• “Would you please put down that stupid capture cam away darling.” Sueanne pleaded with her husband. Feeling that she had sounded overly snaapy she added. “The truth is love that that I am sick of turning around to find yet another capture of myself staring at me from across the room.”

    “But honey I love being able to look at you from across a room that your not even in. I get to stare at you whenever I want, and you know that I would rather stare at nothing else all day long.” he stared at her smiling greedly and licking his lips as he looked her over. Sueanne's giggles filled the room as she tossed the sodden dishcloth at him.

    “Don't forget that it's our baby's birthday today, and we have to discuss with her about career options for that test score that she got. The guy will be here just before lunch, and Rosa still has to have breakfast.”

    “I know, I know. I'll just go upstairs and wake her up.”

    “Wake up who dad? Is somebody else still in bed upstairs” The object of discussion asked as she sat down at the table. Picking up the daily news capture she turned to her mother “So what do we have this morning, eggs or fruit salad?”

    “Whatever your heart desires my little love, it is your birthday after all.” Having already made fresh pancakes with mayple syryp and ice cream she waited patiently for an answer.

    “It's ok mum I'll just have what you and dad are having and a cup of coffee if you don't mind.” smiling at her mother she added “I like pancakes anyway so I don't she a problem do you?”

    “You little bugger. How did you know that I had made pancakes anyway.”

    “ I could smell them from upstairs and I would give it about 2 minutes before the dog next door is at the back door begging you for the scraps. He loves pancakes to you know” Her mother smiled knowing how true this last statement was, pitty her daughter didn't know that she had made extra just so the poor dog wouldn't miss out like he did the last time.

    “ Not to change the subject or anything like that but we need to have a serious talk with you pet for the career's man shows up.” Leaving all pretense of playfulness behind her father turned a very serious pair of blue eyes Rosa's way. “Darling we got your test score back and we need to discuss with you your career options before our visiter arrives.” Pausing only swallow some of his steaming hot coffee he added “You know that your mother and I said that if you applied yourself that you could do anything you wanted, well with the score that you received on your test the truth is the only thing you can do is pick a job from this list here.” he pushed the screen he was looking at in front of his daughter only to watch her jaw drop.

    “Are you serious.” She squealed excitedly “I can really choose from this list.” Having known what she had wanted to do for years she couldn't believe that her dream job was on the list before her.

    “Of course we're serious. You know that we would never kid about something as important in your life as this.” Her mother interjected before they lost the opportunity to control the childs excitement.

    “Oh.” This seemed to placicate her for only a moment though. “So this means that if I want to I can pick anything of this list and the pair of you will be happy with the choice that I make?” She asked hoping to get the answer she was wanting.

    “You can pick whatever you want from that list and your mother and I will support you 100%, in whatever you choose.” The look his wife gave him was enough to know that she agreed with him. They both knew that their little girl would make the right choice. “We both love you and want you to be happy in whatever you choose. Ok love.” He smiled loving at his daughter hoping that it would cover the fear that he felt of loosing her to her dream job.

    “I love you both so much and I know that you don't really want me to go away for a career, but I would really love to be a fighter piliot in the space force.” Looking at both her parents she added “I have to train for the first 2 years as an air force fighter piliot before I can start the space force training. I know that it means more years in a classroom and learning a lot of dangerous things, as well a putting my life on the line, but this is what I really want to do. I have dreamt about this for years now. Ever since I heard that they were changing space force rules to allow women to join up. Don't look so sad mum, I really want to do this. Plus we can still keep in touch with the holo phone and I can send and receive captures that we take of ourselves for each other.” Pausing to hug her mum. “ I love you guys more than anything in the world, but this is something that I just have to do for me. I can also have holidays and come home to visit every now and again. It will work.”

    Feeling her mother holding her even tighter she hugged her back hoping that she would accept this as a given, and not try to change her mind. She loved her parents deeply but this was one thing on which she was not going to back down.

    “I know that we have to accept this sweetie, but I always thought that you would pick something where you would be closer to home.” her mother managed to get through the tears. “But if it is what you really want then we won't stand in your way. We will, your father and I will, support you if this is what you really want to do. Isn't that right Ted.”

    “Of course it is love.” Smiling at his wife. “We both know that even if you are half a galaxy away, you still love us. And to tell the truth I've been waiting for you to tell us that this is what you wanted to do. I've seen the news capture you kept hidden amoungest the stuffed toys about them letting women join space force. Thought you had hidden it really well didn't you. I was just waiting for you top see if you got the marks to do it.”

    “Oh dad. I love you.” Rosa cried as she pulled her dad into the hug she was already sharing with her mother. They stayed this way for a while no one wanting to let go of the others.

    The sound of the door bell shattered the moment as it could only mean the arrival of the career man. “I'll get the door honey you two just wait here.” Her dad said as he headed down the long hallway to the front door.

    Moments later her dad reappeared with a man in his late 20's. Stepping around her father he made his way towards Rosa, reaching for her hand he introduced himself. “Hey Rosa, I'm Gary Tallon. Would you happen to know why I am here?'

    “Sure Mr Tallon you're here to discuss career choices with me now that I am of an age to entre the work force. I hope that you will be able to help me out as I don't want to follow the normal avenues and am extremely serious about what I want to do.”

    “Your right there. I am here to help you, and hopefully we will be able to get you into what you want to do without to much of a hassle.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his holo-vid. “From what I can see” he continued “You hhave the highest scores of any the kids i've had the pleasure of visiting today. You're very clever to have gotten a 98.56 most of the kids I get to see don't get above an 80.”

    “So what does that mean exactly?” Rosa asked hoping that he wasn't about to crush her dreams in one foul swoop.

    “It means Rosa that you tell me what you want to do and I will let you know if you can or can't do it. There are only two things that I know you cant do, and these are only excluded as females aren't allowed into these professions. So Rosa what is it that you would like to do?”

    Looking him straight in the eyes and not hesitating for a moment she replied “I have always wanted to be a fighter piolit for space force. I know that no woman has ever undertaking the full training since they allowed women to join in May of this year but it doesn't mean that I cant attend.” She stood there waiting to be told that the academy wouldn't accept her as she was a girl but all Gary Taloon could do was smile at her like he had just made his day.

    “Rosa I think that sounds like a marvelous idea.” Stunned to silence Rosa didn't know what to say.

    “Are you for real?” she asked in stunned disbeleif.

    “ Of course this is for real Rosa. I'm not the kind of guy that goes around tearing apart peoples hopes and dreams for no good reason. I had spoken with your father recently about what you had wanted to do, mind you this was before girls were allowed into the academy, we were both happy when the rules changed as neither of us would have had the heart to tell you that you couldn't be accepted.”

    As if awakening from a trance Rosa took a closer look at the man before her. She looked him over from toe to head, but it wasn't until she had reached his eyes that it dawned on her. “I know you.” She said without thinking. “Your Gary Tallon, the Gary Tallon. How could I have not noticed. You have the highest flight school test both as a US fighter piolit and a space force piolit. Your amazing!” She finished totally in awe of the man sitting at her family's kitchen table.

    “No Rosa, I'm just a regular guy who wanted to do something different with his life. Kinda like you.” He added with a smile.

    “Hey, Rosa. Put that capture down. We gotta head out for a drill.” Rosa stared wisfully at the capture as she shut it off and watched the images fade into a black screen. “Ok Cassie. I'll be right there.”