NEW BOY IN TOWN

BY CHRISTOPHER TOILKIEN

He sat passively in the back of the car as LA flashed past and out of his life. He would never miss it or the horrors it had perpetrated on his young life. Latino by birth, his parents third generation. They had made quite a good life for themselves. His father an investment banker who took in the meager savings of his fellow Latin’s and combining them, with insightful carefully researched investments. Greatly increased their chances of leaving a good financial start to their offspring as his parents had. His mother had fought and clawed her way into the nursing profession and finally to ward supervisor.

But one weekend when he had been away at a Soccer symposium for skilled goalies. Street thugs had broken into their home looking for the drugs they thought his father must be dealing. As Mexicans surely could not have bought such an expensive house any other way, they told his father as they raped and killed his mother right in front of his father’s eyes. But after ransacking the house, killing his father out of hand and setting fire to it to hide their crime, they left empty handed.

The police eventually discovered the Security Company that was supposed to be monitoring and protecting the house and all the others in the gated community, were in fact burgling them. But that took over six months. Six months where he stayed in an orphanage for kids with mental problems while they tried to figure out why he appeared to be completely emotionless after they informed him of his parents death.

But one Friday they called him into the office and introduced him to a woman dressed in a severely cut gray business suit. When he sat down in front of her, she immediately started barraging him with increasingly difficult mathematical problems, all of which he quickly answered correctly.

"If they had taken a second to look at my school records," He thought as the barrage continued. "You will find they consider me somewhat of a mathematical genius"

When she apparently had exhausted her repertoire reached out and shook his hand.

"They have found what we believe to be a perfect couple to take you in and possible adopt you" The head of the orphanage informed him. "But it is away from LA so you might not want to leave were you grew up"

"I will not miss LA" He quietly replied.

Here he was traveling east along a four-lane highway, the snow-capped mountains looming larger and larger.

Finally they pulled off the highway and skirted the town, arriving at a pleasant looking street full of upper class houses, climbing a gradual hillside. She parked the car, in the driveway of a well-kept house, a relatively new car parked at the curb and this year’s model in the driveway. Two adults stood waiting under the shade of a front porch. As they walked op the steps leading to the porch, he saw they too were of Latin descent.

"Welcome to, we hope your new home" The man said first, followed by his wife. He was probably a little younger than his father, and she much younger than his mother who had both waited until their careers were on track before having children. But they were both well dressed and their Spanish that of the upper classes. Inside the furnishings were expensive but tasteful. They sat and chatted for a few minutes with the man, until the wife announced dinner was ready.

As he expected, the dinner Mexican, but the man handed him a long thick book, indicating they followed a rotating varied schedule of dinners, and he really had just happened to arrive on Mexican food day.

"We understand you are an excellent soccer goalie?" The man inquired.

"Yes, our team was on its way to its second state championship" He replied.

"Then you will be interested to know, our rep team was the one you beat out for it last year" He calmly informed him. Soccer is relatively new here, but as it is relatively inexpensive for boys to play, it is gaining ground.

"Our best striker was a girl" He replied.

"Soccer is played by only boys here" The woman interjected.

"Your mathematical skills, I understand placed you in the advanced classes" He continued, obviously annoyed at her reply.

"Yes, it comes easy to me" He said.

"Then you might be interested to know, advanced classes everywhere else are basic classes level here" She informed him.

After dessert, the gray suited woman shook first his then the man’s hand and departed.

"Would you like to see your bedroom and perhaps freshen up" The man inquired.

He nodded and followed them upstairs to a reasonably sized bedroom full of nondescript furniture. "We deliberately let it stay bland in order for you to be able to put your own stamp on it" He informed him.

They then left him alone and he first sat on the bed, then slowly slipped down and lay on it, falling asleep.

A knock on his door woke him up. He was still in his clothes and jumped up, habitually dressing the bed as he did so.

"Time for Sundays breakfast sleepyhead" The woman said, "Please use the washroom at the end of the corridor and be down in fifteen minutes"

HE did as requested; finding a new toothbrush, comb, deodorant and hairs pray labeled with his name on it in a man’s travel bag on the wide countertop. Just in time, according to his watch he arrived downstairs to find them seated in casual clothes, blue jeans and all.

"Sunday, breakfast is the only meal prepared" The man explained. "Lunch and dinner is whatever you can find when the mood strikes you, whether we are here or not" He continued, handing him a bronze door key.

"We are off for a walk and a trip to the library" He informed him. "You will find the local boys usually play some sort of pickup game on the street about half an hour from now" He said as they stood and walked out.

After helping himself too freshly made croissants, he filled on the bacon and eggs left for him, finishing it off with the large glass of orange juice. He then put all his dirty plates and utensils in the dishwater, finding theirs already inside and after making sure everything looked as it had been. Walked to the front door and put on his running shoes, latched the lock and walked out.

Five boys approximately his age were standing a few houses away and so he just walked over and introduced himself. They seemed a friendly group of chaps.

And one, said." Now we at least can divide into two teams"

"Road Hockey?" One inquired.

"No roller blades" He replied.

"Lacrosse?" He inquired.

"Girls Game" Another said.

"Soccer then" One blond boy suggested, and soccer it was.

They played across the street and only "footie" with no high flying balls. The uncontested goals being plastic road hockey imports. After about a half-hour a female police officer road up on a racing pedal bike and the boys gravitated towards her Speedo pants and nicely filled uniform blouse draw.

"Morning boys" She began. It is certainly a very nice day for a game"

‘Are we breaking any laws, Cop?" He ruddily interrupted.

And was surprised when the five boys, he supposed would back him up confronting this nosy interfering cop, turned agape at his remark.

"He’s the new boy in town" The blond boy injected.

"I know," Said the Policeman. "That is why he is getting off with only a warning"

"Warning for asking why you are harassing us?" He shot back.

"Informing you that you will be required to cut and rake by hand the grass of a retired citizen if you try that again" She replied in a voice and tone that expected to be obeyed.

"Whatever" He just replied.

She then nodded to the rest of the boys who had physically separated themselves from him, and sped off.

"That was not a good start," The Afro-American boy said. "Constable Nancy has been our patrol officer for the last five years" He informed him. " And has dealt fairly with us"

The other boys just shook their heads and walked away, taking the hockey goals with them.

The blond boy, soccer ball tucked under his arm said. "I just might be a good idea if you come home with me and help me try out the new computer game I got for my birthday yesterday"

"OK" He replied, very puzzled, but followed the boy over a block and into a house very similar to the one he had slept in.

The boys room was slightly larger than his and covered with posters of a sports and athletic nature.

"No favorite rappers or bands" He inquired.

"I’m congenitally tone deaf" The boy replied. But I watch all the sports channels after my homework is done"

"The computer was new and fast, but the game a Myst derivative.

"I just love solving puzzles" The blond hared boy informed him. It was obvious from the bookshelf of well-thumbed puzzle books along one wall.

Just then, he caught out of the corner of his eye, the form of a skirted schoolgirl passing the open doorway carrying a pile of towels.

‘Washroom?" He inquired.

"To your left down the hall" The boy said, not even looking up from the computer screen.

Out he scooted, catching sight of the tiny girl walking back unburdened towards him.

"And what are you up to my pretty?" He inquired. The dark hared, Latino skinned girl immediately stopped faced him, head down, and hands rigidly down at her sides.

"My assigned chores" She replied softly, head still lowered.

"Let me see that sweet face" He said reaching out to lift her chin up.

Her left hand came up in a split second holding his wrist in an iron grip. He tried to pull it back, but it stayed, her arm not even moving an inch.

"No access without proper authorization" Her voice said in a toneless canton, and released his wrist.

She then turned and walked away down the hall and down the stairs.

He walked back to the blond hared boy’s room and inquired" Who’s the pretty young girl?" "Just the house girl" He replied.

"Not your sister?" He again asked, but knowing a blond Aryan type usually does not have a dark hared Latino sister.

"I have no sister" He replied off the cuff. "She is just the assigned house girl we feed and clothe in return for housework"

"It is time I should be getting back to my new home," He said and the boy reluctantly separated himself from the computer to see him out.

He walked all around the neibourhood, introducing himself to all the kids playing in the streets and in the parks, but his puzzlement grew, all were boys.

Eventually he found himself walking past a block long school.

"Central Middle School" Was carved in roman style script across the top of the large four door wide entranceway. He heard the sounds young voices coming from around its rear and he ran all the way.

He stood across the street from a great expanse of grass, lined with ancient oaks.

Advancing across the grass away from him in rigid lines as if on parade, hundreds of girls of every age dressed in white halter-tops, short dark blue shorts white socks and white running shoes, younger, smaller ones in front. They all were moving under the command of other adult females, as if on a Parade Square.

"Kick" And hundreds of right legs struck out.

"Block" And left bare left arms moved as one in a Ti-Chee block move.

"Loose" and hundreds of javelins arched up.

Man sized targets stuck on posts, stuck into a grass burm, which suddenly sprouted hundreds of javelins.

A very few missed, but as the girls stood at parade rest, one adult female retrieved the ones that missed and read out loud numbers provably engraved on them. Adult females armed with switches moved up and down the rigid lines of girls, bending over and swatting the exposed backsides of girl’s whose numbers probably coincided with those on the javelins that missed their targets.

In the silence, except for the sounds of thin switches striking young female backsides, the sounds of pistol fire came to his ears. He ran on round the road past the edge of the earthen ramp to fine a long line of concrete boxes with high sides. In each, a female wearing earmuffs was taking aim with an adult sized pistol at a man-sized target.

He heard the adult female voices giving commands to the girls on the other side of the burm, as he walked away. Across the street from all this, normal house sat, with adults washing cars and cutting grass as if nothing abnormal was going on.

He had a bit of difficulty finding his new house and it was late afternoon when he neared it.

Another strange site came to his eyes as he recognized its street. Double lines of identically outfitted girls were moving in unison down one side of the road as if a vehicle, an officer on bike at head and behind. As they passed some houses a girl dropped out and scooted up the stairs inside.

Inspired he ran as fast as he could to the blond hared boy’s house and sat on the front steps. A few minuets later a much smaller group of girls moved past and that girl dropped out, and walked up to the stairs until she saw him siting there, blocking her way.

"I have to get inside, shower, change and assist with dinner" She informed him, her head again down.

The smell of her came to his nostrils and his heart raced.

"I will let you by if you promise to go out for a walk with me" He required.

"It is not up to me to say" She replied.

"Who is?" He inquired.

"That would be me" males voice from behind him announced.

He stood and turned to see a tall, well built man in blue jeans pant and shirt. And the girl, eyes still downcast took the opportunity to slip past them both and inside.

" Can I return after your dinner and take her out for a walk?" He asked really trying to impress.

"Come in for dinner and I will consider it" The man smiled holding out his hand.

He took and shook it, following the adult male into the house, and for the first time in a very long time, smiled.

Again inside the house, but this time under the gaze of the father, he positioned himself in order that he could view most of the, for now empty kitchen.

"My son is out seeking assistance solving the puzzles of that new game he received for his birthday,” The father said.

"I understand you are just recently arrived from LA?" He inquired.

"Yes I was born and raised there, but my parents were killed in a home invasion last summer and I was orphaned" He told the man in a toneless voice.

"How did you end up here then?" The man continued.

"I was stuck in an orphanage since then" He said. "When one of your towns Orphanage staff came and said they had suitable parents for me, and I agreed to leave LA and come out here"

"You will find our town more d basic middle American in its values" He said. "We do not want gangs nor drugs here and our laws are possibly stricter than you are used to"

"I saw hundreds of girls performing martial exercises out the back of a great old middle school building today" He informed the man.

"Yes, the girls and boys alternate sports days every Saturday" He replied. "On the upcoming one you will be hard at it practicing track and field, soccer, baseball and football"

"We do not learn to shoot?" He asked.

"No, only girls are taught martial arts in school" He replied. "But you can attend Ti-Chee, Karate or such with your parents permission after school at privately operated classes for boys"

"Just then the older female, accompanied by the younger started bustling around the kitchen and his eyes followed the younger females every move.

"I think I will take this opportunity to make a few phone calls to let everyone know where you are before they start looking for you" He informed the new boy. Who was obviously no longer paying attention to him.

Dinner was set out at exactly five p.m., and the son had bustled in just on time to wash up and take his place. The mother sat at one end, the father at the other, with the two boys siting along the sides.

He observed no place set for the girl and then she came out bearing a tray with four soup bowls, setting down one each beside the seated as if she were a server. His head swiveled back and front as she came and went serving full platters, removing the empty ones and standing at the kitchen entrance while they ate in front of her.

After serving and retrieving the desert, he saw her retreat into the kitchen, the sounds of cleanup and dishwasher loading coming to his ears. The adults into the living room to watch the news on a big screen TV and he followed the boy back up to his bedroom.

Apparently he, and whoever he had go off to work on the game with had at least found out how to get to were a swing bridge spanned a deep chasm between the entrance ramp and the building complex beyond. The centrally pivoted swing bridge was now pointed at right angle to the roadway and it would take solving a progressive mathematical problem to get it to line up with the approach road and the entrance way. It took him only seconds to work out the math, but it took, it appeared eons for the gamer to enter it in the correct sequence. Just as it swung into place, the adult male knocked on the open door and walked it.

"She is ready at the front door for you" He announced, and it took all his willpower to calmly walk out of the room, down the stairs and approach the front door.

"There she was, dressed in a white blouse, who’s arm creases were so sharp, probably would cut skin. The blouse at least five hundred count Egyptian cotton as he could clearly see the dark brown trips of her almost breasts poking out at him. A dark Blue wraparound pleated skirt. Knee high white socks and polished to mirror quality black saddle shoes. Her hair hung loose down her back, and two tiny black leather bows held it back from her lowered face.

"A few rules" the adult male said. "It is now seven PM. She must be back standing in the same place by ten PM"

"You may hold her hand, but that is all the physical contact I will allow for now" He ordered." Which ever way you walk, you must walk on the outside and she, in her proper female place on the inside"

"It is how men should walk to protect their females from harm" He explained.

"But she’s the one who is trained to shoot and in martial arts" He thought to himself. "Not me" "What if I buy a pop and crisps at a corner store?" He inquired.

"You may share them with her" He replied. "And I am pleased you asked first"

"Actually I just remembered I have no money with me" He said sheepishly. "So sharing anything is out this time"

"Use the household food account" He said directly at the girl.

"Yes Sir" She quietly replied.

"You are free from my service for three hours girl" He instructed her, reaching out and touching her downcast nose. "Enjoy yourself and do not disappoint me, or it will be your last"

"Yes Sir" She quietly again replied.

So off they went, she hesitating until he descended the steps first and when he turned left, walked on the inside, a pace back.

Annoyed by the time they had passed three houses, he said,” You are supposed to walk up beside me so we can hold hands"

And she doubled her pace, now matching his every step, but face still downcast.

"Look up into my face and keep your head up" He exasperate told her. Her head came up; he looked into her very pretty face, long eyelashes and quick smile, stumbling as his mind forgot to tell his feet to move.

She giggled at that, and he smiled from ear to ear, reaching out his fingers dancing with hers, exploring each other’s toughed from hard work hands. Hers from housework he surmised his from doing all the spadework and hoeing in his mother’s extensive garden. Or was it sparring?

"We are allowed to hold hands" He informed her, and she locked an iron grip on his.

By this time, they had reached an intersection, and after checking both ways, they crossed.

"How long have you lived here?" He inquired.

"All my life" She replied. "I was told I was obtained from a South American orphanage, but that is all I know"

"I am third generation Mexican, born and raised in LA" He informed her. "My parents were killed six months ago and I took the opportunity to be adopted out of LA when it was offered"

"Which rappers and bands do you like?" He inquired.

"I do not follow music at all she replied. " I spend any free time I have on my computer, solving the math problems posted on the challenge site of "You are good at math?" He said, turning to look directly at her" I have not yet been allowed access to that site, I keep getting a "Site Busy" signal.

"We have a direct link" She informed him. "And I am already at a post secondary school level"

"Well that tore it. They chatted on for the next two blocks, exchanging problems and solutions until they came up to traffic lighted four-lane intersection with a "Mom and Pops" brick corner store across it.

"They waited out the light and scooted across, into the store. He walked up to the counter, noting she immediately assumed both her proper place and head lowered posture as they entered. The elderly woman behind the counter inquired. "What can I do for you?"

"A bottle of pop and a bag of plain crisps" He asked

And as the lady retrieved them from a cooler behind her and a rack of similar edibles, his "Date" said. "Bernard, eleven seventeen Darting"

"Right on" She replied, entering it on a very modern PDF in her hand.

He then thanked the lady; retreating outside to sit on an iron framed wooden bench.

She stood beside it, again annoying the heck out of him as she began to kneel flicking out her skirt in order to avoid kneeling on it.

"Sit beside me on the bench" He asked her. And with a surprised look on her face, she complied. "Why did you resume you earlier position and demeanor when we entered the store and just now started to kneel before me?" He inquired.

"Because those are my proper places" She surprised him with. My proper place is one step behind and beside your left or right hand and when you are seated, on my knees either in the same place or in front of you that I might service you or you feed me with your hand, as in this case"

"Service me?" He asked.

"Oral sex is the usual payment for a feeding" She calmly informed him as he tried to twist the bottle open.

"But w I am not authorized to service you as of yet" She calmly replied, relieving him of the bottle, easily twisting off the cap and handing it back to him.

He took a big gulp, more trying to absorb what she had just told him than for any thirst quenching.

"She sat rigidly still as he moved the bottle up to her lips and she drank.

"What if I spill some on that white blouse?" He inquired. "I will be switched" She calmly replied. "You can watch if you want" He carefully withdrew the bottle, cradling his free hand under it, in order not to spill a drop. "I would not mind being punished in front of you" She replied, shaking his demeanor to no end again. "Maybe some other time" HE replied" Placing some crisps in her "O" So sweet mouth. "You could choose either my backside or rear,” She added.

"Just then Constable Nancy, in civil attire, but still on a racing bike came up. She parked her bike in a rack and walked directly up to the seated pair.

"I have just been informed you have been allowed out on your first walkabout" She remarked to the girl, ignoring him. "I dropped by you station to inform you that you have made the cut into the constable waiting list" She informed the girl, reaching out and touching her nose as the adult male had.

"If you keep up your martial skills and academic credits you will be in line for the state Police College" She continued to inform the girl and ignore him.

"Evening Constable Nancy" He quietly said.

"If you expect to date this one, you had better tow the line" She said without looking at him. "This one has a bright future and we will not let anyone distract her from it"

"I assure you I will be everything you want me to be if I can keep seeing her: He quietly replied.

The policewoman then turned to look at his pleading face and demeanor.

"You have as brilliant a mathematical mind as hers and you two would make a perfect match" She informed him. "But she has proved her worth, but as of yet, you have not"

‘Watch me" He promised her. "I will earn her"

"I will" The officer replied.

She then again touched her finger to his dates nose. " This one has his heart set on you" She informed her.

"See that he earns you"

"Yes Mam" The girl replied, with very cheerful lilt to her voice, and a smile that lit up her pretty face.

The off duty officer then retrieved her bike and sped off.

"We must be getting back,” He said looking at his watch. "It is already eight thirty"

"If we lag back you can see me switched on my bare bum cheeks" She teased him. "Not difficult for him to do, as I never wear panties"

“I think I have had quite enough revelations for one day.2 He smiled back. “But I am sure you will arrange even that for me shortly.”

"He then stood and she joined him, carefully placing the bottle and the bag in its proper recycling containers by the curb. They waited; holding hands until the light changed crossed and started back.

"Did the boy living were you do, go out and meet a girl like you with skills like his to help him solve his puzzles" He inquired as they walked along.

"Yes he two is an adopted orphan and I would not let then know you are on to them" She gravely informed him. "It is the way they obtain the skills they need for the town to prosper and keep its independence"

"I do not care what they want of me as long as they let me have you" He replied as they arrived at her doorstep.

"I will make sure you bust your ass to earn me then" She replied smiling up into his face, just before she assumed her proper place, eyes downcast, just one step behind and beside him as they entered the door full five minutes early.

Three females watching the surveillance monitor feeds directed through her twenty-four inch computer screen.

"The council is pleased with the progress of the two new boys" Nancy informed both the blond boys and the new boys "Mother".

"Both girls are carrying out their assigned tasks, and their training assures their successful bonding" She informed the two women. "Just as you performed so excellently on your own target males years ago" She continued. "The council has authorized as a reward you will be allowed to bear a child of your own"

The two females turned from the screen, smiles from ear to ear? "We exist to serve" They replied together, as if reciting a canton. "And will ensure we provide healthy children to fill our ranks"

"Good Girls" The officer replied. Knowing she had been sterilized years ago, as her genetic code had contained an unwanted gene.