Meet and Greet

Time was a blur for Lizzy thanks to her emotions. Even though it had only been a little over 24 hours. She didn't want to do anything. Stacy was the only one to convince her to eat anything yesterday.

 Lizzy's mother keeps hanging off of her crying and apologizing. All that's breeding is more one sided pain and anger.

Today the time travelers meet with the Miller family for a formal interview. They only select a few interviews at a time since they can only bring fifty people back with them. 

Lizzy is lost in a blank thought on the couch in the living room. Her father stands in the entry way of the livingroom. His tall stature nearly touching the low archway and his short light brown hair combed neatly. His hazel eyes staring at his daughter. He has his only nice shirt on which is a red button up and his only nice black pants.

"Go change into something more appropriate for the meeting." Her father says.

"No. I don't want to." She whispers looking off at nothing. Since today isn't a school day why get out of night clothes?

"You don't think you're the only one suffering do you?" His voice raised.

"Dear!" Her mother snaps at the man while running into the room. Her nicer looking pink sundress flowing with her. Her petite figure pairs nice with her slightly below average height, dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. She normally doesn't raise her voice.

Lizzy storms off to her room. They want dressed? She will show them dressed. Jeans and a t-shirt. That's all they are getting. 

She lays on the bed in her room. There is a knock on the front door and the dog barked to amplify their arrival. Voices carry down the hall of the nice greetings and apologizing of the "house being a mess" small talk. The voices get louder as they get closer. Then the sound of chairs in the next room scratching on the wood floor.

"Thank you again for agreeing to meet with us Mr. and Mrs. Miller. We are very excited to meet Elizabeth from what was written in the application." Says a male voice.

"Oh no need for such formal talk. Call me Kathy and him Hank. Let me go get Lizzy." Foot steps get closer to Lizzy's room and her stomach fills with dread.

"Lizzy come out to the table please." Her mom says poking her head in her room.

Lizzy forces herself to roll out of bed and go to the dining room. Her mother hangs onto her arm. There sitting at the table is the guy Stacy drooled over, Aspen and the very cheerful girl named Sunshine. His styled hair was mid length, blue/black in color and pale skin with dark blue eyes were striking with his fit build and future suit. Sunshine had darker skin with naturally blonde hair and green eyes. Her build was petite but her clothes suited the way she is built. Their robot hovered silently between them. It's sleek white orb shape had a lit up purple face.

"This is our daughter Elizabeth." Kathy says with a forced smile.

Lizzy gives a small wave from left to right and escapes from the grip holding her. She sits with a thud in the chair that's against the wall. Leaning back against the back rest she folds her arms. Kathy gives her a "behave we have guests" look.

"Lizzy this is Aspen and Sunshine." Kathy says with a forced smile while sitting. "Oh and what was your robots name again? I'm sorry."

"It's Soleil number 6084 but they call it Amethyst, mother. They came to my school. They want fifty high-school aged people to come with them to the future. Where." She sits a little taller with all eyes on her.

"Oh she is just excited. Hahahaha." Kathy laughs nervously and patting then squeezing Lizzy's hand to try to signal her to be nice.

"Go on Elizabeth." Says Amethyst hovering closer. "I'm very curious on what you have to say."

Lizzy glances between the robot and both parents who were giving her the "don't mess this up look". Like they were the ones to talk after doing all of this. Lizzy's thinks to herself. Why should I have to pay for their mess ups? Maybe I should leave. Her heart sinks thinking of leaving behind her animals.

"As I was saying. Where every one and every thing." Lizzy continues while gesturing to the robot. "Is happy. There are no more wars because there was a huge war between now and then. Most people have left during the war for other planets to do what people do best conquer and distroy. The last remaining people have decided that enough is enough. They worked together to neutralize robots that were used for war. The ozone was nearly gone from the pollution from and before the war. So getting that back to where it was was delicate and hard work with the lack of people. It helped having advanced technology and robots to help. Along with the advanced technology all sicknesses have been cured or has a cure."

Lizzy has some pride for the ability to sum up their reason for being here rather nice and efficiently.

"I'm impressed Elizabeth." Amethyst hovers between Aspen and Sunshine. "You seemed to be not listening at the assembly but you have summoned up most of our hour long lecture into mere sentences."

"Oh that's our Lizzy. She is always observing even when it doesn't look like it." Kathy says still nervous.

"Then you purposely didn't bring up the part about if you came to the future what all we offer." The robot lands on the middle of the table six legs coming out and walks toward Lizzy. Kathy and Hank bolt backwards into their chairs. While Lizzy saw this trick at the assembly.

Is it trying to be intimidating? Knowing better since being with animals for so long Lizzy leans in.

"Yea. I did. I can't take my animals so why should I go?" Looking the robot dead in it's lit up purple face.

Kathy's voice was a hiss the volume of a whisper. "Lizzy!"

"Ah. That's the reasoning. Show us these animals would you Elizabeth?" Amethyst tilts its head. Curious of seeing this human behavior.

Both adults nod their head for Lizzy to do so.

"Very well." She says getting up.

She is the first to slip into muck boots before heading out the back door. The gravel crunches as the small group walks to the barn. The goats out on pasture see the group coming and all race to the barn. Slipping through the hole in the side of the barn to their inside pen.

The barn doors are open to let the air flow through and to provide the animals a cool spot to hide from the sun. Lizzy walks in and grabs the baseball bat leaning by the door. Then waits. Hank stands back a bit, Sunshine and Aspen stop right before the door and Amethyst hovers at a distance beside Lizzy. The guests all curios of what the bat is for.

"What's going on?" Asks Sunshine.

"Speckles." Hank sighs.

Here comes a beautiful red and black with white splotches rooster. He is running full force at Lizzy then stops dead in his tracks three feet away. Eyeing her. Waiting for an opening to strike.

"Come here." Lizzy gives him the best voice you would give a puppy. Then leans down a little toward him.

He steps back and stands tall. Amethyst could see him thinking over his choices. While Speckles recalling the many times Lizzy would say those words before catching him. He starts talking to his hens while walking away.

"Fascinating." Amethyst hovers closer to Lizzy. "For a moment I wasn't sure who the bat was for."

"I still haven't used it. Have I?" She says walking deeper into the barn to pet the goats. Setting the bat down by their gate before hopping over it.

"It smells." Sunshine whispers to Aspen.

"Just smile we will be leaving soon. I hope." Lizzy could barely hear him whisper back.

The four goats are all sniffing Lizzy over for treats. Till they see Amethyst and the one does a warning call.

"You're alright Billy." Lizzy comforts the young goat.

"Those three look the same. You can't tell them apart can you? Yea there are two littler ones but they look the same." Asks Aspen.

"Yea outside of their personalities their markings are different. Billy and Beatrice are twins from Zena here. These three are boar goats that originate from Africa so they have red heads, white body and big floppy ears. Bea there has a narrower stripe down her nose then the other two. And Billy is a boy. Along with my marshmallow ear boy."

Snowball has his face in Lizzy's face. The big white goat's knee snaps a little while trying to get closer.

"Hi baby." Giving his one inch ears a rub. "He is a lamancha. I got him twelve years ago when I was five. He has been my showmanship goat ever since. You're a good boy." She gives him his scratchies and he tilts his head and relaxes. The satisfied goat has a dreamy look in his eyes.

Amethyst hovers around slowly. The goats are scared of it and run out to pasture. Outside of Snowball who probably thinks it's a balloon.

"I don't think they like you." Aspen comments to Amethyst.

"They have never seen something that big fly." Lizzy explains.

"That's fine, I scanned them already." Says Amethyst.

"Scanned them?" Lizzy's face is shocked.

"Yes to check for health problems and such. Snowball is very old and will not be able to travel. What where your plans with the others since they are meat goats."

"Wait you're making it sound like I can take them?" Lizzy asks in disbelief.

"We can't take large animals but Beatrice is still small enough to go with you. And we have room for three of your chickens. I would love for Speckles to come with you for me to observe your unique behavior with each other."

Lizzy can't move from being in shock.