I am lagging behind today with the updates! I'm sorry!
Chapter Twelve
"Alright, your order will be delivered to you in an hour. Thank you for your purchases." The friendly Outerrian man said.
"No thank you, I wouldn't have been able to find anything if it weren't for you." I said with a big smile.
He chuckled, "Well, that's my job. I hope to see you again."
I waved bye as I left the building supply store. I had successfully ordered everything I needed to build my house. And, everything I ordered would be delivered today, in an hour. Can't get better service than that.
I decided to walk all the way home instead of taking the transit. I wanted to explore more of my new home. I knew there was a short cut through the forest according to the map on my new Outerrian wrist-watch. I knew it was a little bit of a risk, but, my wrist-watch hadn't failed me yet.
The path was clear, I passed a few Outerrians and humans as I made my way back to my home. I let myself stroll, wanting to take my time and enjoy the clean fresh air.
It was nothing like it was on earth. The air back there was polluted and was hard to breathe. My lungs filled with the clean air as I took unnecessary breaths.
"Bella! Bella! Bella!" A small voice behind me caught my attention. Little Jacob was running towards me, a burlap looking sack in his arms.
He jumped into my arms making me sway, he was small but very sturdy; I noticed that all Outerrian children were bigger than the earth children back home.
"Good morning Jacob," I said, "What are you doing out here?"
"I ran to the store for my mama to get bubulae meat for dinner tonight. She's making bubulae prandium. It's my favorite." He grabbed my hand and started walking with my down the path, his tail swaying back and forth behind him.
"That sounds delicious," I said.
"Do you want to come over for dinner?" He asked.
"Oh, I wish I could but, I'm going to start building my house tonight! All my stuff is being delivered in an hour." I said.
"Wow that's cool! I've never built a house before. My dad is building a new part to our house for my baby sister."
"Your mom's pregnant? Very cool. Are you excited?" I asked.
"Very much! She's having a girl, I know it." He smiled.
"Oh, are you excited to be a big brother?" I asked.
"Mm hmm," he nodded, "I'm going to be a good big brother!"
"I'm sure you will be."
"Are you going to have any kids?" He asked.
I blushed, "Uh, I'm not sure."
"Did you have any kids back on Earth?" He asked.
"No, I was more focused on my career."
"What is your career?"
"I'm a nurse."
He visibly shuddered, "Ooo, I don't like the doctor or the nurses. They give out those poky things that hurt."
"Aw, well, you know, those poky things are very important. They keep you healthy. Help you get big and strong."
"I am gonna be big and strong have you seen my daddy?" He said.
I couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, your father is quite a big man."
As we walked down the path, a rather large dog looking creature scurried out into the path. Jacob gasped and reared back his sack.
"Back! Back!" He hissed as the creature crept closer.
I stomped my foot towards it, feeling terrified on the inside but was somehow cool on the outside. I jerked Jacob behind me and yelled at the thing.
"It's an unowned draconum, they'll steal my food!" Jacob yelled as he held the sack tightly in his arms.
I looked around for something the swing at the draconum. The thing was big, almost as tall as I was standing on its four legs. I didn't know if it would attack.
I grabbed a fallen branch and started swinging it, successfully hitting the draconum. It yelped and ran back off into the trees.
Jacob was still clutching my legs, his tail and arms wrapped around me like snakes.
"It's okay Jacob. It's gone." I said.
"Phew, that was a big one," He sighed, "Thank you for making it go away. My momma only gave me enough money for one bubulae. She'd be sad if I came back without one."
"Why is that thing running around? Will they attack?" I asked.
"No, they won't attack people, but if you have food, they'll snatch it. They're quick."
"Are there a lot of them?" I asked.
"Sometimes, but, most of the time, they're like pets. But, they're smaller. Wild ones are a lot bigger."
"Huh, well, thank you for the heads up about them. I'll be sure not to take this path when I have food."
We arrived at our tiny neighborhood. Jacob's mother was outside gardening. She smiled when I walked him to their front fence.
"Jacob, I hope you weren't bothering Bella." She said.
"No, he's fine. We ran into each other on the path." I said.
"She saved me from a draconum momma." He smiled as he handed her the sack.
"Didn't you have your strepitus?" She asked.
Jacob bashfully shook his head, "Sorry, momma I forget it."
She waggled her finger, "Young man," she scolded with a sigh, "Bella, would you like to come for dinner?"
"Oh, I'd love too but I need to start building my house. I start work in a week." I said.
"Aw, okay, well maybe next time. If you need any help, Sam will be home in a few hours."
"Thank you, if you hear loud cursing or stones banging, then send him on over." I joked.
She chuckled and waved as she and Jacob walked into the house. I walked back to my land and found all my building material had been delivered.
I sighed in both relief and fear; time to get cracking.
When I was on the ship, I took several classes that taught building skills. So, I kind of knew what I was doing.
I successfully laid the foundation down, the lapis was the flooring. It was organic based and kept the floors warm in the colder months and cooler in the hotter months. It was a little extra, but I decided to spend the extra. I wanted a nice home.
When I tried to pick up the lapis, I fell onto it. Dang, this stuff was heavy. I tried again, and fell again. How was I supposed to spread this stuff?
"Would you like help?" Someone asked, I jumped in surprise. It wasn't Sam.
A male Outerrian was standing some feet away watching me struggle. I blushed, wondering how long he had been standing there.
"I'm sorry, did I frighten you?" He asked.
"Oh no, I'm just a little embarrassed." I chuckled awkwardly.
He smiled, "I'm your neighbor, Edward. I live right over there."
"I've been wondering who lived there. I'm Bella, I will hopefully soon be living in this house I'm attempting building." I laughed.
"Well, let me help you. Pura Lapis is very heavy." He reached down and grabbed the bag, then started pouring it into the foundation I had made.
"Thank you so much." I said.
"I've been wanting to come over and introduce myself, but I didn't want to burden you." He said as he tossed the bag aside.
"No burden, I've just been preparing to build my home."
"Let me help you. I've been rude not introducing myself sooner." He said.
"Oh no, you don't have to."
"Please allow me to help. It's the neighborly thing to do," He said as he grabbed some more material, "Do you have a layout?"
"Oh yeah," I retrieved my blueprints, "Here they are. I wanted to go for a kind of Cubiculum duorum cenaculo deorsum style. But, I'm starting to think it's a bad idea."
"Oh no, it's not hard. And, you can just call it a two-bedroom loft. I have a one-bedroom loft." He said.
"On the ship we were taught the Outerrian formal words. So, I'm not really sure what the proper words are," I said, "Now that I think about it, I've probably been using more formal words than necessary."
"Aw, don't worry about it. I've noticed a lot of the humans are using formal word versions. It's a learning curve." He said.
"There's a lot to learn. But, you guys learned a lot as well."
"Eh, not as much as you humans did. I was raised with both English and Outerrian. And I was raised with Earth names. As in, my name is Edward." He chuckled.
"An Outerrian told me about the earth names. I had been confused at first, wondering why an alien planet spoke our language and everyone had an earth name." I said as we patted out the lapis.
When the sun began to set we had gotten the entire bottom floor done. We were both sweaty and satisfied for the work done. All that was left was the upper level and putting in different appliances.
I was happy that Edward had come to help. I had no idea what I was doing.
"So, tomorrow I can come back and help." He said.
"You don't have too. You've been such a great help today," I said, "Let me fix you dinner. I have some pollum noodles."
He made a face, "How about dinner at my home? I've been slow cooking a bubulae."
"What's wrong with pollum noodles? I actually find them quite tasty."
"Well, pollum noodles are food used to fatten up small underdeveloped children. It's a very fattening food."
I placed my hands on my stomach, "Oh. No one told me that."
He laughed loudly, "It's alright. I'm fixing bubulae, it should be done by now. Why don't you come over and eat some good, healthy food?"
"Sounds good. I'm going to go shower first. I stink." I chuckled.
He nodded, "I shall do the same."
I walked into the rursus. Making a quick stop and throwing away my several makings of pollum noodles, then walking into the shower.
I liked Edward; of course, I have liked every Outerrian I've met so far, they were all nice. But I did really like him. It was nice of him to help me practically build my entire house.
Once I was showered and changed I walked over to Edward's home. He had the door opened for me.
"Good timing," he said from in the kitchen, "I just pulled the bubulae out."
I sat at the table as he placed the food on plates then handed me one.
"Thank you." I smiled.
He sat across from me, "I hope you don't mind me asking but what profession are you in?"
"I'm a nurse," I smiled as I took a bite of food.
"Really? I'm a doctor in Islo." He said.
"What a coincidence, I start my new job in a week."
"That's when my new nurse starts. I've been trying to find out some things about her, but, her profile is confidential. I wanted to get her a welcome basket of some sort."
"You know what's a good gift for nurses, medical supplies. A big basket full of new medical supplies. I know that's what I would love." I said.
"Huh, that's not a bad idea," he said, "seems like I've got my welcome basket planned."
"A nurse knows what a nurse wants," I laughed, "To be honest, I'm a little worried about starting the new job. I've trained but, it's very different then actually being in the middle of a job."
"Well, I hope you get a really nice doctor who'll show you the ropes." He said.
"That's what I'm counting on." I said with a big smile.