their bodies are their uniforms

DR. CHO I see St. Lewina’s still insists on a special uniform.

SHANNON That’s right.  Our uniform is wearing nothing at all.

DR. CHO I bet that took a while to get used to.

SHANNON I think it’s easier for the first-years now.  I had to do

that stripping ceremony.  But starting last year, they

leave their clothes on the mainland.  Makes it seem

more final.  Like there’s no going back.

DR. CHO Can you spread your left leg out a bit? . . . I see a

part of an old tattoo.

SHANNON Yes.  It was a flower.  I haven’t gotten it all out yet.

DR. CHO Strange place for a tattoo.

SHANNON I got it back when I was shaved.

DR. CHO No tattoos, and no piercings either.  They make you

take everything  off.

SHANNON That’s right.  With the piercings, the holes close up

after a while.  Tattoos are harder to get rid of.

DR. CHO And no shaving.  Let me say, your lower hair is striking.

It’s bright red, almost orange.  Very fluffy too.

SHANNON I’m proud of it.  I was going to color it but I changed

my mind.

DR. CHO A beautiful tan, also, I must say.

SHANNON Thank you.

DR. CHO Must have taken some careful work.

SHANNON The problem is watching out for the high sky.

There’s actually more UV than when it’s clear blue.

DR. CHO I didn’t know that.  What are you, Fitzgerald Type

One?  Two?

SHANNON Eleven.

DR. CHO Eleven!

SHANNON We reversed the scale.  Africans were the first humans,

so the darkest should be Type One.

DR. CHO Makes sense.  And you split it up into twelve types

instead of six.