Like everyone of us who writes fiction, for love or money, I live betimes in a world of my own making. One of my favorite places in that world is LaMarr College of Technical and Industrial Design. I'm welcome there only until six in the evening, when the campus closes to non-residents. LaMarr is private, and the school enrolls only women. It was chartered "... to provide a broad pathway for women into heavy industry by establishing a learningculture of collaboration over competition."
This is a woman's place, and the culture includes elements to boggle the Mind of Guy, or Dude, whichever. The women of LaMarr observe the New York City anti-discrimination law that permits women to go shirtless in the summer heat just as do the men. The ratio is, of course, much higher at the school than in the city.
Not actually mind-boggling, I know. Guy, I'm easing you into Spirit Bonding Day.
The Spirit Community core at LaMarr is built of the Frosh, JayVee and Varsity Cheer squads and the Songleaders, twenty-eight or so members depending on how many volunteer for Song. Song is flexible.
started with a Varsity girl, Janie Candina, and a lecture in Sociology. Briefly, the topic was the formation of alienation in smaller communities wholly within larger communities -- such as athletics within a college -- and remediation by exercises in bonding.
Janie went to lunch preoccupied. She'd seen the signs. Basketball was, as now, the school's big sport. The players disdained her squad as "bunnies", while she and hers called them "guys", a deeply contemptuous insult for all of its sophomoric subtlety.
Janie thought long and hard about bonding exercises. Sports were out, and so were serious games. We can't afford the injuries, she reflected in a burst of sardonicism. What, exactly what, can I do on my own? An idea fluttered at the back of her mind, but would not land.
She thought about her oldest friendships. Play. We played. How can adults play like children? Her teasing idea landed. She took it to her squad at practice.
"You're crazy."
"This is a prank."
"Can I watch?"
It came down to principle. "I dare you. every last one of you. I flat fucking dare you!"
The conversation stopped. Everyone who's ever done cheer knows. You don't back out of a dare. Lose a dare and the bitch owns your little ass. All you can even say is --
"You first, bitch. Put up or shut up."
Janie went to the room of Rhyanne Shellett, Varsity power forward, at seven that evening. She wore a short silvery wrap, her hair loose, no makeup and no underwear.
Okay, little bunny, say you' say."
"We can't go on hating each other lke this. I came to make a separate peace. If you and I can heal the breach --"
"How d'you think we can do that? Why'd I wan' to?"
"Play with me." Janie stood and let her wrap slide from her shoulders. "Tickle me. If I can last fifteen minutes, no breaks, eithout saying 'uncle', you have to admit that I'm no bunny. Maybe from there, we can make our separate peace. Just don't be too rough. No bruises, okay?"
"Twenty. You wouldna said fifteen you weren't sure.
Jamie swallowed. A whisper was all she could manage through the tightness in her throat. "Twenty."
"Then 'uncle' is the word. And no bruises, I promise. Come on here, now, little bunny."
Spirit Bonding Day is these days an event that begins on a Friday and runs well into Sunday. Participation is managed through a proprietary app on an enrollment-only basis. The Day celebrates its tenth year on the Student Calendar in 2026. Jane Campion Candina graduated in 2014 and now negotiates multinational trade contracts in the European Union.
We have included some images from last year's Day. Even now, Spirit members honor Janie's Offer, and the athletes participating promise to leave no bruises.
This is a woman's place, and the culture includes elements to boggle the Mind of Guy, or Dude, whichever. The women of LaMarr observe the New York City anti-discrimination law that permits women to go shirtless in the summer heat just as do the men. The ratio is, of course, much higher at the school than in the city.
Not actually mind-boggling, I know. Guy, I'm easing you into Spirit Bonding Day.
The Spirit Community core at LaMarr is built of the Frosh, JayVee and Varsity Cheer squads and the Songleaders, twenty-eight or so members depending on how many volunteer for Song. Song is flexible.
started with a Varsity girl, Janie Candina, and a lecture in Sociology. Briefly, the topic was the formation of alienation in smaller communities wholly within larger communities -- such as athletics within a college -- and remediation by exercises in bonding.
Janie went to lunch preoccupied. She'd seen the signs. Basketball was, as now, the school's big sport. The players disdained her squad as "bunnies", while she and hers called them "guys", a deeply contemptuous insult for all of its sophomoric subtlety.
Janie thought long and hard about bonding exercises. Sports were out, and so were serious games. We can't afford the injuries, she reflected in a burst of sardonicism. What, exactly what, can I do on my own? An idea fluttered at the back of her mind, but would not land.
She thought about her oldest friendships. Play. We played. How can adults play like children? Her teasing idea landed. She took it to her squad at practice.
"You're crazy."
"This is a prank."
"Can I watch?"
It came down to principle. "I dare you. every last one of you. I flat fucking dare you!"
The conversation stopped. Everyone who's ever done cheer knows. You don't back out of a dare. Lose a dare and the bitch owns your little ass. All you can even say is --
"You first, bitch. Put up or shut up."
Janie went to the room of Rhyanne Shellett, Varsity power forward, at seven that evening. She wore a short silvery wrap, her hair loose, no makeup and no underwear.
Okay, little bunny, say you' say."
"We can't go on hating each other lke this. I came to make a separate peace. If you and I can heal the breach --"
"How d'you think we can do that? Why'd I wan' to?"
"Play with me." Janie stood and let her wrap slide from her shoulders. "Tickle me. If I can last fifteen minutes, no breaks, eithout saying 'uncle', you have to admit that I'm no bunny. Maybe from there, we can make our separate peace. Just don't be too rough. No bruises, okay?"
"Twenty. You wouldna said fifteen you weren't sure.
Jamie swallowed. A whisper was all she could manage through the tightness in her throat. "Twenty."
"Then 'uncle' is the word. And no bruises, I promise. Come on here, now, little bunny."
Spirit Bonding Day is these days an event that begins on a Friday and runs well into Sunday. Participation is managed through a proprietary app on an enrollment-only basis. The Day celebrates its tenth year on the Student Calendar in 2026. Jane Campion Candina graduated in 2014 and now negotiates multinational trade contracts in the European Union.
We have included some images from last year's Day. Even now, Spirit members honor Janie's Offer, and the athletes participating promise to leave no bruises.
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