Lovana: the lost planet ch 2
Chapter 2: surprise.
The next morning Sarah awoke to Ben chatting and thumping away in the kitchen. She quickly washed and dressed and went out to see the girl passing eggs to Ben.
"The best way to make eclipses is to keep the pan just hot enough." Ben said as he expertly fried the eggs. The girl looked over as she heard Sarah come in. She was wearing some of Jim's old clothes. The girl looked at her in worry but Sarah only smiled reassuringly at her.
"Morning Mrs. Hawkins!" Ben called over, "me and Girly were just making breakfast, your's is on the counter."
"Girly?" Sarah asked as she sat down and ate her breakfast.
"Yeah, it's the only name I could think to call her." Ben said. The girl shrugged and continued helping around the kitchen, getting ingredients for Ben when he asked, juicing purps, and cleaning dishes. Sarah noticed that the girl barely limped when she walked and even moved with an almost dancer like grace.
"You're looking better." Sarah commented. Girly nodded and smiled as she worked.
She was about to ask Girly where she was from when the first guests came downstairs. Sarah grabbed a notepad and hopped into hostess mode. She was so busy rushing back and forth from guest to guest that she almost didn't notice Girly helping her. She only noticed when she was reaching for a plate but was intercepted by Girly, who grabbed it instead. Sarah was about to protest when she saw Girly give it to the guest, a big smile on her face. The guest thanked her and tucked into his meal. She came back, looking at Sarah with a smile that said, "here, I'll help you." Sarah returned it with her own smile and together they worked the day away. By evening they were all exhausted but smiling. Girly helped with clean up before all three sat down to a late evening meal. By the end of the meal, Girly excused herself by miming being asleep then waving good night and went off to bed.
This became the norm for nearly two weeks. Girly would help in the inn in exchange for food and a place to sleep. The usual customers quickly got use to her helping and would compliment Sarah on her excellent new help. Even Ms Dunwoody liked her, and Ms Dunwoody didn't like anyone. Sarah herself found the extra help to be a blessing since it was the end of tourist season, and the Benbow's busiest time of year. Girly had a way to help everyone with everything. If someone had a question she would trade Sarah or Ben tasks so they could answer the question. In this way they figured a system that seemed to work.
After a particularly busy day, Sarah was about to go to bed when a knock came at the back door. Sarah looked through the peephole and then quickly yanked the door open.
"Jim!" She exclaimed, pulling her now 19 year old boy into a hug.
"Hi mom!" Jim chuckled, returning the embrace, he'd grown a good few inches taller than her by now too.
"Jimmy!" Ben called and ran over.
"Ben." Jim said as the two exchanged a brotherly hug.
"What are you doing home so soon?" Sarah asked as she lead her son into the kitchen.
"I caught the early ship and made it in record time." Jim explained.
He had been gone to the Interstellar Academy for his fourth and final year of study. Sarah had been at the graduation, along with the Doppler family, but Jim hadn't come home because of a few last minute short term job offers working as a crew member on a merchant ship. Now he was back, and tired.
"I'm so tired, we'll have to talk more in the morning." Jim said. Sarah nodded distractedly as Morph circled around her head, licking her chin and cheeks, so Jim headed to his room.
He smiled at the few pictures that were hung up in the hall. Most everything from his childhood had been destroyed in the fire caused by Silver and his band of cut-throat pirates.
Shaking off the memories, Jim entered his room and stopped dead in his tracks. There was a person in his bed, Jim could only stare. Her brown hair hung over her face, shielding most of it from view. Her chest rose and fell in a rhythmic pattern, suggesting deep sleep. Jim finally shook himself from his statue like state when the door swung shut behind him. The girl awoke and startled up right. She looked at Jim with wide fearful eyes before letting out a ear-splitting scream. Jim screamed back, too surprised to do anything else. Instantly Sarah, Ben, and Morph came barreling in through the door.
"What's wrong?!" Sarah asked/shouted. The girl scrambled out of the bed and hid behind Sarah and Ben. Jim only watched in confusion.
"Who is she? And why is she in my room?" Was all he could think to ask.
"Oh Jim, I forgot to mention Girly was staying in your room." Sarah said, then turning to the girl, "Girly, this is my son, Jim."
Girly looked out from behind Sarah at Jim. She blinked curiously at him before coming out of hiding. She shyly offered her hand as a way of greeting. Jim shook it and then turned his gaze to his mom, a million questions playing in his blue eyes.
"Come on. I think we should at least have some tea while we talk." Sarah said and ushered the lot into the kitchen. Ben made tea as they all settled around a table.
"So how did you happen to meet her?" Jim asked once the tea was served.
"I found her on the back step!" Ben said proudly.
"Yes, Ben found her a few weeks ago on the back step. She was soaked from the rain and covered in mud. We brought her in and had the doctor look her over. A few days later she ended up helping in the inn, and well… it's been that way ever since." Sarah explained. They talked a little longer before Jim turned to Girly.
"Where are you from… Girly, was it?" Jim asked Girly. She had been busy playing with Morph during the explanation. The little shapeshifter was mimicking her face and facial expressions. Now she looked up at Jim in surprise, and so did Morph. Jim waited patiently for a response, but all she did was nervously twist her hair around her fingers, Morph still copying her.
"She can't talk." Ben said for her.
"Could've fooled me with that scream, my ears are still ringing." Jim said. Girly looked down at her hands, an obvious sign of embarrassment and guilt, Morph turned back into his pink blob self and nuzzled her hand until Girly pet him. Sarah placed a consoling hand on Girly's shoulder before speaking to Jim.
"She'll speak in her own time." Sarah said even though curiosity burned in her about Girly's origins. Girly smiled gratefully, then stifled a yawn.
"Girly's right, it's late and we should get to sleep." Sarah said. Jim nodded in agreement as he too yawned.
"I'll clean up, you all get to bed." Ben said as he cleared the mugs of tea.
"Thanks Ben." Sarah said.
"So what are we going to do about sleeping arrangements?" Jim asked as they entered the hall. Girly pointed at Jim then at his room, then she pointed to herself and Sarah and pointed to Sarah's room. Sarah didn't quite grasp the gestures, so Girly grabbed a few extra blankets and placed them on the floor at the foot of Sarah's bed.
"Oh, I'm sure I can find a better spot for you than the floor." Sarah said. But Girly was already asleep on her makeshift bed.
"That was fast." Jim said.
"Mmhm. You know, when the doctor looked her over he thought she might be an escaped slave. But I think the poor dear was kidnapped or something." Sarah said.
"How'd you figure that?" Jim asked.
"Her hands are soft, I once met a freed slave and their hands were rough. Of course your and my hands are rough too, but that's what you get from being hard workers. She knows her way around a kitchen but was quite clumsy making some of the dishes," Sarah said, "so I think she may be the daughter of a rich merchant or something. You know how they only do something on their own if they think it's useful to learn or fun."
"Oh, that makes sense. I've got one more question." Jim said, "why do you call her Girly?"
"Ben came up with it. I guess it's better than just calling her girl." Sarah said.
"I should've known." Jim smiled, then he gave his mom a hug, "good night."
"Good night Jim." Sarah returned the hug before they headed off to bed.
Girly awoke in the middle of the night, her heart racing and sweat drenched her face. She looked around the room and relaxed. No invaders, just Sarah asleep in her bed. Girly stood up and walked to the bathroom. She splashed a little water on her face then looked in the mirror. Her sea green eyes looked back at her. Her mom had always said her eyes looked like the great seas of their home world. She missed that: the green seas, the grand buildings, the giant trees, her mother, especially her mother. She sighed and put her head in her hands. She needed to get back home, she'd been gone for too long.
"Here is nice, but home is home. Maybe I should tell them." She thought to herself, "but I don't want to put them in danger."
"Girly?" A voice came from the door. She turned and Jim was there. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear to hide her embarrassment. She quickly exited the bathroom. Jim touched her shoulder as she walked past.
"Are you alright?" He asked, true concern shown in his eyes. She nodded and smiled in attempted reassurance. She could tell he didn't buy it.
"Ok, good night then." He said, then closed the bathroom door. Girly returned to her bed and laid there for hours, wanting sleep to come, but it was long in coming.