[alex]

But they begin to learn from kindengarden that boys should not hit girls. So in this context, a boys physical power does not "normally" affect girl’s power structure.

Well, that’s what they should do, but it doesn’t always work out that way. One does read about boys using their strength to take advantage of girls, every now and then.

It does happen on ocassion, that’s why I used the word "normally". Still, it’s a deviant behavior looked down upon by both other boys and girls. At least in my world, boys that beat up girls are asking for a beating of their own.

In the long run, the codes boys learn to live by (such as never hit a girl) would be eventually transfered to the girls, and a certain immunity would be confered to the weaker males, such as occurs today with girls. But I imagine there would be this whole adaptation period , where both genders wouldn’t really know how to deal with their power or lack of.

It’s that "transition period" I enjoy writing about, when no one knows exactly what the rules are, when suddenly the tables are turned, when demonstrative slaps become knock-out punches. "Oh sorry! Guess I don’t know my own strength, these days, heh-heh."

Agreed. It’s the period I enjoy reading the most too.

IMO, it would be much more interesting to see what would it be like to see girls become super strong and muscular, while retaining their normal inherent female behavior.

That’s the reason I’ve written the story with a large cast of characters, so that I can portray different reactions to the situation. From what you’ve said, I think you’d be more interested in how Michelle and Cecile react, as opposed to Theresa, Sandy and Celia. But it’s all there.

Well…it wouldn’t hurt to see that super brat learn that some of the other girls are as strong or stronger then her, and they are not too keen on seeing their boyfriends getting bullied. 🙂

But I agree with you. That’s also the reason I like these stories with multiple characters. You can view the whole spectrum of people and society. From the nice girls to mean girls to single moms to battered housewifes… You got it all!

[JimmyDimples]

There is one question that I’m wondering about:

"Ok so I’m a shrimp give me some reasons I shouldn’t end it all as soon as I get home"

This is one I’d be feeling, because the cruel teen girl seems to be the norm in marknew’s stories.

I know we won’t see this develop in the long term, but I’m wondering if the males will finally decide, "It just ain’t worth it," and break off from any boy-girl interaction altogether. I know we’d mentioned this in another thread.

One thing I’d been thinking is one despondent teen guy has had a very rotten day, after being constantly dumped on, and decides life isn’t worth it. So he grabs a bottle of sleeping pills, goes into his room, locks the door behind him, and decides to gulp the whole thing.

The guy’s mom, or sister, realizing he’d been more miserable than usual, knocks on the door to try to talk and cheer him up. No answer. "Uh, Guy?" No answer. "Guy?" No answer. A quick look across the hall into the bathroom, she notices the pills are missing. "GUY?!!"

That’s when she breaks down the door, sees the empty bottle, and rushes to dial 911. Then she gets a desperate idea, picks up Guy, and starts pressing on the pit of his stomach over and over, simulating a pump, until he finally retches up the pills before he dies.

And as they both cry, she hugs guy close, and reassures him that everything’s going to be okay somehow.

Sorry… I know, it’s marknew’s story. But that’s a little something that was rattling around in my noggin a while.

[Mark Newman]

"Ok so I’m a shrimp give me some reasons I shouldn’t end it all as soon as I get home"

This is one I’d be feeling, because the cruel teen girl seems to be the norm in marknew’s stories.

Not ALL of them are cruel!

😉

Since there already two votes for that question, I’ll have to include it, although I’m not sure which character should say it. Perhaps Martin.

I certainly wouldn’t think "it’ ain’t worth it." Not being the stronger sex would not seem like a reason to abandon girls, or life, for that matter, although it might make me a bit more careful about where I walk at night. That said, I’m pretty careful already.

And I do think that everything’s gonna be okay tomorrow. There’s got to be a "Thursday" too.

[alex]

Jimmy Dimples, that was a great scene. Very touching and realistic considering teenagers fatalistic views on things.

I’m sure if something like what happened in the story happened in real life, there would be a significant number of suicides. Can you imagine suddenly having all your dreams or career taken away from you? That athletic schollarship you just won…or your career in the military or in the police, etc…

Interesting point.

[Mark Newman]

Okay guys. Obviously I haven’t been taking the tragic dimension seriously enough.

I think I’ll give the line to Harold, whose football scholarship and career are definitely now out of the picture.

[Mark Newman]

[This is a scene in which the students are discussing how the changes have affected their self-image.]

"Well I DEFINITELY am not seeing myself this way," said Harold. "Suddenly I’m a flabby black boy with a beer belly, and I don’t even drink beer. I can hardly stand to get out of bed in the morning looking like this," he said glumly. "I’m supposed to be a football player. How am I going to go to college now? I’m just a shrimp. A weakling. I want somebody to give me some reasons why I shouldn’t end it all as soon as I get home. I mean, what am I supposed to do?"

"Your name is –" [This is Marilyn, the discussion facilitator talking.]

"Harold. Harold Simmons."

"Thank you, Harold. That’s a very difficult problem you have, a terrible problem. It’s not just a matter of self-image you’re talking about, although that’s part of it too. Your career plans, your college plans, your daily life cannot continue as they have. Somehow you have to come up with a new plan, and it won’t be easy. I hope no one underestimates how hard this adjustment is for the boys, and for some, who relied heavily on their physical prowess, it is even harder than for most."

Kimberly looked sympathetically at Harold. "That IS tough Harold. Can you play other sports?"

Harold scowled. "With this body? And even if I manage to get it into shape, what are schools going to do about sports programs for boys? All the money, all the attention is just going to go to girls now, like you and Sandy."

Sandy looked down at her desk. Kimberly replied, "I know that seems unfair, but the other side of it, you know, is that Sandy and I never had those opportunities. Maybe now we will. I’m sorry for you, but you have to admit that you’re just having to deal with what we’ve always had to do. I mean, no matter how good we were in sports, with just a few exceptions we’d never be able to make a living out it. Now we might be."

"Oh, I’m really happy for you," Harold said sarcastically.

"Yeah, well I’m not gloating, Harold, but, you know …." Kimberly said.

"Maybe you could be a coach," Cecile suggested. "Or a scorekeeper? Or cheerleader?"

There was an uncomfortable silence….

[alex]

LOL! That was great.

Someone shoud tell these girls (Kimberly and Cecile) to never, ever, EVER work in one of those suicide hotlines. 🙂

[Axel3.14]

Another dimension that I wonder about is whether all the guys shrunk equally, or just to the degree of their masculinity. You mention that the females are between six and eight feet tall, but you never mention how short the guys are. 3 feet? two feet? There’s something I find strangely amusing about effeminate pretty boys towering over the macho men.

Why did you make the guys get fatter too? That wasn’t part of her wish.

I hope you don’t delve into suicidality. It seems like a downer to an otherwise amusing and insightful story. Furthermore, the situation just doesn’t seem to warrant it. Granted the guys will need some serious adjustment, but it’s not like they’ve been cursed or something. On the other hand, I’m a smallish intellectual who wouldn’t suffer too much if this were to actually happen. I’m also curious about whther this change in physiology has unexpected side effects. That is, tall people sometimes have troubles with their extremities and skeletons. Sandy Allen is a good example of this.

Also, I think it’s a wise decision not to invert soceity. Nowadays, people usually kill/injure/subdue each other with tools, and the girls can still be shot, stabbed, poisoned and bubbled like anyone else, no? I see a brief period of volent crimes committed against women by men out of frustration.

In closing, this is an intruiging story, and I am awaiting the next installment.

[alex]

Another dimension that I wonder about is whether all the guys shrunk equally, or just to the degree of their masculinity. You mention that the females are between six and eight feet tall, but you never mention how short the guys are. 3 feet? two feet? There’s something I find strangely amusing about effeminate pretty boys towering over the macho men.

No. I think that in the story, all guys shrink to low female levels (around 5′) , and girls grow to 6’4" or more. It’s not a GTS story.

Why did you make the guys get fatter too? That wasn’t part of her wish.

From what I take, the guys who got fat, were the more muscular ones. Perhaps some of their muscle turned into fat. It makes some sense.

[Mark Newman]

Alex is right. Guys lost 6" – 12", and girls gained about the same amount.

Some guys got fatter. The effect was caused by a loss in levels of fitness.

I certainly would not delve into discussions of suicide. It’s just not something I understand, and it’s not fun or sexy to think about.

I suppose some extremely tall women might have these problems, but no one in the group we’re meeting. None of them would be considered "extremely tall" under the new standards.

the girls can still be shot, stabbed, poisoned and bubbled like anyone else, no?

They sure can be, but I hope no one would do that to my girls.

[Author]

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