The Awesome Planet

Chapter 22 Life Experience Part 1

Chapter 22
Life Experience - Part 1

Picture - Phyllis Holloway-Banks
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Leyla flicked rapidly through the shopping catalogue full of hundreds of discounts in the January sales and threw it delicately into the bin.

"Has Tadzi spoke to you yet?" Leyla asked her daughter, who was slowly eating her cornflakes.

"I've told you. He's still in Alderwhit with his mum and family. He won't be back until he's sorted his kingdom out. Thank goodness Drikto was there to stop that Broton invasion. In the meantime, I don't know. He's made a letter and sent it to the ship. I discovered it this morning. I've invited the others round and I'll open it then." Ellen mumbled nervously, turning the envelope over repeatedly.

"Oh, well I'll call Kavin down later, the lazy boy. He's been asleep for 14 hours. Ridiculous. Rosalinda's still at her mum's and, from what I've heard, she's enjoying it." Leyla stated calmly.

"That's good. We'll be travelling again in a few weeks, but at least she's made up with her mum again." Ellen pondered, smiling to herself.

"Yeah. And, erm, Ellen? I have something to tell you. I've....started working at your school. Please, don't get mad, but that place really needs help after everything that's happened. And I need a job. The supermarket's laying off loads of people, so I was sacked." Leyla admitted worriedly.

"It's fine. I'm not going there anytime soon. I learn everything I need inside GAIL. We don't just zoom around fighting aliens and seeing the wonders of the universe, you know. Right, I'll go and get the ship ready for everyone." Ellen mumbled as she left the kitchen.

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"Betty?" Abigail shouted from the living room. "We need to go to Ellen's soon. She's expecting us in 10 minutes."

Betty stumbled out of her bedroom wearing her best clothes in her wardrobe. "Yes, Abigail. I'm ready. Look, Abi, I'm sorry about what happened at Christmas. I was jealous of Miss Frinkleton. She's known you since your were a small child and you have a more natural bond with her." She confessed to her adopted daughter before she shrugged on her coat and opened her door.

"Never mind eh, mum? I love you, and nobody, nobody, is going to replace you. Ever. Now, let's hope this week's going to be better." Abigail sang as she flicked her hood up and held Betty's hand, guiding her through the snow down the road and into the open world.

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"I'll get the door then, shall I?" Kavin asked sarcastically as he rushed to open the front door.

"Well, you've got to earn your keep somehow!" Ellen teased with a smirk.

"Ooh, nice to see you Kavvy!" Betty squawked as she hobbled inside.

"Betty, you made it!" Leyla exclaimed as she left the kitchen and hugged the old woman.

"Of course! Where's Rosalinda?" Betty demanded as she peered round the house.

"Right here!" Rosalinda screamed, running through the front door and into Ellen's arms.

"Rosalinda! I've missed you!" Ellen yelled as she squeezed Rosalinda tighter and tighter.

"Missed you too! Merry Christmas! Happy new year or whatever! And thank you Leyla, thank you for giving me the best Christmas ever. I really appreciate it." Rosalinda whispered as she blinked back tears.

"That's alright. I was just trying to help. Anyone would've done it." Leyla replied modestly.

"Hello, Ellen?" Abigail demanded. "Are we going to GAIL or what? I thought this was important!"