Chapter Text
“Who here can tell me the speed of light, question?”
Vℓ kids raise their claws. I know that my students already have the answer, given their perfect memories, but old teaching habits die hard. Plus, I’m still reeling from the news that Earth solved the Petrova problem, and, unrelatedly, trivial trivia is a nice way for me to warm up the class. I select one of my students who doesn’t interact much. “Ripley! Let me have it.” Yes, Ripley. I named all my kids after late 20th-century action movies, following Rocky's example.
She replies with “+∀+V∀λλVℓꞮ+ meters per second!” correctly and enthusiastically.
“Great job!” I play on the specialized keyboard, after which I turn to a set of levers that controls an arm which launches a beanbag sized rock in Ripley’s direction. She seems oddly antsy today, which is strange. She typically sits in the back trying not to be noticed.
Although, now that I look at my class, they all seem excited. Indy is bouncing his carapace up and down. The siblings, Maverick and Goose, are speaking in a quiet register that I have trouble hearing, but I can pick out a word that’s either “the story” or “the song.” After observing them for a few seconds, I finally ask, “alright guys, what is going on?”
Rufio, unusually unruly for an Eridian, speaks up. “Nothing, Teacher Grace!” Lyssa quickly shoves him, whispering orders for him to shut up. Robin then stands up, with other students muttering things like “no, not yet, class just started, wait a bit.”
Robin steps forward, shyly. “Teacher Grace, we heard from Engineer Rocky that your human Winter Celebration is coming up, and that sharing gifts is one of the traditions. Is this correct, question?”
I hear Robin’s words, yet I have trouble processing them. I guess, it has been about an Earth year since last Christmas, but this year has been the first year on Erid that I’ve actually had a hold on my life. I haven’t even thought about the holiday season, though I’ve been longing for fellow humans to share it with. I’m struggling to believe it’s already almost the end of December back on Earth. Slowly and softly, I answer out loud, “Yes.” One of the English words they all know.
“Good good good. We have a gift for you, Teacher Grace. Happy Winter!” the +Ɪ-year-old child sings. As a whole, the class stands up and begins… sprouting and rambling a jumble of random Eridian words? I sit there confused, until I’m able to let go of my focus and listen to the class as a unified front. All of the sudden, I realize that the Eridian words are being used as chords! As musical elements of a song, a human song!! Oh my gosh! They're singing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” to me! My class is doing a Chistmas carol! I’m tearing up, trying to hold back sobs as my class sings through “Silent Night,” “The Vℓ Days of Christmas,” and… “Santa Baby,” all using a jumble of their native language.
When they finish, artistically-inclined Magenta timidly asks, “Teacher Grace, did you like it, question?”
“Yes yes yes, I liked it very much, Magenta. How did you all accomplish this, question? I am very impressed.” This is true, I am extremely impressed. I have a suspicion that this kid wrote it, she does show many qualities of an aspiring linguist/musician, which is the same field on this planet.
Magenta replied, “I did it!” with a timber of pride in her voice. “I studied human Winter music and chose my favorites, then I arranged Eridian words to match!” She is trembling with excitement at this point.
Still struggling to not fully blubber and boohoo, I play, “I am very proud of you, all of you!” I gesture to the whole class. “Another Winter tradition is that students get out of school early. How do you all like the sound of that, question?” As a thrumming chord from the class that translates into English as “awwww,” I continue with, “Class dismissed! I will see all of you tomorrow.” My kids filter out of their side of the classroom, leaving to go home or wherever else the day might take them. One thing I had to get used to being an Eridian teacher is that kids are just allowed to go anywhere, at any age. There is always a trusted adult within hearing distance; kidnapping is a foreign idea to them. At least I know my kids are safe.
On my way back to my house in the middle of my dome, I reflect on the cut-short class period. Rocky got my students to sing Christmas carols, the damn son-of-a-gun. I wonder how he even learned about that, given the sheer amount of data he has on my culture. Or human culture, I guess. It doesn’t even feel like my culture anymore. As I’m slowly hobbling on my journey, I look up to see some maintenance Eridians taking care of something on my habitat’s roof. Probably a light fixture went out or something. I pay them no mind as I return to my thoughts.
Earth is finally free from the Astrophage, which means that the Project Hail Mary crew, my… friends, can have a normal holiday season with their loved ones. While I’m stuck on an alien planet with not a person closer than V+ lightyears. It’s not like I ever had a normal Christmas anyway, not even growing up. Let’s just say that Santa never visited the Grace household. I mean, I have Rocky. And Adrian, and my students; they have been nothing but supportive and friendly to me. But we all know that’s not the same as human contact.
My bed, made of the fibers of some Erid plantlike organism, greets me as I limp through the door. I collapse on it, finally breaking into tears while I release all my pent up emotions. I feel a burning, acidic hole where my heart should be, right above an empty void. I fulfilled my purpose in life, saving not one but two worlds (with the help of an alien spider made of rock, of course) but why do I feel so hollow and meaningless inside? I should be happy and filled with “Christmas spirit,” but… but I just can’t. As I wallow in my negative thoughts, my eyes grow heavy and take me to sleep on this dreary, distant Christmas Eve.