Page 38 of Whoops-A-Mate From Outer Space
He grinned, grabbed me around my waist, and started to lead me in a dance.
I almost protested until I realized he was playing with me. Then I started laughing.
“Tolai!” Veeshen chided. “You are being rude.”
I doubled over in laughter as he released me. “No, no. I understood he was having a bit of fun.”
I glanced up to see Eashai’s expression, which seemed to be half-amusement and half-annoyance.
I wonder why he’s annoyed? Is his son known for pranks?
Veeshen let out a long sigh and turned to me. “We have two forms of our greeting, the contemporary and the traditional.” He held his right hand up, perpendicular to his face and following the line of his nose. It reminded me of children in prayer, only with one hand. He then inclined his head in a single nod.
“That was the traditional,” he stated. “However, it has fallen out of favor over time, and now is most commonly used when meeting dignitaries. The contemporary version only uses the head, not the hand.”
“Like this?” I asked, standing tall and giving him a single nod.
He smiled. “Precisely.”
“Simple, but effective.”
He laughed. “I have encountered a handful of species with complex greeting rituals. It makes me glad for ours.”
“Do you meet other species for your work?” I asked, falling beside the group as they started walking.
“Infrequently, yes. But I traveled extensively prior to meeting Tolai.”
I laughed. “Humans tend to do that too, the ones who can afford it anyway.”
“Did you travel in your youth?”
“A bit, mostly around the US. It’s only in the past few years that I’ve been able to afford to go overseas.”
“It is costly to travel?” he asked.
I nodded. “It depends. But it can be.”
“That is unfortunate. Experiencing the diversity of life and culture is beneficial to expanding a person’s understanding of the universe.”
“I agree,” I sighed. “But capitalism requires payment.”
“If I may ask,” Eashai interrupted. “Why did you choose to meet here? It was my understanding that you would join us for dinner.”
Veeshen chuckled. “Tolai has news and has decided that dinner is too long to wait.”
Eashai stopped walking and turned to face them. “What is this news?”
Tolai grinned and bounced on the balls of his feet. “It was just confirmed. Veeshen is pregnant. He will be bapi to another child.”
Eashai’s eyes welled with tears, and he clutched his grandson tightly as he turned to face his son’s mate. “It is true? Another grandchild?”
Veeshen sniffled. “It is. I had ignored symptoms, not wanting to hope. But we visited a doctor this morning. Not only am I pregnant, but I was told I am far enough along to feel safe announcing.”
Eashai adjusted Nadug in his arms, then pulled Veeshen into an embrace. Tears of joy streamed down his face.
“Congratulations,” he cried as Tolai closed the distance to embrace his family.
∞∞∞
