The smile Cami held inside was not dampened in the slightest by the seasonal downpour common to the rolling hills of western Ti Lepus. She even had a skip in her step and she was almost dancing past the puddles on this quiet and anonymous street. Only the training that she had received practically from birth held her in check. It had arrived, her day was here.

*********

The call came during the last class of the day at her school, General School for Girls Number 14. “Cami sis Nep, report to Counsellor Remi ion Nessar, at once.”

The teacher, they were all women in this school for girls, looked down the rows of desks topped with computers, to the frozen young woman. At “Well, you had better get going girl, Counsellor Nessar does not like to be kept waiting,” Cami gathered her few items and moved to the door with the eyes of every student in the class following her slim figure, neatly dressed in the all concealing school uniform. All were filled with the questions they could not ask. Once in the hallway Cami walked with outwardly sure steps to the stairs leading to the administrators’ officers, where she would find Counsellor Remi. Inwardly she groaned, knowing that after school there would be a gauntlet of questions that her friends would have waiting for her.

*********

“Come in, sit down.” The tall, thin and stern faced woman that was Remi ion Nessar pointed with a spear like finger to a vacant chair. Carefully, Cami slid onto the one indicated, studying at the counsellor for some indication of the reason for the summons, but seeing none.

“You wish to see me, Madam Counsellor?” Cami asked as Remi ion Nessar tapped at her computer terminal.

“Hmm, your marks are good and reports by your teachers are satisfactory. Excellent.” The counsellor leant back in her chair. “Excellent.” She repeated. Cami sat quietly just listening. What did this all mean? She wondered.

“You are thirteen years and twelve months old, correct?” The counsellor asked the still frightened and confused girl. A Ti Lepus year consisted of fourteen months, the same as the imperial year.

“Yes Madam Counsellor, I will be fourteen in two months.” The puzzlement deepened.

“Have you given thought to what you want to do after you leave school?”

“No Madam Counsellor.” Cami shook her head.

A sudden smile from Remi almost caused Cami to drop her mouth open in shock, she barely restrained herself. The next bit of news broke through Cami’s conditioning. “Some time ago I received a request for an assessment of you with regards to a contract placement in a salon!”

This unexpected and very welcome news caused Cami to jump to her feet, sending her small bag of personal items flying, while she let out a squeal of delight. A contract! That was the dream of every girl in her school!

“Control, Cami, control. Remember restraint is what you must show at all times.” The familiar warning had Cami returning to her seat after gathering what she had dropped. Her body tight with anticipation, she waited for what her counsellor had to say next.

Along with status, contracts are the heart and soul of business and personal life on Ti Lepus. Most of the workers are secured by a contract with their employer. This can extend up to high levels including the Science class as well as the service class. All members of the lower classes work under contracts.

This also applies to suitable women who, while young, fourteen is normal, are taken from their homes to work in special establishments and displayed for effective sale to the wives of high class men and their families. This is very important to them, as it can affect their whole future lives. Securing a contract with a high status family of good reputation is something that all lower status girls wish for.

“The information I provided along with the profile pictures of you have brought the assessment to the next stage. You know what happens next.” The young girl nodded with abrupt movements of her head. The counsellor considered the young girl. She had anticipated this moment, Cami was exceptionally pretty, had a desirable slim figure along with an attractive face highlighted by hazel eyes, light brown hair touched her shoulders and long, but not too long, legs completed the effect. Remi had been surprised however, by the club that was interested.

“Would you like to know who is inquiring, Cami? Which club?”

“Yes please Madam Counsellor, My parents would also, I am sure.” A frown of worry appeared. “Can I tell them? Is that allowed?”

“The club is called The Trigon Club, and yes, you may tell your parents.”

“The Trigon Club? Is it new? I have never heard of it. Is it new?” When learning about contracts, the girls had studied all the local clubs.

Remi gave a chuckle, “I thought that you would pick up on that.” The counsellor was pleased with Cami. “It is a very exclusive club in Lepus Mal, the capital.”

“Lepus Mal!” Cami’s eyes were now large and round, “I have never been outside of Libus Re, not even our local district! I can’t go to Lepus Mal!”

“The assessor will be here in the next two days.” Remi soothed the somewhat agitated girl. “If he finds you suitable, then you will have to have an interview, but you will have time to prepare for that.”

“Is it one of the local agents?” Cami asked.

“No, this club contracts their own agents.” Remi explained. “As I said, it is a most exclusive club with has a large and powerful membership of high status women.” At Cami’s look of puzzlement, Remi continued, “Unlike the smaller clubs here, this club is exclusively for women, high status women.” She emphasised the last.

“Oh, I see.” Cami thought for a moment, then frowned again. “My family and I will have to meet him, if it isn’t a local agent, how will we know to recognise him?”

Impressed, Remi ion Nessar looked at Cami in a new light. ‘The girl is more mature in some ways then she appears to be,’ she thought. “He will have identification that he will have to show you. It will have a number and you must check it against the agents’ check site. There is a link on the police page as you know. You have practised that.” She stood and Cami stood with her. “That is all I have to tell you and it will soon be time to leave.” With another rare smile, Reni told Cami to return to class.

Walking back to the stairs that lead to her classroom, Cami felt that she was walking on air. Pausing at the classroom door, she gathered herself, schooled her features into immobility and entered.

Nodding to the teacher, who waved her to her seat, she ignored the discrete stares sent her way by some of the girls.

“Back to work girls,” growled the history teacher, “We will now consider the effect of the sectional wars on the growth of Ti Lepus, bring the sectional wars up on your computers.”

*********

Class finally over, Cami retrieved her formal outdoor clothes from her locker, placing her personal items in a satchel. Walking to the stairs, she found her two best friends waiting for her. Leda sis Real was a half head taller than Cami and wore her black hair in a long braid. Cami envied both her hair and her physical development, noticeably further along than Cami’s. Ava sis Neill was the same height as Cami and of a similar build but with darker hair. Neither was quite as pretty as Cami.

Seeing her friends, Cami walked over to them. “Greetings Leda, greetings Ava, how were your classes today.” Cami used the semi-formal greeting between friends. That did not distract them.

“Greetings yourself Cam!” Leda retorted. “What’s up?”

“Yeah Cami, why were you called to the Remster?” Ava looked around quickly to see if she had been caught using the nickname.

“I can’t really say. I have to tell mum and dad first.” Cami looked at her friends, “Sorry.”

“Come on, give us something” Leda coaxed Cami. “We are your best friends and I told you straight away!” They were walking to the front door and Cami was uneasily aware of the interest in her from other girls. Some not looking not at all happy. But Leda was right, when she had been assessed, Leda had told both Ava and her.

“Yes, please tell, what happened?” Ava also pressed for details as she reached for her outside hat. Leda nudged her friend and with a subtle inclination of her head, indicated the curious onlookers.

Giving a shrug, Ava stroked her hat, her full lips pursed.

“Look, it is good news and I will comm you both as soon as I have told mum and dad. I promise on a Peace Givers tea cup.” Cami made a face as she looked out through the school doors at the down pour out side. It was the rainy season for the western part of the main continent of the planet. Putting the large hats that was required dress for all the people of Ti Lepus, on their heads, the three girls then fastened the voluminous cloaks around their shoulders. Properly dressed, they could now leave the school building, waving their implants at the readers as they left.

Somewhat mollified by the hint dropped as well as the schoolgirl promise, Leda and Ava agreed to wait. Peace Givers were an important part of the culture of the people of Ti Lepus along with the tea ceremonies. Even though it was a childish promise, it had better be kept!

“There’s my ride.” Cami called, seeing the conveyance that took her to her street. “I’ll comm you!” She called over her shoulder, adding, “At the usual time!”

“Talk to you tonight!” and “See you tomorrow!” was shouted back. The two girls watched as Cami climbed aboard her conveyance that was more than a bus.

“I bet that she was told about a contract.” Ava said. As they walked in the rain to their own conveyance.

“Yes, it’s all that made sense.” Leda replied. “But she hid it well!” There was a note of pride in Leda’s voice at her friends’ exhibition of self-control. “Talk to you tonight!” She called to Ava as she boarded, showing her travel pass as she did. All citizens of Ti Lepus needed a pass to travel, even students.