No Choice

by Mel Todd

  McKenna pushed back the fear, the clawing need to not be like her mother, forcing a smile on her face. “Doesn’t matter, maybe just a weird ESP like thing I got. We have a job to do dinner this evening, call movers and then swing by my place to get stuff. I’ll worry about this later. It if doesn’t come back, nothing to worry about.” She kept her tone light, even as she chewed over the symbols and made mental notes in her head, now even more terrified about writing it down.

  JD looked like he didn’t believe her, but before he could comment a call came in. The rest of the shift went that way, too busy to let them discuss this, and yet quiet enough she didn’t have to worry about getting more attention. At a quick lunch break she’d called the movers, and they agreed to meet her at the place this evening, giving her just enough time to check out, run to her place, sign things with the movers and then make it to dinner with Toni. If nothing went wrong of course.

  “McKenna,” Anne’s voice caught her just as she turned in the last of her reports, and she couldn’t stop the flinch as she stopped and turned around.

  “Oh, stop it. This isn’t a death sentence.” Anne snapped, her voice sharp.

  McKenna just looked at her, her face blank.

  “Okay, maybe it is, but too bad. Fine print of your employment contract. Here’s the address of the studio, it’s in Sacramento and you need to be there by five am, in regular uniform. The test will be here all day, so others can take it, but you two will take it the second you walk back in. And if this goes well don’t be surprised if you get some more attention.” Before McKenna could even start the smart-ass remark on the tip of her tongue, Anne cut her off. “And no, that isn’t permission to blow the interview. The eyes of the world are on you right now, don’t screw up.”

  The amount of self-control she had to expend to not blow up and let loose all the words, the frustration, the fear that ate at her, left her shaking.

  This is your job, just because it has aspects you didn’t expect doesn’t change that this is your job, the one you chose.

  “Okay. I’ll be there.” There wasn’t anything else she could say. Anne just nodded handing her the paper then turned and walked away.

  “She knows you don’t want to do this. But I bet her ass is getting chewed regularly.” JD’s comment seemed idle, but McKenna couldn’t erase the look of stress that wreathed her features. In the last week Anne had aged at least a decade. It took the wind out of her anger sails and she slumped.

  “Yeah. Come on. I’m crashing at a hotel tonight. I can’t take the risk of not getting up tomorrow. If you let me drive, I’ll dump you off here after dinner and movers and I’ll just get a little closer to Sacramento. Make the morning less of a hassle.”

  A nod from JD and they headed to the car. He always looked so squished in her car, but he did fit - barely.

  By five-thirty, having gotten off at four, and managed to escaped work by five, they pulled into her apartment. A dark complected lean man stood leaning again a car with the logo of ‘We Move U’ on the side, marking things down on a clipboard. He looked up as they pulled in, straightening as she got out, walking over to him.

  “Ms. Largo?” McKenna nodded, and he flashed her a smile. “John Marks. I promise we will get you packed an in storage with no issues.”

  Rolling her eyes mentally, she walked him to her apartment, packing two suitcases with quick efficiency as she listed out what to do, and he made notes. Fifteen minutes later, the price agreed upon, they were talking about how to meet to be let in when she heard Greg call from the front door.

  “McKenna, are you sure about this?” He asked as he wrung his hands a bit looking her.

  “I can’t stay. Not after that, and it isn’t worth the effort. I’m closing on a house and this just forced some decisions on. Greg, can you meet these guys here at nine am to let them pack and over see everything? I’ll be busy all day, but I need this done ASAP.”

  “Anything. And I’m waiving last month’s rent. You’ll see the money was returned to you in your checking account.” His smile had a little coldness to it. “And all the other renters will find their rent has gone up by fifty dollars.”

  Part of her felt like she should protest, but she didn’t. Some things were an odd sort of karma.

  Ten minutes later, her bags packed with everything she would need over the next few weeks, including her computer, kindle, and her headphones, they headed back to the car and to Markey’s.

  They had both changed at the station, and part of her wondered at the pair they made walking in, wearing kilts. Something not common outside a ren faire. But at this point she didn’t care. It made her feel a bit more in charge of her life, and she’d be damned if she gave it up just because some fashion police wanna be had an issue with it.

  Even though they were there about ten minutes early, Toni waited for them sitting in the little waiting area, her face lit up with a real smile as they walked in, tilting her head a bit as she saw the kilts. The image of a paw flashed in her vision, slower this time, and McKenna locked her smile into place trying not to react at all.

  “Hey, I’m so glad you texted me, McKenna.” She rose as they walked in and flashed that same bright smile at JD moving over to him and holding out her hand. “I’m Toni. We really didn’t get to meet last time.”

  McKenna watched with amusement as a light flush rose in his cheeks as he took Toni’s hand. “Hey. I was at Jeff’s funeral. But not exactly a good time to remember people.”

  Toni made a face, but McKenna caught the flash of sorrow in her dark eyes. “No, it wasn’t. All I got that day was a sea of blue and sore hands. But thanks. Come on, I’m starving and I’ve got to work in two hours.”

  The hostess sat them, and McKenna looked at Toni. “So where are the kids?”

  “At home, probably driving Carina crazy.” Toni choked at the look JD and McKenna gave her. “Sorry. I have a pretty big house, it was my parents, and Jeff and I lived there, four bedrooms, three bath, a den, and a small back yard. When I realized I needed to go back to work, a friend of the family told me about Carina who was going to college but needed a cheap place to stay. Her parents and mine were friends, so I knew her kinda. She gets two rooms and her own bathroom for living and studying and she watches Jessie and Jaime in the evenings and is there at night while I work. It’s worked out great and at this point she is more like a big sister than anything else. I’d never be able to pull this off otherwise.”

  They ordered, and silence fell as the server left. McKenna shifted suddenly awkward searching for something to say.

  “I have to ask. What’s with the kilts?” Toni said into the silence. JD and McKenna glanced at each other and broke up in laughter, leaving Toni sitting there looking at the two of like she wasn’t sure if she should run or not.

  Coughing, McKenna picked up her water, and they calmed down, fighting back the occasional hiccup of laughter.

  “You explain, JD. It’s all your fault anyhow.” As she listened to him explain, McKenna thought about the symbol and fastened it into her memory, trying to make sure she could tell all the differences.

  Food came out and conversation turned to her incident at the apartment.

  “Oh, that doesn’t make me happy.” Toni looked actively worried as she tore apart a piece of bread.

  McKenna tilted her head, oddly aware of the scent change from Toni. She itched her nose to try to dispel it. “Why? Are you having issues at work?”

  “No, most people don’t know I changed. My name ended up as a casual mention, not pointing out that I turned into the jaguar caught on film. No, more worried about the kids. They keep changing at school.” She shivered a bit. “The school has been calling me, and usually I can get them to change back, but already some parents have complained, and they can’t understand why everyone is so upset. They firmly believe this is the best thing ever. And I don’t want to make it into something taboo, but if it happens again, the school is going to throw a fit. I’m trying to put it to them like
stripping naked. You just don’t do it at school.”

  JD snorted. “True. But aren’t there other kids that shifted too?”

  “I’ve only heard of one other, but that is just at this school. Not like they are sending letters home to parents telling them. I know cause Jessi said she saw a wolf the other day running from a teacher. At this point I’m assuming if I see a wild animal at the school, it is a kid.”

  “Probably a safe assumption. I mean I’m going to be more hesitant with a wolf, but still if they aren’t looking freaked out, or are huge I’m going to assume it is probably a person. Can’t afford to otherwise. But I’m missing something, why does what happened to me worry you about your kids?”

  Toni flashed McKenna a wry smile. “If you think your neighbors over reacted, you’ve never seen the PTA in action. This means at some point I expect to see any and all the following: separate school for shifter kids, demand they are pulled out of public schools, cries to have a shifter only school set up, the word muzzle at some point, and some sort of indicator that this child shifts so other kids are warned.” By this point the bread had become a pile of crumbs on her plate and pushed it away with a sigh. “Oh well, I can’t deal with it until it happens. I suppose I should have expected that. People always fear what they don’t know.” Toni shook her head and looked at the two of them. “So, normal shifts for the rest of the week? I didn’t see anything today like that lion thing yesterday.”

  McKenna groaned, and JD snorted leaving Toni glancing at the two of them again.

  “Okay spill, what’s up this time?”

  The whole story with the lion, the interview, and everything else tumbled out, JD much more amused than McKenna.

  “Eeww. Yeah, I get the not being excited about the TV stuff. But look at this way,” Her smile was lopsided, pausing a bit as they were served their food. “As long as you are up there being all perfect, it gives me ammo to not penalize my kids and try to keep them out of school. And lets me know maybe I can enjoy this too.”

  McKenna blinked at she looked at Toni and slowly grinned. “Thank you. That is the best reason I’ve heard all week to put up with this stuff. I’ve been reminding myself it is my job, but proving to others that this is just a new skill and no reason to treat people different, is a much better reason.”

  Toni laughs. “Glad I could help. But I need to eat. I’m both starving and need to get out of here soon to get to work. And you have a long day tomorrow. Good luck?”

  McKenna grinned wryly. “I’ll be happy if it is a boring day and they decide not to air any of it.”

  JD and Toni lifted their glasses in a toast, and they focused on eating, and becoming friends.

  They parted with waves, and McKenna felt for the first time in a long time, she might have started down the path to having a female friend.

  “You sure about staying the night in a hotel?” JD asked as they pulled into the parking lot, his Hummer hunkered in the corner like a looming beast.

  “Yeah, you don’t have your spare room ready, I really don’t want to sleep on the couch before dealing with this. There’s a hotel about five miles from you, want to just pick up me up there and I’ll drive down? “

  He wrinkled his nose, looking at the cramped inside of her car. “I’ll drive. Just in case.”

  McKenna huffed. “If someone wasn’t a giant, this car wouldn’t seem so small.”

  JD flashed her a smile as he got out. “Nope, would still be small. I’ll pick you up at 3:30?”

  She shuddered at that time but nodded. “That works, bring coffee. It will take me longer to get ready than you.”

  The usual joke didn’t come back at her, he just nodded and slid out of the car. “Will do. Night, Kenna.”

  He closed the door before she could respond. Feeling lonelier than ever, she drove to a nearby hotel, checked in, and then started to figure out what she needed tomorrow to look presentable.

  Please let all this be worth it in the end.

  Chapter 24 - Show Time

  New businesses catering specifically to those that can shift are popping up everywhere. A new social media site called Furspace is gaining popularity. But it isn’t alone. A new dating app called Shifted, allows you to filter by animal, so you can get dates with only those who are the same type as you. While the numbers of two percent seem to be holding strong, it is suspected there are a lot of people who are hiding from the animal with in. In other news research on what caused this worldwide phenomenon is in full swing, and preliminary results are expected in the next few days. ~ TNN News Anchor

  The alarm blared at McKenna, signaled the arrival of her day from hell. It provided a welcome distraction from her dreams. Dreams full of Hollywood movie creatures, scenes from alien worlds, and those strange symbols as patches on shoulders. Waking, even in a strange hotel room at two-thirty AM, proved a relief from the emotions the dream generated.

  Taking a few deep breaths to clear her mind, she levered herself out of bed and started to get ready. She'd laid everything out the night before, so she didn't need to dig for anything. Thirty minutes later, showered, dressed in a pressed uniform, hair in a neat French braid, and the lightest touch of make-up, she grabbed what she'd brought in and headed down to check out. It didn't make any sense to stay when she had no idea what the day would bring, and a hotel closer to the station would make more sense at that point.

  Walking out the door, she saw JD pulling up in his hummer. His window slid down as he pulled up.

  "Perfect timing. You mind if we toss my bags in the back? I don't want to leave them here in case my car gets broken into."

  "No problem." He hopped out, the engine still idling and in three minutes all her bags were in the back, her car locked up tight, and she sat in the front passenger seat.

  The fragrance of coffee filled her nose as she shut the door.

  "You're forgiven for all the bad things I've ever thought about you," McKenna stated as she grabbed a cup and took a long sip of the life-giving liquid.

  “Sure, you say that now, until the next time I annoy you.”

  “Of course, you’re only as good as your next cup of coffee.” He pulled out and onto the freeway, empty at this hour of the morning. “I can’t believe they want us there at five am.”

  “They want you there at this awful hour. I’m just refusing to let you go alone.” He sounded like he tried to be light and flippant, but worry coated the back of his tone.

  “Thanks. Really.” She shifted from the topic, not wanting to dwell on another interview. “So, what did you think of Toni?”

  She saw his hands tighten on the steering wheel, and when he spoke his voice had dropped two octaves.

  “Kenna, if you are trying to set me up with Toni, I swear by my badge I will never speak to you again and ask for an immediate transfer.” There wasn’t an ounce of humor in his voice.

  “What? Wait, NO!” the words burst out as she spun in her seat so fast she almost dumped coffee on herself. “No, not at all, no way, I would not do that to you. Ever. I just meant, she seems really nice, and since both her kids change she might like to come with us on another mountain trip. No setting up, never occurred to me, at all. She’s just well funny, smart, and sarcastic. Of course, I’d like you to like her.” She almost babbled in her haste to convince him. “Really, I just don’t have any female friends, and I wanted my best friend to like her.”

  JD’s hands relaxed and his body let go of the tension. “I’m your best friend? Okay.” He cleared his throat not looking at her. “No, I liked her. The conversation intrigued me, and I’m going to be watching a bit more closely what is going on in the schools. I think it would be fun, and I suspect the kids would be a hoot to watch in the woods.”

  “Yeah, cool. Thanks.” McKenna fell silent, frowning a bit, and shooting glances at her partner. “Did you really think I’d do that to you, in such an underhanded way? I mean I’d set you up if I found someone I thought you’d like and was worthy of you, but I’d be a hel
l of a lot more blunt about it.”

  He blew out a breath, silence draping over the interior like the San Francisco fog. “No, I guess not. I jumped to a conclusion when you asked me what I thought.”

  She snorted and focused on her coffee. “No biggie, but I won’t ever do anything like that. Ever.”

  “Thanks,” the word held a wealth of pain, and she decided at that point to just be silent, never a bad choice in her life. Instead she focused on the images, the strange dream she had, and worried about what her superiors were going to do with her next. The temptation to blow the interview so badly they never asked her to do anything again still floated in the back of her mind. But Toni’s words about her kids wouldn’t stop echoing in her mind. Besides, she’d never be able to live with herself if she did less than her best.

  Companionable silence kept them company until they neared their destination with about fifteen minutes to spare. Security waited for them and waved them through, then escorted them to the studio where they would be filming.

  A woman, a few years old than McKenna, walked over to them, a black headset stark against her dark blond hair in a pixie cut. “I’m Helen Adams, director. You must be officers Largo and Davidson. Thanks for being on time. We need to get you into make-up and then we can get you into the studio. The hosts will be here in about another ten minutes. Is there anything I can get you? We have almost anything you would like.” She kept up a steady stream of chatter as she ushered them into a room where ten people waited, and a dizzying array of make-up and other beauty instruments lay waiting for them.

  “But I put on make-up,” McKenna protested even as she was ushered into a chair.

  “And I don’t wear make-up,” JD said holding up his hands and trying to back up away from the approaching make-up artists.