The Arcturus Man

by John Strauchs

  “Yea…I thought it was pretty good too.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll fix it. You will remain in the program. I promise. It is probably time for another donation anyway.”

  Jared’s self-confidence was infectious. She was beginning to feel better about everything. He was an instant cure. She turned to him and kissed him. It was a hard, long kiss.

  “But I’m not going to apologize,” she said.

  “Noted! You will not apologize. Let’s rip off another button,” said Jared grinning. “Great cleavage.”

  She gave him her most seductive smile.

  “Knock it off. There are children present,” said Krissy. Krissy and Jake were standing behind them. “She’s got great melons. It runs in the family.” Krissy puffed up her chest.

  Jared laughed. “I sure hope you’re Krissy.” He stood and put out his hand. Krissy ignored the hand and gave him a light grazing kiss on the cheek.

  Jared didn’t return the air kiss. Jared was dumbstruck. She was beautiful. Jenny hadn’t described her as being this gorgeous. She had raven hair and dark sensuous eyes. Her lips were full and she wore only enough makeup to enhance her natural beauty. She had a touch of blue eye shadow. Her hair might have been dyed, but her thin eyebrows were dark as well. Jared wasn’t sure. Krissy was shorter than Jenny but she had the same athletic build. Her breasts were smaller and weren’t as full, but they were pert. Her skin was fair and clear. Krissy was not as tanned as Jenny but her complexion was darker. Whereas Jenny looked like a classic Nordic woman, Krissy was just a little different. Her face was narrower than Jenny’s. There might be Finnish genes in their ancestry—Saami genes, that is. There was an alluring smile that changed in intensity as her mood changed, but it was always there. She liked to laugh. She was stunning. She was so beautiful. Jared had to remind himself not to stare.

  “I’m Krissy…her YOUNGER sister. This is Jake, but I’ll dump him in a minute if you’re tired of dating older women. Jenn doesn’t talk about anything else. You’re like really loaded. Smarter than Einstein! A super jock! And you’re gorgeous. Jake…get lost.” Jenny just rolled her eyes.

  Jake wasn’t amused. She always did that. He sat down, ignoring a handshake. He was far enough away that the slight wasn’t obvious. Krissy flopped down in the chair between Jake and Jared.

  “I’m glad you could come, Jake,” said Jenny.

  “YO,” said Jake.

  Jared focused on Jake. He was tall, muscular, very blond, and very good looking. The hair looked bleached, or at least it wasn’t streaked. Jenny said he was a geek. Jake looked nothing like a geek. His casual clothes were expensive. It took a lot of money to advertise the appearance of not caring how one looked. The Brooks Brothers logo was prominent on his striped polo shirt and khaki shorts. His shoes were Johnston Murphy. He didn’t wear socks. He reeked from 1818 cologne. The gold chain around his neck completed the uniform. Jake came from money…probably old Boston money.

  Krissy, on the other hand, was wearing K-Mart from top to bottom. Her hair was wild. She wore a too-small red patterned tank top and very short red skirt. Her midriff was showing at least five inches, as is the fashion for young women today. Her sneakers were scuffed, torn, and dirty, which is also in style. She wore a small gold cross on a thin black ribbon around her neck. That didn’t fit. Jared wondered about the cross.

  Jared undressed Krissy in his mind. Krissy had a black butterfly tattoo above her mons. Jared didn’t understand why anyone so beautiful would decide to deface her own body. It is tribal behavior that persists in mankind despite several thousand years of cultural and intellectual evolution. He regarded it as tantamount to self-mutilation. Despite that, he felt an instant sexual attraction. Her pheromones were compatible and he knew she was attracted to his as well.

  “Everything is chemistry,” thought Jared. He now knew that he could have her if he wanted her. That was interesting. Sisters?

  “Analysis isn’t always paralysis. Black butterfly!” thought Jared. In a few seconds he found what he was looking for in the poetry section of his brain. Now he understood why she had the tattoo. It was a song recorded in 1984.

  Jared was surprised that the sisters got along so well. They were very competitive and they looked different enough to not look like sisters. That they were so close was odd. Jared pondered that while they all chatted. He wasn’t paying attention to what they were saying. It was most strange. Krissy was uninhibited while Jenny was fairly conservative. Jenny was a touch Swedish but Krissy was nothing but American. They were so different. It was something to think about. Jared understood that he had to be loyal to Jenny but it was an intellectual, not an innate, understanding. Jared felt lust.

  Jared knew himself and that he was basically amoral. In his world, there is nothing about right and wrong that was an absolute. It was all culturally derived and learned, but most people, perhaps all people, regarded morality as universal truth. Jared thought different and he did understand that he was perhaps the poorer for knowing it. Then again, maybe not! He hadn’t known many women, at least not since Ginger. Going to bed with two women was an exciting fantasy. It was not a new fantasy. That they were sisters added spice. He didn’t feel guilty thinking about it because he also knew that it would never happen. Jared never felt guilty. That Krissy was pregnant was also immaterial. It couldn’t be more than a few weeks. He glanced at Jenny. Neither Krissy nor Jenny knew about the pregnancy.

  Jenny was watching him. She didn’t know exactly why, but she felt uncomfortable. Krissy had stolen boy friends before. Was this something she should be concerned about? She didn’t think so, but it had crossed her mind.

  “I’m like starving. Let’s order,” said Krissy. She waved at the waitress. The hostess saw the wave and intercepted the closest waitress and sent her to the table. That woman had been there much too long.

  “Hello, I am Kim. I will be your server. May I take your drink orders?”

  Jenny and Jared ordered Sam Adams. Jake ordered a Tsingtao beer. He was showing off. He also knew that Jared was picking up the tab. Krissy asked for green tea.

  “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you Krissy. And you too Jake,” said Jared.

  “I can’t tell you how glad I am. I’ve been like waiting for Jake to finally meet someone smarter. Face to face you know. It’s high time to get that swelled head of his a few hat sizes smaller,” said Krissy.

  Jake glared at her.

  “Jake, if you want any tonight…or this month…you’ll be nice…honey,” said Krissy.

  “Krissy, lighten up. We’re here to get to know each other and have a good time,” said Jenny.

  “Exactly! Exactly! We’re here for a good time.” She pulled her giant macramé bag to the table. She reached in and took out two Rubik’s cubes. “Let’s have a race between Jared and Jake. Jake, you’re a math wiz. Put your money where your mouth is. You guys play for the bill tonight. Girls go free.”

  “Krissy, this is not cool,” said Jenny.

  “Jenn…bug off. This is like my game. Just for fun, you know.”

  This was a surprise to Jake. She hadn’t said anything about a contest. Jake was squirming but his ego was huge. He had to go along with it. He pulled his industrial strength wrist watch off and handed it to Jenn.

  “I’m game. You time it, Jenn. The lower button controls the stop watch,” said Jake.

  “This is stupid,” said Jenny.

  “No, it’s alright. It might be fun at that,” said Jared. He took the two cubes from Krissy and examined them briefly.

  “They’re not the same. It wouldn’t be fair if they are different,” said Jared. He put one cube down and began to work the one in his hand. In less than 10 seconds he handed both to Jake. They were now identical.

  “It would be unfair if you didn’t have time to study them as well,” said Jared.

  Jake took both cubes and made a big show of studying each cube carefully. His eyebrows were furled in deep concentration. Yes, they were
now identical. Jake was nervous. He was smart enough to realize that he was about to lose. He was going to be humiliated. He wasn’t used to losing. He couldn’t think of any way out of this. Maybe he was wrong. He was going to give it his best shot. He handed one of the cubes to Jared. He tried to visualize the cube he was holding, flipping the cube around in his palm.

  “You ready?” asked Jared. Jake was a pretentious ass. He would enjoy this.

  Jenny snatched the Rubik cubes from their hands and threw them to Krissy.

  “This is not going to happen,” said Jenny.

  “What is wrong with you? This is just a game. It’s going to be fun,” said Krissy.

  “Just a game,” said Jared. Jake was silent.

  “I will not be defied,” said Jenny.

  Krissy looked at Jenny closely. Jenny’s eyelids were half lowered. They had learned to read one another’s signs as little girls. It was a skill that was a matter of survival in a large family. Krissy knew that Jenny meant business.

  “OK, OK, we won’t do this,” said Krissy. She stuffed the cubes back into her hand bag.

  “This is ridiculous,” said Jared. Jake still hadn’t said a word. He was getting a stay of execution and was not about to blow it.

  “Did you hear her Jerr? She said ‘I will not be defied.’ That is a magic incantation that transforms our sweet Jenn into the horrid Green Jenn—you know, like Djinn— the genie. She learned that trick from one of those Sinbad movies from the fifties. I’m ashamed that you had to discover this family secret that I have been trying to keep hidden from you,” said Krissy.

  Jared glanced at Jenny. Yes, her eyelids were down. He smiled.

  “Maybe she’s over that,” said Jared.

  Krissy pulled back her hair just above her temple. She pointed to a faint white scar.

  “See this. This is where the evil Green Jenn drove Barbie’s legs into my skull. Three stitches. Like trust me. You do not want to defy the evil one. She actually turns a little green,” said Krissy.

  Jenny sat quietly through Krissy’s tirade. She had heard it many times before and it usually didn’t change much. She didn’t like this side of Jared. He was delighting in the opportunity to humiliate Jake—in front of Krissy. She didn’t like how he was looking at her little sister. Jenny looked at Krissy. She was sitting on her legs on top of the chair. Her short skirt had ridden up and her panties were showing. She saw that Jared had noticed it too.

  “OK, I guess the Green Jenn has spoken,” said Jared.

  “Krissy, we’re not at home. Pull your skirt down,” said Jenny.

  “YES, MOM!” Krissy tugged it down. “Like anyone here hasn’t seen underpants before.”

  He visualized her naked again. She wasn’t wearing skimpy lacy panties. She was wearing older women’s underwear. They really were underpants. He couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t naiveté. It was indifference. That was interesting. That suggested that Krissy had high confidence in her sensuality and had learned that she didn’t have to prove it to anyone. It was always there. It didn’t matter what she wore. She was innately feminine. Jenny, on the other hand, was reserved and conservative, but she wore thongs and skimpy panties. She felt that she had to prove she was sexy to men. Krissy was wild and uninhibited, but wore practical briefs that looked like men’s jockeys, but had nothing to prove because she knew she was sexy. Krissy was intriguing. She was, indeed, a Black Butterfly.

  Jenny sensed the change in Jared’s mood. She didn’t like it but she also didn’t know what to do about it. He hadn’t really done anything. Maybe it was all in her head.

  The waitress walked over.

  “You ready to order?”

  “I know what I want,” said Krissy. “Let me have me have the suan la chow show and dun dun noodles.” She glanced at Jenny. “Yea, Yea, I know it’s what I always order.”

  “I’ll have the steamed Peking ravioli and the vegetarian’s delight,” said Jenny.

  “Give me the Peking duck as the entrée. I’ll have the Crab Rangoon as an appetizer,” said Jake.

  Peking duck was the most expensive item on the menu. Jared didn’t care about the money. Not a whit. But the arrogance of this buffoon was annoying. He looked at the waitress and focused. She was from Hong Kong. Perfect.

  Jared glanced at Jake and then began to order in the Guangzhou dialect. The waitress was shocked. There was no trace of accent in Jared’s speech. They spoke to one another for more than five minutes. She asked Jared if he grew up in Hong Kong. He explained that he had not. He simply said that he was fortunate and was gifted when it came to languages. She seemed to accept that explanation without question.

  Jenny was beginning to feel sorry for Jake the Snake. He was so outclassed. He was humiliated in front of everyone and Krissy wasn’t defending him. Did Krissy have a crush on Jared? It seemed like it.

  “Stop showing off Jared. We get it. You speak Chinese. Her English is very good. Can we all play?” said Jenny.

  She was now sorry that she arranged this get-together. Jared was being an ass. He kept staring at Krissy. Her anger was building. And, she knew that he knew what she was feeling. He obviously didn’t care. Was she angry or was she sad? She didn’t know. She loved him so much but he was hard to take sometimes.

  “The chef is her father and she will ask him to prepare something special for us. I didn’t change your orders. She is going to bring us some additional items that aren’t on the menu. You all might like to try them.”

  Krissy sat with her mouth open. “WOW! You ARE smart Jerr. Like what else can you do?”

  Jake slumped back in his chair. He pretended to be studying the menu. He knew he was no match for Jared. There was no point in trying. He noticed that Krissy had pushed her chair closer to Jared. He didn’t like it. Neither did Jenny.

  “Jared is not here to entertain you. He doesn’t do tricks. Or maybe he does. What the heck do I know? Excuse me. I have to go to the ladies room,” said Jenny.

  Jenny had to escape. She needed to regain her composure. It was a bad day and she was losing it again. She got up and briskly walked to the back of the restaurant.

  “I don’t know what’s…like eating her.” said Krissy.

  “Hold on. Can I have my chronometer back?” asked Jake.

  “It is a watch Jake. It’s a watch. It is not a chronometer,” said Krissy.

  “A chronometer is a watch, air head.” Jake was getting mad.

  “Actually you’re wrong Jake. A chronometer can be a type of watch but they are not the same thing. Every watch is not a chronometer.”

  “Who asked you? Butt out,” said Jake.

  “OK! I’m out. Sorry.” answered Jared.

  Krissy clenched her fists at Jake but said nothing. “Excuse me, butt head.” She got up and left the table for the ladies room.

  Krissy and Jenny were gone for a while. The food had already been served when they finally returned. They were smiling. Jenny had her arm around Krissy waist. Jared was amazed. Again, their closeness was a mystery. It wasn’t logical and, yet, here they are. He knew so many things and he understood so little about people. He made a mental note to think about this some more later.

  “Like we all started on the wrong foot. We’re going to start all over. We love each other. This has to be fixed…now. Get up. Stand up. I’ll show you something Mormor taught us,” said Krissy.

  “Who’s Mormor?” asked Jake.

  “Mormor is…was…my grandmother. It is Swedish. I’m Swedish, Jake,” said Krissy.

  Jake and Jared stood up.

  “Come over here,” ordered Krissy.

  “Group hug! Group hug! YEA. YEA. YEA,” chanted Krissy as she gathered the flock with her arms. Jenny knew the routine. She and Krissy and other members of their family had done it hundreds of times. They all hugged.

  “Now, don’t you feel better?” asked Krissy.

  “Well, I do for one,” said Jenny. She pulled Jared closer. “Don’t you?”

  “Yes, that was very ni
ce,” said Jared. He didn’t really get it but he understood what he was expected to say.

  “How about you? You big Ox! I LOVE YOU.” said Krissy, loudly.

  “Yea, I guess I do. You’re right. Let’s start all over. We’re almost family.” “Sit down. Like let’s eat. Looks great,” said Krissy.

  They all sat down again and began to pass the serving plates around the table. Jake started cleaning his chop sticks. He rubbed them together for a minute or so and then wiped them with his napkin. Everyone else picked up a fork.

  “Splinters,” explained Jake.

  “Sure honey,” said Krissy. “Gotta get rid of those splinters.” Jake’s feelings were bruised again.

  They all ate. The food was magnificent. They talked about school. They talked about what they were going to do this summer. Jenny did not talk about her morning with Professor Monster. She told Krissy and Jake about Eagle’s Head and Jared’s beautiful island. Jared invited everyone to his home any weekend. Krissy thought that would be wonderful and promised to save a date for the outing. The mood was at least convivial, if not outright friendly. Jenny didn’t know how much of the good humor was forced, but that really didn’t matter. Appearances were enough sometimes. They weren’t at each other’s throats. That was good. She edged her chair closer to Jared’s and Krissy sat closer to Jake.

  Jared noted the change as well. Krissy was a jewel and she made all this happen. It never occurred to him that it might have been Jenny. It wasn’t, but he took it for granted that it was Krissy.

  “Father O’Connor is the greatest,” said Krissy.

  “I think he’s the only Jesuit on the campus,” said Jenny.

  “Yea, good man,” said Jake.

  “Like his class on human evolution brings the cavemen to life. His classes were the only ones I ever look forward to. Of course, it’s the only class I got an A in so I might be a little biased,” said Krissy.

  “He is a sweet man who cares about all of his students,” said Jenny.

  “O’Connor is only one of a small number of professors who innately understands the correct goal of college instructors,” said Jared. “That’s what makes him a great educator.”