Chapter 31: The end of the beginning

Kate, Amanda and their various consorts sat in the Communications center watching the myriad of flickering screens intensely. News bulletins from across the globe were monitored on a constant 24/7 basis. Amanda was the first to pick up on the featured report it was local cable news. All monitors switched to a single image, a traditionally positioned black newscaster introduced the item.

"And so now to the weird and wacky world of sex, viewers are warned in advance that the subjects of the next three reports may offend!"

The view changed to a crowded conference hall, a voice over began.

"Today at the Women's Guild annual conference delegates in the front three rows got an unexpected and unwelcome bonus from the Vice President of the Guild, one Christina Appleby. During her presentation on 'The way ahead for the Guild' Ms Appleby lost it big time, in an outrageous gesture of contempt she rushed to the front of the stage and urinated liberally on her surprised delegates. As policewomen led the disgraced woman away she shouted loudly her defiance 'You will find I have shown you the path!' Ms Appleby was then taken to the local police station for investigation by Drexel psychiatrists. This is Lucy Flynn; now thankfully dry, handing you back to Lawrence in the studio"

Lawrence cleared his throat, his soft lips continued in a more falsetto pitch.

"A traditional Asian wedding ended in chaotic screens today; over to Laura live with family members"

The screen filled with a comfortable sofa in front of dense flock wallpaper. On it were sat two women dressed in Sari's, the elder with her hand supportively around the younger ones shoulder.

"So what do you think possessed you daughter Mrs. Patel" Laura asked gently.

"My Nita is a good respectful girl, she knows her place" Sugra Patel replied.

"Except for today, on her most important of days" Laura probed; the camera went into a close up of Mrs. Patel's head and shoulders.

"Nothing like this has happened in my family before, it must have been those girls" Sugra replied curtly, as her shoulders shrugged with passion.

"The four bridesmaids Nita was found with, but weren't they a little young, one of them was barely a teenager?" Laura asked incredulously.

"Am I to blame for other peoples offspring" Sugra's face was full of confused emotion.

"So Nita was blameless in all this, what about..."

Laura's question tailed off. In the background someone shouted, "Cut, now!"

It was a little too late; the camera panned out to show Nita's arm, the hand invisible under the voluminous layers of Sugra's Sari.

Momentarily the screen was black, then Lawrence's softer face came into view, full of surprise at his sudden appearance; his left hand slid quickly down from his shirtfront to the pile of neat papers on his desk.