Page 26 of Whisked Away By the Alien

“Who cares which holiday? The bastards left,” Bubbe says. “May they never return.”

“Amen,” my parents and I say in unison.

Sten’s brow furrows and then he follows with, “Amen.”

“See, we found something in common!” Mom declares.

I’m not sure Sten knows precisely what’s happening here, but he’s going with the flow. I tap his thigh beneath the table to get his attention, not expecting to hit pure muscle. God, he’s built. Now that my hand is on his thigh, I find it difficult to remove.

With one finger, I draw small circles against his pants, inching my way closer to his inner thigh.

Sten turns to me and raises a brow. He’s got to be wondering what I’m doing beneath the table. I’m wondering the same. Especially with my dad seated to my left and my mother and bubbe across the table from us.

“Do you know the word meshugena?” I ask Sten, wondering if I should explain it in reference to my family or my wayward fingers. I’ve never done anything so bold and foolish, especially on a first date. Not that this is a date, but hell, it should count as one given what my family’s putting Sten and me through.

“Does meshugena mean taking a risk?” he asks.

He’s definitely assessed the situation correctly. And yet my hand remains on his thigh.

“Hmm, that could be one way of defining it. Usually it means crazy. As in, I have to apologize for my family. They’re crazy.”

“They are fascinating. And precisely what I need.” His eyes flick to my hand on his thigh,notto my family.

* * *

STENIKOV

Once Mrs. Birnbaumlights the wicks, the family passes food around the table, clanking utensils and glasses. Everyone talks over one another between bites of food while I sit silently, observing.

This family intrigues me and even reminds me of home, though they are nothing like my mother and sisters who rarely yell and never talk at the same time. I find it fascinating that four humans can talk concurrently over and around one another in what seems to be one, two, three,fourconversations. No, five. Golda switches from talking with her father about work and with her mother about…. me. Or rather, she’s trying tonottalk about me. Again, my presence has disrupted the family. Leaving after being invited to stay would be rude. And I truly do not wish to leave. I like these people. Even if they are loud and confusing.

The love between them comforts me. Even from the matriarch, Mrs. Birnbaum. She is considerably smaller than me, but I’ve learned not to underestimate people of any size, especially small females. And this one is crafty. I see how she looks at me. She’s plotting something, although I cannot imagine what.

Three times now, Mrs. Birnbaum has left the table to retrieve a spice or utensil from the kitchen and each time she throws a look of reprimand at Golda. This strong female beside me glares back at her mother. There is as much silent communication occurring here as audible. I wish I could read their body language beyond the shading of their skin. When Mrs. Birnbaum speaks, Golda’s skin turns three or four shades redder than usual, indicating embarrassment or anger, though I cannot discern which.

“Is there a problem?” I ask Golda.

“Apparently, I didn’t set the table right.”

“You set it just fine, dear.”

Golda’s back stiffens and I wish to jump to her defense, though I’m not sure what the issue is precisely. I must trust that she will tell me if she needs my help, because right now I’m at a loss.

“Mr. Birnbaum, what will my other duties be while I’m here?” When a war appears inevitable, distract the combatants until they forget their issues with one another.

“That reminds me.” Mrs. Birnbaum looks at her husband, not with disdain exactly but more like displeasure. “Where precisely did you plan to put Stenikov when you committed us to hosting him?”

“In Rachel’s old room.”

“My mother’s staying for several days. She’ll be sleeping in Rachel’s Room.”

“Then Golda’s room.”

“Where will Golda stay?”

“I’ll go to my apartment like I did last night, Mom.”

“You left when it was still light out. It’s dark now. You’ll stay here, where it’s safe. You can sleep on the floor of our room.”

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