Chapter VIII: Family & Friends

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Cafe

After Jerick and I talked, we left the house and headed towards the Cafe where Marko, Nora, and our daughter awaited our arrival.

"Jerick, are you sure you should be walking around so much? You've been unconscious for over five years." States Nora.

"I know it's not a wise idea, but if I don't it'll only get worse." Replies Jerick.

With a wide smile, Marko says "Nonetheless, it's good to see you up and about. We were all concerned, even the little one."

"I'm sorry to have worried everyone for so long." Replies Jerick.

"Don't fret over it. If you're wondering where she is, she's in the employee lounge doing her schoolwork." States Nora.

"She's homeschooled?" Asks Jerick.

'It was a requirement from the new government. She is the first publicly known hybrid amongst our kinds, so for her safety, as well as everyone else's." Replies Marko.

"I see. Who's been teaching her then?" Asks Jerick.

"Marko has been teaching her math and science, while I've been teaching English and history. Kayle has been teaching her everything else." Replies Nora.

Grinning, Marko says "She's taken a liking to English and reading. After her studies are done, she'll find a book to read. When she'd get tired, nine out of ten times you'd be able to find her sound asleep snuggled next to you. I guess she felt the warmth from your fur."

After everyone catches up, Jerick excuses himself and heads into the employee lounge where Elizabeth is doing her school work. When she notices her father standing in the doorway she jumps up from her chair and runs up to him giving a big hug. Jerick stays there with her for the rest of the day until she's finished. When she finishes her work, she asks him if he'd read her a story, which he accepts. Elizabeth grabs the book she had been reading on her own until now. To Jerick's surprise, the book was huge.

"Have you been reading this all on your own?" Asks Jerick.

After getting a notebook and sitting at the table with a pencil, Elizabeth says "Yep. When there's a word I don't know I look it up in the dictionary and write it down."

"Who taught you that?" Asks Jerick with a smile.

"No one did. I got tired of asking all the time." Replies Elizabeth.

When Kayle finishes her shift at work she goes to see how things are with Elizabeth and Jerick. To her surprise, she finds the two of them asleep at the table. Kayle gently wakes up Jerick so as to not wake up their daughter.

"I'm sorry, I must've dozed off too." States Jerick quietly.

"It's fine. I'm finished for the night, are you ready to go home?" Replies Kayle in the same tone.

Carefully standing up, Jerick says "Yeah, I'm ready. Don't worry, I'll carry her home."

"Are you sure? She's heavy." Replies Kayle with a grin.

Carefully lifting his daughter from the chair, Jerick mutters "Jeez, you're right. She is heavy."

"I tried to tell you." Replies Kayle with a smirk.

Jerick and Kayle walk home from the cafe with Elizabeth on Jerick's back. The two of them are quiet most of the way home.

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