Chapter 25

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'Mirror, Mirror on the Sith'

'Don't Hate the Suit…Hate the Sith''

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Anakin vowed he would never set foot on Tatooine again. This humiliating experience sealed it for him. He was furious that Isabel looked so amazing in that swimsuit. He thought that perhaps he made a bad choice in hiring her. Mrs. Ranth wasn't so bad. Those pesky children badgered him into choosing that evil temptress over the older and appropriately matronly Mrs. Ranth. At least he wouldn't have gotten all hot and bothered on the beach…She wouldn't have been invited in the first place. She may not have even urged him to go. Life sucks!

To make matters worse, those annoying surfers came back to Anakin to ask one more question:

"Can we hang out with the hot babe with the totally awesome swimsuit?"

"No! She's 'working'."

"Dude, she totally is, man! She 'is' workin' it."

"Why don't you 'work' on walking away while you can?"

"Chill, Sith dude, we're friendly. My bro's and I just want to talk to the beach bunny totin' around the two gremlins."

"What will make you go away?"

"Dude, chill. You're still a pretty hip looking dad but you're too tense. We're not here to rumble, dude just here to chat with the gnarlatious babe. Surprised you're not tappin' that…she's got me stoked."

The surfer 'Ken doll #2' accompanying the tenacious 'Ken #1' nods in agreement.

"Fer sure!" They high-five each other.

Anakin notices the surfboard that Surfer Ken #1 is carrying. It has a wild thunderbolt design with writing on it. He zones out on what the surfer is chatting about. He almost laughs when he reads what is on the surfboard:

'Tuskin' Rayders'

It was evident that these water-logged sand-brained beach boys have never encountered a real Tusken Raider because they wouldn't be around to write it on their surfboards. They can't even spell! What a bunch of idiots!

Obi-Wan has just returned from the AT-Sand buggy for a 'refill' He quietly takes a seat and picks up his magazine, ignoring Anakin and his 'visitors.' He is about to take a sip of his fresh and frosty beverage from the 'Sandy Gulp' tumbler. He loved that cup. He got it at the 'Seven to Eleven Revolutions Round the Dual Suns Convenience Store' near Toshi Station while picking up some power converters.

The surfers are still engaging Anakin in 'conversation' and he is gradually losing patience with them. He is becoming annoyed.

"Come on, dude, don't be stingy with the beach babe…" Surfer Ken #1 is distracted as he turns his head and sees someone he knows. A broad smile forms across his face. He lifts his shades, letting them rest on his head. "Ben? Hey, dudes! It's the Wizard!"

All of the 'surfer Ken's' look over in Obi-Wan's direction. Obi-Wan sheepishly lowers his magazine and smiles, raising his tumbler to the guys. Anakin looks over at Obi-Wan too but he is not exactly thrilled that his former master has been 'fraternizing' with these sand rats.

"Hello there."

"Dude, are we glad to see you! Sorry, we didn't notice you before, Wiz."

"So, my young surfer friends, what brings you out this far?"

"We're just trying to reason with his 'Sithdom' here. I can't believe you know him. He's got to be a real drag to chill with, man."

"Oh, he's alright. He's not much of a talker."

"Oh yeah…like my uncle Vic. He got hit with a meteor rock, and ever since then, my aunt Connie hasn't gotten a word out of him. She says he's a man of few words."

"What I meant to ask was what brought you to Tatooine again so soon after semester break?"

"Oh, my dad and his third wife got married in Mos Eisley at the 'Burger and Bride Drive –Thru Chapel.' My mom said she wasn't gonna have me at home doing nothin' and since he was behind on the child support payments, she said he had to take me for the month or she would call her lawyer to rip him a new one. He gave me cash and let me hang out with my bro's here while he's at the casino."

"Well, isn't that special? Another happy well-adjusted family. Well, I assure you, my friend is here for a rest. And you're here to chat with the governess, I presume."

"Cha! Fer sure! You would presume correctly totally awesome exalted wizard dude."

"I see….well you must learn the ways of charming a sophisticated lady if you're to become a proper gentleman. Lets' see what I can do to get you an audience with the young lady; but I warn you, she may very well be out of your league."

"Well, my bro's and I have been disappointed plenty in the past by babes who don't want to give us the time of day, but at least we try."

"I like your attitude, son. Why don't you wait here while I speak to the young lady?"

"That would be awesome. Wooohoo!" He high-fives his buddies again. Obi-Wan sets his tumbler in the cooler beside his chair. He heads over to where Isabel and the twins are. Luke and Leia have just met some children the same age as they are.

The surfer dudes chat amongst themselves then walk over to where Anakin has been sleeping and listening to his Epod. The Dark Lord senses someone is near and opens his eyes. He immediately wishes to close them.

"What?"

"Dude, chill…we're just watching you groovin' to your rockin' oldies."

"For your information, I'm not listening to 'oldies.'"

Surfer Ken#2 lifts Anakin's Epod off his chest.

"He's got the 'Mustafarians,' 'Jettison Starship', and the 'Lava Beetles.' He's a classic Galactic Rock listener…whoa!"

Anakin yanks the Epod away from 'Surfer Ken #2.' The surfer almost falls on top of him as he does this. Anakin immediately pushes the airhead surfer away.

"Listen, Bill, Ted, whoever you are. Are you guys sharing a brain? How long does it take you to take a hint?"

"We do share the same thoughts sometimes. Is that what you call triskaidekaphobia?"

"Wow, damn, you are sharing a brain. You guys have all sorts of crap stored in that sinkhole you call a think box, don't you?"

"Wow, you sure are cool using all those fancy words, Dude. It's as if you're insulting us the way you say it but it's actually a compliment. Allriight!" He attempts to slaps Anakin five but Anakin doesn't respond in kind.

"Okay…" Anakin closes his eyes.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan takes Isabel aside and chats with her about the surfers. She looks at Obi-Wan in disbelief. She is saying something and it looks really animated. She does not look thrilled. Obi-Wan turns to the surfers, grins, and gives them a double 'thumbs-up'."

Everything is soon sorted out. Isabel chats with the surfers, Obi-Wan convinces Anakin to let the surfers teach the children to surf.

At the end of the day the children are happy, Obi-Wan is 'lit', Isabel is flattered that she has a group of dimwitted but sweet surfing worshipers and Anakin goes home happy for half choking 'Surfer Ken #1.' Obi-Wan takes him aside that evening on the way home after dinner at one of the beachside restaurants, "The Dune Sea Food and Grilled Krayt Dragon House."

"Anakin, there was no need to choke the boy, he meant 'Bitchin' as a compliment. Isabel was ok with it …after I explained it to her of course."

"I still don't like it."

"You need to learn how to have fun."

"I had fun. I choked a few people this week. That always brightens my day."

Back at Obi-Wan's hut, Isabel and Anakin put the children to bed. Luke and Leia wake up.

"What are you doing? We're not sleepy!"

The twins get out of the bed and rush into the living room to see Obi-Wan. They want to thank him for convincing their father to allow them to learn how to surf. Anakin is exhausted. He collapses on the waterbed. Isabel sits with Obi-Wan and the children as they reminisce about their day at the beach.

Anakin gets up and goes to the kitchen. Obi-Wan helps Isabel return the children to the bedroom because they have fallen asleep on the sofa.

The Following Morning/Departure Day

Anakin finally gets a peaceful nights' sleep. He opens his eyes and sees someone familiar. He his staring at himself in the ceiling mirror. He also sees something else he has not expected. Isabel is asleep beside him. He screams. Isabel is stirred out of her sleep. She looks up, and then sees Anakin. She screams and covers her mouth but not as much or as loud as Anakin.

The children are no longer in the bed. Anakin leaps out of the bed. "Isabel, I am so sorry. I had no idea."

"What's going on?"

"I'm going to find out. Obi-Wan!" He storms out of the bedroom. Obi-Wan is walking into the living room sipping his morning brew…with a little 'essence' added.

"Good morning. Sleep well?" He sees Anakin's face. "What is it now, Anakin?"

"You have a mirror on your ceiling."

"And? Everyone knows that. Where have you been?"

"Sleeping in your bed. Isabel was there. I think she's going to quit. She must think I am some sort of pervert."

"Nonsense. You only 'think' about perverted things, you don't act on them."

"Oh be quiet."

"No, Anakin, you be quiet. The Younglings are sleeping." He nods his head in the direction of the sofa. "You see? I had company as well last night. I trust you two didn't get wild in the wee hours being that there are kiddies in the house and all."

"I'm not speaking to you. How vain are you that you need mirrors while you sleep?"

"Who says I'm asleep? No use having them if you sleep through it…if you know what I mean." He shifts his eyebrows and smiles wickedly. "I find mirrors thoroughly entertaining."

"I bet you do"

"What about your twins?"

"I'll deal with them another time."

Isabel and Anakin barely make eye contact that morning while packing to leave. Otis arrives promptly at noon to take Anakin. Isabel and the children to the ship. The children kiss their funny Uncle Ben goodbye.

"Thank you for the jelly bed and the cool day at the beach."

"You're welcome, Leia."

"And thank you for getting my dad to let the guys on the beach teach me to surf. I had a great time."

"You are most welcome, Master Luke."

"And you won't have to worry about me not having any ambition 'cause I'm going to be a Jedi surfer fer sure."

"Is that so? Well, your father will certainly be proud." Obi-Wan thinks his idea to have the 'Tuskin' Rayders' teach Luke surfing may not have been such a great idea after all. Anakin will not be pleased at the new lingo his six year old has picked up.

Isabel hugs Obi-Wan. "Thank you, Obi-Wan for inviting me into your home."

"Any time, Isabel. My house is yours."

"Thanks."

Obi-Wan walks everyone to the car. Anakin stops being pissed off long enough to say goodbye.

"Well, Master, I've learned more about you in three days than in the twenty-odd years I have known you. May the Force be with you."

"It was a pleasure having you and your beautiful family here, even if you did pull me away from 'Jedi Knight' at the Outlanders' Gentlemen's' Club."

"There will be others…I assure you. See you soon."

"I'll be back in a few days. I have to straighten up my house after my unruly houseguests leave."

"It couldn't possibly be us."

"Never."

Anakin gets in the limousine. Everyone waves goodbye to Obi-Wan.

They finally arrive at the spaceport outside Mos Espa. The luggage and kids are on-board. Isabel stays with them in the cabin. After take-off, Anakin puts the ship on autopilot. Isabel walks in. She points to the empty seat beside the captains' chair. Anakin nods for her to sit.

"Thank you for inviting me these few days. I had a lovely time."

"Good. Good." There is silence. Anakin musters the nerve to speak again.

"Next time, perhaps you should wear a more appropriate swimsuit when you're out with the children."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again."

"Actually, it was very nice. And I didn't mean to scream in horror this morning. It wasn't you. It was just…"

Isabel finds the word for him.

"Awkward. I know."

"Yes, that would be the appropriate word to use. The mirror didn't help matters. So, how are the children?"

"They're settling down. They promised they would take a nap."

"It's time for me to spend some quality time with them."

Anakin goes to the cabin where the children are. He snuggles up with them and opens a book. A handful of sand spills from it. Anakin reads 'Kody the Lonely Krayt Dragon.' Isabel stands quietly in the doorway of the cabin as he reads. Anakin's little Younglings are soon fast asleep.

Back at Mos Espa, Otis the limo driver smiles at the sight of the biggest tip he has ever made. It is 1000 in Coruscant cash. Not credits, Not Tatooine currency. This is worth one and a half times more once he converts it. It has been a fabulous four days. The hotel and casinos were great. He even won some money at the Sabacc table. He would even put up with another long ride with the Skywalkers. What a crazy family. That chick was hot too!

To be continued… 'Confrontation with Little Red Riding Hoodlum on Bike'

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Attention Readers: It might take 24 hours or more for the next chapter. In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying this heart wrenching story of rebirth and forgiveness.

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