It is a beautiful day on Star Base 12 and the sun is shining, the skies are blue, and it is a crisp autumn day. The leaves are turning into the autumn colors of golden autumn yellow, orange, green, and golden brown, but there is still the smell of fresh blooming morning glories in the air.
Cadet Karissa Lowell goes on top of the hill that overlooks Star Fleet Academy and she sits down on her blanket and takes out her favorite novel "The Secret Garden." It has always been one of her favorite novels , along with Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Little House of The Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
She starts to open up her book and she turns on her old fashion battery power radio and listens to her favorite music on cassette tapes. She reads and listens to her music.
Karissa sighs to herself, "I am glad that visit with David Beck is over." and she just erases it from her mind and continues to read.
Karissa was a rather unusual young woman and she didn't approval of the 22nd century. She preferred the 19th and turn of the 20th century. She really didn't like Star Fleet Academy and she would have rather been granted a full scholarship to The Academy of The Arts and Humanities on Star Base 10, but there was no future in studying The Arts and Humanities.
Karissa had to accept the scholarship at Star Fleet Academy. Every morning she would have to wake up, bathe, and dress and walk down the stairs to eat breakfast with the other boarders, Eliza Jane Barry, Mary Elizabeth James, and Victoria Beatrice Harris.
Karissa would eat breakfast and when one of the other ladies would talk to her. She was polite and pleasant.
"What are you up to day today Karissa?" Eliza Jane would ask her.
"I am heading back over to the hill that overlooks Star Fleet Academy." Karissa replied.
"I heard Karissa that received many admirers with your singing and dancing." Eliza Jane replies.
"I pay no attention to those that watch me Eliza Jane." Karissa answers, "I just start singing and dancing."
"Why don't you play for Mary Eliza, Victoria Beatrice, and I and we will all sing together?" Eliza Jane requests.
"I would like that very much Eliza Jane." Karissa replies,
"Did you hear that ladies we can have a quartet?" Eliza Jane tells the others.
"We can hardly Karissa. We love to sing and dance." Victoria Beatrice states, "What are you reading Karissa?"
"I am reading The Secret Garden. It is a classical." Karissa answers.
"I love that novel Karissa." Victoria Beatrice states, "It is wonderful and beautiful."
"Have you met any new students that are going to attend Star Fleet Academy in a few weeks?" Eliza Jane asks.
"Why? Yes I have several gentlemen and officers." Karissa replies.
"Do tell us about Karissa? Maybe you can hook us up with one or two of them." Mary Elizabeth asks.
"I do know Lt Andrew Howard, Lt Kevin Riley, and they have some friends." Karissa says.
"Who else do they know Karissa?" Victoria Beatrice asks.
"I can't remember all their names they are only acquaintances." Karissa says drinking her morning tea.
"I hope they are not a bunch of losers like most of the young men over at Star Fleet Academy. Most of them just want to sleep with you and drop you once they make a conquest." Mary Eliza replies.
"I didn't get that message from any of them." Karissa explains, "What are all of you Virgins?"
"Don't tell me Karissa that you are not a Virgin?" Mary Eliza asks.
"Most certainly Mary Eliza. I am not a Virgin, but I am not promiscuous. " Karissa replies with a laugh, "I actually enjoy sex with the right man."
"I am shocked Karissa that you would even sleep around." Victoria Beatrice states.
"I don't sleep around I just states that." Karissa explains, "I do like enjoyable sex."
Madame Bouiver walks into the dining room and says,"This is hardly an appropriate subject matter to be discussed at the breakfast table."
"I am sorry Madame Bouvier." Victoria Beatrice states.
"Ladies, please discuss this outside or in the privacy of your rooms upstairs." Madame Bouvier asks.
"We promise Madame." Mary Eliza states.
"Ladies, I must be off to my tree that sits on the hilltop overlooking Star Fleet Academy." Karissa says and she gets from the table, carries her dishes into the kitchen and Madame Bouvier says, "Mademoiselle Karissa, pay no attention to those ladies."
"Madame Bouvier, they don't affect me any with their mundane questions." Karissa says with a laugh.
"Mademoiselle Karissa. You must be true to yourself." Madame Bouvier tells her.
"I am true to myself Madame Bouvier." Karissa says taking her basket of food with her that the cook has prepared for her.
"Have a nice day Mademoiselle Karissa." Madame Bouvier tells her and with that Karissa walks out of the kitchen with her basket of food and her second basket with her book, music, and blanket and she walks toward the door and she opens it up and walks outside and closes the door behind her and she starts walking down the stairs and finally to the sidewalk.
Karissa finally comes to the hill and she starts to slowly climb it and she walks over to her tree, takes out her blanket , spreads across the thick, green lawn and places the blanket on the grass and sits down under the tree.
She takes out her book, the old fashion radio and places a cassette tape inside of it and she listens to the Carpenters as she reads.
Karissa is reading when she hears a familiar voice call out to her, "Hey Karissa."
Karissa doesn't look up as she is reading and she doesn't hear the voice call out to her.
The person walks towards where she is sitting and the voice gets closer to her, "Hey Karissa. How are you doing today?"
Karissa finally looks up and it is Kevin Riley and she says, "Good Day Kevin. I am well."
"I am sorry I didn't come over last night. I am getting settled in my dorm." Kevin replies.
"I understand Kevin. I wasn't there anyway." Karissa replies.
"Where were you Karissa? If I may ask.?" Kevin inquires.
"I went over to Elmhurst Estate as I was invited by Lt Commander Beck." Karissa replies.
"What are you telling Karissa? You actually went to that scoundrel's house." Kevin asks Karissa.
"I don't think that is very nice Kevin to call each other's names." Karissa answer, "I am sure that Lt Commander Beck doesn't think the same way of you. In fact, he said to me that you would do very well on The Enterprise."
"What Karissa? Are you telling me that Beck approves of my internship on The Enterprise." Kevin asks.
"I got that idea Kevin." Karissa tells Kevin.
"I have something to ask you Kevin. Some of the other ladies at the boarding house would like to meet some of your friends." Karissa asks.
"Which one of my friends?" Kevin asks.
"Lt Andrew Howard, Ensign Barry Knowles, and Lt Ken Jackson." Karissa states," I hope your friends Kevin are in for a shock of their lives. These ladies are Virgins."
"What Karissa? Are you telling me that these ladies are still maidens." Kevin exclaims.
"I am indeed Kevin." Karissa bursts out laughing.
"When my friends are finished with them Karissa. They will no longer be Virgins." Kevin says with a laugh.
"I almost told them that they need a good balling." Karissa says with a laugh.
"I am shocked Karissa, that you are so bold." Kevin replies.
"Kevin Riley, you should not be so shocked." Karissa states, " I love good sex and even better orgasms."
"You are forward Karissa." Kevin says with a laugh, "How many young men have you slept with?"
"When since high school?" Karissa asks.
"I mean ever Karissa." Kevin asks.
"The first one was Poncho, Robert Donald, Harry, Rudy, Roy, and John." Karissa explains.
"I see you have had six boyfriends and how many wanted to marry you?" Kevin asks.
"Four out of the six Kevin." Karissa replies, "They were in high school."
"No one since Karissa?" Kevin asks.
"No one Kevin." Karissa explains, "I haven't found the right gentleman yet."
"What about Lt Commander Beck?" Kevin asks.
"We are but friends Kevin. We are really just acquaintances." Karissa replies, "He is a possibility and so is Lt Andrew Howard."
"I know that Andy wants to sleep with you. He is my room-mate. He has fantasies about you." Kevin answers.
"What kind of fantasies Kevin?" Karissa replies.
"Sexual fantasies Karissa. I heard him call out your name." Kevin tells Karissa.
"I see Kevin." Karissa replies with a laugh, "Is he good in bed?"
"How should I know Karissa? Why don't you try him outsize" Kevin says with a laugh.
"Don't dare me Kevin. I might just try that." Karissa says with a laugh.
"I have no intention of daring you Karissa." Kevin states.
"What are you reading?" Kevin asks.
"I am reading The Secret Garden." Karissa answers.
"What are you listening to Karissa?" Kevin asks.
"I am listening to some old 20th century music, "The Carpenters." Karissa replies.
"I am going to relay your message to my friends Karissa. I am sure they will be happy to oblige you with your lady friends." Kevin tells her.
"Thank you Kevin. Now may I return to my novel and listening to my music." Karissa asks.
"Surely, Karissa. I will talk to you later." Kevin says, "Good day and Bye-Bye for now."
"Adieu Kevin." Karissa replies and she watches him walk away and she returns to her book and her music.