20 Finger Monkey

The main atrium held flowering crepe myrtle trees that spired into the reaches of the glass dome, reaching for nourishment and warmth. Here, it was perennially spring so the pink and white flowers on the trees bloomed year-round.

It was the perfect final waiting area before boarding on a starship that would not see anything blooming with such profusion of life and vitality for a very long time.

After admiring the scenery for a few minutes, Alekai and Jesse trotted over to a hot dog stand and grabbed some food and drinks. They took their meal and went to the seated area by the clumps of lavender society garlic where they ate their food, undisturbed by other travelers who were waiting for their own ships to arrive.

Twenty minutes before boarding time, with their tickets pre-registered at the counter, Jesse was scampering about buying a few last minute items to take with her onto the starship.

As she walked around looking at the trinkets and clothing on display, Alekai carried the small shopping basket with the few clothing items Jesse had chosen.

Knowing she had nothing but the shirt and shorts he had given her that morning, Alekai threw in a few extra items he thought she might need, along with a bag of honey buns.

They had just finished paying for their items when a commotion occurred up ahead in the distance.

Not wanting to be a part of any disturbances, Alekai pulled Jesse away, into the corner between two large clumps of rhododendrons.

"I wonder what's happening over there?" Jesse peered through the tangle of leaves.

He pushed her head back behind his arm. "Keep your head down. We are going to stay out of the chaos until we board the starship. I can't relax until we're up in the sky."

"Me too." Jesse sighed and rested her head on his back.

He clenched his jaw. The girl was so short, her head barely reached his armpits, but that wasn't the problem.

The problem was that the middle of his back was where his squamous cells were metastasizing into snake scales, and her head rubbing up against the scales was starting to trigger that itchy sensation.

At that moment, the throng of chaotic travelers reached the edge of the shrubs where they stood.

He could not afford to have that mindless intense itchy feel striking him at the moment, and it was too dangerous for her to be in between him and the shuffling crowd so he turned his body around and sheltered her into his chest.

"Stand still," he cautioned as she began squirming.

"Hmmm mmm mmmmm". She whimpered.

"Hush. I'll release you as soon as the crowd disperses a bit."

She struggled a bit more but then clutched the front of his shirt. Turning her head up, she looked at him with a strange expression.

"What is it?" He whispered, leaning down towards her face.

"There—there is something on my back."

Alekai narrowed his gaze. He could see nothing behind her but the bushes. Reaching around, he touched her back and felt a soft squishy bump.

For a moment, his imagination ran away and he nearly ripped it off her. But it only took one second before Alekai's rational brain kicked in.

He let out a breath. He knew exactly what it was.

"Relax. It's just a monkey."

"What???"

"It's what the crowd was looking for. There was a monkey that got taken from its owner because it wasn't registered properly, do you remember?"

Jesse nodded, her soft blue eyes wide with shock.

"Where—where is it?"

Alekai leaned over her shoulder. The tiny monkey curled up into a tiny little ball and looked up at him. It had hidden within the folds of the attached hood of her jacket.

"It's in your hood, but curled up as it is, it's barely the size of a racquetball. Do you want me to take it out?"

Jesse shook her head. "It's not hurting me. I think it's just scared, Alekai."

He stared at the monkey. If he took it out, it would scamper about, bringing attention to the two of them.

If he did nothing, there was a small chance it could lash out and hurt Jesse.

It lay there, within the tiny pouch of her hoodie, unmoving. The only thing that moved was its big hazel eyes as it blinked from time to time.

He compressed his lips into a thin line. No point in making a huge ruckus over such a tiny little animal.

"I'm going to give it a bit of my honeybun."

"Are you kidding? Why are you feeding it???"

"I'm just trying to distract it. We can't have it jumping around us and drawing attention to us."

Jesse took a deep breath. "Okay, but if he drops crumbs down my neck, I'm going to scream."

Alekai stifled a laugh. "He won't. I'll give him just a small piece."

He reached into the plastic shopping bag hanging from his arm, tore out a small piece of his honeybun and handed it to the animal.

The monkey reached out and took it with gentle fingers. It turned away and began munching on the pastry.

"Looks like it's settling down." Alekai whispered.

"Good. Can we move out of the bushes now?" Jesse whispered back. "People are starting to think we're making out in here."

Alekai grinned with mischief. "Let them think what they wish. If they think we're busy doing something naughty, they'll leave us alone."

Jesse pulled on the front of his shirt and was about to respond when the overhead speakers began announcing their flight.

"That's our flight. We gotta go, Alekai." Jesse breathed. "What do we do with this guy?"

Alekai shrugged. "What do you want to do with it? It came to you."

"We need to release the monkey, Alekai." Jesse frowned. "We can't take it with us."

Alekai nodded. But the monkey chose that moment to look up at him from within Jesse's hoodie. Its hazel brown eyes were so sad and pathetic, he couldn't shoo it away.

Quickly making up his mind, Alekai reached behind Jesse and scooped up the monkey with one hand. In a swift move, he slipped the monkey into his inner chest pocket and covered his jacket over the monkey.

"Let's go."

"You're not afraid he's going to bite you?"

He turned his eyes and gave her a dry look. "I'm a big scary Strike snake, remember? Why would I be scared of a tiny finger monkey the size of a stick of butter?"

Jesse grimaced. "I hope we're doing the right thing and this is not going to give us a lot of trouble once we're in space."

Alekai shook his head. "Once we're onboard and in space, whatever happens will happen and we will just deal with it together."

Jesse nodded.

"Yes we will."