Disclaimer: All in fun and, hopefully, a wee-bit of enjoyment.
Without my betas to keep me on the straight and narrow, this story wouldn't have gone beyond the first chapter. Ladies, please take a big bow. The cheering you hear is me! Thank you!
Nothing But Time On My HandsChapter 21
By Alfonsina
The Saturday before the summer solstice, Marsha and Ronny tried to get me to go to the public ritual after the store closed. They said there was no big formal festival like there was for Beltane, just a potluck and a bonfire afterwards. The people I'd met the last time were nice and it was tempting, but I had promised to take Grandma on her date.
Binky and I called what we were doing as hanging out, but we were doing it a lot. Hanging out had less pressure and no expectations, and so far there had been no real kissing just some flirting. Once we'd dropped the kids off to an early bird dinner and we'd had coffee and pie in a different part of the same restaurant. Our outings were short, friendly and very comfortable. We'd only doubled, as Grandma called it once, I was just taking it at face value, even the quick peck on the lips at the end of our time together.
We spent a lot of time together in just a couple of weeks. It was some of the most fun I'd had in ages. Who would've thought Binky was fun? He was always so serious at work. He was incredibly uptight about maintaining the 'bleeding edge' of technology at the office, said we couldn't afford to ever get out of date. He sounded a lot like Ranger did when Ranger talked about the importance of technology.
Sheldon and Grandma were dating and doing other things, which were far less tame than what Binky and I had been up to. Tonight they were going to watch a movie and Binky wanted to ice-skate. The rink wasn't too far from the theatre and it took us both out of the awkward role of chaperone, thank goodness.
Ice-skating would have been fun, if I'd ever ice-skated before. He, however, had been on a hockey team in high school and still found great pleasure in going around in a circle wearing two knives and ugly boots. I really hoped he wasn't going to show off his hockey skills. I like my teeth just where they are, thanks.
"I'm kind of rusty, but this should be fun," he said.
"I've never done this before. I roller-skated for the last time when I was ten, and this is something that will take more coordination than that did. Just how rusty are you?" I asked. I wasn't feeling confident and was wondering if I had enough Ben Gay at home for the muscles that were sure to be sore the next day.
"I won't drop you, promise."
"Drop me? What do you mean drop me?" I asked. Hey, I've watched ice skating on TV, I've seen those fancy lifts; no way was he doing that to me. We'd both land on our asses in front of who knows how many people.
"Sorry, I mean let go of you. I'll help you find your center of gravity. Once you get comfortable, it can feel like flying around the rink."
"I know exactly where my center of gravity is. I didn't think it was going to be important for this," I said.
"Never underestimate the importance of your center of gravity," he said as he patted my rump. Definitely Binky was an ass man.
He paid our admissions and my skate rental; he'd brought his own skates. He spent what felt like forever reviewing the rental skates. He finally settled upon a pair of men's, ultra ugly, black skates for me.
I wrinkled my nose when I saw the boots; they weren't white, small or cute. They looked like what Granddad used to call 'clod hoppers'. Sure technically they would work, but cute just wasn't a word I'd use to describe the footwear before me.
"Steph, don't make any faces. The boots are in great shape, almost new. No one will see them under your jeans, promise. People are much more intrigued by your other assets, I promise. And if you need me to, I'll vouch for your femininity."
Jerk.
I hadn't gotten my own shoes off, never mind one boot on, and he was already laced up and on the ice. He'd lapped the rink three times before I got the second boot on. Either he was working off hormones of his own or he was showing off. Maybe it was a little of both.
He glided back to the side and came to the bench I was sitting on and took over my attempts at lacing the boots. He kept tightening the laces until I didn't think I was going to have any circulation left in my ankles or my feet.
"You can't get away with wearing them loose, it's one of the fastest ways to fall," he said.
He took my hand and helped me stand. He even helped me wander over to the entrance of the ice.
"Ready?" he asked.
"No, but I'll do it anyway," I said.
"Ok. Shoulders back, hips forward and head up."
Why did that just sound sexy somehow to me? Maybe I needed to be able to go around the rink quickly to extinguish my own hormones. Maybe I just needed to come into an ice rink when I just needed to cool off a little.
I admit that I did stumble some, OK, a lot. I stumbled a lot and Binky caught me almost every time. The one time he didn't catch me, I pulled him down with me. He actually landed on top of me. It would've been much more fun if we hadn't been in a public place because things were lining up in a very interesting way. He had to scramble to get off of me and get us both up before someone, namely me, got even more embarrassed.
After the first forty-five minutes, the Zamboni was called out to resurface the ice. We drank bad hot chocolate from a vending machine. We made small talk and stood close enough to share body heat and Binky provided plenty of that. Who would have thought that mid-June and hot chocolate would go so well together?
"Gonna go anywhere before summer's over?" I asked him.
"I'm going to head to Indiana for a few days," he said.
"Seeing family?" I asked, "Or is it a pleasure trip?"
"My daughter lives there with her mother," he said quietly.
I didn't realize he'd ever been married.
"I didn't mean to invade your privacy," I said.
"Actually, my daughter's the love of my life. Her mother and I just couldn't make a go of it."
"You're pretty far away from your child," I said.
"I can't make a living there, I tried. There's not a lot of need for my skills in that community; the part of the state they're in is pretty rural. The town only has two-thousand people and one stop light. But it is a great place to be a kid, everyone knows you there."
I rubbed his forearm to let him know I was still listening. Why did women seem to break the hearts of the Merry Men? They all deserved to find happily ever after.
"I miss her, but I see her when I can. Besides, I get along better with her mother when there is distance between us. As long as we're talking about relationships, I know you don't have kids. Been married?"
Hunh, Binky must be the only person in the tri-state area that didn't hear about my divorce from The Dick. He must have been in Indiana still when The Great Emasculation occurred. I guess I should've tried harder to get CNN, FOX and MSNBC in on the story. My break up with The Dick was the thing of legends. After a marriage that lasted about 15 minutes, I came home to find found him polishing my dining room table with Joyce Barnhardt. After some quick thinking on my part, photos of the dirty deed were sent to every news agency in the tri-state area. Needless to say, my marriage and Dickie's potential political career came to an end. Well, we didn't need to spoil the mood by going into all that.
"Yeah. Been there, done that and own the t-shirt. Let's just say that Rex, my hamster, is a better partner and more communicative than Dickie ever could be. Enough about the bad stuff, we're supposed to have fun here."
"You're right about that. On to even more pressing matter; tell me, are you ticklish?"
"Wouldn't you just like to find out?" I asked with a huge smile. I am incredibly ticklish and it could be fun letting him find out where.
"Most definitely, but you'll never see the sneak attack."
When the ice had been sufficiently smoothed, there was an announcement over the PA. The rink was to be restricted to couples only; the lights dimmed and the music was slow. I was part of a couple with Binky. We looked at each other and headed back to the ice.
He held me more closely than before as he guided me back around the rink. At one point, he actually turned me around so he was going forwards directing traffic and I was being pushed backwards moving my feet when his moved. He had a hand on my hip and the other wrapped around my hand. I placed one hand on his shoulder and the other wound up between us. We kept inching closer together.
The experience was exhilarating, it was exciting, and it was pretty damned good. Just when it would have been a good time, in my humble estimation, for him to kiss me, his phone rang. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and checked the display. He guided us to the side and answered it.
"Hello?" Pause. "Really?" Pause. "Sorry about that." Pause. "Probably another twenty or so minutes." Pause. "None of your damn business." Pause. "Because I said so, that's why. Stay out of trouble until we come back. See you soon, Grandpa."
"Is it time to leave?" I asked sounding almost as disappointed as I felt.
"Yeah. Your grandmother got them ejected from the movie for shouting at the screen and not settling down when the manager asked her the third time."
Oh boy.
"Sorry about that," I said.
He just smiled, closed his eyes and went in for the kiss. It was amazing. If it hadn't been for the air conditioning and the ice, I probably would have melted into the ground. I didn't think I ever wanted to come up for air again. I could kiss Binky for hours on end, in a warmer place, but you know what I mean. My whole body tingled and hummed. It was almost as good as being kissed by Ranger, not quite, but damned close.
We got back to the benches and changed shoes. He held my hand as we headed back to the car and then he kissed me again. This was longer, slower and felt incredibly decadent.
When he broke the kiss he asked, "Steph?"
"Yeah," I said feeling like there were any number of things I'd really like to do to him and soon, tickling being the least of them. I knew we'd both been tested for STDs during our physicals and that my IUD was in place and would be effective now. Besides, I had the stash of condoms I bought for Beltane with Woody that I'd not so much as opened.
"Did you feel a tingle just now?" he asked.
"Tingle?" Hell my whole body felt like it had been set on fire and there was only one way to put it out!
"Yeah, did you feel a tingle just now or the other time I kissed you?" he asked.
"Uh-huh," I said. I was quiet for about three seconds before I blurted out, "What? You didn't, did you? I'm not a good kisser, am I?"
"No, you are an amazing kisser. I just got the feeling I was kissing my cousin or something. It was good, but the tingle is missing for me," he said with a sigh.
"Do you want to try again?" I breathed. Please, say yes, please?
"I just did. I hoped I was wrong the first time, I'm sorry. I wanted to get the tingle when I kissed you, kind of like a sign to go on. I didn't get it," he said shaking his head. Well at least he had the good taste to look a little disappointed at the lack of a tingle.
"Well, better to find out now, I guess. And for the record, you tingle me down to my toes," I said with a small smile.
"Friends?" Binky asked.
"Always," I said. I hugged him close and then we got into the car to retrieve our grandparents.
We pulled out of the lot when I noticed a black SUV in the back of the lot. It probably wasn't Ranger's or part of the Rangeman fleet. Rangeman vehicles were easily identifiable, dust didn't dare to stick to them and this rig was filthy dirty. Then again, if Binky saw it regardless of dirt, it might've been why he claimed to feel no tingle. Guess I'll never really know for sure because my ego doesn't want to know the answer.
Once again, Grandma wanted to compare her date to mine. At least this time I didn't have to worry about damage to a hotel room or other antics. Sheldon's glasses were expected to be repaired in another day or so anyway, so Binky probably would have run out of reasons to see me either way.
xx
I was glad not to have been home alone on a Saturday evening; it was the big summer solstice bonfire and potluck. I couldn't get the comment Woody made about it out of his mind; that he and Morgan were going to perform the great rite that night. I was glad for them and a little envious. But the idea of a full body check for ticks afterwards kind of got to me. I guess I'm not really 'back to nature' girl.
Marsha told me that regardless of if I had to make a living or not, she was serious about me working the list. Terrific. I thought that conversation had died out and gone away.
xx
On the actual evening of summer solstice, I was supposed to do a distraction in Hamilton Township and it was supposed to be an early evening take down. I brought my outfit, rollers and extra make up with me so I could change in Ranger's apartment after my shift ended.
I was just about to go upstairs when my phone rang. Caller ID showed it was the doctor's office. It was 5:45 and a little late for them to be calling now. I wasn't sick and I didn't have another appointment for months.
"Hello."
"This is Mike Jamison. May I speak with Stephanie Plum?"
"Speaking. What can I do for you Dr. Jamison?" I was hoping he wasn't trying to make good on his offer to fix me up with one of his friends. If his friends were anything like him, they were gym rats, too and I wasn't in near good enough shape to date someone like that.
"The results from your recent Pap smear have recently come back. I sent them out for a second opinion. We'd like to have you come back to retest…."
That was enough to bring me back to reality. After a couple of seconds to register the conversation, all I heard him say was 'retest'. I am sure he went on talking for a while, but I dropped the phone and slunk into my chair. I accidentally rolled over the phone with my chair and killed it. I hope it was insured.
As a rule, doctors don't call after their offices have closed for the day. Doctors don't call unless something is big, bad and ugly; that's why they have staff. This was obviously in the big, bad and ugly phase since Dr. Jamison was calling himself. Oh God.
I was staring straight ahead and couldn't form words when my desk phone started to ring. I'd already gone into pre-emptive shock.
"Stephanie? It's Dr. Jamison again. We were cut off and now your other line isn't answering. Are you OK?"
"Yeah, just fine. Retest. You want me to retest. Why?" I supported my forehead with my hand and closed my eyes.
"… some abnormal and potentially pre-cancerous cells. It's probably nothing, but we need to look into it just in case."
"Sure. Fine. When do you want me back?"
There was silence while he was looking up something in the scheduler. I thought he'd hung up and gone home but I never got that weird sound on the line that indicated it was just me sitting and waiting for someone to talk to me.
He finally came back on the line and named a time and date. I agreed and wrote it down.
I was still sitting at my desk twenty minutes later, staring at precisely nothing.
"Steph. You need to get ready, we've got to go soon," Zip said.
I nodded. I didn't say a word.
Five minutes later Erik walked past, "Steph, you've got to get a move on … Are you ok?
"Sure. Fine."
"You don't look fine. Let me get Bobby," he said over his shoulder making what haste he could.
I have no idea how much time passed when Bobby was standing next to me trying to get my attention. I could see his mouth moving but I couldn't hear any words except "pre-cancerous", "re-check" and "second opinion" playing over and over and over in my mind.
Bobby picked up the receiver from my phone and called Ranger. "Cancel tonight. Something's not right with Steph." Pause. "No, I don't know what it is but I can't get her attention. Looks like she's in shock."
I waved my hand at Bobby and shook my head. I licked my lips and shook my head again. I knew the headshake was a lie and evidently Bobby did too.
"Like I said, Ranger, cancel the op for tonight. She goes in tonight somebody might get hurt," he said as he hung up the phone.
"Steph, honey, can you tell me about it?" Bobby asked.
I shook my head. I was afraid that if I opened my mouth something nonsensical would come out. He'd heard me ramble before, but this would be exceptional even for me. I hadn't even realized tears had welled in my eyes. I attempted to look at him and could barely see him. I mouthed the word "Home."
He started to walk me to the elevators so he could drive me home when we ran into Ranger. They exchanged a glance and I was passed from the protective custody of one man and into the next. Ranger put his arm over my shoulder and brought me in close to him as we made our way silently to the garage.
He didn't say a word as he got me into the BMW. Still nothing was said as we drove through town to my apartment. I handed him my door-keys, not that he needed them, and he opened the door.
"Stephanie, Babe, are you OK? What happened?"
I didn't answer. I was looking for my voice. I finally found it and said, "I'm probably overreacting. You know me." I was convincing no one in the room.
"Babe, you don't even bat an eyelash when a car explodes, you just admire the flames. This has you rattled. Will you tell me?" he said. "Please?"
"It's probably nothing. Like I said, overreacting," I told him.
"You shouldn't be alone," he said, "whatever this is."
"I'm not great company right now, Ranger."
He was once again the immovable force and planted himself on my sofa.
"Let me just be here for you. Can you trust me to do that?"
"You should know this isn't a matter of trust. It's just something I want to pretend isn't happening. I'm going to have a bath and try to relax a little," I said. "If you want to stay, make yourself at home. You know where everything is."
I headed to the bathroom as I heard him saying, "Off line until tomorrow. Interrupt me only if someone's dead and you're at the morgue."
xx
About an hour later I came out of the bathroom. Ranger was on the sofa trying to look interested in whatever was on TV. On the kitchen table were two covered plates. He'd called Ella and had some comfort food delivered; pork chops and homemade mac and cheese. There was one small piece of raspberry cheesecake; I knew it had to be for me. Ranger probably never let Philadelphia's best known product, cream cheese, pass his lips.
After we finished eating, he insisted on doing the dishes.
"Go home and go to bed, Ranger. You've been looking tired lately," I said.
"You don't look like you should be alone. I'd really like to stay and be here for you."
"I've faced worse, this just caught me off guard. It'll all be fine. It's a tempting offer and I might take you up on it another time, OK?" Sure I'd faced worse, but usually there was someone or multiple someones who helped me in those situations; this was something I was going to deal with on my own.
"Babe."
"Go on, really. If I can't sleep, I can always cruise the internet at 2:00 a.m. Who knows? Maybe I'll stumble on some bounty hunting tips and tricks. I've never looked for those before."
He gave me a brief kiss on the temple as he headed out the door.
"Call if you ..."
"Promise, I'll call if I need anything. Thanks for keeping me company, Ranger."
I locked the door and staggered into bed. I was emotionally exhausted. I knew there was nothing I could do but retest and wait, but waiting was never my strong suit.
Something woke me up at 2:00 a.m. It felt like a hand shaking my shoulder to get my attention, but when I opened my eyes, I realized how alone I was. I did a quick check of the apartment and confirmed it was just Rex and me. I tried to go back to sleep. No luck.
I turned on the computer and thought I'd check Yahoo just in case.
There was an e-mail time stamped 5:25 p.m. labeled Happy Solstice
Palmist,
I noticed today was the first official day of summer.
Happy Summer Solstice.
I thought you might celebrate the change of seasons.
I celebrate most things by working. I'm pretty boring.
I just figured it would be nice to acknowledge it to someone.
CO
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
Mark Twain
I decided I wanted to tell someone, anyone really, about today's news. I felt pretty sure if I did it this way, I might feel a little better. There wouldn't be a lot of questions to answer that I had no answers to myself.
I labeled the e-mail Not Celebrating
CO
I spend a lot of time working and seem to only celebrate
holidays when I get reminded of them by someone else. In
fact, I was actually supposed to work tonight. Duty and the
wallet are impressive task masters.
I got a call from my doctor late today. I had a complete
physical the other day, not my idea of a great time. Anyway
he wants me to re-do one of the tests to validate some
results. After that phone call I knew I just became numb.
I can deal with bad news if I can just get it over with. I don't
play waiting games very well.
Besides, when I freaked out, it caused the company I
freelance for to cancel a job they'd had on the books.
So I feel bad on two fronts: 1. Uncertainty (not something
I'm especially good at) and 2. Disappointing the people I
work for and with, especially my boss.
Sorry to unload. I just needed to tell someone. If I've
overstepped, let me know.
Palmist
I checked the weather in cities around the world, I may not be able to afford to travel but I could still see how the other half lived. Then I read headlines from USAToday, crime is up and economic factors are down, no good news there. I read a bunch of funnies on line, laughter is supposed to be the best medicine, but nothing was funny to me.
I had killed about half an hour and was getting ready to go back to bed when I realized there was a response to my e-mail.
Palmist,
If you need someone to talk to about your medical issues, I
can listen. I may not be able to help, but I've been alone
with bad news. It can be the loneliest feeling in the world.
If you want to give more details, do what makes you
comfortable. I will be here for as much or as little support
as you want or need. You have my word and I don't give it
lightly.
I've got medical connections, so if you need the name of a
specialist for a second opinion, I can help with that.
Not much you can do about uncertainty. Life is uncertain.
There is risk in almost everything.
The people you work with would probably be understanding
if you decide to tell them. People will surprise you with their
kindness if you let them.
You don't seem like a night-owl, so you should probably go
to bed.
Take care and let me know if I can help.
CO
Don't worry about treading lightly, I can handle most things
and accept most others. Besides, we need to start to trust
each other, do you agree?
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
Mark Twain
It seemed weird to me that I could apparently trust a stranger. But this whole situation seemed a little strange, so let the good times roll. People bond over all kinds of things on the internet and have all sorts of discussion groups. Looked like I just started my own group of two.
I crawled into bed feeling not quite so alone.
xx
I checked e-mail before I went to work. I figured there would probably not be anything there, but it was worth a look.
There was one e-mail and it was labeled "thought of the day", time stamp was 3:10 a.m.
Never
bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the
eye.
Helen Keller
It was a nice idea.
I found an old note card from back when I'd been married and wrote the quote out. It would look nice on my desk and it was something I should keep in mind anyway.
There was the semi-monthly staff meeting to attend at Rangeman. I wasn't too excited about going. I wasn't up for any questions about yesterday, but I felt I owed Ranger an explanation.
I got to work about twenty minutes early and went in search of Ranger. He was on the phone when I got to his office; he looked even more tired than he had the day before.
I mouthed, "Want me to come back?"
He held up a finger, grunted and disconnected the call. He was still economizing on his words. Maybe that was how he was able to afford all the fancy cars, probably not but the idea made me smile.
I closed the door and sat down.
"Ranger, I'd like to apologize ..." I started.
"No need," he said.
"I'd like to tell you what I couldn't last night," I said.
He nodded.
"I'd like to start with thank you for making me have a full gynecological exam."
He looked at me as though I'd grown an additional head.
"I had a bad Pap smear and they're going to have to retest. Usually it means nothing, but that's when it applies to other people. When it is me and my life, it means a lot. I freaked out last night and let everybody down. I'm sorry."
"Do you want Bobby to do research or go with you for your next exam?"
"No. If it's bad news or an icky prognosis, I don't want to know until I absolutely have to deal with it. I don't want Bobby there because he actually has a job to do, I don't need a babysitter."
"Babe, do you need time off?"
"It's next Tuesday, so it's a Vinnie day anyway. No problem."
"Don't spend the time between now and then worrying," he said.
"Got that covered, planning to work pretty hard between now and then. And I'm supposed to take care of Mary Alice and Angie on Saturday. I just need to find something free or cheap to do with them that they don't do all the time."
He moved his head just enough for me to see the acknowledgement.
"Oh and I know you won't treat me any differently because of this, no matter what the results are. Right?"
He could go into over protective mode, and I wanted to be treated like I was still me.
"Time to get the meeting started," he said rising from behind his desk.
"Can I get a pass on the meeting?"
"Not feeling well?"
"No, just don't want to go," I said with a smile.
"No dice. Let's go."
The meeting was long and boring and thankfully the distraction wasn't brought up. Ranger went out of town immediately after the meeting. I don't think he said 'good-bye' to anybody.
There was an e-mail waiting for me when I got home "How'd it go?"
Palmist,
Did you talk to anyone about your medical issue today?
Want any referrals?
If you are afraid, remember you aren't alone. I'm just an
e-mail away.
CO
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
Mark Twain
I responded with:
CO,
Told my boss a little. He was very understanding, but he
usually is.
I just feel like I'm a bother to him and his company
sometimes. He would probably be more profitable without
me.
I like the quotes. They give me something to think about and
something to smile about.
Palmist
PS I'm looking after my sister's kids this weekend, please send
any suggestions for cheap stuff to do with them.
The return e-mail said:
P,
How many kids and how old?
Boys or girls?
How many days?
CO
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
Albert Einstein
So we'd gone from a cool word for palmistry as my name to Palmist to a single letter. We must be becoming friends, the though made me smile.
I sent an e-mail with an age range of the two girls, we were still doing generalities after all. I even told him it was two girls and we'd pretty much just need to fill one day.
The next e-mail said that his suggestion would be in an envelope at the store Friday just before closing and that everything I would need for the day would be handled, if I accepted his offer.
Oh boy.
The envelope contained a pre-paid Visa card, thirty dollars worth of coupons for McDonalds, and a map with an address and directions from the store to the final location.
P,
The Visa is to pay for your gas to and from the destination, or
anything you might need.
The kids probably like McDonald's and now you don't have to
worry about paying to feed them. Kids like grease, right?
Tickets have been pre-paid and are under the name
Chiromancer.
Have a good time and let me know what you think.
CO
In the words of Mae West:
Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.
I did a search on Map-quest to find that the address was the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Rodin Museum and Main Museum. Wow. The idea of going to a museum was a far cry from the playground, picnic or bike riding. On a Saturday morning without any traffic we would be there in well under an hour, not really far all things considered.
I'd thought CO was out of my league and I was really glad that he wasn't interested in more than friendship because I didn't feel cultured on a good day, and especially not now. I had only been to that museum once and it was when I was a kid about Angie's age. It was a field trip for school, I remembered Mom was one of the chaperones and kept 'shush-ing' everyone, especially me. It was supposed to give us an appreciation for art; it made me want to hide from my mother instead.
Val couldn't believe those were the plans I had for her kids. She wanted to trade, but was already committed to doing whatever it was she already had on her plate. This sounded like a lot more fun than just another afternoon at the playground to me and I could sure use a little fun.
Angie was excited to go to a museum, she thought it was very grown up and adult. Mary Alice wanted to know if she could play somewhere after it was over. I figured we could hit a McDonalds afterwards with one of those play areas and kill two birds with one stone.
We decided to go to the Rodin Museum first, it seemed less daunting and the kids could settle in before we got to the main event.
When we got to the security desk, I was told we needed to wait for a docent. Evidently we were getting a private tour of the place.
There were a number of busts and nudes but the docent drew my attention to several pairs of hands in bronze. The docent spent a great deal of time discussing the hands; he'd been told I had a particular interest.
"Are you a sculptor?"
"No, palmist," I said.
He said nothing, I guess they kind of hang around for you to ask them if there isn't something they already know about a piece.
"Hey, can you tell me anything about my benefactor today?" I asked.
"No. I received a note from the head of scheduling that I had a small VIP group today and was to be available to you during all the museum's hours."
"Well, we're going to go to the main museum after we are done here," I said.
"That's fine. I'll escort you and introduce you to the docent for the exhibits there you want to visit."
Oh boy.
One of bronze figures that intrigued me was of a clenched hand. The docent handed me a note, which said, "This is how I feel when I have a bad day at work."
/collection/103400.html
I smiled. The frustration of the person's whole life showed in his hands. I couldn't see any lines etched into the bronze, but could feel the frustration, anger and lack of control of the model. It was almost painful to look at.
We wandered a bit more until we got to a pair of hands that was called "the secret" which looked like a pair of hands surrounding a paper cup or something like that. I got another note, "This is how I feel about secrets, they are difficult to hold onto and easy to destroy. Even if unintentionally."
/collection/103428.html
Wow.
We saw the Call to Arms, which made me wish for a guardian angel for everyone in the armed services. /collection/103378.html
The Eternal Springtime sculpture made me blush … it was beautiful, but highly erotic. The figures looked like they were the center of a world only the two of them knew about. I was feeling jealous of a statue … brilliant. I was just glad there was no note to go with this one.
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The Thinker, the statue of the guy sitting and resting his head on his hand, convinced Angie that the model was constipated. Mary Alice couldn't stop laughing at the constipated comment. Kids. OK, OK. I thought it was funny, too.
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When the tour was over, it was still early. True to his words, the docent escorted us to the main museum and left in the care of the next guide.
We chose to do the American Art Kids Tour, the girls were the right age and I was a kid at heart. This go-round, there were no notes at any of the pieces in the collection; I was a little disappointed by that, but how would he know which tour we would take?
Angie wanted to come back and do the Arms and Armor Tour, she wanted to know what kind of armor her knight in shining armor would wear one day. I didn't have the heart to tell her it would probably be a button down shirt, khakis and a pair of loafers. All little girls should be allowed to dream about their Prince Charming, even if she is thirty and not thirteen.
I decided it might actually be a nice present to take the kids once a year to the museum and help them expand their horizons beyond the Burg. The Burg is a great place, but not the kind of a place to develop or nurture dreams. This was the kind of a place where you could see people's dreams in the form of all kinds of art.
I found a McDonalds on our way out of town and fed the girls and me. Mary Alice ran herself horse, so to speak, at the play area. Angie decided she was too old, for about five minutes, and then joined her sister. I hoped it would be a good memory for them as they got older. After all, that's all you really have in life anyway, memories of experiences.
I got the kids home a little overfull of milkshakes and fries. I took myself home to write another thank you note.
CO,
Thank you for today. It was a great experience for the girls
and for me. I really wish you could have been with us.
I've decided to do it for them every year, either for a birthday
or for Christmas.
When I was a kid, we had one aunt who never had kids, she
would do things with my sister and me our mom never would.
I think I need to be more like that for my own nieces.
Thanks for sharing the notes about the two sculptures, I hope
your hands aren't tense all the time. I've learned a little
hand reflexology and maybe could help ease the kinks in your
hands, if you want me to.
Your comments/observations about secrets were eloquent.
Let me know how to return the unused portion of the Visa
card and the McDonald's coupons.
P
PS It can be hard to explain to a pre-teen why it's ok for
people to be naked in sculpture but not on the street … oh to
have the wisdom of Solomon!
Before I went to bed, there was another note from Café Ole.
P,
Before school starts for the girls, you should take them back
to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall or the zoo.
There's also a great museum the kids might like called The
Please Touch Museum, think about it. Here's their website:
There should still be enough on the Visa to cover admissions
and I can get more McDonald's coupons if you need them.
Glad you had a nice time.
CO
PS Will be out of town most of next week and won't be able
to e-mail.
Hope is a waking dream.
Aristotle
I thought about it and I was really going to miss this voiceless, faceless friend while he was gone.