Becky's Gift

Earthan Troubles

Perisnah wiped a tear. "Will she be well, Yea Becky?"

"I think you know she won't be like a kid who's never been abused. But she can move past it and enjoy life! All she needs, is hope. She'll heal much better here than anyplace on Earth!

"My sister was kidnapped and held prisoner for three years! She was 13. Pirad made her 13 again and took a lot of the memories away. Rilley still has problems, but she's married now, and I think her husband's probably helping her a lot. She hasn't wanted to tell me anything yet. Pirad had to make her two kids Elshar and a year younger, to help them. Healing just takes time and love. We're lucky we have good parents!" I also told him about Elsie. She might want to reach out to some of these kids, too.

I watched faces as we moved through the crowd. I worried about some of these foster parents that came with kids. Most of 'em are probably really nice people, but it only takes one--

And I spotted one. On the surface, he was all, "Here, Claudee, want a pastry? Don't cry, people will see you and be unhappy. You don't want them to be--"

But he had telepathy, and he was showing her just what he'd do when they got home if she didn't shut up!

I zapped him. He staggered. "What the—"

I put an arm around the little girl, and he tried to hit me!

I showed Perisnah exactly what he was doing to her. Again, he exiled him!

This poor girl was Vega's age. Only 9, maybe. "Oh, no! Now I'm stranded! Please, don't send me back! I'll be good!" I held her.

Knelt down. "Listen, Honey, I won't let anybody send you back to Earth, but look at King Perisnah. Doesn't he look worried? He's not mad at you. He's mad that that sorry excuse for a foster father treated you like that!"

"He—offered me—a pastry—"

"He was showing you in graphic detail what he planned to do to you—"

"You—you heard it, too?" She sobbed.

I hugged her. "Yes, anybody with telepathy can—"

"Fa and Mea didn't."

"Well, I saw the expression on his face, and I knew he wasn't being nice! I listened, and it's rude, but you needed help. I saw that!"

"Mama'll be mad. She loves him."

And her mother came running. Rolled her eyes. "What's she cryin' about now? We have everthing a body could want, and she's always—"

I gave her a look that could have frozen water. Too much makeup, fancy nails, and a dress that's a size too tight, and very low-cut for daylight. "Do you care that he was terrorizing this child? What kind of parent are you?"

"Oh, she's just spoiled. Spare the rod an' spoil the child!"

Perisnah's eyes went black. Rumbles startled her. "Lady, I am Perisnah, King Of Kin Para. I will nae allow such mistreatment of a child! If you wish to stay, you must run the progs that nae allow hitting or rudeness!"

She shrugged. "They run anyway. I didn't do nothin'."

"Are you the child's mother?"

"Yeah, but they took her away. Now she got Zheien parents. But how do aliens know how to raise human kids? You want to let her eat like a pig, an' she'll get fat!"