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The girl was pretty and petite, with short-cropped dark hair, fine cheekbones, and a pensive expression. She looked about sixteen. She was also standing perfectly still, eyes shut, directly in the path of Bob’s morning walk.
“Er,” said Bob, “excuse me, missy… are you alright?”
Her eyes flew open, revealing striking brown irises. “I was just feeling the planet,” she said after a moment.
“Oh,” Bob replied, unsure how to respond to that. He was still half asleep; words didn’t come easily in the morning.
“Do you know,” she said, speaking rather quickly, “I’ve been to Earth so many times I recognize the planetary rotation now? And the atmosphere, and the sun! My teachers want to get back to their time, you see, only we keep missing. But I know Grandfather tries, because there are so many planets, but we come back to this one again and again. It’s familiar. Isn’t that amazing?”
Bob blinked at her.
“Sometimes I pretend,” she added, voice lowering, “we come here because it’s home.” She gazed at Bob, wide eyes practically glowing. “What is it like, having a home? I don’t like to ask the others. It makes Barbara and Ian sad. And Grandfather too, though he won’t admit it.”
“Um,” said Bob, wondering if he should connect this girl to social services.
But at that moment, a sharp voice from just ‘round the bend in the path called, “Susan, my dear! Oh, where have you gotten too, child?”
The girl’s eyes widened further. “Grandfather!” she exclaimed. “I’m coming!” With a conspiratorial grin, just an edge of pain behind it, she added to Bob, “He can’t do without me, you see. It was very nice to meet you. Thanks for talking.”
And with that, she was dashing away, leaving Bob blinking in considerable bewilderment.