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The Online Job - Chapter 18
🕑 Added 2022-11-15 14:15:42 +0000 UTCOTHER CHAPTERS | ALL STORY LIST
Thomas Green sat next to his division head waiting and wondered if he would start to stutter. He hadn’t done it for a number of years, but it was a fear that was always there and he just remembered what his therapist told him about remembering the time, and place and that these people wanted to hear what he had to say.
The phone rang on the secretary's desk and she spoke and then told them that they could go in. Stu, Stewart Waters turned and told him to just give the director the facts, just like you did me, and they will speak for themselves. Tom was impressed by the décor of the office, probably because it was personal. Getting nice things at the CDC wasn’t really in the budget, so you didn’t get them unless you sprang for them yourself.
“Hi, Stu,” said director Grainger, now what you got for me. I’ve got a conference call in about 10 minutes with senator Kenny so time is a luxury that I can’t afford, but then he is always late. Stu stepped forward and shook the director’s hand and said Tom here might throw a wrench in the cogs, but I’ll let him talk, Tom if you’ll please, motioning with his hand. Tom stepped forward and began, “Sir I’m a data analyst, and I’ve been following something that started about 9 months ago I don’t know what to make of it and red flags are popping up all over. I monitor prescription drug sales and a few have been increasing exponentially, and I can’t understand why and there seems to be no reason for the increase.
The drugs that have been increasing are estrogens and anti-androgens. The manufacturers have been pushed beyond capacity and are buying them from a company in Sweden. The quality is checked and it is more than acceptable at 99.3% pure, better than Syject makes themselves. The issue then arises that these are used for...The director's raised hand stopped him right there and said I know what they are used for. Have you checked with the prescribers?
Yes sir as of last month. The endocrinologists that have responded with an 81% return on our questionnaire have said that every one of the referrals is normal and that therapists have had to add more hours and some have even said that they are working 12-hour days, 7 days a week. Tom stood there waiting for the next question that was expected. Just how much of an increase are we talking about, asked the director seriously. Tom took a deep breath and hesitatingly said 712% over the last 9 months.
“That’s epidemic proportions! Can you give me some hard numbers here?” “Yes sir I can but, you might want to take a deep breath first. Out of males 15 to 25 years of age, 21% have started to transition to becoming transgender.” The director picked up his phone and ordered Julie his secretary to cancel the conference call, to clear his schedule for this afternoon, and to arraign a meeting with the psych department, public relations, and insurance company liaisons. He stood and said thanks for bringing this to me directly and I want you and all the facts you have at that meeting. One more thing before you go.
What was the company's name in Sweden?” Tom looked at a paper and said it was, “Andringa.” The director shook his head and commented, “Mmmmm, that’s strange and I thought I knew all the drug companies.” Tom then looked at the papers he was holding and said, “Well it is a new company, only been in business for 3 years, just licensed last year and those are the only drugs that they manufacture. Also as a footnote, they are a division of Urban Inc.”
Natti was up and showered and ready for the day. She put on her new swimsuit and was looking in her mirror when her mother knocked on the door, “Honey are you ready, I need to leave in a few minutes.” Natti told me to go ahead and come in.” When she walked in her eyes bugged and a smile slowly appeared on her face, “Baby you’re going to have every boy on the beach chasing after you.” She said that she only wanted to be caught by one boy and she would make it easy for him.
Her mother said that she was sure that he would be the one to catch her. Natti asked what she thought of the suit? Her mother told her to turn and said that she looked very sporty, and she was just drop-dead gorgeous. Natti quickly grabbed a light blue hat and put on her light blue wrap and said, I’ll be ready for Mr. Sun no burning for me, and I’ve got that SPF 48 lotion so I think I’ll be fine. Her mom then said that she was leaving and that she left a large straw bag for her in the kitchen if she wanted to use it, and wished her a nice day before leaving.
Natti turned back to the mirror and her phone played what would become their song, ”Mothica’s Forever Fifteen”, and picking it up saw Dmitri’s smiling face. She pushed up on the green icon and answered, ”good morning.” ”Good morning to you, so you’re up, want to leave in about an hour?” Natti answered that would be fine, I know that the beach will be crowded but it’s a big place and I don’t want to spend all day there.
Dmitri then said, ”Well I’m all loaded up and I have a big shade that we can pitch and it will keep the sun off of us.” ”So why don’t you go ahead and come over and I can show you my new bedroom suite.” Dmitri said, ”I should jump at that chance, but I’ll be over in about 20 minutes. Have you talked to Tara yet this morning? I heard that she was going with that guy that she met at the mall. I’m sure that she is feeling free from that Dennis guy. I just hope that she is enjoying herself.” Natti responded, ”Oh I’m sure that she is. Okay, I’ll see you then.”
Natti grabbed her beach bag and went into the kitchen. On the bar was this big oversize straw bag that her mom left for her. She grabbed the bag, ran back to her bedroom, and put some tennies in it, a light top with long sleeves, and a pair of loose slacks just in case. As an afterthought also just threw in an extra towel. She grabbed her sunglasses and went back to the kitchen and poured herself carbonated water and rang Tara. ”Hey girl where are you”, Tara asked.
Natti told her that she was still at her house and that Dmitri would be there in a few minutes. Tara told her that they were already on their way. She told her that she would be parking in that “Pay For Parking”, across from Savanna Jack. Yeah, I know it costs and the free parking doesn’t but it is right by the beach and it makes it a lot easier if you’re carrying something. Well, we are just passing Broadway park so we’ll be there in about 15 minutes, I’ll call you when we get there, C’ya.
Natti hung up just as she saw Dmitri pull into the driveway. She went to the door to meet him and told him that she had to grab her stuff. He followed her in and grabbed her two bags and carried them out to the car as she locked up. They drove off and had just gotten down the freeway a bit when she got another call from Tara. Hey, all the beach parking is full so we are going to Tyler st. parking. Everyone is here and the lot is just about empty.
It is only a block down to the beach and everyone is just hanging out and talking. Natti told her that they would be there in about 15 minutes so don’t worry. Tara said that she and no one else is in any hurry to get to the beach. They were having a great time just hanging. Natti and Dmitri pulled in about 20 minutes later and the group wasn’t hard to spot. They found a parking spot and joined everyone else in between the two rows of cars.
Tara and Cole were sitting on the tailgate of his pickup with a couple of others. Stephanie was standing there with Remy and everyone was talking about what they had planned for the summer. Stephanie came over and offered a can of iced tea, and asked, ”Guess what?” Natti shook her head and gave her a shrug of her shoulders, and she continued by opening her wrap exposing her bikini. It was light green with yellow and pink flowers all over it. She didn’t have any forms so it just laid next to her chest, but she did look really cute.
Natti told her that it was cute and she was pulling it off. Remy stepped over next to her and put her arm around her and said, ”Okay, hands off, this body is all mine.” Stephanie was smiling and they both looked at each other, then shared a cute little kiss and then turned back to the group and asked if we were going to the beach or just standing in the parking lot. Natti and Dmitri loaded themselves up and Dmitri was carrying the heavy stuff.
As they all paraded down to the beach Natti reflected that there were a lot of her friends in the parking lot. The group of about 50 kids made quite a sight and the talking, joking, and all-around teen noise was not only something to see but also to hear. Once down the stairs and out onto the sands a spot was quickly found about halfway between the street that ran along the beach and the water. The boys that were there began to erect the sun shelters and they all put them together. Once that was done about half the group wanted to rush the waves and get salty. Natti and Stephanie stayed under the shelters and sat on the beach blankets that they had brought.
“Did you notice that the number of us that are dressing is now up to 16”, said Stephanie when they were sitting under the shelter? Natti said that she had noticed that there were more but not the exact number. Stephanie continued, “I see that you and Dmitri have become kind of close. He was walking next to you and you could just see the invisible my girlfriend sign over your head.” Natti chuckled yeah I guess so. “But you and Remy have become really close as well”, she responded. “But it’s not the same.
You are also still good friends with Tara, and you have Dmitri as well”, Stephanie pointed out. “Hey, what about me?”, asked Tara as she sat down. They explained what they were talking about and Remy lugged over a cooler and opened it and asked if anyone wanted an iced tea? So the conversation was repeated for the two newcomers.
Natti took off her wrap and hat and stuck them in the large bag that she had gotten from her mother talk about Stephanie and her swimsuit was the next item of discussion. It was nice and warm here but with the breeze from the ocean, it wasn’t hot. Tara began to notice what Stephanie had been talking about. “It’s like Natti had chosen Tara as a friend, but found romantic involvement with Dmitri.” Remy then spoke up saying that she found Stephanie to be a friend and she was very attracted to her romantically as well, and she moved a little closer and put her arm around Steph. They just sat there and watched everyone in the water and it was Tara that broke the silence.
So Natti just how far are you planning on taking your involvement with Dmitri? Natti answered that she didn’t really know, at least not yet. I like being with him and I like the way that he acts around me. I like that he is interested in me and wants to be with me. I think he is very handsome and very masculine and I find that very appealing as well. Then Tara looked at her and said, “Well are you thinking about the near future?
I mean kissing is one thing but you know boys. He will want to keep exploring new areas, have you thought about sex?” Natti said that she had thought about it, and wasn’t opposed to the prospect. Tara then leaned close to Natti and instructed, “Look at him coming back here from the water.” Natti looked and responded so he is a lot taller than most of the guys and…” That is when she noticed what Tara was referring to. With the angle of the sun and the way the light highlighted certain parts of their bodies and made some shadows more defined, you could easily see what she was pointing out.
Dmitri was wearing a somewhat baggy suit, but wet it hugged his body clearly revealing certain a certain part of his male body. As Tara leaned close to her, “I do hope you are ready to accept that”, she giggled. As he came in out of the Sun and sat down next to her, he announced that the water felt great. He put his arm around her and asked if she was having a good time. She said that she and the circle of her friends just sat around and talked for a while and listened to the radio.
There was a lull for a while and Natti hadn’t braved Miami holiday traffic and the safari to the beach just to sit around. She stood up and grabbing Dmitri with one hand a boogie board with the other said, “Let’s get wet.” Dmitri grabbed a board and hand in hand they started down to the water. She could see Tara leaning back against Cole as he just propped himself up with his hands. It was good that she didn’t get up to come along with them as Natti was looking for a little alone time with Dmitri.
As they walked down to the beach Dmitri pointed out something that Natti hadn’t noticed before, “Did you notice that some of the people that had come in this group had gotten to the lot almost two hours before them and that when they came someone stated well we’re all here now, let’s go to the beach. It was like they couldn’t do anything as a group until you arrived. So do you know how to ride these boards?”
They both paddled out and then when a wave came along they both paddled and lay on the board propelled to the beach. Dmitri seemed to be faster for some reason and she asked him about that. He said it was because he kept his feet out of the water. Natti tried that and was-la she was riding right along with him. Of course, with him being a boy he had to show off and began to do rolls which was also a lot of fun to try, but ended her upside down in the water. But Natti was lucky and she had her prince charming there to rescue her.
He lifted her coughing and sputtering out salt water which of course was reason to hold her close. They came out of the water and lay out on the wet sand at the water's edge to catch their breath. Looking up at the blue sky and a few puffy white clouds Natti thought about all the time that had been denied her, in her self-imposed isolation from taking part in life. Dmitri turned on his side and looked at her and told her that she was pretty good and asked if she had ever done this before. She looked at him, his strong body as he laid on his side propping his head up on his hand, his wet messed up hair clinging to his forehead, and then at his swimsuit. Natti looked into his face admitting she hadn’t ridden on a boogie board since she was a little kid, but adding there were lots of other things she had never done.
Natti suggested that they go back to the shelter as she had been out in the sun for a while and she didn’t want to get burned. They hung out for a while and Tara asked if anyone wanted to take a walk on the beach walk, which was the sidewalk that ran along the beach? Natti was all in for the idea as were Stephanie, Sarah, and Megan.
Natti said that she had about as much sand as she could stand, and wanted to go home after the walk as the others as well. They packed up their stuff and took it to the cars, and then without having a bunch of stuff to carry started their walk. The group walked for about a couple of miles, stopping every so often to check something out. There was a guy juggling some fruit and a knife and at the end, he threw up a melon and cut it in half catching one of the halves and offering it to Tara. It was a good act. There were others that would sketch you, or spin and balance frisbees while rollerskating. In all, it was a lot of fun tourist stuff.
Sarah suggested that they go back up the other way and they could stop someplace to get something to drink. They settled on a beachside cafe called Billy Bongo’s and went in and got a table by a big window so that they could watch the people as they walked by. There was lots of good conversation and maybe they were a little exuberant. Maybe that is why they didn’t notice the three couples in their late 20s or early 30’s a couple of tables away.
The first time that they noticed anything was when one of the guys at the table that might have had a little too much to drink started to talk about Stephanie as she was the only one in pink shorts. Stephanie had put on a pair of pink shorts but just wore her bikini top. Megan had a white t-shirt on with a pair of blue jean shorts but with her body, you could tell that she was new at this. She looked really worried and she was also the only one at the table without an escort. Hey, those guys are really loud, you think we should go, I don’t want to get beat up.
“Hey you in the pink shorts, are you a faggot or just a titless wonder”, he slurred very loudly. One of the other guys at the table joined in, “Hey I think that they are all faggots, look at that ugly ass sissy with blue jean shorts on.” And they weren’t the only two, one of the women with blond scraggly hair said, “Look at that red-headed bitch, that’s a genuine woman but she needs to be taught not to hang out with faggots, and ugly faggots at that.”
Tara suggested that they not pay any attention to them and they went back to eating their nachos and drinking their drinks. But he had a little too much of whatever they had been drinking and kept it up. The other people in the cafe were looking at first Natti and her group or the rude couples. Megan was really getting scared and looked to be almost at the point of tears when this other big fat guy that they hadn’t seen before came over wearing a red shirt with a white Billy Bongo logo on the front where a pocket would have been.
He walked up to the group and said, “Your group is causing too much trouble and there are families in here so I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” Well, this caused Remy to go ballistic and she stood up from her chair almost knocking over some drinks, and yelled or maybe just spoke with indignant conviction, “We’re not going anywhere those drunks over there are the ones causing trouble. We are just sitting here eating, drinking, having a good time, and not bothering anyone!” The Bongo’s employee was standing firm and said that they needed to leave because he had already called the beach police and if they were still here when they arrived then they would be arrested for disorderly conduct.
A lady at the table in between the drunks and Natti’s group started to stand up and say something but her husband stopped her. The drunks were now getting even louder and saying, “They should be arrested for impersonating females”, and one of the other ones added, “No don’t go anywhere, they should be arrested. If they got locked up like that they would really get what they deserved.” Just at that time the police walked in the doors and walked over to the bouncer and he told them that he wanted them to be escorted out and be arrested for disorderly conduct. The police turned to Natti and her group telling them to stand up and let’s step outside. Well, the kids stood up to leave and Megan was in full-fledged crying now and Remy was trying to argue with the cops when the lady at the table that was going to stand up, now stood up.
“I don’t think that they should go anywhere! It’s those drunks over there that are causing all the trouble”, she screamed and pointed to the table with the three couples. The officer turned telling her that they knew what is going on and that they will take care of everything and for her to sit back down, which she didn’t do. She turned to one of the men behind the counter and now in a shrilly voice screamed, “Billy if you don’t get out here and put a stop to this I’m never going to come back in here. We’ve been coming here for over twenty years on vacation.
A man came out from behind the counter and walked over asking what all the ruckus is about. The bouncer turned to him and said that these kids are causing trouble and making a lot of noise and the police can get them out. Suddenly it seemed all the tables erupted with everyone yelling at the bouncer, the cops, and the 3 couples that started all the trouble. Two more police came through the door and were immediately followed by two more. The obvious owner named Billy now feigned ignorance of what was going on and the first 2 officers were talking to the bouncer he admitted that the 3 couples were the ones that were yelling slurs at the kids, but if the kids weren’t in here then they wouldn’t have anyone to yell at and that they must have done something to cause it.
Now Tara stood up and started yelling and finally the officer that seemed like he was in charge held up his hands and began to shout for everyone to be quiet for a minute. He finally got everyone to stop yelling and about the only thing you could hear was french fries cooking and Megan crying and couldn’t be stopped.
He turned to the bouncer and asked him if he heard the kids yelling anything? He admitted that he didn’t but then added, “Just look how they are dressed, it’s obvious that they are trying to cause trouble.” Well, the police officer told him that he couldn’t assume that they were causing trouble just because of the way that they were dressed. He turned to Tara’s and Natti’s group and told them that they should just step outside with them so that he could get their identification for their report. Well, that set the shrilly lady off again and she started yelling there was another lady that had been trying to comfort Megan who yelled at the cop that he needed to get out of there before he gave this poor girl a panic attack. A couple more at another table started to yell at the drunk couples that they needed to leave.
It was becoming obvious to the police that had come in late what the trouble was and who the troublemakers really were. They started to talk to the drunk couples and could see that they didn’t have a little too much but had way too much. They were trying to get them outside and one of the women tried to stand and fell her husband thought that the cop had hit or pushed her down, so he stood up and tried to take a swing at the cop but missed and hit someone else at another table. Well, then the whole place seemed to explode with everyone yelling and pushing and falling all over the place.
More policemen came in and seeing everything in confusion tried to stop people from yelling and arguing with each other and the police officers until another officer came in and using a mini air horn, sounded a few loud blasts and got everyone’s attention. He stood on a chair and in a loud voice announced that we are going to get to the bottom of this or they would arrest everyone in the place. He told everybody to be quiet and settle down and everyone would get a chance to talk if they wanted to and he would get statements from everyone there.
He then told one policeman to arrest the man that tried to hit his office and take him outside and put him into a car. He got the owner to come over so that he could ask him some questions and then yelled at Megan to stop crying. One of the drunks at the table that caused all the trouble tried to start yelling and he told another cop to arrest him and take him outside. When people saw that this cop was arresting anyone that was causing trouble everyone quieted down, even Megan that was now just sobbing with a lady and her husband trying to comfort her.
First, he asked the bouncer why he tried to kick the kids out. He said that they were in there and his boss, Billy told him to kick the kids out. Then he asked Billy if this was true and he said that it was, but he asked the bouncer why those 3 couples and kids were yelling at each other. Someone started to say something but the master of ceremonies cop held up his hand. There was a noise behind him and he turned and asked one of his officers to pick up one of the drunk women that fell off her chair for no apparent reason and to take her outside. He was assisted by a policewoman as they took her outside. He then turned to the bouncer and asked him if the kids were yelling. He said that they were.
Two or three of the patrons started to raise up and say something, and he blasted his air horn again and then added if anyone wanted to say anything they had to hold up their hand. Well, about 10 hands shot up and he called on a person after person and they all said that the kids were loud, but they weren’t directing it at anyone. The head cop that had started the Q&A now asked if he actually heard the kids yelling at anyone and he said that he hadn’t. Then the head cop asked him why he lied to his boss, and he responded, “Well look how they are dressed.
Dressing like that is just asking for trouble.” The officer told him to step outside and he replied that he wasn’t going to get arrested for a bunch of homo queers and tried to pull away, and then he was arrested for resisting and for assault on a police officer. After he was taken out of there the officer asked the owner if he still wanted the kids arrested and he looked around the room and saw everyone looking at him. He said well I guess not, and then turned and went back to behind the counter. The officer then told four of the other officers to take the drunks outside.
He stood back on the chair and made another announcement, “Now you can all go about your business to Natti and her group he told them not to leave without giving them their identifications so that they could get in touch with them so that they could make a statement at a later date. Then he made a general announcement that if anyone else wanted to make a statement they needed to make sure that they had their identification.
The head officer was talking to another officer on the radio, and the husband of the woman that was comforting Megan stepped over to the table where Natti’s group was and told them that he was an attorney in Palm Beach and introduced himself as Hugo Billings of Billings, Norton, Calley, and Forsythe. He then offered to represent them but first, they had to retain him. “So each of you gives me $1.00 and put your name and phone number on the back of one of these business cards.” Remy reached into her bra and pulled out a ten and said that she would pay for everyone. They all signed the business cards and returned them back to Hugo collecting them telling them to not say a thing and that he would handle everything. He then asked if anyone felt scared or afraid, and the group and he was talking when the officer in charge came back with a pad in his hand and said, “Okay kids I need to get all of your names, date of birth, and phone numbers.”
Hugo spoke up and said that he was now representing all the kids at that table and his clients were invoking their first, fourth, fifth, sixth, and fourteenth amendments and cited Salinas vs Texas as a precedent. The officer looked dumbfounded for a moment and then said that he had the right to get their names and date of birth as they were witnesses to what happened.
Their lawyer handed the officer his card and said that any communication between the state and his clients had to go through him and he would be calling district attorney Burroughs for Miami county tomorrow as today was a holiday and Gene Burroughs was in Fort Lauderdale playing golf. Then he added that he was glad that he had turned down Gene’s invitation to play. It was more than obvious that the officer was out of his league, and then told them all that they were on body cam and it wouldn’t go well for them if they tried to leave before making themselves available to give a statement. He then turned and huffed off dismissing his partner saying they haven’t seen the last of him.
“Look kids, I don’t think that they will do anything else but you all need to be by the number you gave me on Thursday. I’ll have an associate call you and let you know if they will pursue this any further, but I don’t think that they will.” The lady then asked Megan if she would be okay? Megan said that she wasn’t sure, and added that she would have to see if her ride was still at the beach. The lady then took charge.
Don’t you worry, you’re coming with us and we will make sure that you get home safely. She was hugging Megan and stroking her hair and continued don’t you worry no one is going to hurt you. Megan thanked her and added, I was afraid that was going to go very badly. The lady was almost in tears, and she said that she was going to make sure that you were safe. Natti could tell that something in her past had hurt her very badly, and she didn’t know what it was.
They left and Natti watched them go. She turned back to the group and suggested that they leave as well. The woman and her husband left and Natti and the rest of the group followed about 5 minutes later. As they walked out Natti turned to the crowd from the door and quite loudly said, “I want to thank everyone in here that stood up for us, it really means a lot.” Well, the whole place broke up in a cheer for the group.
Natti and Dmitri and their group left followed by a dark cloud until Tara finally declared well that was fun, and everyone laughed and the mood lightened considerably. Natti asked no one in particular what they thought had caused that lady to cry and pay so much attention to Megan. Remy observed that she was really touched by Megan whatever it was. When they got to their cars Dmitri said goodbye to Megan. There was again a lot of hugging and well-wish kisses. Natti kissed Megan and told her that if she wanted to talk all she had to do was call. Tara and Cole took off and a few minutes later Dmitri and Natti followed. As they drove home Dmitri said that they were very lucky and it could have really turned bad. Then he added that he thought that they should stay closer to home for a while.
When Dmitri pulled into Natti’s driveway she asked him if he wanted to help her carry some of her stuff in. She only had two bags and he carried them both in she told him that she would show him where to put them. He followed her into her bedroom and after setting them down Natti put her arms around him and hugged him very tightly. “Let me know if this hurts you she said.” He just laughed and she asked him what his favorite part of the day was.
He thought for a minute and replied that he was walking back from his first plunge into the ocean and saw her laying there. He added that he thought she was so beautiful waiting for him to come back to her. She hugged him even closer and then he asked what her favorite moment of her day was. She replied that she enjoyed laying on the wet sand with him beside her. She lifted her head up to him and they kissed, and just kept on kissing. As they were kissing Natti pulled him back to her bed and she leaned back pulling Dmitri down on top of her. They explored each other’s mouth, lips, tongue, neck, and ear lobes. She loved feeling him on top of her. He was so strong and she knew that she gives herself to him very easily and she knew that is what she would do. She didn’t know when but she knew that she would.
Comments
Brianna Demonet
I like to think the constructs are being chipped away right now. Hopefully in another 10 years will see people able to be comfortable in there own skin and live how they choose.
Leslie Deana
Unfortunately realistic, and the group as a whole was lucky for the turnout.. Everything always is being at the right time, right place.
Marcchesa
Unfortunately social constructs embedded shut in our collective unconscious for so long will have a long way to be demolished and changed into an inclusive unprejudiced diversification mindset
