***Alastair***
Why was that dance called the Ecerre Ball?
Alastair tapped the magnifying glass icon on the terminal. "What is the Ecerre Ball?"
There was a prompt to set up the digital assistant. There were different voices. There was a male and female voice similar to the ones he was used on Earth (they did sound more robotic than he expected, though), two that sounded like a maid and a butler, and one that sounded like a cute mouse.
He didn't really use the one in his phone, but En used the digital assistant in his at every opportunity. His twin would pick the butler's voice even if people made fun of him for it. Actually, En was always really technologically inclined. The school Del went to was supposed to have an amazing program for that. Star was surprised he decided not to enroll there when they started high school.
The boy chose the regular lady's voice. He liked the sound of it the best.
"What is my name, my master?" she asked.
Alastair spoke with a tired voice. "Ramona."
"I like my name." A smiling face appeared on the holographic display. "What should I call you, my master?"
He smiled. "Collin."
Honey traipsed into the room. She wanted to know why he gave the assistant that name.
"Because." Alastair rubbed her chin. "Only Ame knows the truth. Since Cyan and Maggie call me Collin, it'll draw less attention to me when we're in public."
Names made little difference to Honey who like all dogs took the world in through their nose. He'd still be the same person inside, too.
He laid on the bed and smiled. A dog's unconditional love was the best. It made this world better. No. It made any world better.
"Ramona?"
"Yes, Collin?"
He held the terminal to his mouth. "What is the origin of the Ecerre ball?"
"Let me find out." A loading projection appeared. "The holiday began with a family that lived in a town founded before the current king's family came to power. Eventually, it was named for Ethan; his daughter, Catherine; Ryan; his daughters, Elizabeth and Rachel; and a possible additional child often called Eterna."
His jaw dropped. "My family is big but wow."
"The point of the holiday is to connect with and enjoy others, and as such, no one works on the night of the Ecerre Ball, which takes place the Saturday closest to March twentieth." The screen disappeared. "Anything else, my master?"
He shook my head. "Thank you, Ramona. That will be all."
The green light on the terminal disappeared.
***
Alastair missed Lissy. Why wasn't she happy to see him? They always had so much fun together.
The kid jumped out of the car and ran through the open fence.
A man with big hands ruffled his hair. "Are you excited about the barbeque?"
"BBQ!"
Lena giggled at her son. "Atty, the barbeque has to cook first."
Lissy came up to them with a yellow ball. "Let's play ball!"
Alastair smiled. Their ball had popped. Lena had given it to her mom, but she'd yet to finish mending it.
"Maybe you can play that later." Her dad smiled at her. "I don't think you want to get too close to the grill."
"Okay..."
Rin carried Noah to the door before setting him down. "We can still play another game."
"Play?" Noah grinned. "I wanna play!"
"It would probably be better to play inside," Lena said.
"We could play musical chairs in the kitchen," Lissy's mom suggested. "I have some snacks on the table."
"Mommy, can I have some chips?" Alastair asked.
"Let's go see what there is."
"I'll get the radio while you help the kids, if you don't mind, Lena?" her mom said.
Lena smiled. "Of course, Chloe. I don't mind."
En smiled at Noah as they walked inside.
There were four bags on the table. A barbeque, a sour cream and onion, a smooth, and a bumpy.
"Which one would you kids like?" Lena asked.
"I can get the barbeque chips myself," Lissy said. "Otto likes either of the plain chips."
Alastair pointed to the bumpy chip while En picked up the smooth ones.
After the kids ate their chips, Chloe came back with a radio. "Were the chips good?"
"They were good, auntie!" Alastair beamed.
Otto jumped off his chair. "Let's play!"
"Do you remember how to play musical chairs?" Chloe asked.
"Music plays. When it's done, everyone has to find a chair. Whoever doesn't is out."
"That's right, Otto," his mom said.
"We need seven chairs," Lena said.
Chloe got two folding chairs out of a nearby closet.
When the game was done, Alastair threw himself on the ground and made sounds of distress.
Lena rushed over. "Atty, Atty, calm down. It's just a game."
Alastair sniffed. "But I wanted to win!"
Otto sighed. "Noah, your big brother is a bad sport."
Noah tilted his head. "Sport?"
En patted Noah's head. "Means player in this context."
Noah smiled. "Oh!"
Lena picked up her short twin son.
"There, there. A kitty shouldn't cry over spilled milk."
Star sniffed. "But kitties love milk!"
"Bad metaphor, Helena," Johann said, snickering. He turned to Alastair. "Would the kitty like a cheeseburger?"
"Cheeseburger."
En was putting mayo on his hot dog.
Her father laughed. "Think he over did it. Hey, didn't you use to overdo it too..." He saw Rin cover his in ketchup. "with ketchup..."
"Wah?" Rin asked with his mouth full.
Johann smiled slightly. "If Lady Mina were to see you now, she would blow a transformer."
"The robots? Is Grandma super strong?" Star asked.
En scratched his head. "Think it's a saying."
The kids then went back to eating.
***
Maggie knocked before entering the room. "Hey, Collin. How are you feeling?"
Alastair's lip quivered.
Maggie wiped tears from his eyes. "Does something hurt?"
"I-I want Lissy..."
"Is she your friend?"
A nod.
"Well, friends sometimes drift apart. Maggie lowered her head. "To be honest, I felt like Cy and I were in the process of that until we moved in to this place. Her stubbornness to do things on her own results in that."
Alastair tilted his head. "Weird, she usually tells me that I can depend on her."
"She can dish out help, but she can't take it. It's how she is. She gives, but she doesn't understand receiving well."
"Guess there's more to her than I thought."