Chapter 27 – Food For Thought

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Eric was lying in bed, a hobbyist catalogue covering his legs as he tucked the telephone receiver between his ear and shoulder just listening to Jackie go on about her day. "But what about this weekend?"

Jackie's voice stopped, "What? Did I miss something?"

Eric sat up, "I forgot to tell you – Mom and Dad are coming by for like a housewarming kind of thing. What do I do?"

Jackie gasped, "Oh no! You don't even have dishes to feed them on! I mean most of your house is coming along, but you have to offer them something for dinner….they'll be bringing you a gift."

Eric joked, "Yeah, my dad's bringing his foot…"

"Don't say that." Jackie gently scolded. "What did you do for your first housewarming?"

Eric joked, "I married Donna. We didn't do housewarmings."

She chuckled slightly, "I should have stayed longer. Don't worry, I'll talk to Mel and he'll know exactly how to handle this."

"Thanks Jackie…don't know how to repay you."

"Don't repay me anything. Just watch 'Booker' Thursday, I think it's on the FOX network….I have a guest appearance towards the end of the show." Eric could hear the smile in her voice.

"Is it cool if I tell the guys?"

She laughed, "I think Fez has already beat you to it. He's a big Richard Grieco fan."

Eric kept forgetting that the ghost of Fez loomed in his garage daily. Of course he'd know everything about Jackie's career! "Well, I look forward to seeing you on TV."

There was a smile in her voice. "Well, you can let me know what you think after you've seen it. Oh! I forgot to tell you, I'm going to be in Utah until Friday. If you need anything call Mel."

Eric was startled. Part of him expected Jackie to be in her Hollywood home waiting by the phone just for him to call and his sensible ego realized that she did have a life apart from him with a successful professional career. Maybe it was just because he wanted Jackie to be in his life all the time that he felt this way. So Eric replied evenly, "Utah….what was that again…you told me, but I think I forgot."

"My charities. Oh and Fez is coming to deliver the backpacks to the little Indian girls. I'm starting to design sleeping bags…isn't that exciting? Well, I won't keep you up, I have some more work to do but we'll definitely talk later this week."

"Promise?" Eric asked in what he hoped sounded like a jokingly voice.

"Promise. And I hope your folks like your new house."

Eric totally loved the first week he lived in it. He also liked that it would be a total surprise to his parents. This new townhouse was a far cry from the dismal house he and Donna picked out ten years ago. Was that why she left? The house was too depressing? Eric didn't want to dwell on the "ex" and instead wanted to stay in the present/future. "I think they'll like it fine. I'll make sure I contact Mel if I have any questions."

With a soft voice, Jackie replied, "Good night Eric….and sweet dreams." She hung up the phone before he could reply. Still, his heart was smiling and he was pretty certain that he'd be seeing that brunette again soon.

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Eric came home from work on a Wednesday and a package was waiting for him at the front door. He looked at the return label and it was an M Dupree in Hollywood. Eric smiled because the last package he received from Mel was an ugly Hawaiian shirt. Picking up the box, Eric almost dropped it due to it's weight. He grunted, "Thanks for the hernia Mel!"

He struggled to half carry/half drag the huge box into the foyer. Dropping his keys and wallet onto the small desk, Eric shut the door with his foot and continued lugging the package into the living room. He found some scissors in the kitchen and began cutting the bindings to open the heavy box.

It was Christmas all over again. Possibly from Jackie, were three pair of black Levi's in his correct size, a Henley pullover and two nice dress shirts. What thrilled him most was a package of new socks! Socks were always a welcome gift! A separate package, wrapped in brown grocery paper, had a note from Mel. Eric pulled the wrap from the box and read the note.

Eric,

I was at a convention in L.A., saw this and thought it would definitely be a great add to your collection. I'm told it's mint so don't fuss with the plastic and don't try to open it unless you want to devalue the items.

Mel

More curious than a cat, Eric carefully unwrapped the bindings and pulled out a set of "Return of the Jedi" comics dated 1983 to 1984. This was a four issue limited series that most fans would drool over. His fingers trembled as he glossed over the pictures Darth holding his sabre. There was Luke Skywalker in all his brazen glory ready for battle. What a great gift!

Eric looked through the rest of the package contents to find that he was also now the proud owner of a ten piece dinnerware set, a sunny yellow table cloth and some new flatware. Mel seemed to think of everything. Just went Eric thought he had unpacked the box, he found an envelope at the bottom.

At least this envelope was not like the one he had kept hidden in the old kitchen drawer! Sliding his index finger under the flap, Eric slid out the contents into his hand. This was from Jackie.

Eric

I took the privilege of ordering food for Saturday and some flowers to brighten your table. The Honey-Baked Ham dinner will be there around 11:00 so please, please, please accept delivery. It's already been paid for. The flowers are coming from Pan's Greenery and they are fresh so make sure you put them in water.

Sorry I won't be there. Please give your parents a hug and tell them I'm thinking about them.

Love Jackie.

Eric smiled. She wrote "Love" Jackie. Was it like "I Love you?" or "I have a Love for you?" Eric wasn't sure but this certainly brightened his day! Love from Jackie and new socks! How much better did life get?

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Donna took another hit off the proffered joint and passed it back. "I can't believe you still do this crap." she muttered.

Hyde smirked. "I can't believe you do either." He inhaled and closed his eyes while enjoying the rush to his brain. As he exhaled, Hyde set the weed down on an upended Solo cup. "So what brings you to my store for a second time?"

Donna leaned back and sighed. "Steven Hyde….you're my only friend…well at least for now."

He frowned, "You haven't talked to Forman since you've been back?"

"Hello? I go to my house and some linebacker from the Packers says it's his house. What happened there?" Donna asked her a voice tinged with a bit of bitterness.

"Oh yeah…Eric sold it. Got a good deal and bought some condo across town." Hyde replied knowing this was going to irk his tall friend. The grimace that crossed her face confirmed his suspicions. "Now before you get your panties in a twist, just remember that you left him everything. That means he could sell the house if he wanted and why did you show up there of all places? Why not just go to your folks home?"

Donna shrugged. "I wanted to avoid all the drama…you know how my dad can be. I figured Eric would just let me sleep on the couch. I was tired man. I'd been flying for hours!"

Hyde pursed his lips and then decided to continue his questioning, "….so Donna Pinicott-Ex-Forman decides she can just show up and Eric would welcome her with open arms after all this time? Are you crazy?"

Donna rubbed her cheeks. "Yes. No. All of the above. The upside is I have a place to stay and a job and months of back paychecks so I have some money. I need to do something with my hair…."

"Now you sound like Jackie." Hyde laughed.

Donna reached over and frogged Hyde in the thigh. "My mortal enemy? What would make you think that?!"

Hyde rubbed the sting in his leg,"Hey, don't take your repressed anger out on me. Besides, you two were all friendly before you left….do you want to tell me more about Germany yet?"

Donna frowned. "No."

"Sorry I brought it up Jeez. You punch like a girl." He joked.

Donna smiled. "Actually, I'm going to Paris. The cable station thinks I'd be a great reporter for shit that happens in Europe. I have some….issues….to clean up here before I can go."

Hyde was impressed. "Sounds like you did good. Is Paris where you really want to be?"

Donna really wanted to be where ever Anna was, but she wouldn't stay in Point Place. Maybe New York or Chicago. "Paris is close to Great Britain….not far from Spain…..a train ride to most places. I'll be an international reporter."

Hyde reached for the roach and relit the end. "Let's celebrate your success and the carnivore barbecue that you have to attend before you leave."

"What?"

Hyde laughed, "The annual Forman Memorial Day barbecue. Your ass better be there! It's tradition….remember? Your dad is making his Memorial macaroni salad and your mom's cooking her famous Pinciotti pineapple pie."

Donna slapped her forehead with her palm. "Crap. You're right. If I miss this, I'm dead."

Hyde inhaled deeply before passing the joint to his friend. On the exhale he answered, "Yeah and you'll finally get your chance to talk to Forman."

Donna choked and started coughing while Steven Hyde grinned at the prospects of a spectacular upcoming Memorial Day.

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"Oh honey, it's lovely!" Kitty exclaimed as she was snooping through the kitchen cupboards while taking a mental inventory of all the contents. "Red, isn't this just a sweet little house?"

Red was busy lifting the tin foil tents from the honeybaked covered dishes. "Food? Our son is serving lunch?"

Kitty turned around with her hands on her hips. "Red. I asked you a question."

Red lifted a brow. "I asked you a question. Our son is feeding us and yes, this is a nice little house."

Winning the little spat, Kitty smiled. "Yes and look at the lovely flowers. This is so much better than his old house. Look at how clean and bright it is."

Red liked the leather sofa and noticed that the beat up old Barcalounger still held it's manly place in a room that was clearly decorated by a Miss Burkhart. It seemed like a much happier place to live in. "Yep, Eric picked a good one." He snagged a fluffy roll and sat down on the leather sofa. Not too bad. Red looked at his wife, "Come sit. Let the boy entertain."

Eric came running down the stairs with some newspapers in hand. "Did you get to see the half bath?" His mother smiled. "We saw everything downstairs and honey, you should really get a new bottle of ketsup. That brand in there….well it goes bad after a couple weeks."

He smiled. "Okay." He handed the newspaper to his dad. Red looked puzzled. "What's this?"

Eric sat on the edge of the Barca. "Earlier this year, the guys and I were background stand ins for a movie and check it out. The movie starts this summer. Those dead guys on the ground in the back of the picture? That's me and Fez!"

Kitty looked at the picture in the column of the Entertainment section and peered hard at the photo. "I don't have my glasses on, but I see a couple of soldiers and a tank."

Eric grinned. "I'm the dead soldier on the tank."

Red grabbed the newspaper. "I gotta see this. My son in uniform is the closest I'll ever get to bragging that my boy was in the war….as a dead movie soldier."

"Kelso's somewhere in there, but mostly you can see me and Fez if you squint."

Kitty smiled, "I'm proud of you son. You are really coming out of your shell. I know your d-i-v-o-r-c-e was difficult but you seem to be…well….happier?"

"I am mom.. Really I'm happier. I think that Donna is probably better-off too and that maybe this is something we should have done along time ago but then….I might not have been ready for it.

Red looked at his son and understood in only the way a man could. The tearing apart of a unit before it was ready was not to be taken lightly. You have a team of soldiers, who as a unit are strong and unbending but when one falls down, the unit is weakened and the other soldiers must become stronger to keep the team together – Eric and Donna were a team but she faltered and left her husband. Eric was strong and kept it together and prospered; or to use a sissy word; he flourished and Red Forman was damn proud of his son.

"Can I see the upstairs now?" Kitty asked.

Eric nodded and stayed downstairs with his dad. "I'd show you the garage, but it's still filled with Jackie's fan club stuff. She's paid me rent on it until June so I can't just…get rid of it."

Red scratched his head. "You and Jackie are spending a lot of time together."

Eric didn't know what his dad was getting at. "Well, she comes out here a lot and I have an extra bedroom…"

"No, she started coming out here since last year and you two have become mighty friendly. Can I ask where this is going because well, I don't want to see a couple of good kids go messing up their lives with…well, you know what I mean."

Eric clasped his hands between his knees. "Dad…I think I know what you're thinking. Jackie and I…well…we like each other and I'd like to think it's becoming more than just like…but she's a movie star and has all these commitments…"

"First off, she's a girl. If the girl didn't like you, she wouldn't keep coming out here as much as she does. She wouldn't deliver cows to my house. She wouldn't take you to places like New York…do you understand what I'm saying?" Red waited for Eric to nod in understanding before he continued. "Now, as I was saying, you just got out of a wasted ten years of your life. If you aren't really interested in this girl, don't waste the next ten years of her life. Jackie's mighty fond of you and while I'm not suggesting you get married, please don't rush into that again, don't mess up her life while your trying to figure out yours."

Eric didn't like to think of Jackie not in his life and marriage was off his radar at the moment. How could he do to keep her close without going all high school and giving her his class ring to….that was it! A promise ring! Do movie stars even do promise rings? Eric looked at the floor and then saw his mother coming down the stairs.

"Eric I love the view of the little park you have from your bedroom." She looked at Red and said in a low voice, "There is a whole closet full of women's clothing."

Red laughed, "Jackie stays with Eric some times." He looked at his son, "Just don't go wearing her clothes, do you hear me?"

Eric laughed, "I hear you. And thanks for the advice. What do you say we have some lunch and then I can show you the pools?"

Kitty smiled. "I would love it son. Thank you."

Eric spent the next couple hours with his parents actually enjoying the company of a pair of adults who treated him as a son and not a dumbass. What he did to earn that respect was unknown but he appreciated it.

Life was getting good

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