Time to change the subject. “Let’s get ready to go out. Have you ever been to a talent show, Zac?”
He glared sullenly but answered. “We went to see bigger kids do one at the school I’m going to in the fall. It was part of or-en-tation.”
“Orientation? When they welcome new students. That sounds great.”
“I’ll do it for the new kids coming in next year.” He said it as a challenge.
“Guess what? We’re having a talent show here. I have to plan it out. Maybe you could be in it.”
“I don’t want to. I’ll do it only for my school.”
“Okay. Watching will be enjoyable too. What kinds of things did the kids you saw do?”
She was dogged in her attempts to draw him in. His answers were reluctant, and short to the point of rudeness.
Nonetheless, he was engaging with her, losing some of his antipathy as they cleaned up and dressed. It offered her optimism as they headed out for the day.
They went to the hospital’s cafeteria, the place where most living on the site came for their meals and other matters. Carrying Callie, Tina led Zac to the small stage at the front of the dining area.
She was uncertain why a hospital would have a stage in such a place, but its presence made the cafeteria the perfect venue for a talent show. The blue and white décor was relaxing, taking the edge off the industrial feel of the place.
“See the speakers? There’s a sound system we can tap into. Plus, plenty of seating. The kitchen can prep refreshments for everyone to enjoy. The hospital is the place where the refugees prefer to be,” she told her brother.
“Why?”
“For one thing, the sick and injured patients stay here, and their families like to be close. And when you have food, people come running. It’s also a good place to sit and talk and play games.”
Zac looked at the few dozen Earthers sitting at tables and sipping coffee, playing cards or checkers, or simply conversing. During mealtimes, Kalquorians joined them, but they tended to pick up their food and go. Though the humans had found it necessary to their survival to shelter at the site, they were, for the most part, hostile to their former enemies. It made for an uncomfortable atmosphere.
A few waved to Tina and the children. Others, who disdained her for working with the Kalquorians, turned their backs on her. She wondered how they’d act if they knew she was part of a clan. It had been at Osopa’s insistence that she kept quiet on that matter for fear someone might physically attack her. She and Yorso acted as co-workers and nothing more when they were out and about around the site.
Zac might mention our living situation to others. There was nothing she could do about it. Clan Tukui would face the problem if it became one.
She set her thoughts aside and addressed their current task. “What do you think, Zac? Is the stage big enough?”
He was interested despite himself. Tina had noted that he liked it when she asked his opinion. “I saw some girls dance together at the show I went to. Six of them. Maybe the stage needs to be bigger.”
“Hmm. I didn’t anticipate group performances, but you’re right. Maybe if we moved some tables back? If it’s a big group, they could do their act on the floor in front of the stage.”
Zac’s brows drew together as he deliberated the matter with a seriousness that rendered him cuter than ever. Tina had the urge to hug him, but she feared he’d think she was condescending.
He nodded after giving the problem due consideration. “Up to four people on stage. Bigger groups on the floor. It could work if you do it that way.”
“Great. Let’s figure out what refreshments we can offer.”
Tina let Zac choose a table for them to sit at. Balancing Callie on her knee, she took out her handheld. Callie let her stuffed giraffe drop to the ground and reached for the device.
“Not a toy, precious. This is yours.” Tina picked up the plushie and gave it to Callie again. The toddler promptly began chewing on its nose, and Tina was grateful the floor appeared to be clean.
She set the handheld close to Zac and out of Callie’s reach. “Let’s talk about drink options.”
“Lemonade.”
“Excellent. I’m pretty sure the powder version is available. If not, a scavenging crew can possibly locate it. Iced tea and coffee for the grownups. Snacks?”
“Cookies. Chocolate chip.” This was ordered with conviction.
“You are a wise, wise man.”
A short man, not precisely round, stopped by their table with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. His smile was bright beneath his gray-threaded mustache. “You have help today, Miss Tina.”
“Good morning, Mr. Garcia. Yes, these are my new assistants, Zac and Callie. Also known as my brother and sister. They came in yesterday. This is Mr. Garcia, the inspiration for our project.”
Mr. G was Tina’s favorite refugee, along with his motherly wife. The Garcias were, as far as Tina knew, the only humans aware of her clanning situation. She hadn’t told them, but a week after they’d arrived at the site, Mr. Garcia had taken her aside in the hall. “Miss Tina,” he’d whispered, “though you start early and end late, you should take the path behind the buildings between Yorso’s office and home. There are some here that—well, they’re already rude about you assisting Kalquorians. I hate to think how they’d react if they knew you were more familiar with them. Be careful, okay?”
He’d seen her because he was an insomniac who walked the site’s roads when he couldn’t sleep. And she’d thought she’d been careful.
When she’d stuttered her surprise, he’d waved her off. “It’s only important those men treat you right. I learned the hard way it’s the soul that counts when it comes to love, nothing else. My daughter, she was married for seven years. Never knew the bastard was beating her until after she left him. She’s in Florida with another woman now, and they’re happy as can be. Or they were before this mess happened. I hope they’re okay.”
Since Florida hadn’t been blown up, he had reason to hope. Maybe that was why he and his wife were friendlier to Kalquorians than most.
Now he beamed at Tina and her siblings, his dark eyes sparkling. “Lost lambs found. You got a miracle here.”
“I do. I’m truly grateful.”
“I’m happy to meet Miss Tina’s family.” He ruffled Callie’s hair and shook Zac’s hand. “What were you saying about me inspiring something?”
“A talent show. I’m hoping to hear you play guitar.”
He laughed, clapping with pleasure. Callie clapped with him. “That would be fun. What about you, Zac? Do you play an instrument?”
“No. I have puppets at home. I could make them do jokes.”
Tina shot a warning look at Mr. G. He didn’t miss a beat, his smile never faltering. “Puppets! Excellent idea. If you can’t get to your house, we can fashion some. I made puppets with my daughter when she was little.”
“Really? Mine came from a store, a boy and a girl. I want a dinosaur puppet though. How did you make them?”
Mr. G sat with them for half an hour, discussing the materials they’d need to construct dinosaur puppets. Zac was delighted enough to make no mention of going home to retrieve his toys. His smile flickered to life.