Parents at the Mess Hall

Posted on 06/27/2020 @ 6:31pm by Ensign Romal Seshel

Mission: S1E3: Visit to Starbase 375
Location: Crew Mess Hall - deck 2
Timeline: Day 0 at 0000

It was right after the Parent-Captain meeting with the parents quite discouraged about the whole thing. Ensign Seshel suggested they all meet at the mess hall to talk it out. Braden and Frieda (Zain’s parents) came up with the idea to include their children and they all agreed. The mess hall was only mildly busy when they arrived. Once seated, the parents contacted their children to join them.

As they waited for their children, they had a surprise visit from Miss Emma Larkin. She was carrying a heavy duffle bag, but she stopped at where the parents were seated and spoke to them, “I’m sorry to say this, but I have to be leaving. Something terribly urgent came up with my family and I have to be there as soon as possible. They’ve already found a replacement for me, so the children will have a teacher. Leaving this way is horrible of me and I wish I could stay, but I can’t. I’ve got a shuttle to catch and I can’t be late. I’m so sorry.” and the teacher turned and left as quickly as she came.

Romal spoke first, as he watched the teacher run towards a turbo-lift, “Well, that was unexpected. Whatever business it was, sounded really urgent. I wish her well, of course.”

“Yea, so do I, but that just adds to our problems.” Braden (Zain’s father) said, then continued, “We have children who get bored with what this ship has to offer and when they do something about it, the Captain gets upset and blames them and us.”

“Well, our kids are a handful, but you’re right, our children are incredibly creative for their ages. I had no idea, little Mizi was memorizing the lock code as I punched it in, just so they could later turn the cargo bay into a Red Raven.” Romal commented, trying hard not to smile.

"Ah, but it was Zain who first thought of using the cargo bay as their secret night club." Braden added, seeming proud of his boy.

“It’s a problem that could be easily fixed, you know.” Sven (Belkor’s father) remarked.

“How’s that, Sven?” Romal asked.

“Well. . .Romal, you mentioned it at the meeting. Let the children have a place of their own making.” Sven replied, then looked at Romal.

“Agreed, but the problem is. . .” Romal started to say, but stopped in mid-sentence when a blond haired woman appeared and seemed to show interest in their parental meeting.

Romal then recognized her from the meeting as the ship's new teacher. "Welcome aboard the Crazy Horse, Jennifer. We were just having an informal meeting about our children's actions the other night and how we should react to this revolt of theirs. It was quite creative though, catching everyone off guard, very clever of them, a way of thinking we really don't want to discourage."

Then Frieda (Zain's mother) pulled up a chair for the teacher, "No need to stand, Jennifer, have a chair. You might want to hear what the parents have to say."

June (Belkor's mother) smiled, then added, "It's my guess, you never expected to find yourself in the middle of a controversy."

Feeling a bit rushed, even cornered by the parents, she cautiously took the seat offered to her. "Well, it is a hazard when working with children." She pursed the PADD in her lap, both feet on the floor. She scanned the parent's faces, unsure of what the parents were hoping to hear or receive after such a meeting. "What is important is how we resolve and settle the controversy, in the context of a learning opportunity."

"The children need inspiration and for a short time, they were actually inspired. All by themselves they worked together for a common goal, each child using their special talents. . .and yes, they overstepped authority, but I was proud of my little Belkor anyway!" June admitted, and one could tell, she meant every word.

The pressure was starting to build in favor of the children. "It would certainly appear that we have a community of intelligent and spirited children, and I truly believe these are two qualities we can begin to capitalize in the classroom environment." Jennifer was moved by such enthusiastic advocacy for their children. It was a refreshing change.

Braden could hardly stay silent when it involved his son, Zain, "Our children feel dispirited after seeing their Red Raven taken apart and carted away. Zain and his friends worked so hard on their night club and they only did it because they wanted a place they could call their own. Now, they have only the sterile rooms assigned to them."

Jennifer nodded in agreement, "It will be valuable for the children to learn how to be creative within a structured environment. Not to see the ship as a barrier, but...." Her attention was redirected towards the sound of the opening door.

Just then, the children showed up and immediately went to their respective parents. Romal's child, Mizi, seated herself next to her adopted father. Romal bravely smiled, then stood up to address them; "Children, the meeting went south fairly quick, which means there will be no cargo bay and no Red Raven. Unfortunately, there is more bad news, Miss Emma, had to leave because of some urgent family matters. She said she was very sorry, but she had to leave. Now that we have the bad news out of the way, I've got some good news. You have a new teacher and her name is Mrs Jennifer de Vega."

The children were shocked at first, scanning the table for anyone new. Little Mizi then poked Romal in the leg and looking up, she asked; "Is she here?"

"I am Mrs. de Vega," Jennifer announced, crouching to even out the height difference between students and make a more personal connection. "It is a pleasure to meet all of you! I can already see you all have great ideas to make our time together exciting." It was the best re-frame she could conjure up on the spot, and it was not a lie.

Mizi stepped forward and next to her was a little furry robo-dog, =/*\= Bark! Bark! Bark! =/*\=

"Hush up, Muffy!" Mizi said, covering her robo-dog's mouth, as its head rotated upward to look at Mrs de Vega.

"We heard the Captain was mad at us for using his dumb-old cargo bay. What's he going to do to us?" Mizi asked bluntly, her eyes looking up at her new teacher.

"Yea, what happens now?" Zain asked defiantly, walking to where Mizi stood.

Jennifer recoiled, surprised by Mizi's reaction to the whole situation. She shifted her attention to Zain, "Well, we are going to have to figure that out together."

"Can we do our Red Raven again or are they taking that away from us?" Mizi asked, tilting her head and rubbing her soft cheeks against Muffy's floppy ears.

Mizi was not the first child she had encountered with such a strong personality, but there was a particular rawness about expressions that were unsettling. "I am very excited to hear about your Red Raven." Jennifer warmly smiled, intentionally adding excitement to match the little girl's personality and fixation on the concept which had become so dear to the children and their parents. "Do you think you can tell me about it when we meet in school? I would love to see some drawings and learn more about your plans."

"There are a few playrooms on deck 5 that the children could use. I haven't talked to anyone about it yet, but maybe now would be a good time to start. It would be quite close to your classrooms." Romal suggested for the first time.

June sounded pleased, "Yes, it would make our children happy and Jennifer-er. . .I mean Mrs de Vega, but could you keep a close eye on them? My Belkor can get a little wild sometimes." the mother admitted with a smile.

Jennifer bounced her attention between the competing adults. "I think we better take this slow," she eyed Romel, arms outstretched as if placing an invisible roadblock...or speed bump. "Give me some time to get to know the children," she shifted attention to June, "and as you say keep an eye on them."

Jennifer composed herself, giving a stern expression of exhaustion. "We can start with what we have available to us. It is a valuable lesson to learn how to make due, to find creativity and self-expression in any situation and circumstance. That is the lesson we should focus on, support our children's creativity and motivation in focused and constructive ways."

"This is only a chat, or a spur of the moment meeting at best and we're lucky you came by." Romal started, then continued, "We know that we must make due with what we have and it seems we have little choice. However, we were disturbed after the parent/Captain meeting. When it comes to our children, we need someone who actually listens to them, someone who cares how they feel. At the meeting we just came from, we felt very little of that. I seriously doubt they even care. You though, you're definitely different. I liked what you had to say."

"I think you're different, Jennifer. I know Zain likes you and that's really saying something!" Frieda said, patting the young teacher on the back.

"So do I, Jennifer! I love your ideas on being creative!" June added, shaking the teacher's hand.

"Count me in, as well!" Sven said, joining in.

Romal nodded with the other parents when he noticed Mizi smiling up at her new teacher. He had always believed children could sense what was in people's hearts. It was the first impression that counted. "Mizi likes you and so do I." he finally said.

The parents and their children acknowledged the new teacher. It was a spontaneous reaction from the small group and soon, the act was noticed by crew in the whole mess hall, who stood up from their meals and begin clapping.

Jennifer froze with a haphazard smile on her face. She scanned the room, observing a room full of officers applauding as if the whole scene had been dramatized or choreographed without her knowledge. "Well," she added, attempting to break the tension and awkward feeling inside, "At least I know I have everyone's support." She desperately wanted to hide and retreat

The parents noticed Jennifer's discomfort, but it was Mizi who walked over and tugged at her elbow, "Mrs de Vega, my daddy says its not good manners to make fun of people, especially nice ones like you. . .I hope you stay." and it was obvious the little girl worried Jennifer would leave like Miss Emma had done only a short time earlier.

The little girl's comment had been enough to shake Jennifer from the embarrassment of the moment. "Of course I will stay."

"I guess this wasn't the best place to discuss our business." Romal then shook his head in embarrassment. "By now, everyone on the ship knows about the mischief our children caused the other night. I'm so sorry that you found yourself in the middle of all this, Jennifer."

"I would say this is exactly where I am supposed to be." Jennifer concluded turning embarrassment into laughing amusement.

The parents begin to leave the mess hall, their children full of smiles and laughter as they skipped and ran down the corridor. The informal meeting/get-together had come to an end.


Ensign Romal Seshel
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Jennifer de Vega
Teacher
USS Crazy Horse

Mizi Seshel
Child of Romal
USS Crazy Horse