Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Ha.
He smiled at me again.
I’d made him smile.
“I appreciate those of you with common sense.” Nodding slowly that time, the gesture should have meant he agreed with something but that wasn’t how it felt as he kept his gaze on me. “It’s made planning and organizing this much less chaotic.”
He appreciated me.
Yes, that was what my books would have said.
“I’m glad.” I was also glad to be able to help confirm the final details and to go over the list of members one last time. My human agent was very focused on safety and caretaking, even when he did not particularly like the people he was put in charge of.
It was very commendable, but it took up all the time we had before Wren came bouncing back to Toman. “Reporting for duty, Daddy Manny. Family commitments handled and ready to leave Earth.”
Toman seemed to find the attention-seeking behavior amusing as he wrapped one arm around Wren, but he kept his feelings to himself mostly.
“Thank you.” Toman kissed his cheek in a Daddy gesture that was meant to provide an emotional connection. “Everyone else seems to be ready as well. We’ve double-checked the list of visitors coming through the portal, everyone is claiming to have their gear, and there doesn’t seem to be any last-minute issues.”
My human agent had done a remarkable job of attending to the details and understanding what must be done. I knew his background must be impressive for him to be such a confident leader. However, his desire for privacy in public left me unsure about how he had become so remarkable.
“Agent Murphy has done a good job of keeping track of everyone and keeping our people on this side of the gate organized.” Toman gave an Earth smile as Agent Murphy sighed in a dramatic human way. “It has been a big job but it has been appreciated.”
“No one else was levelheaded enough to get it done.” Wren’s words were finally polite and not designed to make my human agent react. “Thank you for helping us even though this hasn’t been what you were probably expecting to be doing this week.”
No, I didn’t think there was any way Agent Murphy could’ve expected to deal with all that was thrown at him.
Still, I was cautious as Wren smiled and nodded toward Agent Murphy. “See? Some people from Earth can behave themselves. You just needed to find a human to talk to instead of the men at the diner.”
Yes.
“They’re…” I paused, not wanting to disappoint my human agent with a rude response, since he had gone out of his way to be firm but not unmannered.
“Frustrating.” Agent Murphy seemed to decide that we did not have to be polite in the current situation. “Although I have a few other choice words if you need help with your English.”
He would give me permission to be politely rude?
That was…
He was…
Yes.
Giving him a human smile that I thought I had practiced well enough, I nodded. “Someone to practice with would be helpful.”
When he looked pleased, I frowned at Toman with what seemed to be the right human expression. “Everyone has been busy with…other things lately and I haven’t practiced as much as I should have.”
My human agent would help even if others were not as mannered…not as polite. Yes, that was the word most used in books.
Toman looked like he disagreed with that assessment, but Wren stepped in to distract him. “We’re going to go make the rounds one more time and start moving everyone toward the gate before they get distracted. Will you guys take the end of the line and make sure no one wanders off?”
They had short attention spans, so it would not be unexpected.
“I’ve already explained to one man that he could not bring a cage for a dinosaur.” I nodded to show understanding and emotional agreement as Agent Murphy sighed at my words. “They will need supervision. He wasn’t even in the list of people going through the gate.”
I could not understand how he thought we would let him.
“That doesn’t surprise me at all.” Agent Murphy understood how difficult managing them was but looked confident as he gestured for me to walk with him. “They get an idea and just go with it without thinking.”
More thinking should be required of the locals…and it seemed that we were not the only ones to have that opinion because after trying to wrangle everyone, a unique word that meant attempting to get everyone under control and in line, the dragon Boyd finally lost his shit as my books would have said.
“If you don’t line up and get your shit in order I’m going to—” The angry dragon was speaking loudly at everyone, but a male from the land of Canada decided it was not the time to push the limits on his behavior and got back in line.