Page 53 of Eat My Moon Dust
I grimaced. “I give him clothing. It’s comforting for him.”
“I didn’t know you could do that,” Reha said in awe.
As the playfield came into view, Wade’s team was hard at work. Ngozi and Kokebe, the two grey uids with four red eyes and tusks, were measuring and cutting wood while Wade and Mikaela raised booths and fit them with their festive canvas covers. I turned to Reha and blew out a breath before we were within earshot.
“I’m gonna be straight with you, Reha. Talking about your dad’s coil is a little weird for me, especially since it’s not really real, you know? Besides, the most important things aren’t physical at all. Your dad isamazing.He works so hard and never asks for recognition. He’s important here.Superimportant. Even if I didn’t like him, I’d help, because he deserves someone in his corner.”
Reha squinted at me. “So what you’re saying is youdolike him. And not because he’s making stuff for your festival?”
Damn.I waffled, “I-I mean,pfft, yeah.Who… who… doesn’t?” Reha held her ground and I crumbled, taken off guard. Were all shilpakaari kids this perceptive?! Pom Pom was even more of a lightning bolt. “Yeah, Reha. I really do. But don’t tell him, okay? He likes me right now because it’s instinct, not because he has a choice.”
Reha put her hands on her hips with a saucy toss of her tendrils. “Fine, but you really should tell him. It’s not like his brain disappeared.”
Yeah, it had just moved south of the belt for the winter.
I bit my cheek and nodded. “You’re right. Hey, good talk! Now, what doesBaha Bootmean?”
Reha giggled as we resumed walking.“Bahaput.It means first daughter, like I make all the social calls. What movies we watch, what games we play, that sort of thing. I’m supposed to help my brothers find coils someday too.”
A lightbulb blinked on in my mind. “Oohhhh, sothat’swhy you’re so curious about all of it, because you get to play Cupid!”
“Yeah!” Reha’s smile brightened, and her mane spiraled happily. “Well, one reason. It’s fun to think about anyway.”
The whole construction team glanced up at our laughter, and the rest of the day flew by as we programmed twinkle lights and told holiday stories. I gushed to everyone aboutbirianut flour and probably bored them to tears talking about my experiments with using my first batch of dough for yeast cultures. It wasn’t quite the same as Earth–especially since the bubbles looked like foamy blood and scared the ba-jingles out of me–and I had a suspicion that I’d need to use high altitude techniques.
Wade decided the Christmas tree would go on the deck overlooking the playfield, which elevated it above the booths lined up along the edges. It was a genius move. People would be able to see it regardless of where they were standing. With that in mind, Reha and I looked up, winding twinkle lights in and out of tree branches, programming them to blink in soft, random patterns. When the sun set, they’d look like rainbow fireflies.
It wasn’t a traditional Christmas choice, but maybe it was even better. Just like the wreaths with red tropical leaves and the balconies draped in flags and ribbons, it was a Renata thing.
“There you are,” Hunar called as the afternoon turned towards lavender dusk. Reha and I were adjusting our position and color choices now that evening was descending. Hunar joined us, his coveralls tied around his waist, both sets of arms crossed. Like jumper cables connected to my nerves, I soaked up his presence, adrenaline pumping, heart racing. “I heard a troublemaker ran off to decorate.”
Reha’s tendril tips hooked bashfully and she hugged his waist. I bit my cheek, knowing her apology was about more than decorating, even if Hunar didn’t. “Sorry, Baan.”
Hunar started, then his surprise melted into a grin as he ran his palm over her mane. “Not you, sweetheart.”
I pointed at myself, batted my lashes innocently, and mouthed,Me?
He nodded at the glowing trees and railings, admiring our work. “I see why you like them so much. The lights.”
I put my hands on my hips with pride and beamed up at what Reha and I had accomplished. “I told you they’re pretty cool!”
Hunar’ssentiwrapped around my elbow. I startled, and he whipped it away, clutching the unruly tendril in one fist, concern grooved into his brow. “Sorry–”
“No, no,” I interrupted, holding my hand out. “It’s fine, remember? I just didn’t expect it.”
His jaw ticked, but he nodded, letting hissentigo. It slid across my palm, circling my wrist.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. It’s kinda cute anyway,” I said, tapping the tip with my index finger as it explored the path of my veins.
Reha gasped, jolting us both. “My bag! It’s still at school. Can I go ahead, Baan?”
“Sure. I’ll be home soon.”
I blinked, confused. “Didn’t you say Ladh was going to–”
“Thanks, bye!”
