Unlike the other children, they liked doing things that showed results, so they were always volunteering for chores. It made them every adult’s favorites, although Sandar was starting to limit the work they could do and demanded they play some of the frivolous games with the other children.
When she’d heard about it, Han had laughed and said that had to be a first.
Unfortunately, the other human and Ugarian children didn’t know what to make of Lirsum and Rishmun. They weren’t unkind, but Zeph admitted it was probably hard to incorporate a couple of children into your games who didn’t understand the concept of fun.
Then the jinjoos arrived. All the kids wanted time with the soft, fluffy animals, and Han had told them only Rishmun and Lirsum could get them that. His niece and nephew were suddenly the most popular children in the community.
Rishmun was quick to create a peer group that fit him. Lirsum was slower, but recently she’d started calling one of Han’s young cousins her friend.
They were all relieved!
“Kal wanted to help train the jinjoos,” she said when she returned to his side.
Zeph wasn’t sure how to respond to that. The kids were allowed in the pen to pet the young jinjoos, but training was a different matter.
“Hello!” Han sang out, entering the pen. She walked to his side and tugged at his arm. Obligingly, he leaned over so she could press her lips to his.
Lirsum pretended she didn’t see it. Partially because she was still unlearning all her former empire training, but also because she was at the age where adults could be “gross.”
All the human and Ugarian adults assured him, Sandar, and Rensom that it was only a phase. He hoped so, or she might struggle when she got older.
“Yullie is favoring her right mid-foot,” Han said after they finished the brief hello lip press. “I’m going to have the medic come out to look at it tomorrow.”
“Not today?” Lirsum asked. Zeph was proud of her. It took a lot for the child to question an adult. That was noted by the way Lirsum spoke loud enough to be heard but hunched her shoulders as if waiting for a reprimand.
Han turned her full attention to Lirsum. “I thought about it, but I wanted to give Yullie the night to rest and see how she is tomorrow. As you know, their midlegs are their most sensitive ones, and she might have simply taken a bad step when she was playing in the pasture earlier.”
Because Han was addressing Lirsum as if she was also an authority figure, the little girl straightened her spine and sounded a soothing rumble.
“Your logic is sound,” Lirsum announced, making him have to stifle a rumble of amusement.
“Thank you,” Han said. “Could you and Kal do something important for me?”
Lirsum sounded an excited rattle. “Yes, of course!”
“Yullie could use a thorough grooming,” Han said. “It will help distract her from her leg. But you’ll need some help because Nack won’t like it if Yullie is getting all the attention.”
“He is a very needy jinjoo,” Lirsum agreed.
Han nodded her head. “You’re right, he is. Because you’re far more familiar with Yullie and Nack, you’re in charge of Kal. Youneed to make sure she doesn’t upset them or that they don’t accidentally hurt her.”
The added responsibility made Lirsum practically vibrate with importance. “I can do that. Should we start right now?”
“Yes,” Han said, then pointed in the direction of an open area being prepared for a Christmas celebration. “But make sure you have enough time to clean up and join us for the feast. After eating, you and Kal can go back to grooming if you want to.”
“Mom told me I should play at least one game after the feast,” Lirsum said.
“Then I guess you can go back to grooming after eating and playing one game,” Han agreed.
Lirsum asked a few more clarifying questions to make sure she was fulfilling all her social obligations, then ran off to find Kal.
The moment she was out of sight, he grabbed Han in a hug. “Thank you. I didn’t know how to tell Lirsum that Kal couldn’t help with training.”
“No worries,” Han said with a chuckle. “Kal doesn’t want to train anything; she wants to tell them they’re beautiful and feed them treats. We can put her and Lirsum in charge of keeping Yullie and Nack groomed. That should make both the children and the jinjoos happy.”
“You’re brilliant,” Zeph declared.
Han gave him a toothy grin. “I know.”
