PART FOUR h – Training

  "We noticed decades ago. There were other things out there than just alpha and beta. A lot of them flew by, under radar. There's some rare personality types. Look, tens of thousands of people were interviewed, facts checked. Alphas interviewed at length? Almost all of them will tell you an eerily simir story. They're the alpha. The big, confident guy. Yeah, they're in charge around town. Alphas butt heads sometimes. But, every one of them, all had the same story. They were doing their thing, pying the role… and they ran into this guy. The quiet polite guy, always sat by himself at the bar, no one knew much about him. Just… another beta. Quiet, mild mannered. You challenge him? Hey, I'm no tough guy. We're good."

  "Sounds like a nice guy."

  "Yeah. Until the alpha got out of line. Or, was pushing other people around, and no other alpha was there to put him in his pce, to butt heads with him. After all these times, never making any moves, never bragging. Out of nowhere, the unknown guy… takes the alpha aside. Told him politely. Hey. Big guy. It's fine, you're the man. But… I'm telling you this, where no one else knows, don't want you losing face. You need to quit grabbing girls and making them kiss you when they say no. You need to quit taking the little guy's drinking money, and buying beers. You're scaring women, you're stealing off of guys that can't stand up to you, you better knock it off. You can go tell everyone you told me how it is, I won't say what we talked about, but… knock that shit off."

  "Every alpha tells this story…"

  "Every one of them. If this didn't happen to them? They watched some guy come out of nowhere, and do it to some bully alpha. Now, when you confront an alpha, they have to respond. They can't take it. Here's this little beta, challenging them. They have to put him in his pce, like they do everyone else. The problem is, they had the great misfortune to run into one of these rare personality types. Its a sigma male. They're almost all intellectuals. Quiet. Keep to themselves. Like to be alone. They… don't care about money, status, pecking order… all that normal stuff everyone else is obsessed with. They tend to think differently. They have unique strategies to solve problems. But, when there's a threat? It happens so often, there's a name for it. Its called sigma lightning."

  "Sounds like something out of a superhero book."

  "You can see an alpha coming a mile off. They approach you directly. Openly. Sigma males don't. They avoid conflict. They stay out of conflicts. But… when they strike? Its like lightning. You don't see them coming. They pn. They're crafty. They have their own set of rules. You try to bully them? They're smart, and they get results. They don't care how they get them. They strike like… we call it sigma lightning, for a reason. They pn, they set you up. They py chess usually, and they're thinking three moves ahead. They know you're coming, and when they strike, you didn't expect it."

  He gave me a glib example.

  "You find the bully, face down in a pool of his own blood, in the parking lot, back alley, bathroom. Doesn't even know who got him, its a thing with head injuries. The bully gets confronted in the parking lot at work, in his own driveway."

  "Yeah. You don't call it that, but… you know exactly what sigma lightning is. Don't you. Your mentor. I'm going to go out on a limb here. He didn't take everyone aside like he did you. He picked you out."

  "Yeah. I felt… special. I had to try to live up, to what this guy wanted. I mean, he taught all the other tough guys, how to do things better."

  "Yes. He was also an intellectual. Probably pyed chess. Talked a lot about the philosophy of things. Deep thinker. Really strong morality streak, really deep sense of poetic justice. How am I doing."

  "Like… you were there and had lunch with us."

  "Uh huh. Older sigma males, locate young ones, and mentor them. Its what they do. They pass the craft on, master to student. He's gone now, and he still has you being him. You're mentoring all the army fighting guys. You're the strong silent guy."

  "I… owe him that."

  "I know you miss him. You said he was one of the most important men in your life, after your own father."

  "He was."

  "My grandma. Used to tell me, they can see us. They can hear us. He's somewhere right now, pointing down. That there, look. That's my boy! I taught him all that. Look, he's passing it on. He stays out of it, he doesn't take the bait, he's above it all. I'm sure he's proud of you."

  "Thank you."

  "You're welcome. I'm sorry you lost him. Now… do you see why I don't date much? I'm dominant in my personal life. A regur guy, is dominant. Even if he isn't? Other guys have ruined him with their typical advice. Be the man. Take charge. Women love it. Show her how its going to be, they need it. She's challenging you, to put her in her pce. Most women. Not me. I can't waste my life, butting heads with some infted ego."

  "So the st thing you want, is a bad boy. Or a guy acting like a typical jerk."

  "Exactly. I'm dominant in my personal retionship. I need someone submissive, in their personal retionship. I lead, gently. They follow, in private. In public? We appear normal."

  "How many… have you found before me?"

  I hugged him around from behind him, and put my face on the back of his shoulder. Little kisses.

  "Really? A couple. But, all but one were… ruined, we'll say. By men around them. They didn't understand why they were doing what worked for the other guys, and it wasn't working for them. So, they doubled down, and sought out more advice. It made it worse. I guess, the only one that was naturally submissive, and that's a minority of men, just like I'm a minority of women… and wasn't ruined by all the advice… was my pre med student."

  "The one that…"

  "Yep. Him. He went away to medical school, he's gone. Then I found out that my team mate sport-fucked him. You? The only other one I found. That didn't mind it, being different. So, you're not going to come home one day, all charged up with great advice. How… you're going to wear the pants, put the little dy in her pce?"

  "No."

  "It doesn't bother you?"

  "Whatever works, works. I do like unique strategies that get results. Its why I'm the Wizard, programming. People look at how I do things, they scratch their heads. I don't care what other people think. If its good for you, and its good for me? That's all that matters. Question?"

  "Of course, little boy."

  "Pre med boy… I guess you…"

  "I what?"

  "You know. Like you had fun with me, on our third date. He went over your knee."

  "Oh. Um, actually. No. I expined, that being dominant in the personal retionship, and directing the bedroom action? Doesn't necessarily mean that my partners were all… naughty boys that way to me. I was in charge in bed? Definitely. I'm the girl that gets on top. I tell the guy when I want my once a week rough ride so I can walk funny the next day. But we didn't py any… naughty games. I made a lot of jokes, but he never picked up that ball. I made a lot of innuendo. Dropped a lot of hints. Hey, lets try this? Something new. He wasn't at all interested. I need a submissive in the personal retionship, and to be submissive to me in bed, but… what people call kinky? That's just a bonus."

  "So, how many…"

  "I… have snapped a naked butt with a wet towel, but never went past running around third base. We were young. The… farmhand I hooked up with at a county fair traveling with my show? He was the first guy I liked that was confident enough, that way, to ask for mommy to take her belt off. A lot of guys, couple drinks, can be talked into a few birthday love pats. But… to say hey, you liked it, do you wanna try it again? No. It was a fun thing one time, they think its weird to further it. You're the only one I went… down the road with that way. Now, that said. I won't lie to you…"

  "Hmm. I'm sitting down, I'm ready for anything."

  "Nothing bad. Me and the other two Caballeras? We hung out at the campfires with all the other farmhands staying at the county fairs. Everyone knew we were the… bullwhip performers. All farm and ranch people. You can easily imagine, some boys might come and… its a dare to get a crack from one of us. Hey Bobby. Twenty bucks says, you won't get a lick on each cheek from one. Take the bet?"

  "Aw, you gave bullwhip licks, to any guy that wanted one? Naked butts getting it, every summer."

  "No, dear. You'd be amazed even through the jeans, what a lick can do. Me and the girls? We thought it was funny. We'd paste one wicked one on, through the jeans. They'd scream and hop around, and wouldn't take the other one. We all did it. And no, none of the girls were… naughty with boys like that. We all asked each other, did you ever? No. It was a good summer job, we all just grew up on farms and happened to drive bulls. Happened to look okay in the costumes. Its also a good summer job. I bought my own almost new dirt bike I always wanted."

  "Hmm. How much trouble am I in, if…"

  "If you're just about to be accusing me of being a liar? I'll give you the polite suggestion, that its not the smartest idea you probably ever had. Now. That said? We're having this conversation. And, we're in the tub. This is our normal time. Also, I understand where you're coming from. So. Ask what you're going to ask, say what you were going to say. No fear of any penalty of any kind. But. If, and only if? You take the utmost care, to phrase it respectfully. Think. I could just as easily not have admitted this. But, I want you to know you can always trust me. So. Say it politely, ask it with great respect due to me? And you will suffer no penalty."

  "Thank you."

  "You're welcome. Go on."

  "Not one single time, did you get asked, to… you know. Not as a bet for fun in front of the group. Like your cowboy was confident enough to ask for mommy's belt to come off. Like he was the only one, who ever asked. On the side. I'm not calling mommy a liar, I'm saying it would sound thin."

  "Hmm. Very good. See? I taught you a thing or two about your manners when talking to mommy. You ask politely like that, you ask permission respectfully. Its fine, during normal time. Now, to answer your no penalty… question. No, there were no naked butts got licked by my bullwhip, on the sly. There were, however. The occasional… request. Some jokes, some innuendo. Then a request. All us girls got one of those once in a blue moon. Some boys must have been… curious, we could say. Now. Do you want mommy to tell you how I handled those requests?"

  "Yes please. If it doesn't nd me in hot water."

  "You're fine. I grew up around whips. Normal on a farm. When I started practicing with the bullwhip, on rainy days? Sure, I think I told you, that was about the age I started getting… early naughty ideas. What age did you get your first naughty ideas. Hmm?"

  "Oh… around the time I started liking girls, I think. Early teens. Didn't understand the thoughts back then. Thought I was weird. Didn't tell anyone."

  "Sounds the same here. Now. If you had been approached by some girl you found even a little bit attractive, and she seemed intent on being alone, and then suggesting things. Would you have had any problem, accepting an offer to… get your butt smacked with your jeans on? What the hell, right."

  "Oh. That…"

  "Uh huh. Oh, its your birthday? You need your birthday smacks. Through your jeans. Just for fun…"

  "Uh…"

  "Oh. Someone would all of a sudden be a whole lot less embarrassed of that idea. Hmm. Now… reverse the situation. Guys were… acting awful curious about it. You wanted birthday smacks, and if it was offered? You'd have been there with bells on. Well… how could I pass that chance up. The first such request? I said I'll get back to you. I asked one of the other girls. You ever get this kind of…?"

  "And…"

  "Yeah, once in a while you get one of those. Pffft. I think its funny. What I do, is I bet them 20 dolrs. They won't stay bent over for ten good licks. Five each side. Two dolrs a lick. Now, if you don't sit for all ten? I get the two 20s. You make it to ten good ones, without coming up off that hay bale? You get both 20s. You're curious? I'm curious. Look, you got 20 bucks to head to the concession stand or the midway, and you didn't even do anything. I get one or two here and there. Ain't had one of them sit for all ten. Honey, you just paste them on as good as you can, take your 20. Best part is? Later on you see them, walk up behind them and give their jeans a good swat. Watch them dance and run. Its the funniest thing ever. Have fun."

  "You did this?"

  "Jeans on. No sex. Some boy wants me to put licks on him? Not like I'm not curious too. The other girls did it, they're not even into it. Why not."

  "I think I'm jealous."

  "You don't have to be. Through the jeans? I can't rip skin. It can rip the jeans. It leaves one motherfucker of a welt, a couple of them told me ter. You have no idea, what a hard one is like. Most of them jump and scream and run, after the first one if I paste it on good. Best I ever had, was I got 2 or 3 a few times. I think the record was 4. But, I never lost my 20 and I made their 20, every single time. Plus… I got to feed my… secret naughty compulsion, that I was still ashamed of back then."

  "I think I'm definitely jealous."

  "Yes. And do you know why?"

  "Why…"

  "Because. To you, and me… we know its something sexual. Even with clothes on, through jeans. Just for a fun bet. To the rest of the world? Its nothing. Its just silly. But me and you, we know different. We know something's going on, we just don't know what's going on till we're older."

  "I'm not in trouble, for being jealous?"

  "No dear. Not at all. But you know, there's no reason to be jealous. You can have 10, or even 20 licks through your jeans, if you wanna see. I won't take your money. But… you've never felt a hard one. Don't be surprised what happens."

  "What will happen."

  "What do you think will happen. When I say good licks, you know I mean the sh stroke. The crack. Right?"

  "Yes."

  "All right. You've had some. Several, actually. Maybe you don't believe me, that those are teeny, light ones. Barely fast enough to make the crack sound. You've heard the loud cracks I can make. They sound like gunshots going off."

  "A hard one, would rip through my jeans?"

  "It takes the back pockets off. That's a double yer. My first two cracks, breaks both pockets. Now? I got a single yer of old jeans. I'm telling you. One, they jump up and scream usually. Maybe two. I'm pretty sure the record of four, sitting for it? He had some beers in him, and he still screamed and jumped up."

  "So, I wouldn't be jealous anymore."

  "Hmm. If you want to be mommy's next… curious cowboy? I'm fine with it. But I'm telling you. You screamed from a couple really light ones. I'm calling this impossible. You want 10 or 20, hard ones? With jeans on, for safety? Sure. The old desk down there, that's your hay bale. You want tied over it? So you can take your 10, your 20? We'll wait until you have a clean bum, then its no problem."

  "Well. I do want whatever your… curious cowboys got."

  "Hmm. Tell you what. When you finally manage to stay out of trouble long enough, mommy gets a clean bum to py on? This would qualify as… what I would cssify… severe punishment. In fact… this? Could even repce the trip I'd originally pnned. You know, you're little graduation whipping. You see, its impossible to rip skin while the jeans are intact. Which means, I can develop full power. Remember now, little boy. One or two is the average before they can't take any more and scream and run. Four is the record, and I could smell beer. So yeah… tied over the desk, for 20 or more? I would consider that very serious."

  "Hmm. I'm going to get the… serious working over, at the end anyways. This would be a good introduction, I guess."

  "All right. You're on my list. If I get a clean bum to work on, I'm gonna do it. A strict mommy? Doesn't need any reason, I told you that. I'm gonna prove it to you. General purposes, will go towards respecting what I can do to you. Respect? Is fear. Pin and simple. You'll be afraid after that. I did tell you, part of this program? Is that you actually become afraid of me being mad at you. I need to see some tears when I take my belt off before I'm done. But, if I do it with my bullwhip? Fine by me. I'll leave your jeans on. You? Will get tied over the desk. I'm gonna gag you nice and tight, too. I'll give you 20 good licks. 10 on each side. I'm guessing, and I'm pretty sure… after that? All I have to do is pull it out still coiled up, and give you the look and a sharp word. I bet I get puckering up, and a few tears."

  "Now I'm less jealous, and more nervous."

  I whispered in his ear.

  "You should be. You dared me. It happens now, first chance I get. You're going to be afraid of me. Just like you asked for, when you kept asking me to do this. You like a scary ride? This will be the big roller coaster."

  "You? Are a naughty mommy."

  "Hmm. I am. Very strict, too. Now… let me think. What else was this talk about…"

  "Let me know."

  "Oh, yeah. Sigma males. We knew there were other things out there, in alpha beta nd. The sigma males? They got called all sorts of things, before they were identified and studied, as personality types. They were rare, odd ducks. They like alone time, and prefer rge amounts of it. They don't need retionships, not like everyone else does. Alphas and betas crave retionships. These guys are fine without one, but they get into retionships, when they find what they think is right."

  "Now, they function alone fine. They don't need a group. And even when in a group? They still spend alone time. Being alone? Is torture for most people. Not these guys. Doesn't bother them a bit. When in a group? They function as any other beta. Only for a good alpha. They won't be in a group with a bad alpha. Or, they take them out. The weird thing is? They function as betas, and like it. But… when threatened, or the need arises. They jump up and do the work of an alpha. Particurly, when no good alpha is around. They can repce them, but only temporarily, then they prefer to go back to being a beta. The don't like to lead, they like pying beta. Even better, actually. They don't have the need to confront directly. They just… bang. Lightning strikes. No warning."

  "Okay. A lot of this? Sounds… familiar."

  "I know, right? Hmm. what else. Oh. Phases. Every personality type, can be good phase or bad phase. Each one has an official nickname. Good alpha? Leader. Bad alpha? The bully. Sigmas? Their nickname finally became… the Lone Wolf. Good phase sigmas? Run alone, or when in a group, function as capable betas. They'll provide temporary leadership if no alpha is present, but won't stay at it. They leave quick. A group of betas alone? Are useless. They crave leadership. They'll draft a new leader if one disappears. When they find one? They just all show up at his house, hey, what are we doing today. Hey, we need your advice."

  "The good sigma, is highly prized by any good alpha. They need help, they seek the advice of the sigma. Always ends up their right hand man. Group mascot ring a bell? This is usually the number two man in the group. Alpha is on vacation? Everyone looks to him. They think its silly, but will do it. What do you mean, you guys can't handle one weekend without Bobby? You guys are killing me. I got stuff I wanna do. They drag him out. They need their temporary alpha."

  "You're sure about this, are you."

  "Definitely. The MP leader, had his group… you said yourself… kidnap you, and started taking you out. Good alphas locate talent for the group. They draft talent. You? Had special skills the alpha wanted for the group."

  "Smart guy. Computers are everywhere, not everyone enjoys them like I do. I spoke somewhat fluent Spanish…"

  "Yep. Good alpha drafted you. Alphas can be intelligent? They don't need to be. They just locate what they need, as resources for the group. Then, you're a sigma. I'll prove it. Group mascot. What was your function? Spanish, computers and smart guy stuff."

  "Electrical, electronics. Oh yeah, I also ended up programming those little radios. You hook them up to a computer, you can set a file to do all the frequencies and names of the channels. Everyone loved 'computer boy' doing the radios. They were always adding a channel, and moving one around. They, uh… liked my trick. They liked me to add an extra channel. Off the books. That channel they could all talk on, day or night, working or after work. Without base recording and listening. If you wanted to talk on the radio, off the record? Use my secret channel."

  "See. Drafted for talent. As mascot? New guys were nervous, to throw gorils around. Hey, no sweat. Look… quiet computer boy does it for a hobby. They saw a normal sized guy. Quiet, polite. Computer guy. He does it, okay. They can do it too. You said yourself, you were used to provide early training, for the new MPs."

  "Yeah. I was."

  "Bet the leader, used to ask you if you had any ideas on stuff. Hey, let me bounce this off you…"

  "Okay."

  "Good alphas take polls, and they pick the best idea. I bet you had, weird ideas to solve problems."

  "Hmm. I heard, that's just so crazy, it might work. Heard that one a lot."

  "And? You functioned as a temporary alpha, when the need arose. Remember, you saw the big, drunk goril Marine got away from your buddies? You drove ahead, and ambushed him. Handed him to them. Gift from out of nowhere. To the goril? You were a bolt from out of the blue. He got struck by sigma lightning. I'll bet? He never saw it coming."

  "The MPs? Let me guess. They use authority. They confront you directly. They py alpha. Not you… you got ahead, you hid. You waited. Then you struck. Strategy. Cunning. Dangerous and useful. I bet that you pyed it off afterwards, too. I also bet, that after that? They started recruiting you to become one, when you enlisted again. They wanted you. To train new guys. Quiet follower, who could handle anything that came up. Cssic sigma male. Any leader's number two man. Handles anything, never challenges his authority, advises him and provides unique strategies, never takes credit. Loyal to a fault. You were groomed by a loner sigma, that they looked up to. Hand picked."

  "Its like you were there… its almost scary."

  "Once I identified you as a sigma? The rest becomes obvious. You can predict what an alpha will do. Easy. You challenge him? He has to confront you, openly, directly, publicly. You can bank on it, and pn for it. Betas? Predictable. You challenge them? They fold. But you? Wild card. Maybe stand and fight. If the odds look good. Or, run and hide. Not impressive, but if its the best option, you do it. You don't care if you're made fun of. Its the best strategy. Or, you might suddenly go from beta, to taking out a bad alpha, in the blink of an eye. Lightning strike. Or, you pretend to fold, several times… lure them in… then? Bang. You? Can't be predicted. Good alphas? Love you and draft you. Bad alphas? You terrify them. They know you guys are out there, and they know they'll never see you coming, like some alpha approaching."

  "Mommy?"

  I was hugging him from behind, biting his neck softly, some kisses, too.

  "Yes…"

  "What are you?"