Returned

Getting Aqcuainted

Four

Getting Acquainted

It was dusk when Jennifer came down. The sitting area was quiet and the dining room was too. She wondered where Tile must have been, or if her forward attitude had sent him away for good. But before she could even think more about it, Tile the robot came to.

“Where are my guests?” she inquired.

“They’re lounging in the garden,” the electronic voice answered.

“Have they had lunch?”

“And dinner.” The robot returned.

Jennifer went out and headed for the gardens. She had always made sure to keep the lawn even, fresh, and neat. She had a powerful connection to this garden and could not forget the memories. It was here she took refuge when she had a great depression during her marital captivity with Atir. It was here she perched when she spoke with Kennedy, the time she had discovered that he was still alive and in prison in South Africa. It was here she mourned Kennedy. And it was here she always came out to sit and reminisce about the day Tile had disappeared.

When she approached her guests, she was all smiles and reassuring. They had all freshened up and changed into better and fashionable, easy clothes for the evening. It appeared that Tile the robot had done a great job taking care of them and finding the right clothes for them too. Tile was wearing a hoodie on flower-patterned shorts with large slippers that looked funny but comfortable. Rita wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt and sneakers. Charlatan wore a colorful vintage shirt and combat shorts. He was barefoot. In his usual manner, he was making fun and was being the entertainer in the group. Although most of his topics of discussion were serious topics, his mode of approach was what made it funny and entertaining. Presently, he was wondering that they had spent only three or so days on Eris, but it was already a year and several months gone on Earth. But he only succeeded in making everyone laugh.

“I can see you are all having a good time,” Jennifer cooed. “I’m glad you’re getting acquainted.

She strode over and sat with Rita in the same swing. She had seen the expression on the young Aussie’s face earlier and was convinced that she loved Tile as deeply, as much as she did. Somehow, she wanted to extend an olive branch of solidarity. She was old, and even though it pained her, she could let Rita have her man, or share, if she would care to. But one thing Jennifer was certain, was the fact that she was going to consummate her relationship with Tile, even if it were to be once in their lifetime.

“I am acquaintance Ma’am, every other thing tries to get acquainted to me,’ Charlatan sputtered and everyone laughed.

Jennifer informed them that there was need to have a medical expert examine them, since they were coming from another world. But she had taken precautions not to alarm the authorities, so she would call her personal doctor to have them checked. She explained that under normal circumstances, they would have been quarantined for some period before allowing them contact with other humans.

“I feel alright, or don’t you my friend?” Charlatan was saying to Tile.

“I do too, but I also think she’s right,” Tile said. “Besides, she’s taking care of us, so she needs to be sure we are not a hazard.”

“Yeah right. Here I am till the doctors come,” Charlatan submitted, and began to push his swinging chair forwards and backwards, enjoying the swinging ride.

Jennifer dialed on a small handheld flat screen and a blue light began to blink around her earlobe. Tile saw the face of some serious-looking guy appear on the screen. But whatever he was saying was not audible to him. It seemed the blinking light on Jenny’s ear absorbed everything he said.

“I have some visitors I’d like you to check,” Jennifer had said.

Tile didn’t hear what the man said, but after moving his inaudible lips, Jennifer said they were home with her and he needed to bring the necessary equipment.

***************

It was almost 10:00 p.m. when the doctor rounded up the check-up. He had brought a large van that housed the needed equipment and two attendants. Tile marveled at the man’s gadgetry and sophistication. At the time before his departure to Eris, things were more traditional around here. His community had been like a village in the heart of a global civilization. But now everything had changed, and things were advanced. The community seemed to have suddenly caught up with the rest of the world, and doing great at it. What he saw now, was only possible in the movies of thirty years ago.

The doctor had connected all his limbs, his heart area, brain and bowels, to several monitors installed to the walls of the van’s interior. There was a small orthopedic bed upon which he was laid. The systems had accurately read his body system and guaranteed him fit and free of any disease. Of all three, only Charlatan was infected with Pneumonia, and even that too seemed to have been congenital condition than an Eridian infection, and it was not pronounced.

When the doctor was ready to go, Jennifer gave him a sleek, small golden card which he slotted into a handheld gadget that also doubled as his phone. Several numbers ran on the flat sleek small screen in ascending motion until it beeped and stopped. Tile understood that money transfer had been done, but he could not ascertain the amount precisely.

When the van had driven out, Jennifer directed her robot to take the visitors to their rooms, except for Tile, whom she said she needed a chat with. As soon as the robot and the others left, Jennifer and Tile strolled back to the garden where they had sat earlier. The place had a sensual appeal now, maybe by original design, or perhaps, Jennifer had ordered a quick remake to give them a cozy, sexy atmosphere, Tile thought. The lights were dim and green and blue. It gave an appeal of never wanting to leave.

Jennifer strode and sat on one of the swings and beckoned to Tile to come and sit beside her.

“I am so sorry about what happened earlier today,” Jennifer began. “I guess I was being stupid and hopelessly emotional, but you cannot blame me too, can you?”

“You don’t need to be sorry,” Tile said curtly. “I am the one to be sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you, it just happened.”

Tile wanted to tell Jennifer about the illusion he had seen of Uzira, but he decided against it quickly. He assumed that it would scare her, or even make her think she missed Uzira. Perhaps he would tell her sometime after, but not today. He too needed this moment, this one moment to be with Jennifer after these thirty years. But he also thought of Rita now. She had an appealing body that Tile desired very much. He knew he was in the middle of a dilemma, but then he was ready to let events unfold as they pleased. He was tired of fighting fate. For now, he needed to be with the woman he had always loved, even before Rita had come on the scene.

“I know. I am old,” Jennifer was saying. “I am no longer the woman I was when we first met.”

“That is true,” Tile said. “But it is said old wines are tastier. Besides, I am older than you are, remember?”

Jennifer smirked.

Tile’s mood became serious. There was even a brood lingering on his brow.

“Kuv was no longer safe for me,” he said under his breath. But Jennifer had heard him.

“You regret that you are back?” she asked.

“I’m just wondering what I may be doing around here. I simply don’t know how I am going to live my life now, from now on. Seems to me I may fall back to the usual old patterns of never breaking even. Besides, it seems to me the world has moved on, I am just the only one left behind here.”

“Do not say that, I am always here for you. Like before, we can start you something. I even have more than enough money; we could just be traveling the world and doing nothing for the rest of our lives.”

“Sounds lazy and dumb to me.”

“So what plans do you have? When you have rightly said the world has moved on already. Coping in our society now is going to be very difficult for you, trust me. And if we are to keep your identity from the Chinese, then the best line of action is to hang in here with me, while you try to catch up. We can mobilize the Australians to return back home. At least they can do that easily now.”

“So what is this thing with the Chinese you keep mentioning?” Tile asked after a while of thought.

*************

Even when Tile the robot had ushered Rita to her bed chamber, she could not sleep easy. She knew that their old host was up to some mischief with her boyfriend. She also understood that there may have been something between them several years ago, but Tile was hers now, and was supposed to be in bed with her this moment. A thought came to her to go down to the garden and ask Tile to come to bed, but she was careful not to pass off as rude. She only strode and stood by the window of her room, high in the castle. She could see the two lovers now, swinging gently in their seat as they reminisced on lost romance. A pang of jealousy yanked on her heart. She promised herself she was never going back to Redhome, she had never wanted it there. She would stay with the man she had fallen in love with. Charlatan could leave if he cared to, but she would stay.

Now, Tile turned his eyes to her window and they made contact. Her lights were still on, and she could bet that he was seeing her and his heart belonged right in this room, where she was standing.