Page 47 of My Monster, My Choice

“I will make sure he’s pretty.”

She grins. “Thanks, Elex.”

Relion is at the building we use to teach, the other recruits straggling in. The day inches by and I’m sure it’s because of my need to see Christina again. Perhaps I should not have left her sleeping. Perhaps I should have woken her for a kiss before I left.

Finally, the others look ready to depart and we make plans to visit the next town over in a couple more days.

Relion looks antsy and says he must leave, though it is still early afternoon. He reminds me that they are invited to Christina’s tonight for the “Sunday dinner” and that he must head out early to help get Telilah ready. I’m not sure if he’s looking for a reason to leave early or if he’s reminding me that I should be present for dinner. As if I would forget any time my skittish mate gives me.

I laugh and let him head out early, reminding him we are not to show up until six, and not telling the fool that his mate is long gone. He thinks he will get home to them but will sit at home by himself until it is time to head to our house. He will wish he stayed with us instead. That is grand payment for him not warning me that his mate waited for me this morning.

When I finish with the males, I walk to the playground where I’m sure Kenny will be. Dori told me earlier she would make sure someone was there with him. Sure enough, he’s taking fencing lessons from Jaire.

“Pappy Elex!” he says, then covers his mouth with his hand. “Oops. Momma tole me notta call you that.”

“I don’t mind,” I say, cuddling him close to me.

He grins up at me. “I wanna you to be.”

“I know, little male. Perhaps one day. But if not, know that I love you.” I tweak his nose appendage. “You are always mine, right in here.” I tap his chest over his heart.

“But I still wanna tell my fwends you’ra my pappy. My fwend, Uween, hasa pappy in heaven, but Sammy don’t. An’ Sammy has a brudder and that’s not fair. I wanna brudder too, like Telilah but a boy. Ima call him Testicle.”

“What was that?” Jaire cuts in, horror in his voice.

I’m not quite sure what I heard, either. Kenny has a hard time pronouncing his words and unfortunately, he talks fast on top of it.

“Testicle.”

It’s clear as a bell.

“That’s what I thought I heard,” Jaire mutters.

“Because Telilah is so coot, and she gonna wanna unkel named Testicle.”

“Why are we naming Elex’s son after his balls?” Jaire asks calmly.

“Ohh!” Kenny covers his mouth as he gives a little giggle. “You said balls.”

“You said testicle.”

“Itsa name! ‘Cuz my brudder gonna have these.” He picks up one of my tentacles and strokes it like one might pet a kitty.

“Tentacle!” Jaire says, completely appalled. “Not testicle!”

Kenny starts laughing as he realizes his error and it’s completely infectious. I join in, and then Jaire does.

I’m trying to explain to Kenny that naming his brother Testicle—or Tentacle, as the case may be—would be the equivalent of calling a child Arm or Leg. But I’m wheezing and wiping my eyes, and Kenny’s little face is red and every time I say Testicle, he bursts out laughing again.

Then Jaire does, and somehow all three of us are laying in the rubber pellets the playground is covered with, staring at the sky and giggling.

Down the tree-covered walkway, I can hear soft footsteps.

“Kenny, what are you doing—oh,” Christina says, taking in Jaire and me.

“Mum! We’s just being guys,” Kenny says, giggles again, and looks between Jaire and me like we have a secret among us.

“Well, it’s Sunday and you have to come shower before our family dinner.”

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