VEIL OF OBEDIENCE

eflection scowled back at me through the shop window. He undoubtedly

edly. "Matureness, mature.

precisely when I did. At least that wasn't going to be an issue b

uncle Adrian's worn-out pants protruded in a way that was decidedly unm

o

away. That was the term. I

s whis

esture. Who did he think he was fooling? He wasn't a man. He was a fe

don't like you." It was really upset over b

appear more credible in this outfit if you were thinner

users and tailcoat, which felt str

very plump! Here, we are trying to seem masculine. Couldn't

strian gave me

talking to my mirror in a store window and get o

that was a disguise I had borrowed from my uncle's clothes. My hair just reached my shoulders, so it wasn't really long enough to be a man's. But shoulder-leng

dden by the heavy mist that covered most of London's streets at this time of day. D

ecluded, a

ront of the storefront window had been an attempt to make sure I appeared like the ch

oughts of panic flew through my mind like bees shaken by a beast that was

our mission to serve all women. There are

all over my remains, which

broad classical portico, which loomed over the steps leading to the entry, was supported by white columns. The door was flanked by a guar

g I had pilfered from my uncle, and my intense indignation at my reflection. And that's wh

es it not? Not

that you reside in a nation where women

nd thought, "Not so the United King

rage a great deal of thought and concluded that it

of women's little brains. They couldn't comprehen

they would be too preoccupied to get married and start fam

g politics on an equal basis with men, which would be much worse since it

men were just not fit for politics because of their del

their arguments in great detail and with great sincerity, I ultimately concluded that they were total garbage. I sincerely hoped I could see t

ed not to let my heart race. I thought someone would point the finger at me and start y

Not a single perso

ted to a few yards. Beyond that, everything was simply a vague outline. The fog grew thick

als on the streets, and they moved quickly by. Inside the station, I hoped it would remain the same. Here outside, the lone exception to the rule was a big

you that." His speech was accentuated by energetic motions with his chu

couldn't see his face. All I could make out was his slender black form, as strai

!"The obese man reassured him. "I hate to part with Serenity Park, b

dn't really listened to their discourse earl

He lifted a hand to indicate the fat man, saying, "Landon, pay the man, and let's be done with i

an's double chin trembl

an clicked his finger

, and a large fellow, one of the individuals encircling the

althy, chauvinistic man being duped and losing a few thousand pounds? Not

assault on the bastion of male politic

houlder, but Landon, the behemoth, grabbed my arm before it even re

m. His face was as dark as his long black beard, and he had a genuine turban on his head. Now that he was so near, I could

nd painfully twisted my arm. Felix

wearing my uncle's Sunday best. Okay, so the clothes hadn't been wo

ho dress like guys; at least

any money from him. I actually w

t him go!The young man turned t

r he was a very submissive servant. His master was staring at me wi

mewhere between green and grey and as dark as the sea. What are y

be secure inside the voting place. Rather, I was confined to this place beca

is hand down on his belt. I looked at the enormous sabre that hung there for the first time. Clearly, he didn'

ion of your conversation with...," I

Gabriel," the man with

nderstand correctly that you p

u a

ou, sir, I would sug

hy

nity Park. I occasionally go see her and have s

if it is attractive or n

are and said, "That it is, sir, that it is.

ot sound,

how?With black eyes

overheard the steward lamenting in passing about the undeveloped area on the property and the rat infesta

all of it simpl

nswered tr

rstand." It's exactly wha

s crumbling, and...' was the sta

shadowy man interrupted me.

mpletely unpr

he direction of the obese man. "Landon, get rid of that individual." Our

ed,

abriel by the scruff of the neck and pulled him off into the mist. The man's crie

ht young man with a good memory and quick mind to be my secretary. I know a good man when I see one." The last one

h... the right person for the job? I apologize, si

le to writ

s,

working s

d to force myse

sir,

. On Monday morning, arriv

d extended his hand

is

wing me to see him properly for the first time. T

or a man, acce

t saw him. With the obvious exception that, compared to him, every stone statue I had encountered at the museum seemed far more inclined to s

ectly clean-shaven face, in contrast to the prevailing style, gave it an even more sharp and angular appearance. Eventually, his eyes were visible. I had alre

d, he most likely looked a li

with a prominent jawline and a domineering demeanor, were at the top of my list of things I would kill to improve the world. The

young man?" Do you

away my straying thoughts. I pretended to be so

u just shocked me." Sincerely, I said, "I have to

me," he remarked, his hard, angular visage remaining still. "I do

his ability to make the statue smile. I was suddenly overcome with a strong desir

once again and jerk

at he was holding out to me: a little cardboard rectangle. I took it and gave it a lo

Max

re H

all Str

titles, no fril

of Greece used to eat for breakfast? Well, my eyes swept appreciatively

was too tiny to comprehend politics! I was a proud suffragette who ought to have been advocating for women's rights rather than the contents of men's

g his long black cloak billowing in the wake. "I don't tolerate tardiness." He seemed to be the center of their small solar system,

te who has amassed too much wealth for his own good? No, that didn't go with the straightforward cut and color scheme of his outfit, which was all black fro

fit, indeed! One of those guys who I was supposed to be hanging around here in this weird outfit anyw

for a bri

polling place after

really good test. One of the most manly men I'd ever encountered was

that I was with the most manly man I had ever encountered, and he had

bout appearing overly feminine just a moment a

de

reason to be irritated. Ther

ficer stood guard at the door, his silhouette menacingly visible as the fog slightly lifted. Despite the cold, sweat appeared on my brow, and for a

illions of males who, because they were penniless, were still denied the right to vote. It

as I approached the front door vi

n salutation. Why hadn't this occ

haystack jammed into a shopping bag, I was unable to accomplish that. I simply nodded i

open the polling place door. Out of the shad

ould I carry this out? Did I have enough courage? Would

, I jumped into the darkness