A Well-Timed Butt Pinch

"Why two personalities?" Char didn't want to have this conversation, but he loved Sarcoo too much to ignore it.

"You might as well ask how the stars got here." Char's dad answered. "It's just the way we are."

"But my Frawn personality keeps breaking up with her, and if he keeps it up, I’m going to lose her. She’s at her breaking point."

"I didn't say it's easy. Believe me, there's nothing easy about being a Binal. There isn't another species in the entire galaxy like us."

"I hate him," Char spat, his fist slamming against the wall, pain shooting up his arm.

"You'll get used to him. It just takes time. When my Norcan personality developed, I felt the same way—like he didn't belong. But could you imagine me without him?"

"Well, just because it worked for you doesn’t mean it will for me! You two aren’t tearing each other apart like we are—sometimes I feel like I’m drowning."

Char's dad chuckled. He had said something similar to his father when he went through his change of life.

"It's not easy being a teen. I remember the confusion and awkward feelings. But they make us unique. One day, you'll appreciate Frawn. After all, he's as much you as you are."

"But he keeps breaking up with her. How do I stop him?"

"If your girlfriend likes you, she'll understand. Who knows, maybe she'll win him over like your mother did with Norcan." Char's dad bent over and whispered, "However, when I feel him trying to take over, if I want to, I can stop him by pinching my butt. I don't know if it will work for you, but you never know."

"And it works every time?"

"Yes, and he doesn't know about my trick, so don't tell him."

"So, if you can stop him, why do you ever let him take over?"

"Norcan is a hard worker, unlike me. I’d rather sit in my cozy chair and read. So, when it’s time to read, I keep him away with a butt pinch, but when it's time to mow or your mother has chores for me, I discovered that if I pinch my butt twice, he’ll take over and knock my unpleasant work out of the ballpark. It’s a great arrangement.”

“So, once keeps him away, and twice allows him to take over.” Char thought about Sarcoo. Maybe this could work for him. Maybe a well-timed butt pitch can save their relationship.

Char went up to his room and discovered the butt-pinching technique worked. Armed with this new weapon, he went to school the next day with a newfound confidence.

"Hey, you," Sarcoo called out to him from across the hall. "Where have you been? I didn't see you yesterday."

"Oh, I wasn't feeling good."

"Is this because of Frawn?" She asked, her voice tight with disgust.

"I'm sorry he keeps breaking up with you. You know it’s not me? And that I love you?"

"I guess so. I just don't understand why he's so mean. The other boys are developing more agreeable personalities."

"Are you blaming me? You know I can't control it. No one can."

"I know. I just wish he'd be nice to me, that's all." She pouted in that irresistibly cute way Char loved. "Anyway, are we still on for tonight?"

"I can't wait. Do you know which holo-chamber movie you want to walk through? Possibly an action one?" He crossed his fingers. He was sick of romance.

"I was thinking 'Hope Hovers.'" She batted her eyes and pouted.

He melted and almost said yes, but Frawn started to take over. Char moved quickly and pinched his butt.

"What was that about?" Sarcoo asked. She didn't know whether to smile or be jealous.

"Umm, a fungaroo bit me."

That night, Char and Sarcoo walked through "Hope Hovers." She enjoyed the holographic love story, and he enjoyed holding her hand and stealing kisses. They began to walk through the credits.

"I'm surprised Frawn didn't show and ruin our date," Sarcoo said.

Char nodded. He forced a weak smile, remembering how many times during the movie he'd had to pinch himself each time a romantic scene played. He got the strong impression Frawn hated romantic holo-chamber movies even more than he did.

Sarcoo smiled and kissed him. Not a quick peck like he expected, but a long, passionate kiss. Suddenly, Char felt Frawn angrily try to take over. Char quickly pinched his butt.

Sorcoo pulled back with a coy smile, "Hey, that's my job," and pinched his butt faster than he could stop her, turning his single pinch into a double.

"Get off. What's wrong with you?" Frawn spit and sputtered, wiping his lips with his shirt sleeve.

Sorcoo jumped back, startled by his venomous response. She looked around, embarrassed by Frawn’s scene, and wondered to herself, Did anyone else see that? She could feel tears forming, but she closed her eyes tight and refused to let them fall.

"Frawn, I've had it with you. You're not going to get between us. You hear me!"

"Yeah, what are you going to do about it?" His face, although the exact same as Char's, looked hideous and contemptible.

She racked her brain to find a way to deal with this beastly personality, and then it hit her. Maybe there is a reason Char has been pinching his butt. She stared at Frawn with an evil smile, making a pinching motion.

She pinched, then Char would show up for a second. She pinched again, then Frawn took back control. This happened several times before Char retained control.

He looked around and winced when he saw Sarcoo, dreading to hear what Frawn had done. But she answered before he could ask. "You won't have to worry about Frawn anymore. We made a deal. He won’t interrupt our dates if we don’t go to romantic holo-chamber movies. I guess we’ll just have to go to action holo-chamber movies from now on. The sacrifices I make for you."

He sighed in relief, then winced in pain. "My butt is killing me."

Sarcoo pouted, "Sorry, it took me a while to figure out the one pinch, two pinch thing."

They left the holo-chamber with Char holding Sarcoo with one hand, and rubbing his over-pinched butt with the other.