Untitled Tucker - 21104.01
By Judith Tucker
Judith entered the ship’s lounge; baby CJ holding her hand and trying his best to walk with her. His walk was clumsy looking and he relied on his Mom to hold him up. He wore a smile on his face while she made her way through the room, looking for a place to sit. Winding their way through, she found a table of familiar faces, all wearing smiles, having a good time. She smiled as she sat down and pulled her son up on her lap. The waitress was quick to bring a glass of water for Judith and a small glass of juice for CJ in a small sippy cup. Once she was gone, one of the members around the table laughed and then went into finishing a story he had apparently started before Judith had sat down. Once he was finished, the group laughed a good while, causing CJ to shriek with happiness with the others. “Shhh,” Judith spoke. Then, Judith felt the weight of several eyes upon her. Blushing, she looked up and around the table. “What?” Judith said with a smile. Judith sighed and thought for a moment. After sighing, she began.
“I was fifteen,” she paused. “No, no…I was sixteen,” Judith started as she stared at the wall in front of her. The group in front of her started to vanish, including CJ, though still she was aware of their presence.
“I came out of the pool building after swimming practice and began to head home. John, one of the guys on my swim team caught hold of my arm as I exited the building. ‘Where ya headed’, he asked and after I answered I was going home, he asked me to grab a pizza. Begrudgingly, I agreed, after explaining that I would take my own car so I could leave from there to head home. Mom and Dad would kill me if they knew what I was doing.
John and I drove to Pizza Express, both starving from our hard day at swim practice. Coach Gray really took it to us that day. I knew I’d be sore in the morning and for a while after. Both of us went with the buffet and turns out, he paid for me. I loaded my plate with salad and pizza, John loading up with lots of slices of pizza…”
Judith paused, tapping her fingers on the glass she held, lost in thought.
“Maybe he had six slices to start with?” Judith chuckled as she pictured John’s overflowing plate.
“John sat down next to me, though I didn’t pay much attention to it. I sat down and of course, started eating my salad first. This was a habit my Mother started me on, always telling her children to eat the salad first, before getting full up! John worked his way closer to me, until he was directly next to me, our bodies touching each other. It made it hard to eat my dinner this way, as he chose to sit on my right side…”
Judith picked up her right arm and held it next to her body, as if someone was leaning on her. While she demonstrated trying to eat in this fashion, she got a few laughs from her friends seated around the table. CJ was being passed around her friends and he let loose a shriek or two of happiness.
“I suppose I was just too naive, I had no idea what John was doing, sliding up to me. I continued to eat dinner and carry on conversation. John and I talked about school and homework, complained of teachers, agreeing on most of our opinions of the teachers there. We both loved Coach Gray though, despite the rough practice today.
His arm slid around my neck and I finally understood what was going on. I wasn’t scared, as I’d known John for a couple of years now, mainly from the swim team. We continued talking until our conversations had faded almost to nothing. He leaned over to me, and he was close to giving me a kiss…until my phone rang. We both jumped in surprise! As I looked at the screen, I found out it was my Mother – and when I answered, she immediately went into the standard Mother’s rant. She yelled at me about the time and then yelled about my school work. I couldn’t get a word in. I looked like a bobble head, answering in silence to questions. She finally got done and asked me if I’d eaten. It took me a moment to realize I could speak now, but finally told her I’d be home soon. I explained to her that I’d gone with friends to get a bite to eat while we worked on a project for school. That seemed to cool her jets and she ended with telling me to be home by ten o’clock. I started to argue with her and managed to get an extra hour from her, but knew I’d have to hear about being disrespectful to her once I did get home. Hanging up, I tossed the phone back in my bag and looked back to John.
We stared at each other a moment and then John stood up. I thought the magic was gone, but instead felt him grab hold of my hand, prompting me to stand with him. John guided me outside and we talked a bit more while leaning against our cars. I shook my head in response to him asking if I’d been to the observatory before. I was signed up for Astronomy next semester and I’d get to see it then. John just smiled and said to follow me. I wasn’t sure what to do…follow a boy? At night? But I’d known him for a while… I didn’t think on it too long, as odd feelings throughout my body were taking over my will. Sure I’d been on dates before, but never this spontaneously and never without my parents meeting my date first.
I followed John in his black truck through the town, to the observatory. He got out of his car and grabbed his flashlight as I pulled up alongside his. There were no other cars around, except for one. John explained it was the manager during open hours. We walked in the dark to the observatory, John holding my left hand with his right and using his other to point to the stars, using the flashlight as a pointer. He told me about his dreams of joining Star Fleet. Inside the observatory, he used the massive telescope to continue pointing out constellations and planets, explaining his personal view of the different beings around. Finally we came to a point that we were both dancing under the stars, enjoying the peacefulness of the sky.
It was a good time and really sparked my interest in wanting to know more about what was past our planet. Mother called me again, asking if I were headed home. I said I was. John walked me to my car and just as I was going to get in, his hand reached up to my chin, holding it a moment. My eyes were immediately frozen into his as he lowered his head to mine. His soft lips pressed against mine, his hand dropping from my chin. His fingers found mine and slipped between them, our bodies against each other. My heart was racing a mile a minute and I was positive he felt it. The moment was about as perfect as you could…”
Judith looked around the table at her friends, who were not paying much attention to her. Instead, CJ was standing up, his little hands grasping the table. His legs bounced to the beat of the song that was being played. He was laughing, squealing and babbling. Judith smiled and then looked outside the windows of the lounge. Staring out at the stars she got lost again.
“That night was one of the best nights for me. It increased my interest in space. I took astronomy the next semester and started focusing my coursework in the sciences. John introduced me to some other friends of his, although most were ahead of me in school. We’d often meet at the observatory for class or just independent study. Once John graduated and left for the academy, I only saw him a few times a year; each time though was similar to the first time we’d met. We’d sit and talk about what was going on with each other. He’d tell me stories about Star Fleet and what he was learning, making me all the more jealous that he was there. He grew into much more than a boyfriend though. By now, I considered him my mentor. He sent me e-mails from the academy, explaining what he was learning and what I had to look forward to. When I told my Mother and Father I wanted to join Star Fleet, they assumed it was to follow after John, but it wasn’t…”
Judith tapped her fingers against her glass again as pictured John in the photo he’d sent her from his graduation day. He wore his security uniform with just a midshipman’s pip.
“I don’t know where he is now… but I have a lot to thank him for.”
Her eyes drifted around the table to the small smiling boy. Judith’s friends were engrossed with the boy entertaining them, so much that she doubted they’d heard her story. I think I’m glad, Judith mused in her mind. She reached out for her son and proceeded to dance a small dance. For CJ…and for John.
