Chapter 9: Dinner and a Surprise
Everyone gathered around trying to find a seat, when a sudden chill came.
Footsteps came from the main room to the dining room. In came Jonnie and Jennie.
"Oh well what a surprise!" Dolly said with a smile.
"Apparently Jonnie's father wasn't there, we were…well I was wondering if Jonnie can have dinner with us?" Jennie asked with pleading eyes.
"How can we say no to you Jonnie? You're like a third son to us." Dean said offering them seats.
I must say I was glad to have Jonnie join in; at least there would be one more person here that I was used to.
"You are always kind Mrs. Tamber, Mr. Tamber." Jonnie said bowing his head to the two guardians. They just laughed and corrected him saying to call them by there first name not last.
"Jonnie!" yelled Bunny running into Jonnie's arms. I was surprised that a girl with such shyness would hug Jonnie like her Brother, must be because he has been with Jennie for such a long time.
Jonnie asked Bunny some questions about how she was, what she's been doing, I was not really paying attention.
Everyone took a seat. Tommy, Noah, Bunny, and Dolly were on one side on the table, and Dreama, Jonnie, Jennie, and Thelma were on the other, while Dean sat at one end, I sat at the other.
Everyone settled in.
"Alright everyone time for a prayer." Dolly announced.
Oh perfect!
"Whose turn is it?" Everyone looked at Dean.
"Oh come on now, everyone knows it is Bunny's turn." He said looking desperate. Bunny shot him a glare. All he did was give a short small laugh.
"Alright fine." He said throwing his napkin down and held his hands out for his wife and Thelma's.
My breathing became calm as I was glad to know that I was not the one to thank God for nothing.
I looked around and went stiff as they all joined hands. Tommy reached for mine. It was odd to me, but my left hand rose and took it. I looked to my right side and gave a sigh as I noticed Dreama sitting next to me. She looked at me and placed her hand in mine unexpectedly. I gulped the lump stuck to my throat as I gripped her hand back instead of being limp. I bowed my head and closed my eyes as did everybody else.
Dean began.
"Dear God, we like to thank you for this food, even though it was my beautiful wife who made it…"
Everyone began to giggle, trying there best to stay quiet so Dean can finish the prayer.
"We would also like to ask you to give us your luck for the gathering in two days, and I personally would like to ask you, to get my three older children, Thelma, Tommy, and Noah to stop there games of who is better, for it is making me look bad, and we would thank you for giving us such a wonderful life, but I'm sure each one will thank you later when they go to bed."
Dean looked around eyeing everyone. No one could hold it in, I slowly looked around and saw just about everyone was giggling or laughing quietly.
"Amen." Dean ended.
"Amen." We all said together.
Out of everyone I said the conclusion the lowest; I almost didn't say it at all. How could I thank God for giving me the worst of all punishments? To never be loved…
No one waited, they all dug in. Some first started with the turkey, others started with mashed potatoes and gravy, I looked around and noticed Dolly had added pea's and corn. I started with those. I can not even begin to describe how hungry I am!
The family was in a conversation. One were everyone had something to say except me. They would ask me a question every now and then; I would answer and get back to eating. Every time they mention my name I would hold my breath and just hope they would not ask about anything that would let out to much information. The only people, who know about me, were Jonnie, Thelma, and Jennie. Having more people know…who knows what can happen.
I wanted to leave as soon as possible! If I haven't been so hungry earlier I would have placed less food on my plate, there for I would have left the table before anyone else. The food I can't deny is excellent, but I must leave before…
"So Erik how did you first get into that nasty fair?" Dolly suddenly asked.
Before exactly that happens.
Jonnie looked up and began the work of his big mouth.
"Oh well quite a story there, see Erik was there when he was a child and…" Before Jonnie went on I took action.
"Well actually, yes I was but um…not for long...I escaped, but um, some time later I was captured." I said swiftly, without hesitation took a sip of my cool drink.
"Oh that's terrible! Is…is uh…That the place where you became deformed?" Dolly asked with her hand at her chin.
"Oh no actually he was born that way." Jonnie again beamed out. I glared at him massively.
"Really? Wow." Stated Dean with amusement. "Usually when someone comes here with some sort of disfigurement they had got it from an accident or some sort." Now it was my turn to look at him with amusement.
"What did you do before you were captured?" Noah said joining in the conversation.
I thought of a lie rather quickly. But before it could be of good use Jonnie intervened.
"Well Erik was at the Paris Opera house and he was The Ph…" My insides froze as I shifted my foot aiming towards Jonnie's leg. Instead I hit Dreama's.
"Oww!" Dreama yelped as she bent down and rubbed her leg. It was a mistake I regret but it at least shut Jonnie up.
"You alright?" Jonnie asked looking at his sister. She nodded and looked at me. I glanced in her direction but quickly hid it with my hand as she just smiled and shook her head slightly.
I glared at Jonnie tremendously. Jennie saw my glare and quickly turned to Jonnie and gave him a signal to stop talking about me. Jonnie looked and quickly hid his face from my view. I smirked in triumph.
"You worked in the Opera Populair?" Dreama asked out of no where.
I looked at her and nodded. She gave a smile.
I looked at Dolly as I heard her laugh.
"Dreama has always wanted to go there. She had a beautiful voice!" She said smiling deeply at Dreama. Who didn't want to go there? No thanks to me it burnt to shreds, thankfully it had not burnt to the ground, it could be repaired, then maybe, I might go back, but I highly doubt it. Wait a minute…she HAD a beautiful voice?
"I'm sorry Dolly you said she "had" a beautiful voice?"
"Oh yes, it was terrible, she went…"
"Mother!" Dreama quickly interrupted.
I frowned as Dolly gave a quick smile then went back to eating. So I am not the only one with a secret yet to be known.
The rest of the night went by rather quickly. Everyone was half way done, when abruptly…
"Sooooo…Thelma, how is everything going with your love life?" Tommy blurted out with a grin.
Thelma dropped her silver wear. "Not right now halfwit!" She said spiting the insult in his face.
I gave a small smirk at her remark and temper.
"Stop it." Dolly said warningly.
"Thelma tell us, when was the last time someone made a move? Oh that's right, no one has, it's always been you to make the move." Noah said half way about to burst into laughs.
"Boys that's enough!' Dolly yelped. Thelma stood silently.
"Oh that's alright mother. Tell me when you boys get lucky for the first time alright?" Thelma said leaving the kitchen slowly with a sneer stuck to her face as if she knew exactly what was going to happen next. She slowly and gracefully glances back.
Tommy and Noah looked at each other.
"Get her?" Tommy asked.
"Get her." Noah answered.
"No boys not in the house." Dolly said desperately.
But it was too late, not hearing her Tommy and Noah jumped from there seats and rushed out of the kitchen after Thelma.
"No! I just got done cleaning the house! Dreama come help me separate them three!" Dolly yelled getting up after hearing a big bang coming from the main room. She disappeared after turning the corner, Dreama followed.
Dean laughed. Suddenly another bang was heard only louder.
"That's our queue." Jonnie said grabbing Jennie's hand and running to the main room.
Dean looked at me suddenly noticing my frowns.
"They can be very…BANG!..rough." Dean said flinching from the uproar.
"Dean!" Dolly shouted sounding in need of help.
"Sometimes too rough." Suddenly everyone flinched including me when we heard something sounding like glass break.
"DEAN!" Dean left the room in an instant.
The only one in the room was me and the shy Bunny. She never looked at me not once. Focusing deeply on her food. I myself felt uncomfortable having the fact that everything was silent except for the loud banging noise and laughing in the room next door.
Then a small voice slipped through all that.
"May you please pass the butter?"
My head shot up at Bunny who timidly looked at me. I looked around for the butter. As soon as I spotted it I quickly handed it to her.
"Thank you." She said going back to her business.
I couldn't help but give a small smile. She so far said more then a few words to me, let's try fifty.
"You played quite well." She looked up and frowned. I grinned at the cuteness of her confusion.
"You were playing the violin earlier. I thought it was rather good."
"Oh…um…Thank you. I didn't know you were there listening." She said trying to hide her blush.
"I heard your sister's saying you can sing to?" I asked silently.
She nodded. "Yes, well not as good as others, I'm still learning." I nodded.
She tensed up every time I said something to her. I won't give her more of a tough time. I stopped talking there.
"Will you be there?" I slowly looked up. Was she finally talking to me?
"Be where?" I asked.
"At…the celebration in a couple of days." She answered with steadiness.
"Oh yes the welcome home party for Jonnie?" I asked now knowing what she was talking about.
"Well, its not really for him, when ever someone leaves for a long time then comes back, we hold some sort of celebration, its not necessarily for that person. We just get happy and express our happiness. Sometimes the performance can be dedicated to them, sometimes its not." I nodded following every word. "Well I was just wondering if your gonna be there."
I looked at her with an emotionless face. Then it turned into a heartrending one.
"Unfortunately I can not. You see I am not use to a lot of people…" I was suddenly interrupted by her worried voice.
"Oh please you must go!" My eyes widen at her desperate voice. "Please, I know I haven't showed much kindness but please!" I held my hands up to calm her.
"Wait, wait calm down, you're saying…you want me to go?" I asked with a frown.
She stayed silent for awhile. "Yes I am." She said gently. "You heard Thelma and Dreama say today was my best practice. Like something awoke my spirit. As much as I don't want to admit it…" she staggered for a moment. "I think it's you." My eyes did more then widen.
"I know it sounds crazy, but when I seen you in that boat with Thelma and Jonnie, I just…I just felt completely confident about my playing and singing I rushed to practice!" She looked away. "I know you think I'm just saying words and I don't know what I'm talking about oh but I do!" she looked at me pleadingly. "Please, if you go…I think I can make it up to the stage, I was never able to pass the second step. I was always nervous to sing or play on stage, but now…please." I could bear no more her begging.
"Yes." I said simply. Her face brightened.
"Really?" she asked with joy.
"Yes, Bunny I'll be there." I said giving a smile.
"Thank you Erik." She said sighing and smiling at the same time.
I couldn't help but smile myself. Bunny was something else. I didn't see her as the shy Bunny anymore, she was better then that. She had confident built in her, freshly new.
I didn't plan on going to the damn gathering! But hearing her please was just too much. I couldn't ignore her. I mean ME, the one her awoken her spirit?
We finished our food and left the kitchen to find Thelma and the others rolling around on the ground, Dolly and Dean trying to stop them, with Dreama, Jonnie and Jennie out of the way watching and laughing tremendously. Everyone was laughing; you wouldn't call this a troubled family, just a hyper one who like to play games. No one was getting hurt, but Thelma's brothers were sure asking for some sort of pain.
I walked around the laughing crowd to Jennie.
"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt but if you can tell me where do I sleep? I'm sorry it's just that I am extremely tired and…"
"Oh you can have my room I'll sleep in Bunny's room for now on."
"Oh no I couldn't take your room I can just sleep out her on the floor somewhere…"
"Don't be silly!" Dreama stated turning to me away from the trampling. "You'll have back problems. Plus you can't have Jennie's room she uh…ahem…let's just say I don't think you'll find the bed quite pleasant. You'll have my room" Dreama said in a concerned voice. "Come on I'll show you were the room is."
She said grabbing my hand and leading me upstairs leaving the loud crowd.
"Really Dreama you do not have to give up your room…"
"Stop complaining, it's just a room." She said with such a delightful laugh. I sighed knowing she would not give up.
She led me to the end of the hall toward her room where I remembered quickly me falling on top of her. She opened her door and led me inside.
The room was not big, but certainly not small. Big enough for me. It had a desk in front of a window with piles of paper on it, an ink bottle and candles.
She had an armoire in the corner of the room holding her personal items. Next to it was a small vanity table holding her accessories. The chair with a light blue cushion lying on top was under the table out of the way, and next to that was a bed, it defiantly looked like some one can fall asleep in within seconds! The room was dark, but it didn't bother me.
"If you need anything, well…you have options of who you want to ask. If you want Thelma to help you, when you walk out turn left, she's right next door. You need me walk to your right I'm next door as well." I nodded, and she smiled. She stayed longer then I expected. Then suddenly my throat went dry. I would have to clear it, but then she would snap out of her silent ness and leave. Oh what do you care if she leaves or not? True…what did I care? I care because her presence is comforting! The dryness was getting irritating, I had to clear it.
The sound of clearing my throat went around the room as she shook her head and smiled again.
"I'm sorry I'm stopping you from getting sleep…I'll just…I'll just leave…" She held her hand out behind her trying to find the door knob. I slowly smirked as she noticed it was on the other side. "Oh, silly me, alright now I'll leave." She turned around and bumped into the door frame, she let out a small whimper. I stiffed a laugh.
"You alright?" I asked in a…surprisingly…no…you didn't ask that in a seductive voice did you? Apparently I did. She gave me look where I can just…stop…don't think it!
"Yes I'm fine thank you, uh goodnight Erik." She said turning making no mistakes this time.
"Goodnight Dreama." I watched her leave the room.
"Wait Dreama!" What are doing!
She quickly turned, "Yes?" she asked sweetly.
"Um…" Think…think! You called her, got her attention, now say something! "I…Uh…I have no…close to wear, these are the only one's I have."
"You wore that for two weeks?" she asked frowning and smiling. I shook my head.
"No actually I had to barrow the crew's; I had to return them as well after I worn them." She nodded.
"All right, you can barrow some of my father's, you look like his size. Then later we'll give you some money and take you to a friend's house and get you some new clothes."
I bowed meaning I agreed. She knew and bowed herself.
"Goodnight Erik."
"Goodnight Dreama."
And the conversation ended there. I closed the door.
I slowly took of my boots, vest, and shirt, leaving my black trousers on. I lifted the covers and slipped in the warm bed. My eyes closed as I breathed in her sent. Red Roses. My eyes fell shut.
I know what you're thinking, Bunny became to use to Erik so suddenly, yes, that was sort of my point. And Dreama and Erik are already starting to feel a little something something, don't worry I'm going to slow it down, I don't want to, but no one wants a fast love thing going on. Unless you guys want that to happen. Well next chapter i am very excited to do, its really cool, well to me it is because something happens between Erik and Thelma! Tomorrow i should do it for i get off early thursdays. Alright...
"PLEASE REVIEW!" (puppy eyes) lol sorry.
Crytsal A.