Clean Living

“Not more gorram passengers,” growled the big guy, as if I weren’t standing right there.

“Jayne,” said the captain, “please watch your mouth. The lady and I were negotiating.” Jayne did

look at me then, and, bless his heart, I believe he tried to give me a menacing look. I smiled right into his eyes. Menace had taken on a whole new meaning for me after working for Lord Morrie.

“Like I said, captain, I can’t supply so much coin. But it’s a short trip and I can work my way. I was head of housekeeping at House Morrie.”

“It’s not law trouble, is it?”

“No. Just time to go.”

Jayne snorted. “Housekeeping? Serenity needs a bath?”

“You need a bath, Jayne. Serenity, on the other hand, could maybe use a pretty touch here and

there, if only for one trip through this system. Can you pay four hundred?”

“All I got’s two seventy-five.”

“Two seventy-five then. And keep us smelling like roses.”

“Aw, go-se!” Jayne stomped off.

“Sir, you don’t need to do this. Thank you.”

We shook on it, and he made Jayne haul my one suitcase on board.

***

My room was in the passenger section. I guess our rooms were a little nicer than the crew rooms,

but I’d hate to see what they got if that was so. I was sharing with a girl who was pretty far gone,

name of Genji. We stowed our stuff and made jokes about luxury living, then she lay down. I

picked up my book.

“So, when?” I asked her after a while.

“About a month. I’m having a boy.”

“How do you know if it’s a boy or girl?”

“I was indentured to a doctor. He liked to know what his servants were having, seeing as how he

was usually having ‘em too.”

“You poor thing.”

“No, no. I’m just glad to be gone. This here’s my kid, no matter what gorram no good's his father.”

“Well, let me tell you about Lord Morrie.” We then commenced upon a very sympathetic

conversation that took us all the way to dinner.

***

I was thinking that Jay