By Little Kitetail
Copyright 2025 by Little Kitetail all rights reserved
[3,374 words]
* * * * *Chapter 3:
I
stumbled along as Ms. Heather half-dragged me out of Auntie Sabrina’s
room. I couldn’t keep up. I tried to yell at her to slow down, but all
that came out was, “Mmrrrph! GRRF!”
As soon as she opened the
door to the ranch grounds, a blast of warm air hit every inch of me. My
stomach fluttered at the feeling of sunlight on my nether regions. My
heart thumped as I stood, frozen, in the doorway, my eyes silently
pleading with Ms. Heather not to make me go outside naked and cuffed.
She smirked at me in return. She was enjoying my terror… it was a
feeling I understood all too well.
Still, Ms. Heather didn't
waste much time before forcing me out onto the wooden walkway. "Watch
where you step," she warned. She didn't need to tell me twice. I hadn't
been given any shoes, and there was no telling what could be hidden in
the brush on either side of the walkway. There were large buildings
some distance to the left and right of us, and up ahead, all I could
see was nature.
There weren't many people around at that time,
but it wasn't deserted. A few girls and women sat on benches or under
trees, relaxing, talking. Some of them were polite enough to pretend
not to notice me, but I could tell they did. A young woman was sitting
on a bench reading, and right as we passed, she held her book closely
to cover her face as her eyes followed me the whole time. A pair of
middle school girls sat and chatted under a big tree, and as I passed,
one of them looked me right in the eye. I don’t know what emotion I was
seeing in her, but it scared me.
Every time I tried to cross
my legs or turn away, Ms. Heather would force me to keep walking with a
sharp slap on the bottom. By the time we were finally indoors in one of
the bigger buildings, I had tears in my eyes from the pain and
humiliation.
I looked around nervously as Ms. Heather led me
into an empty room. I couldn’t see a way out. Ms. Heather told me that
it was too late to join the other boys for activities today, and
besides that, I needed more practice moving around with the cuffs
before I was ready. I sighed inwardly at the news that I wouldn't get
to blend into the group yet. I'd have the scary staff lady's full
attention for a bit longer.
All throughout the day, we
practiced. First, she shoved me onto the soft, padded floor and told me
to stand up. It was a struggle, and I was out of breath by the time I
got to my feet. Then she did it again. And again. And again. She had me
crouch down to pick up objects and place them on a table. Walk around
the room with a push broom tucked into my armpit. Write my name with a
pencil held between my teeth and gag.
After a few hours, she
finally let me rest on the floor. She told me she was going to the
cafeteria, and soon returned with a tray of food, which thankfully
included a big glass of water. She undid my gag, reminding me sternly
about the rule against talking, and let me drink from a straw. I
must've practically drained the whole thing in a few gulps. She gave me
advice on how to eat the other items on the tray, and I gratefully
lapped them up like a dog while she wiped my mouth. It was subtle, but
I could tell she was warming up to me, now that she’d seen I wasn’t
going to give her any trouble.
After I ate, Ms. Heather redid
my gag and we practiced a few more things. I had to type on a computer
using the on-screen keyboard with my own butt as a mousepad. Ms.
Heather was quick to remind me that it would be a LONG time before I
was trusted with a computer with internet access, but it was still nice
to have something familiar. After we finished practicing, she led me
back outside and told me I could have some free time while she studied
for her college classes.
Auntie Sabrina had told me that I was
allowed to go anywhere on the ranch I wanted, but I didn’t really feel
like going anywhere. I was only barely getting the hang of the cuffs.
Even sitting and standing was a challenge. I was exhausted. It had been
a long day, to say the least. I found a bench in the shade of a wide
oak tree and sat, while Ms. Heather, seemingly convinced that I wasn't
going to try anything, sat at a picnic table nearby and started working
on some homework.
That was when I met Nyx. She was a girl
about my age, maybe a little younger, with black hair and green eyes. I
was surprised, to say the least, when she sat down and started talking
to me, but I immediately started to like her. There were two reasons
for that. First, she was the first person to treat me like a human
being since I got here. Second, she was the first one I saw talk back
to Ms. Heather. You’ll see what I mean:
Location: Sparkhaven Ranch Courtyard
Nyx: Hello. How are you? My name's Nyx, what's yours? I know my name's weird. I'm named after the moon goddess.
Cody: Mrrph?
Nyx:
It’s Cody, right? I read your file in the admin office. Nice to meet
you. You're new here, aren't you? It's your first day. I'm pretty new
here, only it's not my first day, but it is my first week, so I thought
we could be friends, even though we're not exactly the same amount of
new.
Ms. Heather stands up and approaches carefully.
Ms. Heather: Nyx… sweetie… what are you doing here? I think the girls from your Social Skills Workshop group are over there...
Nyx:
I know that! But I already talk to them all the time in class. Auntie
Amaya said we should practice the skills we learned with the kids from
other programs.
Ms. Heather: Nyx, I don’t think she meant the Petal Pickers.
Nyx:
Then she should have said she didn’t. Auntie Amaya knows that she can’t
leave anything unsaid with us. I know I take things literally when I
shouldn’t, but Auntie Amaya promised there are no hidden rules to her
program. What’s wrong with talking to a Petal Picker? He’s supposed to
learn better ways to interact with girls, right? And I’m supposed to
learn better ways to interact with everyone. So it’s perfect, we’ll
help each other. Besides, I looked at his file in the office. We like a
lot of the same cartoons and stuff.
Cody: Mmrph...
Ms. Heather: through gritted teeth Sweetie, he can’t even talk. He’s muzzled.
Nyx:
I know he is! That's why I picked him! Everyone always says I talk too
much and don't give other people the chance to talk… and I'm working on
that with Auntie Amaya, but in the meantime, if I talk to someone who
can't talk back, it won't matter. And it'll give me a chance to work on
the face-reading skills she's been teaching us, if I want to know how
he feels about something. Like this: Cody, do you like me?
Nyx: See? His eyes lit up, and he raised the corners of his mouth. That's a positive expression.
Ms. Heather: sighs Well, I tried. Guess you’re on your own with this one, kid. She pats Cody on the head and steps away.
Nyx:
So… um… do you like it here? I like it here. But I don’t think I would
if I had to be tied up. Or naked. Do you like being naked?
It
must be really embarrassing. The Aunties say we should all be more
comfortable about our bodies, but I don’t think I could handle being
naked around boys. It’s too bad… Auntie Sabrina says it has all kinds
of benefits. You’re lucky it’s not as embarrassing for a boy as it
would be for a girl...
Cody: grumbles
Nyx:
I mean, you get to learn to be more comfortable with your bodies and
not have to worry about what to wear or worry about uncomfortable tags
and seams in the wrong places. And we all get to learn a little more
about how your bodies work. Auntie Georgina told us all about boys and
girls in her body-positivity demonstration. Do they tell you about
girls in yours? I don't know, maybe Petal Pickers don't have that
activity. But we learned all about male anatomy. Like, did you know
that this…
Nyx suddenly lifts Cody’s shaft between two fingers and runs the index finger of her other hand along the bottom.
Nyx: … is called a vas deferens? Just one of many ways there’s a vast difference between…
Cody: HRMPH! GRMMMPH! FRRRMPH! MMMRPH! HRMM!
Cody violently twists away from her and glares at her.
Nyx:
Oh dear… did I do something to upset you? What could it have been… was
it that pun? Ms. HEAAATHER? Why is he mad at me? What did I do?
Ms. Heather looks up from her books.
Ms. Heather:
I wasn’t watching, Nyx. But you probably didn’t do anything. Petal
Pickers just get mad because they have no power over you and can’t do
anything to humiliate you or scare you.
Cody: GGRMPH HRRMMPH RRRMPH!
Nyx:
No, everything was fine until a moment ago. Um… whatever it was, I'll
make it up to you… What do Petal Pickers like… You're a Type P, right?
You can boss me around some if you want, when you can talk again…
Ms. Heather: Nyx, don’t encourage him!
Nyx: I have to do something! What is he trying to say? Maybe you can take the muzzle off just for a moment, so I know?
Ms. Heather:
I’ll tell you what he’s trying to say. He’s trying to say, “I want to
hurt you with my words, so I’m angry that I can’t.” Nyx, I think it’s
time for you to go.
Nyx: bites her lower lip Um… ok, maybe we’ll try again when you can talk. I guess it was a dumb idea to meet you when you can’t….
Ms. Heather: sighs
If you want to hang out with him so much, maybe… later in his
treatment, he'll be doing supervised playdates with girls his age to
test his progress. We can talk to Auntie Sabrina about getting you into
the training for that program, and then you'll be able to talk to him
again. But only when you and him are both ready, ok?
Nyx: Ok… I guess that sounds good. Thanks, Ms. Heather. Bye, Cody!
With that, Nyx disappeared down one of the trails. I felt confused and
mixed up. She seemed nice enough, but I was pretty shaken by how
casually she violated me, and how easy it was for her to do. I felt
tense and out of breath, vulnerable and exposed. I crossed my legs to
hide myself, but it did nothing to make me feel more secure. Anyone
walking out of those big buildings would see what an easy target I was.
I sat, dreading what Sparkhaven Ranch had in store for me next. I
tugged at my restraints, hoping to find a weakness, but they were
solid. My bladder was also really starting to feel uncomfortably full.
I squirmed and twisted, trying to hold it in, part of me hoping that
Ms. Heather would see and take pity, part of me hoping that no one
would see. I didn't dare disturb her while she was studying, in any
case.
Soon, the doors flung open, and a mob of kids, teens,
and adults milled out. Mostly girls, but there were a few cuffed and
naked Petal Pickers like me mixed in. Their eyes were downcast, and
they flinched as girls passing by them “accidentally” brushed against
their tender parts. Only a handful of them were muzzled like me.
It was in some ways a relief to see them. It was bad enough that I was
naked and humiliated everywhere I had been today, but being the only
one made it so much worse. The boys were dirty, covered in dust and
sweat from whatever activities they’d been forced to do that day. I
knew I’d only been spared for one day. The next morning, I’d be joining
them. Not that my day had been much easier. I wasn’t too clean myself.
Even so, I didn't want anyone to see me like this. I sprang to my feet,
hoping to get out of sight before the crowds got too close, but there
was nowhere to hide that I could see. Before I could even make the
attempt, Ms. Heather grabbed my arm and gave an ear-splitting whistle.
A good portion of the crowd stopped in their tracks.
“Max!
Bobby! Elliot! Just the boys I wanted to see,” she cried, as three of
the Petal Pickers separated from the crowd to approach. “This is Cody.
P4. He’s new here. He’ll be in your yurt. Take him to Moon Village and
show him where he’ll be staying.”
The one named Max, who
looked about my age but a few inches shorter, gritted his teeth but
nodded. Bobby, a younger boy who was muzzled like me, looked me in the
eye and smiled shyly. Elliot, a suave-looking blond boy who looked a
little older than me, said, "Yes, Ms. Heather." Then, he approached me
and said, "Come on… It's just down this trail. One of the Honeybees
will help you use the bathroom there.” My cheeks flushed. He could
obviously tell I was in need.
I followed the three of them
down one of the wooden walkways. Max and Elliot glanced over their
shoulders nervously to make sure Ms. Heather was out of hearing range
before they started talking freely:
Location: Sparkhaven Ranch Footpaths
Elliot:
Muzzled on your first day, huh? Well, it happens. Going to make the
introductions a little awkward, but we’ll make do. We’re used to it.
I’m Elliot. I’m a C3. I’m here because I took some pictures of some
girls at school… I was pretty good at photo editing, so they gave them
to me… and I pretended to be those girls online so men would give me
stuff. I had a pretty good thing going until Rosie found the profile I
made with Ashley's pictures and started telling everyone at school that
Ashley was a… well, I got muzzled the last time I said the word, but
you get the idea. I guess girls really hate girls who try to make money
that way….
Max: And you got punished instead of Rosie.
Elliot:
Yeah… Auntie Sabrina says that even though Rosie clearly has some
issues with internalized misogyny, I was the one who made that “sexed
up” profile of Ashley, not Rosie. I dunno. I wonder what you did, Cody…
you’ll have to tell us when you get that muzzle off in the morning.
Max:
Well, I’ll tell you what he didn’t do. He didn’t take a girl from her
life and force her to parade around cuffed and naked while lecturing
her about what a bad person she is… In fact, he didn’t do anything at
all if he’s a type 4.
Elliot: You wanna tell him what you did, Mr. A1 Steak Sauce?
Max: Shrugs.
Well… there was this girl in my class who always ruined everything,
like girls do. Total tattletale. I put a threatening note in her desk.
I didn't really expect it to do anything; it was just the kind of trash
talk we boys give each other all the time. But she took it really
seriously and got scared enough to stop. So I kept going and sent them
to the other annoying girls, and soon I realized I had to start
carrying out some of the threats or they would stop taking me
seriously… trust me, every one I did anything to deserved it.
Elliot:
And that just leaves Bobby. He's one of the Robinsons. They were all
part of a class taught by a teacher named Martha Robinson. All the boys
in that class are here.
Max: Their school had
a talent show, and this one girl, Cindy, was a really shy loser who got
picked on. Well, she decided to sing THAT song. The one that girls are
obsessed with lately… You know the one I mean.
Cody: nods
Elliot:
The class started jeering and heckling her until she ran off the stage
crying. It was dark, and no one even knew for sure who was saying what,
but somehow all eight of the boys in Mrs. Robinson's class ended up
here, with the A2 brand.
Max: Yeah… I don’t even need to say what kind of baloney that is, do I?
Elliot:
Well, don’t misunderstand. There are some boys who are actually kind of
scary. I think they sort of try to group us together by how dangerous
we are…
Max: What? That doesn’t make sense. I’m way more dangerous than you geeks. I’m Type 1! I did stuff to girls physically!
Elliot: I don’t think flipping a few skirts or smacking a few girls’ bottoms makes you dangerous, Max…
Interlude
I just wanted him to stop! I didn’t mean to ruin his life...
I want to say something to the girls who saw something wrong and spoke up about it.
There's no one way you're supposed to feel when a boy who has tormented
you or someone you care about gets taken out of school and sent to our
program. Some of you are relieved that someone has finally taken you
seriously, or happy that you no longer have to live in fear. That's
wonderful. But some of you might have more conflicted feelings, and
that's just as valid.
You might be asking yourself:
And what it all comes down to is: Is there a chance I ruined an innocent boy's life?
Let me be absolutely clear: There are no innocent boys at Sparkhaven.
How can I be so sure? Because we are not the police and this is not a
prison. We’re not concerned with guilt or innocence. They are not here
because of one specific incident. They are here because they have been
diagnosed with SAGE. Any misbehavior you or anyone else may have
reported is only a symptom, and not the cause.
We do not make this diagnosis lightly. A boy is admitted into the Petal Picker program when he demonstrates a continuing pattern
of entitlement, disregard for the rights of others, and capacity for
harm. To establish this pattern, we interview friends, family, and
teachers. We search their devices and conduct in-person assessment
interviews. No one person is responsible for labeling a boy with SAGE,
except for the boy himself.
So, if there’s a boy in our
program because of an incident you reported, do not worry that you did
the wrong thing. You could come up to my office and tell me you made
the whole thing up to get him in trouble for no reason at all. I would
be disappointed in you, of course, but I would not think for one second
that we did the wrong thing by putting the boy in cuffs. Because
ultimately, he isn’t here because of that one incident. He’s here
because he’s sick and he needs our help.
So please: don’t
torture yourself over whether or not he deserves to be here. You did
the right thing by speaking up. I promise.
-excerpt from a blog post by Auntie Sabrina