Ryee hid us with his telepathy so we also appeared brown-skinned. His orange eyes would pass for brown, and my blue ones, not very different from Earthan eyes. It felt odd to have brown skin. Areonians once persecuted anyone with brown hair and eyes like our friend Derees, so someone with brown skin as well—but my colony changed. I hoped no one had persecution now! Vonn and Derees said they were staying on Ye~ in our Areonian Colony, for fear that Areon is still unsafe. I hope Derees’ wife comes back to him someday. His boys and infant girl need her.
Two of Derees’ sons came up to me. “Oh, here is the brave lady who ended EDs on Areon! And discovered our fuel so we can travel! I am Puret Jons, Derees Jons’ eldest son, and I am a trader!” He bowed at the waist.
We bowed as Zheien do, one leg far behind. “You have polite customs! You may call me Madame Rayaline.” I felt uncomfortable, to refer to myself so, but boys so young must use proper titles. I am only 18. I told Ryee I felt too young for this when I offered him my name. But he is 22, not 9 as this boy.
“Madame Rayaline, it is an honor to meet you!” He kissed my hand.
His next brother bowed also and kissed my hand. “I have not got a title, but I am Donn.”
“You have a title! Derees’ Son! Ah, I am happy you can be young and play a little longer! My sister Aronna is near your age, at 7.”
“I am 7, but my birthday is 100 Oct—oh, I am 8? Vater was working.” Tears came in his eyes.
Derees picked him up. “And, now we are on a mission! I promise to ask King Ryonne~ for a festival when we go home!”
Ryee took him. “I am happy to declare one here on our ship! Everyone, today we celebrate Donn’s birthday, which was January 6 here, so 13 days past! We shall celebrate 3 days for him!”
“Three? Oh, thank you, King Ryonne~! Will you also declare it for my bruder Wisper, who came from Areon School 85 Oct? That was his 5<sup>th</sup> birthday, and I finally got to meet him!”
Ryee raised his hands again. “And we also celebrate Wisper Jons’ 5<sup>th</sup> birthday, which was Wednesday, December 22, 2021!” The boy hid his face and clung to Derees. A shy one.
All the Zheien aboard waved their arms. Many Areonians cheered!
Aronna, my sister, ran over. Yanked at her long, blond hair. Curtsied to Ryee. “King Ryonnie, may I also have a festival? All I want is a dahsee. My 7<sup>th</sup> birthday was—when, Adia? It’s January here, and Jan on Areon, and Yeff dates are confusing!”
Ryee picked her up on his other arm. “I am sorry our dates confuse. Your birthday is today, which is Jan 11, 222 on Areon, January 19, 2022 on Earth today, and it is also the first month of the Zhee calendar, Erisis, the 3<sup>rd</sup> week, Efas, and the first day of the week, Pu’idah, and the 19<sup>th</sup> day in the Zhee year 7818 and Yeffyear 118.”
“I can’t remember Yeff dates! We don’t name our weeks like you do! I’m only 7–8 now! Do 8 years have to learn all this stuff?” Her blue eyes filled.
Before my poor husband could answer, my father ran to us. Took Aronna and set her on the floor. “You most certainly have to learn it! I asked Huih to tutor you.”
The shy Yeff came closer. “Pardons, Joleon, but I ne know how to convert time without the server. Our children merely ask, and the server gives it. Diplomats can do this without, but they have a Sigan Mas education. I am yet with my tutor, Ao~.” He pulled at a dark curl.
Papa frowned at him. “But, you are on the Unified Science Service Of Ye~! And, Zheien are smarter than Areonians! Surely you can convert time!”
Huih paled drastically! “Joleon, I am only ScSv since 96 Oct. I study living things, ne time conversion!”
“Friends, please, ne argue. Huih, please sit with Pas. Joleon, I ne require my scientists to know all science.”
My father got very red in his face! Bowed and stayed that way. “I apologize. Should I ask a diplomat to tutor my daughter, then?”
“Please, rise and be comfortable! Joleon, our children study what they like. I wish your people to be free of fear in my colony.”
“She must study hard, if she will be in a career by 16. I only wish what is best for her. A father worries.” He frowned. Our traditions are difficult.
Behind him, Pas hugged Huih, and wiped tear-powder from his face. I felt terrible!
“Do you know that Zheien children prepare for Sigan Mas beginning at 12? But ne all choose difficult occupations such as Diplomatics. Only those who choose to be diplomats or traders go there. Most do ne. Tutors feel a child must be free to choose according to interest. Ea, one going to Sigan Mas must study very hard. What are Aronna’s interests?”Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Papa thought a min, then shook his head. “I never asked. We were always working, and when they put EDs in homes—children are upset, when they want something. Discussion was impossible!”
Derees took Donn with a hug. “Joleon, we no longer have fears as we did! Pas told me not to let Puret trade any more. He said 9 is too young, that he hurt himself. I think we must consider education differently than at home.”
“It will not hurt Aronna to learn math.” He got his resolute look.
“No, but I think our children need time to be children, instead of forcing them to think of careers and be miniature adults!” He pulled Puret against him and the boy smiled and hugged him. “Puret can think of many other careers now besides trading, because all our needs are provided. Look at D’gmiash. He is now Yeff Poet! If he stayed on Elshar Mashai, he would be dead, for slavers nearly had him if not for Adia! Uh, Queen Adia.” He bowed.
I put my hand on his shoulder. “Dear friend, you do not have to bow to me! Scientists do not have to know protocols.”
He smiled and relaxed.
Papa nodded and picked Aronna up. “Things are different. You may wait to begin your studies until we go home. Except for your remote classes in Sigan Mas.”
Ryee startled. “Sigan Mas? My kingdom will cover your expenses! Sa, what do you study there?”
She giggled. “I am learning about mine automation! Vatti bought me a mining sim. I like learning progs for it.”
“Then, would you enjoy learning from Be~saech? I think he has time to teach.” He looked towards a tapestry with men in orange tunics sitting around a table. Be~saech ran to us, saw our clothes, and bowed very low. “Liege, you have need of me?”
“Dear friend, rise. Emperor Ry’nao left!” A wave, and we now wore blue jeans and T-shirts with DS blue jackets. “Do you have time to tutor young Aronna in progs?”
He giggled. “O, ea! Is long since I had a student to tutor! Did you have your dahsee yet?” A wave, and he gave her one on a redviolet platter. Waved up one for each of the children, even Wisper, who hid behind Derees, and several adults. Derees smiled a huge smile, watching his children enjoying them!
Her blue eyes opened very wide! “I thought I must wait until we went home for mine! Thank you!” She took the rare treat. Sighed. “Maybe I will put mine in my alt storage. When it is gone, I will have to wait until my next birthday to taste one.”
“Aronna, our bakers know recipes from Areon now! They can make dahsee. Farmers of Areon brought cows, so they have ingredients for those and many other recipes including ice cream, for everyone in our kingdom!” Ryee giggled at the huge smile on her face. “We brought many with us, for Areon gifted us a supply for our wedding festival.”
“Really? People said ice cream is good, but I never got to go to Kleideu, to taste any.”
“There is an ice cream shop in Virginia Highlands that has many flavors of it, and they will let you taste it.” I thought about Steve’s, that was walking distance from here, in my memories of Earth. But they do not open until 9 am. It is only 4:20 am now.
Papa smiled. “Then, we should go visit it! Anything we buy there will go into the kitchen! People are planning to go to restaurants and get one of each menu item. We can go to this Steve’s!”
Mama smiled. Derees planned to go with them when they get back from Stuttgart. Vonn stood with the group.
I worried that I did not see Ryee’s brother. Or Fa or Mea.
They sleep because Jo needs more sleep than we. So do Eavia, Joean and Hav, until they have enough healing. Ryee’s sigh rumbled on me.
“When we return, they will learn to play Oa Pas with Fa!” I saw them on our commons enjoying this.
Ryee giggled, but lost his smile when he saw himself in Pas’ lap, watching.
“You will play again, and I will work on the Science Council.” I clearly watched as Ryee took the Reign again. We will not have to travel. Our clones can do this for us. My husband trained to be a healer with Pas. But Pas’ clone who sleeps in the room next to us will have to sit by me as I work, to protect my feeble telepathy. I hugged Ryee and tried not to think! The enjoyment of the strength of this Zheien body and my telepathy now will be a difficult loss after my mission is over.
Ryee’s mind led me to think of more pleasant things. Earth was very pleasant except for Ryee’s injury. We are healthy and can enjoy being here.
“I want to see an octopus! Where do they live, Adia?” Her blue eyes opened wide, like a Yeff’s. Father smiled, which surprised me!
I found some like the one I held at 7. “Octopus vulgaris is what they are called. The most common species of octopus. But the one I held was a baby that fit in my palm. They can grow to be 25 cm with arms a meter long! People in Atlanta would say 10 inches and 3 and a third feet.” We opened a holo to watch them. These were off the coast of Tybee Island in Georgia.
Pirad came out of his lab holding a grown one! Aronna saw him and ran across the ship to him. “Oh, he is beautiful!”
“This is a female and she is pregnant. I grew her from an egg just now. Do you want her?”
She looked at Papa. “How will we care for her? How long will she live?”
“Habitats are easy, and I have progs to give her crabs with a puzzle to solve. In the wild on Earth they live only a year and a half, but I can reclone her annually and she will live as long as you.” He clicked his face into a smug expression.
“Can she live in our home on Ye~ in Bremen?”
“She can live anywhere. I wrote a containment to keep her cool and wet.” I looked closer and there was a film of water between her and Pirad. She had her arms around his arm and kept touching his head. He didn’t try to stop her. Her skin was deep green like his, and smooth.
Papa touched her and she grabbed his arm. Came over to him. “Ja, we will keep her! Thank you, Pirad. How much trade should I give you?”
“I have as much trade as I need! When I made clones for you and recloned you, I did not ask for any, and I will not. You may have as many pets as you like.”
We both wanted a cat, but Ryee was not sure if we would have time to give one affection while on this mission. He wanted to have plenty of time for the cat to get used to our home and us. I agreed. But it was tempting to ask for an octopus. I can share Aronna’s. Derees’ boys were fascinated with her! Shy Wisper came to touch her. “Oh, she is cold!”
I wanted to stay and enjoy being with children, but our server alerted us that Greg Wenh Cet was walking to a house in Molly’s neighborhood. They all ported, anyway. We planned to try to meet him, a Ty’nirrhan, and find out what he is doing on Earth. He appears Earthan and teaches chemistry at Georgia State University in Atlanta. But why is he walking? Most people have a car.