Every day, we sneaked into that park and went to the hangar to play during recess. Teacher didn't notice and I thought that was odd. We came back sweaty and ran hygiene. I noticed it did not count on our energy quota, either. So nice, to feel clean and not have to wait until we went home. Things get uncomfortable when you can only run hygiene 4 times in a day!

It was hard not to think about my new pet. But, I had supper with my family and tried not to seem eager to start my lessons. Vatti noticed last night. "It is good that you are becoming more serious about your studies. This week I did not have to tell you to begin."

"I am serious, Vatti." Does it show? But I did not see any frowns, so I suppose I am successful.

Today I walked fast, but when I got near the ED on our corner, I slowed. So far, it did not move from its spot, floating above our heads like an ugly flower.

Most children walked faster at the corners. Adults smiled at me. If they knew an ED spoke to me, they would frown.

But once past it, I walked faster again. Put my hand on the plate. Maia was not at the door! I hurried to my room.

"How helpful." Maia frowned. "I am alone in the house with an Otherworlder, and if Government finds out I will be answering their questions for days! My program is due tomorrow, and I must complete!" She stood before the closet door! How does she know, if she didn't open it? Suddenly the creature poked its antennae out. It was sniffing through the three hollow structures.

Maia backed away and looked scared! My pet came out. It was cute, and she lost her fear of it. It had three antennae on top of its head about two centimeters in diameter, a round humanoid face, and the four legs which joined in the same part of the round body. It was not exactly furry, but more fuzzy with loose, wrinkly skin. Great-grandmother had a stuffed toy called a 'teddy bear' as a child in Ohio. He reminded her of it. Her thoughts were loud!

It looked up at her with its two large green eyes and emitted a sound somewhere between a purr and a sigh. Such pleasant noises he makes.

What are you, anyway, you Whatz? Maia did not expect an answer. She stood rooted to the spot, hoping the terminal did not decide to contact the authorities. Watching it as it lay down.

"Whattzz," it repeated aloud.

"What is your name? What are you called?"

"Whattzz."

"Okay, you are Whatz. I," she said, pointing to herself, "am Maia. Can you say May Ah?"

"Mayah, Ah ee Mayah."

"No. You Whatz, I Maia."

"You Maia, I Whatz." It spoke better.

"Why are you in my sister's closet?"

"Why." A singsong tone. Cocked its head.

After a few minutes of teaching it names of objects, Maia looked mad. How am I to get it out of the house? And who could I get to help me do it?

"Green. Eyes green," it purred.

"Yes, my eyes are green. Your eyes are green. But not everybody has green eyes; my sisters both have blue eyes." If an Otherworlder had to visit, why now when my work—she stopped midthought. Maybe I should just go sit in the living room!

If an Otherworlder came, he would be lost. The buildings all look alike. Maybe he was trying to find another house. Maybe someone lost him. But who would know Otherworlders? All the other houses here were occupied by Eicken Project scientists, except for children, of course. Children.

"What are you doing in my room?" I could not wait!

Maia whirled to see me. "Do you know anything about this creature? It was in your closet."

"I found him. He's mine!"

"That cliche will not do. You know what would happen if the authorities--"

I ran to him and hugged him. Whatz seemed to be enjoying it and purred loudly. "I know the rules. I did not bring him here. He just opened a dimensional doorway and started living in my closet."

"When? I did not smell anything before this morning." Maia frowned.

"He has been here for the last week and nobody said anything. He probably got lonely. They put out smells when they want someone to get curious and come to them."

"What is he? Where did you find him? Open your memories, right now!"

Maia saw me with Davon and Roch. Davon, with dark brown hair and eyes crouched, eyes squinting, arms stuck at odd angles to his body. Roch curled into a ball, his blonde hair tufted over his face covering his eyes. He lifted his hair in two bunches, revealing deep blue eyes squinted in concentration. Suddenly they found themselves on the Otherworlder ship!

"See, I told you they would help us," Davon said.

"I hope they helped us before the ED recognized us. You know what my dad would say after I failed my nuclear structures exam, Davon," Roch said.

"Where are they?" I was eager to see them again, but I didn't think they were Otherworlders. I just thought they were someone's pets.

"They are here." Davon smiled. "Just wish them to come out. They hear your feelings."

"Here is one!" Roch watched as his pet sat down in front of his jump shoes. It looked up, and its eyes were the same shade of blue as Roch's.

"Just pet him. They like it." Davon stared past him. As Roch began petting the creature, two more came through other walls in the empty chamber.

We three kids enjoyed ourselves playing with them, petting them, roughhousing with them, running and jumping around the ample space.

"How long were you there?"

Aronna pulled at her blonde curls. "Just a few decmins, then they zipped us back to school. But this one decided to come with me. You will not tell Mom, will you?"

Maia sighed. Thought about a prog she wrote to prevent Otherworlders from coming out of the Spaceport. Why? But she was afraid to tell anyone. Good!

"Do you have any idea how to communicate with the Whatz or where they came from or why they are here?"

I shook my head.

"Not want Whatz here?"

Maia looked guilty. "Uh, no, not that we do not want you on Areon. We need you to go back to your ship. You see, we like you, but I will get in trouble if you stay here in our house. Understand?"

It half closed its eyes and squatted. The room faded away and we stood in the hangar. Oh, no!

"Thank you," Maia patted the Whatz. "Now could you kindly send us home before my parents--?"

"We are already here! How did you get in? Joleon, Maia and Aronna are here!" Vatti came! He didn't look happy.

"Oh, they brought us here. Did they bring you and Vatti, too?" I hugged Mutti, because she didn't frown as hard.

"We are helping to repair their ship." Vatti tousled my blonde hair. "Mari, they brought them here."

"Apparently they are more impressed with our young than with us." Mutti sighed. "All of their questions have concerned you, Aronna, and Davon, and Roch. They are not very happy or talkative, for that matter, when you kids are away at school. We have not been able to get across to them that they cannot follow the kids to school or wander into people's homes. Their computer system is so sophisticated that they control it by thought. We have not been able to communicate with them much to learn anything about it. They just are not interested in us adults. But, they cannot be bringing children into the Spaceport!

"Could you talk to them for us, Aronna?"

"Well, Mutti, we don't know how--"

"Do not," corrected Mutti.

"Do not know how," I dutifully recited. "They felt to us, and we felt to them. Maia taught that one there to repeat a few words for things."

Both of my parents looked at Maia. "It will take several more days to figure out their dimensional drive." Vatti indicated an open hatch. "Unlike their computer system, the drive seems to make sense, but the juncture between the computer and the engine interface seems not to be making contact. The parts are all there, but it will take some troubleshooting before we figure out where the information is going.

"I am here because the techs keep getting ported out. One of them wandered into my department and ported me here. Pragate wants them to get their repairs, unless we want to talk to a TS Inspector. There are protocols for contact with a new species. I learned them the last time we had an unknown species here. How do they find us?" He looked at the ceiling, and I giggled. Oh, I should be quiet.

"In the meantime, since they like you, perhaps you can get them to share some information." Vatti smiled at Maia.