�Josiah?� he said softly.
Sanchez turned around and smiled at the supply chief for the Enjaku. �What can I do for you, Loki?� he asked, setting the watering can down.
The green eyes blinked in confusion. �What are you doing?� he asked, pointing at a planting box on the older man�s desk.
Josiah smiled and sat down, so that he could look directly into the other�s eyes. �I�m moving these plants into the planter, so they�ll have more room,� he explained, pointing at a few potted plants on the floor between them.
�Oh,� Loki replied, looking down for a moment.
Josiah smiled patiently and asked again, �What can I do for you?�
Loki�s eyes went wide in surprise and he shook his head. �N-nothing,� he stuttered. �You�re busy, sorry I bothered you.� Without another word, the Kawaiian turned and fled from the room.
The councilor sighed and shook his head. Whatever was bothering Loki, Josiah hoped he�d find someone to talk about it with.
**
Loki next found himself at the door of the Anthropological lab. He peered in cautiously and saw only Daniel and Ezra sitting at the table looking at an odd looking box.
�Hello?� he said softly.
�Hello,� Ezra replied, smiling gently. He knew, of all the members of the Enjaku, the Kawaiians were the ones that still had a difficult time dealing with �big people�. There reactions ranged from curiosity to disregard to outright fear and he�d learned that it was best to try and seem as friendly as possible around them.
Daniel looked up from his notes long enough to greet the smaller man; then looked back at the box.
Loki scowled and chewed at his lip. �What is it?� he asked, pointing at the box.
�I think it�s a birdhouse,� Ezra replied softly.
Daniel shook his head. �I think bird�s used it after the settlement was abandoned, but I don�t think that was its intended purpose,� he argued.
�What do you think it was for then?� Ezra asked, shaking his head.
�I don�t know yet,� the archeologist replied. �What did�� he broke off as he found that the supply officer had already left. �Where�d he go?�
�I don�t know,� Ezra replied, turning his attention to another artifact, this one resembling some sort of umbrella.
**
Still unsure of what to do, Loki wandered around the halls of the Larabee�s Lady, until he found himself in Four Corners. The cozy commissary was all but abandoned, except for Inez. The Kawaiian wandered over to the table she was washing and sat down.
�Hello,� he said softly.
Inez smiled. �Hello, Mr. Jasshin,� she replied. �Can I get you something?�
Loki shook his head and frowned. Suddenly, he looked up. �Can� can I help you?�
Inez smiled gratefully and nodded. �Certainly,� she replied, handing him a bucket of water and a soap filled rag.
The small man smiled and began washing the tables, becoming more at ease the longer he worked. Finally, when he�d finished all the tables, he joined Inez at the bar, which she was restocking.
�Can I ask you a question?� he said softly.
Inez smiled. �I think you just did,� she teased. �But you are welcome to ask another.�
Loki giggled; then sighed. �Um�� he started. �How does a guy get a girl to notice him?� he asked shyly, looking up into her warm brown eyes.
Inez shrugged. �Just be yourself and try to be friendly to her,� she replied, smiling warmly. Leaning forward, she asked, �Is there a particular girl you had in mind?�
The man nodded. �Mayura,� he whispered. �But I�m afraid she� I�m the size of an eight-year-old,� he complained. �What if she only sees me as a child?�
Inez smiled and set a hand on her shoulder. �Just be yourself, Mr. Jasshin,� she advised. �Anyone who really gets to know you and looks past your physical appearance, knows you�re an adult.�
He nodded and smiled warmly at her. �Thank you, Inez,� he said politely, hopping off the stool.
�You are most welcome,� Inez replied. �And thank you for helping me with the tables.�
Loki giggled shyly and bounded out of the room. As he left, Inez glanced over at Josiah, who�d been sitting quietly in the corner the whole time.
�How come he couldn�t ask me that earlier?� the councilor queried.
Inez smiled. �I have the one thing that you could never have, Mr. Sanchez,� she replied.
�And that is?�
�Another woman�s opinion,� she replied, grinning impishly. The pair chuckled and Inez looked toward the door and sighed. �I hope things work out between them,� she added.
Josiah smiled. �These things have a way of working out,� he replied.
End