Almost

Chapter Seventeen

Tam had never seen Kaz like this.

"You need to stop moping."

"I'm not moping. I'm ... brooding."

Ha. Like that could ever be true.

Tam nudged Kaz with her foot. He was sitting in the opposite chair of her, looking gloomily out the window.

It was around midday, about 1200. The sunlight reflected light onto Kaz's face, where the loss of sleep reflected back.

"At least eat something." She frowned at him. "Please. You barely ate anything last night and skipped breakfast."

"I'm not hungry."

"I don't believe you."

Kaz shifted around in his seat, not answering her.

"Kaz please. Let's go down and get a gorg or something."

He smiled weakly. "I know you're trying to make me feel better, but right now I want to feel bad ok?"

Tam frowned at him. "Fine. I'm going to the marketplace, I'm going to find some really good food. And you are going to eat all of it."

She didn't wait for an answer. Tam stood up and marched out the door, continuing down the hall.

Tam stepped inside her room to be greeted by the one and only Cheese.

Kaz had named him Cheese.

Cheese.

It had brought a smile to his face and the light back to his eyes for a couple of minutes, so it was worth it.

"Ready to go out?"

The little mouse droid beeped in excitement.

Tam smiled. "Kaz is feeling down so I thought we would get him some food. Let's go."

Cheese whirled around her ankles, almost tripping her, then shot out the door.

Tam smiled and shook her head, following the droid out the door. The little mouse droid reminded her too much of a little puppy.

It didn't take too long to get to the marketplace, but once they got there Cheese was zooming all over the place. He almost tripped a couple dozen vendors, knocked over a basket of fruit, and rolled over Neeku's foot.

"Yow!"

"Oh sorry Neeku!"

The nikto hopped up and down on his good foot, caressing his other one. "It is alright Tam." He peered at Cheese.

"Tam?" Nena came into view. "What are you doing here? I thought you were helping Mister Mopey in the Tower."

"I am. He isn't really eating so I thought I would get him a grog or something."

"Ah." Neeku grinned. "Gorgs fix everything! Well, in an emotional range. I do not believe that they know how to fix hyperdrives or how to work a sublop spanner."