{"id":2478,"date":"2023-02-25T14:26:15","date_gmt":"2023-02-25T21:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2478"},"modified":"2023-02-25T14:26:15","modified_gmt":"2023-02-25T21:26:15","slug":"refugees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/25\/refugees\/","title":{"rendered":"Refugees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Set your story in a cat shelter.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordi held open the door. \u201cWelcome to the cat shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKnock it off,\u201d Pen said. \u201cI hear anyone, including you, refer to the Strallins as \u2018cats<\/em>\u2019 again, they\u2019ll be relegated to the loading dock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordi led Pen to her new office. \u201cWhat about the Strallins that refer to themselves as cats \u2014 or as nekomimi?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen they first got here, a Strallin found an old manga somewhere. They thought it was some sort of prophetic thing that we would have drawings of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pen stopped in front of her desk and rubbed her temples. \u201cWhat have I gotten myself into? I\u2019m supposed to be overseeing humanitarian aid for alien refugees, not creating superstitions or religions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019re getting religious about it. They already have a belief that future events will show themselves to artists, whether they know it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood, I wouldn\u2019t want them to think we\u2019re gods or prophets or saints or something.\u201d She took off her overcoat and tossed it across the empty desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUm,\u201d Jordi looked uneasy, \u201cI don\u2019t think we need to worry on that front.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy? They get here and the first thing they see is\u2026wait a minute. What kind<\/em> of manga was it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordi looked away. \u201cWell\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pen groaned. \u201cGreat. We offer refugee assistance, and the first thing they see gives them reason to believe we have perverted motives for doing so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say they think we\u2019re perverted, but they think we are strange, and they are\u2026uh\u2026curious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be alarmed if one of them asks to see your body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey what?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey find it odd that we wear clothes regardless of the temperature. They only wear clothes when they need protection of some sort; warm clothes when it\u2019s cold, camouflage or armor when they fight, and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey! Give me a break, here! None of us has done anything of the sort. These people are traumatized, and we\u2019re here to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry, that\u2019s my own bias leaking through.\u201d Pen took a deep breath and looked Jordi straight in the eye. \u201cI apologize for equating young man<\/em> with sexually irresponsible<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApology accepted. And I apologize for immediately thinking you were a ball-breaker. It\u2019s awful to say, but I should be honest with you; that\u2019s what I thought when you first responded to my welcome. By the way, quite a few of the Strallin refer to the ORC as the \u2018cat sanctuary.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUgh. Now that we\u2019ve both embarrassed ourselves, why don\u2019t you show me through the facility and introduce me to some of the refugees. I especially want to meet those with infants and young children to see what other resources we might need for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough here.\u201d Jordi led her through a door that opened to his badge. \u201cI\u2019ll get your badge to you in a bit. Got behind today\u2019s schedule sending the supply truck off to San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordi hadn\u2019t exaggerated. There were a few Strallins wearing a light blanket wrapped around them, a couple wearing trousers with a hole cut out for their tail, and not much else in the way of clothing apart from what the humans wore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were shorter than the average human, and looked finer of muscle, yet the way some of the young ones jumped she got the impression they were stronger than they looked. She had to admit to herself that they were a near perfect match for nekomimi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They had a semi-feline face, large, triangular ears that twitched and turned, a long tail they used for balance, and a covering of fine vellus hair in colors ranging from pale to deep blue, matching the skin color beneath. Eye colors ranged from pale gold to deep green. The females had visible mammaries, two at the top, two smaller below them, and pair of supernumerary nipples below those. The males, like earth-based mammals, had the same number of nipples without any mammaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pen felt uncomfortable. She knew they were aliens, yet something<\/em> in her mind was on the verge of panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that look,\u201d Jordi said. \u201cUncanny valley, huh? You get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Strallin woman walked toward them, waving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho\u2019s this?\u201d Pen asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAritarila,\u201d he said, rolling the r\u2019s, \u201cbut she goes by Rita.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAritarila,\u201d Pen said, \u201cit\u2019s a pleasure to meet you. I\u2019m Penelope Watkins, but just call me Pen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood meeting, Pen. Please, calling me Rita.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordi said something to Rita in her own language and she laughed. \u201cClose. Riquat<\/em> being early morning, now being raliat\u2026<\/em>late morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho\u2019s teaching us their language?\u201d Pen asked Jordi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI teaching humans,\u201d Rita answered. \u201cNorman teaching Strallin Englishes.\u201d She struggled with the pronunciation of the \u201cr\u201d in Norman, and with the \u201cng\u201d sound in English. Her pronunciation of the word \u201cStrallin\u201d was difficult for Pen to wrap her tongue around, but she\u2019d heard Jordi doing it, so she knew it was possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would very much like to meet with mothers and families with small children and infants. It is important that we get the supplies they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rita called out a what sounded like a chirp, and a young Strallin child ran to her side and hid behind her leg, standing only as tall as her knees. \u201cThis being my\u2026parap\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSon,\u201d Jordi offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, son. Peter, saying hi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He peeked his head around her leg. \u201cHi, miss. Hi, Jordi. Can I go play now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rita knelt to his level and whispered in his ear. He bounded off to play with the other children. She stood and faced the humans again. \u201cSorry, he being shy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine. He has no accent. You said his name is Peter? Is that just his name here? Does he have a Strallin name as well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordi cleared his throat. \u201cPeter was born here. Rita was one of the first refugees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s only six months old?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey mature physically a lot faster than we do. Not in size, but in coordination and the ability to walk, run, jump, and so on. At least in the first year. From what I understand, they mature on par with us after that. A one-year-old Strallin is equivalent to a five-year-old human in terms of physical development. Mental development is more equivalent, but Peter is\u2026exceptional.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeter saying Englishes and Strallin before Peter eyes opening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI apparently have a lot to learn about the Strallin,\u201d Pen said. \u201cIf it\u2019s okay with both of you, I\u2019d like to spend the day with you, Rita; get a feel for what works here and what doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine with me,\u201d Jordi said. \u201cRita, feel free to show Pen around, and don\u2019t be afraid to complain about anything you don\u2019t like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He turned to Pen. \u201cI\u2019ll get your keycard ready, and forward all the medical info we have on the Strallins to your comm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks, Jordi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, thanking.\u201d Rita linked her arm with Pen\u2019s. \u201cWalking with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d Pen noticed how warm and soft Rita\u2019s arm was, and how steely were the muscles beneath whenever she shifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Rita led her to the area where the children played, Pen asked, \u201cAre there toys from your world we don\u2019t have?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe making toys,\u201d Rita said, pointing to the pile of feathers, beads, sticks, and strings. The children were playing with a broad array of different sorts of toys, made from those same four components. Some flew their spaceships, others baby-talked or scolded dolls, others played a game that reminded Pen of a cross between hacky sack and badminton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs that what you have always done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. We making own toys. Making-places\u2026uh\u2026facter\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFactory?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFactory making ships and armor and tools and dertilara<\/em>,\u201d she said, making a brand, dismissive motion. \u201cSorry, not knowing this in Englishes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think I understand.\u201d Pen\u2019s comm chimed and she checked the message. It was a long one, but she skimmed it and got the broad points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRita,\u201d she asked, \u201chave you had any fresh fruit since you\u2019ve been here? What about vegetables?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSorry, not knowing those Englishes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pen opened an image browser on fruits and vegetables. She showed Rita as she scrolled through them. \u201cHave you seen any of these since you\u2019ve been here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey being foods?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe eating this foods,\u201d she said, lifting an empty emergency ration pack from the trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, that\u2019s the first thing I\u2019m fixing.\u201d She leaned in close to Rita and whispered in a conspiratorial tone. \u201cDo the children like sweet things?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try to have a surprise for them in the morning, early morning, what was it\u2026riquat<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pen sent a message from her comm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FROM<\/strong>: Penelope Watkins, Director, Oceanside Refugee Center.\r\nTO<\/strong>: San Diego Refugee Coordination Warehouse\n\r\nAdd to required provisions, in amounts to match ORC population:\n\r\nDaily<\/strong>: Fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables. Eggs. Honey. Bread. Butter.\n\r\nWeekly<\/strong>: Extra strawberries. Extra Butter. Maple syrup. Blueberry syrup. Waffle mix or base ingredients for waffles.\n\r\nExtra requisitions, one time<\/strong>: Twelve double waffle irons. Lego classic 1000 pcs or more.\n\r\nAny item unavailable from SDRCW, have driver comm ORC Director for purchase on the economy at Director\u2019s expense.\r<\/code><\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
prompt: Set your story in a cat shelter.\u00a0 available at Reedsy Jordi held open the door. \u201cWelcome to the cat shelter.\u201d \u201cKnock it off,\u201d Pen said. \u201cI hear anyone, including you, refer to the Strallins …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[208],"tags":[210,228,209],"class_list":["post-2478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trunk-stories","tag-fiction","tag-science-fiction","tag-short-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/sxT7i-refugees","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2478","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2478"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2478\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2479,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2478\/revisions\/2479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2478"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2478"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2478"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}