An Unusual Story
Chapter 20
The beat-up red truck chugged on its way, panting and groaning, but it did not falter. Amanda didn't mind the rough ride, though. This was mainly due to the fact that little Pepita, who was sitting between her and Lee, would occasionally look up and smile at her.
And because Pepita put her complete trust on the two of them, Amanda promised herself she would never let Pepita down.
Heading south, the first lap of their journey was precipitous, for they had to cross the Sierra de Soconusco mountains. This particular road serpentine upwards, taking them high above the Grijalva River. At one point, Amanda felt her nerves tightened, as she looked down the narrow green valley through which the river ran.
The drive had taken a toll on Lee as well. Amanda noticed that he was starting to look tired and haggard.
"It doesn't look as if we'll be reaching Zitipan to drop Pepita off by nightfall," Lee disappointedly stated, as he continued driving, "We'll be lucky just to finish these hairpin curves while it's still light."
It was slow going and tedious. But at last they coasted down the last part of the mountainside. They looked ahead at the darkening road that seemed to stretch for miles across a flat landscape.
"Finally, we're level again," Lee commented, as he yawned.
"Maybe we should find a place to stop," Amanda suggested, "Everyone is tired and we need food and rest before it gets really dark."
"Yes, let us stop!" Pepita piped in, " We will eat! The food is much welcome!"
Passing a grove of olive trees, they found a place to camp that was concealed from the road. After Lee had stopped the truck, he immediately left to check it out. Amanda and Pepita were not too far behind.
"Is there something the matter with the truck?" Amanda concernedly asked, as she observed Lee continuing to survey the vehicle.
"Wellll...outside of the tires being threadbare, the wheel alignment not aligning straight, and the brake pads needing replacement, the only thing the truck is suffering from is old age."
"Do not worry, Señor!" Pepita assured him, "Your truck will take us where we want to go! It is a very fine truck!"
Lee gave the little girl a questioning look. Where did this kid get all this optimistic enthusiasm? It was like he was dealing with a mini-Amanda.
Amanda smiled down at the girl, "Yes, Pepita, we are so very lucky to have this very fine truck! Now, I think it's more important that we have something to eat! Everyone will feel better once there is some food in our stomachs!"
"Oh yes! I am much hungry!" Pepita excitedly agreed.
"Then Pepita, while I get the food out, why don't you get the mat from the back of the truck?" Amanda requested, "We will use it for our table!"
"Yes, I will do that!" Pepita happily stated, "Papa has give to us three blankets and my Abuela has give to us enough food for a feast! Then later, we will sleep under the magic of the stars!"
She said it like they were off on a suburban vacation to the grand outdoors, and Amanda had to admit, the enthusiasm was infectious.
All three of them climbed into the rear of the truck. Seated cross-legged in the surrounding twilight, they ate the fresh tamales her grandmother had made them, some Mexican sweetbreads, apples and oranges for dessert, and bottled water.
A feast indeed; shared underneath the enchantment of the desert stars.
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"I am so full!" Pepita stated afterward, as she rubbed her tiny tummy in contentment.
"Really? Cuz I could have eaten a few more of those tamales," Lee honestly stated, still not quite full.
"Well, we need to save some of those tamales for our next meal," Amanda stated logically, "although I agree; those tamales were delicious!"
Pepita nodded, in complete understanding, "Oh yes! My Abuela makes them most delicious!"
After they cleared the food and cleaned up, they were exhausted and all agreed to sleep. They lay huddled together in the back of the truck, one thick blanket to use as a mattress on the flatbed, and two blankets to cover them. They were also warmed by their body heats against the cool spring night. Pepita was situated between them and she seemed like a very happy camper.
Lee, on the other hand, was worried. He didn't want to say his fears out loud in front of the kid, but he had no idea how far away the Policia or the cartel were from them. They could appear any second.
And how would he be able to protect Amanda, the kid, AND get the message out to the Agency as to the identity of the bad impostor?
It took some time to quiet his mind, but eventually, he tiredly shut his eyes, intent on letting go of his worries.
"Pssst! Señor Lee!"
He seemed to be in a fog as he heard the faraway voice. He opened his eyes.
"Hmmm? What?"
Used to being on alert, Lee immediately sat up and looked around. He could make out Amanda's quiet form in the darkness, signaling she was asleep. Meanwhile, Pepita was sitting up, although she looked perfectly fine.
"Kid, it's not time to talk, but to sleep," Lee grumpily told her.
"Y-Yes, Señor Lee..."
There was a hesitant pause, which worried Lee.
"Kid, you okay?"
She sounded uncertain, "I am fine, but...before I sleep, every night, my Abuela always tell me the bedtime story. If you can do for me, Señor Lee, I will be very much thankful."
No way.
"Me tell you a bedtime story?" he sounded befuddled, "That's, uh... that's not my department, Kid...Señora Amanda would be much better at doing that kind of stuff."
Suddenly they heard Amanda's voice, "But Pepita asked YOU," she sweetly told him, as she sat up, now fully awake. Lee would be willing to bet that Amanda probably had a satisfied smile plastered on her face, "So go ahead, Lee. We'd BOTH love to hear a story from you!"
"You do realize, Amanda," he tried to reason, "that the Colonel didn't exactly tell me fairy tales every night, don't you?"
"But that shouldn't deter you, should it?" she innocently asked, "Didn't you always tell me that agents must be good at improvisation?"
"I did, but-"
"-Please Señor," Pepita pleaded, "My Abuela, she tell me most beautiful princess stories every night! I cannot sleep until I hear a story!"
"You know, Lee, it even doesn't have to be a particularly good story," Amanda stated, lightheartedly, "I'm sure whatever story you tell her will put her to sleep immediately!"
"Haha, very funny," Lee sardonically stated, and then, after some thought, "So you don't think I can tell a good story to a little kid?"
"I never said that," Amanda stated, but it sounded like a challenge.
Lee turned to Pepita, who looked hopeful, "You want a fairy tale, Kid? You've GOT a fairy tale. Now, lie back down, and let the magic begin!"
Elated, Pepita obediently laid back down, "I am ready!"
There was silence.
"Well?" Amanda asked, "are you planning to send the story telepathically to Pepita?"
"I'm thinking!" Lee insisted, and then asked, "Does the story have to have a happy ending?"
"Oh, yes, indeed, Señor!" Pepita nodded in the darkness, "It must be happy ending or it will not be a princess fairy tale!"
"I was afraid of that..." Lee remarked and then mumbled, "Let's see….HappyEndingHappyEndingHappyEnding..."
"-and no guns, either," Amanda reminded him. "annnd the word 'love' must be mentioned!"
"You're making it virtually impossible!"
"I'm sure you'll manage," Amanda teasingly answered back.
"Okay...hold on...I think I've got it. I've got a story," Lee claimed.
He took a deep breath and began:
"In the land of Forced Fables, there once lived this beautiful Princess. She was the complete package."
"-complete package?" Pepita questioned, "What that mean, 'complete package'?"
"Uh..."
It was Amanda who explained, "It means, Pepita, that if people were packages, she would be lovelier than all the other packages in the whole kingdom! Isn't that right, Lee?"
"Close enough, I suppose."
"Was she half-package before she was complete package?" Pepita innocently asked.
"Let's not get bogged down with details, Kid," Lee testily answered as Amanda chortled, "Do you wanna hear this or not?"
"Oh yes!" Pepita agreed.
"Anyway," he continued, glancing over Amanda's way, "the Princess in this story was beautiful, with dark, curly hair, lovely doe-like eyes, and a smile that could brighten the darkest of days!"
"Oh!" Pepita realized, "a real princess!"
"That's right!" Lee nodded, "In fact, she was TOO beautiful, and all the men in the village longed for her, uh... company. To keep her safe, Queen Dorothea kept the beautiful princess locked in one of the tall towers at Arlington Castle. The Queen then decreed that only the Princess's true love would be able to climb the tortuous trellis leading to the locked tower. Many knights, noblemen, and dignitaries from all around sought her hand, but no one was able to climb the difficult trellis. Therefore, no one could witness her beauty. Now, at that time, because she was locked away, one lowly servant, with great hair, was chosen to bring her a meal once a day, by way of the backstairs of the castle."
"One meal a day, only?" questioned Pepita, "our Princess must be very skinny then!"
Lee quietly chuckled.
"Oh yes, but luckily, her beauty overshadowed her boney-ness.!"
"-Thinness," Amanda quickly interjected for the correction, "her beauty was overshadowed by her thinness, not boney-ness!"
"I can't think straight with all these interruptions," Lee claimed.
Pepita piped in, "Please, Señor, you must continue!"
"I agree," Amanda stated, "just be sure that somewhere in the story that you fatten up the Princess a bit."
"Duly noted, but no more interruptions," he warned, "and that means you, Amanda. It's okay for the Kid to ask questions, since she is obviously infatuated with my storytelling skills, but you, on the other hand, must admired my skills in silence."
"Even if your story has more holes than Swiss cheese?" Amanda sarcastically responded and then gave in, "Okay, okay. As you wish, your Lordship. I shall remain silent whilst Lady Pepita listens with bated breath to this fairy tale. And I use that term fairy tale very loosely!"
"A-man-da..."
"Zip. I will zip mine mouth for thee," she promised, making a silent zipping gesture.
"Continue, please, Señor Lee!" Pepita encouraged, with large eyes.
Lee cleared his throat, "Anyway…everyday, this lowly servant would knock on the tower door and the beautiful Princess would open the door and gratefully accept the meal. They would only exchange a few words, yet every time they met, they would become more fascinated with one another. He, of her beauty, she of his humble manliness and perfect hair."
"Oh..." Pepita mumbled, sounding disappointed, "too bad..."
"Now what?"
"Nothing, Señor."
"It sounded like something to me."
"It's just.." .Pepita hesitated, and then bravely asked, "the servant, with the good hair... he like her for her beauty only? Was she not smart? Or funny? Or talented?"
"This is a fable, Kid; if you want great literature, go to the library."
Amanda snorted.
"Anyway..." Lee continued, "this bringing of a meal for the Princess occurred for three days. Meanwhile, outside Arlington Castle, other dark forces were forming, for in another part of the country, an evil, dastardly dragon arrived to challenge the people of Arlington for mastery of the kingdom!"
"Ooooooo," Pepita stated in awe.
"Yes, OOOoooo is right.: Lee nodded, smiling into the blackness of the night. He was enjoying this, "Now, no one in the royal court was brave enough to fight the dragon. The dragon, therefore, was free to hurl HUGE fireballs from his mouth, setting the entire countryside ablaze! The Queen was very worried and was about to surrender her kingdom to the dragon, when to the surprise of everyone, the lowly servant stepped forward before the royal court and announced HE would fight the evil dragon, all by himself!"
"The servant is so brave!" Pepita reverently stated.
"Indeed. Brave AND handsome," Lee reminded her, "So, with the Queen's blessing, he went in search of the dragon. When the servant at last found the dragon, the dragon was instantly jealous of the servant's good looks. However, before the dragon could burn the servant to a crisp with his fire, the wicked creature demanded to know..." Lee's voice changed to a low and menacing tone: 'WHO DARES TO FACE ME?' "
"It is me,' announced the humble servant, "the one with the good hair!"
"The dragon haughtily laughed, 'AND HOW CAN SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF DEFEAT ME?"
Once again, Lee peered mischievously over at Amanda, "The servant courageously responded back with,'I will bravely defeat thee with LOVE.' Then from behind his back, he produced a baseball bat, with the word LOVE visibly carved into it!"
'"Here is the love that I will defeat you with.'"
"Oh brother!" Amanda instinctively reacted.
"SSSShhh!" Lee and Pepita both hushed her.
Amanda zipped her mouth again.
And in spite of himself, Lee laughed, and then he proceeded on:
"So the humble, handsome, servant defeated the dragon with love by bravely whacking him on the head, BAM! And that whack stopped the fire from coming out of the dragon's mouth. BAM! The second whack was to the dragon's foot, thereby injuring it, so that the dragon could only hop away, never to be seen again. And that's what happened! Mission accomplished!"
He sounded pleased with the ending of the story, but was met with silence.
"Well?" he at last asked.
Pepita whispered,"Señor Lee, are you done? Is the story finished?"
"Didn't I say it was?" Lee sounded surprised, "After all, I've managed to get in a princess, a fire-breathing dragon, a handsome hero, plus some love AND action! What more is there?"
Pepita insisted, "But the princess and the hero must fall in love, kiss, and then live happily ever after!"
"Oh that." Lee groaned, now remembering why he hated fairy tales, "Do they have to end up together?"
Pepita answered in her most solemn of voices, "It is the way of fairy tales, Señor."
"Alright" he sighed "...so, uh, the Queen thanked him. Then days later the Queen witnessed the brave servant climbing the trellis to still deliver a meal to the Princess, but, this time, he had double the amount for her. The Queen was impressed by this kind gesture from the servant and his bravery, so she decreed that he was indeed the bravest, kindest, and handsomest of all and he was the one to marry the Princess and he would one day rule the entire kingdom!"
Another snort came from Amanda. She couldn't help it. But at least she didn't comment out loud.
Lee had already moved on, "So the Queen presented the servant to the royal court. And to the surprise of all, he had transformed himself into a regal Prince, dressed in a professional suit and tie. He went over to the lovely Princess, who was dressed in a most exquisite fuzzy pink cardigan, heels, and full skirt. And then he put his arm around her, pulled her closer to him, and then they, uh, that is to say...he gave her a BIG hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. And the boney Princess lived happily ever after, alongside her brave Prince and their bat of LOVE! THE END. Happy now?"
In the darkness, Pepita clapped joyously, "Oh yes! A very good fairy tale indeed!"
"Good!" Lee said, feeling pleased with himself, "Now off to sleep you go!"
Content, Pepita snuggled into her mat and Lee drew the covers over her.
"Good-night, Kid."he stated, in a tender tone Amanda had never heard before.
"Good night, Señor, Señora," she responded back.
Then Pepita turned sideways and Lee silently observed Pepita's tiny silhouette in the darkness until he heard her soft, sleepy breathing.
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(A/N: It's not too often that Lee gets one over on Amanda, so here's one time that he did! LOL)
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