Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Officer’s Mess- Dinner with the Captain

Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Officer’s Mess- Dinner with the Captain

(snip)

Sair couldn’t help but gaze at him deeply after she set her nearly finished chowder to the side. “There is always that possibility,” she said softly. “But I like perspective you offer. It’s… profound. Beautiful. My father would liken it an improvised orchestral piece. When everyone is playing together and listening to each other they can adjust to bring themselves into harmony. But if someone cannot or chooses not to listen, then the sounds are discordant. Harsh. Terrible even. But he likes to say that even in the harsh noises is room to learn and grow, that even the imperfect sounds have their own beauty and place.”

“Exactly.” Cochrane agreed.

Kel couldn’t help but smile softly at the exchange as she chewed on another bite of the delicious bread.

~Kel & Sair Songz

“So why didn’t your husband come with you?” he asked Kel as he took a drink and a bite of bread.

Cochrane

Kel went still for a moment and her and Sair exchanged a tiny glance. The agreement still stood. So she lifted her gaze to Alex’s, adopting something of a stoic expression. “I’m sure Sal will take the opportunity to come out himself when he’s able. But in addition to a rather important performance coming up that he couldn’t miss, I did not get to have as much quality time with Sair and Koro before Sair left. My shifts left us often us only seeing each other in passing and I wanted to take the opportunity to really be with them.” She looked back at Sair and smiled sincerely. “I’m glad I did. It just reinforces how proud I am of Sair. Of who she is and all she’s accomplished.”

Regardless of the issues they didn’t quite see eye to eye on, Sair loved her mother ad knew she was being sincere, so her returned smile was also genuine. “I’m glad for the time too.” Even if her mother could make her feel insane in some moments, now that understood things better, she wouldn’t trade this time with her for anything.

~Kel & Sair Songz