STORIES
306 - Being Human
2022
Mez Io Jesse Tahariel
Early Thursday morning in Io, Jesse & Mez’s room
MEZ:
… This snaps here, and then you’re all set.
MEZ:
… Hey, that’s not bad fit. What do ya think?
IO:
These pants, they feel … stiff.
MEZ:
You’ll get used to it.
JESSE:
Wow Io, you look like one of us.
IO:
Hello Jesse. These belong to Mez.
JESSE:
They look good on you. So how’re you doing?
Did you sleep OK?
IO:
Yes, thank you for the use of your bed, but where did
you sleep? You could have stayed here and slept with me.
MEZ:
No he couldn’t have. No. Absolutely not.
I’m not going through that again.
JESSE:
Oh chill Mez. I explained that all to you Io, remember?
IO:
Oh yes, I remember now.
MEZ:
Jesse, where did you sleep?
JESSE:
In Es’s room. She won’t be back from her
honeymoon till Saturday.
MEZ:
Oh that’s right. Hey, I just thought of something, she’ll be
moving in with Racolo or vice versa. That means there’s an
extra room. Why don’t you move into it?
JESSE:
You trying to get rid of me?
MEZ:
Yeah.
JESSE:
Forget it. I already thought of that. The room’s
going to their kid.
MEZ:
How do you know?
JESSE:
Es texted me all about it. That reminds me - she says hey.
MEZ:
Great - so Lithium gets his own room and I’m stuck with you.
JESSE:
Yeah and I’m stuck with you too.
IO:
I think I feel funny …
MEZ:
And now Io needs a bed. Where we gonna put it?
JESSE:
I don’t know - but he sure can’t sleep
in that lamp anymore.
IO:
Something’s … not right …
IO:
sways
Jesse … I feel funny …
JESSE & MEZ:
IO!
MEZ:
You better sit down.
JESSE:
Hey buddy, you OK?
IO:
I don’t know ..
JESSE:
You think this has something to do with him
losing his genie-ness?
MEZ:
How should I know?
JESSE:
You were one of his masters.
MEZ:
So what? You stay with him and I’ll get help.
A little while later …
MEZ:
Come on in. He’s right over there.
JESSE:
Tahariel, it’s good to see ya.
TAHARIEL:
Right. Io, what happened?
JESSE:
He felt really weak all of a sudden.
MEZ:
Yeah he almost passed out.
TAHARIEL:
Does anything hurt?
JESSE:
No, but he’s still pretty light headed.
TAHARIEL:
Do you mind? I’d like to hear from him.
JESSE:
Oh right.
TAHARIEL:
Io, your stomach’s growling.
IO:
It has been making those noises for a while.
I don’t know how to stop it.
TAHARIEL:
When was the last time you ate?
IO:
Ummm, after the final wish was granted.
MEZ:
That was yesterday. You mean you haven’t eaten since then?
TAHARIEL:
He doesn’t need medical attention, he needs food.
TAHARIEL:
… Io, you have to eat everyday.
IO:
Everyday?
TAHARIEL:
Yes, three or four times if you want stay healthy.
TAHARIEL:
… Ya know boys, according to my Aunt Lu, he hasn’t been human
for a few millennia. You’ll need to refresh his memory.
JESSE:
Why are ya lookin’ at me?
TAHARIEL:
‘Cause someone needs to be looking out for him,
at least for a few days.
MEZ:
I didn’t realize. Sorry Io.
TAHARIEL:
… And I know Mez works after school. What do you do?
JESSE:
Hey I have classes and …
TAHARIEL:
Come on Io. We’re getting you something to eat.
IO:
Yes Tahariel.
TAHARIEL:
And then you’re to stay with Jesse until Mez gets home.
MEZ:
Or Grace, she’ll be home around 3:30. She’s really good with him.
TAHARIEL:
Meanwhile, I have some books you can borrow - all
about the human body.
IO:
I would like that. I love to read. Miss Grace taught me how.
Do they have pretty pictures in them?
TAHARIEL:
Some have illustrations …