Chapter Six

Amanda, Dotty and the boys arrived back home after a fantastic baseball game. The Bombers won 8 to 2! Both Philip and Jamie scored home runs. They ran by the store on the way home and picked up frozen pizzas and cake for a special celebratory dinner. They were placing the groceries on the counter when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Dotty said, dropping her bags down and rushing back to the backdoor.

"Hi Edna," Dotty said, letting in Mrs. Gilstrap.

"Hi, Dotty, Amanda, Jamie, Philip."

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I locked myself out of the house and I'm waiting for my husband to come home. He should be here soon. I was just about to run down to the drugstore and wait there when I saw you drive up. Can I stay here instead?

"Sure, come on in," Dotty assured her while Amanda and the boys finishing placing their bags down.

"I realized it the moment I pulled the door shut when I ran out to the nursery to pick up some fresh flowers," Mrs. Gilstrap commented.

"Just have a seat while we put these groceries away."

"Can we get you some tea or something?" Amanda asked.

"Yes, I would like that," Mrs. Gilstrap said, sitting down in a chair. "So, boys, you just came back from a game, I see; who won?"

"We did," Philip answered quickly.

"Yeah, we both hit home runs!" Jamie chimed-in.

"I bet you both were really something!" Mrs. Gilstrap said.

"You should've seen us!" Philip continued.

"Yes, maybe we can show you now!" Jamie responded enthusiastically, tossing the ball to Philip.

"No ball playing in the house, boys! You know that!" Dotty said quickly.

"We know, Grandma, but can we show Mrs. Gilstrap how we did it?"

"We'll just pretend; we promise!" Jamie said quickly.

"I am not sure-oh, darn it! I forgot the ice cream in the car!" Dotty exclaimed as she darted out the door.

"Boys, I really don't think—" Amanda cut off her words at the sound of the telephone ringing. "I got it!" Amanda put down the eggs and picked up the receiver. "Hello! Oh, hi, Dieter!"

"Was the game good?" Dieter asked Amanda.

"Yes, they won."

"I was wondering what you and the boys were doing tonight…I was hoping I could come over for dinner."

Amanda paused as she thought about whether she was ready for Dieter to meet her family. "Well, Dieter—" Amanda stopped as she heard the boys in the background.

"See, I held the bat like this—" Philip started.

"I'll pretend to be the pitcher," Jamie chimed in.

"You boys, please do be careful," Mrs. Gilstrap said excitedly.

"We will be," Philip answered.

"Yes, you heard what your grandmother said," Amanda called over her shoulder, then said into the phone, "I'm sorry, you were saying something about coming over tonight."

"Yes, I thought we could order some pizzas," Dieter suggested.

"Oh, that's rather sweet," Amanda said, knowing that she was stalling. "How about—"

"The pitcher threw the ball and when the ball came my way, I gave it my best shot and—" Philip said as Jamie pretended he was actually throwing the ball, Philip reached out and, swinging the bat, it slipped out of his hands, flying up in the air towards Mrs. Gilstrap, landing on top of her head, causing Mrs. Gilstrap to lose her balance and fall sideways towards the coffee table.

"Sorry that took so long, but—" Dotty seeing the state of Mrs. Gilstrap, released the ice cream upon the kitchen floor, let out a scream, momentarily placing her hand up to her mouth before shouting, "Boys!"

"Oh my gosh! Dieter, I gotta go!" Amanda slammed down the receiver, placed the phone she'd been holding down on the table, accidentally knocked the receiver off the hook as she rushed over towards Mrs. Gilstrap.

"Amanda!" Dieter called out from the other end at the now busy tone.

***SMK SMK SMK***

Finally, deciding to go ahead and phone her, Lee redialed the number he knew off by heart, but all he got was a dial tone that had gone on for the past 30 minutes or more. Scowling, Lee held onto the receiver for several minutes, glaring into it as all sorts of thoughts came into his head. It was a Saturday, and she could have plans; with Dieter no doubt or be talking on the phone with Dieter, making plans! Ugh!

Or, Lee paused his ideas for a moment then thought, What if something happened to the boys? Or her mother? Or even Amanda, for that matter? There were too many possibilities and none of them good. Standing up quickly, Lee hastily put on his shoes and headed out the door.

***SMK SMK SMK***

In the meantime, Dieter, after redialing Amanda's and getting a busy signal, snatched his wallet and hotel room keys off the coffee table and headed towards the door. Dieter quickly locked the door, then rushed down the corridor towards the elevators, stood tapping his feet impatiently. When there was no elevator in sight, he headed towards the stairs, taking two at a time.

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Thanks for reading! More to come!

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