Challenge #00879-B148: Tokens of Adulthood

multitool,

They threw him a Going Away Party. Just like they threw him an

Adoption Day party on the anniversary of his arrival on Hippo Mining

Station. And, like all the things the mining crew did for him, it

involved available materials.

So far, he’d been given a pair of

The Drongo’s old work-boots - refurbished and ‘gussied up’ with a layer

of gleaming black ductape. This parcel contained fabric scraps from

Dode’s stash. Every colour of the rainbow, and then some.

“These are your fat quarters,” he said. “I can’t–”

“Every

JOAT must make their own coat, kiddo,” said Dode the JOAT. “And for that, you need cloth. I’m not about to send you out through five jumps

with a bare back.”

“I’ll make good use of every thread,” he whispered.

The

last gift came from all the miners. Meaning that they’d cumulatively gleaned, scraped, and fabricated it. Hard work, for such a little

parcel.

It was, indeed, small. The red of two sides of the oblong was a kind of ochre. It had a H instead of the white cross.

The blades had a knife, two screwdrivers, a saw, and a pair of pliers. As well as scissors and a really big blade. And a spoon.

They’d

hand-forged a swissarmynyff[1]. Rael wished he could weep for the joy of it. “Thank you,” he said. “I know how much this cost you. This is my

first and best treasure.”

Dave was the last. “You’ll need this to go with Dode’s. Bon voyage, eh?”

It was a sewing kit. And a cheat sheet of basic patterns.

Work boots. A coat in potentia. And a First Multitool.

“Today,”

he said, “I am a JOAT. And an independent citizen of the Galactic Alliance. Wherever I go… whatever I do… I’ll always treasure my time

here. Thank you for everything.”

Then it was tears and crushing hugs from all the miners. And a couple of bawdy songs before they

all-but carried him to the departing shuttle like a victor of some

horrible war.

He had the things he needed to live. His tank. His

kibble supply. The clothes on his back and the warm memories of the

first place where he was loved.

He had the things he needed to work. Good boots, a coat, and his first toolkit.

And he had the entire universe to find a place where he would belong.

All in all, Rael found it… terrifying.

[1] It’s natural for some phrases to become words.

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