As Told by Ginger copyright Viacom
Chapter 11: Surprises
Carl had to ride in the backseat while Hoodsey got to ride in the front. Of course it was Hoodsey's mom that was driving the car, and that samesaid woman did loath Carl. That still didn't mean that he had to like it. Far from it.
"Robert Joesph, did you make that list like I told you to?" Jojo asked.
"Of course, Mom," Hoodsey said. "Did you want to see it?"
"Not now, Dear. I'm still driving. Show me when get home."
"Alright, Mom."
Carl shifted in his seat. "I don't see why you can't let us go to Video Hut with you."
"You in the the video? Huh. I can it now," Jojo said. "Lois killing me because I killed you."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jojo," Carl replied scarcastily. Jojo was just so uptight. Why didn't she just relax?
"Honestly, Carl, I don't know why I am doing this," Jojo adjusted the rearview so that she could see him more clearly, "but your mother asked me to baby-sit you for awhile, and that's what I mean on doing."
Carl folded his arms over his chest, and it wasn't Carl, you would have said that he was pouting. But since this was Carl, he was just making a point. "You probably wouldn't rent any of the videos on that list we gave you."
"You're probably right," Jojo admitted. "But I did tell you to make that list, so I am going to have to read it. Even if it is a waste of my time."
Carl fell back into his seat. He could tell that Jojo really did think it was a waste of time. But she had given her word. And when she said she was going to do something, she did it, whether you liked it or not. And whether she liked it or not. "And you don't like a movie on the list?"
"Than I'll pick one."
"Oh yes of course," Carl replied, even though he really hadn't listened to Jojo's answer.
There was no more conversation during the rest of the car trip. Just Jojo's talking to herself and the sound of the running engine was all Carl had to listen to during that trip. Hoodsey tried to start up a conversation with him, but he barely heard his friend. He was too deep in thought.
Who was Courtney's new love interest? Carl had to discover his identity. If he was the right guy, than Carl could use him to blackmail Courtney with. Courtney, Carl hated to admit, was an even better blackmail target than Blake.
Soon, however, they pulled onto the Bishops' driveway. "Now Carl," Jojo said before even unbuckling her seatbelt, "I don't want any trouble out of you."
"Must you say that every time, Jojo," Carl sighed.
Jojo grimaced. "Considering that it is you...
"Yes."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jojo."
"Come now, I can't go the video store if you two stay in the car." A beat later, "And don't call me Jojo."
"You're not going in first, Mom?" Hoodsey said.
"No, I'm only dropping you off here before I run to the video store."
"Oh. Okay, Mom." Hoodsey opened his door and exited the car.
Jojo sighed as she closed the door behind him. "Honestly, you would think he was born in a barn."
"Well, you would know, Joanne."
"Don't call me that either." She looked back. "You still here?"
"At least can we watch read through the list we had given you and had worked so hard on?"
"No."
That single word had the weight of scores of volumes.
"Fine, fine. I'm going." He unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door next to him. "But just for the record, I don't approve."
Jojo's expression was unchanged.
"Bye," Carl waved before closing the door. He headed for the house. He got a few steps before that the sedan wasn't moving. He turned and watched Jojo go down the list and mark out entry after entry with a red pen. Like she had said she was going to do, she was reading the list. Carl didn't really expect it, but maybe, just maybe, Jojo would a movie on that list that she actually approved of.
Carl left that charming scene for the front door. There he rang the doorbell. At once, the door open and Jojo's husband, Mr. Bishop, appeared. He looked glad to see Carl. "You don't have ring the bell, Carl. You're our guest here."
"Sorry, Mr. Bishop. But some habits are hard to break."
"I completely understand, Carl. Sometimes Joann gives even me a hard time."
"Just why did you marry her, Mr. Bishop?"
"Her mother had asked the same question," Mr. Bishop sighed wistfully. He turned to Carl. "That's a long story, Carl. A long story indeed." He touched Carl's shoulder. "Come on inside, Carl. Your friend is staying the night too." He led Carl into the house.
"Doesn't Hoodsey live here, Mr. Bishop?" Carl said as the door was closed behind them.
"No, your other friend." A red-haired girl appeared at the top of the stairs. "Noelle."
"Hi, Carl," she said. She started down the stairs.
"Noelle! What are you doing here?"
"Hoodsey's mom invited me."
"She did." Carl was astonished. That didn't make any sense.
Noelle nodded.
"Now would she go and do a thing like that?"
Noelle shrugged.
"Ho ho right," Carl said with glee. "Another mystery for us to solve."
Noelle reached the foot of the stairs. "What's the first one?"
"Courtney's boyfriend."
"Courtney?" Noelle cocked her head uncertainly.
"Blake's big sister."
"Oh. Of course." Noelle hesitated.
Carl held up her hands. "What is it, Noelle?"
"There's something you should know." She leaned toward Carl and whispered into his ear, "There's an UFO in our collective backyard."
---
Courtney opened her mouth, but Ginger spoke first. "I think I should tell them. I am their best friend after all."
"Very well." She sounded as if she didn't care which one of them that told the girls, though Ginger was sure that wasn't true.
"An UFO landed in the forest recently, I suppose." She turned to Courtney.
"Last night," she replied.
"Last night. He was real hurt for some reason. But fortunately, my mom came by and now he's all better now. I guess that my mom helped. She's a nurse, you know."
"We know that she's a nurse, Ginger," Dodie said.
"Of course." Ginger was blushing.
Macie slowly shook her head. "For shame, Ginger. You actually believe this alien nonsense?" She leaned forward. "You have been spending far too much with your brother, that's what I think."
"It's true, dammit. I've seen the alien craft. I've seen the alien. I've touched them both. So, if Ginger said she's seen an UFO, Lacie, you had better believe it."
Ginger was surprised by her vehemence. How much did Courtney care for Nomar?
Dodie giggled. "Oh, I get it," she said. "This is some kind of elbroate pratical joke on me and Macie." Ginger heard Courtney softly repeat Macie's name, but apparently Dodie didn't notice, as she continue right along. "Pull a fast one on the two least popular girls in school. Nobody would mind, right? I mean it's not like anybody likes us, right? ("I like you," Ginger said.) But couldn't you think o-"
"Silence, you fool," Courtney screamed.
Suddenly Ginger could hear her blood pump in her ears. It was far too quiet in the limo. Come on. Would someone please say something? No one did. So she had to.
"Good job, Courtney," she said. "Nobody can quiet a room like you can." Courtney's head was bowed. "No, Ginger," she said quietly. "Nobody in my position should ever talk that."
"That' all right, Courtney," Dodie said. "We forgive you. Right, Macie?" Macie nodded. "See, Courtney?"
Courtney sighed. "You're right. It's nothing compared to some of the things I have done in my life." She swallowed. "And will do."
Ginger did not like where this was going. But they had already entered the woods. There was no turning back now. But there was one more thing. "You said that your mother has told some people about Nomar."
"Nomar?" Dodie said.
"That's the alien, Dodie."
"Oh yes," Courtney said. "She's bringing the entire Charity Committee with the see Nomar's ship."
"Charity Committee?"
"Oh, that's the committee in which Momma just rudely announced to the world Nomar's presence here. We have to stop them. Fortunately I have a plan to do just that."
"So what is that plan, Courtney."
She put her finger to her lips. "You'll see."
"We're doomed," Macie said to the ceiling.
The car stopped abruptly. "We're here, Madam," Winston said from the front.
"Okay, Doubting Tammys, just a few paces from this car and through those is the evidence for our statements."
"But isn't that 'Doubting Thomases," Macie pointed out.
"But you're both girls," Courtney said with all seriousness.
"Never mind," Macie said as she followed Ginger out of the car.
When everyone was out of the car, Winston was staning next to the driver's side door. "Would that be all, Madam." She wiped a tear from his eyes.
"No, this is... it." Courtney's voice broke.
"I will miss you, Courtney."
"And I will miss you two, Winston." Now tears were flowing Courtney's face. She wiped them dry with her sleeve as she waved goodbye to Winston.
He stood there while before he finally hunkering back into the limo and driving off, leaving the four girls alone in the woods. "Now what?" Dodie said.
"Now we go meet Nomar." Courtney sighed. "I wish that we could take Winston with us?"
"Courtney, just where is that we are going?" Ginger said.
Courtney didn't answer. Instead, she just walked off.
Ginger shrugged. And then followed her into the woods.
---
"What the hell was that all about?" Mipsy wondered.
"I don't know. But I'm going in there and find." Miranda turned to Mipsy. "You coming?"
"What do I like? Macie?"
They sprung from the prone position from which they had watched Courtney's arrival with Ginger and the dorks and Courtney's tear-filled farewell with her butler. If they hadn't been the slightest bit curious before, they had a full-blown case of it now. They followed Courtney and her entourage.
From a safe distance of course.