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From: Daphne Xu <daphneXU@PSEUDOnym.mixTUREminIATURE.netMUNIST>
Subject: {ASSM} "A Bikini Beach Summer" (09/21) {Daphne Xu}   (tg,magic,mc,off-screen sex,teens,young)
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Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 05:10:03 -0400
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   A Bikini Beach Summer

   by Daphne Xu

   Part 9

   Thanks to ElrodW, Bikini Beach's creator, for invaluable comments on
this story.  The Bikini Beach universe and its principal characters are
copyright 2001 by him.

   Any comments about Bikini Beach, how it works, what it does, by
characters other than Anya or Grandmother are potentially non-canonical and
wrong.  As this story is told from a particular point of view by the
protagonist, this includes comments by the narrator.  The protagonist, and
thus the narrative, are what the protagonist believes or interprets from
what he is experiencing.  Thus some of the mechanics of BB are biased by
the protagonist's view and experiences.  Furthermore, because of the
particular viewpoint of the story, those errors often won't be corrected.
When the errors are corrected, the correction will often be disbelieved and
rejected.

   Monday, July 7th

   As usual, we listened to the Mental Work over breakfast.  Then Ma and Pa
recorded this week's lesson sermon, the Subject being "Sacrament." I had
piano lessons and ballet with Ruth today.  I made sure I practiced a full
hour on piano, in addition to half an hour on clarinet.  I wanted to be
fully prepared for Mrs.  Prudence's lesson.  She was a nice old lady, and I
didn't want to disappoint her.

   The piano lesson, it turned out, went well.  Afterwards, I walked over
to the mall where ballet classes were held, and was promptly accosted by-

   "Carol!" I exclaimed.

   "Lucy!" She grabbed me in a fierce hug, holding my head to her breasts.
"Happy to see you!"

   "I'm glad to see you, too.  So what are you up to?"

   "I was hoping to see a friend.  I always miss my friends on offdays."

   Well, that was flattering!  "I have ballet in about fifteen minutes." We
began walking in that direction.  "I'm gonna meet Ruth and Ma."

   "Did you talk with your parents about the sleepover?" asked Carol.

   "Not since Saturday, when we first broached the idea.  But Ma was
enthusiastic, you remember.  I'm sure there won't be a problem.

   "Our latest plans are Bikini Beach Thursday, sleepover Thursday night,
spend Friday all day together, sleepover Friday night, and all day at
Bikini Beach Saturday.  We'll be together three whole days!  The
sleepover's at Becky's Aunt Yuko's place.  So far, Vanessa's, Jen's, and my
parents have agreed."

   "I have clarinet and ballet Friday, you know."

   "That's no problem.  We'll make sure you get there on time."

   We arrived at the ballet studio just as Ma arrived with Ruth.  Ruth
stepped out of the car, already dressed for ballet except for sneakers, and
Ma drove off in a bit of a hurry.

   "Hey, Carol," said Ruth.  "We're here for ballet."

   "Yeah, I know.  I guess I'll go visit the bookstore in the meanwhile."

   Ruth began warm-up exercises while I changed into my own leotard and
tights.  The class went as usual, and I worked up a good sweat by the time
it was over.  Rather than change back completely, I slipped my jeans over
my tights and leotard, and changed my shoes.  Ruth simply remained in her
ballet clothes, but changed back to sneakers.

   Carol was outside waiting, to my surprise.  Ma wasn't here to pick us
up. I guess we finally persuaded Ma we were capable of walking home on our
own.

   "Is it okay if I join you?" asked Carol.

   "Oh, of course," I answered happily.  I took Ruth's hand, and Carol took
mine, to my surprise.  The three of us walked the mile or so home, hand in
hand.

   "Have you noticed anything about Vanessa and Jen?" asked Carol.

   "What do you mean?"

   "Well, Jen always seems to stay close to Vanessa."

   "Helen says that Vanessa and Jen like each other," said Ruth with a
giggle.

   "I guess Vanessa does seem protective of Jen," I hazarded.  "She helped
Jen the most, when we first met her." I paused, and then said, "I wonder
what Jen would think if she ever met Vernon."

   "My memories are confused about Vernon, except of course that he's a
nice, cheerful, rather cute guy.  I'm sure he and Jen would hit it off. 
What confuses me is this: I only met him as Vernon last Tuesday -- but at
that time I remembered always being with him, the guy, not Vanessa the
girl. It's hard to explain."

   "Bikini Beach transformations are designed to confuse the daylights out
of anyone who tries to understand them," I said sarcastically.  And freak
the daylights out of them.  I kept that to myself.  I remembered only
Vanessa last Tuesday; never the boy Vernon.

   "Oh my God -- thanks, Carol!" said Ruth.  "I was confused; I was sure I
remembered a boy then, and you reminded me his name.  But then it was
always Helen's big sister, Vanessa.  So Vanessa was really a boy, and
Bikini Beach changed him to a girl?"

   "Apparently," I said while that Carol answered, "Yes."

   "Gee, I wonder what Ma would say if she knew that Bikini Beach changed
boys to girls," said Ruth.

   "That's the least of the problem, Ruth," I said.  "Bikini Beach may have
made me falsely remember Vernon as Vanessa that day.  And Friday and
Saturday, Vanessa talked about Bikini Beach making people remember her as
always Vanessa -- even her dad.  Mental malpractice."

   "You know what this means," said Carol.  "Bikini Beach could have
changed either of you from a guy, and made the other one not remember --
think you were always the person.  You would remember the other person as
if she always was that person."

   I shuddered.  "If it's possible to make someone else forget you and
falsely remember you, it's also possible to make you forget and falsely
remember yourself."

   "Um, Ruth?" Carol said hesitatingly.  "Your Ma got you an eight-year
membership?"

   "Yes," answered Ruth.  "Then last Saturday, it was upgraded to
lifetime." She sounded happy.  "I was surprised when they did it."

   Carol whistled.  I still couldn't help bristling at the unfairness of
it. Ma kept getting me these one-day passes, and only Mrs.  King got me the
two-week pass I had now.

   "Do you know why your Ma decided to upgrade your membership?" asked
Carol.

   "Ma didn't do it.  I slept over at a friend of Ma's, and she took me to
Bikini Beach that morning and got it upgraded."

   "I really doubt that your Ma's friend would have done it without Ma's
permission.  Did you often sleep over at her friend's house?" said Carol.

   "No, this was the first time, and I don't know why she did it.  She was
almost a stranger to me.  I think I only saw her when Ma had those Tuesday
night meetings at our house," said Ruth.  "I only learned her name that
night -- Mrs.  Winstead."

   "The Firmlove meetings," I said.

   "Firmlove?" said Carol.  "I've heard of them.  I remember some people at
school calling them the Nazi parents.  Now why would Ruth be sent to spend
the night with a fellow Firmlove family?  I recall Friday evening, your Ma
took Ruth home early.  Why?  What happened Friday at Bikini Beach?"

   "I can't think of anything," I said.  "I remember that Ruth and I were
both bored with that career thing, and we decided to go off together.  I
also felt that we'd done very little together at Bikini Beach, and that we
should spend more time and do more things together there.  I didn't mean
anything against you or the girls," I hastened to clarify.  "But why didn't
I tell one of you, at least?  So that Ma wouldn't worry about Ruth in
particular.  I don't know what I was thinking then."

   Carol said, "Maybe at supper, hearing that girl tell about having a
lifetime membership made you want one as well, Ruth."

   "No-no-no, it didn't," answered Ruth, a little huffily.  "I don't even
remember a girl saying that, let alone getting so desirous of a lifetime
membership that I would do something to get me taken home early and sent
elsewhere for the night.  In fact, I don't remember doing anything that
made Ma mad at me."

   "I do know you said something," said Carol.  "I don't remember what,
though." I couldn't remember, either.

   We spent the next several minutes in silence, me pondering over the
strangeness.  Then Carol returned to the subject of the sleepover.  "If you
want, I'll speak to your Ma about the sleepover."

   "I'll try to ask Ma," I said.  "If I wimp out, you can try.  I'm sure it
will be okay.  Of course, we won't tell her that Vanessa and Becky are
really -- what was that term again -- GIRLs." It had a certain naughtiness,
the very idea of a sleepover with boys involved -- a certain naughtiness
and a certain excitement.  Ma and Pa would never allow me to sleep over
with guys.

   "I think I should talk with your Ma," said Carol.  "Even if she doesn't
know anything about GIRLs and Bikini Beach transformations, she might still
detect something in your tone or looks -- the sense that you're hiding
something possibly forbidden.  Mothers' intuition is usually children's
transparency."

   Eventually, we got home.  Ruth's friend Daisy was sitting on the front
steps waiting.  "Ruth!" she jumped up and ran up to Ruth and grabbed her
hands, pulling her into an embrace.

   "That's Ruth's best friend, Daisy," I told Carol.

   "Apparently, it's been a while since they last saw each other,"
commented Carol.

   "No, they were together yesterday afternoon," I said.  "I guess that we
took longer than usual to get home, and Daisy had to wait.  There's also
the problem that Bikini Beach has been taking Ruth away from Daisy.  Ruth's
made many new friends at Bikini Beach."

   "Well, Daisy could come to Bikini Beach," said Carol.  "She'd have fun
there with Ruth and the other girls."

   "Her parents refuse to have anything to do with Bikini Beach, and won't
allow her to go."

   "But why?"

   "She hasn't said.  I don't think she knows.  However, when I think about
it, I would want to avoid anything that changes my thinking or my memories.
I'm afraid that Bikini Beach is making us unconcerned about that."

   Ruth and Daisy went inside.  "Let's go in." I took Carol's hand and
followed them in.  "I wanna get out of this leotard and tights.  It's too
hot under these jeans."

   "...  didn't have to wait too long," Ma was telling Ruth.  "Oh, Carol.
Hello and welcome."

   Ruth was heading upstairs.  "I need to change as well," I said as I
followed her.

   Setting my knapsack down, I removed my jeans, setting them aside.  I
tossed my leotard and tights into the hamper.  Realizing how I needed a
shower, I put on my bathrobe.

   Ruth got the shower first, so I went back downstairs to talk with Carol
and the others.

   "Carol told me about your planned sleepover," Ma said.  "I will have to
phone Becky's aunt, of course, but I think it's an excellent idea.  Brings
back memories of pajama parties when I was in junior high."

   Carol handed Ma a sheet.  "These are all our numbers.  Becky's Aunt Yuko
is probably at work now.  She may be home this evening, although I hear she
likes to go to Bikini Beach in the evenings.

   "Lucy!" called Ruth from upstairs.  "The bathroom's free!" So I went up
for a short shower -- ah, felt great to clean off.

   Back in my room, I couldn't decide whether to put the jeans back on, or
to wear shorts.  I compromised on a pair of capris, pants ending a few
inches below the knees.

   I enjoyed playing with Ruth and Daisy, so the four of us (including
Carol) played outside the rest of the afternoon.  Daisy and Carol then
stayed for dinner.  It was a bit strange -- Ruth and I had to dress up for
dinner, while Daisy and Carol as guests didn't have to change.

   After dinner, I practiced a little on the piano, and Ma called Becky's
aunt about the planned sleepover.  My piano practice was interrupted when
Ma said, "Great news, Lucy!  The sleepover is on!" Ma was as excited as if
she were participating.

   I noticed Pa and Carol were talking together on the sofa.  We spent the
next hour or so watching a flick -- Disney's "Aladdin" It had to be
suitable for the younger girls.  It was one of the rare times that Pa
allowed us into his office, where the television was.  Then Ruth and I went
with Ma to take Carol home, dropping off Daisy on the way.  Ruth wanted
Daisy to spend the night, but Daisy had some kind of appointment for the
next morning.

   Carol quickly hugged me as she got out, when we reached her home. 
"Tomorrow at Bikini Beach, right?"

   "Right!" I answered, putting aside my concerns about Bikini Beach.

   Ma drove us home, in silence.  We had nothing to say.

   Tuesday, July 8th

   The next morning, after breakfast, the Mental Work, and the Lesson, and
Pa's departure for work, Ruth and I were in our swimsuits and ready when
the Kings came to pick us up.

   The girls and I had our usual wonderful Bikini-Beach day.  Today, I made
sure that I spent a few hours with Ruth -- just the two of us together.  It
seemed as though I got to know her better that way.  The girls didn't
begrudge me the time away from them -- in fact, I found out afterwards that
Vanessa tried to do the same with Helen, but Helen wasn't interested.

   This led to discussion about each of us playing with and enjoying life
with our siblings.  Carol had her own issue with her older sister Nancy:
"Nancy is always with Cindy, and when I'm with them, I always feel a little
bit left out."

   Becky had her own comment about her big brother: "Right now, I feel like
I simply couldn't let Tracy see me as a girl.  I'd be just too embarrassed.
But maybe I'd get over it.  Perhaps I could pose as an unknown cousin, and
have Aunt Yuko set me up for a date with Tracy.  Or maybe we could lure him
to Bikini Beach."

   Of course, we eventually had to go home.  Ma was at her weekly Firmlove
meeting when we got home, so only Pa was there.  I was nervous about Pa
seeing me in my swimsuit, even though it was one-piece -- Pa didn't like
girls dressed skimpily.  He was grudgingly okay with one-piece suits for
swimming though, but I was still uncomfortable.  In general, I was
uncomfortable with Pa seeing me dressed skimpily or sexily.  So I quickly
made my way to my room to change into sleepwear and robe.

   I returned downstairs to have a snack and practice the piano.  Ma came
home from her Firmlove meeting, all fired up and angry.  She came into the
living room and promptly began telling Pa an angry story.  I stopped my
piano playing, to avoid interfering with Ma and Pa's discussion.

   Ma was furious, and I listened with interest.  I noticed Ruth at the top
of the stairs, also listening -- curious no doubt as to what infuriated Ma
so.

   "When the meeting broke up, Mrs.  Winstead took me aside.  She asked me
how Ruth was doing now, and I told her that like always, Ruth is a good
little girl."

   I saw Ruth cringe at that description of her, and I winced too.  I could
just imagine what she thought: "Good little girl, hrmph!"

   Ma continued.  "Mrs.  Winstead looked at me strangely, and then asked if
Ruth was no longer persistently protesting her innocence of Jill Denison's
murder.  I was so fuming at this outrage -- one of the few times I was
seriously tempted to curse." Ma turned to me.  "I assure you, Lucy, I
resisted the temptation." She went on with her story.  "I was fuming so
much, that I almost missed what she said next, about Ruth dropping clues
all around that she was really a seventeen-year-old Peter, changed by
Bikini Beach to nine-year-old Ruth -- Ruth accusing Bikini Beach and me of
mental malpractice.  I was just sputtering at the sheer craziness of it
all, and I couldn't say a thing.  I just up and departed, right then and
there.

   "In the car, I realized I had to calm down to drive home safely.  I
recited to myself the Lord's Prayer, the Daily Prayer, and finally the Rule
for Motives and Acts.  It was good to remind myself that `Neither animosity
nor mere personal affection shall impel the motives or acts of members of
the Mother Church.' I was sufficiently calmed down to drive home.  The
funny thing is that Mrs.  Winstead seemed shocked at my reaction.  She
didn't even recognize how crazy she sounded."

   Hmmm....  This was quite interesting.  I would definitely have found it
crazy, had I not learned last Friday about Bikini Beach Transformations and
also Bikini Beach's tendency to make people forget or even implant false
memories.  I disagreed with Ma, and thought that Mrs.  Winstead knew how
crazy she would sound to those who didn't know anything about it; she'd
waited until she was alone with Ma before broaching the subject.

   If Mrs.  Winstead was right, then Bikini Beach had wiped and replaced
all our memories through July 4th -- the day before Ruth got the lifetime
membership.  I'd wondered about several things, and decided simply to ask
Ma.  I had the idea that her response would indicate whether she'd
forgotten everything or Mrs.  Winstead was crazy.

   "Ma?"

   "Yes, Lucy?"

   "I've been wondering several things.  July 4th, why did you take Ruth
home early and then have her sleep at Mrs.  Winstead's house?  Why did you
upgrade Ruth's Bikini Beach membership to lifetime?"

   "Young lady," said Ma.  "You know by now -- what are you not supposed to
do?  Tell us."

   "Yes, Ma.  One does not question one's elders.  They know better, and
they know what's best for us.  I'm very sorry." I lowered my face, and
hopefully had a sufficiently contrite expression, totally fake, covering my
own fuming.  I was pretty sure now, Ma had forgotten why she did those
things, and was just covering up.

   "Very good, Lucy."

   "I think I'll head off to bed now," I said, actually hoping to talk to
Ruth.  I thought I'd heard enough, although Ruth probably would want to
stay and hear more.

   By the time I reached the stairs, Ruth had slipped back upstairs and to
the door to my room.  She pulled my head down and whispered in my ear,
"Ma's forgotten.  Just like us.  Please, Lucy, before going to bed, write
down what Mrs.  Winstead told Ma.  I want to hear more of what Ma has to
say to Pa." She slipped into her own room, and emerged with a clipboard and
pencil and paper, and slipped back to where she could eavesdrop without
being seen.

   I went to my room, and sat at my desk, trying to recall what Ma had
said. The murder of Alice's cousin Jill!  Ruth proclaiming herself
innocent! Ruth trying to tell us that she was an older boy named Peter? 
How old?  Oh, yes.  Seventeen.  A year older than Jill was when she was
murdered.  We first came to Bikini Beach only two and a half weeks earlier.
If Mrs.  Winstead was right, Ruth would have been Peter at the time of
Jill's murder.  I tried writing down not only what Mrs.  Winstead said, but
also my own ideas.  Darn-it, I was just too darn sleepy.

   I finally decided to go to bed.

   Wednesday, July 9th

   I woke up from barely-remembered dreams of memories being almost wiped,
repeatedly.  They never actually got wiped, but the process was always,
repeatedly, begun.  I slipped into Ruth's room, where she was lying in bed
awake.

   "Ma didn't say anything new last night," said Ruth.  "She just repeated
herself a few times, working herself into a fury until Pa suggested
applying Christian Science.  She breathed and finally calmed down."

   I sat on her bed, we both waited a few minutes in silence.  Then I said,
"So Bikini Beach changed you?  From a seventeen-year-old boy named Peter to
you?  And made us all forget everything?"

   "This is so strange," said Ruth.  "Seventeen years is so long.  I mean,
it'll take forever before I'm as old as you, Lucy."

   I couldn't bring myself to mention the murder aspect.  Especially with
it being Alice's cousin.  I didn't believe Ruth or whoever she was would
murder anyone.  But I did notice something.  "Your eight-year membership?
That would have ended when you were seventeen."

   "Oh...  oh...  oh..." Ruth seemed unable to say anything else.

   I spent Wednesday morning part of the time playing with Ruth and Daisy,
part of the time helping Ma with chores.  The only activity we had today
was ballet.

   I changed into my ballet leotard and tights at home.  This time, I
didn't put on the wrap-around skirt or jeans over my tights.  If Ruth and I
walked home, I'd be walking in my ballet kit just as Ruth always did.  Hey,
if Ruth could do it, so could I.

   When ballet was over, Carol accosted us again.  She hugged both of us
this time, commenting, "Wow, you've definitely worked up a sweat, both of
you.  You look cute, almost sexy, in your leotard and tights!"

   "I'm happy to see you too, Carol," I answered.  "Let's go." Carol took
my hand, and this time Ruth took Carol's other hand as we walked home.

   Carol spent the afternoon here.  As was becoming the practice, Daisy and
Carol both stayed for dinner.  Ruth and I, as usual, had to dress up for
dinner.  I was surprised when Daisy went home to change into a dress,
before returning for dinner.

   At my raised eyebrows, Daisy said, "Didn't Ruth tell you?  I'm going to
church with you tonight, and then I'm spending the night.  Mom and Dad have
to go somewhere."

   Over dinner, Ma asked Carol, "Would you like to attend the Wednesday
evening meeting as well?  You're very welcome to come."

   "I appreciate the invitation," answered Carol.  "But I must decline.  I
have to get home fairly soon after dinner."

   "That's fine," said Pa.  "We'll drop you off home on the way to church."

   "Thanks.  That would be very nice," said Carol.

   We left for church a little earlier than usual, to give time to drop
Carol off.  All six of us piled into the car.  Carol sat in the front
passenger seat, so that she could direct Pa home.  I thought that Ruth
would sit on my lap, but Daisy insisted instead.  Ruth sat between me and
Ma.

   Carol directed Pa to her house.  They also chatted on the way.  After
Carol got out and Ma got into the front seat, Daisy for some reason stayed
on my lap, even though there was plenty of room between me and Ruth.  As we
arrived at church, I wondered, was it right to take Daisy with us to
church? I mean, it wasn't her religion.

   It occurred to me, while an old lady was giving her testimony, that my
own fear of giving testimonials, and my inability to think of situations
where God had healed or otherwise improved my life, were Error -- Old Error
whispering in my ear.  I thereupon vowed to give a testimonial next
Wednesday night.

   During the following silent period, I even thought of one to give.  It
would be a rather embarrassing one, but I realized that the sense of
embarrassment was also Error, and I had to assume a proper sense of
humility.  The testimonial would be about how my first few visits to Bikini
Beach, I always succumbed to temptation to wear a bikini -- despite the
sensuality that entailed, despite Pa's denunciation of bikinis as immoral
self-exposure.  I even left notes reminding me, to no avail -- until last
Thursday, when I finally resisted temptation and began wearing onepiece
swimsuits at Bikini Beach.  I wouldn't mention Saturday afternoon's
exception, of course, because that wasn't my fault.  Ma had packed the
bikini for me.

   It would be a scary testimonial to give in front of everyone in church,
but fear itself was Error and had to be conquered.  I vowed to do it.

   Meanwhile, there was the sleepover beginning tomorrow with the girls. 
It took forever to fall asleep that night, with my mind all aglow at the
prospect.  

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