“Well, yeah. I guess I did. I didn’t know it would make you angry or anything. She had a private lesson with the same instructor you had before…”
They began throwing the baseball to each other a little faster and harder. Charles was getting madder and madder at his best friend for being so careless with his big sister. Then, Peter said, “Well, someone should be looking out for her.”
Charles had heard enough at this point. The two of them dropped their gloves and started punching each other. It was a knock down drag out fight until Sophie came outside and saw them fighting. She ran in and told Cynthia and Caroline who also ran outside to see what was going on.
Cynthia stood on the back porch and yelled as loud as she could. “What in the world is wrong with you two? Stop it this instant!” They stopped fighting and started laughing. “Ewwww! I was right you two are both Neanderthals. Just look at the two of you!” She muttered to herself as she stormed off and went back inside. Caroline shook her head and followed.
“Great. Here we go again,” Charles said as he helped Peter up.
“What the heck are you so mad about anyway?”
“You put a gun in my sister’s hands! Did you see her just a minute ago? That’s all she needs, a gun in her hand!” Charles said pointing to the house.
Bev came out. She took one look at them, turned around and went back inside. Charles guessed she figured it was over and settled. Peter started shaking his head laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Charles asked.
“What is really funny about this is that she’s a better shot than you are.”
“Very funny,” Charles said not amused at his attempt to be funny. They picked up their gloves and the baseball to put them away.
“Is she really mad?” Peter asked.
“Anything is possible knowing her.”
They went inside straight to the kitchen. No one paid attention to them when they sat down at the table. Charles grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and tossed it to Peter. Then, he grabbed one for himself. They bit into their apples at the exact same time. For a moment everyone was silent listening to the crunching sounds. Bev was the first to speak. She asked Cynthia if she would help by getting the ice for Sophie so she could put ice in the glasses. Then, the usual dinner commotion started. Margaret and Caroline were getting the rolls ready. Bev was getting the silverware from the drawer for the dishes and giving the girls directions on what she needed them to do. Molly and Jack were talking to Margaret about the grand opening of the market.
Molly mentioned to Bev, “Oh by the way I ran into Todd’s mom and dad at the store.”
Bev stopped what she was doing. There was an awkward pause before she asked, “How were they?”
Charles sensed something in the conversation had changed with the mention of their names.
Molly said, “Fine I guess. It’s still hard to tell, even after all these years after it happened.”
Bev encouraged her. “You ought to tell your dad they came to the store. I’m sure he’d like to hear about your conversation with them.”
Cynthia finished her job with Sophie and started taking the food to the dining room. Al arrived, and Carson walked into the room with him. They were talking about the crops and the fact that they hadn’t had much rain lately. Al was having problems with his farm hands and they were discussing what had recently happened.
Finally everything was taken care of and they were ready for dinner. They all went to the dining room. Al said the blessing over the food. Charles squeezed Caroline’s hand as Al was talking. When he was finished the young adults went into the kitchen to eat. They had to put the leaf in the table and add chairs so they could all sit around the table. They each filled their plates from the food that was left on the counter, and then sat down to eat. It was quiet at first.
Cynthia started in. “So, why were the two of you fighting outside? What was the problem?”
Charles looked at her and took a bite of mashed potatoes. Peter looked at him and took a bite of his roll. Then, the boys looked at each other and laughed. They weren’t going to tell her.
Cynthia got the message pretty fast and she wasn’t about to let them off the hook that easily. “Well, we all want to know,” she said inquisitively. She took a bite from the roll on her plate and kept looking at them.
Sophie kept her eyes on her plate. She knew Charles wasn’t in the mood to talk to her about it.
“Charles, I asked you a question. Aren’t you going to answer me?”
Charles looked at Cynthia and said matter-of-factly, “No.”
Cynthia looked at Peter. “Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” “No.” He smiled and winked at her.
She stared at him for a moment before she said, “Well, something was going on out there. The two of you have been friends forever. I don’t think that was just ‘nothing’ the way you two were going on like that.”
Charles said, “No one asked you to get in the middle of it.”
“Yep, we worked it out,” said Peter as he snapped his fingers. “Just like that.” Charles started to cough trying to keep from laughing. He knew that would make Cynthia mad at Peter. Cynthia changed the subject, but he knew she would try to get it out of Peter later. He knew she wouldn’t give up that easily. Charles was glad she stopped asking about the fight. Honestly, he didn’t know why he had been so mad at Peter. He started talking to Peter about going fishing on the pond. He agreed to come back soon and try his luck.
When they finished dinner they cleaned up. The girls did the dishes and the boys went outside on the back porch. Peter told Charles, “You know she is going to ask me later, don’t you. I am more afraid of her than you.” They laughed.
Charles thought to himself, Peter you should be afraid of her. She will get it out of you one way or another. “Oh, don’t worry about it. You can tell her. I don’t care. It is better coming from you than me anyway. I figure she’ll ask the first chance she gets you alone. She can’t stand to be left out of something.”
Peter smiled. Then, he started talking about a car his parents were looking at for him. Peter was going to be sixteen soon and Charles knew he was anxious to get a set of wheels. Charles was too. They talked about cars for a while. Cynthia was the same age as Peter. She was going to be old enough to drive too. Charles knew she’d get a car as soon as she received her driver’s license. He was hoping he wouldn’t have to share a car with her when he turned sixteen. He knew she would always have an excuse to be driving it. He sighed, just thinking about it. He could hear the excuses already.
Charles looked up and smiled when he saw Caroline and Cynthia come outside. “Where have you been?” he asked as Caroline came over and sat by him.
Cynthia started walking down the steps. Peter followed and they went for a walk.
“Just talking to Cynthia.”
He nodded. He figured as much. “Don’t believe everything you hear.” Caroline didn’t comment.
Peter and Cynthia went for a walk toward the pond. Charles smiled to himself. He knew she was asking Peter about earlier. She was so nosy. He shook his head.
Caroline was looking in the direction Cynthia and Peter went and said, “I think they are cute together, don’t you?”
He laughed and pointed. “Those two, over there, cute? You’re asking me? The answer is no. I think you are cute, those two definitely not!”
She laughed then said, “I think you’re cute too.”
“You do? Even though Cynthia said I was a caveman?”
“What does Cynthia know about cavemen?”
“Good question. She seems to think she knows all about them.
“How is your hand, and knee?” he asked.
“Oh, they are fine. They still kind of sting but for the most part they’re okay.”
“You probably don’t want to go back there; or do you?”
“Actually, I want to go back. I liked it there. It’s a great hangout.”
Cynthi
a came over and stood above Charles and said, “So that’s what you were mad about?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, as if she was annoying him.
“You’re mad that Peter was teaching me to shoot a gun?” She had her hands on her hips. Charles looked up at her squinting. “Awww, Charlie you were concerned about me. How sweet.” She bent down and hugged him.
Charles laughed and playfully pushed her away. “What are you doing?”
She straightened up and said, “It’s not like we are going to hurt anyone on the practice range.” She joked with him.
“Okay, okay,” said Charles. She sat down next to them.
Peter came over too. “I’ll teach her all about gun safety Charlie.”
Charles shrugged and said, “You better, you’re the one standing next to her.”
Cynthia said, “Hey!” She slugged him on his arm.
“Oh, and you thought we were the cavemen?” he asked. She laughed. They sat and talked about target practice at the practice range.
It was starting to get dark. They went inside and ate chocolate sheet cake with chocolate covered strawberries and Neapolitan ice cream. Sophie came in and sat down at the table with them to eat dessert.
“Hi kiddo,” Charles said.
“Hi Charlie.” Sophie had taken a bite of strawberry ice cream and got it on her nose.
Charles scrunched up his nose and laughed at her. He handed her a napkin but she refused to use it.
Peter looked at Cynthia and whispered in her ear. She nodded and said something back. Charles saw him quickly kiss her on the cheek as he whispered something else in her ear.
Charles said, “Oh, all right you two, enough of that!” He made a disgusted face. Sophie laughed. “Kiss, kiss.” She puckered up teasing them.
Charles got up and went into the other room. He came back and asked Peter, “Do you want to meet over here tomorrow late afternoon and we can fish at the pond before dinner?”
“Heck yes.” He looked at Cynthia and then turned back to Charles.
Charles said, “Why don’t you come over around three.”
Peter thought he could arrange that. It gave him time to work at his parent’s facility. He stood up and said it was time for him to go. Carson offered to give him a ride home. Cynthia walked Peter to the edge of the front yard and watched as he got in the truck with Carson and disappeared down the street.
Charles and Caroline talked until Al came to the door and told Caroline it was time to be going. Al had driven the car over this time instead of walking. Charles waved to them from the front porch as they left.
Molly and Jack sat and visited with the adults, before leaving with the girls for home. After they left Charles went back inside the house. He walked to the kitchen to get a drink. Bev came in. He said, “I noticed at the table when Mom was talking about the store, she mentioned someone named Todd and his parents. Who are they?”
“Paw Paw used to teach history at the high school for a couple of years, until his mom and dad died and he took over the farm. Todd was one of his former students. He was a well-liked, smart young man. Paw Paw thought he had a bright future and took him under his wing as a mentor of sorts. One day during his senior year, Todd just vanished. Paw Paw was devastated. Occasionally from time to time he still talks about him.”
“I’d never heard of him before today.”
“That was a difficult time. We don’t talk about him much anymore.”
Charles put his glass down in the sink and gave her a hug. “Night Nana.”
“Night Charles.”
He went to find Carson in the garage and told him goodnight before going to get ready for bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow he drifted off to sleep.
**********
The morning came too soon. Charles wanted to sleep in, but the morning sun was shining through the curtains. He got up out of bed and looked out the window. Bev was hanging laundry on the clothesline. He hurried with his routine and was just in time to meet her at the back door as she was coming inside. “I was coming to help you.” He held the door open.
“Thank you Charlie.” Bev walked to the bedroom with the basket. She returned to the kitchen and began making pancakes for breakfast. Charles helped her.
Carson came in after his meeting with Walter. “Mmm, pancakes. Glad you are fixing one of my favorite breakfasts.” He brought his paper to the table and sat down. He started entertaining them by reading and commenting on various articles.
The two men went to the office after they finished breakfast. Charles fed Esmond and opened Airablelle’s cage. When he finished, Charles let him out to explore with Airabelle. Carson sat down at his desk, took out an “Auction Ledger” and opened it. He put his glasses on and handed Charles his pair. He pointed to the pages. “We need to go to the auction and actually bid so you can see how it’s done. Here are all the coins that we have recently been bidding on.” He pointed to another column. “In this column are the coins we bid on and were successful at purchasing. Then, in this column are the coins that were bid on, but didn’t get. Here is the most recent.” He looked at Charles.
Charles put his finger on the coin’s entry. “Why does this have a star beside it?”
“It shows that it was a gift. I’ve already catalogued the coin. In a minute I will show you.”
Carson looked back at the ledger, and then set it down. He took the key from the desk drawer and opened the vault to show Charles the most recent addition to the coin collection. Carson handed the wrapped coin to Charles. There were identifying marks along the outer rim of the coin holder. He looked it over and handed it back. Carson returned it to the drawer. He said, “I will show you how to catalog and prepare coins for our collection later.”
Carson went over to another drawer. He took out a crystal and put it in his pocket before he locked both drawers. They exited the vault. Carson locked the door and put the key away in his desk.
Carson said, “An invitation to the auction will be coming in the mail soon. It will look like this.” He showed Charles a previous invitation. Carson took out his calendar and showed Charles the past dates. “The auction should fall sometime around here.” He pointed to the weeks on the calendar they could expect to see the auction take place.
Then Carson stopped and took out an envelope from the top desk drawer. “This came early this morning. It is the response from the Sojourners’ Council to your acceptance letter to meet and discuss the opportunity for the apprenticeship.” He handed it to Charles. “Nana and I are looking forward to attending the meeting with you.”
Airabelle landed on the lectern. She sat up straight and said, “Did I hear you correctly? Bev’s going?”
Carson looked at her inquisitively. “Yes, you heard correctly. Would you like to attend?”
“Maybe. I would be tempted to go if Bev accompanies you.”
He turned to Charles and asked, “Well, how about that? Miss Airabelle may come out of retirement. What do you say Charles?”
“That would be great too!”
“It’s settled then.”
Esmond croaked and Airabelle looked at him. She flew over to him. They discussed something privately. Airabelle flew back to the lectern. “He wishes he could go too.” Esmond croaked again.
Carson looked over at him and said, “My friend this is a journey I am afraid you will not be able to make. Going through a Passageway is risky to say the least, and could quite possibly kill you. Only those of us that have Sojourners’ genes can travel through to the other side. I don’t understand why that is, I wish I did. I’d have loved for my daughter to join us on our adventures too. She wasn’t able to travel through the Passageway either.” Carson looked at Airabelle. Everyone was silent for a moment. Airabelle said to Esmond, “We won’t be gone long. While you are here on the farm, maybe you would like to visit the pond. Time travel for us, and time for you, will be very different. It won’t seem like we will be away for very long. Then, as soon as I return
I will tell you all about our adventure.” Esmond croaked and hopped over to the chair. He leapt up onto it and sat staring at the three of them. Airabelle flew over to the chair and sat beside him.
Carson looked over the response and said, “We will have arrangements to make and some planning to do before we go. It is possible Dimitrios may want to meet with you prior to the Council meeting.”
Charles nodded, then asked, “Is he in charge of this part of the interview, or is the Prime Minister?”
“I imagine you’ll have a chance to meet with everyone having to do with this process. I’m guessing that the Prime Minister has given the details to his confidant. You can be assured the entire process has been thoroughly thought out, with nothing left to chance.”
“Oh, that’s reassuring.”
“Isn’t it though? Don’t be apprehensive. We’ll prepare together and be ready for them.”
“All right. I’m so grateful you and Nana are here to prep me.”
“Nana made many good friends over the years working for the Sojourner government. She worked with the Council for years before Molly came along. Then she left her position. They left the contract open similar to a sabbatical leave. Right now she is happy on the farm, though I think from time to time she misses working with her friends in the Hub. She was very good at it and still has some very good contacts. This process will be very political. Everyone is going to be fighting for this opportunity.”
“Well now. That makes me feel better already,” Charles said.
Carson turned around and said, “Charles, I promise you will be prepared.
“At this time I believe you are ready to learn more about crystals. I will give you a guidebook that will explain their many uses and how to manipulate them. I believe the information will be helpful. They are very useful tools for us and I want you to be comfortable handling them.” Carson took the crystal out of his pocket and handed it to Charles. Carson went to the shelf. Charles sat down and looked it over. Airabelle came and perched behind Charles. Carson walked over and placed the guidebook on the table.
The Xidoran Prophecy Page 26
