The Joining

Part one

The Joining

Gloria Fifield

Copyright 2013 Gloria Fifield Helmer and David Broughton,

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 Gloria Fifield Helmer and David Broughton, Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written permission of the copyright owners.

This is a complete work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real persons is purely coincidental.

I'd like to thank my partner and editor for encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and write something so alien to my normal style of writing. Without his help, this book could not have been written

Gloria Fifield

The Joining

Chapter 1

Is she the one? Be'jan's thoughts gently touched the mind of her mate, Alrec.

"I hope so. I have watched her since birth. She has the heart for it, I think.

Be'jan felt a slight hesitation in his response. Was it uncertainty? "You think? After all this time, you should be certain. I hope you know what you are doing."

So do I Dear, so do I … Alrec sighed. So much depended on making the right choice. They had to be sure. Once the choice was made, they would not be allowed to change it. Be'jan was right. He should know by now. This human was nearly twelve earth years old. Her character was surely formed by now. Either she would make a good host or she wouldn't.

Have you chosen the male yet, Alrec? Be'jan touched Alrec's mind questioningly to find some reassurance that he was making the right decisions. She could challenge him, but would rather not. Both needed to agree fully for the joining to be successful.

Yes. The young man that lives in the next dwelling seems to be well suited for her, after they've both matured, of course. These humans are somewhat unpredictable at times. That is one of the reasons I brought you with me. I'd like you to help guide the girl so that I can spend more of my time with him. It would be a shame if after all this planning and waiting if either of them were to not want the Joining.

Be'jan trembled as sudden panic flitted through her consciousness. Could that really happen?

Alrec touched her with his thoughts to reassure her, That is always a possibility, Dear. You know, any candidate we might choose could decide to say no in the end. The decision to join with us must be made of their own free will. My parents spent a millennia and went through several possible choices before choosing their intermediaries.

Alrec could feel her uncertainty as she replied, "I suppose that could happen to us as well. I hate to think all of this might be for nothing."

I certainly hope it will not happen, but you can never tell. These humans are fragile creatures physically … emotionally as well.

Then why choose them? Why this species?

They are relatively young, vital, and are capable of great things. On the other hand, a very few are capable of such horrors, I cannot begin to tell you.

Then for the sake of all that is great in the cosmos, why take such a chance?

It is hard to explain, but if we are to have only one pod, I want it to be capable of the greatness I see in this species and absorb their better qualities. Their most intriguing quality is their concept of love. It is one of their greatest strengths and will benefit our child.

When will we make our presence known to them?

Soon Dear, but we must be patient. There is still much they need to learn. They have yet to discover for themselves how suited for each other they are.

~*~

All Kevin wanted to do was play baseball with his friends, but his father was adamant, Not until your chores are done. Aaron Wilcox felt it was his duty as Kevin's father to teach him responsibility. Today's major chore was to clean out the garage then box up all the trash and set it out to the curb. The garbage truck would be by in the morning, so it had to be done today.

Like every Saturday, Kevin's team was scheduled to play an afternoon game. Unlike every other Saturday, this time they were up against the number one team in the division. The plan was to get in a little extra practice ahead of time so they'd be really sharp for the game. Doesn't Dad know how important this game is? Why did he have to pick today to want this darned old garage cleaned out? He could have had me do it last week or even yesterday. Kevin grumbled a bit, but worked faster. He hoped he wouldn't be late for the game. It's bad enough I'll miss practice.

Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, Kevin spotted that girl, the one that lived next door. Of course. I have to work and she gets to stand there and watch. Next thing you know, she'll be blabbing to all the kids in school that I got stuck cleaning out the garage instead of going to practice with the guys. How humiliating!

Kevin looked around for something, anything to throw at her. That will teach her not to stand there gawking at me. His eyes rested on an old flowerpot but quickly dismissed the idea. Someone could get hurt. Besides, Mom would probably tan my hide if I go around breaking her flowerpots. I have enough trouble with Dad these days, I don't need to start trouble with Mom too.

Kevin sauntered over to the water spigot on the side of the garage and turned it on. With a smile on his face, he picked up the hose and made like he was going to wash the car or water the flowers. Suddenly, Kevin whirled around to turn the hose on the girl. He blasted her with a stream of water that soaked her thoroughly. Janice heard his laughter as he stood in the driveway, still holding the hose. She turned and ran toward her house, not willing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Kevin stopped laughing abruptly when he saw the water start pooling at the lower end of the driveway, right where he was supposed to set all the trash when he was done. Quickly, he shut the water off before it became a waterlogged mess. That's the last thing I need. Dad will have another excuse not to let me go to the game.

~*~

The girl, Janice Morley, couldn't understand why that nasty boy next door didn't like her. She only wanted to offer some help, but he turned the hose on me. Janice, along with her little brother Benjy, came to live with their grandmother about a year ago. Their parents were killed in an auto accident and there were no other relatives.

It was quite a change from living in a big city like Chicago, to living in this small town of Emory, Indiana. They were used to living in a third floor walk-up with only two bedrooms. Mama took an old blanket and hung it over a clothesline to turn the larger of the rooms into two. There wasn't all that much space, but what there was, belonged to her. Benji didn't intrude on her side of the room and she pretty much left him alone too.

There was plenty of room at Grandma's house so she and Benji both had rooms of their own. Having a room all to herself didn't help her sleep any better, in fact it only made things worse. She missed her parents terribly and had nightmares about the accident. Soon after she arrived the other dreams started.

At first, Janice was only aware that she'd been dreaming. She couldn't remember them very well, but they were nearly always about Mom or Dad, sometimes both. These dreams were comforting … sort of. Once, she remembered her father standing beside her, not saying much of anything. She simply felt his reassuring presence. After a while Janice began remembering more from the dreams. She felt her mother sitting on her bed, holding her close. Mom would tell her that everything was going to be all right as she rocked her, just like when she was little.

Sometimes, Mom would have a conversation with her, other times Janice would simply feel her presence. It always calmed the little girl's heart and brought her comfort. It was as if they were still alive and watching over her.

Of course, Janice knew in her mind these were only dreams. She didn't believe in ghosts, at least that was what she told herself. She tried to talk to Gran about it, but she didn't seem to know how to answer the child. Eventually, Janice stopped asking. Henrietta knew how lonely and unhappy her granddaughter must be, but didn't know what to do about it, so she remained silent.

Henrietta Jamison didn't know what to think about these strange grandchildren of hers. She understood their being a bit overwhelmed with moving here and all, but they never showed her the slightest sign of whether they were happy or sad, fitting in or just barely getting by. Neither of them ever brought friends home from school. They never asked to visit any friend's homes either. She worried they might not have made any new friends.

Benji was a quiet, withdrawn child that was much too dependent on his sister for emotional support. As for Janice, she was too anxious to please, almost as if she felt that her and her brother's well being depended on it. Henrietta would much rather see the kids doing things other children their age do, even if it meant getting into a little mischief now and again.

Day after day, Janice would either sit alone on the porch or upstairs in her room with a book in her hands. No doubt the characters in the books were more familiar to her than the real people around her. Benji was no better. He spent most of his time playing those God awful video games. When he wasn't doing that, he locked himself in his room, doing heaven knows what.

Henrietta mumbled to herself as she fixed their lunch. "Lord only knows I've tried. It's not like I haven't done all I can. I'm not so young anymore. Maybe that's what is wrong, I'm simply too old to be raising children all over again." She was about to call Janice in from outside when the kitchen door slammed behind her.

I hate that Kevin! She was dripping wet from head to toe and so angry, Henrietta could almost see the water turn to steam.

What's the matter honey? What happened to you?

He turned the hose on me! All I did was stand over there by the fence. I was going to offer to help him, when for no reason, he let me have it! I'll get back at him, I swear I will!

Calm down sweetie. You know he only tries to get your goat with these pranks. Boys do that to girls they like, you know.

"Well, I don't like him. He's hateful and mean. Why would I ever want to be friends with someone like that?"

"Because you're a girl and a rather pretty one, that's why. Now, go on up and get changed. I have lunch just about ready. If you see your brother up there, tell him it's lunchtime, won't you?"

Okay Gran. I will … if I see him. She obediently stomped up the stairs, plotting her revenge as she went.

Chapter 2

The Watchers sighed as they saw their chosen one storm up the stairs. They felt her seething turmoil. "Hatred and revenge . . . will our pod absorb these things too?"

Probably, but it will also learn ways to deal with these feelings. If the child is to remain here, it will need to. It will need those feelings to understand this world and connect with it.

Could that be accomplished without it becoming part of the pod?

Be'jan felt a gentle nudge from her mate, "Yes it might, but look …"

~*~

Janice was furious. As she slammed her bedroom door, she couldn't help voice her frustration. That Kevin went too far this time! Ooooh, I just hate him! She haphazardly rummaged through her drawers for clean, dry clothes. After stripping off the soaking wet ones, she quickly dressed in a pair of comfortable old jeans and a crisp white blouse from her closet. Still seething, she hung the wet ones in the bathroom to dry.

A glance in the mirror only made her madder. Just look at my hair. I'll never get all the tangles out. What a mess! She picked up a hairbrush from her dresser and removed her wet hair band. Her naturally curly long hair was soaking wet and already frizzing. She toweled her hair gently, trying not to cause more tangles.

As Janice looked in the mirror, the familiar face looking back at her was somehow different. Brushing carefully, she noted that her hair was getting quite long. No, that isn't it. The image had the same freckles over the bridge of her nose, well, there were a few more than there used to be, but that wasn't it either. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about her image was different. Janice was no longer the little girl she was in Chicago. She was growing up.

Janice continued brushing until she was satisfied it would finish drying on it's own with no further damage, then put the hairbrush back in it's customary place on the dresser. Out of habit, she reached under her mattress to retrieve the secret diary she hid there. It unlocked with metal key that she wore on a chain around her neck. It was where she wrote about anything and everything.

The incident with Kevin replayed in Janice's mind as she opened it's pages. Why was Gran grinning at me when I told her what that awful Kevin did? Honestly, I don't understand Gran at all, sometimes. Couldn't she see how mad I was? Doesn't she care what that … that idiot did to me? Does she care at all about me? Janice pondered this for a moment before she began writing. She poured out her frustrations to her secret listener.

What would make him turn on me like that? All I wanted to do was help. I was only standing there … that's it! He must have thought I was standing there gloating. He had no way of knowing I wanted to help, did he? Understanding that Kevin might have acted on a misunderstanding softened the anger she felt. She wondered how many other 'incidents' were simply due to similar kinds of misunderstandings. Janice smiled as she wrote one final thing in her diary. "I think I need to get better acquainted with this Kevin Wilcox. After all, we are neighbors."

After closing and locking the book, Janice placed it back under her mattress. She didn't want it found and read by her little brother. He was an annoying little nerd that loved poking his nose where it didn't belong. I suppose all younger brothers are like that at his age. Although Benji didn't usually go out of his way to be a pest, there were times when he enjoyed finding a way to aggravate her to no end.

I still don't understand Gran. She takes Benji's side too, just like she did earlier with Kevin. She always makes excuses for him. That brought to mind what Gran said earlier about Kevin. I wonder, what did she mean when she said boys do things to make girls mad if they like them? Does she mean … no, that couldn't be the reason … could it? Suddenly, she had the strangest desire to see a baseball game.

Definitely in a much better frame of mind, Janice bounced down the stairs. Gran? Do you mind if I go over to the park to watch the game this afternoon, after lunch that is?

Of course I don't mind, Jan. Lunch is ready so come eat first. Is Benji up there? Gran indicated with a gesture up the stairs.

I didn't see him, Gran, but that doesn't mean anything. With him there's no telling what he's up to or where he might be. She sat down at the table and immediately gobbled down the sandwiches Gran set in front of her. She enjoyed the homemade soup so much she slowed down a little to savor it. It was absolutely delicious, so she decided not to ask what was in it. She learned soon after coming to live with Gran that it sometimes was better not to know. With a quick gulp of her milk, she hollered, I'm all finished, Gran. Can I go now, please?

"All right,