Chapter 4: Some Presents Just Mean More
"I don't want to leave," River says to Jayne, keeping her voice low. She's sat on the third to bottom step of the stairs next to the passenger dorms. She's wearing a simple white sleeveless nightdress with her hair loose. Jayne thinks she looks beautiful but he won't say that to a gorram girl.
Jayne leans against the stair railing next to her.
"I feel more at home here than I ever have in my life." She fiddles with the wooden beads around her neck and wiggles her bare toes.
Jayne nods. "Ain't right us leaving after Mal did all that ruttin' work to bring us back."
"I don't want Simon to leave…" River cuts off suddenly, hearing movement from Simon's room. His bed creaks and then there's silence again.
"Why is your gorram brother so hell bent on leaving anyhow?"
"Fear," River fixes him with a piercing gaze, "He's afraid. Like you."
"I ain't afraid girl."
She smiles slightly. "I ain't moon brained anymore Jayne. Haven't been for a long time. But it doesn't mean they didn't change me." He remembers the mind reading thing just a little too late. "I'm still a girl. You're afraid of what people will say; afraid they'll talk about you. You're afraid you've gone soft. Afraid of Simon. But you're not afraid of me."
She stands suddenly, the steps making her the same height as him. She leans into him and Jayne lets her kiss him on the mouth.
"What the…"
She gives him a look. "Known for ages. Any girl would. Seen your looks."
"Huh."
She smiles gently. Jayne stutters a little.
"If we…Simon…"
"Simon doesn't know. But he will. If you want to try this, I mean really try this then we have to tell him. You should tell him. If I do he'll just up my medication again."
Jayne nods very slowly and wonders how he's been talked into this.
"It was my birthday."
"Happy Birthday River!" Simon and Book chorus as she enters the kitchen. Jayne barely glances up from his breakfast but manages to mutter something that sounds like "'Appy erthday."
River sits down at one end of the table where a small pile of presents is laid. Above them a homemade banner reading "Happy 21st River" is strung from the ceiling.
"Thank you," she says with a wide smile.
Simon thinks back to other birthdays, and is happy for her. Those had been filled with tantrums and tears, and usually screaming. Now she's just a normal girl on her birthday.
"Open them presents then girl," Jayne looks up.
River seizes upon the first one, a hastily wrapped package of brown paper. Inside are bright pink fingerless, elbow-length knitted gloves.
"From my mother," Jayne supplies.
"Tell her thank you," River says, laying the gloves aside to open the next one. It's a computer programme entitled 'Evolutionary creationist astrophysical mythological theories of Earth That Was.'
"Thank you Book."
He smiles at her. "I just hope it stops you stealing and rewriting my Bibles."
He stops and coughs hard, his chest rattling.
"You really ought to let me look at that," Simon says with a worried frown.
Book shakes his head and waves Simon away. Simon purses his lips but says nothing more about it. He hands River another present.
"Open mine."
It's perfectly wrapped with a neat bow on the top. River unwraps it and unfolds the beautiful silvery blue silk scarf. It reminds her of things Inara used to have. She raises it to her cheek and lets it cool texture touch her skin. "Its lovely but we can't afford this…"
"Yes we can. You're worth every penny." Simon comes round the table and kisses her on the cheek.
He pushes a small wrapped gift towards her. She opens it slowly and reveals a small ornate jewellery box.
"Its from Ana."
"Oh," River puts the box down suddenly and pulls a face.
Simon folds his arms looking annoyed. "What's wrong with it?"
"I don't like her Simon." River says looking just as stubborn as her brother.
"And why not?"
"Because she doesn't know you!" River snaps. "She doesn't even know your name, Ryan," she adds his pseudonym sarcastically.
Jayne and Book stay silently eating. They've learnt that sibling spats are best kept out of.
"She can't know you." River fixes him with a stare. "Does she taste of strawberries?"
Simon flushed bright red. How did River know he'd kissed Ana? He bit his lip to stop a retort, turned silently and left the room.
"I'll go after him," Book said rising from his chair.
Jayne looks at River. Her eyes are overly bright and pink spots are colouring her normally pale cheeks. "Don't let him bother you River. He's just being a stuck up houzi de pigu"
She giggles, and spies the last present on the table. "Is this from you?"
Jayne nods, a little embarrassed.
River opens it, carefully peeling off the rather poorly wrapped paper. It's a small box. She opens the lid and pulls out a necklace. It's a short rope of small wooden beads, painted with tiny black Chinese characters. "Oh Jayne I…"
He scratches his head and stares very hard at the tabletop.
"Can you…?"
"What? Oh…"Jayne stands up and walks round behind her chair. He carefully lifts her hair and fastens the catch. His fingers brush the back of her neck and she suppresses the icy thrill that trickles down her spine.
Translation Notes
Houzi de pigu - monkey's ass