06-05-2026, 05:50 AM
Reyna met Beno's eyes and she got a hint of a sly grin, but the feelings that came with it were both loving and a little sad. after a moment, she spoke, "I'm sorry our family is a bit...well...different. I mean, there are often times when I embrace the wierd. because it is often iffernt and can be exciting, but there are also times when I just want to fade into the crowd and have people think I'm normal. I had a crush on a boy once. He was really cute and he really seemed to like me. That lasted right up until I talked to him. He didn't understand a thing I was saying, like we were from different species. Then, on top of that, he was dumber than a box of rocks. I've been avoiding the obvious for as long as possible, but it's just my reality. I'm not going to fit in with regular people."
Alex held up a finger, "Hang on now, you're jumping to some pretty big conclusions on very speculative data. We don't know that's the case yet. After a few more days..."
Reyna cut in, "Dad, the growth hormones alone are spiking at levels that indicate a major shift in my metobolic patterns. Even if this calms down, it would take months, because those numbers indicate increasing, not decreasing for at least a couple more weeks. If it goes as long as a month, then my pituitary gland will have engaged the promary..."
Alex held up a hand, "Hang on. Yes, you could be right. I'm just saying that we hope for the best while planning for the worst and see what we get as it goes. No matter what, we've got quite the brain power sitting at this table and I'm sure we'll figure something out. Meanwhile, let's make the best of things."
Reyna was thinking hard, "Dad, you had issues when you were young. Your sister helped you through most of it, but then she died. I don't have a sibling, but when you didn't have a sibling, you made Cindy."
Alex countered, "No, I started on Cindy...though I see where you're headed with this. I can have Cindy do a full review of your classes and eveluate where things might go from here. We'll sit down and discuss some options once we know a little more. I'm not going to promise anything, but we'll see what we can do."
Alex looked at Beno, "She basically wants a Cindy, but she doesn't understand the down side to such things."
Reyna became a bit sarcastic and said, "Well, isn't that kind of what we do in this family, we MAKE new friends."
Alex rolled his eyes, but then countered with a nod toward Beno, "Yes, but see what happens when I actually make a new friend that I didn't build from scratch?"
That worked. Reyna broke up laughing, which made Alex laugh in return. She then conceded, "Okay, you win. I can't deny the awesomeness that comes with an actual relationship. I just know I'm going to go crazy if I'm going to have to live in this kind of isolation for the next decade or two before I can actually do something about it. We really need to find me some kind of outlet or my brain is going to melt down."
Alex actually nodded slowly and agreed, "That's fair. We do need to find answers to your problems. I'll make you a deal. You give us the time to be sure we know what's going on and work with us, not against us. In return, we will figure out what we can do for you that meets your needs in ways that you actually find not only adequate, but truely help you in the long run."
Reyna looked skeptical at first, glancing to Beno for a moment to see if she thought he was serious or not. Finally, she hesitantly nodded and said, "Deal. You're sounding more reasonable than usual, so what's going on?"
Alex shrugged, "Hey, this is something unexpected, but we expect the unexpected in this family. You're very smart. In fact, you're probably smarter than I was at your age, and that is saying something. Part of you is still a kid, but for me to treat you like a typical child your physical age would be insulting to you and I don't want to do that. I love and respect you, and Beno is part of the US thing now so I feel it best if we try to move forward and face whatever this is together as a family...unless there are any objections..."
Alex looked back and forth between his daughter and his new partner and waited to see if they had anything to say. Reyna seemed to relax once more, trying hard to grin, but the corner of her eye began to swell up with a tear that was threatening to break free and her feeling turned from dispair to love again. Beno was beginning to recall how turbulent such wide mood swings could be and Reyna's world was admittedly pretty crazy for a kid her age.
Reyna then changed the topic slightly and asked Beno, "So, did that kid count as a puppy or not? I'm not sure I'm clear on what constitutes a puppy...well...other than an actual puppy."
Alex looked totally confused and asked, "What?"
That only made Reyna look at Beno and start laughing, not at him, just at the joy of having a small inside thing between her and her mom. That was when the tear managed to escape down her cheek and vanish.
==Tag Beno ==
Alex held up a finger, "Hang on now, you're jumping to some pretty big conclusions on very speculative data. We don't know that's the case yet. After a few more days..."
Reyna cut in, "Dad, the growth hormones alone are spiking at levels that indicate a major shift in my metobolic patterns. Even if this calms down, it would take months, because those numbers indicate increasing, not decreasing for at least a couple more weeks. If it goes as long as a month, then my pituitary gland will have engaged the promary..."
Alex held up a hand, "Hang on. Yes, you could be right. I'm just saying that we hope for the best while planning for the worst and see what we get as it goes. No matter what, we've got quite the brain power sitting at this table and I'm sure we'll figure something out. Meanwhile, let's make the best of things."
Reyna was thinking hard, "Dad, you had issues when you were young. Your sister helped you through most of it, but then she died. I don't have a sibling, but when you didn't have a sibling, you made Cindy."
Alex countered, "No, I started on Cindy...though I see where you're headed with this. I can have Cindy do a full review of your classes and eveluate where things might go from here. We'll sit down and discuss some options once we know a little more. I'm not going to promise anything, but we'll see what we can do."
Alex looked at Beno, "She basically wants a Cindy, but she doesn't understand the down side to such things."
Reyna became a bit sarcastic and said, "Well, isn't that kind of what we do in this family, we MAKE new friends."
Alex rolled his eyes, but then countered with a nod toward Beno, "Yes, but see what happens when I actually make a new friend that I didn't build from scratch?"
That worked. Reyna broke up laughing, which made Alex laugh in return. She then conceded, "Okay, you win. I can't deny the awesomeness that comes with an actual relationship. I just know I'm going to go crazy if I'm going to have to live in this kind of isolation for the next decade or two before I can actually do something about it. We really need to find me some kind of outlet or my brain is going to melt down."
Alex actually nodded slowly and agreed, "That's fair. We do need to find answers to your problems. I'll make you a deal. You give us the time to be sure we know what's going on and work with us, not against us. In return, we will figure out what we can do for you that meets your needs in ways that you actually find not only adequate, but truely help you in the long run."
Reyna looked skeptical at first, glancing to Beno for a moment to see if she thought he was serious or not. Finally, she hesitantly nodded and said, "Deal. You're sounding more reasonable than usual, so what's going on?"
Alex shrugged, "Hey, this is something unexpected, but we expect the unexpected in this family. You're very smart. In fact, you're probably smarter than I was at your age, and that is saying something. Part of you is still a kid, but for me to treat you like a typical child your physical age would be insulting to you and I don't want to do that. I love and respect you, and Beno is part of the US thing now so I feel it best if we try to move forward and face whatever this is together as a family...unless there are any objections..."
Alex looked back and forth between his daughter and his new partner and waited to see if they had anything to say. Reyna seemed to relax once more, trying hard to grin, but the corner of her eye began to swell up with a tear that was threatening to break free and her feeling turned from dispair to love again. Beno was beginning to recall how turbulent such wide mood swings could be and Reyna's world was admittedly pretty crazy for a kid her age.
Reyna then changed the topic slightly and asked Beno, "So, did that kid count as a puppy or not? I'm not sure I'm clear on what constitutes a puppy...well...other than an actual puppy."
Alex looked totally confused and asked, "What?"
That only made Reyna look at Beno and start laughing, not at him, just at the joy of having a small inside thing between her and her mom. That was when the tear managed to escape down her cheek and vanish.
==Tag Beno ==