It was Aisha, carrying a tray of food. Aisha came over to Melfina and handed her the tray of food. Melfina smiled and started to eat. Aisha was a good cook...if she didn't make that Ctarl Ctarl stew that she had cooked before. Today, Aisha had cooked regular Terran food.
"Where's Gene?" asked Melfina. Melfina was still under the covers, not wanting to expose herself in case Gene walked in.
"Said he was going for a walk" said Aisha. "you know him, he's probably at Rose's Inn"
Rose's Inn was a local dive that give other dives a bad name. Rose's Inn had it all; hookers, topless dancing (with male and Female dancers), pool tables, fights at least every night and a dart board. Gene had found this dive within three weeks of landing on Heifong. Gene usually spent his days at Rose's, looking for work, or that was what he said. Jim and the others knew Gene too well; he was probably looking for a hooker. That what he was doing right now, Melfina had no doubt.
"What did they argue about?" asked Melfina.
"Oh, the usual shit" said Aisha. "Gene tried to take a peek at your naked body"
"He'll never change" said Jim's muffled voice.
"Nope" said Melfina as she continued to eat.
"So.." said Aisha. "when are you going to let our little Tiger out?"
Melfina didn't answer.
"Melfina?"
No answer.
"What's a matter, Mel..?" started Aisha.
"How can you be Jim's mother?" asked Melfina. "he's not even a Ctarl Ctarl"
"I know that, but..."
"Jim is a Human being and should have a human parent like me" said Melfina.
"But you're not human either" said Jim. "you're a..."
"I KNOW PERFECTLY WELL WHAT I AM, JIM HAWKING!" shrieked Melfina. A stunned silence followed then. Melfina rarely shouted.
"Melfina..." said Aisha.
"Just leave me alone" said Melfina, who got up from the bed and stalked out of the room. "you're not getting Jimmy back!"
"Nyyyga?!" asked Aisha, who walked out of the room with Melfina. Melfina had gone to her room and locked the door.