Cocoa Beach, Florida 1500
Major General Anthony Nelson gunned the GTO Convertible. He had his classic muscle car in storage while in Russia, and now was going to use it to take his family to a bar-b-cue hosted by the outgoing NASA military commander, Vice Admiral Les Wingate. Wingate was an old friend of Nelson's, dating back to the early days of the space program. His son Anthony Junior, home on leave from the Naval Academy was taking unusually long to get ready.
"Come on TJ, its just Les Wingate." Nelson shouted.
Jeannie said, "He's just nervous, going to a party hosted by such a high ranking officer."
Anthony Senior smiled, "I know, I'm thinking of how I would feel if I was invited to the home of a three star general when I was a cadet."
Finally the Nelsons made it to the home of the Wingates.
Sheila Wingate greeted them at the door coolly "Hello, General, Mrs. Nelson, Midshipman. The Admiral's out back.
The Nelsons showed their way out back, where the lanky Les Wingate was grilling steaks.
"Tony!" The Navy Three-Star Admiral Shouted, "Jeannie, you look lovely as ever, TJ, you look great in those Academy whites."
"So, Les, you ready to return to SoCal?" Tony asked.
"You bet, I've been renting out this house in Imperial Beach the whole time I've been at NASA, we're getting ready to move into it just before I plant my flag at North Island," Les explained. Wingate was taking the post of Commander, Naval Air Forces-Pacific at the Coronado, California Naval Base near San Diego.
"Smart to hold on to that house, the way the California real estate market is going. I suppose there is no way to avoid the hoopla of Monday's change of command ceremony," Nelson laughed.
Les also laughed, "No Tony, I don't think we can. The military is real fussy about that." Then looking at TJ, Wes added, "besides the Air Force is pretty anxious about getting NASA back." At least he got a nervous grin out of the young Midshipman.
Tony and Wes helped themselves to a couple of beers in the cooler chest. Wes told TJ, "I'm sorry, I forgot to put some soda in the cooler. There's coke in the fridge."
TJ replied, "Quite alright, sir. Mother, would you like a soda?"
Jeannie laughed, "So I'm 'Mother' now. Yes, Midshipman, you may bring me a Diet Coke."
TJ blushed a bit and answered with, "Aye, aye, ma'am." Earning a laugh from the flag officers.
Sheila Wingate was on her third martini when she saw TJ enter the house. She called to him, "Oh, sailor boy."
TJ entered the family room where the bar was. He recognized the music playing as Simon and Garfunkle. "Yes, Mrs. Wingate?" He asked.
Sheila Wingate asked the young Midshipman, "TJ, have you ever seen The Graduate?"
That made TJ uncomfortable, "No, Mrs. Wingate," he answered truthfully. He had heard of the movie, though.
Sheila Wingate laughed, "So, Major General Nelson finally will get the helm of NASA on Monday."
TJ grew a little bold and asked, "Ma'am, do you have something against the Air Force?"
That earned a laugh. "No, nothing against the Air Force. As a matter of fact my Uncle Alfred was an Air Force Officer. A Colonel. Should have been a General, but then there was Major, whoops Major General Nelson," Sheila Bellows Wingate replied. Sheila finally got her astronaut, but still held Anthony Nelson somewhat responsible for what happened to her Uncle, Dr. Alfred Bellows.
"I'm sorry, ma'am." TJ said and brought the sodas out, joining his mother.
The two families ate a quiet, quick bar-b-cue. TJ soon realized the meal was more out of ceremony than friendship. Something else he will have to get used to as a naval officer. The families said polite goodbyes.
Monday, 14 March 1994Kennedy Space Center 0900
"My men look so handsome," Jeannie said, admiring Major General Anthony Nelson Sr. and Midshipman Anthony Nelson Junior in their dress uniforms.
"Thank you Jeannie," Tony and TJ said. Tony added, "I'm sorry, but you better blink out of here before somebody sees you."
"Yes my darling, I'll be watching on the television," Jeannie said before blinking out of Tony's new office, one previously held by Generals Peterson and Schaeffer, and most recently Admiral Wingate. Major General and Midshipman Nelson then proceeded to the chain of command ceremony held in the courtyard of the Alfred Bellows Behavioral Sciences Wing of the Kennedy Space Center.
As the junior officer, General Nelson smartly saluted Admiral Wingate. Tony looked at his old friend. He wished he could tell Wes about Jeannie, but he knew that was impossible. After Dr. Bellows' death, the coolness between the Nelsons and Wingates increased exponentially. Les Wingate returned his old friends salute.
"You stand relieved, sir," Tony said among the camera flashes.
"Thank you, sir, and good luck." Was Les' reply.
When the two shook hands, Les whispered in Tony's ear, "Go get 'em,
flyboy." Tony smiled.
After words, there were several photo opportunities for the press with the two former astronauts. Following that, there was the traditional cake cutting.
TJ asked Tony, "Do you think you two will ever be friends again?"
Tony replied, "Son, Les Wingate and I will never stop being friends. Things are understandably tense between Sheila Bellows and our family, though. But understand, what happened to Dr. Bellows was not your fault, your mother's fault, my fault, and honestly, I don't even think it was Alfred Bellows' fault. Sometimes bad things happen."
Before TJ could say anything, an attractive young reporter walked up with a camera crew. "Excuse me gentleman, would you mind if I interview you for MTV news?" the blonde asked.
"Go ahead," General Nelson replied, full well knowing MTV's demographic was pretty much identical to that of Air Force Recruiting.
The cameraman said, "One, Two, Three… go Tabitha."
Tabitha asked TJ, "TJ Nelson, you basically grew up in the public's eye. What's next, will you be following in your father's space boot steps?"
TJ was caught somewhat off-guard, but then again this was MTV, it makes sense that they go for the young person's viewpoint. General Nelson just gave his son a supportive nod. TJ replied, "Right now, I'm mainly concerned about making it through Annapolis, but I would be honored to be part of NASA."
Tabitha then asked the same question Special Agent Fox Mulder asked just a few months before, "Did TJ going to Annapolis instead of the Air Force Academy, or his dad's school West Point, cause any friction in the Nelson household?"
Anthony Senior jumped in saying, "I'll answer that. TJ's mother and I, as any midshipman's parents, are proud our child is going to one of the finest higher education institutions in the United States."
Tabitha smiled and said, "Groovy," following up with, "where is Mrs. Nelson?"
General Nelson replied, "Mrs. Nelson is a very private person who staunchly supports her son and myself, as we support her."
The MTV Reporter closed with, "Right On. This is Tabitha Stephens at Kennedy Space Center Change of Command for MTV News."
Once they were off camera Tabitha said, "Thanks guys, that was great." While shaking hands with the Nelson men, the young reporter felt something odd while holding TJ's palm. Something that made her take out one of her cards and write her home number on it and hand it to the young Midshipman who was seven years her junior. She didn't look a day over 20 though, thanks to her own unique genealogy.
TJ also felt something while shaking the hand of the woman who appeared to be his age, sheepishly grinning at his old man. General Nelson gave Anthony Junior an attaboy when he saw the attractive young reporter give his son her card. TJ knew the dangers of dating mortals—but this girl felt different.