28

Penny sat down on her couch. "That was exhausting," she thought, "but kind of fun too." She pulled out her cell and started texting.

MOONPIE, R U OK? – P

I AM WELL. ARE YOU CONTINUING TO BREAK BOTTLES IN THE TRASHCAN? – DR. SHELDON LEE COOPER

YUP – P

LEONARD LOOKED VERY HAPPY – DR. SHELDON LEE COOPER

I FIGURED – P

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM NORA AND ALEX? - DR. SHELDON LEE COOPER

THEY'RE FINE. THEY WENT TO THE RESTAURANT WE JUST CAME FROM. – P

I HOPE THEY ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS WE DID. - DR. SHELDON LEE COOPER

OK. I'M TURNING ON MY LOUD MUSIC NOW. I SUSPECT LEONARD WILL KNOCK SHORTLY – P

GOOD THING I STILL HAVE YOUR SPARE KEY - DR. SHELDON LEE COOPER

GOOD NIGHT, SWEETIE. I'M GOING TO THE AIRPORT PRETTY EARLY. I'LL SEE YOU AT WORK. – P

GOOD NIGHT, PENNY - DR. SHELDON LEE COOPER

Leonard went over and knocked on Penny's door for what felt like an hour. Either she couldn't hear him because of her music, another one of those country rock things she was so fond of, or she just plain didn't want to speak to anyone. She wasn't responding to texts, tweets, emails or Facebook messages either. Leonard knew Penny could be like that. He just hoped she wouldn't get so drunk she did herself harm.

Meanwhile, Penny was in her apartment doing a happy dance and cleaning. Amy Farrah Fowler was out of her life and soon Leonard Hofstadter would be too. She texted all of her friends to make sure they knew what to do the next day. She also called her father who was on his way to the airport.

"Hi, dad."

"Penny, where heck are you calling from? It sounds like you're in the middle of the Grand Old Opry."

"I'm just playing my music loud to help ignore Leonard knocking on my door. He's been out there for almost an hour."

"Leave him there knocking till his arm falls off. Hey, slugger. I'm pretty close to the airport. So far as I know everything is on time and the weather is clear so I should be seeing you bright and early tomorrow."

"You have the props you need?"

"Well, they're not really props. They're tools."

"You know what I mean, daddy. I'm really sorry mom isn't coming, too."

"So am I, but you know how she is about California and traveling. And besides, she did make you promise to come visit and bring your friends."

"I can't really wait for you to meet them. They are really nice people and I love them so much."

"Well, they're helping you out with this ridiculous plan of yours when all you really needed to do was borrow a shotgun and point it at the bastard."

"First, this plan will hopefully teach Leonard a lesson as I shove him out the door. And second, you're helping out with this ridiculous plan too."

"I'm your father and I love you and that's why I'm helping you. That and I'd really like to be able to share an ice cream cone with my grandkids on a hot summer day."

"There still isn't any guarantee that's going to happen."

"I'm willing to take my chances. Okay, I'm parking now. If anything comes up I'll call you from the plane. If not I'll see you at 6:30 in the am."

"Don't remind me. I'm starting to not see the point of even going to bed."

"Just get yourself a few hours of sleep. Do it for me. You'll want to be wide awake to watch the show."

"Okay. I'll go to bed as soon as he stops knocking. I love you."

"I love you too, slugger."

Leonard soon gave up and went back across the hall. He figured he could try again after he got ready to go to work in the morning. There was no chance Penny would be leaving the apartment before 11.

Penny got about three hours of sleep but she felt refreshed. She was looking forward nervously to what was about to happen. She showered, dressed in slightly more respectable clothes than usual, and quietly opened her door, locking it behind her. She ran down the stairs, out the building, got in her car and headed to the airport to pick her father up.