I wrote progs, I slept, Farley ate when I ate, and I was a lot hungrier than ever! “Did I eat four pastries? I need to cut back—”
Pas laughed. “Ella, progs compensate. You need extra food, because your mind works very hard. I encouraged Farley to eat more, and he is much more well now.”
I watched my handsome husband. His blond curls had more life in ‘em, and he sat without support from his leiwege. That yellow skin nearly glowed. Over these past two—weeks? Like I’d been so busy I didn’t notice the date on my progs?
I guess that’s like truck drivers have to eat more ‘cause driving burns 500 calories an hour. But if they eat a lot of snacks, they still get fat.
Farley startled and I got ready to hug him, but he didn’t look upset. A happy expression just kind of seemed to glow on his face, and I smiled. “Love, Earth passed the Alliance Treaty! Next Monday, he considers a Unified vote. Our clones are very happy! They convinced Dr. Apfelbaum’s family to come here and work with us. Finally, his brother agreed to bring his family, and his will come. Many of his wife’s families and his relatives plan to leave tonight with them. They will come on Pol’s ship, a diplomat of Kin Para.”
There was quite a list of Earthans, and several people from Midtown High that I barely knew, and some in my classes at GSU. But no one close. I wished I hadn’t been such a loner while I was there. Kind of depressing, but I’d invite a friend to my house and they never came back. My dysfunctional family made me feel like maybe a leper felt back when there was no cure.
Karl got excited because some of his friends were coming, but not here. He talked about porting over to MarKu a lot, and to Ye~. Mostly, it was Jason and Steven and Brian and their ball games. A lot of kids their ages played, Earthan and Zheien. MarKu’s Earthan Colony had 400 people already, in 5 cities! Ours had us, Bedelia’s family, she married Jos Keil. Becky’s family, the girl who married 1st Prince Antomias, and Elsie, she married Nespa and I missed that. And a lady named Stacy had a big family with kids, and another lady named Yelena, who married Nathanhai. But, all of them were only 21 people.
There are long lists of people with plans to go to each of the other—35 worlds, now? But none waiting on Elshar Zheiea. I waved up a map of the Earth Elshar Zheiea colony. There are a few Elshars that married Earthans who live there, including Berto. But the other 4 worlds of Rahn Estar had about 20 or less people. Elshar Zheiea, the rest of it, has maybe a hundred.
But there was another list that was foster kids adopted by Elshar Zheien. Now that Earth signed the Alliance Treaty, they are bringing 5000 of the 110,000 foster kids here to Elshar Zheiea! “Elsie! Did you see this?”
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Elsie ran over and her husband kept her from falling as she stumbled to me. “What? Foster kids? Oh, I would’ve loved for a Zheien family to adopt me!” She cried.
Nespa pulled with his mind and a huge crowd came running. “See my family, dear wife, they are yours!” One of them gasped.
“Sylvia, you came to us? But I thought the ship nae arrived yet!” A lady hugged her.
Nespa laughed. “She is nae Sylvia, but Elsie, Sae Esian.”
“But, she looks—” A holo came up of her twin!
Records showed that she was a twin, an identical twin, but her sister was born intellectually disabled. She looks fine, the same brown eyes, skin, and hair in neat braids with beads. But she was raised in foster care, too. Slowly looked up. “Sylvie. That’s me!” She giggled.
“Honey, this isn’t a holo like you check your hair in. I’m Elsie, and I’m your twin sister!”
“Elsie. Hi!” She smiled really big, and her uneven teeth had a huge overbite.
A lady frowned. “Well, that’s nice that you gotta sister, but it’s time to port to the ship. I have all your things packed.” A matronly Black lady took her hand.
Farley noticed that frown. “Are you sad that Sylvia leaves you?”
She took a few secs to answer. “Well, I’ll miss her, but I don’t know what I’ll do without work. All the foster care kids are leavin’ an I didn’t qualify to be a temp home, ‘cause my residence isn’t what they require.” She sighed, and pulled at a black curl. A hair clip fell on the floor and she left it there.
“Could you come with her?”
“They said the contract was for kids, not foster parents. They said none of us could go with ‘em.”
“This is nae correct! Anyone can come to any world of their choice, to an Earthan colony. All needs are provided, housing, health care, familiar foods—”
“I didn’t meet their requirements, for an Earthan colony. They said I had to have skills I don’t got.”
“Lady, our Earthan colonies are in Alb, and there are nae requirements! I send a diplomat to you. You may come with Sylvia and continue to care for her, if you like. Her family will welcome you. They are Merinine and Esian, and they live in Esta Faho.”
“I can keep Missy! Oh, I want to keep Missy!” Sylvia jumped up and down while trying to hug her, and a diplomat rushed into the room where they were. Many other kids on Sylvia’s level got excited and so did their caregivers! A few were with individual kids but some had groups in a big room with toys and other holos. Some were little, and some looked grown like Sylvia. That lady just looked skeptical. The diplomat got that stare with Farley and the connection closed.
Elsie got upset. “Can’t they keep the connection open? I just met my sister I didn’t even know I had—”