Helping a Friend & Light Conversation

 

Helping a Friend

Month 11, Day 30

1850 Hours

Tall Bear

 

The smell of lilacs tickling his nose told him whose light step was approaching, and he smiled as he watched YD complete her current set under Ferguson’s direction. “Welcome back, Short Stuff.”

“What do you mean by that?” asked a familiar masculine voice.

Why am I not surprised? Tall Bear turned his head, to see that Bugalu was with her. “She hasn’t been working out for a while. Didn’t you know?”

“Over a week,” Mac confirmed. “Almost 2 weeks? I’ve been letting Bugs get back to his usual social life, instead of bothering with mine. So it’s likely I won’t remember how to do anything! I don’t even remember whose turn it is to spot for me.”

“Ferguson is busy, so I’ll do it, Bear volunteered. They moved over to Weight Station C. Bugalu was careful to stay outside the colored circle on the floor.

As Mac began stretching before her work out, Tall Bear caught a slight nod from Bugalu, and veered closer to see what he wanted. “You ready for another date with Mac?” Bugalu asked in a slight breath of air, as if he didn’t want to be overheard.

“Things have been busy for me. I haven’t had a chance to ask her.”

“She’s here now,” Bugalu pointed out.

“Point taken,” he agreed.

“Just remember the rules,” Bugalu added.

“Yours? Or hers?” Bear grinned.

“Same thing,” Bugalu responded. “She’s been getting inundated with requests for dates, and she’s a nervous wreck.”

“Come on, Tall Person, I’m ready to start,” Mac called to him. He moved toward her, and she instructed the computer to adjust the gravity.

Somewhat later, as she paused between sets, he calmly asked her. “Would you like to see a movie, Mac?”

Green eyes flashed his way in something that might have been surprise. “Ahh, I’m with Bugs tonight,” she stated softly.

“I can see that. But I didn’t mean tonight,” he answered smoothly, and pretended to be thinking it out. “Let’s see, I’ve got the night after tomorrow free, if you do.”

She glanced towards Bugalu, and then at other men who ‘just happened’ to be standing nearby. “Um, I’m busy for the next week,” she offered.

“Well, can’t say I’m surprised,” he told her, and sent his gaze over those congregated men within earshot. “What about a week from tomorrow?”

“Let’s see. Tomorrow is Sunday. Okay,” she answered.

Her quick reply surprised him, but he felt it was probably not a good idea to question her about it. “Good. Next set, then. Get to it.” We can settle the details later.

 

 

Final Instructions

Month 11, Day 30

2250 Hours

Bugalu

 

 “Not bad,” Bugalu congratulated himself as they entered the main mess hall at the end of the evening. It was time for Mac to have lunch before she went on duty. Bugs had decided to join her for a piece of pie. “Not bad at all,” he repeated as they sat down at a table. “By now, word should be getting around that you’re busy for the next week, so let’s hope that gives you a little peace and quiet for a few days.”

Mac grimaced at the idea and started mixing her mashed potatoes and gravy. “It won’t. That just means they’ll start asking for a date for after that week is up.”

Bugalu waved that minor problem away. “Tell them you don’t make plans that far in advance,” he told her. “That way, you only have to consider one day at a time; a week from tomorrow. You don’t actually have to have a date on any particular day; just say you’re already busy. But if you want that certain someone to notice you’re dating, you need to have some dates. Just don’t make it the same guy too often. That might make it look like you’re getting serious.”

“As if I could.” She considered that bit of information carefully. “So, for instance, how often can I safely date Tall Bear?”

“That’s up to him. Well, and you. You’re coming awfully close to making him another brother, you realize that, don’t you?”

“For your information, I’ve already offered him the position. I thought he’d be good at it. He turned me down. But he’s still a good friend.”

“And if I know you, his having turned down the position won’t stop you. Well, don’t expect to date him any more than every 2nd or 3rd week, would be my guess. Any more than that, and women may start wondering what hold you have over him. And like I said, there’s the whole idea that you two might be getting serious that you want to avoid. Can’t have you-know-who thinking that!”

She took a bite of meatloaf and frowned at her tray as she chewed. “So, I should only expect to have dinner with you every 2nd or 3rd week, also?”

He shook his head as he swallowed a piece of his pie. “No, I can see that I can’t abandon you like that,” he told her seriously. “You already have Mondays booked. So let’s book an evening together every Friday, okay?”

“Every Friday?” she asked in surprise.

“Consider it family time.”

“According to you, that’s not what others will be thinking.”

“We know better, and that’s who matters, isn’t it?”

“But what about... him?”

He stopped with another bite of pie half-way to his mouth. He put it down. “Okay, no hand holding if we go to the movies. And everything we do will be in full view, either in the gym or a rec room. We can’t be seen being lovey-dovey. We’ll just be 2 friends having fun together.

She gave him a confused look, her eyebrows scrunched together. “Will that work?”

He didn’t know. Rumors were easy to start, and hard to combat. He wasn’t going to suggest it yet, but if conditions got too bad, he’d pick a fight with her, and they’d stop ‘dating’. But he hoped that wouldn’t be necessary. “Of course it will work.”

She still seemed uncertain. “Well, if you say so.”

Asking for Help

 Month 11, Day 30

1750 Hours

Drake MacGregor

 Drake, not sure he understood the problem, sat down at the table in the privacy room. “What do you mean, all you do is examine pa’s dictates?”

Mac looked to Bugalu, who gave her a nod, and they both sat down. “First, I state the dictate, then I explain what it means, then I have to give him all the examples from my life that I can think of. Then he gives me hypothetical examples of situations and I tell him how the dictate would effect the outcome. We never get done with that portion of the session, even though most of his examples are merely variations of his earlier examples. We never get around to talking about why the dictate is wrong, or stupid, or how to... disable it.”

“That doesn’t sound right. He never asks how you feel about it?”

“Oh, yes, he does that. Many times during the session. But he just makes a note of my answer and goes back to giving me examples, or wherever we left off at. He doesn’t give me any advice about what to do about it. At least Bugs does that! Even if I can’t follow Bug’s advice right away, I have something to work on trying.”

“I’m no psychiatrist, but that definitely doesn’t sound right,” Drake repeated. “How can you get over Winthrop’s attack if Fong doesn’t guide you to answers?”

“Oh, I think I am,” she answered. “Over Winthrop’s attack. It was scary because I couldn’t make him stop. Even when a full-fledged brawl ensued. Then I heard he was hopped up on some drug, and it wasn’t my high-G strength at fault, so I calmed down a lot about that situation.”

“I’m not sure I understand the problem.”

Bugalu chose to enter the conversation. “Examining pa’s dictates every second day and not resolving them, or attempting to resolve them, leaves her completely wound up tight. She can’t calm down enough to date, and it’s getting almost bad enough to make her lose control and deck somebody.”

“Do you need another hand massage?” Drake asked her.

In a single second, a whole host of emotions crossed her face, and then she shoved her hands across the table. “Yes, please.”

Drake took the closest hand and began his massage, but Bugalu seemed exasperated. “This may help in the short term, but it doesn’t help her resolve her problems.”

“How did she ever make any progress with her problems before this?” Drake asked.

“Back at the Academy, whenever one of pa’s dictates reared its ugly head, I would logically and repeatedly explain why it wasn’t feasible or normal, and how she should behave instead,” Bugalu explained. “Eventually, some of it got through to her and she began to accept it. Now she’s just getting pa’s rules, with no examination of why they’re wrong or indications how to fight against them.”

“Well, that keeps her wound up, yes, I can see that,” Drake said. “I’ll talk to Dr Fong, point out he’s not doing her a lot of good with these tactics. But in the meantime, until he can go back and do his best to rectify pa’s dictates, she’ll just need to avoid situations that get her upset.”

“Hard to do when half the crew is asking for dates,” Mac muttered, and her hand tried to ball up even as he was massaging it.

“Easy now. Remember the hot tub surrounded by flowers on your island retreat.”

She took a deep breath, and her hand started to relax again. “Is Tall Bear on that island? Maybe he’d take me to a movie.”

“That sounds like a date,” Drake teased.

“She’s being pestered for dates,” Bugalu stated. “You should have seen the crowd of men I saw outside her quarters, all wanting a date. Even without pa’s dictates, I would think that would put any woman on edge.”

“Especially when I know they only want one thing.”

“Well, if she wants to date...”

“Only with guys like Tall Bear. No more dates like Ryan wanted.”

“You have to be careful who you date,” Bugalu stated. “No dates with Evans, Jones, Adams, Moor or Ryan. Not under any circumstances. You have to pick guys who aren’t going to expect sex right away.”

“At all!” she corrected.

“Most of them will expect sex eventually,” Drake told her, and her fists really did form tight balls. He doggedly started his massage all over again. “But you don’t have to give it. As soon as they start asking for it, you just say that’s not what you want, and stop dating him. Completely. Don’t let him talk you into another date with promises of best behavior. As soon as he does anything you aren’t comfortable with, stop dating him.” She moaned, and he knew she was thinking of all those men out in the hallway. “Look, I’ll come up with a list of 3 or 4 guys you can try dating, but don’t feel obligated to go out every day. Or even every week. Every bit of this is your choice, Mac.”

“Not really,” she sighed. “I just... There’s this one guy...”

“There’s one guy she wants to date, but he hasn’t asked her,” Bugalu revealed.

“Hmm. Maybe you should ask one of the ladies about the art of flirting,” Drake suggested.

“It’s hopeless,” she bemoaned.

“No, don’t think like that,” he told her. “Just go on a few dates, try to have fun. Now, what have you been doing to pass the time?”

She rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair, pulling her hand from his ministrations. “Hiding.”

“What?” That doesn’t sound right.

She licked her lips. “MacG, it used to be only 8 hours—I can’t believe I just said ‘only 8 hours’, but I did. 8 hours a day, 4 days a week. Now it’s 24 hours, 8 days a week. The only way I get any relief is to hide! I sit in my room, working on my projects or reading. I’ve got the door locked, and usually, the intercom off. But knowing there’s some decent engineers who’d be able to get the computer to unlock my door, or at least open the intercom, makes me plenty nervous!”

“Well, not tonight,” Bugalu told her. “Tonight we’re going to the gym, and then a rec room.”

Her whole face lit up, and she seemed ready to leave right now.

And why not? Probably do her more good than a hand massage. “Sounds like a plan,” Drake told them both, and then pointed to Mac. “Anytime you feel the need of a hand massage, look me up. Or Beth. She’s the one who taught me. Now go on, go have fun.”

The Crowd

Month 11, Day 30

1610 Hours

Bugalu

 

Bugalu turned the corner to approach Mac’s room, stopped at the sight of a dozen men crowding the corridor. “What’s going on?” he asked Peron of engineering.

The collected men turned to face him. “Oh, space,” one man muttered, and wandered off.

“Why are you here?” Peron asked.

“I’m having supper with Mac.”

“I knew it,” someone else muttered, and a couple others left.

“What’s going on?” Bugalu repeated.

The remaining men started grumbling, and Peron sighed. “Okay, so she’s busy tonight. What about tomorrow? Do you have a date with her then, too?”

“I don’t date Mac,” he responded irritably.

“Good,” Peron smiled. “Then you won’t mind if we keep trying.”

“Trying what?”

“To date her,” Peron explained. “If you don’t date her, you won’t mind if we do.”

“Date her?” Bugalu repeated in surprise,. “Not at all. As long as she’s willing. But right now, she’s waiting for me.”

Mac’s living room door opened. “About time!” She sent a look of exasperation at the other men gathered outside her door. “Get in here, Bugs.” He walked in, as the others milled about. As he entered, Mac told them, “For all the rest of you, the answer is no. Not tonight, not tomorrow, not this week.”

“But Mac!” several objected.

“No!” she responded. “So go away!” She turned and pulled Bugalu into the room with her, allowing the door to close behind him.

She crossed the room and threw herself down on her new blue sofa. “How’s it going, Bugsy? Back up to a different date every night?”

What’s that mean? “Nearly. But I’ll always have time for you, Mac.”

“No doubt, no doubt,” she answered. “Question is, will I have time for you?”

“What?”

“I didn’t mean it the way it sounded,” she sighed. “I’m just tired of... everything.”

“Tired? Are you not sleeping well? Again?”

“Hmm, that isn’t what I was talking about,” she answered.

The doorbell rang, and a male voice came over the intercom. “Mac? Ah, my name is Petre Kloppman, I’m from Astronomy. I’ve selected a variety of star fields I’d like to show you in the observatory. Any evening that you’re free—”

“Computer, lock the door and break the intercom connection to the hall,” Mac instructed. Silence fell as Kloppman’s words came to a sudden halt. “I don’t know how much more of that I can take,” she muttered.

Now he knew what was going on. “All those guys in the hall want a date?”

“Probably,” she admitted.

“And that’s got you upset,” he surmised, sitting down in a chair. Those guys are lucky she hasn’t broken any bones. Looks like she hasn’t even decked any of them, and that shows amazing restraint on her part.

“I’m trying not to be... overwhelmed,” she answered. “But it’s—” She couldn’t think of a way to describe it, and wound up shuddering. And that says it all.

He frowned. “How long has this been going on?”

“Well, I had that date with Bear, and that went okay. Then Clines needed help pronouncing Yukosk vowels, and people seem to think that was a date. Then, I reluctantly went out with Ryan, but it didn’t work. Lasted maybe 5 minutes before I shoved him away and walked off. Probably didn’t help any that I had just gotten out of a session with Dr Fong. Anyway, they just keep asking.”

“Everybody?”

Her eyes closed as a look of quiet pain passed over her face. “No, not everybody, I guess.”

“That’s why you snapped at me this morning on the bridge,” he stated. “You thought I was just another guy asking for a date.”

“Yeah. I’ve stopped listening. I just automatically say no.”

“Well, we need to get things under control. You don’t have to go out every night, Mac.”

She shuddered again. “Wasn’t planning on it. I’ve tried dating, Bugsy, but my attempt with Ryan was too much. I’m not even sure I could go out with Bear again.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t get me wrong. Bear was a perfect gentleman. The most intimate we got was I held his hand. Just so people would know it was a date, and would leave us alone. But since then, Pa won’t let up! I’m even nervous having you in my living room!”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“The only time Pa fades away to let me be myself instead of a nervous wreck is on Monday evenings.”

“When you and Ivy work on the Yukosk machine.”

“Right. Me and Ivy, Abdulla and Smit.”

“It doesn’t make you nervous to be around Smythe?” I would have thought Pa would be in full force with Smythe around.

“Nervous, yes. Always afraid I’ll say something stupid. I’m finally getting over that in those sessions. But pa is a tiny whisper, easily ignored, because he doesn’t apply to... the situation.”

“Well, why is pa so active all the time?”

Mac thought about that for a long moment. “Maybe because I can’t get through 2 days without having Pa’s dictates brought to the forefront of my mind.”

“Because someone asks for a date?”

“Oh, no. Well, they do, but that’s... Pa’s already in full force before they get a chance.”

“Then he must be ever present, like when you got to the Academy.”

“Yeah.”

Bugs mulled over what she’d revealed. “I thought Dr Fong was helping you unpack your luggage, as you say.”

“He does. He brings up a dictate, we examine it in minute detail, and then he moves on to the next one. We only get through one dictate during a session, and I’m left with that dictate firmly in mind, only to have another dictate added to it at our next session two days later. It’s a wonder I haven’t completely blown up yet, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep from doing that.”

“Wait. I’m not sure I understand. You examine the dictate in minute detail. So you must be able to see that pa’s dictates aren’t realistic, or feasible.”

“I try, but there it is, just like it was all my life before the Academy; not to be questioned, just to be followed.”

“So, you aren’t getting any guidance from Dr Fong on how to disable the dictates? Disarm them, ignore them, anything like that?”

Red curls bounced as she shook her head. “I’ve even asked him how I deal with these dictates so I can be a normal person, and he just says, ‘We’ll get to that,’ and then we never do. Our time is over, and the next time I see him, he’s ready to move to another dictate. It’s all been very frustrating!”

“No wonder you’re wound up so tight. That isn’t the way I thought this would work. If I couldn’t think of anything else to say when a dictate came up, at least I told you it was a stupid way to think of things.”

She leaned back and closed her eyes. “How I long to hear you tell me these things are stupid!”

“I think I can oblige. Come on, let’s go have supper, er, breakfast, in the privacy dining room. You can tell me all the dictates you’ve gone through with Dr Fong, and I’ll tell why they’re stupid. Afterwards, we’ll find Dr MacGregor and have a talk with him.”

A brilliant smile flashed on her face. “I knew you’d be able to help me. I just haven’t been able to think!”

Walking out, they stopped short at sight of all the men still waiting in the hallway. As Bugsy pondered what to say to them, he felt Mac’s hand take hold of his, and she leaned against him slightly. Well, they’ll all be thinking it anyway, with her behaving like that, so why not? “Gentlemen, you might as well leave, Mac already has a date for tonight. And as she said earlier this evening, she’s not available anytime this week. If you’re going to try again after that, don’t gang up on her all at once. Come on, Mac.”

He pulled her to the lift, and they got on. He realized the hand he held was shaking. “I hate to think about next week,” she muttered.

“One thing at a time,” he returned.