Changelings by Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

Author:Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough [McCaffrey, Anne & Scarborough, Elizabeth Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780593056127
Publisher: Corgi
Published: 2007-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

"Is it a game?" Murel asked Rory.

"Nah," he said. "They moved us into bigger quarters now that Gran is with us. She has an

apartment of her own next door, but there's a connecting door. Our other place wasn't set up

that way. They just told my mum today."

"That's fast," Ronan said.

He and Murel helped to put things where they were supposed to go. Finally, Rory's mum

called out that they should stop and

told Rory to go next door and get his grandmother so they could eat.

Professor Mabo was the only one who didn't look overheated and sweaty. Rory's mum and

dad rushed around trying to get the food on the table, but the professor took a seat and stayed

there. "Seniority has its privileges," she told Murel and Ronan, showing her dimples as she

smiled at them as if it were a big joke.

"Sure," Ronan said. "I bet you had to run around like this to take care of stuff when Rory's

mother was little too."

"Oh no, I had assistants to do these things. Unfortunately, Elizabeth has not attained the

stature I had even as young as I was, and so she must raise Rory and entertain his friends with

no help except that of poor Bram, who as you can see is not quite up to the task."

That's a nasty thing to say, Murel told her brother.

At least she isn't being nasty to us, Ronan answered.

"Rory, go back to my apartment and fetch the book on my dresser," his gran said. "There are

pictures in there I want to show you all."

Rory had just settled into his chair and was helping himself to the first ladle of food from one

of the steaming dishes.

"Can't it wait until after dinner, Mother?" Rory's mum asked. "The food is hot now."

Ronan and Murel exchanged nervous looks. Rory's mother sounded as if it took all of her

courage to speak up to Professor Mabo.

J think I'm not so sorry we don't have a grandma after all, Ronan said.

They're not all like her. We know lots of nice grandmas in Kilcoole.

But Professor Mabo looked at the two of them and changed her tone. "I'm sorry. How

thoughtless of me. Of course we must eat your lovely meal while it's hot. Rory can get the

photos afterward or perhaps we can all go to my quarters to look at them while you and Bram

clean up. My rooms are more spacious and comfortable anyway."

She smiled at the twins and Rory, and everybody dug in. Professor Mabo seemed to relax

during the meal and even told some funny stories about collecting species on various planets

and her other work with the institute. " 'What kind of a rat is that?' the man asked me, and I

said, 'It's a bear, actually' He said it was no wonder he had sustained so many injuries while

trying to catch them with cheese."

The twins offered to help with the cleanup, as they'd been taught, but Rory's mother seemed

relieved to have everyone out from underfoot. "No, no, you go. It's quite an honor for you that

Mother wants to share her work--or at least its history--with you.

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