Jenny met me in the center of town.
The rainy season has commenced on her planet. Around this time the larger caterpillars get agitated. Volunteers all get a choice of staying inside for a week, or heading back home. Jenny chose a week of mall shopping and family meals over processing stool samples.
Something was different, but it proved hard to pinpoint the change. Like she had grown a foot, but stayed the same height. We hugged, and her hair smelt of raindrops.
She was keen to see the Stitch, and so we head over on the bus. The driver needed a charge before departure, so we sat in silence for a bit. I doubted my work would live up to her placement, but she seemed excited.
It was weird to walk around in the Stitch without jobs to d. Like I had forgotten my uniform. I almost saw the park through a visitor’s eyes, without the tank cleaning regime, without seeing where the cans go. Link dealt with a customer in the distance. Deni was somewhere, but I did not want them to meet Jenny today.
I am sure she would be cool with everything, but I just wanted a day with my friend.
A new creature has appeared in tank 882 since last night. Or rather three. Their square heads tapered out to tadpole-like bodies, and they zoomed round in circles, sparks of electricity jumping between each other.
Jenny put both hands on the glass, her nose close to touching.
‘Venus, this is so cool,’ she said. ‘You get to feed this stuff?’
I winced at her calling these beautiful animals ‘stuff’, but I nodded.
‘When I am told to.’
'We never even get to touch the caterpillars.'
After more tank visits and more glass touching, we swapped stories, and lunched on cucumber sushi. I learnt how Jenny has to lay out huge beams for the cocoons. How they power their accommodation with the flap of butterfly wings. So many worlds, with so many opportunities. I have to accept regret at missing out is inevitable.
She brought up the Butter Mouse too. The other one. I held back on my feelings, and tried to swerve around her questions. But her shock about burning metal is hard to avoid.
Jenny is staying in my room tonight. On the floor near the window, tucked in the same sleeping bag from when we were fifteen. She heads back in a few days to one of the stars above.
I have not got further than my bed.
Messaged Deni until early morning. Makes me feel better about being here.
Clip: More footage from the transport. But look at that red vehicle! Is that the same style as the one we are travelling in? Is the metal plating designed to keep out wildlife? So much to learn.