Virgil took a long look at his monitor. A slight headache was starting to form as he looked at the readout.
" Let me guess" said Scott " Number seven auxiliary pump?."
" Hi Scott . I didn't hear you come in " said Virgil. " Mind you , I think the marching band of the London Royals could have been on the flight deck and I wouldn't have noticed! I can't figure why the flow isn't constant . Brains replaced the main pump and checked the software"
" Yeah well , if it's beyond you then I'm not sure I'm going to be a lot of help except moral support. I think you need a break. I brought some cold bottles" said Scott.
" I could use some water right now" replied Virgil, pushing the bulky seat back on it's runners. Scott sat in the co-pilot seat and took a sip from his water.
" So , I don't have to salute you while pop is away do I?" laughed Virgil
"What if I say yes, would you do it?" laughed Scott
" What do you think?" said Virgil. They both laughed. Jeff Tracy was attending a reunion of astronauts at Glenn Field.
" I haven't known it this quiet for a long while" said Scott " Sort of reminds me of that summer before I went to astronaut training. Long days playing football, looking over the cornfields , shooting hoops and chatting to the girls "
" There were one or two of those " said Virgil with a wry look " Not that I was jealous. Much"
" I wonder what they're doing now " For a second Scott was far away " Seemed like a different world then. I remember that time when I was talking to Sue-Elise , trying to get her to notice my astronaut wings…"
" Ha, then I come rushing in chasing Alan and ruin the moment" said Virgil " I'm not sure if you ever forgave me for that"
" Yeah , Sue-Elise took one look at you and Alan covered in dust and cuts and decided that the Tracy family was a lot of trouble" Scott was smiling but his eyes weren't. " Of course , after that there wasn't a lot of time for that sort of thing. "
" I hear that!" said Virgil
" Hang on , you've got a reading on number seven . It's peaking over again…I'll see if Brains is back from lunch " said Scott leaving the flight deck
" Tell him to bring his biggest hammer!" said Virgil , only half joking.
