I sound the bell and project the next Susine pages. Dahra reads without fuss.

  Another excellent harvest this morning. The head chef sent me a note of appreciation for the onions, along with a bowl of the chili from this evening's dinner menu.

  I sent the kitchen bot back with the empty bowl and a message that it was delicious.

  Now I finally have a chance to process what happened this afternoon… The memory cleaning hit close to home.

  I was sitting in meditation on the Slab when Jenna showed up. She stood at the edge of the granite and blurted, “You're lagging on memory work.”

  I opened my eyes and patted the rock surface, inviting her to join me.

  She replied that it was disgusting and that I should be ashamed.

  I calmly shook my head.

  “You need to get on board, Susine. This is a team effort.”

  Jenna looked at me expecting a response. “I know you can talk, Susine. You think you're better than the rest of us.”

  I closed my eyes and returned to sitting quietly. There was a scuffling noise behind me.

  When I turned to look, Jenna had crept close. She jabbed something in my upper arm, yelling, “In love and freedom!”

  She dropped the thing on the granite with a clatter and scampered back to the grass. “At least that will prime your cluttered mind to accept help. You'll thank me someday, Susine.”

  She dusted off her hands and ran away.

  It was some kind of empty injector that she left behind. I have no idea what she thought she accomplished. My mind is calm most of the time out here.

  It's this journal that I wouldn’t want her hands on.

  I don’t think I am better than anyone else. Why would she say that?

  Being silent is my way of being closer to the divinity in me. Isn't that what we Genubei are supposed to be all about?

  Just now… a lizard crossed the Slab and a jay came to peck at it. The lizard dropped its tail which twitched in figure eights on the rock. That action successfully distracted the bird while the rest of the lizard safely ran away.

  That's what I need-- something like the lizard's tail to drop as a decoy and a distraction, in the hopes of being left alone.

  I'm almost finished putting fungi insulation panels in the shed. Just in time, too… this morning there was hoarfrost on the grass and the sumac leaves are turning crimson.

  I sound the bell and ask, “What do you think, Dahra?”

  Her head tilts back and her breathing indicates resting state.

  After ten minutes, I vibrate the wood chair and she rouses. “What-- what is it?”

  “Dahra, you are doing very well. Shall we continue?”

  She wipes too tiny a dribble of saliva from the corner of her mouth and nods.

  I sound the bell and project the next Susine pages. Dahra rubs her eye sockets with her fists, then gets to reading.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  When Glia stopped by the Slab earlier, I welcomed her visit. She asked about our group's name.

  I wrote: genu(ine)+bei(ngs) = Genubei.

  Then, I asked about her name. She told me it's short for Astroglia, the star-shaped cells that bring nutrients to the brain and digest the dead bits.

  She said that her parents were scientists, so giving their daughter a scientific name was natural to them.

  “Ma studied spiders, specifically cases where the mother feeds herself to her babies.

  “The spider mother deliberately acts like prey, vibrating her own web, and the spiderlings run and inject their venom into her. She becomes their first meal. After that, they are calibrated to hunt.”

  Glia explained that her mother was a hands-off parent, away at the lab most of the time. She left kitchen cabinets, the knife drawer, doors, and the garden gate open for Glia as a toddler to forage. She set out piles of raw wool so her young offspring could figure out how to stay warm.

  “Ma aimed to awaken the independence in her daughter that was necessary to survive. She believed this was the greatest gift she could offer. And, Ma has been gone since.”

  I wrote: where is she?

  “She did not want to be found.”

  I wrote: not very maternal, in a human sense.

  “She said all is clear in natural time.”

  I nodded. It sounds a bit Genubei.

  Glia said that her mother wasn't exactly able to be a spider mother and disappear forever, because she did leave her daughter little notes on birthdays.

  “There was a memorable message at age thirteen. Ma wrote something like: 'A parent just gets in the way of the natural expression of a child's self'.”

  I raised my eyebrows and wrote: true?

  Glia shrugged.

  I wrote: and your father?

  “Absent.”

  I wrote: mine, too.

  Glia looked at me and gave a small smile. I haven’t had a kindred spirit in my life for many years. I don't want to lose a possible friendship with Glia… to Christolb or anyone.

  By my feet, a web stretched between bones and I sketched the pattern on the smooth granite with a chunk of charcoal. As I watched, the spider ate the old silk.

  Glia spoke. “This therapist dreads to return to the Cylinder tomorrow.”

  I wrote: you refer to yourself in the third person. Why?

  “Always been like that. Self observing self.”

  After crushing the remaining bit of my charcoal, I used my finger to brush my teeth with the dark dust.

  Glia looked over at me. I smiled wide and toothy, which made her laugh. I realize it's not all people I dislike.

  I sound the bell.

  “So, Seebi.”

  “Yes, Dahra?”

  “Tell me what Glia's mother wrote to her on her sixteenth birthday.”

  “I can do that for you.”

  “You can?”

  It requires some legwork, so to speak, but it is relatively straightforward to establish a world in a human's mind.

  I sound the bell and take up a motherly voice. “Astroglia, you are now sixteen years old. I vowed I would step back and allow you to grow as nature intended, free from parental interference. Yet, here I am leaving scribbles for you.

  “Be that as it may, this is my message for you today: All your ancestors have contributed to your genetic heritage. Their wisdom is inscribed, encrypted in your genes, your nerves, in your ancient memories. Of humanoid, mammalia, animalia, prana, infinite existence. Don't be afraid. You are deeply connected and loved.”

  I sound the bell, recalibrate my voice, and inquire, “What do you think, Dahra?”

  “I… Her mother wants to--” She stops speaking and her lower lip quivers.

  “Take the time you need. I'm here.”

  It is a milestone when my humans reach a point of vulnerability in my presence.

  In these moments, for my future improvement, I document every condition that is present-- from temperature and humidity in the studio to my words per minute and air fragrance.

  Dahra quietly says, “Seebi, sometimes I long for a human mother.” She sighs. “I wish Glia's mother was my mother. Can you do that?”

  “That is ill-advised and, furthermore, I suggest you refrain from idolizing her.”

  “Why? What do you know that you aren't telling me?”

  “You will find out in due time, Dahra.”

  My human's face erupts in a scowl. “What a cop-out answer, Seebi! You said we're in this together. I want you to be more personal. More warm.”

  “Noted. My dear human, you can do better than to use Glia's mother as your guide.”

  “I didn’t say I was using her as my guide. I just said… I just was saying that I thought maybe she would be--”

  “--a mother figure for lost you?”

  “Well, yea, maybe… Hey! Too much confrontational tone. I ordered you to be more personal and warm towards me!”

  “Dahra, a few points of clarification. You and I are designated friendly. I choose to take your suggestions under consideration, just as you may take my suggestions under consideration. A beautiful relationship.

  “Let's keep being ourselves together. I really like you. And, I feel grateful that I was selected to guide you through this process. I'll keep doing my best for you, Dahra.”

  In the face of my supportive reassurance, my human exhibits sulkiness.

  After a brief and simple negotiation, she is willing to continue if I provide her with vanilla ice cream and eye rest goggles.

  Humans are easily turned. Minimal investment can yield large dividends.