Wouldn’t It Be Nice?

Wrote another little scene. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could read people’s minds? Or at least their emotions? Well, maybe it wouldn’t be nice all the time. Hmm…

*****

“Hey.” The blonde boy’s voice dragged Surinder out of his funk. Joe walked up, then leaned against the carved wooden railing beside him. “People are looking for you.”

“They’re better off without me,” Surinder said. The words slipped out so easily – usually he kept that sort of thing locked down tight. But there was something about Joe that made you want to talk to him. Maybe it was the kind, sympathetic look on his face.

Joe made a soft, hmm-ing sound, as if he agreed. He said, “I can see why you’d feel that way; I saw you and Jonathan dancing.”

“He’s out of my league.”

“He’s wildly embarrassed right now – he thought you understood. Not that you can tell by looking at him – he’s all cool and calm on the surface.”

“So what makes you think he’s embarrassed?” That seemed pretty implausible to Surinder.

Joe shrugged apologetically. “My family has a little touch of empathy – it’s part of how we ended up getting tapped to rule, a few generations ago. I suspect great-great-grandmother might’ve been a projective empath too; from the histories, it sounds like she was very good at getting people to agree with her.”

Surinder felt his spine stiffening a little at the thought. Empath – maybe that was why he’d been so quick to confide in Joe, even though he barely knew him?

Joe quickly added, “Not that I would ever do anything so unethical…”

Surinder hesitated, then nodded. Maybe he’d just wanted to confess. He’d been holding everything in for weeks – since arriving at Kaveri, certainly. Maybe back home too.

“But why would Jonathan be embarrassed? He danced so well.”

Joe laughed. “I had to look it up – you know where he’s from?”

“No – he didn’t mention it.”

“There are public ship records of where all visitors to Kriti came from. He’s from Grus.”

Surinder frowned – that wasn’t familiar at all. A ship? A planet?

“It’s not a human planet. The main sentient species there are sort of tall, crane-like beings. You’ve seen pictures of cranes?”

Surinder nodded.

“Jonathan’s family are missionaries. Even though the Grus don’t generally allow humans to settle on their planet, I guess they were curious about human religion? I’m not sure, really, but Jonathan was born and raised surrounded by these birdish people who do elaborate mating dances to indicate interest in a mate.”

“Oh!” Surinder said, his face flushing.

“There’s only a few dozen humans on the planet total. So he was effectively sort of raised by birds? Or at least in community with them. So maybe you’ll come back inside now? He’s figured out what he did wrong, and is pretty much dying from the shame of it.”

Surinder’s heart was beating faster again, so quick that he could almost hear it. “Let’s go. And thank you.”

Joe smiled, and led the way back inside.

*****

…to be continued.