They all stayed in the facilities, and I went.They all stayed in the facilities, and I went... home to my _parents_. They all hated me, they all were afraid of me. I couldn't talk about my folks because nobody else there had parents, you know what I mean? I wanted..." She sighed for a second, then continued. "I wanted a friend, and I never had one. Nobody ever wanted to teach me anything, like playing pool, or 'mech, or anything like that. Even when I tried to join the other girls in their cliques, they excluded me. And why not? I'm not like them; I'm not human. I hope the rats who moved in nearby are doing okay. "I guess I just wanted to thank you, Kolya." He smiled and said, "Well, you're not the only one. I mean, theoretically I have more rights then the average kid my age; my mother has more control over some things than the state does. So why do I always feel closed in on?" He smiled wanly. "I always wondered if other kids my age felt the same way." "Uh-huh," Jofuran nodded. Nickolai's chest felt tight; he kept feeling there was something he should do, but couldn't decide. |