'59 - A Space Exploration Adventure: PT13

It's a bank holiday here in the UK; and raining as usual on these days(groan).
Just another day of work for me trhough - such is the creative life :-(

© A Sunderland 2011

Admiral Adams, Mission Commander, walked amongst the families offering light-hearted reassurance. The smart and colorful outfits of the guests contrasted with the crew’s regulation flight uniforms of black boots and trousers, and slate-blue tunics zipped up over a black t-shirt.
Sean Janine and Cindy were inspecting the Intrepid through the large viewing windows when Maria walked in.
and rushed over, handed her a small but exquisite bouquet of flowers, and said, “I tried to get the florists to deliver fresh ones every week while you’re out there, they’re not equipped for it.”
“Thank you Sean, they’re so beautiful.” She said then kissed on his right cheek.
“Hey, congratulations on your promotion!”
“Thanks, but I suspect they just felt sorry for me being the only one without any stripes.”
Cindy walked up to her, smiled, said, “Nonsense, Don tells me you earned them fair and square.” then hugged Maria, and said, “Well done and congratulations, Lieutenant.”
“Are you on Dad’s ship?” Janine interrupted.
“No, I’m on the Valiant with Captain Nunn.”
“Oh well, that’ll be a relief.” Sean laughed. “You’ll have a smooth flight.”
“Oi!” Janine kicked him. “Dad’s a better pilot than you ever were!”
“Hey, he’s only joking,” Cindy said, “although I must admit your father does have a reputation for turning strong men into quivering blobs of jelly.”
Stirling’s voice boomed, “Ah … there you are; my favorite girls, all in one place.”
Janine rushed over and gave him a bear hug, and said, “Uncle David, hi!” Although no relation, he had been ‘Uncle’ for as long as she could remember.
“David, where have you been hiding?” Cindy asked as she bent down to kiss him.
Sean whispered to Maria, “before I say hello to Uncle David … how about dinner when you get back, just the two of us?”
“Sean, I’d love that.”
“Good, it’s a date then.”
“Oh yuck … puh-leeze!!” snorted Janine.
Cindy tapped Janine’s right wrist, and hissed, “Sssh, leave them alone. They could be good for each other. I think Maria’s a beautiful young women—“
“Yeah, far too good for him.” Janine said mockingly squeezed her nose quipped, “I wondered why he didn’t smell like a baboon today,” and stepped out of Cindy’s reach.
Cindy said,“now look, I’m not having this going all the time your father’s away.”
Just then, Don joined them, gave Cindy a warm hug and kiss, said, “Hi gang. Well, it’s almost time to go.” Then wrapped his right arm around Janine’s shoulder, and said, “hey kiddo, I’ll be back in lots of time for your twenty first birthday. Don’t you worry about that.”
She gave him a mournful look, and said, “You promise?”
He took both her hands, looked straight into her eyes, said, “I promise. Nothing in this world will keep me away” playfully pulled her mouth into a smile, and said, “and if you’re really good, I might even bring you back your very own alien!”
“Better make it a really fast alien horse, for you! You’re going to need it.”
“As if!”
As other crew members were kissing final farewells to their own brothers, mothers, fathers and sisters, Cindy watched Maria saying goodbye to some academy friends, includin a couple of the youngsters from the banquet.
As the last of them walked away to the seated viewing area, leaving Maria stood alone, Cindy walked across to her, and said, “It’s such a shame your family couldn’t be here.”
The colour drained from Maria’s face, she sobbed, “I don’t have any family,” and tears rolled down her cheeks. “I … I lost them all…”