Spirited Away had of course been as wonderful and as charming as expected. The three teens did not drive home disappointed. It was dark, so Orrie spent more time paying attention to the road then the conversation, but he still found it pleasant. They talked about the dragon, the baby, the enchanted soot, and the frog with a butt crack. And of course they talked about the voted favorite character, the Radish Spirit.
"Do you remember the squeaking noise he made when he walked?" Jig asked Ephram and Desi. They both laughed and nodded.
"What, what was that thing on his head?" Desi asked them.
"It was either a traditional Japanese garment, or a bowl," Jig said and all of the car's occupants laughed.
"I don't know what I would have done being trapped in the elevator with that thing," Desi said cringing.
"You would have talked about the weather," Ephram told her and she slapped him playfully.
"Okay! Okay guys! We're back in Everwood now," Orrie announced as they drove into town. The other three looked out the windows as if he had been lying to them.
"Ah, home crap home," Ephram said.
"Who am I letting out first?" Orrie asked them.
"Oh, me, if you don't mind," Desi told him. Orrie nodded and turned left.
"How do you already know your way around town?" Jig asked him and he shrugged.
Ephram walked Desi up to her door when they got there, and nobody asked why. Desi's house was huge and sometimes doubled as a conference center when her father didn't feel like leaving the house. He wasn't going to go to City Hall, so City Hall came to him. How slovenly of him. Anyway, after Desi and Ephram traversed the sidewalk and up the stone steps to the porch, they paused in front of the door.
"Hey thanks for inviting me Ephram. That was one of the greatest movies I've ever seen," Desi thanked him.
"It was nothing," he said with a smile. They fell silent for a few moments. Desi started swaying back and forth slightly out of nervousness.
"Ephram, uh, just to make sure, and everything, tonight, that wasn't a date, right?" Desi asked him.
"Right, not a date, just anime," he reassured her.
"Good," she said smiling. She nodded to him and turned to open the door and go inside. Ephram grabbed her arm and pulled her back around to face him. He held her chin in his hand and quickly leaned in and kissed her. After a few seconds he leaned back, said goodbye, and walked back down the steps to the car. Desi waved slightly, still in shock. When Ephram was again in the back seat of the car a smile lit his lips.
"We saw that," Jig told him with a grin. He smirked and kicked the back of her seat.
Jig's house was closest to Desi's so they dropped her off next. This time Orrie walked her to the door and gave her a kiss goodnight. Ephram noted the kiss but was still too excited about his own to give it any attention. Things were definitely different now. He did like Desi. She had her flaws in the beginning, but has proved herself to be a very likable person. She was so cute. Not just cute how her dyed red hair bounces, or the smooth milk chocolate color of her skin, but her laugh was cute, and her smile. She sparkled when she smiled. Everything sparkled when she smiled. Yet, she had this sort of weak exterior, but a great strength inside she was so afraid to let show. She once told Ephram that she was pretty much dead inside, but she wasn't. She had a life like none Ephram had ever seen before. It was almost contagious. Orrie got back into the car and started it up again. He looked over at Ephram who had moved to the front seat after Jig's departure.
"So, you like Desi huh?" Orrie asked him.
"So, you like Jig huh?" Ephram asked him in turn. Orrie laughed.
"It still surprises me that you don't."
"Of course it does. It surprises every man when he realizes not every guy in the world is in love with the girl he loves," Ephram told him. Orrie chuckled.
"You're beginning to sound like my mom, Ephram," Orrie told him. With that Ephram immediately shut up.
Edna and Irv were in the living room playing Monopoly by firelight when Jig walked in. Edna was the Scottie. Edna came from a very Scottish line, and therefore so did Jig. Actually, that probably had something to do with the fact that Jig's initials were J-I-G. They must have started the game hours ago, because Edna was once again on the brink of victory. She did stack the deck. How, it was impossible to tell, but she did. Jig hugged them both hello and sat down to witness the climax of the game. Before she did, though, she heard a clinking noise accompanied by the slight creaky of floorboards coming closer to her. She looked down and saw Ein walking into the light, a red collar around his neck with a few tags hanging off of it. Jig jumped in surprise. Edna and Irv noticed it.
"Oh yea, we adopted the raccoon. Ein was it?" Edna told her. Jig's eyes widened in shock.
"You adopted the raccoon!" she demanded. They nodded.
"He seems to like you," Irv said as Ein climbed up the side of chair Jig was sitting in, and perched himself on the armrest.
"Don't worry, he's safe. They gave him a bath too," Edna said watching impatiently as Irv moved his thimble around the board. Shyly Jig outstretched her hand and touched the creature for the first time since he fell into her arms. He seemed to enjoy the scratch behind the ear and nuzzled her hand for more once she finished. Jig let out a small laugh.
"He's just like a cat…"
"Yea, actually the raccoon is part of the dog family," Irv said. Edna looked up at him.
"Really?" she asked.
"I'm pretty sure," he replied.
"This is cool. I've never had a pet before," Jig said still petting the creature.
"Well, feed him every day, take him for walks, clean him every now and then, and, well, pet him," Edna told her.
"That's cool, I can do that," Jig said.
"Oh, Mack's coming for a visit in a few weeks," Irv mentioned. Edna nodded.
"You know kid, Wendell hates raccoons. Ein there will help you keep him off of you," Edna told her. Jig laughed a little.
"Yea, you'd think having a boyfriend would be enough to do that."
"Have you tried just telling Wendell you don't like him like that?" Irv asked her.
"Oh come on, how could he not get it?" Edna asked him. Irv shrugged.
"Some boys need to just be told straight on," Irv informed her. Edna frowned.
"Some boys need to stop being idiots. I win," she said as Irv handed her his last property.
Dr. Brown was sitting on the back porch swing when Ephram got home. Ephram stuck his head outside just long enough to announce his return. Dr. Brown told him there was some pork fried rice left over if he was hungry. Ephram said he wasn't, and that he was probably going to go to bed. Dr. Brown nodded and continued to look over the backyard. It was so dark and quiet, and the cold air had that smell like someone was barbecuing somewhere. Dr. Brown never understood that, but he loved it. It smelled crisp and clean. There were so many things different between Everwood and New York City, and he liked them all. Everwood was so quiet and clean. It moved so slowly that one could actually keep up. And the stars. Dr. Brown could actually see stars. Stars. Star. She was ruining what Everwood was. He couldn't even have a few moments of peace without the thought of her ruining it for him. Star and Everwood didn't mix. The boys and Everwood didn't mix. At least Cory didn't. Orrie seemed to enjoy the pace of it well. Orrie was a good kid. How that happened Dr. Brown wasn't sure. The idea of his sister being able to raise a child to be good and kind and decent was beyond belief. Then again, once upon a time, the same could be said for him. That was something he was determined to prove wrong. His kids were good, when they were happy. For now they were happy, and as long as Jig and Murasaki stayed in Everwood, they probably would be. Dr. Brown chuckled slightly to himself as he drunk the last sip of his wine. It does take a town to raise a child.
Amy had survived "Daddy Daughter Night," but just barely. Her father had spent the entire night talking and complaining about Star Cather with an almost violent distaste. Amy in no way disagreed with him, but enough was enough! He didn't have to go on and on about it. Well, actually, seeing as who he was, he did. Actually, there was a part of Amy that wished he would take Star's advice. Getting lost in the woods of their youth would not hurt either of them. They played there, fell in love there, Hell, Dr. Abbott proposed to Amy's mother under one of those trees. They should go try to find it. Star couldn't be wrong all of the time. The law of averages simply wouldn't allow it.
It was about ten now and Amy lay stomach down on her bed, unable to sleep. She needed something in her life to make sense. Just one thing and she would be happy. As far as requests go this could not have been a very difficult one. Suddenly the phone by her bed rang. It was ten o'clock at night, who would be calling now? She picked it up anyway and held it to her ear.
"Hello?" she moaned into it.
"Hi, Amy?" it was Desi. Amy and Desi had a mutual companionship, but hadn't actually become real friends. At least, not real friends that would call and understand at ten at night.
"Desi?" Amy whined into the transmitter.
"Yea… I know it's late, but something happened tonight I think you ought to know about…" Desi said sounding weary about the words she was about to share.
Amy could handle this. This was good! This was things being put into sensible terms! Ephram kissed Desi! Ephram likes Desi now instead of Amy! Relief! Oh sweet relief! No more worries about Ephram's feelings. He was fine. Amy was now free to love Colin with her entire heart. Which she did, truly! No more headaches, no more sleepless nights. Things were solving themselves for her. Tomorrow she would go see Colin and apologize to him. Apologize for ever being mad at him, apologize for pushing him too hard. She would kiss him and hug him and let him know she was there and that she loved him dearly. Which she did.
