CHAPTER 130: One Track Mind

 

Corrrrrrrrrrrr! This is the life! A new house, a new place to live, wide open spaces...not like that cramped apartment we used to live in and I can ride my bike without worrying about whether I'm going to knock someone over or having it stolen. Jamie McGregor; today is the first day of the rest of your life, me laddo! I wonder if there are any cute chicks in this neighbourhood?

I held up my end of the bargain...I sorted out my stuff in my new room, put the posters up; that sort of thing.  Mum and Dad are much better at finding places to put the crockery, TV and hanging paintings up than I am.  To be fair, the removals guys did most of the heavy lifting work, I was only going to get in the way of professionals by interfering; fair's fair.

Now who's THAT?  Attractive blonde lady...maybe a bit on the older side but, hey, she's can move a bit!  Maybe that's who I need to meet, an older, more sophisticated lady who can show a bright and enthusiastic young man of 17 years a thing or two?  Maybe not...getting involved with a woman the same age as my mom is a little freaky.  I wonder if she has a daughter my age?

Well, that's a successful reconnaissance mission...pity there were hardly any people...especially girls...around.  But, early days.  Better get home because Mom's probably made lunch by now and Dad will be hollering for me to hold a shelf in place whilst he drills holes in the wall.  I know my parents so well.

"Ah the wanderer returns...how's the neighbourhood?" 

"Fine, Mom, it's a nice day for a bike ride.  Hmmm, this is delicious, thanks.  Is Dad going to join us?"

"He's eaten already; he's just finishing putting the bookshelf up.  Now..."

Oh, here it comes...the request.

"...I think it might be good if you offered to help with the rest of the unpacking, or..."

"Or?"

"Do your homework.  I'll leave it up to you"

That's Mom's way:  Present me with two less than desirable options and make it sound like I chose one of them.  The last time I helped my Dad do something involving wood, drills and hammers he missed the nail and hit me square on the thumb.  I had a bruise and cut there for six weeks.

"I'll do my homework"

"Oh, Jamie's doing homework is he?  Will wonders never cease?" 

"Ha, ha, Dad.  At least I won't get my thumb hurt this way"

"I told you, I was startled by that pigeon that hit the window that day"

"What subject are you doing there, Jamie?"

"A book report on Great Expectations...although my expectations won't be so great if I keep getting disturbed."

"That's telling us, Myra!  Come on, let's get the rest of the bedroom stuff unpacked"

After I got to grips with Magwitch I felt I had earned a rest.  The advantage of doing your homework on the dining table is that my folks can see that I'm actually doing the work I've been set.  Mom didn't even insist on reading what I'd written:  Maybe, after all these years, she trusts me to do a decent job?  Maybe she sees that I'm 'maturing'?  Becoming a more well rounded individual. 

"Now don't forget to put your name on your book report and put it...carefully...into your school rucksack.  Don't just leave it lying around there; I need to give the table a good clean before dinner!"

"Yes Mom...got the report here!  Oops, I hadn't put my name on the report.  Ha-ha!  There, that's done!"

"Family meeting!"

"What, now Dad?"

"Yes, we must celebrate our first day in our new home!  Come, let's gather on the sofa!"

He's going to do a speech, I just know it!  "Four score and seven years ago this day, we set out from San Myshuno to Oasis Springs to ensure the McGregors shall not perish from the face of this Earth!"

"Now when we set out from San Myshuno last night..."

I wasn't far off

"...little did we know just how quickly we would settle in.  Now this is an opportunity to improve not just this home, but our lives.  We now have space to entertain, to work from home in more comfort and to enjoy a pleasant, quiet neighbourhood."

I won't bring up the subject of whether I can throw a party just yet...

"I wonder what the neighbours are like, Colin?"

"I have no idea, Myra.  Anyway, that bookshelf is now firmly fixed to that wall and now we can bask a little bit...Jamie, where are you off to?"

"I thought I'd go for another bike ride...down to the park?"

"There's a park?"

"Yeah, it's not far.  I thought I'd check it out.  Part of my reconnaissance mission...phase 2 if you will"

I'm too restless right now to lounge around at home.  I need a boost to my social life and if this street hasn't got any talent, I will find somewhere that does...the park seems as good as place as any to start the search.

The house next door looks very smart indeed; not a single thing out of place.  Now, by contrast, the house opposite...if I can call it a house, is more like an old trailer, jacked up on stilts or something like that, and has definitely seen better days.  I wonder what our neighbours are like?  I wonder if the smart house next door has a groovy chick living there?  A groovy, single chick!

Now we've arrived, let's check out the scene....hmmm, it looks pleasant and quiet.  Too quiet.  There's no one here except for that guy asleep on the bench.  Great.  The only other person here is a bum.  OK, looking around, there's a BBQ area, a fishing pond, it's great for the kids who want to climb on that frame...shame we didn't have anything awesome like that when I was 10.  And...what else?  Wait!

That heavenly vision in red!  That might be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen...and I've seen every Julie Christie movie that's been made!  I should go over to her and say hello.  Who am I kidding?  It'll come out of my mouth as gibberish and she'll look at me as if I've escaped from the loony bin.  But then I might never see her again!  OK, what to do?  Take a deep breath, Jamie, walk over cool and calm as you like and say "hello...my name is Jamie...no, James.  Hello, my name is McGregor, James McGregor...oh no, that would sound really bad coming from me...no, I must be cool, more like Dean Martin cool and...oh, she's gone.

Oh well, that's that I suppose.  Let's check out this area...hmmm, nice.  Nice couches, an open fire, a selection of reading...I wonder if there's anything 'spicy' here.  This would make an ideal hang-out.  I wonder why that guy out there doesn't nap in here instead of on a cold, stone bench?  Wait a minute, who lit this fire?

Actually, I like it here.  It even has a guitar just lying around.  I wonder if it belongs to someone in particular or whether it's part of this clubhouse?  I mean, you don't go leaving a guitar lying around if you don't want people to play it?  OK, let's give it a go...

"Watcha doin'?"

"What, wait?  Oh, hello...you startled me there for a moment.  Lost my place in the song"

Not that I'm complaining!

"You're not too bad"

"Well, I'm finding my style, you know?  Yeah, looking into taking my music to the next level and all that"

Play it cool, Jamie, play it cool.

"So, I recognise you but can't quite put a name to your face.  I'm Jamie McGregor."

"Yuki Behr"

"Oh, would you happen to be Candy Behr's sister?"

*sigh* "Yes...not like I can ever escape her shadow.  'Are you Candy's sister?  Can you get me her autograph?'"

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that!  I mean, I don't particularly want her signature or anything...I meant as a way of....erm...clarification, that's all.  Well, erm, do you play any instruments?"

"Yes, but I'm bored with the whole Beat Scene..."

"Oh..." She's a right barrel of laughs.  "I'm new here to this park...so is this a kind of hang out?"

"Yes.  I come here quite a bit.  Mostly high schoolers though.  I'm at Buckingham High.  You?"

"Same...funny how we've never crossed paths before"

"It's a big school"

"So...would you like to hang out... with me... for a bit?"

"Sorry, I'm waiting for my date"

Nghhhh!

"Oh...date.  Going anywhere nice?  I hear that British movie, Afie, is supposed to be good."

"No.  Off to a party"

"Nice.  Well, maybe if you're interested, you would like to go see that movie with me sometime?"

"Maybe...oh, here comes my date now"

"Hi there, Yuki...well, Jamie McGregor...fancy seeing you here"

"Hello Marcus"

Marcus Mueller...thinks he's something special.  The other day he claimed he was chatted up by this cute female doctor.  I don't believe a word of it!  AND he's Yuki's date as well!  How unfair is life?

"Sorry I'm late, Yuki, but are you ready to head on to the party?"

"Whose party is this, might I ask?"

"Oh, don't you know?  It's at Judy Keith's house...hmmm, but then again how would Judy Keith know you?

Thanks, Marcus, rub it in that I'm invisible to Judy Keith...the most glamourous and desirable girl at Buckingham High.

"So I guess you'll be looking after the youth club on your own tonight.  Have a good shift.  Come on, Yuki, we don't want to be late"

"Bye Yuki, have a nice time"

"Bye, Jamie"

Well, that's just great isn't it?  Marcus somehow, mysteriously gets Yuki Behr to go on a date with him AND they get invited to Judy Keith's party!  Well, I have my books, I have my fire and I have my guitar.  Maybe not everyone's going to Judy's party and they'll show up here?  

Hang on, who's that headed this way?

Oh no, it's Cassandra Goth!  Of course she won't be invited to Judy's party; she'd just bring the mood down.  She's heading straight for the club house!  I'll be stuck here with her jabbering on about the 'inevitability of death' or 'the cold, bleakness of space' or some other kind of doom-laden depressing observations on life...or in her case, death!  I wish she cheered up!  OK, Jamie, your bike is over there...it's just a short run...stay low, stay fast and she won't spot you.  Except for this bright, yellow, light reflecting shirt you're wearing!  Oh no, she's getting closer.  OK, it's now or never...just run to the bike, don't look left or right, focus on the bike and get out of Dodge!

CHAPTER 129: Can I Count On Your Vote?

 "Dear Oasis Springs District Council.  My name is Edna Sneedley and I represent the League of Decency, an organisation you've no doubt heard about.  I am writing to complain about the shockingly..."

Edna broke off from typing to consider one word.  "Shockingly"?  That sounded a bit clunky for a letter of complaint.  Maybe "extremely" or "worryingly"...worryingly sounded good; as if to sound a note of warning if things weren't dealt with promptly.  Yes, and she must use the word "promptly" later on.

At that moment George entered the study.  "Good morning, dear" he said.

"Good morning, George.  I'm just writing a letter to our local council after what we saw down at Desert Bloom Park yesterday.  It was very worrying."

"Indeed it was, Edna, you just don't expect that kind of thing to happen in a shared community space.  It's the donkey I felt sorry for.  Can I be of any assistance here?"

"Should I take a polite approach to writing to the council or a more hectoring tone?" she asked.

"In this circumstance I would adopt a tone of concern with a hint of admonition" replied George.

"You're so good with words, George.  This is why I need you."

"How has your first week as an official politician gone?" asked George.

"Exhausting...it's so hard on my delicate feet, George.  I'm out there on the streets canvassing people, letting them know about our cause and do you know it's like talking to brick walls sometimes?  So many people these days are so disinterested in the kind of political issues they should be concerned about."

Edna recalled a nasty encounter the other day with a man on the street who fired a few colourful metaphors at Edna.

"Maybe you need an assistant, a personal escort to fend away those kind of ruffians" said George.  "The next time you go out canvassing and I'll come with you"

"Would you George?  That would be wonderful!  And the next time I don't want to be walking in the hot sun for hours on end...it would be better to go to some cool, shady place indoors."

THE SOLAR FLARE LOUNGE, A FEW MINUTES LATER

"Did you hear?  The Chinese have detonated another atomic bomb!  Apparently their largest one yet...AND Cleveland have recorded their lowest temperature in history!  Snow and ice in May!  I'm telling you, are these two events connected?  Eh?  Eh?" said the old man at the bar.  George and Edna had ordered their usuals and got chatting to the clientele.

"Well, the rise of China in recent years cannot be ignored.  We saw what they did in Korea!  My husband, George, was there.  Weren't you, George?" said Edna

"I was.  Terrible business." said George.

Edna and George engaged in conversation with the people at the bar until some of them drifted away, leaving the Sneedleys to have a quiet discussion. 

"You see, George, this establishment is where we need to be at, not that low brow Rattlesnake Juice Bar.  You get a better class of clientele here, more refined"

"More old people" said George.

"Precisely.  People who have seen better times when standards of decency were both expected and adhered to.  We need to canvas these folks, make them more amenable to our cause.  Let's get another round of drinks in first."

"I do think that talking about the war seems to go over well with the more senior citizens here" said Edna.  "Make a point of telling them that you served in two foreign wars"

"Well, my war record was pretty mundane.  I didn't see much action, except for that one time in Korea when our depot was infiltrated by Chinese spies disguised as cook house workers." said George, shrugging his shoulders.

"The point is you were in the Navy for 14 years and served your country wherever it needed you." said Edna, trying to encourage him.

She worked her political charm on some of the other patrons; including a pair of friends who'd known each other for 20 years.  One of them was staunchly conservative, his friend quite the opposite.

"I mean, look at the way you dress!" said the conservative man.  "What are those slacks you're wearing?"

"I'll tell you what they are, they're comfortable, that's what they are!" replied his friend.

George, in the meantime, was trying to impress himself on other customers but with decidedly mixed results.  He got into a conversation between a man who carried an air of both authority but with a hint of menace and an elderly woman who was on to her 4th drink.  The man seemed familiar to George.  Had he met him somewhere else before?  He racked his brain trying to think of where they'd met.

I didn't catch your name, Mr?" asked George.

"Jacques Villareal." said the man, plainly.

Villareal?  Villareal?  George swore that name sounded familiar.  "Have we met before, Mr Villareal?"

"I doubt it." Villareal replied.

"Hmm, it's just that I've heard that name somewhere before.  Was it in the news?" George asked.

Villareal downed the rest of his drink and placed the glass firmly on the counter.  "Yes.  My wife went missing a few years ago" he said, eventually.

"Oh yes!  I remember now!" said George, sounding relieved.  "Weren't you a suspect for a while?" he asked, tactlessly.

Villareal turned slowly to face George.  "Officially, I still am" he said, quietly, but menacingly.  "I'll be sure to pay close attention to your League of Decency, Mr Sneedley.  Very closely." and with that, Villareal left the bar.

"I can tell you're the strong, silent type" said the tipsy old lady sitting at the end of the bar.

"Who?  Me?" replied George.

"I reckon behind those glasses are the eyes of a passionate man, a man who knows what he wants and where to find it.  A man not afraid to defy social convention..." she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

"I NEVER defy convention, madam.  And I'm a married man!  Begone, and bother me no more!" he said, sternly.

"Trouble, dear?" asked Edna when she returned to the bar.

"Not any more" said George, shuffling a seat further down to put more space between him and the drunk old lady.

"I think you're much better at canvassing than I am" said George.  "You should approach people and I can back you up or add some detail"

"I see some younger people are arriving now...maybe we should change our approach?" Pondered Edna.

"Hmm, that might be difficult" said George.  "We're pretty much against everything young people like these days"

"Then we must model good and proper behaviour...be an inspiration"

They knew they had their work cut out for them when the first man under the age of 40 they spoke to asked "hey, where are the women at?".  It turned out he had only one thing on his mind and that was not something Edna considered to be appropriate conversational material.

At that moment the barman stepped away from serving drinks and walked over to the microphone in the corner.  He switched it on, tapped it a couple of times to see if it was working and cleared his throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen; The Solar Flare Lounge is pleased to present the teenage violin sensation...Miss Eliza Dudley.  Please give her a warm round of applause."

There was a ripple of applause in the club; Edna and George looked on in interest.  "Now this could be edifying" she said.

A young woman in her late teens with flame red hair and wide, heavily made up eyes walked out to the performance area of the lounge.  She was wearing a long, black sparkly evening gown and carrying a violin.  She nodded shyly to the audience, put the violin under her chin and began to play.

"Now this is more like it...it gives one hope for the next generation...although she might want to choose a dress that doesn't show so much décolletage next time." said Edna.

George looked at his watch "Time for work, dear, good luck with the rest of your day.  I hope you convince more people" he said before trudging off to the hotel restaurant where he worked.

Edna purchased another drink from the bar and considered what to do next.  The music here was fine but she felt she'd tapped out the clientele for voter support so with the evening just beginning she pondered where to go next.

"Excuse me, barman...is there anything going on in the city that you could recommend?  Somewhere not horrid and seedy but more cultured and wholesome?" she asked.

The barman stroked his chin and hummed in thought.  "I think the Spice Festival is taking place in San Myshuno tonight.  Let me check the diary."  He reached down under the bar and pulled out a large black book.  Flipping over some pages he came to today's date.  "Yeah, Spice Festival...that's near the Waterside Warble bar.  Do you want me to write this down for you?"

"Yes please, that's very kind" said Edna, smiling enthusiastically at him.  Downtown San Myshuno was what was known as a 'target rich environment'.

THE SPICE FESTIVAL, 7:20pm

The square outside of the Waterside Warble was filling up with lively people, some dressed in exotic Asian costumes, others had donned shorts and t-shirts as it was a warm, balmy late Spring evening.  Edna looked overdressed in comparison but she wasn't concerned; after all setting a good image was her metier.  She noticed the gaudily painted pavement art, the paper lanterns and Asian inspired decorations.  One banner reminded her of a wooden painted piece of art George brought back from Japan in 1953.  There was a sign over a table which read "Take the Taste Test Challenge" and there, laid out on the table were various pots and bowls of food which she didn't recognise at all.  She approached the man running the stall. 

"Good Evening, Madam" he said.  "Would you take the Taste Test Challenge?  We have a variety of delicious foods from all the continents of the world right here.  Each bowl contains something twice as spicy as the previous one.  Sample all 12 and you win a prize of dinner for two at Chez Llama."

"I don't recognise any of these dishes" said Edna.  "So this thing, this event runs every so often I hear?"

"Yes Ma'am" the man replied.  "It's one of the most popular festivals in the city.  Would you like to try the Penne All Arrabiatta from Italy?"

"Yes...that sounds nice, I'll just put my drink down there and try some..." she said grabbing a bowl and a spoon.  She took a small spoonful and gingerly put it to her lips before taking a tiny bite.

"Hmmm, there's a certain amount of picante to the sauce...mostly pleasant...now may I have a few words with you about law and order in this part of town?  How bad is the crime around here?"

"Please, lady, why not try this dish now.  It's from Africa and it's called Suya...it's a kind of kebab cooked in traditional spices." said the man, offering up a plate.  Edna took a sip of her drink and then went to sample the dish.

"Hmmm, the aroma is....interesting....the taste is....OH MY!  OH MY!  PUT IT OUT!  PUT THE FIRE OUT!  DRINK!  DRINK!  WHERE'S MY DRINK?  I NEED MORE DRINK!  ARRRRGHHH, IT BURNS!"

CHAPTER 128: Getting To Know You

 

"Gooooooooooooooooooood morning Liberty!  Isn't it just a lovely day?  I've already been out for my run around the neighbourhood and I'm feeling pretty, pretty, perky and fired up!  And you?" 

"Summer, must you be so...perky and fired up at..." Liberty looked at her watch "...6:13 in the morning?"

"It's the best part of the day!  Why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?" asked Summer.

"Well, me and some of the others at work were celebrating that we're all going to go down to the Cape for the launch next month and we hit the Blue Velvet....hard in my case...so we had a few drinks, then Julia did a set at the piano...she's really good, by the way...and I stayed for a few more...." said Liberty, feeling her temples.

"Say no more!  I know a good hangover cure...let me whisk you up a dose." said Summer, opening up the fridge and grabbing a few ingredients.  

"Ugh, I need to be at work later today, I hope your cure works" said Liberty.  "Lots of things to get ready before I have to leave for the Cape"

Summer handed Liberty a lilac coloured drink and told her to drink it in one go.  Liberty looked suspiciously at the glass, pinched her nose and gulped it down as instructed.  

"That was....an interesting flavour" said Liberty, gurning afterwards.

"Never fails" said Summer.  "So have you told Gary about you going to Cape Canaveral?"

"Oh no!  I haven't!  I must do so as soon as possible...or at least very soon" said Liberty, shocked at her oversight.

"But you must tell him!" said Summer in surprise.

"I know...I'll tell him today but in person.  I'll phone him..." she said, looking at her watch again "...after 8am: at a more civilised time"

"You know, when I was growing up in the countryside we used to get our most urgent business of the day before 8am" said Summer.

"Well, this is Sim City, not the countryside!" replied Liberty.

Liberty left the kitchen but a clunk from Travis' bedroom indicated that he'd just woken up.  As was common in this house, everyone seemed to end up congregating there.  As Summer went to check in on him, she noticed that Liberty was already there.

"Travis, aren't you dressed yet?" said Summer.  "You wake up and start working on your electronics projects before you use the bathroom or have breakfast"

"I go with the electron flow, Summer" said Travis with a shrug.

"I'm jealous Liberty..." he continued.  "I wish I could go see a rocket launch.  The closet I ever got was when we launched Akiko Yamaguchi's '59 Buick from off the top of Acquisition Butte."

"What are you like, Travis Scott?" said Summer, rolling her eyes.

"I'm the way you like me, baby" replied Travis.  "Anyway, for your benefit Summer, I will go and have a shower, get dressed and have some breakfast" he said, getting up and walking out of the room.

"You know, that hangover cure you gave me is starting to work.  I'll freshen myself up and then give Gary a call.  Maybe we can meet down at the park?" said Liberty.

 "Sounds good...I wish I could go to the park as well" sighed Summer.

"Actually, I want you to be there...a bit of moral support for me:  I am nervous about telling him, what if he reacts badly?"

"But three's a crowd and he'll want to spend time with you" said Summer, awkwardly.

"Please be there...you can lurk a bit.  Take in the nature but be there just in case it all goes wrong and I'm crying and he's at his wits end..."

"Whoa!  That's a big assumption there!  But OK, I'll come along too"

"Come along where?" said Travis, entering the room again but this time fully dressed.

"Oh we're off to the park today" said Summer.

"I'm jealous.  Got to go to work soon" replied Travis.

"I'll phone Gary" said Liberty, leaving.

Travis sat down next to Summer on his old bed.  "We should trade this in for a couch" he said as he nuzzled next to her.

"I do like you in that jacket" said Summer.

"I like you with your hair down" Travis replied.

"Why thank you...what shall..." but at that moment Liberty burst into the room.

"He said he'll meet us down there soon!" said Liberty, loudly.

"Terrific" said Travis, flatly, as his little romantic moment with Summer had evaporated.

Travis headed off to work and the girls went down to Magnolia Blossom Park to meet with Gary.  Liberty saw him off in the distance so she shooed Summer away and headed off to greet him...Summer went for a bit of a nature ramble but always kept Liberty and Gary in sight as she really wanted to know the outcome of their meeting.

The two lovebirds gave each other a big hug and went to sit down on a nearby park bench.  They made some small talk before Liberty cleared her throat and got to the matter in hand.  

"Gary...I have to go away for work" she said, sombrely.  

"You do?  When?  Where?" he was taken aback.

"It's to Cape Canaveral for the launch.  I'll be gone for about two weeks at the end of this month and beginning of next one"

"I won't see you for two weeks?  And it feels like I've only just gotten to know you" he replied.

"I know, I know" said Liberty, looking downcast.  "But you know how much my work means to me and this is a really important mission...well, they all are really.  The deadline to get to the Moon..."

"...before this decade is out.  Yes, I remember the president's words very well" said Gary.  "What can I say, Liberty?  You're doing something of great historic importance.  I understand our relationship is not going to be spoken about in the centuries to come!"

"Well, it might" said Liberty.  "Depending on whether you'll still be here when I get back" she added.

"Why wouldn't I be?  Two weeks?  Pah!  It'll be difficult but I think I can manage that." he said.  "In the meantime, we should make the most of the time we have together" he said, smiling at last.

From a distance, Summer spotted the two kissing and did a little celebratory shuffle.  She waited, and waited....and waited...for the two to pull apart before heading back to them.

"Why Liberty, Gary, how wonderful to see you!  All is well I hope?" said Summer.

"Everything's fine" said Liberty.

"Well then, I saw a butcher's van drive through there and stopped him to buy some food for later on...but, heck, why not celebrate with a slightly early lunch right here?" said Summer.

"Sounds good...I'm hungry already" said Gary.

Liberty and Gary played some chess, Summer grilled and any fears that Gary would be devastated and storm off were dispelled.  Their little band was joined by Julia Epstein, who wanted to spectate on the chess game.  "Liberty, your Queen is exposed if you move it there....oh, too late..." said Julia, as she noticed that Gary had moved, quick as a flash to take Liberty's Queen and leave her King exposed.  It was checkmate 2 moves later.

Summer waved and said hello to Julia.  "Hey, I heard you played a great set last night.  You know, I must drag Travis down to the club to watch you play the next time...lunch is ready, will you stay and join us?"

"Is it Kosher?" said Julia.

"It's beef" replied Summer.  Julia nodded and stayed for a bite to eat.

The four of them sat, ate and chatted with each other for an hour before Julia made her way onwards and Liberty had an eye on the time as she had to get to work.  She and Gary took a short walk, away from prying eyes, and they kissed once more before she had to go.  Gary walked back towards the chess and BBQ area and slumped down in one of the chairs whilst letting out a sigh.

"Oh Gary" said Summer "are you bummed out about Liberty having to go?"

"Yes and not just now, but when she has to go to the Cape." he said.

"You know, Gary, that's part of her job and she does travel far with it.  She often has to go to Cape Canaveral, Houston and Huntsville.  I feel sorry for those in the military who have to go far away and for much longer times."

"Do you have any family in the military, Summer?" asked Gary.

"No.  I mean my dad was in the army in WW2 but I wasn't born then.  You?"

"None of my family are currently serving.  Like you, dad was in the army in WW2 but he spent the whole of it in the War Department in Washington.  I had an uncle who fought...but...he didn't make it back"

Summer nodded silently in sympathy.

"On a cheerier note" began Summer.  "You shouldn't worry about being apart from Libs for a couple of weeks.  I feel you're part of our little gang now, how about you come over to our house for a bit and hang out with Travis and myself?  If you've nothing else you want to do"

Gary nodded.  "I have nothing pressing right now and you think of me as part of the gang?  Wow, I mean you guys seem so close knit."

"You're Liberty's beau and that qualifies you for membership too!" said Summer, perking up again.

Gary was swayed by Summer's jollity and the two of them headed back to Garden Essence where Summer mixed some drinks for them.

"There you go; some Mint Juleps!" said Summer.  Gary took a sip

"Hmmm, this is nice, thanks" he said.  "Liberty tells me you're a chef" 

"Chef's a bit of a stretch...I work for a chef.  I mainly do food preparation although I do also tend the bar in the restaurant from time to time."

"Which do you prefer?" 

"Chef's a big responsibility...more skilled, better pay but longer hours and it is intense.  With bar tending it's better for meeting people and socialising." she said.

"You're very much a people person, I've noticed" said Gary.

"There's nothing nicer than putting a smile on people's faces, particularly when they've been sad" she replied.

"Liberty's never mentioned what you do?" she asked.

Gary smiled ruefully.  "Well, a bit of this and that for my father's company.  I'm a kind of troubleshooter, his eyes and ears really.  I visit the various branches, talk to the people on the ground there and feed back to dad and his close associates."

"Is that what you want to do, follow in your father's footsteps?"

"I don't know.  I'm not even the heir, you know?  I'm the middle child so I keep thinking I might branch out on my own one day" and his rueful smile turned into a warm, hopeful one.

Summer smiled and finished her drink and that that moment, Travis came home.  "Hey Summer....oh, hi Gary.  How's everyone?" he said, surprised to see that Summer was entertaining another man on her own.

"Fine thanks, Travis" said Gary.

"I invited Travis home so he could hang out with us and we could get to know the man who has swept our Liberty off her feet a little better" said Summer.  "Can I get everyone another drink?" she added.

The guys nodded and they went over to the bar.  Travis grabbed something to eat at the same time.  

"Travis, you should make an effort to be friendly to Gary" she whispered to him.

"What do I say?" replied Travis.

"Just strike up a conversation...maybe invite him out when you next have a guy's night out?"

"I don't know...I mean, we're a pretty tight bunch"

"Did I mention that his family's loaded?"

"Right...he can get the drinks in" said Travis, suddenly convinced.

Travis wasn't bad at talking with people either and soon the chat flowed and everyone relaxed.  

"It's a pretty nice little community you have here.  I think I've met most of your neighbours now" said Gary.

"Oh this place is just the best!" said Summer.  "You have Jeremy and Barbara and they're the sweetest, most adorable couple you could meet"

"Yeah, Jez is my best friend" added Travis.  "We hang out a lot.  You should join us some time"

"And then there's Suzy and her fiancé Neil.  She's so beautiful..." said Summer

"She sure is..." said Travis before realising what he'd just said.  "I mean, apart from Summer of course"

"...and adventurous as well." continued Summer "I'm often helping her with her journalism with the research and even stake outs!  She's getting married to a great guy as well"

"Then there's Action" said Travis.  "He's a cop and the coolest guy you could meet"

"And Julia you know from earlier.  She's sweet and so clever.  She might seem aloof on the surface but she's got a real heart of gold.  And now we've got you" said Summer, looking at Gary.

"I'm glad you think I'm part of the gang now" said Gary, bashfully.  "Well, this has been great but I too have things to be doing now.  Summer, you're a ray of sunshine and Travis, yes, let me know when you and the guys are doing something together, I'd like to come along."

Gary said goodbye and left and Summer was still buzzing.  "I'm so happy for Liberty...and it's funny to think they met completely by chance!" she said.

"You know, we're FINALLY alone, you and me.  How about we stop talking about everyone else and enjoy what time we've got before Libs comes home?"

"What do you have in mind?" asked Summer, kind of knowing the answer to that one.

Travis went to the record player and put on some music to set the mood.  Then he sat down right next to Summer.

"I was thinking of something like this to start with" said Travis as he put his arm around Summer.

"To start with?" said Summer, playfully

"Oh yes, we get a little close, we whisper sweet nothings in each others ears such as..." and he turned to say something almost inaudible to anyone other than her.

"Oh Travis!  That's a bit naughty!" she giggled when she heard his whisper.

"Not as naughty as this" he said, giving her ear a little, playful nibble.

"You know...I've fancied you for such a long time" she said, looking into his eyes.

"I knew there was some frisson between us when we first moved in here" he replied.

"No.  Before that.  I've fancied you since high school" she said.

"Wait!  We were at high school together?" he said, surprised.

"Oh yes...mind you I was a couple of years below you but even then I thought you were dreamy"

"I had no idea!"

"You had no idea I existed back then"

"Well...no.  You just didn't pay attention to girls two years below you.

"I was kind of fat and spotty as well"

"Hard to believe.  Wow, this is a revelation.  Kismet, eh?  Destiny"

"Destiny.  So...what else did you have in mind for this evening?" she said, flirtatiously.

Travis explained in actions rather than words:  First, they made out on the couch but things got very passionate very quickly and they were half out of their clothes whilst lying on it, kissing and fondling each other.  Then they agreed to rush to the bedroom whilst the intensity was still high.  Travis' jacket, which won him praise from Summer, soon went flying across the bedroom into a pile with Summer's dress.  They dived into bed and made love.  The dream that Summer Holliday had since 10th Grade had come true.