Chapter 4
Gordon got out of his car and walked towards the front door of Jones' house. The front lawn was neatly mown and bushes trimmed. Yet, there was always an unkempt shabby air about the house. Sort of a neglected look. His finger hovered over the doorbell. Inside he could hear raised voices. It sounded like Em's impression of a scolding fishwife or the terrified scream of a wounded fieldmouse. The door was flung open in his face and he got an armful of Em. He stepped back from the charge his arms around her. The door was slammed behind them.
"What was that all about?" Gordon asked as the girl reluctantly untangled herself.
"Nothing important." his friend growled angrily. "Let's go."
The Youth Centre was an old warehouse that the community and the youth themselves kept up. It was a popular place with pool tables, music rooms for listening or playing. It had a rickety stage that hosted a variety of enthusiastic plays. For Gordon and Em there was a room in the basement with an old style vid projector and a couch that was comfortable and shabby. They were sometimes joined by others, but since their taste in film was considered rather eccentric, they often had the room to themselves. Which suited them fine, as they liked to make their own comments and indulge in cat calls and hoots or just sighs of pleasure.
Both were uncharacteristically silent at first. Just content to sit shoulder to shoulder, feet propped up on an old coffee table, and immerse themselves in the cardboard adventures of Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.
"D'ya think your Dad would wear a suit like that?"
"Well, he showed me the underwear once, it looked a lot like that, but with holes for..uh...plugs and things." Gordon confessed.
"But he wouldn't wear it outside would he?" Em grinned.
"Too drafty."
The two snickered.
In the space scenes they enjoyed yelling "String!" together when seeing the rocket held up with, of course, string.
By the third action packed episode both were totally relaxed. Gordon had an arm comfortably around her shoulders with her head tucked underneath his chin. She always smelled like soap and some kind of flowers.
They were watching the mad scientist in his lab threatening to blow up the universe, no less.
"That reminds me." Gordon said, "What are you doing for your senior science project?"
"Want to do some sort of aquarium type thingy. I promised the Principal not to do anything with explosives this year."
"Yeah. I know he made me promise the same thing." Gordon replied.
"I don't want you or Mr. Tracy leaving a legacy of the smoldering ashes of Eleanor Roosevelt High School for the following classes."Em intoned in a fair imitation of the Principal.
"I am wounded to the heart." Gordon put his hand dramatically over his heart and sighed deeply. "No one else in our class was given that warning."
"That's because no one in our class is as capable of burning down the school as you and I."
"Amen sister. Oh look he was foiled in blowing up the universe...darn."
"Can I come to your place and use your father's welding equipment? String!!"
"You didn't see string."
"Yes, I did. That's three for you and four for me. You're buying the sodas." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Yeah you can use it, but I gotta be there. Father doesn't let us use the welding equipment alone."
"You won't reveal my secret plans? I might have to weld your lips shut." She reached up and pinched his lips together.
"Muh lipth are thealed. Thring!" He sputtered on her hand.
"Ewww Gordo, that is gross."
"So is pinching my lipth, tho...four four."
On the drive back home, Gordon noticed that Em seemed to get more tense. He knew that her home life was not easy, but she would on occasion confide in him.
"Problems?"
"Yeah. My little sister is home. I thought it would be great, but it's like we are from different worlds or planets even."
"Well, related to you she could be half Martian. Is she green or have antennae?"
"No, but...oh I'm not sure what is going on, but I don't think this year is going to be easy."
"Anything I can do?" He took a quick look at her. Em didn't unravel easy. There was that time with the short fuse on the firecracker, she saved him the loss of a finger or two on that one.
"Look. Can we meet at the library after school? I want to run a few things past you."
"Sure thing. We'll work it out. After all what are the worries of mere high school senior to Flash Gordon and Indiana Jones!"
The use of their 'adventurer' names brought the laugh he expected from his friend. Gordon and Martha were too mundane as names for the likes of the duo that brought live chickens into the cafeteria, bugged the teacher's lounge, and water bombed a police cruiser. Some day they would be heroes, just like their namesakes.
When they got to Em's house, Gordon got out of the car, too.
"Hey, you don't have to walk me in. I haven't been attacked by werewolves for the past two weeks."She teased him.
"My father has been grilling me about civilized manners. A guy walks the girl to the door, says hello to her father and then gets eaten by the werewolves just as he gets back to his car."
"You're such a gentleman." The sarcasm dripped off her lips.
The door was flung open before Em could put the key in the lock.
"There you are. She has been impossible. He isn't home yet, either." The young girl's voice was tight with emotion.
The light from inside the house backlit her causing the red hair to shine like a bright halo. She turned her head and Gordon felt his stomach lurch. It was the beautiful girl from the first day of school.
"Now Charly..." Em began wearily.
"That's Charlotte." She reminded her older sister and eyed Gordon critically. He felt like a bowl of three week old leftovers.
"This is my friend Gordon, Gordon Tracy. I better go see how Mummy is." Em went up the stairs, knowing that Gordon could find his way out. They didn't stand on ceremony.
"Hi. Um, ah, you must be Charlotte." Gordon grinned foolishly. "Ah, Em's sister."
"Yes. Oh look, my - father - is home."There was a noticeable pause when she mentioned the word, 'father'.
Judge Jones had a dour face, very suitable for a judge, but rather creepy as a person and especially as a father. Gordon may have a few problems with his father, but at least Jeff Tracy smiled and joked with his family. When Judge Jones smiled it was like a shark attack.
"Ah young Tracy." He smiled and Gordon could feel the theme song from 'Jaws' playing in his brain. "How is your father? I hear his company may be taken over. What a shame to lose all that money. You boys will have to get jobs."
"I doubt that things are that far, sir." Gordon was more interested in the younger Miss Jones than the barbed remarks of her father. She seemed to soften her look and smiled at him. His heart began to do double time.
"Tracy Industries? I've read about them in the Financial Times. I don't think you have to start mowing lawns just yet." Charlotte's eyes didn't seem as deep a blue as he remembered, but they were still rivetting.
"I saw you at school." Great pick up line of the century, Gordon kicked himself.
"And you'll see her there tomorrow. Good night young man." Judge Jones indicated the door politely, but firmly.
"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow." Her voice was husky with promise.
"Yeah, uh sure. Tomorrow." He wasn't sure how he got home, his brain was in such a fog. What a beauty! And good old Em's little sister of all things. Life was looking up!
Gordon got out of his car and walked towards the front door of Jones' house. The front lawn was neatly mown and bushes trimmed. Yet, there was always an unkempt shabby air about the house. Sort of a neglected look. His finger hovered over the doorbell. Inside he could hear raised voices. It sounded like Em's impression of a scolding fishwife or the terrified scream of a wounded fieldmouse. The door was flung open in his face and he got an armful of Em. He stepped back from the charge his arms around her. The door was slammed behind them.
"What was that all about?" Gordon asked as the girl reluctantly untangled herself.
"Nothing important." his friend growled angrily. "Let's go."
The Youth Centre was an old warehouse that the community and the youth themselves kept up. It was a popular place with pool tables, music rooms for listening or playing. It had a rickety stage that hosted a variety of enthusiastic plays. For Gordon and Em there was a room in the basement with an old style vid projector and a couch that was comfortable and shabby. They were sometimes joined by others, but since their taste in film was considered rather eccentric, they often had the room to themselves. Which suited them fine, as they liked to make their own comments and indulge in cat calls and hoots or just sighs of pleasure.
Both were uncharacteristically silent at first. Just content to sit shoulder to shoulder, feet propped up on an old coffee table, and immerse themselves in the cardboard adventures of Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.
"D'ya think your Dad would wear a suit like that?"
"Well, he showed me the underwear once, it looked a lot like that, but with holes for..uh...plugs and things." Gordon confessed.
"But he wouldn't wear it outside would he?" Em grinned.
"Too drafty."
The two snickered.
In the space scenes they enjoyed yelling "String!" together when seeing the rocket held up with, of course, string.
By the third action packed episode both were totally relaxed. Gordon had an arm comfortably around her shoulders with her head tucked underneath his chin. She always smelled like soap and some kind of flowers.
They were watching the mad scientist in his lab threatening to blow up the universe, no less.
"That reminds me." Gordon said, "What are you doing for your senior science project?"
"Want to do some sort of aquarium type thingy. I promised the Principal not to do anything with explosives this year."
"Yeah. I know he made me promise the same thing." Gordon replied.
"I don't want you or Mr. Tracy leaving a legacy of the smoldering ashes of Eleanor Roosevelt High School for the following classes."Em intoned in a fair imitation of the Principal.
"I am wounded to the heart." Gordon put his hand dramatically over his heart and sighed deeply. "No one else in our class was given that warning."
"That's because no one in our class is as capable of burning down the school as you and I."
"Amen sister. Oh look he was foiled in blowing up the universe...darn."
"Can I come to your place and use your father's welding equipment? String!!"
"You didn't see string."
"Yes, I did. That's three for you and four for me. You're buying the sodas." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Yeah you can use it, but I gotta be there. Father doesn't let us use the welding equipment alone."
"You won't reveal my secret plans? I might have to weld your lips shut." She reached up and pinched his lips together.
"Muh lipth are thealed. Thring!" He sputtered on her hand.
"Ewww Gordo, that is gross."
"So is pinching my lipth, tho...four four."
On the drive back home, Gordon noticed that Em seemed to get more tense. He knew that her home life was not easy, but she would on occasion confide in him.
"Problems?"
"Yeah. My little sister is home. I thought it would be great, but it's like we are from different worlds or planets even."
"Well, related to you she could be half Martian. Is she green or have antennae?"
"No, but...oh I'm not sure what is going on, but I don't think this year is going to be easy."
"Anything I can do?" He took a quick look at her. Em didn't unravel easy. There was that time with the short fuse on the firecracker, she saved him the loss of a finger or two on that one.
"Look. Can we meet at the library after school? I want to run a few things past you."
"Sure thing. We'll work it out. After all what are the worries of mere high school senior to Flash Gordon and Indiana Jones!"
The use of their 'adventurer' names brought the laugh he expected from his friend. Gordon and Martha were too mundane as names for the likes of the duo that brought live chickens into the cafeteria, bugged the teacher's lounge, and water bombed a police cruiser. Some day they would be heroes, just like their namesakes.
When they got to Em's house, Gordon got out of the car, too.
"Hey, you don't have to walk me in. I haven't been attacked by werewolves for the past two weeks."She teased him.
"My father has been grilling me about civilized manners. A guy walks the girl to the door, says hello to her father and then gets eaten by the werewolves just as he gets back to his car."
"You're such a gentleman." The sarcasm dripped off her lips.
The door was flung open before Em could put the key in the lock.
"There you are. She has been impossible. He isn't home yet, either." The young girl's voice was tight with emotion.
The light from inside the house backlit her causing the red hair to shine like a bright halo. She turned her head and Gordon felt his stomach lurch. It was the beautiful girl from the first day of school.
"Now Charly..." Em began wearily.
"That's Charlotte." She reminded her older sister and eyed Gordon critically. He felt like a bowl of three week old leftovers.
"This is my friend Gordon, Gordon Tracy. I better go see how Mummy is." Em went up the stairs, knowing that Gordon could find his way out. They didn't stand on ceremony.
"Hi. Um, ah, you must be Charlotte." Gordon grinned foolishly. "Ah, Em's sister."
"Yes. Oh look, my - father - is home."There was a noticeable pause when she mentioned the word, 'father'.
Judge Jones had a dour face, very suitable for a judge, but rather creepy as a person and especially as a father. Gordon may have a few problems with his father, but at least Jeff Tracy smiled and joked with his family. When Judge Jones smiled it was like a shark attack.
"Ah young Tracy." He smiled and Gordon could feel the theme song from 'Jaws' playing in his brain. "How is your father? I hear his company may be taken over. What a shame to lose all that money. You boys will have to get jobs."
"I doubt that things are that far, sir." Gordon was more interested in the younger Miss Jones than the barbed remarks of her father. She seemed to soften her look and smiled at him. His heart began to do double time.
"Tracy Industries? I've read about them in the Financial Times. I don't think you have to start mowing lawns just yet." Charlotte's eyes didn't seem as deep a blue as he remembered, but they were still rivetting.
"I saw you at school." Great pick up line of the century, Gordon kicked himself.
"And you'll see her there tomorrow. Good night young man." Judge Jones indicated the door politely, but firmly.
"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow." Her voice was husky with promise.
"Yeah, uh sure. Tomorrow." He wasn't sure how he got home, his brain was in such a fog. What a beauty! And good old Em's little sister of all things. Life was looking up!