Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Kenzie let out a soft sigh. “They had one really bad field trip and no one left ever again.”
“How hard was it for them to send your party through the gate?” The deputy’s serious expression gave me the impression he understood the depth of sorry people could feel.
“On that side of the portal we keep our emotions private, but when the idea was put forth the entire room went silent.” Several leaders had just stood and walked out. “No one wanted to be the first to approve the idea even though it had to be done.”
We had to know what had happened.
“You’re very brave.” Kenzie took his Daddy’s hand and held it tight. “I’m glad you get to go back and tell them we’re all happy. Our ancestors were young, yes, but all the family stories and diaries talk about building their new life and falling in love. They made good lives. I promise. Some were even silly and naughty.”
“That will bring comfort to your families that are waiting on the other side.” Something I said made Kenzie blink and he leaned closer to his Daddy.
I wasn’t sure if I could ask what he was thinking, so I waited as Wren snuggled closer to me and whispered through the bond.
“I’ve had more time to process all this and think about it. They haven’t.”
“What do you think they’ll…what will they think of us? We’re very different.” Kenzie paused, looking at his Daddy who picked up the rest of their thoughts.
“The children and adults here formed a happy, loving society but one that seems to be very different than the one they might’ve grown up in. We have relationships and lifestyles they’ve never heard of, and your people here are much freer with their emotions.” The deputy chuckled as Kenzie nodded at the understatement.
“Some of that we can keep private because it’s not always anyone else’s business no matter how free we are here. But how will they deal with what they figure out and how different you guys are?” The deputy asked what Wren had deemed good questions, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about private versus pretending to be someone different.
“I know that a lot of my people won’t understand how free you are with your emotions or the other relationships that make you happy.” I was becoming very good at using understatements as well. “But they will be excited to meet you and will be amazed at seeing how our people thrived here.”
For most, that would keep them distracted for a very long time. “That is the part we will focus on, but we will have time to figure it out because anyone introduced to you will need to be given the English language.”
Our people on Earth did speak a variety of languages, but they used English as a common one between the groups.
Three heads cocked, but before I could question Wren, Kenzie spoke up again. “Um, Wren gave you all the naughty fun bits of English as well as the practical stuff. How does that spell work? My mother gave me very strict instructions not to let anyone act like the diner men around kids.”
Oh.
Wren gave me the image of myself, head cocked in their thinking pose.
“You’re cute when we confuse you, Daddy.”
His giggles chased the seriousness hanging over me away.
“I must be cute all the time then, my mate.”
“I haven’t spent much time around children.” Even when I was one. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
The more I did, however, the more I realized many of the topics discussed in the diner would anger my mother as well.
“Moms are smart…we should probably have one come hang out on the council tomorrow to point out anything else stupid we’re doing.” Kenzie’s sigh had his Daddy trying not to laugh. “We’ve got lots of polite ladies and scary ones…but not enough who’re the chase you around with a spoon type of ladies.”
That image translated across cultures even with the emotional differences in our people.
Shrugging, Kenzie wrapped one of his Daddy’s arms around him like a blanket. “My father says they’re important to society or else we’d do stupid shit and kill ourselves off.”
As a species…maybe not…with the locals…yes, I could see how women who kept society in order were important.
“We will keep that in mind, but for the time being we must find a way to transfer an edited version of the English language to new speakers.” That was not where my magic was strongest, so I had no idea where to begin. “Anything diner man related must be removed, correct?”
The deputy groaned. “God. Yes, anything from them has to be censored.”
“They thought my mochi was naughty.” Kenzie huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “My mother says they need child locks on their computers if they keep being naughty in public.”