Jahrae, Ronnie, and llhaesa were aghast at what unfolded in the meeting, a meeting called to discuss how the children of the other two sets of parents bullied their child. There was no sign of a change of attitude.

“Well, it is a hell of a change for all of us, you know,” Debbie Harrington answered Jahrae. “We are religious people, God-fearing people, and suddenly there are stories of aliens and brain washings and people who change gender in a flash of light. For us, this is scary stuff. How do we know you are who you say you are, and not some clever ruse to deceive us into sin?”

“I see,” Jahrae began, also using her nouveau Aailhra skill to focus on calm. “And if I understand what you just said, you believe that because we are different – or perceived to be different – that makes harassing other children acceptable.”

“Well, look at her!” Karen Morrison interjected, and nodding toward llhaesa. “She is pregnant not by any traditional method, she is pregnant as a result of the blood of that one with the other, the egg implanted in her. I am sorry, but that is just not natural!”

Ronnie, a non-Reiki, non-Aailhra practitioner, felt her blood pressure rise. “That is our child you talk about, that is our child you consider ok to harass because we are different in your eyes.

“These two,” Ronnie pointed toward llhaesa and Jahrae, “are two of the most honourable people I’ve ever met in life. What they believe in, what they teach our children, how they live their lives. They have taught me so very much.

Yet you do not see what I see, so you assume. You assume they are somehow a threat to us, or to you. You comment, letting your assumptions turn into assertions, and you say them such that your children hear the comments, only to repeat them at school.

The real issue here is what you teach your children, and what you intend to teach your children. They were wrong, but I do not blame them – I blame the four of you for not thinking a bit more. Is your religion truly all about finding the worst in others, or would it – should it – guide you toward finding the good of and in others? I have a hunch it is the latter, and if so, then you have lost your way spiritually.

Our daughter is a kind soul; she was excited about returning to school and seeing her friends, seeing her teachers. She came home downcast, and that was so unnecessary.”

Karen Morrison was upset, and she gave full voice to her anger. “How dare you suggest this problem is us? You do not even belong here; no one invited you to our world. You thought so little of this world hundreds were brainwashed, this to use as some repository for a troublemaker on your world.

We do not wish you living here; we do not wish your children influencing our children. I bet neither of you from off world believes in God. What does that say to our children?

You intrigue children by your presence – space is exotic, it captures their interest, it speaks to that human drive to explore.

When that is set aside, what are they really seeing? Lesbians who think so little about the natural order of life they parent as a threesome. And Ronnie, look at you! You taught in this school! You were a happily married woman, an involved parent, yet now they hold sway over you. Well, if they can brainwash you, what will they do with the rest of us?”

Llhaesa decided to speak now, in part for her children, in part to protect Jahrae and her role as diplomat to the people of this world, in part because she just had much to say.

“Debbie, the brainwashing was heinous – heinous! I too was a victim of this, the government in place now has taken sound measures to prevent this from happening again, and I take heart in their efforts in this regard.

As with any technology, potential for abuse exists, and will always exist. That is as true here as it is there, and each of us can think of examples.

Our government apologises for what happened then. We could potentially have these faux memories removed, but our government, as well as our people and I believe that the cure is more dangerous than living with these memories. I – we – say no to using this technology again, no matter the purpose!

I too am a happily married woman, so too Jahrae. We are good parents, we are responsible individuals; on our world, the procedure invoked for my pregnancy is well accepted by the people. I understand that on this world, this is not only new, but it appears unnatural – some might see it as a threat to men – but in thirty years on Arrhazon, it has posed no threat to men, and really, why should it?

Are you going to marry a woman simply because you have the capability to parent a child with her? There are three billion men you could potentially marry, Debbie. Does that capability to marry mean you will in fact marry every one of them? No, because there are other factors that led just you and Don to wish to be together.

That is as true of this issue as it is of that example. I love Jahrae; normally our child would be of us. In this case, we asked Ronnie to share as well, because we are the parents of the girls, and thought this was best for our family.

Ronnie was not brainwashed, she formed her opinion as any of us do, by evaluating life through her eyes, and then acted accordingly.

Finally, children will see us as interesting, because adults make us sound interesting. There is no danger that we pose to children, the three of us dearly love children, and as I begin to do a concert tour and advocate, you can bet one of the groups for which I advocate will be children.”

Heretofore quiet, Sherman Harrington joined the other three parents in lambasting Jahrae, Ronnie, and llhaesa. “How do we know our children are safe to be around any of you – or your children? What if you are carriers of some disease unknown on this world, you could wipe out untold millions!”

“Llhaesa has lived here for fifteen years, Sherman,” Ronnie rebutted. “Do you see any evidence of our town being wiped out by unknown disease?”

“Well, maybe not here, but how about the other one?”

“Her name is Jahrae, and she is seated to the right of me.”

“Whatever. She is new here.”

Jahrae casually spoke up, offering facts. Before any of us set foot on this world, our medical staff addressed this issue, and administered appropriate treatment. Any of you who visit our world will undergo the same evaluation and treatment, designed to prevent the spread of contagions.”

Lorraine stepped in, trying to refocus the meeting back on the subject of the day’s incident. “I am sorry that you feel this way, Don, Karen, Debbie, and Sherman, but nothing you say will make them go away.

I have your children in this school, and their well-being is my responsibility. I cannot have students bullied and harassed, nor will I tolerate discrimination on my watch.”

Don virtually screamed out, “Fine! We will take our child out of this school, because I don’t want him anywhere near these non-human, unnatural creatures and heathens!”

“Very well, Mr Morrison, if that is your wish. You can enrol your child in another school, or you can home school. It is your choice.” Lorraine replied, not giving an inch.

“For the record, and this needs to be said, Serry was happy this morning, she was laughing and playing with her friends, she was attentive in class, and then she went to recess.

When Ms Sullivan saw what was happening and stepped in, she saw that your son and your daughter had already pushed Serada to the ground, and felt they were ready to strike Serada, but fortunately, Ms Sullivan stopped things from going further.

Your child is not naturally aggressive, nor is he naturally bigoted. He was almost both today, and that is because you put these ideas in his head. He is a good boy and I love having him here, but if you continue to poison his mind in such a fashion, I will not hesitate to involve DHHS.”

“You would not dare!” Karen Morrison blurted out, looking aghast at Lorraine’s not so subtle threat.

“I surely hope it is not necessary, Karen. My purpose tonight was for you to meet llhaesa and Jahrae, to put your minds at ease, to try to find solution. What I see so far is no willingness on your part to be reasonable, to reach out to your fellow citizens and parents of children in our school.

Am I wrong?”

“Yes, you are wrong,” Sherman Harrington stepped in, siding with the Morrisons. “If you reported us to DHHS, you can pretty much count on a lawsuit.”

“OK, I’ve listened and offered some initial thoughts,” llhaesa casually began, “but I came here thinking we had an incident at school where we as adults would sit down and civilly find a solution for going forward. Then we could have the children make nice, perhaps invite them over to play, and all would be well.

What I see instead is dismaying. Are we parents here? Adults? Seriously? We, who are responsible for the well being of our children, for seeing to their education needs in school and in life, those type of adults?

I cannot prevent any of you from removing your children from our town school. I cannot prevent you from suing the school, or anyone else you set your sites on in any given moment.

What I will do is work to bring people together, and not drive them apart. I will look to love others, not hate them. I will offer them a shoulder to lean on and a mind willing to listen.

I understand your concerns; we all have fears, we all worry over our loved ones. What we need to do though is recognise that education is important, and we educate not only through what goes on in the classes here each day, but at home, in every moment we live life.

I am certain Jahrae and Ronnie are with me on this, and I invite you to come and visit our home, talk with us, get to know us, have a drink with us. I think then you might find your fears allayed.”

“We wish nothing to do with you, so don’t even bother!” Don Morrison retorted, his voice frothing with contempt.

“As you wish, Mr Morrison, as you wish,” llhaesa replied.

Lorraine had enough, though she loathed her next action. “I did not wish to do this, but it seems I have no alternative left to me. Don and Karen, Debbie and Sherman, for their conduct today, your children are suspended from school for the next three days.

It seems unfortunate that I must suspend them, when the four of you should take this heat, but my authority only extends to the children.

In order to return, each should submit a one thousand-word essay on why what they did was wrong, and why it will not happen again. Feel free to help them write their paper.”