Moonie stretched out in his water bowl, chipping softly in a way that reminded Elle of a contented cat’s purr. It was already 10 pm. Elle tried to get ready for bed, but she was bursting with so many questions that she found it hard to focus. Although she was feeling pretty smug about going undetected earlier, Elle was now beginning to feel slightly guilty. She hated being deceitful to her grandpa, even a little bit.

  “I think I should tell my grandpa about you,” Elle said, finally getting the thought off her chest.

  “No problem,” Moonie said, floating calmly. Ever since he had learned the phrase, he had been using it in conversation whenever possible as a way to "assimilate" to the human culture. He was enthusiastic about his new vocabulary.

  “You don’t mind?” she asked cautiously. That had gone easier than Elle had anticipated.

  “Not at all,” he said. “What is grandpa?”

  “You know, the man I’ve been talking to all day? The one with the telescope? He’s part of my family—like the people I live with? They sort of made me, and raised me and take care of me,” Elle explained. “Do you have any family, Moonie?” Elle asked.

  “No. My people lay eggs in the water and swim away. We do not have 'family',” he said.

  “You poor guy! That’s horrible! Who loves you and takes care of you and helps you when you need it?” she said, looking at him with pity.

  “Everyone,” he said simply. He studied her face seriously with black, searching eyes. “That is what society is for.” Now he looked at her pityingly. “I assume human society has also evolved?”

  “Um….” Elle mumbled, unsure of what to say.

  “Forgive me," he said, quickly, bowing his head, "I do not know human customs as I should," he said politely. Please tell me more. The two humans consuming food with you,” Moonie said. “They are your family?”

  “No!” Elle said emphatically. “Mindy is not part of my family. She’s just someone who wormed her way into our house—supposedly she’s a second aunt twice removed, or something, but I think she’s a total con artist,” Elle said, folding her arms.

  “Ah, so she is removed from your family,” Moonie said sagely.

  “I wish,” Elle mumbled, brooding. “But if I do tell grandpa and Mindy about you, please don't act too conspicuous,” Elle said, quickly changing the subject.

  Moonie had floated out of the water and was suspended in air. The effect he was portraying was---well—it was practically the definition of the word “conspicuous.” He was bright pink with purple stripes.

  “No problem,” he agreed.

  “Like the floating thing--” Elle started.

  “Voluce,” he corrected, “but if it is not acceptable,” he floated back down onto her bed, “I will not do it.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “It doesn’t bother me—it’s just looks sort of conspicuous,” Elle said, defensively. “Earth frogs are usually green or brown. Remember: You’re trying to keep a low profile!”

  “What is the meaning of this word ‘conspicuous’ you keep using?”

  “Right now…you,” she said. “It’s like, "Being Normal,” Elle said, sitting on the bed next to him.

  “'Being Normal',” Moonie repeated, crawling onto the pillow next to Elle.

  “It’s just that I don’t want anyone to find out about you,” Elle said with a note of pleading in her voice. “To tell you the truth,” she sighed. “You’re the first friend I've ever had come over to my house,” Elle admitted.

  Moonie looked confused. "I do not understand."

  “My house….you know…..my dwelling place. This place." She pointed around her room. "Anyway, like I said, you’re the first friend I’ve had over to my house. I don’t really have that many.”

  Moonie patted her hand comfortingly, “I only have one dwelling place, as well,” he said.

  “I’m talking about friends,” Elle said.

  “Is that 'being normal' for humans?” Moonie asked tentatively. Elle looked downcast, and mumbled “no” quietly.

  Moonie studied her face in silence then licked his eyes. Elle had the uncomfortable feeling that he was reading more than just her expression. He tucked his miniature tail under his body and said, “As your first friend at your only house, I will attempt "Being Normal" to make you happy.”

  “Great! Thanks, Moonie!” Elle smiled, then paused, listening to the house quietly settling. She heard footsteps and quickly switched out the lights.

  “….Um, Moonie? You’re glowing in the dark,” Elle pointed out.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s just that….well…that’s not exactly normal.”

  “It is 'being normal" for me. I cannot help but fluoresce in darkness. It is not conscious...like that think that you do with your eye flaps,” he said.

  “My eye flaps...? Oh! You mean blinking? Yeah, I guess. Some of us can't lick our eyeballs to keep them moist...”

  “Hmm. Interesting. Then there’s the human obsession with wearing clothes under other clothes, despite warm temperatures.”

  Elle thought for a moment, perplexed. Then it dawned on her. “Are you talking about my UNDERWARE?” She blurted loudly, ears burning with embarrassment. She wouldn’t be at all surprised if her ears started glowing in the dark.

  Suddenly there was knocking on the door and Elle quickly grabbed the covers and threw them over Moonie’s glowing body just as the door opened.

  “What’s going on in here? Are you talking to someone?” Mindy asked, suspiciously glancing around the room.

  Just then, Elle’s grandfather shuffled in behind them with a tea mug. “Oh, good. Everyone’s here. Is it a party?” he said.

  “No—it’s ok, you can all go back to bed—I was just telling myself a bedtime story,” Elle said nervously.

  “But you were yelling. You sounded angry,” Mindy said, looking shrewdly at Elle.

  “I…was….telling it wrong….” Elle stammered, feeling stupid.

  “Ahh, yes. I often have to yell at myself for telling stories wrong,” Elle’s grandfather chimed in. “Sometimes a good slap upside the head works, too. I try to not be too easy on myself; otherwise, I’d start taking advantage.”

  Aunty Mindy rolled her eyes and left the room.

  “Well, goodnight, Elle. I love you,” her grandfather said, shuffling towards the door. He paused before closing the door, “By the way, if you need new underwear, maybe you and Mindy can stop by the store and-”

  “NO! Not Necessary!” Elle said, glowing pink again.

  “Ok-doke,” Her grandfather said.

  “Let’s try to keep the yelling to a minimum tonight, shall we?” Mindy said loudly from the hallway “That goes for both of you!” She said, and slammed her bedroom door.

  Elle’s grandpa smiled, the light from the hallway illuminating his face, ripe with wrinkles, “By the way, I know how much you liked that little frog, and I’ve been thinking and ---well, maybe we can keep the little guy after all. Tomorrow we can go and see if he’s still at the Humane Society. What do you think?”

  “But what about Mindy?” Elle asked.

  “Two against one. This household is still a democracy,” he said, winking at her.

  “Thanks, grandpa,” Elle said, simultaneously overjoyed and relieved. She glanced down at the glowing lump under her covers. She could see that keeping Moonie a secret much longer would have been practically impossible.

  “Don’t mention it. Goodnight,” her grandfather said, shuffling back into the hallway. The door shut and Elle dived under the covers.

  “Thank goodness—he said you can stay! That solves a lot of problems!” Elle said, relieved. "Now we just have to figure out how to get your ship fixed," Elle said, trying—and failing—to stifle a yawn. Moonie watched her yawn, looking startled.

  “Oh, sorry—that was a yawn,” she said, realizing how strange it must seem to Moonie. “People do that because they get tired—not that I’m tired—but it’s just another normal human thing we can’t control,” Elle explained.

  “Yes. You need the sleeps. I have read about that. We will discuss more when you are finished,” he said. "I will wait for you," he said, floating back into his water bowl.

  “You don’t sleep, Moonie?” Elle said, trying to fight against waves of tiredness.

  “No, I rest. But, I am....what you call—nocturnal? I prefer to rest during the heat of the day. While you do the sleeps, I will plan the next move to continue the mission.”

  “But what about your ship? How are we going to fix it?” Elle said, eyes drooping. “Do you have an operator’s manual or anything?”

  “No. Something better,” Moonie said mysteriously, settling down at the bottom of the clear glass bowl. Despite her attempts to keep awake, she could feel a peaceful sleep washing over her. After a minute of silence, Elle’s head slumped comfortably against the downy pillow, and she snored softly as Moonie quietly watched over her.