Visiting Grandmas' House

"Where are we going?" asked Jenny.

She trailed Mr. Foo behind her as Amethyst led Jenny through the garden to an old red brick house. The house looked normal. Not at all like a place where gem people lived.

"I told you you're going to your Grandmas' house,"said Amethyst.

Amethyst knocked on the door. Two gems answered. One was tall and green, the other was about Amethyst's size and black. Both had silly haircuts.

"I got a special delivery," said Amethyst.

The purple gem gently pushed Jenny towards the two gems. Once Amethyst was gone, Jenny stared up at the two gems.

"Hello Jenny, we're your grandmothers. Do you remember us?" asked the green one softly.

"No," replied Jenny as she held tightly onto Mr. Foo.

"Well I'm Jet and this is Emerald," said the black one. "You're Mummy's mothers."

"We baked some cookies. Do you want to come inside?" asked Emerald.

They led Jenny past the hallway to a small kitchen. On the walls were pictures of that green gem from the photo album. One of the gem, small and naked, one of the gem crying while wearing a sweater and limb enhancers the limbs were bandaged and another of the gem still in her limb enhancers standing with Jet and Emerald in front of a strange looking city.

Jet noticed Jenny staring at the pictures. "That is your mother Jenny when she was a little girl," said the black gem.

Jenny's attention wavered from the corner of her eye she saw a small green face peeking from behind a chair in the living room. It had big yellow hair like Mummy.

"Is that Mummy there?" gasped Jenny.

"No! Those are your Mummy's sisters. Holly you can come out now,"shouted Emerald.

From the front room came green gems from Jenny's size to big ones wearing limb enhancers. Two had green hair but they all looked like Mummy.

"Come into the kitchen. We've got something for you to eat," called out Jet.

Inside the kitchen was a large wooden table with lots of chairs. Jet and Emerald set Jenny in front of a plate of cookies and milk. While the other gems had glowing blue buns. Jenny nibbled on a cookie as she watched the other gems eat.

"How come their food is glowing?" asked Jenny.

"Jenny what do you know about gems," asked Emerald.

"That they came from outer space," said Jenny.

"We got a lot to talk about," sighed Jet. "Jenny gems aren't like humans. We don't need to eat, sleep or even go to the bathroom. We get our energy from light which is why those buns are glowing. They're concentrated light."

Jenny looked at her cookie, "Can I have one?"

Her two grandmas looked at each other. They gave Jenny a small bun. When Jenny ate it, it was the best thing she ever tasted. She ignored the cookies as Emerald gave her another bun.

"Okay, Holly, Beryl, Clover and Larch take Jenny outside and play with her," asked Jet.

Mummy's sisters took her out back. They showed her how to use her teddy bot, caught some bugs and had a teddy bot dance off. When it got dark they brought Jenny back into the kitchen. There was a plate of human food for Jenny to eat. After that Emerald brought Jenny to the bathroom, changed her into her pajamas and brushed her teeth.

She took Jenny to a small bedroom and tucked her in bed.

"Alright, the next human ritual is story time," said Emerald as she pulled out a book.

"Forget about that. Tell me about Mummy," said Jenny.

"That's a big one," said Emerald. "Okay let's begin. Gems aren't like humans. We have no Mummy or Daddies instead we come out of kindergartens. They're places where gems are made. Jet and I were assigned to teach and take care of your mother..." and so Emerald told the story about how she and Jet raised Peridot to get her ready for Earth and to watch the Cluster a huge weapon deep within the Earth. This went on for awhile until Emerald noticed how quiet the little gem was. Jenny had fallen asleep.

"Tomorrow we'll do some clothes shopping," said Emerald softly.

She kissed Jenny on the forehead and turned off the light. Tomorrow was going to going to be a busy day.

The next morning Jet woke up Jenny.

"Get up sleepyhead we've got a big day planned," announced Jet.

"What are we doing?" asked Jenny.

"We're going clothes shopping."

Jenny frowned clothes shopping was boring, she never got to wear the clothes she liked and Daddy made her wear these stupid dresses. They were absolutely no good for playing. Grumbling Jenny let Jet dress her and give her breakfast.

"Don't be a grumpy pants. This will be fun," scolded Jet.

A cab came to the front and Jenny, and her two grandmas got in. Still driving Jenny crossed her arms and frowned. They went into town where they stopped at a kids' clothing store. Emerald picked Jenny up.

"We have to get you set of clothes and the rest you can choose for yourself okay Jenny?" said Emerald.

Jet went off to the school uniform section while Emerald took Jenny into the change room. A few minutes later Jet came in with a pinafore that said 'Geode Learning Center' on the shoulder. Jenny gasped. Does that mean she would be going to the Geode Learning Center? That school looked fun but there was still one problem.

"I don't like wearing dresses. The boys like to flip up my skirt and you can't do anything in them," said Jenny.

Jet and Emerald did not seen angry, "Pants and a shirt it is," said Jet cheerily.

Once they had found a pair of pants and a shirt that fit her, it was now Jenny's turn. She raced out of the change room straight to a pair of pajamas she liked. It was shaped like a frog but was green, Jenny's favorite color. Then Jenny saw a T shirt with a big face on it like Mr. Foo. There were also green pants and a summer dress with alien faces. She scooped up the clothes and rushed up to Emerald and Jet.

"We've got to get you a jacket. Then you can wear one of your outfits out," said Emerald.

A few minutes later Jenny ran out of the shop wearing the summer dress. Then it was off to Grandpa's shop for ice cream. Once they were there Jenny raced up to the counter.

"Grandpa, Grandpa I missed you! Can I have a chocolate malt cone?" shouted Jenny.

"Hey Princess, how are you doing?" cried Grandpa as he scooped Jenny up.

"Great, Grandma and Grandma got me some new clothes and guess what? I'm going to a new school.."

Greg listened as Jenny babbled about her adventures. When she was done he set her down on a stool. As he was making Jenny's cone he spoke to her grandmothers.

"I see you dressed Jenny up like Peridot," said Greg casually.

"Jenny picked out the dress herself," said Emerald pleasantly.

"I thought we were going to take things slow. Steven isn't going to like this,"said Greg with a smile on his face. He handed Jenny her cone.

"I think it's time we focus on Jenny don't you," smiled Jet.

Jenny started licking her cone. Her eyes were wide as saucers.

"Let's just enjoy our ice cream. We haven't seen our granddaughter in such a long time,"added Emerald.

"Come along Jenny. Tomorrow is a school day," said Jet.

With that they pulled Jenny out to the beach where they collected seashells. When it got dark they took Jenny back home and made her dinner, human food this time. After that it was time for bed. Jet this time told a story about how they prepared her mother to live on Earth by training her to fight bears.

"That seems rather silly. Why'd you do that?" asked Jenny.

"We had no idea of what the Earth would be like. We didn't know that there were still any people here,"said Jet as she pulled up the covers.

"What would have happened to Mommy if she completed her mission?" asked Jenny sleepily.

"That is for another evening. Good night Jenny," said Jet as she kissed Jenny's forehead.

The next morning, Jet and Emerald woke Jenny up. They put on her new uniform and gave her a breakfast of pancakes. Then Jet turned into a car and they drove off to school.

"What's Geode Learning Center like?" asked Jenny.

"You'll see," smiled Emerald.

They stopped just by the front yard. Jenny could see all the kids playing. Like Daddy said there were alien kids with green skin like Mummy but there were also human kids including some boys. With a gentle nudge Jenny ran towards the kids. She played on some monkey bars with some other kids until the school bell rang. Then Jet and Emerald took her by the hand and led her to an office.

Inside the office a one eyed lady smiled down at her, "Welcome Jenny. I'm Nephrite the headmistress. We've been expecting you."

"You have?" asked Jenny.

"Ever since you were born. I knew both your Mummy and Daddy," said the one eyed lady. "Jet, Emerald did you fill out the forms?"

"As best we could," replied Emerald. She handed Nephrite some forms covered in strange squiggles.

"Excellent, Jet can you please take Jenny to her reading lessons?"

"But I already know how to read," protested Jenny as Jet led her away.

"Only in English. You're going to learn Gem speak," said Jet.

The black gem led Jenny into a small classroom with kids her age both human and gem were sitting. In front stood another one eyed lady. She smiled at Jenny.

"Alright class I'd like to say hello to Jenny Universe," said the teacher.

"Hello Jenny," called out the class.

The next few days were great. School was wonderful. Jenny was learning loads of stuff. From reading and writing Gem speak, science and math to learning how to control gem tech. Jenny even learned how to control her teddy bot better and even had special classes where she flew these strange pods. She made lots of friends too. When school was over she would play in the garden with Jet and Emerald's other children and then eat nice gem food before going to bed. Jenny should have been happy.

The next Monday Jenny had to be literally dragged out of bed. She refused to eat breakfast and only dressed when Jet threatened to send her to school in her pajamas. Throughout reading lessons Jenny was inattentive and crabby. At lunchtime she sat still, not eating the lunch Emerald had prepared. Then Jenny had a temper tantrum at art group.

The teacher had given everybody paint and asked them to paint their house. Jenny stared at the blank paper while around her her classmates worked on their paintings. All around her were pictures of smiling faces, children with their mummies and daddies.

"This class is stupid. I don't want to do this anymore," shouted Jenny as she spilled some paint all over the desk.

The other kids cried out as their paintings were ruined. Jenny knocked over some more paints.

"Jenny stop this. Do you want me to call your grandmothers?" said the teacher a human woman this time.

"No I don't. I want my Daddy. I want my Daddy!" Jenny screamed and fell to the ground kicking and screaming.

The next thing Jenny knew she was led away to the nurse's office. They made her lie on a bed and turned off the lights. A little while later her grandmothers came in. They looked disappointed.

"Come on Jenny let's go home," said Jet softly.

They said nothing as they drove to their house. Once inside they sat Jenny down.

"Jenny we're very disappointed in you. We know you miss your Daddy but you can't act like that," said Emerald.

"I don't care. I miss Daddy," said Jenny.

"Jenny don't be like that. Your Daddy has only been gone for a little while," scolded Jet.

"No it hasn't. It's been over a week. I'm tired of eating weird food. I'm tired of being in this weird house. I want to go home," shouted Jenny.

"Jenny go to your room. We'll talk about this later," said Jet.

Jenny ran up the stairs and into her room. She ignored the teddy bots and plunked herself into bed. It got dark. Jet knocked on the door and told her it was dinner time. Jenny just stayed in bed. The next thing Jenny knew it was morning. Emerald told her it was time to get up.

"My stomach hurts," cried Jenny.

Emerald felt her forehead, "Your body temperature is 1.8 degrees Celsius above normal. Stay in bed I'll bring your breakfast up."

Breakfast was some toast and jam with some hot tea. Jenny didn't taste it. Over the next few hours Jenny slept on and off. She could hear her Grandmas talking with someone.

"-made a mistake.- too much change – don't care need him now."

Then some doctors both human and a blue gem came to see her. They checked her temperature and looked at her tongue and gem. Then it was lunch time. Jenny got some chicken soup. She slept the rest of the day.

The next morning, Emerald opened the blinds. "Okay time to get up sleepyhead."

"I don't want to go to school," said Jenny.

"You're not going to school today. Now get up. Your Daddy is picking you up," ordered Emerald.

The green gem gave Jenny a bath and dressed her in her old clothes. They had muffins and orange juice for breakfast. Then the doorbell rang. Jenny raced to open it. A tall hairy figure stood at the door.

"Daddy!" cried Jenny as she hugged her father's legs.

"Hey Jenny, were you good for your Grandmas?"asked Steven.

"No,"answered Jenny truthfully.

"Out of the mouths of babes," said Jet. "Jenny would you get your suitcases please?"

Jenny raced up to her room. She picked up her suitcase that Emerald had set out. Then she ordered her teddy bots follow her. Carrying Mr. Foo she went back down. Her Daddy seemed to frown but his face brightened up.

"Hey, let's go into the car with Grandpa," said Daddy cheerily.

Inside the car Grandpa was driving. Daddy strapped her into the child seat and sat next to Grandpa. As Grandpa was driving Jenny could see that this was not the direction to the farm.

"Daddy, Grandpa where are we going?" asked Jenny.

Daddy turned around, "Jenny we're not going to the farm. You see I was so wrapped being sad I forgot about what you needed. You had nobody to play with and you hated your school. Grandpa and I talked about it and we decided to sell the farm. Jenny, you and me are going to live with Grandpa for a while."

They drove right back to Grandpa's shop. He led them both back behind the shop and up a set of stairs to where his apartment was. Inside there were pictures of a big pink lady, Daddy as a boy and most importantly a picture of a green lady with blonde hair. She had a big belly.

"Jenny that is your Mummy when she was pregnant with you," said Grandpa.

Jenny stared at the picture for awhile. Steven led Jenny to a small room. It had some of her toys from home. Steven set the suitcase down.

"Welcome home Jenny."