Soaring

Emma placed the tiny chip into the little robot's body. She knew Timmy Desmond would love it. The 'bot had been designed to be taken apart and reassembled in several different ways and would respond to controls from his slate. Timmy loved anything he could take apart.

"Aren't you going to be late for dinner?"

Emma had been concentrating so hard on the little toy that she hadn't even heard Alan come in. He pulled up a stool next to her workbench and leaned comfortably against the table. His pale blue eyes met hers and she blushed slightly. It was a common reaction she had begun to have in his presence. Fortunately, he didn't seem to notice.

"I cleared it with Mama," she smiled and looked away from him reluctantly, returning her attention to the 'bot. "Dinah and I are taking Claire's kids to the cafeteria tonight. She asked us to keep them away from the apartment for a few hours."

"You are a brave woman," Alan declared. "Those kids are awful. Even Claire can't do anything with them."

Emma blushed again as Alan called her a woman and she was relieved that he had turned his attention to the parts on the table. "Timmy's okay once you get to know him. The girls are-- just young."

"Well, I guarantee you and your brothers weren't allowed to behave that way, no matter how young-- and Timmy goes out of his way to be annoying." He picked up the pieces of brightly colored plastic. "What's this?
"It's a robot for Timmy," she said with a smile. With enthusiasm, she showed him the little robot that could be easily disassembled and rebuilt. She pulled out the little box she had designed to hold it. It was molded to fit the toy and cushion it from impact with as much care as a musical instrument case. There was a small tool kit built into it to use with it, and the latch included a combination lock so Timmy's little sisters couldn't open it and break the robot.

"Well, you seem to have thought of everything, Princess. That's pretty clever."

"Thank you," she said with pride.

He put his hand on her shoulder. "And I expect you to be equally clever on the pilot's exam tomorrow."

"I will," she promised earnestly. "I'm ready for it."

"Are you sure we agreed you could try it this young?"

"I'm almost fourteen," she said, afraid he was going to postpone the exam. He raised an eyebrow. "Well, closer to fourteen than thirteen."

"By a few days," he said with a grin.

She grinned back. "Bill says I'm ready."

"Yeah, I know. Well, we'll see tomorrow." He put his arm around her shoulders. Conspiratorially he said, "And don't eat much lunch tomorrow because it'll be a rough ride in the simulator all afternoon."

"Oh, Alan, you know I don't get vertigo!" she said, offended.

"Not so far," he said, teasing. Emma did seem to have a cast iron stomach, but he had programmed the simulator himself and intended to find her limits some time during the afternoon. He knew she had the desire and the skill to be a terrific pilot, but she would have to prove herself thoroughly before he let her at the controls of one of his Eagles.

"I'll pass," she said stoutly.

"I know you will, Princess." He looked into her green eyes, reading the fierce determination there. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You'll fly wonderfully."

He turned and left the workroom. Emma stood staring after him in a daze. By tomorrow night she would be a full-fledged Eagle pilot, but she could soar without one right now.

Over the past two months Dinah and Emma had shared babysitting duties for the Desmond family on numerous occasions. They kept things well planned, and this wasn't the first time they'd ventured out of the Desmond apartment. Emma paid sole attention to Timmy. He would do anything for her and she had a gift for keeping him entertained, but if her attention wandered to his sisters he was capable of doing anything to regain her attention. Timmy craved her total concentration. Dinah watched the two girls like a hawk, and as long as neither of them provoked Timmy, things stayed relatively peaceful.

In the cafeteria they asked for extremely small portions and the girls barely ate. Then they took them to the gym. They used the mats to show the kids some gymnastics, and let Timmy hang from the rings and parallel bars.

Dawn and Summer enjoyed tumbling on the mats and Dinah kept them occupied while Emma took Timmy aside and gave him the little robot in its case. Timmy was enraptured by it and played with it until time to go home.

When they reached the apartment Emma and Dinah were surprised to see the usually cluttered apartment full of moving crates. Claire smiled at the group as Alan walked into the living room with another box.

"You're moving?" Emma asked.

"Yes," Claire said. "There's an opening on Ceres two and we're leaving tomorrow. I wish I could pack you two up and take you with me. You two have been life savers for me."

"Oh, we were glad to help out," Dinah said. She daydreamed about having children of her own someday and her mother had pointed out that this would be good experience. She had enjoyed watching the two little girls. She still didn't know what Emma saw in Timmy.

Claire turned to Alan and put her arms around him. "You've been a life saver too. I don't know what I would have done without you." She kissed him on the lips. Emma watched carefully. Somehow this looked like a goodbye kiss.

"Glad to help, Claire," Alan said warmly. "Take care of yourself."

Claire nodded, dry-eyed. She didn't seem to regret saying goodbye.

Alan, Emma and Dinah left the apartment together. Alan put his arms around the girls' shoulders and sighed. "I feel like dessert. Who wants to go raid the kitchen with me?"

"There was still rice pudding when we left the cafeteria," Emma said, looking forward to something sweet.

"And we hardly had a chance to eat anything ourselves. Let's go," Dinah said. "Alan," Dinah asked. "Why is Claire moving?"

"Well, Summer and Dawn's dad is there. He and Claire weren't really sure they wanted to get married, but when this job came open she talked to him and he asked her to join him."

"I thought you and Claire--" Dinah started and trailed off. It was a very personal question and Emma was glad Dinah was doing the asking.

"Claire's nice, but a bit on the boring side. We didn't have a lot in common besides--" Alan stopped, realizing he was talking to two thirteen-year-old girls. "Well, we just didn't have much to talk about."

Emma smiled.

"So, you're sure you're going to pass that test tomorrow?" He changed the subject.

"I'm sure."

"You'd better. I talked to your parents and we're taking you out to dinner tomorrow to celebrate."

Emma grinned. She was getting that lightheaded feeling again as he looked at her. She couldn't be happier-- well, not yet, anyway.

Ellen Lindow

April, 1999