How to be an adult

Posted on 29 Apr 2020 @ 1:51am by Lieutenant Jeremy Ezio

Mission: Mission 4 - Race against the machine
Location: Counselor's Office
1372 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Jeremy looked over his schedule and was quite surprised to find a pre-teenager on his list within the next few minutes. "Well, that's something new," he mused as he went to replicate both lemonade and tea, and some snacks. He looked around his office, feeling it was homey enough, especially since his own children spent plenty of time in here, when he wasn't having patients.

Tia entered the office when her name was called and looked around. "Hi," she said shyly. She could always talk to True, but True was a girl and Tia was more interested in what a man might think. She was too embarrassed to talk to her father about all this. "My name is Tia, well Amiltia really but nobody calls me that."

"Tia it is then," Jeremy smiled as he gestured to a seat. "Please help yourself, I'm not sure if you'd prefer tea or lemonade. My oldest prefers tea but no child is the same right?" He sat himself down across from her. "You've been referred to me, is there anything you'd like to know about me, before we start talking about you?"

Tia shook her head. She thought that after this she probably would never want to talk to him again, she'd be too embarrassed. "I just want to ask you about something," she said already blushing. "You're a man . . . . and well I recently bonded with er a young man." Tia said being careful not to call Eddie a boy. "But I'm having a hard time deciding what to do with him. Do I let him pick the movie? Or do I pick it, it was my idea? And how do I know how much to compromise about anything?"

"Hmm..." Jeremy mused. "Well having been both man and woman, I can actually speak from both sides." He smiled. "I'm joined you see," he explained, "if there's a movie you really would like to see, I'd recommend just suggesting the movie. If there's something he'd rather see you could offer to watch your movie first, and then the next day watch his. As you say, this is your idea so in my opinion you should have first choice."

"Okay," Tia said thinking about that. "Yes, I suppose the program could be used a lot. But I think the first time I use it I want to use my movie. He told me no chick flicks, I didn't even know what that meant. I wasn't raised around holodecks or movies for that matter." Tia shrugged as she settled into a spot, more comfortable now.

"I'm not sure I know what a chick flick is," Jeremy chuckled, "what were you raised with Tia? Tell me a little about yourself, so that I understand you better. I'd like to hear from you, rather than read Miss Keading's report."

"Well we lived a lot of different places and sometimes we just had a small shuttle to live on. My parents liked being stationed in remote places. So I was raised with books and PADDS and often wilderness to keep me busy. I'm an only child. Being on a starship's been a bit different for me. Eddie's really my first friend other than animals."

"Animals do tend to make good company." Jeremy gave her an encouraging smile. "What were your favourite things to do?"

"I like to read, I like to make things or do art or anything with my fingers. I love quizzes. Why did you want to know?" She asked curiously, her head turning slightly to the side.

"I just want to get an idea of who you are," the Trill hybrid explained patiently, "once I have an idea of who you are, I can make that the basis of helping you. What kind of art do you make? Is it something you could share with your friend?"

"Maybe." Tia nodded. "I like to draw and paint and I think Counselor Keading might teach me to knit because she knows I like to do things with my hands when I'm sitting down. I said that already didn't I? But I'm not sure about Eddie, I guess I could ask him if he likes to do those things. We really don't know each other that well," Tia realized. "We haven't shared any hobbies. I think my parents will allow us to get a pet together though. A bearded dragon that we have already named."

"A dragon?" Jeremy tilted his head. "Lieutenant Datari has a kind of dragon, you might like to speak with him about it?"

"They're not really dragons, they're just called that. Lizards basically. But yes, I've heard there was one on board, I'd like to meet him!" Tia said enthusiastically. "Maybe Eddie can come with me. Did Counselor Keading explain what happened between us?"

"You bonded, unintentionally," Jeremy answered, "and it can't be undone. And yes you could meet with the dragon. I'm sure Lieutenant Datari won't mind, as long as you're careful." He smiled. "See that's something you two could do together. But I do strongly recommend forgetting about being a grown up Tia, you're a child, allow yourself the time to be a child."

"Yes, well, I thought I would do just that and not worry too much about things. But Eddie's all convinced that he's a man now or becoming a man. So I feel like I'm torn." She shrugged. She just needed to figure out who she was around Eddie.

"Boys are like that," Jeremy chuckled, "acting all tough, especially when there's a girl involved. Tell me Tia, what do you want to do? Do you feel that you need to be all grown up? Or do you agree that you should allow yourself to be a child. That you can still play with other children your age? Some cultures bond their children at a very young age, but they don't need to be adults until they become of age."

"I don't really have friends my own age except Eddie, but I don't think I'm ready to be an adult yet either." She shrugged. "I feel somewhere in between. Sometimes I'm an adult and sometimes not." Though Tia had always been very responsible, she didn't want all of the responsibility on her shoulders yet.

"I would have to agree, you're a little young to be an adult. Perhaps in a few years, you'll feel more mature and ready for more responsibility. I'm sure Eddie would still be your friend if you aren't playing adult. And I'm sure Captain Reynolds would agree that his son too is still a child."

Jeremy smiled encouragingly. "I have a son almost your age, I'm sure he'd like to be your friend too. And maybe you'd like to babysit my daughter some time? She's six years old."

"Oh, I've never done that before," Tia answered honestly. How hard could it be really. "But I am very responsible."

"I'm sure we can arrange something for when Altaïr has school and I have to work. Meanwhile I do suggest you're honest with Eddie, and allow yourself to be a child. Trust me, having to grow up too fast isn't easy or fun." His expression was serious and a fair clue he was speaking from experience.

"Yes sir," Tia nodded. "Thank you." She would sincerely think about what he'd said and try to come up with a way to both be a child and not disappoint Eddie too much.

"Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?

"No, I don't think so. Not right now. Thank you though, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me about this." Tia got up to leave. "I'd like to meet your son sometime."

"I'm sure that can be arranged," Jeremy smiled as he got up and walked her to the door. "If anything else comes up just call me and I'll make some time for you." He offered a slight bow. "It was good to meet you Tia."

"You too. Thank you again," Tia walked out through the doors and toward a quiet area where she could think.

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Amiltia Hawkins
12 year old caught in between child and adult
PNPC by Keading

Lieutenant j.g. Jeremy Ezio
Counselor
pnpc Aidan