The Human Sensor
By Tanya Coleby.
Copy write 2022.
Cover by brosedesignz-bookcovers.
misstcoleby2@gmail.com
Dedication
Dedicated to those with invisible disabilities just like Ralf and also like my adorable twins. Your disability is what is invisible - but you, most certainly are not.
Remember that always, no matter where life takes you.
This is the story of an alien sensor- a young man with mostly human, but also with some Martian blood, running through his veins. With the help of a wolf shifter- from another planet, the two get ready for the biggest battle of them all.
The fight to save the world. And also, themselves, from what may come hunt them down from up above. Because danger can come from all directions, and now that aliens have made their way to Earth- this now includes the skies up above.
The Martians want Ralf, but if they take him, then he will surely die without his much-needed meds, back on the red planet.
The only thing getting in the two teen's way is their own passing doubts and crippling fears, and the very space academy that was supposed to be training them to fight, prosper and to succeed.
But failed to do so.
And the fact that Ralf is a type one diabetic.
Could he go on to do what he was destined to do and save them all from certain death and destruction from the out worlder`s, who have taken a shine to their luscious blue and green planet? With a little help from the very person- an alien wolf shifter, whom he is supposed to hunt down, hand in and to take control of!
Will they fall down and perish with their people or will they stand up and fight…
Now-2032
Ralf pointed a finger at the figure`s wearing dark hooded cloaks that were lifted so that he could not see what their actual faces looked like. Shrouded in complete mystery and so that there was not an iota of any skin showing on their persons that he could actually see for himself.
One of them, he presumed they were all males by their statures, stood ahead of the others menacingly-presumably their leader, and edged nearer to Ralf in small but confident booted steps. Ralf felt a dark and dangerous feeling run over him as the figure grew closer to him second by second.
Like the feeling you get when you are doing something reckless, and you know that you are one step closer to danger.
Yep, that feeling right there.
His hair stood up on the back of his neck and he shivered with terror all over, much like someone had just now walked over his own grave. Goosebumps dotted up his arms in little patterns that increased as the figure tried with no shame to enter into his own personal space. Darkness grew in his stomach, feeling like he had swallowed something bad and foul.
Something deadly!
He was having none of this though! They might have the power and the strength, even more than he did, but they weren't taking him down without struggle easily!
He didn't ask for any of this, it wasn't his fault that he had been given a free Martian upgrade when all he had wanted was to be saved from the point of death.
At the time that he was made into something different and unbelievable- he had been just merely a small child.
Now he was the age of eighteen, it still was not his fault, nor would it ever be. He would not take the blame for it! Not on his Nelly!
"I am not leaving with you!" The daring teen pointed a shaking finger at the main cloaked male dude, with as much strength in his voice as he could possibly get out right then.
Because he wasn`t.
He really wasn't. He wasn't going anywhere! Not with them.
Not with anyone.
To give up all that he loved and knew and loved with a passion on his own small world- no thanks!
"I think you will find you are lad." The hooded figure hissed with displeasure at the intriguing human, and tried to grab a hold of Ralf, who moved a trainered step cautiously back.
Each step they moved closer, he moved one step back.
"That you will find is down to me and me alone. That is my decision to make." Ralf turned and looked at the wolf at his back. Protective as always. A friend when he was in need. Faithful to a fault. There was no other way than that to describe him.
An alien with a heart.
Unlike these grotesque monsters here stood right before him who probably had nothing where their hearts should sit. He was like them in a way- but also, he were not.
"We know what you are, Ralf Logan." One of the other voices rang out.
The voice was horrible, chilling, eerie. Like a scary sounding Halloween character, from a bad teen rated movie. But these weren't comical horror characters in a cheesy film, these were real, these were- Martians.
They pulled out glowing swords from their backs that glowed like molten lava.
That would be Ouchy!
He scanned his eyes from left to right, and after a few minutes of concentration probably less- he drew his weapon from his back also.
"Hey bud, I've got one of those too!" He bellowed as he struggled to hold the glowing Martian weapon that weighed a ton.
But it was still one of him against five of them, and they were masters with their weapons whereas he had only just touched his for the first ever time.
And they wanted to take him back to their planet with them.
Dead or alive…either way they wanted him with them.
And he wasn't going easily!
CHAPTER ONE
Then
2032
The sound of light pitter patters of raindrops, at the large bay window in his untidy room, woke Ralf up from his deep snoozing slumber. One in which he did not want to wake up from any time soon. One In where he had been dreaming that he was floating quickly through the depths of space, on a bright red, loud chuffing express train, that never seemed to ever stop for a break.
Nor did he ever want it to.
For he had been remarkably enjoying its calming and soothing rocking lull, and the break from his usual normality and endless routine that happened day to day.
There were no stations that he had seen as the train passed on through. And nowhere for it to stop for a break.
No.
Just one big driving around, as he was a reluctant passenger on the train on a continuous loop. Forever.
Until the end of time.
A funky dream to have even for someone such as him! Someone, that was actually well and truly plagued by monsters that came and rose into the dark... but also whilst he was there in the light too.
It has been that long for him though on seeing them materialise before his very eyes since young, that he was slowly getting used to it, and all that what it entailed from him. And all that it so meant. It was now in his nature to accept them no matter what may come his way- and to keep them in line while he could so do.
But not fully- for could you ever get over seeing something as monstrous as that?
And it was all too real for him.
Ultra to real…
He had now accepted it and it no longer always caused shivers to trail down his spine every time he felt one of the beasts coming to his world or he if spotted one from afar.
Or a group of them. Bad or good he had the same feeling run through him- and he hated it, he so truly did…
He was that day in specific, feeling unusually tired, unhappy and disappointed on his brutal awakening from where he had just been laying. He had discovered as he had leant over slow as a baby snail full of sludge and looked over at his clock on his side bedside table to check what time it was. And discovered that to his utter most annoyance he was due to get up soon anyway.
Like right then!
Right, that very second. A lot of groaning came from out his thin chapped lips, the ones that he had never liked, was going on…
Why God, why! He cursed inside to the heavens that may be up above.
He had cursed this in his blurred, awakening feeling brutal mind. Still snapping out of his groggy ass sleep that would take a strong tea or three to awaken from its dragging down effect. Enough to finally enable him to peak and reach his utmost best for the day. He reckoned that he could have laid like that forever just himself and his warm bed, that happily cradled him at night as he drifted safely to sleep.
Just the two of them. It was all he needed right then. And all that he could imagine. In the room that had been his and only his since the day that he was born. He wasn't good at sharing anything by any means! And lucky for him- his ma hadn`t expected him to either. Because he wasn't sure he would.
But he knew that cool early September day that he had bigger fish to fry or should that say - bigger aliens to zap.
Ralf eased himself gently up and out of his comfy, overly large, slated double bed, one with R2D2 in bold proudly on the front, with a loud rather fed up and exaggerated sigh. He turned his aching body round in his too warm, soft and squishy bed, not wanting to ever leave it as long as he lived.
Looking forward already to the next time that they would be together again.
He hoped that it would be soon. But he had other things going on that day that were more important. His bed must wait hard as it was to get up.
Stretching out his extremely aching, lean, slightly fuzzy legs, and then shutting the large, blinking snooze button off, of the Star Wars alarm clock on the side cupboard, that had begun to chime annoyingly and wouldn`t shut up now, and was making a constant din, that was too early for his ears to handle.
A racket.
Yes, there were a theme going on there- Cos Star Wars, well and truly rocked in his un bias opinion! He wouldn't hear a bad word said about it, and any future partners would have to be understanding to his love for it- or they could take a running hike!
He turned it off with a click.
For all that he would have needed then, was a raging, crippling headache griping him like a vice to boot from the blaring alarm clock, as that day was going to be complete and utter manic for him as it was!
He needed more than anything to be on the ball right then! Alert and ready for everything and anything that could happen in his day ahead of him.
So, he knew that he had better get up right that moment, before he nodded off in to a dozy, dribbling slumber again and became late for the academy!
Um…like he usually did.
Because no, he had with much debating to and fro in that often intelligent and knowledgeable head of his, decided over the long six weeks summer away from the academy that he had attended. And he had decided that from that very day on he wasn't going to oversleep each and every morning or be late as per usual.
No.
That was all most certainly firmly well and truly behind him now!
Gone were the days where he missed the best taxis available out there, and had to get the rusty, clapped-out old ones, due to the best ones being taken already due to his constant lateness. Rocking up in an old but clearly loved taxi on the ground while others pulled up in smart, new transport that could run un-interrupted and carefree like the wind.
He had firmly decided that it was going to be a new beginning for him.
As that day at the beginning of getting chilly September, was when hopefully if they pulled their finger out and hurried up and decided finally, was the day when he found out whether he had finally been promoted from the role of meagre space cadet, that in his view didn't get to do anything fun or daring- to the rank of special space soldier, and then graduated if he so chose to from the space academy, that he had attended- for the past two years.
Two long, hard years graft along with some of his peers from the villages only high school and others from elsewhere in other stretched out areas. Ones that had been specially hand selected like he proudly had been, and who had also passed the crazy hard entrance exams, to be able to get in to even try and have a chance at the space academy as a space cadet.
Those in his year had earned it. They all deserved to move on to the next step. Every single one of them. There were no slackers that he knew off in his classes that he took, but he knew that not everyone would get their wish come true because they hardly picked anyone…
All this had happened ever since he had thankfully left his local high school far, far behind.
He was glad.
Because truthfully everyone hates high school don't, they?
Few like it or admit to liking it apart from swots or those that are popular with their peers and who don't have to go out of their way every day to try to fit in, when some others are determined to make their senior life as miserable as they possibly can!
And Ralf was no exemption to that!
He was well liked not being big headed, but there had still been boys trying to take him down a peg or two.
When he had left its dreary gates that last exciting day, he had decided after much deliberation instead of going to college like his ma heavily hinted at him doing so, to instead to try to join the space academy and to see where it went.
Where it took him.
There was nothing else that was wanted by him at that time. Because becoming a space soldier was all he wanted to be. To be admired, popular and needed by others. The opposite of the way he felt back at school!
And there still nothing that he would rather be- even two long years on in his journey to there.
He just wanted to join it. And join it he had done.
The hard-working youth who at school had had his head in the books and his ears to the teachers, had studied as hard as he could in what sparse spare time he had and fluked through the tedious exams, passed the various work and experiences that were thrown his way, and now that, that whole adventure was nearly over, and it was time for a new one- to hopefully begin for him.
Exciting stuff by any means!
For special space soldier, was in his opinion where the good times lay ahead for him. Where those accepted would get to spend gruelling days being challenged in whatever they did, instead of sitting there hopelessly watching on the side-lines bored stiff, while others out there got to do all the hard graft instead of them. Where others defeated there from another planet enemy, while they were the ones who had to be saved when things went wrong.
Well, he wanted to do the saving for a change!
Frankly if Ralf said so, it should have been him out there saving peoples skins, exploring the dark depths of space all over and orbiting the Earth in a large ship with his loyal and brilliant team- whoever they may be. To watch for passing threats to it and beyond and go out into the universe to see what was out there.
It would be where he would finally have the chance to be able to kick some vile, crafty alien ass, and to take back the Earth for his own.
As it should well be.
Because it didn't belong to them! It was not theirs!
As of now at the grown-up old age of 18 if he didn't say so, it was when he was finally ready to prove himself to those that were in charge there at the space academy- to his stiff, awkward and at times mean boss and the one in charge- Brett, and his second Higgins who was a bit hit or miss in his personality and moods also. And to show the whole spinning world he lived on that he was a boy no longer.
No- finally now that he had had his eighteenth birthday six months back- a fully grown man. One who could make his own choices and decisions- within reason as he lived with his ma, and he didn't want to majorly pee her off by partaking in dubious things. Not that he would most likely want to.
He was quite mature- most of the time for his age. He had, had to have been with what he had seen and done over the years that others had not.
But whatever may be- he knew beyond anything at that time that he would show them all there at the academy what he could really do. He would pass their expectations.
And he decided at that precise moment when the academy first excitingly opened its large, welcoming wooden doors a short drive away from his home, and before he could even attend there, as he was when it first opened -hanging around high school like a bad and lingering odorous smell just trying to stay sane every day.
Trying to get good grades and all that so that he could try to do well and prosper in later life!
That he knew even then that he would when it was his turn to eventually go - be the best alien hunter that there ever was around, or that there ever would be, as long as there was a need for an alien space division in the UK.
Which, seeing how the alien footfall, attacks, abductions and UFO sightings had heavily increased over the ten years from zero chance of ever happening, to too often enough- then it was most likely going to be a permanent feature….
Reach for the top, that was his whole motto! And he darn well stuck with it. He wouldn't settle for any less and why the hell should he?
People would remember him for years to come for his bravery and absolute heroism! He had even gone and grown a small moustache just for the occasion, to mark the descend finally into a real man! He were the age of one- sure, he could drink, gamble and wed if he were crazy enough to.
But he most wanted to look the part of a man too!
Well, his moustache was barely there he had to admit it. Dark brown, nearly black. To match the colour on his head that were shaved at the sides. But it wasn't his fault that it wouldn`t grow very well at all, and that it took months to even see it even resemble what it was supposed to!
A proper man`s face. And he had changed his hair too to match. Though he hadn`t needed to.
He had wanted to.
He still reckoned boastfully that the girls that he knew would love it when they later saw his change in appearance later that day for their all-important decision, and that they would flock eagerly in their droves, and they would suddenly see him in a whole new light, fighting with each other, over who would become the admirable beau of a world class alien fighter!
Him.
But there was only one girl on the lad's radar. His long time, one and only crush.
When all his group of friends out there had been on various dates, had had stolen but sweet kisses, made boyfriends and girlfriends, and chatted and giggled to the opposite sex or the same one, in the hope of progressing to sweethearts.
Ralf had not really done that much.
Well… ok if he admitted it, he had done nothing at all…
Because he hadn`t if he was honest since he had matured and grown up, been interested in all of that until of late.
He was what was known as a late bloomer. Later than others that he knew of and who he hanged around with. It just hadn`t interested him in the slightest, but it didn't mean that he didn't have urges or thoughts passing through…
He had only on hitting his teens, just wanted to make friends, and then as he left school to get on with the space cadets, and to then go on and into the depths of space.
Do what he felt he was born to do.
And what was to become of him. Because there was no use dragging your feet into the ground when you knew there was something that you needed to do. That you must!
His destiny. He liked the sound of that. It had a nice ring to it.
Because it kind of was with all what he knew and all that he could do…because he wasn't like the others that he knew. Not really. He was different. Way different.
Different in every way. He was also the only human whose blood wasn't pure, pure human. But he still felt the same as they possibly did. Just more powerful -you know?
His only crush that he had ever had in his years, was a courageous soul, that he felt he was lucky to know- a young and curvy, blossoming woman called Ana. A friend of his who he guaranteed had never even looked his way as anything apart from just mere friendship that he were aware of.
And who was also a fellow cadet of his. Pretty, determined, and very much strong willed like him and knew her own mind. Two of those traits meant she was a dam good cadet!
She, who he bet would be so impressed by his promotion into the vast unknown when it happened, that he would for the first time, sweep her into long, lanky arms and she would reach in for a celebratory kiss with him. With red, rose bud lips she would look at him with her meek blue eyes, long lashes and gorgeous black hair pulled into a fancy braid.
And like him he reckoned that she would pass at the academy too! He would bet his life on it. But if she didn't, then he still reckoned that he would still want her so very much with everything that he had. He thought that were so anyway.
He hoped so.
Well one could only dream, couldn't they? A welcome consented kiss from someone near, but so far from his reach, and awaiting touch. He had never had the nerve since his feelings changed to reach out and express to her, that he wanted more from her then just friendship.
In case he was rejected…because that would smart.
He had seen it all with his friends, when they liked someone, and they thought without a doubt that their love interest liked them back, but when it sadly turned out they didn't...
Soul crushing, from what he had seen. Unimaginable.
And Ralf might put a hardened exterior on at times to those that he knew and cared for that he wasn't bothered by others not liking him, but he was just a softie really.
He didn't want to take that chance or risk himself. The chance to be hurt. Rejected. Thrown down.
Dumped.
He snapped out of it with a firm shake of his short brown-haired head and stopped the endless daydreaming about a crush that he had, but probably really shouldn't do if he knew what was best. Then he went over sleepily with tired heavy bare feet, to the cramped beyond anything, wooden wardrobe that had held too much stuff and was slightly overflowing and bursting at the seams from all the shit he had stuffed into it.
And out he pulled of it, a smart, clean cut, white academy crisp uniform that a certain lovely mum bless her, had neatly hanged up on a hanger for the day ahead, and ironed as well! With only a little bit of begging entailed as he was frankly rubbish at it just like most young ones are.
Who wanted to waste their precious time ironing anyway, when there was more fun to be had on this planet and soon to be other ones besides this one? He thought that it was the sort of thing that his ma would enjoy doing anyway in her spare time!
He reckoned that woman liked housework- didn`t they? After all he had never seen his father do any to his knowledge. Even on his days off from his work or the holidays! So, it was either that most men just didn't do it… it couldn't be because they were lazy could it?
Nah, he didn't think so!
White uniform was for the training cadets at the space academy, which he found hard to keep clean with the pristine colour that it held. Grey was for the qualified space hunters and black was especially for those that had had after cadet training and were able to venture into the unknown- on and into where it all happened- space. Who had permission to leave the planet on behalf of the academy. But not all of them came back…
Ralf was hoping by the end of the week that his uniform would have changed colour from a bright and startling white to an unlikeable shade of seal grey.
He liked grey but not that flat shade. Who even had picked it?
He had a quick refreshing soapy shower with a hint of lemon shower gel that smelled like the lemon on pancakes. Mmm. Frothing the suds all over his trim body, his dark head still in the clouds, then got out, dried and then scanned his small but trusty libre 10 CGM, which thank the lord had still stayed attached while he showered- whereas water often made it flop off onto the floor.
Useless.
Yep- all good he noted for a change, on seeing the blood sugar reading appear like magic onto the awaiting screen of his thankfully charged up phone.
And then he did what else needed to be done and had gotten quickly and hurriedly dressed into a fab smart uniform, that would hopefully soon have a shiny new badge stuck to the front, declaring his newly upgraded status on the front of it, for all around to see with their own eyes.
Proud of him they would be.
A space soldier or space commander as it was also known by some.
Then as he was now done, he pottered out of his slightly messy room that he had all to himself after squirting himself with lynx, or ok it was admittedly a very messy room, and it was on his to do list to clean it at some point in time for sure! He swore it were so!
But other things needed doing first, beforehand. Things that would bring meaning to his small but full world. Things that would take him onto other ones.
As time ticked on that too early morning, he trod carefully out of his room past all the various knick-knacks that he had collected from different places- that really, he should return as they were not at the start his.
Past his beloved transformers collection, including the seven movies, why hadn't they made any more? And headed downstairs whilst trying not to fall down them, as he had begrudgingly done many times before in his whole life growing up in that very cramped little house.
He was a trip hazard.
More so a cottage than a house, with small but welcoming rooms, that didn't take much measuring tape to measure the sides from wall to wall. They could have upgraded and got somewhere away from there in a well to do town with well to do people, but to them- it was their home.
Even though it had been tainted with a dark and bad memory from years ago- two of them more like.
They- just liked it there. And so, when others that they knew had upped and left, they had decided to stay.
He had thanks to his ma inherited the clumsy gene off her! For she was a total klutz like him too, whereas his dashing father, who people said he looked like was the surer footed one. But Ralf wouldn`t stop doing what needed to be done though, not by a long shot! He would just do it differently to everyone else and then he would do it in his own way and own style!
"Ah crap!" He shouted with anguish in his young voice.
For he had nearly made it down the long, steep stairs of their home in one piece for a change, clutching on to the curved banister for dear life, as he cautiously went down the stairs that were lined with photo of him and close others on the walls. But in the end as he stepped down, he had still managed to lose footing from misjudging the step down, and slipped on the last step to freedom, hurtling his young poor body down hard down the step, and into a ragged lump at the bottom of the carpeted stairs with a crash!
Knocking his head in the process on the way down.
Ow! Who put those stairs there he griped, rubbing his whacked head!
"You ok, there my Ralf?" His lovely ma called out sweetly to her lad, from wherever she was at that moment. He could hear the warmth in her shrill voice, acting seemingly surprised by the din that was made by her kin on falling in a heap, and was hopefully concerned for her eldest son from over in the other room somewhere.
Not concerned enough to get up though and come immediately to his aid, Ralf thought to himself coyly. She didn't exactly come running in a quick dash, to help her beloved son up off the floor when he had landed with a reluctant thump!
"Urgh! He muttered quietly under his soft-spoken breath. "Yeah I`m all good ma!" Embarrassingly brushed himself off and shuddered, and touched his now sore forehead, and pulled himself up of the floor where he had landed and brushed down his now not so flawless uniform.
Bugger it!
Now caked in fluff from the floor, annoying, as he felt like he needed to be perfect. To look perfect. To act perfect.
For himself and not just for them who awaited a few towns down.
"Thanks for helping me ma!" He muttered again under his now minty clean breath.
She was such a trooper he thought to himself sarcastically. But he could never stay cross with his family. No.
For blood were thicker than water!
Carefully composing himself and trying to confidently enter the family`s small cosy, bright newly decorated living room with a stride. And on entering he was he admitted, surprised to see his mother there waiting with a large, glorious mug of steaming hot tea for him which he loved, and some thick buttered toast on a plate with his name on it.
She was a star like no other!
Except at stair tripping, helping of.
He wasn't a mummy`s boy no, but he appreciated everything that she had ever done for him in his lifetime, and she had done a lot and kept a lot- for him and for his sake. He didn't understand those that treated their ma`s like garbage. It was sickening.
He was protective of his. And she was of him.
"Hey ma. Why are you not in bed? You have been out all night!" He said in question and giving his lovely ma, a quick kiss in greeting on her blushed cheek. She looked frankly knackered in his view and she probably felt it too! She looked ready for bed bless her, he thought with slight concern at her ragged appearance. She had been out all night at work, not out on the razzle with the girls as usual helping others.
It was in her sweet nature.
No offence to her intended, but she did look pooped he could see that clearly. He looked at her again feeling shame and guilt that she were this way and frowned openly. Maybe he should get a part time job to take the weight of her shoulders? It would be a while after he qualified before he went into space, and he got paid… But no, she had told him to follow his heart and far as his career went… he decided he would broach that subject with her soon.
But not that day. It could wait.
"Not yet my lovey, I will do in a bit." She replied warmly to him with a sweet motherly smile at her eldest son. Her obvious love shining through.
"Hey, did you trip down the stairs again, you nana!" She smiled in loving jest at her boy. Her bright eyes crinkling in her amusement and looking jokingly at her son with tired eyes.
"Um. Maybe…"
He turned his head, now feeling embarrassed at his lack of coordination and blushed like a juicy red tomato.
"Oh no, you're bleeding my son!" She fussed on seeing the side of his head up close in the light of the day. She let out a small dramatic gasp that he was wounded and may need his mother's help and covered her mouth with a smooth hand.
"Its fine ma, honest." He tried to move his injured side of his head out of her piercing gaze.
"Look, I`m a nurse, if you let me just…." She said frantically fussing at her elder son. He may be eighteen now yes, but he was still her little boy! Always.
"I`ve got it. Honestly. I`m all good, look it's just a nick."
And he did have it.
"Ok if you are sure, sweety."
"Positive."
She smiled back lovingly, backed down at last and let him have his way, knowing not to push him any further because if she did, she knew that he would just pull back in defence.
She reluctantly sat back down into her seat and fought an incoming yawn which set Ralf off.
God he so missed his bed already!
He had slept on and off restlessly throughout the night. Much too wired from twitching nerves and being on edge to settle down and sleep properly. His ma had had no sleep though just yet. How did she do it?
Not good for anyone...
She was cream crackered, as she had been at work all night at her job as a sister nurse, at the newly modernised local hospital in the next town. It was tough work for sure it was, and her son knew he couldn't do it if he was in her shoes.
But somebody had too! They needed her now more than they ever did. Especially the way things had been going of late.
And since the whole space programme was upgraded to include a brilliant, new swanky alien division, and a space academy for daring teens like himself. And more and more other planet`s species, were creeping like a bad smell out of the woodwork to join the earth`s people. When really, they should have stayed where they were! The universe was big enough for them all to explore.
They didn't need the earth!
But many aliens were now for some reason choosing it.
There were some good ones, some that were just meh, and some that he had had the misfortune of seeing, were just plain nasty. Vicious, violent, scary- the stuff of nightmares!
Then due to this there was more and more casualties entering the hospital where his poor over worked ma worked, daily!
From attacks or just plain nosy stupidity on seeing an alien and getting injured or assaulted in the process! Because even the good aliens could lash out if they felt threatened or challenged by others.
The hospital his ma worked in didn't need upgrading as such- no. But it needed another one building nearby or a possible extension for all the traffic that was coming its way! It could only hold so many patients and see so many people at the always cramped A and E!
He smiled warmly back at his maker, and replied to her, worried that she would overdo it and burn out and fade away. She needed to slow down before she fell down!
"Ah ok. You make sure you do ma; I don't want you burning out from working too much. Maybe cut back, and let dad pull his weight?" He stopped when she gave him a defensive and strong look.
"Ohh, what`s that you're watching on your pro iPhone?" Cheekily peered nosily over her curved shoulder while she was having fun shovelling endless cheerio's into her mouth, whilst pulling a face at what she was watching on the screen there in front of her which made her frown then laugh out loud, with a cackle like a happy slightly demented witch.
She was such a happy soul and he felt he was forever lucky to have her as a mum, for deffo! He had seen some of his friend's mum`s and in his view, none were even a patch on her!
Not so ever!
She lifted her smart phone to show him what had amused her so greatly. She had a childish sense of humour just like her son did, and when one got the giggles about something rather random, then you could be sure that one was to follow on after! His dad would just laugh and roll his eyes at them. He was more serious unlike his twin brother who had always been a bit of a clown.
Still was.
I phones had come a long way since they first come out. The reality one was well out there even for the likes of him! The cadet was admittedly more of an android lover but still somehow had ended up with an iPhone due to the apps.
"It`s just a stupid video on tick-tock reality Ralf, nothing exciting my boy! Look this one's hilarious it's a cat video, the cat can talk!" And it did. It was cursing in cat.
"Hey, here`s an idea Ralf. You could make one when you are at the academy one day. it might get you more noticed. Not that anyone could exactly miss my handsome, smart son in action!" She grinned, tiredness lining her still young appearing face. As a woman in her thirties, she still looked darn good.
She said this comment proud as punch of her eldest son, trying to grab him and kiss him on the cheek with a sloppy smooch of her lips, making him fake squirm out of her loving grasp.
Up, out and away.
As he moved away from her touch, she swatted him on the arm in loving jest, whilst looking concerned at his head where he had whacked it, she looked over when he moved. She grimaced, not like at all seeing her elder boy even a tiny bit injured, no matter how lightly he said it were.
She was a mother, and she could fuss over her kids if she wanted to!
"Awe mum."
Ralf blushed again and acted like he was disgusted by her overly unapologetic motherly affection. But he secretly if he were honest liked her all-motherly care and affection really in his life. As it made him feel safe, secure and wanted. As wasn't that what most people wanted? To feel loved, secure- inside and out.
The two of them had always been blessed with having a close bond that they shared together. And he knew that if he ever needed her in anyway, then she was always a shoulder to lean on in times of crisis and peril.
And he was to her. But he hoped that day he would not need her- for he would get the result he so wanted.
They had been through so much stuff together, that couldn't help bonding you closer somewhat to those you shared the whole experience with. He had sadly nearly died on a few occasions that he could remember as a child, and it had made them, it had pushed them even closer by the whole trauma of it all that would never leave them.
Near death-his, brought them together and kept them there.
Ralf wanted to make her happy more than anything by filming his academy`s current day, but he knew that without a doubt that it wouldn`t be allowed though. The taking of Tick-tocks at work, in a private environment, that was supposed to be out of eyesight of the public there were confidential things held there-amongst things that would horrify the general public if they ever got revealed to them.
Or a leak got out. They also had a few HQ`s in London, but all the nitty gritty and stuff was done in their impressive out the way, Norfolk Academy setting. Possibly because no one else dared to have one in their county because who actually liked aliens?
Well except the any aliens welcome fan club who were best avoided at all costs.
He sighed and let her down gently to his horror.
"Sorry ma, I`m quite sure that it's against protocol to do that and if I did so then I know that my boss would have my head on a spike and then held up for all around to see! But if it was allowed, then that would be really a wicked idea for me to do! Anyway, when`s dad back from his trip?" Changing the subject to another and sipping his tea and enjoying its brilliant warmth. The temperature in the mornings was starting to drop into a cool Autumn chill, and outside leaves were beginning to drop from their reluctant trees.
He asked after his absent for now dad, as it was too quiet without him pottering around their tiny home, and he knew that his ma missed his father's calm and soothing presence like anything, and he no doubtfully missed hers as well. Loud vs quiet they for sure were, but they were still suited to one another in the strange way that some people just fitted as one.
A couple that truly belonged together by any means. He couldn't see them ever splitting up and he hoped with all his heart that they wouldn`t.
His ma April took a big sip of her steaming hot tea in her favourite- the little mermaid cup. It might have been years old for sure, but it was a favourite of hers still. Cos who didn`t love Disney?
They had that in common.
She was a petite, rather curvy- ok plump, short brown haired, pale skinned freckly woman. With a loud bold voice, that could sound out with a shriek for miles. His father was much more quiet and taller than her so that he towered over her petite height with his own.
He was muscley sure but also quite slender, like his son was.
His ma reminded Ralf of one of those loud, shrilling megaphones where the sound travelled as loud as when you yelled through it. For such a small female she had a big voice. But she had a pure heart. If angels were on earth, he knew she would have been one of them.
When Ralf had been bad when younger, you could guarantee that she would have yelled out - "Oi Ralf, what have you done now?" And then she would do a deep sigh as he explained his current mishaps to her and waited. His father let her take the reign with scolding him and deciding on what punishments to delve out.
It was a voice that could be clearly heard down the road even with the windows shut. If she wasn't such a pleasant woman then he reckoned the neighbours would have had something to say about it!
In looks, Ralf took completely after his dad more though who was Asian. Asian, just like his parents and his identical twin brother Julius as well- obviously. Ralf looked mainly Asian as well like his dad were, but with a little bit of something else thrown in due to his mum being a pale English rose, and he had lighter hair then his dad did, and he cut his much shorter at the sides as trend.
He looked at his mother and waited an age for her to answer him with what he wanted to know, as if she was thinking carefully about how to answer him.
Then she spoke finally, her weariness from being awake all night at the hospital telling in her voice.
She stopped. She was like in a brain fog. A trance.
She shook her head and snapped out of it.
"Ma look, its ok." He spoke softly to her.
"Sorry son. I don't know what came over me for a minute. He's back tomorrow, hopefully my lovey. Raymond has got him doing this and that, you know the drill. Who knows? Who cares though." She shrugged obviously unsure again of what it was exactly the lord Raymond of Suffolk, her husband's cool boss, had gotten her husband roped into on that very occasion.
Whatever it was, it paid for the bills when they dropped through the door in an instant and they were more than comfortable off and could afford the nicer things in life, that they wanted or needed, so she asked her husband no questions, and he told her no lies.
It was how they worked perfectly well together. He knew that his ma wasn't comfortable with his father's whole charade at work, but she loved him too much to make her feelings known to him by voicing them out loud.
Raymond was Ralf`s dad`s domineering, slightly shady boss. He was also the imposing lord of his own great Suffolk manor which was located down the road from their cottage like house.
And his dad had been working for him for years. Even before Ralf himself were born!
Jeez, a long time to work for someone for sure. So, they must get along.
His father used to be Raymond`s wife`s- the lady Lynette`s, personal bodyguard with his identical twin brother as a kind of job share. But he was now onto doing other various, questionable things for him, as Lynette had put her foot down at long last and decided that she would handle herself from then on in on without needing a bodyguard hanging around.
Which was fair play to her as they had all seen her in action and you wouldn`t want to mess with her! She was simply bad ass! She would make a fine space soldier if she had wanted to and could shoot actual fireballs with just her hands and electrocute those if she chose to with powers, she had inherited from her people plus her own one!
Ralf to be honest, wasn't quite sure what it was that his dad did for work presently, but knowing Raymond, then it was probably slightly shifty and maybe even a tad bit illegal or shady. But much as he didn't agree with illegal activities, he could never diss Raymond or his suspicious ways at all. In his opinion he was the complete and utter bomb, and he had always gelled well with him and his awesome wife.
Raymond had pulled a puzzled Ralf aside one day in confidence, to ask him if he could take over from his father, as Lynette`s personal bodyguard. What with his special ability that Ralf possessed, the great lord knew that she would be safe from E. Ts with him, who were trying to whisk her away again for her powers.
Just like they had the last time back when.
Plus, they had kids to look out for now. Two of them.
One ability Ralf should have added that no one else on the planet had except him to his knowledge. One, that had to be kept on the down low for fear of anyone finding out about it and then using it to their own advantage….
But he had bitten his tongue, said to the lord-sorry no, that he instead of being a guard, wanted to rise at the space academy, to hopefully go into the depths and mysteries of space and uncover as much mystery as he could do. And work on Earth with others in his midst, to keep the aliens that had joined them all and who were hiding from them all-under tight control.
Lynette had luckily said no to this request from her husband also, and as much as Ralf and Raymond had always gotten along and he had a lot of respect for the guy, then this was a man who was not used to the word no.
As some had found out to their detriment…
No one, just no one wanted to upset the likes of him! And if they did then they would not get away with it any time soon! He was the scariest man around. The shadiest too possibly.
His beloved wife Lynette, who he putting it, slightly worshipped the ground she walked on. Was a really nice alien from another planet a few galaxies away. Yes, you heard right- an actual real-life alien!
He apparently met her when he was on a mission into space that went horribly wrong, and he and his small but loyal crew had ended up crash landing through space, then through the sky and onto her thankfully, habitable planet! Lucky it was there really! If it was not there, they would have plummeted into nothing.
He said that when he had set eyes on her, then he could not leave her planet without her by his side, for all of eternity.
Every breath then on that he did, would be for her. No one else.
She, in Ralf`s opinion, was a nice E.T. Not at all like some of the rest that he had had the displeasure of bumping into over the past ten years that aliens had started to gradually show themselves more and more, to the mere Earthlings, who some species felt were beneath them.
But who still visited their planet anyway…
Ralf had only gotten to know that his quiet, fun-loving dad, was actually his real-life dad at the tender age of eight. Although he had seen him about before then as it was a small place, and his ma of course knew him. It was a small village such as where everybody knew everybody. But at that time the lad and the man- hadn`t known about each other being father and son then - no. It to be honest was very a complicated and sticky situation about why he was unknown to him as his father till then, and his ma had had her reasons which he had respected.
But luckily father and son had gotten on really well ever since of them being reacquainted back then. And luckily his father had understood his mother's reasoning's behind keeping it from him.
And they still did now. Ralf and his dad were both laid back and rather like each other in personalities. Quiet, loyal, hardworking and slightly awkward geek`s. His ma said to him that young Ralf was like a younger version of his father!
That was 10 long years ago but it felt like much longer, as they were so close now that you would never have guessed that they had ever been apart from each other in the first place!
Now after a few minor blips and issues along the way, Ralf`s ma and dad were now madly in love with each other also and had since gotten married to each other, and there was now another strange little person living with them too in their cramped but homey cottage…. not an alien no. But a - brother.
Little Dougie.
Doug as if hearing his big brother`s inner most thoughts like a grand toddler possessed, came plodding down the steep stairs one stair at a time, whilst screeching loudly as can be for food with a horrible toddler wail that could cut through glass at the noise of it.
Whilst pottering into the kitchen on his unsteady two toddler feet like someone who had a night on the town -Wobbly.
Coming as quick as into their clean, swanky kitchen to grab his waiting breakfast, without looking where he was going, with his wobbly rushed feet, in his young but refreshing enthusiastic, excitement.
Ralf`s annoying little dark haired chubby brother, was due to be picked up soon by their lovely- or not so lovely, standoffish grandparents for a nice day out into Great Yarmouth to see the sights. He was a bit jealous -not of the going out with grandparents' part, no way! But of the whole going to the seaside thing for fun.
It was a favourite place of theirs.
This was so that their poor beloved over worked ma could rest for the day.
Poor thing. Ralf kind of felt sorry for the little dude, having to hang out with their ma`s snotty parents all day and to be around their grandmas snide and judging ways. He just hoped that his brother would get some candy floss or chips of the market out of it. Something good anyway!
"You should get a proper job instead of that space academy lark." His grandma had screeched into his ear one day when he was on his way out of there because she had arrived like a bad smell out of the blue. Daring to darken their door all whilst she was standing with a large glass of red frothing wine, that she had helped herself to from the kitchen.
"That academy is an eyesore." She had said. "I have seen it with my own eyes, and it makes the unworldly come here!"
"Mother!" His own better mother than her, had stood up for him but sometimes she didn't. To keep the peace.
He doubted the old bat could see anything with her poor eyesight and the thick framed glasses that made her look like an old stuck-up librarian. And not the cute kind either.
He could hardly say to his berating grandmother that it was the academy and all the hard work they all did after qualifying, that kept her alive and safe from the aliens getting out of line and taking over and invading their world.
When this conversation had happened, he had turned his head from her overly displeased face and had rolled his eyes behind her judging back at her. He was much too polite to do it in front of her even though he so wanted to.
He didn't know why his ma put up with her! If she was his ma, then he would have left home and not ever looked back. Luckily, for him she wasn't.
"Bugger off!" He had muttered quietly under his breath.
He thought though that if his ma wasn't desperate to get some sleep, then even she wouldn't have even got her own mother to have her beloved younger son. He knew that his grandmother had wanted his mum to have an abortion when she was expecting him, that might be why he had a grudge.
He had heard her say the same when his ma was expecting Dougie, and then it had all come out about what she said regarding him. Disgusting to try to pressurise his poor mum like that.
His granddad admittedly to Ralf, wasn't that bad in rather very small doses spread out over time, but her bloody mum always made him want to rip his own eyeballs out their sockets, after just a mere five minutes in her dreadful company! Her husband just let her walk over him- and everybody else also!
She was so stuck up she really was and thought that she was better than everyone else. Like her poop smelt of roses! And her wee smelt like champagne.
But we all bleed the same.
"Hey Doug, you ok over there mate?" He tried forgetting about his scary relatives and spoke in question to his brother. And he, his little bro, gave his older sibling who he so adored more than anything a cute grin like Chucky in a rather good mood.
"Raffy." He murmured to his big brother in return with chubby cheeks and a dribbly drooling, happy mouth puckering up, on seeing his big bro. One of his favourite people.
"Doug, be careful!" He warned him. He was one who also held the clumsy gene that were inherited from their ma. It ran in the family.
"Me want Raffy!" His brother neared. His tiny eyes bulged out wide.
"Hey, watch it!"
"Raffy!" Dougie demanded menacingly coming nearer. Like a smaller version of what he used to look like when he were that age, he guessed.
His baby and only brother thank God for him, knocked into his side with a crashing thud, and caused him to nearly go flying into the nearby table that he had to grab onto, to keep himself from crashing over, and taking the nearby table with him as he went!
The older one recovered from the humiliation from the small child, that he had encountered yet again, and then once he had found his feet, scanned his trusty libre 10 again to ensure all was well with his levels. All good. No spikes which was impressive for that time of the morning.
He had seen worse.
Then he sat down into his seat, making sure that Doug wasn't going to knock into him again, and carefully injected his vital insulin with a reusable insulin pen, dosing for the breakfast and the cup of tea like it was required for him to do so.
He could have progressed to an insulin pump, there was all sorts out there now and things had advanced. But in his view, he still preferred MDI, and the old way of doing things.
Yes, because there was two reasons that he might fail to be promoted to an advanced, alien hunter and to voyage the universe from one side to the next. And to maybe go on a visit to Lynette`s planet- the one she spoke so highly about to anyone who knew about it. He knew that the people there were human like for he had been told but they were also- not so.
They could according to Lynette and like her, shock and burn others with their hands in their defence and the people there were tall with leaner builds and their planet was not as advanced as the earth`s was.
There were two big, whopping great reasons why he may not become a next level space soldier…
One, was that he was a complete and utter Klutz and accident prone as shit, and his superior had said one more than one occasion that he needed to concentrate on watching where he put his own clumsy feet, and not just watching what was there in front of him.
The second reason, and the main reason that he supposed he could be set aside also- was that he was a type one diabetic, and he had been one ever since he was only 4 years old.
Just a small and innocent child.
A condition not caused from the young boy indulging in too much sugar like some uneducated people liked to spout out, but from an autoimmune disease. Meaning, it was because of no fault of his own and just one of these things that he had developed it in his life unfortunately. He would always have gotten it eventually.
And he was only four years old at the time of his diagnosis and he had scarily nearly died from it racing unaware through his body, but luckily his ma managed to get him the help that he had so desperately needed before it was too late for him.
And life since then had changed. His condition was a complete and utter pita yes, but he got through and dealt with it. Because what else could you do?
According to the latest up to date research that he had heard, they were close to a cure for it, but alas as always- they were not quite there yet, although they had said that for the past fourteen years since Ralf was first diagnosed with it!
Now this is where it started to get hazy with his condition and his whole part at the cadet.
For according to them in charge who made the crazy ass rules out there at the academy and beyond, the space programme were apparently not allowed to discriminate anyone at all due to the workers various disabilities, and it had to be made available for everyone to try out for. Who passed the entrance and exit exams and with the capability to become a potential space and Earth hunter.
But in the ten years since it had expanded its programme to include aliens as obviously the division wasn't needed till before then, after some aliens finally reached the planet Earth, then there had been no diabetic teens at all join the ranks beyond a cadet at all.
Or anyone with a disability, hidden or visible!
Ralf know of this this as he were in the local diabetic group, and he was known that as actually the first cadet with the condition. A few others that he knew with the condition had gotten turned down for the academy for one various lame reason or another. Such as his friends Toby and Isabelle. 16-year-old Twins who were also type one just like him. To have one child with the condition was awful. But to have two with it was simply - unimaginable.
The reasons the academy had chosen not to accept them that didn't make any sense whatsoever to anyone with a brain…he knew they had it in them to go through the academy`s years, just like he had managed and to go far and up and beyond. But for some lame reason that was wrong in his eyes - they hadn`t. They were refused so were planning on going to college instead.
Well Ralf decided that he would change all of that when he were qualified. He would make change happen.
As of course he could do whatever anyone else did, and he would do it bigger and better than anyone or die trying. As due to his diabetes, he had always had to work just that little bit harder in life then most of his friends did to get by with the everyday things.
To fit in when he had that little bit- well a lot more, to do then all the rest did. But get by he most certainly would and get by he always did.
He would do more then get by; he would always push himself to his limits. Even if it broke him just a little bit each time.
As he firmly believed and still did to that very day, that no one should be held back and kept from reaching their full potential by their different conditions and abilities. And that instead of being held back, that they should be encouraged and helped to be the best for what they could do in life.
As we are all different. All of us are. The healthy and the not so healthy. Ralf knew they could do it too. And the academy needed them. It needed as many people as it could. Because the number of soldiers they currently had wasn't enough. And one day if the poop hit the pan, they would need backup!
For he would not just be remembered for years to come as a bad ass space fighter, who kept the aliens and bad people in check, from their wicked and suspicious ways.
Oh no. For he would also be the first type one diabetic boy in space. And he would make it his mission that he wouldn`t ever be the last one at that. When he had finished then those that could do the job well – they could.
And they would not be singled out for a condition that had them in its invisible grip.
He checked his new much-loved watch then, as he realised his thoughts had been drifting from where they needed to be and saw that it was nearly time for him to make haste and get out of the house- pronto.
He gulped down slightly overdone toast down that was dark brown and burnt crisp at the edges and necked warm comforting tea down like it was his last ever drink. That hit the spot! And he stood up glancing again obsessively at a bright green sports watch that he was thrilled to get for his big eighteenth a few months back.
A proper man`s watch! He couldn't stop looking at it there whilst smiling it there on his arm where before nothing had sat on it. Maybe he was just easily pleased? But oh well, he liked it anyway. Ok, loved it even… If anything befell it, he would be gutted. One of those things that one has that means a lot. His dad had had one similar when he was younger, he had said, but a different colour. And when he had shown Ralf it In his box of memories- he had fell in love. His father had offered his own, but he could not take something so precious from him. Besides he wanted his own one. It might keep him from always being late!
He knew that most eighteen-year-old`s would have spent their very special grown-up birthday having a night out on the town, dancing with like them- mates and downing as many beers as they could get away with until the room span around, and it was time for them to leave for hoe and their beds!
Well, he didn't though. He wasn't like that.
Instead, he had had a small more intimate party back at his home with close family and friends, and then he had spent the weekend studying for his important test, and face to face exam which not being a big head he reckoned that he had no doubtfully passed with passing colours!
For you get what you work for if you try hard enough. He just hoped that others in his class had passed too. There would be a lot of disappointment all around if not. Spending days and some evenings over numerous years to try to get something only to fail… It wasn't to bare thinking about…
He then realised in that moment with dread in his stomach that he was cutting it fine.
"Ma, I've got to go! The academy awaits. Love you. Get some sleep when grandma and grandpa come, instead of watching tick-tock reality! Bye Dougie. See ya later!" He didn't turn back but zoomed off with his bag traipsing behind him.
Doug waved and shrieked at his only sibling in his unusual toddler gibber, then proceeded to ignore him and instead pottered quickly as he could over to the large bay window in the room to wait for their grandparents. Putting his tongue against the glass as though it was a delicious lolly.
He strangely seemed to like his crazy ass grandparents.
Well toddlers like most people! Doug, Ralf decided was not the best judge of character from those who he chose to hang out with such as their grandma on the regular! He suspected that even the devil would swerve being in her company after five minutes of listening to her moaning and griping about nothing of any importance.
His now full stomach knotted in a rather nervous manner that twisted inside and out causing a flutter and a sickly feeling deep in the pit of his toned belly. He was nearly too anxious to eat anything at all, the thought made him feel queasy, but he had made himself eat as he knew that he needed to for his own good.
For his health.
And he didn't want his parents to worry about him when they had other things going on in their rushed lives. They had already been through so much as well as him…
Ralf, then as he was hurriedly leaving out the door for his great wondrous moment of truth heard movement from behind. He quickly turned round.
His mother was there, and she hesitated but then pulled her eldest into a warm and comforting hug that soothed his worry for a matter of time. He had to admit it was what he had needed.
She spoke sweetly, her proud evident in her voice.
"Good luck Ralf! Listen. I didn't know whether you wanted me to say anything about what`s happening for you today, so I waited a while…. but just know, that whatever happens today that I am always proud of you each and every day. And I believe in you. We all do. Me, your father and even your obnoxious uncle." She joked.
Her son blushed, a shade of red hitting his cheeks at the compliment and thanked her then calmly left before he went and came undone on their front doorstep. His emotions were always close to the surface like they wanted to come out to play, but he told himself every now and again that it wasn`t a bad thing. As it isn`t.
It in his opinion is better than having no heart at all.
"Thanks ma."
He wanted to return the favour for all the kindness and caring wisdom she brought his way, and to give her just a wee treat. Just something small but it was something still anyway. He shut his brown eyes tight and concentrated for a few seconds with firm upheld concentration.
And before he knew it a gentle green light left his fingers with an eerie glow- and then there it was.
Now there on the table which had before only sat a simple fake vase of flowers that didn't look in the slightest bit real, had appeared a large, stunning towering cake with rich and gooey chocolate and cream and flaky bits with swirls. Icing dripping down the layers.
Gorgeous.
His stomach rumbled in his hunger and greed at the whole sight of it. Most impressive. He hoped where he had conjured it up from didn't miss it too much! But he had wanted to make his ma smile through her over worked tiredness, even just for a moment.
If it wouldn't involving him getting all of his diabetic equipment back out of his backpack where he had put it, and due to the rig mol of having to carb count his food the majority of the time, and the fact that it would make him rather late in doing, so then he for sure would have had some of the tantalising cake there and then and enjoyed it with a greedy gulp!
Even if just looking at it and all its chocolatey wanting that begged to be bitten into, felt like it would have made Ralf gain a few pounds, so that he couldn't fit into his smart academy attire.
His mother gasped in surprise as she always did when he made something from thin air appear into their sight. Even though he had been capable of conjuring up small things for the past ten years or so, she always acted as though it was the first time that she had ever seen him do it.
She then to his amazement burst out laughing at his brazen naughtiness and waggled a finger at him. This was as they had both agreed between themselves for him to keep the things that he could do that nobody else could on the low down. Not to push his luck in any way.
It was kind of important. It was vital. They didn't want to attract bad attention that may lead to their door.
"Ralf!" His ma exclaimed in surprise.
"Sorry, but also not sorry." He grinned cheekily and poked his tongue out cheekily.
He did darn try to behave himself but well…. sometimes he was done behaving all the time…and at eighteen years old he felt that he should be given some slack for treading out of line on a few rare occasions. He had only just left childhood!
He knew rightfully not to conjure up things in plain sight of others that may be watching him do it, and not to do it too much so it could draw interest or notice that wasn't wanted. But by rights he shouldn't do it at all truthfully and he darn well knew it…
So why did he?
He didn't want to raise notice from any of the Martians…. yes, you read that right- Martians.
Green, lightly scaled, fearful more than not, hidden from the Earthlings- red planet living Martians…
But although he knew that he mustn`t do this and that he mustn't do that- he was done acting normal all the time. His rebellious streak was coming into play with urgent force and there was no way that he was stopping it…
Or if he even could.
"Save me a piece."
He simply said to her with a cheeky wink in his parting as he left their home firmly behind him with now a rumble of hunger after seeing that masterpiece.
"I will try, but if I devour it in one then I`m blaming you if I`m too fat to get out the door later on!"
She smiled at her growing up eldest child and watched him go out of their loving home, then turned to go back into see to Dougie, to ensure that her beloved toddler wasn't trashing the place in his moment alone. A bold crayon mark now starting to face on the wallpapered wall, was proof of what a left alone toddler had in them.
And what they could do…
Ralf silently closed the door to, and walked down the stony gravel path, shut the stiff front gate with a clang and walked down to the end of our eerily quiet street. Luckily, he didn't bump into my grand folks on the way out. Or any nosy neighbours who might want to know his personal business for their own.
His own grandmother, his supposed flesh and blood, had made it clear to him and any family member that would listen to her spite on more than one occasion, that she did not approve of Ralf being in the academy at all, and in himself trying to become a space agent.
Not that he cared what she even possibly thought about it, she could swivel on it with her snotty opinion in his view! The one time that his dad boss Raymond had met her, he on hearing her nasty views had joked to Ralf that he knew ways of getting her dealt with permanently. For she was trying.
And had Raymond even been joking?
Located somewhere in sleepy Suffolk, between Lowestoft and Ipswich, was the home was where he had lived all his short life. The village Gredling. He unlike some others was in no hurry to move out, and he didn`t think that his parents were in any rush just yet for him to leave either. Besides, when he made it and finally left for space, they would get a break from him for a time.
When his dad was away doing this and that for his boss Raymond, then he thought that his ma liked the company that he provided to her when she was off work and Dougie was in bed.
For One needed the company of more than small children like Dougie on a day-to-day basis to stay sane.