Breaking Barriers

Away From Here

Pinto Pengino:

Paani explained to us on the way to wherever we were going that he'd simply borrowed a truck from a friend, painted it navy blue, and had no one batted an eye. We all had a good laugh about the expression on his friend's face once the truck would be brought back looking the way it did at the moment.

The truck sped farther and farther away from the city and into a lush green forest with dirt roads that could've popped the wheels until it finally pulled up to a cozy little row of cottages, all smothered by vines, and as we got closer, we saw a teal-clad figure waving at us from the porch of one of said cottages and as we pulled up in front of the porch, my heart leaped.

"Min!" I exclaimed happily and ran to her as everyone shushed me urgently, but Min only giggled as she held me.

"It's all right." She soothed them, smiling, "Most of my neighbors are castaways from the Purician regime as well, and it's lovely to see you all. Oh, you little darlings have gotten so big!"

"What about those who aren't?" Pinata asked cautiously.

"Those who aren't are like this strapping young fellow here, social justice warriors protecting innocent people from a cruel government." Min giggled and gestured toward Paani, who pretended to blush, which sent us all into fits of laughter, "In fact, I've even been to the Tabbys' for tea and we were discussing the best way to hide people from the Purenkorps' raids."

"So the neighbors are alright with public enemies living next door?" Kwazii summarized.

"In a way, yes." Min answered him, probably more casually than the question called for.

"It's been nice to see you, Min." The Captain nodded in her direction, "but we must be going now. Natquik reckons he's found someone who can take us to Greenland."

"Pardon me, Captain." Inkling called as he moved up to the Captain and whispered something to him. When he finally finished, the Captain straightened himself up before turning to Min.

"We can't take the children with us, Min. If it's alright with Dashi, Peso, the Balakovs, and you, Professor Inkling and I were wondering if you could mind the children for us, just for tonight."

"I'm OK with it." Dashi answered.

"So am I." Peso seconded.

"We are as well" Mr Alex agreed after consulting with his wife.

"Min?" Inkling turned to his friend.

"Oh, I'd be happy to!" Min chirped, "These children are the sweetest little darlings. I'd be glad to have them for the night." From the Balakovs' reaction. This was something they weren't expecting.

"Excuse me, you mean, these children? As in, the children right in front of us?" Mrs Talia looked at Min quizzically. She must remember the time Nickie and I had put ink in her face cream and then blamed it on Nastya.

"Why of course!" Min beamed, clearly not reading the room, or porch. Inkling smiled knowingly and lay a tentacle on Mrs. Talia's arm. I was close enough to hear what he whispered to her.

"Min considers all children the purest, sweetest beings on the planet." He explained in an undertone.

"Even-?"

"I've learned it's best not to mention it. On the other hand, she possesses the ability to get all the children in bed by 9:30 and get them to do homework without complaint." Inkling added in a mild tone. Even I wasn't sure why Min could get me to do Inkling's homeworrk.

After about an hour of catching up, the Captain stood back up, and announced.

"It's been lovely to see you, Min, but we really need to get going now." Before bending down in front of us kids and giving us each a kiss in the forehead and a cuddle.

"Be good, my little darlings." He whispered gently to us.

"We will, Captain." Squirt promised brightly.

"And I love all of you." The Captain spread his arms out and we all immediately threw ourselves into his arms.

"We love you, Captain." I mumbled, burying my face into his fur.

"I love you too, darling boy." The Captain stroked my head, "Have fun with Min."

And with that, he got into the truck and the truck roared to life. As I watched it stutter down the road, I couldn't help but smile. For once, some shred of normality in our lives, and Min was watching us. Things couldn't get much better than that.