Argus rolled, dumping John’s medium build from his bunk.  “What the hell,” he mumbled, picking himself up, brushing his dark blond hair out of his face.  He went to the control panel of his transport space truck and quickly switched off the auto-pilot and got himself back on course.

    “Okay, Argus,” John rubbed his broad , strong shoulders slightly,  “What’s the problem this time?” he asked aloud, even though he was alone.  “Let’s see what the diagnostic computer has to say about all this.”  His fingers danced on the key pad and changed the computer to voice command as it ran the requested diagnostic program.

    “The hose to the oxygen recycling unit has been disconnected,” the voice of the computer came over the speakers.

    “A stray meteor must have gotten through the protective energy field,” he said.  “Computer I’m going to need a class three air lock.  Where is the nearest commercial docking facility located, and the estimated time to get there?”

    “The Earth’s Public Space Dock is seven hours away.  Mc Kenny’s Rent a Bay is five hours away.”

    “Those are too far.  Computer, look for the nearest class three air lock within a four hour time limit?”  He was starting to get worried.

    “Cassiopeia’s Asteroid Mining Colony is one and one half hours away.”

    “Establish a communications link with the Mining Manager,” he crossed his fingers.

    Docking was routine and a greeting party was waiting.  He pulled at his blue tunic and checked his reflection in the bulkhead twice before opening the hatch.

    “John Farnsworth, I’m Jacob Taylor.  Welcome to Cassiopeia’s Asteroid Mining Colony, said the tall muscular Earther.  “This is Octavious Peeples.  He has volunteered to have you share his quarters with his family while you’re here.  He can assist you on where to find the things you’ll need.”

    A short, smiling man came forward.  “We don’t get many visitors.  Please join me and my family in our mid day meal.”  He led the way out of the bay and into a large corridor.

    John followed Octavious to his quarters through the maze of corridors and large open elevators, and stepped into a room that must have been four times the size his living area on Argus, to meet Mrs. Peeples.

    “This is our daughter Sarah.”  A red haired little girl was introduced to John, a she shifted his feet and tried to figure out what was correct for this kind of introduction.  He could feel the heat rising to his cheek, before he managed a small wave.

    Sarah took over rapidly, “Where do you live?  I’m seven, how old are you?  What’s the name of your ship? What’s wrong with your ship?” she managed to say before she drew another breath.

    “Not now, Honey.  Let Mr. Farnsworth wash up for his meal.”  Mrs. Peeples came to his rescue.  Why don’t you show Mr. Farnsworth to the wash room?”

    “Okay, Mommy,” she chirped.  “Come on,” and she started to lead him.  “I don’t go to school.  The computer teaches me.  Sometimes Mommy helps.  Here you go.  Bye,” she said, and off she went.

    John sighed in relief as he slid the door closed.  “Boy, does her data ouput scramble my data processors,” he joked at the reflection of his twinkling green eyes, as he washed his hands and did a quick once over of his oval face.

    “Mrs. Peeples, thanks for the home cooking,” he tried to remember his manners.  “Well, I guess I’d better get started on those repairs,” he said when the conversation turned towards him.  “Can you tell me where I can get a standard VTR6 hose?”

    “I’ll have to call around to see if anyone has one.  I’m sure we have one on the station someplace,” Octavious said.

    “In the meantime I can at least take off the rest of the old one and prep the area,”  John got up and headed towards the door.

    “I can show you back to Docking Bay Five.” Sara jumped off her chair and raced for the door.

    “That’s a good idea, dear,” her father said.  “That way, I can start right away on locating that hose.”

    John found himself with a little girl talking his hand and leading the way.

    “Here it is,” she announced as the automatic doors opened to the air lock.

    “Thanks,” John dismissed her and headed for the Argus.

    “Can I help?” she asked.

    “No,” was John’s quick reply.

    “Why not?” She sounded hurt.

    He opened that hatch and inside he got his tool box.  “You’re too small,” he replied.

    “I am not,” she stomped her foot and set her jaw.
    
    “You are so,” John argued gruffly.

    Sarah left and John heard a soft sob as she rounded the corner to the air lock.

    “Damn,” he cursed as he realized he had hurt her.  “But how am I supposed to tell her no?” He said to Argus, as he started removing the access panel to the oxygen recycling unit hose connection.  It was hard unscrewing the upper left screw to the connector plate on the hose, because the space was so small.  “It’s a good thing these screw guns are electronically magnetic or I would be in a world of hurt,” John continued aloud, trying to forget Sarah’s sob repeating in his head.

    “Oh, fudge.”  He dropped his tools into the tool bos and headed out of the bay to find the Peeple’s living quarters.

    “Ask someone,” he told himself around every turn, but reluctant to confront anyone, he continued on.

    “Hey John, you lost?” came a familiar voice.

    “God, yes!” he breathed out with a sigh, as he turned to face Octavious.

    “I’m headed home for dinner,” Octaviouis pulled out a three foot VTR6 hose from a box.

    John could hear Sarah and her mother working at getting dinner ready as they come in the door.

    “Okay, now bring me the Dill Weed,” Mrs. Peeples called out,” D.I.L.L.”
    
    “Found it,” Sarah said as she grabbed the spice bottle off the low cupbard shelf and brought it to her mother.

    ‘Now the black pepper and we’ll be done,”  Mrs. Peeples smiled up at her husband.

    John suddenly knew how Sarah could help without being in the way.

    After dinner, he called Sarah over to him.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know how you could help.  But I do now.  You be my nurse and we’ll fix the Argus together.”

    “Okay,” Sarah responded with excitement.

    After returning to the bay, John pulled his tools out.

    “Okay, Nurse, this is a magnetic screw gun, and this,” he continued as he laid the tools out on a drop cloth.  He then went to the Argus and started. “Nurse, meet our patient, Argus.  She has a vital hose missing and we must operate.”

    Sarah giggled, “yes, Doctor.”

    “My sonic frequency key,” he requested with his hand held out behind him.

    Sarah handed him the tool and responded in nurse fashion,”  Sonic fire key.”

    “Trash can.”
    
    Sarah held out the trash can, “Trash can.”

    John dropped in a piece of the old hose.  “We have finished prepping the area.  Sealant can and brush,” came the next request.

    “Sealant can.  Brush,” she responded and they continued on in doctor nurse fashion until they where ready to put in the last screws on the connector plate.  John’s screw gun stopped working, the last screw started to fall down inside the recycling compartment.

    “Oh, fudge,” John jerked to catch the screw.  “Ouch!”  He pulled his hand back and then sucked on his knuckle.

    “You okay?” Sarah came closer.

    “Sure, I just took some of the skin off.  There should be a first aid kit someplace.”

    After cleaning the scrape and covering it, John went back to try to retrieve the screw.  “I don’t seem to be able to reach that darn thing,”  He said, fishing around.

    “Do you have another one?” Sarah asked.

    “I can’t leave it in there, it could do damage when I get back into space.”  He told her, trying hard to think of something that could reach in there and get it.

    “Maybe I can reach it,” Sara went over to the hatch John had been working in but she was to short to even see inside.

    “You’re too small,” John sad, but then brightened.  “No, you’re just right.”

    John came over to her and kneeled.  “I need your help, and only you can save our patient.  I’ll have to make you the doctor now and lift you up so you can get your hands down in there, to see if you can get that screw.  He stood there with her.  She fished around with her arm up to her shoulders when he had to ask, “You got it?  I’m going to have take a break soon.”

    “I got it!  I got it!” Sarah shouted with glee, holding the prize screw out for John to see as he lowered her down.

    “That’s great, now we can finish that job in no time.”

    When they came into the Peeple’s quarters, they were laughing and joking around.

    “You have quite a Doctor here,” John praised.  “Yep, I couldn’t have done it without her.

    He left the next morning, but just before he left, he accepted the invitation to return for Christmas.