CHAPTER 74: To The Next Level

 

The house was a complete mess.  Suzy had let things slide too much of late and the result was a filthy sink, filthy shower and even filthier kitchen.  Well, her morning was settled:  A thorough clean of the place.

"Phew!  But spick and span now" she said to herself. "That's nearly 2 hours out of my day and there's so much to do....so much"

Suzy went to her room and looked out the window across to the strange, large tree that was just on the other side of the road.  She knew there was something inside of it, some kind of tunnel, but where did it lead?  Last time she checked the place out with her friends: Neil, Summer and Jeremy but now she decided to go it alone on her second expedition.

Approaching the tree she located the concealed entrance in its trunk, pulled aside the ivy and other creeper plants and stepped inside, into the darkness.

This time around she knew not to follow the small dot of light in the distance, for that just took her back to the start, but instead follow the sound of a stream.  Taking careful steps she inched her way further and further into the tunnel until her right foot stepped into a shallow stream of running water.  She wondered if this was part of the canal that ran alongside the back her house or, worse, was it a sewerage channel.  She withdrew her soggy foot and looked for a dry place to cross the stream.  In the end she leapt over it to the other side where the tunnel continued.

Soon a light, silvery mist filled the tunnel and Suzy found it difficult to navigate...but she could hear the sound of a breeze and birds tweeting in the distance so she pushed on until the mist started to lift and a light could be seen ahead.  She had found the other end of the tunnel and stepping out, she expected to be somewhere on the other side of the container park that was across the way from the canal in Willow Creek.  

She didn't expect to see what greeted her on the other side.  She had emerged from a tree that was very similar to the one in her road and all around her was this beautiful, tranquil wooded glade.  She looked around, not recognising where she was...by her calculations of how far she had travelled in the tunnel, she should be on the other side of the container park and that should have been visible from where she was standing, but it was nowhere to be seen.

Some things here did seem strange and out of place:  Everywhere was tinged with a pink glow...from flowers, shrubs, even the rocks.  Looking up she noticed the sky was pinkish-orange in colour.  It was only late morning and yet this place seemed to be in a twilight glow.  Just how far had she travelled and for how long?  It didn't seem like much of either to her and yet this place seemed far removed from where she expected to be.

There were some signs of human habitation though:  There was a fishing sign near a pond and another down by the edge of a river so she couldn't have been the first person to visit here but other than that there were no signs of any human presence.

"I wish I'd bought my camera!" said Suzy, thinking what a missed opportunity this was to get some evidence that she'd been here.  The whole glade had a mysterious, dream like quality to it and she was only half sure that this place was real....just where was it in relation to Foundry Cove?

She spent about half an hour at the glade before deciding to head for home.  Walking back to the identical, large tree she found an entrance way and trudged back through the mist and the shallow creek to home.  She wanted to tell someone, anyone, what she'd just seen but the street was deserted.  Suzy jogged home and wanted to phone Summer, Jeremy, Burr or Neil but looking at the clock she realised she didn't have much time to get ready for a date she had planned with Neil.

Her dress had some dirt on it from trudging through the tree and tunnel and her shoes and nylons were wet from wading through the stream so she completely changed her outfit to look smart for her date at Chez Llama.

Neil arrived at her place in a taxi and she was impressed at how good he looked in his white tuxedo.  Ever the gentleman, he escorted her to the taxi and they were whisked off to the most exclusive restaurant in Sim City.  

"You look fabulous" said Neil.

"So do you...you could be James Bond in that suit!" she replied.

"Maybe I'll have a dry martini, shaken not stirred when we get to Chez Llama" 

When they entered the restaurant, the two of them went to the bar whilst their table was being readied.

"Go on then, do it" said Suzy to Neil.

"Do what?"  replied Neil.

"Ask for a dry Martini, shaken not stirred...I dare you"

"OK....erm....barkeep!  May I have a dry vodka Martini, shaken not stirred?"

"You're about the 5th guy to ask for one of those today" said the Barkeep.

Suzy and Neil laughed and drank their fancy cocktails when they were led to their table.  Suzy couldn't keep her news from Neil any longer.

"I went back to that tree near my house this morning" she said.  "And you'll never guess what I found!"

"Did you go into that tunnel again?" said Neil.

"Yes...and it actually leads somewhere!" she said, excitedly.

"Where?" said Neil, his interest piqued.

"I'm not sure...it's not anywhere that's visible from Foundry Cove and yet I didn't walk that far down the tunnel.  It's this woodland glade, very beautiful with trees and flowers I didn't recognise and a crystal clear river that isn't part of the local canal....It must be a little area tucked away in Willow Creek."

"Can you walk or drive to it?"

"Not that I could tell...I came and went via that tunnel which emerges from an identical tree to the one in my street.  It's really odd."

"I've got a map of the local area at home" said Neil.  "We could look at that to try and see where this place is."

"Good idea" said Suzy.  "And next time you can come with me to check that place out"

A waiter appeared to take their order.  Neil said "shall I order for both of us?"

Suzy nodded.  Neil looked at the menu and confidently ordered two of the chef's specials.

"Certainly sir and madam" said the waiter.  Once he had taken their menus from them and walked off to the kitchen, Neil leaned in towards Suzy.

"You know, when you're all excited and fired up you are so beautiful" he said.  "I can see what drives you, that energy you have...I find it intoxicating.  You are my muse!"

Suzy liked hearing that and she became coy, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at him.  Neil normally didn't enjoy public displays of affection but the mood, the drink and the presence of Suzy was all working on him, getting him to drop his guard.

The meal and the conversation were delightful and the two were entranced by one another.  After he paid the bill,he stood up and held his hand out to Suzy, gently pulling her towards him...and to her pleasant surprised, he kissed her full on the lips.

"Hmmm, that was good" she said when their lips parted.  "So....what now?" she said, coyly.

"The night is young" replied Neil.  "Fancy a dance?"

There was THE place to go....The Orange Peel!

The place was starting to buzz as more people arrived but in between songs a man approached Suzy and Neil.

"Hello...Is it Miss Suzy Kent, the writer over at 'Hey, Wow'?  Permit me to introduce myself, I'm Alan Cuffe from Lothario magazine and The Kitten Club"

Suzy stopped dancing.  "You're THE Alan Cuffe?"

"The same.  May I take a moment of your time, Miss Kent?  Excuse me sir" he said, acknowledging Neil.  "May I borrow your delightful date for a chat?  I assure you, my intentions are honourable"

Suzy nodded to Neil and he graciously agreed.  Cuffe took Suzy to one side of the dance floor and began to speak.

"Miss Kent, I've read some of your articles in recent months and I must say I'm impressed by your writing.  You not only explain things eloquently but you also have a finger on the pulse of what is in and what isn't.  These are qualities I want for Lothario magazine" said Cuffe.

Suzy was lost for words for a few seconds, but responded "Mr Cuffe, I'm flattered.  Do you wish to poach me for Lothario?"

Cuffe shook his head.  "Nothing so simple or obvious.  Are you happy at Hey, Wow?"

"I am.  It's pitched to an audience I relate to and it's opened a lot of doors for me"

"But it recently rejected your expose piece, am I right?"

"How...how did you know about that?" said Suzy, shocked that Cuffe had heard about her Landgraab expose story being quashed by her editor.

"I know a lot of things that go on in our industry, Miss Kent....may I call you Suzy?  Now the thing is Lothario magazine is often misrepresented in the popular press.  Yes, I publish a magazine promoting the free love, promiscuous and libertine lifestyle but it's not all about the centrefolds and the celebration of the female form.  I want the best writers producing intelligent, thoughtful articles as well.  I see talent in you, Suzy, talent I want at Lothario.  What I'm proposing is that you write freelance for me, ad hoc, on any topic you like.  You don't have to leave Hey, Wow...you just go on my list of contributors, that's all.  What do you say?"

"Any topic I like? asked Suzy?

"Any topic...including the one your editor didn't approve of.  I'd like to read it"

"It's not very flattering about the Landgraabs, just to warn you." she said, wondering why Cuffe would take such an interest in her recent work.

"I'm not beholden to the Landgraabs, Suzy." said Cuffe, nonchalantly.

"OK...shall I send it to your office, Mr Cuffe?"

"As soon as possible and call me Alan" he said, offering his hand and smiling warmly.  Suzy shook his hand and they made a verbal agreement there and then.

Returning to Neil, she said "wow, that was Alan Cuffe! And he wants me to write an article for him!"

"Phew!  For a moment I thought he might ask you to join his Kitten Club!"

"You were worried he was going to whisk me away to his den, did you?" said Suzy, teasing Neil.

"Well...yes...I mean the man has a reputation with the ladies." said a sheepish Neil.  "I might have had to fight a duel with him!" he said in mock seriousness.

"I'm flattered you would do that for me...to save me from being one of Alan Cuffe's Kittens.  Don't you think I'd look good in the bodysuit and kitten ears?"

"I think you'd easily make Kitten of the Year" said Neil, looking into Suzy's eyes.

She put her arms around him and drew herself close to him "I'm not interested in being Alan Cuffe's kitten....when I could be yours"

Neil raised an eyebrow and smiled.  "So...shall we move on to the next part of the evening?  Your place or mine?" he said.

"I make a good breakfast" said Suzy.  "Mine"

Back at Foundry Cove, Neil and Suzy were so excited to spend their first night together.  They both knew that this was a big step...the next level of their relationship.  They couldn't wait to get inside and straight to the bedroom to cap off a wonderful evening.  

"I'm sorry but I don't have a Kitten Club outfit to change in to" said Suzy, taking off her hat and slipping off her shoes.

"Never mind" he said.  Suzy turned her back to him and he unzipped her dress "it wouldn't be on you for long"

The dress slid to the floor and, stepping out of it, she turned around and undid his bow tie.  "Neil...I never knew you could be so dirty minded" she said, kissing him.