Tybu checked on Mama. She was asleep. He stood there, uncertain of what he should do.
Mama said he was supposed to walk to Starwoman School with Gershi. But Gershi didn’t live in Pod 14 anymore. They got a berth on a ship to the Coder Leesum Settlement. They had saved credits for three years to buy one berth.
But he should go to school. Starwoman Verleen would miss him. Her face was already droopy and sad, what if she got sadder?
Mama always said she just needed lots of rest. The Curprashun paid for their room and food ‘cause of the accident, so Mama could rest.
At least Mama wasn’t blasted. She looked pretty as always. Just sleepy.
Tybu slid his tabbie into the pocket inside his jacket and closed it so nobody bad could swipe it. He grabbed his squashy cup too, and put it in the other pocket. Maybe he could get Govi Nutrigruel instead of plain.
He slid out the door, walked quickly to the glidewalk and hopped on. He sat next to an old lady. Mama said old ladies were the safest. He didn’t know why, not like they could kickpunch a bad guy.
The path went by the green park where school was held on benches. He hopped off and ran into the area with benches, bushes and trees. The school place had lots of seats and a high place where the teacher stood. Her helpers always fixed the little kid’s tabbies so they could give answers on the lesson. You had to listen. Sometimes you circled the answer picture and sometimes you tap-tapped.
There were Big Boys. Sometimes big boys got rough and crazy. Tybu pushed into a leafy bush. He would just hide until Sister Verleen came.
He heard Suki chattering and looked for her. He liked her, she was funny and talked all the time, except when Sister Verleen told her to be quiet and listen.
She was as tall as him, but his hair was like metal rust and hers gleamed like gold. She always wore a purple jacket.
Her dad was so scary. He was all blasted and his face was covered with a black mask he could see through with one eye. He was big and always dressed in black with a thick jacket. Maybe being blasted made him cold, like Mama was always cold and wrapped in the shiny blanket.
Suki skipped along holding his hand. Tybu bet her dad could kickpunch someone to the next landing. She was never scared ‘cause her dad was super scary.
Tybu realized he didn’t need to hide in the bushes. He could go sit with Suki and her dad. Her dad always sat behind the students and watched Suki at her lessons. So he could kickpunch any bad guys.
“Suki!” He shouted, leaping out from the bush. Suki laughed at him.
“Oh, Tybu, you is funny.”
“I big scawy kickpuncher. Heeyaw!” He did an air kickpunch, pleased with how high he kicked.
“Me, too! Grrr!” Suki kickpunched the air too.
“All right you two, go sit in the front row, Sister is here.” Suki’s dad’s voice was low and scratchy. Scary!
“Her name is Sister Verleen, Daddy. She is really, really old!”
The two children went to the front row and sat, little legs swinging.
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