though?" she asked reluctantly. The
phrase girls-only had a Sapphic connotation to it, and while Terra was
not completely unversed in that aspect, she was not what you could call
a practitioner.
"Sure! You can carpool with me and Fausta. I'm not really
into that sort of thing either, so if you change your mind, I can just
take you home."
"Okay, that sounds good. What time are you leaving?"
"Seven-ish." Terra wrote it down. Not even an hour had
passed since she set foot inside the bookstore.
"Then I will be there."
"Great, I'll see you later!"
"Bye, and thanks!!" She cast a giddy smile and soared out of
the room, high on elation.
--Lauren Ofdensen, 22, Psychology major, no position--
The owner of the Out and About lesbian nightclub, a
dark-skinned vamp named Odessa, had been expecting the arrival of her
competitors and friends for hours, so she made sure her place was
suitable to their liking. Since it was still relatively early in the
evening, the place was not quite up to its normal standards, but no
doubt that would change soon. She immediately recognized the Flower and
the Bird as they got out of their cars--she had a big crush on both of
them and had once tried to seduce them--but the others were relatively
new. Odessa put on her best smile as she approached the group, waving
frantically amidst the sea of lustful women.
"Hi!" she said, shouting over the loud music. "Decided to
invite the whole gang?"
"They've been working really hard," Gardenia replied. "I
figured I could treat them to a group night out. Some of them have
school in a week, so this might be the last time they can stay out so
late!"
"Very nice of you!" Odessa grinned sexily and traced her
finger over Gardenia's face; Kemper just rolled her eyes and excused
herself to go dance with her employees. Robin, in the meanwhile, stood
off to the side. Loud, sexy, wild parties weren't her style, and
Gardenia respected this; there was no way she was staying home tonight,
was all, since she had promised to take Fausta and Terra. Odessa
sauntered over to her, hips swaying and shoulders rocking, and started
to playfully rub up against her. Robin turned red and laughed; she
decided to take the older woman up on her offer, since her accomplice
was occupied elsewhere. Everyone was now left to their own devices.
"I am being glad you could come!" Nadia shouted. Felicity
was smiling meekly, flush with humiliation as she realized the mess she
was in. Her father would most certainly disapprove of this with all his
anger. Not only was she neglecting her academic and physical studies,
but she was "wasting her time" going to parties, hanging out with
half-drunk nymphomaniacs, and associating with lesbians on top of
everything else! She was terrified of what would happen if he ever found
out--but the thrill of defying him so completely was giving her a rush,
and in all honesty, she had wanted to be in a place like this for as
long as she could remember. There was much ambivalence at work.
"I think I'm glad I came too!" she shouted back. Nadia
grinned, and instead of trying to speak with her (the floor and walls
were vibrating with hot music), the Russian firecracker giggled and
gently gripped Felicity's arms, dragging her onto the floor so they
could dance. Velur was still a little conflicted and shy, but a large
part of her wanted to throw every caution to the wind, and make merry in
true Epicurean fashion.
"It's about time she loosened up!" Gardenia yelled as she
glanced over. Lau shot the dancing duo a look, and smiled at her manager
and friend.
"I wonder what made her change her mind. Felicity's normally
so reserved."
"Who knows what's going on inside that girl's head?! But if
anyone can get her to relax, it's Nadia!" Lau nodded, and for the sake
of the moment, swayed her hips and politely flirted with the older
woman. As the two moved around, trying not to crash into anybody, Lau
noticed something odd and pointed her finger.
"Robin has a new employee. Did you see her come in?"
"Nah, I was too busy trying to keep Odessa's hands away from
my ass. Which one is she?"
"That one, the Vietnamese girl." Gardenia turned around and
saw a young woman with an average figure, her hair rich and dark as tar,
several strands dyed red. There was a noticeable scar on her left
forearm, and she wore an Escaflowne T-shirt and a skirt-dress. She
certainly looked Asian, though Kemper couldn't figure out how Lau could
tell the difference.
"Oh yeah, I see her. She's pretty cute." Terra was trying to
get into the scene, but it just wasn't working out. Her idea of a good
time was squatting down in front of a TV, playing classic RPGs and
watching anime. However, she was also open to new experiences, as
strange or frightening as they may be. Being in that room full of women,
staring at them as they grinded, swayed, teased, toyed, and rubbed
against each other, was something she never would've been able to see on
her own. There was some fun to be had here, in small doses--but like
Felicity and Robin, it just wasn't that appealing to her, and after
about three hours of dancing and awkward attempts at socializing, she
found Robin and asked to be taken home.
"Uh, I know this sounds awful," Granveldt murmured, "but I
actually think I'll stay awhile longer. Hold on--I think one of Dee's
people is ready to leave, too. You can ride with her. Felicity!" Robin
waved an exhausted, slender brunette over, and briefly made
introductions. "Felicity, this is Terra. She's ready to go home, but she
needs a ride. Do you think you could take her for me, please?"
"Uh, sure, that'd be fine. Hi." The two women shook hands,
starting a relationship that would carry on throughout their entire
college lives, though they were unaware of it at the time. Felicity also
introduced Terra to a Russian woman named Nadia, who greeted her
affectionately. Nadia wanted to stay behind, but she wanted to be with
Felicity more, so she agreed to carpool with them. Terra waved farewell
to Robin (noticing Fausta taking a breather in the corner), and stepped
back outside, into a much cooler and quieter atmosphere. Along the way
home, Terra discovered that they all shared a single dream: they each
wanted to play for Carnegie's new team. Perfect strangers turned into
unexpected friends thanks to this ideal, and they each wished each other
good luck as they got out of the car and headed for home.
--Terra Tu, 19, Applied Computer Science Major, no position--
Soon enough, the morning of Wednesday, August 1st finally
came, catalyzing the fates of many young men and women. It was a great
day to try out for soccer: breezy, bright, not too warm, and full of
energy. Leena and Kathlyn arrived just as Mr. Warren and the men's coach
were wrapping things up, so they went over for a brief chat. The turnout
had been less than the men expected, but they were still enthusiastic;
it was only the first day. Out of the dozen or so that actually showed
up, Warren spotted three men of exceptional skill, and Coach Bracton saw
four.
"I know we shouldn't be picky at this point," Arthur
grumbled, "but I'd like to recruit people that will at least give us a
fighting chance. In spite of all our efforts, this is all we have to
show. Well, it's better than nothing. See you tomorrow, ladies!"
"And you. Katt." Leena gestured for her wife and began
preparing for her own evaluations; Kathlyn brought out towels and water
bottles. Shortly after they got settled in, a handful of women began
trickling onto the field, some bashful and uncertain, others confident
and excited. Because they had opted to go to bed early, Felicity and
Nadia were completely rested and ready for action; they were among the
first to arrive. Nadia's babushka (her grandmother) had called earlier
that morning to offer her prayers and support; Felicity's father also
made a call, but his voice was cold and hard-he expected her to
distinguish herself from the others, and would not tolerate anything
less than perfection. Nadia's cheerfulness really helped the stress go
away, and Felicity offered a watery smile as she began her warm-ups.
Terra Tu followed, a big smile on her face, eager to show
her stuff. She was not strictly a soccer player, but her martial arts
abilities would make up for that inexperience. Fausta came later, waving
casually to her new coworker as she stifled a yawn. She had stayed up
far too late and had spent too much energy partying; her wrath was
focused inwardly. Lauren Ofdensen also strolled in, casual and
indifferent, her hands in her pockets and an easygoing smile hanging on
her face. Elisa Berkeley was one of the last to show up, since she had
been debating this decision up until the last minute. Even now, she was
unsure about the path she was taking, yet here she was, being welcomed
by friends and strangers alike.
Everyone had her own expectations for the try-outs,
particularly in the woman who would be coaching and leading them. The
general consensus had been that she would be an ugly, old, overweight,
dull-eyed dyke with little fashion sense and even less passion, coughing
and grumbling her way through a paycheck. What greeted them instead was
something like a beautiful garden, lush and vibrant with wonderfully
colored flowers, where animals could explore freely without fear, where
the song of water and the sigh of the wind put even the most timorous
hearts at ease. Coach Parkin-Katajisto-one learned to address her as
"Leena"-was actually very cute for a fully-grown woman, her face bright
and cheerful, eyes dancing with affection and zeal, hair soft and
golden, wrapped in an adorable little tail. She looked more like a
graceful ballerina than a muscle-bound sadist, and had a delicious
Finnish accent. When she spoke or looked at the women lined up before
her, one got the impression she honestly loved her job and cared about
those under her tutelage.
After introducing herself, Leena brought a younger, shorter
woman named Kathyn in front of the applicants, stating that she was a
part-time member of the staff. Kathlyn had a slightly edgier
appearance-her hair was wilder and she had the glint of one who had
experienced great hardship in her eyes-but she was just as happy and
energetic as her partner (they didn't reveal their marriage to the
others). After everyone signed in and claimed a water bottle, they each
showed Leena a little of what they were capable of.
Only half the women there had any actual soccer experience;
it was noticeable even to Kathlyn's eyes. In fact, Fausta was so
perfectly focused on her performance that she tuned everything out-she
was blind, deaf, and dumb to the world, and it honed her into an
aggressive athlete, a woman out to prove herself with the strength and
willpower to back it up. Meanwhile, Nadia was a natural; her father had
been on the Russian Olympic team, and she seemed to inherit his skills.
She had been playing soccer since she was four; at twelve, she began to
seriously compete, developing a calm, strategic mind and exceptional
stamina. She had great potential to be a leader or even Captain, but
crumbled under pressure. Finally, Felicity's whole world literally
revolved around the sport, and it showed in her performance: she was
just a shoe endorsement short of being a professional. Even Leena was
amazed at how intimately and flawlessly she handled the ball, but she
also noticed something dragging Felicity down-a dark ghost nagging on
her shoulders, a fear of failure, an insurmountable pressure that was as
closely ingrained in her psyche as her own personality.
Lauren, Elisa, and Terra were different matters, and at
first, Leena considered keeping them out. Rosewood's proposal called for
the best and brightest available, and these three were novices. But
something about their amateurish style attracted Leena's attention, and
she gave them a closer examination. Terra Tu clearly had no idea what
she was doing, but the woman was in excellent physical condition, thanks
to years of martial arts training. Her passes, blocking, and running
were average at best, but she had excellent kicks and flexibility, and
discipline to match. Lauren Ofdensen, on the other hand, was awkward on
the field, wildly thrusting her legs out and slapping the ball
erratically, and she kept using her hands to block it-but she was able
to catch the ball every time it came in her direction. Leena remembered
Rosewood telling her of Ofdensen's baseball prowess, and she put the
woman's name on her list for future evaluation.
Elisa Berkeley proved to be a refreshing surprise. She was a
meek, self-effacing, soft-spoken lady, more liable to pick up a violin
than a soccer ball, always chuckling sadly when mentioning her skill.
She certainly didn't compare to Velur, Khovansky, or Nazario, but she
had plenty of unexpected moves and had solid defense. Leena saw a great
deal of potential in her steady footwork and fluid movement, and wrote
in her notes that this was another person to watch for. A few of the
other participants caught her eye as well, for one reason or another,
but she put them to the side, feeling they wouldn't be able to give
Carnegie the jump-start it needed.
"All right, that'll be it for today," she announced.
"Everyone take a breather. You did well. I've made some decisions based
on what I saw today, so when I call your name, I'll tell you what I
thought. Nazario-you're in."
"Good show, Nazario!" shouted Elisa. Fausta slowly woke out
of her delirium and grinned at the older woman. She had been so focused
that she didn't even realize she had made the team.
"Thanks. You look like you're having fun," she said to
Berkeley. "I'm glad you decided to come out here. Now I don't feel quite
so excluded."
"Well then, it seems my decision had some merit to it after
all!" Elisa answered.
"So you weren't even going to try?" Leena wondered.
"I know I said I wouldn't," Elisa muttered, "but something
inside of me just pushed me in this direction. In all likelihood, I'll
end up warming benches and fetching water bottles for our more skilled
players...I mean, if you even want me on the team. I want you to know,
Miss Leena, I'm not really here to win any games or prove any points.
I'd just like to put some exercise in my life and meet other people. I
need the, uh, interaction. I wasn't completely awful, was I?"
"No, you did fine," she replied warmly. Elisa Berkeley
almost fainted as she saw the coach put a check mark next to her name,
indicating that, through some bizarre twist of fate or extraterrestrial
miracle, she had made the team. Elisa stumble to the bleachers, giddy
with joy, too stunned to even stand up. Fausta smiled warmly and helped
steady her friend, and sat back as she wondered who else would be
included. She carefully studied her potential teammates for their
strength, stamina, and ability, wondering who could be a worthy rival
and who would just get in her way. There were at least two other players
there who could probably fill that role, but the others...
"Ofdensen," the coach called, drawing Fausta's stare. Leena
was looking over at a scrappy-looking woman who apparently still thought
the "punk" look was cool. She gave her a smile and a thumbs-up, sealing
her fate--to Fausta's surprise
"Her? She's not much better than you, Berkeley. I can't help
but wonder what that woman is thinking. Say, are you even listening to
me?"
"What?" she murmured emptily. "Was I what? What were you
saying? Nnh...sorry, Fausta, I'm still a little stunned."
Sigh. "Talking to myself, am I? Then I guess it's pointless
to ask who else you think the coach is accepting."
"Velur," Leena resumed, answering Fausta's question, "very
impressive. There's some things I'd like to go over with you later, but
on the whole, top-notch work."
"I knew you would win!" Nadia squealed. Felicity just smiled
wearily.
"And Khovansky," Leena added, "you did great. I got the
feeling you were holding back a lot, though, but you're definitely
Carnegie material."
"Wahoo," she grinned. "I like sound of those words. See,
kitty cats, we will be in same job and team! That will be making us
friendz, da?" Felicity just shrugged indifferently. Leena dismissed more
woman than she accepted, unfortunately, but she was looking for
something outstanding, something that could make people discern her team
from all the others. Call it talent, skill, strength, willpower, or
potential; this was the extraordinary "it" factor that made people
special. Terra was actually afraid that she would be included amongst
the rejected, but to her delight and surprise, Leena addressed her with
approval, stating that she could be a great asset to the team.
One day has yielded six players, the cornerstones of the
game. An enthusiast like Kathlyn would say that by the end of six days,
Carnegie would easily have a sufficient lineup ready, but Leena was a
bit more practical, and she was concerned that the day's meager turnout
was an omen of troubles to come.
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