Ventura Starway by J.S. Morin

Author:J.S. Morin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781643553245
Publisher: Magical Scrivener Press

The comm panel of the Radio City pinged.

Becky stared past the paused holovid, eyes failing to focus on the frozen image of two anthropomorphic bears playing in a Wax-i-Rod-green forest. From the floor, the sound of dolls flying—evident by the mouth sounds of children making “twinkle” noises—told her that both Rhi and Mikey were present and accounted for.

Becky was sober.

The comm pinged again.

It was just another offer. She didn’t need to answer it.

The comm pinged again.

They’d give up sooner or later. The Radio City wasn’t going anywhere while the hobbyist criminals were amok.

One of the doll noises ceased.

Footsteps.

“Hullo?” Mikey asked, voice coming from the cockpit. “Wow. That sounds like a lot of money. No, my daddy can’t come to the comm right now. May I take a message?”

Fuck.

With a grunt of effort more mental than physical, Becky pried herself from the living room couch.

“Baby, how many times I gotta tell you? Don’t go answering the comm.”

She picked her way through a minefield of toys ranging from building blocks to toddler board games. The clutter had multiplied like little plastic rabbits all over the floor. Maybe the next game could be The Cleanup Race. Despite her best efforts to throw the game, Becky was the reigning and undefeated champion.

“But, Mom—” Mikey began, leaning forward to support himself on the copilot’s chair and reach the comm panel. When had he gotten big enough that he could reach without standing on the seat?

“Butts are for sitting.”

Mikey scowled. “The other kind of but.” He pointed to the comm panel. “They’re offering us a lot of money for our spot here. Should we take it?”

Reaching past her son, Becky opened a channel. “Yo, this ain’t up for sale. Go beg a berth from someone else.” She killed the connection and turned to Mikey. “Y’all gonna go back and play with your sister till dinner. Catch my drift?”

Mikey puffed his cheeks in a melodramatic sigh. “Copacetic.”

Becky smirked at his use of the word. Trying to sound grown-up when he was anything but. Clearly, he was getting bored. Feeling particularly Mom at the moment, Becky felt the inspiration sneak up on her.

“Ya know what?”

“What?” Mikey asked dutifully.

“We’re gonna craft.”

A pair of disbelieving eyes beamed up into hers. “REALLY?”

“Go in the cargo hold and find the box. I got some stuff you two can play with.”

Mikey didn’t need to be told twice. He practically left an ion trail as he blasted off in search of the Box of Wonders. Containing scissors, glue, cotton balls, glitter, and various implements of adding color to different surfaces, it was the messiest activity allowed aboard the Radio City—and that included Mikey’s attempts at cooking.

Meanwhile, Becky retrieved a stack of pamphlets she’d collected during the family’s tour of the swap meet. Comparatively few of the vendors passed out plastisheet adverts touting their capitalist offerings. But the damn place was big enough that they added up.

By the time Becky had accumulated the adverts and filtered out a few that featured adults-only products, Mikey was already at the kitchen table unloading his tools like a racing circuit mechanic.

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