Shapeshifters

9

I WOKE UP and couldn't place where I was. Then I realized that I was in the up-walker, no, human, world. I spent a few moments chastising myself for still calling it the up-walker world, even though I now knew it was the human world. I back tracked my steps from the night before to find Sunny. She was sitting at a table in the middle of the kitchen.

"Good morning," She said when I walked in. "Or I guess for you it would be good morn. Here it's morning."

"Good morn," I answered. "Morning," I quickly corrected. "What do you do all sun, day I mean?"

Sunny laughed then replied, "You're going to mess up, don't beat yourself up. Usually I go to school, but not today. Today is called a weekend, specifically Sunday."

"You name every sun?" I asked, taken aback a bit. When Sunny nodded I inquired, "Will I go to school with you?"

"That's what we are doing today," She responded. "Getting your supplies and getting you ready to fit in. Even though school doesn't start for a few months. It's summer!" She declared it like she was excited. "We just finished two days ago, Friday."

"Looks like I have a lot to learn," I told her with an exaggerated sigh. "How long until school starts? So I know how long I have to learn everything I need to."

Sunny thought for a moment before saying, "Three months. That should be plenty of time to teach you lots of things and make friends. Did you have any friends in Sunpack?"

I nodded. "One good friend. I left after we had a fight..." I faded off thinking about how I just left after that. I had convinced myself that he didn't need me, but that if he had talked to someone who was dead, he would keep it a secret as well. Next time I see him, I'll tell him everything. I told myself. Every last bit, that was my mistake. Not telling him.

Sunny and I spent all morning talking about the different human customs. I surprised Sunny, and myself, by how fast I understood it all. 

"Since you seem to understand the wording differences," Sunny began. "Time for the harder stuff. Fitting in as a human."

I nodded. "I'll learn what I need to to survive." I mentally prepared myself for a long day. 

"We'll start after lunch. It's noon now and we always eat about now."

"Guess I still have a lot to learn before I'm ready to tackle this new world huh?"

Sunny nodded. She pulled out different things in weird jars and started applying them to what humans call bread. 

"Want a sandwich?" I cocked my head in confusion. What in Lupus' name is a sandwich? "Forgot to tell you different human food huh?" I nodded. "No worries, you'll catch on quick." She studied me for a moment. "I'm guessing a ham and cheese for you. You got to try it at least. If you don't like it, we'll find something else for you."

I mentally prepared my mouth for this "ham and cheese" thing. When Sunny put it in front of me, I waited for her to sit and show me how to eat it. Since they don't eat like I'm used to. Sunny was patient in explaining and showing me how to eat the sandwich.

"Sunny," I said when we were cleaning up. "We've been go-go-go all day, can I rest and we resume in a bit? I don't know how much more my mind can take before crashing."

Sunny nodded and sent me up to my room to rest for a bit. I was thinking just a few moments, that turned into all the way until dinner. I spent all of dinner apologizing again and again for losing track of time. 

 "We'll get you a clock," She said. "It helps keep track of time in the human world, making sure we don't sleep too long. Seems like we'll be doing a lot tomorrow."

"What are we doing tomorrow?"

"Teaching you how to act in the human world. What better way than to dive right into it?" Sunny replied. "It will be like playing with fire. Fun! Though I don't recommend it."

I nodded and helped Sunny clean up. We talked for a little while after. Mostly about what we were going to be doing tomorrow and about me when school came up. 

 "Maybe we should catch some sleep," Sunny finally suggested. "Big day tomorrow." I nodded and turned to go to my room when Sunny exclaimed, "Shiznuggets!" 

 I jumped. "What?" I was more confused than shocked or scared. 

 "I'm having lunch with Petunia tomorrow! I completely forgot. I have no idea how she'd feel about me inviting you last minute. Let's hope she'll understand."

I waved her off and left, not wanting to be caught up in Sunny's forgetful moment. Those were never good, or so I've been told.