Alien Architect Needs a Nanny (Alien Nanny Agency 1)

Tenet 8

Have fun!

- Dr. H. VynFleet, 132 Tenets of Childcare & Maintenance

Emilia

Emilia looked at the depressing meal boxes and then down at Mimi, who was eyeing her expectantly.

“Let’s find Dyrk,” Emilia said. “Then we can figure out dinner.”

Mimi frowned.

“Do you know where he is?” Emilia asked.

“He goes to his room when he’s mad,” Mimi said.

“Lead the way,” Emilia told her.

Mimi grabbed her hand, and they took off through another door that opened into a massive dining room and then a room with nothing in it but a piano.

“Thank goodness I have you, Mimi,” Emilia said. “I might get lost.”

“If you get lost, stay where you are and wait for a grown-up,” Mimi advised, with a serious look in her eyes.

“That is excellent advice,” Emilia said. “Or in my case, if I get lost, I’ll stay put and wait for you to find me.”

Mimi laughed at that idea, the sound of her giggles echoing in the huge space.

Once they were back in the foyer, Emilia knew where she was. They climbed the staircase to the second floor and turned right for the children’s rooms.

Dyrk’s room was all the way at the end. Mimi knocked softly.

There was no answer.

“Dyrk,” Emilia called out. “It’s Emilia and Mimi. It’s time for dinner.”

“I’m not hungry,” he said angrily.

“We’re going to come in now,” she said firmly.

He didn’t protest, so she opened the door slowly, revealing a large room with windows overlooking the side lawn.

The space was surprisingly neat for a boy his age. Emilia wondered if it was his own tendency to keep things tidy, or if it was the work of a diligent housekeeper.

Dyrk sat at a desk, half-heartedly playing something fast and colorful on his gamepad.

“Dyrk, we always eat dinner together,” Emilia said gently. “Even if you’re not hungry.”

“Dad doesn’t eat with us,” he retorted calmly.

Wow. She had no quick reply for that. She mentally consulted the manual.

“Besides,” he went on, before she could come up with anything. “Tuesday is gorzant beans, and they taste like a tree-bear’s ass hair.”

“Ooooooooo,” Mimi squealed, wiggling in her excitement over the bad word.

“I understand what you’re saying,” Emilia said firmly. “But you need to use different words.”