Deplora Boule - The Narrative

The Narrative is a work of satirical fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are creations of the authors imagination. The author confesses to having been inspired by the unprecedentedly absurd times in which we live, but nothing in this work should be construed as actually having taken place. The Narrative was written purely for entertainment purposes.

2018 by Deplora Boule

Book design by Logotecture

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All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author.

because its long past time to point and laugh.

S OMEHOW, somewhere along the way, Majedah had gotten the idea that her life was pretty good. She lived in comfort with her wealthy mother. She was gifted with good health, a good brain, and exotic good looks. And at just 18, she was socially aware and perfectly situated for a dazzling future.

Thank goodness the higher minds at Lilith College had shown her the folly of her beliefs!

Majedah had spent the past four months learning the horrible truth; she was a victim! She was, first of all, a woman, but not only thatshe was a woman of color!

She was so grateful for her Freshman Seminar, which had opened her eyes to the harsh reality of the world. The countless wrongs stacked up against her, both contemporary and historical, now swarmed her consciousness like angry blowflies, eating away the sheen of joy from every aspect of her daily life. She hadnt realized how badly she had been oppressed, abused, and lied to by an unfair, evil society. But at last, she had learned the Truth!

Today, home from college for holiday break, Majedah dwelt specifically on the wrongs that had been done her by her high school boyfriend. The knowledge that she thought she loved him just last summer sickened her. Now that she knew the Truth, she seethed with rage as she knocked on the front door of his home.

A tall, sandy-haired young man opened the door. His face fairly beamed when he saw her, and she accidentally smiled back before she caught herself. But he had already stepped outside, barefoot, onto the chilly front step to enfold her in an affectionate embrace. Mandy! he exclaimed. Its so great to see you! How have you been?

Majedah disengaged herself and stepped back. She looked at the ground for a moment to get her mind right and remember her rage. Not very well, Kevin, she growled. May I come inside for a moment? She saw confusion on his face and felt a flush of cruel satisfaction.

Of course. Come on in. He led the way back into the house. They passed through a small entry hall and into a modest living room. Majedah flung her coat onto the back of an armchair. Is everything okay? asked Kevin. Do you want to sit down?

No, thank you, this will only take a minute, Majedah answered crisply. She glanced through the room towards the back of the house. Are your parents home?

No, they took Scott shopping for shoes. Im the only one home. Concern filled his robins egg blue eyes and he looked at her intently. Whats wrong, Mandy?

Majedah figured the best way to do this was just to say it. She lifted her adorably pointy chin, tossed her gleaming black hair over her shoulder, and looked her former boyfriend in the eye. Kevin, just so you know, last fall I had to exercise my Constitutional right to womens health care.

Huh, okay. So thats good, right? I mean, its smart to get regular checkups and stay healthy.

She shook her head in frustration. No, thats not what Im saying. Last fall, I exercised my choice to procure womens health care.

Right. You should go to the doctor when you need to. Even women. Especially women. You should absolutely have access to health care and avail yourself of it whenever you

Dammit, Kevin, I had an abortion, okay?

Kevin suddenly looked as though he had taken an MMA kick to the gut. His boring, conventionally handsome features crumpled as a red flush overtook them, and he choked out a surprised sob.

Majedahs perfect lips parted in surprise. She had learned in Freshman Seminar that men such as Kevin are repulsive, but she had also learned that men who could express vulnerability were the most attractive of all (if one must date a man). Then she remembered the cause of Kevins consternation: being thwarted at his patriarchal plan to enslave her by forcing her to grow a baby for him. God, come on, Kevin. Who cries over a clump of cells? Disgust burned in her black eyes and sharpened her tone.

He made an effort to gather himself. Im sorry to get upset. After all, youre the one who had to go through that trauma.

Trauma? Its a choice, not a trauma . Why are you making such a big deal out of this? Majedah berated him. Why cant you be more like my friends at Lilith? They threw me an amazing Shout Your Abortion party, with organic dragon fruit mojitos and everything.

Bewilderment replaced sorrow on Kevins face. A what? With what? he asked.

Yeah, and we toasted my choice and everything. It was really nice to be surrounded by people who were supportive of me when I took charge of my own life and my own destiny.

He looked aghast again. Somehow, he was using his masculine wiles to make her feel guilty.

Seriously, Kevin, let it go, she continued. It was nothing and its been taken care of. She shook her head angrily. God, I knew it was stupid to tell you. I dont know why I even did.

Because it was the right thing to do, he answered quickly. And Im glad you did, because it was my fault as much as yours, but youre the one who had to suffer the consequences. Im so, so sorry.

Thats right, you should be sorry! Majedah stared into the middle distance as she remembered more of what she had learned. Except theres nothing to be sorry about, because its actually great that I exercised my Constitutional right to womens health care! Wait, so should I thank him? Majedah wondered. It was so challenging, getting used to how her new awareness worked!

He came to her, put his hands on her shoulders, and looked into her seal-black eyes. Majedah crossed her arms angrily across her chest. Mandy, he said, I just need to know youre okay. Please, let me know if you need anything.

Ugh, I dont need anything from you! She flung his hands away. And dont call me Mandy anymore. I use my full name now. She turned and grabbed her coat off the back of the hideous bourgeois armchair. I have to go. I told Julia Id pick up the vegan holiday turkey on my way home. She made her way quickly to the foyer before pausing to look back at him one last time. Kevins brimming blue eyes, full of broken heart and regret, were trained on her.

Thank you, Mandy

Majedah!

MaMajedah. Thank you for telling me.

Yeah, sure, whatever. Goodbye, Kevin. As she spun to leave, a glittering tree in the corner of the room twinkled at her. Oh, yeah happy holidays! she called over her shoulder. She clawed open the door and escaped into the clean winter air.

With the unpleasantness checked off her to-do list, Majedah picked up the groceries at Food Citizen and drove the electric car back to her mothers antique house on the edge of the picturesque town. There was no snow yet, but the landscaper had hung festive decorations on the specimen trees in the front yard. Majedah gathered the groceries, bounded up the steps to the deep front porch, and let herself into the house.

Hi, Julia. Im back, she called. She set the packages on a burnished walnut transom table and went to hang her jacket in the closet.

Her mothers voice came from a room off to one side of the flawlessly decorated center hall. Hello, Majedah. Im in my office.

Majedah left her boots in the front closet and walked across the thick red Persian rug, her feet sinking a good inch into the lush organic wool. She stuck her head through the doorway and smiled. Hello.