Author's Note: The idea for homosexual reeducation camps in the Bluejay world came to me very early on in the composition. Originally, they were to be named but never mentioned as per what went on inside them. It was my hope that this was the most far-fetched idea in my head, barring Hollywood being run by mind-warped robots. I see through recent events that this could not be further from the truth. The fact that even on a far-right-fringe scale, such repugnant hate and actions could not only be seen as doable, but desirable and a religious and social duty should be a wake-up call to America that they are not immune from the hateful and militant religious frenzy that creates terrorism. Is this the biggest issue to come up since I started writing? Of course not. However, it is quite possibly the one I wished was the most out there. Sometimes it takes knowledge of the extremes to change the means.
Offseason Conditioning
Time: March-September 2016Subject #14923, Room 253, sector 3, level 4
Meredith was about to be a star, the best basketball player the state of Ohio had ever seen. Despite her height of 6'1" she was the prettiest one in class, bar none. She had the best moves on the court and was a straight-A student. But she never hid who she was...
Has had sinful feelings since she was a freshman and has acted on them regularly with her companion. She feels no remorse and is delusional to the obvious sin that she is committing. She sees both homosexuality and God as equal and cannot understand her actions. She has been enrolled here with the idea that the further training will ready her for the rigors of college.
She comes by bus; despite being enrolled here by her mother, she chose Knoxville herself as a compromise. She spends the summer working to rid herself of her lust, and spends the fall a free woman at the best school for her sport. She has left it all behind as the bus pulls in. It's March, right after her final basketball game. She will be granted GED status and enrolled in college as soon as she finishes. As is the case with most homosexual teenagers, it is seen as best to enroll them in a HOPE camp before the month of April of their final year; April is the time where the feelings of love and lust come to fruition in high school.
Subject #17243, Room 253, sector 3, level 4Chris was the butch one, living her days in the suburbs as a pizza girl at the local Catholic university and her nights as a free-spirited lesbian on South Street. Philadelphia was one of the last cities to curl up into Britney's mindless slumber and most people in the city actually moved north to the asylum state. Chris hated the homophobia, and made no secret of who she was, with her body adorned by tattoos and piercings, her arms built to the point where she won a men's boxing tournament, and her hair shaved down to a crew cut. In the days before the Chinese War, she survived by either being mistaken for a man or simply being so frightening that the brainwashed saw her as hopeless and let her be. As the Liberty Bell finally crumbled in 2016 with the renaming of the Walt Whitman Bridge, the bridge of her liberty after Jerry Falwell, the purveyor of the liberty of tyranny, she prepared to move toward the asylum state but was reported by one of the priests on the campus she served. She had no ill against the church, because she saw the extremism as the Catholics latching on to a Protestant trend. But when Father Max, as she called him, damned her to eternal suffering in the deepest part of hell and locked her in the confessional booth until authorities could send her to the HOPE camp, she renounced all ties and was sent to Knoxville because it was seen as the best in the country.
Sees male customs of machismo and honorable violence as a natural calling. Approach with caution. May be encourageable, but has traits and loyalty beyond that of her calling. Imported from Sweetland Hills in Lancaster County for more intense training.
She arrives in handcuffs, smiling at the thought. She taunts the leader as she inspects her: When the commander asks if she is ready to stop being a dyke, her reply is simply "Stick your finger in me, see if the pressure makes me break" She shakes off the sting of the impending slap across the face with a smile and a laugh. As her leather outfit is replaced with the standard uniform of blue jeans and an prison-orange T-shirt that read "May we pay penance, be forgiven and delivered from evil" she scoffs that the only size that fits is that of the shirts given to all the staff, yet they can't notice that the only people bigger than her are those who have been saved.
Subject #12325, Room 253, sector 3, level 4Erica drove on her own from the suburb of Nashville. She was an active lesbian since she was 16 but she could not face herself. She heard the church bells and they deafened her to herself; she felt worthless and a leper. She felt the whispers pushing her toward taking her own life to save the lives of others but she could not accept quitting, so late one night she kissed her lover goodbye and set out to save herself before it was too late. Her presence took the staff by surprise; very rarely does one volunteer to be cleansed of sin. Most who realize their sin do not seek refuge, and instead fight their urges themselves. Yet through that method the urges remained, but she wanted to be free of them for good and live a pious life and have children. And so she came.
Erica is unique, because she recognized her sins and sought refuge on her own. She has taken more steps toward recovery than some who have completed the program. She only needs fine-tuning and cleansing to be rid of lust for good.
She comes seeking refuge but she still sees lesbians as her kind, so she winces at some of the physical restraint by the staff. She accepts it but cannot turn a blind eye to it as the rest of the staff urges her to do.
Subject #19034, Room 253, sector 3, level 4Heather was a beauty queen, blonde hair and blue eyes since birth. She won beauty pageants and dated men often, but felt no attraction no matter how much she tried or how much she actually liked the guy. She knew something was wrong; she saw beauty in and felt love for her friends but not men. She knew it was wrong but she found someone who felt the same way in college and they took to each other like they had never felt love before. She kept their relationship secret for 2 years but when her roommate, Monica, came home early to see the two together, she panicked. She cried that Heather had been raped. Although Heather tried to explain her sexuality to her roommate, Monica only became more afraid, terrified that she would be melted into the same sexual frenzy that grabbed her roommate. Heather's lover was found by the police and executed, while Heather was sent to a HOPE camp to remove her of the poison that was put inside her by her attacker.
A rape victim that was sent here by her roommate, Heather had all the makings of a proper woman until her growth was tragically cut short by a crazed lesbian.
She remembers her lover well, but she can't utter her name or they will know that she was a willing participant and not a victim. She goes here with the fear that if she does not comply, she will be exposed and will be executed. So she does what she is told, but she cannot accept any of it.
Week 1:
The subjects arrive from all walks of life, rich and poor, black and white, butch and beautiful, young and old. The first step is to divide the prisoners into their proper sector and level. They are first divided by gender; while most are lesbians there are gay men sent to HOPE camps even if the success rate with gay men is much smaller than with lesbians. Knoxville also holds one of only two special wings for transvestites and transsexuals. The prisoners are then separated by race and then once more by age. This makes up the sector and level number. The sector number indicates white lesbian, of which there are 9 in Knoxville; the level number indicates an age between 18 and 25. The level numbers go from over 50 (level 1) to under 18 (level 5); the order is in reverse because to start conversion it takes longer to convert someone who was a lesbian years before Britney than it is for someone who has known Britney for most of their life. They are housed 4 to a room, with the rooms being assigned as close to the same day as possible. The rooms are actually a square of 4 cells facing each other, with the standard bed and sink setup. The toilet is encased in a large closet in which the uniform for the day and shower are also enclosed. This is done for privacy and so that they cannot be tempted by seeing any part of anyone's body. There are cameras everywhere that also record sound to make sure conversation is not anything that is not approved. There is a television above each bed, broadcasting around the clock, that cannot be turned off. One difference between Knoxville and other HOPE camps is that they can change the channel while in other camps the TV is locked on Channel 1. The idea is that they can convert at their own pace through a station that appeals to them, a concept preached by O'Reilly himself but rarely followed. The girls are taken to their floor, and from the moment they step through the door, this will be the only world that they will know. Each sector has their own dining hall, lecture hall, bank of classrooms, and entertainment theatre. Times are scheduled so that they will do any outdoor activity by themselves with no interaction with the other sectors and levels. There are individual sessions but those take place much later in the program. Length of stay depends on what kind of program they enroll in and if they make progress. Those who cannot be saved often agree to be sent to the asylum state.
Knoxville has the highest success rate among all the HOPE camps as 65% achieve some form of acceptance and recovery, and has the highest rate of marriage and commitment among all camps. 15% "fully recover" which is defined by marriage and procreation within a suitable number of years depending on age. Another 20% renounce their sexuality and commit themselves to Jesus. Another 25% retain their sexuality but commit themselves to religion, the government, or other form of service to the community; their recognition of themselves as sinners causes them to banish themselves from mainstream society. Programs for these people include convents where they can further their recovery, the top secret FEAR units of the military, and filling the jobs of the damned such as truck driving and garbage collection. The final 5% realize their sins and incurability and permanently remove themselves from any level of society in the name of salvation.
The other 35% are incurable and either are returned to society until they are enrolled again, or are sent to New York. Critics also point out that Knoxville is the most successful because it is the smallest of the HOPE camps, with an operating capacity of only 1000. Their numbers are also disputed since success rate is bolstered by students at the nearby university going through outpatient care while attending classes and only if needed, enroll full-time during breaks.
Differing from the crude camps of the pre CCP era, the HOPE program, short for Homosexual Operation for Procreative Equality, uses positive examples and fair teaching of truth to inspire and shepherd homosexuals from the clutches of the devil and into the open and loving arms of the Lord.
The 4 girls are led to their room and are shut in with a shapely blonde who has built-up arms and is wearing a uniform similar to theirs except the shirt reads, "Penance is your only hope". For the first day they are drilled by their supervisor who sleeps on a bed in the middle of the room. She screams at each of them, calling them not by their given names, but by names that fit the message of Britney, and continually yelling the name until they acknowledge it by kneeling down and praying for forgiveness.
"Mary Clark! Bow to the Lord!"
Meredith shrugs and gets on her knees and rattles off what she is told to say. But afterwards she corrects the woman in the cell with them.
"I'm sure it's a mistake, but my name is Meredith," she says nervously, giving the supervisor the benefit of the doubt. And the slap across the face tells her that there was no mistake. And so the process starts from the beginning; this time she makes no effort to correct or resist.
"Chrissie Martin! Bow to the Lord!"
"Oh!" Chris says with a chuckle, "Christina not pious enough for you anymore? It'll do." A slap followed by, "Mmm, how thoughtful, they gave me a blonde with such smooth hands and pretty fingernails." The supervisor rakes Chris's eyes. "Ooohhh, feisty! Word must be getting out about the way I liked it back in Philly. Just remember, I bite first!" The enraged supervisor is about ready to pull out the billy club but hears Heather laughing uncontrollably in the background and takes out her aggression on her instead. To this scene Chris relents and perfectly recites the prayer. "Dear Lord, forgive us our sins, forgive us for being consumed by lust and let us pay proper penance for our misgivings and evil. Raise us out of the arms of the Devil and into Your kingdom to prove our worth to You as the human beings created in Your image, Amen!"
"Stephanie Erickson! Bow to the Lord!"
Erica bows and prays willingly, thinking that reversing her name is the only way to reverse the curse, and that violence is only there to help.
The supervisor smiles at her obedience. "You still need to repent, but let yourself be an example how the dyke can collapse into the loving and flowing waters of Jesus Christ, our savior."
"Wait, I thought the great flood was Noah, not Jesus," Chris pipes in with a chuckle.
"Stephanie, would you like to show Chrissie how you feel about your prayer being interrupted by the devil like that?"
"Devil? No, I don't feel horny today, try demon maybe," Chris teases, enjoying the thought of some weak inverse trying to beat her up.
"I wish instead to turn the other cheek. May she who have no sin cast the first stone," Erica replies.
The supervisor accepts this response, but adds, "As your sin leaves you, you may feel different. Do not be afraid. Anger is acceptable when the Lord is being disgraced." She then walks over and buries her billy club into Chris' stomach, and her coughs intermingle with laughter. Chris sees Erica wince at the brutality but says nothing.
One of the most important elements of the HOPE camp is the H, Homosexuals. While there are many normal people at the camps, when possible actual recovered homosexuals serve in the cells, leading their charges toward the glorious live of family and marriage that they have felt for themselves. It also allows us to monitor progress better, since they know all the subtleties that others cannot.
The supervisor once again turns toward Heather, however this time she gets a glance of her beauty and she takes a step back and stares directly into the light overhead. She blinks a few times and takes a deep breath before calling her to bow to the Lord. Heather responds easily and without thought, which the supervisor takes as a chance to admonish her other three charges. "She was victimized by you people, and she is only here to return to her rightful path. I will be watching you! This innocent woman does not need a godly name, and I will not let you turn her into Hillary Clinton!"
The supervisor then leads the group in a standard set of prayers, forcing her charges to read selected passages that convey God's hatred of gays. She then introduces herself.
"My name is Zelda Shane. I am married to Larry Shane and have a degree from this very school- indeed, I came through this very camp. I played for one of its top teams- I hear one of you is working to straighten yourself out before you take the floor here. I was not so lucky, but this school took me under its wing. The love of the sports programs is what created and continues to fund this camp, giving them a chance to give back to the athletes they adore by cleansing them of sin and making them stronger than they were when they were athletes. I am here because I know how tough it is for you to remove yourself from sin. I was there. It took me a year; the average term here is now six months. I will be tough, but I will be fair, and most importantly I will be here for you. I will be here to put you back on track. I know the little ways lust can enter your mind, and I know how to rid yourself of it.
Chris interjects with her normal wisecrack. "Yeah, like blind yourself with a light bulb before blondie gets a chance to. I saw you getting melty over there, I don't blame ya, after all you did say she was your type."
Zelda runs over to Chris and kicks her in the knee.
"Hey now! If you wanted ME on my knees all you had to do was ask!" Chris replies and Zelda slaps her across the face and then continues.
"This is a good time to let everyone know that discipline is only done out of the sincerest hope and love." Zelda walks over to Chris again and slaps her once more for good measure. "I knew what you were thinking of saying. Anyway, I know I will sometimes appear harsh and I know sometimes it will feel hopeless, but there is a new life for you when you leave here, a life of happiness and glory. There will be opportunities for you that never have existed before. You should be excited, and for that you should take your work and studies seriously. If you work hard to save your soul, Jesus will reach out and save it. If your soul is not saved, it was because you were not willing to let it be saved, but we are always here for you to try. If you need someone to talk to, remember I was one of you once too, and I will be glad to answer your questions. Now the schedule: Wake up is 7:10am, then to the showers, which are encased in the privacy box which also houses the toilet. Your clothes for the day can be found in the cabinet inside the box. All changing will take place inside that box, which will be locked until you press the button found on the inside and left. Don't even think about pushing it early and giving everyone a peep show. Punishment for that level of lust and temptation is rightfully harsh and stern. At 7:20 is prayer, then you line up and join your sector for breakfast, followed by morning classes, recreation, lunch, afternoon classes, entertainment, then return here for counseling and evening prayer, return to the dining hall for dinner then to the cell for television sharply at 8:00pm. Trust me when I say that you do not want me to miss The Quaker Show on Channel 1 because you decided to be a dyke that evening. While I'm watching TV, you are free to socialize among each other while you are in your cells, because the room is built so that you are protected from your physical lust but still free to be friendly. However, don't think about saying anything lustful, everything outside of the privacy box is recorded, and we will publicly air any breaks in reform, among other appropriate punishment. Unlike most camps, we believe you should watch whatever mainstream shows you like. You will find this more entertaining than staring at each other as your lust slowly exits your body. Channels can be adjusted using the remote on the stool to your left. Since most of you do not watch television, a programming listing has been located for you under the remote. You should find that it will be easier and easier to go along with things as they happen, likewise, you will see me as less tough as I become more and more your equal. You may even find that your understanding may lead to us becoming good friends." This last sentence is directed right at Heather, Zelda's voice softening somewhat and again she glances up at the lights before resuming her hardened form.
"All right, 6pm, off to dinner!"
The four line up and march off. That night they are essentially unsupervised, Zelda staring glassy-eyed at the television along with Erica, both completely wired into Channel 1. Heather sits alone, head in her hand. Meredith sees this and speaks.
"What's wrong?" Meredith becomes squeamish at the thought. "You mean you think Zelda... oh man, I didn't just say that!"
"Not like I mind being the teacher's pet, but I can't stand watching her treat you like that while she fawns over me and all but tries to seduce me before she blinds herself by looking up at that ceiling."
"Oh come on! Don't let a little attention scare ya, kid. Yeah, Zelda's hot for you, Heather, what self-respecting female-inclined person wouldn't be? If you dressed in leather, kid, you'd be even hotter than that God rebel I found. Hell- oh, excuse me...HEY, CAMERA, that's right I said HELL!!! You know, my home? Anyway, if they had that girl on most of the time, maybe I'd give a shit about this place. After all, I don't know how God thinks about using a Bible as a sissy bar, but I'd be glad to introduce her to Satan if she came to town."
Heather laughs, "Who, Shawna? Trust me, those goldielocks aren't real like mine. I got blondes in low places."
"Oh ho ho! You're gonna get it, sister, or knowing Zelda, get some!" Chris replies.
"I dunno, she could lose a few pounds, but I'd do her, she's cute in her stupidity. And I must say I must look like a goddess after she puts a light halo around me by trying to blind herself with those lights. Or that's her way of being able to envision me naked, and ohhh, she wonders why I have my eyes closed at her. Oh my! Must be the rapist who possessed me talking! I wonder what they got on this thing anyway."
Suddenly Meredith is alone. With Heather watching television and Chris suddenly infatuated with Channel 8 she shrugs and turns to Channel 10, just to see how the other half lives.
WEEK 2
Every Sunday is a day of prayer, salvation and penance. The day starts with Mass where the subjects are given their normal prayers and a long sermon about how much further they need to go. Then comes the confessional, where any deviance during free time is exposed in public to the other subjects and the offenders are appropriately punished. Then comes individual counseling with the supervisor, followed by visits to the beauty shop where those who have fallen deep enough under get their bleach jobs, while those who are near completion of the program record their personal ads for a mate of the opposite sex. Sunday is the day where those who are finished leave and new subjects enter. This is also the day the supervisors are visited by their mates and children. Depending how far along their charges are, they may show them off to their charges to show how much better a pious life is. This concludes with the traditional Sunday dinner, the only deviation from the steady diet of O'Reilly burgers done on all other days (or basically your standard American meal schedule). Sundays are seen as a day of reflection and new confidence for those going through the program.
The women are led into the church for confessional after prayers. Each supervisor comes up and airs the tapes of any deviant behavior that happened while the subjects were left to themselves during primetime. The offenses vary from minor criticisms, usually punished by having to do push-ups or other physical exertion, to the major such as flirting or other forms of lustful conversation, which are punished physically.
Zelda takes the pulpit and airs the tapes from the week that accuse her of having lust toward Heather. The congregation laughs when Chris' wisecracks come up. She and Heather are called up to face their confession.
"So, Chris, you think I have sexual feelings for Heather?" Before she can answer Chris gets slapped and is forced to bow and repent her lustful fantasy of Zelda and Heather. Heather's lusting over Zelda is played next. As has been the case, Zelda looks up at the lights before looking at Heather. "So I tempt you?" Zelda asks.
"Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing," Heather replies and a few chuckles come from the congregation.
"You see, seduction is the natural state of the damned homosexual. Heather here is different. She was not created as demonspawn but instead had her soul seized by an insatiable woman and is fighting to purge the demon from her body and return to womanhood. Her soul is weak but her godliness is strong. It is the natural dyke like Chrissie over here who warped her mind and hypnotized her into thinking that I craved her. If she did not reach deep down inside and break the spell before it could seize her desires, I would have been in grave danger. The fact that she was able to resist the siren call of her peers' lust and separate the reality of my righteous sexuality from the perverted delusions of sinful bliss helped to save her soul and protected mine. Still, she allowed herself to fall into a lustful and ravenous trance during which point she knew nothing but thoughts of carnal violation of my soul. So Heather, 100 push-ups and then pray for forgiveness."
Heather drops to the floor and starts her push-ups. The light hides Zelda's face so that she cannot be clearly seen as she keeps count. Her eyes grow hazy before she catches herself and shakes slightly. Heather finishes and bows down and begs for the Lord's forgiveness for her slight relapse and Zelda puts her arm around Heather's shoulder. "You're forgiven, and your soul is stronger now for this. God has given you temptation to test your resolve, and you are more of a woman now that you have been in the past. Now do you want to do justice to the attacker of your mind and soul?"
Zelda's touch confuses Heather. She's seen some of the other supervisors console their charges in moments of weakness as well but the way Zelda's arm limply dangles over her shoulder echoes a softness that she remembers from her lover. She bends to her request and slaps Chris and calls her damned for tempting her and that she would never be tempted again. While the other supervisors smile in pride, Heather can't help but notice how lovelorn Zelda's gaze is. Later that day she is in Zelda's office for individual counseling. Zelda this time is flanked by her husband who holds Zelda's hand closely.
"Hello, Heather, you know how proud I am of you. I know how far you've come in only 2 weeks," Zelda says.
"Thank you," Heather replies.
"I'd like you to meet Larry, my husband. He is a good man, and one day I will get you a man like him to love you as much as Jesus loves you. You may be able to leave early, but I would like to keep it slow; you were victimized pretty bad there and you may feel confused. Tell me, who do you still dream about? Men or women?" Zelda asks.
"I don't know, haven't remembered many dreams since I was caught... in the grasp of the devil injecting her lust into my body and controlling my mind," Heather notes.
Zelda smiles sympathetically, not catching Heather's near-slip of the tongue. "It's all right. It's natural for you not to remember your sins. Soon you will have the vivid and memorable dreams of men again. I had them for the first time about 10 weeks into my program. Ah, you have such an advantage, starting out righteous. I guess I have some envy, oh well, a minor sin compared to the evils of the devil's lust."
Heather feels confused as she leaves the room. Zelda is seen clinging hard to her husband and kissing him passionately, but as Heather looks back, she thinks the kissing looks forced. Yet at the same time, she's sure that Zelda is happy this way and she feels like she has something to prove to her, that she can get free and into the arms of a man just like her. Heather catches herself, but that night her eyes trace every inch of Zelda's body as it sits motionless, paralyzed by the signals of Channel 1. Zelda sighs contentedly at a romantic scene and Chris mocks that she's reliving her home movie with her husband from earlier that day. For whatever reason, either curiosity or romantic feelings, Heather turns on the television in her cell to Channel 1 and relaxes, trying to feel the way Zelda does when she sees the TV every night. Her eyes lock on the scantily-clad young women and she drifts off even as she is being told in no uncertain terms that such behavior is an unspeakable sin.
Week 6
Entertainment is a key part of the HOPE camp experience, the months together can get boring and nothing reinforces the point of moving away from the Devil's lust than that of a good film or play. At first many of the subjects laugh, but as they realize their sins, they understand why they must pay penance and why they must reform.
The theatre is packed for the showing of the classic horror film Levittown, about a homosexual plague that consumes Long Island until it has to be absorbed into the asylum state. The reaction to this film by the subjects is used as a good measuring stick for their progress. Newer subjects laugh at the scenes, while those later on in the program are just as terrified as the people who watched the film in the theatre. The film's most famous scene (with a sad irony, also the movie's least homophobic) is playing: a teenage girl invites her best friend over to her house, not knowing that she was seduced by a lesbian college student while on vacation in San Francisco, starting the plague that consumes everyone but one at the end of the film. The supervisors take notes in the dark.
"Hey, Susie, how are you doing? How was San Francisco? You look nice and tanned, although you look a little tired. Still jet lagged?" the blonde asks her friend as they walk up the stairs to their room to talk about boys.
"I feel different, but so much better than I was, Tammy," Susie replies, Tammy oblivious to Susie's prolonged stares at her breasts or butt and subsequent heavy breathing. As they reach Tammy's room, Susie closes the door, now wiping drool away from her mouth, her mind and body completely devoured by lust. This brings up some chuckles from the crowd as the actress who plays Tammy is not the most attractive in the world, while Susie is played by Shawna, a favorite of those who are both under and not under. Tammy rattles off some things about boys and Susie replies with the most infamous lines in the history of Britney's America. "Why must the boys get all the fun? Why can't we girls have the pretty ones?"
With that Susie pins a screaming Tammy to the bed and undoes her jeans to blood-curdling shrieks. Tammy grabs the alarm clock from her table and lifts it over an unsuspecting (and for reasons of decency, unseen) Susie, but before she can strike her eyes roll back into her head and her screams turn into more terrifying (at least to the brainwashed) moans...
"She's faking it!" Chris interjects to an uproar of laughter from the audience and she gets a slap to the back of the head for her troubles. For the first time Chris seems to rub her head to get rid of the sting. She settles down and stares at Shawna as Susie, now in the arms of Tammy, kissing her passionately before rolling over for Tammy to fulfill her seduction, smiling at her new lover, knowing that even if she seduces thousands of women, this will be her partner in crime. "Oh, Susie, I love you! I hope we can do a nun so we can get married."
This is followed by an exchange that all but sparked a civil war. " I love you too, Tammy, and the thought of what we can do together thrills me. But Susie is such a... feminine name. Call me Sue now."
"Sue, call me Tina."
At this point a ruckus breaks out in the back among newcomers who still are infuriated and believe that this movie sparked the execution of Tina Washington, and camp veterans to whom the sound of the name is anathema. To Zelda's shock the fight is broken up by none other than Chris.
"Politics is no reason not to watch a good biker woman like Shawna! Besides, you're gonna miss the best part, when Tammy and Shawna ditch the girly clothes and mount their bikes," Chris admonishes them.
"That was good of you, Chrissie," Zelda praises her problem child. This was the only time ever she's seen her do anything like this and makes a major note in her book as the other supervisors take the fighters outside for punishment.
Week 10
One unique factor about the Knoxville camp is that it was founded by a university as a way to give back to its athletes, specifcally, female athletes. Knoxville was a birthplace of women's sports and it is the compassion of the fans of sport that built the camp to help their alumni who had fallen into the devil's lust. Many have stayed and run the institution. This in turn gives back to the school as many potential students are enrolled before taking classes, or spend their summers inside, allowing their souls to mature with their minds and bodies. Tennessee is also the home of the first ever homosexual reeducation camp, a historical installation on the other side of the state in Memphis, a private institution that was founded decades before Britney by then extremists who were the pioneers of successful salvation. Knoxville's male wing is named after the former owner. Because of this, Knoxville is the most well-known and hated by those who are in the asylum state. It also is a controversy among the righteous owners of the other HOPE camps and universities. Many universities claim that they have an unfair sports advantage because they can have parents enroll their homosexual child in the camp and then reap the benefits of their presence on the field that fall. Many point out that the camp allows outpatient care for some and lax rules that allow athletes to compete even if they are taking their courses from within the walls of the camp. Many claim, especially those schools in the Northeast who claim to shun anyone who even appears to be homosexual, that the program is just a front to get homosexual athletes on the field, putting everyone who goes near them at extreme risk of contamination. To this the school and camp simply point at their success rates and return to their work.
Morning comes, and Zelda awakens exactly at 7:00 while the others get up at 7:10. Zelda seems concerned that Erica woke up with the others instead of 10 minutes earlier but simply shrugs and thinks it must have been a long night. She tells Meredith not to enter the privacy box with everyone else.
"Mary, I want you to know that it's week 10. We're into May, your general education is going well, and your mind seems to be clearing up of lust, so you have a privilege no one else has. Since you are here to enter college, you can be transferred to a different sector with the other prospective freshmen and those who have entered the summer conditioning program. I'm told that you can enter a room with 3 of your prospective teammates, 2 from your class and a veteran who needs some support," Zelda informs Meredith.
"I don't know, what would the difference be? I mean, I'm here to help myself, not get ready for the season. There'll be enough chance for that outside of here," Meredith replies.
"You would have a chance to recover through the strength of your teammates. You should know how much coach values that. This camp was born out of the love of teammates looking out for each other," Zelda explains. "It's on another floor with other future and current students. Since they don't start that program until you're a few weeks into the program, they're much easier on you there. Less hitting." She smiles briefly.
"No thanks. I'm either going to have a boyfriend in school or I'm going to end up a damn dyke, but I will not be put into a softie program!"
"I admire your determination, it will only serve you well," said Zelda with a smile.
"Besides, if I wanted to be in a camp for athletes, I would have done what I wanted to do in the first place and gone to Sister D in Phoenix."
Zelda hears this name and slaps Meredith across the face.
"Some things go beyond sexuality," Zelda warns. Meredith glares back at her angrily. "If you wanna make it here, you better know that there are worse things than being a dyke, like being a Husky dyke."
Meredith looks at Zelda with a confused look on her face but says nothing and heads to her box to change.
Meredith goes to class and prayers and notices the numbness of those under: the sameness, the flowing orange; even Chris seems to be part of this vast stretch of orange that goes on forever. In a sense, she can tell that this is something new, but in a larger sense that this has been building for years since before she was born. She was only a child when the CCP took over, but she sensed from her parents that it was wrong, then so right that anything else was wrong. She's used to all the computer-based education but she never understood its effects until now. Something in her awareness has shifted. A hard hand to the back of her head refocuses her on her studies, and she smiles and thinks, if this is higher learning, what must the remedial classes be like?
That night Meredith pulls out a pen and paper and does an activity that her family used to do when she was just a small child, flip the channels and write down the similarities and differences. It was how she was able to learn enough to get straight A's in grade school, except in math, before things changed and she got bored of TV. "That's must be how I became their sinner," she ponders aloud. Chris glances over for a second before returning to her previous ogling of Dale on Channel 1.
She starts at Channel 1 and for the first time she realizes the level of hatred she'd come to expect, accept and even espouse herself, the reason Zelda thought it right to beat Chris senseless whenever she made a wisecrack, or even slap timid little Erica because she would take her time eating and not want to hit other people. She flips to Channel 2 and almost is halted there; after all, the dancing blondes in halter tops and short shorts stop even the lesbians of Park Slope for a short while. But then she listens instead of watches, and writes down the same hatred, not just having to do with homosexuality but also against blacks and especially Asians. Channel 3 says the same as Channel 1 except they look like her parents. Channel 4 is when she becomes frightened and stops, and flips to the safety of the National Team warm-up game against England. Even then Dale's clinging to her partner and husband seems odd, something she never thought before. Something more odd is that Zelda is hooked onto Channel 1 even though she is a former basketball player. She looks around. It's been a lot more quiet recently, with everyone watching television. She notices Heather is watching the game, as is Chris.
"Ya know, if blondie could stop jerking off the play by play guy, I might actually get into this game! Girls in shorts, what's not to like? Hey, Mary, you gonna wear those shorts any time soon?" Chris asks, obviously annoyed by the poor announcing.
"Hmmm, maybe, but I'd think I'd play in the Aussie league, they wear less," Meredith says with a wink.
"You ain't no virgin, Mary," Chris says with a chuckle. "Besides, not even the boys like whores like that, just tight pants. Grrr, if that bitch doesn't start paying attention to the game instead of her husband, I'm gonna turn on Channel 8! I don't care if Shawna doesn't come on until they show Levittown as the late night movie! After all, that Goth chick Shirley ain't that bad, and even for an old demon like me, I gotta say her hubby is cute... and if I think a man is cute..."
"Maybe you've hung around the TV too long. It's ok, what else are you gonna do in this joint?" Meredith replies, happy that Chris hasn't lost all her sense of humor.
"Light one up, of course!" As Chris pulls a cigarette and puffs away, Meredith just tries to hide herself from the smoke, especially since Zelda is having one as well. She looks behind her and sees Erica also smoking. She feels the walls closing in and runs into the box for some fresh air.
"I told you not to order the O'Chili!" Chris yells before flipping to Channel 8 and finding comfort in the television.
Meredith emerges only to step on an empty box of Cowboys. She picks it up and notices the half-full ashtray on her bedside table. She opens the drawer to see a half empty carton, one adorned with a birthday card for her turning 18 a week ago. She becomes physically sick at the thought, and runs back to the box. When she comes out this time she feels different: not frightened, not sad, but instead defiant. She jumps into bed and lies half awake, half not wanting to fall asleep, lest she become like her friends.
Week 12
The most typical form of conversion known is called inversion. Since the system is based on female icons, which men are physically attracted to and women yearn to become, the best way to convert a damned homosexual is to use the television to make them attracted to someone of the same sex. This makes them more receptive to study and prayer and in rare cases can actually cleanse them of their sin altogether. Nonetheless, it is enough for them to suppress their sin into bizarre fantasies that they themselves do not remember, therefore making them righteous and cooperative for reintegration into society. For unknown reasons, this form of treatment works better on women than men. Inversion has its drawbacks, mainly that one is not actually purged of their lust; instead they channel their lust toward images that are not real. When confronted with another person who has been cured this way, it is not uncommon for them to fall into a delusion of double love, normally sacrificing an hour alone with their partner to indulge their sin before returning to their righteous ways, normally rationalized by the self-proclaimed penance of missing a meal. However, someone who is inverted will still gladly and passionately procreate with their spouse, raise children in a fair manner, and will carry the message of the Lord even more ardently than one who is truly righteous. For those inverted without assistance, many problems arise, many leading to breakout or a state where they believe that homosexuals can also be righteous. This leads to confusion and depression. Many suicides have been linked to this. It is the main function of a HOPE camp to make sure that inversion shows no path but that of the Lord.
Erica and the rest of her group are at confessional. As always, Chris is in trouble again, although for more and more minor offenses.
"So, Chrissie, you think that Shawna is still a dyke?" Zelda asks.
"Well, no, just that she's played a lot of lesbians. Besides, haven't I taught you anything? Dykes like bikes!" Chris replies to a chorus of laughs.
"Well, that's true... ummm, well, she's married now! She could have been one in the past and been cured through Jesus. I have no clue. I mean, no kids yet, but probably because her early days of being a dyke damaged herself beyond being able to have them!" Zelda recovers and sends gasps flying through the crowd. "Besides we aren't here to talk about your lust, for once. I called you here to help someone who is becoming more like you were instead of recovering hand in hand with you."
With that Meredith is called to the pulpit and a list of sins is read and shown on the screen. "We also calculated that in the past 2 weeks, Mary here has had a frequent number of trips to the privacy box. I was a dyke long enough to know that trick, hairy palms!"
"What?! I've been a little sick from all the smoking! I'm an athlete. I'm not used to all the smoke! Everyone smokes in there, it's like a gas chamber!" Meredith answers.
"Then why in the world didn't you transfer when you had the chance to!" Zelda demands sternly.
"You want the truth?" Meredith asks.
"You know the punishment for lying," Zelda says.
"The truth is I don't know who I am, but I know this place gives me the creeps. It's not just the camp- hell, this place is the most normal part of this town! You're a perfect example! You gave up everything just to show some old hag you can play basketball. Aren't there more important things than..."
Zelda has had enough, as have most of the other supervisors. They descend on Meredith and start whipping her with belts before holding her up.
"I told you some things go beyond sexuality. This is your home, you chose it, learn to live here or die," Zelda replies, still upset at Meredith's attitude.
"Any questions?" Zelda asks and a lone voice from the back answers.
"Isn't anger over the petty a deadly sin?" Erica stands up for the first time.
"Stephanie? You should know better. You are from around here, you know there is nothing petty about the existence of this great institution. It's a holy ground," Zelda replies.
"I'm sorry, Zelda, I didn't realize this camp was at the Vatican," Erica replies and the congregation breaks up laughing. "Besides, isn't the most pious of prayers for your sport, the one read before all games before the National Anthem, that of peace? Jeremiah 26:11, right?" Erica notes.
"St. Katherine of Lynchburg would be very disappointed in you. She freed many dykes through that game before being murdered by one. She also opened the first public HOPE camp. Now get up here and face your punishment for doubting the word of the Lord!"
"I'm not doubting the word of the Lord, it is you who I am doubting," says Erica as she takes her slaps to the face with dignity and newfound pride.
"And another thing... it says in history class that she served in Egypt, but wasn't that the same time she was murdered in San Antonio?" Erica asks sweetly, getting a punch in the gut for her efforts.
That night she sees Meredith return from the infirmary. "Are you all right?" Erica asks.
"Yes, just don't ask me to lie down on my back for a few days. Yourself?" Meredith replies.
"Confused. The Bible only condones violence as a last resort, yet everything I read says that violence is your first option to anything. All the shooting, the lynching, the beatings, it's all over TV, this idea that God wants us to be angry. Yet anger is a deadly sin and killing is against the Ten Commandments," Erica says.
"About what you said during confessional about St. Katherine... someone at the infirmary gave me this to read. I guess they still think I'm gonna play basketball here." Meredith hands Erica a large orange book through the bars, so thick it barely fits, although the bars are wide enough so an unabridged Bible can fit through should someone need a copy for mutual prayer. "Check out page 43. I stumbled on it by accident but remembered it from what you were saying."
Erica reads the book and shoots a strange look in Zelda's direction before regarding Meredith again. "But she was killed in Egypt, I'm sure of it. The timing makes no sense."
"Don't you think an Army would find out how easy it would be to kill people right about this time?" Meredith says, pointing out how oblivious everyone else is at anything other than the television.
"Murder? Because they don't want the people to know what is happening to them? They wouldn't! No! Pete Richardson is a man of compassion and democracy. He is president because he was the only one who was 100% honest. That's why I came here on my own."
"It's okay, Steph... what's your real name? Mine's Meredith," Meredith asks, knowing good and well the punishment for reverting to their "lesbian name".
"Stephanie, of course... no, wait. Everyone here has a variation on their name? I think... I don't remember! What? It's Erickson...Erica, Stephanie? Stephens? God help me, have I been doing this to myself all these years? I've committed suicide against my soul, that's one of the most egregious sins there is! And yet they encourage it? Please excuse me, I have to save myself now." Erica pulls out her Bible and reads nonstop, not out of sin toward herself but to educate herself as to what God really has to say. She struggles with the old English and realizes that no one has read more than what was quoted by the pastor at church, and so she reads even more intently.
Week 18
As the HOPE program reaches its final months, change becomes evident in so many ways that it is easy to know the state of each subject. It is also where the despair of the present gives way to the future of love, gainful employment, and a peaceful life in the land of opportunity. Even for those who could not be saved and either agree to the asylum state or to stay longer, it is a period of renewal and reflection on their experiences. Many rooms do not even need confessional, as lustful conversation gives way to group prayer. Supervisors who were once seen as rough and strict are now seen as friends and equals. Often the rooms at this time are abandoned as the subjects are busy planning for their future, meeting people of the opposite sex to love and marry, removing tattoos and other forms of their past lives, and beginning their lives anew as righteous citizens.
"You may notice Chrissie isn't here right now. It's okay, she just went to the infirmary this morning for a minor procedure. She should be back here to rest up tonight," Zelda informs the room.
"What happened, you punch her so hard you blew up her appendix or did she just eat the O'Chili?" Meredith says with a smirk that quickly gets slapped away.
"I'll let her know you said that when she returns. She wants it to be a surprise," Zelda replies.
"I didn't think it was 9 months since we arrived here, I thought the extra weight was all that grease," Meredith cracks again.
"You should see how Coach punishes wisecracks like that. They don't call them suicides because they're easy!" Zelda warns.
"Well, I hope the best for her, Zelda, she's come a long way," Heather says with affection in her voice.
"Oh, don't worry, she's become very beautiful now. I'm glad you're proud of her," Zelda replies.
"Don't make her jealous now! That's just not right," Meredith says, pointing out the obvious flirting that apparently only she can see.
That night when Chris returns, she looks more shapely in front and no longer has her tattoos. What little hair has grown out now is blonde and she smiles at everyone.
"Yes, it's me. No autographs please, God just needed to give me a tune-up. Now if you excuse me, Shawna's guest-starring on Channel 1. Besides, it's been a long day. Probably could have grown 'em myself faster if given the right food," Chris says to the shock of everyone in the room. They saw the subtle changes, but she still kept the sense of humor, even if it was poking fun at things in the bible. Now she seemed almost like Zelda in appearance, albeit still more muscular.
The next day Chris's change grows more profound when they are watching the Channel 9 game shows together, and she beats not only Erica but Ken, the smartest man in America, in a Bible quiz.
Chrissie is now helping in confessionals and even trying to draw Mary over to Channel 8. She truly is a success story at this camp. She has met a biking banker, Harry, and they will begin their courtship next week. For someone seen as a sure case for the asylum state, things turned out for God's way.
Week 20
One key element of showing reform from the HOPE camp is the final test, the sin to end all sins. Once a subject has met someone, and proven that they want to stay with them for life, one final test is to see if they can give themselves to someone of the opposite sex fully and with love and passion. It is a hard stage to work up to but those who do normally fully recover and lead happy, procreative lives.
It is Sunday night, late, after the news. Zelda waits outside a private room fighting off the urge to sleep that has flooded her mind since she left the main room after the news.
"Oh, Steven, I love you, I can't wait to leave and be with you forever! I'll marry you, and I'll give you children, and I'll make you so happy to be with me..." Zelda smiles as she hears Heather through the door. She sees Steven leave with a grin on his face.
"Are you the woman who helped end this girl's sin?" he asks.
"Yes, She was infected against her will, and I helped her remember what true love was about. She has her memory back, I see," Zelda says with a giggle.
"Yes, very good work. I was skeptical, but you helped her recover beyond what I could ever imagine. Tell me, when should I propose?" Steven asks.
"Usually when they leave the camp is best, could be the moment they walk through the door to the lobby. Helps them realize what they've accomplished," Zelda replies.
"Thank you. I'm so happy I could find someone as lovely as Heather here. I'll take great care of her," Steven adds before walking out of the building.
Zelda watches Steven leave and then walks into the room. Heather has just finished putting her jeans back on and has a dreamy smile on her face. There are no cameras here; for the first time, they are truly alone. Heather's smile becomes dreamier as Zelda approaches her and sits down beside her on the bed.
"I'm so proud of you, Heather," Zelda says softly, gazing longingly into her eyes.
"I did it for you, Zelda. I know it's wrong, but I...I..."
"Shhh, sweetie, I know. Your love for me has driven you to success, and I've fallen for you too. It's not that bad, it's part of our condition. The lust never fully leaves, but if it becomes love for both, as long as we love and keep a man so we can fulfill our duties as women, and as long as we are completely bound to each other and our husbands so we do not tempt innocent women, God will let us share our sin privately. We have to make sure no one knows and we give up something for it. You've proven you can understand and accept this for me. And I will make sure that we can never go too far. But yet, we can still love each other. Steven lives in the same building that I do, so we can be together for an hour when they are at work and no one will know. And then we will naturally fall back in love with our husbands."
"Yes, I understand, but I need to be honest with you... I... I..."
"Wasn't raped?" Zelda asks. "Please. I know that, I always did. You know how many people end up here because some landlord or roommate refuses to believe the truth so they say that someone was raped because they don't want to think they were living with a dyke the whole time? I knew from the second you laid eyes on me. By the way, you really have a thing for blue eyes, don't you?" Heather giggles at that, and Zelda continues. "That's what made your recovery more remarkable and special to me. You could have just gone out and flirted with me, tried to seduce me, and I'd kick your ass. But no, you understood what you needed to do, and it made me attracted to you." Zelda kisses Heather as Heather undoes Zelda's ponytail and strokes her hair.
"I guess no light bulb can save you now," Heather says and Zelda blushes.
"I do that when I feel tempted, but I stopped when I realized you weren't tempting me, you were trying to earn my love. I haven't felt like this since I was one of the first to become converted 5 years ago," Zelda says as she takes off her shirt to reveal her old jersey. "Hmmm, I'm surprised it still fits so well. I wore this the last time I was attracted to a woman, back when I was still in school. I was caught and I took it on myself to become one of the first enrolled here. I guess everything comes around in the end, because I love you just as much. I came here to resist, but it's here where I can't resist."
Heather giggles and she throws herself into Zelda's arms and as she has done since Zelda tried to blind herself to her presence, Heather bows to her every command as they indulge their born sins. As they finish Zelda leads Heather back to her room and life becomes normal again. The only lingering feeling Heather remembers was that with the great and glorious person who finally purged her of her sin, the man she will reward by being his wife, Steven.
Week 22
While the procurement of a spouse is paramount for a HOPE camp, some other measures of success are still seen. These are most definitely not failures. In fact, sometimes these people are the backbone of future treatment. These people do not rid themselves of enough lust to get married but still renounce the devil and lead productive, nonsexual lives. Many commit themselves to a lover higher than a husband, God Himself. Others renounce themselves to tasks that are needed but not a good fit for the mainstream community. No, this should be viewed as much as a recovery as anything else as it still shows the riddance of the devil's lust.
It is the final month of the program, and many have written their final papers to present in front of the council and their supervisors. The council looks at Erica as she gets ready for her speech.
"I have learned a lot since enrolling myself in this camp. I have learned more about God and Jesus than I could ever imagine. I knew about the devil, about evil, and about the deadly sins. I repented my sins, and feel no more lust. I no longer envy married people. I no longer covet other people's wives or try to tempt them into adultery." As Erica says this her eyes lock on Zelda and Zelda looks back at her furiously. "I however, do not understand as much of faith as I thought. Mainly the parts of faith that are in the Bible but are not taught. If the Bible is the word of God, are some of His words really more important than others?"
The council becomes confused. "Do state what you mean by this."
"In the Ten Commandments, He stated 'thou shalt have no other gods before me', yet I see people all but worship the TV. He told us 'thou shall not kill', yet we are at war at all times, and though we are not to kill, we have capital punishment, we allow for lynching and murder in the name of protecting our children for lust. He told us 'thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image', and 'thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them', but everywhere I go, I see Channel 1 and its branding. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged', but yet all are judged on color, race, and well, I'm here, aren't I? I understand homosexuality is wrong, that is in the Bible too, but how much else is in the Bible that is forgotten? Anger, I see. Avarice, I see. Gluttony, do I even need to ask? Envy is forced on everyone who is different. I don't think I need to mention lust, this camp delivers women to men who can't get any. Pride, I see more American flags than I do Bibles, One nation under God, yet we have separation of church and state. I do not fault this camp or anyone here, for I have the idea that we are the most innocent of them all. But how can we proclaim that we are the most pious when we only understand a third of the Bible? I am renouncing my sexuality, but I will not use the speech of hate. I am going to study the Bible as a celibate nun. Where, I don't know, but we do not understand God, we just listen to what we like to hear."
The council grows angry but says nothing. What can they say? Do they doubt what is written as the word of God? They simply nod and let her go to study the Bible, not even noticing the contradictions she has just said. They heard all that she said, but all they remember is that she has renounced her sexuality and is going to learn more on how to be with Jesus. That's all that matters and they shake her hand and smile at her conviction as she leaves.
Week 24
Zelda sits down with Meredith, absolutely furious. When Meredith arrived she was her pride and joy, someone just like her, but now she has turned down her scholarship and instead is going to NYU. She has resigned herself to the asylum state and doesn't think twice. Zelda is disappointed at her failure, but Meredith is upbeat.
"I'd like to thank you for teaching me everything you know, you saved me more than you know," Meredith says.
"How dare you mock me like that!" Zelda replies, finally fed up at Meredith's wisecracking.
"I'm not mocking you. I realized I didn't want to be a bimbo like everyone here. Everyone is alike, a nation of blonde sluts! Well, that's not me! I'm damn proud to be a dyke, and damn proud to be a brunette."
"You know I could shoot you if I wanted to, and they wouldnt even care. Hell, I'd probably get employee of the month!" Zelda snarls.
"Oh, I know, but you know I'm right. How's Heather, by the way?" Meredith asks.
"Getting married next month. Don't believe everything you see when you are grabbing yourself on the toilet!" Zelda replies.
"You wish, you would like to see that, wouldn't you? Remember, some things go beyond sexuality. By the way, who was your power forward on that team you were on? Hide your heart, girl, dyke coming through!" Meredith laughs knowingly and walks out.
Zelda grabs her billy club, ready to chase her for one last beatdown, then relents and remembers something, but she can't see what it is. And for that she kneels down and thanks the Lord, then opens up the patient reports for her next 4 charges and smiles.
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