by Bob Dattolo
No one wants little Billy going out to play football against a shifter or an orc that can possibly punch their way through the norm. Not even the supernaturals want to do that.
Okay, some want to do it, but that’s different.
Frankly, most supernaturals that I’ve met find it boring to try sports against norms. Unless it’s something like golf. Or bowling. Where there’s skill needed beyond strength or speed. Being fast won’t help you throw a dart. Either will being strong. Something like playing pool. You can be the wimpiest norm in a wheelchair and with one working arm and beat a supernatural in pool. Like me. I can’t play pool worth a damn. But I can throw the pool stick and kill someone hiding on the other side of a wall.
Now tell me how much that helps me get something in the side pocket.
So supernatural sports teams are a thing, they just don’t mix with the norm teams unless they’re for those sports where being able to bench press a car doesn’t matter. You’ll never see a norm going up against a shifter in a boxing match. Or MMA. Or ballet. Or basketball.
Where was I? Oh yeah, so we don’t want to play sports with them, even if we’re okay with possibly punching a hole through someone. Not that we all let our full strength show today. I think some came close to it, but like I said, no one collapsed someone’s skull today, so that’s telling.
And I got sidetracked again. I was really thinking about leaving school. With thousands of others doing the same thing.
It’s so strange being in the mix like this. I’m so not used to it that I don’t even know how to behave. Should I be saying hi to people? Should I be nodding and smiling? I’m basically covering myself by reacting exactly how the other person does. That has been working, at least decently, so I hope I’m not offending anyone.
Chapter 6
The kid lots are emptying pretty quickly, while the busses are still there. The parents are trying to get their kids loaded so that they can get out before the busses start rolling, trapping the parents’ cars in place until the huge flow of busses is gone. Thank God they have two exits from here, emptying onto different roads. That allows the school traffic to disperse pretty quickly, all things considered.
The temptation to wait and let the flow of traffic peter out hit me, so I sat in the car and waited, spending nearly 20 minutes as the cars and busses flew out of here. I’ll probably go faster on other days. It’s just that I don’t really have a plan tonight. Mom is working late, so it’s just me.
I didn’t have to wait for anyone as I backed out, so I was moving pretty quickly, heading towards the exit.
My truck slowed as I saw someone disappear into a trail in the woods. I just barely caught Dave walking away from school, and it made me wonder where he’s heading. At least there are no annoying mages following him. I don’t want to make a challenge like I threatened, but I will. Even if only to prove that I’m not a liar.
I slowed down next as I found two familiar figures walking together. They both looked over in shock as I slowed down, “Hey, you guys need a ride?”
Marisela trade a look with Tara before stepping closer, “I’m sorry?”
“Umm, do you need a ride? I saw you walking and…thought I’d offer?”
Tara looked around before her brows came together, “I’m with Marisela. Are you really offering to give us a ride?”
What? “Yeeeaaahhhh? Should I not be? No one gave me a flyer or anything telling me to leave you two alone? Did I miss something?”
Another exchanged look between them, “It’s just that we’ve been going here for three years now, and you’re the first person to offer us a ride. Ever.”
“That’s…messed up. If you want, I can drive off and keep the streak going? We can pretend this never took place?” I pretended to seal my lips and lock them shut, making them laugh.
Marisela took the door handle and paused, “This isn’t…you’re not going to drive off if I try to open the door, are you?”
Truck off, I held up the keys, “Nope.”
They both shared a silent conversation before getting in. Marisela took the front and Tara the back.
“All right. Now we’re talking.” Truck started, I headed to the exit. “So…what’s with no one offering you guys a ride? Or even taking the bus? Unless you both live that close?”
Tara snorted, “No…close. That’s funny. I live four miles from here. Marisela’s like three and a half.”
“What?!” They both looked alarmed as I practically skidded to a stop and stared at them. “Please tell me you’re kidding? You walk like an hour to school each day?”
“Yeah? No one will drive us, and the busses…they don’t go out our way and we’re not allowed to take them to a closer point and get off there.”
Okay, that doesn’t make sense, and I can’t help giving my new orc friend a disgusted look.
Marisela shrugged, “It’s how it’s always been for us. I’m not even sure why you stopped.”
“Uhh, because I figured you might like a ride home? I don’t get why someone hasn’t offered before!”
She cocked her eyebrow at me, “Because we’re not human?”
“Aaaand, your point being what?”
Tara spoke up from the back seat, “Her point being that kids in school are fine with talking to us, mostly, but being friends outside of school isn’t done. Normally. The shifters are a bit better that way, but they won’t offer the ride, either.”
“What the heck, man.” I rubbed my face, pulling out onto the road and hoping I was going in the right direction, “What about Alan?”
Both girls laughed, “He comes from a different orc family. Richer. More powerful. We can talk and stuff in school, but not outside. Someone in his family might try to kill me, or him, if we tried.”
“Oh my God! What about Nathan? You seem close with him?”
She smiled, looking a little sad, “Nathan was basically told by a more powerful vampire in the area that he can’t see us outside of school. He either toes the line or…”
She didn’t need to finish that. “What about Syl or Melissa?”
They both laughed hard at that, “Syl wouldn’t drive us unless we paid him.” Tara continued laughing between words. “He’s all about the image and money and stuff like that.”
“What about Melissa?”
“She walks too.”
I looked around, “What? I didn’t see her?”
She waved back at the school, “She stays late. If she doesn’t, Syl might mess with her. Or some of the other kids.”
“Oh my God…what is with people!”
Marisela turned a little sideways, “You never said…why did you pick us up?”
“Umm, because it’s the right thing to do? I’m getting to know people, and you two seemed fun?”
She craned to the back to look at Tara before turning back to me, “But we’re not human.”
“Right? Either am I, so I’m not seeing the problem.”
They both sniffed again, “You said that before. How can you not be human? I mean, look at you.” Tara leaned over the seat to get closer to me.
“If it helps any, I didn’t look like I do until I turned 17. At least not totally. My hair is the same color, but my eyes? They were never black like this. My skin wasn’t as smooth. My teeth weren’t as pointy. Heck, I didn’t even know I was a supernatural. I thought I was a normal human. Turns out I’m neither.”
She grunted, “That’s messed up.”
“You’re telling me. Now…I have no idea where to go?”
“You’re going in the right direction.” My goblin companion sat back, looking pensive as she stared out the window.
“You guys aren’t used to people doing nice things for you, are you.” It wasn’t a question.
“How could we? Look at us.” Marisela ran her hand down her arm.
“Because of your color? Or, okay, you don’t look human, but you’re both very pretty.” She flicked her tusks. “Yes, even with the tusks.”
&nbs
p; She laughed, “We know how we rate against human girls.”
“Riiiight. But you’re not human? Even with that, you’re both pretty to me, and I at least thought I was human. I’m not sure why green or gray skin would matter much.”
She shook her head, “You haven’t been part of our world long. We’re fine to be friends with, within reason, but beyond that? We know where our box is and how we have to stay in it.”
The defeat in her voice had me making a decision on the fly, “Well, that may be, but don’t imagine me trying to enforce that box. You guys can ride with me any time you want. I can pick you up for school, too. Just let me know if that’s okay.”
They both stared at me in shock.
“Do you guys have phones?”
Marisela shook her head first, followed by Tara. “Not enough money. My dad was killed in some fighting between families. My mom doesn’t make much.”
Tara shrugged from the back seat, “I have both parents, but neither of them…Do you know much about goblins?”
“Just what I read in the magical species class I had in school. Or the defense class.”
“Goblins come in two flavors. We’re either pretty stupid or really smart.” I didn’t interject anything there since the book sort of outlined that. Just with nicer language. “My parents…I love them, but they came out on the lower end. They work hard, but it’s menial work. Except for the fact that my dad is a decent hunter, we wouldn’t even have food all the time.”
Okay, that’s messed up.
Rumbling stomachs filled the car as we drove past a fast food place. It was literally all three of us doing it.
“Umm, do you guys have to get home immediately?” Two head shakes later, and I did a fast U-turn and headed back to the restaurant.
“What are we doing here?” Marisela looked like she was ready to eat her way through the door to get to the food.
“We’re all hungry. I figured we could get some food?”
Tara smacked her leg, “We just told you that we don’t have any money!”
“I never said you guys have to pay. I’ll pay. I just know I need food, and you two are hungry as well. So, c’mon.”
They remained in the car until I got to the doors and looked back at them. “Come on already. Either you come in and eat, or I’ll order enough for all three of us and throw the extra out.”
They climbed out, sharing long looks.
“Why are you doing this?” Tara asked as they reached me.
“Food first. Because you two have been nothing but nice to me second.” They didn’t speak again until we placed our orders and I paid for it all. Even for a snack, we can put it down pretty well. I’m impressed that the workers here didn’t give them odd looks, either. Maybe because I see a troll and a goblin working in the back. This is a pretty busy area for supernaturals!
Once we found a table, Marisela wiped her eyes, “Thank you for this.”
“Yeah, thank you. It’s like you’re treating us like real people or something.”
Tara’s response rocked my world, “But you guys are real people?!”
Marisela pointed at me with a fry, “We are, but we’re not human. This is a human’s world. We don’t fit most of the time.”
Thinking through that, I shrugged, “I guess I can see that. Have you ever thought about living in the between lands?”
They both looked a little wistful at that, “Thought about it? Yeah. I’ve never been there. Our family came from there about two hundred years ago. Problems or something with a fey of some sort. My grandparents would never really tell me what happened.”
“I’ve thought about it, but it’s the same sort of thing. Goblins…we don’t have great press, you know? We’re either dumb as dirt or really intelligent. We’re not tall, so people think we’re weak when we’re not. People see the warts and all and think that makes us ugly. All I want is a chance, you know? I have ideas. Inventions that I’ve made. I know they can be successful, but even hiding what I am, people look up my name and find out I’m a goblin. Then invitations are cancelled. Or the people that I need to pitch the idea to in a meeting don’t show up, and I get someone else on their staff that plays with their phone instead of paying attention to what I’m saying, and then tell me that they’ll call me if they’re interested.”
Huh? “What do you mean? You’ve made things?”
Marisela smiled wide, “You should see them. They’re freaking cool as hell.”
“You made things? Like what?”
“Umm, I tend to work more with electronics? I can’t really do the big things that I have ideas on. No money. On the other hand, I lucked into some old computer equipment that people were throwing away. I came up with a dating app for supernaturals and those interested in us. A touchscreen interface for people with bigger fingers.”
Marisela held up her hand, “Like mine.”
“A virtual reality program that allows you to interact with things like a supernatural. To give norms an idea of what it’s like.”
Our larger friend sighed, “It’s pretty freaking cool. I tried it, and it is awesome.”
“I also created a computer chip that is just about four times faster than the current chips in computers and phones. It uses less energy, too.”
Holy hell. “And you can’t find anyone that’s interested?”
“No! I’ve tried again and again. Even the dating app? That one I can put out there on my own, but I can’t afford server time to house it. I got it out there for most of a month at one point and people signed up…and then the server crashed and they wanted me to pay for everything to fix it and wanted to charge a premium for the service even though we already had an agreement on the price. I had to pull it down.”
That’s messed up. “Would you be willing to show me what you did?”
She cocked her head and took a bite of food, “Why would you want to see any of it?”
“I think it sounds pretty fascinating? That, and my mom has a lot of contacts and might be able to help?”
Her lips pressed together. “I’ve heard that one before.”
They both stared as I pulled out my phone and called Mom. She answered in one ring.
“Daughter-mine?”
“Hi, Mom. Can you talk for a few minutes? I have two possible new friends here and wanted to run something by you.”
“You sure can. Director Fitzsimmons is in a meeting at the moment. I don’t have anything pressing on my desk, and no agents are expected any time soon.”
“Okay, thank you. So…school seemed to go well. I did sort of set up a possible challenge with four mages that had been bullying someone all day.”
She hissed, “I see. Did any of them try anything with you?”
“Nothing. Well, nothing big.” I ignored the poop spell for the purposes of this conversation.
“And you think you can…”
“I think so? My healing is still up there. We played team keep away today in gym with me, a bunch of shifters, a vampire, two orcs, and a goblin. It was crazy fun.”
She laughed, sounding like bells, “I wish I could have seen that. I haven’t done that in millennia, but I liked it when people let me play. It’s most fun when you can be yourself.”
“That’s what I thought…anyway, and keeping in the same vein, I’m here with Marisela and Tara. Troll and orc.”
“I see?”
“They were walking home and I got them to get in to drive them home. We’re out for a snack at the moment, but we were talking about how they’re being treated.”
I could see her nodding in my head, “I see. I can imagine. They fit in, but they don’t. They’re humanoid enough to be talked to and have fun with, but everyone avoids them outside of school. They’re not human and can’t pass for one, so they’re a second-class citizen in some respects.”
“Yes…how did you know?” Marisela had tears in her eyes.
“Who, may I ask, is speaking?”
“I’m…I’m Marisela? I’m
the orc.”
“Thank you, Marisela. Has my daughter told you my name?”
“Umm, no? Just that you adopted her recently.”
She laughed again, this time they both seemed to pick up the bells. “Fantastic. In that case, my name is Raph. I know what you are going through because I am more than 7,000 years old. I have seen a tremendous amount in my lifetime, and that one is always painful to me. I have met more honest and good people that don’t look human than I have humans. Granted, part of that is because of my time in the between lands, but it still holds true. Girls? If you’ll take advice from someone you have never met? Don’t try to live like a human. The more you try, the more you will create a dichotomy, if you will. People will pick up on it. You have to be you. Don’t try to be a beautiful human girl. That will never work, barring more magic than most people could ever afford. Yes, you live in a human world. That means you need to work harder at what you pick. Is that good? No. Is that fair? No. It is, however, the norm. It works like that in the between lands as well. It’s just that the fey have a broader sense of beauty and what fits in. That being said? If you’re not beautiful and powerful there, you are a second-class citizen. So…be yourselves. Don’t try to be Jenny from the block, to steal a phrase. Don’t try to change what you are. Be you and let them come to you.”
They both sat there with tears on their cheeks, not saying anything.
Nudging their plates, I smiled, “Keep eating. Now, Mom, that was part of it, but the other issue that we have is that Tara is intelligent. She has a number of inventions…”
“That no one will listen to her about?”
“Exactly.”
Mom sighed, “People can be so short-sighted. Now...Tara, I have to assume you are the goblin in question?”
It took her a second to talk, “I…I, uhh, am?”
“Do you, by chance, come from a family that does not take after your mental capacity?”
“Uhh, no? Or…sorry, yes? How did you know that?”
“It’s easy, dear. With goblins, those that are intelligent and use it, tend to be well compensated unless they’re unlucky. You’re young still, so since your parents aren’t backing you financially, that either means they have been robbed or somehow lost their money, or they are working at the limits of their intelligence and don’t have the money to back you.”