Tale from Pentapia, Chapter Two

Tale from Pentapia
An Alternative Childhood

J. E. McCarty



Chapter Two
Now What?

         Angela walks up to her home in Gamma plane. The front door has a sign over it stating, “This house is Delta plane.” When she enters, she briefly waves to one of her friends, who is also in Gamma, and waves through the vertical lines perceivable to her of the others in Delta plane. Not seeing any of her home’s staff in Gamma plane, she makes her way back to her rest area.

         As she steps into her area, she sees the dimly glowing line of her roommate next to her bed. She goes to Delta plane, and says, “Hi, Mary.”

         Mary turns around, and replies, “Angela, when did you come in?”

         “Just now; I was in Gamma.”

         “Why? Wait, you are glowing. Did you and George touch?”

         “Yes, we did.”

         “It seems a little soon….”

         There is a knock at their open door panel. The woman there says, “Hello, Mary, Angela. Have either of you seen…no, I think I have found who I am looking for. We will talk in a bit, Angela.” The woman turns to go back to the front.

         Angela does not look much at ease.

         Mary says to Angela, “Well, look at it this way. You can be glad that it is Madam Leslie. She is only about thirty-eight years of age. I do not think she will make too big of an issue of it. Now, tell me, Angela, is it like what the older girls say?”

         “What they say cannot begin to describe it. It is very nice, and it’s as personal and expanding as they say.”

         “How did George react?”

         “He responded well. The second, greater touch was his move. But, I don’t think he remembered all of it.”

         “I hear some never remember all of it. But, for many, they remember the rest of it later.”

* * * * *

         George is in his room drawing. He is in the middle of his third try to draw a picture when he hears a knock at his door. He looks up and says, “David! I didn’t know you were here.”

         David replies, “I haven’t been here very long, George. How are you, little brother?”

         “I’m okay, David. I am growing up, like all kids do.”

         “What are you drawing?”

         “Oh, it’s nothing.”

         “It looks like you and a girl.”

         “Yes, she is a friend of mine.”

         “Is that a flash going out from your hands?”

         “Why did you come over, David?”

         “I thought it sounded like a great idea, after talking to Mother.”

         “I don’t think you have talked to Mom more than five times since I was born. You are seventy, and you live on the other side of town.”

         “Mother sent me a message. She seems to feel you may need to talk about a growing up subject and may not feel comfortable talking about it with her or Father. And, by the looks of what you are drawing, she may be correct.”

         “How could Mom figure all that out?”

         “After a little over nine hundred years you can become a little sharp about such things.”

         “Well…I had my first touch with a girl today—my friend Angela. It was her first time, too. The second time, I took her hand. At first, it just seemed very nice, and interesting. Mom noticed my glowing when I came in. As we were talking about it, I started to remember more about that second touch….David; I’m not sure how to say this.”

         “You can just say it. I know what it is like, George.”

         “David, I didn’t just feel my response, I felt hers too! It was almost like we both had the same body for an instant.”

         “Very good, George! Some never remember that part. And, by the way, it is the same way for both.”

         “Oh!”

         David then asks. “Is there anything else you would like to know?”

         “Well…now what, I guess? Angela and I have just been friends.”

         “That is mostly between you and Angela. Age ten is a little early. However, there is not any problem, so far. Your education on relationships and reproduction will need to be moved up a little. And, I hope you know that it is a little too early to experiment with the reproductive act.”

         “Yes, I know, David. We will stick to touching fingers for a while.”

* * * * *

         Angela and Mary are chatting in their rest area when there is another knock on their door panel. Madam Leslie is at the door.

         She says, “Angela, would you come with me to the small meeting room, please.”

         “Yes, Madam Leslie.”

         They walk toward the front and turn left into a small room with a large table and chairs. Her records folder is on the table. They close the door, and Angela sits across from Madam Leslie, as she sits next to Angela’s folder.

         Madam Leslie tells Angela, “The only rule you have broken is entering the house not in Delta plane. However, coming in glowing from a touch experience at age ten is a caution flag, at minimum.

         “I have been looking over your file. I did not see any problems. However, you seem to be a promising science student. Interacting personally with boys can be confusing and disruptive to the education of girls a few years older than you are.

         “You seem to have become very close to George. So, I am assuming it was he. If you plan to continue in this way in your relationship with this young ‘man,’ are you sure it will not interfere with your education?”

         Angela replies, “Ma’am, I think about almost everything I do. I have known George for some time now. When I am older, I think he will be who I want to be my partner. First, I was trying to become closer to him, and I think it worked. Second, I wanted to find out what it was like.

         “I now understand how it can mess some young girls up in school. George is a smart boy. I feel we can keep our relationship under control, Madam Leslie.”

         “That is a well thought out answer. However, because you broke the rules sneaking in, I will impose an early curfew for you for the next week. In addition, I will be watching your performance in school for at least a month.

         “Also, regarding school, you will be starting the ‘Relationships and Reproduction’ class. Sometimes, the class is mixed and couples. Other times, we divide boys and girls. You have not had any classes with George. If we do not feel you have your relationship under control, you will not sit next to each other in those mixed classes.

         “In the future, please do not sneak into the house. We will not worry if you come in glowing, as long as it is not brightly. If any of the other children tease you about your glowing, do not argue with them. Let us handle it. Is there anything you would like to ask me now, Ms. Angela Alpha-Kappa-Theta?”

         Angela is a little surprised by Madam Leslie calling her “Ms.” Girls are not normally called that until they reach puberty. A little taken back, she answers, “No…I think I understand, madam.”

* * * * *

         George’s alarm sounds. He opens his eyes, coming out of his sleep state and shifts from a grayish light pink to his normal off-white color. Once fully aware, he gets up and makes his bed.

         He hears Danny talking with their father. After gathering his school supplies, he comes out to go to the energy preparation area. Danny and their father are in the living room talking about one of Danny’s school assignments. His father glances up at George as he passes by. He finds his mother in the energy preparation area.

         She says to George, “Good morning, George. Take what you like from the platter. Danny was up early and has had his energy.”

         “Okay…thanks, Mom.”

         “You seem a little preoccupied, George. Is there anything you need to talk about this morning?”

         “I’m just thinking about my talk with David yesterday. I remembered all of the second touch after I got home. You probably figured that out, Mom. We talked about it. It is kind of deep.”

         “Yes, that it is, George.”

         George consumes his energy, takes his plate back to the energy area and empties his dust bowl. As he walks into the living room, his father is still there.

         He says to George, “Good morning, George. I hear you grew up a little more yesterday. Is there anything you would like to ask me?”

         He looks at his father for a moment, and they sit down on the couch. He then answers, “Dad, I am not sure what to think about Angela and I being able to feel each other’s response to a touch. It’s so personal.”

         “Sharing what is personal with another is a part of growing up, George. When someone can remember that part of that experience, he or she will most likely be okay with it.”

         “Oh…do you think Angela remembered the whole experience, Dad?”

         “You would need to ask her. She seems to be a smart girl. The smarter someone is the more likely he or she will remember that. I suspect that your relationship with Angela is not in trouble.”

         “Do you ever experience more than the other’s response to a touch?”

         “Sometimes people can. But, only if both can experience more than that.”

* * * * *

         The school entrance is about as busy as usual in Alpha plane. George finds Angela waiting at the bottom of the entrance steps. They look at each other, and both ask, “Are you in trouble?” Then they chuckle.

         “What happened when you got home, Angela?” asks George.

         “I tried to sneak in so our staff would not notice that I was glowing, but I got caught. After I talked with one of the madams about my sneaking in glowing, I have an early curfew for a week. And, I (we) will need to take the relationship class. So, what happened when you got home, George?”

         “I heard something about the relationship class from my brother David. My mom saw me glowing when I walked in. We talked, too. And, I talked with my dad this morning. I’m sorry I got you in trouble, Angela.”

         “You didn’t get me in trouble, George. I got myself in trouble by trying to sneak into the house. Also, I had as much to do with the fact that I was glowing as you did. I gave you my hand. And, I’m glad I did, George. This should all work out fine in the end.”

         “Angela, I remembered more about our last touch after I got home. How much do you remember?”

         With a big smile, she says, “All of it, George—my response, and yours.”

         George smiles, and responds, “That’s good.”

         Angela extends her hand. George reaches out. They touch two fingers. There is a small, brief flash. They turn and walk up the steps together.