Free Fear and Aggression by Dane Bagley

want to have the substation on my property. My boys
are the most precious things in the world to me, and...” The sound
of things falling to the floor was heard with a crash, and almost
instantly a boy’s voice was heard crying. Bellerie, subconsciously,
rolled her eyes, and was about to go on explaining how precious her
boys are to her when Seryen volunteered to see what was happening
with the boys; and then got up without waiting for a
reply.
    Roloff continued to listen while Bellerie
continued on, “This electricity is so powerful, and dangerous for
my boys, I am afraid that something awful may happen. Oh, dear, it
has been hot today, I’m glad they were able to fix the power so
quickly. I don’t know what I would do without it.” Bellerie sat
back, more relaxed, not even remotely aware of the mistake she had
just made in consistency. Seryen walked back into the room carrying
Alleff, who had tears in his eyes, but was no longer crying
aloud.
    Roloff arose and walked to Alleff. “Ah,
Alleff, how are you, lad? I hear you had a rough day.” Alleff
stared at him with a sober expression, as if to say, ‘not someone
else to check me out again.’ “Are you still ticklish?” Roloff
queried with his eye brows raised, and then lowering his brows
smiled warmly. Alleff’s eyes brightened as Roloff spoke, and Roloff
reached over and tickled his ribs lightly. Alleff giggled and
squirmed a little. Roloff reached over to pick him up, “My boy I am
so glad you are well,” he said as he lifted him up from under his
armpits and bringing him to his chest gave him a warm embrace.
    Bellerie smiled and stood up. “It takes more
than a little shock to knock out a Lodophin boy. They’re tough as
can be,” she called out as more crashing sounds could be heard from
the down the hall. “And about as wild as electricity itself,” she
commented and the group shared a hardy laugh. “I suppose it will be
best to keep the substation here. They couldn’t have repaired it so
quickly, if it happens again, without it being here. Besides, my
boys are even more likely to wind up in trouble if it’s where I
can’t keep my eye on them.”
    “ I’m pleased to see that
all is well here. I’m glad to see that you are back to your
mischief,” Roloff said, turning to Alleff with a smile that was
returned by the boy. “We were very concerned to learn of all this.
Aspiria will be coming by tomorrow to see how you are
doing.”
    “ Oh, it will be good to
see her. Well, Mayor, it is getting late and I must get Alleff to
bed,” she said, not hiding her desire to get rid of her guests so
that she could relax.
    “ Get some good rest,
Alleff. You as well, Bellerie,” Roloff spoke with a cheery smile as
he made his exit.
    “ Goodnight, ma’am,
Alleff,” Seryen said with a serious expression.
    The two late travelers walked silently down
the road until they were well out of earshot. Seryen was obviously
pleased that everything had gone so well. In fact, it was just what
he had hoped for. But for some reason he had a sick feeling in his
gut that was gnawing at him. His first thought was that it was
because this visit was unnecessary, and he had ruined the Palador
family’s special evening. Things could have waited until morning,
or he could have gone himself this evening and patched things over.
But as he tried to justify himself to this line of reasoning, his
gut feeling would not subside. That was the problem; if he had gone
on his own this evening, he could not have patched things up. Was
he jealous because Mayor Palador was so good and effective? No, he
genuinely admired Roloff’s powers and the esteem with which he was
affectionately showered. It was his own inadequacy that was
weighing him down. He may have done all the right things, and been
in all the right places, yet he did not have the power of
persuasion, nor the ability to penetrate and affect people
emotionally. Mrs. Lodophin had nothing against Seryen, as far as he
could tell.