Aaron and his parents entered Summers Shoe Store. It was a large, brightly lit store, with shoes and boots of various styles and heel heights displayed on shelves lining the mirrored walls. Comfortable black leather stools and couches were spaced at regular intervals along the white tiled floor for customers to sit and try on shoes.A young brunette sales woman in a black skirt suit, pantyhose and black leather chunky-heeled pumps similar to those that Annabelle had worn looked up as they entered.
"Welcome to Summers Shoe Store I'm Kate Summers the owner, please call me Kate" she greeted them politely.
"Good Morning Ms. Kate. I'm Aaron Zakhrov. Ms. Annabelle, a waitress at Tuscany Cove recommended your establishment. We are here, to broaden my mother's horizons. She believes high heels are symbols of oppression towards women, and I wish to challenge that belief" said Aaron in his cold and clipped voice before Annette or Ivan could stop him.
"What an interesting and thoughtful young man!" giggled Kate. She had been taken aback by his cold demeanor at first, but quickly recovered and looked at him with interest.
"You didn't have to be so blunt about it!" grumbled Annette, already regretting making this deal.
"Well he does seem to be quite passionate about challenging your opinion Mrs. Zakhrov." chuckled Kate. She turned towards Aaron again.
"You've explained your mother's views. What about your views Mr. Aaron?" she asked him.
"I believe they are the epitome of elegance, sophistication and civilized society. They elevate women to a new level of elegance and sophistication" said Aaron with cold firmness.
"My. My, what a bold and mature statement! A gentleman after my own heart!" exclaimed Kate happily. A passionate high heel enthusiast herself, she felt like she had found a kindred spirit in this precocious young boy.Annette's jaw dropped open in disbelief at hearing Aaron's viewpoint. She rounded on Ivan."Did you encourage that opinion?" she demanded of him."Of course not!" shot back Ivan. They both looked worriedly at Aaron as he looked around the shop.
Annette pulled Kate to one side. "I'm trying to educate Aaron that high heels can be uncomfortable and harmful to your feet. Please cooperate with me" she whispered.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. My business is to sell high heels, not campaign against them" replied Kate, looking coldly at Annette. Annette, opened her mouth to argue back, but was interrupted by Aaron's return.
"I would like you to try these, Mother." said Aaron showing her a pair of black patent leather pumps with pointed toes and 8-centimeter high metal stiletto heels.Annette looked at them in revulsion. The heels were long and sharp, looking more like daggers than anything else. The black patent leather and the silver finish of the heels made them glitter menacingly in the bright lighting of the store. In Annette's view, they looked like very uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous shoes.
"May I ask why you picked those Mr. Aaron?" asked Kate curiously.Aaron regarded her thoughtfully. "I'm not sure if I can explain it, Ms. Kate. I saw them and just felt they looked powerful" he said in his clipped voice.
"You have excellent taste, but I think those would be a little too much for your poor mother, Mr. Aaron." chuckled Kate.
"I suppose you are right. I shall defer to your judgement then Ms. Kate" said Aaron inclining his head at her.
"Alright give me those!" growled Annette, her anger at being told she can't handle something overcoming her dislike and apprehension for those heels.
Annette sat down and removed her comfortable blue sneakers while Kate brought a pair of the pumps in Annette's size. With Kate's help, she slipped on the shiny and elegant shoes. Ivan came to Annette's side and held out his hand to her. "Stand up slowly" he instructed.
With Ivan's help, Annette slowly stood up and looked at her reflection in one of the store's full length mirrors.Aaron watched intently as his mother stood for the first time in high heels.Despite wearing a simple and comfortable white sweater with a pair of faded blue jeans, the heels added a layer of sophistication and slight intimidation to Annette.
She stood taller and straighter, with a more pronounced arch to her back that emphasized her femininity. The 8-centimeter heels enhanced her already statuesque height, almost matching Ivan's own 195 cm height.Ivan could not help but let out a low whistle. "Damn babe, you look gorgeous." he whispered.
"Don't you dare encourage this further Ivan! This is as far as I'll go" growled Annette in reply, looking at her reflection in the shop's mirror in disgust. "_I look like some sort of tramp! What do Ivan and Aaron see in these things? And how can that horrible salesgirl peddle these torture devices with a smile?_" Thought Annette, with a feeling of being isolated in her opinions and views.
Kate wasn't paying attention to Annette and Ivan, but instead focused on Aaron who was studying Annette as she stood in the heels. "What do you think now young sir?" she asked him in a low voice.Unbeknownst to Annette and Ivan, Aaron's cold blue eyes had flashed with excitement. "It makes her look taller and sexier. I thought it would make her look powerful, but she still seems unsure of herself" he said.Kate nodded. "Yes that is correct sir. The right clothes and the right shoes can change how powerful, confident and dominant you look and feel. Your attitude to them matters though. Your mother, for example still looks and feels uncomfortable in those shoes. If she liked how she looked in them, the powerful presence would be even more pronounced" she explained to him.Aaron regarded Kate with his cold eyes. "Thank you Ms. Kate. This was a very informative experience" he said.
"Do you want to try walking?" asked Ivan, still holding Annette's hand as she stood in the heels. "Absolutely not! This is as far as I will go" snapped Annette, sitting back down to remove the dreaded heels.
"Alright young master Aaron, let us not overburden your mother. Would you like me to show you how a girl walks in those heels?" asked Kate before Annette could call a halt.Aaron nodded, and Kate slipped off her sturdy black leather 6-centimeter chunky-heeled pumps and slipped on a pair of the 8-centimeter black patent leather stiletto heeled pumps that Aaron had selected in her size.
Aaron watched carefully as Kate walked around the shop in the heels. She took smaller steps, put a swing in her hips and arched her back. The heels enhanced the sleek cut of her skirt suit giving it a sensual and more dominating appearance. She looked more like a no-nonsense businesswoman than a simple shop-floor saleswoman.The heels made a rhythmic clicking sound on the shop's tiled floor as she walked.
"What do you think?" she asked Aaron as she pranced around him.
"It makes you look taller, walk in a more elegant way and gives you a very imposing presence" said Aaron in his clipped voice, his icy blue eyes boring into her warm brown eyes.
"An excellent assessment Mr. Aaron. Pick out another one for us" said Kate.
Aaron carefully looked around the shop while Kate looked on with interest. "_What an astute and precocious young man! He's got an intuitive grasp of how high heels can be both a symbol of empowerment and a means of control!_" Thought Kate to herself, watching as Aaron moved around the shop, ignoring platform heels, and wedges, while actively seeking out stilettos, and gravitating towards boots.
Finally, Aaron found another pair. Annette's jaw dropped as he pulled them off their display shelf.Aaron had selected a pair of black patent leather thigh high boots with pointed toes and 17 cm metal stiletto heels. "Absolutely not! Now let's go!" said Annette looking at them in disgust. "_What the hell is he thinking? There is no way in hell I'll try on those boots! And what kind of store is this that they have such inappropriate footwear?_" She thought to herself growing increasingly worried about Aaron's apparent fascination.
"Hold on a minute dear, let Aaron finish his experiment. You can't just say no without reasoning with him, you know" said Ivan placing a restraining hand on Annette as she shook with fury "Well. It looks like your mother doesn't know what these beauties can do for her" said Kate, giving Annette a cold, disapproving look. She turned to Aaron. "How about _I_ model them for you young master? Perhaps that would give you some perspective?" she asked him.
Aaron nodded in acknowledgement and Kate slipped off the black leather pumps and pulled on the boots.
Aaron's cold countenance cracked for a second, and he let out a whispered "wow" as Kate stood up in the boots.The black patent leather boots gave Kate's legs a shimmering appearance under the lighting of the store, they made her skirt suit look sexy, alluring and exude a hint of severeness, the high heels made her look almost towering in stature.
The way the boots clicked against the tile floor and changed her gait, made her look and sound powerful, confident, elegant and sexy all at once.
Kate stopped in front of Aaron, towering over him in the thigh high boots. He met her gaze with his cold stare.
"What do you think?" she asked him, trying to match his cold stare with a stern one of her own.
"I think you look very attractive Ms. Kate" said Aaron looking up at her, his cold stare boring into hers.
After a few seconds of the staring contest, Kate bowed before him and smiled. "You are a most intriguing young man, Master Aaron" she said.
"Alright I think that's enough experimentation for one day" said Annette sharply, glaring furiously at Kate.
Ivan, who had watched Aaron and Kate's interactions with awe and amusement, took charge, sensing his wife's fury. "Come along buddy, let's give the ladies some privacy" he said, taking Aaron by the shoulder and steering him out of the shop. "Thank you for everything Ms. Kate. I learned a lot" said Aaron, inclining his head at her before he was led outside the shop by Ivan.
Kate watched Aaron go feeling even more intrigued by him. Despite Aaron's youth, his Stoic demeanor and analytical gaze had sent shivers down her spine, and she felt the need to defer to him.
"Just what do you think you are doing?" demanded Annette. Kate turned to look coldly at Annette. Still wearing the thigh high boots Aaron had picked out, Kate easily matched Annette's 180 cm stature.
"Your son is extremely intelligent for his age, and he has an excellent taste in footwear" she told Annette coldly.
"Excellent taste in footwear? How dare you! They are vile and subversive tools of control and oppression marketed as empowering! Your offer to model thigh high boots for an impressionable young boy like him was completely inappropriate! As an adult you should know better!" raged Annette.
"Was it really that inappropriate? Aaron chose the shoes himself, without any prompting or guidance from me. This isn't my responsibility Mrs. Zakhrov! Your principles are probably feeding Aaron's adolescent rebelliousness, this is your fault" countered Kate coldly.
"Don't you dare try to pin this on me, you filthy sellout! You should have been more empathetic to my plight instead of just thinking about peddling your oppressive wares!" screamed Annette.
With a deep breath, Kate forced herself to calm down. "I apologize for making things awkward. I was carried away by Aaron's mature demeanor. Please don't take your frustration out on him. It is perfectly normal for young boys to be curious about feminine things" she said, hoping Annette would calm down.
"An obsession with high heels and stripper boots is not normal! My efforts to educate Aaron about their harmful effects have gone down the drain thanks to your misguided encouragement!" shouted Annette as she stormed out of the shop.
The next day, Aaron stepped through the vast entrance hall of St. Ignatius Academy again, his acceptance letter clutched in his hand.He was to meet the guidance counselor for his orientation, and the school outfitter for his uniform.He walked briskly through the granite halls, following the marked directions and finally reached the guidance counselor's office.The door opened before he could knock and a tall young, Chinese-American priest, dressed in a black cassock smiled down at him. "Come in" he invited.
Aaron entered the office. It was quite spacious and lined with shelves full of various psychology books. "I am Father Abel Chang, the guidance counselor here" the priest introduced himself.
"I'm Aaron Zakhrov, Father" replied Aaron shaking Father Abel's offered hand. "I've heard you are quite the gifted student" replied Father Abel sitting down at his desk and gesturing for Aaron to do the same.
Aaron trained his cold and calculating gaze on Father Abel. "I see my reputation precedes me, Father" he said coldly. "Not quite" chuckled Father Abel as he handed Aaron a booklet. "I know you might be tired of tests right now, but this one is quite simple. Just a standardized personality assessment" he explained as Aaron flipped through the questions.
"Very well" said Aaron in his clipped tone and began to write his answers in the booklet. Father Abel watched intently as Aaron answered the test questions. Two things stood out to him.The first was confirmation of Catherine's observations that Aaron was left-handed, used a fountain pen and wrote his answers in cursive, curling his arm around the booklet to avoid smudging the ink.The second was that his writing speed was not very fast, and his handwriting, while readable, had a steep slant to the right with his lower case a's and o's not fully closed due to him pushing rather than pulling the pen across the paper as he wrote.
After a few minutes, Aaron handed the booklet back to Father Abel.
"Alright, let's go over the rules" said Father Abel handing Aaron another book. "You can read the rules in detail later, but I'll go over the essentials now. First, the uniform code here is very strictly enforced. You are to be presentable in the correct uniform at all times. That also means you cannot wear your PE class uniform to regular class and vice versa. We also have a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying of any kind. We catch you, you're out" explained Father Abel, his eyes boring into Aaron's cold stare to indicate the seriousness of these rules.
Aaron returned the intense stare with a cold and calculating one of his own. "I understand Father." he said. Father Abel dropped his serious demeanor and gave Aaron a friendly smile. "You know, I've always admired stoicism, but I cannot practice it enough as it is quite detrimental to my job as a priest and guidance counselor. You, on the other hand seem to have a natural affinity for it" he chuckled.
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Stoicism?" he asked.
"A philosophy that says you must always be the master of your emotions. Revealing them too much can be seen as a sign of weakness, and they can be used against you. Isn't that what you're doing?" asked Father Abel.
Aaron gave a nonchalant shrug. "I like being in control of my environment" he said."I see" said Father Abel. "And what do you think of the rules? Do they make you feel like you are not in control?" he asked carefully observing Aaron.
"No. I believe they are there to protect students and the school. I have no problems with following them" replied Aaron.
"I see. Well thank you for coming. You can get your uniform now" said Father Abel standing up to show Aaron out of his office.
Aaron entered the school uniform shop, the smell of fabric and leather wafting over him. Blazers and skirts hung from faceless mannequins in one corner and the walls were lined with bolts of black and white fabric.Black leather oxford shoes and black leather pumps with 4-centimeter kitten heels lined the bottom shelves of the walls. A beautiful young blond woman greeted him. "Hello, are you here for a uniform?" she asked him politely.
Aaron's analytical gaze roved over her slender body. She was wearing the girl's uniform of a black blazer, black tie, white blouse, black pleated skirt, black pantyhose and black leather pumps with 4-centimeter kitten heels. Her long blond hair was done up in a high ponytail with delicate blond tresses framing her oval-shaped face. She had a gold badge pinned to her blazer lapel with the name Sophia in black letters. "Are you a student here Ms Sophia?" he asked coldly.
"U-um no, I'm an alumnus. I'm actually in college, working here part-time. I just really like the uniform" Sophia mumbled flustered by Aaron's cold demeanor and intense gaze, unlike the undressing stares she got from the store's usual male clientele, Aaron's stare seemed to study how the uniform looked on her.
Aaron inclined his head at her answer and stepped closer. "I'm here to be outfitted in the uniform. Would you be able to help me with that Ms Sophia?" he asked her still in his cold and clipped tone.Sophia shook her head slightly to regain her composure. "Of course sir" she said leading him to a large mirror and a raised platform at the back of the shop.
Aaron stepped onto the raised platform and looked at himself in the mirror. His long sleeved and round necked black T-shirt and jeans gave him a simple yet clean look. Sophia pulled out a measuring tape and started to measure him.
"What do you like about the uniform Ms. Sophia?" asked Aaron as she measured his shoulders.
"W-well I like the way it looks on me. It makes me feel pretty, elegant and sophisticated sir" said Sophia blushing.
"_This is the first time anybody's asked me why I like this uniform, rather than just say I look good in it! Who is this kid?_" She wondered to herself, as she took down Aaron's shoulder measurements.
"I see you are using SI instead of imperial units, does this establishment prefer SI to imperial?" asked Aaron as she measured his chest.
"Well yes, I think the SI system is a lot easier to follow" said Sophia.
"I agree. The SI system is superior" said Aaron. Sophia chuckled a little. Aaron's cold demeanor and clipped, precise questions while intimidating, was also refreshing compared to the clumsy attempts at flirting the other male students usually tried with her.
"If I may ask. How old are you sir?" she asked Aaron. She wondered why she had slipped into a more formal and respectful tone with him despite her being almost 21, but it felt very natural.
"I will turn 13 this September Ms. Sophia" answered Aaron coldly
"I see. Well I'm done with your measurements, how would you like the uniform to fit sir? If it is a little loose, then you can grow into it, and you won't have to buy new ones too often." She suggested.
Aaron regarded her coldly, making her squirm uncomfortably. "I believe the uniform you are wearing fits you perfectly does it not Ms. Sophia?" he asked her, his voice like ice.
"Y-yes sir." Sophia mumbled, suddenly feeling that she had asked a very insulting question."And if it were loose, would you have the same feelings on it?" probed Aaron.
Sophia went red with embarrassment. "I apologize for my suggestion sir. I'll tailor it to fit you perfectly" she said quietly, feeling very small despite Aaron being at least 2 heads shorter than her.Aaron inclined his head in acknowledgement and stepped down from the platform. "When will it be ready?" he asked."Two days from now sir." said Sophia. Aaron nodded his head again and left the shop.
Father Abel sat surrounded by various psychology books and research papers, rubbing his temples in exhaustion. Aaron's assessment was proving to be extremely difficult. While Aaron exhibited exceptional intelligence and a strong desire for control over his emotions and environment, he was well aware of his limitations and didn't possess the inflated ego or supreme self-confidence that came with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. "It can't be" muttered Father Abel to himself, as he poured over a dissertation written by one of his psychology professors, a Father Viktor Goering. Seizing his phone, Father Abel dialed a number, hoping that it was still valid.
"Hello, Father Viktor Goering speaking" came the answer in German accented English.
"Father Viktor, it's me Abel Chang. Class of 2021. I need your expertise with a particular case" replied Father Abel, relief washing over him.
"Abel Chang? Oh! Yes I remember. Very well, I'm now based at St. Joseph's Church in Boston. When do you wish to meet?" answered Father Viktor.
"Is it possible to meet now? I'm at St. Ignatius Academy, it's only 15 minutes away" asked Father Abel eagerly.
"Well, yes I suppose. There isn't much intellectual stimulation in this back-water parish that has been my exile" chuckled Father Viktor.
"Thank you, Father! I'll be there as soon as I can!" said Father Abel, springing up to gather his jacket, gloves and helmet.
"I see why you decided to reach out to me." Chuckled Father Viktor as he looked over Aaron's case file. "I'm still unsure on whether Aaron's case, or even the symptoms is legitimate" said Father Abel, nursing a cup of coffee.
"Skepticism is indeed a much-needed quality in a scientist. However, you must not let social and cultural norms color your skepticism. I believe you have found a legitimate case. Young Aaron here exhibits a classic case of natural dominance" said Father Viktor.
"I tried to find concrete evidence of it, but research seems extremely scant, and many in the scientific community feel that natural dominance is some sort of Nazi pseudo-scientific hoax invented to justify sadism and authoritarianism" grumbled Father Abel.
"It is the reason for my exile. My dissertation delved into the uncovered research of the war-crimes and attitudes prevalent in the early 20th century. Natural dominance was considered a normal part of psychology at the time, but quickly lost its legitimacy due to changing sociopolitical and sociocultural attitudes. However, the symptomatic evidence in your case is quite clear. Aaron displays a strong sense of protectiveness, and possessiveness, a desire for control, and finds validation in coercing or manipulating people to follow his views and rules" said Father Viktor.
"How severe would you say his symptoms are?" asked Father Abel, worry evident in his face.
"I would say that they range from mild to moderate. It appears that he is somewhat self-aware about them, and is using Stoicism to keep himself in check. Quite commendable for someone so young. Another person would be engaging in typical juvenile delinquent behavior to satiate these tendencies" said Father Viktor.
"Aaron Zakhrov is proving to be quite the enigma" sighed Father Abel. "Indeed. However, I believe you are up for the task. Even during college, you exhibited a very admirable sense of empathy and excellent psychoanalytical skills." said Father Viktor gently, causing Father Abel to flush. "Thank you for your insight Father Viktor. I shall take my leave now" he said solemnly, standing up.
"It was a pleasure Abel. And feel free to consult with me any time" said Father Viktor as he bade the younger priest farewell.
Sophia smiled at Aaron as he strode into the uniform shop, dressed again in a simple black long sleeved T-shirt, black jeans and black sneakers."Your uniform is ready Mr. Zakhrov, would you like to try it on and see if it needs alteration?" she asked him politely."Yes please. Ms Sophia" said Aaron in his usual cold and clipped voice.Sophia led him back to the fitting area and brought him a neatly folded white shirt, black pants and black leather oxford shoes.Aaron disappeared behind the changing screen for a couple of minutes before he came out again, dressed in the black pants, white shirt and oxfords.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror, his cold and calculating eyes taking in every detail. The shirt fit perfectly on his broadening shoulders and tapered down to his waist where they tucked into his pants that sat just above his hips.
"Tie please" he asked Sophia holding out his left hand expectantly.
Sophia handed him the tie, and he started tying it into a half Windsor knot before she could offer.
She finally draped the blazer on his shoulders and he pushed his hands through the sleeves, shrugging it on.
"W-What do you think sir?" she asked hesitantly as Aaron adjusted and buttoned the blazer looking at himself in the mirror.Aaron felt like he had never before. The sleek cut of the blazer and pants made him look and feel taller, the shiny black leather of the oxford shoes lent a touch of elegance to the uniform. He felt powerful, like he could challenge anything and anyone and subjugate them to his will."I feel good, the tailoring is perfect, I can see why you like yours. Have 3 more sets ready by the time school starts Ms. Sophia" he answered, his cold blue eyes boring into her bright green eyes.
"Y-Yes sir. Thank you for your patronage" she said hesitantly.
Aaron stepped down from the platform and picked up his old clothes, putting them into a large bag Sophia gave him. "I shall wear the uniform out, thank you Ms. Sophia" he said handing her his school ID that doubled as a debit card.Sophia took the school ID in trembling hands and swiped it over the card reader. She had not known how much the uniform would increase Aaron's intimidating presence. He looked and spoke more like a mob boss or a ruthless corporate executive than a student. Aaron took back the card and left the shop, giving Sophia a nonchalant wave.
The black BMW M5 rumbled through the busy Boston traffic, its twin turbochargers adding a satisfying whistle as the engine revved through precise gear changes executed by its automatic transmission.Aaron, dressed in his new school uniform was sitting in the front passenger seat, his regular clothes in the large bag Sophia had given him.Ivan, driving the car, shot a sideways glance at Aaron, the uniform had seemed to have awakened something in Aaron that Ivan wasn't sure if he liked or understood. All he knew, was Aaron's cold and calculating demeanor now had a hint of assertiveness and confidence that wasn't there previously.Ivan glanced at the crucifix of the rosary hanging from the rear-view mirror of the car offering a silent prayer that Aaron would grow out of this strangely domineering phase.
The car pulled into the parking lot of the local mall and father and son disembarked. "What is my maximum budget for the new school laptop Father?" asked Aaron in his cold clipped voice.
"2000" said Ivan trying and failing to match Aaron's cold and clipped demeanor. They entered the mall, and Aaron proceeded straight to the computer store, his oxford shoes making sharp clicking noises on the tiled floor, his black blazer and pants lending maturity and structure to his developing body.Ivan followed close behind him, marveling at how much the uniform changed Aaron's appearance.
Aaron closely studied each laptop on display, his analytical eyes roving over their design and specifications.He finally stopped at a massive 17-inch black laptop with large vents and angular molded plastic bodywork. "This one shall do nicely" he told his father.
Ivan looked over the laptop and its specifications. It had a very powerful CPU, GPU and large memory and storage drive capacities out of the box. It was also just within the budget he had given Aaron. However, he felt that it was quite bulky and heavy for a school laptop. "Are you sure son? It might be too heavy to lug around every day" he asked Aaron.
Aaron carefully picked up the display laptop and hefted it experimentally. "Yes, it will be fine" he said. Ivan shrugged, the laptop was within budget, and it seemed high quality and durable. "Alright" he said pulling out his card.
The rest of the shopping trip for school supplies was uneventful. They got new notebooks, and ink cartridges for Aaron's fountain pen. On the way back home, Ivan couldn't resist asking. "Why did you decide to wear the uniform out of the shop?"
Aaron frowned slightly as he pondered the question. "It is difficult to explain. I feel more like myself in it, that's all I can tell" he said.
As they approached the secluded streets of their neighborhood, Ivan pulled over the BMW. "Would you like to try driving?" he asked dangling the keys in front of Aaron.
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure father? I'm not 16 yet." he asked.
"In that uniform, you look and behave like a short dude who's 20. Do you want to try it or not?" growled Ivan.
Aaron's eyes lit up, and his cold demeanor fell away. "Yes please" he said before carefully schooling his expression back to his usual cold and calculating self.
Ivan sent a silent prayer of thanks and relief. Aaron, for just a few seconds looked normal. He handed Aaron the keys and got out.
Aaron seated himself in the driver's seat of the BMW and experimentally revved the engine.The car responded to his pushing of the throttle, giving out a powerful rumble followed by the high-pitched whistle of the turbochargers. Left foot firmly pressing on the brake pedal, Aaron shifted the gear to drive mode and slowly let off pressure on the brakes. The car rolled forward slowly, Aaron gripping the steering wheel firmly.
"That's it slow and easy" said Ivan from the front passenger seat. Aaron made a couple of laps around the neighborhood, slowly getting the feel of the car and how to properly steer it.
"Alright, I think you can try giving it a little more gas" said Ivan cautiously.
Aaron nodded and put a little more pressure on the throttle. "Now remember, the faster you go, the faster you need to respond and the calmer you need to be. Panicking is the worst thing that can happen at high speeds" instructed Ivan as the BMW let out another powerful rumble and started to move faster.
After a couple of laps at 15 mph, Ivan called a halt. "You picked that up quite well! What do you think?" he asked.
Aaron frowned thoughtfully at the wheel. "It felt a little underwhelming to be honest, Father. The car responds to me, but I feel like it responds when it chooses to" he finally said.
Ivan nodded thoughtfully. He had observed Aaron trying to keep the car in a high gear with the paddle shifters, but the car's driving aids stubbornly kept downshifting to the lower gears to prevent engine stall whenever Aaron let off the gas to stay within the 20 mph speed limit."I'll keep in mind that you would prefer a fully manual transmission when you turn 16" he said as Aaron pulled into the driveway.
Annette was simply furious. It was bad enough that Ivan had gone and bought that horrible big black car despite her making it clear to him that she detested expressions of toxic masculinity like big, loud cars and trucks. Now here he was, teaching her baby boy to drive that thing? Aaron wasn't even 16 yet!Aaron's newfound assertiveness and confidence also greatly upset her. He had insisted that he stayed in the uniform all day, speaking in a cold tone that brooked no argument. Annette felt she was trying to negotiate with a ruthless businessman instead of a 12-year-old boy, and for the first time in her life, she wished that she had a daughter instead of a son.
"How could you?" she asked Ivan in cold fury, after Aaron had retired to his bedroom.
Ivan pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I wanted to try something to break him out of that cold demeanor of his" he tried to explain.
"And you thought fueling toxic masculinity was the answer to that?" shouted Annette.
Ivan sighed wearily. Annette's views on feminism and what constituted toxic masculinity was one thing that they never did fully see eye to eye on.
"Annette, learning to drive is not an expression of toxic masculinity. It is an essential skill everyone must develop. And it actually worked for a while. Aaron's expression changed from cold, to excited when I suggested it" explained Ivan wearily.
"I know learning to drive is not an expression of toxic masculinity, thank you very much! What is though, is joyriding that horrible thing!" snapped Annette.
Annette's accusations cut Ivan deeply. He had worked very hard to be able to afford the BMW M5, and was always cautious and responsible when he drove it. The fact that Annette still didn't trust him after 2 years of safe, responsible driving with no accidents or traffic violations hurt him.
"We didn't joyride. Aaron was careful to stay well below the 20 mph speed limit." he said quietly.
"Men!" exclaimed Annette, throwing her arms up in frustration and flopping down on the living room couch.
Ivan frowned at Annette's behavior. Not once did she ask how Aaron actually felt about the experience or express pride that he was able to pick up the basics and handle such a powerful car so well after just one session. Most kids would have been out of their depth and would have struggled to control the power of such a car on their first try. He sighed and went to the kitchen to pour himself some coke and vodka.
"Explain to me why he's started to behave like some oil tycoon or business mogul!" demanded Annette as Ivan returned to the living room.Ivan took a large sip of his drink to calm his nerves before he answered her."I honestly don't know. I asked him why he wore the uniform out of the shop, and all he said was that he felt more like himself in it" said IvanAnnette sighed wearily. "I had hoped enrolling him in St. Ignatius would help him open up, not turn him into this cold, calculating thing" she grumbled."Well maybe we can ask Father Abel for help" said Ivan, trying hard not to show how Annette's dismissive attitude towards Aaron hurt him.
"Please Father, you need to help us" pleaded Annette. Father Abel sighed as he surveyed them in his office. Annette and Ivan had come to him to tell him that the St. Ignatius Academy uniform had made a profound impact on Aaron. It had given him an air of assertiveness, and his cold and clipped demeanor had got more of a commanding edge to it.Father Abel could also see that a crack was forming between Annette and Ivan's relationship. It appeared that Aaron's new attitude was resonating differently for both of them.
Ivan, while worried about Aaron's ability to adjust socially, did not see his new assertiveness as a bad thing and was actually proud and admired Aaron's self-control and self-discipline as evidenced by his recounting of the driving lesson.
Annette on the other hand, felt that Aaron's new assertiveness was a manifestation of toxic masculinity and that Aaron was going down the path of misogyny and sexism and blamed Ivan for encouraging such behavior.
"Mr. and Mrs. Zakhrov. Children of high intelligence such as Aaron, mature much faster mentally than their bodies can keep up with. Aaron might look like a 12-year-old, but his mental capacities are already that of an adult. The way he responded to the uniform is similar to how one would respond to say a business suit or a suit of armor. He feels powerful and confident in it." he explained carefully.
"So are you saying he'll grow out of this new attitude?" asked Annette, hopefully.
"I'm sure he'll be back to his old self once the novelty of wearing the uniform wears off" said Father Abel with much more confidence than he felt. He also, felt that bringing up natural dominance was not a good idea at the moment.
Annette sighed in relief. "I don't know what I'll do if he starts becoming some toxic male misogynist. I'm really worried about his belief that only women in high heels are elegant and sophisticated" she said, making Ivan frown in disapproval
"That is no way to talk about your own son Mrs. Zakhrov! Do not let your ideology cloud your judgement. Despite his intelligence, Aaron is still a child. He needs guidance and love, not hostility and accusations" said Father Abel sternly.
Annette opened her mouth to argue back but then stopped and reconsidered. "I suppose you are right" she admitted grudgingly.
"On to other items, I assume you monitor Aaron's online activity?" he asked Ivan.
"Well yes. All of Aaron's personal devices have firewalls and parental controls on them. However, he may be sophisticated enough to bypass those systems" said Ivan.
"Have you noticed any unusual online activity? If so, then there could be other factors influencing his behavior" said Father Abel.
"Not to my knowledge. I regularly check with both my internet service and my phone providers and Aaron has not made any unusual web searches" said Ivan firmly.
Father Abel sighed in relief. It looked like Aaron (at least to his parent's knowledge) was not actively searching for potentially age-inappropriate content. Potential natural dominance was bad enough, he certainly didn't want Aaron to stumble across the BDSM subculture and community before he was ready." Alright. I'll monitor Aaron's behavior carefully once he starts school. I'm sure we'll be able to get to the bottom of this" he assured them.