WARPING EFFECTS / CH. 7:SHOCK TACTICS
ANCHORAGE, FRIDAY 12TH JAN, 2296, 6PM
“Maddie, it's so nice to finally meet you,” Sarah greeted her.
“You didn't need to pay for Kevin's ticket, Sarah.”
“I didn't need to pay for Robbie's either. I chose to, and it saved time, and gives us company with the jet-lag. So, now that's settled, are you planning to introduce me to everyone?” There were about twenty in the church hall that Kevin had led her and John to.
“Certainly. Everyone, this is Sarah and John Williams. Sarah made it possible for me to marry Robbie, arranged for our first married home, and ensured that we we didn't miss any deadlines for applying for our first teaching jobs. John persuaded us not to give up hope when the state Romani language programme got canceled and we both got really depressed, and it was Sarah that gave the first kindergarten most of the start-up funds it needed to get it going. They've both prayed for us regularly for the past two and a half decades. They are also the parents of apparently the most beautiful girl on the planet, other than my daughters, isn't that right Kevin?”
“No, mum, she's on her way to Mars now,” Kevin said, turning a gentle shade of beetroot amid the joyful response of most to that announcement.
“And what's wrong with my Yvette?” asked that girl's mother, feeling rather insulted for her daughter.
“You've told her enough times to repent before it's too late,” Maddie shot back, “You can tell her it looks like it's got too late to catch Kevin's heart if she was interested.”
“I have, last Sunday.” the girl in question said, moving to the front of the room, directly in front of a stunned Kevin. “And I was speaking to Pastor Frank about baptism three nights ago. And you were supposed to be mine, Kevin Stammers. You're not going to tell me you got to know the rich gagika well enough to marry her, in a month are you? Or has her money bought your conscience that you've forgotten what you promised me in front of witnesses?”
“I said I'd never get engaged to someone I've not known for years, no matter what my parents said, nor a non-Christian. I've broken neither promise.”
“So you're not engaged,”
“No,” he agreed, “I'm not engaged, not to anyone.”
“And she hasn't got her dresses ready,” Yvette said, “And she is on her way to Mars so you're not going to see her in years.”
“I'm not going to see her until I get to Mars, but I don't know why you think I'm supposed to be yours.”
“Then let me explain it to you,” she said, tears running down her face. Totally unconcerned for her reputation, she grabbed his hair and pulled him into a fierce kiss. [I've loved you for a decade, you dolt. The only reason I didn't turn to God was I couldn't bear the thought that He might say I couldn't have you, and it was only when you said you'd never marry a non-Christian that I realised I'd never have you if I didn't turn to God. I love you and I want you and I need you, Kevin. I can't stand the thought of marrying someone I can't talk to like this.]
[Yvette, stop. You're ruining yourself,] he thought as he tried to break away, but she clung on tighter.
[I don't care. I need you Kevin.]
[Stop,] Kevin thought.
[She's gone!]
Kevin hid his thoughts and twisted away, yelping at the pain as he left not just his hair but also bits of his scalp in her grip. As he staggered away from her, she looked at the bloody locks in her hand. The colour drained from her face as she realised what she'd done; sobbing, Yvette Lagrange collapsed on the spot.
It had all taken five seconds, maybe less.
[Mags,] Sarah thought.
[You sound really serious, Mum. Is someone ill?]
[{image — Yvette facing Kevin}{image — Yvette kissing a shocked Kevin}{image - Yvette on the floor, with his hair in her hands} I think it's a case of your joy or hers.]
[That's Yvette?]
[Yes. He's told you about her?]
[He said they'd been long-term friends, except she wasn't a Christian, so it never went anywhere.]
[She became a Christian last week, apparently, and it looks like she thought he was more like a fiancé than a friend.]
[Oh mum! I've done that to her?]
[No. If anyone it was Maddie, announcing your friendship.
And then Yvette caused absolute shock here — I heard it — by kissing him full on the lips. Culturally, she's supposed to be utterly modest. I heard her decide that everyone here now probably thought she was a whore as she collapsed.]
[Mum, I like Kevin, but I don't feel that strongly about him. I don't know it's going to work out. We get on well and, well, I've been hoping it might work out between us, after what Heather said.]
[Yes, Heather... I wonder if her gift works through my eyes. I've heard Simon's works through cameras.]
[Who's comforting Yvette now?]
[No one. There's stunned silence except that Kevin's getting some first aid from Maddie.]
[{compassion}Go to her, please? She's a thought-hearer, she's a sister in Christ, and Kevin did say he'd his family would have arranged a marriage ages ago if she'd been a Christian.]
[Heather?] Sarah called, [Sarah here. Does your gift work through my eyes?{image} The girl who expected to marry Kevin.]
[Christian, utterly committed to someone, I guess him, utterly broken. What happened?]
[Kevin's mum introduced me as the mother of the most beautiful girl in Kevin's universe, or some such. She's just become a Christan, and therefore removed the universally-agreed barrier between them. Broke all sorts of taboos by grabbing his hair and forcing him into a kiss in full public. He pulled his hair out to get out of her kiss.]
[Oh wow. She needs help, Sarah.]
[Maggie thought so too. What did you see, Heather? Between Maggie and Kevin?]
[I saw they shouldn't get involved quickly, but I also saw a solid bond, and the glow of a God-blessed relationship. I was sure it meant eventual marriage.]
[What about between Kevin and Yvette?] Sarah asked, looking between the two.
[Long history, lots and lots of solid links. He's concerned for her, but trying not to show it, probably for all sorts of reasons, not least his shock/anger at her and feelings of loyalty to Maggie. And I see a God-blessed relationship between them too. So I'm really really confused. But like I say, she needs help. Urgently.]
[OK, OK, I'm going.]
[Not just you. You and John take her to her mum.]
[I hope you're right.]
[So do I,] Heather said.
John had been listening in to Sarah's thoughts, and had his own ideas, too. When he and Sarah reached her, he crouched down, touched her hand and thought [Yvette, Maggie's not called Kevin her boyfriend yet, only her 'almost boyfriend, but we need to talk more and go on some dates.' And Kevin's mentioned you to her, I know — 'the girl he'd have been engaged to for ages if only she was a Christian.' Neither of them are sure about the other. Now, get up and stop thinking about suicide. That is a sin; what you've just done was dramatic and shocking, but your parents will probably forgive you eventually.] She didn't move. Verbally he said, “Yvette, Maggie likes Kevin, but that's about as far as it goes and I'm sure she wouldn't want you hurting like this.”
Sarah took a more direct approach. Hauling her upright, she said “On your feet, Yvette, you need hugs and your mum can't hug you like this.”
Yvette's mother however wasn't planning on giving any hugs. “I do not have a brazen harlot for a daughter,” she declared. “I will not have one in my house, breathing the same air as me. I know you said you knew you'd sinned, girl, but I never imagined this!”
“Stop” Sarah commanded the other woman. “What Yvette did just now was a bit dramatic, but I'm sure she's not what you've just named her. You and Maddie just triggered a public confrontation of something which is going to be hard on three young people, but I think the fact that Kevin had no idea her feelings for him were so strong speaks eloquently in your daughter's defence, don't you think? And even if she has sinned, I hope you're not claiming you've got any right to condemn someone God has forgiven. Stop thinking about your reputation, woman, and think about this beautiful girl you gave birth to.”
“A viper in my breast! If you're so concerned about about the little slut, you take her, she's no daughter of mine.”
“We'll accept her.” John said, “But does your husband not have a say in you giving up your daughter for adoption?” he asked.
“Dad's dead,” Yvette said.
“Very well,” Sarah said, “I'll contact my lawyers and have them draw up adoption papers. Come on Yvette, let's talk in a corner for a bit and get to know each other.”
[You're bluffing, aren't you?] Yvette thought to John.
[About the lawyers?] Sarah asked, [For your sake I hope your mum comes to her senses, of course. But I am not going to back out.]
[You don't know anything about me!]
[Yes I do. You're a Christian, you love Kevin who's a nice lad I was already half-expecting to have as a son-in-law, and I want to add that Maggie's often told me I ought to adopt a sister for her. Something you ought to know about me is that about twenty five years ago I got made matriarch of a rather large clan of mostly African descent. Your little shock-tactic back there was rather mild compared to some things I've had to deal with. You've been in love with Kevin a long time?]
[Since I was seven or eight.]
[And now you're how old?]
[Seventeen.]
[And he's nineteen. Maggie's eighteen, by the way.]
[And going to hate me.]
[I don't think so. We were all expecting wedding bells in three or four years time, but Maggie wasn't so sure.]
[I might not have that long,] Yvette said.
[Pardon?]
[I've got a genetic thing. Once I hit twenty I'm on death-row. Sometime before I hit thirty I'm expected to fall down dead. Kevin knows, hardly anyone else. In youth group he last year he led a discussion on whether it's right for someone with it to marry. He... he said God was in charge and we couldn't condemn someone to loneliness because of what might happen, and he wouldn't let it stop him marrying someone he was in love with. I was sure he meant me.]
[He probably did,] John agreed.
[But he hates me now.]
[No, he doesn't.] John replied. [He's probably really really embarrassed for underestimating your feelings and letting himself start falling for Maggie, not to mention hurting at you for pulling the skin off his scalp.]
“I didn't want to let him go. And I wanted to remind him of when he pulled me into a kiss by my hair and told me he would take care of me.”
“When was that?”
“I was feeling sorry for myself after dad's funeral. Ten years ago.”
----------------------------------------
[Maggie?] Kevin called. Unsure what to say.
[Hello. I hear that Yvette thinks you're her exclusive possession.]
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
[I didn't promise myself to her.]
[Or to me, either. And it's fairly obvious her feelings are a lot more certain than mine are.]
[I do like you a lot, Maggie.]
[What about Yvette?] Maggie asked. Fairly sure what the answer would be.
[I won't lie, Maggie. I've been trying not to fall in love with her for ages, because she wasn't a Christian.]
[But now she is, and she obviously is in love with you. I'm going to cry, probably.]
[She's... fragile, in lots of ways you're strong. I can't reject her. Especially not now. If I did too, she'd probably give up on life and God entirely.]
['If you did too?']
[Your parents haven't told you? Her mum's just rejected her, cast her out. Your Mum said something about adopting her.]
[Adopting... wow. I've always wanted a sister!]
[You think your mum means it?]
[If her parents are so stupid...]
[Just her mother; her father died suddenly when she was about seven.]
[But... what for? Why would a mother reject her daughter?]
[It's cultural, Maggie. She just grabbed me and kissed me in public, we're not married. That doesn't happen.]
[It just did.]
[And people are drawing the wrong conclusions. That what's happened in public is just the tip of the iceberg.]
[Hmm. And what was she thinking while she kissed you?]
[{embarrassment}She was pouring out how long she'd loved me, and things like that.]
[It's about time you introduced us, don't you think?]
[What?]
[You need her to know you have the gift, you need her to know you're not going to reject her, and she needs to know I'm not her rival.]
[You would be if you said you were.]
[But I'm not. I'm going to be perfectly happy spoiling your kids and being their favourite aunt. I've had practice in the clan, so I know quite a lot of the tricks. Now, let me talk to my adopted sister, will you?]
Maggie felt herself in contact with another person's thoughts and thought [Hi Yvette, I'm Maggie. I hear I'm finally going to have a sister after all these years! That's great! I've just been warning Kevin I'm going to spoil your kids.]
[How... you have the gift?]
[Me? No, that's Kevin. He's just piggybacking your thoughts to me or vice-versa. Anyway, he was feeling all 'oh no, what about Maggie's feelings', and I've just told him I'm really happy at the thought of having you as a sister and perfectly happy to have him as an adopted brother-in-law and spoiling your children.
I don't think I'll be able to make it to your wedding, unless you wait at least four years, so have a lovely one. Oh, if I can't send anything else, consider Kevin as your wedding present from me if you want to; you're welcome to him. Now be polite and say something, Kevin, and let Yvette know your thoughts.]
[I'm not going to reject you, Yvette. But that kiss... people are going to assume we've been doing it in private.]
[You don't remember, do you? About a week after Dad's funeral? I was depressed and lonely and you pulled me into a kiss by my braids?]
[And you told your mum and she told my mum and Dad walloped me something terrible.]
[But you promised me you would take care of me.]
[I will take care of you, Yvette.]
“I know what Yvette meant about reminding me.” Kevin told his mother. “When I was ten I grabbed her braids and told her I'd take care of her. And earned the biggest walloping I ever got by kissing her to make my point.”
“Hmm. And that's it is it?”
“Mum! You know me! Of course it is.”
“I was wondering if I did for a while. So, you've now got to explain yourself to John, Sarah and not least Maggie.”
Whispering, he said, “I know Maggie knows, mum. She's just had a little chat with Yvette. That's when Yvette reminded me what she was reminding me about.”
“You're saying Maggie has the mind-reading gift?”
“No, Mum. I do, as of a week ago. Maggie is very happy at the thought of having Yvette as a sister, and wished her a happy wedding.”
“And doesn't mind losing you?”
“She said she'd probably cry, but wouldn't fight.”
“So now it's my move?”
“Yes mum. At least for this meeting.”
“I wish your dad was here. Here goes nothing.” She moved to the middle of the floor. “My son has finally remembered that ten years ago he earned the walloping of his life for pulling Yvette into a kiss by the hair and promising to look after her, just after her dad's funeral. Well, it looks like Yvette has a better memory than him and wants him to keep that promise, but that's not what we're here for. We're here because Sarah wants to hear us talk about this new law the king's thinking of signing, and because after that she's then going to try to have a moan at his majesty. Before we ah, got side-tracked, I was about to say that Sarah's happy for it to be known she's got Roma ancestry if you go back a couple of centuries, knows how to keep secrets that'd make your ears burn and unlike some people we could mention, I don't think she's got a racist bone in her body. What I'm saying, I guess, is I trust her like a sister, probably more since she's never let me down once. Over to pastor Frank.”
“I first spoke to Sarah, oh, twenty-something years ago. I'm sure she still remembers that telephone conversation. I've told some of you some of my history, let me tell you that I know where John and Sarah work, and they knows bits of my history you don't, some things that could still be life-and death secrets. Neither of us can tell all we know about the other, but they're wise people, and not blabbermouths. Yvette, I don't know what you were thinking, doing what you did, but spend a lot of time learning from your adoptive parents; they're God's people through and through. Julia, your reaction I do understand, but I can't condone it, not at all. I hope you repent of your pride one day.” With that rebuke he returned to his seat. While Sarah continued her whispered conversation with Yvette, John stood and laid out what they were asking for: people's jobs or occupation; how many generations back their ancestors had been in Alaska, how many would leave Alaska because they or their relatives couldn't honestly take the vow required by the law, with it phrased as it was; how many would leave out of solidarity even if not directly affected; how many expected their non-Christian relatives would choose to accompany them. He added that the form didn't have a space for anyone's names or addresses, just city, and made it clear what data would would be presented to the king. Then he opened it up to questions.
“Why do you think the king will talk to you?”
“He might not. Perhaps the fact that GemSmith has been one the major external investors and foreign-owned employers of people here in Alaska counts for nothing. It's always possible. But even if he decides he's too busy to talk to Sarah, he will see our crown prince Albert, and his wife, Sarah's third cousin.”
“You're royalty?” Yvette asked Sarah loud enough to be heard.
“No, I've just got some royal friends and relatives. You'll meet them eventually, I'm sure. Oh! You're going to need an implanted panic button.”
“Why?”
“Kidnapping is still a thing. Especially if you're a daughter of someone rich.”
“But I'm not going to be known as your daughter, surely.”
“Isn't that the whole point of adoption, Yvette? If you want to just have my support and advice and the like without any legalities then we can do it that way, but what I am thinking is that in the eyes of the law, you become as much my daughter as Maggie is.”
“Why? Why are you offering this?”
“Because it's at least partly my fault you found out about Kevin and Maggie in the way you did, and because your birth-mother offered me a beautiful daughter in need of lots of love, care and protection.”
----------------------------------------
ANCHORAGE, 12TH JAN 2296, 8PM
“Teresa? Sarah. I need you to find out about options for adopting a seventeen year old girl citizen of Alaska. Her father's long dead, and her mother has just publicly rejected and insulted her, said we could adopt her if we wanted, we said OK.”
“That sounds like it's going to be really complex, Sarah,” Teresa warned.
“I thought you liked complex! I'm guessing that the first stage is her ex-mum agreeing she can travel with us, or something like that. Oh, interesting! The law here apparently says she's an adult in most respects, so travel shouldn't be a problem.”
“It might turn into one once you mention adoption. I'll get onto it. How's young what's his name? Maggie's boyfriend.”
“He's recovering. Not Maggie's boyfriend, though.”
“What happened?”
“Yvette — our future daughter — has become a Christian and she urm... declared her long-established love for him. As you know, Maggie wasn't that convinced it would work, and seems OK with not fighting for him.”
“That is one complex set of relationships you're going to get into there, if he or Maggie changes their mind.”
“Oh, I know. But it's not so different to stuff I've dealt with before in the clan.”
“No comment. I presume you want me to query things both ends, yes?”
“Yes, please. It's only 8pm here, so hopefully you'll get through to someone.”
“Ouch. 8pm on a Friday evening! Expect a larger than normal legal bill this month.”
“I do.”
----------------------------------------
ANCHORAGE, 12TH JAN 2296, 9PM
“Sarah? Teresa here. Immigration are going to get seriously upset if she comes in as a tourist but with a view to adoption. There's no such category as 'expected adoptee' either. The other fun thing is that Alaska doesn't recognise adult adoptions, but as long as she's well under eighteen you can do it... maybe. Initial application is no great hassle, but the process only really starts with social services investigation of everyone's intentions. No guarantees when that happens, but — get this — you and Yvette would need to be interviewed in your own home, by your 'local Alaskan social services department'. And Yvette and her mum need to be interviewed at her family home too, since she's over ten, and assuming it's a private arrangement. If it's an at-risk situation, then there's a whole different set of rules and you really don't want to go there — she'd need to be declared a ward of court and moved into safe accommodation first, and then there's a whole list of procedures intended to make sure she gets placed with a compatible family.”
“Nothing in particular about international adoptions?”
“No. Which might just mean they don't normally happen.”
“Hmm, are there any risks if we start the adoption process here?”
“She can't travel once it's started.”
“Oh great. Let's assume bureaucracy here takes their own sweet time, Yvette's eighteenth birthday is in under a month, so I guess the process just stops, does it? Can you work out how can we make immigration happy?”
“Process doesn't stop,” Teresa said, “because of something about inheritance rights. She'll be stuck there until the courts finish, and I've been advised that it's seen as an ultra-low priority case once she's an adult.”
“Even though she can't travel?”
“Yes.”
“Can you talk to immigration again and see what they recommend? Her mum's all for her sleeping in the gutter in rags right now. We're negotiating about who goes to get her clothes.”
“OK, I've got a number to call.”
“Thanks, Teresa. Oh, you can add that she's almost certainly going to be made a second-class citizen by this proposed Alaskan law on so-called recent immigrants if you like.”
“Urm, that's not a legal fact yet though, is it?”
“Not as far as anyone here knows, anyway.” Sarah said.
“I'll hold off on that for a while then. Maybe get it in writing that her mum won't accept her back in her house. I don't suppose you've got any witnesses?”
“About half the church they go to, including the pastor.”
“Hold on, Mum's a Christian?”
“Yes. Yvette smashed some cultural behaviour rules and Mum's jumped to wrong conclusions. No one expects her to back down in much less than a year, no matter what the truth is. Yvette's big brother's taking mum's side too, so it's pretty much settled that her reputation is gone, and facts don't matter much when it's about bringing the family dishonour and things like that.”
“It sounds like someone needs to learn the gospel better.”
“You won't hear the pastor disagreeing, but Yvette didn't exactly honour her family in the thirty seconds concerned. I'm absolutely sure that if I hadn't flown Kevin here with us it wouldn't have happened.”
“What does Yvette think?”
“She's doing remarkably well, considering that a while ago she was curled up on the floor in tears, wondering if it would be better to just open a vein or if she should try to walk to her aunt's house a hundred kilometers away in her party frock.”
“The aunt was a point of refuge? I'm just thinking of other options.”
“Not really, from what she said, it was just a less-certain way of killing herself. Want to talk to her?”
“Maybe later. She's happy with the idea of adoption?”
“Yes, she is.”
----------------------------------------
ANCHORAGE, SAT 13TH JAN, 2296
The sky was gloriously bright the next morning, and John woke to hear Sarah talking to Yvette by the hotel room window. They'd decided that, in the circumstances — mostly the accusations — a hotel was a better idea than finding extra space for Yvette in Robbie and Maddie's home. In the end, Yvette's birth-mother had agreed to Pastor Frank and his wife removing Yvette's clothes, school books and meager possessions. Fortunately, Yvette didn't have many keepsakes or accumulated precious toys, but the total emptying of her room had still taken them several trips in the city's rather small transports.
Yvette and Sarah were now looking at the accumulated pile. Some things — summer dresses, were an easy example — could travel slowly, but other things were more necessary. “I don't want to drop out of school, Sarah. I can't. I can't even change school!”
“It's not ideal. You'd probably have to repeat the year, catch up on things where the syllabus is different. But, it's not unheard of. Schools are sort of used to people's lives being a bit unreasonable. They're not going to blame you. But for the moment I'm assuming that I'm staying in Alaska for a bit longer than I was expecting.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Oh, I'm certain you decided that the best policy was to get kicked out of home, what, six months before end of school exams? What are you studying anyway?”
“Specialisation in psychology and counselling, I thought it would be handy whatever happened. Exams are almost over, praise God. Next stage is either I get a relevant work-placement in a week's time, which is looking as likely as opening a hard boiled egg and getting bitten by a new-born chick with gold fillings its teeth, or between now and the end of the school year I have to do parallel intensive courses in programming psyche computers and accounting. Not fun, but I can't transfer. They've said it loads of times, if I don't complete it then the whole course is null and void.”
“Hmm. John, any openings for a work-placement?”
“Depends. What sort of placement do you need? Are they expecting you to help program psych-computers if the alternative is that?”
“What? No. It's an ancient syllabus. I'd have to be 'discussing historical cases with a practicing psych-counsellor in a role-play situation, at least half an hour a day, providing administrative support, and meeting genuine clients. Genuine clients? Practicing psych-counsellor? What museum am I supposed to drag one of those out of?”
“Hey, Yvette, show a little more respect for your almost-adoptive father!”
“Yvette,” John said, “while I'm getting up, please look up the exact specifications, and forward them to legal at I-H-M-dot-org. Cover note saying something like 'Dear Teresa, John says God is good, hope you agree we can issue invite.' Oh, for my records, copy director at the same address.” he thought for a moment and then added, “I think we can probably take two or three students, what do you think, Sarah?”
“Sounds ideal, catch them while they're young! Someone at your school really ought to have been a bit braver when the Anchorage Institute lost its way, Yvette. Name some reliable students on your course, people who won't blab or panic at the thought of international secrecy laws, can be trusted away from home too, of course, and we'll offer them an invitation too.”
Yvette looked at them in amazement. “You actually work at the I.H.M.?”
“The lump in the bed is director and psych-counsellor, I'm part time computer and administrative support. Not that you can tell anyone that without getting in serious trouble with the law. So, send Teresa that message, and we'll see what she says. Feel free to prime your friends.”
“I can't make that decision, Sarah! It's too big an opportunity.”
“Hmm, John, what if we got some extra data from a not-very-random sample of kids? I'll come up with some kind of invitation to interview and we'll ask for some references and do it properly.”
“You're going to ask the school for references for me too?”
“Of course.”
“What if they're rubbish?”
“Then we'll talk about why, won't we?”
“I'm not exactly the best in the class, you realise?” Yvette said.
“Don't worry.” John said, “We're not planning on adopting anyone instead of you.”
“No, but.. you need to be fair and transparent and unbiased.”
“Absolutely.” Sarah said, then leaned forward, and whispered conspiratorially, “So, since we know what heinous sins you've been accused of, want to tell me all the gossip about your class-mates?”
“What? No!” Yvette recoiled in shock.
“Very well done. That was a test, by the way. Now, give John time to get to the bathroom so he can change, look up those details and send that message, and while you're doing that, I'll draft something and talk to the hotel about some kind of small function room for this afternoon. And some time we need to finish sorting your stuff don't we? Not to mention getting some more suitcases.”
“I'm going to wake up soon and this is going to be a dream, and I'm going to find myself back on the floor in the church hall wondering how not to freeze overnight.”
“If you ever dream that, then feel free to wake up screaming. Will any of your class-mates have heard, do you think?”
“Urm, a couple might have.”
“Well, let's cross that line when we come to it.”