Becky's Gift

Rilley and Os

 "Os asked me why it scared me for him to sit by me at the piano bench. I thought about this boy at school, that Hawkins boy, how he stared at me and—I just felt naked! There was this girl, Farrah, who said I needed to loosen up and enjoy it, because it means I'm pretty. She helped me sign up on Tinder and he—talked about sitting in the moonlight. Full of poetry and scenes from Disney movies. I couldn't wait to meet him. So he said he'd be at Virtue and they had a live band. I thought, during the day, in a public place—and Farrah went with me. She was older. But she got a mixed drink and an extra tiny glass. When the server wasn't looking—she got that shot of anise liqueur and poured it in my iced tea. I thought it was such a small amount I wouldn't feel it, in a big iced tea.

But I drank it all because I was thirsty and felt stupid and sleepy. He came, and I liked him. Talkative and romantic. We had a nice dinner, and he got Farrah another Irish coffee and an extra shot of anise liqueur. And, she put that in my tea that server kept filling up.

They didn't take me home. I fell asleep.

I woke up, and we were in a house. I looked out the windows, and all I saw was pastures and cows.

He was there, but Farrah wasn't. "Oh, she's with her boyfriend. Wanna pet a cow?"

We went horseback riding, all sorts of frozens I'd never seen before to eat, and all the candy I wanted. But, there wasn't a phone. My backpack wasn't there. He got mad if I mentioned calling anyone. No computer. The TV had internet, but he never left me alone to try to figure that out.

One day he slept late, and I tried, but I didn't know any of my passwords. He came in and beat me up. Put a handcuff on my ankle with a chain soldered to it. I just made my ankle raw trying to break it.

"Os held my ankle and cried. His healer had to come. We didn't sit together on the piano bench after that." She shuddered. "He's—not like that! I was thinking too loud, and Daddy thought he did something."

I hugged her, and she got tense, so I loosened up. That must've been terrifying! Oh, I wanted to hurt that cad!

"Osanor will comfort you, Sa. If you are frightened, he will bring your parents or Ella, or his parents."

She hugged us. "Thanks, Ba! I just need to remember that. I'm with my family."

We went to walk in the festival, but Stacy and my family had to put little ones down for a nap. I tried not to think about—everything!

Tom and I walked with Fa and Mea. But they had to leave because their parents got upset. Their parents are Farley's grandparents, too. Fae was a slave. He startles a lot.

"I should've known that!" I looked down.

Tom's blue eyes turned dark. "Becky, there are many of my family. Nae this—you went to Rahn Estar?"

I shared seeing Rahn Estar and Calladia, and his eyes went colorless blue! "O, you are well for your role as Yea! Perhaps tomorrow, Lan will let me go with you." We watched a scientist explain how they were improving crops.

Lan didn't say much. When Tom yawned, he insisted we go back to the yellow building. I enjoyed holding Tom, but I reached out with my telepathy. Kind of scared some other Elshar would drop dead!

On a bed near us, my family sat with Os' family. Rilley petted Os' brown curls. Both Vera and Christine slept in her lap.

Mama and Daddy had smiles, so I relaxed. A little. Os' parents were sleeping holding him, a lock of his hair in their fingers. He had their hair in his. Brown hair, like his.