CONTINUING EDUCATION
Door 1
By Kiddo
In Loving Memory of Jonathan Brandis
Disclaimer:
I don't have any rights to the TV show "seaQuest DSV," and I am not making any money by writing this.
A special "Thank You" goes to my wonderful beta-reader Jackie.
Information:
This not one of my normal seaQuest stories, where I do an update from time to time. This is an advent calendar.
In Germany, this is called an "Adventskalender". Nearly every child in Germany, and also a lot of adults, have an advent calendar in December. For those not familiar with advent calendars, these calendars look a little bit like a thin cardboard package. They have a Christmas or winter picture on them and have 24 little doors. Behind every door is a piece of chocolate. The first door will be opened on December 1st; the next door will be opened on December 2nd; the third door will be opened on December 3rd - I think you get the picture. I always loved this as a little kid (okay, I have to admit, I still love it). It always made the waiting for Christmas so much more fun.
So this story is kind of an online-advent calendar. That means that I will post the first chapter on December 1st, the second chapter on December 2nd…and the last chapter on December 24th.
(If there happens to be a day where I don't post anything, then this is because my computer isn't working or this page isn't working, or I couldn't get to a computer. But I hope that this will be never the case.)
If over or if under zero
If it's raining or snowing
Specially lovely and wonderful
May be your Christmas time
(:-( The German version was rhyming)
It was December and only a few days until Christmas. The crew of the seaQuest was looking forward to their holiday.
Captain Bridger was in his cabin, packing his luggage. But unfortunately, his well-earned holiday would not start tomorrow. He, the senior crew, and Dr. Westphalen had to go to a 4-day long continuing education course in Florida - the subject was "teamwork." None of them were really looking forward to this, but it was part of their job, and so they just had to grin and bear it.
Nathan closed his traveller bag and swept his eyes around the room. Had he forgotten something? No, it didn't look like it.
Bridger grabbed his address book, which was lying on the table. When he found the number he was looking for, he went to his vidphone and started to dial.
After a few seconds, a sharply dressed woman with her dark hair cut in a short, modern style, answered him. She raised her eyebrows when she recognized the captain. "What can I do for you?"
"Could you please put me through to Cynthia Holt?"
"I'm sorry, but that's not possible," she said, without sounding the least bit sorry. "What do you want her for? Is this an emergency?"
Bridger shook his head. "No. It's just that Lucas will be with his mother for the holiday, and I wanted to know if Miss Holt plans to stay in Boston or if she will be travelling somewhere with Lucas. You see, I would love to visit Lucas during the Christmas holidays and give him his present."
"I haven't been informed of Miss Holt's plans."
"Could you please interrupt her for just a moment and ask?" Nathan said as nicely as he could.
The secretary shook her head. "I already told you, that's impossible. Miss Holt isn't in at the moment."
"And when will she be back?"
"The morning of December the 24th."
"What?" asked the captain, completely shocked. "But Lucas will be flying to Boston tomorrow. That means that he will be all alone in the house."
The woman looked uncomprehendingly at the captain. "I don't understand why you are getting so worked up about this, it's not a big deal. The boy is old enough to take care of himself for a few days. He isn't a small child anymore."
Bridger could only shake his head at the secretary . "Nobody should be alone at Christmas. You can give your boss the message that since she won't be at home, I'm taking her son with me to Florida. She can reach me on my cell phone. I will send you the number by e-mail."
The woman with the dark hair rolled her eyes. "If you really wish, do what you want." And with that, she ended the connection.
The UEO captain was speechless - this woman was impossible! With such a secretary, there was no need for security or a watchdog.
Written November 2004 – Tranlated November 2005