Jedda came back later and found police cars in front of the house and teenagers leaving. Rick and L.J. were waiting for her. They had a quick explanation with the policemen and then they left in Rick's car.
"Was Sally OK?" Rick asked while driving.
"I sure hope so. I don't understand. Why was he calling her a slut? And what's a slut, by the way?"
The boys glanced at each other uncomfortably. Being raised in the jungle, Jedda was clueless about a lot of city things. This was going to be the most awkward explanation ever.
"You tell her", Rick said.
"Well, OK", L.J. said. "A slut is a girl who, well, behaves inappropriately."
"What do you mean, inappropriately?"
"She… doesn't respect herself, you see?"
"No", Jedda said. "That boy didn't respect her. That's the point."
"I mean, L.J. said, "you see, she kisses a lot of boys and she wears clothes that show a lot of skin."
"You mean, like the dress I'm wearing right now?"
Rick glanced at Jedda's sleeveless, knee-length dress and suppressed a chuckle. Sally Ann had been wearing the same kind of dress, which was making things even more awkward.
"Nothing's wrong with your dress", L.J. said hurriedly. "It's nice for an evening party. But do you imagine yourself wearing something close to nothing in a public place?"
"Of course!" Jedda said. "In Bengalla, when the heat becomes unbearable, people sometimes go around naked! Why would it be a problem?"
"Don't say that to anybody!" L.J. said hurriedly. "People would think you're a slut, or a kid raised in a cave or…"
"L.J., please, I was raised in a cave."
Rick repressed another chuckle. L.J. rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"Jedda, believe me, don't ever go around naked in Central City. That's dangerous. Showing too much skin is dangerous."
"I don't want to go around naked in Central City", she said thoughtfully. "Anyway, I have sensitive skin, so I can't. So I get it: you're a slut!"
"What?"
"You went shirtless the whole evening, didn't you? You're a slut!"
Rick burst into laughter and had to stop the car. L.J. put his hands onto his face.
"That's different!" he said. "I'm a boy!"
"I don't understand."
"Well, boys and girls are different."
"I really, really don't understand", Jedda said. "Sally Ann is such a nice person! Did that boy assault her because she's a girl?"
"Did she have more than a boyfriend?" Rick asked, winking at L.J..
L.J. glared at him. Jedda didn't notice the glare and answered:
"I think she dated many different boys within the last three years. Why?"
"Tell her!" Rick told L.J., laughing.
"Tell me what?" Jedda asked.
"Well, there's that stupid legend in Central City", Rick said. "They say a girl who kisses more than one boy is a slut!"
"I don't understand", Jedda said. "Yes, she loved all these boys, which means she has a very loving heart. What's wrong with love?"
The boys glanced at each other. They were both so embarrassed they could hardly think of something. Eventually, L.J. said:
"Nothing wrong with love. Please, don't blame Rick or me, we didn't make the rules."
"Where are those rules written?"
"Nowhere!" Rick said laughing. "But, well, I read something once somewhere. They said it has something to do with the boys' feelings. When a boy learns that his girlfriend kissed a lot of boys before him, he often feels he isn't worth much, you see?"
Jedda sighed deeply.
"I see", she said. "You know, I'm trying very hard not to be judgmental but this I really don't understand. Girls are sluts because they follow their hearts and they should not follow their heart because boys have low self-esteem and feel belittled when girls do whatever they want with their own hearts and their own bodies. Thank for the ride Rick but I'm going to walk to the manor. I need some time alone. Bye!"
The door slammed and Rick and L.J. found themselves alone in the car. They stared at each other.
"Shouldn't we run after her?" Rick asked.
"You heard her, she needs some time alone", L.J. answered. "Anyway, if a hooligan tries to bother her, she'll most probably break his nose. I wouldn't like to be in his shoes."
Rick laughed nervously and started the engine again. He was still feeling awkward and he was trying to find something to say.
"Do you remember your mom?" he asked suddenly.
"Uh? Barely. I was only four when she… you know."
"Now I know what's great about mine", Rick said. "She was… she's a feminist. When I was 13 and I started spending some time with a girl, she told me I should never, ever kiss her without her consent. OK, that girl and I only spent time as friends but I never forgot what my mom told me, that's why I was really upset when I saw what that boy did to Sally Ann. Everyone should have a feminist mother."
"You can say that again."
The car stopped in front of the manor. There were some lights at the windows, which meant the adult defenders were not sleeping yet. The boys entered and found Mandrake reading in front of the fireplace.
"Good evening", he said. "You know, we were expecting you to come home much later."
"The party was not that good", L.J. said without lying.
"Isn't Jedda with you?"
"She'll be here soon", Rick said. "She drove a friend back home."
Technically, it was not a lie. The boys went to bed early and pretended that nothing had happened.
To be continued...