FARZANA 7

Gulazar chimes in, "how bout a whole long line of members to paddle?"
Shyly, I reply, "come on, life is nothing but lotsa problems. If I started swinging that thing, wouldn't stop til my arm is halfway to being broken."
Gulazar feels my arms, my legs. Wicked grin, "gonna be a huge success when she joins up. Panther muscles, from lotsa walking. Real strength for it is in the legs."
Nilo laughs, "you and me, Farzana, side-by-side. I paddle the left cheek, you the right. Get tired, we switch."
Voice a whisper, I ask, "they do that?"
"Bout half the members."
Now I know for a gold-plated fact people are bushed.
Arezou hugs me, "proud of you, honest. If you'd wimped out, wouldn't have much respect left for you."
"You aren't jealous?"
"Heavens no. Long as it's only swinging the paddle and no sex."
Nilo grins wickedly, "roll em, chow. Farzana, try not to drool over that fat food server."
I blush red hot, "you girls are nuts."
Nilo ruffles my hair, "course we are. Nutcases get alla fun. Sane people's bor-ring."
It hits me. That's what stealing people is all about. Hormones roaring after a paddling, you steal what doesn't belong to you.
"Tell me," I ask, "people ever break up over this stuff?"
Nilo laughs, "alla time. Makes life fun over in Member City."
"But what if they've had a ring ceremony?"
"Well then, just have another, with the other person."
"I ain't doing it," I assert.
Arezou wraps her arm round me, holding on way too tight, "chow. Now."
Gulazar laughs, "and no leering at the server."
Arezou bristles, "give it a rest. She's already had way too much for one day."
Arifa comes over, feels my forehead again. "You ok, Farzana?"
I nod.
"Good, now roll or you'll be late for chow."
Arifa turns to Nilo, "and you behave in the mess. Twice I've had complaints bout you. Way too cheeky for someone your age."
I ponder that. Arifa said it in a tone like she was boasting about Nilo, not lecturing her.
As we arrive, Nilo comes on like a storm-trooper, "Wahida, why in blazes you complaining bout us? It's you is egging us on."
"Complaining?"
"Arifa says 2 complaints I was way too cheeky in the mess."
Wahida laughs, "get real, you moron. Weren't me. That puritan Benazir. Don't talk crazy round her in future."
Nilo grins, "sor-ry. When I grow up, paddle your butt bigtime."
"Ooo-ooo, ooo-ooo, you know how to get a girl excited. Be there with bells on my feet, the very day you join up."

You guessed it, didn't sleep worth beans. Yeah I admit Arezou's talk had thrown in complications. But I'd mostly wrapped my head around it. Romantic love, oh yes, you bet, bring it on.
But this group craziness? That's insane. And what happens when Arezou decides I'm a bore? She'll leave me. Am I to be alone forever? Or end up with someone unsuitable? My head hurts.
I get up, go to the can, start to cry. A moment later, Arezou is there, holds me tight.
As I wipe my eyes, she says gently, "finding out bout sex, that's a hard day. Bout S&M (sadism and masochism), even harder one. Can't even imagine how bad it'd be, finding out both the same day. You must be fried."
"When I grow up, you're gonna leave me, cuz I'm a bore."
"Now listen up, Farzana. I could promise anything and it's all meaningless. After all, how do I know? Ask me what it's like to eat pork or to drive a car?" Gentle smile, "only one thing means anything at all. I promise, only with you. Whatever we try out, just you and me, no group stuff. Is that a worthwhile promise?"
I hug her tight, like a drowning person, "Arezou, you're wonderful. Best person in the whole world. Yeah, we'll experiment. Who knows? Maybe prefer natural pace, maybe high voltage."
"Come on, little one, back to sleep."

In English class, Arezou again has me by the collar, delivering her venom, but with a wink.
The office messenger gives the teacher a card. Arezou and I are wanted in the CO's office, pronto.
"Well girls, round here there's 2 sorts of orphans. Those we know for sure. Those we're nine-tenths certain of, but no proof. Now me, I say the second is harder. You don't know, more stress, harder to get on with life. Now you 2 girls are in the probable-only group. But I've got good news for one of you. Arezou, your parents are now legally in Britain. Alive, healthy and sponsoring you. Plane leaves this afternoon. I'll call in the sgt." She does.
"Ok sarge, she's all yours, you're going back on leave. See she gets to the right place in HQ. So girls, take a few minutes and say goodbye."
Alone together, I'm too numb to cry or even speak.
She hugs me tight, "I'll write."
"C-coming b-back when you g-graduate?"
Sad smile, "I could lie to you Farzana. It'd only be worse. Gotta get on with life, forget me, find someone decent."
Sgt takes away Arezou to pack.
CO motions me to a chair, "listen up. You don't leave my sight till this gets sorted. Wanna go to the can, you go with me."
Ah ha, suicide watch, lemme guess, back to B14.
"Now round here, we believe life is mostly good. People are mostly happy mosta the time. So, no one dies just because she's temporarily down. Got it?"
I nod.
"Good. Back to B14. Your bed, next to BL. So, there's gotta be someone to accompany you. Preferably a friend. Gotta be someone unattached. Any suggestions?"
Tiny voice, "N-Nilo, ma'am."
CO sends the office messenger for Nilo, "Nilo, Arezou's parents have been found. In Britain, sponsoring her. Now this leaves Farzana in a fairly bad state. Don't want her to get hurt. So here's the choice, Nilo. You're her shadow night and day, until further notice or I turn her over to the MP's for safekeeping."
Nilo blushes, "come on Farzana, I'm your friend. Things'll be ok, you'll see."
At this, the reaction sets is, I start to sob uncontrollably.

I'm lying in bed, staring glassy-eyed at the ceiling. Nilo puts her had on my shoulder, "let's roll, chow."
"Ugh, go away. Don't wanna eat."
"Well I do and you don't leave my sight. So you come, even if you don't eat."
Can you believe how cheeky Nilo is? Wahida grins, "so Nilo, how's it going?"
Nilo flashes a wicked smile, "lemme tell you what's gonna happen on my 17th birthday. You see, I'll be paddling the left cheek, Farzana here the right."
"Oooo-oooo, you converted her to a proper attitude? But isn't she usually with what's-her-name?"
Now I'm crying.
Nilo holds her tray in one hand, me with the other, "Arezou, gone to Britain. Farzana, joined the swinging singles."
I don't bother to get any food, know I couldn't eat.
"Farzana," Nilo says cheerfully, "I know that sounded pretty crass. But if I can get you to laugh, even once, you'll feel a lot better."
"You actually expect me to laugh?"
"Come on Farzana, you're a real genuine Afghan girl. You understand how stuff works, or at least mostly. Anything up to 3 days lying in bed, moping, just part of life. Beyond that and it's that silly counsellor's office. Understand?"
I nod.
"Good, now here's what we're gonna do ...."
Nilo stands, "Wahida, over here, a minute."
I grin, well probably a grimace, "now hear this. You better not be misleading me and my good friend here. If that butt can't take 48 strokes, you're toast. So better be able to put your butt where your mouth is."
Wahida feels my arm, "ooo-ooo, all right. I'll take that as a challenge. Be there with bells on my feet." She heads back, swinging her butt as she goes.
"I caught you," Nilo says triumphantly, "you were starting to smile, oh yes you were."
I can't help it, I'm roaring with laughter. Laugh so much I cry.
Nilo wipes my eyes, "it'll hurt, a lot. But you're already outa the woods, you can laugh." Smile, "think you can eat a bit?"
She and I walk back to the food counter.
Wahida winks at me, "oooo-oooo, like your style. Just love a take-charge girl. You know, been thinking of trading in that silly Nilo for a real woman."
Loud mock groan, Nilo says, "last time I ever cheer you up Farzana. Cost me my girlfriend."
All three of us laugh. Feels wonderful.

Arifa saunters over that evening, "seems I'm getting complaints on both you girls now."
"Certainly not us," Nilo says, air of outraged innocence.
Arifa hugs me, "good Farzana. Now you can laugh or you can cry. But laughing is more fun. So forget what no-mind Benazir says and joke with Wahida, you'll feel better."