Free The Girl They Sold to the Moon by Chris Stevenson Page B

come prepared. He wasted no time dragging her to the Ferris wheel. A ride operator accepted their tickets. They took the slow ride up, stalling at the top. The view offered the highest vantage point in the rotunda. Tilly could see from one end of the dome to the other. All interior space had been utilized for the construction. The landscaping and cultivation of a central park that had dozens of medium-growth trees and shrubbery took up some prized real estate near the middle of the hub.
    Buddy shoved back and forth, rocking their ride car. “The carnival’s brand new—opened up two days ago. I’ve been following news of it on the company news web. They took out five acres of botanical gardens to shoe-horn it in. The Dogs love it—don’t have to pay for any of it.”
    They rotated for a dozen revolutions, marveling at the sites. Buddy wasted no time in hopping aboard every ride within sight, rushing from one to the next. She began to enjoy herself and let her guard down. Several people recognized her, asking her for her autograph. Some of the Dogs gave her salutes of respect; a few whistled and made lewd gestures.
    Some of the lines were long, like the spin-whirl which moved with an agonizing slowness. Buddy talked over the calliope music while they waited their turn. “You looking forward to going home when it’s over?”
    â€œIn a lot of ways, yeah. I miss the open-air freedom, to go anywhere and do anything. But I have to admit that I didn’t expect to be noticed in the entertainment industry, like I have been here. Who knows how many auditions and interviews it would have taken me on Earth to get a stage spot like this one.”
    â€œThey do really like you here.”
    â€œIt could be a fluke, when you consider the audience. The general public might feel different. So, in a way, I’m okay with the way things turned out at Tranquility, even if I’m adored by a bunch of love-struck Prairie Dogs. Gads, I wonder what my mom would have said about it.”
    â€œShe’d probably be damned proud of you since she encouraged your talent every step of the way. I’ll bet your dad admires you and is counting the days until he can pick you up.”
    Tilly’s train of thought skipped a few beats. “I don’t know if he admires me or not. He never showed much interest in what I was doing. He fought a lot with Mom. It was mostly over his gambling and running us into debt. Mom was head of household, bringing in nearly all of the money. Dad slacked. In the end it got worse.”
    â€œSo you’re thinking he might default on the loan? That’s just sad.”
    â€œI’m just saying that he doesn’t have a very good track record in the responsibility department. Whether he pays his loan or not is something I’ll have to find out for myself at the end of my term. I wish I had better news, but he hasn’t given me much reason to believe in him.”
    â€œAnd you knew all of this going into the program?”
    â€œSure. I was agreeable because if I put up a fuss, it wouldn’t have done any good. He would have forced it on me. I actually wanted to go, and take a break from him, if that makes any sense. I mean there were times when I could cut the air with a knife because it was filled with negative turmoil. I swear, he started to get psychotic at the end, ranting and talking to the walls.”
    â€œSorry, but it sounds like there’s a possibility he won’t keep up his end of the bargain. I wouldn’t know how to deal with that. I can depend on Mom. She’s smart and frugal. Most important, she’s loyal and shows a lot of compassion. She’s my best friend. You don’t leave best friends hanging in the lurch. I
know
I’m going home.”
    â€œIt must be nice to be that close. Mom was close. Dad was always distant.”
    He looked at her with more intensity in his eyes than before. “If you had a