A Day in the Life

Lt. Jen Lee woke up from a restful night's sleep raring to go ... ready to tackle all problems the Science Department could throw her way ... ready for any crazy anomaly to rear it's ugly head ... ready to ... wait. It's her day off. Jen visibly deflated. ~Now what am I supposed to do?~ She plopped back onto the bed, and leaned her head down to her sleeping cat. "What am I supposed to do today, huh, Ophelia? I promised Vec I would not do work on my off hours." As she lie there, contemplating her day to come, and stroking her purring orange fluffball, a voice came over the comm link.

*Ensign Bell to Lieutenant Lee*

"Go ahead."

*We have a package down in cargo bay two for you, Lieutenant."

"Really?!?" ~Wait Jen, calm yourself. This is an everyday occurrence for some people. Don't let him know you're such a dweeb!~ "Thank you Ensign, I'll be down in a few minutes to retrieve it. Lieutenant Lee out."

Jen popped up off the bed, grateful to have at least a small task to perform for the day. She got dressed in her favorite off-duty outfit -- loose fitting cotton pants, an oversized long sleeved button down shirt, and "Keds." Being suitably attired for the hallways, she ventured down to retrieve her package.

***

Walking back into her quarters, small package under her arms, "Ophelia! We've got a present from Grandma! Come ... let's see what we got!" Not that she expected the cat to answer, but she had to share her excitement with someone! She sat on the couch, and placed the package on her knees.

Opening it, she could almost delude herself into thinking she smelled her mother's brownies ... the odor trapped in the sealed container over all these light years. But, of course, that was just wishful thinking. By now, the cat had come out of the bedroom, and was rubbing up against her legs. Absently reaching down to pet the cat as it paced, she said, "Ophelia, somehow, Mom just knows when I need a little something! And don't look at me like that ... I know she's Betazoid, but she can't be telepathically linked all the way out here!" Grinning, she looks to see what the container holds.

"Hmmm ... I see some of Grandma's catnip brownies for you, Ophelia ... Ooh, just what I need, some more PADDs ... " Giggles to herself on that one. "And look at this ..." Turns a package over in her hands. "What have we here?" Opens the small package, to find beads, thin rope, and a mini PADD of instructions.

"Well, Ophelia, looks like we've got something to do today, after all. You get to enjoy your catnip, and I get to play around with this ... whatever it is, crafty thing that Mom sent."

***

After several hours of cursing, and getting cramped hands ... "Whew. I think I'm done ... with whatever this is." Looks at her creation critically. "Well, it was supposed to be a collar for you, Ophelia, but, well ...." Tilts it back and forth ... "I think maybe it can decorate the drawer over here." She walks over to her beside "junk" drawer, and tosses it in. "Beautiful."

"Now, I've gotta get going to that party being held in Ten Forward!"