Chapter 1

My name is Yari, and I was 14 when my family went on vacation. We only took one vacation a year and looked forward to it. Dad was an electrical engineer, and Mom was a computer programming genius. I was an only child and gifted with the luck of the combined gene pool of my parents. So far advanced for my age, I was schooled by remote learning at my parent’s labs. Study in the mornings, exercise after lunch, and work beside them in the afternoons as their assistant. Switching between them, I absorbed the knowledge like a sponge. Soon, I was working on my projects on the side.

My parents always visited their family once a cycle. I loved the trips because my grandparents spoiled me rotten. Seeing me once a year, they tried to outdo each other every year. Dad and Mom got into some intense arguments over it. I always went home with two large boxes of goodies to last the year.

I was excited this year because I turned fourteen, and it was a major event on my parent’s home planet. I was guaranteed at least four boxes of goodies this year, and my parent’s arguments started before the trip this year. We were halfway through the trip when pirates attacked our spaceship. My parents gathered my belongings, extra rations, and computer, putting me into the ship’s captain’s escape pod. They hugged and kissed me goodbye and pushed the release.

I passed out when the pod launched, and when I awoke, the pod was stationary. I had landed somewhere, so I looked at the gages. They indicated the planet was inhabitable, so I released the rear door and saw I had landed into a hillside deeper than the surface. I crawled out of the hole and looked around and saw fields of food growing. I sealed the pod and covered the hole, then went exploring. Soon, I found a house with a woman working in a garden and realized my clothing would give me away as an alien. So, I stripped off my clothes, hid them, walked, and stumbled towards the women in the garden. When she saw me, I faked passing out, and she screamed and rushed to me. Then she picked me up and carried me into the house.

I quickly recognized the language from my studies and whispered water. I learned her name was Barbara Billingsley when she called her husband at work. He was someone important, judging by their conversation. I landed into a gold mine and wouldn’t let it get away. When she finished her conversation, I asked are you, my mother? I can’t remember anything. Mom help me, and I cried. She held me, said it would be all right, and stroked my back. I hooked Mom, and now I need to reel in dear old Dad, and I would have my new home and parents that would take care of me. I stopped crying and said Mom, could I get some food? I was starving, and Mom ran to the kitchen, and I wandered around my new digs. Looking around, I definitely hit the mother lode.

Returning to bed, Mom brought me a tray of food when I sensed she was getting ready to return to my room. I said, thanks, Mom and dug in and cleaned my plate. Then I asked for directions to the bathroom and ran to relieve myself. The food and water must activate my system. And boy, was it a lot and smelled to the high heavens. I flushed several times, found the exhaust fan, and opened a window to keep from throwing up. I stuck my head out the window, breathed fresh air until the room cleared of the smell, and then took a shower.

Exiting the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist, Mom put one of Dad’s sweatshirts on the bed. I put it on, and it went to my knees, so everyone on this planet was taller than the people on ours or my old planet. Mom laughed when I walked into the kitchen and said I think I shrunk just a bit. Then she said it’s something to wear until we go to town tomorrow. I asked what was wrong, walking around like I was with no one around. Mom said oh no, your dad is a very important man, and you have to be presentable to everyone. I said I understood it hangs straight down, not angling left or right, correct? Mom spits her tea across the table and starts laughing, shaking her finger at me.

We ate dinner and then watched TV. The news started, and I asked Mom why the news lady would wear a tight top when she was so big up there. Look, she’s having trouble reading the page on the desk. It was kind of like her partner with a big stomach reaching for something he hadn’t seen in a while, and Mom was laughing as I said goodnight and went to bed. I’ve noticed several things different about me here than on my home planet. I can sense my surroundings and read thoughts or minds. Barbara Billingsley, or Mom, wanted a baby, but her husband had a low sperm count. I was the perfect answer to their problem and her husband’s political aspirations. Mom wasn’t letting me go anywhere. As I said, I hit the mother lode here. I was lying awake, feeling tingling all over my body, and wondered what other surprises were in store for me here and fell asleep.

I dreamed how Mom laughed when I wore Dad’s dress shirt and tie and said, “Come on, baby, let’s go out to dinner.” It was the same thing Dad said to Mom for the night out alone. It was their mating night, and I was fully aware of the process. Our family felt knowledge was needed to understand. So, at eight, I was taken to school by Mom and Dad and learned the ins and outs of the process. I was then given a demonstration of the right way to do it. From then on, I would kid Mom and get her riled up laughing before Dad came home. Dad, or my real dad, was a foot taller than me, and through my studies, I learned why our people were short. The atmospheric pressure was so strong it reduced the growth of everything on our planet. We tried underground growing, but it wasn’t practical, so we grew more of everything.

I awoke and exercised, then practiced my huku. It was similar to Earth’s karate, but we moved quicker and didn’t carry weapons except for defense forces. So, I learned huku starting at age five because my parents didn’t trust our defense forces. There weren’t competitions in huku, only death. So, I mastered the huku art and practiced every day. Another thing I noticed here was I felt a lot quicker and lighter on my feet. So, another benefit of less atmospheric pressure, and I wondered if my growth would be all over or just in height.

I was laughing inside, going to breakfast after my shower wearing my tent. Mom was cooking breakfast and said I checked this morning, and it’s still hanging straight. So, all is good so far, and Mom threw a biscuit at me, laughing. I ate it and told Mom she was a good cook and biscuit thrower. A little higher and could have caught with my mouth. That started her giggling, and she said we have to hurry. There’s a lot we have to do today. And I found out later she wasn’t lying.

The first stop was clothing, and Mom got the pants an inch too long for growth and the shirts one size bigger. Underwear and shoes were the right sizes. Then we went to the doctor’s office, and I was poked and prodded. The doctor’s office was upgrading the computer system, and the technician couldn’t get to work. I asked if I could have the pick of the old equipment if I got to work. He thought for a minute, then said go ahead. I fixed it in ten minutes, and we loaded two computers, monitors, and accessories in the back of the SUV.

The next stop was at the courthouse, and I became Thomas John Billingsley, Jr. Mom said don’t tell Dad. Let him find out later on his own, laughing. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission laughing again. I told Mom I would remember that, and she said you better not. That’s between husband and wife, only Bucko laughing. I asked what she would call me, and I learned my name was TJ Billingsley.

The last stop was school and testing. I scored off the charts in math and science. However, I needed a lot of work on History and English. I pulled Mom aside and asked for the History and English books for grades 7 to 12. I’ll study for a week or two and retake those tests. Mom left a deposit, and we got the books and then headed home. Mom asked what I was going to do with the computers. I said after fixing their programming, they are for you and me. Mom said John is really going to be pissed now. He couldn’t get the internet to work right, so he refuses to come out here without being able to communicate with his office.

It was dinner time when we got home. Mom cooked, and I unloaded the SUV and put the clothes in the laundry, computers in the office, and books in my room. During dinner, I told Mom I felt tingly all over last night. Then I asked if we should measure me and keep track. Mom thought it was a good idea, so after dinner, we marked my height on the closet door jamb with a pencil 4’2” and the date. She said well, do this again before going home next month, and left for bed. I was confused because dad was 4’ 9” and Mom was 4’7”. I must have grown quite a bit since arriving. I looked down and confirmed I was growing all over. Then, I read grades 7 and 8 in History and English and went to bed.

I awoke, exercised, practiced my huku, and sensed someone on the hill behind the house. So, I dressed, went out the front door, and circled around and behind the man. He had a camera with a large zoom lens and binoculars. I picked up a large rock and knocked him out. Then I stripped him and laid him on top of an ant hill and took his gear and clothes back up to the hilltop. I located his car using his binoculars and headed that way. The only thing worthwhile inside was his camera case with an extra lens and accessories. I took the cash and credit cards from his wallet, then threw his clothes, wallet, and key in the back seat. Returning home, I put everything away, took his credit cards to the office, and shredded them. I heard a loud scream going to breakfast after my shower, and Mom wanted to know what it was.

I said it must be the photographer I caught taking pictures of the house this morning. I knocked him out, stripped him, then laid him on an ant hill with his privates at the top. Then I took his clothes to his car so he could leave. The ants must have woken him up, stinging and biting his privates. He was on the hill for over 20 minutes before waking up, so the ants are probably in every cavity on his body. By the way, isn’t your bedroom at the back of the house, Mom?

That woke Mom up, and she called Dad and said release the dogs of war on Stan Loman. TJ caught a photographer taking pictures of the back of the house, John. Our bedroom is at the back of the house. So, you do something, or I’ll cut his balls off myself and hung up. Mom asked how long did I think he was there. I said not long because his engine was still warm, so he has no photos unless you did nude yoga this morning. Mom laughed and said no, I didn’t do that and was still asleep. Thanks for taking care of the asshole. Mom said we should call the hospital and see if he was admitted laughing.

I fixed the internet connection and then hooked up the two computers. I worked all morning reprogramming the computers and deleting useless programs. Finally, at 11 a.m., I called Mom into the office and said check your computer and tell me what you think. She said it was faster than their computer at home. I’m not telling John about this either. He would just come out and spend all day and night in here. So, he’s better at home with assistants to help him do all the work and get home before 9 p.m. Let’s call the hospital and see if they will tell us anything.

The hospital must have had a brain fart today because a man with severe ant bites was admitted an hour ago in serious condition. His testicles had to be removed before bursting. His wang was severely damaged, his asshole and cheeks were swollen to twice their size, and he bites and stings on over 80% of his body. So, I asked Mom if sending him an ant farm, and a get well soon card would be ok. We both laugh our way to bed. I checked the photographer’s photos. None were of Mom, but plenty of the house. His camera bag was another story. He had plenty of pictures of celebrities dressed and undressed doing naughty things. I’m sure he’ll be pissed to lose those, and I put everything away, reading grades 9 and 10 in History and English, and went to bed.

I awoke, exercised, practiced my huku, sensed the area, and went hiking. It felt good to get outside and exercise again, like at home. I used to run every other morning with Mom. On the off days, we did yoga on the patio nude. She said it liberated her mind like running for the day ahead. I didn’t mind helping her, and to admit it felt great. I stopped at what I thought was about two miles, turned around, returned home, showered, dressed, and went to the kitchen.

Mom asked where I went, and I told her for a hike to clear my mind. It did wonders, and I may try running when we return to the city. It’s too rough of a surface to try here, but a fast walk is a great substitute. We ate breakfast, and I told Mom to schedule another test on Monday or Tuesday. I’m ready to complete this and work on online college courses I saw online. That way, I could study at home and watch you for Dad. Mom laughed and said Fat chance, Bucko, you’re the one who needs monitoring, and I agree with your plan. We could take field trips together and use dad contacts to open some doors. Great idea, TJ. I’ll get the testing scheduled today.

Mom went off to do something, so I checked the internet infrastructure and found it archaic and a jumbled cluster fuck. But that opened opportunities for me to explore and get information. Knowledge is power, and I’m going to need plenty of it. I need to get some computer supplies with the photographer’s cash when we go to town for testing. It was nice of Stan Loman to pay in cash and indirectly give it to me. Too bad I can’t use my laptop, but it would stick out, and people would notice. I can transfer my tool kit to the USB sticks, and then I’ll be ready to build my fortune quietly.

I sensed Mom’s return to the house, so I shut down the computer and started reading grades 11 and 12 books in History and English. Mom stuck her head in the office and, satisfied I was okay, went to the kitchen to fix lunch. Mom called me when it was ready and said, your set for testing on Monday. I said great and asked if while there could we do some shopping. I need a walking stick for my hikes to drive away predators. Maybe a second-hand or sporting goods store would have one, and she agreed to go shopping. I spent the rest of the day studying and thinking.

First, I wondered if the captain’s escape pod put me to sleep automatically when it launched and woke me up when it stopped. It answered a lot of questions when I determined it did. Then, I wondered what I could salvage from the pod. I decided it would be better to wait and see what the digs in town were like first. Finally, I needed to get my clothes, put them in the pod, and seal the hole. I didn’t want to risk someone getting lucky and finding it.

During dinner, I asked Mom if divorce records were available to the public. Mom said they are unless they are sealed for a reason. Why? Stan Loman’s wife divorced her first husband, and I wondered if she or her ex-husband had started the divorce and smiled. Mom said that confirms it. You definitely need watching and laughed. I can’t understand why someone on John’s team hasn’t considered it, but we’ll check on it on Monday when we’re in town. We watched some stupid TV show and then went to bed and woke up all tingly and covered in sweat in the middle of the night. I showered, changed the sheets, and then went back to bed.

I awoke, exercised, practiced my huku, and sensed the area. Mom was still asleep, so I did my yoga routine and showered. I noticed some changes to my body drying and looked in the mirror. My body seemed harder, and I went through another growth spurt all over. After dressing, I went to the kitchen, and Mom made breakfast. I told her about my overnight adventure and asked if she could call the doctor to see if my blood work had returned. Mom looked worried, and I said I was just wondering if I needed to take some vitamins with the growth spurts happening. Mom relaxed and said she would call after breakfast.