Page 36 of Sky Song
Paloma threw her a surprised look over her shoulder, the first sign of emotion. “Okay.”
They sat there in silence underscored by the repetitive techno-pop soundtrack of the game and the battle cries of attacking savages.
“I’m going out in a few,” Paloma said after a long pause.
“Where are you going?”
“Where there are people who don’t care and don’t judge.”
Cricket chuckled. “Sounds like you’re going to Earth.”
Paloma turned around, pausing the game. “Is that so? Are people on Earth truly so accepting?”
“No, of course they aren’t all-accepting. But they’re a whole lot better than people here, that’s a fact. I still can’t believe the aliens in the delegation weren’t allowed to walk aroundwithout a handler. It’s demeaning.” She thought about Lyle. She inevitably thought about Lyle.
“I agree,” Paloma drummed her fingers on the desk, a nervous habit of hers. “I wish I could go to Earth to unwind, but since that’s impossible, I’m going to Atticus.”
Cricket’s ears perked up. “Isn’t it a club?” Terrance had mentioned it once. He said aliens went there.
“Yep. When I want a change of scenery, I go there. I guess it’s like a slice of your Earth, different and free.”
Paloma stood up and went to get Canseso lemonade. Her sweatpants looked particularly baggy and wrinkled today, her thin shoulders drooped, and her already tiny frame appeared diminished. It made Cricket worry about Paloma but didn’t detract her from the revelation that her neighbor knew of, and possibly socialized with, aliens.
“Isn’t Atticus open to alien patrons?” Cricked probed.
“It is.” Paloma winked, temporarily morphing into her old self. “You’d be surprised to know that it’s entirely possible to avoid Shadush authorities and their stupid supervision rules.”
I already know, Cricket thought. “Do you want me to go with you?”
Paloma actually laughed as she shook her shaggy head. “No, Emma. God forbid. You stay home.”
“Aliens aren’t going to shock me,” she reminded Paloma gently.
“Exactly. You’ve done your time with them. You’ve lived your share of mayhem. Enjoy the peace and quiet and stay your course. Atticus isn't exactly trouble free.”
Cricket pursed her lips. Paloma was right, she didn’t need any trouble. Any more alien trouble…
Straight and narrow. Think about mama.
“Well, have fun,” Cricket murmured, seeing Paloma in a bit of a new light.
“I intend to! I wish my family knew the places I frequent. They’d pop a collective aneurysm.”
“I’m sorry you have to hide a part of your life from your family.”
“Doesn't matter anymore,” Paloma waved breezily. “You know, one of the last things Peter said to me was that I should've been born to some working class couple on Earth.”
“Because you’re a free spirit?”
“Because I’m crass and want to do base things that no one else of my stature and breeding ever thinks about. In other words, he’s disappointed.”
From the five minutes in his presence, Cricket had pegged Peter for a pompous little asshole. To Paloma, she said, “It was unkind of him to say so.”
Paloma sighed and sat down next to Cricket. “They finally cut me off.Maman, father, Peter. The whole bunch.”
Cricket said nothing, letting her talk.
Paloma shrugged, spilling some of her lemonade on the carpet. “They don’t understand me. They don’t approve of my lifestyle, of my lack of interests, of the way I dress, the people I’m attracted to - everything.”
