Dominion

One month later, goddesses sat and war stories flew around the big oval kitchen table at 2034 Stonybrook, at The Helpful Ladies Society’s first official meeting.

“So Papa Rosie, who is also the mayor, he runs in the house, all excited, ‘men with guns!’ he say. ‘Come quick!’ So I go outside, and the people have all gathered ‘round,” Mama Rosie recounted. “Big angry shouting men in military uniforms, with guns jump down from trucks. At the head of them all is a jeep with a big gun mounted in back and pointed at Mama Rosie!”

“Fifty cal recoilless, most likely,” Zoe whispered to J.T., who nodded, though the phrase meant nothing to her.

“I don’t even get a chance to say one word before they shoot that big gun right at me! Booda Booda Booda!” Mama Rosie shook her big brown fists, reenacting the firing of the truck-mounted machine gun for her rapt audience of Megan, Trish, Eliana and Mariko, as well as J.T. and Zoe.