Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 22, 2020 22:21:24 GMT
March 2380 - After S1E1
[First Officer's quarters, Front Ear Station]
Judy looked at her reflection in the mirror, as she often did. She was, despite the exhausting work she'd been doing, smiling.
"First Officer's personal log," she began recording. "The work so far has not been easy. It's my impression that this station has been mismanaged, with almost criminal negligence. Records are spotty, but where they are present, they indicate a pervasive culture of neglect and laziness. If the last few days are any indication, we will continue repairing the physical and cultural-attitudinal damage from the previous command for weeks to come. It has been grueling work, and it will continue to be so." She yawned rather loudly. "Nevertheless, I don't regret taking this posting in the slightest. As draining as the work has been, it has also been immensely rewarding. I have had the pleasure of getting to know, and reuniting with, extraordinary folks, and I have a stronger sense of mission and purpose than I did on Earth. I look forward to seeing more of what this crew is capable of as we bring the station to a state of good repair." She tapped briefly on her dresser. "Computer, end log."
Late November 2379
[Sunny Beach, Hawaii, Earth]
Judy stretched her pale arms. One might expect her pallor to increase, since she no longer had her original heart, or decrease, since she'd spent a good portion of her recovery on a sunny beach: three weeks now she'd spent between sand and sea with Max, while Anna beamed back and forth each school day. Of course, Judy had tried to stop her husband from upending the family's life on her account, but he was rather immune to her techniques.
However, here she was, pale as ever. Judy had changed a lot in her 60-odd years of life, but in some regards, she had stayed very much the same.
She took off her sunglasses, setting them in their case, then rolled over on her beach chair to face Max.
"I've been thinking about it," she told him.
He pushed his sunglasses up into his silver hair and came to face her.
"I had a feeling you would," he answered, instantly deducing what "it" was. "What do you think, kishka?"
"I think it would be a matter of what's right for the family, for Anna, for the grandchildren, for Thomas, for you," she replied, measured and methodical as ever.
"So you want it, for you," he concluded, taking her hand in his and squeezing it. "You're allowed to be selfish."
"What's good for the family is good for me. You know that," she disagreed, nevertheless reciprocating the squeeze. "If the children and grandchildren are miserable, or you're miserable, I can't be happy."
"Do you think we were miserable, on the Whirlaway, after the war?" he asked, releasing her hand so he could stand up.
"You gave up your work. The kids moved away from their friends. We only saw Michael on holidays until he was 3. That's too much to ask," she responded, keeping her eyes on her beloved as he rose to stand over her. "I can't ask you to do that again."
"The kids liked it. It was an adventure and a learning experience, for them and for me," he disputed. "It was good for us, and I think this could be too."
He scooped her up with some effort, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I still can't ask Anna to spend her teenage years on a space station at the edge of Federation space. She'd miss out on all the thrills of high school," she protested, though it was harder to keep a straight face in this posture.
"I promise you, we'll all be fine," he objected, his voice straining a little as he continued to hold her. "Think about yourself."
"I appreciate the frontier, exploring the unknown, expanding the reaches of the Federation," she explained, gesticulating with both hands. "Reports seem to show that they need my skills at this duty station to get it back in order. But that doesn't mean I can just forget all about the fa..."
As Judy began to go back to the family and all her reasons to turn down the posting to Front Ear Station, Max suddenly dropped her onto a sand dune. She landed flat on her back in the soft sand, and he leaned down towards her.
"As you can see, the family can stop you when we need to," he pointed out. She responded by flicking some sand at him.
"You're evil," she snapped playfully. "I'll throw you right in the brig."
"For a moment, I almost believed you were a tired old woman," he teased, before she grabbed him with both arms and pulled him down.
He landed beside her, his sunglasses about a foot away.
"Woe betide any of the crew who make that same mistake," she quipped.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 25, 2020 0:06:18 GMT
September 2375
[Eastman-Williams Family Home, Summit, New Jersey, Earth]
With the kids at school, Judy (still on extended leave after the war) and Max (self-employed since the war began) had the house to themselves on this hot Tuesday morning. They enjoyed each other's company immensely, and after so much time apart, it was nice to have quality time again.
They'd developed something of a ritual, with the kids at school. They walked the dogs, saw to Judy's physical therapy, then did some housework, before heading to the backyard at 10 AM for a mid-morning snack. Cheese and wine provision duties rotated between them on alternating days, and the bread was always fresh from the local bakery.
"What fromage did you choose for us, Monsieur Williams?" Judy asked her beloved in an exaggerated French accent as they set up their little meal outside. "Zis one does not tell, Madame Williams," Max answered, affecting a similar accent. "La fromage is for you to guess." As was their custom, they sat down on a loveseat, poured two glasses of red wine, and then began to enjoy the meal.
"I think I'll start with this one," Judy started, beginning to cut a wedge from a circular cheese with a rind. "It looks like camembert." Max maintained his best poker face, as Judy then took a bite. "It's far too mild to be camembert," she judged. "It's a very small brie." "Is that your final answer?" he asked. She nodded. "It's not a brie. It's an underachieving camembert," he announced. A look of surprise, almost shocked, crossed Judy's face. "Hell of an underachiever, this camembert, then. Truly the Defiant-class of camemberts," she answered. "Didn't the Defiants perform well, from what you told me?" Max asked, as he cut a slice from a block of hard cheese. "Well, yes, but far less than they were talking about in the 60s," Judy explained. "Much like this brie, or crummy camembert, crumembert, if you will, isn't a bad cheese." Max laughed and gave Judy a little back-rub. "Let's do a lightning round," he suggested, as he prepared a trio of samplers. "Only if we have some stakes to it," she one-upped, leaning against him. "Each one I get right is another massage you owe me." "And every one you get wrong is another time you let me help you up the stairs," he offered, and she nodded in agreement. She took the first one. It was quite strong, definitely Alpine, well-aged, with some herbalness to it. "Appenzeller," she guessed. "Correct," he answered, then brought the second to her lips. This one was a little gentler, but still strong and Alpine. "Comte," she guesed. "Nicely done!" he commended. Then came the third. This one was milder, had holes, but still was fairly strong. "Emmentaler?" Judy asked hesitantly. "Jarlsberg," Max answered, smiling triumphantly. "How did I? That's... no, you're lying," she protested, and then they both laughed.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 29, 2020 4:29:50 GMT
June 2378
[Eastman-Williams Family Home, Summit, NJ]
Through most of the summer, the backyard pool of the Eastman-Williams home was filled with loudness and splashing, but there was more than the usual today.
"Mom! Michael splashed my eye!" 12-year-old Anna complained about her nephew.
"Michael is 4, so you have to be the adult here," Judy responded from her perch at the end of the pool. She then stood up, 60-year-old that she was, and gracefully dove into the water. She re-emerged near the shallow end, where Michael was in his little floatie donut.
"Mikey, you need to be careful," she told the 4-year-old. "No splashing the eyes."
"No splashy the eyes," Michael acknowledged, as he then proceeded to splash his grandmother. Due to the height differences, he mostly got the torso.
"That's good! Like that!" Judy commended, as she then used her hand to make a big splash behind Michael's back. "Let's go for an adventure."
Gripping the floatie, Judy led Michael deeper into the pool, at times shaking him or speeding up. She couldn't engage in too much horseplay on land, not with the strain to her hip and the risk of falls, but the pool was properly accommodating.
However, it was also accommodating to Anna, who cannonballed back into the water, nearly knocking her mother off-balance.
"I got you!" the young woman proclaimed. "Mikey, let's get grandma!"
The duo, Anna and Michael, ganged up on the family's matriarch, and she splashed them back.
Max looked over from the grill and chuckled. "You're all Eastmans," he remarked. "Judy, can you give me a hand?"
"Sure, love," Judy replied. "You win, kinderlach."
As Judy came out of the pool, toweled off, and joined Max, she thought about the good luck she had to be here, with her family, and how lucky she was to enjoy motherhood and grandmotherhood all in one. And she had a husband who, even at this age, looked good without his shirt.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on May 5, 2020 2:49:15 GMT
July 2366
[Swiss Alps]
Ah, the great outdoors! It was a proud Eastman-Williams family tradition to climb these mountains every summer, right after Judy's birthday. Armed with hiking sticks, reusable water bottles, and hopelessly out-of-fashion khaki shorts, they were now a ways up a picturesque mountainside, alongside a creek. Didn't matter that they had a 6-month-old and a 5-year-old; the family matriarch's big 5-0 wasn't changing dates.
"How's Anna doing?" Judy asked Max, who was carrying the baby in a sling. "She looks fine," he answered. "Thomas, how are you?" "I'm doing great!" the boy replied enthusiastically. "It's so warm and sunny." "It's lovely, and you're such a strong guy," Judy commended, patting her boy on the head.
The weather was indeed pretty perfect. The sun shone brightly in the sky, warming the old parents and young kids, and fully meriting Judy's excessive lathering of them all in sunscreen. The green Alpine meadows unfolded about them, as did the populated valley below. Above were the snow-capped peaks.
"Daddy, are we going to climb all the way to those mountains?" the young child asked. "Not today, Thomas. When you and Anna are older, we can climb all the way," Max answered. "Your mother actually climbed that really tall one over there once." "Wow. Mommy must've been really strong," the boy exclaimed. "Mommy still is," Judy answered. "You don't want to mess with Mommy." "Mommy is tougher than Daddy," Max pointed out. Thomas nodded. That sounded about right, from his experience with both parents. His father was great, but his mother was a force of nature.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on May 6, 2020 5:11:18 GMT
April 2380
[First Officer's Quarters, Front Ear Station]
It was by no means unusual for Anna to awaken to some food smell from the kitchen, but today was a killer combo of strong cheese and sizzling meat.
"Morning, Mom; Morning, Dad," the teen greeted, noting her parents in their kitchen aprons. "Good morning, my darling," Judy greeted back, looking over her shoulder. "We were going to serve you breakfast in bed if you slept in a bit longer." "Sounds like my loss," Anna joked, flipping her blonde hair. "What's for breakfast?" "A Gascon take on American breakfast, or vice versa," Max answered. "Baked camembert with honey, toast, jams, and a nice touch by your mother." "Duck bacon," the aforementioned mother explained, as she moved said bacon into a serving plate. "Pretty cool, isn't it?" "I didn't know that existed," Anna replied, sounding amazed. "Well, it does, and we have it cooked extra crispy here, just like you like it," Judy answered, smiling as she and Max moved in unison to set the rich, high-cholesterol breakfast on the table.
The camembert was soft and gooey, perfectly suitable for dipping bread in, or for dipping the crispy bacon. That particular combination was tried first by Anna, and then by Judy, to great effect. The gooey, soft cheese mixed with the crunchy, meaty bacon, for an absolutely delectable heart attack of deliciousness. "It's basically a fondue, the camembert," Anna observed. "You know better than that," Judy cut in, initially in mock admonition but then not. "But few house guests ever do."
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on May 9, 2020 21:55:36 GMT
July 2379
[Eastman-Williams Family Home, Summit, NJ]
"There's not going to be a true peace with the Cardassians. A cold truce, maybe, but they're not going to become allies."
This was a heck of a statement for a Starfleet officer to make. Even out of uniform (in a light-blue sundress and oversized sunglasses), Judy Eastman-Williams was still a Starfleet officer, and nominally committed to certain views. At least, so her guests had believed.
"You think so?" asked Pamela, the next-door neighbor and mother of one of Anna's friends. Much like other mothers of the grade, she was about 20 years Judy's junior.
"I'm sure of it," Judy replied, nonchalantly waving her right hand. "The Cardassians fundamentally have three needs right now: humanitarian relief, a reinvigorated economy, and the restoration of their national dignity. Humanitarian aid, they receive with the current, cold peace. For their other aims, a closer bond with us is downright counterproductive."
"How so?" inquired Ron, Pamela's significant other, who had begun to develop a sunburn in the balding patch on the back of his head.
"Well, let's start with the economy. A warming of geopolitical ties with the Federation means closer economic ties too, which would give Cardassian businesses access to Federation markets, but also open their worlds to our businesses. Considering the fact that the Federation's economic engine came out of the War very much intact, Cardassian businesses would get bought out or driven to ruin. What's more, Cardassia needs more planets to mine for raw materials, which means conquest, and that's not something the Federation is particularly amenable to," Judy explained, holding her sunglasses in her hand and gesticulating with them. "As for their national dignity, any closer partnership they come into with us, won't be equal, and they won't see it as equal; they'll see it as a surrender."
"So what's the prognosis?" Pamela asked.
"Uneasy coexistence based on interests, a slow recovery for Cardassia, and someday, hopefully, a new generation on Cardassia will be ready to set the national ego aside," the older woman replied gravely.
"And that's why I love her. She's so uplifting and optimistic," Max quipped.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on May 22, 2020 5:00:47 GMT
September 2378
[Restaurant, Pyrenees Mountains]
The dishes were lined up on the table, placed over a bubbling stream in the Pyrenees mountains, where the aging pair sat. Judy had a rack of lamb ribs with a side salad, while Max had a confit de canard on potatoes. Both dishes were distinctly rich, juicy, thick, and definitely not favorable for cardiac health. Judy's was heftily seasoned, with oregano, pepper, and other spices, while Max's was rich and deep-fried.
"It's incredible how many words the French have for waterways," Judy remarked.
"And I thought you'd talk about the way this thing is built," Max replied, altogether not disinterested.
"Think about all the different terms. We could be sitting here debating if this thing is a creek..." "... or a brook..." "... or a large stream, or a small river, but the French just have a word for it - torrent." "Isn't a torrent seasonal?" Max asked. "I don't think so. I think this one qualifies," Judy disagreed. "Maybe the French have too many words," he offered playfully. "Maybe we're just not French enough," she replied. "60 more years?"
"I almost thought you'd forgot," Max teased. "I may have allowed myself to forget the tens digit," Judy teased back. "Are you saying I look 70 or 50?" he asked. "40, but I digress," she replied. "You know I did this for you. Why else would I take a long weekend off, to go to the with the most beautiful terrain, the finest culture, the best food..." "Wake up in the morning and walk to a store full of cheese..." "Oh, how horrid."
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on May 28, 2020 4:41:27 GMT
February 2378
[Eastman-Williams Family Home, Summit, NJ]
Judy entered the family home swiftly and then shut the door, hoping not to get too much snow inside.
"Hi, Mom!" Anna acknowledged her mother, from her perch on the family sofa. The young woman was bundled up in front of the fireplace, with both dogs.
"You've tamed Bridge, huh?" Judy asked, taking in the scene as she shed her overcoat, scarf, hat, and uniform jacket.
"Bridge is being a good boy today," the 12-year-old explained proudly. "Dad and Tom are out for driving practice."
"Well, gimme 5 minutes, and I'll sit with you, mini-me," the older woman replied.
Soon enough, Judy returned fresh from a brief shower, clad in a Cal hoodie, dark-gray leggings, wire-rimmed cat-eye bifocals, and bunny slippers. Anna, as it were, wore an identical hoodie (in her mother's size), black leggings, and glasses with a pink horn-rim.
"You need to wear socks, young lady," the mother admonished. "We got mail for you from the Fleet," the daughter replied, by way of diversion. "Damn, you're good." Anna handed Judy an envelope, which Judy then gently opened. In there was her new ID card.
"Look at it," she told Anna, handing over the small object. "Dr. Judith Eastman-Williams, C-M-D-R," Anna read out. "Commanding Officer, New York Field Office, Corps of Engineers." "That's right, sweetie," Judy answered. "Why did they change the uniforms a few years ago?" Anna asked. "To be honest with you, mini-me, I don't really know," Judy answered, wrapping a hand around her daughter. "There were three uniform types since I started in the fleet. I think they just change them whenever an Admiral is in the mood." "Isn't that a little wasteful?" Anna asked. "You betcha. Starfleet likes to pretend the replicator is a magic machine that makes stuff from nothing. Stuff like uniforms and shuttles," Judy explained. "A lot of kids in my class think so too," Anna replied. "You're not like a lot of kids, Anna dear," Judy responded, gently patting the girl - soon to be woman. "You're my daughter."
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on May 29, 2020 1:29:06 GMT
August 2375
[Eastman-Williams Family Home, Summit, NJ]
Judy was completely vulnerable, helpless. Theoretically, she could call off this beautification session at any time, but she knew that would break Anna's heart, and after so much time away on duty, the older woman couldn't do that to her young daughter. No, she stayed on the kitchen chair, clad in a bathrobe and with both feet in a little home foot spa. Having allowed Anna to play with a follicle stimulator earlier - and then done the dye herself - Judy had blonde hair down to about mid-back, longer than she'd had it for decades, and far longer than her wartime bob.
"What now, miss?" she asked. "I'm going to do your nails, and braid your hair," Anna proclaimed. "And to think that when I left, you were into starships," Judy observed. "I still like starships, but starships don't make my mom pretty," the 9-year-old explained as she began to plait her mother's hair. "Sometimes when you were away, you looked like a dude." "That's hurtful," Judy protested. "So now we're going all the way the other way?" "Some of my friends' moms look like princesses," Anna countered. "You used to look like a princess. Dad showed me pictures." "I'm a little older than a lot of your friends' moms," Judy said with a gentle sigh. "Sometimes I wish you were like other moms," Anna blurted out, and immediately regretted it. However, Judy wasn't offended. She understood that it was never easy to be the odd one out, and she knew that her prolonged absence during the war had strained the family. "I understand," she said calmly. "I know it's not fair to you that I left for so long, and that I don't do all the things that other moms do. I understand." "I... I didn't mean that, Mom. I love you," Anna replied, still recovering from her own words. "I know you do. I love you too," Judy answered. "I can try to do more normal mother-daughter things with you." "Like what?" Anna asked. "What do you want?" Judy replied with a question. "I want to do more girly things, like other girls. Hair, shopping, spa days," Anna answered. "And I want to go on trips. I want to see the old Enterprise at the Smithsonian, and hit the beach, and go on a long road trip." "I'll cut you a deal," Judy suggested. "Convince your Dad, and we can go for a week, just you and me, and do all the things together." "That'll be awesome!" Anna exclaimed. "Now, mom, look in the mirror!"
Proudly, Anna showed off her handiwork - a neat, blonde braid for her mother.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on May 31, 2020 5:48:59 GMT
September 2375
[Rural Midwestern North America]
Corn, corn, and more corn. There wasn't a whole lot more to these parts. Judy was glad she'd convinced Anna to take the historical, preserved, transcontinental passenger rail service, because more driving through cornfields would've driven her nuts.
"Would you want to live somewhere like this?" Judy asked, lying on the lower bunk of the bed. Anna, on the top bunk, was slightly puzzled, but not entirely surprised, by the philosophical question. "On a train?" she asked. "In a rural area, a farm," Judy clarified. "I guess it could be cool, but... I don't think so. There isn't a lot to do, other than play with animals," Anna replied. "You truly are my daughter," Judy remarked, as she often did. "You always say that," Anna observed, curiously. Judy nodded. "Come down here, mini-me," she invited. "I have a secret for you." Anna came down to the floor of the cabin and crouched, looking attentively at her mother. "You see, you're my only daughter. Your brothers are fine young men, but they are men. For a good, long time, I thought I was going to end up with just sons, until you came along," Judy explained. "I'd always wanted a daughter, and you really didn't disappoint." Unsure what to say, Anna invited herself into her mother's relatively wide bunk. "Besides, you look so much like me, and you share so many of my tastes. I call you mini-me for a reason," the older woman added. "So am I your favorite?" the young woman asked jokingly, tucking herself in. Judy chuckled. "You're my favorite daughter, mini-me," she answered. "Good night." "Night, mom."
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jun 3, 2020 22:42:59 GMT
May 2380
[First Officer's Quarters, Front Ear Station]
Judy and Max sat on the couch, guitars in hand, with Anna, Lawrence, Michael, and Helen around them, and engaged in the long family tradition of playing "guess this song." One - or both - of the senior citizens would start playing a song, and the offspring would compete to guess what it was.
The first song came quick. Max started off, but Judy was ready with her slide to join him.
"My Sweet Lord!" Anna blurted out, after Max played through only a couple of measures. "Good," Judy answered, pleased with her daughter. "Let's keep going."
Judy began one, solo.
"Take me home, country roads," Lawrence guessed. "Correct," Max affirmed. "Let's let our grandbabies get one too."
Max began playing.
"Here comes the sun!" Michael exclaimed, very proud to get one. "Very good, Mikey," Judy confirmed. Then, she turned to Max and whispered something. He whispered back.
Judy began playing.
"You may be right," Anna guessed, receiving a confirmatory nod from Max and a slightly disappointed look from Judy, who had gotten rather into it already. "Sorry for being smart, mother!" "Silence is a mark of wisdom," Judy quoted from scripture as she sat back down.
Max started, and Judy joined in.
"In my life," Anna guessed, again correctly.
Then, Max started another song. This time, he looked at Judy as he played, with the deep, affectionate look of one serenading a loved one.
"Till there was you," Lawrence guessed, overcoming the awkwardness in his mom and stepdad performing love songs. Seeing Judy and Max's romance play out in real time, after living basically his whole childhood with her as a single, profoundly not dating anyone, mom, and certainly while going through puberty himself, had been a weird experience for Lawrence. He'd come to terms with the public displays of affection, and he loved Max as a father, but serenades remained an awkward things for him.
After another whispered exchange with Max, Judy moved to the piano. Taking position, she then began playing.
"Martha my dear!" Michael guessed proudly. "Very good!" Judy flattered. She then started another number.
"Let It Be!" Helen guessed in slightly off-pitch sing-song, her three-year-old ears having a limited catalogue of familiar songs. "That's right, missy," Judy acknowledged, proud to see the family's musical tradition so deeply absorbed.
"I guess that's why they call it the Blues," Anna guessed, reinforcing her lead.
Then, Judy turned to the young woman. "I'm going to need your help for this one, Mini-Me" she said. "Take the piano."
The two Eastman-Williams women spent a brief time sitting side-by-side at the piano stool, exchanging whispers, before Judy moved back to the couch, harmonica in hand.
They began playing.
"Piano Man," Michael guessed, when Judy began with the harmonica part. "And as you can see, Auntie Anna is the Piano Man," Judy joked.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jun 22, 2020 0:49:22 GMT
January 2380
[Starfleet Academy, San Francisco]
There were very few people on the Academy grounds on this January morning. It was cold, foggy, and during winter break. Against this background, it was easy for Mabel to recognize the silhouette of her new superior - non-regulation tan overcoat, blonde hair - gazing out into the fog.
Before Mabel could confirm, however, the figure turned around, her movement slow but deliberate, altogether graceful.
"Are you Commander Eastman?" Mabel asked.
"Yes, I am. Call me Judy," Judy replied, and then extended her right hand for a shake. "You must be Ensign Henriksen."
"Mabel, ma'am," the young woman answered hesitantly. The handshake, the first-name basis, even the Commander's appearance were distinctly not of the Starfleet mold. She looked like a kindly grandmother, smiling, bespectacled, with gentle wrinkles. Nevertheless, she didn't show signs of infirmity; she stood steadily, blonde hair falling at her shoulders, and had a firm handshake.
As Mabel sized Judy up, the older woman sized her yeoman up as well. Mabel was young, befitting her recent Academy graduation. She currently looked nervous, with a weak handshake, but her features appeared used to smiling. Mabel was a larger woman, possibly overweight, but not morbidly so. She had passed the physical requirements, after all. She spoke hesitantly, with a plain accent of the Upper Midwest. More than anything else, Mabel seemed uncertain of her way, eager to please.
"Would you like to go inside, or is this fine?" Judy asked.
"We can stay here, ma'am," Mabel replied.
"Are you sure?" Judy reiterated her offer, suspecting Mabel's eagerness to please was at play.
"I'm from Minnesota, ma'am," Mabel answered, reiterating her refusal.
"No stranger to the cold, then," Judy observed. "And you've had 4 years of this fog."
"4 and a half," Mabel corrected.
"Right," Judy acknowledged. She'd let Mabel tell that story on her own terms. "Walk with me?"
"Yes, ma'am," Mabel accepted. "Is 'Eastman' your last name?" Mabel had been slightly confused by the Commander's file.
"Professionally, yes," Judy answered as she began walking, with Mabel walking along. "Eastman is my maiden name. I hyphenated it with my husband's name, Max Williams, so legally, it's Eastman-Williams, but that's too wordy."
"Is your husband going to come with you?" Mabel asked curiously.
"He is. He, and our youngest," Judy replied. "It can get very lonely without family."
"In space?" Mabel asked. She was surprised to hear the Commander's child was coming along, considering she'd expect the over-60 woman to have adult children.
"No, in New Jersey," Judy quipped. "Do you have any family back in Minnesota?"
"I have six brothers and sisters, and both of my parents," Mabel shared.
"So your mom had seven kids. Wow," Judy reacted. "What ages are your siblings?"
"Four of us are out of the house, including me: my two older brothers, and one of my sisters. The last three are still in school," Mabel answered. "What about your children, ma'am?"
"The oldest two, Gerald and Lawrence, twins, are 33. Third son, Thomas, is 18, Freshman right across the Bay at Cal. Youngest, Anna, just turned 14 recently," Judy shared.
Mabel paused for a moment to do the math. That was some age gap.
"The twins are my ex's kids," Judy explained. "Later, Max and I decided to have kids together, too. We don't really let it bother us."
"I understand, ma'am," Mabel acknowledged.
They walked in silence for a bit, the Golden Gate Bridge occasionally peeking through the fog.
"They did a pretty good job restoring it, the Bridge," Judy commented.
"They have," Mabel agreed. "It was completely closed off to us when I started here. Now, we walk it sometimes."
"I biked it a few times, when I was your age," Judy recalled.
"During the Academy?" Mabel asked.
"UC Berkeley," Judy corrected. "We'd come across the bay, then rent bicycles and roam around San Francisco."
"So did you join Starfleet late?" Mabel asked, again curious about her new, and clearly unorthodox, superior.
"In my 40s," Judy answered. "'58, right around when you were born."
"Yeah," Mabel acknowledged.
"Tell you what. Why don't I take you out to lunch, get to know you better?" Judy then offered. "What do you like?"
"I've always preferred desserts," Mabel answered. "Especially chocolate."
"Let's have a nice pizza for lunch, and then chocolate for dessert over at Ghirardelli. How does that sound?" Judy offered.
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am," Mabel accepted.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 13, 2020 4:25:14 GMT
June 2380
[Blue Beta Bar & Grill]
Max gazed contentedly into Judy's bespectacled eyes. After what had happened during that prisoner transport, he was happy just to sit with her, in their weekly standing date. "So, this is the new place?" she asked, breaking off the little moment. Wearing a red dress with a low neckline, she was clearly dressed to impress the man in her life. "What do you think?" he answered her question with a question. Wearing a red bow tie, and with characteristically tousled silver hair, he looked a little eccentric, just the way she loved him. "It's nice," she answered. "I'm glad you're working again." "You can take a position here too," he offered, only half-joking. "You're as good a cook as I am." "You're worried about this, aren't you?" she asked rhetorically. They both glanced down at her ankle for a moment. "Of course I am. I let you out of my sight, and you come back to me damaged," he answered. "I see your point," she conceded. "But this is my duty, and my profession, and you know that." He reached over, around the bread sticks, to hold her hand. "I know that. I supported you 6 years ago, I supported you 6 months ago, and I still support you now," he told her. "I just want you to be careful for me, that's all." "We'll work out a system," she promised, taking his hand in hers. "Now, why don't we enjoy date night?" "I'm with my wife; how could I not?" he replied.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 21, 2020 3:41:19 GMT
June 2380
[First Officer's Quarters, Front Ear Station]
The Eastman-Williams family was seated around the dinner table: Judy and Max, Anna, Lawrence with his wife Jessica, and three Eastman grandbabies: Michael, Helen, and Benjamin. "Kids, we have an announcement for you," Lawrence said. "I'm setting up a practice here on the station, so we can be close to Grandma and Grandpa," Jessica added. "So we're moving in with Grandma and Grandpa?" Michael asked excitedly. "No, Mikey. You're going to live in your own place on the station, but you can have sleepovers with us," Judy answered, smiling broadly. "But, only if you clean your glasses properly." The 6-year-old went over to the kitchen cabinet where he knew his grandma to keep lens-cleaning cloth, and cleaned his wire-rimmed spectacles. "I still don't know how you get him to do that," Lawrence whispered to his mother. "I'm Grandma. I sprinkle fairy dust wherever I go," she whispered back.
"So, kids, bigger kids, we need to celebrate this," Max announced. "Fortunately, Grandma and I already made you some celebration brownies." "Yay, brownies!" 3-year-old Helen exclaimed.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Jul 24, 2020 0:28:14 GMT
May 2380
[Anna's Bedroom, First Officer's Quarters, Front Ear Station]
Judy stood up from the chair by Anna's workstation, briefly but meaningfully side-eyed the closet where the young woman's mess was stuffed, and then sat down beside her daughter on the bed, which had clearly been made right before she, the mother, came in.
"All right, Mini-me, why don't you explain to me what you're getting at in the essay?" she suggested, her voice soft and calm. "What do you mean?" Anna asked, audibly on edge. She could tell that, in addition to her writing, her mother was judging her cleanliness. "Just in broad strokes, in casual words, give it to me. What's your point?" "The Federation is a series of broken promises," Anna shot off with equal parts the self-righteousness of a teen, and the worry of a daughter whose mother had high expectations.
Judy smiled. "You remind me of what I was like when I was young, you know that?" Judy remarked. "You're not wrong." "I can hear the 'but'," Anna prodded, still on edge. "But we can do better. You're laying out this case, a strong case, but you gotta bring it home," Judy explained. "I think I make a pretty clear point," Anna disagreed, her limited patience wearing down fast. "Yes and no. You're making yourself heard, and that's good. You can get your A on this one as it is, maybe with a little editing for flow, but if you really want to write a strong essay, you have to go from being heard, to being listened to, and ultimately acted upon," Judy elaborated, still keeping herself calm and collected.
With the desire to impress Mom on her mind, Anna knew how to proceed. "What do I do?" she asked. "The first thing you do to make sure you're listened to is to cool down your rhetoric," Judy answered "Suppose I tell you that you, Miss Anna Eastman Williams, are about as clean and organized as the average boy, how does that make you feel?" Anna's eye-roll, from behind her oversized pink glasses, was all the answer Judy needed. "Now suppose I said you aren't cleaning up your room very well, doesn't that sound less hurtful?" Judy continued her line of inquiry. "Sure," Anna acknowledged. "And now let's say that I believe that you can make this room a lot cleaner. How's that?" Judy finished. "You're not saying it's messy," Anna pointed out. "But you do understand that from my words," Judy disputed, gently as ever. "You understand what I'm getting at, but you don't feel under attack nearly as much." Anna nodded. She knew that this was true. Sure, she still felt pressured to clean up her room, but it was definitely less insulting. And, she knew she shouldn't have let it get this messy. "So I should say that the Federation can do a better job living up to its promises?" the young woman asked. Judy patted Anna's shoulder. "Exactly. You get a lot more done by speaking more delicately," she confirmed with motherly pride. "You said I want to be acted upon. Is that something like a call to action?" Anna asked. "That's exactly what it is," Judy answered. "What should the Federation Council do differently? What should mother dearest, the Starfleet officer, be doing? What should Joe Schmo be doing?" Anna began to smile, as the gears in her brain started turning again. She knew how to do this. "I think I got it," She said, as she left the edge of her bed to go to her workstation again. "In that case, I'll go bake you some cookies, so we can celebrate a job well done - once the job is done," Judy replied, now smiling broadly, which caused her cheeks to push her bifocals up.
Before Anna sat down to work, she remembered that her mother didn't have the easiest time standing up unassisted without an armrest or something similar. She extended an arm, and Judy grabbed it. "So considerate to your old mother," Judy approved. "You're a good kid." "Love you too, Mom," Anna replied. She was hard-wired to be angry at her nosy, overbearing mother, and sometimes she snapped, but she was a little more mellow than the average teen. The general closeness she always had with both parents, coupled with the occasional reminders of mother dearest's mortality, kept a check on her rebelliousness.
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