Chapter 4

I hardly ever saw Bang-ja before school but here she was at the gates. She said “we have social [permissions] already, right?” “Of course.” She touched my hand briefly and led me away from the fountain and I got to watch her hair do that sliding-over-itself I like so much. “Um, all of a sudden you are dating?” “It turned out that way, I didn’t know at first.” “Please, Ash, hang out with me soon?” “Well ... look. I was afraid I would lose my friend when we started to play, because my body ... doesn’t work the way books, doctors and society say is normal. I don’t want to lose you as a friend either.”

“I care for you, Ash.” My eyes must have bulged a bit. “You are ridiculous, you didn’t know that?” “Well ... I have been in analytical head for some time...”. She burst out laughing. “As soon as we started studying together, what, six or seven years ago?” “About that.” “As soon as we did I wanted to be way closer to you and you had no idea.”

“It makes no sense, I was pretty much a dumb kid and mostly scared because my body didn’t behave properly. Ever notice I didn’t get into any team or group sport?” She nodded. “Scared ever since I realized such a thing as puberty existed. When I started getting tits I was appalled.” “Oh. You’re...?” “Intersex is the least loaded term I’ve found.”

The warning chime. “To the glades after lunch?” she asked. “Sure.” She touched my hand again and was off.

I beat Mr. Mesrobian into the class by a few meters again.

“Good morning, gentlefolk. The week is wearing out. I request, again, that you finish strongly and with intensity.

“A colony of red ants has taken up residence in the courtyard, which has been closed, probably through the entire break.” The courtyard is a concrete monstrosity that would be improved by a shelling - few went there.

“From abacus calculation to zoology, the School Board reminds students and their families of the extensive calendar of voluntary Litha classes. Sorry, zymurgy is by law restricted to majors. The Collective’s scope and sweep of culture are on display during these classes.” He took a breath and made quote marks with his fingers. “‘Paid advertisement’. Please consider my class in neon art.” Huh. I’d had no idea.

“Any comments, questions, or matters of record?”

Nope.

“Live long and prosper, gentlefolk.”

I was walking toward Mr. Moss’ class when someone said “You’re Ash, aren’t you?” And the stupid fuck grabbed my arm.

I spoke loudly as the big goon smirked at me. “Evidence. Assault.” A tinny voice said “Yes, Mr. Boakye.” “Let me go or I will make you.” And they smirked again and said “Not until...” “KIAP!” I broke their left clavicle, a single left-handed punch. “OW. You fucking bitch...” At least they’d let go, their arm was probably numb, but they tried to kick me, another “KIAP!” and that’s how they learned about dense tibias. I broke theirs. And now they were on the floor, of course, yelling and cursing. “We’re going to sue! You assaulted me!”

People were gathering, a few around the idiot. A couple had called “Evidence”, others “Medics”, and I saw one of the little security floats coming with a guard - we didn’t see that terribly often. A girl I knew slightly walked up and said “I’m surprised, Ash ... ok if I explain a few things to him?” “Stay out of the cameras’ sight lines, please, Sara.” She nodded. While security worked their way through the crowd, I heard her: “You were briefed. You signed a commitment, else you wouldn’t be here. Do NOT” - as they’d started to open their mouth again - “do NOT interrupt me. You will find I am doing you a favor. You are one complaint away from being expelled, likely a felony accusation too, and any witness has valid grounds to make either complaint. I saw you assault him. Keep silent.” “But...” as the security lead - Gary Yakovlev - came up. “Mr. Boakye, we have the situation.” “Thanks, Mr. Yakovlev.” I winked, Gary’s in my tang soo do class. I went from “ready” to being a student again, though I’d have to stick out at least part of the clean-up. Medics came through with a stretcher and placed them on it but knew to allow Gary to finish at the scene. Ms. Stitt of Records went from person to person, requesting ID swipes. So, wtf, I listened and observed. “ ... are arrested on suspicion of assault. I will need your student card, please.” “But...” “Silently comply with my request, please, do not continue to dig.” He took it from around his neck and handed it to Gary. “Mr. Anderson. Silently ... contemplate your good fortune, which consists partly in that Mr. Boakye left most of your bones and organs apparently functional. He is my teacher of martial arts.” Anderson looked up at Gary, his face turning from red to a light grey. “You will be transported per School agreement and State of California law to the Barnaard Hospital of San Hipolíto. At that time you have the right to get in touch with your parents or guardians and your counsel, if any. I will not require restraint en route if you respond to the following question with these two words and no other: ‘I promise.’ Jonathan Atchison Villaréal Anderson. Do you promise to accompany me and/or members of this EMT unit in a designated security vehicle without flight, assault or comment whether oral, written or signalled, from this place to the Barnaard Hospital of San Hipolíto?” He drew a shaky breath. “I promise.” “Then, Mr. Jones, please load up your patient.” I got a tardy receipt from Ms. Stitt for Mr. Moss, stating he had already been notified. I’d head toward Western Lit.

A bunch of the crowd had stuck around, and I asked Sara “aren’t you late?” “Ms. Stitt gave out a bunch of tardy receipts so we could walk you to class.” “Why?” “You protected us.” “Then I’d better thank you and mix it up a bit, right?” “Watch.”

They formed a double line to my classroom and gave me high-fives. I’d never heard of, or seen, this. Sara was last. “How will I thank you, and them?” “Look at them now, thank them right here.”

“Gentlefolk, thank you.” I realized my eyes were wet. “It’s a privilege of mine to know you.” “Thank you, Ash.”

As I turned to go into class, all were standing. Evidently word had got out. “Thank you, gentlefolk, for supporting me.” “Thank you, Ash.”

Mr. Moss said “Mr. Boakye, are you all right to be in class?” “Merely overwhelmed by my friends’ support, at the moment.” He nodded. I sat at my desk, and realized he was right and “overwhelmed” was accurate.

I was thankful he didn’t call on me in the discussion, I listened but decided I might need a quiet room after this.

Mr. Moss noticed too. “Mr. Boakye, would you please accompany me to the clinic?” I nodded. “They can notify any support you would like.” And he - and the class - walked me over to the clinic where Nurse Zachary met us.

He launched into what sounded like a standard spiel. “Mr. Boakye, whether or not your perspective allows you to see it, regardless of whether the rumors flying around are accurate, you have likely experienced some mental trauma. I would like it if you would lie in the quiet room for an hour. If you are still upset after that, we will offer to take charge of you until you and I can speak with your parent(s) or guardian(s). “Thank you, Nurse Zachary, it might not be what either of us thinks. I’ll go in there. May I ask my friend Danni ... oh, I think she’ll be late to school today. May I ask my friend Bang-ja Oh to meet me here after her class?” “I’ll send your request to her through the schoolnet, OK?” “Thank you.” I went into the quiet room, lay down. Ms. Jensen’s art installation consisted of fish swimming around some angular sculptures, and I watched them as I gradually relaxed.

To Erik Fong, copy to Mom, Dad, Auntie Sumi

>Erik, today, actually before my last class, I was assaulted during class change. It is my understanding that the assailant is in Barnaard hospital. Statements were taken at the scene, of course the corridor was busy and there were probably a lot of them. I assume someone will ask for a statement from me, sooner or later. Do you have advice for me? Do you want to be present when that happens? I’m not particularly thrown by the situation, but the idea of this is vaguely distressing. With my fond regards -Achille

Erik Fong: he is a contemporary of my Auntie and has been doing legal work for us for at least my lifetime, and did things late in Auntie Berenice’s too.

Bang-ja knocked, entered. I stood up, we hugged a non-PDA hug, then she took my hand. “The message said you were shaken up. There’s a lot of buzz about someone grabbing you in the hallway. How are you feeling?” “Oh ... it’s complicated.” “What isn’t, with you?” “It was actually the aftermath that did it: people thanking me.” “Of course they did, we form up around whomever needs it.” “I know, and if our positions were reversed I’d have done that for you, but it feels so good to know it.” “It might be like seeing a color your eyes couldn’t react to until recently. And suddenly it’s there and you’re ... surprised?” “That’s it, Bang-ja” as I began sniffling. “Okay. Just sit here with me a little while and then we’ll get lunch.”

We opened the door. Nurse Zachary asked if I were ok, and said “if you should become upset again, please come back.” “Thank you, Nurse Zachary.”

When we went into the cafeteria the usual sounds stopped for a second, then they picked back up. Bang-ja noticed and whispered “they know to treat you kindly.” As - huh! I would have known, but never had thought through.

Lunch was beans and sausage with rice. It had some peppers and other things I didn’t know in. “I don’t know this dish.” Bang-ja said “it’s red beans and rice with andouille, it’s good. Come on. I still want to head to the glades after.”

She was right, it was good, and with it we had mugicha. Not as good as Serge’s but whatever, it was mugicha. Bang-ja was fidgeting. “OK, OK, I get it, what’s the rush?” “Let’s go, I’ll explain, but not here.” We walked out onto the grass, heading for the redwoods that surround most structures in San Hip, and a particular set of them was less dense, hence ‘the glades’. She took my hand, dragged me over to the spot she wanted.

“Ash, you’re unaware that those shots on Neeps even exist, am I right?” “I have it all second-hand.” Neeps started out in the Collective before there was a Web, it was meant to be a chat board about Scots cooking but the host was apparently witty and it became a social board. Bang-ja fussed with her tablet. “See this?”

Um. We actually looked like that? Danni and I, nearly naked and from behind, walking to her place. “Neeps blew up, Ash, and it’s going to do it again tonight over current events. The common element is ... you. I wanted to get ahead of the crowd. I desire you. Ash, I would like you to touch me intimately...” “ Wow, seriously?” “Ash. Come on, let me ask properly, please. Ash, I would like you to touch me intimately. Please touch me intimately.”

Implicit in that was ‘certainly not here but I really want you to soon.’

“Bang-ja, I would like you to touch me intimately. Please touch me intimately.”

She launched herself at me and kissed me. I’d had some practice with Danni, of course, and I kissed Bang-ja the way Danni had taught me and although Danni and Bang-ja feel different, Bang-ja began making those mews into my mouth. I thought about her - usually us together doing homework - and realized she was far more than a friend and I felt affection for her. With a quivering hand, she touched my right breast and even through the bra and the coarse blouse she felt my nipple rising.

“Mmm! Mmm!” She was breathing hard and oh, spirit, Bang-ja, we do need to be close ... and she went rigid. I tried to let her go after a few seconds but she held me to her mouth and about ten seconds after that I realized a) she’d had an orgasm and b) my cock was trying to break the little thong I’d put on this morning. I had a hard-on, first one I’d had without one of my holes being fucked or plugged.

She let me go and said wow. “That was intimate, all right. I’ve never cum from being kissed, I learned a whole lot about ... well, one of your breasts, and I feel wonderful.” “So do I, Bang-ja, I would like to kiss you again, but if we do we will probably be found out and I wouldn’t like that to happen.” She nodded. “Please, after school?” “What, today?” She nodded. “Well, I should go home after we’re through in the library, if for no other reason than not having to go back home in school clothes ... six-ish, your place?

We got up and talked as we were walking back. “Would you rather come to dinner?” she asked. “Um. I would like to see how it feels to play with you, but I am a noob. My sample size is small, just one play time and one date so far so I don’t know whether I will do well. Let’s take a few steps and see what happens.” She nodded. “I’m worried about what happens if, well, you think my body is too weird, and you know how sweet that kiss was?” “Oh, yes, that’s why I am going to have such a tough time waiting.” “It’s true for me, and a lot of the time I was getting these big news flashes in my head about how strong, smart and steadfast you are - and I guess I knew all that, but actually kissing brought it out. I don’t want to lose that and it’s something I have to risk, so I’m worried.” She touched my hand. “I’m not, Ash, and I still want to be much closer to you.”

We arrived back at the building, she touched my hand and looked down at me, licking her lips. “See you soon, hottie.”

I got through comp. geom. pretty much OK and headed to Drama. When I entered, Slade and Cat asked a variation of “Are you OK, Ash?” The others waited quietly. “Oh, dear. Slade, Cat, thanks. I had a moment of clarity that shook me up, I’m way off center right now. Maybe in a couple days?” I got two hugs, found my way to my seat while doing the odd high-fives. Mr. Bowen entered, said the polite things, and we started up with “self-directed improvisation.” This is a kind of game that begins with one of the group saying “let’s try...” and then suggests a topic like “arguing about the weather.” Then the others in the group - today we were in threes - either make an alternative proposal or try to figure out interesting or funny ways to have an argument about the weather. It seems silly and leads to most groups laughing loudly and long. Mr. Bowen takes it far more seriously than I used to, but it helps me think around corners or something. It’s nothing I mind now, though it had annoyed me at the beginning of term.

Cat walked comfortably and mostly quietly with me to the library, we introduced ourselves, got socials and he shook my hand. I got a brief and polite hug, and walked to the pod. Ali was there, so I carded the lock, left it unset, and we went in. We had a quick hug, Ali saying “what a blow-up, you OK?” “Mostly, Ali, I learned a lot and it’ll take me time.” I connected my tablet to the display. Ali had the same drawing program now, so he took it out. “Linked files so you can keep what you see, it’s in your mail.”

Bang-ja came in, hugged Ali, hugged me. I had Ali’s questions in a list. “This first one is a little tricky because you get tempted to declare the plane of symmetry too early for the starfish. How many planes are there?” “Two.” “Would you maneuver the starfish picture and show me where they are? Like this.” I showed him. He started, then said “Oh. Five.” “Okay, pick one, highlight with a touch on it.” Then I rotated the image. “Isn’t this one just like the one you picked?” “Yes.” “So you’re right. Five. It’s provable that any of the five will do equally well, that’s what’s confusing. Notice that if you were

to imagine all five planes, they will intersect right at the center of the starfish. It is five-fold symmetry, one axis and five planes.”

We took another and another and another and finally he said “I think I have it.” “I think so too, Ali. See if you can do a few examples that are linked.” There was an umbrella one and he got that even with the crook in the handle, it was achiral; I had to help him with why a helical gear was chiral (didn’t matter that it would mesh with its reflection, that was the trick).

We wound up and I got a CVA: Collective Vehicle, Automated. Robot vehicle, looks like a sofa on wheels, wrapped in a thin plastic canopy. You went to the page and entered start and end points and it figured out time to wait and time to travel. When I pushed ‘accept’ my tablet pinged right away so it really had meant only three minutes to wait. About ten minutes later - no one ever said a CVA was fast, just that it was faster than walking, and you’d stay dry in a rain - I was home. I decided to get on with things quickly, saying hi to Auntie, “Headed for Bang-ja’s.” “Please, sit with your old Auntie for a minute?” “Yes, Auntie.” She led me out to the deck, sat on one of the sofas and patted the cushion next to her.

“We heard about the dust-up at school, how are you doing?” “That didn’t bother me too much. I acted through training and practice. What surprised me was the other people who witnessed and who were there in case I needed their help.” “This Atkins...?” “Something like that.” “He grabbed you in the middle of a crowd?” I nodded. “So you hit him?” “I did. Someone that size must be dealt with quickly, and he’d already assaulted me.” Auntie nodded. “Then what?” “He called me a bitch and tried to kick me.” “No wonder he has a broken leg. What’s next?”

“Probably tonnes of paperwork, tears and flapdoodle from that family.” “Erik is already investigating.” “Thanks, I’m sure that will be interesting, like a vehicle crash is.”

“I am surprised you are so little upset, but what about the crowd?” “They were all present, they thanked me, most of them walked me to Mr. Moss’ room and the ones in the room were all standing. Bang-ja helped me sort it out and I’m finally getting words. We look out for one another, that’s why we live here.” Auntie nodded. “It’s a community and it has been running like this for eighty-some years. You’re part of it, and it’s part of you. You did protect us - imagine if Atkins had grabbed someone without the crowd around, or someone who couldn’t fight back so effectively.” “I’m a little worried that Master Ro will say it was excessive.” “Someone with less training or more anger might have killed him.” I nodded. “Anyway, it doesn’t bother me much, and I have to change and get to Bang-ja’s.”

“Is it a date?” “No, we’re going to hang out and play a little.” “Ash, I heard about the pictures on Neeps. The assault at school and you heading to play, finally, with Bang-ja are probably both related to those pictures. Please, especially the next few days, follow your wishes, be flexible and remain alert. We were all hopeful you’d start dating soon, but I fear you are now in the deep end of a pool.”

Auntie hugged me. “I’ll be back for dinner, Auntie.” “As I said, remain flexible and follow your wishes.” She let me go. Strange thing to say, I thought.

I dressed in a couple things that remained from Danni’s transit box, not exactly dating clothes but certainly not shorts and a T-shirt. I looked at my reflection. My long corn-row hair, breasts, hips and legs looked feminine to me and that was jarring - what was even more jarring, I thought, is I liked what I saw. And - weird, again, no knot on my shin.

I registered a CVA to Bang-ja’s and I sent her the arrival time. She lives on Hanning, there’s a loop at the end and the houses are all around a quiet park. It’s fine for picnics and the like, but it’s full when there are a couple hundred people there. The CVA drew up to the front door, and their housekeeper Betsy opened it as I alighted. “Welcome, again, Ash.” “Thank you, Betsy.” “Go right in, she has been tapping her feet and drumming her nails on the desk - don’t tell her I told you.” I smiled.

Bang-ja came tearing down the left-hand stairs, thanked Betsy breathlessly, grabbed me and pulled me into a kiss that lasted a few seconds maybe, then she broke. “I can’t stand it, we need to get to my room!” I took off my shoes, she grabbed my hand and ran back up with me in tow. Once she pulled us in there she shut the door firmly, grabbed me again and pulled me onto her bed, as big as three of my futon. She pushed me on my back and kissed me while she was pulling her top up. She took my hands, put them on her breasts and returned to the kiss.

There were ... things ... going on with me. All the good feelings of the lunchtime kiss came back and she mewed some more as her, and my, nipples hardened. She began feeling my breasts and I heard her snort when she stopped pawing and started exploring. She rolled my nipples between her fingers, used her nails, pinched lightly. She made my cock stiffen with how she handled them. I arched my back periodically and felt how exciting she is and she held her mouth right on mine when she came. She let go after a few seconds and rolled off me, onto her back.

“Ah, I needed that, Ash, er, welcome.” I laughed, she turned on her big smile and I said “I enjoyed your greeting.” “So did I.”

She looked right in my eyes. “What was so weird about that? Well, except from being kissed to orgasm again, and how hot your breasts make me?” I said “Seemed like a nice, enthusiastic way to start.”

“I want to take your top off, now, Ash.” “OK.” We sat up and she sort of rolled it up my trunk. Sharp intake of air. “Those are beautiful, your areolae are heart-shaped.” “They’re just inverted triangles, sort of.” “Nope. Heart-shaped. I have designs on your breasts, maybe not today but very soon.” She took her top off and rubbed my nipples with hers and it felt delicious. She started to work my shorts down my hips and in a couple of good pulls had me standing in my thong. “Shall I help you out of your shorts?” “Sure.”

There were laces to un-do and then I didn’t know what else, so I knelt, took one end of a lace between my teeth and pulled. Bang-ja was giggling and smiling down at me. The knot popped loose, but there was a simple overhand knot behind that, and it was tight. I had to work that with teeth and tongue. It came apart but the shorts were laced pretty tightly and it took me three or four minutes to ease the laces enough to get the shorts loose. I tugged each leg in turn. Bang-ja smelled good and as I slowly pulled her shorts off I became more and more aware of it.

She stepped out of the shorts. “You’re a nut but a good one. Again, with my thong.” It was tight, no two ways about it, so I had to sort of knee-crawl around her to dislodge it bit by bit, and I ‘accidentally’ managed to put my tongue near, but not on, a few of her exciting bits. And they were exciting, all right. The chain around her waist was attached to a bunch of piercings: outer labia and clitoris. Tugging (oops, sorry!) lightly on those chains made her squirm and I played with her until she became quite wet, frustrated and pink. “Stop teasing!” “I thought you said...” “Never mind that.” She took the thong off herself. “Lick my pussy.”

I did, but with intent. OK, I’m a noob, but I’m a noob who reads extensively and watches Collective pleasurenet vids so I had some knowledge and the ability to observe. Bang-ja was trying to get more sensation and I erratically backed off the pressure my tongue applied so she’d show me what she wanted one way or another. I made small errors until she grew frustrated. It worked well, she developed a nice sheen of sweat and she grabbed the back of my head and said “make me cum.”