“Are you sure you want to go back to the Academy for another semester?” Winona Kirk asked her son. She crossed her arms in front of her defensively.

She knew her youngest was going to do what he wanted. He always had. But the last couple of summer months with him at home with her had been so very precious.

Predictably. Jim just laughed.

“Of course I’m going back.”

She nodded. “Of course.”

He gave her a soft smile. “You know my decision to join Starfleet is no reflection on you.”

“I’m your mother.”

“Yes, you are. And I know you think given what happened to my dad, you don’t want me going out on a starship but—”

“You are.”

He nodded.

“You have absolutely nothing to prove.”

“Maybe a little something.”

“No,” she insisted. “Will you come home during the winter break?”

“I don’t know,” Jim told her. “Maybe. And if I do, I might not be alone.”

“You mean the Vulcan.”

“Spock, Mother. And yes. Spock.”

She gave him a look. “Why didn’t you bring him this time?”

“Because he went to visit his folks on Vulcan. And before you ask, he did invite me to go with him, but I told him I was spending the summer with you. Which was good, yes?”

She smiled despite her impending loneliness. “It was very good. I had a wonderful time and I hope you did too.”

“I did. We built some pretty good memories. And I’m happy. But now my hover taxi is here and I gotta go.”

She held him tight, not wanting to let him go, but eventually he gently dislodged her. He smelled like George. She didn’t know how, but he did.

She had tears in her eyes as she called after him, “Let me know when you get there!”

“I will, Mom.”

And he was gone.

She went into the house and had a very long cry. Eventually, she rose from her pity spot on the couch and went into the kitchen to make tea and to bake a cake to make herself feel better.

When the message came through, Winona smiled.

“I’m here. Love you.”

And he’d attached a selfie of himself with a Vulcan who looked very uncomfortable to be in the picture, but Jim was grinning from ear to ear, and she didn’t miss the soft affection in Spock’s eyes.

Winona smiled through her tears and responded.

“Thank you.” And with it, a heart emoji.

If I’m still doing this blog by December you might see that visit we shall see

Happy Labor Day Weekend