Chapter 6 #3
“Thank you, Kari,” Jessica said, standing up. “I’m Jessica, by the way.”
“I know,” Kari said, turned, and headed back to the front counter.
Jessica didn’t get far when Madison came over and took Jessica’s messenger bag from her.
Shanice wheeled her chair over. Jessica did her best not to react.
The poor young woman was a double amputee.
Both legs, below the knees. She hadn’t seen that in the dark dungeon last night.
Shanice smiled and said, “Hi, Miss Jessica. I’m glad you’re here. It’s a big day today.”
“Is it?” Jessica asked. She had no idea what the party was for.
Shanice simply smiled, turned her chair around, and wheeled back to the gathering group.
“The biggest,” Madison said. “Come on, Miss Jessica. There are people you haven’t met yet.” And even though Madison was carrying Jessica’s bag, she reached for Jessica’s hand and pulled her along after Shanice.
Jessica said hellos to the women she’d met the night before.
There was Mistress Rowena and her submissive Minjung, who had the most amazing smile.
Mistress Shasti, of course, had been the one to send Madison over to help with her bag.
Jessica was still nervous around Miss Marta, but Miss Marta seemed to take her being there in stride.
She also met a woman named Mistress Jaleesa who had, like, five submissives and one of them was even a guy.
How interesting. Jessica knew she’d never be able to share a Domme with anyone else, but more power to them.
There was a man named Master Seamus who also had more than one sub, three male subs in total, one of them a little.
She met a few other people, like the cheerful Lydia and her submissive Pammy.
Jessica’s brain was overflowing with names and new faces, but what a great problem to have.
The group had pizza, visited, and seemed to catch up on each other’s comings and goings.
They generally seemed to like each other.
Was this a munch? If it was, it wasn’t like any munch she’d ever been to in Chicago or Cincinnati.
No one was talking about protocols or power exchange.
In fact, there really wasn’t much BDSM talk at all.
It just seemed like a big friends group, making Jessica feel like an outsider.
Did they gather like this every Sunday? Once a month?
Was there something particular they were celebrating?
“You’re confused,” Miss Marta said, walking up to Jessica.
“A little, but this is an amazing group.”
“I found them after you and I parted ways,” Miss Marta said.
“Shanice and I met, and then together we found this group of people. It was lifesaving for me.” Miss Marta looked at her little, talking to Master Seamus’s little, whose name Jessica had forgotten.
Bobby? Billy? Brian? Something like that.
“It was lifesaving for both of us, actually,” Miss Marta said.
“I’m glad you found them.” Jessica was genuinely happy for her former lover.
Miss Marta took a big breath and looked relieved as someone hurried in the door. “Oh, thank goodness she’s here.”
Jessica followed Miss Marta’s gaze. It was the woman named Bernadette, Miss Rikki’s wife. She was limping, even with her cane, poor thing.
Miss Marta touched Jessica’s arm. “It’s time for the unveiling. Please don’t leave until afterward, okay?”
“Okay, Ma’am,” Jessica said, even though she was clueless about what was about to be unveiled.
Although she missed the physical closeness she’d once shared with Miss Marta, she rather liked thinking of her as a possible friend.
And her little, Shanice? Just the nicest. Maybe she could be friends with these people.
Maybe one day, hopefully soon, she wouldn’t feel like such an outsider.
“Come on, Miss Jessica,” Madison called to her. “Come watch with the professor and me.”
Jessica nodded and headed to a spot next to Madison. Several people had their phones out, ready to take pictures or record whatever happened next.
And then it happened. As soon as Miss Marta wheeled Shanice out from a side room, she could tell that what was about to happen would be monumental.
The professor on the other side of Madison was crying.
Miss Marta was tearing up, too. Jessica put a fist to her mouth as Shanice reached down and locked her wheels.
She leaned forward in the chair and put both prosthetic feet on the floor.
She pushed off the arms of the wheelchair and stood up.
The room was still. It was silent, except for people trying to keep their emotions under control. Jessica included.
Miss Marta stayed behind the wheelchair, looking petrified.
Shanice took a step and then another. She walked straight to Miss Rikki, who folded her in her arms and cried so hard that everyone else let loose.
“I did it, Miss Riri,” Shanice said, her voice muffled in Miss Rikki’s blouse.
“You sure did, kid,” Miss Rikki said and kissed the crown of Shanice’s head. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
Every little in the group gasped, including Shanice.
“Miss Riri,” Shanice scolded. “Language.”
Miss Rikki chuckled which helped blow out the tension the entire group had been holding.
“She’s got a ten-minute window,” Miss Marta said. “Let her come to you. We’re still learning.”
And with that, Shanice walked down the receiving line of people as if she were the queen of the coffee shop. And, yes, indeed, she was.
When Shanice got to Jessica, she said, “I told you it was a big day.”
Jessica couldn’t help it. She hugged the brave young woman in front of her and said, “I just met you, but I can see what a strong and determined young woman you are. Miss Marta is lucky to have you.”
“She sure is,” Shanice said, making the people around her laugh.
Madison said, “I’ve never seen you this tall, Shanice.” That too made the group laugh.
Shanice tired quickly after unveiling her new prosthetics and sat back down in her chair.
“That was a real privilege,” Jessica said out loud to no one in particular.
“It was,” Mistress Rowena said. “And I got it on video.”
Madison said, “Will you send that to—”
“Of course, I will,” Mistress Rowena interrupted. “Just because she lost her mind and moved to Indian-fucking-apolis, doesn’t mean she isn’t part of this community.”
“Roger that, Ma’am,” Madison said, eyes obviously wide at the use of the f-bomb. She skipped away to visit someone else.
Miss Rowena turned to speak with her submissive, leaving Jessica alone. She made small talk with some of the people there, and then Miss Marta came over.
“I’m glad you were here for this,” Miss Marta said.
“Oh, my God, Ma’am. I feel so honored. So privileged. I’m so happy for her and you.”
“You still have my number?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Jessica said.
“Good, don’t be a stranger. And that one,” Miss Marta pointed to Shanice, “couldn’t stop talking about you last night.”
Jessica’s eyes grew wide. Uh oh.
“No, no, no,” Miss Marta said with a laugh. “Good things. All good things. She has an innate radar that can sense good people.”
“I…” Jessica didn’t know what to say.
“I have to get back,” Miss Marta said. “We’ll see you again, yes?”
“Uh, yes,” Jessica said. “I live in Denton Heights now.”
“Ahh, even better.” Miss Marta turned and was swallowed up by well-wishers.
As people started to leave, Jessica figured she would say her goodbyes and take off, too. Once she got home, she sat in her car at the top of the driveway, stunned at the recent turn of events.
“Mistress Starr said to make friends, but holy shit. She never told me to find an entire village.”