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Problem Solved...One, Anyway

11/13/2016

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It looked to the twins like an enthusiastic enemy was charging them with the single-minded goal of putting them into the turf.
Fortunately, the young females halted their charge before rolling over the objects of their enthusiasm. Then all tried, breathless with excitement and exertion, to speak at once. It sounded like packs of predators fighting viciously over a downed buffalo that was still alive enough to struggle and voice its distress.
The twins did not rise from their seats. They waited patiently until the young women ran out of steam. One of them—the one who had taken a position of leadership in front of the council—appropriated the task of summing up the situation for the two handsome newcomers.
Feldspar, as was his preference, looked on the dark side.  "When will this work begin?"
Silent consternation was his only answer. That had not been determined. The young women were on the verge of storming back, en masse, to the council and demanding an answer to this question. Fortunately, Bismuth had followed more slowly behind the mob. He took control of the situation.
"The construction will be done tomorrow. You newcomers will need to be up at dawn and with your belongings upon your backs if you wish this courtesy done for you." It was apparent that he was not pleased with the capitulation of the council. He had no daughter to be married. He had given his wife only the seeds for sons. Those sons would be looking for mates of their own in two years. He was not thrilled that two of the very best candidates would be pilfered by these newcomers, even while acknowledging that it would be to the benefit of the city.
Feldspar and Gypsum were both intelligent and well-trained.  Gypsum's response was courteous as he bowed.
"We thank you and your city. You have shown greater generosity than we had any call to expect. You will, of course, have our complete cooperation."
Feldspar added, "In addition, we apologize for jumping to the conclusion that your city was stubborn and uncooperative. We will be delighted to stay and we look forward to meeting..." here he stopped and sent an obvious but respectful gaze at the large group of single females, "...the many very attractive young women that grace your fine city."
The ladies' body language and noises that passed for giggles among Riotori females gave good evidence of their pleasure at the description and the promise.
Then Bismuth gruffly commanded the women to return to their business and invited the twins, more politely, to return to the public shelter.
They respectfully complied. They did not unpack, but left their belongings in the shelter.
They felt it was their duty to see and perhaps talk to some of the young women that had been so energetic in their behalf.  They decided, too, to split up.  They could meet more young women and take their time with one, if they wished, without the other being intrusive.
Like most identical twins, they had grown up together, trained together, made this journey together and together knew when to stop being together.

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The Girls Get Their Way

11/1/2016

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For those of you new to the Mascot Serial, this is a continuing story of the twins Feldspar and Gypsum, one of whom is pictured above. They began their journey over a year ago, as the archives indicate.
As the twins sat patiently by the side of the road the officials of New City were under siege by at least a dozen young females. This was a day for firsts. Never before had new arrivals requested new resources unplanned by the city.  And never before had an unruly gang of young females assaulted the ears of their elders with demands.
With the arrogant confidence of decades of tradition, they dismissed the unruly women.
The women declined to be dismissed.  And word had spread. The number of angry women doubled quickly, and then the young unmarrieds were joined by their mothers and fathers.  Parents wanted their daughters to have a chance to be courted by any male from another area. That there were two from a very long distance away, and bigger and stronger than the average, made their insistence even more predictable.
That two of the six officials were facing their own daughters did not help their position.
Finally the head official put his head back and howled for quiet. No one in New City had heard an official howl in years. The silence was immediate.
"All of you! What do you propose we do?"
A young woman that had arrived first and placed herself in the center of the congregation and a half step in front of the rest replied immediately.
"Allow them what they ask!  Can it be so difficult?"
"If we give them the lumber they require, one of the other building projects will be delayed."
That met with a cacophony of suggestions about which project would be best delayed.  There must have been over three dozen petitioners in the room by now, and it seemed each one had a different priority.
Finally, as they all tired of trying to growl, howl, or snarl above everyone else, a reluctant quiet allowed one voice to finally ask an intelligent question.
"What is it they have asked?"
"They wish lumber to build a floor into the public shelter to keep their possessions clean and dry if it rains."
One of the girls' fathers spoke up. "That is reasonable. The wet season is only a week or two away. It may take longer than that for one of them to realize my daughter is the best catch, with so many to choose from."
That started a round of angry replies. One or two of the other fathers even went so far as to bring the lips back, exposing all of his fangs in a challenge that often led to blood and even mauling.
Again the lead official quieted the group.
"Here is what I suggest. You parents put your gold and silver to back up your words. Or your work.  Pay our woodsmen to cut the wood and then that into lumber, or go out and harvest the wood yourselves. Then no current projects will be delayed and the strangers will be able to construct the floor."
The leading young female asked, "How long will they be busy with that?"
One of the fathers answered. "If they know how to use tools and do the job correctly, perhaps two days. If they are not familiar with that kind of work, it may be a week or more."
One of the other young women asked, "Do they even have such tools? Will the city be able to lend them if they don't?"
And still another young female had an opinion. "Why doesn't the city do the job for them? With our excellent workmen it would take only a day or a little more. The handsome strangers could use their time better in pursuit of the reason they are here."
Her father, standing behind her, added, "Besides, after they choose two of our young ladies they will get work, build their own homes, and then the improved shelter will be a benefit to the whole city."
There was sudden silence. That proposal and the justification sounded good. After gathering the opinions of the other officials with head nods, the head official banged the two-foot ceremonial club down hard on the table and announced that it would be done!
The young women howled in delight and rushed from the building to inform their potential suitors that a solution had been found.
      

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    The story: This serial is about the "mascot" shown at the top of these pages. There are actually two of them, identical twins, Feldspar and Gypsum.
    The people call themselves Riotori, and their planet is Kylrock. The twins have been journeying for hundreds of miles, across many hazards, in search of mates. Please visit the archives to read their whole story.



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