Stella wandered through the seven holds, looking around. There were several other children. She saw an Asian girl who looked about 11 and several younger girls but none her age. Turning back, she was approached by a boy, shy, very good looking, blond, blue eyed and a bit shorter than Stella. He looked about her age.
“Hi,” he said with a faint accent, “Do you speak English?”
“Yes.”
“Oh good. I’m Donny, I’m Swedish. My Dad’s a Diplomat at the Swedish Embassy and Mum’s a Biologist. I’m 15.”
“I’m Stella Black. American, from Vermont. I’m 15 too. My Mum is a doctor and she was supposed to go to the Antarctic.”
“Was your Dad going to look after you?”
“No he scarpered as soon as Mum got pregnant with me. I’ve never seen him. My Mum’s parents live in New Zealand and I was going to stay with them but as soon as I found out a baby was going I decided I was too.”
“Yeah same here,” he said with a grin, “Simone’s real popular with the kids. There’s another boy our age, Mahmoud, his Dad’s a scientist, Molecular Biology I think he said. His Mum’s a doctor of something, I forget what. He’s 15 too. He’s Indian but he speaks good English.” Donny waved and a good looking Indian boy came over. He was slim, almost black, with a pure white grin, mischievous eyes, quick moving and rapid speaking.
“Hi I’m Mahmoud. My parents are scientists and were both at Dunedin University doing a sabbatical. We were due to return to India. Isn’t this cool?” The three moved out into the corridor to talk and were later shyly approached by the small Asian girl Stella had seen before.
“Hullo,” she said using very good English, “I’m Li. I’m 15. I’m from China, Shanghai.”
Li looked just under five foot tall and like a little doll. She had long straight black hair, worn loose. Stella noticed it was even longer than her own reaching Li’s waist. Stella felt a bit guilty for dismissing her and delighted to find another girl her own age. She introduced the others.
“My Mum’s a vet and my Dad’s a Diplomat at the Chinese Embassy here in Wellington. I had a heck of a fight with them and they’re still mad at me,” She smiled in pure mischief, “they thought they were going to leave me behind but I booked myself on just after them and ordered a pack all by myself and just told Mr. MacKellar I’d had a fight with my parents over me going and they made me pay for my own pack if I wanted to come. He thought that was so funny he never questioned me further. He had just passed my parents though and I came running up after they were out of sight. I acted all indignant and told him the Embassy wouldn’t pay for me either. That bit was true.” The others laughed. Stella was aghast. And she thought she’d been difficult! Wait till her Mum hears this.
Donny and Mahmoud had had considerable problems with their parents too but had used simple manipulation.
“I didn’t think it would work. They bought my two little sisters too. Paswalda convinced them. He told my parents it would be the adventure of their lives and their kid’s lives. My little sisters are very stubborn and determined. I think they take after me.”
“I just said they couldn’t go and leave me behind…very tearfully. It worked,” said Donny.
They all laughed again but were a little in awe of Li. Li said, “I’ve travelled all over the world with my parents and have lived in seven countries. I speak six languages, five fluently. I used to get left with my grandparents a lot but they’re both gone now. Sometimes I get dumped in a boarding school but mostly now they take me with them when they travel or work, which is why I wasn’t going to tolerate being left behind this time.” There was a determined gleam in her eyes. Stella looked at her appraisingly.
“People make the mistake of thinking I’m a child.” Li said.
Stella grinned. Her impression was that Li was bright, self-disciplined, practical, resourceful and full of initiative.
Li added, “I’m used to being independent and often left to amuse myself. I’m a bookworm, which is a useful cover. I’ve learned that if I appear to be absorbed in a book, adults will often forget I am there. I hear a lot more than they realise.”
Stella laughed. “I’ve often used that tactic too. If you look absorbed and keep quiet you learn a lot you aren’t supposed to.”