Page 21 of The Dragon at the End of This Pregnancy

"The what now?" I asked.

"What is a machine shed?" Galen asked.

"It's a place to store machines?" I looked to Lark for confirmation.

"My friends, prepare for a feast," he said. "They have the best biscuits and gravy you've ever had, for starters." He turned around and led us to the elevator.

"It must be a restaurant." I took Galen's hand, and they gave my fingers a reassuring squeeze.

"I didn't know either," they said. "I understand the words, but not the concepts behind them. Everything here is so foreign to me."

It was strange to me, too. I didn't understand the need for multiple-story buildings completely at odds with nature, such as our hotel. I hated the claustrophobic boxes that hauled us up and down on thick cables instead of magic, too. Their technology seemed more lazy than efficient. At least, it did until I saw a young person in a wheelchair waiting for the elevator in the lobby. I thought I would have to pull Galen away like a young child, shushing their questions until we were out of hearing distance, but they were very gracious.

"Good morning," they said. "I like your dragon sticker."

I didn't even see the large dragon decal on the side of the armrest until Galen pointed it out.

The child smiled. "Thank you! Dragons are my favorites."

"Mine, too."

For a moment, I worried they would swoop in and sniff the child, but instead, they gave a grand head bow worthy of royalty. "Have a wonderful day."

"You too!" The child rolled into the elevator and waved as the doors closed.

Lark noticed me giving Galen side-eye and laughed. "Galen's been doing their homework," he said.

"Some humans are differently abled," Galen said. "All are worthy of love and acceptance."

"Yes, they are."

I turned to Lark. "Thanks for teaching them."

"They wanted to learn." Lark patted my shoulder and shoved me toward the door. "They've been asking about Earth as long as we've been visiting them at their cave."

Galen leaned into my side when I caught up to them, and I slung my arm around their shoulders. "I have wanted to visit since I met you," they reminded me. "Now, we're finally here."

Bright sunlight filled the parking lot. We found Odessa and Rapture side by side at the far end. I refreshed Rapture's spell before we climbed inside. Young Rapture didn't hold his vehicle shape as well as Odessa could. He needed my help to remember what a van was. He was starting to list to one side like he had a flat tire.

Once we were on the road, I was drawn to how different human architecture was to our own. Their buildings stuck out like broken bones across the landscape, while our cabins were designed to blend in with the grassland. Their roads snaked up and over other roads, railroad tracks, and rivers. We had magic to prevent collisions or accidents at crossings like these, but they needed pathways over or around them.

I wasn't as familiar with this town, so I let Lark and Punky take the lead. Rapture followed closely on Odessa's heels. He seemed nervous to lose her in this strange place.

When we arrived, the Machine Shed loomed large over acres of parking lot. The giant red building resembled our dragonet barn back home. Inside, antique tools lined the walls. Each tool had a plaque explaining its use and the number of years humans used them before they were replaced by diesel-powered machinery.

As unfamiliar with their equipment as I was, I was even more confused by their breakfast foods. I'd had my share of fast food on Earth, but I stayed away from the strange cuisine back home. I had eaten steel-cut oats and mossberries every morning for as long as I could remember.

Some of their food sounded familiar, though. I pointed out the steak and eggs on Galen's menu, and they raised one eyebrow, once again reminding me of my childhood crush whose face he'd stolen. Thankfully, the movie was over thirty years old and no one would think he was the actor, but the resemblance was uncanny to me.

I ordered the biscuits and gravy as Lark suggested, and I was not disappointed. I wondered how anyone could eat something so rich every morning for breakfast, though. I felt full and drowsy when the server brought us our bill.

"It's a good thing we're not doing anything too crazy after this," Punky said. "If you took me on a roller coaster right now, I would probably puke."

"Toast for breakfast tomorrow," Lark said. "Got it."

The restaurant lobby also served as a small general store with knickknacks and tourist baubles. While Galen paid for breakfast and the boys tried on the different straw hats in a bin, Clementine stalked a small girl with blond ringlets and the clearest blue eyes I'd ever seen.

Outside, I tried to take pictures for Punky and Lark while they posed with their family in front of a statue of an ear of corn. While I tried to find the best angle, Clementine replayed the encounter for Punky.

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