The Bustling Spaceport

     When she reached the bustling spaceport facility she took in the veiw.  She hardly ever was let out of the home of her mistress.  There hung a huge electric sign flashing above the entranceway of the port; it said “Kalawao Space Harbor”. She passed under the huge sign.

Smells and sights assaulted her senses. People walked up to counters with many brand name shuttle carriers, some Juniper recognized when she had left the Earth.  Southwest Shuttle Service, United Shuttle, Northwest Shuttle, and Delta Airlines Shuttle service were names on the signs above the counters in front of her.  The smells came from her left where a food court beckoned her hungry stomach. 

Juniper got in line for Southwest Shuttle.  She stood there for several minutes.  People walked up to the counter to punch into the touch computer screen, others talked to attendants.  Juniper waited for her turn. 

She was next in line when behind her she heard a woman shout.  “Constable, she is the servant that escaped my home this evening.”

Panicked, Juniper jumped out of line.  The voice was of her mistress.  She turned her head to see the colonies finest, the police, running after her.  She knew trying to leave that woman would be difficult.  

She dodged individuals.  Some stepped purposely in her way.  She brushed against those.  Her legs sprinted away from the counters and the food court.  She raced toward the departure gates. 

She saw the man before, she plowed into him.  He smiled down at her, and she was certain that the man would help the police since he did trip her.  She was wrong.  He lifted her up over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry.  He then ducked into a cloth covered photo booth with her.  The inside of the booth that would have been a wall opened up and he slipped both of them through the tiny door.  

Off to Space Port

Leaving the home of her indentured service, Juniper did not know where she would go.  She still owed her mistress a year more in service. Thinking about where she would go and how, kept Juniper’s thoughts occupied.  

     It had been a mistake leaving the orphanage.  There were not many options for an orphan in the first place.  Juniper took the opportunity as she had seen it.  The lady at the time had a sweet face.  The lady’s kindness was offered to all of the orphan girls. 

     Juniper wanted so much to leave, the smells and lack of opportunities in the orphanage made her make a fool of herself for the lady.  She had made up stories, and entertained the lady. 

     The orphans had been told the woman lived on a colonial planet and was lacking a personal maid.  Juniper wanted to be that maid.  She got the position.

     Leaving that position, after years of insults and abuse was the easiest thing she had done. 

She walked down the main street lined with shops. Passing a mirrored window, Juniper turned her head to take in her appearance.  Her blue eyes had dark circles underneath them.  Her reddish blonde hair had streaks of brown racing through it. The face, the hair framed, was oval with pouty lips and a soft chin.  Some would probably claim that Juniper was attractive, but she did not think of herself as anything other than plain.

     Her clothing that her mistress had given her was below any quality of cloth or craftsmanship.  The dress had rips and stains all over.  She even saw where her rain cloak did not hide some undergarment peaking through some of the holes. 

     Her figure was well rounded, not plump but she was curves in all of the right places.  The last thing Juniper looked at were her feet, her shoes were the only things she had that were not worn. The shoes still fit her even when her growing had stopped.  Blue laces and white stripes down the sides were the only decoration on the brown leather.  They were comfortable shoes and Juniper took that for granted.

     She started walking briskly. The spaceport was still about three miles away.  She wanted to reach it before the time got so late that she would not be able to charter a flight off of the planet.  It took less than an hour to reach the port. 

 

Time to Leave

Juniper’s hands shook as she set down the tea tray.  She knew that her mistress had come home in a foul mood that evening.  When that happened, Juniper would be the direction that anger would be directed.  A little bit of cream spilled on the tray when she had set it down.  She took a corner of her torn apron to wipe the spilt cream off of the silver tray. 

     A door slammed behind Juniper.  She turned swiftly, still holding the corner of the apron.  Her mistress stood there tall and regal, but she had a glint of malice when she stared at Juniper.  Her mistress’ voice was cold when she addressed Juniper, “How dare you?”

     The apron cloth dropped out of Juniper’s hand.  “I’m sorry.”  Were the first words that always came out of Juniper’s mouth. 

     The woman crossed the room, lifted her hand and slapped Juniper’s now tear streaked face.  “Look at me when I am speaking to you!”  Her mistress screamed at her.  “I have to put up with such incompetent help.  You are a worthless piece of flesh Juniper.”

     Sobbing Juniper tried to get around the woman to escape the room.  The woman gripped Juniper by her upper right arm. “You will take that tray back to the kitchen.  You will get me a clean tray with fresh tea.”  The woman let go of Juniper’s arm.  “Be quick!” 

     Ducking past the angry woman Juniper left the bedroom she did not grab the tea tray on her way out of the room.  She did not go back to the kitchen to fetch another tray. Instead, she ran to the coat closet next to the grand front door. Grabbing a shabby pink rain cloak, ripped down the center of the back, Juniper raced from the house.

     Stepping outside Juniper breathed her first air of freedom in a long time.  Several space landing crafts came down in the spaceport off to the right of the home.  Juniper decided that this planet was not for her any more so she headed toward the port.