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 Dec 12, 2021 2:41:24 GMT
December 2381
[Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Michael Eastman - Eastman-Williams Family Quarters]
The sound of the chimes disrupted Judy while baking cookies. It was a quiet mid-morning hour, when most of the station was at work (and her offspring at school), so it was surprising.
"I'm coming!" she called out, and headed for the door, a few steps behind her dogs.
She opened the door to find Michael. His eyes were red, his face was puffy, and he generally looked distraught.
"Oh, sweetie, come to Grandma," she cooed, pulling the boy into a tight, firm hug.
For Michael, this was exactly the hoped-for reaction. He knew he could always count on his grandmother. The corgis' reaction was similar, sniffing and licking at the child.
"You can cry if you need to, Mikey. Grandma is here for you," Judy continued, content to comfort her grandson for as long as was necessary. It didn't matter to her that he'd probably run out of school in this state - he was in distress, and she was his grandma, which meant her role was very clear.
And cry Michael did, feeling very safe indeed.
"I flunked a big test," he revealed at last, in between sobs.
To Judy, this wasn't surprising. It was going to happen eventually, and it was sure to be a difficult event for the oh-so-studious boy.
"It's okay, Mikey. You're gonna be fine, I promise."
At this point, Judy's 65-year-old back began to make itself known, protesting her posture
"Let's go to the couch, okay?"
The 7-year-old dutifully followed his grandmother and sat down on her knees. He knew why grandma retired to the couch, and even in his currently distraught state, that mattered to him.
"Why did I stop being smart?" he asked her, sounding fearful.
"You're still smart. These things just happen sometimes, it happened to me, and to your mom, and to your dad, and to Aunt Anna," Judy explained.
"Even to you?" Michael asked, sounding somewhat relieved.
"Even to me."
Well, Grandma turned out fine. That was reassuring to Michael.
"So what now?" he asked.
"Well, now, we do something else, to feel better. We can bake cookies, or go to the pool, or play with these two goobers."
The dogs were in the kitchen, trying to get their fat little bodies onto the counters.
"Let's play with Bridge and Tunnel," Michael decided, running towards the utterly ridiculous dogs.
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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 Dec 12, 2021 4:41:58 GMT
December 2381
[Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Michael Eastman - Eastman-Williams Family Quarters]
Being a more accessible grandmother didn't just mean dealing with the down moments - it also meant more fun. And with the new in-home pool, Grandma's and Grandpa's quarters were now as fun as their home on Earth.
When Judy opened the door, finding Michael outside, the inevitable smile crossed her face. The boy looked characteristically eager, if a bit smug.
"Hi Grandma!" he exclaimed.
"Hello, Michael!"
Grandmother and grandson shared the obligatory hug.
"What brings you here today?" Judy asked.
"Dad told me and Helen to go to separate rooms. I chose your place," Michael explained, clearly very pleased with himself. "Can we go to the pool?"
"Of course we can! Let me get you your bathing suit."
Naturally, Judy kept swimsuits, and several sets of clothes, for her grandbabies in her home. One had to be prepared for eventualities just like this. In this case, Michael was furnished with light-blue swim trunks with little sharks printed on them, while Judy followed that color theme in a powder-blue bikini.
"Grandma, did Dad also fight when he was a boy?" Michael asked as Judy finished up the knots of her top.
"Yes, all kids do," she answered. "He fought with Uncle Gerald, and he fought with me."
"Why do we fight?" he asked.
"That's a very complicated question. Your mother should have a good answer."
Michael knew there were areas that Grandma and Grandpa just didn't get into. They dodged. This was one.
However, by now, seeing Grandma was ready, Michael just grabbed his goggles and led the way to the pool.
"Grandma, can I ask you something else?" Michael asked. "About you?"
"Of course you can," she agreed.
"Why did you leave Starfleet?"
Judy sat down at the poolside, dangling her legs in the water. Michael followed suit.
"It was hard for me and for Grandpa, because we'd be apart for many hours and sometimes for days. This way, now, Grandpa is happy, and I'm happy."
It would be years, many years, before Michael could understand the moral decay of the Admirals. This explanation would have to satisfy him, and indeed it did.
"I see," he accepted, before diving into the pool with a loud splash.
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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 Dec 13, 2021 0:52:49 GMT
December 2381
[Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Anna E. Williams - Beach, LZ-2]
It was a mother-daughter bonding day for the two Williams women. Quality time with her mother was never an easy commodity for Anna to come by, so the young woman relished it now.
They had set up shop on the beaches of Kerelia, and now lounged on beach chairs, in the hot sun.
"Look at you!" Judy exclaimed, looking at her daughter. "You're a woman!"
"Mom, we already talked about all that stuff," Anna reminded her mother.
"I know. I'm just... amazed. You're just so mature, so big, you're not a little girl anymore."
"Yeah..." Anna trailed off, not getting the sudden enthusiasm.
"I've just been so busy with all my own bullshit, I didn't realize you were becoming a woman before my eyes."
Now that made sense to Anna. She loved her mother dearly, but the older woman's career and health issues were a lot. At least she knew that Judy disliked that state of affairs.
"Well, you were always there when I needed you," she said, because it was true. Her mom wasn't absent.
That brought a big smile to Judy's face.
"Tell me, are your friends drinking yet?" she asked.
"A couple of them, but not with me," Anna answered, and as far as Judy could tell, it was the truth. Not that Anna was prone to fibbing in general.
"Well, in that case, why don't you have a beer with your old mother?"
"You sure?"
"It's best if you get exposed in a safe environment, so you learn how to drink responsibly," Judy explained herself.
"And you're not just trying to be a cool mom?" Anna pressed.
"I'm already a cool mom. Do you know another mom with blinged-out shades like these?" Judy asked, putting on her rhinestone-encrusted prescription sunglasses.
Anna laughed.
"Beer me."
"The beers are at home."
Fortunately, that was only a quick walk.
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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 Dec 13, 2021 1:39:53 GMT
December 2381
Minutes after the last one
[Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Anna E. Williams - Williams Family Condo, LZ-2]
Mother and daughter returned to the family's vacation flat.
"Now, you have to understand that this is a mind-altering substance. If you drink too much, bad things will happen. There are bad people around who will exploit your drunkenness to humiliate you, steal from you, and even violate you. Keep that in mind."
Anna nodded.
"Second, you should only drink things that come out of bottles or cans that you can see no one has tampered with. Otherwise, someone might drug you."
"Drug me?"
"You're pretty, and you're rich. That makes you a prime target for all kinds of horrible things."
"But, drug me?"
"When I was in college, someone spiked my drink with bootleg Romulan interrogation drugs. I was lucky I managed to beam out to the clinic," Judy explained. "I have friends who were not so lucky."
Judy moved towards the fridge, but what she took out wasn't beer, but a tub of cream cheese. She then proceeded to take two bagels out of the pantry.
"Don't drink on an empty stomach, or you'll absorb the alcohol too fast."
That made sense to Anna, and beside, she was a Jew - she couldn't say no to bagels and schmear.
"Let's grab lox," she suggested, and proceeded before her mother could response.
"Good idea," came the belated response.
"When you're going out, always keep an eye on your friends, and always have someone in your group you trust to be sober, just in case bad things happen. And if you see anything wrong, call me, call your father, call Larry and Jess. We'll rescue you, anytime."
"Anything else I should know?"
"Drunk men want sex more, but are worse at it," Judy answered.
"Is that from experience?" Anna asked. "Actually, don't answer that. I don't need to know."
Judy resisted the urge to twist the knife by answering in the affirmative, or even invoking Max.
"Having heard all that, do you still want to try beer?" Judy asked, as she moved towards the fridge.
"Everything will be okay, right?"
"I'm your mother."
Anna took that as a yes.
"Let's drink."
Judy poured out small amounts of beer into two glasses.
"L'chaim."
"L'chaim."
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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 Dec 13, 2021 1:58:11 GMT
December 2381
Hours after the last one
[Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Williams Family Condo, LZ-2]
At the end of the day, Judy and Max lay together in bed.
"Anna and I tried beer today," she shared.
"And?" he asked.
"She spat in my face," she answered, clearly amused.
"Are you sure she's ours?" he quipped.
"She's 15. She'll grow into it."
"Almost 16."
Judy wasn't sure how to respond for a moment. Again, she was driven to realize just how much Anna had grown up.
"It feels like I missed so much for Starfleet. One moment, she's my little girl. Now, she's a woman."
"Well, now you have time to teach her how to be a woman - how to be a lady."
"That's one thing, but there's one more thing: she's getting old enough to have her heart broken."
Max knew exactly where that was coming from. There were memories of that ex, who had mistreated Judy all those years ago. How a man could throw away this remarkable woman, Max did not know, and yet one had.
"We can't protect her forever. We can just teach her what we know and hope for the best," he whispered.
"That's the thing, I want to hold her forever."
"Honey, she'll find her way. She's strong and self-assured and feisty, like her mother."
"That's what scares me. I'm counting on her father's influence."
"She's a Williams alright. She's nobody's fool."
"Are you calling me a fool?"
"You're a fool for me."
She sealed his lips with a kiss.
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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 Dec 13, 2021 3:26:04 GMT
[Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Eastman-Williams Family Quarters]
Cuddling together in bed one evening, Judy and Max looked at the anniversary photo album that the kids had gifted them almost a year ago. It was such a sweet gesture, a collection of fond memories for the couple to look back on.
"Remember this one?" Judy indicated one picture. There the couple were, lighting a Hanukkiah together. His hair was still in a youthful, brown hue.
"I think that was my first time," he recalled.
"Oh, yes, Chanukah '59," Judy confirmed. "Gosh, you were so scared of dripping wax."
"I was worried about your arms."
Judy was in a short-sleeved dress in the picture, so that tracked with reality.
"You know what I think is really interesting about this album?" Judy asked, looking into Max's eyes.
"That we belong together?" he asked back.
"Well, yes," she answered. "But also, there's maybe 10 pictures in this whole thing where I'm in uniform."
"You look so cute in your own clothes," he replied. "Or just without clothes."
Judy giggled. Max never failed to validate her positive body image.
"It's just interesting that so little of our relationship actually featured Starfleet."
"Your job's just boring. Unlike mine."
"You do have the best job."
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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 Dec 13, 2021 3:56:25 GMT
[Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Apazi Rhidum, Esq. - Judy's Office]
A starker study in contrasts could hardly be drawn. The young attorney, dressed in black. The aging administrator, in a bright floral dress. The former, nervous and tense. The latter, tanned, rested and ready[fn]To borrow a phrase from the Nixon campaign.[/fn].
"Good morning," Rhidum greeted his new boss, with an apparent edge to him.
"Rhidum, I take it?" she asked rhetorically. "Call me Judy."
"Judy, yes. I wanted to come in a bit early just to talk about my personal priorities," Rhidum explained. "If I can have priorities of my own, that is."
"Of course you may. Tell me all about them."
She sat down on one sofa, and he on the other.
"One of the worst things going on in these parts is wage theft. You just wouldn't believe how behind the overtime enforcement on Evora is," Rhidum explained, his confidence building and manifesting in broad gesticulations.
"That is a big problem for us," Judy confirmed. "The fact that there wasn't a concept of overtime on that planet before accession makes it that much more complicated."
"They don't know how to enforce this stuff."
"You can teach them. You have my full support."
Rhidum continued to rattle through the economic injustices of the region, finding a willing partner for justice in Judy. Midway through, when she offered cookies, he accepted without hesitation.
"You mind if I ask you a personal question?" she asked.
"Is it about Apazi Fellin? He is my father," Rhidum explained preemptively, with a tone that made it sound like he didn't want to talk about that.
"I was going to ask about the accent, but then I remembered you studied in France. Senior moment," she deflected, much to his relief.
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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 Dec 14, 2021 0:31:05 GMT
[Judith Eastman(-Williams), PhD & Max Williams - Eastman-Williams Family Quarters]
On most nights, Judy and Max both spent some time reading in bed. They both enjoyed the pursuit of knowledge, and often provided book recommendations to each other. However, on this evening, as Max read, Judy just fussed over the dogs.
"You alright?" he asked her, slightly worried.
"Yeah. My eyes are just tired," she answered. "I had to read an entire coalition agreement today."
"I forgot your new job still has homework," Max quipped. "Do you have anything cool to tell me about industrial relations?"
"Well, there's some really interesting stuff in terms of water policy going on. They're actually doing large-scale dam demolition out there on Evora, if you can believe it," she answered.
"You need to get me a tour of that."
"I will."
There was language in the coalition deal about getting Federal money to demolish more dams, which meant oversight responsibilities for Judy, so oversee she would.
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