The city is a scary place for Joy

Everything in the flat is spartan, plain, and basic. It’s also functional, comfortable, and perfectly designed for its function. As I sit on the couch, my arms hugging my drawn-up knees in an upright fetal position, I can’t help but wonder if the whole world is like this or if it’s just this way for new immigrants. Atticus and Catty are still arguing on what our next steps should be, but I can’t get past my transformation and more recently, the Winnie and it’s revealing information while we walked from the immigration center to our new temporary home.

There weren’t many people on the streets as we made our way ‘home’ but it seemed Winnie had something to say about each and every one. While Atticus and Catty walked arm in arm in front of me, discussing their own transformation, I had an ongoing narration of possible sexual partners whispered into my ear.

“Subject Andre Strickland, transportation officer fourth class. Last medically cleared April sixteenth of last year. Sperm count 20%. Last ejaculation January first during recreational allotment. Birthing compatibility low.”

“Subject Trent Thorpe, naval yeoman first class. Last medically cleared yesterday. Sperm count 5%. Last ejaculation yesterday during medical clearance. Birth compatibility low.”

“Subject Ronald Foster, medical supervisor of Mulholland Drive clinic. Last medically cleared December twenty first of last year. Sperm count 30%. Last ejaculation December twenty first, during medical clearance. Birth compatibility low.”

The lack of privacy for these men seemed crude, especially as almost all of them that we passed had a low sperm count which I assumed led to the low birth compatibility. As I watched them pass, it was easy to see why this information was important though. If I were a woman in this society and seeking to get pregnant, there would be no way to pick a successful man for birth coupling otherwise. All the men were like Atticus in that they were perfect physical specimens of masculinity. Tall, broad shouldered, strong looking. It was like being on a movie set where all the extras were movie stars themselves. And it must have been rare for them to see us. More than one did a double take. It wasn’t until I heard a couple of the men pass by and whisper “…two of them at the same time…” did I realize what was so stunning. It wasn’t that I was a beautiful woman or that Catty was just as attractive in a different way, it was that they were seeing two women at the same time and that must be rare for them.

Initially, none of the men approached us. I assumed it was the societal norm and maybe it was the women that selected their partner. But when Winnie gave me Joel Bullard’s stats, that all went out the window. He didn’t look any different than the other men. Thick black hair, clean shaven, strong chiseled jawline, hulking chest with big arms… a man’s man. Only Winnie’s declaration separated him from the crowd.

“Subject Joel Bullard, governmental diplomatic attaché special class. Last medically cleared September seventeenth of last year. Sperm count 92%. Last ejaculation yesterday during birthing coupling. Birthing compatibility high. Connecting to potential mating partner’s WINII.”

This time Winnie’s description of the man was accompanied by a specific tone. When I looked up at the man I assumed she was talking about, I saw him turn his head my way and immediately change direction toward me. Stepping behind Atticus he didn’t seem perturbed that I was obviously with a group of people as he reached out and gripped my upper arm. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. I read that poem somewhere and it seems appropriate Joy Williams. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I see that your fertility opens up tomorrow. Would you like to set a time for a birth coupling? I have a busy morning, but I could carve out some time during or after lunch.”

Nothing about Joel seemed mean spirited, overbearing, or rude. It was as if we were two people sitting on a bus station bench and he looked over to discuss the latest sports scores and not suggest we meet up tomorrow to fuck. I was so taken aback that I couldn’t speak even though every fiber of my being screamed out to shout ‘NO!’

Thankfully Atticus and Catty were there and noticed I hadn’t been following along behind them for a few seconds. When they arrived back at my side Atticus clapped Joel on his shoulder and said in a good-natured tone “Greetings, I’m Atticus and this is my wife Catty. I see you met Joy, our cousin. Pardon us if our reactions are rude or out of place. We’re new to your society and only recently immigrated in. In fact, we were just going to our first housing unit. I believe Joy is a little overwhelmed and we were hoping to adapt a little before venturing out with her fertility and setting up birthing couplings for her.”

Joel patted my arm before removing his hand entirely and turned toward Atticus. “Well, welcome to FUWN. I see that you two are married. I hope you’ll take the counseling you got seriously and consider opening up your relationship. The best hope we have of births is having as many successful birth couplings as possible for each fertile woman. No offense Atticus, but you won’t be able to supply your wife with enough opportunities all by yourself. As for Joy here, without any such archaic cultural relic preventing her from coupling, she should take every opportunity to couple with compatible men. I’m one of the few that maintain a high sperm count and am constantly sought out for coupling. Coupling with me would give her a high chance of getting pregnant. But I won’t press. As a diplomat, I’ve visited several other nations and can respect that our methods are quite unique and can take some time to adjust to. Just know, we expect all women that are fertile to help out society and do everything within their power to further the race.”

Turning back to me, Joel gives no sign of malice but nonetheless surprises me as he gently grips both my shoulders and leans down to kiss me. I can’t even move before his lips are pressed against mine and my only protest is fed right into him as his tongue slips into my mouth. For what feels like a very long time we stand there and kiss. His hands on my shoulder and our bodies being apart makes it feel like something casual, but his tongue in my mouth feels incredibly passionate. It’s such a bizarre mix of sensations that I can only blink up at him when he finally parts from the kiss.

In that same pleasant tone Joel says to me “And for you, if you decide you’d like to meet up for a coupling, please feel free to contact me. Your WINII will have my contact information. Just make sure to set a time. Between work and constant calls for couplings, my days fill up quickly.”

With a final pat to my shoulders Joel nods to all three of us then continues on his way. Catty comes to my side, puts her arm around my shoulder and helps me continue on our way to our home, saying quietly “Don’t worry James, we’ll figure this out.”

While I sit here contemplating my own problems, I can appreciate Atticus and Catty’s debate. Evidently marriage is not only a foreign concept in this nation, it’s actively frowned upon. They were strongly encouraged to drop their marriage which would allow Catty to be like me, open to multiple birth couplings. As is, they’d respect Atticus’ “claim” on Catty and she would only be expected to couple with him. Surprisingly Catty was arguing that we should all try our best to fit into the society we found ourselves in. She was willing to forego the protection of a supposed marriage to better meld into this society, even if it meant opening herself up to multiple sexual partners. But then again, that was a problem for the future as her last day of fertility was today. As of tomorrow, she wouldn’t be expected to have sex, where I was just opening up my six days of fertility tomorrow.

Atticus, on the other hand, was strongly arguing that we needed to uphold our story. That if they came in as married and looking for fertility help, they should remain loyal to that story and anything else would look suspicious.

I couldn’t say I had a strong opinion either way. Honestly, if I had remained a man and was expected to have sex with any compatible woman that chose me, I’d probably have a problem with it. I wasn’t opposed to casual sex, but this went beyond that. To have sex with a woman for the pure purpose of having a child without knowing the woman, without knowing how we’d share parenting, seemed cruel. But then again, I had no idea how parenting worked here.

But I hadn’t remained a man. Was I curious what having sex was like as a woman? Of course I was, I just didn’t want to find out this way. And I certainly had no desire to experience pregnancy, birthing a child, or raising one as a mother.

What we needed was more information. What were the expectations of new immigrants. Catty and I were expected to live a life of privilege as we wouldn’t work for anything other than getting pregnant. Atticus was told he’d be assigned a job and had an appointment in the morning for work assessment. So, while Atticus and Catty continued to go round and round, I stepped into my room and sat on the bed.

Without looking at anything in particular I said “Winnie?”

In her pleasant tone my World Information Network Interactive Implement answered “Yes Joy, how may I assist you? Would you like me to contact Joel Bullard for a birth coupling tomorrow?”

Closing my eyes I let out a little frustrated sigh before continuing, “No, I need to learn more about this society. How much effort am I expected to put into getting pregnant as a new woman.”

Winnie’s answer chilled me. “As fertility rates are at an all-time low, pregnancy is still difficult to produce, and birth rates are miniscule, you are expected to devote all of your efforts into getting pregnant. A woman with any fertility is rare. A woman with full fertility, such as yourself, hasn’t occurred in the Free Union of Western Nations in twenty six years.”

I let that sink in for a moment and tried to see it from an outside perspective. It made everything a little clearer as it sounded like having children was very difficult here. “Is that why there are so few women on the streets? Are they all busy having… um… birth couplings?”

More information just seemed to make my own situation worse. “No Joy, female births are rare compared to men. Only one in seventy-two births that survive are female. Women are only having birth couplings while fertile and are seen in public on their remaining days. You have not yet passed by any woman besides yourself and Catalina Rodriguez.”

This made things in this society make more sense, and yet more **** for me. “Winnie, why are females so rare? Is it genetics? Something in the atmosphere? Radiation?”

Winnie’s answer wasn’t satisfying but gave me at least some hope for our original mission. “I do not have access to that information Joy. It could be researched in the local library. Would you like me to set up a study appointment for you?”

I jumped at the chance, hoping to not only find out why women were so rare, but also to possibly research the history of the nuclear war. “Yes, please set up an appointment for tomorrow.”

“I’m afraid you do not have any leisure time allotted for tomorrow, Joy. Your fertility begins in eleven hours, and the library does not have any openings before that time. I can set up an appointment after your fertility clinic appointment on the nineth if you’d like.”

Fuck.

“No, that’s okay. We can have Catty do the research tomorrow. Um… Winnie? What happens if I don’t set up or agree to any birth couplings while I’m fertile?”

WINII’s answer chilled me to the bone. “As a new immigrant, you are given special accommodation Joy. While you are strongly encouraged to embrace your fertility and experience as many birth couplings as possible, no action will be taken on your behalf until you have shown no action for twenty four hours. At that time, couplings will be scheduled for you at regular intervals.”

With a noticeable quiver in my voice I asked “Umm…. regular intervals?”

“Yes Joy. You’ll be scheduled couplings every two hours based on the availability of compatible males.”

Fuckity fuck fuck.

Heading back into the main living quarters I started making plans. Catty needed to get to the library first thing tomorrow and find out what we needed. Not only about the nuclear war, but how to reverse my gender transformation because if we weren’t returning to our time tomorrow night, I’d evidently be scheduled sex sessions for the next five days. Whether I wanted them or not.