The Lost Lloyd
Chapter 6 - To Sis: With Love
It's early Sunday morning and Rhonda has just woken up from a fitful night's sleep. She advances downstairs and pauses when she gets to the living room, where Rima is talking to her parents. No one has seen Rhonda yet, so she tiptoes halfway up the stairs and spies on the three of them through the entrance.
Mr. Lloyd: Your'e leaving so soon?
Rima: Yes. The peace concerts in two days and I really should get back with my group.
Mrs. Lloyd: But where will you be staying? Hopefully not in that van we saw you come here in!
Rima: Don't worry, mother - we'll be crashing at the Grand Hotel downtown, just a couple blocks from where you work.
Mrs. Lloyd:(relieved sigh) Good. Then I can check up on you. I'll go up later today once I close the store. I'll bring Rhonda along with me and...
Rima: Uh, that's okay, mom. It's really not necessary to bring Rhonda...
Mrs. Lloyd: Why, of course it is! Why would you say something like that?
Rima: Well...I don't think that Rhonda's very happy with me right now...
Mrs. Lloyd: Oh what a ridiculous notion! Now honestly, dear, where would you get an idea like that?
Mr. Lloyd and Rima look at each other. Mrs. Lloyd is confused
Mrs. Lloyd: What?
Mr. Lloyd: Rhonda lost her temper and...sort of blew up on Rima last night in the park...
Mrs. Lloyd: Oh, dear. I'm sorry, Rima. I didn't realize you...
Rima: It's okay, mom. Really.
Mr. Lloyd: Don't think too much of what Rhonda had said. I'm sure that she didn't mean any of it.
Rima: Of course she did. I mean...why else would she say it if it wasn't true?
The living room goes silent. Outside, a novelty car horn can be heard, signalling the arrival of the van in which Rima had travelled. Rima picks up a suitcase in both hands and heads for the door, with Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd trailing behind. They hug for a brief moment, then look at each other silently.
Mr. Lloyd: We'll miss you, sweetie.
Mrs. Lloyd: You'll come and visit us again soon, won't you?
Rima: I dunno...maybe. Only time will tell.
Mr. Lloyd opens the door to allow Rima outside. Once she reaches the van, she throws the suitcases in the back, and then goes to take the empty seat up front. The van slowly drives away, and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd can only comfort each other at the entrance. Rhonda looks on for a while, then silently creeps back upstairs.
Meanwhile, at the Pataki house, Big Bob and Miriam are sitting in the dining room, solemnly eating breakfast.
Big Bob: (sighs) Its a shame that Olga's leaving already. I was gonna take her to the opera! What the heck am I supposed to do with two tickets to...reads the ticket in his hand, sounding out word ...Pay...glee...achey...? The heck? I don't even watch this crap! I only go because Olga enjoys it!
Miriam: It was her decision, B. She wanted to spend the rest of her time with her friend. She said that she was really down about something...
Big Bob:(grumbles) Maybe I can get Helga to buy these offa me...
Miriam: Oh dear...Helga. Poor girl - she must be heartbroken that Olga's leaving today.
In truth, however, Helga is actually in her room jumping for up and down for joy on her bed.
Helga: (singsong) Olga is leaving! Olga is leaving!
Suddenly, the door to her room opens and Helga falls to the floor. Olga peeks inside.
Olga: Baby sister, what are you doing on the floor?
Helga: Huh? Oh...well...I...just...dropped something. Yeah, that's it. Darn, these contacts are hard to find makes gestures on the floor as if feeling for an item
Olga: Oh, baby sister, you're so funny!
Olga picks up Helga and gives her a hug
Olga: I'm going to miss you so much when I go!
Helga: Uh, yeah...ditto...
Olga: We should do something together, Helga. Why don't you and I go out for a movie? Then afterwards we can go shopping, and then after that, if you're still up to it, we could go to Dinoland.
Helga:(interested) Dinoland? Seriously?
Olga: Sure. It'll be our special day - just you and me.
Helga tosses the thought over in her head for a moment, then smiles.
Helga: It's a date.
Olga: Great! You get ready, and I'll meet you downstairs.
Olga leaves the room. Helga stares at the door for several seconds, then smiles as she makes her way to her closet.
Later that evening, at the City Jail, Mr. Simmons' family comes to bail him out. As the warden lets him out, Pearl (his mother) shakes her head with disapproval.
Pearl: Honestly, Robert! You're far too old to be pulling shenanigans like this!
Peter: I told him that the life of a hippie was fraught with peril, I told him not to fall back into old habits. But does he listen? Nooooo. Don't ever listen to Peter - heaven forbid that he should EVER listen to Peter!
Mr. Simmons: But it was for a good cause, mother!
Pearl: It's always for a "good cause", Robert! But it's up to you to use good judgement! Where on earth did you get those fireworks anyway?
Peter: He probably smuggled them off of the black market...
Mr. Simmons: What? No! Listen, I didn't...!
Mr. Simmons opens the door of the police station to go outside, but stops when he reaches the top of the steps and sees Rima standing at the bottom.
Mr. Simmons:(surprised)Rima?
Peter: Oh look, Pearl - he's even got a one-person mob ready to liberate him from his oppressors.
Pearl: Oh, just shut up, Peter! Come on, Robert - we're taking you home.
Mr. Simmons: Uh...actually, mother, there's something I need to take care of first. Thanks for coming to get me - I'll catch a cab from here, if that's okay with you.
Pearl and Peter look at each other, then give Rima a dirty look as they walk past her and to their car. As they drive away, Mr. Simmons walks down the steps and approaches Rima.
Mr. Simmons: Rima, what are you doing here?
Rima: I came to bail you out, but I guess your mother already took care of that for me. rubs shoulders She seems...nice...
Mr. Simmons: Heh...yeah, occasionally...
Rima: I also wanted to ask you something...I know you didn't set off those fireworks last night, and yet you still took the blame for it. Why?
Mr. Simmons: Well...I knew that if something wasn't done, then everyone might have been sent to jail, and I just couldn't have that. After all, you were only trying to save the park. I just couldn't let a noble deed like that go in vain.
Rima: I understand. That was a very bold thing you did. Crazy...but bold.
Mr. Simmons: Uh, thank you, Rima...
Rima: Well, I'd better get going then. See ya...
Rima turns around and makes her way home. After a few seconds, Mr. Simmons chases after her.
Mr. Simmons: Hey, wait! You're not walking home, are you?
Rima: No...I'm staying at the Grand Hotel now. Things got kinda heated between Rhonda and me, and I decided t lay low and stay with my group until the concert. The hotel's not far; I should be okay.
Mr. Simmons: I can't let you walk alone in the dark, Rima - it's too dangerous! I'm going with you.
Rima: Sure. But uh...won't your mother be mad?
Mr. Simmons: Without a doubt. But your safety is much more important.
Rima: (smiles) Wow...you're sweet. Thank you, Sunchild.
Mr. Simmons: (laughs) You know, I do have a different name when I'm not a hippie.
Rima: Oh, I know...Robert...
Rima holds Mr. Simmons' hand
Rima:...but Sunchild suits you more...
Rima smiles. Mr. Simmons smiles back, and the two of them walk hand-in-hand down the sidewalk to the Grand Hotel.
It is recess the next day at school. Sheena, Eugene, and Helga are all playing 4-square at a corner of the playground. Helga throws the ball to Eugene, but he misses it, and rolls on the ground until it stops at Rhonda's feet. Rhonda picks up the ball and smiles feebly and the group.
Rhonda: Hey guys - need an extra player?
The three nine year-olds say noting, but instead leer coldy at Rhonda as they brusquely walk by her in silence.
Rhonda: Hey!
Helga turns around just in time to catch the ball that Rhonda had thrown at her. Helga gives her a dirty look.
Rhonda: We need to talk.
Sheena and Eugene stop to look at Helga, who waves them off, so they both head off for the swings. At that point, Helga turns around and gives Rhonda her full (albeit reluctant) attention.
Helga: What is it?
Rhonda: I saw you yesterday. You were hanging out with your sister, Olga, weren't you?
Helga: Yeah, so what? Big deal - it's not like I had asked her to take me anywhere. She insisted that we should go to Dinoland, and I accepted.
Rhonda: But you didn't have to. You're such a hypocrite, Helga. And to think, you led me on to believe that you actually hated your sister...
Helga: Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you talking about? I never said that I hated her! Sure, I'll admit that I gripe and complain a lot about Olga...and how prim and perfect she acts all the time...and, of course, I find some type of pleasure in ways in keeping her out of my hair and/or humiliating her...
Rhond: Then you could have told her to just take a hike. That wouldn't be so hard.
Helga: You're missing the point. What I'm trying to say is that, yes, Olga annoys the heck out of me, sometimes to the point that I want to strangle her with my own bare hands...but I don't hate her. She's my sister; the way I see it, it's her and my duty both to make each other's lives miserable every once in a while. But she means well, so it's not like I can hold a grudge against her or anything...
Rhonda: Yeah?...well, just because she's your sister doesn't mean you have to like her. Rima's my flesh and blood, too, but does that stop me from hating her? No! In fact, I'll say it right now - I HATE MY SISTER RIMA!
Rhonda's yelling causes the entire playground to halt in surprise.
Rhonda: There, you see? That wasn't difficult at all.
Helga: Well, Rhonda...if you really mean that, and if you truly do hate your own sister...then...I guess I feel sorry for you.
Helga tosses the ball back to Rhonda. The bell rings, and the students return inside the building to resume classes. Rhonda, who is in utter shock, stares blankly ahead at nothing, clutching the ball tightly within her hands.
Rhonda: Helga...feels sorry for ME...?
Later evening when her parents are asleep, Rhonda lays wide awake in bed while Helga's comment echoes in her head. Eventually, she does fall alseep and starts dreaming. In the dream, Rhonda is only 4 years old and wearing pigtails. Both she and her mother and father are at the airport and are about to see a teenage Rima off to England. As Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd exchange their final farewells, Rhonda begins to cry.
Teen Rima: Aw...what's wrong, Rhonda? Why are you crying?
Young Rhonda: Because...I don' want you to go, Wima. Why can' you stay hea? Don' you like me anymo'?
Rima: Of course, I do!
Rhonda: Then..sniff...then why are you weaving?
Rima: Well, I have to go, Rhonda. I've got to go to England, and learn new things about the world. She'll be sad if I don't come.
Rhonda: Who will?
Rima: Why, the Queen, of course. I promised to have tea with her in her grand castle when I got to England.
Rhonda: Oooh - a tea party! Will there be ponies?
Rima: Oh yes - it won't be a party without ponies? Black ones, white ones, brown ones with spots...
Rhonda:(wipes her nose) Well...I guess it's OK...if it's fo' the Queen...
Rima: And I promise I'll be back to see you during Christmas, ok? (hugs her) Now then - you be a good girl and take care of mummy and daddy for me, all right?
Rhonda sniffs and ndods her head. Rima smiles and makes her way to the terminal, but pauses when she hears her sister call out to her
Rhonda: Rima! Bring me back a pony, okay?
Rima smiles warmly and nods. She then departs into her terminal as the scene fades to white.
Rhonda abruptly wakes up and turns to check her alarm clock. It's midnight. She gets up and exits her room. She tip-toes downstairs so as not to wake her parents and creeps into the living room. Very quietly, she opens the drawer of the bureau next to the sofa and takes out a large photo album. As she flips through the pages, she comes to a section lined completely with photos of just her and her sister Rima - in one of the pictures, the family is at the park having a picnic, and in another, Rhonda and Rima are both dreased in Halloween costumes. Rhonda carries the book with her to the sofa and sits down, then stands back up when she realizes she has sat on something. She looks at the sofa cushion and finds Rima's present nestled snugly in the space between. Rhonda pulls it out, looks at it for a while, inspecting the flashing wrapping paper, and reads the tag that's attached to it.
Rhonda:(reading tag) "To Rhonda. Love, your sister, Rima."
Rhonda holds the package gingerly in her hands. After a moment of hesitation, Rhonda rips away at the wrapping paper, exposing a plain white box. Very slowly she lifts the box cover, exposing the contents of the gift inside. Rhonda's eyes widen in complete surprise.
It's morning at the Grand Hotel. Rima is awakened suddenly by a knock on the door. She yawns and stretches and places a pillow over her head to muffle the noise.
Rima:(yells) We didn't order a wake-up call, thank you!
But the knocking persists. Annoyed, Rima hops of the couch from which she was sleeping and walks over to the door. She unlocks the door and prepares to tell of the person on other side.
Rima: Look, I already said we didn't...huh?
Standing outside of the doorway is Rhonda, wearing Rima's present: a complete hippie ensemble - sandals, poncho, headband, and bell-bottom pants. Rima looks at her sister in shock.
Rima:(surprised) Rhonda? I-I didn't expect to see you...
Rhonda: Look, I know what I said, and I didn't mean it! You know me, I'm just a silly nine-year old...well, a fashionably-sensibly one, but that's beyond the point. You've got to believe me!
Rima: Wait, wait wait - Rhonda...what are you talking about...?
Rhonda: The things I said the other night, about you being a disgrace and an embarrassment to me...I was just so MAD, and...well, I just wanted to let you know...that you're not an embarrassment...you're not not a disgrace...you're my sister, and that's all that really matters to me. I just wish I had figured that out sooner before I...you know, wished you out of my life. That's...that's all I wanted to say, so I guess I'll be going now...
There is silence as Rhonda turns to head down the hallway.
Rima: Rhonda...
Rhonda turns around and is surprised to see Rima with tears in her eyes. She walks over to Rhonda with outstretched arms, and impulsively, Rhonda runs into them. Within seconds, both Lloyds are reduced to tears in the empty hallway.
Rhonda:(sobbing) Oh Rima, I'm so sorry!
Rima: Shh...it's okay...it's okay...
Rhonda: I can't believe how stupid I've been...I could have lost you forever...!
Rima: No, no...don't be silly...
Rhonda: Who's being silly? I'm serious. I've never felt this upset since the time you left for boarding school. I didn't want it to happen again...I didn't want to be the cause of it...
Rima pulls Rhonda away so she can look her in the face
Rima: Listen to me, Rhonda. I would never, ever do that to you.
Rhonda:(sniffs) Never?
Rima: No, never. And do you know why? Because you're my sister, Rhonda, and I love you. And even if you never decided to forgive me...I would still always love you, no matter what.
Rhonda wipes her eyes and looks up at her sister's smiling face. she then embraces Rhonda tightly and starts bawling all over again.
Rima: Oh, Rima!
A round of cheering and applause breaks out behind the two of them, as the rest of Rima's hippie friends were at the doorway and had watched the whole scene unfold. This time, it's Rhonda who pulls away from her sister.
Rhonda: I'm going to throw you a huge going-away party! They'll be music and food, and I'll invite all of my friends and by the end of the week...
Rima: Whoa, whoa - Rhonda, today is my last day here.
Rhonda: And you have your concert tonight...shoot, I forgot. Oh, wait - I have a better idea!
Rima: What?
Rhonda: No time to explain Find someone else to go the Peace Concert, Rima - tonight, you'll be going to something much better!
Before Rima could say anything else, Rhonda darts down the hallway and towards the elevator. She presses a button and the door opens, then waves to her sister as they close and send her downstairs. One of the hippies approach Rima.
Hippie: That is one weird hippie chick.
Rima:(smiles) Well...that's my sister for ya...
End of Chapter 5!