Itty Bitty

The Interdimensional Etymology Proceeding was packed and aquiver, Sasha saw. Another ancient word deciphered. She waved at Gleeb. He flew over.

“You heard,” Gleeb burbled, circling overhead. “They broke ‘itty-bitty’ finally.”

“How long?”

“Hundreds of Earth years.”

“Its meaning?”

“That’s why the crowd. They’re on stage. I’ll hover.”

The Ceremony Master spoke first. Then Researcher R9 stood.

“No more suspense,” R9 intoned. “The word ‘itty-bitty’ means ‘tiny’ in the old tongue.”

Sasha thought the dismay resembled the deflating of a million balloons.

The first stone hit R9 on his third arm. The second clocked the Master. Then they really flew.