13.

Ten in the evening on Wednesday the sixth of November, Badger and Angus await the arrival of Miss Ryan who is two minutes late for what is only her third cleaning shift with the 'lads'. Already by this stage there was an understanding in effect. She knew straight away she would get a slagging for being late, even though it's only by two minutes, and if she hadn't known this then the stance both men had taken when they spied her up imminent arrival surely gave it away.

'Oh look' says Angus, 'it's little Miss Muffet.'

'Not the same little Miss Muffet who sat on a tuffet?'

'And she didn't even bring any curds or whey.'

'Ha ... ha ... guys, you do know I am only two minutes late.'

'Two minutes is still late' says Badger.

'We do have a busy shift ahead of us. All can be forgiven if you can find some way to make it up to us.'

Sheila moves on past the two guys. 'Time to get to work she says.'

'I guess there is no making it up to us' says Angus.

What the two guys do not see in this moment as they follow Sheila is that she has an uncontrollable smile grafted upon her face and one at a time she lobs two chocolate muffins behind her and both guys manage to catch one each. Where exactly she pulled the two muffins from is a bit of a mystery for neither Badger nor Angus saw any muffin prior to them being toss in the air.

'Where ...?'

'... I don't know', both decide then and there not to question it further, a chocolate muffin is a chocolate muffin, who are they to question such a gift?

All through their friendship, if the two lads got into any kind of situation and action was needed, Badger would be the muscle and Angus would be the brains. If a lady ever came onto the scene, it would usually be Angus, definitely more so than Badger, who would be the lucky guy. The ladies never got in the way of the friendship though there never was a situation quite like this one.

It may only be their third working shift together though both Badger and Angus have taken a liking towards Sheila. Neither has said anything out loud about this, not to one another and definitely not to Sheila. An understanding stood to ensure the friendship always would stand. If a lady ever was to show interest in one or the other, then they both would let it be. They really do see each other as being a brother despite neither being related. But is Sheila a sister? Could she become a sister? Or perhaps something else ...?

Sheila has yet to show any interest of any nature in either guy, and that's not to say she ever will. She is not slow either, she knows of the liking which comes her way, and she feels safe and confident that neither guy will try anything untoward. If such an untoward moment were to come her way, she would be confident in her own ability to handle herself. Still, it's nice to know that such attention exists. Boys will be boys and these two ... well, they are harmless enough. Out here in space she feels at least some of her Earth-bound problems have been left behind.

By the end of this third cleaning shift Sheila decided to have herself some fun. She has a right to have at least a little fun so she may as well just do that. One way to have some fun is to individually set up dates with both Badger and Angus asking each not to tell the other until such a time there may be something to tell and of course individually both Badger and Angus agree while not knowing just what it is that Sheila is up to.

The Pathfinder, whatever it is about this thing, this place, so many people have come to be at ease here in a very short period of time. A strong sense of belonging has come quickly and easily. With such a gathering and such a journey to come, you just have to know that there is a lot on the way, peace and fun can't last forever.

14.

It would be that upcoming Saturday, the ninth of November, when Sheila would have herself that bit of fun. Yeah, it is just a bit of fun, an experiment and nothing more, a prank a sister can play on her brothers when they are not actually siblings but a group on a path to become such. She is not looking for a relationship, well nothing more than a friendship at least, and this day is certainly to be more of a gotcha moment than anything else. She had sorted an individual get together with both Badger and Angus reminding them each to say nothing to the other.

Badger and Angus being as close as they are, share living quarters, which in a way might become a minor problem if one or other were to find themselves within a relationship, being who they are, they each are sure in themselves that whatever problem may arise they each will find a way around said problem. For either of the two to bring a lady back to their quarters ... well that would be one thing though if such a brought back lady so happened to Sheila, then that would be something else entirely especially if any kind of romantic intention were to be involved.

Afternoon has just arrived, and it could be thought odd that neither friend has spent much time away from the other. Neither have really gotten to know many others aboard the ship though it still is early days yet, there aren't any rules, well not any written ones anyway, there is no hurry to create or build friendships and there is Sheila, the one other person they both have in common, and isn't this is the thing?

This day however is a non-working day for cleaning crew number thirty two so when Badger attempts to make a move to leave the quarters without saying anything, a question comes his way, something he must have expected would come and have hoped wouldn't.

'Hey, where are you going?' this of course is being asked by Angus.

'Out' is the reply, plain and simple.

'Out? There is no out. We are on a starship, and we cannot leave it, we may never get to leave it. We may have to spend the rest of our lives about this thing, so there may never be an out again.'

'You know what I mean but yeah, that is a scary thought, forever on this thing with you. How will I ever survive?'

'Huh, funny guy.'

'I like to think so' Badger smiles. 'See you later' and then he is gone.

Angus can't help but think that Badger is up to something, but he leaves it be. They are friends, close friends though they are not a married couple. They each are free to do whatever the hell they like. They don't have to explain each and every action they take to the other so Angus indeed leaves things be.

There is one major mess hall, gathering center, café, or eating hall aboard The Pathfinder. Whatever it may be called, it is a place fairly centrally located. There are also many smaller cafeteria areas aboard the ship and fairly well scattered about the place and it is at one of these smaller locations that Badger had agreed to meet Sheila for a spot of lunch. Sheila, not wanting to take the chance that somehow Angus may pass by, is waiting for Badger inside this particular small cafeteria.

It is indeed small in here so once Badger enters the room there is no difficulty in finding Sheila. All the same, she stands when she sees him enter. They hug briefly. Badger knows that a hug from Sheila is a bit unusual and immediately tries not to look too much into receiving one. They go grab something to eat and return to where Sheila had been seated when Badger had entered.

'So' she says looking directly at Badger ensuring that she makes eye contact. 'Angus doesn't expect anything, does he?'

'What's this, a date or something?'

'Not necessarily but still.'

'No, he knows nothing. I didn't say I was coming to meet you.'

'Good' she says smiling and twiddling her hair, this makes Badger smile.

Badger and Sheila spend two hours together. There is another hug and this one is accompanied by a kiss on the cheek and their lunch together has come to an end. Feeling quite upbeat, a little over an hour after finishing lunch with Sheila passes before Badger gets back to the quarters he shares with Angus and oddly enough Angus is not there.

Angus is a grown up and indeed he and Badger are not married; they both are free to come and go whenever they like, still Badger expected to see Angus upon his return. It is a little before six o'clock when Angus returns. In the time he has been out he too has met Sheila, of course the suggestion had been made not to say anything to Badger about it. They met at a different cafeteria to the one Badger had been to and yeah Angus received the same treatment.

'So where have you been?' asks Badger.

'What, I can't go out, can I?'

'You're the one who reminded me that there is no out.'

'Ha, very funny, so hey, have you eaten yet?'

This makes Angus think as it also soon does for Badger.'

'Yeah, I'm fine for a while but go ahead if you are hungry.'

'Nah, I'm fine too.'

And it hits them both at the same time. The two friends share a knowing look. Both their behaviours are a little off, both are more than capable of reading the other so at the same time, they each say 'Sheila'. She set them up. The joke is on them. The next time they see her she will definitely have her 'gotcha' moment. Of course, friends first, brothers first, and they both see the light side of the joke and they soon share a handshake and an embrace of their own, one without a kiss on the cheek.