Jennifer, then with concern said, "I know what you mean about Vinnyclimbing up here is dangerous and everything, but I was sorta hoping to have a little House Warming Party. Do you think that would be a bad idea?"
To which Ronald clarified his concern, by saying, "Not at all! Just because his scaling buildings, makes me nervous, doesn't mean Vincent is nervous, or not capable. He is an amazing athlete in every sense of the word. I am certain he would love to come to your party."
Jennifer bolstered by Ronald's approval, excitedly said, "Oh wonderful. And you would come?"
To which Ronald kindly said, "Of course!"
Happily, Jennifer replied, "Great, I will begin planning then."
She then added, "I thought it would be nice for Pops to come, and Peter, Mary, Rebecca, Jamie, Laura, Rat....err I mean Mouse, Pascal...I don't know, who ever is allowed to leave the tunnels."
Ronald smiled as he looked downward, knowing some aspects of the tunnels, is still foreign to Jennifer, and so he offered, "Maybe I better explain, you see as far as leaving the tunnels, we are all allowed to leave when ever we like. For some of us, it is less comfortable to do so, than it is for some of the others. But no one is a prisoner, the tunnels are a choice, not a sentence."
Jennifer thoughtfully said, "I guess I used the wrong word, when I said "allowed" I mean, I do know the tunnels are not a prison or anything, but it is just so exclusive. It would seem that once you experience the secrecy, and the security aspect of living there, you may be less inclined to want to experience the city, and maybe become distrusting of the rest of the population."
With a nod, Ronald had to admit, what Jennifer said was true, but went on to explain, "The tunnel community is set apart, and is, by our own volition. Each one of us Jenny, are there for a different reason, but...each of us stay, for the same. The tunnels provide warmth, security and family. Things we couldn't find, or had lost in the world above. And though some evolve into needing something different, the ones who stay do so out of free will. It is home."
Mesmerized by Ronald's description of tunnel life, Jennifer stood corrected. And said so, as she expressed, "I think I understand...and when I have visited, I find that I haven't wanted to leave either. But maybe that's because I care so much for the people I have met there."
Feeling touched by Jennifer's kindness, he warmly replied, "The feeling is mutual Jenny, everyone who has met you in the community like you very much."
Jennifer then self-consciously looked downward, not wanting to put too much hope in Ronald's kind statement, and as she cleared her throat, she softly said, "So nice to hear Ronny..."
And then after Jennifer calmed her heart, AND hopeful expectations, with a tone of enthusiasm, she said, "Soooo, looks like I can put things in motion for all of my new peeps then! I was thinking when I come below on Tuesday for Mary's Reading appreciation class...I will extend the invitations...Oh yes something else I wanted to ask you about Ronny...you see, Vinny and I had a conversation about the game of Putt Putt...and..."
Ronald started to laugh and asked, "It is hard for me to imagine how a conversation ended up on the subject of Putt Putt with Vincent, but with you Jenny, I am beyond surprise...please, go on with what you were saying."
Well, Jennifer never missed a beat and continued on, explaining, "What happened was, the moving guys this morning, accidentally brought up a box of golf balls along with my things, and explained the golf balls were from the moving job they did just before mine. And so the conversation opened up about the golf balls, and well it seems their other customer, who is moving to Arizona, owned a portable Putt Putt Course, and just wanted to get rid of the course! Soooo the "Two Men and a Truck" acquired the portable course! Do you believe it...a complete portable Putt Putt course of which they really do not want or need! Soooo, since Vinny, and I had just discussed of how Putt Putt would be a fun activity for the children, and for all the people of the tunnels, I, well, I bought it from the moving guys!"
With surprise, Ronald clarified, "You bought a Putt Putt course?"
With a nod, Jennifer continued, "So what I would like to do, is give it to the Tunnels either tomorrow or Sunday. The movers put it in my allotted basement storage space for now, so what I am asking is would you be able to help me with the set up?"
To which Ronald happily answered, "Yes, that is a wonderful thing for you to do for everyone. It sounds like a lot of fun. I think the community Chamber has a lot of open space where we could route the course."
Ronald then thoughtfully cautioned, "Of course we have to have Father's approval, so I will check with him, and let you know if he approves."
As Jennifer expressed hope Father would consent, the two of them continued to relax in the sunshine, talking about their upcoming classes, when Jennifer noticed the time, and said, "Oh my, the interview Cathy and I did about the break-in is just about to come on the radio... "
And then Jennifer sheepishly asked, "Do you mind listening to it with me?"
To which Ronald eagerly said he would love to hear it as well.
And so Jennifer brought out her cassette player/radio, and excitedly said, "There I have it all set to go. I have a cassette in so I can record it for Cathy."
And so the interview then began:
Broadcaster: "I am proud to introduce you to the two women who put three of Wilkin's henchmen behind bars. Jennifer Aranson, and Catherine Chandler. Welcome ladies."
Catherine: "Good Morning."
Jennifer: "How do you do?"
Broadcaster: "Tell us how the assault began."
Jennifer: "Well it all started because of, what I thought was a private phone
conversation with the D.A.! Well in this so called private conversation, I
informed him that I had a Depot to give him from Cathy...Oh I am sorry, for
our listeners out there who may not know...D.A. stands for District Attorney,
and Depo stands for Deposition, anywhoooooo, the perps, I mean perpetrators
had Cathy's phone bugged, and found out through this illegally retrieved info
that I had this damaging evidence on my person, which prior to the perps
arrival, I had hidden in a very good hiding spot...you see I was imagining that I
was a Bond Girl! Sounds silly I know..."
Ronald and smiled proudly and looked at Jennifer as he said, "Wow this is quite
impressive..."
To which Jennifer excitedly mentioned, "Oh listen to this next part Ronny..."
Jennifer: "....so anyway the perps broke in asking where the Depo was! And
because of the fact that I wouldn't tell them where it was, they said they were
going to torture me, and that was when Cath arrived! So she...she being
Catherine Chandler, well we took out those dudes like they were Rag Dolls!
There were three all together, one looked like Al Pacino, and the other cutie face looked like Ron Perlman, and then the third guy, who was not so cute, looked like Charles Nelson Riley! Didn't you think so too Cath?"
Catherine: "Well I...
As Ronald listened, he was humored by the fact Catherine never had a chance
to finish a sentence because Jennifer kept inserting their formulated story!
Jennifer: "Anyway I conked the two cute ones head's together, of which for
confidentiality, I will refer to as Al Pacino and Ron Perlman, and then Cathy
took out Charles Nelson Riley with a candle stick! Who by the way was the
meanest of the three, and deserved just what he got! You sure got him good uh
Cath?"
Catherine: "Well I just wanted to just daze him a little..."
Jennifer: "Daze him a little? You knocked him out cold!"
Catherine: "I didn't really mean to...now Jen..."
And then Jennifer inserted..."Mind you, neither Cathy or I are prone to
violence, or condone violence in any way shape or form, normally we wouldn't
hurt a fly, but there are times when a gal has to defend herself!"
Broadcaster: "Oh gee look at the time, I guess that about raps it up for today.
Thank you ladies for demonstrating how we can make a difference if we act
and not sit idly by waiting for help. Thank you for your bravery!"Catherine: "You are welcome."
Jennifer: "Glad to do it New York City!"
Jennifer turned to Ronald, and observably said, "Cath was so quiet, I found I had to do most of the talking so there wouldn't be any dead air space! I think she was a little overwhelmed by the Broadcasting station's control-room."
Ronald looked down trying to hide his amusement at the fact, it sounded to him, as if poor Catherine could not get a word in edgewise!
Just then the phone began to ring, and so as Jennifer sprang for the phone, she apologetically said, "I'll be right back!"
As she said hello to her Mother, Ronald looked on and started to laugh as Jennifer pulled the phone away from her ear! As it turns out Jennifer's Mother, also heard the radio interview!
To which Mrs. Aranson scolded, "I knew there was more to this incident, than what you first told me."
Jennifer calmed her Mom down by saying, "Mom I may have gotten a little carried away. We were not in that much danger...Ma...Ma...can we talk about it later, I have company right now."
As Jennifer hung up the phone, she rolled her eyes and said. "I suppose you gathered, that was my Mother!"
Ronald smiled, as he said, "I thought I recognized her voice from last night!"
Jennifer embarrassingly asked, "Don't tell me you could hear her from way over there? Oh my!"
Jennifer then scoffed, "She better calm down or she will have that stroke!"
Then with a sorrowful tone she then said, "I wish I could tell her I had not done any of that rough stuff, and explain it was Vincent who saved our lives! But I can't! So until the notoriety dies down, Cathy and I will just have to take the credit for the apprehension of the mobsters, and fend off suspicion the best I err....I mean we can!"
Ronald tipped his head in an amused affirmation and said, "You are doing a fine job of it too Jenny!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, as Catherine finished the last coat, she told Rebecca she would see her later, because she wanted to go check on Vincent.
With a wave of her hand, Rebecca urged her to go, but she was staying on to finish her sanding.
As Catherine entered her chamber, she found Vincent sound asleep.
Whenever Catherine was lucky enough to watch him sleep, she always noticed, and marveled at how his look seemed to change. She lovingly stood for a moment, thinking, with all of his intuitive observances, how could he be at such peace and look so childlike when he slept.
She quietly moved around her chamber and lit a few candles, and then she took an extra blanket from her wardrobe to cover him. As she felt a yawn coming, she thought how inviting it looked to lie down too. Slipping off her shoes, she then nuzzled under the comforter beside him.
And then she heard Vincent softly whisper, "Catherine..."
Sorry to have awakened him, Catherine apologetically said, "I am sorry I woke you."
To which Vincent sleepily suggested, "Perhaps I should go now so you can rest."
Urgently, Catherine pleaded, "Don't go, I just couldn't resist curling up with you, that's all."
As Catherine snuggled in deeper, she yawned, and admitted, "This is so heavenly, you know, I just may take a nap myself."
Vincent then sleepily said, "And I will stay...so you may sleep."
Vincent then kissed Catherine's hair, and softly spoke her name, "Catherine..."
Catherine then looked up at him, waiting for him to finish what he was saying, and as his eyes remained closed. She thought it was so sweet, he fell asleep thinking of her.
To be continued
Chapter Twenty-two
| A Dream Within a Dream! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Twenty-One |
