00019

Indeed, Osmo Martin had counted correctly. The jerk and his four thug companions tightened the circle around the young man who faced them in the unkempt lot behind the Tourist Trap. While the jerk had no weapon, Osmo noticed that everybody else carried a makeshift bat, and all the bats were being waved menacingly in the air.

The opponent on the jerk's left rushed in to attack first, trying to catch Osmo with an old broomstick.

Osmo Martin ducked and the broom handle sliced through the air, contacting nothing until it clubbed the goon directly behind Osmo. And the first attacker gasped in surprise because Osmo had latched onto the stick as it had swung, and, using the momentum of the flying broom handle, tugged that guy holding it off his feet. The guy's weight, which he had put behind his swing, carried him into another member of the brave gang which attacked a solitary person with their larger numbers.

And that was how the battle continued for a few minutes. Osmo Martin gave better than he received, because he mostly managed to keep from getting hit. Of course, he couldn't evade their sticks all night long, and he suffered a few bumps and bruises, but not like the ones he gave to them.

The back door opened, and Albert Zoeniga called out from the club, “Hey, what's taking you so long? That boob didn't knock you out, did he- Whoa! What's this?"

Osmo Martin had sent one of the attackers sprawling in Albert's direction. The tossed miscreant smashed into the doorway, almost landing into Albert, who quickly stepped aside. Albert gave the dazed man a boot to the butt, and so the man flew inside the open door, coming to rest on the floor of the Tourist Trap.

The manager threw a fit. "This is how things get damaged! I've had enough! I'm calling the police!"

Albert called to Sheila Bright and Mita Morgan, "Hey, there's a bunch of no-goods all fighting Osmo at once- he was set up!" Without hesitation, Albert Zoeniga ran outside to aid his pal.

Sheila jumped up from the table and also hurried for the open doorway to assist Osmo. As she headed toward the door, she called to Security Leader Clyden, "Don't just sit there! You're Security!. Do I have to tell my Uncle you're afraid to bust up a barfight?" She was out the door in a flash, and she and Albert helped improve the odds dramatically.

Clyden told Gazelle, "You wait here. I guess there's more of 'em out there. Who would've expected that?" He, too, raced for the back door, nearly stumbling over the worn-out looking robot tending to the tables- one of the few robots in this financially hurting district.

"Hey! Watch the robot! I can't afford another one!" the barkeep shouted. "Oh, sorry, didn't realize it was you, Sir,” he mumbled, catching Clyden's eye as the Security Leader exited.

The rest of the patrons tried to figure out what the heck was going on.

Together Osmo Martin’s team made short work of the gang.

Gazelle, anxious for Clyden and also concerned for the youth Osmo, who had been fighting the bums by himself for quite awhile before help came, ignored Clyden's request to stay at their booth. She rushed outside, only to see the last of them standing right by the door. That bum took one final swing at Sheila. Sheila dodged, and an iron pipe missed her, only to collide with Gazelle's temple. Stunned, Gazelle fell backward against the wall. The wall kept her from falling down onto the ground.

The man named Struber blurted, “Hey, who told you ta bring a pipe?!”

The trouble-makers all vanished into the night, including Struber.

Sheila embraced Osmo. "Oh, oh, how badly did they hurt you?"

But Osmo Martin called after the retreating thugs, "Yeah, you better run, before I get mad!"

Clyden noticed Gazelle holding her head and trying to stay on her legs. "Hon, you shoulda listened to me! Are you okay?!”

Gazelle tried to shake the cobwebs from her skull. "I think so. Luckily that on swings like a girl!"

Albert said, "Well, that can be pretty hard; did you see how Sheila put the hurt on them?"

Gazelle forced a laugh. "What will Capt. Shatner say? The night before I finally am able to return to Earth, and I get into a fight."

Mita Morgan came outside to see what the fuss was all about. "Oh, that's terrible," she said, when Albert filled her in on what had happened. "I can't stand cowards who need to fight in packs." Albert noticed she never asked Osmo how he was, but it was obvious Osmo was okay, just a bit banged up. Still, that never stopped Mita in the past from rushing to his aid.

Osmo wondered, "Now what was that all about? Who would want to beat up lovable me?"

Then some uniformed Security Agents showed up, but Sec. Ldr. Clyden explained the situation had been resolved and dismissed the police. Everybody split up and headed off.

Clyden and Gazelle walked up the street to his car.

Gazelle held her aching head."I don't understand why you parked so far away, now that you made your spot a reserved parking spot."

Clyden shrugged. "Why not? I got to thinking about what the punk said last time, that I'm getting a gut on me. Maybe a little exercise will be good for me. Say, maybe we ought to get you to the Doc to look at your head."

When the couple reached the car, Tretl Clyden paused a moment, hearing a "Pssst" come from a nearby dark alley. Then he ignored it and opened the door for Gazelle. Again, "Psssst! Over here!”

Gazelle still held her head. "Who is that, Tretl? Where are you going? You be careful-"

"It's nothing," he replied, turning into the alleyway to investigate. In the shadows waited the jerk from the Tourist Trap, who had been watching Osmo Martin during the day, and who had picked the fight.

"What do you want?" Clyden whispered to the riff-raff.

"I want more money is what I want. You said to meet ya here after, and you'd pay me the other half. And you said it'd be just that kid. Not a whole free-for-all."

"You had a couple minutes all by yourselves with him, and you were unable to knock him down. I don't think you deserve the money you got," Clyden whispered back. "Now get out of here, before I arrest you for disturbing the peace! One of your men hit my girl with a metal pipe!"

"Hey, don't threaten me-"

Like a cobra striking, Clyden's fist flashed out and struck the instigator in the face. He hit him a few more times, until the guy, woozy, moaned and sank down to the dirt of the alley. "See? That's how it's done. That's how you were supposed to knock out that Martin guy, so he'd get the message and leave our cozy little world. Next time you try to get more money that you didn't earn from me, I won't be so easy-going, Struber."

Clyden turned back toward the car, ready to leave the alley, and found Gazelle standing there at the entrance. She gaped at him in shock. "Oh, baby," he called to her with concern in his voice, "What are you doing up and about? You should be taking it easy. Go rest in the car and we'll go see a doctor.”

Gazelle looked down at the man asleep on the ground. “That's the trouble-maker. You hired him to cause some mischief! How could you! I know in your job you sometimes have to do bad things for the Governor, but that young man had nothing to do with the Governor’s administration. You had no reason to get him beat up. Why did you do that, Tretl?"

"This doesn't concern you, Hon. Just forget it and let it go."

"Why, Tretl, why? I know I told you before how rude the Martin kid was on the rocket, and I know he took your spot last time, but why beat him up for that?! Did you do it because you just don't like people who make you mad? Is that why? What kind of a man are you, that you would be so vindictive to someone who never did you any harm?"

He took her by the shoulder. "You got me wrong, Hon. Just calm down and get back into the car. We should get a doctor now to look at that crack on your head-"

She pulled free. "Let go of me. I don't need your help. I can get along just fine without you, you- you thug! I don't believe I want to see you anymore-"

"Hey, don't be rash. And don't be standing on a soap box, either. As you said, you know what kind of stuff I sometimes must do- Hey, what's wrong-"

Gazelle held her head tightly with both hands and shrieked. Her eyes turned upward and she collapsed, right near where the trouble-maker had fallen down, almost on top of the unconscious Struber. Clyden rushed to Gazelle's side to assist her.

She glared at Clyden. "Don't... touch... me..." And then she passed out. Clyden tried to wake her, but couldn't.

(c) drk 2011

00018

Dusk.

Mita Morgan once again stopped in at the Tourist Trap. She immediately saw Osmo Martin and Sheila Bright sitting at a table with Albert Zoeniga, and she groaned inside as usual. Here she was again, all by herself on this planet in the middle of nowhere. And her yvacation wasn't even half over yet. Maybe she should just change her ticket and go back to Earth early. Why waste her time chasing Osmo? Maybe Jane was right- she should let go of her foolish dream. She wasn't a schoolgirl anymore... Say, where was Jane, anyway?

Albert noticed Mita, once more sitting alone. "Hey, Mita, get over here! Don't be such a snob, always sitting away from us!" he called.

"Huh? A snob-"

"Come on, join us," Albert called again.

Hesitantly, she got up and moved over to their table. "Uh, hi, everybody.”

Osmo and Sheila greeted her, not very warmly, but not coldly, either.

Sheila Bright said, "I should think old classmates like you and Osmo and Al should all sit together, especially here in a place where you know very few other people except yourselves."

"Oh, yeah, that's right," Mita half-heartedly nodded. “I guess we should sit with each other.”

Sheila said, "Of course, it’s company, after all- When I was in school, I sometimes went with some classmates for a bit of company to the mall, even though they were not really pals. I mean, they were pals, but I don't think we ever connected. Not like Osmo and Al do. I guess I actually didn't have many in the way of friends. But, I made sure I had company when I went shopping!”

Osmo Martin told the way it really was between him and Albert. "We don't connect either, Sheila. It's just that we were both the best looking guys in school, so we figured, if we hung out together, we couldn't help being the ultimate chick magnets!"

Sheila laughed at that one, and Albert Zoeniga clarified, "Actually, the truth is, I was the chick magnet, and Osmo merely wanted to hang out with me and get my rejects.”

Now Osmo let out a roar. "Hahaha, you wish, Al! For every ten that ran to me, only one ran after you!"

"Um, Al, I don't see Jane," said Mita Morgan.

Osmo Martin kidded, "She's invisible."

"Yeah, I know how that is," said Mita.

Albert explained how Jane wanted to help out at the clinic tonight. Albert had done a shift there as well yesterday, but he didn't have Jane's drive. He wanted a break, he said.

“But it's vacation time," Mita Morgan pointed out. "You both should be taking a break."

"We know. But we saw a need, and so we went to help. Maybe if you have free time and are bored, maybe you want to come help also some time at the clinic. It’s at the east end in the hospital.”

"Um, yeah, sure. It'd sure be a change of pace."

Osmo Martin told Albert, "Well, I'll pass going to the clinic for something to do. Sheila sees that I don't get bored."

Sheila Bright smiled and held onto Osmo’s arm. “Well, it’s good to see you notice how I take care of you!”

They heard the door of the club open. Security Leader Clyden and Gazelle entered the place.

Sheila and Osmo nodded a polite greeting to the Security Leader as he passed by their table. He returned the polite greeting and found a booth far from the young adults.

Sheila Bright stifled a guffaw. "I think he's still mad at you for taking his parking spot before.”

“Or because of the robots,” suggested Osmo Martin.

Albert nodded. "It looks like it's probably both bugging him. And now his parking space is marked Reserved."

Over at their booth, Gazelle had news for Tretl Clyden. "Finally the Dart is cleared for the flight back home. The home base was worried they'd have to send a replacement rocket, and that they would have to abandon this one. They didn't like that. Money, you know, is very important to them. Capt. Shatner is glad. He says we can leave early tomorrow. I'll miss you, though, Tretl. I enjoyed that extra time we've had together."

"Me, too. It sure is a blessing that the Dart had that trouble that kept you stranded here with me for awhile."

Suddenly the door of the club again swung open, this time with such force that it hit the wall with a BAM!In stumbled a rough looking character, obviously a bit drunk. Everybody looked at him as he made his way to the bar. "Hey, what are all you jerks looking at, anyway?"

The rest of the customers returned to their own affairs. One or two regulars mumbled, "Nothing, Struber, nothing..."

Osmo Martin, though, couldn't help staring. "I don't believe it. I think that's the guy who's been watching me all day! Now is this a coincidence or what?”

“Eh, wha's that you say?" the newcomer angrily demanded. "Are you talking about me?!"

"Um, no, I must be mistaken," said Osmo tactfully. He wondered if he had imagined the whole thing about being tailed all day. He didn't want them to think he was paranoid.

"Oh, you say it behind my back, but you're not man enough to say it to my face. You must be a baby."

Mita Morgan got annoyed. "Hey, Bub, just be quiet and drink some coffee or something to sober up.”

The guy Struber laughed at Osmo. “Now you need the girls to fight your battles."

The proprietor asked the belligerent man who sat down on a stool, "So, what will you have tonight, or are you just here to pick a fight?"

Osmo Martin told the others at the table, "Just ignore him. Apparently he can't handle his booze."

Sheila Bright complained, "Why do jerks always have to spoil a good time?"

The jerk jumped from his stool, indignantly demanding, "Who are you calling a jerk- Oh, excuse me. I didn't realize it was the talking pig. Well, what can you expect from a pig- they don't know any better anyway, right?"

Osmo  felt his blood pressure begin to rise. "Hold on a minute. Even though I know you are drunk, that doesn't excuse you-"

Albert Zoeniga shook his head. "Don't bother, Osmo. Remember your own advice- Ignore him."

"It's hard to ignore a fool," Mita Morgan opined.

"I- hic- I demand an apo- aploga- you better say you're sorry, you people!”

Annoyed, the manager snapped, "You guys better take it outside before I call the police!"

Over at Security Leader Clyden's table, Gazelle, distracted from her drink, watched the drama and asked Clyden, "You're the Security Leader; are you going to do nothing?"

"Nope, I am already doing something. I'm sipping my brew."

"Tretl, you should stop that drunken rowdy! I know you don't like that Osmo Martin, and neither do I, but I dislike bullies even more.”

“Why should I bother? Those kids can handle themselves. I don't think they need my help against one slob."

Gazelle kept watching, disappointed. "Oh, Tretl, I thought you were better than that! What would Gov. Bright say? You know he likes to keep law and order, and you, his main security man, sitting here indifferently! And his niece even is being harassed, too!" Gazelle shook her head, sad about the whole affair. "What happened to that hero you used to tell me about, when the crowds at the football game chanted 'Clyden! Clyden! He's our man- If he can't do it, nobody can!'”

“Hon, I'm off-duty. I can't run around and hold everybody's hand and nanny them. Sometimes people must work out things by themselves. Besides, that football stuff, that's kid's stuff. Adults don't have hero-complexes."

Meanwhile, the noisome fellow stumbled over to Osmo's table and stood there, challenging, "Okay, if anybody here dares, stand up and take your medicine, since you won't say sorry!"

Sheila Bright and Mita Morgan told the man to shut up and sit back down.

"Why don't you make me?”

Osmo impulsively got on his feet. "Maybe I will, you creep. Now get outta here, or step out side and get knocked out-"

Albert tried to calm his friend. "You don't want to beat up a slob who's plastered. He pretty much has no good judgment at this moment."

"When he sobers up, maybe he will remember to not drink so much next time, if he can't behave, Albert," Osmo Martin answered.

By now the inebriated man stood by the back door. "Okay, big talker, let's go. Put your fist where your mouth is. No, wait, better yet, let me put my fist in your mouth! Ha ha ha. Come on, you coward!"

Osmo Martin excused himself from his companions. “This will only take a moment."

Albert cringed inside, but he had to admit, the guy really was asking for it, and he himself actually wanted to knock off his block, too. He shrugged. "A man's got to do what a man's got to do."

"Give him one for me," Sheila Bright begged.

The trouble-maker stepped aside at the doorway to let Osmo go first. 

Osmo did, but he turned and backed out the doorway, so that the other had no opportunity to give him a sucker-punch. The argumentative jerk followed and shut the door behind them, pleased that Osmo took the bait. "Okay, smart guy, let's see what you got."

"You bet," Osmo Martin answered, stepping to the side, ready to teach Struber a lesson. But he noticed that the guy no longer seemed so drunk. He did still seem like a jerk and a trouble-maker, however. And something else- as Omso's eyes adjusted to the dark- the dim street lamp giving little light at the back of the club (luckily there at least was a bulb in the lamp)- he perceived many other forms gathering around him. He realized these were more thugs that were in with the jerk, a whole gang that awaited him outside the Tourist Trap- for some reason conspiring against him and meaning him ill will. It was some kind of a trap!

Well, Osmo Martin had no time to ask questions to get to the bottom of this gang-up. Giving his most cocky attitude, Osmo offered, "Okay, you dopes. I see there's about five of you. If that's all ya got, you want me to wait while you get reinforcements and try to make it a bit more even for yourselves, or do you just want me to beat you all up here and now?"

The other thugs found this amusing and chuckled. One of them said, "We got us a funny little mouse. Let's see if he feels like laughing if he got no more teeth." And they circled Osmo, ready to close in on him.

(c) 2011 drk

00017

“So, where do you and Jane go these days?" Osmo Martin wanted to know. "Every time I come looking for you, to see if you guys want to come with us, I can't find you. Then I go to check with Jane to see where you are, but she is also out. It's been like that almost all week. I am amazed to find you in your rooms.”

Albert Zoeniga grinned. "Ah, missed me, did you?" He opened the door, inviting his friend Osmo in.

Osmo shrugged. "Maybe a little, although it's hard to miss you too much, since Sheila usually finds something fun to do. You're not mad because we left you guys by yourselves at the beach the other day, are you?"

"You are who you are. How can I be mad? If you don't do stuff like that, you aren't Osmo."

"Hmm. I don't know if I like that. Sheila and her Uncle Xavier make me see that there is a serious side to life. Something my dad tried to tell me all those years I partied and got into trouble. But now that I am more mature-"

"Ha ha ha, Osmo's not growing up, is he?" teased Albert.

"Well, I am fighting it. So what have you guys been up to lately?”

"I think I am suffering the same thing as you- becoming mature!” Albert sighed. "I am glad to hear you are growing up, too. Jane and I have been helping out where we can with some of the poorer citizens of Sparkle when we see a need. Did you notice how so many of the people here on the World of Hope look unhappy? We did. Jane is volunteering at a clinic at the hospital right now. She did some volunteer work long ago on Earth. Leave it to Jane to work in a clinic while on vacation. And now I, too, am becoming like that. I am glad you are becoming serious as well. You can see how troubled these people in Sparkle City are these days because of the oppression."

"What are you talking about? Life might be a little hard for them, but I think 'oppression' is the wrong word. Oppression is what a malevolent government or a dictator does.”

“I know. Coffee? Juice?"

Osmo Martin took an apple juice. "Thanks. But Al, you think these people are being oppressed? By whom? How are they being oppressed?"

"I am telling you, my friend, it is happening. I have seen too much already. Some people just disappear. Why? Because they disagree with Gov. Bright, or make him nervous or upset. I know you and Sheila enjoy each other's company- I don't want to cause a rift between you, but I am just telling you the facts. Heck, I also remember who is footing our bills, too, Osmo, but-“

“Oh, that's crazy," scoffed Osmo Martin. "Like I said, I know life is hard for the citizens here. Of course it is. This is a new settlement, hardly more than a decade old. And I know sometimes the Governor is strict. What can he do? Law and order need to be maintained, after all. It's a tough environment. It requires a tough leader making tough decisions. Like in the Old West. Or maybe Jamestown even."

"I know, I know. But yet, it seems like the Governor need not be so hard on these people. He seems to go overboard at times. A little more of the law, and less order. And he even has a board that must approve of church worship services! And do you know what happens to the people who disappear?"

"What?"

"They are stuck in the mines. Made miners. Don't you think that's a little harsh merely for disagreeing with Gov. Bright? Some, if they are lucky, only end up being forced labor on the farms."

Osmo dismissed his claims out of hand. "Oh, Albert, don't be so naive. Don't believe everything you hear in town. Of course some people are mad at the Governor, maybe because of something that he did, that he had to do, to one of their relatives for being some kind of offender or something. Be reasonable, though. Naturally, those relatives left behind will be mad, and will stick up for their criminal family members. What is the result? They can't accept the fact that the black sheep of the family is a bad egg, so they don't blame the bad family member; instead they need to believe it is the Governor who is bad. I assure you, he is a good, a wise man. I've met him. I have had dinner with him. I think he is a great man. He even wants to meet you and Jane sometime, too.”

"Wow, you sure are buying that propaganda put out by Gov. Bright's public relations department all over town about what a great guy this Xavier Bright is. I saw that same explanation in the news just yesterday. And I am sure Sheila helps you to see how fantastic he is, too."

"Hey, hey, leave her out of our discussion. That's her Uncle; you expect her to badmouth him, after he was the one to look out for her when her mom was killed?" He held out his glass for Albert to refill. "She's good, too, like Gov. Bright. She guided me into slowing down on my boozing, you know."

"Yeah, well, maybe you're right about Sheila." Albert filled more juice in his companion's glass.

Osmo Martin said, "She's coming over to take me to the Tourist Trap again tonight. I came by to see if you and Jane want to join us. But I guess not, since Jane is out playing Mother Theresa, and you'll be stag."

"No, I'm still interested. I can use a night of fun."

"Me, too. Let's keep it fun. Don't discuss politics about her Uncle while we're out, okay?"

"Okay," Albert Zoeniga agreed.

A half hour later, when Sheila Bright showed up, Osmo and Albert piled into her truck, chatting about their night ahead. As she peeled out, Albert Zoeniga caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure standing in the alleyway beside the Hope Hotel, staring their way. "Is that guy over there watching us?"

Osmo Martin replied, "If I didn't know better, I'd swear he's watching ME. It looked like he'd been following me all day long when I took a walk down to the pool hall. I don't know who he is. He doesn't look like someone I would want to know, either. He looks like one of those down-and-out citizens I hear so much about these days. I don't get it, why should he be following me? Must be a coincidence, unless he wants my autograph.”

Albert protested. "Osmo, this might be a serious matter."

Sheila Bright gave her thoughts on the matter as she raced down the street. "If he is following, he'll never be able to catch up to us in this truck! Hang on!"

"Waa-hooo!" Osmo whooped as Sheila stomped on the accelerator and shot onto the highway.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, the watcher came out of the shadows. He took out a Security Agency issue cell phone and reported, "He just left with the Governor’s niece. As they left the place, I overheard their plans to visit the Tourist Trap.”

(c) drk 2011

00016

George McCleer kept his word and brought Nina along to visit Sparkle College. A taxi dropped them off at the campus. Nina hung onto her husband's arm as they strolled along the campus, amidst the young students, patrolling campus Security Agents, and robots. And she remembered-

"Xavier declined to join us. Too many other matters needing his attention. Per the Governor himself," George said, interrupting her remembering.

"That's okay. I know Xavier and I had had some good times back at college when we were young, but I guess there are a lot of bad college memories for him as well. Maybe that's why he is too busy to join us.”

“Oh?”

Nina McCleer told her husband, “I didn't think he still cared anymore about what had happened back then, about us. In fact, I didn't think he even cared about the situation at the time that it happened. Maybe I misjudged him. What if he really did care, and so he can't stand being on a campus with me and you, because it makes him remember? ...But that’s past now. Topic change: I am sooo bored with X-9 for company at our suite whenever you leave me on your never-ending touring of this little world. It's good to be here with you, Hon. And alone, with no fussing robot!”

George laughed and added, “Or no annoying Governor. As for my tour of this little world- That has been quite dull- as dull as staying back at the mansion with X-9. You know how these things are, going over the technical bean counting and such at every place he takes me.”

A campus guide robot walked over to meet them. "You must be Mr. and Mrs. McCleer. I am D-4. Dean Hart sent me to be your guide. Gov. Bright has asked the Dean to show you two around. What would you like to see first?”

“Oh, yippie," George McCleer cheered. "Just what we need- another robot. Just give us the regular grand tour of the campus, first of all."

"Be nice, dear, even if it is 'only' a robot."

Maybe Nina had said she would change the topic, but she- and George- couldn't stop their minds from going back to those days on Earth at Hooper College. Seeing all those posters of Xavier Bright in a Governoral pose on almost all the walls of Sparkle College's buildings didn't help them to not think of him and the past, either.

“I wonder if Xaveir even knows what the word 'modest' means," said Nina McCleer. “I thought he told us over and over how they are always so short of supplies on this planet. He sure can find enough paper to make posters of himself.”

"As long as I've known him, I've never seen evidence to suggest that he does know what ‘modest' means, Hon."

"What was it like to share a dorm room with Xavier?"

"Haha, it was terrible. When I first got there, I introduced myself, and then, when I dumped my stuff on the floor, he immediately showed me which side was his territory, and which was mine, and insisted I move my stuff to the appropriate side. He also told me he did not tolerate mess. He figured everything should be his way. His way was better than anyone else's way, because, after all, he is smarter than anyone else. Sheesh! At least he no longer carries on quite that badly these days during our stay in his mansion."

"He never acted like such an ogre to me."

"I thought we were changing the topic, anyway," reminded George McCleer.

“Yes, of course. Besides, as a rule, you and I never talk about my dates with him. I can see that it might upset you."

"Not really. I just prefer to respect Xavier's privacy in the matter."

"And you also respect his sister's privacy, Selina's? Because you never tell me much about your dates with her."

"Ah, um, not much to tell. I'd just about had had it with Xavier's arrogance, and his always telling me how to organize our room, when to turn off my lamp, how long to spend in the shower, what kind of soap I should use- It was my own soap, for cryin' out loud- and then one day Selina Bright visited her brother, and I was there, and he introduced us. It was love at first sight. I immediately asked her out. I don't know how Xavier liked that, but I didn't care. Being with her made me forgive Xavier, and almost enjoy having him for a room-mate. After all, I figured, anyone with a sister like Selina can't be all bad."

She perked her eyebrows. "Oh? Then what happened? This should be interesting."

"Well, on one date, she confided to me that she worried about her brother. She said he didn't really get out much, despite all his flirting. Whenever he did date, Xavier never took his date seriously. Selina wanted us to bring him along next time we went out, to meet a blind date for him, some friend of hers, a girl so likable, maybe even Xavier would like her and actually be serious about the date for a change.”

"Oh. This is where I come in." Nina McCleer smiled. "Selina told me about her brother, about what a nice guy he was. She was right. He really was, except he was so stubborn about so many things, and always had to be right about anything and everything."

"I remember when Xavier and I were waiting for you girls at the movies. He kept complaining the entire time we waited about how he hated blind dates, but he only went along with meeting you to make his sister happy. Well, then Selina and you showed up, and I don't know if Xavier felt like I did, but during the night, when we ate dinner afterward, as I heard you talk, I decided I wanted to marry you!"

"But what about your love at first sight with Selina?"

"Oh, that? You don't really believe in love at first sight, do you? If it exists, does it last like real love, like ours?And, after meeting you, I became distracted while spending time with Selina. She sensed I had drifted away, and so we parted as friends.”

“Friends? That's nice. It didn't go as well with me and Xavier. Like I said, he treated me very well. He was always bringing me roses. Pale pink roses. He made sure to bring me roses for all our dates. I guess he supposed a woman always wanted roses, especially pale pink very feminine roses. But I never felt like he really wanted me. At least not me for me. It seemed like he kept seeing me, because, well, I hate to admit it, I somewhat admired his brain at the time. I still do, of course, but there's more to a man than a brain. I think it flattered his ego to be so admired. But after awhile, I began to realize my point of view was just as valid as his, and that it didn't have to be that he was the only one always right. This was a heretical concept, and it led to all manner of arguments, until I decided to call it quits."

D-4 showed the couple the science lab building. George McCleer nodded, saying to D-4 how nice it looked, and then, as the robot continued leading them about, George returned to his talk with his wife.

"How did he take it, when you called off the big romance?"

"When I told him he was too much in love with himself, he angrily told me, Who else is worth loving? He claimed he didn't care that I wanted to see other people, and that if I wasn't the one to suggest it, he was going to be the one to tell me the exact same thing."

George McCleer stayed quiet for awhile. Then, "I had wondered what had happened to you two, when you no longer showed up to meet Xavier, and he no longer talked about you. I figured you guys must’ve split up. So, when I ran into you at the bookstore, I figured it fair to ask you out, since you no longer dated my room-mate. He eventually guessed I was seeing you, but he never complained. But we grew further apart again. I had assumed he was mad because I no longer wanted to see Selina."

"I honestly thought he didn't care about our relationship, that it was only just fun for him, like Selina said were his other dates,” said Nina. "But the way he keeps pestering me since we've come here- I know at college he used to like to flirt, but not like the way he's been acting-and now he made himself unavailable to come with us onto the college grounds where we could reminisce about the past- I am beginning to think there is more to Xavier than his ego. Maybe he really did care. Oh well, too late. I think I am better off with you.”

“Truer words were never spoken,” agreed George McCleer. He saw the thoughtful concern in his wife’s eyes, as if she may have underestimated how their breakup had hurt Xavier. “Ah, he probably is only bothered now- if he is- because he thought you were his claim, and he can't see that you dumped him and then, horror of horrors, took up with his handsome room-mate, who had also stopped dating the Brilliant One's sister. He hates to lose, and I think in some way he thinks this was a contest that he lost."

"You don't think it is anything more than that to Xavier?"

"Even if it is, so what? Like you said, you’re better off with Yours Truly. Besides, if you had married him, do you think you would like having the bedroom walls decorated with big posters of Xavier?”

D-4 next took them to a parkway hedged in with rose bushes. There were several benches around the lawn, and on the benches couples sat, each couple sitting closely together.

"Welcome to Lovers' Garden, a special project designed by our Gov. Bright,” announced D-4. “The Governor insists the gardeners only only allow the pale pink variety you see before your eyes to grow here.”

(c) 2011 drk