Woman's touch

"Woman's Touch" by Evelyn E. Smith is a science fiction story from the 1950s about a survey team sent to the distant planet Furbish to establish a fueling depot. The story follows two young couples, Judy and Ned McComb, and Danny and Jane Field, who are instructed to stay away from the humanoid inhabitants. Defying these orders, the women start interacting with the locals out of empathy and curiosity, leading to both comedy and mess. Their efforts to teach the Furbishians language and culture unintentionally creates a flourishing society that raises questions about exploitation and nurturing. When their commanding officer arrives, he is shocked by the changes on Furbish, highlighting the difficult consequences of human interaction with alien species while exploring themes of empathy, accountability, and the effects of sharing cultures.