by Jim Laughter
“Hello, Mary,” he said.
“You caught me again!” came Mary’s indignant voice from the speaker. “I can never sneak up on you!”
“You got that one right, girlie,” replied Krel. “What brings you here?”
“Well, this party was for the parents and adults,” she replied. “I think my brood qualifies me.”
Everyone laughed. It had been quite a sight watching Mary handle two youngsters after the recovery of the missing ship.
“Ane,” spoke up Mary again, “give Krel my present.”
“Okay, you tin-plated wench!” Ane replied good-naturedly. She rose and went to the closet to get something out of her purse.
“Here, Krel,” she said, handing the wrapped package to Krel.
He took the package and just sat there for a moment. “Mary,” he said, “it’s not my birthday, so why the present?”
“I know it’s not your birthday, you old geezer,” replied Mary affectionately. “The planet hasn’t frozen over, has it?”
Krel looked astonished at Mary’s insinuation of his advanced years.
“At our age,” Mary continued, “we don’t have birthdays. Instead, we have anniversaries of the last birthday we’ll admit.”
Krel laughed and then carefully unwrapped the gift. Inside was a container of thyme.
“Why, thank you Mary!” said Krel. “But if you must know, I already have some thyme in the kitchen.”
“I know,” Mary said. “I peeked.”
“Then why did you give him thyme, Mary?” asked Betty.
“Well,” began Mary, “Krel spared me some time when we were here to load up Mee. I wanted to give him some special thyme because that’s what friends do for each other. So I harvested some myself from my own garden.”
“Then this present is some special thyme!” replied Krel.
“Yes,” came back Mary, “as a good friend of mine used to say, ‘There’s no thyme like the present.’”
Books of the Galactic Axia
Adventure Series
Escape to Destiny
The Horicon Experience
Space Trader
First Contact
The Wounded Warrior
Trooper Down
Ghost Series
Ghost in the Dark
Other books by Jim Laughter
From Victim to Hero:
The Untold Story of Steven Stayner
(True story of the Steven Stayner kidnapping)
Polar City Red
(Climate fiction)
Keller & Morris Thrillers
The Apostle Murders
A Killer in Time
∞∞∞
http://www.jimlaughter.com
About the Author
Jim Laughter served in the U.S. Air Force for 20-years with tours of duty in Texas, the Philippines, Japan, Louisiana, and England. He traveled extensively through Asia and Europe, and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1991. Jim’s education includes the Los Angeles Community College, the Community College of the Air Force, the Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, and finally the University of Maryland.
Originally from the rural farming community of Kellyville, Oklahoma, Jim and his wife since 1971, Wilma, live in Tulsa, Oklahoma near their three sons (Sam, Ben, and Jon), their wives, and their five grandchildren—Abby, Daniel, Robbie, Lydia, and Shawn.
Jim is a member and past president of the Tulsa NightWriters, a more than 65-year old writing group that helps writers become published. Jim enjoys visiting rotary clubs, libraries, high schools, and junior high schools, speaking about writing, publishing, editing, and other creative subjects. When time permits, Jim enjoys fishing and playing tournament poker. He also enjoys traveling with his wife and family, seeing the wonders of America and experiencing the many flavors of life only this great country can offer.
Jim is the creator of Galactic Axia, a fictional commonwealth of planets, and is author of the Galactic Axia series of science fiction adventure books. He also authors several stand-alone and thriller series books. You may preview his work at www.jimlaughter.com or follow him on Facebook.
