First Test

“Bwahhh, what is going on?” I can’t move my hands but I see them moving! What are you doing with my body?” screamed a confused Tomoe.

“Forgive us for not introducing ourselves, we will be your gloved supervisors for the next six months. After a stint doing ceremonial service for the Japanese National Defense ****, we spent two decades working for Japan National Railway as train driver gloves until…”

“That’s not what I mean!” screamed Tomoe.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry,” replied the gloves.

“Let me guess, you haven’t worn sentient gloves before”.

Tomoe nodded back yes. Obviously she had seen sentient gloves working in train stations or on buses and on TV as part of idol groups. As a lifelong delinquent, white gloves were a symbol of polite Japanese society. Now, against her own will, Tomoe had thrust into conformity by not only wearing but submitting to the power of a pair of white gloves.

“I feel your pulse through your wrists. You’re nervous aren’t you?” Tomoe felt as the gloves turned their “heads” aka her hands towards her.

“Don’t worry. We as all gloves in the gloved supervision program take this job extremely seriously. We only want to make you into the best woman you can be. Yes,we do have control over your hands and some control over your entire body. Sometimes that is necessary for preventing you from getting into situations that would violate your probation. However, we want to change to be genuine and that comes from you and your will.”

Tomoe took a deep breath. The gloves’ speech was certainly inspiring and what choice did she have. She was going to be under the control of something, whether indirectly by the gloves, or indirectly in jail.

“Ok, here is your paperwork confirming that you have received your gloves and that your gloved supervision will begin. Both of you please sign here.”

“Both of us, what do you mean?” thought Tomoe only to feel the gloves control of her right hand and sign “白手袋” (white gloves).

“Not the most creative name I see…” thought Tomoe as she regained control of her hand and signed her name. As disturbing as the thought of being controlled was, Tomoe had to admit that the gloves felt great hugging her skin. While by no means a giant, Tomoe was a fairly tall and muscular woman and the gloves fit her hands well rather than the ill-fitting and baggy look that many women have when wearing white gloves. There was also a confidence that the gloves exuded with every movement, even during mundane tasks such as writing.

With the paperwork finished, Tomoe was officially released on gloved supervision. Immediately upon walking out the door of the courthouse, Tomoe felt an all too familiar grumble in her stomach.

“You didn’t eat breakfast, didn’t you?” sighed the gloves.

“I never do, it's a waste of time, I’ll just eat a big dinner….wah, what’s happening to me?” screamed Tomoe as she felt the tingling in her hands rise throughout her whole body. She then watched as she felt her legs move without her command.

“I seem to remember there’s a 7/11 right down the street. By the way, this is one level of full body control that we have been given permission to use. It's in our best interest to make sure you’re properly fed and healthy, so let's get a snack!”, said the gloves.

Tomoe watched as the gloves marched her down the block to 7/11. Upon entering the store, Tomoe felt the tingle subside from her whole body as the gloves returned to just retaining control of her hands.

“Alright then, shall we get onigiri or an egg sandwich?” the gloves asked Tomoe.

“Uhh, how about neither? I’m feeling like a Kit-Kat” replied Tomoe.

“That is not a healthy meal, we’re going to say onigiri today.” said the gloves.

Tomoe did as she was told and walked over to pick up an onigiri. There were several varieties so Tomoe figured that the gloves would choose for her.

“Well, aren’t you going to grab it, I know you always have control over my hands?” said Tomoe as she waited for the gloves to assert their control.

“Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. Remember, the long term goal is self sufficiency so please go ahead and use your hands and pick out a package.” replied the gloves

“Fine,” muttered Tomoe as she chose a random package. She went to the register and paid for

the onigiri. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a display of Kit Kat’s, right out of the corner of her eyes. Eyes that had been trained in the art of petty theft and shoplifting, eyes that knew that the shopkeeper would never see her take the candy bar. Tomoe walked past the display and reached to pocket the Kit Kat, forgetting that on her thieving hands were a pair of white gloves hell bent on reforming her. Immediately upon touching the foil, Tomoe felt her body freeze.

“Oh shit!” thought Tomoe she felt the increasingly familiar feeling of the gloves exerting their control ran through her body. Tomoe was scared, what would the gloves do, she had attempted to commit a crime on their watch. Tomoe felt her gloved hands move…and pick up the Kit Kat. Then she felt as her body moved towards the shopkeeper.

“Ok, so what should I say,” thought Tomoe.

“Excuse me sir, I would also like to purchase this Kit Kat,” said Tomoe or at least her voice did. Tomoe recognized the voice as hers, the movement of lips as hers. However, the command to do those physical actions came from the gloves. Tomoe felt the gloves reach into her wallet and pull out a couple coins to pay for the sweets.

“Thank you very much,” said the gloves through Tomoe. She felt her body give a slight bow before walking out the door. The gloves took Tomoe to a nearby park where they found a park bench and pulled out the package of onigiri. With that, Tomoe felt herself regain control of her body.

“Ok, what the hell was that? Being able to control my body’s movements was already creepy enough, but being able to talk as me? That’s just a whole other level…”

“It is what the court decided we are allowed to do” said the gloves, moving Tomoe’s hands as their “mouths”.

“This was your first test Tomoe, and as you can see unfortunately you failed it. Not that we expected anything different. You were placed into our supervision for a reason, and we will see to it that we reform you into a good member of society. Now let's eat. We don’t think we need to control you to do that. Also don’t worry about getting us dirty, we’ve been treated with an extra protective layer that will require only minimum cleaning during your monthly check-in at the police station. That being, please hold the onigiri with the provided napkin”

As Tomoe opened the onigiri she thought about the situation that she was suddenly placed in. Every aspect of her life was now in the hands of this pair of white gloves and they were not going to let her get away with anything.