I’m out of ear shot before she tells why but I can guess. She feels trapped and more people make that trapped long and hard. She’s from an orphanage that she called a group home. No one took her so she went from one orphanage to another until she aged out. Kids shied away, adults wanted a kid they could hand a plush toy or phone to for hours. Those crystal blue eyes showed the want of a real family that I bet she watched on TV. She wanted a chemistry set and schedules that didn’t change daily. New parents wanted a needy kid that wanted to learn to ride a bike. Different expectations that had no middle ground when she wasn’t allowed to tell the parents until she was away from caseworker ears. That was usually a four hour visit that never led to a second visit with the parental wannabes.
The drink we had last night was good. She had eight lines added to the sheet we use to keep up with Alder. Explaining it over a drink was quicker than questions back and forth on the sheet. The talk changed and we spent two hours on anything but real personal shit that had nothing to do with work, the cruise or the little President.
Hearing how she grew up makes me more appreciative of the mom who doted on me and dad who taught me how to be a man. According to Badass, they did a great job. According to my heart rate, I miss them more than I admit, even to myself. I send a heartfelt thanks up to them like the Indians send to their ancestors. I’m smiling as we get to LP’s room because I’d guess it’s the same thing.
§*§*§
Chopper home
Sophie
Peggy has the biggest smile on when her head turns my way. Jordan wants her as Lead for their boys. They’ll be learning new this year and need someone willing to jump when they move and that may be as they’re grabbing for a chute.
It’s how I felt on the shift I took for Brex and Budgie when Troy went away with Banks one weekend. I needed a nap at the end of the shift. Brex and Budgie are not as young as the Bit twins from Bravo but they’re training the Driver-Solaita twins well.
“Congratulations.” There is no way I’d say anything but that.
The glint in her eye tells me she knows what I’m thinking. “I loved the Banks Bits and the Alpha D-S twins are easier. I had them while you were working today.” She’s a little crazy so I believe it.
“I’ll take your word for it. I was run ragged with the Banks boys and took an Anton shift instead of the Graywolf Bits. The Bailey twins aren’t as active as those boys.” While she nods, I look toward Hud. “I thought you had help today?”
She laughs. “I did. He was great with drones and the kite. They both learned how to hold the kite then buzz the drone around it while the other held the opposite. I didn’t expect it. He hardly talked and they actually learned quite a bit.”
Really? I look back at him. Stella says he’s Aiden Quinn fromPractical Magic. I never saw the movie but Peggy, Firefly and Natalia agreed at an ol’ lady meet. His hair is longer than military and his eyes are more light brown than the gray Stella says they are.
“I wouldn’t think he’d be good with kids.”
Peggy nods and leans closer. “He thinks the Bits are more adult than kid. I didn’t point out that Alpha D-S twins aren’t Alpha-Bits.”
I laugh getting everyone’s eyes on me. To diffuse that, I ask, “How’d you end up here instead of with the other teams going home?”
She makes a face knowing I already know. “To work Stella’s Lead shifts originally.”
I nod like I forgot. Hud being so close means I’m not asking her anything about him.
“Boss Sophie, you stay you Bravo house tonight? I have Phoenix meet, then shift to Honor.” Asa asks.
I love him. “Yeah, Boss. I have clothes at Bravo and Alta helped me get the music lessons on virtual. We got, ‘You Are My Sunshine,’ ‘Amazing Grace’ and‘Life is a Highway,’He even got them the tabs in PDF for me. The next in-person lesson is them bringing me their favorite song with Alta starting it off. After that, they each take a lesson to teach their song to the others.”
He smiles looking proud. I really do love the little VP. “Smart. Boss Garren say you teach Bravo Canada French.”
I hold my laugh and explain that for him. “There’s a distinct difference between metropolitan French to Canadian and Creole pronunciations with a whole lot of slang to wade through. I did virtual for him too, three Louisiana, two Canadian. They already know mainland.”
He nods. “We learn France to Jacques, Jose and Juan. All As learn different. Pres Alder mostly Greek, mandarin, French before Badass.”
I do not ask a single question but half listen to Jordan explain languages while thinking of the grown kids. I watched the feeds Stella gave me access to for Alder’s Ops so I’d be prepared. I’m glad it was in my house at Honor. I bawledfor three nights straight watching every mission he went on. The kids, some ghastly thin or viciously drugged, some beaten, others had no idea what was happening but followed like zombies. I needed no more than seeing that to understand Alder’s need to perfect the best life for his Ford Alpha-Bit Brothers. They have real names, passports, a purpose of their choosing in Badass that guarantees their Security. Clubs around the world that revere them for the amazing technology and products they share to make all lives better. Stella told me of the government meet where the FBI lawyer gave them guarantees that are better than what the reservations got and Badass is holding them to it.
I turn as if I’m following all they’re talking about and watch Hud answer that he learned French young but his parents lived in a predominantly English-speaking province that he only visited.
Asa and Alder both look at me. I smile as if I followed every word. “Most everyone speaks both but in Quebec, French is the language by law. I think it’s the only territory like that but I could be wrong. We learned Spanish, basics of mandarin and Cantonese. It’s how I met Garren Ford. Korean and Iranian Persian are also widely spoken. I mean by more than 30% like Korean and Cantonese. Group homes often learn because the kids come from everywhere and we learn to include them. I was in a lot of homes so I learned at least the basics of those and some Hebrew but I never spoke it. That was for a job I was only expected to write directives.”
They’re all just looking at me. I look at Stella for help. “I was adopted young. The Club kids learned all kinds of languages in the crew houses. I was IT and Prez would take my laptop so I’d jump to anything to keep my brain running.”
That’s weirder than me. I smile at her but feel bad now that they’re all looking at her.
Jordan fixes it. “No wonder she asked about you for Alpha. She doesn’t need another helper to keep her brain running.”
Asa nods like this is a valid point. “Egghead, Boss Faith say.” Last time he said it, he said names I never heard, then a whole explanation for the people he mentioned.
