Page 8 of Thalen

“This is indeed covered in the amended treaty, and it appears there has been a misunderstanding. You’re the first to actually go through this particular process with regard to New Haven, but I can assure you the vetting of those colonists applying for mate matching is identical to that of the Mylos side of things, and the agreement carries over. This means that every single one of them has been determined to be of excellent character and worthy of a mate and the raising of offspring.”

“Oh. So, what should I do? Should I let you guys notify her office so I get permission to come in for testing so I can claim my plot, or what?”

I grabbed the package of Oscar Meyer ham slices that had the little dots of cheese already embedded out of the fridge, along with the mayo, lettuce, and a tomato.

“I’ve just messaged both the Mylos and Dragonii ambassadors, and they both agree that if your social worker is under the wrong impression, it is possible many more also are. So, they’d like to draft an official guidance document as an update that states this unequivocally. I’ll assist in drafting this guidance, and it should be ready for dissemination tomorrow. Your worker should receive it a day or so after that and hopefully will get back in contact with you. If not, you can touch base with her as we’ll also have the national news outlets run a story on how applicants to both programs can take advantage of the various child adoption programs on your planet, including foster to adopt, as well as news outlets on the participating colony worlds know that Dragonii can also get in touch if they wish to adopt a human child as their own.”

“Oh, okay.” I was stunned. It seemed I’d opened a huge can of worms, but for the good of very many future families. “Um, we're supposed to have a check in next week to see how we’re getting on. I’ll make sure the news story is brought up if she doesn’t say anything.”

“Great! We look forward to you contacting us again soon then, to schedule your test. As you’re the first colonial applicant going this route, we’ll fit you in at your earliest convenience. It will make it easier for all those who follow, as there will be an established precedent.”

“Of course,” I agreed. “That sounds great. So, um, if I called and asked for a test the same day, I could do that?”

“You bet. Even if the office has to stay open late just for you.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t make you guys do that,” I laughed, slicing the tomato carefully as I spoke.

“The offer stands. Fingers crossed she gets in touch sooner rather than later, as I’m sure you’re really looking forward to establishing your farm or ranch. No one applies if they are feeling just so-so about it.”

“And how,” I agreed. “I’ve dreamed about having my own little farm since I was a kid in foster care myself.”

“And now your dreams are coming true.”

I paused, my eyes suddenly feeling misty. “Yeah, they are. My dream of being a dad and the one about having my own farm. Thank you. I’ll call as soon as I have the official go ahead. I don’t want more misunderstandings getting Jason removed because I scheduled a test.”

“Then I’ll say good-bye for now.”

“Bye,” I replied, disconnecting the call. I blinked the wetness away. “Acting so maudlin,” I sniffed, poking fun at myself a bit. I placed the tomatoes on top of the lettuce already on the sandwich and began putting everything away and putting the sandwiches on two plates along with a sliced apple apiece. I had my answers, and now, the ball was in Ms. Baines's court. I simply had to be patient for a few more days.

“Chocolate milk,” I told myself, taking down two glasses and the store brand chocolate milk powder. “It’s a celebration, kinda, after all, even if I can’t tell him about it yet.”

5

EVAN

The news story ran as promised, which included the fact that the updated guidelines on the two programs and the new treaty, as it related to fostering, adoption, and child custody, had been issued to government and private agencies worldwide. I had opened a very large can of worms indeed, but seriously, how had they been remiss in making sure that everyone who needed to know these things did from the very beginning? My guess was that the failing was that the aliens had trusted our human governments to take care of informing their own agencies and so, it hadn’t been done very well, if at all. Well, they knew better than to trust that now for anything, I hoped.

It was the day after the national news broke the story that I received a new visit from Ms. Baines, at five-thirty in the afternoon.

“Oh, hello! Did I miss a message that we were to meet?”

Her professional smile faltered a bit as she fought back a small grimace.

“No, I was simply hoping to catch you, as my supervisor saw my report mentioning you wished to move to one of the new colony worlds and called me into her office this morning. I’m to let you know that due to the treaty, you are cleared to take Jason with you, as we are transferring his case over to the Dragonii. Until his feet leave the ground, he is still our responsibility; however, and I would like to ensure that our internal policy is met for his safe transport.”

“We’d be taken up to the fleet in one of the Mylos’s shuttles,” I pointed out.

“Yes, and he should be in an approved child seat. Is the booster you purchased rated for spacecraft?”

I stared at her. “Er, I don’t think so. There were only seats for younger children carrying that certification. No booster seats.”

She pursed her lips. “I shall have to confer with my supervisor to see what was done for children from our state who have gone up to the Fleet previously.”

“Why don’t you come in? We can call the Mylos inquiry line and ask Xeranos directly. I’m certain he will know.”

She gave me a curt nod and stepped inside. Jason looked up from the coffee table where he was building, using some Lego one of my upstairs neighbors, the Cartwrights, gave us, citing their grandson’s interests now being focused on football and video games. A look of alarm crossed his small face, and I hurried to calm his fears.

“It’s alright, she’s here so we can speak to the Mylos together on the phone,” I reassured him.