Chapter 10

A mere two weeks had passed before it was time for yet another celebration on the Jupiter 2. Maureen's birthday soon followed their anniversary, and, although they had started to discuss leaving the planet, John was still determined to replenish all of their fuel stores. They now only needed enough to fill their second reserve tank, and John hoped that another two weeks would complete the process. They were experiencing approximately one major tremor every three or four days, and he hoped that would remain stable until their mining was done.

In the meantime their attention was focused on Maureen's day of celebration. Instead of another overnight trip, she had opted for a long day's excursion with her husband, and promised to return for a homemade dinner and party thrown by her children. There was much to prepare for the festivities, and the day quickly flew by for all of them.

Returning to camp, Maureen and John emitted a glow that seemed to encompass all of them, including Dr. Smith. Judy had, once again, outdone herself with the meal. Don enjoyed sitting back and observing their interactions, especially watching Judy's mothering instincts in action. It was almost as if she was the parent and John and Maureen were the teenagers, as she bustled about serving everyone and making sure they were satisfied. After dinner, it was the children's turn to take over the festivities, and they had devised a series of games meant to involve everyone.

The first activity was a horseshoe type of game in which they were broken up into two teams, with John, Maureen, Dr. Smith and the Robot on Team A, and Penny, Will, Judy and Don on Team B. It was a close game until the end, whereby Team B won the final toss. Dr. Smith complained that it wasn't fair because Don and Will had the advantage of being closer to the ground. The Robot interrupted him to explain, "Actually, Dr. Smith, statistics prove that it is quite the opposite."

Dr. Smith would not be persuaded. "Hush, you cantankerous can of cacophony. If you had utilized your sensors properly, we would have easily won the game."

"Dr. Smith, it would not have been fair for me to rely on my mechanical abilities in a game of skill when no one else possesses those same abilities. Not using my technical programs allowed me to be no more precise than a human would have been in the endeavor, thereby making the game more fun."

The rest of the crew applauded the Robot's lecture as a way to end the argument, since they were eager to share the cake that Judy had just placed on the table. The sight of food immediately caught Dr. Smith's attention and he praised Judy to no end. He finally was silenced when John pushed a plate and fork into his hands, relieved that Smith couldn't eat and talk at the same time.

Penny then lead the group in her own version of "Truth or Dare." She had spent the afternoon thinking up various questions and dares and put them in a container for the contestants to pull out and read.

When it was Judy's turn, she pulled the paper that read, "Tell us about your first kiss or Dance the hula." Judy blushed and immediately started waving her arms and swinging her hips to a Hawaiian tune that she hummed as she danced. She put up with the teasing of the others, especially Don, who commented, "Ah, so it wasn't me, was it?"

Dr. Smith was next and was given the task of reciting an original poem or making like a monkey. The group groaned as one when he stood and pompously exclaimed:

"Never fear for you will hear

Some words that I hold dear.

My poetry can only be

The truth as you will see.

When terror strikes and causes woe,

We will repel the foe!

For as you know, you need not fear

For Smith is always here."

He bowed as he finished and was bombarded with crumpled up napkins. Don was next and he laughingly commented, "I hope there's no dancing on this one." He reached into the box and took out a paper that read, "Reveal your most fervent wish or Give us 20 pushups."

Penny immediately interrupted and exclaimed, "Oh, Don, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking when I put that one in. You don't have to do it."

Don calmed her fears, "Hey, Penny, no problem. Maybe I can't do pushups, but I can do 20 chin-ups without breaking a sweat. But I don't even have to do that. My most fervent wish hasn't changed in the five years that I've known you all." He hesitated and blushed beet red before continuing, "I wish that someday Judy and I can extend your family to include our children, and that we'll all be together on a night just like this one, celebrating." He observed the awkward silence and added, "And that Smith here is the one doing the hula!"