I hope that this is a pleasant change from all the romance people INSIST on
writing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Better Than You
~~~~~~~~~
Artemis fumed silently in the back of the limousine on its way to the airport. I can't believe Mother thinks that Butler is having a 'criminal' influence on me!! He thought. Two days earlier, Artemis had snapped at his mother for disrupting his criminal plans.
Her eyes had taken on a steely glint as she replied coolly, "You may not speak to me that way, young man. Butler is having a bad influence on you I see. I think its time that you met your Aunt Eva and Uncle Rod."
He remembered opening his mouth to protest hotly and she had cut him off with a shake of her head, "No buts, Artemis." She smiled gently, "Besides, you always work so hard on that laptop of yours. Don't you think its time you took a break?"
He recalled himself hesitating, and in that moment of hesitation, she had smiled brilliantly and swept out of the room leaving him to absorb what had just happened. He felt the car slow down dramatically, and then it pulled to a stop. His door opened and he stepped out, squinting in the harsh sunlight. Butler removed his luggage from the trunk and put a hand on Artemis' shoulder reassuringly, but, all the same, he couldn't shake the hollow feeling deep in his gut. His father had accompanied them to the airport and now walked alongside Artemis.
He glanced down at Artemis, "Artemis. You know your mother only wants the best for you."
Artemis sighed, "I suppose. It's just." He trailed off uncertainly.
His father looked straight ahead at the security gate. He turned his gaze pointedly on Butler.
Butler caught his meaning and said, "Don't worry, Master Fowl. I left my weapons in the car." His father nodded approvingly and handed the car keys to the security guard as he passed through the metal detectors.
Artemis stepped in after him and Butler followed. I can't believe my mother is going through with this. I was sure that she would change her mind after the first round of cold-shouldering.
Artemis Sr. looked down solemnly at his son, "Well, I guess I will see you in two months, Artemis." He extended his hand for Artemis to shake. Artemis shook it and turned to Butler.
Artemis Sr.'s face softened as he acknowledged the need for a private goodbye between his son and the bodyguard, "I need to go to the restroom for a moment." With that he excused himself quietly.
Artemis looked at Butler, fighting the small lump that had surreptitiously risen in his throat. Butler knelt down to Artemis' level, hesitated for a long moment, then, quickly, wrapped his arms around Artemis in a fatherly hug. Then he stood turning away quickly; "You'll be all-right Master Artemis. It's only two months."
Artemis Sr. returned as the call for first class passengers boomed out over the intercom. "Goodbye, son." "Goodbye, Father." Artemis turned on his heel and walked into the hallway that connected the jet to the airport.
Better Than You
~~~~~~~~~
Artemis fumed silently in the back of the limousine on its way to the airport. I can't believe Mother thinks that Butler is having a 'criminal' influence on me!! He thought. Two days earlier, Artemis had snapped at his mother for disrupting his criminal plans.
Her eyes had taken on a steely glint as she replied coolly, "You may not speak to me that way, young man. Butler is having a bad influence on you I see. I think its time that you met your Aunt Eva and Uncle Rod."
He remembered opening his mouth to protest hotly and she had cut him off with a shake of her head, "No buts, Artemis." She smiled gently, "Besides, you always work so hard on that laptop of yours. Don't you think its time you took a break?"
He recalled himself hesitating, and in that moment of hesitation, she had smiled brilliantly and swept out of the room leaving him to absorb what had just happened. He felt the car slow down dramatically, and then it pulled to a stop. His door opened and he stepped out, squinting in the harsh sunlight. Butler removed his luggage from the trunk and put a hand on Artemis' shoulder reassuringly, but, all the same, he couldn't shake the hollow feeling deep in his gut. His father had accompanied them to the airport and now walked alongside Artemis.
He glanced down at Artemis, "Artemis. You know your mother only wants the best for you."
Artemis sighed, "I suppose. It's just." He trailed off uncertainly.
His father looked straight ahead at the security gate. He turned his gaze pointedly on Butler.
Butler caught his meaning and said, "Don't worry, Master Fowl. I left my weapons in the car." His father nodded approvingly and handed the car keys to the security guard as he passed through the metal detectors.
Artemis stepped in after him and Butler followed. I can't believe my mother is going through with this. I was sure that she would change her mind after the first round of cold-shouldering.
Artemis Sr. looked down solemnly at his son, "Well, I guess I will see you in two months, Artemis." He extended his hand for Artemis to shake. Artemis shook it and turned to Butler.
Artemis Sr.'s face softened as he acknowledged the need for a private goodbye between his son and the bodyguard, "I need to go to the restroom for a moment." With that he excused himself quietly.
Artemis looked at Butler, fighting the small lump that had surreptitiously risen in his throat. Butler knelt down to Artemis' level, hesitated for a long moment, then, quickly, wrapped his arms around Artemis in a fatherly hug. Then he stood turning away quickly; "You'll be all-right Master Artemis. It's only two months."
Artemis Sr. returned as the call for first class passengers boomed out over the intercom. "Goodbye, son." "Goodbye, Father." Artemis turned on his heel and walked into the hallway that connected the jet to the airport.