The She-Woman
Man-Hater’s Club
by Aurelia
aurelia_fan@yahoo.com.au
THANKS: Many thanks to Sherry for
her help in editing this piece. This sandpit is lonely… a
want my playmate back!
© May 2008
* *
*
Zena Papadopoulos had arrived in a sleepy town yesterday,
one of many sleepy towns she’d arrived at in her life in
the past two years. Was this the one? None had lived up to
her expectations yet, and possibly this one wouldn’t
either, but she had to give it a chance.
Circled in the local newspaper in her hand was an ad that
read…
Learn New Positions
Wanted:
Yoga instructor to teach
breathing, relaxation techniques
and positions.
She had no expertise in the field but, hey, it was only a
small town in the middle of nowhere. How hard could it be?
You breathe, you sleep and you read the Karma Sutra.
Zena wandered along the shop fronts looking for the
address. She had phoned the number in the ad and had been
given instructions on how to find the studio. Her car was
parked a mile back in a side street. If she had known how
sleepy this particular town was she could have driven right
up to the front door.
54, 56, 58… she counted off the street numbers as she
stepped sprightly along the clean and well maintained
footpath. Damn… it was like she had stepped back into an
episode of Ozzie and Harriet. She found the small doorway
leading to a steep staircase. “Figures…”
As she climbed the stairs she felt sorry for the clients
using the studio. They would be exhausted just getting to
the room. At the top of the stairs and in large black
letters stenciled on the glass door was Lauren’s Beauty
Studio. Zena re-checked her directions. This was the right
address, she was sure of that, but the sign said a beauty
studio.
Confused, she opened the door anyway and chuckled as the
stereotypical bell rang over the door.
“May I help you?” a disconnected voice called. A moment
later a young woman with frizzy auburn hair and overdone
makeup met her at the entrance.
“Errr… I’m not sure I have the right address. I’m answering
the ad for a yoga instructor.”
“I’m Lauren. Gabrielle should be here any minute.” The
woman checked her watch. “Class starts in about ten
minutes.”
“Am I in the right place?” Zena couldn’t keep the
incredulity out of her voice. “But I thought this was a
beauty studio.”
“It is. Gabby shares the space with me.”
“Oh,” Zena said as she was shoved in the back when the door
opened and three dumpy, middle-aged women strolled in,
without so much as a ‘sorry’ for her trouble.
“Hello, ladies. Go on through, Gabby’s running a little
late.”
The human tide flowed through to the large empty room to
the right. Zena shook her head. If this was the clientele
that she would be faced with, then escape was added to her
mental list as an option.
At that precise moment a blonde woman of middling height
walked in. “Hey Gab. Your ladies have arrived and, oh, this
woman has come about the ad.”
“Hey there.” A wide, friendly smile accompanied the
greeting.
“Hello, I think I talked to you earlier. I’m Zena.”
“Xena with an ‘X’?”
“No Zena with a ‘Z’.” She had secretly wanted her name to
be Xena with an ‘X’ after the show on TV because the woman
was cool and so was the spelling of her name. The X made a
bold statement about whom she was. Ahhh, what the hell….
“No, make that Xena with an
X.”
“Okkayyy…” Gabrielle replied cautiously, studying the tall
brunette standing in front of her. She did have more than a
passing resemblance to the character and seemed to deserve
that ‘X’. After all, she could rightfully claim that her
name was Xena which ever way it was spelled.
“Now, about the yoga position.”
“Hah, very quick.”
“Sorry?” Xena felt like she had just missed the punch line.
“Yoga… position. Good joke.” Gabrielle chuckled at the
confused look on the newcomer.
“Ohhh. Sure.” A slip of the tongue and suddenly it was a
joke. Go figure.
“Come on.” Gabrielle moved further into the room, heading
toward a small curtained off area. “This is the change
room.” She pushed through the material, leaving Xena
outside wondering if she was supposed to be following her.
“I thought I would take you through the class so you have
an idea of what we’re doing.” The voice floated over the
top of the partition.
Xena turned around to the carpeted square of floor space,
where the same ladies were seated that had hustled her
aside in the foyer earlier. They were, well, not quite what
she expected. There was not a narrow neck or muscled flank
in sight. These women needed help, a lot of help! A lot
more than a yoga session or two could offer.
The curtain pulled back to reveal a figure that had not an
inch of flab anywhere. Now this was more like it. She could
certainly show this woman a new position or two that she
wouldn’t find in any legal exercise manual.
“Okay, ladies!” There was a collective moan from the group.
“Come on now! You’re Amazons!” A grumble or two accompanied
the massive shift of weight from one part of the room to
the other.
“Amazons?” Xena whispered aside. “Are you sure?” She didn’t
want to be rude but everything she had read, and
particularly seen on that show, didn’t illustrate the
flabbier side of the group.
“I’ve got to encourage them. It’s all to do with
self-image.” Gabrielle clapped her hands trying to get some
enthusiasm going.
“Try a sideshow mirror…,” Xena mumbled.
“Ladies, we have a newcomer to the group today. This is
Zena… errr… Xena with an ‘X’.”
“I’m Zena Papadopoulos.” If she got this job she’d better
find the library. Suddenly the position was going to need a
lot more expertise than she possessed. She would have to do
some serious study cramming for this lot.
“Hello, Xena.” It was like being back at school as the
women spoke as one.
“Ladies…” She tried not to smile. Yeah, she was back at
school. She was about to sit down and watch when Gabrielle
caught her eye.
“On no, no, no, none of that. You join in.” Gabrielle’s
arms reached for the roof. “Now, let’s do some gentle
stretching exercises to loosen up our muscles…,” she said
soothingly.
What were these women doing? Crack after crack broke the
silence as muscles and joints protested at being used at
all, let alone stretched. The occasional groan was heard as
the young woman pushed them, trying to get that extra inch
in stretch before taking pity on them and allowing them to
rest.
Xena could sympathize. She hadn’t done any serious
exercising since her last girlfriend and she was feeling
the burn. A hot bath was calling to her abused body and she
was in no mood to ignore it.
While the women rested she approached the blonde. “You seem
to know your way around a mat. What do you need me for?”
She was shooting herself in the foot by pointing out the
obvious but she wanted to know.
“I’m the local librarian. I’m just filling in here until we
get someone permanent for the job.”
“Oh. Why start it at all? If this is all you get it doesn’t
seem worth the layout of money.” To Xena it seemed a waste
of everyone’s time and effort if all to show for it was
three out-of-shape women.
“The local council decided, in its wisdom, to do something
‘for the ladies’, as they put it.” Gabrielle clicked her
tongue. “Bunch of arrogant, self-centered…,” she mumbled.
“Don’t like the idea?” Xena thought the community would
have welcomed the decision with open arms.
“Oh, I like the idea fine, it’s just the attitude. ‘Give
the girls a little something to make them happy. Right
before we send them back into the kitchen.’”
“Ahh. Living in the nineteenth century.”
“You got that right and, being the librarian, I’m in the
thick of it.”
“So, all these women married?”
“To those hoary bastards? No way!” The self-elected leader
of the group stepped forward, her mass of mousey-brown
curls plastered to her forehead. “Hi, Effenina Blackwell
here. Pleased to meet ya!” She grabbed the tall woman’s
hand and pumped it energetically, nearly dislocating her
shoulder. The two other women stood behind her, as if
trying to protect her from some sort of ambush.
“Effenina? That’s an unusual name.” At least Xena didn’t
feel so bad about her own name.
“Daddy’s joke. I don’t think he wanted me to stay single
for too long. Wanted me out of the house and raisin’
little‘uns.” A shudder ran through her frame. “The gals
here call me Effie.”
“So did daddy get his way?”
“Yeah, he did. Got a couple of girls.”
“So what does your husband think of all of this?” Why was
she even asking? She was going to have her own problems
trying to settle into a mid-western town.
“Don’t rightly know, and don’t care neither. He’s pushin’
up daisies in our back garden.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be. The lazy, self-righteous…”
“How did he die?” It was watching a car crash. Xena wanted
to look away but the suspense had drawn her into the story
even though she had no interest in the woman’s past.
“Farmin’ accident.”
“Yeah, you ran over him in the pickup, Effie,” Mentioned
one of the two women, a massively-built motherly type with
jet black hair in a fraying bun.
“It was an accident.”
“Yeah…” “You stick to that, Effie.” It seemed Effie’s
friends had something to say about that.
“Well the sheriff never proved a thing!” She tried to sound
indignant but everyone knew better. “Besides, Pony, you
can’t talk.”
“Pony?” Maybe they all thought she looked like one, but
Xena didn’t think she looked that
bad.
“Pauline McElvoy, at your service ma’am.” The dark haired
monolith that stood before her had a jovial smile plastered
on her wide face.
“Nice to meet you. But Pony?”
“Only amongst the girls here. Got to be better than
heifer.” She threw her head back and laughed at her own
expense.
“Good one.”
“And what’s your story, …. Pony.” It sounded strange
calling a woman a farm animal. ”Got any kids?”
“Sure have. I’ve lost count of ‘em.”
“Yeah, Pony here is our kid machine. She just keeps popping
‘em out at regular intervals,” Effie offered jovially.
“Not any more. This machine is busted.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Gettin’ too old for this crap.” She was built like
Effie’s pickup and looked like she hadn’t had a sick day in
her life.
“Husband said ‘no’?”
“Hell, no! I said ‘no’. ‘Bout time I put my foot down.”
“You do that, Pony, and you’d bury him six feet under.” The
other woman, who had been mostly silent during the
conversation, butted in.
“Is that a fat joke, skinny?” Like the Hulk Pony puffed
herself out to double her size, ready to pounce on the poor
woman.
“That’s Sally Donoghue. She’s single and likes it that
way.” Gabrielle whispered aside as the two women faced off
against one another. “Now, my Amazons, no fighting.”
“But I like fightin’.”
“Of course you would, Pony dear. You’re the biggest and
always win.” Gabrielle was clucking around them like a
mother hen rounding up her chicks… her ten-ton chicks with
an attitude to match.
“Didn’t them Amazons like fightin’ too?”
Gabrielle just knew that calling them Amazons would return
one day to bite her in the butt. “Well, yeah, but that
doesn’t mean you have to.”
“But I gotta keep up the spirit of them Amazons, don’t I?”
Pony was on a roll and it looked like she might win an
argument for once.
“Do you know why they’re Amazons?” Xena piped in.
“Who? Us?”
“No, the real ones two thousand years ago.”
“Yeah, they liked fightin’.” Pony wasn’t going to let it
go.
“Well, there’s that but they wanted to live without men.
They didn’t need them except for kids. Then, of course,
there’s the other thing…” Xena smiled wickedly at the
mention of it. She was in the mood to shock these women.
“Other… thing?” Pony’s mind was filled with all sorts of
possibilities.
“You know… the sex thing.”
“Well, I think it’s time we call it a day. We’ll meet
back–”
“Sex thing? Awww, don’t leave it at that!”
“They didn’t need men for sex.” She was being evasive,
waiting to see who would cave in first.
“Now, that’s not completely true.” Gabrielle was fast
losing control of her group.
Sally was noticeably quiet as the other two tried to figure
it out.
“Course you do! Ain’t no sex without men!”
“Uh uh.” Xena shook her head slowly. This was more fun than
a tub of Baskins.
“I don’t get it.”
“Instead of a guy–”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Gabrielle tried, she
really did, to protect the innocence of these two women but
it was a lost cause.
“…it’s a girl. Two women, Pony.” Xena’s eyes danced merrily
as the shock of what she had said set in.
“But… but…” The woman’s eyebrows met in the middle as she
tried to figure it out. No one had ever told her about
this.
“Have you been told recently that you are a right
troublemaker?” Gabrielle whispered aside.
“Often…,” Xena mumbled. She just couldn’t help herself.
Despite the fact that this woman had set the cat amongst
the pigeons Gabrielle really liked her. She couldn’t quite
put her finger on it but she just touched something deeper
inside her.
While the woman tried to explain the intricacies of Amazon
life to the uninitiated, Gabrielle took the chance to the
study her. There were those same blue eyes, long straight
raven hair, high accented cheekbones and strong jaw. Her
eyes swept down over the T-shirt molded to her body tucked
into a pair of worn jeans that fit her like a glove. It was
a very enticing package indeed.
Since coming to this sleepy town Gabrielle’s love life had
all but disappeared. She had tried, oh Lord she had tried,
to get a job in the city… any city… as a librarian but it
was one of those situations where one of the employed
librarians would have to die first before a position opened
up. That left her with two choices. Change profession or
look elsewhere.
So here she was. A librarian in a town whose name was
scattered across the country, employed by a town council
that set back women’s rights by a hundred years.
“I’m telling you, it’s the truth. There are women out there
who only like other women.” Xena was fighting a losing
battle. These women had been brainwashed. She sighed in
defeat, at least for now. “That aside, can I ask you ladies
something?”
“As long as it’s not insultin’.” Effie eyed the newcomer
suspiciously.
“Are you doing this as a social gathering or are you
serious about getting in shape?” She wanted to say ‘lose
weight’ but they seemed a bit touchy about that.
“Of course I am…!” Effie replied indignantly, “…How else am
I goin’ to catch a man!” She giggled as Xena’s eyes rolled
upwards. “Just raggin’ ya. I’ve had enough of men to last
me a lifetime.”
“Yeah!”
“You go sister!” Gabrielle let the words slip uncensored,
drawing a surprised glance from the tall woman.
“Is there a gym around here?”
“Sure, at the other end of town, but women ain’t allowed to
use it.”
“Why not?”
“Cause women should be in the kitchen not in the gym.
Besides, they would be a distraction to the men using it…
you know, unclothed like that.” Gabrielle shuddered.
“Arrogant pigs…”
“So it’s a ‘He-Man Woman-Hater’s Club’?”
“You got it.”
Xena smiled wickedly. “Then maybe it’s about time there was
a ‘She-Woman Man-Hater’s Club’ as well.”
“Are you nuts?” Gabrielle’s voice rose to a squeak. “The
council would never go for it.”
“Only if they knew what it was. It’s a Women’s Social Club.
Of course what they don’t know won’t hurt them…yet.”
“That sounds like a lot of work.” And time, which Gabrielle
had little of.
“Pony here was born for work. She’s a human bulldozer.”
Effie’s smile widened as her words got the reaction she
expected.
“Hey!” Pony shifted closer ready to pounce.
“Well, it’s up to you girls. Do you want this or are you
going to let the men keep you in the kitchen barefoot and
pregnant?” It was a leading question, Xena knew that, but
she figured it was time to shake up this community and its
librarian.
“What do we have to do?” Effie eyed her, waiting for
whatever bad news their new instructor seemed about to
deliver.
Xena turned to the librarian. “Any chance of a bigger
grant?” She had her answer by Gabrielle’s dour look. “Okay.
So what about some fund-raising? Bake sales? Raffles?”
“And what do we tell the council the money is for?”
Gabrielle didn’t like this plan because she would be the
one who would ultimately be the messenger.
“A bigger floor. Tell them if they were more generous with
their money the women wouldn’t have to resort to charity.”
Xena thought for a moment. “I suppose before we go any
further I better find out if I have a job.”
Gabrielle hesitated. This was going to cause trouble, a
whole heap of trouble. “Where are you staying?”
“Stacey’s.”
“You better find somewhere a bit less expensive and a bit
more permanent.”
“Why?”
“Because the pay is lousy.”
“Alright. Let’s get busy!” She did a little happy dance,
rotating her hips in time with her arms. Now she remembered
why she moved from town to town. She kept getting thrown
out of the others for causing trouble.
“Do you know anyone on the inside? You know, down in the
council chambers.”
“Anyone?”
“Someone who would be prepared to help us.”
“I don’t know…”
“I know someone,” Sally murmured quietly.
* * *
“Hey, Sal. What can I do for you today?” The young red
haired woman didn’t seem to notice the small group of women
trailing behind, intent to focus on the woman she
addressed.
“Hey, Ammy. How are you?” She kept the conversation
cordial.
“Good.” But the greeting was different to what she was used
to. “What’s wrong?” Her eyes moved from one woman to the
next. “Who are your friends?”
“We have a proposition for you…”
* * *
“So how do you know her?” Xena already knew everything she
needed to know but seeing the woman squirm was fun. She
sucked on the straw dipped in her chocolate milkshake. The
group had retired to the local soda shop to draw up their
plans.
Sally took a lick of her ice cream to gain some time. “Ah,
you know, here and there.”
“Really? Looks like you know her real well.” She grinned as the woman shifted
nervously in her seat.
“Will you stop that?” Gabrielle hissed, “You’re scaring the
children!” Effie’s eyes were as round as saucers while Pony
was still trying to figure it out.
“So who is this Ammy woman?” Maybe a change in subject was
needed.
“Amaryllis works in the council records section. She should
be able to let us know if the council tries anything.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Gabrielle cleared her throat,
forcing Xena to back away, “but it’ll do for now.” She gave
the woman next to her a wide grin, watching as those eyes
melted. Yeah, she still had it. When she laughed out loud,
the blonde looked at her curiously. “I was just thinking…”
“And it’s getting you into trouble.”
“No, not that. You picked a good name for these women.
Amazons. Remember the show or, maybe more to the point, all
those fan stories that were written? Now that would set a
fire under them…”
“Your point?”
“Yeah, my point. Well, look at them. Effenina, doesn’t she
look familiar? How about Ephiny with a middle age spread?
And Pony? Eponin? What about Sally? She looks a bit like
Solari to me. And Amaryllis, with that mass of red hair?
It’s got to be Amarice.”
“So?”
“What about you, Gabrielle?”
“Coincidence, Xena.”
“Two is coincidence, six is just plain downright scary.”
Xena chuckled again. “I wonder what the council would think
of an Amazon village in the middle of their main street.”
“Don’t even think about it.” But it did bring a ludicrous
image to mind.
“Alright, ladies. That’s the last ice cream for a while.
Tomorrow we start work. Ten a.m. at the studio we’re going
to start walking so dress accordingly. This is no Sunday
picnic so be prepared to sweat.” Xena grinned at the
collective moan.
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Well, you would say that…,” grumbled Pony, “…you won’t be
there.”
“Eeexxactly.” Cheerfully Gabrielle left for work, comforted
in the knowledge that these women were not going to get a
break.
* * *
For the next week, Xena made them work, finding hills,
valleys, stairs and obstacles that they had to run, walk,
duck and climb over. She had been called all sorts of
names, a few of which were new even to her jaded ears.
However, the sight of three beet-red dumpy women walking
and jogging all over town did attract more business, with
two new members in the first few days alone.
Xena moved out of Stacey’s, as Gabrielle had recommended,
ending up in a trailer on the edge of town. This was not
exactly what she had in mind but the librarian was right,
her pay sucked. Once Gabrielle found out where she was
living the blonde relented, offering a spare room in her
own home until something better came along. That particular
trailer park, according to Gabrielle, was subject to
constant harassment by the local yokels. Vandalism was rife
and there was a fire somewhere every night, not that she
had anything of value worth stealing or incinerating.
But Xena was not going to complain. She ended up being
right where she wanted to be… in Gabrielle’s back pocket.
* * *
“So, how is the program going?” Gabrielle continued her
work in the kitchen preparing dinner.
“Huh? Oh, you mean Xena’s torture track? Fine. They’re all
plotting to get rid of me, I’m sure.” Xena leaned against
the bench top, sipping her wine.
“I would never have done what you did.”
“Well, I’m more inclined to kick their butts than you are.
After all, you live here.”
“So do you.” To Gabrielle it nearly sounded like Xena’s job
was temporary… very temporary.
“But you’re the librarian, the pillar of society. Speaking
of which, having me in the house is going to raise some
eyebrows.”
“Let them talk.”
“Really?”
“What?”
“So what does that mean, Miss Marian the Librarian?”
“It doesn’t mean anything.” But Gabrielle could feel Xena
edging closer. “It’s just none of their business.”
“Some would say that it is…,” Xena leaned in and whispered
in her ear.
Gabrielle looked over her shoulder to find the women mere
inches behind her. She could feel her heart thud against
her chest wall, picking up speed when the tall brunette
smiled at her. “They would?” her voice rose in pitch,
giving away her nervousness.
“Yes, they would.” This close Xena could see the
apprehension in those green depths. “Is it my business?”
“It could be.” Had she opened herself to heartache? Was she
going to be some diversion for Xena until she left?
“I’d like it to be.” Xena stepped closer until their bodies
met.
“But is your business going to keep you here?”
“Huh?” The brunette placed her hands on her companion’s
shoulders.
“I don’t want to be a diversion, Xena.”
“Who said anything about that?”
“But you implied…”
“Implied what? What’s going on here?” Xena forced Gabrielle
to face her.
“You implied that you were going to leave.”
“Leave? Who said anything about leaving? I just got here.”
“When you were talking about getting the women in shape
you… you… hell, I don’t know. You gave me the impression
that you might not stay.” Gabrielle didn’t want to look in
those sapphire blue eyes and see pity.
Xena lifted the blonde’s chin. “Silly woman,” she softly
chided, “I was just pointing out that I’m a stranger here
and any consequences are less likely to affect me than it
would if you were in charge. Besides, if there was a reason
to stay…” She left the statement hanging in the air because
there was no answer, at least not yet.
“Like what?” Gabrielle breathed out the words.
“Oh, I don’t know. A pay rise, a new car, a free supply of
Baskins…” She laughed as the blonde’s jaw dropped then
received a slap on her shoulder for her trouble. “Lighten
up, Gabrielle. I’m sticking around, okay?”
“Okay.” She was surprised by her own reaction. It was as
nearly if she liked the woman.
* * *
After weeks of exercise and fund raising the door finally
opened on a small shop front. It had yet to be named but
amongst the Amazons it was the ‘She-Woman Man-Haters Club’.
It had nearly become like some secret society where it
practically took a secret password to enter through the
front door. The women jealously guarded their piece of
ground and no man was going to cross it.
The membership had grown steadily, now a dozen strong, and
Xena’s ingenuity was tested. As one regime became too easy
she had to think up a newer, tougher one.
The group had just returned from a rather energetic trot
around the town, even testing Xena’s level of fitness. They
stood around in their ‘clubhouse’ guzzling water like it
was evaporating between the bottles and their mouths.
“I have to say, girls, you are amazing.” Xena was proud of
her women. “Look at you, Pony!”
“Yeah, I can actually see my feet.”
“How much have you lost?” Effie piped in enthusiastically.
“About twenty pounds!” Pony was secretly tickled pink about
her weight loss. It was as much about self-esteem as it was
about health, maybe even more so.
“And what does your husband say?”
“Who cares what he says? I’m doing this for
me!”
Actually Xena had been secretly prodding them for
independence ever since she first met them, and it seemed
to be rubbing off. She wanted to encourage Amaryllis to
join in but her effectiveness as their spy in the enemy
camp would be at an end. Besides she didn’t want to upset
whatever arrangement Sally had with the woman, as secretive
as it was.
“Now you’re sounding like an Amazon!”
“But the sex thing…”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. In reality I’m sure some of
them had families outside the camp. The main thing was that
they wanted to live with women, to prove that they could
survive in the world on their own.” Maybe she was pushing a
little too hard. “Would you?”
“Would I what?”
“If you had the chance to live in a village of women, would
you do it?”
“I dunno…”
“Okay, let me re-phrase that. If you had the chance to live
in a village with these
women would you do it?”
Pony’s eyes scanned each and every one of them in the room,
carefully considering the question. “Do I get to fight?”
“Sure. And hunt.”
“Hmmm…” Her callused finger tapped her lip. “Sure, if
things were different.”
“How different?”
“I’m married with two thousand kids. What do you think?”
“Well, are you married because you love him or are you
married because of the two thousand kids?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters! You have given him the best years of
your life. Now it’s time for you to do something for
yourself.”
“Did I miss something?” Gabrielle had turned up at the end
of the conversation.
“We were just discussing what it would take for Pony to
leave her family.”
“May I have a word with you please…” Gabrielle tugged on
Xena’s arm, steering her to the far corner of the room.
“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“It’s a hypothetical discussion.”
“It sounds like you’re trying to cause trouble.”
“Don’t you trust me?” Xena tried to sound offended.
“Yes, but from what I heard it sounded like you were trying
to convince her to leave home. That’s not our job.”
“I’m just showing her what other options there are, that’s
all.”
“Well don’t! The last thing we need is Pony going home and
spouting something about independence to her husband and it
getting back to the council. They’d shut us down in a
second.”
“You know, these men have you all bamboozled. You’re all
scared of your own shadows.”
“I was like you once, full of enthusiasm to change the
world, but they have a firm hold here. The excuses are long
and varied for why changes won’t be made, believe me. They
have a way of wearing you down.” Gabrielle remembered only
too well. “There is no point in trying if they’re not
interested in changing, Xena.”
“True, but it’s as much about timing as it is about good
management. I think they’re ready to take that step.”
Gabrielle held up her hands in defeat. “Just try not to end
up in jail, alright?”
The bell over the door signaled a visitor, a stylish woman
in her mid-forties walked in who seemed to be in the wrong
place.
“Who’s that?” Xena had a bad feeling about it.
“That’s the Mayor’s wife. What is she doing here?”
“Checking us out, of course.” Xena walked away from the
blonde and moved swiftly across the worn carpet. “Hello
there. Can I help you?”
“I’d heard about this place. I think it might be what I
need.”
“And you are?”
“Vanity Bowden. I’m sure they have already filled you in on
who I am.”
Vanity?
Velasca more like it… Xena couldn’t help but make the
comparison.
“If you’ll excuse my bluntness, Mrs. Bowden–”
“Please, call me Vanity.”
“Vanity, what we do you don’t need.”
“How do you know what I need?”
“We are solely a social club that helps women lose weight.”
“Then I’m in the right place.”
Xena looked her up once and back down again. “Unless you’ve
got it tucked away somewhere that I can’t see, your weight
seems just fine.”
“Well, thank you,” Vanity replied brightly. “But this town
is sadly lacking women’s facilities. I want to exercise to
keep in shape.”
Yeah, and I
know of an apartment block I’d like to sell
you… Xena didn’t
trust the woman as far as she could spit. It was obvious,
too obvious, that she was there to spy on them.
“Sure. We don’t have any equipment so our sessions are out
on the streets. You’ll be seen in the street wearing gym
clothes. Are you prepared for that? ” She smiled slyly.
“Or, more to the point, is your husband
prepared to see you publicly
displaying yourself like that?” Xena studied her closely as
she carefully considered the question.
“There’s no good answer, is there? If I say it’s not up to
him you’ll think I’m lying. If I say he says it’s fine then
I shouldn’t be here. So what do you want to hear? The truth
or some lie to appease you?”
“Good, very good.” Vanity was going to be a challenge that
was for sure. It was one problem added to a list that was
getting longer by the minute. “The truth would be nice.”
“The truth? Sometimes I wish there was more to my life than
baking, cleaning and standing by my man. Not that I would
ever say that to him, and if you repeat it to anyone I will
deny it vehemently.”
“Understood.” But Xena suspected it was still a speech
designed to tell her what she wanted to hear. “Then welcome
to the club.”
“So what happens now?”
“Our exercise regime is finished for today so ten a.m.
tomorrow here. There’s a small membership fee which covers
this place and things like coffee and such. Otherwise we’re
pretty laid back.”
“Until then.” Vanity turned with a flourish, pulling the
front door open with some enthusiasm and leaving with a
skip in her step.
“What on earth did you do that for?” Effie hissed in Xena’s
ear.
“Because one way or another there was going to be a spy. I
would have been disappointed if the council hadn’t sent
one.”
“But isn’t she a bit obvious?”
“Yes, she is. So maybe he thinks that I think that it’s too obvious. Still, it
will keep us on our toes to be careful…”
* * *
In the ensuing weeks the membership grew steadily. Women
from all over the district had heard of the social club and
wanted to be part of it. If it grew any more Xena would
have to look for bigger premises. She wondered if the gym
at the other end of town was up for sale.
Vanity was the epitome of a good member. She joined in
everything that was on offer and proved to be a good asset.
It was hard for the core group to think of her as a spy.
She even brought in some tasty cakes for their weekly bake
sale outside the shop front. Funds were steadily building,
kept in the care of Gabrielle, and the healthy bank account
made them all believe that they could actually achieve
anything they put their minds to.
The time was fast approaching where Xena felt they needed
to make a statement to the town. The town council had
convened its regular town meeting and it was time to make a
proposal. For the women to be respected their needs had to
be recognized and ratified.
* * *
Xena sat alone in the empty shop, trying to think of what
she was going to say. She just wanted to stick it to the
men but she had to think of the greater need. What did they
want? If she had asked them they would probably say
nothing; that they liked things the way there were. But she
knew the moment she was gone so would be the social club.
She needed to put something permanent in place, something
that the council was unable to overrule.
She stared into space, gazing absently at the painted
window, trying to gather her thoughts. As she watched an
envelope magically appeared under the door, lying in
invitation on the worn carpet. Xena quickly opened the door
to see who delivered it but there was no one, the darkness
having swallowed up whoever had been guilty. The envelope
was already in her hand and open before she knew what she
had done. She smiled. Now she was ready for the meeting…
* * *
“I was beginning to think you had chickened out.”
Xena had been conspicuously absent and Gabrielle was
wondering if she was going to show at all.
“Me? Nah. Just taking some time to think.”
“Be thankful that Pony didn’t have to speak.” Effie was
worried. None of them had the words to plead their case,
not that any of them understood exactly what that case was.
They had enough faith in their instructor to make sure they
were taken care of.
“Hey! I speak just fine. I ain’t ill... illat… iller…”
“Illiterate.” Seeing Pony stumble over the word was like
fingers down a chalkboard to Gabrielle. Maybe it was a
librarian thing.
“Yeah, yeah, I know my letters.” That only confirmed what
they all knew already. The woman was a tower of strength
with no staircase inside to get to the top.
“Sure you do, hon.” Sally slapped her on the back,
instantly regretting it as her hand stung from the contact.
“Do you know what you’re going to say?” Gabrielle
whispered.
“Nope.” Xena grinned triumphantly.
“Good. I was a bit worried there.” The blonde shook her
head. “Here…” She handed over a dictionary.
“What’s this for?”
“To fill in those gaps in your speech.”
“Veerrry funny, Miss Marian the Librarian.” Xena handed
back the book. “Use it as a paper weight, smart ass.”
The meeting had been going on for some time, covering the
mundane and boring parts of existing business and council
decisions. Finally the time for new business came around
and Xena jumped in quickly before they had a chance to
finish the meeting.
“I have new business!” Her deep voice carried across the
expanse of the hall.
“Are you a citizen of this town?”
“If you’re asking have I been here for nearly six months
then I’d say that’s a ‘yes’.”
“But you have not laid down any roots here. You have no
residence and your job is only temporary.” Mayor Bowden
presented his evidence quickly in the hope of stopping the
woman before she started.
“Firstly, you do not pay me enough for a residence and,
secondly, I was not told this job was temporary.” Xena was
incensed. “So, does that mean that the grant you gave for
all of this was only temporary? You had no intention of
taking this project seriously, did you?”
“Of course we did!” The Mayor had to back peddle when he
saw the looks of anger on the faces of the women present.
“So this grant will continue but the person running the
project is only there temporarily. Have I got that right?”
“You misunderstood–”
“Oh no, I understood alright, and so did these women. This
grant is nothing more than a token gesture. You did it to
keep them happy and back in the kitchen.”
“How dare you!”
“No! How dare you! These women are human beings not
second-class citizens. I can’t believe that this kind of
discrimination still exists in this day and age.”
“Don’t you come in here and stomp all over our heritage.
You don’t know–”
“But I do know. These women have reached their breaking
point. They want something more and unless you give it to
them you may end up with something that you can’t handle.”
“Are you threatening me… us?”
“No!” Pony stood up. “I am!”
“Yeah! We want this social club!”
One by one the women stood up chanting their discontent and
their support for a social outlet for the female
population.
“The council refuses to grant your request. You can always
express your discontent at the next council elections.”
“One moment, Mayor, a point of order. I found it in your
plethora of rules. And I quote: ‘if new business is in
dispute a call for a vote of council can be requested.
Should the vote be tied then a count of the quorum will
decide the matter.’”
“Is that true?” Mayor Bowden questioned his council.
“I’m afraid it is.”
“Well then, gentlemen, do you agree with me?” He expected
the matter to be a formality, surprised to hear the voices
in disagreement. “We better take a count.” He wanted to
make sure that he knew who was stabbing him in the back.
A smile crossed Gabrielle’s face as the count came in as a
tie. Xena had done it. She didn’t know how, but she’d
pulled it off.
“It seems to me that the vote now has to go the floor.”
Xena tried very hard not to smile, knowing very well that
she was on the Mayor’s hit list for this stunt.
“What is it exactly that they are voting on?”
“That the grant for the women’s project is perpetual to the
women’s social club. Whether I am temporary or not, the
social club stays. These women don’t need me but they need
this.” She was about to sit down when she added, “And that
this vote stands. No back peddling on this later on. This
is as important as the local library or the church.”
“You’re asking a lot.”
“No, you think I’m asking a lot. I’m just asking
for some common decency for these women.” Xena was not
going to let it go, knowing that the mayor would grab onto
any opportunity she presented to him.
“They are treated just fine.” The mayor’s face started to
turn red with anger. The woman was like a viper, her fangs
had latched onto him and wouldn’t let him go.
“No, they are treated the way you want to keep them. Are you so scared of
them that you keep them in the dark?”
“It’s tradition.”
“Then the tradition needs to be changed.”
“Yeah! You go girl!” A lone voice from the audience broke
through the argument.
“Do the count.” Xena spoke slowly as if speaking to an
imbecile. She looked around the room and knew she had the
numbers, but would the mayor try to find some loophole to
deny the women what was now rightfully theirs?
The council member who did the head count returned to the
front desk and whispered in the mayor’s ear.
“Do we really have to go through all this? You know very
well that we hold the majority. Just say it so we can all
go home.” She wanted to be done with it, because a very
private celebration was in order and time was a wasting.
“By majority vote…”
Come on,
come on… Xena
could nearly see the wheels turning in the man’s head.
“…there will now be a ‘Women’s Social Club’ within the town
limits.”
“And… don’t forget the council grant, Mayor.” She was not
going to let him get away with anything. “Considering how
quickly the club is growing I think an increase in the
grant would help keep your women off the streets trying to
raise money.”
“And… the council will be obliged to continue
its grant, issued yearly, to the upkeep of said club.”
Anger crept up his flushed face. “Alright, alright. There
will be a moderate increase yearly to allow for inflation.
Happy now?”
“Nearly, Mayor. There is one more sticking point. We want
it in writing along with a statement that the ruling is
irrevocable. In the Council Minutes, Mayor.”
“Now see here!”
“May I approach the council?”
“Please do.”
Xena smiled as she approached, wondering if he would try to
strangle her if she was within his reach. She knew she had
been pushing the boundary but it was better for them to
settle it at this meeting before the council had a chance
to regroup.
“Now look, we both know you don’t want me here. If you
don’t give them this they’re finally going to figure out
your game, Mayor. Believe me you don’t want them mad.” Her
rich blue eyes bore into his dark brown eyes. “You know the
saying about a woman scorned? Multiply that by the number
of women in this district, let alone the number of women
around the world who would be on your doorstep if word got
out about this.”
She laughed inside as his hand flexed, crushing the piece
of paper lying underneath his palm. “Just accept it
gracefully, Mayor. It’s not like they want
your
job…” Xena turned around and
went back to her seat, giving Gabrielle the ‘thumbs up’
sign as she approached.
“Fine. The council accepts all the conditions. The document
will be drawn up in the next day or so and then delivered
to you, err…”
“Xena. Just call me Xena.”
“How did you…?” Gabrielle whispered as Xena sat down next
to her.
“Had a friend in the enemy camp,” she replied.
“This meeting is now adjourned.” The mayor stood up and
walked out of the room before the final words were uttered.
This was no graceful exit but one of a man who had been
bested by a woman and didn’t like it.
* * *
Xena made a point of searching out Amaryllis in the crowd.
“Thanks.” She shook the woman’s hand.
“For what?” There was genuine confusion on the clerk’s
face.
“For the information.”
“What information?”
“The…information… you slipped under the door.” Xena was
losing patience.
“I didn’t slip anything under any door.”
“Then who…?” Her eyes scanned the room looking for a
possible culprit. One by one she eliminated the women.
While they were enthusiastic about a positive outcome there
seemed to be no one who would be in a position to access
the information.
Xena’s eyes stopped at the woman exiting the same door that
her husband had just passed through. Their eyes met for a
moment before the woman winked at her. Xena laughed long
and hard.
“What’s so funny?” Gabrielle touched Xena’s arm to get her
attention.
“I just found out who our guardian angel was. You’re not
going to believe it.”
“Sure I will.”
“No, you won’t.” This game could go on forever so before
Gabrielle had a chance to reply she answered, “It was
Vanity.”
There was a moment of silence. “You’re right, I don’t
believe it.” But that didn’t stop Gabrielle from chuckling.
Who would have thought?
The room erupted into wild cheering and backslapping.
Suddenly the two women were swallowed up by the human tide.
Pony came up and whacked Xena on the shoulder, sending her
stumbling into the folding chairs. “You done good, Boss.”
“Let’s go back to the clubroom for a celebration.”
* * *
The cheering didn’t stop as they walked from the council
building to the club. Xena had to warn the women off in no
uncertain terms when they tried to lift her onto their
shoulders. It was one thing to win the argument but it was
another to rub their noses in it.
The party, if it could be called that, was loud and strong,
even though there was not a drop of alcohol in sight. The
women were high on coffee, chocolate and excitement.
Xena sat back and allowed them their moment of glory,
content to just absorb the joy in the room. She’d forgotten
what it was like to stand up for something as important as
this. Her life had been sliding by and her biggest fight
had to be to get the bond back on whatever two-bit
apartment she was living in at the time. Yeah, it felt
good.
“Come on, let’s go home.” Gabrielle had been watching her
houseguest with interest. The woman was exhausted, probably
as much from emotion as from any physical activity. So much
had ridden on those broad shoulders and she accepted the
burden gracefully, working a magic that no other in the
town was capable of. She had finally got the council to
recognize, albeit reluctantly, that the women living here
needed something more than having kids, housework and
cooking.
Xena looked up at the blonde standing in front of her, her
hand reaching out to help her up. Xena took it willingly,
allowing Gabrielle to lead her towards the front door.
“Goodnight everyone. Enjoy your party!”
“Aw, Xena, you can’t leave yet!” Pony wanted the whole
world to celebrate.
“Sorry, Pony, I’m bushed. Effie, can you lock up?”
“Nite, Xena, Gabrielle.” The chorus of voices spoke as one,
followed by a snickering that suggested a badly kept
secret.
“What?” Xena was confused and looked at the blonde. “What?
Am I missing something?”
“No, Xena…,” Gabrielle chuckled, her eyes flitting down to
their joined hands, “...you’re not missing a thing.”
* * *
The two women strolled along the footpath, slowly making
their way back toward Gabrielle’s house. The cool evening
air sent a shiver through the smaller woman, encouraging
Xena to gallantly remove her jacket and place it over the
librarian’s shoulders. Without thinking, her hand again
sought the warmth of its mate, clinging on tightly to the
smaller hand.
Finally, she realized what she had done. “Do you think this
town is ready for this?”
“For what?” The voice broke through the darkness.
“This…” Xena shifted her hand, tugging gently.
“Oh. Probably as ready as they would be for your Amazon
village in the town square.”
“Heh. Now that
would be something.”
“Sure would.” They walked on in silence for a few moments
more. “Do you have a name for the shop yet?”
“Nope.”
“No ‘Xena’s Den of Iniquity’?”
The brunette rolled her eyes. “As if. Don’t push your luck,
Gabrielle. Just because they agreed doesn’t mean they liked
it.” She pulled Gabrielle closer. “They’ll have to play it
low-key for a while, at least until the council gets used
to the idea.”
“They?” Gabrielle felt her heart drop.
“Alright, we then. Still scared I’m going to leave
this town?”
“No… yeah.”
“The Mayor would love to ride me out of town on a rail. I’d
stay just to piss him off. No, there’s something else…”
“A pay rise? That depends on what the council gives us. A
new car? Scratch that. Baskin-Robbins? I suppose I can
manage that once or twice a week.”
“I don’t need any of that… well, maybe the Baskins. I was
thinking of something a little more… permanent.”
“Permanent?” Gabrielle felt the woman next to her stop.
“What?”
“Well, it depends on you.”
“What did I do?”
“Nothing… everything.” Xena could feel the heat from the
woman as she moved closer. “I love you, Gabrielle. Do you
want me to stay?”
“Do I…? Are you kidding? Of course I do!”
“I’m glad you said that because I didn’t fancy moving back
to the trailer park.” Xena grinned into the darkness. “It’s
going to cause some stir, that’s for sure.”
“Screw‘em.”
“My my! What brought that on?”
“It’s my love life. Let them get their own girlfriend.”
They walked on together for a while, turning into a side
street and continuing towards a small cottage at the end of
the street. “So, no name for the club?”
“I don’t care what they call it. To me it will always be
‘The She-Woman Man-Hater’s Club’.”
THE END