While Barbara powered the Corsair 28 at exhilarating speed, Addison and Serada, replete in bright yellow life vests, soaked up the bright and warm late June sunshine. The temperature was an comfortable 85° Fahrenheit, perfect for time on the Bay.

The girls sat in the aft portion of the boat, laughing at how the wind blew and twist their hair in a generally backward direction, while watching the water’s surface barely ripple as the boat ride high and fast.

When not giggling, their facial expressions never dropped below that of a wide, toothy grin. While they looked around at various sites on the shores of the Bay, Ronnie made her way back to the girls, and sat down to render an update on where they headed.

“Addie, Serry… we are headed for a yacht that is in the middle of this Bay. Llhaesa is already on board the yacht, and we will stay there for a while, until things begin to sort out.” Ronnie had to yell for the girls to hear, for the combination of the roar of the close by motors and the wind created a loud cacophony of sound.

“Mom, when did llhaesa come out here?” Addie wondered, queried, and shouted.

“Apparently Barbara brought her out early this morning, Addie. She was rescued by Barbara.”

Addison and Serry both took note of the word ‘rescued,’ their expressions reflecting the registering of its meaning. Serry spoke next. “Why did Barbara have to rescue llhaesa?”

Ronnie did not wish to go into the details of what she knew; it would trigger undue worry, knowing she erred in using the word ‘rescued.’ “They made a mistake in where they placed llhaesa, and so they decided to move her out here on the water, where we can enjoy a nice vacation!”

Addison knew better, for she overheard some of the earlier conversation; she figured it was better to remain silent than trigger worry in her sister.

“How long will we stay on the boat?” Serry asked, evaluating what for her appeared to be an exciting vacation, one with where she would spend time with llhaesa.

“I am not sure, Serry,” Ronnie answered truthfully. I would guess we have to wait while they clear things up, and wait for President Ellenwood’s head to get better.”

Both girls loved President Ellenwood. She was from their state, a former governor, who proved incredibly popular throughout her governorship. Alicia Ellenwood formed strong ties to the young of the state and the country, for she was young and charismatic, with a great sense of humour. The President also held an uncanny ability to connect with virtually every child with whom she interacted. Small wonder both Addison and Serada thought highly of the President.

“What does the President have to do with us?” Serada reasonably asked, her mind assembling facts far too quickly.

“She is Barbara’s boss, Serry,” Ronnie hoped this would end this tangent. It did not.

“Why is Barbara with us?”

“She… um… it is her job to help us.”

“But why must she help us, mommy?”

“The President knows where llhaesa is from, Serry. She is the only one anyone on this world has ever met who comes from a place other than here. They wish to make certain she is safe.”

“There are people who come here from China, and the President does not have Barbara help them!” Serada added, quite astutely.

“Serry, people from China live on the same world as us!” Addie tossed out, in a way that older siblings tend to do when younger siblings persist in questions. “Llhaesa is an alien, and you know this. You… are the child of an alien. We are the only two children of an alien on the entire planet! That is why they protect us, because sometimes others do not like those who are different, they are afraid of them.”

“Are they afraid of me?”

“Of course they are, you meanie!” Addie taunted.

“I am not a meanie! Serry tossed back.

Ronnie moved to nip this sibling exchange before it grew into a spat. “OK, no one here is a meanie, Addison,” Ronnie began, giving a stern glare at her eldest daughter.” “And Serry, they are afraid of you only because you are llhaesa’s daughter, not because of anything you have done. Once they know you, they will not be afraid.”

Serry waited until she thought her mom’s head was turned, and then stuck her tongue out at Addie.

“You brat!” Addie called out.

“Addison!”

“Mom, she stuck her tongue out at me.”

“Serada, is that a nice thing to do to your sister?”

Serry looked sheepish, and her eyes lowered for a moment. “No, mommy, it was not nice for me to do.”

“Thank you.” Ronnie smiled at her youngest daughter, accepting the apology. “You girls are about to see llhaesa again, and you have not seen her in over three weeks. I would expect you would redirect your attention to this fact, and find those halos you are supposed to wear that you obviously misplaced.

I know it is hard to live life in the manner a halo signifies, but try and make the attempt, please.

Sensing a need to change the subject, Ronnie mentioned the Bay Dolphins, that they were playful, but that the dolphins must leave them alone. “When you girls see them, we do not feed these animals, because it hurts them by making them look to people for food instead of finding food the way they usually do.

When you are swimming, move slowly toward the boat, and climb out of the water.”

The girls pondered this, but had no questions, for Addison spotted a sizeable yacht ahead, and motioned toward the yacht.

Within moments, they were on the deck, greeted by llhaesa. Before llhaesa could hug Addie and Serry, their arms wrapped around her torso, though for Serry, her arms stretched upward to engage in a mid-section hug.

Llhaesa kissed Addison on her forehead, and talked of how much she missed her daughter. She then reached down, and easily pulled Serada off the deck up into her arms, where she then showered love upon her youngest daughter.

“It is so wonderful to be back with all of you!” llhaesa called out, casting a thankful look toward Barbara as she did so. “Barbara, I know you cannot stay, but I and my entire family are grateful for all you have done. Thank you.”

Barbara graciously and humbly answered, “You are most welcome!” and took her leave, headed for her office in the capitol.

Llhaesa greeted Anita and Dolores, and promised they would gather to talk later, “but for now, I would like to get reacquainted with Addison and Serada. Girls, would you like to go swimming?”