England Swings Like a Pendulum Do
One cold crisp afternoon in January, Booth pulled into their driveway after work, headed to the mailbox and opened its arched doorway. Inside he found the first tax forms needed before April 15th, miscellaneous bills, and a squishy foam-lined polyethylene pouch. He grinned to himself, knowing that Hank, Jr. would enjoy popping its individual protective cells. The noise drove both Brennan and him nuts, but their youngster took such delight in cracking them open, they'd just sigh and tell him to head to the garage where the racket would be slightly muffled by the kitchen door between dinner preparations and his glee.
He turned the package over to read the return address and smiled again. It had been sent by Cate Pritchard, his Scotland Yard counterpart. Curious, he felt the object hidden inside as best he could. It felt rectangular, long, slender, and hard from what he could discern, but the bubble wrap inside made drawing definitely conclusions quite difficult. If Cate had decided to tease him from 'across the pond', she was doing a great job of it! What on earth could the Inspector have decided to send? Although he resolved to wait for opening it until Brennan arrived home, Booth was as eager as his young son to examine the concealed contents of this mysterious pouch.
Placing the mail on the kitchen counter, Booth pulled a head of lettuce, spinach leaves, tomatoes, onions, and radishes, and a cold bottle of beer from the refrigerator, then opened a cabinet and drawer to extract a bamboo cutting board and two knives; one paring, one longer. He cracked open the beer bottle, took a swing, and set to preparing a salad for dinner. By the time he'd diced, sliced, chopped, peeled, quartered and cut the vegetables, it was 5:15 pm. He slid all the small pieces into a Spice of Life salad bowl Grams had once used, tore up the leaves of lettuce, and tossed the greens with balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Placing the salad on the table, he set 4 places for his family. Wishing Parker was home, he returned to the fridge and took out a baked ham. Cutting several slices, he diced them as well and filled a separate bowl which joined its mate on the table. Brennan would never consent to ham in her salads, so he added the meat for his children and himself once she was served.
Once the garage door opener sprang to life, his wife pulled into her parking spot nearest the kitchen door, and gave the children permission to undo seatbelts and car seats. Her voice was the best thing he'd heard all day. The kids burst through the kitchen door, and attacked their father for bear hugs. Brennan followed behind them, her messenger bag slung across her shoulder. She smiled at Booth, exchanged a kiss, and admonished her offspring,
"Both of you, go back out to the car, and retrieve your backpacks and lunch kits, please."
"Yes, m'am." "Okay, Momma. Sorry."
What's in the mail, Booth? Did my renewal credit card arrive from Citibank? I'm tired of wrestling with the bent one; it should have arrived two days ago!"
"Oh, the usual, bills, income tax forms, 1099's….." Booth told her. "And this…."
He held up the polyethylene pouch. "It's from Cate Pritchard; go figure."
"Really? We just saw her a few weeks ago, wonder what it is?"
"My question exactly!" Booth replied. "And believe me, waiting for you three was hard. I was sorely tempted to rip into it all by myself, but I knew you'd want to help, Mr. Hank," he said, smiling at his son.
"Can I open it? Pleeaase? And can I have the poppy pack? They're so much fun!"
Christine rolled her eyes. "And so noisy and annoying!"
Yes, to both. You may open it now, and crunch it after dinner when your homework is completed, out in the garage, please," Booth told Hank.
"Both of you go wash up, and Chrissy, make sure he actually soaps his hands; not just run them under the tap!" Brennan said. "This salad looks delicious, Booth. It will pair well with the Hoppin' John Angela gave me at the Lab today. She made a triple batch, and served the staff at lunch. While I don't believe her assertion that consuming black-eyed peas today will bring us good luck through the coming year, these legumes are a healthy source of fiber and I do enjoy them. Cooked with ham and brown rice, they will make a nutritious and filling dinner for us."
"Bones, the kids hate black-eyed peas."
"They must eat at least three bites, and then I will relent, allowing them to eat the left-over veggie pizza from last evening."
Hank and Christine trooped back into the kitchen; the family sat down, and dug in. After swallowing several bites of Hoppin' John whole with dour expressions, the kids pled for pizza. Christine left the table and returned with the Blaze Pizza box. Hank looked expectantly at his father, silently asking permission to cut open Inspector Pritchard's pouch. Booth grinned and nodded. The boy retrieved a pair of scissors from the sideboard drawer, and cut carefully across one end of the small package. He turned it on end, and a small tissue-wrapped object fell out with a note.
"Dear Booth and Brennan,
I found this after you left London, and simply had to post it to you. I had looked for one like my grandfather gave to me when I was ten, but his favorite shop has quit business, and this was hard to come by. Amazon, however, came through again, and supplied my need. I'm sorry it's late, but I think you'll agree that it's very appropriately symbolic of your recent visit here. I hope you enjoy it for many years as I have mine. Best wishes to your entire family for a happy prosperous New Year.
Fondly as ever,
Cate Prichard, Insp."
Hank carefully unrolled the tissue paper and a small metal miniature Westminster Clock Tower slid onto the table, one face of Big Ben evident on the top-facing side.
Brennan exclaimed with delight, "What a perfect keepsake of our London trip, Booth! Did you know that when it was completed in 1859, Big Ben was the most accurate and largest four-faced chiming and striking clock in the world? Inspector Pritchard was right to persist in her search. This miniature is an excellent replica, with amazing detail. It even has a small wire hook, barely visitble, which will enable us to add it to our Christmas tree each year. The rest of the time, it will be safe in that Flyers memorabilia display case in your man cave, Booth."
"Can I take a look at it, Bones?"
Brennan handed the tiny clock tower across the table and placed it in Booth's open palm. He examined it carefully and found a little lever concealed just inside its hollow interior. Moving it slightly, he was rewarded with a melodious chiming.
"It plays the hourly bell progression!" he remarked in wonder. "How can they fit a recording in something so small?"
As the family listened, the little clock continued to chime, playing the Westminster Quarters, and a portion of the Cambridge Chimes melody.
"What a wonderful keepsake Cate has given us! We must call her as soon as dinner is over, Booth. That was an extremely thoughtful gift. What a considerate friend she is!"
Very true, Bones. If we place the call by 6 pm, it should be 11 pm in London, and Cate should still be up; a perfect idea!"
A/N: Mendenbar remarked in her review of a previous chapter that Big Ben would have been a fitting ornament for Booth to purchase while in London, and gave me the idea for this chapter. My thanks and credit to her! Its title comes from a 1965 country music song Roger Miller wrote and performed, entitled "England Swings (Like a Pendulum Do)".