"Is it acceptable, Uncle Jim?"

Kirk smiled.

"Saavik, this progressive star-chart display is nothing short of stunning."

Saavik's teacher shook his head.

"It is---perhaps---acceptable."

"But I like it a great deal."

Again, a slight, snide shake of the head.

"You fear the child's disappointment, or perhaps her wrath. Given her rampant emotionalism, perhaps you also fear receiving hateful correspondence."

Captain Kirk looked the man in the eye.

"And Yet I Like It A Great Deal."

"Then You Are Engaging In What Humans Call 'Gushing'."

Saavik was confused.

"Uncle Jim--what is 'gushing'?"

The teacher answered.

"That, child, is an emotional condition brought on when one wishes to avoid critically necessary unpleasantness in reviewing the work of another. A sorry effort to hide the failings of the reviewed, and the reviewer."

"Wrong. Saavik, do you know what gushing is?"

"I must confess that I do not."

Again, Jim looked at the teacher whom Amanda had described as having a dislike for Saavik--just because.

" 'Gushing' is a term used by people who don't like something, and then are stunned to find out someone else does. They then need to pump themselves up by calling into question the rationality and intelligence of those who hold the opposite opinion. They hide this behind two things: One, a sweeping criticism of the effort under review, saying further that anyone who disagrees is a fool."

"I am merely being hone---"

Kirk cut him off.

"Two, a veneer of honesty that hides some unguessable shortcoming on their part. So, My Darling Girl--I'm going to gush, all over your work. Teacher--Live Long And Prosper."

The two walked off, leaving the teacher to stew in a barely-Vulcan manner.

Kirk spoke to the girl he had never intended to adopt, but was now so glad he did. Her joy had become his, and sometimes this even helped him forget the boy whose body was never found.

"I'm really sorry Spock couldn't make it. I wish he could have seen that."

Her back turned to all but Jim, Saavik smiled lightly and took his hand.

"In this instance, I do not feel the pain of his absence as I have in some times past---Uncle Jim. Your presence is more than adequate."

"Why, Saavik-kam---you mustn't gush."