"Guy has a big mouth." Morgan frowned.
Erica was disappointed. "It's true then."
Morgan looked out the window at the wind surfers. She couldn't remember having seen a sail board before. "Yes."
"But all those women didn't mean anything to you," Erica guessed hopefully.
"They meant a great deal to me," Morgan said. "One woman taught me this..." She held up two fingers and drummed the air.
Erica looked and then threw the weight of her foot against the brake and slid to a stop two inches from the back of a big truck that had stopped for a red light.
"Another woman taught me this and this," Morgan demonstrated, "and another..."
A woman in the car next to them watched Morgan and Erica. Her companion asked, "What are they doing?"
"Signing," the woman declared. "I didn't know they let the hearing-impaired drive cars."
* * * *
Leona smiled warmly. "It's nice to see you again."
Erica looked around, tears forming. Morgan's work had always moved her. The love, intensity, and sensuality were all there. She felt a wash of disappointment when she saw an empty space that once held the sculpture she had wanted.
Morgan's slow easy voice interrupted her thoughts. "Leona says it's in her office."
Erica followed Morgan into Leona's cluttered domain.
Morgan indicated a form covered with tissue paper. "It's for you. I told Leona to let me know if there was something you particularly admired."
Erica removed the covering and gazed at the piece. It was two forms moving together, graceful, almost erotic. "Oh, Morgan!" Tears streamed down her face. "Life With You."
Morgan swept Erica into the circle of her arms. "Life with you, too," she whispered.
* * * *
June 17, 1984
Dear Kelly,
Morgan has gone to the airport to pick up Britt and Britain. Billy will join us for dinner.
I confess I'm a little nervous about meeting Britt. I wanted everything to be perfect for tonight, but nothing seems to have gone right all day.
My dad and Jenny got married. I asked him if he left my mother and me for sex and he admitted it. He said everything else is a crock.
Isa is being very quiet. I don't hear from her unless she needs something for the kids. She hasn't said anything about bringing them back. The kids write all the time though.
Morgan has gotten back to work. It is wonderful- she loves her work so much.
Morgan has been looking at the pictures I have of Jessica. She has the notion that Jes could be her brother Jesse. They don't look anything alike - she says it's something in the eyes.
It's wonderful having Billy here. I don't know where she gets all her energy. She already has everything set up for the conference. Morgan convinced me we should document it, so Jerri is going to video the whole thing.
The Center looks wonderful. The parking lot is immaculate, the Stone vending machine is full; no missing light bulbs or dripping faucets. Jerri claims she hasn't had time to take care of these things. They just mysteriously cleared up on their own.
Thank you for the Kirilian photographs. You're right, it is virtually impossible to detect which photographs were of the hands and body images of Clickers and non-Clickers. We finally have all the results of our questionnaire read into the computer. I am going to go over the results with Billy when I take her back to the apartment tonight. I'll send you a printout tomorrow. If you would get over your aversion to computers you could get it almost instantly. Your writing would go faster on a word processor, too.
No, I don't think the fact that stEwarD is twenty years your junior should make any difference. I can remember a couple of your relationships where the age difference was reversed. How about LEchEr and oLdESt?
I'm sorry you won't be here for the conference.
Love,
Erica
~ Chapter 42 ~
Erica made a left at Pacific Coast Highway. "Have you decided on a major?"
"Not really," Britain confided. "All I know for sure is that I want to work with children."
"I love children," Billy said from the back seat. Erica looked in the rear view mirror. Billy was staring at Britain again. Britain looked back at Billy and smiled. Billy flushed. Erica slowed the station wagon to let another car pass. "Morgan told me you like music too."
"Oh, yes. Especially the AHOTs."
"I have their latest album," Billy offered from the back seat.
"Just For Clicks?" Britain asked excitedly.
Billy nodded. "Would you like to listen to it when we get to the Center?"
Britain nodded. "I have the first album they made with a synthesizer. Have you heard it?"
"Yes. Do you know what AHOT means?"
Britain shook her head.
"Ancient and Honorable Order of Two," Billy said with authority.
"Really?" Britain was impressed.
Erica pulled up behind a semi. "It's because it takes two to Click."
Britain turned to Erica. "Since you knew Mummy when she was a girl - why didn't you ever Click her?"
Erica shrugged. "Morgan told me Britt wasn't the Clicking type."
Britain looked puzzled. "Mummy said she never offered her a Stone."
"Really?" Erica brightened. "Even after your mother seduced her?"
"Morgan seduced Mummy," Britain said. "Is that why you don't like Mummy?"
"I don't dislike your mother," Erica protested. "I don't even know her."
"But you hardly spoke to her all through dinner."
"You really did act uptight," Billy joined in.
Erica took her foot off the brake and touched the accelerator. "I don't deny being uptight. I wanted everything to be perfect and nothing went right today."
"Everything was perfect," the two young women said in unison.
"I was a little surprised when I saw your mother," Erica admitted. "I guess I expected her to look more matronly. She's a knockout."
"Mummy spends a lot of time on her appearance. She runs fifteen miles a day, does aerobics three times a week, gets Jin Shin Do treatments twice a week and watches her diet meticulously. Her motto is: Health is Beauty."
Erica followed the highway onto the Santa Monica Freeway and switched on the cruise control.
Britain turned and looked at Billy. "You look very... healthy."
Billy blushed. "You too. How old are you?"
"Eighteen," Britain told her.
"I'm almost twenty."
Britain smiled. "I think older women are very interesting."
"You're very mature."
"Thank you," Britain whispered.
Erica pulled into her parking space. "Why don't you two go boot-up the computer. I still have some packing to do."
Afterward she found Billy and Britain standing in front of the computer - shoulders touching. "Any messages?"
"Just one," Billy said. "Mrs. Stryph and Mrs. Klasch from Mothers For are sending cookies over for the conference."
"We tried calling Mummy and Morgan," Britain added. "I wanted to ask Mummy if it's OK if I stay here tonight. Billy is going to take me to the shelter tomorrow to meet the kids."
Billy stared straight ahead.
"There was no answer. I guess Morgan is still taking a nap and Mummy said she wanted to take a walk. I sent Mummy a message to call me."
"Hmm," Erica noted. She put her hand on the touchplate.
A circle appeared. "Well, Erica - how-"
"Cut," Erica requested. "Did Becky finish reading in the answers to the questionnaires we sent out?"
"Affirmative," the little lips said. "And she sent a printout to Kelly Redmond."
"I guess we're ready to begin."
"What category would you like first?" the little lips asked.
"IQ," Erica directed.
"There is no difference in the ability to see light between the lower and higher ranges of intelligence."
"Age?"
"No," the little l
ips submitted. "There is no difference. The age at which one is Clicked does not seem to be a factor."
Erica moved closer to the speaker and whispered, confidentially, "Race?"
"No difference, Erica."
"Occupation?"
"Same."
"Education?"
"Sorry, Erica, no difference."
"Sex?"
Billy looked at Britain and moistened her lips.
"No," the little lips assured her, "even though I know you have a strong belief that women have more ability."
"National origin," Erica guessed.
"I wish I could be more help," the little lips sighed.
"Religion?" Erica asked hopefully.
"No, Erica."
"Politics!" Erica said confidently. "Sorry."
Erica sighed. "Socio-economic status?"
"Sexual preference?"
Britain looked at Billy shyly.
"Negative, Erica."
"Sexual experience," Erica suggested. Billy looked at Britain with authority.
"You're grabbing at straws, Erica," the little lips asserted.
Erica shook her head. "There must be something."
"There is, Erica."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Erica was exasperated.
"You didn't ask me," the little lips proclaimed smugly.
"I'm asking you now!" Erica said through her teeth. "In what category is there a distinction between those who can and cannot see the light?"
"I thought you'd never ask, Erica. One hundred percent of those who can see the light consider themselves to be in the upper ninety-nine percentile of the intelligence scale."
Erica looked puzzled. "I thought you said that in IQ there was no difference."
"There isn't, Erica," the little lips reconfirmed. "You weren't listening again. I told you they consider themselves to be in the upper..."
"But aren't they in the upper ninety-nine percentile?" Erica asked.
"Negative. They fall into the full range of intellectual ability."
"Would you do a printout of those figures, please?"
"Happy to, Erica."
Erica took her hand off the touchplate and turned to Britain. "I guess we're through here for the night. You'd better call Britt again. It looks like she didn't get your telepathic message."
"Yes she did," Britain told her. "She sent one back, too. She said it was fine if I stay tonight. She told me to enjoy myself."
When Erica got home, Morgan was in the den sitting at her own computer. She waved and Morgan waved back.
Erica was propped up in bed reading the latest issue of New Realities magazine when there was a soft knock on her door. Britt poked her head in to ask tentatively, "Are you busy?"
Erica was again amazed at Britt's beauty. She had to be about the same age as Morgan and herself. "No." Erica patted the bed next to her. "Do you want to talk?"
Britt sat at the foot of the bed. "What's the article about?" she asked.
Erica handed her the magazine. "It's about a woman who had a vision that changed her life. Haven't you read about people having experiences that enhance their lives?"
Britt held the magazine at a distance. "My arms aren't long enough to read anymore. I don't think I've read anything in about three years." She picked up Erica's reading glasses and put them on.
"By the way," Erica remembered, "Britain is staying down at-"
"I know," Britt told her. "I got her message. She told me Billy is the sexiest woman she's ever met. She said she'd always hoped to meet someone who is interesting, had the same values and goals and could find time for the important things in life. She also suspects Billy is a little bit interested in her and wants to grab Billy before somebody else does."
"She told you all that through mental telepathy?"
"Oh, no." Britt smiled. "She told me all that after dinner. The only telepathic message was that she wanted to spend the night there and I told her it was fine and to enjoy herself."
"She isn't... experienced, is she?"
Britt put the glasses back on the table. "No, but I gave her a few pointers that should have Billy's eyes popping up like a cash register on Christmas Eve. Remember those old cash registers they used to have when we were growing up?"
"In the olden days?" Erica laughed.
Britt hugged Erica's foot. "I'm glad we're finally getting a chance to talk. You know I've always admired you."
"I didn't know," Erica said honestly.
"I was so happy when Morgan told me you two were finally getting together. It's about time. By the way," Britt started looking for something on the floor, "you didn't happen to see my lipstick... I think I left it-"
Erica bolted straight up.
Britt was laughing. Erica couldn't remember having seen Britt laugh before. Her laugh was tinkly just like Swami Chichinanda. "You're priceless!" Britt held her sides. Tears were rolling down her face. "If looks could kill!" She threw herself back on the bed and rolled over.
Erica was starting to smile and she didn't know why.
Britt sat up, wiping her eyes. "Oh, Erica. How did we ever make it to be our age. The first time I saw that look on your face was the first time I met you. You were trying to be polite but you looked like you wanted to strangle me. It was all I could do to get away with my pride intact."
"I don't remember," Erica admitted. "I guess a part of me has a hard time reconciling the fact that you were her first lover. When I finally realized she had been in love with me - I blamed myself for a long time."
"I'll tell you something," Britt said confidentially, "you didn't miss a goddamned thing. She was terrible! She'd never even kissed anyone before except for affectionate little pecks."
Erica smiled. "Really?"
"Really!"
"Morgan has always seemed so capable in every area." Erica sat up straighter. "I can't imagine her being bad at anything."
"Spare me from being anyone's first," Britt declared. "Of course she did improve in time. I showed her this and this." She waved her fingers.
A woman in New Mexico taught her this," Erica demonstrated. "And I taught her this."
"I taught her this, too," Britt showed her.
"She still does that, only now she puts her mouth where your thumb is."
"It took her long enough to get around to that," Britt said disrespectfully. "I thought she never would."
"I didn't know you two knew sign language," Morgan said.
Erica and Britt turned toward the door.
"I was just telling Erica what a lousy lay you were," Britt told her. "And you couldn't kiss worth shit. Here!" She moved next to Erica. "Let me show you how Morgan kissed."
She put her arms around Erica. Her embrace was warm and maternal. Erica could feel warm lips softly against hers, and then Britt wet Erica's lips with her tongue.
Erica grinned.
"What's that about?" Morgan teased.
"I don't know," Erica sighed. "I just feel very peaceful."
~ Chapter 43 ~
"It looks like a war zone," Erica observed.
Billy looked at the faces in the room. "I've never seen a war zone, but I admit I have never seen anything like this."
Erica suggested, "You introduce the AHOTs. We'll all meet with you, Becky and Jerri in the conference room."
Billy went up to the microphone. "Hi, again," her voice exploded into the room. "Thanks for being so patient. Right now I'm going to introduce your favorite group and mine -those wonderful women from Iceland, performing their latest release, Click Me In The Morning - the AHOTs!"
* * * *
The conference room door opened and Billy came in. She looked exhausted."
Erica walked to the portable computer. A tiny circle appeared. "Well, Erica - how nice..."
"Cut," Erica ordered sharply. "Didn't I request a printout of the stats from our questionnaire?"
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