CHAPTER 92: Give Me Liberty

 

"Travis...we agreed we wouldn't eat so many meals in future...you've got to stop grilling!" said Summer at the breakfast table one morning.

"But man can't live on just cereal and toast alone!  Haven't you ever revelled in a grilled breakfast steak before?" said Travis, defending his corner.

"Yes...and it was because you served up grilled BBQ steaks and sausages for breakfast that we all gained too much weight.  No, we need to stay a lot fitter!" Summer rebuked him one more time.

Liberty Lee soon came and joined them at the breakfast table.  "Hi guys, what's up?"

"Well, not my waistline anymore" said Summer.  "If we're going to put anything on that BBQ in the near future it's that hideous Mu-Mu I had to wear"

"I threw mine out!" said Liberty in agreement.  "Anyway, Travis, I can't help but notice that you're dressed up smart today.  Having your day in court?"

"Ha-ha.  Actually I'm giving a presentation today at work.  The subject is 'Transformers, Resistors and Valves: The Next Ten Years In Solid State Circuitry'"

"Did you understand any of that?" said Summer.

"Some" replied Liberty.  

"Well, I have to finish off my last few slides for the projector so I will see you ladies later" said Travis, getting up.

"Leaving us with the dishes, again!" said Liberty.

"No need anymore!" said Summer.  "I hired us a cleaner...she'll be along later.  Anyway, I'm off to work now...sorry to leave you all on your own on your day off, Libs" 

"Oh don't worry" said Liberty, slyly.  "I have made plans!"

Indeed she had.  Once her housemates had gone to work, Liberty went to her room to get changed into her most Mod outfit; one she knew that her date she was meeting up with, Gary, loved seeing on her.  She made sure her make up was spot on, freshened up in the mirror and was feeling seductive and desirable.

She was meeting Gary at the Rattlesnake Juice Bar in Oasis Springs.  She'd been there a few times with Summer and Travis but she thought a restaurant was too formal for a first date and the beautiful Magnolia Blossom Park was too close to prying eyes.  A few drinks, some good chats and maybe...well...maybe a little bit of 'fun' as well was the objective.

Liberty's pulse raced when she saw that Gary had already arrived at the bar ahead of her.  She restrained the urge to run up to him and throw her arms around him as she didn't want to come across as weird...instead, she adopted a coquettish and alluring approach to this date.

"Liberty!" said Gary, smiling broadly and looking her up and down.  "You look amazing, as usual"

"Thank you, Gary.  I hope I didn't keep you waiting long"

"You haven't...shall we take a table outside on the patio there?"

"That would be lovely" she said and with that Gary ushered her towards a nice spot that afforded good views of the bay.

Liberty was feeling VERY flirtatious and barely restrained herself as she and Gary talked.  She batted her long eyelashes at him, made cute small talk and at one stage slipped one shoe off so she could indulge in a little footsie with her date.  For his part, Gary wasn't objecting at all, in fact he seemed smitten with Liberty's minxy games.

The date was going extremely well and Liberty had Gary's undivided attention.

"So do you think we'll actually get to the Moon in 3 years time?" he said, as a way of making conversation.

"Sooner than that" Liberty replied.  "We'll land an unmanned probe within the next year and then the way we're going we'll make a manned landing by '68."

"I guess I'm going to have to hurry up with my job application with Space Y if I'm going to get on the crew by then!" he joked.

"I want you on the ground and not too far away, Gary" said Liberty, suggestively.

"I'd bring you back the best quality of moon rock I could find if I went" said Gary, smiling and leaning in towards Liberty.

"Or you could bring me something special right here and now" she replied.

"I see where this is going" he said, standing up and taking her hand.  She stood close to him and then let natural magnetic attraction bring them together for their first kiss.

"Hmmmm, that was well worth waiting for.  Who needs the moon?" said Gary.

The two of them went inside to get a drink and the contrast between the romance and tranquillity of  the outdoor area and at the bar couldn't be greater.  A group of middle aged people sat looking morose and were complaining about the state of the world.

"...and that's why we need a concerted effort by the decent, long standing citizens of this city to oppose the moral decadence that pervades it!" said a sour faced woman.

"Well...I suppose people have no time for the classics and great art anymore" sighed a man in a red blazer who was sporting a thick moustache.

"Exactly!  You'll support my efforts, won't you Mortimer?" said the woman.

"I prefer not to get involved in politics" he sighed again.

Liberty grabbed drinks for her and Gary and left the bar to go sit down on a couch.  "Phew, it's all po faced and doom and gloom up at the bar with that crowd"

"That's Mortimer Goth, the writer and art expert" said Gary, pointing to the man in the maroon blazer.  "My folks know him"

"I've heard the name.  Anyway, on to happier things; cheers" said Liberty, raising her glass to his and clinking them.

The wine, the time and the chat went smoothly with some more snuggling on the couch between them before the date finally came to an end and both parted from each other with a tender kiss.  Liberty was ecstatic and skipped all the way home.  There she found a very tired and hungry Travis who was eating some of his family's vile fruit cake.

"I'm so tired I have to eat this" he said, pointing to the plate with his fork.

"How did it go?  The presentation?" 

"Oh, I think it went well....no one complained to my face so that's a good thing.  Hey you're all dressed up to impress...were you with your man?"

"Gary?  Yes!  I had a lovely time and it's official....we're an item!"

"Well done....anyway, I can't bear any more cake.  I'm going to bed.  Goodnight" said Travis, trudging back to his room.

Liberty sighed and shut her eyes.  She was missing Gary already and  wished he was here with her now.  Her daydream was broken by the sound of the doorbell.  Getting up, she walked over to see who was calling and saw that it was Gary!

"Gary!  What a wonderful surprise!" she said.

"Today was amazing...I didn't want it to end so I came around to see you once more" he said, excitedly.

"I'm so glad you did" she responded, flinging her arms around him, giving him a big kiss before leading him inside to spend the night together.