HARD TIMES

Serenity drifted silently above the blue-green planet of Kalen. The gorgeous planet made a dramatic backdrop to the chess game between River and Simon. Simon knew he’d never beat his sister, yet the playing was a way for them to share; to be together if not to talk. Simon watched her study the board. Her brow wrinkled slightly as her eyes darted over the squares. He smiled at her concentration.

“Never could get that game,” Kaylee’s bright voice turned Simon’s head.

“This game,” asked Simon.

“Yeah,” Kaylee leaned over the table, her hair brushing Simon’s cheek, “I never saw the need for all the strategies and such. Too much thinkin’ to be fun.”

Simon blushed a little, “Well I guess it is an intense game…”

“Ever played jacks?”

Simon had a blank look now, “Jacks? Is it a card game?”

Kaylee laughed her infectiously bright giggle, “No silly, it’s played with a rubber ball. Didn’t you do anything fun as a kid?”

“Well,” the young doctor stammered.

“He probably just studies all the gorram time,” Jayne shot in as he entered through the bulkhead of the dining room.

Simon’s smiled faded immediately and Kaylee turned to Jayne, “Well what did you do Mr. funny man?”

Jayne smiled as he poured a cup of coffee, “Me and my brothers really liked building bird traps.”

Simon looked interested, “Birdtraps?”

“Yeah Doc, you never saw a bird before?”

Kaylee rolled her eyes, “We all saw birds before Jayne. I never saw a bird trap though.”

Jayne let loose his deep chuckle, “Well ya see, you take a metal basket and a stick. Prop one end of the basket up with the stick. Tie a string to the stick and put some bread under the basket. When a little birdie hops under it to eat, you jerk the string… and the trap falls. Then you got a bird.”

Jayne was grinning when Simon asked, “What do you do with the bird once you caught it? Do you eat it?”

“What’s the use of eatin one bird? That aint no supper. Damned Doc you sure aint too smart are ya.”

Jayne walked out of the dining room shaking his head. Kayl