The ChildrenStar Date: unknown.... The child was frightened. Her face was a sickly ashen color, her blue-green eyes wide and tearful, her face dirty with tear- stains, and her tunic was rumpled from the long trip. Her lovely eyes were wide and tinged with the telltale green of the Vulcan. She clung to the woman’s hand with both of her own and the two of them came into the classroom. The woman hesitated, her task unpleasant. That she had no choice in the matter was evident to the others in the room and would be evident to any observer. She did not disguise her dislike. The teacher stopped the lesson. The only student, a gangly five-year-old, rose to greet them. “This is Sarah, she will be with us for awhile.” The woman handed the teacher a records disk. The two women had learned to tolerate each other, barely that and nothing more. She continued. “She has lost both her parents in an accident. She has been living on Earth since her birth and does not know our ways. They felt she would adjust better to life here on Vulcan if she knew there was someone from home nearby,” the woman lamely explained and the teacher listened. When she had finished, the teacher had made no reply and none was expected. The little boy came forward and took the little girl’s hand. Ignoring the woman who had brought her to the classroom, he somberly led her over to the cushions, pulled one out for her and helped her to sit down. Then he stoically resumed his seat, and focused on the teacher. The girl blinked at the sudden changes, staring from one to the other without making a sound. She did not need to speak. She looked back at the woman who had been kind to her, explaining the necessity for the classes, the need for her to stay. Some message had passed between them. The woman turned away, secretly smiling at her good luck. Out of a tragedy, a seed was sown. She left the room. The teacher scanned the new student’s disk and restarted the class. ew student’s disk and restarted the class. |