Via shadow walk, I took my mom to the city center. She was very interested in the device itself, and also in the access points.

– Go and touch it – I encouraged her, but she hesitated to go.

I had no other choice, but to just take her there, and basically make her put her hand on the ball.

– You sure it’s safe? – she asked, me while trying to hide her excited smile.

– It’s safe. Just touch it, and close your eyes. Then buy something.

– Oh… Alright – she sadi but still hesitated.

I stared at her until she finally touched it, and closed her eyes.

– Oh my… – she said, as she retracted her hand, surprised by what she saw, then she touched it again.

– Don’t be scared. Just pick something, and buy it.

– Ok, ok. Don’t hurry me. I’m picking something…

She ended up buying a bag of hard candy. I almost facepalmed myself when I saw it. She could buy almost anything, and yet she went with hard candy…

– See? It works – I said to her and picked the item for her.

– Will they taste good? – she asked.

– They will taste exactly how they are supposed to – I explained and gave them to her.

– I’ll try later. Why don’t we meet your friends now? I would like to meet with William. You told me so much about him, now I’m curious – she giggled a bit.

– Ok. Come this way – I led her towards the training grounds.

Without hurry, obviously, as she was very curious about the architecture, and kept looking around. Her eyes stopped for a moment on the pub, and also on the Wuxia headquarters. I told her everything about them.

Slowly we reached our destination where Tihana nad Ki’rai were in the middle of training, observed by few curious people. For a moment I hesitated, thinking if maybe it wouldn’t be a good idea to introduce those two right then and there, but when I thought of it a bit more, then I realized that maybe it’s better to do such a thing in more private space since I had no idea of how my mom will react.

Instead, I led her inside the main building and headed straight towards Will’s office. Then I knocked on the door.

– Will? It’s Peter.

– Oh… Come inside.

I pushed the door open and presented my mother before getting in.

– Meet my rear mother – I said to him in English.

– H-how do I say hello? – he was completely surprised.

– Say, dzień dobry.

– Jean dopri – he quickly repeated my words as best as he could.

– Hello – said my mom.

– Please, come inside – he invited us.

I made my mom go first, and then followed myself.

– So this is William. The one I’ve told you so much about – I said in Polish.

– He is very handsome – she replied.

– Tell your mother that she looks stunning – Will said to me in English.

0)ᴠʟ – She just said you are handsome, so maybe you have a chance.

He laughed at me, which caused my mom to give me a look that clearly meant: ‘translate you little **’.

– He said that you look beautiful – I translated. – Since he doesn’t hear that often, it made him so happy he laughed.

– Oh… – she nodded.

Then a bit of a conversation started between them, and I worked mainly as a translator. She asked him what does he do, and also a bit of his family since I mentioned them to her before. She was happy when she found out that he got joint custody of his son, despite the divorce.

They also talked a bit about me. Obviously, I rigged the translation bit in my favor. Cutting out the unnecessary parts, even when they clearly asked me to not do that. I’m not a complete fool.

Then I left them briefly to grab both KI’rai and Tihana since the circumstances were quite good to do the introduction, and the more I pushed this, the worse the whole situation could possibly become.

I stopped them in front of Will’s office.

– I’m not worried about you KI’rai, but please be nice. The problem is you – I said to Tihana. – Be respectful you little **, or I’ll spank your ass.

– I knew you are a pedo – she replied.

– Ki’rai, after we are done here, I need you to kill this kid.

Ki’rai pulled out a knife, and her eyes narrowed, then she nodded with confidence.

– Ok, ok! I’ll be nice – the girl gave up, rising her hands.

– Now go in, and say hi. I’ll be translating, but you still have to play a decent kid – I said and opened the door. – Mom, I would like to introduce you to somebody. This is Ki’rai and Tihana.

My mum moved a bit in her chair to look behind her shoulder and then smiled at them.

– Hello. I’m Marzena – then she said in English, then pointed at me. – Mom.

– I’m Ki’rai – said my little lizard with a big smile on her lizard-like face, and showing her small teeth.

– I’m Tihana – she waved and looked at me.

– Oh yes… Since I spent so much time with Ki’rai, teaching her about many things, she feels like a daughter to me – I switched to Polish. – And I, ekhem, adopted Tihana so they are both my daughters. Yes…

My mom originally had a smile on her face, but the more I spoke, the higher her eyebrows rose.

– You did what? – she asked at the end.

– She was a homeless child, living on the streets of Los Angeles, so I felt like I had no other choice, but to take care of her, and since she didn’t want to go to the authorities, I did the best I could think of. So, hehe, she is my daughter now! – I spread my arms like a performed finishing his act.

My mom nodded slowly, although she was definitely still processing the information. Then she smiled, and it was a fake smile.

– I understand, but I’m not sure if it was the wisest decision, but I accept it – she said. – You did what you thought was the best.

In translation from both Polish and mother’s speech it meant ‘we will talk about this later, in private’.

– I’m a bit tired and jet-lagged, so maybe we should resume this tomorrow? – she continued.

– Of course.

We said our goodbyes and promised to have breakfast together with the girls in the morning, then I took my mom back to my house.

The day came to an end with 24 401 029 points remaining on my account, and 21 class points.