Read Online Under the Rose by Diana Peterfreund - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Diana Peterfreund
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something to be desired,” said Juno. “Much of our prestige is derived from our wealth. If we lose that—”
“Right,” I said. “If we lose some of our big secret wealth we can’t tell anyone about anyway? Please.”
Part of me wanted to think if we gave Juno some time, she’d grow on us. It hadn’t taken the rest of us that long to bond, but then again, we’d become fast friends under extreme circumstances. Were we simply being too cliquish for her? Was her prickly nature due in part to a perception that the rest of the Diggirls were already a closed group, and if she couldn’t join us, she’d try to beat us? If so, aligning herself with the biggest misogynist in the club was a good step along that path.
“Besides,” I continued, “most barbarians already think we’ve got twice the money we do, and about ten times the power. We could be bankrupt and they’d still say we owned half the world.”
“I agree with Bugaboo on that point,” said Soze. “I don’t think our money situation is an issue at present. I myself was surprised to learn its true value at the initiation, but, like Thorndike, I don’t think we’re about to go broke. What concerns me,” he said, “is our perceived influence if we continue to alienate the patriarchs. How are we supposed to groom next year’s taps when word on the street is that the Diggers can’t get their own alums to give them internships? Don’t mistake me, I am fully committed to our Order, but I worry for next year’s tap class.”
“I had a patriarch internship,” I argued.
“Yeah, a terrific little patched-up, last-minute affair,” came the voice of Poe from the corner. He scowled at me. “Everything worked out just grand for you. But how many of the rest of us were screwed?”
I looked around at the show of hands and ducked my head in guilt.
But Angel lifted her chin. “I lost my job because of my father. He could say it was a patriarch trick, but the old man and I would have had it out either way. And there are six women sitting in this room who would have been out a lot more if we’d given in to their demands last spring. Are we paying a price? Yes. But it was worth it. Didn’t we prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are many more patriarchs who support this step than condemn it?”
“Yes,” said Poe, “but are they the ones coughing up the big bucks?”
“Or handing out entry-level positions at CAA?” Frodo added.
“I think we’ve been through a trying time,” Soze said, ever the politician. “And we need to work a little bit to get back in good graces with our base. At the risk of being crucified for actually expressing this opinion, there is something to be said for the idea that maybe the patriarchs who voted to let the change go through might not have been people who were all that committed to the society to begin with.”
“Much as I hate to admit it,” said Lil’ Demon, “Soze may be right. A lot of people picked up that Maxim spread I did, but they weren’t the ones buying my CDs or going to my movies. My true fans hated that I was sullying my image. Maybe the patriarchs who didn’t care if there were women in Rose & Grave also didn’t give a shit whether it ruined us or not.” She shrugged. “Not that I think it’s ruining us.”
Graverobber snorted. Of course. “If we have to keep pussyfooting around the topic, we’re never going to get anywhere. Of course it’s ruined. We’ve lost one tap already. If things don’t start turning around in here, I might start thinking he had the right idea.”
For a moment, we all gaped at him, even Poe. “You wouldn’t,” he whispered from his corner. “Your oath.”
“Oh, please, like we haven’t had attrition before?”
“Not for decades.” The law student’s face was stricken, reflecting all our shock. “Maybe even for a century.”
Thorndike cleared her throat. “No one’s making any hasty decisions they’ll live to regret. We know the issue
“Right,” I said. “If we lose some of our big secret wealth we can’t tell anyone about anyway? Please.”
Part of me wanted to think if we gave Juno some time, she’d grow on us. It hadn’t taken the rest of us that long to bond, but then again, we’d become fast friends under extreme circumstances. Were we simply being too cliquish for her? Was her prickly nature due in part to a perception that the rest of the Diggirls were already a closed group, and if she couldn’t join us, she’d try to beat us? If so, aligning herself with the biggest misogynist in the club was a good step along that path.
“Besides,” I continued, “most barbarians already think we’ve got twice the money we do, and about ten times the power. We could be bankrupt and they’d still say we owned half the world.”
“I agree with Bugaboo on that point,” said Soze. “I don’t think our money situation is an issue at present. I myself was surprised to learn its true value at the initiation, but, like Thorndike, I don’t think we’re about to go broke. What concerns me,” he said, “is our perceived influence if we continue to alienate the patriarchs. How are we supposed to groom next year’s taps when word on the street is that the Diggers can’t get their own alums to give them internships? Don’t mistake me, I am fully committed to our Order, but I worry for next year’s tap class.”
“I had a patriarch internship,” I argued.
“Yeah, a terrific little patched-up, last-minute affair,” came the voice of Poe from the corner. He scowled at me. “Everything worked out just grand for you. But how many of the rest of us were screwed?”
I looked around at the show of hands and ducked my head in guilt.
But Angel lifted her chin. “I lost my job because of my father. He could say it was a patriarch trick, but the old man and I would have had it out either way. And there are six women sitting in this room who would have been out a lot more if we’d given in to their demands last spring. Are we paying a price? Yes. But it was worth it. Didn’t we prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are many more patriarchs who support this step than condemn it?”
“Yes,” said Poe, “but are they the ones coughing up the big bucks?”
“Or handing out entry-level positions at CAA?” Frodo added.
“I think we’ve been through a trying time,” Soze said, ever the politician. “And we need to work a little bit to get back in good graces with our base. At the risk of being crucified for actually expressing this opinion, there is something to be said for the idea that maybe the patriarchs who voted to let the change go through might not have been people who were all that committed to the society to begin with.”
“Much as I hate to admit it,” said Lil’ Demon, “Soze may be right. A lot of people picked up that Maxim spread I did, but they weren’t the ones buying my CDs or going to my movies. My true fans hated that I was sullying my image. Maybe the patriarchs who didn’t care if there were women in Rose & Grave also didn’t give a shit whether it ruined us or not.” She shrugged. “Not that I think it’s ruining us.”
Graverobber snorted. Of course. “If we have to keep pussyfooting around the topic, we’re never going to get anywhere. Of course it’s ruined. We’ve lost one tap already. If things don’t start turning around in here, I might start thinking he had the right idea.”
For a moment, we all gaped at him, even Poe. “You wouldn’t,” he whispered from his corner. “Your oath.”
“Oh, please, like we haven’t had attrition before?”
“Not for decades.” The law student’s face was stricken, reflecting all our shock. “Maybe even for a century.”
Thorndike cleared her throat. “No one’s making any hasty decisions they’ll live to regret. We know the issue
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