[usstempest] "Leaving Home" by Ensn. Miranda Craig
- From: Elizabeth Bethell <ejbethell@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: usstempest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 10:03:07 +0100 (BST)
"Leaving Home" Ensn. Miranda Craig
The early spring morning had had a bit of a chill to the air, but as the Austin
midday sun finally reached itâ??s peak, the air took on a warm gentle breeze.
It felt good against Mirandaâ??s tanned skin as she walked down the sidewalk.
This was much better weather then the cold mists of San Francisco, and she was
going to miss it. The excitement welled in her belly again as she thought about
what lay a head of her. She couldnâ??t remember the last time her thoughts of
the future hadnâ??t included being on a starship, and now those dreams were
about to become real. A small smile tugged at the corners of the young
womanâ??s lips as she made her way up the path to the front door of her
parentsâ?? home, and she wondered if this mix of excitement and fear was how
Lindsey felt when she left for her first assignment.
â??Where have you been?â??
Miranda looked in the direction of the voice that had come from the front room.
â??I got up early and headed over to Emily's. I wanted to ride Walker again
since I donâ??t know when Iâ??ll be able to get back.â??
The older woman whoâ??d spoken to Miranda stood from her armchair as she shook
her head. Miranda would have thought she was genuinely in trouble, but the
smile on her motherâ??s face told her she wasnâ??t.
â??Youâ??re going to be late sweetheart.â?? Michelle scolded lightly as she
headed for the kitchen.
Miranda smiled as she followed her mother. â??Iâ??ve got time, Mom; I wonâ??t
miss my transport.â??
After smiling slyly at her mother and giving the older woman a hug, which made
Michelle grimace since Miranda was covered in dust, dirt, and sweat, Miranda
grabbed a sandwich and a soda from the fridge and then headed up to her room.
Most of her things had already been packed and sent ahead to the shuttle port,
but there were still a few personal things she needed to pack into her
carryall.
There were just certain things that Miranda wouldn't dare have shipped across
space as cargo. She packed some of her more treasured books, mainly the ones
that had belonged to her great-grandfather; her academy class ring, the
championship ring she helped her team win after taking on Tennessee in this
yearâ??s womenâ??s NCAA basketball championship, her favorite music and
holodeck chips, her journal, and of course Peggy-Rose. Peggy-Rose was a white
stuffed rabbit with tiny black eyes, a peach ribbon tied in a bow around her
neck, and a rose colored floppy hat that had a pink rose pinned to the front of
it.
Like the dragonfly necklace she wore, Peggy-Rose was always with Miranda no
matter where she went. Sheâ??d had the little rabbit for so long that she could
barely remember a time she hadnâ??t had it.
Miranda had been five years old when sheâ??d been given the little white rabbit
by one of her sisterâ??s friends. The three of them had been spending the day
exploring old downtown Austin. It was late spring, just after the Terrain
Easter holiday; Lindsey was heading out the next morning on her first tour of
duty, and Mirandaâ??s heart was breaking. The rabbit had caught Mirandaâ??s
eye and Lindsey had offered to get it for her since sheâ??d missed Easter and
had missed out on seeing what the Easter Bunny had brought in Mirandaâ??s
basket, but Miranda was to busy sulking, whining, and being down right mean to
her sister's friend Jonathan.
By the time theyâ??d made their way over to a small cafe whoâ??s patio was open
for lunch, Lindsey had had quite enough of Mirandaâ??s behavior and had asked
Jonathan if heâ??d give them a few minutes alone. Miranda really didnâ??t
remember what her sister had said to her as sheâ??d held her on her lap
scolding her over her poor behavior, she just remembered sitting there looking
into her sisterâ??s eyes, wishing that she wouldnâ??t go away again, and
blaming Johnathan because she knew she would. It wasnâ??t that Miranda disliked
Jonathan, itâ??s just that it made more sense in her five year old mind to be
mad at a person rather then at Star Fleet, and it was easier to be mad at him
then at Lindsey.
When Jonathan had finally rejoined them, heâ??d had two small white rabbits
each with their own pretty little Easter hat in his hands. Heâ??d given the one
with the rose colored hat to Miranda while she sniffled and wiped away tears
with Lindseyâ??s shirt sleeve, and then heâ??d given the one with the violet
hat to Lindsey. He then told Miranda that these werenâ??t just any old rabbits.
He asked her if she knew why the rabbits had big floppy ears and sheâ??d shook
her head, so he told her that the rabbits had those ears to make them good
listeners, and that whenever she missed Lindsey she could talk to her rabbit
and then her rabbit would send the message to Lindseyâ??s rabbit.
Miranda laughed at herself as she carefully put Peggy-Rose into her duffle bag.
Damn but sheâ??d been a gullible kid, but that silly rabbit and Jonathan's even
sillier story had helped her quite a few nights when she missed her big sister
so much it made her cry.
Several framed pictures; one of her parents, one of her sister holding Miranda
as an infant, and the most resent one, a picture of all four of them at
Mirandaâ??s graduation from the Academy, were added to the duffle bag which
Miranda set on the floor next to her bedroom door. With that finished, Miranda
slipped into her bathroom for a shower.
Twenty minutes later Miranda was standing in front of her full length mirror
adjusting the brand new yellow and black uniform sheâ??d traded her old red and
black cadet jumper for. She pulled at the yellow turtle neck until it didnâ??t
feel as if it were going to choke her. She tugged on the hem of the jacket
until it fit just the right way. She adjusted and readjusted her comm badge,
and then finally she placed the brand new shiny single gold pip on her collar.
Her parents were talking quietly when she entered the room. They each ended
their conversation the moment they knew she was there, looked up at her, and
just stared at her smiling. Though they were smiling warmly, proudly, at her;
Miranda could see the sadness in their eyes. â??How do I look?â??
â??A little like your sister did fifteen years ago,â?? Her mother told her as
the older woman stood and walked towards her, â??only this uniform is much
better looking then that god awful one piece jumpsuit she had to wear.â??
â??Leave it to your mother to notice the fashion.â?? Her father joked as he
watched his wife hugging her. â??You look great, kid. Have we told you how
proud we are of you?â??
â??Only a half dozen times give or take.â?? Miranda teased back.
After finally stepping back from Miranda, Michelle adjusted the collar of her
jacket as she asked, â??Are you sure you donâ??t want us to come to the
transport with you?â??
Miranda bit back her sigh. She highly doubted any of the other officers were
going to be dropped off by their Moms and daddies so she wanted to go alone.
â??You guys didnâ??t take Linds to meet her transport.â??
Again her father laughed. â??Thatâ??s because we had a five year old we had to
keep an eye on cause she kept trying to sneak out of the house to go after her
sister. If weâ??d taken you to see Lindsey off youâ??d have climbed into her
duffle bag.â??
Miranda was going to reply to her fatherâ??s teasing but was cut short when her
mother warned her again that she was going to be late. â??I promise to let you
know the moment I find out where Iâ??m being assigned.â??
Her mother nodded as she brushed dirt that only a mother could see off the
shoulders of her uniform. â??Be careful sweetheart. And if you see your sister
on the station ask if sheâ??s forgotten how to use a comm station to call
home.â??
â??Yes Mom.â??
Miranda picked up her bag, gave each of her parents a hug, and then headed out
the door and down the same sidewalk sheâ??d walked down that morning.
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