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Tenet 1
It is a common misconception that children of different galactic species require different care.
- Dr. H. VynFleet, 132 Tenets of Childcare & Maintenance
Emilia
“She’s missing,” the nanny moaned.
Emilia could hear the young woman’s terror across the hologram connection, and her blood turned to ice in her veins. A missing child was the ultimate nightmare scenario for even a seasoned nanny. And the nanny on the line was young and inexperienced.
“Have you contacted emergency services?” Emilia asked, willing herself to remain calm and focused.
“No, you don’t understand. She couldn’t have gone anywhere,” the woman continued. “She was sitting right next to me.”
“What do you mean?” Emilia asked carefully.
“We were watching a movie - that new Jeremy Xaxan movie,” the girl babbled. “One minute she was laughing, and the next she was just… gone.”
Emilia hadn’t seen any of his movies, but everyone in the system knew Jeremy Xaxan was the teen heartthrob.
“Does your charge happen to be a Bergalian, about thirteen standard years old?” Emilia asked, hoping she was right.
“Oh-em-gee, yes,” the girl replied, astonished. “Did you have time to pull my file already?”
“Just a lucky guess,” Emilia said, trying to hide her smile from her voice. “Bergalian females only develop the ability to become invisible when they go through puberty,” Emilia explained. “In the beginning it often happens involuntarily. They have to learn how to control it.”
“Oh,” the girl said. “Bergalians can be invisible?”
“Females can,” Emilia replied, feeling disappointed that this girl had gone out in the field without being fully prepared by the agency, or at least taking the initiative to do her own homework.
Emilia would have to do her best to prepare her a little.
“You’re a Terran, right?” Emilia asked.
That was a fair guess too. Ever since the experienced nannies left, most of the new nannies were Terrans. They were the only ones broke and desperate enough to take work they weren’t qualified for.
“Yes,” the girl replied.
“Do you remember getting your first period?” Emilia asked.
“Sure,” the girl said with distaste. “It was awful.”
“Well, that’s kind of what this is like for her,” Emilia told her. “She’s probably feeling embarrassed, so you don’t want to make a big thing out of it.”
“What am I supposed to do?” the girl hissed.
“First of all, remember that she’s invisible, not gone, so she can still hear you,” Emilia said gently. “She’s probably right there, and feeling very sensitive.”
“Oh,” the girl said. “Right. Sheesh. I’m an idiot.”
“You’re fine. Just put the movie back on,” Emilia advised. “And go make a really good snack. She’ll be extra hungry. Do they have popcorn?”
“They have a bag of salt crisps and some chocolate stations,” the girl said.
“Go get them,” Emilia said. “I’ll stay on with you.”
She could hear the movie start up in the background and then the sound of crackling cellophane.
