Page 108 of Tyton: The Spider and the Dragonfly
Cat returned with Talia’s burp cloth and draped it over her shoulder.Talia made to take Pinga back, but Cat quickly turned and walked away.
“Then, why did you give me this, Ca…” Cat shot her a look.“Mom.Sorry.”
Cat smiled.
Callie took a very sleepy Lusa from Sesi and handed her to Talia.
“Oh,” Talia mumbled.
Sesi stood and joined them, bunting her head against Callie, who she could reach, and slipping her arm around Talia’s waist.
“Come here, Mom,” Callie said, but Cat raised an eyebrow.Callie rolled her eyes.“I promise, no-one will try to take Pinga from you.”Cat grinned and slipped into the embrace.
Callie thought that with this much love and beauty between the six of them, the Earth might just give them another chance.
Epilogue
April 9 2283
P
inga sat in Aunt Jenni’s lab, feet still dangling off of the examination bed, even after her growth spurt.
Jenni shone a bright light in her deep brown eyes.She squinted.
“I need to check your pupils, Pinga, keep your eyes open, please.”
Pinga complied, even though the light hurt.
“Well, I don’t think you have a concussion, but you need to be more careful.”
Pinga opened her mouth to protest, but Jenni cut her off.“I don’t care if Auntie Sparx said you could drive.I have it on good authority that she’s a terrible driver.”
“That’swhyI had to drive!She said she was too tired and she would crash.”
“And what happened?”Jenni stood with her hip cocked.
“I panicked and stopped too fast.”Pinga mumbled.
“And?”
“And the airbag went off.”
“Hmph.”Jenni nodded, indicating that the lecture was over.
“Are you gonna tell?”Pinga’s wide brown eyes were hard to resist.
“Auntie Sparx should be more worried about me telling than you.”
Pinga grinned, her teeth overlarge for her small head.The freckles and shock of orange hair that had come from somewhere further back than anyone knew melted what was left of Jenni’s resolve.
“Tell Auntie Sparx that she’s lucky to have you.”
“I will,” she yelled, running out the door.
Sesi removed the fur from a fox caught in the trapline.It was late in the season for the best furs, but they had traded many of them away for other supplies.Callie stirred at the pot of rabbit stew.
“Did you get the potatoes from the greenhouse?”she called when Pinga came in the door.By her expression, Callie could tell she hadn’t.“Shoo,” she waved her wooden spoon.Pinga left and returned ten minutes later.With the potatoes this time.
