Bailey Branigan reporting for ROOTS news, Terra with an interview with

Giazin Triani Orlato

Merculians love children. I see them everywhere, playing in parks and courtyards, performing in the Pleasure Gardens either singing or dancing. On my way here I came across a group walking in lines three abreast on a trip of some kind. I thought it might be fun to interview one for a kid’s thoughts on life on Merculian but it’s proving more difficult than I had imagined. Everyone is leery of a big Terran reporter who is paying too much attention to their children. So I asked Triani if I could interview his child, Giazin, and he has agreed. The young eight year old turned up with a dour companion who kept his eye on the kid at all times. His name is Vandari and I finally dug out of him that he is Triani’s bodyguard. He is not friendly but Giazin just ignores him, and so will I. For a kid his age, Giazin is very sure of himself and he looks so much like Triani there is no doubt of his parentage.

BB        Hi Giazin. Are you getting time off school to talk to me?

GTO     Yeah. That’s the reason I’m doing it. Also I like being down town.

BB        Tell me about school. What subject do you like best.

GTO     (He  shrugs dramatically) Well, it depends. I know I’m supposed to say I love dancing best but since tatsi’s not here and probably won’t see this anyway I’m not going to. (He grins at me.) I like science, especially when we have lessons with the class  Bandalin’s in. Sooo cute!

BB        You’ve got a bit on a crush on her, do you?

GTO     Just how long have you been here? Bandalin isn’t a she any more than I am.         

BB        Sorry. Just a slip of the tongue. Do you see your parents dance often?

GTO     Oh sure. All the time. They’re both pretty good. But so am  I, you know. Just last week I got promoted up to a higher circle in school because I’m just so damn good.

BB        Your parents must be pleased.

GTO     Mersti was. (He pauses thoughtfully.) Tatsi will be, you know, when I get a chance to tell him. I haven’t seen him lately.

BB        I’m sure he’ll be thrilled. Do you live near here?

GTO     I live in Hanging Rock, tatsi’s big estate outside town. It’s about…anyway about half an hour’s drive in a good aircar. I take an air-cab into town by myself sometimes to see Parla, though tatsi gets mad if he finds out.

BB        Parla’s your tatsi’s ex?

GTO     The latest one, yeah. (He sighs.) I really like him.

BB        Does your tatsi get mad very often?

GTO     Depends. Most of the time he just yells a lot but that time I blew up my room when I was entertaining the Visitors he got really mad. And just last week when I went to peek into his sleeping chamber to see who was there with him he bust a gut! Big time!

BB        I guess you shouldn’t do those things.

GTO     You think? (He makes a face and laughs.)

BB        What do you do during school holidays?

GTO     (He shrugs. Then he looks at me thoughtfully for a moment.) What did you used to do when you were a kid?

BB        I went with my family to visit various interesting places. Is that what you do?

GTO     (He laughs.) You obviously don’t know my family! (He winks as he gets up to leave, strangely unsettling from a child. Then he turns into an eight-year-old again as he remembers his manners and bows, like a dancer taking a curtain call.)

BB        Thanks, Giazin.