Pop Odyssey By Neko Part 2 Lance opened his eyes. He looked around himself. He was in a small box like thing. There wasn’t enough room to stand up. All the walls were white and padded except one; it was a clear pane, which looked into a hallway. Lance pressed his cheek to it and looked out. He felt strange but he didn’t know why. Soon a girl came up to the pane and tapped on it. Lance backed away to get a better look at her. She smiled and waved at hi. Lance knew her movements had meanings but he couldn’t remember them. But he returned the gestures and it seemed to please her, then she left. The hallway was lined with boxes, like the one he was in. Each one had a man in it. Lance was more clueless now then he had ever been in his whole life, but his lack of knowledge put him at ease, even in this place. He laid back down and then watched the people walk by. Later a young girl brought him food. The clear pane slid aside and she placed a bowl in front of him. Lance watched her closely as she filled the bowl with some dry stuff that looked like cereal. Lance knew what she was doing. He had some basic memories like moving and eating but everything else was blank. When she was done Lance picked up the bowl and set it in his lap before bringing handfuls of food to his mouth. At the end of the hallway there was a desk. “Can I help you?” The woman behind the desk asked as two young ladies approached her. “Yeah, we want to buy men.” One of them said. “Do you know what you’re looking for in a man?” The clerk asked. “Not really.” The other said. “Then go look around and tell me when you find one you like.” She said pointing down the hall. “Okay, thank you.” They said as they started down the hall. “How are you supposed to choose?” Kat asked as they walked. “Simple, it’s like getting a puppy out of the pound. You just find the cutest one with the sad eyes.” Mandy said. Kat smiled and eyed the men as she walked past them. She brushed her hair out of her face. Justin was a tall man, so he didn’t like the small confines of the box at all. He found it hard to get comfortable. He wanted out so he got on his knees and pressed his face to the pane. He looked around for anyone who would let him out. His eyes met with Kat. He wasn’t sure why but he was drawn to her. He tapped on the glass to get her to look his way. “I think he wants you to look at him.” Mandy said directing Kat’s attention to Justin. When Justin was sure she was looking at him he back away from the glass and the playfully smiled at her. “Awe, hoe cute?” Kat signed going closer to him. Justin smiled again as she got to the box. His plan had worked. Now alls he had to do was get her to let him out. He made a pouty face and ran his fingers over the pane. “Is that a sad enough face for you?” Kat asked. “It’s not my call, he seems to want you, not me.” Mandy said. Kat ran her fingers across the pane and watched as his eyes followed it. “He has no clue what’s going on does he?” Kat asked. “I don’t think he does.” Mandy said, but her eyes were turned to something else. Kat eyed the man in the box as he whimpered and continued to scratch at the pane. He was well built and very cute. But she couldn’t help but note what a mess he had made with is food. It was all over him and the inside of the box. “Hey, Kat come here. I like this one.” Mandy said. Kat turned at started that way, Justin knew he was losing her. He moved suddenly as if to stop her, but instead he hit his head on the pane. Kat heard the thud as he hit and turned to see what had happened. She watched for a minute while Justin sat stunned and rubbed his head. She laughed and then moved on to her friend who wasn’t too far away. Mandy pointed through the pane at the sleeping blonde. “He’s cute.” Mandy said. “Yeah, but it's your choice who you buy not mine.” Kat said. “I know.” Mandy said. Lance started to wake up. He looked at the two of them. “Wow, those eyes. I love them.” Mandy said. Kat laughed. Kat, I think you better pay attention to him.” Mandy said pointing back to Justin who was vigorously tapping on the pane. “Poor dear.” Kat said as she moved back over to him. He stopped when she got there and then smiled at her. “I think he wants to go home with you.” Mandy said. “Do you.” Kat asked knowing he wouldn’t answer. “Get him Kat.” Mandy said. “Can I help you ladies?” The clerk asked. “Yeah, what can you tell me about this man?” Kat asked. “He’s a sweetie. But all men will need a little training.” She said. “Okay, I’ll take him.” Kat said. “Great, now do you want me to help you first or get him ready?” The clerk asked. “Help her first.” Kat said. The clerk stuck a sold sign on the front of Justin’s box. Justin seemed amused by it and tried to knock it off. “I like this one.” Mandy said pointing to Lance. Lance looked at them blankly. “Okay, come with me and I will ring you up.” The clerk said leading then back up front to the desk. Once the girls had paid, the clerk got everything they needed and then took them back to where the guys were. Justin got exited once he saw Kat coming back. Lance remained calm but confused. They got lance out first. Justin got ready and sat there waiting for them to open the door. They slipped a collar around Lance’s neck. Lance pulled at it in discontent, but quickly gave up when it couldn’t come off. The clerk attached a cord to it and then handed the cord to Mandy. “I don’t think he’ll try to run away, he me might wander off if you don’t watch him.” The clerk said. “Okay.” Mandy said. The clerk got ready to open Justin’s door. Justin got exited and as soon as the door opened he fell out onto the floor. Kat and the clerk helped him up. The clerk put his collar on. Justin tore at it. Kat pushed his hand away so the clerk could finish. When she was done she handed Kat the cord. “Now we just have a few more things to do then you can take them home.” The clerk said. They walked back up to the front when they reached the desk they stopped, but Lance kept going until he reached the end of his cord. It jerked him to a stop. He made a funny noise and then stood there rubbing his neck. Mandy laughed. “This paper will tell you everything you need to know.” The clerk said handing them each a manual. “I didn’t know men came with manuals?” Mandy said. “They do now.” The clerk said with a laugh. Justin rubbed up against Key lovingly. Kat looked at him funny. “Let’s go home.” She said running her hand through his curly locks. Justin still had no clue what was going on but he figured as long as she had this thing around his neck he better keep her happy. When they got outside, the girls put then in the back seat of Kat’s car, which was more like a space ship. The guys looked at each other for a minute. The Lance turned and looked out the window. All the things around him amazed him. Every time he saw something new he would get exited and point. Soon Justin was beside him. They went the whole trip home just looking out Lance’s window and pointing thing out to each other. “At least they’re easily amused.” Mandy said as they neared home. “They don’t know how to talk do they?” Kat asked. “I don’t think so we might have to teach them that.” Mandy replied. Kat parked the car. Justin slid back over into his seat and waited for her to open the door. When she did Justin got out and started to wander away but Kat grabbed the cord and brought him to a stop. “You don’t know where you are going silly.” Kat said. Justin just whimpered he was ready to go. “Come on sweetie this way.” Mandy said leading Lance to the elevator. “This is going to be great.” Mandy said. “What do you mean?” Kat asked. “With the guys in out lives things are going to be great. They will love us and we will love them.” Mandy said. ‘I think your right.” Kat said watching Mandy fix Lance’s shirt. The door opened. This time instead of jumping out Justin turned and looked at Kat. He waited for her to give him the go ahead to move. “He’s learning already.” Mandy said with a smile. Kat just smiled and then lead Justin down the hallway. Mandy walked beside her pulling Lance behind her. “Here we go.” Mandy said when the reached her apartment. Kat live across the hall. “I’ll see you later.” Kat said unlocking her door. “Good luck with him.” Mandy said pointing to Justin, who was gazing into the mirror he’d found hanging on the wall. He seemed so amazed by what he saw. “If I were you I would worry more about Lance.” Kat said laughing at Lance. Mandy turned and looked at him. Lance had found a plant and was trying to eat it. “No, don’t eat that.” Mandy yelled. She smacked his hands. Lance looked at her stunned. She removed the leaf from his mouth. “That’s bad for you.” Mandy said shaking her finger at him. Lance was confused but he could tell she wasn’t happy with him. He quickly made a pouty face. “Awe, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have yelled.” Mandy said hugging him. Justin watched them intently. “Bye Mandy.” Kat said when the door opened. She waved at her friend. Justin mirrored her actions. Mandy laughed and waved back. Kat pulled Justin inside and then shut the door. He looked around her apartment in awe. Kat removed his caller. He rubbed his neck and smiled. “Have a look around.” Kat said as she walked off. Justin stood there a minute. But when Kat came back he was gone. She got curious as to what he was doing, so she went to look for him. She found him in her bedroom rolling around on her bed. When he saw her he stopped and smiled at her. Kat smiled back and then left. She went into her study and sat down. She was working hard on something. She could hear Justin moving around her apartment but she didn’t think there were too many things he could get into. Soon Justin wandered into the study. He walked around the room before stopped behind Kat and watched her write down a few things. She stopped and looked at him. His eyes were glowing with astonishment. “You are something else.” Kat said. Justin’s stomach growled. Kat looked at her watch. “I guess it is dinnertime.” She said getting up. She ran her finger along his jaw line and then walked out. She went into the kitchen and started dinner. When dinner was ready she went looking for Justin. She found him in her study, sitting in her chair scribbling on some paper. She walked over to him; he looked up and smiled. He handed her the paper. It was the same she had been working on. But instead of getting mad she patted him on the head and vowed never to leave him alone in her study again when her work was out. She smiled and then grabbed his hand and pulled him into the kitchen. Mean while across the hall Mandy and Lance were sitting at the table. Lance couldn’t use silver wear yet so Mandy fixed finger food. When they were done Lance was a mess. He had food all over his face. Mandy got a cloth and wiped his face off. Lance didn’t like that so he wouldn’t sit still. But when she was done she went over and turned her TV on. She sat down on the couch and started to watch it. Lance was in awe of the tiny box. He crawled up on the couch with Mandy and laid his head in her lap. She looked at him and then ran her hand through his hair. Lance didn’t look at her his eyes were fixed on the TV. A few hours passed, Mandy realized that Lance was asleep in her lap. She wasn’t sure what to do she didn’t want to wake him. But she had to get to bed. She finally decided to wake him. She started to rub his shoulders. Lance moaned and moved a little. “Wake up sweetie.” Mandy said softly. Soon Lance opened his sleepy green eyes. Mandy slid out from under him. She took his hand and led him to the bedroom. She laid him down on his side of the bed. It wasn’t long before he was asleep again. Mandy got ready and then got in beside him. She wrapped her arm around him and then she too fell asleep.

By Neko Copyright January 2002