Don't Own Star Trek, Not Making Any Profit
Bigfoot and Rednecks
Nyota slept longer than she had planned. Spock's side of the bed was cold, meaning he had been up a while. She yawned and stretched, and turned to face the cabin door just as her husband entered with a tray.
"Sarah saved us orange juice, oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam and sliced apples. You have coffee with cream and sugar, I have tea."
Spock set the tray on a table beside the bed, and took off his boots. He slipped into the bed to warm it back up for his wife while she was in the bathroom. As she crawled back in, she kissed him.
"Umm, delicious! The food looks good, too."
"Sarah made the strawberry jam herself. It was my Grandmother Grayson's recipe. Johnathan has gone off to work and the older children to school. Little Davey wants to show us the farm."
"Sounds like fun." They ate their breakfast in bed. Then while Nyota got ready for her day, Spock took the tray back to the house. He reappeared with Little Davey just as she was pulling on her jacket and boots.
Davey took Nyota's hand as she stepped outside. "Go see farm!" he cried. They walked along the path toward the main barn. There had been rain last night, so the ground was quite muddy. Davey stopped for a second and pointed at something on the ground. There were several very large prints in the mud, somewhat resembling giant, bare human feet. "Oh, Bigfoot", said Davey, and he continued on. Spock and Nyota just looked at each other. It couldn't be.
"Go see cows."
The little guy led them past a large, red barn. There in a field were about forty head of black and white cows. Holsteins, to be exact.
"Spock, have you ever been this close to a cow before? I haven't."
"Actually I have been even closer. I helped Johnathan with the milking this morning. He has two milking machines, so it went quite quickly."
"Spock, I can't imagine you milking cows. I'd like to see that."
"Then get up earlier, or help us this evening. They must be milked twice a day."
"My husband, the farmer! I think I'll go for the evening milking, as I'm on leave, you know. I like to sleep in!"
Davey was growing impatient. "See horses!" Apparently this was going to be a whirlwind tour. In a very short period of time they saw horses, goats, sheep, ducks, and chickens. Davey would stop from time to time, pointing out more large tracks. "Bigfoot!"
On the way back, Nyota noticed an old barn with a padlock on the door.
"What's that, Davey?"
"Myrtle, don't tell!"
"Again with Myrtle! What is she, some kind of hermit?" Nyota was getting frustrated with the conspiracy. This was almost as secret as Pon Farr!
"You heard Davey. I can not tell you yet."
The last stop was the barn, where Davey showed them Butterball the cat and her four new kittens. Davey picked one up.
"Soft, Uncle Spock. You pet." Spock did just that, and then handed the kitten to Nyota.
"Uh,oh. Potty!" Davey ran to the house.
Nyota looked after him, and then at Spock and laughed. "I want one of those. Soon"
"I will see what I can do about that. Let's go see if Sarah needs any assistance."
They found Sarah in the family room, folding laundry.
"There ya are. I was wonderin' if ya'd like to head up to the attic with me. I need to get some things down and washed before the new baby comes. There's some stuff for Spock up there, including things that were his mama's. I know ya must not have much space on the ship, but you could box up what ya can't use now, and we'll keep it for ya for later."
"Then we'll start supper. Nyota, I hope you can stand some more rednecks. Johnathan's brother Jacob and his wife Lydia will be joinin' us. They're expectin' they first."
"Don't tell me. They've been out to see Myrtle!"
"Yep!"
"Arrgh! I can't stand this much longer!" Nyota headed for Davey and tickled his belly. He squealed with delight.
"Nyota, would you tuck Davey in for a little nap? He was up at the crack of dawn. He'll want to stay up little later when the others get here." Davey led Nyota to his room.
"Cousin Spock, you'd best make your "introductions" tonight." whispered Sarah. "I'll make ya up a little "goodie" basket to set the mood. Maybe some chocolate chip cookies and some wine. What'cha think?"
"That would be most welcome, Sarah. Thank you. I am curious, though. Why chocolate chip cookies?"
"Oh, just a little somethin' I heard about yer daddy! Don't worry. You know we can keep stuff secret in this family!" Sarah folded the last of her wash just as Nyota returned and indicated that they should all follow her upstairs to the attic.
The Grayson family attic was a wondrous place, filled with "heirlooms" and treasures of all kinds. Anything that was not currently needed, but too good to get rid of ended up here. There was an old sewing machine, several old wooden trunks, numerous boxes of books, and three armoires of clothing in styles going back one hundred years.
Sarah quickly found the two boxes of baby things she wanted. Spock carried them downstairs for her. When he returned, he found the women had located three boxes labeled "Amanda's Stuff". Spock slid the first box over close to a sturdy trunk, and sat down. He glanced up at Nyota, with a strange almost-expression on his face, breathed a small sigh, and opened the box.
Its contents were mostly books. These were some of his mother's university texts. Spock picked up a particularly battered, well-read one, An Introduction to Conversational Vulcan, by T'vela. Spock was very familiar with this, as he had used the 12th edition as his text choice when he taught Conversational Vulcan at the Academy. Amanda's was the first edition. Her margin notes were most enlightening, mostly pronunciation tips, and a few statements such as "I'm never going to get this!" Spock set this book aside. It was very precious.
The second box held small clothing and accessory items, hats, gloves, and scarves that would not have been needed on Vulcan. There was also a musical jewelry box, painted pink, lined in pink satin. A ballerina danced if the key had been wound and the box was opened. The jewelry was inexpensive, mostly dangling earrings of a type favored by young ladies about thirty-five years ago.
"Spock, I think your mother wore these things as a teenager. I approve of her taste, though." Nyota smiled at her husband, who handed her the box.
"I think Mother would want you to have it."
The very bottom of the box held a patchwork quilt about a meter square, made of blue and yellow rectangles. It had hanging loops on the back, indicating that it had once adorned a wall.
"Honey, that would make an excellent baby quilt." Spock agreed and handed it to Nyota as well.
When Spock opened the third box, there was a note on top. "For my children." Underneath the note were children's books and toys, all of which had obviously been well-used and loved. Most of the books were titles Spock did not recognize. He wondered why his mother had never given him these items, and then realized that Sarek would not have approved of them. Amanda must have packed this box before she and Sarek met. No matter. Spock had the box now and he and Nyota would share the contents with their children.
Nyota sat beside him, gazing at her husband with a sock monkey and the big pile of children's books on his lap. The Cat In The Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and The Princess Bride, just to name a few.
"Spock, these were some of my favorites as a child. I'll bet you haven't read any of them, though. They're not entirely logical."
Spock put the books back in their box, and added the other items he had saved out.
"We will take this box back to the cabin with us. Nyota, I may need to explain some of these to me. "
"I'll try, beloved, but some of the other books are specific to North American culture. Remember that I grew up in Africa. The book about the State Fair will be as alien to me as it is to you!"
Sarah spoke up. "Spock, there are some things for ya in the trunk yer sittin' on. Things that were yer granddaddy's and great-granddaddy's, set aside for ya the last time we cleaned the attic. All the cousins got a little somethin'. Oh, the trunk is yers, too."
Spock and Nyota got up off the trunk, and looked inside. The first thing they found were two harmonicas in cardboard boxes. Nyota looked at her husband questioningly.
"These are musical instruments. My grandfather Grayson showed me how to play them when I was small." Spock took the one out of the box labeled "Hohner Chromatic Harmonica" and demonstrated it for his wife and Sarah. He played an old North American folksong called Down In The Valley.
"Spock, that was beautiful. When was the last time ya played?"
"Twenty-four years ago." Sarah and Nyota looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
Spock removed several more items from the trunk. He recognized a hand carved recorder that had also been his grandfather's, as well as some books of folk music and silly children's songs. Next, he took out three hand puppets representing farm animals, then a silver belt buckle engraved with the letter "S". There was a copy of the Torah in Hebrew, which had been his grandmother's, along with a copy of her cookbook. Last was a note:
Items for Spock In the Maple Armoire:
Six-string Taylor guitar
Deering claw-hammer banjo
Mountain dulcimer, hand carved by great-grandfather Grayson
Black Stetson hat with Rattlesnake band
"This is the one with yer stuff, Spock." Sarah pointd to a large, maple armoire. He opened the doors and found all the listed items. The instruments were complete with cases, straps and picks. Nyota grabbed the hat and placed it on her husband's head.
"This is all for me?"
"Yer the one with the most musical talent. And nobody else has a name that starts with "S", except for me. Don't ya think I'd look a little silly with that buckle?
"Everything you need to be a country singer, right down to the belt buckle. My own redneck Vulcan. That's kind of sexy."
This earned Nyota a raise of the eyebrow.
"Speakin' of rednecks, we'd best get downstairs and get dinner going. Rednecks can get rowdy if ya don't feed them properly. I'm makin' beef stew and a vegetable stew for those that don't eat meat. We'll have potato salad, mixed greens, and apple pie for lunch". Sarah headed downstairs and her guests followed.
Once in the kitchen, they washed up and chopped vegetables. Sarah baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies, a rhubarb pie and a pumpkin spice cake, and got the two pots of stew going.
"I'll make biscuits right before dinner, along with steamed rice. If one of ya will go get Davey, and the other set the table, I'll get lunch out."
Nyota went after Davey. Spock set the table. Lunch was fabulous.
"Sarah, if you keeping feeding us like this, our uniforms may not fit any more." Nyota laughed and ate another bite of pie.
"A few pounds wouldn't hurt either one of ya. After we clean up lunch, I'm gonna put my feet up for an hour. Would ya mind lookin' after Davey?"
Nyota was quick to answer. "We'd love to. What would you like to do, Davey?"
"Like to color."
"What a coincidence, Davey. So do I" said Spock. Spock and Davey colored spaceships and farm animals. It was Nyota's turn to raise an eyebrow.
******************
Johnathan, J.B. and Lizzy all arrived home within a few minutes of each other. While the kids had an afternoon snack and did homework, Sarah sent the adults out to the cooler for milk. She would pasteurize it on the stove top. On their way back to the house, Nyota spotted more large "footprints" in the mud.
"Looks like Bigfoot's back."
Nyota seemed a little alarmed. "I thought he was a myth. Do we need to worry?"
"No, he never causes any harm. He's just curious about the strangers. He's a vegetarian, anyway."
Somehow, that did not put Nyota at ease. Everything she had heard about Bigfoot indicated that he stayed away from peple. Spock seemed unconcerned, however. That was strange, as well. Why wasn't her Science Officer husband investigating or trying to debunk Bigfoot? She was about to say something to him about this when Jacob and Lydia arrived. Lydia was even more pregnant than Sarah.
Johnathan made the introductions. Spock and Jacob had not seen each other for over five years. Jacob and Lydia were botanists, specializing in the genetic engineering of crops. They frequently traveled to other worlds.
Nyota and Lydia embraced. "I seem to be the odd woman out around here" laughed Nyota.
"Myrtle will fix that for you."
"Hush, Lydia" warned Johnathan. "They just got here last night. Nyota hasn't met Myrtle yet."
"No, but someone had better introduce me soon." Nyota glared at her husband who had a blank expression on his face.
*********************
Sarah's dinner was wonderful. The conversation was stimulating, as they all talked about their careers. Nyota was surprised at how at ease Spock was with his family, as they were all humans. She assumed that this was in part because they seemed to accept him for himself. He had nothing to prove here.
Everyone helped with the clean-up. Johnathan, Jacob, and Spock went out to do the evening milking, leaving the ladies inside. The topic quickly turned to children, more specifically babies. Nyota desperately wanted a baby.
"How long have ya been tryin', if ya don't mind my askin'?" Sarah did not mean to pry, but she was already fond of Nyota, and therefore a bit concerned.
"Only for a few months. I'm just worried our DNA's might not be compatible."
Lydia thought for a moment. "Well, Sarek and Amanda finally got Spock. Science has made great strides since then. Don't worry Nyota. It will happen."
"I hope so."
*********************
When the guys returned from the barn, they all had dessert in the family room. Jacob brought up the subject of plans for the weekend, as tomorrow was Friday.
"I was thinking that tomorrow night we guys could go up on the hill and fetch several jugs of the "product". Our yield is ever so much better since you made improvements to the still, Spock. We'll need a little something to take along to the barn dance on Saturday night."
"Hold it right there, you guys! Still? You are not seriously trying to tell me that my husband is a moonshiner!" Nyota was incredulous.
"Moonshining is an illegal activity, Nyota. I would not engage in something of that nature. However, Minnesota law allows private citizens to produce twenty gallons of grain alcohol per person per year. Also, it is called Everclear, not moonshine." Spock seemed a little defensive. "Besides, it is a Grayson family tradition."
"Okay, beloved. I know you are all about tradition."
At this, Jacob and Lydia bid everyone goodnight. "We'll see you all tomorrow night. Don't worry about supper, Sarah. We'll bring assorted pizzas and salads."
Sarah got the kids off to bed. Johnathan went to the kitchen and returned with a basket and a blanket. He handed them to Spock, along with a key.
"Speaking of tradition, Nyota, please accompany me. It is time for an introduction." Spock led his curious wife to the barn at the rear of the property. He unlocked the door and turned on the light.
There was the baby blue Mustang, looking as lovely as ever.
"Nyota, this is Myrtle. Myrtle, this is my wife, Nyota."
"Honey, you just introduced me to a car."
"A very special car. For the last one hundred years, most of the Grayson family has been concieved in the back seat of this vehicle."
"So, you want to "get busy" in Myrtle's backseat?"
"Yes."
"What's in the basket?"
"You will have to get in to find out."
Spock opened the door and climbed into the backseat. He held out his hand to Nyota, who climbed in as well. He switched on the music player.
Rod Stewart sang Tonight's The Night......