After Dinner

Dinner slowly wound to a close, and for Kyle, it couldn’t end soon enough. His phone buzzed at a steady pace with updates, likes, and friend requests. The girls insisted that he show them the updates with each buzz as they commented on people, having him accept the friend requests, replying, and sending out friend requests of his own all through dinner.

Kyle was ready to head back to Uncle Mark’s to end this day, but was dragged outside to the patio again after dinner.

“So tomorrow is shopping,” Melissa said, “and that’s our off day. Wednesday is cardio, so you can come with us!”

“Cardio?” Kyle asked. “Go where?”

“Workout day!” Robin answered. “We work out together every other day. We can get you a guest pass to our gym! We’ll be doing spinning, so make sure you have some workout gear.”

Kyle’s phone buzzed and he looked at it.

Notification from MARCI

Exercise at gym Wednesday AM and every other day.

“New like?” Darla asked.

“No,” Kyle said. “Just a notification by the system.”

“Aw,” Robin said. “We’ll work on getting more pictures up on your accounts, though. Don’t worry.”

“Great!” Kyle said, feigning excitement. He was feeling defeated after this long, uncomfortable day.

“Look, I’m sorry,” Kyle said, “But I’m exhausted. It’s been a... fun day!” He added, trying to be friendly. “And it’s been great hanging out with all of you, but I’m just tired. I want to get a shower and get into bed.”

The girls all said they understood, that beauty sleep was important, and that they’d see him tomorrow for a fun filled day of shopping.

Kyle found Sam, who was back playing video games. “Sam, I’d appreciate you coming back to uncle Mark’s with me so that you can fix that thing for me!” Kyle said.

Sighing, Sam exited out of the game. The pair thanked Melissa’s parents for the wonderful meal, and Kyle got another round of hugs from the girls.

After they trudged back to their uncle’s, Kyle told Sam, “Go get your laptop and fix this,” He gestured at his body. “I am beat and really want to go to bed!”

Sam ran up to his room and got his laptop. Kyle appeared in the doorway to his room and stood there, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, looking really like an angry teenage girl.

Sam typed in the password, getting it wrong. “Two attempts remaining” came up on his screen.

“Two attempts left?” He asked and looked at Kyle. “We’re you trying to get into this?”

“Yeah,” Kyle said, “I was trying to get into it so that I didn’t have to sunbathe this afternoon.”

“Ok, no problem, just have to get in,” Kyle said, attempting another go at the password. But it was long, and he entered it incorrectly again.

“Dude, just put in the password!” Kyle said.

Sam began carefully and slowly typing In the password.

“Don’t mess it up this time! I want to get out of this outfit and get into bed!” Kyle said.

“Of course, mistress,” came MARCI’s automated response.

“Wait! What??” Kyle cried out as arms pulled him into an alcove and a wall slid into place, obscuring the view.

The sudden noise and Kyle’s shouting distracted Sam’s last attempt at the password. “Account locked. Contact System Administrator to reset password.”

“Crap!” Sam muttered, as Kyle was deposited back into the doorway. He was now in a lace trimmed nylon short set of pink pajamas, and his hair pulled back in a ponytail. His makeup had been removed, and he was obviously now dressed for bed.

“There. Shall I put you into bed, mistress?” MARCI asked the annoyed boy.

“No thank you!” Kyle said between clenched teeth. “Tell me you got in,” he said to Sam.

“You startled me!” Sam said defensively. “You made me get it wrong and I’m locked out!”

“I did it? Don’t you blame this mess on me!” Kyle shouted. “I ddn’t ask to wear... this!” He gestured at the pink short set.

“Would you prefer a nightgown, mistress?” MARCI asked.

“No!” Kyle shouted. “I just want...”. He sighed. “So who’s the sys admin?”

“Probably Uncle Mark?”

“Let’s find him and get him to reset it.”

The boys ran to find Uncle Mark, who was watching TV. The TV was the entire wall of his den, and he was snoring softly, sitting upright on a couch, his head leaning backwards.

“Uh... Uncle Mark?” Sam asked tentatively.

Uncle Mark awoke with a snort. “I’m awake!” He said bolting upright. “I’m awake!” He looked at the pair. “Oh. Sam! Kylie! What can I do for you?”

“I... accidentally locked Kyle out of his account for MARCI and I need to have his password reset.”

“Oh. Well, a few things there, Samuel,” Uncle Mark started, emphasizing Sam’s full name. “I find it offensive that you’re not accepting of who Kylie wants to be. From now on you are to use HER desired name and pronouns, am I clear?”

“But...” Kyle started to say.

“No, no, Kylie. I will not tolerate Samuel’s inability to accept his sister.”

“But...” Kyle started in again.

“And as for resetting the password, Amy is the sys admin. I don’t have the time to deal with things like that! So you’ll have **** but to accept Kylie as she is!”

Kyle’s face dropped. He was stuck like this until Amy got back?

“Now, I’m off to bed. MARCI, bedtime protocol R28.”

The wall of the room reverted back to a plain appearing wall, and arms picked up both Sam and Kyle, carrying them off to their respective rooms.

Kyle was deposited in his bed, and the sheets were pulled up. “Your uncle is upset,” MARCI said. “The door to the room will be locked until tomorrow morning.” Kyle groaned. “Goodnight.”

Likewise, Sam was stripped and out into a pair of pajama pants and put into his bed and told about the lockdown.

Kyle stared blankly at the ceiling. His uncle thought he wanted to be like this. And now there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He was stuck as Kylie until Amy got home. It was a long time before Kyle’s running thoughts allowed him to drift off to sleep.