Let's Go Thataway!

Chapter Ten - Bibi's Gift

Enterprise

Mid January 2264

Spock

He was sitting at the desk, just finished with his last report for the day, when the comlink chimed. He answered absently, expecting the captain wanting to know where the report was, but it was not Jim. It was someone down in the Transporter bay. "There is a package here for the Lieutenant, sir. Can someone come and get it?"

"I will be down shortly. Thank you for the notification." Now what could that be? Nyota had not mentioned that anything was expected.

***

He retrieved the box and carried it back to their quarters. From the volume of the box, it appeared that the contents would fill an entire dresser drawer. If it was solidly full, of course. It was fairly light in weight, so he was not sure exactly what it might contain. From the label, it had come from Africa. He would just have to wait for Nyota to open it to find what was inside.

Nyota

Nyota wearily let herself into their apartment. She did so hate disciplinary meetings. They just left her feeling ragged. But this particular member of her staff had been warned three times, off the record, and she had not been able to let things continue any longer. She had been forced to act. And now the ensign was belligerent and in a foul mood and would almost certainly get worse instead of better. This was just too bad, because the way he was going, he almost certainly would not have a long career in StarFleet. How could you go through four years at the Academy without realizing that once you graduated you would have serious responsibilities?

She saw Spock, settled down on his floor pillow, eyes closed, incense stick glowing in the firepot. Well, she would not bother him then, she would just go and wash her face and put on comfortable clothes and make a pot of tea. It was not until she sat down at the table with her tea that she saw the box. What was that? She pulled it across the table toward her, looking at the label. Something for her from Africa. What could it possibly be? She set her teacup aside and pulled the release on the fasteners. The seal around the top of the box released and she lifted the lid off, setting it to one side.

She looked at the paper laying on top of the box contents and picked it up to read it. It was some sort of legal document. She puzzled over it and then became aware of a warm presence at her back. "Can you figure this out?" She handed the paper up to him.

Spock came around and sat down in the chair beside her. "I believe this is a legal document of some type."

"Well, yes, I had figured that much out."

"This is your name, and I believe this is your Bibi's name, is it not?"

She craned her neck to look where he was pointing. "Yes, yes it is. Oh, that is the legal practice that my family has used for years. This must be something to do with her estate."

"Yes, I believe you are correct. Human legal terminology is very baffling. It is murky and unclear." He was shaking his head. "If I am correct, this box contains items which your Bibi indicated were to come directly to you and not be among the items divided equally. It seems to be a 'special bequest'."

"Hm, well, then, let us see what is in there." She lifted the padding that had been under the letter and looked at the contents, exclaiming softly. She began to lift things out. Long straight wooden and metal sticks with points on one end and knobs on the other, in a number of different diameters.

Spock picked some up to examine them. They were not new, but appeared to be well used. Then she lifted out a small, clear bag with a number of strange objects contained within. Clasps of some sort, made of sturdy wire. Small flat rings. Rectangular objects that curved in on the sides. He had no idea what these things were. The collapsable scissors he was able to identify. He watched with interest as she continued to extract things from the box.

There was a stack of leaflets, very old. She handled them carefully. They would need to go in protective covers. Spock looked at them with interest. Patterns of some sort he thought. The instructions appeared to be in some specialized language. But the diagrams were clear and straightforward.

And then below another layer of padding, many softly-wound balls of yarn in various colors. Nyota removed some of them, rubbing the fibers gently with her fingers. "My Bibi's knitting tools. She sent them to me."

Spock watched her face soften as she remembered the past. "This is one of the skills she had that you told me about. Using her hands to make things. These are the tools necessary for that skill."

"Yes. Of course we didn't have much need for sweaters and mittens in Africa, but when we went traveling, they certainly came in handy. She tried several times to teach me, but I always had so many things going on." She lifted up one of the pattern leaflets, looking at the pictures. "There are baby things. I could make something for Susan."

Spock sat there, seeing her lost in thought. When she turned to look at him, tears glistened on her eyelashes.

"Will you help me learn? You're the engineer in the family. Surely you can help me figure out these diagrams."

"Perhaps this will help as well." He showed her the booklet he had been examining "How to Knit" plainly emblazoned on the cover.

"Yes, I am sure that it will." She looked over all the things on the table. "Thank you, Bibi. I will remember you each time I use these."