Free Shimmer by Jennifer McBride

‘Well then, did you expect this?’ She waved her hand and the inside of her globe transformed into the deck of an old-fashioned ship, complete with wooden decking, and captain’s bridge with oversized steering wheel.
    David laughed, and stepped over to take the wheel. ‘Land ahoy,’ he yelled.
    Kora flicked her fingers. A wave appeared over the bow of the ship and dumped sea water on David’s head.
    He spluttered, and plucked a long strand of brown seaweed from his face. But before he could complain, she waved her hand again and the ship’s deck and sea water disappeared, leaving a dripping David standing in the middle of a colourful lolly shop.
    â€˜Or maybe you expected it to look like this?’ All around were jars, bowls and bottles of chocolates and lollies of every shape and size.
    David gaped at the display, before stepping over and grabbing a handful of Smarties.
    â€˜That’s incredible,’ he mumbled around a mouthful of the lollies. ‘So it just looks however you want it to?’
    Kora nodded. ‘Pretty much.’
    He reached out to a bowl of false teeth lollies, shoved one in his mouth, and bared his new fangs at her.
    Kora sighed loudly. He was so juvenile. ‘Do you not want to leave now?’
    He seemed to enjoy her irritation. ‘I’ve got plenty of time.’
    â€˜How can you tell?’ she scoffed. ‘I know that stupid watch of yours does not even work.’
    David’s face closed over at her words. ‘You’re right,’ he said in a flat voice. ‘I do want to leave. Now!’

a night at the movies
    Kora leaned back with a contented sigh against the silk cushions and settled in to watch David’s family dinner on the viewing portal suspended in front of her. Her bangles jingled as she curled her arm around a glass bowl full of hot, buttery popcorn.
    Amurru huffed. ‘You think this is an entertainment event, Empress?’
    Kora grinned. Amurru’s voice was disapproving but she could see the glint of humour in his round, yellow eyes. ‘Absolutely!’ She gracefully nibbled at a ball of popcorn. ‘I wonder if all Earth families are as funny?’
    Amurru nodded. ‘I think that may be the case, Empress.’ He shuffled over to his chair and clambered awkwardly into it. ‘I have heard that humans are all very different from each other.’ He coughed out a wheezy laugh. ‘And David’s family certainly supports that theory.’
    Kora grimaced. ‘Eeewww, Amurru. Look what they are eating! It is disgusting.’
    â€˜It is not what I imagined humans would eat,’ he agreed.
    She watched fascinated as Rodney scooped large piles of sloppy brown stew onto each plate. ‘Thanks,’ mumbled David. He took his plate and inspected the contents.
    Kora gagged. ‘It looks like vomit!’
    Amurru’s ears twitched. ‘Perhaps it tastes better than it looks, Empress?’
    She shook her head vehemently. ‘I doubt it, Amurru.’ She screwed her face up in horror as Marcia placed a lump of some kind of green, slimy vegetable onto the plate next to the slop. ‘You did not smell the tofu pasta they had for dinner last night!’
    â€˜Here we go,’ sang Marcia. ‘Doesn’t this look interesting?’
    â€˜Yeah, it’s interesting all right.’ David’s voice was hardly audible as he mumbled down into his plate. He began to poke at his dinner with his fork.
    â€˜It’s a new recipe I’m trialling for my shop,’ said Rodney. ‘I want to expand my range. I thought it would be good to sell some ready-to-eat lines, as well as the usual health food items.’
    Kora had to look away as Rodney shoved the goo into his mouth.
    Amurru scratched at the tuft of hair between his pointy ears. ‘I find it fascinating that he calls it health food, Empress,’ he wheezed. ‘Especially when he does not look particularly