Any man in his shoes would have just as quickly fallen in love, just as readily laid hold to the first glimpse of a hopeful dream, just as desperately denied reality if only for the satisfaction of feeling alive again. Frank felt silly but could see no harm in polishing his social skills a bit. Besides, she seemed like the first inspector in a long time that might actually sneak him an earth magazine or at least tell him some tidbit about earth events and trends.
And so it was on this occasion that he found himself actually trying to remember how a man was supposed to look when a lady came by to visit. (This was incredibly harder than he had thought it would be, as he had not been allowed any correspondence or communication with the outside world for 17 years -- His ideas had been deemed too dangerous for that.)
As he sheared the long shaggy beard away from his rugged face, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed that he was going to such great lengths because some young galactic intern had bothered to speak two sentences to him. Yes. It was rather absurd, he posited, as he continued rearranging the dingy Shelter furniture.
What did she look like underneath the radiation block-suit she and all the other officers wore on their brief visits to Randon? He had only caught a brief view of her face during her visit, although he had stolen more than one discreet glance at her incredible figure as she went about her work. At least he hoped she hadn't noticed… Her demeanor betrayed no confidence.
She was an absolute work of art. Her every movement more graceful than a ballet dancer. Her hands and feet were like that of a model, although he actually could see no more than their outline and size underneath the uniform glove and boots.
Frank knew this newfound incentive to civilize himself was very good for him if he ever hoped to go back home to earth someday. Perhaps this is why he allowed himself to indulge in such a game of shallow suspended disbelief. He told himself that he was only being pragmatic, as he allowed his imagination to kindly delude himself into thinking that maybe, just maybe this most beautiful of creatures could somehow be interested in a weary, old, confused, out of touch exile like him.
He felt even sillier as he practiced his speech skills.
"Hello. (ahem) Hello Officer… uh Miss. - Or is it Mrs.?"
Perhaps it was a good thing she wasn't scheduled to arrive for another 6 days. He needed more time, both to decide what to say, as well as to practice saying it. He still was slurring and croaking his words. And although she would have no more than 9 minutes to complete her inspection and to drop off the supplies, he wanted this 9 minutes to be something to help carry him through the next 3 months. If only he could make her laugh, or smile, or at least trick her into telling him something about earth, or people, or dogs, or trees, or oranges, or anything.
Deep down he suspected - even knew - her interest in him was feigned, the simple product of a compassionate nature driving her to pause long enough to treat him like a human being. Like a child old enough to no longer believe in Santa Clause, yet young enough to get presents from him nonetheless, Frank counted the days… What a change had overcome his entire outlook since she first came into his isolated, socially deprived life.
For the first time in years he was actually beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, after 30 years of isolation, there might somehow be enough humanity left in him to make returning home possible. And then he looked back into the mirror and the great task that lay before him.
Despite the discouraging statistics, (Less than 5% of those with banishment sentences of 20 years or longer ever survived to see another day on earth.) - Frank had allowed himself to grab hold of a dream. And that dream, whether silly or serious, had him smiling, and humming, even silently hoping that he would one day be close to and loved by people on the planet earth again.
To breathe without a mask! To sing and have someone tell you how off-key you are! To walk with someone rather than to simply get somewhere. To find some soul laughing or crying or hoping or dreaming and to be able to be there with them - to be there with another person. If only he could have that chance - he couldn't imagine ever being apathetic or heartless about anyone or anything ever again.
Come back in about a week for the Next Chapter!
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