Sometimes ship transit times between planets goes pretty slow. I do my exercises most days, tai chi; marital arts, and weight training. It seems like big Jayne just goes in for weight training and a bit of running in place. Shepard Book likes to do weight training and meditation. Inara has me giving her some tai chi training, although I’m hardly a master. She is impossibly graceful, however, and learns quick. Indeed, I find myself seeking excuses to lightly touch her to adjust her body to the next pose. Sure, she’s young enough to be my daughter, and mentally I know nothing will ever come of it, but my body still has enough of the young buck to make the sap flow.
I’ve also taken to playing chess with River. I reckon I’m no match for her, but I sense that she enjoys it. She’ll giggle away when she makes a clever move, and do a make-believe pout on the rare occasion when I make a good move. Some times we’ll just sit and talk. She’ll ask me about other planets and other cultures, and I do my best to educate her that way. Jayne and I sometimes will sit and talk about weapons, but in truth he does weary me. Seems like Mal thinks a lot and seems to plan things, although it sounds like, according to Zoe, most of the time they have to do a lot of contingency stuff.
Kaylee spends much of her time fussing with the internals of the Serenity. She’ll occasionally surface to make eyes at Simon. I should take that lad aside and instruct him in the ways of women, but I reckon I have better things to do. ‘Sides, that’s one of the things Shepherds ought to be doing. I don’t see Wash too much, guess he’s to busy doing his piloting thing. I spend quite a bit of time writing on my little electronic note pad. My journal takes some time, and then I’m also working on something I’ll call my memoirs. Been here and there, met a whole passel of folks, seen some strange things out there. Figured I’d write some of it down. Maybe I’ll get to be famous. Heh, more n’likely infamous.
