By
Sharon Holtz
Chapter Seven
As Vincent entered Mouse’s chamber, he had unintentionally startled them, when he said, "I have been looking for you. Father wishes to see you.”
Mouse gave Jamie a sneaky look, and quickly, folded up the maps they had been studying. Seeing his slight of hand movement, Vincent asked, "What have you here?" Stepping closer, he could see the label at the top of the document, which prompted Vincent to sternly ask, "What are you two doing with the maps from the 42nd street tunnel?”
Mouse looked at Jamie, and she looked back at him before she nervously answered, "We were just wondering why this tunnel could not be opened Vincent. According to the maps, it looks like it could be for more chamber space. I for one would love to have my own chamber. Laura is a great roommate and all, but I have no privacy. Ah Vincent couldn’t we look into it?”
Informatively, Vincent replied, "Father is adamant about this Jamie. He has concerns."
Looking now to Mouse, Vincent reminded him, "You know it could be dangerous disrupting the stones and bricks there, making it even more unsteady and unsafe. We thought you understood this after Father told you about the cave in which occurred near there!”
Jamie looked at Mouse, and scolded, "A cave in! You didn’t tell me about a cave in!”
Sheepishly Mouse pouted, "OK good, OK fine. Mouse didn’t tell Jamie, But Father is wrong. Mouse knows.”
Raising an eyebrow as he added, "Mouse has been on the other side!”
With concern, Vincent asked, "Do you mean to say, you found a passage to the other side? How can that be?”
With a cunning smile, Mouse said, "No place is too hard for Mouse to find, no place too small. Mouse has been everywhere.”
Upon hearing this, Vincent began to wonder about the possibility of an expansion there. And so with an encouraging tone, Vincent suggested, "Perhaps tomorrow, Father will allow a presentation of what you believe is possible Mouse. However, for now, for today, put the idea to rest. The Children’s concert is tonight, and there are still chores to be completed, and preparations to be done.”
Mouse and Jamie were famous for their escapades, and Vincent had an uneasiness as he turned to leave. Turning to the pair once again, Vincent reminded Mouse, "Do Not forget Mouse, Father would like to speak to you. Perhaps you better join them as well Jamie and hear all Father has to say on this matter.”
They both answered, saying they would go see Father straight away.
Meanwhile, Catherine answered the door, and cheerfully said, "Come on in Jen.”
Peaking into the turtle bowl, she next gave Gonzalez a greeting as well, sweetly saying, "Well there’s my little room-mate!”
Seeing Jennifer had quite an armload, Catherine asked, "What is all this stuff? Is this all for Gonzalez?”
Nodding Jennifer confirmed, "Yes! Now listen carefully Cath, I only have time to go through this once! I’m due to pick up Mom at the hairdressers. Now, see this rock?”
Catherine ready and raring to listen, nodded obediently as Jennifer explained, "This is Gonzy’s "Scenic Travel Rock”. I put it in for an hour, and take it out for two. The change of scenery has really helped with his depression, he seems to get bored so easily! Now see this other rock?”
Catherine assuredly answered, "Yes.”
To which Jennifer efficiently said, "You might notice it is a bit larger than the "Scenic Rock”. This is his "Sleeping Rock”. Don’t put it in until after 8 p.m., or all he will do is sleep. Make sure that the "Travel Rock” has been out for at least ½ hour before this one goes in, or Gonzy will become confused, and disoriented! The "Sleeping Rock” comes out like clock work at 7 a.m. Now, see this mirror?”
Again Catherine nodded as Jennifer went on, explaining, "Gonzy likes to look at himself. But only after he has eaten, otherwise it seems to freak him out. I don’t know if he thinks he is another turtle, or if he just thinks that he is so very good-looking!”
Catherine questionably acknowledged, "I see.”
Though Catherine seemed a little confused about the mirror, Jennifer continued, "Check out this little shade tree, isn’t it cute? Now this can stay in all day, but out at night as the sleep rock goes in. He really enjoys swimming in the shadow of it during the day, so make sure that you have the bowl facing west so that the shadow will fall within the circumference of the bowl! Now he does get treats periodically, but only if he climbs up on the scenic rock during the " Scenic Rock Time” I think that
encourages exercise. You know the Pavlov thing. Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention that music may be played during the "Scenic Rock Time”, but during that time only. He really likes Meatloaf’s "Bat of Hell” album, and let’s see where did I put that cassette, Oh yes here it is!”
Catherine feeling a little shell-shocked, shakily answered, "OK.”
In conclusion, Jennifer said, "Now this is his food, he eats at 9a.m., noon and 6p.m. Drop a pinch to the left of the tree because that is where he instinctively looks.”
Catherine wondered why he looks to the left, and so she asked, "And he looks to the left because…”
Answering hurriedly, Jennifer explained, "Because he is blind in his right eye.”
Blind in his right eye?!!! Oh my! Catherine had heard just about enough, so finally, she called Jennifer out on the blindness thing, and said, "Now wait a minute! How could you possibly know that he is blind in his right eye?”
Matter-of-factly, Jenifer answered, "Because he never looks at me from the right! Any other questions?”
Teasingly, Catherine answered, "Only one, where’s his toothbrush?”
Impatiently Jennifer said, "Don’t be silly, turtles don’t have teeth! Well, I had better scoot. Cath we are leaving at 8:30p.m. Since Aunt Doris is no longer a practicing Catholic, Mom wants to make sure she makes it to Church, so we are going to the 7 o'clock Mass. Still time to change your mind about going.”
Feeling hopeful about seeing Vincent tonight, Catherine said, "Thanks anyway Jen but I have plans after all.”
Suspiciously, Jennifer asked, "Oh you have plans with that mysterious boyfriend? The guy you can't trust telling even ME about?”
Smiling as she looked downward, Catherine replied, "Oh Jen it’s not that I don’t trust you, I thought you understood, things are complicated that’s all!”
Jennifer smiled back at Catherine, as she said, "I do understand, well sort of. One of these days, you are going to have to spill your guts and tell me everything!”
Catherine answered, "Jen I would like that, more than you could know!”
Jennifer gave Catherine a hug, and told her, "Thanks a million Cath, and bye bye Gonzy, Mommy will be back tomorrow sometime.”
Then like a gust of wind Jen was gone. Catherine laughed aloud at her vivacious whirlwind of a friend.
Meanwhile below, Mouse and Jamie timidly entered Jacob’s chamber, and stood for a moment before Mouse said, "Vincent said you wanted to talk to me.”
Looking up from his book, Jacob replied, "Yes do come in. I am concerned about the fact, you want to open the old tunnel. Now it simply must not be disturbed! Is that understood Mouse? Jamie? I know you two are inquisitive, but I do not want you near there.”
Jamie guiltily complied, "All right Father.”
However, Mouse never answered Father! He felt if he did, then, it would have been like agreeing
with him! So Mouse cleverly asked him, "Can Mouse go now Father?”
Preoccupied with Vincent, and his impending task of talking to Lisa, Jacob said, "Yes, yes of course carry on both of you.”
As they left, Mouse pouted, "Mouse is not wrong. Mouse knows!"
Sternly, Jamie looked at Mouse, and warned him, "You heard Father! You would be smart to forget about the whole thing at least for now. Remember Vincent said maybe tomorrow you could explain all you know to Father.”
Meanwhile, Vincent stood at the entrance of Lisa’s chamber. Softly he called her name, and asked, "Am I disturbing you?”
Graciously Lisa replied, "Do come in! What a glorious day, don’t you agree?”
Stepping inside, it was clear he had much on his mind as he quizzed himself on how to begin.
Lisa teased Vincent as she noticed his sullen look, saying, "Oh Vincent, what is it? Must you be so serious ALL the time? What happened, did Father scold and warn you about me after I left you two? Did he curse my being here, as he had so many years ago?”
Vincent answered, "Father is concerned that is all. There are so may things that have never been resolved. I would like to…”
Just then Samantha arrived to go over her costume fitting with Lisa. Lisa pleaded with him, "Oh Vincent could we talk later, it is so important for Samantha to look her best, She is the star tonight! She will be performing a solo!" She then fussed over the little girl, and said, "I am so excited for you. To perform, and be on stage, well there simply is no feeling like it!" Fluffing up her ribbons, Lisa asked, "She is a lovely girl isn’t she Vincent?”
Samantha beamed, with the largest of smiles, as Vincent agreed, "Yes Samantha is a beauty, but what pleases me most LISA, is the fact she is so very kind to those around her!”
Vincent tried to convey, that he did not wish for so much importance to be put upon her looks. He wanted to impress upon Lisa, vanity was not something to be emphasized in the tunnels, as it is in the world above.
However, Lisa, not getting the hint, looked at Samantha once more, and in a scolding manner, told her, "Samantha, please remember to smile, and don’t ever forget, a touch of "mystique” is so important for a woman to maintain!”
Samantha looked admiringly back at Lisa, and with a nod, promised, "I won’t forget.”
Meanwhile above, Peter came for Catherine promptly at 6:45, and with a smile, she said, "Hello, I’ll be ready in a second.”
Catherine chose to wear, an ivory colored, dropped waist Victorian dress, which so beautifully showed off her slim figure. She once again put on her necklace, her most precious treasure!
She looked so beautiful tonight, and the excitement of soon being with Vincent again, seemed to transform her beauty into something even more radiant! She possessed only the kind of beauty, happiness of the heart can bring.
Peter could not help but notice, and told her, "You look so lovely Cathy."
He then also happily noted, she seemed to be in a better mood now than she was earlier. And so he presumingly asked, "You must have heard from Vincent.”
To which she answered, "No, actually you get the credit Peter. After you explained what had happened, well that just made so much sense! I am sure he just didn’t want to spoil the surprise for the children! Well I am ready, shall we?”
To be continued
