“Terrifying scenes across the US as hundreds of men have now collapsed at home, at work or in the street in a disturbing mirror of what happened almost a month ago in scattered towns and cities.
“Back then we saw clusters of what the CDC assured press and medical professionals were a small number of affected intersex individuals admitted to hospitals after collapsing and, in some cases, becoming unconscious.
“Alongside that some women in those areas reported flu like symptoms with aches, body pain, fevers and chills. While all those women have now recovered — some oddly claiming they feel better and more healthy than they did before — the fate of the intersex individuals has remained unknown. This unknown disease is wreaking havoc and as yet, we have no idea what the end result of infection is. And, contrary to the CDC release, it appears now to be affecting biological males. Over the past two weeks we’ve seen more and more clusters of hospital admissions following a similar pattern to those earlier presentations with intersex people.
At last count, we’re up to one hundred and ninety three known cases scattered across the US. A number that’s almost certainly an under count, and which is also impacting our homeland’s commercial capabilities.
“Johnson Brothers’ Meat Packing, with its residential employment facility outside Oklahoma city, was forced to close this morning after its on-site clinic was overwhelmed by biological men reporting a wide variety of symptoms. The men’s condition rapidly deteriorated forcing their transfer first to Wayne Community Hospital and, when that became overwhelmed, onward to Slaughterville Regional Hospital. A representative for Johnson Brothers’ Meat Packing says it expects significant fiscal impacts as almost half of the thirty-member workforce — one entire shift — has been taken ill.
“In a press release this morning, CFE-Financial University of Chicago announced that two fraternities and one sorority have been impacted by what appears to be this virus. Multiple women have been taken ill, although none have required hospitalization, but thirty young men have been taken to hospital — several of them unresponsive.
“Scenes like this have played across the country where — up and down the I-10 corridor from Mesa, Arizona through to West Texas there have been numerous individual admissions to hospitals across the states. The same’s true following the path of the newly opened sections of the Northeast Freeway and reports are coming in from several of the sequestered west coast states regarding a similar pattern following I-5.
“As yet, there’s been no response from the CDC to this latest flurry of cases which, according to epidemiologist doctor Guy Margitoa, interviewed earlier today, is suggestive of ongoing spread while the individuals are presenting without obvious symptoms. During that interview he stated that the numbers we’re seeing suggest there might be as many as thousands of undetected cases.
“The CDC announced two weeks ago that they have concluded contract negotiations, and that the CDC-Jenisson Research team had commenced contact tracing and further evaluation of the virus. However, the team has not yet provided any further information regarding the spread of virus, updates regarding precautions or whether it will have long term impacts.
Similarly, the CDC representative we spoke to today refused to provide details regarding the condition of patients hospitalized during the first encounter with the infection, and the units where those individuals were admitted have remained on lock-down quarantine.
But, in an exclusive this evening for Channel Nine News, our reporter, Jennifer Walker has managed to slip into one of the facilities.
“Jennifer, are you there?”
“Yes, Dylan. I’ve made it through into the unit and I’m currently looking for room three oh seven a, where Nicholas Evans is reportedly awake. His family haven’t been able to speak to him since he was admitted, but were informed three days ago that he was out of his medically induced coma and slowly recovering.”
“How is security there?”
“Extremely tight, Dylan. But I managed to slip through and, and as you can see isolation precautions are still firmly in place. All the rooms in this unit at All Saints have signs up saying no-entry except for the isolation care team. Let me just put on this mask and gown… And can you still see okay with this visor on?
“Yes, Jennifer. That’s still working.”
“Great. Okay. I’ve got my gloves on, and I’m going to see if this room does actually contain Nicholas.
“Okay, as you can see there’s just the one bed in this room and…Hi.”
“Who’re you? Are you new? I haven’t seen you before. Are you gonna tell me what the hell’s happening? Can you get me out of here?”
“No, I’m Jennifer Walker with Channel Nine News. We’re looking for Nicholas Evans?”
“I’m— Wait— Waddya want to talk to Nick for?”
“Well, we’re wondering what’s happened to him. And a few other men. All of them were admitted here, and none of their families have been allowed to see them. The families haven’t been allowed to talk to the patients. Nick’s meant to be in this room though. Have you seen him”
The woman stifles a sob. “I’m Nick.”
“You’re Nick? C’mon. Nick’s five-ten. I’ve seen photos of him. Julie — that’s his wife — she showed me their wedding photos. If you squint, maybe you could be Nick’s sister? But you’re—”
“I’m Nick! The staff here tell me I collapsed and then they had to put me in a coma because of the pain? I woke up and I looked like this!” He stands, thin hospital gown doing little to hide his breast. “Look at me! Look at me! I look like a woman! Now they’re telling me some virus made me indie sexed or something? I don’t know what that means. Jesus. I was just — I was normal. Now I’m what — some freak? What are my kids gonna say? How’m I meant to earn— They’re never gonna let me work— Fuck. You gotta help me. Is this some corporate experiment? You gotta get me out of here. I paid my taxes, I did my job. Shit, I swear, I was a regu—”
“Hey! Who the hell are you? What’re you doing here? Oh shit you’re press? How the hell did you get in? Security! Security!”
“I’m leav—augh, get your hands off me!”
“She’s contamina—”
“Jennifer? Jenny? Can you still hear us? Okay. We’ve got a team checking in to make sure Jennifer’s okay. The person there claiming to be Nicholas Evans — we’re trying to find out who she is. We’ll be running that footage against known missing people.
“We’ll— uh— We’ll be back after these messages from our sponsor.”
#
:::MA: Hey, you said a while back that you work with viruses?
:::MA: I know virus parties are a dumb idea…
:::MA: But apparently a bunch of Anna’s friends have had them for this new virus.
:::MA: Anna said they know it’ll make them really sick for a while
:::MA: But the women all swear they feel better afterwards.
:::MA: It seems like the thing that went round Red Dust years ago.
:::MA: And all my girlfriends who got it in Red Dust are doing super well, so…
:::MA: They were miserable when they had it, but have you seen Anna?
:::MA: No one believes she had cancer, she looks amazing.
:::MA: Her chemo was just meant to shrink her cancer.
:::MA: Anyway, do you think I should I warn Anna to stop? Or is this not as bad?
:::MA: The CDC did say it’s low risk but I trust them about as far I’d trust a Packers fan.
:::EM: I think the CDC’s wrong about the risk fwiw.
:::EM: But for women/girls, so long as they stay away from guys afterwards…
:::EM: I think they’ll be okay. Mostly. Probably.
:::EM: But I think its going to spread pretty quick tbh.
:::EM: So not sure it makes a lot of difference party or not.
:::EM: But yeah, they want to stay away from boys/men
:::MA: Why?
:::MA: Men? The news said just intersex people?
:::MA: But they’ve been isolating after anyhow.
:::EM: That’s good - for at least like 3 weeks. Or until the rash is gone if they get one.
:::EM: The CDC’s lying. Or wrong.
:::MA: ?!
:::EM: I can’t say how I know. I just do.
:::MA: Are you sure?
:::EM: Yeah. It’s going to be bad.
:::EM: Sorry.
#
“Dinosaurs,” I mumble under my breath, one arm deep in the mass, the other attempting to prevent it from escaping.“Oh great, there it is. Okay. Just the foxes left…”
“Hey people! Erika, you home?”
“In the laundry room.” I say tossing the socks into the basket.
Caitlin more or less sags into the room, exhausted. She accidentally slams the door behind her with too much force, startling herself. “F this day,” she whispers, sketching the briefest of hugs before dropping back against the door and closing her eyes. “Thank God it’s mostly over.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She stretches out, grabs some balled up socks and attempts to crush them into diamonds. “Yeah, no, I do. I just also want to hurl things. It’s just, the way things are going I’ll need my own rage room.”
I walk over, hesitantly, and place an arm on hers. She’s been distant, and I’ve been letting her have her space. It’s so hard, though, when she’s hurting so much. When she’s finding it all so hard, so much of the time. As my fingers touch hers there’s a flicker of a flinch, but then she leans into me. Then she reaches up, puts her hand over mine. Her eyes search the room before they meet mine, and in indecision she stands there, chewing on her lip.
“I got called into HR today. That new OSHA guidance that came out a couple of months back? We’re — they’re — being fined. For me.”
“What for?”
She pulls a scrunched up letter from her pocket, smooths it flattish — flat enough to read at least. Bold lettering across the page states: OSHA Citation and Notification of Penalties, and underneath it…
Citation 01:
Serious violations of 29 CFR 1926.95(f)(1-3): Personal protective equipment.
Serious violations of 29 CFR 1926.110(r)(17)(i): Gender specific personal protective equipment.
Citation 02
Willful violations of 29 CFR 1926.120(r)(17)(iiv): Safety requirements for biological women of childbearing age.
Willful violations of 29 CFR 1904.47: Recording and reporting of reproductive health metrics
I stare at it for a moment before turning to her. “Oh my God. Does this mean what I think it means?”
Caitlin scrunches the paper back up, throws it across the room into the trash. “It means, quote ‘Inspectors consistently observed improper workplace precautions for women of childbearing age.’
“Probably. Basically, women aren’t allowed to do any heavy labor. Or anything where we might injure our delicate and precious baby making ability. Also, the PPE requirements for women are…” She turns to the dryer, grabs a T-shirt and muffles her scream with it. “I’m not an f’ing flower, Erika. I don’t need some man telling me what I can and can’t do.
“And I know I shouldn’t have, I know I should have waited until I was calmer and had talked to a lawyer but I was so pissed when they said they’d have to take me off the site, Erika. When they said I’d have to come into the office, dress all f’ing pretty? Do f’ing admin? I told them I’d quit. And they said if I did, I have to pay back the whole last year’s income. Every,” she pauses for another more-growled scream .“Every damn cent.”
“Oh fuck. We don’t have that much.”
She slams her palm against the counter. “I knew it was in the contracts. I remember when they got rid of the unions that was one of the first things they added. That and the no overtime bull. But they normally don’t enforce the payback clause anyway. At least, Jackson hasn’t. But this job’s already a disaster and they’re losing a ton on it. Add in the fines for the violations — and Jackson tapped his dickwad little Head of HR business card when I said I’d take it above him.
“So I guess they’re offloading some of the f’dness onto me.” She slumps back against the door. “Onto us,” she adds, belatedly.
“What about Ethan?”
“I saw him today — he’s leaving. He couldn’t care less about the job anymore. Apparently his wife figured out where he was going on the evenings when he said he was networking at conferences. It’s really none of my business if he wants to have half a dozen men naked and drunk on a site out of hours, but I know he was angling for some fed contracts. She just had to let that slip and he’d be gone like that.” She snaps her finger. “It was bad enough when he assumed I’d talk. His wife knowing… oof. Anyhow, Jackson took the opportunity of him leaving to get rid of me. Well, to start work on that.”
She shoves herself off the door and picks up a shirt. After distractedly folding and refolding it for a minute or so, she puts it down and nudges me with her elbow. “Oh. While I remember, did the school call you today?”
“Yeah, they wanted to talk to you, though. I’m afraid I was kinda salty. They wouldn’t tell me anything — not even who it was about. So I reminded them I’m your wife not your minder. Asshole woman said she could only speak to the real parent and that what we chose to do in our house should please stay there. If it was urgent I figured they’d call again, or actually really try to reach you. We probably we missed doing a permission slip for the kids to read a book with a brown person in it or that acknowledges the world’s not flat. Something controversial like that.”
“Yeah.” She lets out the slightest of laughs. “I’ll give them a call in the morning.” She pulls a pastel color T-shirt from the dryer. “Huh, did you get this for one of the girls?” She says as.
“No, I saw it in the wash, I was going to ask if you did. I figure if you didn’t Ash’s borrowed it from someone.”
“Hey Ash?” Caitlin opens the door and calls.
“Yeah mom?” The shout makes its way through the vent, reminding us that at least Ash and probably Addy heard more of our conversation than either of us hoped.
“Whose teal shirt is this?”
“Oh, it’s Maddy’s.”
“Uh hu?”
“She lean— I uh, needed to borrow it. I spilled juice on mine.”
Caitlin and I share a look. She rolls her eyes. “I see. Well, if you decide to tell us what really happened then that’d be great.” She says, a smile playing at the edges of her lips. “I didn’t even really want to know — but now I do.” She whispers, grinning conspiratorially. God, I miss seeing that. Unfortunately, this time the broad smile vaporizes on contact with the phone ring. “Ah crap,” She says, glancing at the screen. “I guess it wasn’t a missed permission slip.”
“You want me to…?”
“No, I better talk to them. Find out what’s going on.” She swipes her finger across and grabbing back some socks to maul, answers. “Principal Carlson. How can I help?”
#
“Addy, Ash. We need you downstairs!” Caitlin perches on the arm of the couch, subtle anxious vibrations manifesting in her movements. “So, sweetheart. What happened at school today?” She asks the instant Addy’s ass meets the cushion.
“I had homeroom, and then math, and then I had American, and then I had theater—”
“Not what classes did you have today, honey. Something happened that caused Principal Carlson to call me. Can you tell us what that might be?”
“Oh.”
“It wasn’t my fault. Benjamin was being mean. He always does stuff where teachers can’t see.”
“Addy, whatever this is we’re pretty sure it’s not your fault. We just need to know so we can try and help.”
“She didn’t do anything.” Ash interjects. “Benjamin just started throwing things at her.”
“Okay. So Benjamin started throwing things at you. Then what happened?”
“I told him to stop… Then he shoved me up against the lockers. Then he hit me.” She pulls up her sleeves, shows off a selection of bruises she managed to keep covered when she got home. I knock my parenting score down another few hundred points. Since I’m already at minus several billion, I guess this mistake doesn’t make it significantly worse. I still feel like shit for it though.
“Well, none of that is okay. Would you like us to talk to the school about Benjamin?” Addy vigorously shakes her head.
“That’d just make it worse, mom.”
“Okay. Well we’ll cross that bridge if we have to then. But that still doesn’t really explain why Principal Carlson called. Or more importantly, what he said.” Caitlin looks between Addy and Ash. They both shrink back into the couch.
“It wasn’t her fault.” Ash says, again.
“Yep. We heard that. And we’re not blaming you, Addy. Or Ash. But the question is ‘What is not Addy’s fault?’” I ask, keeping exasperation as far as I can from my voice.
“Addy started crying when Benjamin hit her and then some boys said that he shouldn’t go round hitting girls.” Ash blurts out.
“Oh.”
“And then some of my friends — they’re in Addy’s social studies class with Mrs. Niels — they kinda — I told them a ways back Addy was having a tough time with something. They don’t know anything else,” she adds, hastily. “They don’t like Benjamin anyway, so they started protecting Addy.”
“Mrs. Neils said I should have hit him back. But I didn’t. I just tried to save myself.” Addy whispers.
“Okay. Hitting people’s not really...” Caitlin looks at me, then back at Addy. “Like, it’s okay with us if you do hit him — or anyone else — back when they’re attacking you. But we’re not really big on regularly pounding on people as a long-term solution to problems like this. So that you didn’t hit him is fine too.”
“Yep,” I add. “The school shouldn’t be letting that kind of thing happen anyway. But, Addy lovely, this all still doesn’t exactly explain the call.”
Addy looks at Ash, then back at us before bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. “He tore my shirt... He ripped it enough I couldn’t wear…” She trails off, silent tears running down her face. “It had blood all on it anyhow.” She lets her hair fall across her face, hides herself almost completely before stammering, “Mad… Mad… Madison gave…” she swipes her nose with her arm. “Gave me— She had a spare T-shirt. And I didn’t have anything else to wear…” Caitlin’s crouched down next to her before her sentence is finished, and I find myself perched on the coffee table in front of her, one of her hands in mine. “It was just a T-shirt,” she suddenly exclaims. “I didn’t think anyone would notice.”
“It was...” Ash adds, apprehensively.
“Teal,” I say quietly. Addy nods. “But a girl’s cut.” She nods again.
“No one else would give me anything,” she says, the edge in her voice sharp. “All the boys think I’m weird anyway. And the girls…well they think I’m weird too.”
“Ah. Well, that explains both Principal Carlson and Mrs. Neils’ comments then.” I rub the back of my head. “God, that’s so stupid. Okay, Addy, we’ll try and fix this.”
Addy looks like she’s about to vomit.
“Hey, Addy?” I wait until she looks up. “We’d both come into school tomorrow to yell at those idiots anyway, but turns out you me and C have to go in early for a behavior resolution meeting.” I say. It’s none of our first rodeo with the behvioral team at the school. Most of whom I’d like to push off a very high cliff.
“Ash.” Caitlin adds. “I think it’s best if you come too. Since you know Madison and can explain that part.”
“Do I really have to go?” Addy says. “They hate me too.”
“I’m really sorry honey, I don’t see a way around it.” Caitlin says, almost as much to me as to Addy. She glances to me for confirmation.
“I’m sorry Addy. I really wish we didn’t have to do this. I wish you didn’t have to do this. But C’s right. We could say you’re sick tomorrow and keep you home, but I think that’d make it worse.
“And if we don’t turn up, or if we show any reluctance then—” Now I glance at Caitlin for confirmation. She tilts her head resignedly. “Addy honey, I know we’ve talked about this and you know it already, but they’ll say we’re unfit to parent you because we’re…” I rub my fingers down my face, wishing I could somehow shove the stupid away with the stress it causes. “…Because there’s no man in the house. You remember when some — person — reported us to CPS last year, and you had all those sessions with James to give you a male role model.” I can’t quite stop myself rolling my eyes. “If we aren’t all super stoked to make you seem to them like the best most enthusiastic boy ever, well… Anyway. You know. So we gotta go and pretend, just for a bit longer.”
Caitlin slumps in relief or defeat as Addy mouths,“Okay.”
“We’re going to get you out of here, Addy. Soon as we can. We love you and what they’re doing is wrong.” She says. Eventually she meets my eyes, then gives a small nod.
We curl up on the couch for a while, hiding the whole family from the world.
“Right, if you two want it, there’s ice-cream,” Caitlin says when everyone’s managed to find a little calm. “And Addy, you get to pick what we play or watch.”
After they’ve made their way through to the kitchen Caitlin turns to me. “It sounded like they’re going to refer Addy for reintegrative counseling.” I close my eyes and square breathe for a minute to avoid screaming or punching something inappropriate. “I didn’t want to mention it if we thought we could get her out of it, but wearing girl’s clothes at school? Even just a T-shirt? F it. Whatever the reason… Given her scorecard, I don’t think they’ll let it slide.”
“Yeah. We need to get her out of that school before she has to go to any of those sessions. We do this stupid meeting tomorrow, I guess. Then we…” I trail off, since a decent plan seems evasive.
“Yeah, that’s thing, isn’t it. Then what do we do?”
#
2031 – Novel Human Sex-Mutagenic Virus Update (2031-nHSMV)
Press Release: For Immediate Release.
CDC-JRI Novel Disease Remediation Group identifies origin and confirms person-to-person spread of 2031-nHSMV in United States.
The Centers for Disease Control in partnership with Jennison Research Incorporated (CDC-JRI) confirmed today that the 2031 novel Human Sex Mutagenic Virus (2031-nHSMV) does contain sequences linking the virus to Neuragene trademarked genetic codes. Investigations so far indicate the virus was built either in Neuragene labs or by someone familiar with Neuragene’s genetic marker sequences. Further investigations into its origin are ongoing.
CDC-JRI has also confirmed person-to-person transmission within the United States.
“Given what we’ve seen with previous virus exposures, CDC experts had expected some person-to-person spread at this point,” said CDC Director Zachary B. Greenfield, MBA. “However, with further investigation it appears that significant spread has already occurred, and there exists the possibility that this disease escaped containment, or was deliberately released, much earlier than previously identified. CDC in partnership with Jennison Research Incorporated will release further updates as more evidence is gathered and evaluated.”
CDC-JRI note that infection and disease progression has now been identified as affecting both sexes. Earlier indications had suggested that only biological women and intersex individuals who had previously passed as biologically male were affected. Further examination by the CDC-JRI Disease Progression Team has identified that 2031-nHSMV alters individuals’ chromosomal expression resulting in significant impacts to biological males’ virility and fertility.
The impact of 2031-nHSMV disease progression on biological women’s fertility remains unclear. However, CDC-JRI has identified no significant short-term impacts following recovery from immediate infection.
Current evidence indicates:
- Medium- and long-term effects on biological males result in the loss of highly capable providers from society.
- Post infection, biological males become weaker intersex individuals requiring guidance and protection from court appointed guardians.
- Ongoing uncertainty regarding medium- and long-term effects on biological females.
As a result, CDC-JRI is escalating this to a high-risk event with significant fiscal and public health impacts expected. At this stage, contact tracing has revealed large numbers of individuals exposed. WHO have confirmed isolated cases across the European Federation, the Russian Federation and throughout Asia. CDC-JRI is providing WHO with updates on the situation within the United States.
CDC-JRI is working closely with homeland health officials and other local fiscal and health partners to minimize economic impacts. CDC-JRI teams have been on the ground in a variety of locations and samples drawn from infected are being evaluated to determine effective protective measures and treatments. Ongoing investigations exist to determine the extent to which spread of this virus has occurred.
It is likely there will be more cases of 2031-nHMSV reported in the coming days and weeks, including more person-to-person spread. The public are urged to take every appropriate measure. CDC-JRI will continue to update the public as we learn more about this virus.
The best ways to prevent infection with any disease are:
Avoid being exposed to viruses.
Ensure you consume a healthy diet with sufficient red meat.
Avoid miasma.
Maintain peak physical fitness.
For biological males consider routine testosterone supplementation.
In the event of exposure / symptom presentation CDC-JRI recommend biological males consider testosterone supplementation to slow disease progression. Formal medical guidance for healthcare workers will follow.
For the general public, no additional precautions are recommended at this time beyond the simple daily precautions that everyone should always take. It is currently flu and respiratory disease season. For weaker, genetically susceptible individuals CDC-JRI recommends taking everyday preventive actions to stop the spread.
Right now, CDC-JRI recommends citizens avoid all nonessential travel. Additionally, the following regions are restricting travel from the United States:
- From 06:00am EHT (12:00am CET), the European Federation will no longer accept travelers who have been to the United States homeland within the past six months.
- From 01:00 EHT (09:00am MST), the Russian Federation will require genetic and symptom screening for all travelers from the United States and may refuse entry.
For detailed travel health information, visit https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/2031-nHMSV
###
HOMELAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CDC works in partnership with industry experts protecting citizens of the American Homeland’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to our Homeland’s most impactful fiscal and health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located across our Homeland.
Novel Disease Remediation Group, Disease Progression Team and the CDC-JRI mark are copyright Jennison Research Inc. and may not be used without permission.
#
“I don’t want to seem difficult,” Caitlin digs a reassuring smile out from her exhaustion to share with the principal, some school administrator whose name didn’t stick, and Mrs. Niels. None of them smile back. “But I’m really not sure this one isolated incident warrants quite so much concern.”
Questioningly, the principal raises one eyebrow. In contrast, Mrs. Niels leans back in her chair, disquieting confidence in her gaze. “Come now Miss Morgen, your son has been exhibiting inappropriate behaviors for months, if not years.” She taps her screen showing the repeated infractions. “Look at his history! He’s been reading for fun, Miss Morgen. And not even civil war histories or what-have-you. Two months ago we caught him reading some book about a princess and a dragon. Completely inappropriate reading matter for proper male development.” She glares at Addy, her disgust barely disguised. “I mean, have you looked at his hair Miss Morgen? It’s almost to his neck. It’s disg—”
“We’ve attempted to bring this to your attention multiple times before, but it seems you and your… co-parent have chosen to ignore this disturbing pattern.” Principal Carlson interrupts.
“I do want to be clear Erika and I have discussed your concerns, and we’ve talked to Arden about them. We’re addressing them at home in the way we feel is appropriate. I’m sure you’re supportive of our parental freedoms and religious beliefs.” Caitlin says. I wonder if they can see how tired she is, and I desperately hope that neither of them caught the fractional pause before she said Arden.
“But yesterday, your teachers let another child assault ours, rip off and destroy his clothing, and then complained when he found a solution to stay within the uniform requirements as best he could.” I add, wanting to wash my mouth out with soap.
Principal Carlson ignores me and directs his response to Caitlin, “Miss Morgen, we absolutely believe in parents having the freedom to instill religious and philosophical beliefs in their progeny. But, one day soon he will grow up to be a man. A man who’ll need to lead a family, who’ll need to pass on those traditional family values to his children. And when parents aren’t willing to do their part? It’s our duty to step in and ensure boys, and girls,” he says, pointedly glancing at Ash, “have their natural roles reinforced.”
“And obviously, it’s vital that boys are allowed — even encouraged — to express their masculinity. Sometimes they need to blow off steam. Sometimes they need to engage in activities that, as women, you may find distasteful and not appreciate for its importance.” His patronizing tone makes me wish I had a syringe of virus with me to stab him with. “But, Miss Morgen, that’s simply the way that boys are, and indeed, need to be if they’re to grow into strong young men. To serve their homeland properly. We note, however, that your son did not attempt to fight back or protect himself, which honestly, is another red flag.”
“All of which is why we’ve reported him to Homeland Education, and CPS. Again.” The administrator sighs. “I know you’re familiar with this process. But you should know, Miss Morgen, this time he meets criteria for immediate intervention. I imagine CPS will be paying you a visit within the next week or two. And we’ve already referred him to the reintegrative counseling team. He’ll be starting sessions next week with the school counselor until they can get him scheduled for formal sessions. We’ll let them confirm the date and time with you, but we expect they’ll see him within the next few weeks for intake.” She pauses to slide a form across to Caitlin. “And I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know he’s been accepted to the Boxing Club with the Police Activities League. It does mean he won’t be able to take theater anymore, but I’m sure you understand the importance of terminating these behavioral patterns quickly. And Miss Morgen, theater?” He rolls his eyes. “Totally inappropriate for a boy with his behavioral history, I’m surprised we allowed it.
“Anyway, we’ll need to have your signature on the paperwork here.” He gestures at the screen and then stares as Caitlin and I attempt to read through the massive agreement.
“Can I get this emailed to me so I can read it over?” Caitlin eventually asks.
“I guess… I’m surprised you’re not more enthusiastic though, Miss Morgen. This is a great opportunity for your son to get more time with the other boys. Builds character, strength and those kinds of life-long bonds that men need to be successful.”
“Oh I’m thrilled,” Caitlin manages, ladling syrupy false enthusiasm over the words. “I just was always taught to read anything I’m signing.”
“Well surely your husb— oh.” He glances darkly at me. “Well I suppose we could organize that. Be sure you sign and return it before tomorrow. We don’t want Arden to lose his place.”
If I drive my nails any harder into my hand I’m worried they’ll come through the other side. “No, of course not.” I say, smiling broadly.
“Well, I think that’s it for now.” Principal Carlson says decisively. “Arden, Ash, you can get back to classes.” Ash stands up, glowering, managing two steps toward the door before stopping when she realizes Addy’s just sitting staring into the middle distance. Caitlin wobbles as she stands. I move to support her but she’s off to Addy before I make it to her. It still takes Caitilin a few goes to snap her back to the present. Addy smiles distantly before Ash drags her out of the room and hopefully off to class, with us heading out of the school before any more bad news can season the misery.
#
“God I’m tired.” Caitlin allows a slight smiles as I hand her a beer from the fridge where I’m unpacking groceries. “It’s not like I’m sleeping, anyway. But then a third of the guys didn’t turn up. They did another ICE enforcement raid last night. Marcus said they managed to catch a few of them, the rest of them obviously didn’t dare show today. Which is, y’know, reasonable. But I can only do the work of so-many men. Jackson was pissed,” she drags out the i, punctuating her assessment with a swig of beer. “He wanted me off the site, but we barely had enough people there to run the place even vaguely safely. If it keeps up like this they’ll have to stop work — at least until they can get some more guys in. ” She sighs, takes a long slow drink from the bottle. “Probably shouldn’t have one of these every night.”
“Well, I hate to be the bad news bunny, but I’m afraid they were all out at the store. Stores. I went to— well, anyway. Whatever’s in the garage-fridge and what’s in here, that’s it I’m afraid. So you probably can’t have one every night. I think there’s a some of a four-pack out there.”
“Well. Like I said. Probably shouldn’t have one every night.”
“Anything more from the school, or from CPS?”
“Nothing yet… How’s Addy doing?”
“Not great. I talked with her a bit when we got home. She spent half the time dissociating. We need to get her out of there.”
“I know. I’m trying.” She pauses. Rolls her shoulders. “Sorry, I’m not pissed at you. Well, I am. But. You know. Anyway. I called that lawyer we found. Left a message — haven’t heard anything. Apparently no returns calls anymore.” She watches me for a while as I unload another bag before giving a slight shrug. “Hey. Let me get those. You don’t have to do it all.”
“I’m not going to fight you for it,” I say, handing over the bag.
“Could do with something to feel useful. I can’t do anything for Addy. I can’t even be a foreman with no people on the site to do the work.” Caitlin stomps over to the fridge but her anger dissipates somewhat when she looks back. “Sorry.” She turns toward the freezer and starts shoving in bags of vegetables and a box of egg-rolls with more force than is strictly necessary.
“Do you want to talk?”
She grips the tube of frozen cinnamon rolls like a stress toy as she glowers at the freezer contents. “Not really. We both know we need to leave. The first second we can make it happen. But right now we’re trapped,” she says, morosely. She scoops the other bag off the counter and turns back to the freezer and returns to unpacking. “Hey, there’s no chicken?” she says, rummaging through the remaining contents. “And no burgers? Wait, there’s just frozen vegetables in here? And some egg-rolls? And one box of store brand Eggos.”
“Yeaaaah. ’Bout that,” I say, scooping another small cold bag off the counter, “They were out… of a lot of things. I did manage to get these from Great Discounts though.”
“I thought those were withdrawn?” She says, twisting the four packs of lab meat over dubiously. “And, um, Erika? These’ve expired.”
“Only by, like, a month. And they’re frozen, it’s a best before.” She rolls her eyes at me. “They were only withdrawn because Chambers thinks everyone should eat raw beef. Doesn’t like the lab meat. It’s safe. Cross my heart.”
Caitlin sighs again, shoving the boxes in the freezer. “Did you check Fred Meyer?”
“Tried there. Tried everywhere. There’s no meat. Hell, even the fake meat aisle was sold out everywhere I went. I was going to message you,” I grab my phone, showing her a photo of the bare freezer section, half the doors open with the freezers off.
“Oh that’s f’d up. It looks like when Flu-D hit. Everything fell apar—” She stops mid-word. The last bag of frozen carrots hanging from her hand. “Is this—” She glances toward the kitchen door, drops her voice. “Erika, is this the virus?”
“Probably,” I say with a despairing shrug. “I heard a bunch of food processing places have closed, and I saw something about some massive numbers of farm workers not able to work. They said Miller’s going to give a speech. He’s flying back from Cape Charles Island after some meeting with Rue, so, uh, that’s… whatever that is.”