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Linda settled on the comfortable seating Karen had put out for the playgroup. The children, or pebbles as it had been popular to call them lately for some reason, scuttled around the feet of the watchful parents.
“My little darlings will be beginning their studies, soon,” Linda sung, pride evident in every note.
“Really?” asked Julia, whose pebbles were very newly hatched. “They’re still so young.”
They were young, still at the stage of life when most pebbles would only be attending a pre-school group, but how could Linda’s pebbles be anything but exceptional?
“My mate convinced the educators to make an exception, my pebbles are very talented,” Linda bragged.
“I’ve decided to educate mine at home,” said Karen. “I don’t know if I agree with everything the educational thrum is introducing to the curriculum.”
“To each their own,” replied Linda.
“I discussed an early educational start with my mate as well,” said Susan. “There’s a special science class beginning soon near the Human Education Center, with a very exclusive selection process.”
Linda preened, because the selection process was exclusive, even more so than entry to their play group.
“I know,” replied Linda. “One of my pebbles has been accepted to attend.”
The other parents made noises of shock and disbelief. Linda had never been more proud of ♫ and their fascination with aliens and the stars.
“Only one?” asked Karen, who was ignoring the shrieking of several of their unruly pebbles and they chased and hit each other.
As long as they left Linda’s pebbles alone, they wouldn’t say anything.
“All of them passed the entrance screening,” lied Linda. “But my other four have chosen to pursue alternate educational routes. I believe three of them have strong futures in artistic pathways, and the fourth will soon shadow a member of our government.”
The parents hummed approvingly. Only one of Linda’s pebbles had wanted to take the screening, actually, but the rest was true. The pebbles were all talented in their own ways, and Linda would do whatever it took to get them the most prestigious apprenticeships possible while they pursued more traditional educational paths.
“I hope they continue the screenings in the future,” Susan said. “We’ve decided against an early start, as nice as the new science program sounds. I think that holding them back longer will give them an advantage among their peers.”
“It will let them stay young for longer, as well,” sighed Linda.
They were growing up so fast. This was Linda’s first hatch group, and they wished the pebbles would stay sweet and little forever, but ♫ was more than ready to learn, and of course that made the others excited too.
“I heard,” said Julia, “that the program has something to do with Savior Rocky.”
…Linda may have had a little more of an influence on ♫’s interest in astronomy than they let on, but they hadn’t done anything except encourage an interest that was already present!
“It’s true,” said Linda. “The program was organized almost entirely by Rocky.”
Julia’s vents released a hiss of steam. “Do you think you’ll get to know him?”
Linda, more than anything, hoped so. Rocky was… wow. They were even willing to ignore Rocky’s odd speech patterns and mannerisms, developed during his years in space. That was how attracted Linda was after that very brief moment of meeting, after Rocky had returned and Eridians were gathering to thank him. Linda had a mate, sure, but it wasn’t uncommon to take multiple mates. If only they could get Rocky’s attention away from Adrian and Rocky’s pet alien.
“I’m sure I will,” said Linda, as nonchalant as they could manage.
“Rocky has the most beautiful texture on his carapace,” sighed Susan.
“He does!” agreed Julia. “Linda, you’ll have to introduce us if you get to know him.”
“He’s a bit small, isn’t he?” asked Karen.
Susan huffed. “So? He’s hot and famous.”
“I think he’d be good to pebbles, too,” said Julia. “He’s so sweet, caring so much about his alien.”
“I don’t know if I’d call it sweet,” said Linda, who didn’t particularly like the alien after what they had seen at the Education Center. “But I’m sure he wouldn’t expect his mates to help him care for it. Now, if he applies that care to his pebbles, instead…”
All four parents sighed. Linda could imagine it; five little pebbles running around, textured like them and Rocky. Meeting Julia’s new hatchlings only made them want it more. Maybe they would have another clutch with their mate while they waited, especially since their children would be off to school so soon. They picked up one of Julia’s hatchlings as they toddled past.
“Is Rocky teaching the class?” Julia asked.
“I don’t think so,” said Susan. “Did they announce who the teacher was?”
“Not yet,” said Linda, “but I have high hopes.”
One of Karen’s pebbles was crying again, this time in fear, drawing the parents’ attention away from their conversation.
“What happened?” asked Karen.
“♫ said they were going to let the alien eat pebbles!”
Linda drew up in shock. What had gotten into them?
“That’s not what I said!” protested ♫. “I said that Alien Grace was going to teach pebbles.”
“Don’t be silly,” said Julia, scooping up one of her own pebbles, who had also started crying in fear. “It can’t do that.”
“But it saved the stars! They said so at the screening orientation.”
Linda sighed. “You must have misunderstood. Don’t scare your friends. Julia’s pebbles are only in their twenties, remember.”
For a pebble so smart and scientific minded, ♫ had some ridiculous ideas. Embarrassing ideas. Linda’s reputation would be in shambles if they couldn’t get their pebble under control!
The pebble was about to speak again, and Linda titled their carapace sharply in warning.
“Apologize to the others,” Linda said.
“Sorry,” ♫ said, and then continued in a lower tone with something that sounded like “for being right.”
Linda decided to let it go. The teacher would be a perfectly normal Eridian. And maybe, if they were lucky, it would be someone beautiful.