| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Three |
Meantime, Mouse hesitantly entered Vincent’s chamber with the fresh pot of tea William had prepared, and soberly said, “Father, this is for you and Vincent.”
As the two welcomed him, they could tell he was fearful, wondering if they were still angry with him.
Timidly, he set the tea down at the table, and still looking downward, he told his mountainous friend, “Thanks for trying to save me. Sorry you got hurt.”
Vincent assured him, “I know you’re sorry Mouse, I am going to be just fine.”
Even though he tried, it would seem Vincent’s words did little to convince his friend, that all was well.
Jacob also seeing Mouse’s uneasiness, began to feel guilty, thinking perhaps, he came down a bit too hard on him. Trying to make up for his harsh scolding, he invited him to join them for breakfast.
As Jacob nodded to the other chair, he asked, “Won’t you join us?” He then added a chuckle, as he said, “My goodness, William certainly sent enough food for three, please, share this bounty with us.”
Warily, Mouse accepted, and as he sat down, he nervously shifted his eyes from Vincent, then back to Jacob.
Finally, Vincent insisted, “Mouse relax, please! I promise you I am going to be fine, and no one is angry with you.”
Mouse heaved a relieved sigh, as he finally felt exonerated! Happily, he shifted in his seat, as he sat amongst his two friends once more.
Vincent then asked, "So tell us Mouse, what is it that makes it difficult for you to stay away from the 42nd street tunnels?"
Anxious to tell them about the chambers he discovered, Mouse excitedly told them, “Found chambers,more chambers, but then the wall fell and blocked the way. Too many explosives maybe. Can get there again though! Go a new way, a safer way!”
Surprised the old original chambers were still in tact, Jacob replied, “I know the chambers you speak of Mouse. They have been blocked off FOR YEARS! Let’s see, I guess it has been well over 30 years now.”
Vincent curiously asked, “Are you saying the chambers had been occupied at one time?”
Jacob exclaimed, “Yes indeed my boy! However after the cave-in near that area, the live-in chambers were abandoned. They were occupied by some of the original populous, who are no longer living among us.”
Reminiscently, he continued, “Oh yes there are chambers in that area, which we had constructed and prepared. We simply did not go back there after the cave-in scare. There really was no need! This area we live in now, was already developed, and with the exodus of some of the frightened ones, we had plenty of room.”
Curiously, Vincent asked, "Why didn't you tell me this before. As I recall, when we were children, you forbade us to go near there, though I must confess, we did do some exploring in that area a few times, but never found anything too very interesting. I don’t think you ever told us there were chambers concealed there, or we would have looked till we found them."
Jacob sternly affirmed, "I never told you children, for THAT very reason, because I knew you would want to explore further. Then as time passed, I guess I simply didn't think about telling you."
Vincent, sat thinking about it, and then said, “I do remember Lou telling me once, his mother lived here in the beginning.”
To which Jacob verified, “Yes, she would have been one of the people who lived in that area. At any rate, the incident frightened every one enough, where we simply didn’t go back.”
The thought of all those closed off chambers, lying dormant, caused Vincent to say, “Father, we do need to expand.”
Mouse then chimed in, “More chambers would be good! Then everyone could have one, like Jamie, she wants her own chamber really bad!”
Vincent did remember Jamie commenting as such, and so he nodded thoughtfully, as he told Jacob, “And I have heard a few others express such a desire as well, and with Catherine coming below, perhaps we should seriously look into it.”
Vincent then asked his Father, “Do you think we should explore that area again? Perhaps with extra support joints, and stronger weight bearing beams, we could make it safe.”
Jacob leaned back in his chair, and pondered, “Well I suppose we could reinforce some of the weakened beams, however, we would have to find a viable alternate route.”
Mouse excitedly related, “Already did, and can find it again!”
After Jacob gave Mouse the green light on this project, he looked worriedly at Vincent, and told him, “However it won’t be WE I’m afraid. Vincent, you are not lifting a finger for a few more days, at least!”
He then looked at Mouse, and commandingly said, “I want you in charge Mouse. After all this is your discovery.”
Proudly he smiled, and promised, “Mouse will not let Father down, or Vincent! I will do good!”
Confidently, Jacob nodded, and told him, “I know you will! It is your time to take more responsibility, and with Vincent recuperating, we need you to step up. Perhaps I should have listened to you before, at any rate, when we finish breakfast we will go over maps. You can organize the men who will be clearing the rock and stone from the cave-in, and then we shall go from there.”
Jacob looked down and smiled, thinking of the growth of his vision, his dream. Stifling his excitement, he beamed, “An expansion, who would have guessed another expansion would be in order. Yes we must prepare more room”
After breakfast, Jacob left with Mouse, to retrieve the 42nd street maps. They all were most anxious to begin!
Vincent remained seated at his writing table as he had promised, and with much on his mind and heart, he prepared to write a passage into his journal. He wrote:
Dearest Catherine,
You and I together on a joined passage. It is hard for me to fathom its reality, or that it would ever really happen.
In truth, I never felt I deserved such happiness before. However, because of what you have seen within me, and your belief in me, has aided me in seeing myself as I truly am, and insight to all I am destined to be.
You have given me a purpose to my life, and I shall not let you down.
There are many unknowns in our morrows, many gifts to give, and treasures to find.
Catherine, it is my life’s quest to make certain you are happy here
with me. It will be there within your happiness, that my treasure lies.
And your gift to me Catherine, will be your beautiful smile, when it is
intended for me, and me alone.
Be Well Catherine
Vincent
“Well there’s our patient! Vincent how are you?” Vincent stood as Peter and Mary entered the room. They both had smiles of relief, that Vincent seemed to be bounding back so quickly.
Vincent nodded as he answered, “Good Peter, I am feeling stronger today, a marked improvement I would say.”
As Mary approached Vincent, she boasted, “You do look so much better today Vincent! Yes, so much stronger! Doesn’t he Peter?”
Peter couldn’t help but agree, and so he said, “Yes he does!”
As Mary unfolded the sling she had lovingly sewed for him, she suggested, “Here Vincent, let’s try this on for size. I believe I measured correctly. Now stop fidgeting!”
Wanting to explain something, Vincent replied, "I was only wanting to tell you..."
Stopping him in mid-sentence, Mary argued, "I know you don't think you need a sling, but I will tell you I think you do!"
Looking at Peter, she explained, “I measured the distance from his neck to his elbow, allowing for a little slack of course.”
As Mary adjusted his arm in its new resting place, Mary continued saying, “I thought this was such a lovely pattern, and would perk you up!”
As Mary stood behind Vincent knotting the sling, Vincent raised his brows and discreetly smiled at Peter, as he awaited Peter’s reaction to the colorful Rosebud patterned sling Mary had made for him.
A wide-eyed Peter, looking back at Vincent, tried to stifle a chuckle so Mary did not hear him.
However, the sight of Vincent wearing a floral patterned sling was too hilarious!
Mary stepped back in front of Vincent, to check on the length, adjusted his arm inside of it, and asked, "There Vincent! Peter what do you think?"
Vincent looked to Peter waiting to hear what he had to say.
Peter could stifle himself no longer as he said, "I think its a good idea, but don't you think it would be better if you put the sling on the injured arm?"
As Mary looked back at Vincent, she realized, she had placed the sling on his good arm!
Vincent looked downward hiding his laughter, when a very flustered Mary, started laughing too. As she started to change it to his injured arm, she embarrassingly chuckled aloud, "Oh Good Golly me! Vincent why didn't you tell me?!"
Helplessly, Vincent replied, "I did try Mary."
Thinking back, Mary admitted, "I guess you did and then I stifled you didn't I? Oh my! Well let's change it over to the other arm."
Peter stepped up to Mary, and kindly stated, “Before you do that, I want to have a look.”
As Peter checked out his wound, he nodded approvingly, saying, “I have always been amazed at how quickly your wounds heal. This looks remarkable.”
Peter looking over at Mary, asked, “How many cuts and scrapes do you suppose we have doctored Vincent through?”
Mary smiled as she shook her head and said, “Too many to count I am sure. As I recall, as a young boy, Vincent had such an adventurous spirit! You had to continually frequent the tunnels back then, just to assist Father with all the cuts and scrapes.”
With a nod, and raised brow, Vincent added, “And, as I recall, I received a few scoldings, from the both of you as well!”
To which Mary with a chortle conceded, “Yes you did! I did my best to get you to slow down.”
Vincent fondly reminisced, “Yes you did...I remember you would always recite some verse of wisdom, and one time I recall, I was laying there, getting bandaged, and you told me, “Remember Vincent, The hurrier you go the be-hinder you get!”
Vincent continued, “And you would remind me if I had been more cautious I could be playing with the other children right now, instead of getting medical attention.”
Upon hearing these old tales, Mary felt nostalgic, thinking of Vincent as a young boy, with all those wild tousled tresses, and how she enjoyed looking after him, and all the children.
And as she felt a tear trickle down her cheek, Mary nodded sweetly, as she said, “Yes, I remember too Vincent.”
Lovingly then, the three shared a look, knowing the history here between them, went back, a long, long way.
As Mary put her hankie back in her sleeve, she thoughtfully added, “Those early days in the tunnels may have been difficult, but the memories I hold of them are so dear.”
Warmly, Peter nodded, and shared, “Yes...what an exciting time it was. You know I nearly moved here myself at one time. But I knew I could better serve everyone with my connections in the world above. Who knows, maybe I will retire here!”
Mary smiled, as she contemplated the thought of Peter joining the Tunnel community, and found it was quite appealing to her, and so she said, "How nice that would be Peter...how nice."
To be continued
Chapter Four
