Chapter 6- Insane Wandering

"It's getting positively scorching out here."

"Oh, don't whine, Mom. It's really not THAT hot."

"You could fry an egg on the sidewalk. It's one of those days that if we were in New York they would turn on the fire hydrant and all those small children would play in it."

"That's a very 70's Sesame Street of you."

"Well, Cookie Monster and I do have a close bond."

"I've spent more time in New York than you have, and I don't think they do that much anymore."

"You never know. The 70's are back in fashion, maybe their will be a mass fire hydrant opening revival."

"Whatever. Maybe if we see Jess again we can ask him."

"What makes you think you'll see him again? I mean, the guy just "rode" out of your life without an explanation."

"Let's not talk about this now, okay?"

"No let's talk about it." She insisted.

"He left me a cell phone message. I can't just call him back though; all I have is the number where he called from. Lord knows what that is. His father's phone, one he borrowed from someone, heck, maybe it's even a payphone."

"Well, do you wanna talk to him?"

"Yes! Of course I do. I'm surprised he wants to talk to me."

"He's confused and lost in the world; his leaving doesn't have anything to do with you, Rory."

"I know. I think when we get back to Stars Hollow; I'll talk to Luke and see if I can get an address or a number, or something about where he is."

"For right now let's get on with our trip, okay?"

"Okay. This has been good right? Us bonding out here in a new place we've never been before?"

"We always have fun together, Mom."

"I know. I'm gonna miss you though next year."

"I'm going to Yale; it's like 20 some miles up the road. I'll be home lots of time."

"I know. Let's just keep goin' on our trip here."

"Okay." Rory replied.

The pair continued to explore the sleepy village. They passed many notable places and commented on them.

"What town is this, Mom? Rory asked. Lorelai didn't know exactly where they were per se.

"I know we're in Europe."

"Thanks, oh great and intelligent master of directions."

"It's only my pleasure to serve you, mistress."

"Mistress?!? That sounds a little, ah, dirty don't you think?"

"I'm sorry. Ma'am, does that suit you better?"

"Yes, thank you."

They walked down a small European village sidewalk, passing shops as they did so. They came to the corner where a small knick-knack store was situated.

"This looks interesting, let's go in." Rory lead the way up the steps.

Inside was an eclectic hodgepodge of what most people would call junk. In their case it was a treasure trove. No Gilmore could resist the hunt for the really good "junk." That was a rule at the house practically. I mean, hasn't everyone who ever spent 5 minutes inside the house noticed the monkey lamp? Not to mention the singing rabbi. Until Lane needed the garage for her band, it had been enveloped in the Gilmore "junk" habit. It was the time of the infamous Hug-a-World incident? That in itself was too traumatizing to even think about.

"Look at this, Rory! It's a giant, stuffed monkey in an ice cream truck driver uniform."

"He's huge!"

"King Kong, eat your heart out."

"And look, he's got a cone in one hand and a banana in the other."

"I think it balances the calories and the sugar content in the ice cream."

"He doesn't look like a healthy monkey."

"He kinda reminds me of Luke." Lorelai smiled.

"How!?!" Rory stammered.

"I don't know exactly. He's cute yet rugged, and he's got the banana so that's got the health food thing nailed there."

"You think Luke is cute?" Rory stifled a giggle.

"In a friendly cute, sorta nice, friendly coffee delivery man kinda way."

"You know what happens between a woman and her delivery man."

Lorelai smacked her playfully and feigned injury.

"Believe it or not, I don't have the hots for Luke."

"I don't know, you can deny it all you want, but Grandma even sees it."

"Rory, we are completely different people. Now are we buying this oversized monkey man or not?"

"How will we ever get it home?"

"Think he can pass for under 26?"

"The hostel will NOT take in a 25 pound stuffed gorilla."

"Hey, they took me didn't they?"

"That's quite a different situation."

Now, a small elderly woman approached them.

"Can I help you two?" She inquired.

"Well, we really like you're giant monkey here. We live in the U.S. though, and we are staying at hostels here on our trip. They have no room for such a creature. Could you ship it to us?"

"Yes, I think I could."

"Great!" She smiled at Rory. "See, we didn't have to buy him a plane ticket back to Hartford after all." She paid the woman and she left to write up the receipt.

"That's good, because it would cost far too much to send him that way. He would obviously demand first class, and we only took coach here. I mean he's a great monkey, but not that great."

"Plus he can't walk on his own; he'd obviously need someone to help him on and off. Oh! One of those little scooter thingies too. Plus the cab would be costly too."

"Thank goodness for FedEx."

"Or whatever they call it here."

"Ah, I believe it's still called FedEx, Mom."

"Well, it MIGHT not be."

"They speak English here, why would it change?"

"I don't know." Lorelai shifted uncomfortably. Thankfully the woman finally came back with her receipt.

"Miss, they said you're monkey would be delivered in 2 weeks."

"We won't be back yet." Lorelai looked at Rory.

"We'll have Luke pick it up."

"That's my girl, using her Yale ready mind. Can I use your cell phone in a bit?"

"Yep."

"The monkey man himself has to pickup the monkey."

"It's pure hilarious fun." Rory added.

"Thanks." Lorelai took the receipt from the woman.

"Ma'am, can you tell us what town this is? Or if there is a hostel here?" "Yes, there is. It's down the street a few blocks. You can't miss it."

"Good. Thank you very much. I didn't think we were off the course."

"Let's go, Ror." They both waved to the shop owner. They also both stopped and hugged the gorilla before they left.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----

*I'm a flea bit peanut monkey

All my friends are junkies*

Luke rushed around serving people in the diner. It'd been quite a while since Jess had been gone, and he still hadn't gotten back into the fact that he had to serve everyone on his own. It was especially bad since it was summer.

"Yes Kirk, I'll be right there." He yelled. "Here you go." He handed a plate to a stranger sitting at Lorelai and Rory's usual table. Just then the phone rang. He raced to get it, reaching it by the third ring.

"Luke's Diner", he answered.

"Hey Luke, its Lorelai."

"Lor, how are you?"

"I'm doing well."

"Rory's good too?"

"Yeah, she's fine."

"How's the coffee over there?"

"It's not nearly as good as yours. I'm gonna need a giant cup when I get back."

"I would expect nothing less."

"How are you? I mean without Jess."

"Good. Mostly, it's a little busy, but I'm fine. So, there was something you needed?"

"Yes actually. As much as I enjoy talking to you, I have a motive."

"What?"

"You see we were junk storing in this little town over here in England, and we found something we couldn't live without. It's being shipped there in 2 weeks. Could you stop by the house and pick it up when it arrives?"

"Sure. No problem."

*Well I am just a monkey man

I'm glad you are a monkey, monkey woman too, babe*

"Really, that's so nice of you. Thanks."

"I miss you, ah and Rory, too. Miss, ah, you and Rory. Hope you're doing all right."

"We miss you too, Luke. Thanks for the concern. Actually we thought of you when we picked up the thing that you have to get from the delivery man."

"Really, what is it?"

"You'll see."

"Okay." He smiled. "I better get back to my work. But it was nice hearing from you. Tell Rory hello for me. I'll see you guys in a little less than 3 weeks."

"Bye Luke. Thanks so much."

*I'm a monkey

I'm a monkey

I'm a monkey man

I'm a monkey man

Well I am just a monkey man

I'm glad you are a monkey, monkey woman too, babe*

A/N: *G* Wow! That was long. I got so wrapped up in it. It started out at 3 pages, and I added like 3 pages in the middle. I wrote too much description and explanation. The lyrics are "Monkey Man" by The Rolling Stones. I am not really a Stones fan, I have never even heard this song but it worked with the story. The "Junkies" referred to in the song, I thought worked well for Lor and Rory's coffee habit. And she's his monkey woman. I wanted them to find something in a junk store, I didn't know what. For some reason a gigantic stuffed monkey is what I wrote. Weird, I know. But I kinda like it. Hope you did too! Bye for now.