CHAPTER 101: The Pressure's On

 

"So we need to book a venue for the wedding, sort out the catering, a wedding car, band, invitations...we need to draw up a guest list and send out the invitations...I need to get measured for a dress..."

"Suzy, I'm in the middle of eating breakfast!" said Neil.  "You called me in here, in between mouthfuls, because you said it was an emergency"

"If we want a Summertime wedding we have to start planning now, not later, not manana:  Breakfast or no breakfast" said Suzy, earnestly.

"General Westmoreland could do with you on his staff!" said Neil, taking another bite of toast.

"You'd never find him complaining about breakfast when there's more important things for him to do.  So here's a list of venues and wedding services...you call them and ask for availability around June and July."

"Sir! Yes Sir!" saluted Neil as he finished his toast.  "Now with your permission, Sir, I request to use the bathroom."

"Silly!" said Suzy, giving him a gentle slap on the arm.  Neil went to the bathroom but as he flushed the toilet a leak suddenly sprang up."

"Oh great...add 'find a plumber' to my growing list of tasks" he thought.  "However...I can show Madam that I can be handy around the house: Do the manly tasks."  He thought with a wry grin.

"Just coming through...nothing to worry about" he said, dashing from the bathroom to the cupboard under the sink in the kitchen.  He grabbed a tool bag and dashed back.  Suzy briefly looked up from her note book to see Neil streaking past but had no idea what he was doing.

"Right....what to do, what to do?" Neil said to himself.  The truth is, he had no idea what he was doing.  Fortunately he had a handyman book his father had given to him so he looked up "leaky toilet" in it and guessed that the problem was a broken washer letting the water pour through.

Outside the bathroom, Suzy was trying to practice her guitar.  She had in mind a couple of songs that she wanted played at the wedding and wanted to play them through to see which one she preferred for the song list.

But her practice was being disturbed by what she could hear coming from the bathroom:  Loud, metallic banging noises punctuated by a lot of shouting.   BANG! BANG! BANG! "OWW!" BANG! BANG! BANG! "SON OF A BITCH!" BANG! BANG! BANG! "OWW!"

Then the noise stopped, the door opened and Neil staggered out.  "There, I've fixed the toilet" he mumbled.

"Fixed it?  It sounded like you were smashing it to smithereens" said Suzy.

"Well, you know with a tricky job like that you can't do things in half measures" he replied, trying to sound like an expert in plumbing.  "Oww-owwww!" he said, clutching his lower back.

"What's the matter?" said Suzy, putting down her guitar and rushing to his side.

"Pulled some muscles in there...I had to really crouch down to get to the U-bend and then I stood up too quickly...hey, are you smiling?" he said, looking sternly at Suzy.

"Oh no...not at all" said Suzy, suddenly looking serious but thinking Neil was adorably dorky with pretending to be some kind of handyman who, instead, strained some muscles.  "Now does it hurt...here?" she said, gently placing her hand on his back.

"Hmmm, yes.  That's exactly the spot" he said.

"Well, let's sit down together and I'll give you a massage" she said.

"That's what I was hoping you'd say" he replied.

"Oh that's wonderful...you just know where to put your hands" said a very contented Neil moments later.

"You're welcome...and thanks for fixing the toilet.  I appreciate your help.  It's like we're a married couple already"

"Alright...give me the list of things to do and I'll make a start" said Neil.  Once he saw Suzy hand him not a one page list, but an entire notebook filled with wedding ideas, he was taken aback.

"Is there a volume two?" he joked.

"Maybe..." said Suzy with a wry smile.

They both headed off to work.  Neil had two 4 hour shifts with 4 hours in between them so he arrived back home at lunchtime.  He'd made lunch and then a few phone calls for wedding venues...two were available on the preferred dates:  Newcrest Chapel and Myshuno Meadows.  Neil booked appointments to go and visit them in person.

After that, he found a book of Suzy's that was lying on a coffee table so he picked it up and browsed through it.  It was a history of Sim City and he found some interesting information that he didn't know about previously:  That the Goth family arrived in the country from Europe in the 1750s, that the Landgraabs were descended from an old Dutch naval dynasty and first emigrated to America in 1810.  The Fengs were latecomers: Victor's parents setting in Sim City in 1920.  The book told of various political struggles and deals struck between the Landgraabs and the Fengs over the years.

Neil read on a bit more and then he suddenly shut the book.  "Wait!" he thought.  "That part doesn't make sense!"  He looked up a section in the index and went to the relevant page.  "Just as I thought...we've assumed the wrong thing all along!  I must tell Suzy!" and with that he shut the book again and went to the phone to call her office.  The polite secretary at Hey Wow magazine told him that she was in a meeting and couldn't be disturbed.  Frustrated, Neil hung up and checked the book again...there was mention of the old Willow Creek tree; first planted in 1880 but no one knows by whom...one day it wasn't there and one day it was a sapling that grew to full size in a matter of months, not years.  Neil went to check it out again.

"Now why would a history book single out one tree in a relatively small and obscure suburb?  Hmmm" he thought on this more and more.  He tried to find the opening Suzy found but today it was invisible.  Another oddity about this tree and mysterious history of the city.

He couldn't hang around any longer; he had another shift in a few minutes so Neil went home, changed into his work shirt and waited around, hoping to catch Suzy and tell her his thoughts about what he'd found.  Alas, he could wait no longer and headed off for work...minutes later, she arrived home: They had missed each other by only 5 minutes.

Had he managed to stay longer, he would have seen that she was upset and angry.  At Hey, Wow magazine a big advertiser had decided not to renew their contract with the magazine.  They claimed the publication didn't promote a "healthy" lifestyle for young people and that it wasn't even relevant to the youth scene anymore.  The news came out of nowhere, there were no warning signs and it left a huge hole in the revenue of the magazine.  Staff and editors were shocked and tried to figure out why this advertiser pulled out:  Suzy suspected the sinister hand of the Landgraabs in all this.  Suzy felt like venting...what she needed right now was to either punch something, hard, or else get rid of the stress...she chose the latter.

"Ugh...why did I have to find that strange page in a random book in the first place?" she thought to herself.  "Why did I allow myself to become wrapped up in the Landgraab's dirty business?"

The citrus scented bath did the work, however, and the tension gradually eased as she relaxed.

Time was marching on and she wanted to get back home but after getting dressed she spotted Alan Cuffe getting ready for a massage.  He waved to her and signalled her to come over to speak with him.

"Suzy...how's my favourite fashion journalist?" he said.

"Well...a lot better for a bit of spa treatment I can tell you" she replied.

"You know, I heard about your biggest advertiser pulling out of Hey, Wow.  That's a huge blow" he said, cutting straight to the point.

"Word gets around" she said.

"Indeed it does.  But not what I'm about to tell you:  I don't want to see Hey, Wow going under because the Landgraabs are being petty so I'm going to buy advertising space to cover the hole in your magazine's budget.  But that's hush-hush at this stage"

"Wow...that's good news, but why would you want to do that?  I thought you were friends with the Landgraabs" she asked.

"I am" he replied in a flash.  "To a point.  You know people have me pigeonholed as this peddler of smut, that I have orgies, exploit women and have no principles."

"Do you?" asked Suzy, boldly.

Cuffe let out a small laugh.  "No one who works for me is ever forced to do anything they don't wish to.  I'm a libertine and a pleasure seeker and I won't deny that my parties can get a bit....racy.  But anyone who attends is there because they want to be.  No, the principle here is bigger than titillation or mere hedonism:  I believe in a free press...what they're doing to you and your magazine now they once tried to do to me...heck, they're still trying to.  I don't want anyone to use their power to silence their critics.  Geoffrey...yes, I play tennis with him occasionally and will be at some of the same social events as him and Nancy but they're thin skinned and think they own this town.  They only mostly own it, but they don't own you or me.  That's why I'm helping you out."

"I appreciate that, Alan" Suzy said.  "Well, all of us at the magazine will."

"Remember; this is hush-hush.  Only you and your boss will know about this." he cautioned.

Those were welcoming, and sobering, words that Suzy took with her on the way home as way of comfort.

As soon as she got home, the telephone rang.  Upon answering it she noticed that it was her boss at work calling.

"Suzy...I know today's staff meeting was arduous but I have some good news for you:  You've been promoted.  Jill was put off by the negative publicity about our difficulties and has defected to Smogue...I want you to take over from her at leading features"

The news was a shot in the arm:  Despite her pessimism, things for her had turned around today.  She felt better and was in a better shape when Neil came home.

"Hey, guess what?" said Suzy to Neil as he entered the house.

"No idea...but if you tell me your good news I'll tell you mine" he replied.

"I got a promotion!" she said.

"Oh really, so did I!  Wow, in sync.  Well congratulations but I have other information that you'll be interested in:  I was doing some research and I have this idea:  The Triangle of Power that runs the city?  We've thought it was the Landgraabs, Fengs and Goths but hear this....I don't think the Goths are part of it at all!  I need to do some more research but it's someone else other than them!"

"So now you're involved as much as I am?" Suzy said folding her arms; impressed by her man.

"To have and to hold" he replied.

CHAPTER 100: The Boutique

 

MAGNOLIA PROMENADE, 6:15am

"I hope you have a very good reason to drag me out of bed by the cold light of a Willow Creek morning" said Jeremy Saint, rubbing his tired eyes.

"I have a very good reason, darling" replied his girlfriend Barbara.  She pointed to a shop across the road.  "There it is...our shop.  I know you've been very busy at work the last couple of weeks but I worked with the decorators, electricians and plumbers and...well...there it is: Complete at last.  Let me show you around inside."

Once inside Jeremy was taken aback by how colourful, vibrant looking and impressive it all looked.  It looked very trendy even without fully clothes mannequins.  It was the layout more than anything else that impressed Jeremy.  There were posters and pictures not just of fashionable models but also pop and movie stars as well.  What appeared as random clutter was actually all part of the artistry on display in the shop:  It wasn't just selling clothes, it was an artistic display as well.

"Wow...you've gone to town on the design!" said Jeremy, taking it all in.

"Of course, sweetie!  Do you like it?" Barbara replied.

"Yeah...I mean, I'm a bit of a square when it comes to fashion but this.  You've brought that Carnival Street..."

"You mean, Carnaby Street" 

"Yeah, that British street with all the hip shops on it...you've done that but put it in Sim City!"

"That was the plan!" said Barbara with pride.

"From the looks of it, every penny we raised is on show here.  Well done!" said Jeremy with pride.  

"And I have you to thank for it all" said Barbara, caressing his cheek lovingly.  "You believed in me, my idea and you got your business contacts to come through." she was touched, and close to tears at this point that her man had made this possible.

"Well, it looks like the only thing missing here are some actual clothes" said Jeremy, nodding towards the undressed mannequins.

"Oh the stock is in the storeroom right now...that's the next big task:  Creating outfit combos.  In a couple of days we'll be ready to open."

"Well, I'd be absolutely hopeless at that task." said Jeremy with an apologetic shrug of his shoulders.  "Now can you spare the time to join me in some breakfast?  I'm starving!" 

Barbara laughed.  She'd been so nervous with anticipation at showing the boutique to Jeremy she'd forgotten to give either of them any breakfast.  There was a café not too far away so they retired to there for some much needed food.

After some nourishment, Jeremy went to work and Barbara headed back to the boutique.  She took a diversion to a nearby park to clear her head of all the excitement and nervous tension of being responsible for a business: Only yesterday did she hand in her notice at Hamburgerman.  The park was tranquil and peaceful.

Her quiet contemplation was interrupted by a large Great Dane dog, which came up to her and started to sniff her hand.  Then it licked it.

"Hey! You soppy dog...that tickles!" said Barbara, giggling.  A young woman came running up to her looking shocked.

"Down, Scooby!  Down!  Cut that out you silly pooch!" said the young woman who looked barely out of her teens and who wore thick lensed glasses.  "You have to excuse my dog...he looks big but he's a big old friendly dog who's frightened of his own shadow."

"That's OK, he seems lovely."  said Barbara, patting the big dog.

The girl looked at Barbara quizzically.  "I'm sure we've met before" she said.

"I think we have too...and it was here as well.  I'd been doing some market research for this shop I was opening and I think me...or at least my friend I was doing the research with...stopped to ask for your opinions on fashion."

"That's it!" said the girl.  "I remember Scooby was acting up then as well." she said, reassuringly patting the dog.  "I'm not a big one for fashion; I leave that stuff for two of my best friends.  Yes, I remember meeting you and your friend:  Velma's my name"

"Barbara...and I'm pleased to announce the shop opens in two days!" she said with a broad smile.

"I'll be sure to let Fred and Daphne...my two friends...know." said Velma.

"It's called 'Pack's Clothing', number 4, Magnolia Promenade" said Barbara, wishing she'd made some business cards or flyers for moments like these.

"Pack's Clothing...got it!" said Velma.  Barbara gave one last pat of the dog and headed back to the boutique.

There she made her very first business call from the shop phone:  To Suzy Kent, Barbara's unofficial fashion advisor.  She needed her presence and input as she'd helped choose the stock that was to be sold and now it was a matter of working out what the mannequins should be dressed in.  Barbara met Suzy outside the shop.

"So...this is it?" said Suzy on arrival.  "Wow...this is....fab with a capital 'F'!" she said, wide eyed with excitement.  "Wow, the colours!  This is absolutely with it!"

"Thank you" said Barbara.  "But there's so much still to be done:  Choosing the outfits for the displays, ordering more stock and publicity...I need to get the word out there." 

"Well, flyers would be a good thing to have.  Get some printed...I know some good print shops that can do them...and get them out there.  Get hold of some helpers who are enthusiastic and can help spread the word." said Suzy.

"Do you know anyone who's enthusiastic, outgoing and not afraid to approach strangers to tell them about the shop?" asked Barbara.

"Well..." began Suzy.  "As a matter of fact I do and he's walking this way now"

"Hello ladies!" said the oddly dressed man who had a smooth, familiar voice.

"Bakko Jang!" said Suzy.  "Dare I ask why you're dressed as a hot dog and wearing tights?" 

"Gotta earn those bucks somehow..." replied Bakko.  "Gigs aren't easy to come by at the moment so I'm doing a publicity stunt for the local diner"

"Bakko..." said Barbara.  "We just might have a publicity job for you and you won't have to wear a silly costume..."

"So I'll print some leaflets, Bakko's going to do some street publicity and you're going to give a write up in your column for the boutique...this is all coming together so fast!" said Barbara.

"I'm detecting some nerves, Babs" said Suzy.

"The butterflies are making merry havoc in my stomach right now!" replied Barbara.

"You've got this" said Suzy, reassuringly.  "Now let's talk outfits.  This season:  Hemlines up, bright colours, low heels, boots, boots and more boots.  For the guys, bright coloured shirts, bold prints, turtlenecks and Cuban heels"

"I've got that...those suppliers you put me in touch with are sending me so much fab gear!"

They worked all the way through morning planning the opening before both decided to have a working lunch...in a fun locale.  The Waterside Warble was a favourite.

"I think we've earned a celebratory drink" said Suzy.

"Isn't it a bit early?  Oh hang it!  Let's live a little!" replied Barbara.

"Here's to Pack's Clothing...and the great success it will be!" said Suzy, raising her glass of wine to toast the venture.

"Sante!" said Barbara in French.  "And here's to my friends and beloved boyfriend...may he be spared mountains of paperwork today...with whom I could not have come this far!"

"Here's to Jeremy!" said Suzy.  A nervous looking woman came to sit with them at the bar.  Suzy noticed what she was wearing:  A mismatched light blue blouse and cut off jeans.  Suzy gave Barbara a nudge in the ribs.

"Why not, subtly, tell her about the boutique?" Suzy whispered.  "It looks like she needs a few pointers"

"Me? Erm, I couldn't!  Couldn't you do it this time....so I can watch and learn!" replied a shaky Barbara.

"You need more sass about you, Babs" said Suzy.  "Hello there, I'm Suzy Kent from 'Hey Wow' magazine...can you spare just a minute of your time?"

The woman looked startled but nodded yes.  Suzy then proceeded to tell her about the new boutique but in a way that didn't out and out criticise her current wardrobe choice but emphasised the need to keep up with trends.  Barbara scribbled down the name and address of the shop and passed it to the woman.

"Thanks.  I might pop around later this week." she said as she put it in her handbag.  

After the lady went to sit, alone, on one of the bar's sofas Suzy said to Barbara.  "Maybe she won't come to the boutique, maybe she will.  My guess is she will; she's looking for a guy"

"How can you tell that?" said Barbara, incredulously.

"Ah, this is where my powers of deduction come in!" said Suzy with a wink.  "She's come here...alone...and is looking at every man who walks in here.  Now a visit to the boutique and you could instil some confidence in her.  I think she'll come."

Barbara checked the time on the bar clock.  "My goodness!  The time!  Jeremy will be home soon!  Once again, Suz, thanks for all your help."

Back home, Barbara had just enough time to rustle up some cheese on toast before Jeremy got in.  A simple meal, but one he was fond of.

"Hi honey, I'm home...dang, I love the way that sounds!" said Jeremy as he entered the house.  "Hmmmmm, that smells good and I'm ravenous:  Mr Gotcha had us work through the lunch break today but forgot to order any food in."

"Rescue from hunger is at hand" Barbara replied.

They grabbed a serving each and sat down.  Jeremy didn't want to talk about his work; he was bubbling with enthusiasm about the boutique.  "So are you ready for opening?" he asked.

"Two days time...I want to get some flyers and maybe posters done to publicise the shop" she replied.  Jeremy nodded.  "But, yeah, the big day will be Thursday."

Jeremy ate his dinner with gusto...like a man who's had to live without food on a desert island who's just been rescued.  "This is so good" he said.  "You know, I think we should celebrate the boutique....if you've got the energy, that is."

"Oh yeah, what do you have in mind?" asked Barbara, she rested her chin on her hand and looked with interest at her boyfriend.

"The traditional way:  Let's head to the Blue Velvet" he said.  

"I like the way you think" she replied.

"Do you know..." said Jeremy as he and Barbara danced together "...this is where my life in Sim City began for me; all those months ago"

"Hi Jeremy, hi Barbara" 

"Hi Suzy" said Jeremy as she entered the nightclub.  "This is the hub.  Oh, hi Bakko"

"Hey Jeremy my man!"

"You've come a long way since then, eh?" said Barbara.

"I was a naïve button down square from Crested Butte at the beginning of this year.  I was in the mailroom, single, no friends, no romance on the horizon...and now...you're starting your own incredible journey.  Hey, nice moves Julia!"

"Why thank you, Jeremy" Julia nodded in reply.

"What I'm saying is that with all the wild things that are going on, we have a hub.  Our home, our street, our community and here's where we come to unwind; together.  Action, how was your trip away with Katherine?"

"Cool man, real cool"

"Glad to hear it.  Aha, I wondered where our buddies at the end of the street had gotten to: Propping up the bar I see.  Liberty talking about rocket vectors, Travis trying that stupid peanut trick and failing, Summer lighting up the room....and then there's you, Babs, the brightest star in my life."

"Mwah!  I love you, Barbara"

"I love you too, Jeremy"

"Hello, big boy...fancy seeing you here" said a tipsy Eliza Pancakes.

"Erm....actually, Barbara and me were just leaving, Eliza.  Weren't we?" said Jeremy, awkwardly.

"Yes!  We've both got early starts" said Barbara, pretending to yawn.  

Later, back home, Jeremy and Barbara took a moment together before entering.  "Sorry about having to bail on the club so soon but, trust me, you don't want a drunk Eliza Pancakes hanging around you." he said.

"I think I was ready to leave anyway" replied Barbara.

"Were you?  Feeling tired?  I'm not surprised after all the effort you've put into getting the boutique ready these last couple of weeks" said Jeremy.

"Oh no, I've got just enough energy left for one more thing to make the evening perfect" said Barbara, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Really, what did you have in mind....oooooohhhh I get it!" said Jeremy as the penny dropped.

"Let me slip into something....more exotic" she said, walking seductively into the house.  Jeremy soon followed.

In the bedroom, Barbara changed into her most sensual lingerie and Jeremy...well, he had some nice pyjamas to wear.  "Oh those won't stay on you for long, lover!" she said before slipping under the sheets.

CHAPTER 99: Agenda

 

George Sneedley relished his breakfast in quiet harmony, the only sound to be heard was the soft strains of a favourite easy listening lounge radio station.

"Hmmm this breakfast is wonderful" said George to his wife, Edna.  "No foreign muck to take away the taste, just honest, fresh, plain food...yum"

"Thank you, George" said his wife.  "Now please don't forget to put on your glasses before you go to work...we know what happened last time and thank goodness the patron didn't want to press charges"

"Yes, dear" said George, meekly.

"I was thinking" said Edna, changing the subject.  "If you've not got anything booked in your diary and I know you haven't as I've checked, I was wondering if we could have a meeting of the League of Decency tonight after you get in from work?"

"I think that's a very good idea" said George.  "Now that there are four of us, we can plan an agenda for what we should do"

"An agenda; what a wonderful idea, George" she said, enthusiastically.  "And what should go on this agenda?  I suggest getting more members as a priority"

"I was thinking uniforms for our League" said George.

"Hmmm, that's a bit far down the road at this stage: We need members" said Edna, viewing George's idea with scepticism.

"A uniform will give us an image, a strong one as well if we design it right.  I've had ideas"

"Well, write them down and I'll add it to the agenda...which I shall type up today with a few other ideas of my own".  Edna said the words with self-satisfaction.  This was her metier:  Agendas, meetings, planning, leadership.

George decided to have a naughty snifter of Tang and Zing before he headed off to work.

Edna did her daily wifely duty of seeing her husband off to work, waving a handkerchief as he headed off.  She took a deep breath, excited by the idea that she was going to prepare......an agenda!

She went back indoors to the study, pulled out a ream of cream coloured typing paper and a steno-pad to make notes on.  Finally, she carefully arranged a row of pens, pencils, sharpeners and a rule in perfect order.  She was ready...

...until there was a knock at the door and she had to abandon her plans.  Looking out the window, she saw Geoffrey Landgraab had arrived for an unannounced visit.  The Lady of the House could not refuse such a distinguished visitor.

"Geoffrey, what a pleasant surprise" she said, beaming effusively.

"Edna...nice to see you.  I was just passing and was wondering if you were free for a discussion.  It shouldn't take up much of your time" he replied.

"Of course, Geoffrey...do come inside.  Would you like some coffee or other beverage?"

"Coffee's fine" he said.  There was something curt and deadly serious in his tone today, Edna guessed what he had to say was very serious.

"Edna, I'll come straight to the point:  Your League of Decency idea, I like it.  I like it a lot and I'd like to help you out...if I may"

Edna's heart skipped a beat but she remained outwardly composed.  After all, it was unseemly to display too much outward emotion.  "Any help from a distinguished pillar of the community such as yourself would be most welcome" she said.

"Further to our previous conversation..." continued Geoffrey "I'm interested in what you have planned for the League to do next"

"Well, we'll be discussing that very topic this evening among our members" said Edna.  "I would say shutting down the activities of Alan Cuffe is a high priority.  Making sure his publications are off the shelves at newsagents, stopping his public parties where his girls parade in next to nothing..."

"If I may interrupt you there, Edna, Alan Cuffe isn't where your focus should be right now."

"Oh?"

"Cuffe's magazine and clubs are designed for men.  It's the youth of today who are in crisis if you ask me.  Now I can exert some influence to curtail his business activities.  For example, I know he's planning on building a gentleman's nightclub.  I can raise local rents in the area, lean on city councillors to delay planning permission...that kind of thing.  But you need to focus on other, more pernicious publications"

"Yes, last time you mentioned 'Hey Wow' magazine.  I can't say I've read it" said Edna.

"It's everything you hate but it hides beneath the veneer of being a harmless teen magazine.  Look beyond the fashion articles and you'll find articles advocating drug taking, fornication as well as printing a bunch of lies" Geoffrey knew exactly what words and themes would trigger Edna.

"Oh my word!" she said in shock.  "How do they get away with it?"

"The First Amendment plus their clever wording that means they can advocate for all kinds of revolutionary and rebellious activities but they get away with it...as you put it...by claiming that was never their intention, it's just other people's misinterpretation.  Oh mark my words, Edna, 'Hey Wow' is nothing short of Communist subversive propaganda disguised as a fashion and music magazine for youth"

"Oh dear...let me refill your cup...you sound very distressed about this matter.  I hope you haven't fallen foul of their smears?" said Edna.

"Not me...I can handle bad press" he lied.  "It's my son, Malcolm.  Now I know the boy hasn't always trodden the path of the straight and narrow...I blame the bad crowd he used to be part of.  They see the name 'Landgraab' and exploited him terribly.  But he's moved on, shown a real interest in his studies of late and, well, he's expressed an interest in becoming more involved in the family business.  But those seditious hacks at 'Hey Wow' won't leave him alone:  They keep hounding him over his past."

Edna went to give Geoffrey a reassuring pat on the arm but pulled away at the last second:  She didn't like that kind of physical contact.  "You mentioned a name last time we met...Suzy Kent" she said.

"She is the worst of the lot.  Did you know she bribed one of Malcolm's ex-girlfriends...erm, I mean, Malcom's ONLY ex-girlfriend...to dish the dirt on him.  Well, that girl needs money for some expensive habits...if you know what I mean...so she told Kent a pack of lies and that hack didn't even bother to check whether it was true or not!"

"Geoffrey, I will bring this matter up at our meeting tonight.  In fact, I'll make sure it's the priority on our agenda"

"Thanks Edna, I knew I could count on you.  Anyway I must be getting on; things to do, people to meet, places to go..." said Geoffrey, getting up to leave.

Edna walked him out to the door, exchanging pleasantries and small talk.  Before he left, Geoffrey turned to her for one final message.  "Of course, if you help me out here I can make a generous donation to your cause.  A very generous one.  Think on that between now and when we next meet"

Geoffrey left and Edna returned to preparing the agenda for this evening's meeting.  Now she had a lead item...

"Did you have a good day, George?" said Edna, greeting him.

"It was very passable" he replied.  "And you?"

"Oh it was very good...and illuminating as well" she said.  "Our guests will be here soon, we must prepare for what promises to be a very interesting evening"

Dr Julia Epstein and local mailman, Scott Urban, soon showed up and the meeting began in earnest.

"Do make yourselves comfortable" said Edna, showing the visitors her lounge room with an elaborate flourish of her hand.  "I have taken the opportunity to prepare an agenda for this evening's meeting.  I shall be chairwoman, naturally, and with that shall we begin?"

Julia, George and Scott looked over the agenda plus at some edifying books on morality and the decline in Western civilisation that Edna had placed on the coffee table beforehand.

"Scott, I do like your suit.  I saw none other than Geoffrey Landgraab...THE Geoffrey Landgraab wearing something similar" said Edna, looking the younger man up and down.

"Thank you, Ma'am, I wanted to look smart for this meeting" he replied, humbly.  

Edna cleared her throat to grab everyone's attention.  "Now item 1 on the agenda is..." she began.

"Uniforms." interjected George.

"Well, that's actually item 2 on the list" corrected Edna.  "Item 1 is new members.  Now do we have any suggestions as to how to attract more people to our cause?"

"We should look for those who are disgruntled, upset and seething at the decline in morality in today's society" said George.

"I meet them all the time on my mail route" said Scott.

"Excellent" said Edna, making a note.  "Scott, may I put that down as a task I can hand over to you?" she said, making sure that the way she said it it was more like a demand than a request.

"Sure, no trouble" came Scott's calm reply.

"Item 2..." continued Edna

"Uniforms" said George.

"Yes.  What do we all think about having a society uniform?" said Edna to the group.

"Sure, I don't mind" said Scott.

"It might help our image" said Julia.

"So that's agreed....what kind?" asked Edna.  "I was thinking smart, noticeable and not showing much flesh.  That's important!  Now that kind of suit you and Geoffrey wear young Scott, that kind of thing would be ideal.  What colour scheme do we think?"

"Black" said George.

"That might appear a bit sinister" said Julia.  "How about black and another colour or two?"

"Black and red?" said Edna.  "Black, red with a bit of white?"

Julia winced.  "Those are the colours of the Nazis, Edna" she said.

"Of course.  Of course we can't go with that.  Any other ideas?"

"Blue" ventured Scott.  "Like in true blue, blue blood, red white and blue?"

"Another excellent idea from you, Scott" said Edna, approvingly.  "So a uniform, smart, not too much flesh in blue and black...and we'll task..."

"I volunteer" said George.

"Very well, George, that can be your task...and I will assist you, of course" said Edna.

"Looking at item 3 on our agenda..." said Edna.  "Activities.  We need to plan our next campaign"

"I've been looking into that" piped up Julia.  "I've noticed that the Kitten Club have been holding meetings and trying to drum up support at the Blue Velvet nightclub in Willo...."

"Thank you, Julia" interrupted Edna.  "That is useful information and we will deal with the Kitten Club in the near future but something has been brought to my attention that requires an immediate response"

Julia went quiet.  George asked "what is that?"

"There is a scurrilous publication freely available in shops aimed at young people called 'Hey, Wow'."

Julia's ears pricked at the mention of that name.  Her friend, Suzy, worked for that magazine.

"Hey, Wow is the kind of rag this community could well do without." continued Edna.  "Not only does it feature the ludicrous fashions that young people are seduced into wearing these days, it also promotes promiscuity and drug taking"

"Reefer madness!" said a shocked George.

"Indeed, George, reefer madness itself.  "There are rumours..." said Edna, pausing at that moment for effect.  "...that it might be a front for Communist subversion"

There were gasps in the room.  "Man, I hate Commies" said Scott, shaking his head.

"As do we all, Scott" said Edna.  "Now it appears that the most suspicious and yellow journalist at that magazine is a Suzy Kent."

Julia bristled at the mention of the name of her friend and neighbour but said nothing.

"She has been writing potentially scandalising articles designed to smear various upstanding citizens in our fair city.  She has to be stopped!"  Said Edna, pounding her fist into the palm of her other hand.

"However, we need to do some background checking into Miss Kent's work and what she gets up to.  Julia, you are particularly adept at research...could I task you to look into her?" again, Edna's requests sounded more like orders.

Julia gulped.  She didn't expect the League of Decency to be investigating her friend.  She thought they were going to go after Alan Cuffe and his soft porn empire but now....this was a curveball.  What to do?  She thought about it:  Edna was probably barking up the wrong tree about Suzy and the matter would peter out.  Maybe do this little request and then focus on bringing down Cuffe?  That's it, Julia thought, I'll fix my eyes on the prize.

"What do you say, Julia?" pressed Edna.

"Erm....yes.  I'll look into Suzy Kent" said Julia, aware that all eyes were on her.

CHAPTER 98: The Engagement Party

                               

One fine Saturday morning, while Travis Scott blissfully slept after a late night with "the guys" playing poker, Summer Holiday and Liberty Lee had a hush-hush meeting to discuss a matter of utmost importance.

"How are we going to celebrate Suzy and Neil's engagement?" asked Summer.  Suzy Kent and her now fiancé, Neil Humphries, were not just neighbours who lived across the road...they were close friends.  Indeed, Suzy was Summer's next best friend after Liberty.

"I hear they're trying to plan a party themselves" said Liberty.  "They want to book the Stargazer Lounge but the cost is pretty high and they have a limit on the number of guests who can come."

"That's a shame...they'll want to save money for the wedding itself" thought Summer.  "Hey!" she exclaimed all of a sudden.  "Why not offer them our home for the party?  I can cook, you can mix drinks and Travis can do the chit-chat and serving.  We have everything they need right here:  A large place, music, food, drink...we hosted a party once before and that was a big hit."  Summer was warming to her idea a lot.

"Sounds like a good plan...when shall we host it?"  asked Liberty.

"What's wrong with tonight?  We've got plenty of food in and our cleaning lady's just been and made the place spick and span.  Let's not wait, let's do this today!" said Summer, positively bouncing in excitement at the idea.

"Whoa, easy kitten!  We should ask them first, they might have other plans!" cautioned Liberty.

"So we thought that instead of you having to book some expensive venue, we could put on an engagement party ourselves at our place for you guys!" explained Summer, a few minutes after she and Liberty had conceived their idea.

Suzy was taken aback.  "That would be great, if it's not too much trouble" she said.

"Pah, we like having parties..." said Liberty, nonchalantly.  "...any old excuse and your engagement is an excellent one."

"So when do you want to throw it?" asked Neil.

"We were thinking tonight" said Liberty.  Neil looked shocked this time.

"Tonight!  Erm, what about our guests...I mean, they might be busy!" he said.

"That's true" began Summer.  "But if enough people can come tonight, what do you say?"

Suzy looked to Neil.  "If we can get most of our friends, we're up for it!" she said, the enthusiasm and excitement was getting to her now.

They sat down and worked out who they wanted to come:  Suzy and Neil the honoured guests, Liberty, Summer and Travis the hosts.  Jeremy and Barbara, of course.  Action...if he was around....Julia, to complete the Foundry Cove gang and Burr DeBenning...an old colleague of Suzy's and Brent Hecking, a friend of Neil's.  Suzy started phoning everyone up and Liberty and Summer went around the other houses in their street to personally invite their friends.  Jeremy and Barbara were enthusiastic about coming but Action was away for the weekend with his girlfriend so they couldn't come.  Julia was the last to be asked.

"This is going swell!" said Summer.  "I had a gut feeling that we should do this today...that so many people would be up for a spontaneous party"

"Most of the people we know have the Saturday off" replied Liberty.

They knocked on Julia's door and she answered it still wearing her dressing gown.

"Hello there, do come in" said Julia, stifling a yawn.  "Excuse the way I'm dressed but I worked the night shift at the hospital and have only now woken up and had breakfast"

Summer and Liberty entered Julia's house and outlined the plan for the party.

"I have nothing else scheduled" said Julia, looking at her diary.  "I think I shall attend this party." she said with a haughty satisfaction.

Heading back home, Summer and Liberty compared notes.  "OK, so we've got us, Travis, Suzy and Neil, Jeremy and Barbara, Julia plus..."

"Gary, don't forget Gary" said Liberty, making a point that her new boyfriend should be there.

"No, I've got Gary on the list" said Summer.  "Brent Hecking and Suzy's colleague Burr.  Suzy made a point that she didn't want either her boss nor Alan Cuffe coming along."

"If Alan Cuffe showed up he'd probably bring a dozen naked women and spike the drinks as well...our place would get wrecked!" said Liberty.

"I'd probably wake up and discover I've somehow become Miss Kitten for May!" said Summer, shivering at the thought.

Back home Travis had staggered out of bed and was making himself some coffee but whilst Liberty decorated the house, Summer got down to preparing the food.

"What the heck's going on?" said Travis, nursing his coffee and looking on at the activity with bleary eyes.

"We're having a party" said Summer.  "Tonight"

"What?" said a startled Travis.

"So get that down your throat and help us by firing up the BBQ and cooking up some burgers and steaks.  Come on, chop chop!" said a bossy Summer.

A couple of hours of frantic tidying, baking and grilling passed.  After that they went to get changed into their party threads, just in time for the guests to arrive.

"I will act as D.J....Libs, you've got the bar.  Summer, you do the meet n' greet" said Travis.

"Oh no, if you're in charge of the music just don't make it non-stop obscure European jazz!" said Summer.

"Don't worry, I've got all the groovy sounds!" said Travis, grinning from ear to ear.

First to arrive were Barbara and Brent Hecking.  He apologised for his 'friend' and housemate, Brandt, not being along as well but their little dog was sickly and one of them had to take her to the vet.  Brent and Brandt always referred to each other in public as either 'friends', 'special friends' and 'housemate' as they were both gay and devoted to each other but not everyone in society would approve of their relationship so a kind of coded language had to be spoken.  Fortunately for them all their friends knew and didn't mind but, nonetheless, the code was always maintained except in the most intimate and relaxed settings.

"Barbara, where's Jeremy?" asked Liberty.

"Tsch, he insisted on going for a training run so he should be along any moment now...he's obsessively running every day now" replied Barbara.

"You're not wearing him out enough" joked Brent.

More guests arrived.  "I believe there's a party with my name on it!" said Neil, entering with a big flourish.

"Neil!  One of the guests of honour!" said Summer.  "And your soon to be intended wife, where's she?"

"Still putting on her extra long eyelashes when I last saw her...she'll be here soon!"

Julia was next to arrive.  "I do apologise if I am late" she said, making her way straight to the delicious looking plate of brownies Summer had baked earlier.

Suzy eventually arrived closely followed by Gary, Liberty's boyfriend.  As soon as she entered the house, Suzy was mobbed by everyone who were greeting her with  "Congratulations!", "I'm so happy for you guys!", "have you set a date yet?" and even "I love those eyelashes".  Gary made his way to the bar where Liberty was and offered to help her with the drinks....Liberty having a deserved reputation as clumsy and a "dropper".  Mind you, Gary was having trouble remembering all the ingredients for the variety of cocktails he was being asked to make.

"The brownies are going down a treat" remarked Travis.  "They are just chocolate brownies, you know?" he added, raising a suspicious eyebrow at Summer.

"Of course they are!  I'm not like one of your dodgy work friends for whom 'brownie' has added extra ingredients" she replied, indignantly.

Jeremy arrived at last but he was still in his running gear...he'd just run out of time to shower and get changed before heading to the party.

"My man, Jeremy!" said Travis, hip bumping him.  "Phew, you're a bit hard on the old nose!" he added, getting a whiff of Jeremy's sweat.

"Is it too bad?" responded Jeremy, anxiously.

"Here, this will cover a bit of it up....I swear by this cologne" said Travis, throwing a small bottle at his friend.  Jeremy caught it and read the label.

"Heave Ho...I've not heard of this brand" he said.

"Trust me, you'll smell of an ocean breeze with some of that on you"

"And that's a good thing?" said Jeremy, not entirely convinced.

"You make a mean Tang and Zing, Gary" said Liberty before she gave him a full on kiss on his lips.

"Whoa, easy Tiger! How many of those have you had?" he replied.

"Hmmmm, this'll be my third.  I think" she said, coquettishly. 

"Well done you" said Summer to Suzy.

"Thanks...I'm still in a bit of shock with all this but I'm happy, very happy.  Phew, it's all so exciting!" replied Suzy.

"He's a lucky guy" said Summer.

"Thank you....now, Summer, as you're my best friend I want you to do me the honour of being my Maid of Honour"

Summer was taken aback and said nothing at first.  Then she warmly embraced Suzy and hugged her tight.  "Of course I will, Suz, of course I will!  This'll be great...I get to plan your bachelorette party!"

"You do love a party, don't you?" said Suzy with a big smile.

Julia had found herself in between Neil and Brent.  She didn't know either of them well but she was in a very talkative mood after having a drink....just one alcoholic drink.

"So you're both into painting, I see" she said, hardly pausing to take breath.  "Brent, I see that you are a professional but Neil you're still an amateur mind you I don't paint but I love art and often go to the gallery for inspiration.  I favour the Casbah Gallery in San Myshuno, of course, but our local Municipal Muses has an impressive collection of work...not on the scale of the Casbah and leaning more towards the classical but nonetheless I like it...."

I think this Brent is interested in what I'm saying...hmmm, maybe he's worth getting to know better...hee-hee, what am I thinking?  Julia, you naughty girl!  She thought to herself as she looked at the tanned, handsome face of Brent Hecking.

Liberty noticed that someone else had arrived: Someone none of them recognised.  Liberty went over to Summer and whispered to her.

"Hey, Summer, do you think that's Burr?" she said.

"I think it is...she did mention he had massive sideburns.  I think the only people he knows here are Suzy and Jeremy.  I'll go and say hello and introduce him to the gang"

Summer walked over to the solitary young man and welcomed him.  "Hello, Burr is it?" he nodded.  "Thanks for much for coming, it means so much to Suzy.  Let me get you a drink...I'm Summer, these are my housemates Travis and Liberty"

Burr lightened up when introduced to people but he looked back towards where Suzy was standing, side by side by her beau...Neil...She looked so beautiful and sexy in her figure hugging outfit and of course she was charming and dynamic as well.  He couldn't help but think I had my chance...and I blew it!

Travis clapped Burr on the back and handed him a beer.  "C'mon, bud, I'll introduce you to our merry Foundry Cove gang.  This here's Jeremy..."

"We've met" said Burr.  "And thank you for all the help you gave when Suzy and I were investigating the Landgraabs."

"One of these days you'll have to explain to me what it's all about!" said Jeremy.

The party continued and everyone was happy.  Some danced, some drank, some ate and some gossiped.  The women were all talking about wedding planning, the men talked about anything other than wedding planning.

Summer and Travis were getting a little tipsy....which led to a loss of inhibitions...

...which did not please Julia, who hated public displays of affection.  Thank goodness the League of Decency aren't here; they would certainly disapprove and would do something to stop it!  She thought.

"So I took your advice, Brent, and upped my running sessions to twice a day..."

"Sorry to interrupt, Jeremy" said Brent.  "But do you smell something like....fish?"

"That's the trouble with being the bartender, Liberty....*hic*....Everybody says to you 'and have one for yourself'..."

"So tell me, Burr, what's the deal with that weird tree at the end of our road?"

"I think it's linked to a tunnel under the Landgraab mansion, Summer"

"Wait, there's a tunnel under the Landgraab mansion?????"

"I wuv you...Liberty Lee, light of my life *hic*"

"Not as much as I wuv youw, Gawy ...erm....Wawy...*hic*"

"Seriously, Travis' cologne must be destroyed for the benefit of all mankind"

"Come on, gang, more music! More dancing!" said Suzy.

"Suzy" said Julia, confidentially.  "That Brent is...what's the word?  'Dishy'.  Is he single?"

"Oh Julia, I've never seen you interested in a guy before but, trust me, you're not his type" 

"Oh, don't tell me he's into buxom blondes or those vacuous model types!"

"Nothing could be further from the truth but...well...he's spoken for.  Let's leave it at that"

"Trust my luck.  The first guy I've met who I'm genuinely interested in and he's taken!  She's one lucky girl!" 

Suzy said nothing but noted that Julia, like so many others at this party (herself included), had a little too much to drink.

Liberty was giving some drunken sage advice to a drunken and depressed Burr.  "Don't give up hope, Burr, the right girl for you might come into your life sooner than you think.  I mean, I met Gary completely by chance...the last time we threw a party here as a matter of fact.  He was walking right past the house as I was cleaning up and we got chatting and...well...look where we are now.  Miss Right could be closer than you think:  She might even be standing right behind you!"

Eventually the party began to draw to a close.  "Come on guys" said Neil.  "I need to find my fiancée:  She was around here, somewhere".

"I have a long journey home and my boyfr...I mean, my main man...will wonder where I've got to" said Brent.

"I must remember where I live" said Burr.

"If Neil's left for home without me he'll be in trouble!" said Suzy.  "Once again, Summer and Liberty, thank you for all you've done for us today.  I really enjoyed it."

"I'm not drunk!" said Julia.

"Urrrurrrggghhh" said Gary.

Other guests stayed behind to help clear up as there were a lot of empty and half empty plates, glasses of all kinds of cocktails everywhere and Summer had suddenly gone to her room to crash out.

Finally, two of the hosts got to get some food and for Travis he hated to see some quality cocktail go to waste.

"I thought that went very well" said Liberty.  "When's the next one?"