And So We Moved, a Cantrell: The Early Years Save “Lulu,” Joseph said. Seeing her frown at his chosen nickname for her, he began again, gently taking her by the shoulders. “Louise, I know you’re in ...
Day of Reckoning, a Cantrell: The Early Years, Part One Update
The day beamed brightly, shooting harsh rays of sunlight at him through the window. Joseph pulled himself out of bed, only to realize Louise was already up. Baking a cake in this heat was trying, despite the forced air-conditioning they enjoyed. Shortly after his feet hit the floor Brianna came running to him. “My burfday today? I twirl today? Get big?” Joseph smiled. As well as she spoke, the t-h sounds still evaded her.
“Yes, my precious Girl today is your birth day,” he said emphasizing the sound she continually struggled with.
As expected, all three boys were up, as well, awaiting the possibility of cake for breakfast. The family could procrastinate the celebrations until the end of the day, but why make the baby wait? Picking up his little girl, he stood next to the counter where the cake sat candles ablaze. Louise had spent the wee hours baking, frosting and making it ready. “Okay, my little sweetheart, take a deep breath and blow out your candles. There’s a girl.”
.“Good girl, I knew you could do it.” Taking her aside, he placed her out on the back deck.
“Now, do your Twirly-thing.” Surprisingly, the tot backed down the stairs, the sounds of her labor filling the early morning air. She went off to the right and suddenly aged up.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Tucked into her new big-girl bed, Brianna drifted off to sleep. She had some amusing dreams and at one point, just before dawn, paid a visit to her Nanny, fast asleep in the single bed on the other side of her bedroom. T’Pran sat up abruptly. “What? What a naughty student you are,” she exclaimed.
In truth the incident troubled the Vulcan woman, greatly. She had diligently taken the steps to instruct her young charge to stay out of others’ heads. The family already were adept at Shielding their own thoughts from intrusion. T’Pran was alarmed she had unconsciously let down her own guard. Yet the more she thought about it, the more she realized the child had managed to break through her Shielding. This was disturbing, indeed. Clearly her efforts had failed.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
While the family thought T’Pran just really enjoyed observing the sky and outer space, she was actually taking the time to meditate. Brianna’s situation was unlike any she had come across. She spent years at the Temple honing her ability to shield her own thoughts, keeping herself from Broadcasting her thoughts willy-nilly, as the humans called it. So as to never intrude upon another’s.
What she had never come across, however, was a human, most especially a young child to not only intrude, but to have developed a propensity for it. To top it off the child found it particularly amusing. Needing to meditate more fully on the matter, she walked to the large observatory.
This troubled her most of all. If the child couldn’t learn to curb her proclivity for bouncing into another’s head, invading their thoughts as she did, it could mean one day she could end up in very serious trouble. T’Pran slowly emerged from her meditative state. She needed to bring this situation to T’Pau and subsequently to the High Priestess, T’Lar. Once decisions were made, she would make her case before the Cantrell family. Distressing as all of this was, telling the parents what must be done weighed on her soul.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
“T’Pran,” T’Pau said, as T’Pran beamed onto the front lawn. She watched patiently, as the woman coalesced from many colorful sparkles of energy into a cohesive form once again.
“High Councilor,” T’Pran greeted, “we need to talk.”
“So I surmised by your clipped tone. I sent you on a very difficult mission.”
“The family is very charming. They have gone out of their way to make me feel as one of them. Family. I have carefully assessed the situation. The child in question is highly intelligent, mischievous, and playful. She finds her ability to bounce into another’s thoughts amusing. I have faithfully worked with her as if she were a Vulcan child. However, on my own, I have failed to curb this egregious proclivity.”
“Indeed?” T’Pau said. “What can be done?”
“I ask to bring her to the Temple where intense instruction will be more effective. She needs to begin exercising her discipline; to learn how to Shield her own thoughts, to keep from Broadcasting them willy-nilly; and to learn once and for all that it isn’t acceptable for her to bounce into the thoughts of others without their express permission. This will subjugate the problem, I am certain.”
“Let it be done.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
“I shall accompany you as you perform the unfortunate task of informing the family of what must be. For the Child’s own safety,” T’Pau announced.
“Thank you. Yes, informing them shall be most unpleasant for all concerned.”
The Vulcan women stood just outside the fencing, as if awaiting Joseph’s return from work.
“T”Pran?” he said, as he approached. “Something is amiss, I fear. Are the children all right?”
“Professor Cantrell, may I present to you, High Counselor, T’Pau.”
Joseph, at once bowed giving her a Proper Introduction.
“What’s this about?” he said, upon straightening up again.
“There is a need to pursue your daughter’s training in the Way. Her reckless disregard will put her life in jeopardy. You are aware of the penalty for forcing one’s mind into that of another?”
Joseph went as white as a ghost before he recovered himself. “I know it’s a felony to do so.” Exactly what became of S’bina. He let his thoughts drift ever so briefly. He never got over his guilt, somehow blaming himself for what occurred between them. He should never have flirted with her. His pleas in court fell on deaf pointed ears. The Vulcan woman knew better, knew the law and the penalty, they reiterated, for her egregious behavior. The human was not to blame.
“That draws our sharpest sentence,” T’Pau said, crisply, jolting him out of his thoughts.
“Death.” Joseph nearly swallowed his tongue. I’m so very sorry S’Bina. Please forgive me."Please, sir, allow us to go inside. We need to discuss this situation with your family.”
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
A short time later, the family gathered around the firepit out in their backyard. Louise was outwardly troubled, although she did remember to give the High Councilor her due, by bowing in a Proper Introduction.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*
“All right, children, settle down. T’Pran has some serious business to discuss.” As soon as the family were seated on the backless wood benches, the giggling died down, once T’Pran turned a sharp glance their way. Only Brianna sat upright, still, as if to show she had learned some things the nanny had taught her.
“I have some grievous news,” the Nanny began. “Brianna needs all of your support if we are to be successful with her training.”
“Hear that, Bree,” Aaron said, “It’s high time you paid attention or else . . .”
The Vulcan woman took a moment, closed her eyes, to center herself. “It’s so much more than that, Master Aaron. What I propose to do is take her to the Temple where she’ll have others learning what she’s learning. Peer pressure does have some merit, am I correct, Professor?”
“Yes, there is something to be said for it. Sure. So, instead of going to the school here in the Province, she’ll do so at the Temple. But, she’ll be back after the school day ends, right?”
“No. I propose she comes to live at the Temple, so she can be surrounded by the culture to which she must adhere.”
“Wait,” Louise spoke up. “You’re talking about taking my baby away. No, I refuse. Joseph, tell her it’s absolutely out-of-the-question. She can school there, that’s fine. But she must return home to us every day. On this I am firm.”
“So, you would sooner risk her existence than to allow us to help her? This I do not comprehend.”
Erik leaned over to speak directly to the woman he considered his friend. “You can’t just come. break-up our family. She’s my sister and you can’t just take her away,” His face flushed with his hot remarks. “I thought you were a friend — You’re no friend. You were supposed to help.”
“I am helping. Believe me, your sister’s life could be in danger if she doesn’t get this unseemly proclivity of hers under control We can help her far better at the Temple, full-time.”
Louise stood up. “Joseph, for God’s sake say something. You can stop this, please, please stop this!” With that she threw her hands over her face as she broke into sobs.
“Lulu,” Joseph gently murmured as he gathered his wife into his arms. “It’s really for the best. Someone will likely press charges against her for this heinous action and the penalty is Death. Surely, that’s not what you want. Neither do I.”
After she sobbed for a good long while Louise began again. “I have a better idea, Joseph,” she said, swallowing the emotion that threatened to choke her. “Let’s take our children — all of them and go back home — to Earth where we belong.”
"We can’t do that; I just signed another three-year contract and unwisely spent the bonus money”
"Don't you tell me that. Don't you dare say another word."
“What? Well, there’s no saying I have to stay. I’ll take the children away from here. Away from all of this. How can such a caring father make such a decision?” "To save her life, my wife. Please, I fully understand you’re overwrought, confused, angry. . .”
