Charlie rang the doorbell with my backpack but it still seemed I should go home for something, like my clothes or my cock or whatever. Nothing, however, came to mind.

When Rhonda and I got to school we discovered Bess and Seth passionately entwined in a full-body hug. The rest of us chatted until they were done, and then I asked if they weren't afraid of being caught again.

"What they going to do, flatten us again?" Bess explained. "Anyway, nothing we do now can possibly be sexual. Family or friendly affection is as far as it gets."

"What about public displays of affection? Doesn't that rule still apply?"

"Yesterday I talked to my guidance counselor and she said it didn't," Bess stated. "At least, that's been the pattern in other states that have Liberty Clinics."

"What about stuff with normal people? You know… intact."

"There's no risk to us, but the intact person can be punished for masturbating."

"What does that make us? Walking human vibrators?" Rhonda objected.

"I don't know about that, but sexless, I suppose," Bess replied.

"Let's try it out," suggested Rhonda, and then she pinned me to the wall. I suppose we made some sort of spectacle but the hall monitors didn't seem to care.

* * * * *

School itself wasn't quite the hell of Monday, but it was bad enough. My butt still stuck to the desk seats. People kept staring at me and my empty crotch. Sometimes they followed me around, apparently watching my butt.

A guy named Mike Phillips stopped me in the hall. We were casual friends and had the same Math class. Of course he gave me a once-over but it was less obtrusive than most. After the usual questions came a new one.

"Dude, what's it like?" Mike wondered.

"Like not having a cock or balls?" I asked in return.

"No, I know, that's gotta be weird. Being naked all the time has to be weird. But how do you feel? Like, are you happy or depressed or anything? Is there anything good about it?"

"I'm more freaked than depressed," I told him. "One moment I can't believe this happened, and the next I feel all dickless and naked and foolish and exposed. How would you feel?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, man," Mike explained. "I think my parents are leaning in that direction.

"Do you mean, like, they're trying to catch you so they can bring you in?"

"No, it's these neighbors of ours, the Olsens. The whole family got it at once. I heard my parents talking about it."

"Were they having a family sex party or something?"

"No, it was voluntary, at least for the mom and dad. I guess the mom didn't want any more kids, and she got attacked somehow, and there was some soft of bonus in it for her at work. The dad figured he'd go nuts if his wife was sexless and he wasn't. Then they decided if they could be sexless, so could the rest of the family. They came over to visit last weekend and it was pretty scary."

"Well, it's painless. Now that we can't have sex, our parents let us go through all the motions. We never have to change clothes. I can't think what else is good about it."

"What about going to the bathroom?" he asked.

"You have to sit down."

"Do you use the girls' or the guys'?"

"The guys'. Why would I use the girls'? I'd get in trouble for trying."

"Well, maybe not, because you're not exactly a guy anymore. But look, man, thanks" he told me, and then a slim girl in a miniskirt distracted him.

* * * * *

Later I was in the guys' room, waiting for a toilet, when a beefy guy in rough clothes got on my case. "Forget something, girly-boy?"

"What do you think?" I replied neutrally.

"I think you might want my cock," he answered.

"Not really, even on a transplant," I told him.

"I guess you gotta pee sittin' down now, hey girlie-boy?"

"Something like that."

"Do you miss it?"

"Not a drop."

"Hey, funny girlie-boy. I still think you want my dick, eh?"

"It'd almost be worth it," I told him. "Having sex with a flat is considered masturbation, and you can get flattened for that."

"Nooo," he responded, and then he looked around and saw several guys nodding.

"This ain't over," he announced, but then he left.

For the next few days, the circle around me got wider and wider. No one wanted to touch a flat by mistake, especially after the beefy guy missed the rest of the day and the day after.

* * * * *

Before last period a girl named Julia Smithers pulled me aside. I knew her from History the previous year

"So, I hear you guys were having, like, a sex party," she began.

"More or less," I admitted.

"You look hot with your clothes off," she remarked, gliding a finger down my arm.

"Yeah, well, as you can see, nothing's going to come of it. And watch out. They're nabbing people in the hall," I warned.

"I've never been to a sex party," Julia continued while withdrawing her finger. "And as for you, I like knowing I won't get screwed. It's like, safer. Do you go naked all the time now, like even in bed?"

"Yeah, we're supposed to be examples of what not to do, so don't do it, okay?"

"I sleep naked too," she answered, rolling her tongue around her lips. "And when I can, I walk around the house naked, like when nobody's home, or between my room and the bathroom, or when I'm getting my clothes from the dryer. I like walking around the shower room after gym, too. I'm not wearing any panties."

"Uh, me neither. Look, if you're trying to get a rise out of me, it's not going to work."

"I know. Do you still have sex parties? I know it can't be the same but…"

"No. Rhonda and I slept together last night but I promise you nothing happened. Look, we'd better get to class."

"See you later," she teased with a wave, and then she patted my butt as she left. The hall monitors glared but let her go. She and Mike Phillips exchanged a few words, and then they walked together into the same classroom.

* * * * *

That evening Mom and Dad took the family out for dinner. This led to a minor commotion in the restaurant lobby, and from there to a three-way discussion involving Dad, the maître d', and the manager. I couldn't hear their voices but the topic wasn't hard to guess. Eventually the manager made a phone call and then we were seated. Meanwhile, of course, everyone in the place stared at us.

We ended up in a booth with mom and dad on one side and the three of us on the other. Although there was plenty of space, we sat close together, touching. Bess played footsie with me and I began stroking her thigh. Charlie just held himself, or at least where he used to be.

It wasn't too clear what the issue at the door had been because there were several other flats walking around the restaurant. Then one of them approached us, pressed her thigh against Charlie's shoulder, rubbed his neck, and said, "Hi, my name's Quinn and I'll be your server tonight."

.Quinn definitely had the look of someone who'd been flat for a while, and who was clearly old enough to serve drinks. The restaurant, however, had never been a nude waitress sort of place.

"We had trouble at the door because we're flat, and yet here you are working for the restaurant. What's all that about?" I asked. Our server noticed me stroking Bess's thigh, said nothing, and kept massaging Charlie's neck. Charlie reached out to stroke the server's hip. Our parents wavered between interested and quietly amused.

"All new servers have to be flat," Quinn explained, flat spot hovering just above the table edge. "I guess they think it's good for business. As I'm sure you know, many people find flats interesting."

More like morbidly fascinating, I thought, but perhaps the server did have a point. Quinn had a trim, athletic body, nominal breasts, a perfect all-over tan, and no problem being looked at.

"Go ahead and ask," Quinn hinted as I deliberated.

"What?" I replied automatically.

Quinn explained, "Before we moved here I belonged to this abstinence youth group, and they voted for everybody to go in together. I could've dropped out but I wanted to stay with my friends, so we all went in together and now here I am. Now, would anyone like something to drink?"

We did, of course, and a few minutes Quinn returned with our order. "You look new," the server stated.

"That's true," we had to admit. Our tan lines and Bess's breasts were obvious clues.

"Maybe you'd like the health club I use," Quinn suggested. "There still aren't many flats in town but most of them go there. It's called Flat-Out Fitness, and they have weights, personal trainers, diet specialists, tanning beds, and most other stuff you're going to need. You can try it our for free."

"Thanks," Bess replied with a smile, and a moment later Quinn gave us a slip of paper with the address and phone number. Neither Charlie nor I had any pockets or backpacks, so Bess stuffed it in her purse.

Quinn offered to meet us after work but we declined. Instead we went home, did some homework, and watched television. It was pretty strange sitting on the living room couch with no dick, no balls, no clothes, and our parents quietly observing. Bess paired up with Charlie and I went across the street to be with Therese. It was chilly outside but somehow I coped.