*WALK OF SHAME*
It had been a rough day, and Izzian was both physically and mentally exhausted. First, he'd communicated with an earthling, which by itself was a very big deal. Then, he'd had to think quickly and act fast which resulted in a few high speed chases.
As Izzian's father, Ojolian, angrily led his son through the streets, never speaking, eyes full of shame, it was no surprise that Izzian had to fight back a few tears. Ojo never even stuck up for the boy. But what was worse in Izzian's eyes, Ojolian didn't even believe his own son. At least that's what Izzian thought.
Izzian suffered the "walk of shame," as his father dragged him through the streets, back to the Klowosky odobo. Groups of Klesians were standing and watching. The adults had "shame on you," written on their faces and his classmates had "ha you're an idiot," written on their faces.
The streets had never been so still that day, or that difficult to walk through, as the hordes of partygoers tsked and clicked their tongues, showing how disappointed they were in Izzian's big- vid outburst.
Ojolian ignored the insulting glares and rubber-necking stares as he pulled his son home through the crowds. In the blink of an eye, a familiar face stepped directly into Izzian's path and blocked his way.
The young troublemaker was forced to a stop when Reddle F. Girth appeared out of nowhere. Izzian had interrupted Reddle's Sendoff Ceremony speech when he hijacked the big-vid and Reddle would never let him forget it.
Reddle was proud that the elders had thought so highly of her and sent her to Grotanoa for her Goodwill Project. She never ceased to rub it in everyone's faces, either. So when Izzian had dared to interrupt her important speech, Reddle vowed to get revenge.
Her new Grotanoan wings snapped open with a flourish and undulated with purple, pink and black, morphing into disturbing shapes as she spoke.
"You stupid boy, I'll get you," she said in a tone that only Izzian could hear.
Then with a self-righteous sneer, Reddle rolled her eyes and said loudly, "Goodwill Subjects never know we are watching them. I was totally angry with you for interrupting my speech, but I'm going to be the bigger person. I just feel so sorry for you," Reddle shook her head in mock pity.
Izzian was thankful when his father pulled him away from Reddle, but he also knew the angry girl would never forget having been interrupted and overshadowed.
Being publicly pitied by Reddle was bad enough, but when Izzian looked up and saw Thil standing by a curb, seemingly ignoring him, he was crushed. He assumed she, of all Klesians, would understand. Thil had been there. She knew he was onto something big in the lab, and had helped him find Eliza. But she just stood there, practically snubbing him, saying nothing in his defense.
Izzian couldn't blame the girl, really. He was the planet's biggest outcast at that moment. If he had looked at Thil for another millisecond, he might have seen the twinkle in her eye as she winked at him, or perhaps the girl was simply accessing her plascreen.
But Izzian didn't care so much about those Klesians judging him and not believing his story. He really only cared about his father and Ojolian had made it perfectly clear that Izzian was wrong. He barely had a chance to explain the reason he'd acted so disrespectful and felt as though his father wore blinders, hiding his eyes from the truth.
When father and son arrived at home sweet odobo that evening, an argument ensued that vibrated the very ground and shook the rafters. Ojolian had eventually given up the argument and sent Izzian to his room advising his son to consider his bad behavior.
As fate would have it, the Al203 Telescope had been decommissioned immediately after Izzian's final session. No one was able to prove his theories about Eliza communicating with him. The lab coats didn't even make a public announcement; they simply hung a sign that read: The Al203 is currently being cleaned. Please come back. :)
The scientists, understanding very little of the actual technology behind the Al203's, remained strangely quiet about the day's misadventures involving Izzian Klowosky. He waited for the blame to be hurled his way, but to this surprise, it never came. Of course, Izzian was still grounded to his room.
Being "grounded" wasn't so bad for Izzian. Of course on Klesia, just as on earth, homework was never something one was grounded from doing. So, Izzian continued to study the characteristics of earth for his Goodwill Project and studying earth was a hobby the young Klesian happened to enjoy.
The only thing he was really missing out on, being grounded to his room was the Sendoff Ceremony. Izzian had attended the Ceremony every year of his life, always watching the older kids receive special attention and perform speeches. It was bad luck that the only year he'd miss the festivities happened to be the year it was held in his honor.
Izzian thought about the Ceremony and what he may be missing being a prisoner in his own room. The Sendoff Ceremony was well-known throughout the universes. The festivities were complete with out-of-this-world roller coasters, Klesian epicurean specialties, competitive simulation games and other social events. The roller coasters were literally "out-of-this-world", since they normally involved rocket fuel and space suits.
He had ridden them all before, though, and played in the simulation games countless times. He'd already tried any alien gourmet food delicacies worth trying, such as fried Plevert on a stick. If he thought about it, he was kind of glad that he wouldn't be at the party this year. He wasn't missing much.
The Sendoff Ceremonies also ended up turning weird in Izzian's opinion, since most of the students were in the middle of their transformations. From time to time during the Ceremonies, he'd recognize someone from school in the middle of transformation and it always made him a little uneasy. Some kids might have developed an extra set of arms, or proudly displayed the bud of a Chulupean tail waiting to fully sprout.
Shape shifting all depended on the location of a student's Goodwill Project. Since Izzy would be travelling to earth, his classmates would only chastise and poke fun at him for his trite human appearance
Izzian imagined the few choice words Reddle F. Girth might have for him if he dared to show his face. He wasn't exactly scared of Reddle; he simply hated the sound of her condescending voice.
Over the years, Reddle made it a hobby to pelt Izzian with insults and criticisms. Izzian could only imagine her glee if he showed up to the Sendoff Ceremony, ripe for the plucking. Not only would she comment snidely on his human appearance, but Reddle would most definitely lecture him for his recent big-vid proclamation; the very proclamation that had gotten him grounded in the first place.
Reddle would most assuredly rub her sprouting Grotanoan wings in Izzian's almost human face. Of all the kids and all the planets, Izzian was terribly dismayed that the elders would choose Reddle F. Girth to go to Grotanoa for her Goodwill Project. It simply infuriated him.
He didn't understand how Thilillian Yangsley could ever hang out with Reddle, either. It seemed to Izzian that he understood girls as much as he understood the propulsion system of a travelling asteroid; and that was very little.
So, the less time he spent among the crowds at the Sendoff Ceremonies, the better. As an act of contrition, Izzian decided to take his father's advice and think about everything he'd done to get himself into trouble. He'd made so many mistakes; it might take him the rest of the day to remember them all.
Lucky for him, he had all the time in the world.
***
CHAPTER 8