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Caitlin: Part 1
by ~somethingelse77, Sep 5, 2011, 9:12:28 PM

Caitlin pulled into her driveway, and then into her family's garage. It was a beautiful spring day, with nary a cloud in the sky, the flowers in full blossom. The Illeri household was a modest one story ranch, with grey aluminum siding, a long porch along the front, and a manicured garden featuring begonias, hibiscus, and prunus-cherry blossoms. It was a good home, simple but warm. Parking the car her lower left arm reached across her waist to the driver seatbelt. Her white Camry was modified, with the centersection removed, instead with additional seat space, allowing her to sit comfortably.

Stepping out, she could her hear her brothers playing basketball in the backyard, their shouts and taunts eager and competitive. She walked inside, her middle leg stepping up on the stair into the house as her outer pair took the leap into the hallway.

"Mom, I'm home!"

"Hey honey, I'm in the living room, you have mail."

"Okay, give me a second."

She took off her shoes, bending down, her nimble and delicate six-fingered hands quickly untying each shoe. With four hands, she could take all three off at once. Caitlin put them in the rack, along with all the other "pairs" before walking, with her odd gait, to the living room. The smell of dinner filled the room, impossible pie, her favorite. Both ovens were going, as she could easily eat an entire pie at dinner. Her mom was sitting in the living room, reading a book. She was a teacher at the local elementary school, and had been home for several hours. A large framed portrait of Jesus and the Virgin Mary were hung above the mantle of the fire place and there were several crosses in every room. A giant painting of the Tuscan countryside covered the wall above the leather couch. The home of her grandfather...

"What was the mail?" Her voice was thick, fuzzy, and slightly slurred, deliberately slow to enunciate each word. Years of speech therapy, provided pro bono, had enabled her to communicate freely, despite abnormalities in her vocal cords. (she sounds like Marlee Matlin, but not deaf).

"Colleges. I put them in your room. They were thick."

Her face glowed with delight. "Awesome." Her tails wagged with excitement and joyful anxiety.

She bent down to kiss her mom on the cheek before running to her room, as fast as possible. Today was the big day....

There it was, on her desk, beneath a pink board cluttered with pictures and drawings, on her desk lay several packets.

She saw the big one with the giant red IU symbol. Without hesitating she ripped it open.

There was a letter especially for her, written by the Coach of the University's Cross Country Team.

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Dear Caitlin,

The staff and myself are pleased to award you with the 2011 Albright Scholarship for outstanding talent and attitude. Your continued high performance at the local, state, and national level has brought you great and positive attention. The Albright Scholarship will provide full tuition, housing, and a monthly stipend in return to four year's dedication to the Cross Country team. We will begin official practice the week of Freshmen Orientation.

It would be a honor for you to grace our halls here at Indiana University. I look forward to hearing from you personally.

Best,

Coach Walter Somerdale
Indiana University Cross Country
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Underneath the letter was brochure on the Albright Scholarship, applications for housing, and additonal information.

She brushed aside the other letters, from other colleges. This was it. This was what she had been working towards for years. A nationally-ranked team, and a outstanding place for higher education. Now it would come down to convincing the folks. The full tuition would help, but mom and dad, especially mom, would not be as enthusiastic as she was.

"Mom, mom,mom! I got the scholarship, full ride!" She yelled down the hall,

"What?" Her mother never had a good ear, and her speech impediment did not help.

"Full ride!" She shouted, each syllable enunciated.

"We'll talk about it at dinner."

With that she got out her homework. AP psych and Euro, nothing too hard, she was very good at both, always at the top of her class. A political poster (she's passionately pro-life) hung beside her bed, next to a large cross and a poster of her favorite Christian Rock Band. She prayed quietly, asking Jesus that her parents would let her go to the big University and that she would prevail. With that, she crossed her chest and got working, after sending a wave of ecstatic text messages to her boyfriend , Jon, and countless girlfriends.

She quickly finished most of her homework. She could read very fast, and soon got through all her assigned reading for that night. The AP tests were coming in a few months, and she wanted to get as much credit as possible.

"Dinner!" yelled her mom. She heard her brothers close their doors as they went to the kitchen, and the TV turn off, as her father, who had gotten back from work just a half hour before, all came to dinner.

She closed up her books, put back on her thick glasses, and walked down the hallway.

She sat down next to her mom, her chair had just a single bar connecting the backrest to the seat, so her tails were free to move around and she could sit without any discomfort. The seat was also quite wide, so she was the only one on that side of the table. Her brothers also sat down as well. Marco, the oldest, of 16, was a freshman, with solid dark features and muscular build, he was popular with the ladies and a born athlete. Self-confident and proud, he was arrogant and irreverent. Her younger brother, Luke, was only 7, with shaggy brown hair and glasses. Scrawny and small, he idolized his sister. She was taller than both, at nearly 6 feet tall, she was the tallest in the entire family.

Her mother, Theresa, brought each of them plates filled with linguini and impossible hamburger pie, the plate for Caitlin, twice as high as anyone else. She'd eat the entire thing too.

The beginning of supper was typical, each went around describing their day, nothing out of the ordinary, before it was Caitlin's turn. Her mother looked noticeably uneasy when it was her daughter's turn.

Her father started the exchange. A construction worker, and carpenter by trade, his face was wrinkled and brown from long days in the sun, besides obvious Italian features. "Your mother told me you got some letters?"

Before he could even finish Caitlin spoke, so excited was she.

"IU offered me a full ride!"

"And?" her father said

"And? I'm going to take it."

"Are you kidding Caitlin? What about our rules, have you thought this through?"

"What do you mean,.... mom?"

"Don't do this Caitlin, we've been out of the spotlight for years. It was bad enough during the ISAA affair, now this."

"I have, and I will."

"Kate, your mother is right. Are you sure this is a smart decision? We always thought you were going to DePaul."

"DePaul? And what? Live coistered away? I've gone to small schools all my life, I've lived in a small town the same time. IU's team is the best in the country, this is a chance for me to go pro." the last part was slurred into one long word, barely intelligble.

"What was that last part?" her mom asked,

"I... want... to... go... Pro."

"Pro? Have you lost your mind? For 18 years we've stayed out of the media's attention, and now you are all gung ho about becoming famous. What's gotten into you Caitlin? We love you Caitlin, but sometimes your too ambitious for your own good."

"Media spotlight. You've got it all wrong. I have no attention to make myself anymore public than I already am. My greatest passion has been running. This is the chance to do it."

"But there are other schools out there, smaller and Catholic, that have ranked teams."

"But IU's is the best, and plus, I want to prove to myself I can do this. Mom, please. Understand."
Her tails were straightened in angst and anger. All four of her arms were in fists on the table, her eyes looking straight into Theresa's, well as close as they could be, her lazy left cross-eyed as always.

"Kate, we worry for you, you've always been so brave, so strong. But this is not what we agreed to earlier this year. People may, may, be mean to you."

"I don't give a damn what other's think about me."

"They'll call you a freak," interrupted Marco. He grinned mischievously at his older sister. He was promptly hit with a batch of mashed potatoes, which fell upon his lap.

Caitlin stuck her tongue out at her obnoxious brother, it was forked, split down the middle a good inch.

"Marco, watch your mouth" said her father, his voice stern and commanding.

"Your mother and I will talk about this after dinner. Moving on."

After that, and Marco's outburst, the rest of supper was quiet and awkward. Caitlin only ate half her meal, so upset was she. Her family, they always supported her, and now, the greatest challenge yet, they panic and flee. Sure, she hated being stared at and declined a dozen interview requests a month, but she refused to let that get in the way of her dreams.

After dinner she went on a four mile run through the neighboring countryside, her mind confused and nervous. By the end her back ached in pain, her four breasts bogging them down. When she got back, she put on her cumbersome brace. It covered her entire body, even with four back surgeries, she suffered from debilitating back pain. While her scoliosis had been finally corrected, after four surgeries, and her godawful "hunch" removed, the doctor said she would likely suffer from such problems her entire life. Wearing the brace every other night and briefly after running would help alleviate the pressure on her midback, where her spine split in two.

"Caitlin."

It was her mother, from the living room.

"Come here."

Without a word she came out, she was in her underwear, two panties sewed together for her two crotches, and her back brace covering her entire torso. She wore a large shirt over it, with four holes cut out for her arms. The brace was uncomfortable, despite it being custom molded, it was squeezing her four breasts down flat.

"Yes?" she said annoyed, and paranoid.

"We made up our minds."

"And?"

"We will always respect your desires. We are here to support you. Even if we refused, you would make our lives hell until we changed our minds. You've always been bull-headed my beautiful girl, and it will get you far, even if you step on a few toes to get there."

"So I can go to IU?"

"Yes."

She lunged forward, her four arms wrapped around her mom's petite body.

"You guys are the best!"

"Thank your dad. If it was up to me, you'd stay in town."

Her dad was hugged next, a giant smile struck across her face, her tails suitably moved.

"Now get to bed before I change my mind."

With that she hurried off. As she fell asleep, her tails tucked between her three, long legs, she dreamt away of the following year. Her last image she saw was the giant trophy on her dresser.

Reach for the stars, as you might hit the moon....

http://somethingelse77.deviantart.com/a … -257761779

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Caitlin: Part 3
by ~somethingelse77, Sep 10, 2011, 3:41:53 PM

Caitlin was finishing putting the boxes and storage pieces in the back of her family's Yukon. Her four arms, as well as six-fingered hands, made it easy to carry things. Her two brothers were also assigned to help. Luke, although only 7, carried things eagerly, happy to help out his sister, who he saw as his greatest role model. Marco on the other hand grumbled the entire time, complaining his conversation on AIM with his girlfriend was being interrupted. Her mother brought down her sewing machine, a crucial asset for her wardrobe.

Soon, however, all the items Caitlin needed for college were packed and the car was ready to go. Her brothers would be staying back, as Luke had a youth soccer game later that day, and as his team's best member, he was needed. Marco would be needed as well to drive him there.

"I'm going to miss you Kate!" exclaimed Luke as he gave her a big hug. She easily lifted him up with her four arms and gave him a big kiss.

"Not as much as I'll miss you!" she rubbed his head as she sat him down, "good luck on your game. I know you'll win."

"You do? I don't wanna go, I wanna go with you."

"No, they need you. I'll be on skype, we'll talk every day if you want."

He looked unsatisfied but smiled anyways, "I love you."

"Love you too." She gave him another long hug.

She turned to Marco,

"Marco, I'm going to miss you too." They embraced for a hug as he kissed her on the cheek, despite his long standing apathy to his older sister.

"Stay strong Kate."

Her father called from the driver's seat, "Caitlin, you ready? We need to get back by dinner."

"Yeah, I'm ready."

"Boys, don't get into trouble. Marco, remember Luke's game is at 3, don't be late! We'll be back by 6 at the earliest. Keep the house clean."

"Yeah yeah yeah." said Marco, his eyes rolling, already half way back into the house. Luke on the other hand stayed in the driveway, Caitlin, with her glasses on, could see a stream of tears from his face.

"Your brother really loves you. I remember when he was just learning to walk, he'd follow you everywhere." reminisced her mom,

"A lot better than Marco, what a brat."

"He loves you in his own way."
"Bah."

"Anyways, its going to be a long drive, I suggest you get some sleep." said her father. She sat in the back awkwardly. Her wide triple butt sitting on top of the middle seatbelt, her two tails tucked between her legs where they lay on the floor. She squirmed a bit to get comfortable and leaned against the window, taking off her glasses, where then everything became double due to her lazy eye.

As she sat there, in the back, her parents listening to the XM radio, she started to dream and wander, thinking back on past memories like they were only yesterday. She still was feeling weird from not taking her Vitex supplement the other day and her mind had been going in darker places....

It was a cloudy morning as Theresa dragged a weary Caitlin out of bed. She did not want to wake up, at all. She had been silently dreading the day for weeks, despite saying she was fine; her parents had long learned to tell her emotions from her tail movements. Little Caitlin was crabbier than normal this morning, and she mumbled loudly, "Idowan-na gtho thoo sthool." her giant forked tongue sticking out of her mouth. Her mother, a teacher, had taught her ASL, but she remained largely mute.

After a good 20 minutes she was finally coerced into getting up and she took her sweet time getting ready. Her mother had laid out that days clothing, which she had spent the last week customizing. A large skirt, and a nice blue and white top with four sleeves, it was pretty indeed. Caitlin grudgingly put on her "uniform" and came down for breakfast. Her father was sitting at the head of the table, reading the paper, his face younger and fresh. He had lost his job as a salesman and had just begun construction work a month prior. Taking turns feeding baby Marco, who sat at his high chair, he heralded Caitlin as she came trudging in from the hallway. "You look so lovely Kate!" "Kate" was a affectionate term her parents used, although Caitlin never referred to herself as such.
"Thaanw aw tadtheeee!", which she mumbled as well as signed, she gave him a big four-armed hug, while continuing her scowl at her mom, who had forced her out of bed.

"Have fun today at school, first days are always the best." It was indeed, today Caitlin would start her first day in Kindergarten at the local elementary school. This was a big deal in the Illeri household. For the last summer they had debated, even devolving into fights at time, whether she should be home-schooled or sent to the public schools. The girl's IQ, tested the previous year, was off the chart, and had learned to read at the age of 4. The local school had a gifted program, which room was made for Caitlin. Her father, following Caitlin's stubborn will, had argued for the former, while her mother, urged that she needed to be properly socialized and refused to keep her daughter away from the world. While normally she was overprotective, in this case, she was not. In the end, 'Papa Illeri' saw eye to eye with Theresa and they both agreed it was for the best. She'd already stayed home from preschool, which they both regretted.

Caitlin's mother made her two bowls of cereal and put on the table, which she soon gobbled up, her veracious appetite insatiable, only tempered by her oversized tongue. However, they were running late. "Hurry up Caitlin, we're going to be late." her mother yelled as she finished putting her pink backback in order. Within a few minutes she was crawling into the car, which she hated, as she was forced to sit on her tails, and the seatbelts were just barely wide enough at this age. From there they pep-talked, Caitlin signing back instead of speaking, although her giant tongue sometimes was out of her mouth, as she found it uncomfortable to keep it in there closed. As it did not hinder significantly her eating or breathing, her religious parents refused to alter it for "mere cosmetic reasons".

Caitlin was undoubtedly nervous however but remained cheerful. She had always been courageous, and today was to be no different. She retied her middle shoe, which was very wide and custom-made, as it was loose.

Within five minutes they were at the elementary school, which was only down the street from their neighborhood. Caitlin's appearance was known to most people in the local area, who had closely followed her complicated birth, the first few surgeries to get her liver attached correctly, and had seen her at the local Catholic Church, where she attended Sunday school. Some were scared of her, but others were accepting. The Illeri's fiercely guarded their privacy and refused to give out interviews with only the minor exception. As Theresa could see several cameramen waiting outside the main door, she took her to back entrance, the faculty entrance, where Theresa herself came in every morning.

She turned around and smiled, kissing Caitlin on the cheek. "I love you, and I know you'll do great. Ignore anyone that seems mean."

Caitlin signed back "But I'm scared."

"Don't be, I'll be here in case something goes wrong. Don't let anyone get inside you, sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will only hurt you. Say that with me." She signed it, as well as somewhat mumbled. Her six fingered lower hand came up to cover her mouth, as she was embarrassed by her forked tongue.

With that Caitlin opened the door and hoped out, walking with her odd gait into the building, with her upper right hand holding her mom's. At this point, school was all she was talking about, and she hit her mom with a dozen excited questions about it.

Theresa took her to her class room, Ms. Mulenberry, in the other wing of the building. It was still early, before most kids had arrived, and the two teachers had a quick word as Caitlin timidly waited by the wall to find a seat. Before long, their conversation ended and Ms. Mulenberry walked over, she was a short but thin young woman, with bright blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Caitlin could tell she was a little shocked at her appearance; she adjusted her glasses to better hide her lazy eye, and she sucked her tongue back in her mouth, oh how she hated her face. The limbs she didn't mind ironically. Regardless there was a cautious but warm smile on her face as she took little Caitlin by the hand. "Hey, I take it your Caitlin. I'm so excited to have you in my class." Ms. Mulberry knew some ASL but spoke this, as Caitlin's hearing was impeccable. Caitlin signed back,

"Hi." She was very quiet, especially with strangers, also she could tell her knowledge of ASL was not fluent. However, she smiled and was still excited to start her first day of school.

"Your mom said you were quiet. That's okay, you're such a sweetie though. Do you wanna go by Caitlin or Kate."

"Caitlin"

Come with me." She took her hand to the back of the classroom where she pulled out a desk. Caitlin took one look at its narrow seat, no holes in it as well, and refused to go further. "Caitlin, what's wrong?"

"Too narrow." She signed as she looked down, motioning at her three legs and two tails, which were straight up. From there, Caitlin turned toward the corner of the room where there was a small flat bench and a table.

Ms. Mulberry saw that and put two and two together. "Oh, we can do that." as she began to pull the bench out to fit in with the other rows of desk, moving the rejected desk to that corner to make room.

"How's this?"

Caitlin nodded in agreement, a small smile emerging on her face as she sat down comfortably, her tails hanging off the ledge, free to move around.

"Okay, I'll let you get set up, I have to run a errand, I'll be right back. Let the Teacher's aide, Mrs. Hardbroke, know if you need anything." With that she was gone. Mrs. Hardbroke was a old lady, with a permanent frown on her face. She looked at Caitlin with disgust. Child of Satan for all she cared. She was the aunt of the Principle, so despite being a horrible woman, she could not be fired.

Soon the other children came in. Some knew Caitlin, others were immediately taken by her deformities. Not quite the age to be cruel, they were more carried by curiosity, and a barrage of questions came upon her, although no one sat directly by her.

"Move your arms"

"You have six-fingers!"

"Woah... big tongue."

"Why do you have two tails?"

"Why don't your tails have shaggy hair like my kitty?"

Caitlin tried signing back, but no one understood her. She buried her head as the teacher came in, clearing everyone away.

"Good morning class."

And so on.

Later that afternoon Caitlin ate lunch with her mom in the cafeteria, despite the latter's attempts to get her to be with the other kids. However, she was told she had to play with the others during recess. After some initial crying and stubborness, the other teachers convinced her it would be fun, and she decided to try it out.

The bell rang, and the tables were cleared, the food thrown out, as the students went out to the yard.

Caitlin, while originally sticking close to nest, was nudged out, and she soon saw some kids playing at the jungle gym. They seemed nice back in class and several of them smiled as she came over.

"Caitlin! Come play with us." She ran excitedly to them. Friends, she didn't have many, but something inside her pushed her towards them, a natural social instinct.

It was fun, and they didn't bring up her tongue or eye. She didn't mind at this point showing off her limbs and proudly climbed with ease across the most difficult section of the jungle gym, before jumping off, to the applause of her new friends. While at first she covered up her tongue, Caitlin soon forgot to and even began to speak, although none of them had any idea what she was saying, either mumbling or through sign language. But it didn't matter, they got along, the others utterly fascinated with her and although a bit nosey, as nice as they could be. School wasn't so bad after all, she sort of liked how everyone wanted to hang with her.

Nevertheless, the fun and games was not to last. Near the end of recess a group of 3rd graders came up to the jungle gym, both to seize it, and taunt the "freak" who was happily getting all the attention. This particular group of 3rd graders were a nasty bunch, from broken homes and dysfunctional families, they took out their anger and delinquency on the smaller students. Having just gotten out of detention, they were free to take up their favorite hangout spot, the jungle gym. However, the kindergartners were new and did not know this, as they had naively ignored the warning of the 1st graders, who after a year of hell, ventured nowhere near the place.

"Hey kindergartners, back off!" yelled Bruce, the oldest of the bullies. His sister Meghan was a overweight redhead with a brutish face and a brutish mouth. "You heard him! Off."

The kindergartners turned around, they smiled, some of the girls showed signs of fear but most held their cool.

"What you smillin' at dork!" The third, Pete, came up and pushed a tiny boy by the name of Michael, who fell to the ground crying. The teachers on watch were distracted by a kid who had fallen and broken his leg, so no help came.

With that, most of the others fled, although Caitlin and two other boys stayed back, refusing to budge.

"Oh, great, the freak stayed back. I always wanted to make freak soup."

Caitlin stared at him with her unfocused eyes, but did not move. She was used to taunts, and she was stubborn too.

"I don't think you heard me, I heard your deaf and mute, and dumb to boot. Talk!"

She didn't say or sign anything.

"Talk!"

"Gtho avthay"

"What, I couldn't hear you. Don't mutter freak" He got closer and pulled out a stick.

"Talk!"

She refused, and he raised his stick in anger, but before he could strike the lightning fast Caitlin upercut him with all four hands to the face, before landing a kick with her middle. He fell, bloodied and bruised to the ground. His sister screamed in terror, "You monster, monster monster monster!"

Nothing set her off more than that word. "Ivthm moth vtha vnonsta!" And she ran. By now the teachers had been alerted by the other students to the exchange and had seen Bruce raise his stick, as well as the devastating preemptive blow. They ran to the scene, but by the time they arrived Caitlin was gone.

Everything was a blur, she was moving so fast, her thin three legs moving her along as she sprinted at full speed through the grass. Tears poured across her face as she ran, and she couldn't think straight.

She just ran and ran, and didn't look back. She hated school. Hated it hated it hated it. Before long she was well into the giant neighborhood complex behind the school, and ran blindly along its path.

Up above was a clearing and a small meadow, with several suburban houses surrounding it. Caitlin had lost track of time but was tired, and her two hearts were beating fast. She slowed down before crawling next to a brown picket fence, collapsing in exhaustion and sadness. As she slowly cried herself to sleep, she heard a voice behind her.

She turned around and wiped her tears with her lower left hand, "Don't cry."

It was a little boy, even younger than her, with black hair and stone gray eyes. His home was the smallest and most dilapidated of the houses on the block.

She signed to him, but he didn't respond, so she didn't say anything more and buried her head in her many arms.

"Why are you sad?"

She continued to cry, and the little boy bent down to her level. He repeated himself. "Why are you sad?"

Caitlin looked up, her face and eyes red, more annoyed than anything. While he saw her eye and tongue, it did not show on his face.

"Gtho avthay"

"Go away? Why are you sad?" For the third time.

Although him repeating what she said got her attention and she spoke once more,

"Mthethle vthea mueaath.

"Why would they be mean?" The little boy said innocently.

A smile came across her face as she began to open up, she normally hated her voice, but only as no one could understand her and everyone thought she was stupid. So she explained to him the entire thing, He nodded, a bit confused as he was only her age, but understanding.

"Vhathay naaa nthat sthool?" she asked him in turn.

"My mommy said my fever was too bad today, but I feel better." Caitlin had never been very sick so she just nodded along. "I want to go to school tomorrow!"

"Vithat naa vthat vthreaat."

"It is, I know it is." They were by now sitting next to each other, picking flowers, and chatting away.

Caitlin turned to him and said, her right hands out, "Mwwaa vnatmph ppthis Vthathlinnn."

"Caitlin.... That's a pretty name. My name is Jon. Jon Kutcher."

"Vthon..."

"Yep."

"CAITLIN! WHERE ARE YOU!?" It was her mom's voice, and there were others as well. A car pulled up to Jon's house; there was a rustle as the teachers, and their parents came to the back by the sidewalk."

"I saw them behind that house."

"Jon, why are you out!? You could get sick." screamed his mom, as she pulled him up by the ear. She looked disgusted as she saw the girl he was talking to.

But more importantly, Caitlin's mom ran up to her, "Kate, my dear Kate, I was so scared. You ran so fast, we didn't know where you went."

Caitlin got up and they embraced.

"Never do that again, you hear. Never!"

"Caitlin, wake up! Lunch." It was her mother, but instead of on that foggy sidewalk, in the front seat.

They had pulled into a KFC and were ordering a giant chicken tub. "How far are we?" She asked. Her voice was still fuzzy, deep, and slurred, but far from the mumbling gibberish of her childhood.

"We have about a hour left."

"A hour? How long was I asleep?"

"The entire time. What did you do last night?"

"I had to see everyone one last time."

"Well perk up, we're almost there."

"Whatever mom."

Caitlin pulled out her iPhone with her long slender six-fingered upper right hand and loaded the messenger.

To: Jon
Just tht abt the day we met. I kno y I luv u. 

Within a minute it vibrated in response.

To: Caitlin
Bcuz of my muscles?

She would miss him. 'Every other weekend' she thought to herself.

'Every other weekend."