CELEBRATE
HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN?.........by Coralynn
LOCAL RESIDENTS IN SKIN-FLICK! COP CLAIMS TO BE FATHER OF ROSAMOND GWINNETT'S BABY
GOOD
TIMES
C'MON!
Abby Bennett awakens and wonders why she feels so happy. Ohh, right......Rose Gwinett was exhonerated! That's it! And, what a time Jeremy and I had celebrating. I like that guy, I really like him. Since this case is over, I wonder if I'll be able to get hired on here permanently. It's worth a try.
William, clad in his pajamas and slippers, walks out the front door to fetch his five morning newspapers. The day is mild and promises to be sunny. He stretches and then walks briskly to where the papers have been thrown......three on the driveway and one on the lawn, the other in the bushes. Will they ever get someone with a better aim? he wonders. Ahhh well, I'm not going to grouse over anything, not today, not since Rose has been declared innocent.
After re-entering the house, he tosses the still bundled papers on the kitchen table and pours himself a cup of coffee. The aroma is heavenly and the slight steam arising from his newly filled cup assures him that all is right with the world.
Imagine his shock when he sees the five headlines:
ROSE GWINETT FOUND NOT GUILTY ON TECHNICALITY!
FAMED PSYCHIC CLAIMS TO HAVE BROKEN MURDER CASE!
AUTHOR OF MEDIEVAL BOOK HAULED IN ON OBSENITY CHARGES!
CONQUERING CHEF STAR HARBORING XXX RATED ACTORS!
"WHAT?!"he bellows, which rouses some of the others who, until then, were sleeping peacefully.
Eleanor, Celeste and Marilyn wake with a jolt and are soon padding into the kitchen, yawning. "What is it this time, William?" Eleanor asks.
He points to the headlines, "What in thunderation is all this about?!"
The three women read the headlines. "Remember when you got that video in the mail a few days ago?" Celeste reminds him.
"Vaguely. There were more important things to think about at the time. What was it anyway?"
Marilyn goes into the other room, returning with the video, "It says here, 'Time and Chance, the adult version.'"
"And that means what?!" William can't bring himself to admit he knows what it means.
"Well, let's find out!" Eleanor leads the way into the living room, and by the time she has the video playing, the others are seated on the soft leather couches and the chairs with the levers on the side.
Just the starting credits make them all sit forward, amazed. What, how, who?!
"This is disgusting!" William prepares to stand and leave the room.
"Sit down, William, I said sit!" Celeste says firmly.
He sits, but groans as the film unfolds. After ten minutes of watching this garbage, he declares, "I'll sue! That's what I'll do.....sue! Who made this piece of *#$& anyway?"
Marilyn turns off the VCR player, ejects the tape and looks all over for the name of the company responsible.
"The only name on it is 'the XXXXX and aren't you glad' company."
She hands it to him. "I shall get in touch with this company today.....or better yet, I wonder if Patrick O'Malley is up yet. He did such a masterful job of defending Rose. Wonder if he's as effective at prosecuting a case because I am going to SUE!"
He stamps out of the room and back upstairs. The others look at each other and grimmace. "The big guy has found a cause!" Eleanor states, "Get out of the way, he's coming through!" which causes the others to laugh and do high-fives all around.
TIDE'S IN, BLOOD'S OUT.....by Terri
John and Rose laid wrapped in each other's arms. It was the first good night's sleep either of them had in over a month. The sun in the window woke them up.
"Mmm....I could stay here forever!" Rose murmured as she snuggled down deeper in the blankets. John said, "Ro'?"
"Hmm?"
"What do you want to do with the kitchen?"
Rose said, "Oh. That. Why don't we just sell the house, John, and buy a new one?"
John said, "Rosamond Gwinnett, you are out of what is left of your mind! No way am I going to sell that house. I am willing to redo the kitchen. But sell it? After all the work we put into it? No way!"
Rose said, "All right. I'm sure Murph will do it. But I will NOT set foot in that house until the kitchen is totally redone. I want new cabinets, too. Maybe Murph can use them in another house. And definitely the floor needs redone. You can't get bloodstains out of..."
John hushed her with a kiss. "Don't gross me out, Rose."
Rose said, "I found one stain Tide WON'T remove. OH! And John?"
"Mmm?"
"I think I need a new knife set."
"That goes without saying, love."
From downstairs, they hear William bellowing. "Uh, oh. Big Guy is upset. Again."
THE ELTON JOHN CONCERT.........by Coralynn
"I know Billy Joel, but Elton John?" Marilyn asks Eleanor, "Does he sing and play the piano at the same time, too?"
"Yes, and if you like Billy Joel, which I notice you do because of the stack of his CDs you have piled up, you'll love Elton John!"
"I'll take your word for it!" Marilyn says cheerily as they go out and slide into Eleanor's car. "I'm up for anything! Now that Rose's trial is over, it's time to have fun again!"
"For sure! Too bad she couldn't come, too. That would have made it even better, but she's trying to decide on what to do about the new house they bought. It was 95% done and ready for them to move into, then that had to happen!"
"If I were her I'd do over that kitchen, especially the floor!" Marilyn's face twists in disgust, "All that blood!"
"Right. She'll have Murph tear up the flooring right away. But, changing the subject to something more pleasant, how could you not have heard of Elton John, Marilyn?"
"When I was whisked off to come here in 1961, he wasn't a singer anybody had heard of yet. He was probably just a little kid, so....."
"So was Billy Joel, though, and you know his music."
"And today I shall add to my repetoire......Elton John......bring it on!"
They have tickets to a matinee, and are sitting in the second row.
After they get settled, Marilyn exclaims, "These tickets must have cost an arm and a leg, El! The second row!"
"We don't go to concerts that often, and since I get paid an obscene amount of money for that little Wonder Woman Sportscaster gig, I can afford to splurge."
"Where's the popcorn?" Marilyn starts looking around.
"No popcorn. This isn't a movie theater," Eleanor explains.
"Ohhhhh, I was hoping I could have some popcorn," Marilyn sighs.
"Once the music starts, you'll forget all about it!" Eleanor promises.
The houselights dim and the curtains part to show a grand piano. Marilyn and Eleanor sit up very straight so they miss nothing.
Thunderous applause greets Elton John as he strides onto the stage, does a gallant bow, and takes his place on the piano bench.
"He's cute!" Marilyn whispers.
"Shhhhh, he hates it when people talk during his performance," Eleanor warns.
"Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane....I can see the red tail-lights heading for Spain, Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye..."
Marilyn smiles at Eleanor and mouths, "I like it! How pretty!"
Eleanor smiles back.
When that song ends, the audience goes wild.
The next song is uptempo:
"Hey kids, shake it loose together the spotlight's hitting something that's been known to change the weather, We'll kill the fatted calf tonight so stick around......"
That song ends and before the audience is done clapping, he begins,
"Blue eyes....baby's got blue eyes, like a deep blue sea on a blue, blue day...."
Marilyn closes her eyes and melts as the song goes on.
But opens them fast when he sings, "I can't light no more of your darkness, All my pictures seem to fade to black and white. I'm growing tired, and time stands still before me. Frozen here on the ladder of my life........."
"Oh he understands," Marilyn whispers, "I love him!"
"Told ya!" Eleanor whispers back.
His next song picks up the tempo again: "I remember when rock was young, Me and Susie had too much fun....holding hands and skimmin' stone, had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own..."
Many of the people in the audience rock back and forth in their seats to the rhythm. Marilyn sees this and does the same, a huge smile on her face.
When the applause dies down after that song, Elton John turns to the audience and announces, "This may be my favorite song....."
Marilyn is eager to hear what his favorite song is; after all, the ones he's sung so far are great! One of them is even better?
"Goodbye, Norma Jean, though I never knew you at all you had the grace to hold yourself while those around you crawled..."
Marilyn's eyes grow big as she looks at Eleanor, "That's my name!" she whispers. Eleanor nods and puts her index finger in front of her lips.
"They crawled out of the woodwork and they whispered into your brain. They set you on the treadmill and they made you change your name..."
Marilyn is listening carefully now, change your name? YES!
"It seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind, never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in. I would have liked to have known you, but I was just a kid......your candle burned out long before, your legend ever did...."
"He was just a kid!" Marilyn exclaims as she recognizes the phrase.
Eleanor is not quick enough to shush her, and when Elton John hears the disturbance, he stops playing, and strides to the edge of the stage.
Eleanor hides her face, "Oh-oh! I warned you!"
"Who?!......" he is about to chew someone out, and as his gaze comes to rest on the blond in the second row, his mouth falls open and he faints dead away onto the floor.
Pandemonium breaks loose as his handlers rush onto the stage to see if their star has had a heart attack or stroke.
"He recognized you!" Eleanor tells Marilyn, "We've got to leave!"
"Whaaaaa......" Marilyn tries to object but Eleanor has her by the arm and rushes her up the aisle and out the doors. People in the aisles they pass are so fixated on what just happened to Elton John that they don't notice El and Marilyn.
An annoucer comes forward and tells the audience, "Elton John has had an episode of some sort, and is being taken to the hospital for tests. As you leave, you can pick up complementary tickets to his next conert. Thank you for your understanding."
As he's being loaded into the ambulance, Elton John's eyes open and he declares, "I SAW HER! I saw Marilyn Monroe's ghost sitting in the second row!"
The paramedics try to sooth him, but he is becoming more agitated, "I tell you, she has made a visitation! She appeared! I'm not crazy, I saw her!"
The ambulance pulls away and as it turns on its siren and takes a corner on two wheels, it barely misses hitting a car heading out, with two women riding in it, one saying to the other, "Norma Jean! Do you think......could it be?"
"Yes! I know that song. I'll play it for you when we get home. It was written for you, Marilyn!"
Chills run up and down Marilyn's arms and legs, but all she can express is, "Wowwwww......"
WHO'S ELMER JAMES?....by Terri
"Murph? It's John."
"Hey, I've been expecting your call. I am guessing you want to wrap the house up like yesterday. I think I only have about another week's worth to put the finishing touches on it."
"Well, guess again, Murph."
"You don't like something I did? We did it exactly like discussed, John..."
John interrupted. "No, what you did is fantastic. Murph, you haven't been in there since the, uh, unfortunate incident."
Murph said, "No, I haven't."
"Well, it's kind of a mess. I have hired a crew that comes in and cleans up after, uh, nasty stuff happens. But Rosamond will not set foot in the house as long as that tile is there. I am sending her over to the tile store today to select new tile."
Murph said, "Good idea. How are the cabinets?"
"Fine, I think we will leave them in. Just the floor needs replacing."
"OK, I'll send Kevin over there tomorrow with a jackhammer. Then we can replace the tile."
"Great. How long before we finish now?"
"Oh....probably about three weeks now. By the time we chisel out all the tile. Don't forget, it matched in the hallway and the living room..all through the downstairs. Not a small job."
John sighed. He so hoped to be settled in. "Sure, Murph. Do what you have to."
"OK, John. Hey, congrats on the new little rugrat-in-waiting."
"Thanks, Murph. It took us by surprise."
"Oh, John..I have to ask you a question. Hey, buddy--did you ever see Amityville Horror?"
John groaned and hung up the phone.
Rosamond came back from the tile store. "I picked out a soft beige-pink tile. Textured. It should go well with the new cabinets I picked out."
John said, "News flash for Rosamond. No new cabinets."
Rose wailed, "But, John,...."
"Un,un. Putting my foot down. There is not a thing wrong with those cabinets. They stay."
Rose said, "Alright. But when the walls start to bleed, don't come freaking out to me. Because I'll be back here so fast your head will spin."
John said, "Where's Eleanor and Marilyn? It's so quiet here."
Rosamond said, "They went to an Elmer James concert."
"WHAT??"
"Elmer James. That guy that sings 'Alligator Rock'".
John shook his head uncomprehendingly. Rose said, "Oh, John, you know...he sings
'Don't Let the Candle Blow out in the Wind.' "
John shook his head. "Just keep reading your decorating books on how to stop walls from bleeding, hon."
She stuck her tongue out and continued to read.
John put on his jacket. "I have to go to the store. Anything you need?"
Rose shook her head and was looking through a Christopher Lowell decorating book."Nothing on bleeding walls in here. Wonder if primer will stop it.."
John kissed the top of her head and laughed. "Right. No more late movies for you. I'll be back soon."
Within ten minutes he was at the Grand Union. He thought, it was a year ago that we used to meet here secretly. Waneda Sue was blackmailing us and Rose was cheating on Billy Bob with me. Now here we are married and with another baby on the way. A new house. A real family. Three kids down, nine more to go...
He picked up his beer and snacks for the Yankees game that night. Roger, William, John and Jerry were planning on watching the game. He glanced over at the magazine/tabloid rack. He did a double take. There on the front page of the STAR
read--
He grabbed a copy and added it to his purchases. The checkout girl fluttered like she always did when John came in. "Oh, Mr. Gwinnett! You have a good day!"
John was distracted. "Hmm? Oh! Oh yes, Tiffany. You too."
He stuffed the copy in his bag and walked briskly out to the car. Tiffany leaned over to Heather in the next checkout lane. "Ooh, he's such a dreamboat! I just LOVE checking him out. I mean..."
Heather laughed. "I know. I checked him out a long time ago. Then I noticed how deep that wedding band was cutting into his finger."
Tiffany sighed, "One can only hope..."
THE BLOND IN THE SECOND ROW........by Coralynn
William is sitting in his lounge chair with the lever on the side wearing headphones, listening to his favorite classical music station on the radio. The 3rd movement of Beethoven's 9th symphony is playing as William conducts with his left hand, making a mental note to compiment Luke on writing such a delightful piece.
His reverie is interrupted, however, by an announcer cutting into the music. William frowns in annoyance, but listens......"News flash! Elton John has been rushed to the hospital after collapsing at his concert today. He insists he saw Marilyn Monroe sitting in the second row. This occurred during his rendering of "Candle in the Wind," which was written about the famed sex-symbol actress, making his claim of seeing her ghost seem almost plausible. Back to your music...."
William whips off the headphones just as he hears Eleanor and Marilyn enter the house. Getting up from the lounger, he confronts them in the hall, "I say there, you're back from the concert early. Did something happen to the performer perchance?"
"YES!" Marilyn tells him as she hangs up her spring coat. "He fainted! He saw me in the second row and dropped to the stage like a stone!"
"They had to take him off to the hospital," Eleanor adds.
"Nobody noticed us leave, either, so...."Marily begins.
"So, ladies, they rudely interrupted my enjoyment of the third movement of Luke's 9th Symphony with the announcement that this Elton John fellow was taken to the hospital, claiming to have seen the ghost of Marilyn Monroe sitting in the second row! Did you know that?"
"Jeeeeeeeez, William, the last we knew he was flat on the floor..." Marilyn tells him.
"So you just breezed right out of there while the poor man could have had cardiac arrest?"
"What good would our staying have done," Eleanor points out, "All he would have needed was another glimpse of Marilyn.......that might have done him in but good!"
"When you cause a traffic accident, you stop!" William says sternly.
"What accident?" Marilyn wrinkles up her face.
"I'm using that as a parallel incident. You knew full well that you caused this, yet you bolted, which I don't consider very humane of you!"
"Hey, if it'll make you feel any better, we can visit him in the hospital," Eleanor suggests.
"And scare him all over again?" Marilyn objects.
"You'd best do something about it!" William begins walking out of the room, "And soon."
"What do you think, El? Should we visit Elton John in the hospital?" Marilyn hates to be thought inhumane.
"I suppose. Do we tell him that you're not a ghost but living here as a real live person?"
"I think we'd better," Marilyn says as she retrieves her coat and puts it back on.
Eleanor does the same and, as they leave the house, yells loudly over her shoulder to William, "We're going to the hospital William! And if he keels over the minute we walk into his room, it's on your head!"
TAKES A LICKING & KEEPS ON TICKING....by Terri
John walked to his car, seethinig all the way. Damn!! ^&^$%!!! Why can't everything go smoothly? Am I going to have an eternity of this? Yes--because I'll never die! He sighed heavily and got into his car, turning the ignition with more force than needed. He stepped on the accelerator heavily, leaving skid marks in the parking lot.
The bag boy getting the carts together thought, 'wonder what is bugging Mr. Gwinnett?' shrugged and collected his carts.
The more John thought, the more he got ticked off and the faster he drove. In the rear view mirror, he saw the dreaded blue lights of New York's finest.
"Aw (**&^!!" he said to himself. He pulled over and got his driver's license and insurance card out of the glove compartment. Oh, this is just great! he thought.
He rolled down the window. As it was rolled down halfway, the police officer pushed his motorcycle helmet face shield off his face. He started to say, "Do you have any idea why I stopped you?" but he stopped after that.
John looked up and into the face of Travis McGee.
Who was more surprised was mere conjecture.
John tried to play it cool but inside he was furious. "No, officer, I DON'T have any idea why you stopped me. NONE AT ALL. OH! Wait! Could it be that I just came from the store and bought a copy of the STAR? COULD THAT BE IT? HUH? HUH?"
John unfurled the tabloid and shoved it under Travis' nose. Travis' mouth dropped open. He backed off and stumbled around. "Uh, uh,, let's watch that speed, OK?"
And before John could get anymore words out,. Travis was back on the motorcycle, a cloud of dust the only clue that he had ever been there.
John was more than furious by this time. That *&^%! He tried to collect his thoughts. I'm so sick and tired of everyone getting away with everything and Rose and I are usually left holding the bag. And it is high time I did something about it. He picked up his cellphone and dialed his beloved wife.
"John? Is the store crowded?...well, how long does it take to pick up some beer and chips?....no, I put the Christopher Lowell book back. I just can't find anything to prevent walls from bleeding...Oh, I am NOT crazy! I saw it happen...never mind where...but it happens!....I just KNOW!...well, what time are you coming in?...You WHAT?..I never heard of anything like it....hello? Hello? JOHN?? Are you still there?...."
Rose hung up the phone. William said, "Problem, Rosamond?"
Rosamond stood up and arched her back to get the kinks out. "I don't think so...William? Do you know anything about clocks and their maintenance?"
William said, "Not really. All I know is that you either replace the battery or throw them out. Except for Big Ben. Why would you ask that?"
Rosamond grabbed for another decorating book. She said, "Hmm? OH! Oh, it was just something John said. He's going to be a bit late. Said he has to help a friend with a sundial or an hourglass."
William was puzzled. "What?"
Rose knitter her brow in perplexity. "OH! Now I know what he said! He said, 'Rose, I'll be a bit late. I need to clean someone's clock.' Yeah. That is what he said. Now where did I put Gran's potion book? I'll bet she knew what to do for bleeding walls..."
John slammed sideways into a parking place at the police station. It was a manuever that put the Blues Brothers to shame. He stormed into the police station. Officer Joe Malone looked up from his six jelly donuts and looked nervous. Alan Carson was at his desk.
John tried to keep his cool but he was losing the battle. He said through clenched teeth, "Where is Travis McGee?"
Alan motioned John into a conference room. He said, "I need to say something, John. I am sorry about having Rose go through the trial."
John retorted, "What I can't believe is that you suspected my wife to begin with. Rose, of all people!"
Alan nodded. "Jeremy and Abby were convinced of her innocence. They worked hard to clear her and they came through at the eleventh hour. I--I'm sorry, John. I was so distraught. Don't forget, I had a girlfriend murdered. Murdered, John! Do you know what that is like?"
John said, "No, but I know what it is like to have your wife on trial for murder and facing twenty-to-life."
Alan said, "I don't know what to say, John..."
John interrupted him with a wave of his hand. "Later. I have other fish to fry. Now, where is that big carp---Travis McGee?"
Alan said, "I think he is on duty patrolling."
Officer Malone knocked on the door, wiping the powdered sugar off his uniform. "Uh, I think I know where Travis is, Alan. He called in about a half hour ago. Something about a sick stomach and he got Scardaletti to fill in for him..."
John turned on his heel and strode to the door. Alan called out, "John....?"
But John said over his shoulder, "Later. Unfinished business."
John jumped in his car and grabbed his cellphone. He angrily punched the number to the fitness center. "Body Shop...Rafe here."
"Rafe? It's me. Look, I need you to go in the files and get me the address of a member. Travis McGee. That is M-C-G-E-E."
The sound of a file cabinet and papers. Rafe came back on the line. "Here it is. It's 6748 Rush Street. Hey, John...Hello? Hello?"
THE VISITATION.............by Coralynn
Eleanor and Marilyn park in the Visitor's Parking lot at the hospital, but before they exit the car Eleanor suggests, "Why don't you put on some sunglasses so you don't cause a sensation walking into the hospital?"
"Good idea. Have a scarf I can tie around my hair, too?"
"I have the perfect one!" Eleanor reaches into the glove compartment and hauls out a scarf that has black hair sewn onto it.
Marilyn bursts out laughing as she puts it on, vewing the effect in the mirror, "Hey! Look at this! I have curly black hair! What a hoot!"
"You look nothing like youself, that's for sure!" Eleanor laughs as they exit the car and walk toward the entrance to the hospital.
They approach the counter where visitors are required to stop before going to a patient's room.
"We're here to visit Elton John," Eleanor tells the nurse.
"You and a couple hundred other people!" the nurse replies.
"But we're personal friends of his...." Eleanor explains.....
"Yeah, where have I heard that before?" the nurse seems unyielding.
Marilyn then tries, "We flew in all the way from Toronto! I'm his cousin, sent by the family."
"Oh my, family, huh?" the nurse isn't buying it, any of it, but begins to see the two women as non-threatening to the patient's well being.
She pushes two passes across the counter and hopes she's not making a big mistake.
Marilyn and Eleanor take the passes and smile, "Thank you so much!" Marilyn says in the breathy voice she always used in her movies, which causes the nurse to do a double-take, but then dismisses it from her mind as just another odd coincidence.
Eleanor looks at the room number on her pass and walks briskly to a bank of elevators, Marilyn following on her heels.
Within a few minutes they've located the room Elton John is in. The two women look at each other, take deep breaths and tap on the door.
A weak sounding voice comes from the other side of the door, "Come in."
As the enter they see Elton John lying in the bed with several I.V. hookups. He turns his head and sees them. Who are these two? he wonders, and how did they get in here?
Eleanor is the first to sit in a chair at his bedside, "I am so sorry about what happened to you at the concert. We were there, Marilyn and I, that is, and....."
He looks at the other woman and sees a black haired woman with huge dark sunglasses. She smiles, then removes the scarf which removes the black hair as well, and takes off the sunglasses.
He gasps, "It's you Marilyn! I knew it was you! I told them your ghost was sitting in the second row........"
Marilyn sits in a chair by Eleanor and continues to smile.
"How come you look so.....uhhh. 3 dimensional?" he is totally flummoxed.
"Elton, may I call you Elton? I am Marilyn Monroe, but I'm not a ghost."
"So the tabloids were right?" he sits up suddenly, "You were taken away somewhere and now you have come back to claim..."
"I wasn't taken away anywhere.......Elton, if I were still alive, I would be an old, old woman right now."
"You look just like you used to! How did you do that, Botox injections? Chemical peels? Face lifts? Who was your doctor, because he or she sure did a bangup job!"
"No, you misunderstand. Eleanor here," she gestures toward El, "and a few of her friends time traveled back to 1961 and brought me forward in time so that I wouldn't die in August of 1962."
The two women can see Elton John struggling with this new piece of information, then he asks, "Time traveled? Like in that Jules Verne book?"
"We have easier ways than that. Please believe us that we did indeed rescue Marilyn in 1961 and she is alive and well in Westchester County," Eleanor explains.
"OH this changes everything!" he seems upset, "I'll have to change the words of that song! But to what? 'Seems to me you lived your life like a.......Houdini escape artist'?"
El and MM laugh, and soon Elton is laughing as well.
"You mustn't breathe a word of this to anyone.." Marilyn tells him seriously. "They'd think you totally round the bend!"
"Like they don't already?" Elton makes fun of himself. "Maybe it's the medication they gave me, but I think I'm being visited by Marilyn Monroe, who is not dead, and is living in Westchester County with a group of time travelers. Is that it, or am I hallucinating?"
"Exactly! No hallucinations. And don't change a word of that song. It's wonderful just the way it is," Marilyn touches his arm, the one without the IVs. He reaches over and holds her hand. "Sure feels like a live person," he rejoices.
"We'll keep in touch," Marilyn promises as she and El stand, getting ready to leave, "Here's my cell phone number."
Just as they cross the threshold out into the hall, and as the door is slowly closing, they hear him remark, "Norma Jean with a cellphone, who would've thought?"
CELESTE GOES FOR IT................by Coralynn
Marilyn explains what happened at the hospital to the group, who laugh, for the most part, except for William, of course, who groans and tells her she's created a monster.
"He'll tell!" William keeps saying.
"No he won't, William," Celeste insists, "I know of this singer, Elton John. Don't forget, I'm in my normal timeframe and I have memories of every single song the man wrote and sang. He reveres Marilyn too much to break her trust."
"Pshaw!" William leaves the room.
"Celeste, can I talk with you?" Marilyn requests.
"Certainly, dear, come back to my room," Celeste answers as they walk back to her little suite on the first floor.
After the door is closed, Marilyn sits and tells her, "Celeste, I'm concerned about Rhys. I spend about half my time over at Moose's house, and Rhys is almost always there moping around."
"I communicate with Magaera from time to time," Celeste reponds, "and she says she and Rhys are both in spirit and quite happy."
"Thats the freakish thing about this, though. He's in two places at once?"
Celeste laughs, "It appears that way. This timeframe time-travel subject is not easy to grasp and seems to contain a mass of contradictions, but there you are....."
"What do you think, could we bring her here too?" Marilyn gets a hopeful look on her face.
"We could. We'd have to be careful to bring her into this century before she becomes pregnant with John and Daniel, however. If we brought her here in her pregnant state, she'd have twin boys named John and Daniel right here in the 21st Century. Talk about freakish!"
"Oh my God! Two Daniels! It's enough to make your flesh crawl!"
"Right. So lets you and I take a little trip right now. Go to her the day before she becomes pregnant."
"Rhys was still in the area then!" Marilyn tries to grasp what the situation will be if they go back there.
"Indeed. We'll have to tell her something to lure her away. How about we tell her that Rhys is waiting for her in another town?"
"Then she finds out she's whisked forward about 350 years!"
"That would be a jolt to anyone, but if we explain what happened...."
"Would she believe us, considering it hadn't happened to her yet?"
Celeste chuckles, "Let's try it and see how it goes! Ready?"
They say the right words, touch the t/t coins and off they go.
Magaera is sitting looking out over the water, hoping her father doesn't notice when she slips away to meet Rhys in their secret place.
Two strangely dressed women appear as out of nowhere, which startles her, but her curiosity is almost as strong as her sense of danger.
They walk over to where she's sitting and the older of the two says, "Hello, Magaera, we've been sent by Rhys Morgan to escort you to the town in which he is awaiting you."
Magaera's eyes squint up in disbelief. They know about Rhys? How?
"He sent you?"
"Yes, dear. Let me help you up from that chair, and we can take you to him." Magaera extends her hand, and when the other woman touches it, she opens her eyes and is in a large room. Rhys is in the room, and when he sees her he rushes over and envelopes her in an embrace.
After several moments of great happiness, Magaera looks at her surroundings. "Where is this, Rhys? This room looks not like any other room I have ever seen!"
MR. BUTTERFINGERS.......by Terri
John pulled up in front of the brick house with its spring flowers blooming. The lace curtains were hanging in the window and the porch was immaculate. He walked purposely up the walk and knocked on the door. "Yes? May I help you?" A plump pleasant faced woman answered the door. John said, "Is this where Travis McGee lives?"
The woman said, "Yes, it is. I'm his mother. And you are....WAIT! I KNOW! You are that divinely handsome Brad on As the Planet Turns!" She fluttered. "Come in, come in! OH MY! Please! SIT! SIT! Oh my, the girls at my bridge club will not believe this! Please! Let me get you some lemonade and cookies." She bustled towards the kitchen. John sat there not knowing what to do about this June Cleaver throw-back.
She came out in a flash with lemonade and oatmeal cookies.
She handed John a glass and said, "Now! You must be a friend of my Travis! He's upstairs, not feeling well. What does a big movie star like you want to see my Travis about?"
Before John could think, he blurted out, "He supposedly got my wife pregnant!"
That was the last thing Molly McGee heard before she hit the floor.
Travis heard the thump and ran downstairs just as John was helping Molly McGee into a chair. She looked catatonic and kept saying 'b-b-b-b-b-b" like Goldie Hawn did in 'Overboard'.
Travis rushed over and said, "What have you done to my mother? Mom? MOM??"
John took Travis out by the collar onto the front porch. He asked him, "Are you on duty?"
Travis barely got 'No' out before John decked him.
John then pulled Travis to a standing position, grabbed his shirt front and put his face right in Travis'. He hissed, "You are not on duty so I am not punching out a police officer. This is between you and me, McGee. Mano e Mano. Now! What is this about you impregnating my wife? HUH? HUH? YOU KNOW IT IS A DAMN LIE!"
Travis' voice squeaked out, "It was an accident! I didn't mean it! Honest! I didn't plan it! It just sort of...happened!" John released Travis and pushed him in an Adirondack chair. He glanced in the living room window and saw Mrs. McGee still catatonic in the chair.
John planted his foot on Travis' chest and said in a deadly calm voice, "Start explaining, McGee. And don't try to tell me it happened the old-fashioned way because I know Rose would NEVER...not with you! And don't try that 'divine conception' theory because that won't wash! NOW START TALKING, MCGEE BEFORE I MAKE SURE YOU NEVER FATHER ANY CHILDREN!"
Travis' voice was so high pitched the dogs in the neighborhood started to bark. "It was an accident. I didn't mean.."
John balled up his fists. "If you give me that crap one more time I am going to pound you into the ground like a golf tee!"
Travis said, "Tori. Tori Sheffield. She made me do it! She forced me to go upstairs with her at the party."
"Party? What party?"
"The one for that Bess girl. Her birthday party."
"I don't recall seeing you there."
"Well, I was. I picked up a packet of little white pills in a calendar thingy. The pills went all over the floor so I picked them up and put them back.."
"You-put-them-back. HOW did you put them back?"
Travis shrugged, "I don't know, I just put them--back."
"In order?"
"What order?"
John took his foot off Travis' chest. He started to laugh uncontrollably.
Travis sat there puzzled. "What-what is so funny?"
John laughed mirthlessly. "Honest to God, McGee. You DID get my wife pregnant. I don't know whether to kiss you or kill you."
John walked off the porch and to his car.
Travis sat there dazed. What a weirdo. He must be taking some of those drugs he's selling. Then Travis remembered. He ran into the house and shouted, "MOM? MOM? You OK?"
Molly McGee came around long enough to say, "Oh, my Travis is gonna be a daddy...."
Travis patted her hand and said, "No, Mom...but it sure sounds like I am. Am I?"
And with that, he helped his mom to a chair.
The phone rang. Travis answered. "Hello?"
John's voice came over the other end. "Thank your mom for the cookies. Dynamite oatmeal. Loved the nuts."
CLICK!
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER...........by Coralynn
Magaera sits surrounded by pages of her old letters, her diary and other mementoes. Rhys, Moose, Marilyn and Celeste are sitting nearby explaining as best they can what each thing means.
"Now, let me get this straight," Magaera says after taking a deep breath, "You're telling me that I'm over 350 years into the future..."
They all nod yes.
".....and am also in America, across the big ocean...."
"Right," Rhys says softly.
"OK. You say I had to marry James Gwinett because I was pregnant with Rhy's baby, or babies as it turned out..."
"Right again," Rhys encourages her.
"And my father sent Rhys away with some lie about how happily married I was to James. I know who you're referring to, a nice enough chap, I suppose, but not my particular cup of tea!"
The others smile. This is good....
"Then you find some of my letters," she turns toward Moose, "and become curious to know more, so you find out more and then somehow somebody or other goes back to get Rhys and fetch him into this century. Is that about it in a nutshell?"
"That's the general idea," Moose says, smiling.
"But I lived an entire liftime without you, Rhys, and was sad because I ne'er saw you again......but now I am not going to live that life. Right? And I had those twins, and they grew up and they're here as well, do I understand that right?"
"Yes, dear, quite right. Our twin sons."
"And I'm a grandmother!" she laughs aloud, "I'm barely out of my teenaged years and already I'm a grandma?"
"Worked out that way," Rhys tells her jovially.
"Uhhhh HUH, and when do I get to meet my sons who are no doubt older than I am?"
"Soon, sweatheart. Whenever you're ready," Rhys touches her hand.
"You know, if you three weren't so sincere, I'd suspect you of making all this up, but not only do you seem to have woven a great tale, but I can see by looking around me that this is not the same time in which I lived. See out there?" she looks out the window, "See those contraptions moving down the street? We never had those! What are they anyway?"
"They're called automobiles or cars, and people ride in them, to get from place to place," Celeste explains.
"No more horses?"
"Horses we have, but no more carriages pulled by them. These cars run on a liquid....." Rhys stops as Magaera has gotten up from her seat and gone into the kitchen. She goes from one appliance to the other, examining them all, opening doors, turning on the faucet.
"Either this is the most ridiculous thing that has ever happened to a person in this world or I'm dreaming!" she remarks.
"It's no dream," Rhys wakls over and puts his arms around her.
"I shall be very upset if it proves to be a dream," she tells him wistfully, then asks Moose, "You say you wrote a book about Rhys and me?"
"Yes, I'll give you a copy. They've just come off the presses! They'll be in bookstores by the end of the week." he leaves to get a copy for her.
"OK," she says as if she has come to a conclusion, "Rhys Morgan, I, Meggie, give you two choices........marry me this week or next week. Which do you fancy?"
"Next week would be perfect, Meggie, because this week we have to introduce you to your...our......sons."
"That should be the weirdest thing.....hello, boys, here's your Mum....she's 20.....you're 30, but you must still do her bidding and come to dinner every Sunday! And Julie, the baby's name is Julie you said? She has to dote on her dear old granny and ask her about the olden days! oooooo, if she only knew!" she laughs and the others laugh with her.
NOT THE VIRGIN MARY.....by Terri
John drove at a normal pace, his mind in a turmoil. HOW DARE HE!! There isn't anything we can do about it now. Damage done. Baby on the way. Now to tell Rose so she won't blame herself and think she screwed up. John came into the house. Rose was sitting cross-legged on the floor with her decorating books, her hair coming down from the twist she put her hair in. She wore an oversized shirt of John's and her tights. John tried to catch the breath she always took away. She looked up and her face lit up. Will was reading on the floor next to her and Julie was crawling on Will's back.
He said, "My only regret is that we aren't in our new house. What a picture perfect family!"
Rose jumped up and kissed him. "How did it go?"
"What?"
"Fixing your friend's clock. Does it work better now?"
"Huh? Oh! That! Let's just say that he was very lucky I didn't fix his clock to look like Mickey at 6:30!"
"Huh?"
"Never mind. I think we need to go out to dinner. Where's Celeste for the kids?"
Rosamond said, "I don't know. Will? Have you seen Grandma Celeste?" "Uh huh. She went over to that guy Moose's house to see that guy..what's his name? Uncle Ben?"
"Uncle Ben?"
Will frowned in concentration. "No, that's not it...RICE! That's it!"
Rose mouthed, 'Rhys'.
Eleanor came in with her wine spritzer. "Need a sitter? I'm available."
Will clapped his hands. "Yay! Aunt Eleanor!"
Julie smiled her baby smile and held her arms out to El. Eleanor scooped her up. She said, "It's so hard to believe that I am babysitting your children, Rose."
Then she whispered to Rose, "Especially Will. Hard to think he is my lads' half brother. And the reason I hated you for so long. Now I think of him as one of my own."
Will grabbed a yardstick and said, "En garde! Look, Auntie Eleanor! I learned to thrust and parry like you taught me!"
Rose raised her eyebrow and Eleanor shrugged. "What can I say? It's spring and Renaissance season!"
John and Rosamond were seated in a seafood restaurant. Rose said, "This is just what I need after this whole horrendous business." She took John's hand and said, "To be alone with you."
John said, "Rose, are you sure you are..in the family way? I mean, Roger is sure?"
Rose said, "Yes, he is. I went to see him this morning. Everything is fine."
"Why were you so sick with Julie? I mean, you were alright with Will. And you seem alright with this one."
Rosamond said, "Well, I WAS light-headed and got sick a couple times but I wrote that off to stress due to the trial. Roger told me with Julie I was so sick because of the turmoil in my life. Daniel...Billy Bob....YOU..he said I should be fine with saltines and gingerale."
She sighed. "I sure wish I knew what I did wrong, John. I certainly didn't plan this."
John said, "I just hope you aren't one of those women who get pregnant just folding my underwear!"
"Don't be absurd, John! You know I don't do the laundry."
John shook his head. "Sometimes you make no sense, Rose. That is why I love you so much. And I do believe you are glowing already!"
Rose sat there with fork poised in mid-air. "I have a feeling Marty isn't going to be too pleased about it."
John groaned. "Ooh, that's right. This is going to screw up the plot!"
"Knowing Marty, he will try to work it in."
John said with as straight a face as he could manage, "I know how you got pregnant, Rose."
Rose laughed a little self-consciously. "Well, so do I, love. But I don't think we need to discuss it here..."
John said, "No, I mean it wasn't your fault. It was Travis McGee's fault."
Rose said, "ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OF.."
"No, of course not!" John explained about the pills. He concluded by saying, "So I guess you took the placebos at the wrong time."
Rose said, "I don't know if I am going to laugh or cry. It is so weird to have someone's folly change your life."
John said, "I think I am happy. Did Roger give you a date?"
"At the end of November."
John leaned over, kissed her on the nose and said, "Then, Happy Thanksgiving, my little pilgrim!"
GOOD NEWS!...........by Coralynn
William hears the phone ringing and yells out, "Anybody want to get that?"
Since there's no response, he hauls himself out of his chair, putting aside the mystery novel he's been reading and, grumbling, gets the extension in the den. "William here!" he says rather impatiently into the receiver.
"Oh good, I was hoping I'd get you," he hears Celeste's voice.
"And where might you be, Celeste? You aren't here answering our phone, obviously, so where did you get yourself off to?"
"I'm at Moose's house."
"Why on earth?"
"Well, because I have the most exciting news! Rhys Morgan is getting married next week!"
William sighs in exasperation, "He can't be! He hasn't even gone out on a date since he's been here!"
He can hear the glee in Celeste's voice, "Oh just you wait, William. Call a family meeting for dinnertime. He wants to announce his coming nuputals when we're all together. Think you can do that?"
"I could if I knew where everyone was!" William complains, then softens, "OK, I'll see who's around and maybe they know where the others are."
"That's the spirit!" Celeste chirps and clicks off.
William stands at the bottom of the staircase and yells, "Anybody home?!"
He goes out in the back yard and looks around. Nobody. He comes back into the house.
Rose comes out of Julie's nursery and peers down at him, "Hey, big guy, what's the deal?"
"The 'deal' as you put it, is that Celeste just phoned from Moose's house and said we need to have a family meeting at dinner tonight and that I am to find everyone and inform them."
"What's she doing over at his house?"
"I haven't a clue. Do you know where the others are? We have an hour and a half to collect up everybody, plus we have to cook dinner! Since you don't know how, it looks like it falls to me!"
"A housewife's work is never done!" she kids him, "but seriously, let's have it delivered! We can afford it!"
"You young people, all you know how to do is spend, spend, spend! But.......under the circumstances, I agree. You call the caterer and I'll see who else I can locate!"
He hears a car door slam out in the carpark and is relieved to see Eleanor, Bess and Marthy come in the door.
"Family meeting at dinner tonight! 6 sharp! Don't be late, and phone everyone else.....everyone!"
Eleanor puts down her packages and asks, "Where's Celeste?"
"Over at Moose's house. No, don't ask......I have no idea why."
William is relieved now that he's passed off his chore to Eleanor, and goes back to reading his mystery novel.
By 5:45 the group has come together in the living room.
"What's this all about?" Rafe asks.
"And where are Celeste and Marilyn?" Hotspur adds.
Roger and Bethia enter the house slowly as Beth is about ready to deliver.
"William made you come, too Beth?" Bess is aghast.
"It's alright, dear, don't worry. If I go into labor we know where the hospital is. I'm curious to know what William has up his sleeve. Anybody know why he called a family meeting?"
"He said Celeste said we had to have one," John answers, "but that's all he'd tell us."
"Where is Celeste?" Beth looks around.
"Right here, mydears!" Celeste comes in the front door, beaming. "I have news for you all. News that will make your hearts sing!"
Behind her Marilyn and Moose enter, Marilyn saying happily, "We have great tidings! We are to have a wedding next week. Yes, a wedding! Enter the bride and groom!"
Rhys and Meggie walk into the room and hear nothing, everyone is too stunned to speak.
"He's getting married? I didn't think he even dated!" Hots whispers to Rafe.
John is shocked, "Dad?! Who is this? Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend!"
"TUT TUT, everyone around the table now..." William leads them into the dining room..."Sit!"
John's eyes are bulging. What's going on here? Who is this young woman?
Celeste senses his unease and explains, "This, John, is your mother, Julia Magaera Stafford....."
"I went back in time and visited her........but.......she was older then." He addresses Meg, " You can't be more than twenty years old!"
"That's right, John. I don't remember your visiting me because Celeste and Marilyn here went back in time and brought me here before I was forced to marry James Gwinett...."
Moose stands and announces, "For those of you unfamiliar with this true story, I have a box full of copies of my newest book which I will distribute after we eat."
Many serving dishes of food are placed on the table by William who instructs everyone, "Eat now, ask questions later."
Meg looks across the table at John, her own son, and sees someone identical with Rhys. Amazing. She whispers to Rhys, "Whatever happened to the other twin?"
He laughs, "That's for another day, beloved. After you get acclimated to this new time and place."
"Is he retarded or deformed, is that why he isn't here?"
"No. He just isn't much like John over there. Looks like him, but that's where the resemblance ends."
Rose smiles, gets up from her place at the table and goes upstairs, returning with Julie, who has just awakened. "Julie, meet your grandmother, Meg!"
William offers a toast, "To Meg, the youngest grannie on the planet!"
"Hear! Hear!" the others raise their glasses high.
JOHN'S DILEMMA.....by Terri
As they got ready for bed, Rose noticed that John was unusually quiet. Once again. She sighed. Maybe we should move to Bridgeport or something like that. "John? What is the problem?"
John set the alarm clock. "Nothing. Why?"
"You seemed unusually quiet at the party."
John slid under the covers and turned down the blanket for Rosamond. She got in bed and snuggled next to him. In the dark, he said, "Rose?"
She yawned. "Hmmm?"
"Does it seem odd that my mother is the same age as you?"
"John, is that what is bothering you?"
John said, "Well, wouldn't it bother you if your dad was younger than you?"
Rose said, "I guess so. I hadn't really thought about it." He said, "I just don't know how it is going to work out. I mean, this is my mom before me and Daniel. She's...like, not my mom. Am I making myself clear?"
Rose gave him a hug. "Kind of."
After a minute, John said, "What of James Gwinnett? Is my alternate mother still with him? Do I have Katherine, Isabel and Cecily as sisters? And if he isn't married to my mother anymore, what becomes of Charles? Does James find another wife?"
Rose yawned, "Stay tuned to another episode of 'As the Planet Turns'. John, you think too much. I know it is a shock to see your mother with Rhys. You are used to seeing her with James Gwinnett. He is the man you think of as your father."
John said, "I guess so. I did feel a connection with Rhys though when I was separated from you. But it really was more like a friend. I think of James as my father. He was a really nice man. He was steady and kind and good. And maybe a little boring to Mother after being loved by a pirate. I remember when Daniel and I told him we were emigrating to the New World. He tried to talk us out of it. Offered us some land in Warwickshire that he had. He talked and talked, almost desperately. But Daniel and I could only see adventure. Especially Daniel. Mother was absolutely hysterical when we left. Father had her to contend with,. too. Before we left, he gave us 'starting out' money. He hugged us and wished us well. Rose, there were tears in his eyes. Because I think he knew he would never see us again." John was silent. His voice caught a little as he said, "I---I think I miss him, Rose."
Rose turned on the light. "John, you aren't thinking of another time travel, are you? No! No way! I absolutely forbid it! You can't do this to me! Not with another baby on the way! And we have to get into the new house."
John turned the light out and said, "No, Rose." And to himself he added, 'it was just a thought, anyway....'
THERE'S A NEW COP IN TOWN......by Coralynn
Travis McGee arrives at the police station at 6 am, hoping he can talk to Chief Carson in private. Enough is enough with the traffic patrol! he thinks, Seems to me I've paid back enough for having dug up that driveway on Winding Willow! I still think there's something under there, too, but Carson forbids me to investigate. Maybe I'm too good for this town....maybe I should apply to the NYPD. Yeah! Wouldn't that be impressive? Women would flock after me if I wore the NYPD blue!
He enters the station and sees Abby Bennett coming out of Alan's office with a huge smile on her face, waving some paperwork.
"What's got you so happy?" he asks snidely.
"I am now officially a permanent member of the Chappaqua Police force!" Abby replies as she leaves the building.
Travis stamps into Alan's office, "You hired her? Why?!"
"She's good, she's damned good, that's why!" Alan answers, "You should be that good, twerp!"
Travis sits on a chair by Alan's desk. "I'm getting tired of being called names, Chief. I think I'd get more respect if I joined......the NYPD."
Alan can't help laughing, "OH, you think they'd want you? With your references?"
"You mean you wouldn't write me a good reference?"
"Please, McGee, don't put me to the test. I don't lie well and I couldn't do it just to make you look good so you'd leave town."
Travis tries to think of a come-back, but nothing useful comes to mind, so he stands and stamps out as Alan shakes his head and moans.
He leaves the station, and as he walks to his car sees Abby Bennett waiting for Jeremy Pennypacker to park in the lot. The minute he gets out of his car, she runs to him, throwing her arms around him, yelling, "I got hired!"
Travis does a slow burn. That namby-pamby play-by-the-rules Pennypacker guy gets a girl and probably all the good assignments I used to get! Unfair! But what can I do....I have to think of something I can do to show Carson that he's making a huge mistake!
THE AMITYVILLE/CHAPPAQUA HORROR....by Terri
Rosamond reached over and felt for John's place. Nada. She looked at the alarm clock. Eight o' clock. She took a hot shower, letting the water cascade over her to rejuvenate her. She played the conversation from last night through her mind. John, John---you are getting emotional baggage you don't need to carry around! Yes, I am sure it is tweaking his mind to have a mother younger than himself. But hey, this whole time-travel life would tweak ANYONE'S melon! Tweaking a melon? What is happening to me? Looks like I am losing my twelfth century mental stuff.
She dried off, put some jeans and a sweater on and checked on Julie. Julie was stirring so she woke her up and took her downstairs. John was having breakfast with Will.
"....and Little Feather and my friend Benjamin and I would crush the berries. They actually were quite good. Little Feather used them in ceremonial rites. OH! Good morning, darling!" He got up and kissed her soundly. Will exclaimed, "Mommy, Daddy was telling me about when he was my age, how he would go hunting in the woods with Little Feather. Hey! Daddy! I have a terrific idea! Why don't you go back in time and get Little Feather and I can bring him to show and tell! He'd be even bigger than Poppy William!"
John whispered, "If that is possible!" which sent Rose into giggles. William came down in his straw hat and gardening outfit. "What's so funny?"
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. John said, "Nothing. Just discussing what a big hit you are with the kindergarteners at Winding Willow Elementary."
Rose tried to keep a straight face. "Yes, Poppy William is larger than life!"
William frowned dubiously, "Uh, huh." Then he brightened. "It is a glorious morning! A new day! A renaissance!"
Celeste set some coffee in front of him. "It's the end of April, you old poop!"
Everyone laughed.
John finished his toast and took his coffee cup with him. As he put on his jacket, Celeste took the cup out of his hand. "Oh, no you don't! You take that with you, it ends up on the floor of your car and the next thing I know it shatters. Here is a styrofoam cup."
John sighed. "Allright. But it is just not the same, Celeste! Rose, honey? What is on the agenda for the day?"
"I'm taking Will to school. Then Julie and I are going to the new house. They should be finishing up this week. I want to go upstairs and start putting her nursery together. Maybe I should start redecorating another room for her. After all, she will no longer be the baby anymore." Rose patted her flat stomach. "Somewhere down there, there's another critter." "Walk me to the car, sweetheart."
Rose got up and walked to the door with him. "I think I need to have a talk with Will."
Rose looked puzzled, "John? Isn't he a little young for the 'birds and the bees' talk? I mean, he's only five. I didn't know about that stuff until I was sixteen!"
John said, "Yeah, and you got 'hands on' training, courtesy of Henry!" Rose looked shocked. "Not fair, John!"
"Oh, Rose, I was just kidding. No, I mean about the time travel. I think we totally didn't get what he was saying. I think we need to sit down with him tonight and find out just how much he knows. Maybe we will have to explain it to him. Before we get a call from the guidance counselor because of his over-active imagination."
Rose looked relieved. "OH! That! I think time-travel may be harder to explain than the facts of life!"
John muttered, "Not necessarily. You'll get your turn when Julie gets older. I'll be home around five."
"SHEESH, George! Watch what you are doing!" Bart yelled. George was moving a ladder with a paint can on top of it. George was always doing without thinking. Bart sighed and shook his head. Good help is hard to find. But at least George is reliable.
George ignored Bart and continued to move the ladder. The paint can teetered on the top and then tipped over. The lid hit the edge of the ladder on its way down and landed hard on the tile floor. The lid flew off, splattering red paint all over the floor and the walls.
Bart looked at George and George looked at Bart. "Holy &^%$!! We are in deep &&^^%^ now! Wait till Murph sees it!" Bart yelled.
George said, "Yeah. But look at the color! It's not supposed to be RED!!" Bart looked at the paint chips. "It is supposed to be color number 567---Salmon.
This here is red--I mean RED RED!!" Bart looked at the paint lid. "No wonder! This says 568!!" Bart looked at his paint book. "Well, this 568 is a color called Crimson Blood! Sheesh! What a name for a paint! Oh! I see it is from the Gothic collection! Must be for vampire castles!" They laughed and high-fived each other. Good painters but they were 40 watt bulbs living in a 100 watt world.
George looked closely. "The tile is chipped. Three of them are broken. And covered with paint."
Bart said, "No sense cleaning it up. They need to be replaced. The tile guy is due this afternoon to finish the hallway. There's extra tile in those boxes over there. What say we pay him $50.00 to replace the tiles. They are square. He can do that in half an hour. And we will go over to the paint store, return this crimson crap and get the RIGHT shade. Repaint this afternoon. Murph is going over to that supply place in White Plains and won't be back till later--about 6:00, he said. No one will be the wiser."
George said, "That's what I like about you, Bart! Always thinking!"
Bart said, "Know what I like about you, George?"
"No--what?"
"You make ME look good!"
They both laughed, locked the front door and headed for the paint store. By way of TGIFridays.
Rosamond shifted Julie in her arms while the baby slept. She fumbled for her keys and then unlocked the door. She went up the stairs and put Julie on her bed.
Then she went downstairs and to the mailbox, retrieving her mail. Ooh, I'd better check out how the kitchen is going. If things go well, maybe we can move in by next week. She walked out to the kitchen, thumbing through the mail all the while. Bank offers, stereo catalogues for John, coupon offers...then she stopped.
Because what she feared most had happened.
THE WALLS WERE BLEEDING.
Rose backed out of the room slowly. She hit the wall and stifled a scream. She ran around the corner. Slowly she peered around it. She was mesmerized. She reached behind her for the cellphone. She quickly punched in John's number.
"Hello?...Daniel?...Put John on....THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, YOU...YOU...No, the kids are OK...well, if you MUST know, there is a problem with the house. I DON'T CARE WHAT JOHN SAYS, YOU PUT HIM ON!!....Look, if he's esconsed with the entire delegation of the UN, you get him!....He said what?...Under no circumstances?....Daniel, you get him or I will personally make sure a certain part of your anatomy becomes your earmuffs!...Fine! FINE!! I'll take care of this problem by myself!..No, don't bother! Obviously an equipment is more important...Right! Yeah, you ARE a pitbull! GUARD DOG!"
CLICK!
Rosamond hurried upstairs and picked up Julie. I'm not--NOT--staying in a house with bleeding walls! Now maybe John will see what I am talking about. IF I can ever get him to the phone. Oh, forget it! I'll just go over to the fitness center. Daniel! Telling me that he's the acting pit bull there and when John doesn't want to be bothered, he doesn't want to be bothered! Well, bleeding walls take a priority.
Rose shuddered as she walked quickly by the kitchen. Yep, that's blood alright!
All over the wall and even on the floor. Right where Tori's body was.
Rose drove over to the fitness center, got Julie out of her carseat and marched into the fitness center. Daniel was sitting at the reception desk.
"I want to see my husband and I want to see him NOW!!"
Daniel gave her the warm smile he reserved for new members, particularly the women. "Well, hello to you, too, Sis-in-law."
Rose gave him a cold stare. "Would you please get my husband?"
Daniel shook his head. "He's in 'conference' with an equipment salesperson and does not want to be disturbed. He said to hold all calls."
Rose stamped her feet. "Daniel, I want to see him this INSTANT! Now either you get him or I go hunting him down like a wounded mallard." Daniel stared back. "I'm sorry, Rose. What part of 'do not disturb' didn't you understand?"
Rose said, "Here! Hold Julie!" She thrust Julie in Daniel's lap and she marched into the back rooms of the gym.
Daniel bounced Julie on his knee and whispered to her, "Hey! I'm your Uncle Daniel. But more than likely your daddy.."
Rose stomped into the back rooms. John was discussing the purchase of ten new treadmills, state of the art. He was deep in conversation with a tall willowy brunette who carried a briefcase. Rose looked shocked. John was startled. He said, "Oh! Rose! This is Miss Gregory. The new equipment salesperson."
Miss Laura Gregory gave Rose a cool appraising stare. Rose shot a look at her and then a look at John. She said evenly, "Very pleased to meet you. I am Rosamond Gwinnett. MRS. Gwinnett. John's wife." Miss Gregory said smoothly, "Very nice to meet you. You have quite a husband here." Rose said, "Yes, don't I? And the key word here is 'have'." John said, "Rose, didn't Daniel tell you, sweetheart, that I was tied up in conference?"
Rose put on her most angelic face and pleasant voice. "Oh, I am so sorry, darling." To Miss Gregory, she said, "I really do not mean to interrupt."
Back to John. "There is something you should know, John."
"Yes, hon, what?"
"The walls are bleeding."
And with that, Rose turned on her heel to leave.
John caught her elbow. "Say WHAT?"
Rose said, "The walls. Blood. All over. What part of THAT don't you understand? But, hey, don't let it interfere with your negotiations with Ms. Amazon there. Oh, don't worry, love. I am sure the walls will be bleeding tonight!"
She continued out the door, picked Julie out of Daniel's arms without a word and walked out the door.
Miss Gregory said, "What is that about a wall bleeding?"
John said, "Oh! That! Uh, ha-ha, my wife is English. She didn't like the way the painters did the wall so she said, 'the bleedin' walls.'"
Miss Gregory frowned, "uh, huh..."
Rosamond went into the house and called out, "Celeste? I need help!" Silence. "William?" Silence again. "Eleanor? Anyone?"
Just the silence. Rose said to Julie, "Come on, my little clone. Let us look in the book."
Rose put Julie on her bed and let her crawl around. Rose went under the bed and pulled out the little wooden casket. and lifted out a very old book. Gran's book of potions. She opened it carefully, smoothing the pages.
"OK, Gran! Now, please! Tell me what to do!"
Bart and George came out of TGIFriday's filled with a couple pitchers of beer and chicken wings. George belched loudly. "S'pose we'd better get over to the paint store and pick up that 567-Salmon, eggshell finish before anyone sees it."
Bart picked at his teeth with a toothpick. "Yeah. Sure would hate for the Gwinnetts to see it. She'll freak out in light of what happened. Sure is creepy working in a place--the exact spot!--where that Sheffield broad bought the farm."
They picked up their paint and went back to Rose's house. Ramone, the tile guy, was setting the tile in the hallway.
Bart went up to him. "Hey, Ramone, we had a slight accident in the kitchen and accidently broke three tiles and chipped four. If we give you fifty bucks, can you replace them?"
Ramone leaned back on his heels. "Ok, mon. Just geeve me half hour to feenish what I am doing here. Den I feex yo' problem, mon."
Bart and George high-fived each other. Their jobs were safe and no one was the wiser. Or so they thought.
Rose flipped through Gran's book.
"OK, Julie, let's see what Gran has written down...love potions....cures for all kinds of ailments...youth elixirs....herbal rejuvenations....spells...SPELLS! That's it! Gran wasn't actually a witch, Julie. She just...knew a lot!"
Julie was curled up next to Rosamond and sucking her thumb.
Rosamond said, "..and you don't really understand, do you, pumpkin?" Rose kissed her little baby nose. It's hard to believe I will have another one next year. She sighed. I hope John doesn't make this a habit! I don't want to be a baby-machine. Oh, well, it's not his fault. Nor mine. Marty will blow his stack, though. Tough. I should get out of the business anyway.
Rosamond flipped through the book. Spells---but nothing on bleeding walls or how to stop them. She sighed. "Julie, I swear, if I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it!"
She looked at her watch. It was 4:30. Nice of William to take Will to the park and fly his kite after school. Julie was playing with her teddy bear. Rose tickled her and Julie laughed.
She said to the baby, "Just wait, Julie! Daddy will be home in an hour. And when I take him over to see the bleeding walls, he will have to believe me! I wonder if Uncle Hots can find us a new house..."
John pulled into the driveway at 5:30. Will greeted him at the door. "Daddy! You should see how high my kite went! Then Poppy William took it and got it tangled up in the electrical wires! He wouldn't go get it, he said it had...voltage. So we had to come home."
John squeezed Will's shoulder and ruffled his hair. "Alas, my little Will! This happens to the best of us!"
Will frowned. "That's what Poppy William said. You dudes sometimes talk really weird."
John laughed. "Where's Mommy?"
Will said, "She's upstairs giving Julie a bath before dinner. She was saying something to herself like, 'eye of newt and tongue of dog.' I think she's coming unspooled, Daddy."
John frowned, "Oh, she is, is she? I'll see what is going on. Is your homework done? And from the look on your face I would say 'no'. So hop to it, Einstein!"
Rose was wrapping Julie in a towel as John came in. "Hello, darling, " he said as he kissed the top of Rose's head.
"Hello, " she said cooly. John didn't even notice. He took off his shirt and shoes and flopped down on the bed. "Ah, five minutes of peace and quiet. That's all I ask!"
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
"John.." Rose started.
John kept his eyes closed and held his hand up."Five minutes. That's all."
Rose stood there tapping her foot. After the five minute, she sent Julie crawling on him. "Da-da!" John grabbed her and tickled her lightly. Julie squealed in delight.
"OK, Rose, what's on your mind? Bleeding walls? Red-eyed pigs?" He made ~oooo~ gestures with his hands.
Rose pursed her lips. "It's not funny, John. I told you the walls were bleeding. I saw it with my own eyes!"
John said, "I'm sure you are imagining it, Rose. Maybe the way the light hit the wall. It could have given off a rosy glow."
Rose stamped her foot. "That was no rosy glow, John Gwinnett! I know what I saw! Now, we are going over there right now!" She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him up.
"Rosamond, I am tired. I have been coping with insurance audits and payroll and sales reps all day."
Rose snapped, "Yes, I saw the sales rep. She's got 9" on me and about 30 lbs. Tell me, did she offer to show you how the equipment worked? A personal demonstration?"
John always secretly liked to see the jealous side of Rose surface. He said, "As a matter of fact, she did. You ought to see the way the pectoral butterfly machine moves....uh, works!"
Rose picked up the pillow and smacked him in the head. "JERK!" she yelled. "We have bloody bleedin' walls and you won't even check it out!"
John said, "OW! That hurt, Rose! No, I won't. Look, darling, if the walls are bleeding they will be bleeding tomorrow morning and I will stop over there then."
Rose sniffed, "Promise?"
John grinned. "Yes, I promise. But one thing, Rose---"
"What?"
"It's going to take a hell of a band-aid."
Dinner was a quiet affair. Rose didn't have too much to say and John was too tired to make dinner talk. William helped Celeste with the dishes. As they were putting them in the dishwasher, William said, "I wonder when they are leaving us?" Celeste rinsed the plates. "I imagine in the next week or two. As soon as the 'site' is redecorated."
William sighed, "What am I going to do without my Will around?"
Celeste smacked him with the dish towel. "Don't be so dramatic! He's four doors away!"
William said, "Yes, but now John and Rose will keep their fights and arguments in that house."
Celeste said, "And your point is..? We don't hear all the disagreements. Unless it is major!"
William sighed, "I guess you are right. Ignorance is bliss! Still, I think I will miss it!"
Celeste said, "As will I!"
John got Julie into her jammies while Rose took a shower.
Julie tweaked his nose and yelled, "Noot! Noot!"
Will came in so John could sign his homework paper. John said, "Look! Your sister is honking my nose and trying to say 'toot toot'"
Will frowned, "No, Daddy, I think she is saying 'newt, newt'. Afer all, she spent the afternoon with Mommy."
John said, "Oh."
Will looked at his homework paper that John had signed. "Problem, son?" Will sighed. "No. It's just that I am a de Clifford and you are a Gwinnett. I get tired of explaining why my daddy has a different last name. Well, goodnight!"
"'Night, son."
Rose came in, tightening her robe around her. John said thoughtfully, "I think it is high time we start adoption proceedings for Will. After all, his biological father has been moldering for 800 years."
Rose smiled for about the first time that day. "A wonderful idea! I guess I can have William make up a birth certificate that says 'father unknown' although that is a real slap in the face."
John put Julie down and turned out the light in her nursery. Rose was already in bed. "John, what did you mean by a 'red-eyed pig'?"
John yawned, "Hmm? Oh, I don't know. I guess if you could have a bleeding wall, you can have a red-eyed pig."
He turned the light off.
In the darkness, Rose said, "John?"
"Hmmm?"
"What do we do if we can't stop the walls from bleeding? Would you be willing to move?"
"zzzzzzzzzzzz"
Rose leaned over and saw he was sound asleep. She tiptoed out of bed and quickly put the DVD in. She kept the sound down, although she thought a marching band couldn't even wake John up. She curled up in the blankets, snuggling next to John for warmth. Maybe it will give me some tips on what to do.
She picked up the DVD case and skimmed it. James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger. With the remote, she clicked 'play'.
And with a click of that button, 'The Amityville Horror' began to play.
The next morning, John woke up to Rosamond totally wrapped around him. He extricated himself. She woke up with a start.
"Hey, hon, what's with the suction? I couldn't break it."
Rose sat up, clutching the blanket around her. Then she remembered what had her so spooked. That DVD--The Amityville Horror. "John, we have to go over to the house and check on the walls. NOW! You will believe me then!"
John said, "Ro', darling, if they are bleeding, they won't stop. Or at least there will be one big scab on the wall. I'm going down to breakfast and then I am taking Will to school."
Rose pulled the blanket around her and sat there, lost in thought. John came over and sat next to her. "I know, hon, you are afraid of leaving this nest. But we need to be off by ourselves. No more of this 'playing house'. By next year we will have three kids. Maybe things will calm down for us."
Rose bit her lower lip. "John? What do we do if Jake starts to talk?"
"WHAT??"
"The dog. What do we do if he starts to talk?"
John shook his head wordlessly. "Rose? You alright? You aren't eating Mexican again with this pregnancy, are you? Lay off those habaneros."
Rose thought out loud. "I heard sometimes in a haunted house, a cat might melt."
John exploded, "Now I KNOW you have gone around the bend! Talking dogs! Melting cats!"
Rose grabbed his hand. "Don't you see?" she implored. "It happened to THEM! What is preventing it from happening to US?"
John put both hands on her shoulders. "Get a grip, Rose. NOW! Don't make me slap you out of this mini-hysteria."
Something caught his eye. He reached over. "What's this?" He picked it up. Rose tried to grab it out of his hand. "Nothing! It's nothing!" She was grasping at the air.
John held her off with one hand and read the title with the other. OK--NOW I see what is going on! 'The Amityville Horror'. Rose, you are really going around the bend with this one!"
She folded her arms across her chest. "I have not!" she pouted. "Four arms is a warning."
John looked at her strange. She said, "Four warnings and you have four arms."
John said, "You mean fore-warned is fore-armed."
Rose said, "That's what I said!"
John said hotly, "I warned you about watching this kind of crap late at night, Rose. I'm surprised yiou didn't have nightmares."
Rose retorted, "I did. YOU were too zonked out to notice."
John said, "OK, I will take Will to school and we shall both go over to that house and I will prove to you that the walls are NOT bleeding, Jake CANNOT talk, and we don't even have a cat!"
Rose started to protest. John held up his hand. "And we arent' getting one, either!"
John went down to breakfast. Will was sitting there eating his bagel and strawberry cream cheese. John said, "Will, you need a more substantial breakfast than that."
John poured himself a cup of coffee and grabbed a bagel himself. Will stared in amazement but said nothing. Guess adults can do what they want to, he thought.
"Ready to move into our new house, Will?"
He said, "I guess so."
"You guess so? Why, you want to stay here?"
Will shrugged and said, "It's the only home I really know, Daddy. Mommy didn't let me stay at the ranch with her and Mr. Montgomery. But I remember once a house with dark grey walls. It was cold. Mommy didn't pay much attention to me. I remember even though I was a little kid. I remember a man with dark hair and a beard. That's all."
John thought, looks like he might remember his past life at Court. "Come on, Will, I'll take you to school."
Will finished his milk and said, "My teacher Miss Jackson will be happy. She stares at you a lot."
Rose came downstairs with Julie while John was taking Will to school. Celeste was scrambling eggs. "Good morning, dear. And good morning to my little Miss Sunshine!" Julie held her arms out to Celeste.
Celeste took her eagerly. Rosamond took over scrambling the eggs. She said, "It's high time I learned to cook."
Celeste said, "When are you leaving us, dear?"
Rose said, "I don't know. I don't think I want to."
Celeste said, "Nonsense. You need a place of your own. This isn't 'Dallas' and we aren't the Ewings. I am NOT Miss Elly and my brood does NOT need to live with me!"
Rose laughed uneasily. "I just don't want to rush into anything." Celeste said, "My dear, you and John bought that house in September. It's time to go."
Rose said a little tearfully, " Oh, 'Mom' I'm afraid to leave you all!"
Celeste gave her a hug. "I know, dear. But it's time."
Rose and Celeste were finishing breakfast when John came back. "OK, Rose, let's check on the house's uh, progress."
Rose resolutely put on her coat. "Yes,.let's. 'Mom' would you watch Julie for a bit?"
Celeste said, "Certainly! I want to see my sister, so we will have a nice visit!"
Rose smiled gratefully at her. "This is why I don't want to leave!"
Rose and John walked in silence to the new house. As John inserted the key in the lock, he said, "Should have brought Jake the Amazing Talking Dog with us."
Rose smacked his arm with her glove. "Not funny, John." She withdrew a small vial filled with something that looked like sparkles. John was fascinated. "What is that, fairy dust?" Rose said, "If you MUST know, it was something I found in Gran's potion book. She sprinkled it around the doorway. John shook his head in disbelief. "What does that do, keep the bad fairies out?"
Rose said defensively, "You've been looking in Gran's book?"
John muttered, "If I didn't see it, I wouldn't have believed it!"
Rose grabbed John by the hand and led him to the kitchen. "THERE! SEE WHAT I MEAN?"
John said, "I see a wall done in a neat shade of..whatever you call it. And a tile floor that has been replaced. Ro', I don't even see a rosy glow on the wall. Now where is this bleeding wall supposed to be?"
Rose ran up to the wall and ran her fingers over it. "But---but, John, it was here. I KNOW it was!"
John sat her down and got her a drink of water. He shook his head. "Rose, you have been watching too many 'spook' movies. It ends right now."
Rosamond looked up at John. "I know what I saw! It was all over the wall and the floor. Right where the...where she was. John, it was dripping down the walls! And don't tell me it's all in my head because it isn't! I KNOW WHAT I SAW!"
John retorted, "Well, it's not here now! Where you get your fanciful ideas, I have no idea, Rose. It must be a 12th century thing--Druids, potions, fairies..you aren't still believing in them, are you?"
She stamped her foot. "NO! Of course not! But it was there..all over! I KNEW we should have come last night! Look! Over there! See that phone jack? IT'S MELTED!! I told you things would start to melt here!"
John tried not to laugh at her. "I'm sure there is a logical explanation for the melting phone jack. No more late night horror movies and no more Mexican food for you!"
"When the dog starts to talk, then you will see that I am right!"
John rolled his eyes. "I think you inhaled too much smoke from those Beltane fires, love."
Rose was steamed. "I told you to never mention Beltane again! You are a Puritan, you would never understand Beltane!"
John said, "Right. My folks never danced around at Midsummer and acted in reckless abandon! It was just a license to..."
"This conversation is over, John. RIGHT NOW!"
Bart and George came in the back door. Their voices drifted in, "....and then she says to me, 'you're not leaving ME alone another night and if you do, Bart, I will walk out that door..' OH! Mr. and Mrs. Gwinnett! How are ya?"
John smiled at them. "Just fine, guys. You are doing a fantastic job here."
George said, "Yeah. Kind of spooky in light of what went down here."
Rose gave John an 'I told you so' look which he ignored.
Bart said, "Floor came out good. I don't blame you for replacing it."
A voice came out of the living room. "Hey, guys, it's me---Jake!"
Before John could turn around, Rose fainted and landed on the floor.
"Rose? Rose!" The three men jumped to help her up. "She OK?" George asked.
John didn't want them to think Rose was crazy so he covered for her. "Yeah, she's going to have a baby. She's been light-headed and not eating right."
The men looked at each other knowingly and rocked back on their heels. "Oh yeah, that will do it!"
Rose came around. "Wh-what happened?"
John handed her a glass of water. "You fainted, honey. You OK now? Should I call Roger?"
Rose shook her head. "No, I'm OK. I just thought...I mean, I heard..." A man came into the kitchen. "Bart? Saw your van outside...oh, hi! I'm the electrician! Name's Canfield. Jake Canfield."
And with that, John burst into laughter.
Jake said, "What's so funny?"
John said, "Oh, nothing! My wife was expecting someone else, I guess. Hey, Jake, what happened to the phone jack?"zzzzzzzzzzzz,br> Jake looked at Bart and George who shifted uncomfortably. Jake said, "These two here spilled a Mountain Dew which shorted out the phone jack. In their infinite wisdom, they grabbed a hair dryer and set it right next to it to dry it. It was 1875 watt and they set it too close. It melted it."
Rose looked down, afraid to look at John. He tried not to laugh. "So. A hair dryer melted it. And your name is Jake." He extended his hand. "Pleased to meet you...Jake! Rose? This is Jake! This is my dizzy wife---Rose."
Rose glared at John. She shook Jake's hand. "Nice to meet you."
John asked Bart and George casually, "Hey,.was there something weird with the walls yesterday?"
Bart and George looked at each other. Bart shrugged. "Not that I know." George shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another. He said, "Aw, hell, Mr. Gwinnett! It was an accident! We were hoping you wouldn't notice! Y'see, I was moving a ladder with a paint can on it. It toppled and broke open. Splattered on the wall. But you won't have to pay for it. 'Cause the paint store gave us the wrong color anyhow!"
Bart supplied, "It was number 568 from their Gothic collection. Crimson Blood. Not Salmon Mist like it was s'posed to be. We got the tile guy to fix the floor. We was hopin' y'all wouldn't notice."
George looked at Rose and John. "It--it's OK now, isn't it? We won't have to tell Murph, will we?"
Rose said, "You-you mean the crimson paint splashed on the wall?"
Bart scratched his head, "Well...yeah! We went to lunch and came back later and repainted it. Can't even tell, can ya?"
John dissolved into a myriad of laughter. Rose's face flamed red. "No, guys. It looks perfect. Just perfect. And it will be our little secret. In more ways than one."
She turned to leave and John followed her. His raucous laughter rang all through the house. He couldn't stop laughing.
Bart turned to George and said, "Nice couple. Anyone else may have been mad."
George said, "Yeah. But what was so funny?"
John sat on the front porch, trying to catch his breath. "OH! Rose! This is priceless! Talking dogs! Bleeding walls!"
She whirled around. "OK! I made a mistake! OK? But it's not out of the realm of possibility!"
John got up and walked down the street beside her. "Only you, darling. Whatever realm you are in...
on to next part of STORY
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