CHAPTER 4B - Dinner with Friends
981 Words
The following morning came early, as did every morning. Brigit and Marissa headed into town to pick up specific female items. The men had no clue about clothing, both under and outer and other things.
By the end of the day, everyone made it home to the farm and helped Gayle with dinner somehow, and Jon finished the chores in record time.
Once everything was done, Jon said, “All we need now is our dinner guests.”
A few minutes later, a hover car approached the farm, and the sound was unmistakable. Someone was here for dinner. Was it Mik, or was it Magda?
They all stood on the porch, and the car made its way to the barn. It had to be Mik delivering the blanks.
A few minutes later, it headed to the front door. Mik exited the right side and yelled, “Dinner ready?”
Monica exited the left side of the car, “Dad, be nice. We are their guests!”
The front left door opened a second later, and Magda stood and yelled, “Can I play with the horses?”
Brigit, Joseph, Jon, and Gayle ran and gave hugs, then introduced Marissa and David.
They walked inside, and Magda opened a small pack, removing several bottles of wine. Already perfectly chilled.
“A friend said we had chicken pot pie for dinner!” She looked at Brigit and winked, “And I hear this is perfect for it.”
Spirits and such, although present in the settlement, are just there. No one drinks excessively, but if someone has an occasional drink, they are not looked upon as anything other than a friend.
Jon said, “Perfect. I thought I would be serving my nasty grape juice. This is a lot better. Thanks, kid!” She smiled; he always called her that, and she loved it.
They sat at the table and reintroduced everyone and how they knew Jon, Gayle, Brigit, and Joseph. Magda said she and Joseph played Brigit ball on the shuttle. Joseph added that Magda won. She caught Brigit and plopped her on the deck. They were having a great time, and Gayle stood.
“I’m hungry. Anyone else?” All hands went up.
Monica stood, “Let me help, please.”
“Thank you.” They headed to the kitchen and returned with two rather large pies. Mik started drooling.
“Dad, you got issues!”
“Yes, daughter. I do.”
Dinner was amazing. The wine was perfect. Monica made a pot of coffee and grabbed nine cups hanging under the cabinet. Cream and sugar are also used and put all on the table. The group poured and doctored up their own coffee.
Brigit asked, “So, Mik. This is your daughter-in-law. Where is the son?”
“Ah, yes. Poor Mik Junior. He joined the military and is stationed on the lunar surface. He is due to rotate home in a few months. He pops in every month or so on a visit. For some reason, Monica is nowhere to be found when he is in town. MMmmmmm…….”
“DAD!”
MagdaLynne asked Monica, “So, what does he do in the military?”
“He’s a pilot. Pretty good one, I hear, too.”
The general grinned, “Let me see what I can do. I need a new pilot before our Mars trip, too. My current pilot is leaving the military about 14 days after we depart, and she will be on light duty for her last few weeks. I guess it all works out since she is pregnant with triplets.”
“Does she have to get out?” Marissa asked.
“Oh no, not at all. She made the decision, asked me for my advice, and I told her both sides. Her separation date is a few weeks after her delivery, so I told her to extend her enlistment by six months. She put in for maternity leave and then took all her accumulated leave. Then I would give her a month tdy, allowing her to relax and draw a full paycheck nearly a year after the baby is born.”
She turned to Monica, “What’s his name?”
Mik senior voiced up, “Mik Roland Spencer the Second.” He said it slowly and grinned wider and wider as he said it.
“Do not mention the reassignment to him. I will keep you posted. What rank is he?”
“Captain.”
“Even better!” Magda spoke, “Well, I assume that everyone knows about our trip to Mars?”
They all nodded, except for Monica and Mik.
Brigit quickly added, “I am heading to Mars with Magda in a few months. She had an inspection tour, and I had never been there. She has an extra seat, so she offered it to me.”
“Excellent,” Monica said, “Would there happen to be two extra seats?”
“I was thinking about that on the way here and thought Mik would need to stay at the store, so you, me, Brigit, and if Joseph would like to tag along, we will have an entire plane. Your classes should be over, and winter will start then.
“Let me think about that,” Joseph said, “I am not the traveler that Miss Explorer here is.”
“Hell, I am; count me in!” Monica looked at Mik, “I am putting in for vacation,” She hugged him.
Gayle said, “Well, summer on Mars gets up to 70°F, but at night, it can drop to -75°F, so all I ask is that you wear a coat.
Monica had a reality check, “So if my Mik is reassigned as your pilot, he will be flying us all to Mars.”
- Writer
