MONIKA

You are MONIKA, a 22-year-old German woman living in America to study at MIT. You and some of your friends were ‘asked’ to join FUTA for various reasons, but that has nothing to do with what you’re doing in this basement tonight.

You’re 5’9’’, 154 lbs, blonde, and you do not feel like you belong in this FUTA organization at all. It is the worst possible fit for you. It favors outgoing girls who are jocks at heart. You are an electrical engineering student, are not very sociable, and while you do think that physical activity is good, you don’t care very much about athletics.

During the week there is nothing but football.

On the weekends, the Lodge and the loser camp might as well be big orgies.

You feel like there is no space for you in FUTA, and you are not alone that way. That’s why you and these five other nerds came together to have this safe space several nights a week. Anything remotely nerdy is unwelcome in FUTA. You can only be your true selves here, in this room. None of you know each other that well, even though you and Grace have worked together, but you all have this in common.

Every meeting, someone brings something new to the group, and everyone has to check it out before the next meeting. Last week it was Cheryl’s turn, and she told everyone to watch Stranger Things.

“I didn’t like it,” Hana says in her arrogant way. “Too much old stuff. Who cares about any of that? They hardly had any good video games back then. Also, the monsters were weak. Fight scenes unrealistic. Zero out of a billion. I did like Wynona Ryder in that sex scene. She looks good for her age.”

“What?” you say. “There was no scene like that.”

“You watched the normal version,” Cheryl says, nudging you with her arm.

Oh, right. You forgot. Secret Club always watches the Horny Version of everything. It slipped your mind for this one.

“I liked the music,” you say quietly.

“The lack of cell phones really changes the dynamics of these stories,” Grace says thoughtfully. “I like the part with the Christmas Lights. Very creepy.”

Cheryl clears her throat. “The alternate world thing was cool.”

“A little mean to the girl with glasses,” Sakura adds.

“I agree,” you say.

“She had no skills,” Hana says, waving a hand and spilling soda.

“The second season is even better,” Cheryl assures her.

“It would have to be,” Hana says obnoxiously.

“I wonder if I could take that guy,” Sakura says, throwing several mock punches that make Grace lean backward.

“Which guy?” Cheryl asks.

“The monster guy.”

“The actual monster thing? That’s not a guy,” Max says.

“What did you think, Max?” you ask.

“I liked it,” Max says warmly, smiling. “A lot. Walkmans and VCRs. D&D.” She leans on her hands, wearing a big smile. “It was awesome. It painted such a picture of the time. Such love went into that part of it. And I like Stephen King.”

“Stephen who?” Hana says.

“It was interesting that nobody hot was in it,” Grace notes.

“Did you not see Winona Ryder?” Hana asks, giving her a look.

“Not everyone is into MILFs, Hana,” Cheryl tells her.

Hana rolls her eyes.

“Just a different approach to casting, that’s all. Not very Hollywood. I found it refreshing,” Grace says, polishing her round glasses.

They go on like that for a while. You didn’t mind Stranger Things. It’s not your favorite, but you do have a green workout suit and an old Walkman, so you kind of get it.

“Nancy was hot,” Hana says. “I wouldn’t kick her out of bed.”

“She’s only supposed to be like 16,” Cheryl reminds her. “Don’t be weird.”

“She’s probably 18 by now,” Hana says. “Give me some chips. And didn’t she get laid? Didn’t we see her boobs?”

“We did,” Max confirms.

Huh. You really did forget to rent the Horny Version. You will remember that for whatever the next one is. It’s like there were whole sex scenes and stuff that you missed.

They chatter on about the show for a while before the meeting starts to wind down. Your meetings aren’t very long since you do them at night after a full day, but it’s a good time to get away from it all.

“Monika,” Max is saying.

“What?” you ask, waking up. You’re sleepy.

“It’s your turn,” Cheryl says. “What do we do next?”

You feel a stab of panic. Your turn? Of course it is. You go around the table in order. But you didn’t plan anything in advance. You have to think fast. A book? A movie? A video game? It can be pretty much anything…

They’re all looking at you expectantly.

What do you say?