CHAPTER 145: Where The Girls Are

 

"Milton was a woman, discuss" I absolutely hate those questions!  I mean, is this important?  Can I get to the moon knowing whether John Milton was a man or a woman?  I hate homework like this!  

Now there's a knock at my door!  Who is it this time, mom or dad?

It's mom.

"Hello Jamie, I just came to see if you're OK as you didn't have any dessert with dinner"

"I'm OK, Mom, I've just got a ton of homework to get through"

She looked around the room.  "I don't know how you can get much study done in this light!  It's murky!"

"I like it; it's atmospheric"

"If you say so...so how's homework going?"

I show her the essay question.

"Oh...." she said in a mixture of surprise and trepidation.  "well, an unusual question but I don't think your teacher wants you to answer that directly.  This is more like a test of your skill at making a convincing argument.  So, to begin with, work out what you think is the answer and then figure out ways of backing that up."

Now it kind of all made sense...I invited Mom to stay so I could use her as a sounding board for my ideas.  I was going to ace this project!

"You know, Mom, this is really working...OK, I'm going to argue the case that Milton WASN'T a woman, here's my reasoning why, and my conclusion."

"You see what you can do if you think a little laterally" she said and then she did this annoying thing of touching my forehead to indicate thinking.  She's done that with me ever since first grade.

"Well, I've aced this homework so I'm going to relax a bit now" 

"What are you going to do?"

"I thought I'd go for a bike ride..." I want to go where the chicks are, but I won't tell her that.  "Maybe head over to the park..." Where the girls are  "and hang out with friends" preferably of the female variety.

"Well, be careful out there on your bike...and don't stay out too late either; it's a school day tomorrow"

I grab a few supplies from the fridge to keep me going while I'm down at the park, get my bike and head off for....who knows what?  But it's got to be better than John/Jane Milton.

Desert Bloom Park was fast becoming known as the hang out for high schoolers in this area.  The main reason is the snug area near the BBQ pits.  It had a small library, open fires, comfortable sofas, a bar and a built in radio which played all the popular pop/rock stations.  It was also somewhere to play my guitar...now that really impresses the chicks, or at least it should do.

I was wondering who else would be there tonight.  I'd met Yuki Behr down there, once, and although I like her she's dating that Marcus Mueller these days.  I've seen other cute girls off from afar but, not only that, I have friends who like hanging out there as well so there's every chance one of them will be present this evening.

Yep, I have a good feeling about tonight!

Right, first things first, get to the snug and start playing those sweet tunes.  I've learned a few new licks and songs which I'll try out on the lay-dieeeesss...

"Is someone strangling a cat in here?" 

I look around to see who said that and, would you know it, it's Marcus Mueller.  Typical.  I can't stand this guy.  And he's brought a friend it seems.  Let's see if he's as big a jerk as Marcus.

"I dunno, Marcus, I kind of like it" 

OK, this dude has gone up one notch in my estimation.  

"See, Marcus, this guy's got taste.  Hi, I'm Jamie"

"Rohan...so, are you in a band?"

"Not at the moment" Not at all...maybe I should put one together?  "I'm kind of a singer-songwriter type..."

"So you write music as well?" Rohan looked wide eyed in amazement at that announcement.

"If you can call it music..." 

Shut up and just leave, Marcus!

"So is this a band rehearsal in here or can anyone join in?"

I turn around to see who said that...Oh my gosh!  It's Gillian Hills!

Now on top of my ranking list of most gorgeous girls in Buckingham High is, of course, Judy Keith.  But only one notch below her is Gillian Hills.  She's head of the Fashion Club, does modelling as a part-time job and is always up to date on the latest fads, trends and scenes.  I've never even spoken to her before and yet she's right here, 3 feet away from me...the closest I've ever been to a goddess like her.

"Gillian, great to see you; you look amazing"  said Marcus, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek.  She went all coy and patted him on his arm.  Of course he of all people would know her.

"Marcus, how sweet of you to say that"

"And to answer your question, it's just this guy and his guitar...I must apologise for his playing but he's very much a beginner with the instrument."

"Marcus is just jealous that he can't play" There, that's my marker put down.

"You're not bad...not bad at all" said Gillian, looking me up and down.  Did she mean my musical abilities or something else?

"I can play a bit of piano!" chimed in Rohan, a little desperately.  There was an awkward silence.

"Well, Gillian, I'd love to stay and catch up but I'm meeting Yuki for a date" Marcus said, smugly.

"Oh, you're still dating her?" Did I detect a hint of disapproval in Gillian's voice?

"Well, it's just casual...you know how it is" replied Marcus, his smugness disappearing.  Anyway, he said his goodbyes and left me, and Rohan, alone with Gillian Hills!  I go dry:  What do I say to someone like her?

"Hello, I'm Jamie"

"Of course you are.  My name is Gillian but you can call me Gilly"

"I'm Rohan!"

She ignored him.  I sat down on one of the sofas in the hope that she would sit next to me but she remained standing.

"So...Gilly...are you into music?"

"Yeah, I like all the latest bands and sounds.  You?"

I try to sound cool.  "Yeah, I like the British invasion bands mostly..."

She raises an eyebrow in surprise.  It's going well Jamie, my son...

"You do?  So do I...who's your favourite?

"I'm really into The Beatles"

"Oh...I prefer the Rolling Stones" Dang it!  Did she have to sound so disappointed though?

"I like Dusty Springfield!" Rohan reminded us he was still here.

"You know, we should start a band!" Rohan continued in his enthusiastic way.  "I mainly play piano but I've tried a Hammond Organ and there's this church I know where there's a piano and a room to rehearse in!"

"Well, I'd love to talk about this some more but I have a busy social calendar right now so I will leave you budding Lennon and McCartney's to it..."

No!  Gillian!  Gilly!  We've only just met!  Your mere proximity to me will boost my social standing immensely!  I'll write you a ballad in tribute!

"Jamie, don't you like my idea?"

"No, it's a decent enough idea...it's just...don't you know who that was?  That's Gillian Hills!"

Rohan shrugged.  

"She goes to my school and she's like...a model and hot and only one of the most desirable chicks in Sim City! And she left...."

"Oh don't worry about that, Jamie.  When we start our band the chicks will come flocking to us!  But we need to practice, rehearse, find a singer, drummer and bass player...then book some gigs..."

"Slow down, Skippy!" 

"Sorry, I get carried away sometimes"

"Don't sweat it...but I like your overall idea.  We'll get together soon and have a jam"

Rohan and I step out of the snug to see who else is around and I swear tonight in Desert Bloom Park it's a target rich environment.  As well as Gillian, there's loads of cute girls around.  Sadly, not Judy Keith but still...

Rohan stops dead in the doorway.  "Where did they come from?"

"Who cares, Rohan, they're here now.  So...shall we mingle with them?  Go over and say hello or something?"

"Yeah...something.  Well, we can tell them about our new band as a conversation starter"

"That's better than the starter I had planned"

"Which is?"

"Nothing at all.  Let's go with your suggestion"

Rohan approached one group of girls but just as he got close to them, he panicked and turned around.

"I...I...couldn't go through with it, Jamie!"

"Why?  What's the matter?"

"Well, one of them...I think she's French by the sounds of her...was going through her diary commenting on all the guys at Buckingham High and how she ranks them....we didn't even get a mention!"

Ouch!  

"OK, time to think of a plan B..."  I consider our options to get ourselves noticed in a good way then I remember I have some foodstuff I'd brought along to share with friends.  Well, Rohan is my new friend and I was willing to make some other friends who were hot chicks.  I fire up one of the BBQs and get cooking.  Barbecuing is about the only kind of cooking I know and even then I just light a fire, slap on some meat and let the heat do the work.  The grill smell is wafting all over the park by now and it smells good...

This willowy redhead is walking over in my direction...I look behind me, expecting some big, hulking jock or some smarmy rich kid like Marcus Mueller to be standing right behind and who would be the person she's walking towards.  However, there wasn't anyone standing behind me.  OK then, she's going to the snug.  She looks very striking with the shortest shorts I've ever seen on a girl, a top that clings to her body like a second skin and these amazing red suede boots.  Before she walks past me and out of my life forever I can drink in her beauty for just a few seconds.

"Hello...you might just be a life saver!"  She spoke!  Was she talking to me?  I look around.  "I take it you're the chef?"

"Oh...me?  Yes.  Yes I am although I'm hardly a chef...more like your friendly neighbourhood BBQ guy"

"Could I be outrageous and ask for some?  I'm starving!  My own fault really for not having something earlier"

"You can be outrageous" I said, handing her a plate.

She took a bite of the hamburger I gave her and I swear I've never seen anyone chew on one as seductively as this girl.

"Hmmmm, and who do I have to thank for this?"

"Oh, that would be me:  Jamie McGregor"

"I'm Morgan, Morgan Fyres" she said, holding out her hand for me to shake.  I took it and it felt so soft and smooth.  

"Groovy name, I dig it...erm, would you like to sit down with me for a while and hang out?  I mean, if you've got nothing else to do or....someone else you're meeting"

"I've got no one to meet so, sure"

This is going so well!  How come I've never seen this girl before?  Maybe she goes to a private school but, she doesn't seem the type.

"So are you at high school?  I'm sure I've seen you from afar there"  That's me fishing.

"Yeah, Buckingham High...you?"

"The same"

"Funny how we've never met before.  Is this a usual hang out for you?"

"Yeah, we must just keep missing each other"

She looked straight into my eyes and I was captivated by hers:  The brightest green eyes I'd ever seen perfectly framed by thick. black eyeliner.  She pushed the plate of food to one side and made a kind of bridge with her elbows and hands on the table.  She rested her chin on her hands and fixed me with an enticing gaze again.

"So, is cooking your thing?" 

"One of them:  I play guitar as well"

"Ooh, a man of many talents!  I like the sound of you, Jamie McGregor"

"What about you?  What are you into?"

"ALL kinds of things!" her eyes widened as she said that.  I could well imagine this redhead with legs that went on forever and who isn't backward at coming forwards would be kind of fun, kind of wild and kind of unpredictable...this wasn't your average girl next door!

"Sounds interesting..."

"I am...if I may be so immodest"

"You certainly can"

This was the most flirtatious conversation I've ever had but I was kind of swept along with it...that's what it was like around Morgan:  She led, I followed.  I was just lucky she decided to approach me in the first place.  The place was getting dark and a quick look at my watch told me it was past 10pm.  I suspected she wasn't the kind who paid much attention to time, and I didn't want this moment to end but then there's the deal I struck with Mom to be home not too late...dang it, why couldn't I have met Morgan on a Friday or Saturday night?

"So, I guess I will see you at school tomorrow?" she said.  

"Yeah, I'll keep a look out for you"

"And thanks for the food...I'll make it up to you"

"My pleasure"

"The pleasure was all mine" And with that she gently stroked my hand. I could have thrown caution to the wind and stayed with her but I played it safe, packed up my gear and went to get my bike.  I turned to look at her one more time and she smiled, warmly this time.  I don't know if I'll see her tomorrow, or the next day or the days after that or whether the magic of what happened this evening will ever be replicated but now I know there was one time, and one girl, who looked favourably at me...and what a girl that was!

CHAPTER 144: Voldarke

 

"I am Voldarke The Inquisitor, bow before me and quake in fear!"

"George Sneedley, is that you?" said Suzy Kent:  She was handcuffed and flanked by two burly guards who were wearing black robes like George's...Voldarke's... and carried halberds.  Suzy stood before George who had his study at Sneedley Burrow converted into a makeshift courtroom.

"Silence!  I do not recognise the name George Sneedley of Sneedley Burrow, Bedrock Strait, Oasis Springs...address me only as Voldarke!"

"What's going on?  Why am I here?" said Suzy.

"Ye be found guilty of wearing a miniskirt in a place of worship!  Ye be drenched in sin...SIN!  Voldarke hereby sentences you to dress as a Puritan, complete with the hat!"

"NO!" Yelled Suzy in shock and horror.  All of a sudden, Suzy had gone from wearing her trademark black and white minidress, black tights and white go-go boots to wearing a long black 17th Century Puritan dress with white lace cuffs and collar, which covered her shoulders, a white apron and the conical black hat with the huge buckle on the front of it.  All her make up had been removed as well.

"Oh no!  I look so plain!  Please, have mercy on me, Voldarke!" she wept.

"Voldarke knows not of mercy...now ye will learn traditional crafts as befitting a spinster of this parish!  Ye will sew, ye will thatch and ye will.....bake bread!"

"What?"

"BAKE!"  And with that a lump of dough suddenly appeared in Suzy's hands.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" asked Suzy.

"You will knead the dough....KNEEEEEEAAAAAD IT!" barked Voldarke

Suzy began to knead the dough with her hands and she burst out crying.  Voldarke smiled, sinisterly and laughed.

"BWA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA!  That's it, wench, knead the dough...knead...the...dough...use more flour if you find it sticking to the surface"

"George!  GEORGE!  Wake up...we've got lots of things do to today!" came Edna Sneedley's voice.  

"Wha?.....Urgh....Voldarke.....Oh....what a lovely dream.  Yes, I'm coming dear.  On my way....hmmmm 'knead the dough'..." said George as he awoke.

Edna was in the kitchen, having a little pick-me-up after her breakfast.  Yes, there was a lot to do today and she needed all the energy she could muster.

"George, so lovely of you to join us" she said, with a thin smile.

"It was a very long, late shift at the hotel last night...I needed a little more sleep." he muttered in reply.

"Well, you're with us now...let me just put these dishes away and we shall reconvene in the study." she said.

Edna strode into the study and made straight for the chair behind the desk.  George dutifully followed and sat down in the cosy chair.

"Now, I have already typed up the minutes of today's meeting and the agenda...just putting the finishing touches to it...I am very, excited isn't the right word as I find it to be a little vulgar, let's say 'enlivened' at the prospect of today's League of Decency meeting" she said.

"As am I, dear" George replied.  "I must say I am very exci...I mean, enthusiastic at the prospect of what we're going to do today.  We will strike back at the permissive society with force!  Led by you, Edna Sneedley and me, Vol...erm...I mean, George Sneedley."

"That's the spirit, George.  Now we will have a full compliment of members today so let's fire up the troops to action!" said Edna, triumphantly.  "But right after I finish these minutes I would like to canvass the opinions of our neighbours...see if we can encourage others to join our crusade"

"Not Zest, surely!" said George.

"Oh no, not him.  He's completely the wrong sort of person.  No, I mean our new neighbours.  I like Myra, Colin seems an upstanding sort....I'm not sure about the son, though:  He's the kind of impressionable young man who could slide into depravity if there's not enough force applied to him to walk the straight and narrow path."

George and Edna went to visit their neighbours, the McGregors, to spread their Gospel.  Outside their house they saw the mother, Myra, taking out the trash.

"Myra, how lovely to see you...you are looking radiant" said Edna.

"Thank you, Edna...and hello George" replied Myra.  George nodded in response.

"Are you and Colin both at home today, perchance?" said Edna.

"No, it's just me and Jamie.  He has a half day off from school so he's helping me around the house" replied Myra.

"Such a thoughtful young man" said Edna, smiling.

"Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?" enquired Myra.

"Oh, most kind, most kind.  I wouldn't want to put you out"

"No trouble at all."

"Then George and I would like that very much" said Edna, smiling.  She had her captive audience now.

George seemed distracted by the quality of the house build.  "Hmm, interesting use of adobe here and the door frames seem solid enough."

"Oh, I wouldn't know about that...that's more Colin's area of expertise" Myra replied.

Edna made her way to the living room and sat down on the long sofa next to Jamie.  "Hello young James; your mother was telling me how much of a help you've been around the house"

"Oh, thank you Mrs Sneedley.  I do what I can" he said with a cheerful shrug.

"Yes, it seems a solid enough construction..." said George.  "I've not been inside here before."

"Did you never visit here when Alan Cuffe was living here?" asked Myra.

"Certainly not!"  Snapped Edna before she composed herself once again.  "What I mean to say is that we've always desired this neighbourhood to be more family oriented...attracting people like yourselves."

"That's a noble suggestion" said Myra.  "I noticed the other houses on our street are unoccupied...I haven't met Johnny Zest yet but Jamie has, haven't you?"

"Yeah, he seems a nice guy" said Jamie.

"We don't have much to do with Mr Zest, if that is indeed his real name.  He mixes in quite different social circles to myself and George." said Edna, with a note of disdain in her voice.

"He was very helpful to me when....well, erm, it was a...uhm....math homework problem" said Jamie, not wanting Mrs Sneedley, or his mom for that matter, to know Johnny had given him dating advice.

Edna raised an eyebrow in surprise.  The four of them chatted some more before Edna announced that she and George had an urgent appointment to get to.

That appointment was a meeting of the League of Decency and it was to be a very special gathering this day.  First, Edna and George returned home to get changed into their uniforms.  George took delight in watching Edna change into hers, the sweater and skirt flattering her still trim figure, but he was also envious...he would have to order the female version for himself one of these days.  Then, the two of them laid out copies of todays agenda, some snacks and drinks for hospitality and the equipment they would need for today's impending event.

It was a full turnout of members:  George, Edna, Scott Urban, Vance Mannero and Julia Epstein.  Everyone had come fully attired in League colours and there was an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.

"Ladies and Gentlemen" said Edna, handing out copies of the agenda to everyone.  "Today marks our first foray into the public sphere.  It is finally the time to turn all our good conversations and ideas into action and what an action it will be!  For today we will strike at the number one corruptor of young minds in our fair city!"

"You mean..." said Scott.

"Yes!  The offices of Hey, Wow! magazine!" declared Edna, boldly.

There was an audible gasp from everyone in in the room.  "Yes!  It's time to kick ass!" said Vance.

Julia gulped.  Hey, Wow! was where her friend Suzy worked.  Again, her loyalty to her friend and her sense of disgust at the permissive society tore at her inside.  But this protest was about values and not about personalities and Julia disliked Hey, Wow!

"So what's the plan, Mrs Sneedley?" said Scott.

"Please, Scott, call me Edna" she said, reassuringly patting him on the knee.  "The plan is we assemble outside of the offices of the magazine, George and Julia will lead the protests and chants, I will engage with the wider public and our two burly men here..." she said, indicating Scott and Vance "...will run 'defence'; that is, stop counter-protestors and any rabble that would try to stop us".

"I'll get the station wagon fired up" said George.  

"George will drive, I will navigate, Scott, Julia and Vance in the back." declared Edna and with that the League leapt into action with purpose, vigour and resolve...

"STOP THE FILTH!  STOP THE FILTH!" chanted Julia, as loud as she could.  A hippy walked past her and looked at her sign.

"Yeah, babe, we gotta stop the filth, the cops and all the pigs" he said.

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant!  I mean actual filth, you know...smut" replied Julia.

The hippy looked at her as if she were an alien "that's weird!" he said as he walked off.

"STOP THE SMUT!  STOP THE SMUT!" chanted Julia, this time.

"DOWN WITH MINISKIRTS!" chanted George.  A couple of Hey, Wow! employees...both young women wearing miniskirts themselves...looked at George with his sign and giggled at him.  One made the sign of a square with her fingers and they both walked into the building.

Edna wasn't so much chanting, more like giving a speech.  She had a megaphone and had it at full volume, deafening passers-by with it.

"GOOD CITIZENS OF SIM CITY...HEY, WOW IS A CORRUPTING INFLUENCE ON THE MORALS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.  WITH ITS SALACIOUS AND DISGUSTING CONTENT, IT PROMOTES LOOSE MORALS, PROMISCUITY AND SKIMPY CLOTHING!"

"Does it really?" said a man passing by "I must get me a copy! PHWOAR!" he said in a lecherous voice before running off.

The chants, the rants and appeals to morality didn't register with the people who walked by.  No one stopped to listen and the protest seemed to either be met with eye rolling disbelief from the public or cool indifference.  Vance and Scott returned to meet up with Edna and the others.

"Well, did you encounter any opposition?" asked Edna.

"None at all" said Vance, shaking his head.  "Not one stinking hippy, long hair or freak."

"Well that is disappointing!" huffed Edna.  "I don't know...we've tried but our blows aren't landing today"

"I've got my next shift to get to, Edna" said Scott.  

"Yes, I have a meeting I have to get to as well.  It's been an interesting and informative exercise though." said Julia.

"Alright then, meeting adjourned" sighed Edna.  The signs were put away, the megaphone stowed and everyone got back into George's 1963 Ford Galaxie Country Sedan to make their way home to Oasis Springs.  The mood inside the car was sombre all the way back to Sneedley Burrow, where everyone said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

"Well, George, that was very humiliating, very!" said Edna, visibly upset by this afternoon's experience.

"We had everything planned" sighed George.

"We'll have to have a full inquest and investigation into what went wrong" said Edna.

"Inquest?  That reminds me of something...hmmm...anyway, maybe it's the youth of today being so far gone..." 

"No, George!  I won't give up on our precious youth!  But there's got to be a way to get through to them, we just haven't found it yet...oh, I have a sick headache; I must lie down...then I can begin the inquisition" 

"Oh, I've remembered that thing!  I have to go into work to bake some bread rolls...strange how an inquiry reminded me of bread baking...anyway, must go dear...stay firm"

As soon as he left, Edna found the Aspirin wasn't working so instead of a lie down she headed straight for the Solar Flare lounge.

"Hello, Mrs Sneedley...your usual?" said the bartender.

"Make it a double" she replied.

A couple of hours later and Edna was in her cups and complaining about all that was wrong in the world to anyone within earshot.

"...and the worst part is....the worst part..." she said, heavily slurring her words, "...is the indifference.  No one cares...no one cares at all anymore...another double gin and tonic, bartender!"

"Mrs Sneedley, I think you've had enough" replied the barkeep.

"I will tell you when I've had enough!  I am the paying customer and I'm always right!  That's in the...in the...in one of the amendments of our constitution I'll have you know.  I forget which one...anyway, I want another drink young man....or woman...it's hard to tell and that's another thing that's wrong with the world today:  You can't tell a man from a woman or vice versa...all that long hair the men have...pretty soon they'll be wearing dresses and where will we be?  Exactly!  That's where!  Now get a haircut and a job...although you have a job so get a haircut, but only if you're a boy...for a girl...that's optional....get it styled.  I will now briefly retire to the bathroom and when I return I expect a double gin and tonic right there" she said, jabbing her finger on the counter in front of her.

She tried to maintain an air of dignity and poise as she weaved her way around the tables and chairs of the lounge, only bumping into one standard lamp along the way.  The rest of the staff and clientele could see she was drunk and knew what was probably going to happen in the bathroom...

"You're alright, Edna...you're fine, you're in control...." she said to herself but deep inside her body was protesting.  As soon as the words left her lips, closely following behind was a jet of vomit.

The scene was....unpleasant.  Fortunately for the Solar Flare club, most ended up in the toilet and that which didn't ended up on her clothes.  Edna went pale, tried to brush the mess off her blouse, and then staggered back out into the club.

"Are you OK, Mrs Sneedley?" asked the bartender.

"I might....need...a...taxi...home..." she stammered.  The other patrons looked on with a mixture of shock and disgust at her appearance.  The bartender went to fetch a phone but Edna suddenly stumbled and fell to her knees.  A patron, a big, burly man with a luxurious beard and wearing a pink blazer, stepped in to help her up.

"I also need a shower" said Edna, meekly.  The man, and others standing near her, recoiled at the stench that emanated from her.

"Indeed you do madam" said the burly man.  

"There's nothing here of that sort" said the barman.  "The gymnasium next door has though"

"Ah...what a bit of good fortune.  I am a member there!  I even have my own locker..." said Edna, trying to sound a note of triumph.

"I will help you to reach there, Madam...before you reach again..." said the burly man.

"Oh most kind, Mr?"

"Madsen.  Nikolai Madsen, at your service....uuurrruuggghhh" he said, bristling at the sick smell.

Madsen helped Edna walk the few steps to the next door gym but it was not the kind of escorting of a lady he liked...more, this was a duty:  Part chivalry, part that he wanted the staff at the Solar Flare to forget about his ever increasing bar tab.

The fresh air outside sobered Edna up a little and she headed straight for the showers.  As she came more to her senses, her sadness at the protest's failure was mixed with another emotion:  Shame.  She had humiliated herself in the Solar Flare now; everyone right now will be talking about her drunken behaviour.  OK, she thought to herself, I had one too many...I was sad, I was upset, I drank a little too much but reputation is everything in this town and she had lost some of her good name back there.  She swore never to get drunk in public ever again. 

After her shower and a chance to freshen up, she went to her own personal locker and found a clean tracksuit she could wear.  Then she decided to sweat the booze out of her...a training run was required.  She'd show them all!  Edna Sneedley would not be held back by a couple of setbacks!

CHAPTER 143: A Word In Your Ear

 

It was early evening in downtown Willow Creek and Liberty Lee had just had some farewell drinks with her boyfriend, Gary, before she headed off to Cape Canaveral the next day.  It soon time for the launch of Gemini IX; the next stage in the race to the Moon, and she was part of the pad crew preparing the capsule for launch.  As she left the Blue Velvet Nightclub she spotted a familiar figure in a very unfamiliar outfit.  It was her neighbour, Julia Epstein, all dressed up to the nines in white and gold, with her hair worn up.  Liberty had only ever seen her with her hair in pigtails so she didn't clock it was her at first.  Liberty approached Julia and said hello.

"Wow, Julia, you look amazing:  What's the occasion?" asked Liberty.

"The Society of Sim City Surgeons annual dinner" replied Julia.

"That's a lot of S's" said Liberty.  "Well, you're certainly dressed to impress.  Are you going with anyone?"

"A friend...well, colleague.  A kind of colleague/friend" said Julia.

"A guy?"

Julia rolled her eyes.  "Why must you assume I'm going with a guy?  I told you, this is a colleague and kind of a friend.  OK, so yes, he's a man, but it's strictly professional."

"Well, for a professional evening out you look phenomenal.  Let me know how it all goes when I next see you, which will be in a week."

"Oh, are you off to Cape Canaveral now?"

"Tomorrow.  Have fun!" and Liberty waved goodbye to Julia.  Julia took another look at her watch; why did she arrive at the meeting point 20 minutes earlier than arranged?  She was starting to feel the chill on her shoulders when, up in the distance, her 'not-a-date' appeared and waved to her.

"So has Julia got a boyfriend?" asked Liberty the next morning as she, Summer and Travis enjoyed breakfast.

"There are rumours, but that's all" replied Summer.

"Interesting...but look at you two:  Matching bath robes, you two are practically a married couple already" quipped Liberty.

Summer giggled, Travis was a little spooked at the idea.

A yellow taxi cab had pulled up outside of their house and the driver got out and was walking up the path to them.

"Well, that's my ride.  Have a great time while I'm away" said Liberty.

"Will do" replied Summer "we thought about inviting Gary over for lunch or dinner soon so he doesn't feel lonely without out"

"Sweet.  Launch day is Friday and that's most of my job done so I'll head back in time for the wedding...well, don't have too much fun without me" said Liberty, waving goodbye and grabbing her suitcase.

As the door shut, Summer let out a sigh "I'm going to miss Libs" she said.

"She's only going for a week" replied Travis

"I know....I just feel better when it's all three of us around.  Say, what are you up to this afternoon?"

"Not much, why?  Have you got something in mind?" said Travis in hope and expectation that he and Summer could "play" when the cat called Liberty was away.

"Well, I'm busy working..." she replied.  Travis' mood sank a little at that news.  "But I was thinking you haven't seen Jeremy for a while...maybe you could have one of your guys night outs or something?"

"Yeah, I've hardly spent any time hanging with Jez since he started his new job" said Travis.

"So you have plenty to catch up on!" said Summer, enthusiastically.

"Speaking of catching up, with Liberty away for a few days we can catch up on spending time together" said Travis, suggestively.

"Trav, I've just finished breakfast!  Think of my digestion!"

"Well, we'll take things slowly until your breakfast is fully digested"

"This isn't the most romantic conversation ever had"

"Time for conversation is over...." said Travis, taking Summer by the hand and leading her to the bedroom.

After a little quality time spent in the bedroom, Summer and Travis washed and dressed and pottered around the house:  Travis catching up on some work projects and Summer practicing her drink mixing skills.  After an hour of working at his desk, Travis came into the kitchen to get a coffee and catch up with Summer.

"I've phoned Jeremy and we're going to meet down in the Spice Quarter this afternoon" said Travis.

"Excellent.  I hope he's doing OK...I've heard he's been a bit weird lately." said Summer.

"A bit weird?" asked Travis.

"Yeah, I was speaking with Suzy the other day and she says he's been really short tempered with her."

Travis looked concerned.  That was most out of character of his friend and he tried to figure out what could be wrong.

"Maybe it's the new job, or Barbara's shop or even the plans to demolish this whole street playing on his mind.  I'll help take his mind off all those hassles" he said.

"Or find out what's bugging him" said Summer.

After lunch Summer went to work and Travis headed downtown to the Spice Quarter to meet with Jeremy.  He became nostalgic as this was a regular haunt of the two guys back when they were single.  That seemed like a 100 years ago to him now...

Travis was shaken from his daydream by the approach of Jeremy.

"Travis, good to see you!  Thanks for inviting me down here" he said.

"Well I thought you and me hadn't hung out without the ladies in tow for quite some time now.  And what better place to hang out than down here at the Waterside Warble"

"Or spice shack" said Jeremy, nodding to the food vendors.

"Yeah, whatever you prefer, man" said Travis.

"Let's grab a bite to eat and check out the musician over there" said Jeremy, indicating the opposite side of the square.

As they headed across, past the community basketball hoop, Travis stopped by a open air market stall that was selling modernistic and stylish lamps.

"Hey, do you think this groovy lamp would make a good wedding present for Suzy and Neil?" he asked Jeremy.

"How the heck do I know?" snapped Jeremy, irritably.  "Is all anyone can talk about these days is their darn wedding?"

"Hey, man, it's next week!  We're all pretty stoked for the two of them..." said Travis, surprised at Jeremy's reaction.

"Well, you might be" Jeremy muttered.

They headed over to the food area and listened to the street musician, who did a pretty decent version of Beatles hits.  Jeremy grabbed some food and sat down with Travis to catch up with each others lives.

"How are things in the world of electronics and computers?" asked Jeremy.

"Challenging" replied Travis.  "Things are changing so much in my industry...we can now get transistor radios down to the size of a wristwatch."

"Oh, very Dick Tracy"

"Yeah, totally.  And with the computers we've moved from valves to punch cards and then to magnetic tape but the future might be these chips they've recently designed."

"Chips?"

"Yeah, they're kind of like tiny circuits...a bit hard to explain but what you can put on a punch card you can put on a chip the size of my fingernail"

"Sounds very space age.  Does Liberty know about them?" said Jeremy, half joking.

"Oh yes.  They use them in the Gemini capsules.  You can't have reels of magnetic tape in space.  Anyway, I have to ask you how the new job is over at the Landgraab Corporation.  How much evil goings on have you uncovered?" replied Travis, also half joking.

Jeremy looked taken aback.  "Evil?" he said.

"Yeah, like what's Geoffrey Landgraab up to with our street?" said Travis.  

"Geoffrey Landgraab is the kindest, bravest, warmest most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life" replied Jeremy in a monotone voice, his eyes looking blank and expressionless.

"What?" said an incredulous Travis.

"Lovely ramen soup, Trav, you should try some" said Jeremy, warming up again.

A woman then approached them at their table.  "Excuse me, gentlemen, is this seat taken?"

Jeremy took a brief look at her and said "no, it's free...m...m...mother"

The woman looked at him oddly.  "Excuse me?" she asked.

"Sorry!  Sorry, I meant Nancy...no!  You're not...sorry, again, it's just that you look a bit like Nancy Landgraab." Jeremy said, stumbling over his words.

"Oh, do you really think so?" said the woman, now suddenly pleased and patting her hair.

"Ma'am, I'd go one step further and say you're better looking than Nancy Landgraab" said Travis.

"Oh you two are such dears!" said the woman

"By the way, my name is Fran...and you two sweet gentlemen are here on your lonesome?  No wives or girlfriends?"

Travis shrugged his shoulders and looked to start telling a sob story.  Jeremy knew this little routine of "I just can't seem to find the right woman" Travis did to get a date and this time he was going to pipe up.

"He has a girlfriend and so do I" said Jeremy, cutting Travis off.

"Oh what a shame!  Why are all the good men snapped up these days?" said Fran.  "They must be very wonderful girls to have bagged you"

"Well..." said Travis, looking over his shoulder.  "Here comes one now..."

It was Barbara who showed up at that moment.  Fran made her excuses and left the table.

"Who was that?" asked Barbara.

"Oh, just someone asking for the time" said Travis.

"Are you guys having fun?" asked Barbara

"Oh yeah, we've just been hanging out, eating cool stuff, listening to the vibes" said Travis.  "I even checked out some ideas for a wedding present"

"Ugh" said Jeremy.

"So all in all we're fine" said Travis, ignoring Jeremy.

"So what have you got in mind for the present?" asked Barbara.

"I was thinking about one of those mod lamps over there" replied Travis.

"If you're going to talk wedding stuff, I'm going to get a drink!" said a disgruntled Jeremy.

He got up and left.  Travis and Barbara watched him walk off in the direction of the bar.  When he was out of ear shot, Travis turned to Barbara.

"Is it me or is Jeremy acting a bit...weird, lately?" he said.

"Does he come across like that to you as well?" she said, in a conspiratorial whisper.  "I thought it was just me who's noticed!  What has he said to you?"

"Not much, except for whenever the wedding is mentioned he gets really grumpy and he did this really strange thing just before you got here:  He calls Nancy Landgraab 'mother'".

"Oh my gosh!  I've heard him do that as well!" said Barbara, in shock and putting her hands up in front of her mouth.  "Tell me, what does he say when Geoffrey's name is mentoned."

"Oh, let me think....." said Travis.  "Something like Geoffrey Landgraab is the kindest, warmest, bravest..."

"...most wonderful human being he's ever known?" said Barbara, finishing the quote.

"Yes!  That's exactly what he said!" said Travis.

"Every time Geoffrey's name is mentioned, he says that...word for word" said Barbara.

"Something's sure as hell is suspicious here, Barbara.  I hope you're OK and safe"

"Oh Travis, I'm so worried about him...something's happened to him.  I warned him not to work for the Landgraabs, I warned him!  I'm OK...he never vents his anger at me but I'm scared for him.  What have the Landgraabs done?" and at this point Barbara was close to tears.  Travis looked around to see where Jeremy had got to but he hadn't returned yet and so Travis fumbled around for a handkerchief to give to Barbara.

When Jeremy had returned to them, Barbara had wiped away her tears and things settled back down to normal...on the surface.  As long as the topic of conversation didn't involve Suzy Kent, John Action or the Landgraabs it was just like old times, but Travis and Barbara knew deep down that there was something deeply wrong with Jeremy.

After saying their goodbyes, Travis headed back home but decided to share his concerns with another person; someone deeply involved in all this strangeness.  It wasn't Suzy Travis now turned to:  She was too busy with wedding preparations.  This time he went to see Action.

Travis could hear Action sliding the latches, unchaining the door and turning the keys in various locks before he was greeted.

"Yo, Trav, what's the skinny?" said Action.

"Can I come in and talk about a delicate matter?" replied Travis.

"That depends on what kind of delicate you're talking about"

"It's about Jeremy"

"You'd better come in then" said Action, looking gravely serious.

Action got him and Travis a beer each and they sat down to talk.  Travis was feeling nervous about coming to Action to talk about Jeremy.

"It seems that everyone's noticed that he's acting bizarre these days" said Travis.

"Has he lost his temper whenever mine or Suzy's name is mentioned?  Has he got nothing to say but gushing praise about his new job?  Does he call Nancy Landgraab 'mother'?" asked Action.

"Yes!  He does all those things!" replied Travis.

"You ain't the first guy to notice the changes in him.  Suzy, Neil, Summer and Barbara have all said he's acting weirdly around them and he lost his cool with me in the gym the other day; all over nothing."

"What do you think is going on?  Is it to do with his work?" asked Travis.

Action put down his beer and took a deep, thoughtful breath.  "Two things might be going on in his head.  One, it's all stress related to his job.  Maybe he's under a lot of pressure to meet deadlines or impress the bosses and he's taking it out on us."

"And the other possibility?" asked Travis.

"They've somehow messed with his brain, like they did with mine only this time they've somehow brainwashed him into hating me and Suz..."

"...and thinking Nancy Landgraab's his mother" speculated Travis.

"Ugh, that is some weird, mixed up shit, I can tell you" Action said, recoiling in disgust.

"But how did they manage to do this?  I mean, brainwash someone like that?  I heard the Chinese did that kind of thing in Korea but Jeremy's only been working for them for a couple of weeks now...surely they can't brainwash someone in such short a time?"

"There's a lot of things that don't seem normal to us but which the Landgraabs somehow manage to do.  Leave this with me, Trav, I'll get to the bottom of this!"