Asma Nasir's Sexual Journey
Chp 1 Pakistan refugee Asma Nasir
This can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone story, but deeper character depth and the effects of the plots, twists and turns of Asma's sexual life will be found by reading the full series
Asma left the Sunni mosque in
Melbourne’s western suburbs. In the minority for a Pakistani
woman she was wearing the full head-to-toe black burqa as she
originally came from the northwest city of Peshawar, in the
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Under her black burqa she
wore a long firaq which reached from her shoulders to mid-calf
and baggy partug pants. She was 42 years old, married to her
husband, Afsar who was 10 years older, and blessed with 3
wonderful children.
Her eldest daughter, Rubina, was 22
and recently married. Certainly, an old age to be married back
home, but a young age here in Australia where customs were
different and late 20s was more common for a daughter. Her
younger daughter, Samreen, was 20 and attending Victoria
University studying Accounting. True, it was not Melbourne or
Monash or even Latrobe University, but she had a career ahead of
her. Something that would not have occurred back in Pakistan,
and she thought how she and Samreen had needed to plead with
Afsar to allow her to attend. It was against his beliefs for
women to be educated, mix with males or dress in a modern style.
Her youngest child, her son Ashraf was 18, in year 12 at school,
academically gifted and certain to gain entry to the prestigious
Melbourne University.
Asma daydreamed as she walked to the
bus stop close to the mosque, imagining her tallish body not
constrained and hidden by layers of traditional, voluminous
clothing, but flaunted and displayed like the Vietnamese women
she had seen at the Footscray market or driving their 4WDs. The
thought would have offended her deceased father and now Asfar as
both were extremely traditional Pakistani Muslims. The
Vietnamese women wore extreme high heels, short, tight dresses
that brazenly paraded not only their lower legs, but their
thighs as well. Instead of draped loosely in layers like hers,
their garments were moulded to their skin, and if you looked
carefully you could see the outline of their thong disappearing
into their arse crack or the shape and sometimes even the
colours of their nipples. Not only the young ones like her
daughters, but women of a similar age or even 15 years older
than her openly exhibited their bodies. She could never do that.
Perhaps there was some Iran blood in
her from way back in the past as her skin was on the lighter
side compared to many other Pakistanis. She was a tall 5ft 7,
had a longer face than many of the Indians over the border which
was highlighted with dark, memorising eyes and prominent
eyebrows. Her nose was sharp and gave her an aristocratic look.
She had nicely shaped 34 tits, a slightly rounded belly and a
womanly arse that was still firm. Many said she reminded them of
Pakistan’s first female president, Benazir Bhutto.
Moreover, like most women from the subcontinent she had a full
mat of pubic hair. Attractive for her age? Yes, but it did not
matter with her husband’s lack of interest in her.
Life was so different to back home.
The Vietnamese had changed after arriving as refugees. Would
she? She shuddered at the thought. The family had arrived 4
years ago by the traditional route. They had saved their
money, bought a flight to Indonesia, then made contact with the
people smugglers, destroyed their passports paid the money for a
seat on a fishing boat, been intercepted by the Australian navy
and taken for processing at Christmas Island which, was closer
to Indonesia than Australia but gave them sanctuary and finally,
processing for entry to Australia.
It was good for the children. It gave
them opportunities but not for her husband Afsar. Due to his age
and being wedded to the old ways he didn’t want to change,
didn’t want to work. He sat back and accepted the Government
fortnightly handout paid directly into his bank account and
enjoyed his cheap government subsidised housing. He was a
traditionalist. A woman’s place was in the house keeping it
clean and feeding him. Each night after eating he left the house
to go to the coffee and hookah shop where he and his male
friends opiniated how western society was corrupting their
children, taking away a father’s authority and status. They were
continuing the endless discussion from hours, even days before
as he was there for up to 10 hours each day. Why had he come in
the first place if only to complain, Asma thought bitterly. Did
he not remember the hardships and reasons they left?
And in sex he was a traditionalist. A
wife was for producing children, and once she was pregnant
nothing further happened under the sheets until another child
was needed. It was now 12 years since they had last fucked, if
you could call the 5 minutes it took that of which 3 minutes was
him undressing. Though it was long ago she still remembered the
thick cock he wielded. A short missionary union till he came
with no thought of her needs. His real pleasure had been the
whores he visited regularly back home, and many of her friends
had told her he was a frequent visitor of the hairdresser and
massage shops here. I bet the Vietnamese women get it every
night, and probably also outside their marriages, she thought.
God she was frustrated and horny
these days, but luckily she had her faith to support her.
Although the other day when she was house cleaning her son
Ashraf was showering and had left the door open. His body was
muscular and lean, and he was fisting his cock before groaning
and shooting a strand of semen to the wall. Since that time she
had been masturbating, sometimes reliving what she had seen
before she managed to force it from her mind.
She smiled as she recalled her one
recent change though. As part of a new Government initiative,
she and other mature aged refugees including those from Iran,
Afghanistan and the most recent wave, the Sudanese had been
granted entry to the third-rate Victoria University. She had
selected Accounting, the same as her daughter. Afsar was furious
and threatened to refuse to let her attend. ”It’s not fitting
for a woman to do this. You must be at home. That is your
place,” he had bellowed. But the offer had come with strings
attached: declining the offer meant their government pension
would be cut by a third. The thought of losing this free money
was too much for Afsar and so she would be attending University.
Besides, she took comfort in the fact
that her daughter was also in the same University and perhaps
they would study together and become close again, Something had
changed since they had come to Melbourne and Samreen was now
distant, abrupt and impersonal. It was almost as though she was
hiding something, but Asma was conflicted. She was not used to
intruding into her daughter’s new life here in Australia. Things
were different here and maybe Samreen’s inner beliefs had
changed from her contact with other students at school and
University. Furthermore, she had appeared unhappy that her
mother was now at the same University, but Asma was still
convinced that she would find a way to bond with her daughter.
Now she could spend time with her daughter away from home, as
well as meeting other refugee women. Her new life was about to
begin.
The next day she alighted from the
bus at Victoria University. She was, as usual, wearing her
burqa. First the new students attended a meeting in the Grand
Hall where a speech was given by the Chancellor, a Romanian
refugee from the 90s, Marija Poposky. They were seated
alphabetically so that the roll could be marked. Next to Asma
was a Vietnamese woman, Ai Ngo, as Asma’s family name was Nasir.
She was mid-forties, slightly older than Asma and dressed as
though going to a nightclub, not University. Something that made
Asma both uncomfortable and slightly jealous. However, both
women talked excitedly about what was to come. Ai proved harder
to get rid of than flies at an Aussie BBQ and chattered on and
on. When they found they were doing the same subjects, Ai signed
up for the same tutorials so they would know someone and not
feel lost. Then, when Ai found Asma did not drive, she offered
to drive her to and from University as they now had identical
schedules. Reluctantly Asma said her husband would not allow it
as Ai was not known to him and was not a Muslim, but Ai would
not be deterred and said she would pick up Asma and set her down
at the bus stop near Asma’s house.
By the weeks end the two were getting
along very well. There were no other students from Pakistan, and
Asma had learnt that Ai came from Communist North Vietnam. Once
her accent showed that, she was excluded from any group of South
Vietnamese students as they still carried grudges from the war
and subsequent Northern Victory in the 1970s. Further discussion
revealed that Ai had two daughters Yen 24 who was studying
Medicine and Binh 19, Law at Melbourne University. When some of
the other women had tried to bully Asma it was Ai who flew to
her defence standing up for her and abusing the others.
The morning lecture finished and the
two headed for the cafeteria. Back home University studies for a
married woman would have been forcibly discouraged and across
the border in Afghanistan the Taliban may have killed her, but
Asma had discovered she enjoyed her studies and was in fact very
good at them. She was helping Ai who was struggling and had even
lost the guilt she first had of studying at University and
associating with a non Muslim who dressed as Ai did.
They entered the cafeteria and Asma
was almost sick. She swayed and almost fainted before Ai
supported her. She dry retched. There at a table was Samreen
dressed not in her hijab and long modest outer dress over jeans
and blouse that she had convinced her father to at least relax
his standards to allow. She was without her hijab and wearing
just the jeans that should be worn under her long lose outer
garment, and a tight blouse and loose jacket. It was outrageous
and what was even worse was that she was the only female at a
table of male students.
Seeing Asma like this she needed to
know what was happening. The boys got up and left and Asma
rushed to her daughter and unleashed a torrent of words,
describing how she was a Pakistani, how immoral were her dress
and behaviour and actions. Samreen at first was shocked at her
mother for such intrusion which left her speechless but then
responded angrily defending what she was doing is normal for
Australia, plus Asma didn’t realise but she was still more
conservatively dressed than most of the students here.
Ai listened and immediately
understood the problem as she and many other immigrants had
faced this problem. Ai tried to explain to Asma that it was
Australia and just like it was at first difficult for the
Vietnamese they had adapted and changed and even recognized that
some of the changes like women driving were great. Logically
Asma knew that there was some truth in this. They were now
living in a new country. But she had 42 years of tradition force
fed into her. It’s not easy for anyone to just forget all their
culture, especially the one so entrenched with religion, and
adopt a new one. And especially a western based culture which
was so despised back in Asma’s homeland.
Reacting out of character for a
Pakistani daughter Samreen finished by shouting, “I’ll keep my
hijab in here in my backpack, and if you try to stop me I will
report you to the authorities. Minors have rights here in
Australia,” before stalking away. Asma stood there in shock
before being brought back to reality by Ai. Ai hands touched her
shoulders and asked Asma if she was alright? Then Ai informed
her that yes here in Australia children had rights and
government do-gooders would take delight in enforcing them
against parents. So much for Samreen and her being at the same
University and bonding, Asma thought.
Samreen lived for free in the
University hostel, another benefit the Government provided to
low income refugees. Therefore, they didn’t get another chance
to talk about it. Asma, after first being comforted by Ai at
University and then in the car on their way home realised that
Ai was right. Why it was only just a few weeks ago that she was
arguing with Afsar in not adopting to the changing
circumstances. God knows how much help she required from Afsar
in taking care of house chores now there was no servant girl as
there was in Lahore. One of the many things that Asma liked
about Australia that how helpful husbands were in Australia.
Both spouses would have jobs and at the same time would help
each other with house chores and taking care of children.
The next day Asma’s and Samreen paths
crossed again at the University. Samreen was still dressed the
same way as before. Both wanted to apologize. As they came
closer, Asma, being the mother, immediately hugged her daughter
and apologized and assured her that she had not slept all night.
She now understood that Samreen must adjust to this new
lifestyle, and even admitted that she herself may try to make an
effort in adjusting to fit in. Slight tears and a smile came to
Samreen’s face, who also apologised for her behaviour and told
her that it was all on the spur of the moment. There was hugging
and laughter and both sat down at the cafeteria and ordered some
coffee.
Asma, realising her mistake, repeated
to her daughter that she would never stand in the way of her
daughter’s happiness and success and that she would completely
support her decisions. After a brief silence Samreen spoke up,
“Mom I know you love me, and I promise I won’t abandon my
religion and I will make sure to practice but I must change to
fit into this new environment.” Asma felt such relief. Then
hesitantly Samreen spoke and told Asma that to fit in she should
sometimes be wearing even more informal clothing and do things
which are part of the University experience but she feared to
say it as Asma would not like it. Asma was intrigued asked what
dress or things she was talking about. Samreen not wanting to
freak her out, lied, “Oh, just University things.”
Samreen quickly moved on and half
jokingly suggested that her mother should remove her burqa and
get a makeover and assured she would look beautiful. Asma
although shocked was quite intrigued by this thought, but of
course shied away and refused saying that it was not suitable
for a woman of her age, even if Samreem wasn’t joking. Samreen
then insisted, though still in a joking tone, ”Come on Mom, I am
serious.”
As they was speaking Ai appeared
having heard most of the conversation interjected and said,
“Don’t you worry about your mother, she is in my good hands. I
will take care of her.” After saying this Ai smiled at Asma and
hugged her, who far from flinching, responded willingly. Samreen
wondered who was this strange Asian, probably Vietnamese, women,
and why this slutty, expensively, dressed women was her mother’s
friend. Ai looked over Asma’s shoulder and smiled knowingly. Her
look changed to protective and she stared at Samreen as her
tongue darted out like a snake to provocatively wet her lips. It
was as though she knew Samreen’s secret. There was no way she
could know, but during the past year Samreen had become aware of
the prevalence of sexfighting in the general Vietnamese culture,
and how at the Uni private sex shows occurred where in the pits
black dudes with 10 inch and bigger cocks would fuck women and
that even in some extreme cases a few had become part of the
BDSM scene for the masters of sex clubs.
She instantly knew her plan had been
thwarted. Samreen had been in her first year of University and
her life had changed when a mysterious email had told her, based
on her entry psychological test to try out for the VUX3B club.
She soon found that membership initiation to the club meant
being bound to the large metal and wood cross and both eating
and being fucked by big cocks, women and animals. The 3X. In
return Samreen had no doubt this club and lifestyle would serve
her ambitions. Through this closed circle she would make
excellent contacts which would prove invaluable in the job
market and that these contacts were the key to promotion,
opportunities and money for the lifestyle she craved.
She changed from a sweet dutiful
Muslim daughter. In fact, the club archivist had informed her
that no other person had progressed in the club as rapidly as
her. She glanced at the 3 diagonal dots running from left to
right tattooed on her inner wrist and fingered the emerald stud
in her ear. The dots signified she was a member of the VUX3B
club, just as the 3 dots in a triangle identified a MUSP club
member (Melbourne University sexual perversions). Each
University had the 3 dots arranged in a way that distinguished
that University. The emerald stud revealed her present rank in
the club, Advanced, and these earing rankings were the same in
every University. No matter which University, and they were
competitive with their fiercely fought annual sex Olympics, all
members benefited from the tattooed dots even when meeting a
member of another University club. Fortunes were made and
reputations saved by the recognition of the 3 dots.
The archivist had told her no one at
Victoria University had first passed the initiation which gave
either Trainee or Slave status, then progressed from Trainee to
Regular to Veteran and finally during the end of year break
obtain the emerald stud that said she had Advanced rank. All her
contemporaries were still either trainee or regulars. After
passing the tests as a Trainee a member progressed to Regular
(Topaz), to Veteran (Sapphire), then Advanced (Emerald), then
Elite (Ruby), and finally to one of 12 Primes in each club. The
failed slaves were used as cannon fodder in the regular orgies
or used in special projects with the chance to try again in a
year’s time.
But she wanted more. The next step
was to be one of 50 Elites, then one of the 10 Primes with one
being the Alpha Prime. Promotion to these classifications was by
a sexual contest challenge finalised by an exchange of ear stud
if successful. The alpha prime of VUX3B at present was a
Romanian, Marija Popopski, who was also the chancellor of the
University who had welcomed the freshman. Samreen had observed
and felt there was a changing of the guard about to occur with
the Sudanese led by Prime Beta, Makur, taking control of the
club and Makur becoming Prime Alpha. She had allied herself with
them and not only caught the eye of Makur but become her lover
and protégé. Following Makur’s instructions she had seduced
Makur’s daughter, Nyadol, into a lesbian relationship. Samreen
was bi and she enjoyed playing this role.
Taken completely into Makur’s
confidence, she found the South Sudanese woman was a witch
doctor. Laugh you may, but consider Haiti, where the former
slaves have kept their traditional beliefs. There, rituals and
natural, plant based drugs created by witch doctors produce such
things as zombie states which medical knowledge says shouldn’t
occur. Samreen had found the unattractive heavily built, short
haired, big arsed Sudanese had an insatiable sex drive and their
fucks ended with the Sudanese woman craving more and Samreen
semi conscious unable to continue. Yet Makur was pleased saying
no one else could last as long or make her cum as strong.
Makur introduced Samreen to rituals
such as eating foetuses she obtained from research departments
at Melbourne University and the regular eating of her daughter
during her period and having Samreen eat and drink concoctions
she prepared naked under the full moon while Samreen ate her.
Makur went along at first because she didn’t want to lose
Makur’s patronage, but later she became a believer as she found
her sex drive and endurance increase and both her nipples and
clit become larger. Samreen had weighed everything up,
considered all the pros and cons. She had made her choice. She
was now totally committed to being part of Makur’s New Order and
be a major role player in ousting Marija’s True Believers. Then
the rewards would come.
And there was her future. She was
making plans. Makur would become Prime Alpha but then Samreen
would challenge her and replace her. Every time she and Makur
tribbed, fingered, used a strap on or whatever she was learning,
discovering the Sudanese woman’s strengths and weaknesses. Then
as the new Prime Alpha there was only one other summit to
conquer. Leader. Every 2 years the Prime Alphas from each
University competed to become Leader. At present the Leader was
a Chinese from Melbourne University who had defended her
position twice. Samreen knew this was her destiny.
Her thoughts came back to the
present. To become an Elite she had to provide a close relative
for the club to use in a four day orgy. This was proof to the
club that the club was more important than family. Makur had put
the topping on the cake by saying after the orgy she and Samreen
would fuck the victim to death in a ritual that would take the
victim’s sex drive and give it to Makur and Samreen. With the
club’s connections in the police the case would be lost
somewhere in the missing persons department.
Samreen had selected her mother Asma
as her victim, figuring as they were at University together they
would become closer and she would slowly seduce her, introduce
her to the club where the real business would start. But now
this slut of a Vietnamese had ruined her plans. But she was
flexible and immediately thought of her 22 year old sister,
Rubina. More difficult to arrange but she would do it. She had
to do it.
Masking her disappointment, she then
stood up, hugged and said her goodbyes to her mother and Ai. As
she walked away she thought of how she could hurt her mother by
letting her see what her daughter had become. No need now to
pretend to be nice in order to seduce her.
God, she hated Vietnamese. Every year
the 7 universities had a competition like a mini Olympics.
Samreen had been nominated for the maximum of 4 events. Even
though she had gained Victoria universities only female medals
she was disappointed. First, she had been surprised to see that
2 other female freshmen from other Universities had emerald ear
studs as she did meaning they had made the same unusually rapid
progress in their first year as she had. Second she had not
taken gold in all events. She had taken gold in the freshman
animal event easily but had been surprised by a Japanese bitch
from Monash University in the Freshman cock event. Based on cock
diameter and depth the Japanese had equalled her in cunt
acceptance, beaten her in the anal section and only Samreen’s
greater oral efforts had given her second gold.
For the freshman sexfight she had an
emerald ear stud wearing Vietnamese law student as her opponent
in the final. Samreen had taken the blood drug test confident
that the injection that Makur had syringed into her clit would
not be detected as it was organic and not chemical. She was
correct and the first 30 minutes had the match going her way
with her leading 2 cums to nil with her semi anaesthetised clit
not responding to the Vietnamese. But the dose wore off and the
Vietnamese named Binh managed to control her with a hook grip in
the arse and her curled fingers in Samreen’s slit working her G
spot while her thumb controlled her clit. The Vietnamese won 5
to 3 giving Samreen silver.
Her last event was the open doubles
sexfight as she was only allowed one non freshman event. She was
pared with a highly regarded Filipina ex bar girl. They
progressed easily to the final where their opponents were the
sneering Vietnamese who had defeated her and a Korean; the
Melbourne University team. Dosed up again by Makur and
buoyed by their easy wins she was confident of victory. However,
the other two teamed well getting Fely, the Filipina in their
corner where they controlled her, tagging frequently and not
allowing her to get to the waiting Samreen and tag out. Fely
came 3 times so she was out of the event and Samreen had to take
on the two Melbourne University sexfighters simultaneously. She
had 3 cums left, the Korean 2 as Samreen had made her cum, and
the Vietnamese 3.
They had a plan and used it. The
Korean face sat Samreen pinning her to the floor and lifted her
cunt away when Samreen ate her to near a cum. Meanwhile Binh,
the Vietnamese pinned Samreen’s legs to the floor and ruthlessly
ate and fingered her. The result was never in doubt and gave
Samreen her second silver and her first Vietnamese piss as the
future lawyer delivered a golden shower on her. Illegal but not
worth protesting to get the gold reversed.
Yes, in the future I will get my
revenge on Binh and also this Vietnamese slut friend of my
mother.
Two days later Asma saw Samreen walk
hand in hand from the staff eating establishment with a young
Sudanese tutor. She followed them until they entered his office
with an arm around her daughter, the other hand on her arse
pulling her closer to him. That was more than just fitting in at
University she thought. Her goodwill to her daughter
disappeared, A few minutes later 4 more tall Sudanese male
students, carrying bottles of Burbon whiskey knocked on the
door. Samreen answered it, kissed each student as they entered
and accepted a swig from the bottle. Watching from the half open
door of the female toilets Asma nearly died. Her daughter
drinking forbidden alcohol. Then a sluttish looking slim big
boobed indian female knocked on the door and she and Samreen
entwined bodies as they kissed before entering and closing the
door.
Asma waited for 15 minutes but no one
else came so she went to the door. Looking along and checking
the corridor to see if it was empty she put her ear against the
door.
“Ahhh Samreen, eat me. Make me cum
again, No one eats pussy as good as you. I’m cumming.”
Then she heard her daughter, “Double
team me Mabior and Abdo, while I eat my new lover some more.
Then I’ll take you other 2 any way you want. Practice for when I
get my sister for the club.”
She staggered from the door sick at
heart. Her daughter’s words the other day were only pretence,
and she had believed her. She waited as the boys left, the last
one still zipping his fly, as they laughed and joked. Next the
tutor departed and Asma again went along the corridor to the
slightly open door. She pushed it open to see her daughter,
still covered in Sudanese cum and the Indian woman locked in 69
with the Indian howling in pleasure. Samreen looked up in
triumph and saw her mother.
“I saw and heard. I am disgusted,”
she hissed.
Samreen sneered and said, “Well watch
this. Fist me Binra. Make me cum.”
Later that day she had deliberately
gone out of her way to allow Asma see her braless in her brand
new, tight boob tube and extra short, tight, jeans shorts.
Incensed at what had seen and now saw she saw Asma could not
constrain herself and lashed out verbally, decrying her
daughter’s actions. This time Samreen cuttingly replied, “At
least I am a woman and with the body to wear these. Not like
you. A pity we couldn’t get you to the club. I was going to
seduce you. let them use you and then I would be rewarded.”
The next day continued badly. The
letter from Immigration had arrived stating that her sponsorship
of the 18 year old Rahmi Syed from Pakistan was successful. The
paperwork said her niece could arrive from a date seven days
from the date of this letter and all responsibilities for
accommodation and living expenses would be Asma’s. Niece, that
was a joke. Corrupt paperwork back home had changed a future
bride for Afsar into her niece. She acknowledged that a Muslim
man could have five wives and Afsar had not fucked her for 12
years but it was still a kick in the teeth to have to be cook
and housekeeper for the 18 year old fuck toy of her husband.
Second, Afsar had threatened to stop her going to University so
that she could make the house fit for his bride. Third, her
Burqa had not dried after washing and she had to wear a hajib
with her face exposed for the first time at University.
It was when Ai picked her up in her
car she realized just how close she had become to the vivacious,
slutty dressing Vietnamese. Although she tried to hide it Ai
immediately recognized Asma was upset and listened patiently,
supportively, as Asma poured out her woes. Asma realized it was
not an act and the wealthy Vietnamese really cared for her. She
thought back to how Ai, although Buddhist, had defended and
protected her against bullying due to her Muslim faith and
dress. She praised her now exposed face building her confidence
as she prattled on saying how tattooed lip outline and eyebrows,
mascara and which brands of make up would be most suitable.
Finally, hesitantly she reached back
and grabbed a wrapped parcel from the back seat. “Its for you.”
“But why?”
“It’s been one month since we met and
became friends. It’s to say thank you for helping me with the
studies. It’s because we are always there for each other. Open
it.”
Asma opened it to see 6 black Thongs.
Although instinctively she knew it was not cheap Target stuff
she did not know they were the expensive French brand Yasmine
Eslami. “Its too much, I can’t wear them. I’m too old.”
“Of course you can. You need a pick
me up today. I didn’t trust that bitch of a daughter. No one
will know except me and you what you are wearing under that
garment of yours. Well at least you will feel better, feel like
a woman, and look we will both wearing the same. Look.” Ai
tugged at her short tight dress and wriggled it to her waist
displaying the same luxurious black thong. Wear it please.”
It took some more persuasion before
Asma agreed and when Ai parked in the carpark and stood guard,
Asma removed her bloomers and slid on the thong which moulded
into her crevice and failed to cover her mat of pubic hair. On
the drive home that day Ai asked Asma to accompany her for lunch
and some clothes shopping as they had the afternoon off in their
study schedule. Asma, surprised by her new confidence, agreed
thinking Afsar would not know thinking she was at University.
Feeling half pleased and half worried by her deception Asma at
first thought he didn’t hear Ai correctly when she said, “Did
you see all those Sudanese men? Imagine all that black meat
available. It’s like a banquet.”