Chapter 3- Still Learning

I found myself awake again, and to my misfortune, still in the girl's bedroom. I sighed deeply, noticing the 'CD Player' had stopped. I smelled a faint odor drifting on the air- it was delicious. Sunlight shone thru a small window, and I guessed it to be morning of my second day in 2006.

I shook my head. Was this...Mon Dieu, had I slipped into some dream of madness, some shadow of reality? To think it was only 2 weeks ago my Angel had run off...off with her young man...Tears sprung to my eyes, and I let them pour. Sometimes the only solution for deep, poisoning gloom is to weep; no matter how un-masculine it was, but fine if no one saw you.

Christine.

I should forget her... Forget...But how could I? How could I forget those innocent, sky blue eyes, pleading with me to let her fop go? How could I forget that she was the first woman to allow me to kiss her; Kiss that soft, glowing skin on her forehead, her virgin forehead? And she had held my hand and said, 'Poor, unhappy Erik,' and she had cried with me! Allowed me to steal her sweet, warm tears! Oh, oh, my heart, be stilled. Let me die and remove my carcass from this strange new world. Why must you continue to beat, continue to prolong this torture called life? Why? My cerebrum, loath to mull over such things, scanned the room. I wondered which girl this one belonged to. I observed harder, trying to discern what the personality of this room was. It was rather simple, as the girl would only be here for a few weeks; The walls were painted light blue. The bed's comforter was maroon, lush and soft, as were the pillows. A desk was settled cozily in a corner, with books, paper, and writing utensils strung haphazardly over the top. Some clothes were stuffed in a laundry basket, looking wearily cramped. I blushed as I saw what seemed to be men's underwear cut at the hip and a corset-like object of black lace that told me exactly where it went. Modern undergarment? Are all the people here so liberal in wearing such revealing clothes?

I forced my gaze away from them and my eyes lighted on a bookcase with a large mirror resting atop it. Books, books, books. Well worn and new, hardbound and paperback, large and small, everything in between. This must be Rose- Roas- Rosalee's (I still couldn't pronounce it, to my immense embarrassment) room. I stood up and tottered over to them, wondering what she read.

Most titles I didn't know; Lord of the Rings; Eragon; The Da Vinci Code; Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants; Wicked; and several mildly romantic novels among them.

I did, however, recognize Pride and Prejudice, the Merchant of Venice, and The Sea Wolf.

Interesting. But books made think of the paperback lying on the bed. The one that had my past printed into its pages. Warily, as if it could leap up and bite me, I picked it up. But at the same time, a knock sounded on the door. I sighed and walked over, opening it to see Roselle's concerned face. "Breakfast is ready, if you'd like to join us."

Pondering the thought for a moment, I realized I was ravenous for once. "I'd be honored; it smells wonderful." I added.

Roselle smiled. "Nothing special. Just eggs and bacon. I- I dunno what you ate like, back in 1870, but I figured that'd be pretty basic..." she said anxiously, playing with her hands as she looked up at me.

I was truly touched at how concerned she was for my well-being, despite the myriad of thoughts running thru my head. "That sounds wonderful."

I followed her to the kitchen, more interested in the machines I passed this time than before.

I glanced curiously at a small box that had numbers and words on it, such as 'power cook' and 'defrost.' I contemplated it. "Does this...Is it like an oven?" I queried.

"Yes, actually. But it gets food hotter...faster than a oven. And it defrosts frozen food. And pops popcorn."

Now we came to a bigger box, just inside the kitchen. I opened it experimentally, and was blasted with cold air. "An icebox?"

Roselle and Abbey grinned at me with pride. "Yeah! But one side freezes stuff and the other side just keeps it cool."

I nodded and sat down when Abbey gestured toward a chair. Maybe I can get used to this.

I watched the two girls as they finished up breakfast. Despite my presence, they chattered on to one another, giggling and cooking at the same time. Clearly, Roselle was only shy around me, but then I guess I wasn't any better. It was rather amusing to observe them, really.

Abbey spilled water all over Roselle and the table as she bumped into a chair. Roselle merely laughed went to change. Abbey knocked her head on the cabinet door because Roselle opened it right as she passed. Roselle dropped a piece of bacon and promptly snatched it with her slender fingers and stuffed it messily into her mouth. Eventually, after several other episodes of the like, they set a steaming plate before me, then sat down themselves. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Roselle murmured grace and we dug in, avoiding self-conscious verbiage. I ate in awe. I had never indulged in such wonderful food; Yes, I cooked for myself in the house by the lake, but I could never match a woman's skill. I must have made some noise, because Abbey looked up at me. "Ya like it?"

I nodded vigorously. "It is the best thing I've eaten in a very long time. You honor me to give me such food."

Roselle and Abbey broke out in huge smiles, and, looking at each other, said, "Don't you wish guys still talked like that? It's really refreshing."

"Totally."

I frowned. "How do...guys...talk now."

Roselle shrugged. "They aren't very chivalrous, unless you meet a really good one. Generally, they cuss, diss, and insult in front of about anyone."'

"Are all of your men out of the gutter?" I demanded to know.

"No, no. Women do the same things. It's...Well, it's really hard to describe. For example, when a man meets a women, they do not bow and curtsy. They merely nod or shake hands. It is rare that a man will hold open a door for a women or pull her chair out. Sometimes, but very uncommon. Men don't hold much back anymore."

My eyebrows shot up. "What an uncivil world you live in! Women are held in the highest disrespect. How savage of a man not to treat a woman as a delicacy."

"But women these days aren't delicate. They want to do things themselves. And it's the overall feeling that women were mere vassals in your time."

I shook my head. "Then why would we have treated them so, standing in their presence- well, not me, other men- and honoring them?"

Abbey and Roselle exchanged bewildered glances.

"Wow. I've never thought of it that way before. I...guess that's true. But what about arranged marriages and...like...women couldn't do anything without their husband's consent, or live on their own without being scorned?" Roselle queried, her eyes alight with curiosity.

"Ah, well, some things were taken a little too far, but most of it was for the benefit of the woman." Suddenly, I was struck. Here I was, sitting in a kitchen, talking in a nonchalant way to two women, like I was a normal person. For the first time in a long time- indeed, the last time I smiled, I could not remember- I felt the corners of my mouth tip up.

Abbey and Roselle returned the smile easily.

"Anyway...Roselle and I have to go shopping; So we'll probably be gone for an hour or two. Do you want to come or start studying?"

The thought of crowds made me shrink. "I'll study."