Couples Counseling

(continued)

By Margaret Karmazin

Her pique seemed to have depleted itself, for she slumped back into the couch and turned her face to the wall.

No one said anything for a long moment. Then Bern leaned forward. "I'm curious. If you hate this project so much, why did you agree to take part in it?"

Alena turned like a whirlwind. "Because of you, you gas-brain! I agreed to it because you had your mind set on it! What was I suppose to do — consent to separate for eons?"

Bern was speechless. He looked down at his webbed feet.

The Counselor came to the rescue, raising one of his elongated, bony fingers. "I think we are crystallizing this down now," he said, his tone hopeful.

Alena and Bern ignored him. "You did that to be with me?" Bern said.

"Well, yes," said Alena, looking at him now without appearing to want to rip his skin off.

Bern lowered his face and fixed her with a warm, amber stare. "That was sweet," he said softly, and let a hand creep towards her leg.

Alena didn't respond, but she didn't move her leg. His fingers landed upon it and rested there, giving it the tiniest of squeezes.

"Alena," said the Counselor, "what would you like to do now? If you aren't happy working on this project, is there something else you would prefer doing?"

She looked straight ahead, not acknowledging Bern's hand, which was massaging her thigh in tiny, inconspicuous movements. "Well, I always thought I'd enjoy working in star nurseries. I'd have to acquire more education. But..." she paused. "I suppose since I'm already deep into this enterprise here, I might as well finish it. It never looks good on one's record to abandon something in the middle."

"Usually not," agreed the Counselor. (Of course he also worked for Headquarters, so what else was he going to say?) "It's a mark of a responsible, developed individual to finish a job she has begun."

"Yeah, yeah," said Alena. "I figure this won't take much longer. The idiot humans will either blow themselves up or smother themselves in pollution. So I'll just stick around until it's over and then maybe Bern will go where I want to go." She gave him the full Alena stare. "You owe me, Bern."

Bern nodded, smiling. His hand inched further up her thigh. Alena returned Bern's smile.

"I think we're through for today," said the Counselor. "I can fit you in during winter solstice, if you-"

"I don't think we need it," said Bern. "But if we do, we'll be in touch."

"Excellent," said the Counselor. He rose from his seat and gave them a slight nod before slipping out through the sliding door.

Alena took a last sip of the water and followed Bern out the way they had entered. Below them, the Gulf Stream was veering slightly to the east, the polar ice caps were dripping under the glare of the sun and three world leaders were plotting new wars. Nevertheless, they stopped in the corridor to exchange oral fluids.