Chapter 44 - Fears Regrets and New Beginnings
T7S
"K L C hasn't had a public unveiling since we started this business so….it's a big deal.
T7S
Jackie sat on a chair next to Eric and felt a tiny bit uneasy. "Who do you think KLC is? I mean KFC is Kentucky Fried Chicken….do you think it's possible that we're meeting a colonel?"
Kelso scoffed, "Nah….it stands for Kansas Land o'Chicks….have you seen the babes in here?"
Hyde frogged Kelso on the arm. "You have a pregnant Brooke, leave the girls here alone." Kelso rubbed his bicep, "Jeez, you hit almost as hard as….Eric.!" Which earned him another thunk on the head from Donna.
"God Kelso. Maybe it means Kelso Lacks Commitment. I mean really, are you ever going to ask Brooke to marry you or are you just going to keep breeding more Kelso's?" Donna asked disgustedly.
It was silent for a minute and then all of a sudden they heard the swoosh of doors opening from off in the distance and ground trembled beneath their feet.
Fez whispered with alarm in his voice., "Guys? I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
xXx
Amber stepped back into the semi-darkness wearing a silken kimono-type robe. "Everyone? If you would be so kind and follow me please?" She waved towards a staircase that had been previously unseen behind a colorful class partition.
"K L and his wife live in the apartment on the roof." She indicated that they should follow her up the stairs and Hyde was first in line. Those strong swaying hips were almost hypnotic.
The door to the roof opened onto a night sky full of bright twinkling stars accentuated only by Chinese paper lanterns hung on iron posts. Fairy lights were draped along the shrubbery that lined the edge of the building and looked like tiny fire flies come to roost. The group followed Amber to a semi-circle of colored bean bag chairs that were casually arranged around a small fire ring that crackled and sparked in the darkness. With a wave of her hand she indicated they should sit.
From the darkness came a soft hiss. "….sssssstoner." A little unnerved, Hyde looked around but couldn't distinguish where the sound came from. However, his attention was diverted when Amber went to stand in front of a tarp covered shape. "May I introduce to you the artist of this particular piece of hand blown, carved, stained art."
A large hefty Jesus-like figure approached them wearing a robe. The shadows covered his face but the beard looked slightly familiar. "Thank you for coming to my unveiling. This is my most prized piece of art and took the longest to create." Suddenly the robed figures stuck out his hand and pointed at Eric.
"Hey! I know you!"
Wide eyed and startled, Eric looked around. His voice squeaked. "Me? You know me?"
There was a huge laugh and the robe opened to a pot belly covered with overalls. "Two inches to the left! I decorated your parent's basement."
Eric stood up. "Theo? Hey man….great to see you." Eric reached out and shook hands with the older man. Hyde shook Theo's hand and replied, "Last time I saw you was at the carnival dude."
A familiar voice came from the right, "Oh good, you know each other. Man, I'm terrible at remembering names. Hey, wait. It's Hyde man. You're Hyde!"
Steven Hyde smiled wider than he could remember at the sight of his old Foto-hut mentor. "Leo, man….we thought we lost you!" Leo gave Hyde and Eric a one-armed hug before Kelso shouted, "Do me next!"
Jackie gave the weathered cheek a kiss while Fez just smiled. Leo sat down on a vacant bean bag and pulled out some rolling papers. His deft fingers dropped some leaves into the Zigzag and he quickly rolled it up. "You know, it's a funny thing man…being back with my son and my family….I think I needed to get my parties in order. I mean privates…no, that's not it."
Donna offered some help, "Priorities?"
"Hey! It's Donna man. Did you guys know Donna was here? Anyhow, the last time I was lost I hooked up with Claudette and she took my son to Canada. Hey, does everyone know Theo?"
Theo smiled and waved, "We've met. Can I start my unveiling now?"
Leo smiled broadly, "Man, its great having everyone here! It's almost like being in Forman's basement. Do you guys want some weed tea?"
There was a resounding shout of "NO!" from everyone but Kelso. He shrugged his shoulders and replied "What? I kinda liked it."
Amber stood to the side of the object. "I promised them dinner."
Theo was anxiously waiting for his cousin to get down with the meet and greet. "Er…Leo? Now?"
The tanned weathered face turned, "Oh, yeah…let's see what masterpiece you created."
Slowly the tarp was removed to reveal a stained glass Ferris wheel. Each little swaying car was in perfect proportion to the working mechanisms. Theo cranked the gears and the replica rotated and sparkled in the light of the fire. Tinkling hurdy-gurdy music rasped through some metal speakers.
Jackie gasped when she saw a tiny purple balloon attached to one of the gondolas. Eric squeezed her hand as he recognized it as "their" car. It was a beautiful piece of work and the intricate details were obvious in the etching of the colored panes of glass. The heavier pieces of stained glass were the base of structure but the free swinging gondolas were perfectly etched.
Leo clapped his hands. "That was Jack's ride."
Theo bowed at the recognition.
Donna waved her hand. "Wait a minute. Hold up. So….Theo, the basement guy, is your cousin? You have a real son and now you're married? Where was I when all this happened?"
Hyde looked at his friend, "You were studying while we attended the world's wildest party."
xXx
Amber disappeared and reappeared from the other side of the roof. "Dinner is ready." Hyde could smell something delicious and beefy while Fez smelled the essence of chocolate. Jackie walked closer to the Ferris Wheel and marveled at how much it resembled the original gondola when it at stopped at the zenith of the ride and Eric caught the purple balloon for her.
The metal basket started swinging and Jackie shrieked, "What the hell are you doing!"
The balloon floated just past his outstretched fingers. He looked annoyed and replied, "I was trying to get you the balloon."
"Why!" now she was exasperated.
Eric shrugged and waited for the ride to stop swinging. "You like purple. It's your favorite color."
Knitting her brow, Jackie questioned, "…and how do you know that's my favorite color?"
"Unicorns….rainbows….I've seen some of your stuffed animals….I figured that purple was your color."
Eric stepped behind the brunette and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Are you remembering?" Her soft hair brushed his cheek as she nodded. "It seems like so long ago but it was only months…why is that?"
Eric gave her a hug. "Don't know but Leo invited us to dinner and I think Hyde is going to eat Theo's assistant if we don't show up." Jackie turned in his arms and hugged him. "I think we need to go prevent the carnage."
He laughed softly, "The food smells good." He took her hand and cast one glance back at the Ferris wheel as the gears were winding down. "Theo is an artist – basements and glass work – he's good."
FR&NB
Leo sat at the head of the table and everyone else sort of fell into place. The loft apartment was beautiful. Colorful rugs adorned the brick walls and glass wind chimes tinkled at the open windows where the breezes off of Lake Michigan stirred the gauzy curtains.
There was goblets of wine set next to delicate china plates, obviously more of Theo's handiwork and a large bowl of salad in the middle of the table. The air was festive and Leo loved the attention. He looked at Hyde, "So man, you want to sell my stuff?"
Hyde pulled the pipe from his pocket. "Yeah but I get that this is Glassworx, your company, but who is K L C? We were joking about that."
A soft voice entered from the kitchen. "K L C is King Leo Chingwake…who did you think it was?"
Everyone but Donna froze. Fez's hand stopped in mid-air as his mouth fell open. Kelso's eyes got big as he remembered the Stevie Nicks babe from his dreams. Hyde blinked as he recalled the streaks of burgundy that tinted the tendrils of her long brown ringlets. The cool gray eyes were so familiar.
Jackie dared to speak first. "Tatiana?"
She was rewarded with a smile. "My little star. Look at you so happy. I am glad you are the strong person I knew you could be."
The gypsy turned to Eric. "Temperance….you did as I asked and I am so proud." Tatiana leaned down so only Eric and Jackie could hear. She whispered, "Miss Kitty has fully recuperated and only goodness will follow the Forman family. She will suffer no more. You are free to live your lives."
Eric felt shook. "Mom's gonna be okay?"
There was a loud flutter and a shriek, "DUMBASS!" as a brightly colored Amazon parrot came to rest on the gypsy's shoulder. She smiled, "I believe your father taught my bird a new word."
"Marco!" Hyde laughed, "Man we missed that bird."
Leo grinned, "Yeah, we lost him somewhere between Waukegan and Milwaukee. But it was really cool….just a couple of days ago, he flew back like he'd never been gone."
Marco looked at Hyde again and hissed, "….sssstoner." Leo laughed and frogged Hyde on the shoulder. "I think he's talking about you man."
Dinner was a glorious congregation. Donna was filled in on the story of the carnival and distant memories came surging from the cobwebs of their minds. Everyone had a special remembrance and even though Tatiana called each of them by their Arcane names, it just seemed to be natural. It was revealed during the course of conversation that when Leo and Tatiana married, Theo left the carnival.
"What happened to the rest of the performers?"
Leo answered, "My other cousin Eli, Serena and Jack are taking it on the road and doing really good!"
The meal was delicious and plentiful and there was no supplementary peyote or weed tea to add extra mirth to the feast. Amber worked the background bringing dishes and removing empty plates. Before anyone was aware, the time just seemed to slip away. Theo was yawning and groaning about having to start work early the next morning. Leo was just utterly delighted that his old friends were sitting at his table sharing a meal.
A slight cough interrupted the conversation as Tatiana stood up, "I'd like to speak with all of you….but individually please. If you could please follow me into my reading room…..I would like to start with my Chariot."
Kelso jumped up and followed Tatiana into a small room off the dining area. "Can I hold the bird?"
"No."
The floor of her reading room was covered in rich tapestries and the walls eerily resembled the old silver Airstream where all of this began. With a goofy grin he sat down on a satiny pillow and waited to hear what the fortune teller had to say. Tatiana held out her hands and Kelso put one big paw into it. "Chariot….I have seen your fears and regrets….of which there aren't many but I'm going to tell you about your new beginning."
Kelso's chest rose proudly, "I'm going to be a dad again. It's a boy."
The fortune teller shook her head and smiled, "Michael…..its two boys. You are blessed with twins. I want you to be courageous and strong and marry the mother of your three children. I expect great things from you." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek and Kelso felt a buzz of electricity.
"I'll be good. I promise."
Twins? How crazy wonderful was that!
oOo
Donna was the next guest to the reading room. This whole thing was surreal. It was like she experienced everything in one huge dream but she didn't really remember Theo or Tatiana being there. It was very bizarre.
The gypsy reached across her small table and took Donna's hand. "You are like the sun. You are vibrant and strong and people have a hard time keeping up with you."
Donna's eyes widened, "Well, yeah."
The soft gray eyes crinkled with her smile, "You have much to say and a lot of important thoughts. I don't think all of your time in school is going to prepare you for the road ahead. I have a friend that could mentor you and put you on the path where you need to be." A business card was pushed across the table.
Donna read it. Then she reread it. "Are you freaking kidding me? You are friends with Gloria Steinham? The leader of the woman's movement? THE writer and journalist – that Gloria Steinham?"
Tatiana reached across the table and kissed Donna's cheek. "Go find your place in the world and tell Gloria that Tatiana only sends her best."
Go on tour with Gloria Steinham? How freaking cool was that?
oOo
The Hanged Man was the next visitor to the reading room. Hyde was uncomfortable sitting on the floor and very vividly remembered the sting to the back of his neck. Theo's Boil. Was she going to torture him again? The gorgeous gypsy only smiled at him.
"What!"
She laughed softly. "You have grown from your fears and regrets and look at you – you're a successful business man with ideas and a future and I want to help you."
Hyde tried not to scoff. How could a fortune teller help his future? Instead of telling Hyde, Tatiana pushed an envelope across the table towards him. Curious, Hyde opened the envelope and pulled out an airline ticket. Amsterdam? Fucking Amsterdam? OHMYGOD! He looked at Tatiana and she smiled.
"You need to research your inventory. My king has limited skills but the real craftsman's are located here….this is your new beginning. Take a trip and take lots of notes." With that said Tatiana leaned across the table and buzzed a kiss on his cheek.
Hyde had a free pass to weed country – how fucking awesome was that!
oOo
Fez nearly wet his pants with excitement. All of his friends that had left the reading room were wearing astonished smiles and he wanted was to smile too! He sat down on the pillow and immediately loved the furnishings and lush fabrics. "Oh Tatiana…you have such good taste."
The ruby red lips curled into a smile.. "My little Hierophant. You are so good natured and as I remember, you had very little to regret and only your fear of not eating enough candy. Am I right?"
He nodded happily. "I do brush my teeth every day and I'm dating a dental hygienist. She's beautiful."
Tatiana smiled. "First I would ask that you stop wearing skirts – they don't flatter you... understand?"
Fez did. He remembered waking up wearing Mrs. Forman's skirt and it was not comfortable. "I promise."
Tatiana slid an envelope across the table and it stopped under Fez's brown fingertips. "I want you to eat candy. As much as you want and then I want you to focus on improving your life. You have talented hands and you make women beautiful. Get the candy cravings under control and you have your new beginning."
Fez looked at the envelope and realized it was a U.S. Candy tour. A train ride from Hershey, Pennsylvania to Helen, Georgia to visit the Hansel and Gretel Candy Kitchen with a short stop over in Las Vegas, for a trip to the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and ending in Aurora Oregon at the Pacific Hazelnut Candy.
He had to stop himself from hyperventilating. "Oh Miss Tatiana…..I love you."
An American Candy Tour – how exciting was that!
oOo
Jackie was the next guest to Tatiana's special room. She regarded the fortune teller with a half smile….this woman that was so like herself. "I dreamt about you a lot but I couldn't remember your name. You comforted me. You were like my friend."
Tatiana's face broke out into a grin. "You remind me of myself! If only I had those years to live over…but I don't, so I want you to have the best future of all. Do you remember when I told you not to settle on a shrimp or crab?"
Jackie's cheeks were tinged with pink, "I found my lobster."
The gypsy clapped her hands with glee. "I'm so pleased! It was just a matter of time and do you feel happy?"
Jackie whispered her confession. "Yes. It's a different kind of happiness and I don't know how to explain it but I love it."
Tatiana set a small black oblong box on the table. "I tried to give this to you months ago, but it wasn't the right time." She lifted the lid to display the beautiful quartz pendant that danced with rainbow colors. "Little Star…the thing about crystals is they are a gift from earth. They have the ability to heal and make you strong. They can also protect you all the while being just a beautiful pink stone. I would like for you to wear this…always."
Jackie could feel the weight and warmth in the palm of her hand and it felt like a part of her. She draped the long gold chain over her head and the pink pendent fell between her breasts to rest against her heart. It was like her heartbeat was amplified and when Jackie thought about showing it to Eric, the quartz vibrated excitedly against her skin.
Tatiana stood up and hugged the young brunette. "I only see success in your future. I see two children and much happiness. He will ask you and you will say yes and though you will have the same struggles as all young families….you will succeed. Of this I am sure."
Jackie could only feel immense relief. These were the things she had been hoping for. Her insecurities were gone and in their place was a new confidence. She could grow to be the woman she knew she could be and with her new job….the world was wide open.
A gypsy quartz good luck necklace…. a loving secure future…how freaking wonderful was that!
oOo
Eric was the last guest invited to the fortune teller's special room. He knew that something wonderful was happening but why weren't his friends sharing the news? He shrugged mentally and sat in front of the gypsy's table on the fat pillow. Tatiana clucked her tongue.
"My Temperance. You have been my greatest source of pride. You leave your homeland a confused and frustrated young man….you return from far away to find that nothing stayed as you remembered…but look at you now. You are confident and strong and patient….qualities that I knew were hidden inside of you but waiting to be released."
She cupped his cheek. "I'm sorry you had to relive all those fears and regrets but in doing that, you released the demons that held you back and I see before me an adult that is standing on the edge of his universe. Eric….anything you want….anything you need is waiting for you. You have arrived."
Eric felt a measured sense of relief – he was totally expecting the spider head of his father to appear behind Tatiana. Instead, Marco cooed softly and bobbed his head excitedly.
"Well, for starters I'd like to state that I definitely do NOT want to be the guy who slings poo in the monkey cages."
Tatiana laughed. "Never my love. You have a secret affinity with animals that will make you a wonderful father."
His head jerked up. "What?"
Tatiana pushed a deep blue velvet box across the table. "When you ask her, remember this….a well tailored suit to a woman is the same as lingerie is to a man. Make it special. Make it memorable. You have caught your shining star."
With shaky hands, Eric opened the small box to reveal an antique set of golden wedding bands and a small diamond set among tiny rubies. "These are from the Dennard Clan of the Highland Scottish Travelers. They belonged to King Leo's mother and have been blessed by a healthy lineage of gypsies – you will have the perfect marriage."
The diamond winked at him like a sparkling star and he smiled. His star. His Jackie. He looked up. "It's lovely and I will wear a tuxedo."
Tatiana clapped her hands, "I'm told that the best time to propose is just before summer when the days are longer and the sun goes to sleep late. Do not disappoint me on this Temperance." Although it sounded like a threat, there was a smile playing about her lips.
Eric stood up and slipped the ring box into his pocket. "Thank you?"
Tatiana buzzed his cheek with a kiss. "No, thank you for tending to my bird and allowing me the privilege of meeting your mother. Thank you for bringing my king back to me and granting me happiness. You go now and find your future."
Eric smiled. He had a wedding ring in his pocket blessed by Leo's relatives, a definite wife in his future and a guarantee that he would never have to scoop poop – how freaking cool was that!
T7S
Amber pulled up next to the El Camino on her motorcycle. "Can I give you a ride home?" Hyde grinned and threw the keys to Kelso. "Later dude!"
Donna climbed in the El Camino as Fez wandered blissfully to his little foreign car. Jackie and Eric were holding hands, their heads stuck in some happy dream as they walked to the Vista Cruiser.
From up above, Leo and Tatiana looked down over the ledge of Glassworx. "Toots…do you think they'll be happy?"
Tatiana slipped an arm around Leo's waist. "My king? They will all be just as happy as you make me. I've waited a life time for you."
Leo kissed the tip of her tiny nose. "I'm glad I'm not lost anymore. Thank you for bringing me my friends."
She looked down at the departing headlights and lifted her face to the moon.
Hail fair Moon rising high
Hear my wishes hear my sigh
The Arcane has come with happiness
Keep them safe…keep them blessed
Those restless hearts wander no more
A welcome future knocks at their door
Craft this spell and weave it far
Weave it now unto the stars
Blessed be
As the Gypsy's chant ended, fireworks broke out over a small ship floating on Lake Michigan. The black velvet sky seems to brighten for a moment as the moon shown brighter amid twinkling stars.
It was indeed, a new beginning for everyone.
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"Grandma Kitty? Can you tell us about the year that Uncle Hyde and Aunt Amber went to Amsterdam?"
"No! Tell us about Uncle Leo's carnival! Was there really a bearded lady?"
Kitty Forman smiled and replied, "Let's begin back when your father came home from Africa and I tripped over your mother in the bathroom…."
The End?
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So sad that it's over! *•.¸
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ¸.•*´ *•.¸ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
A/N:...why did I bring back Donna? In order for the Gypsy's spell to work, all player's (including Miss Pinciotti) had to be back in the same place at the same time with Leo (of course not Red & Kitty) because they all experienced "circle time" at some point.
Glassworx is a fictional glass factory and I wrote that as a *nod* to actor Tommy Chong. I'm sure you can guess why! But wouldn't it have been a cool story to send Hyde and Leo on a European tour like that?
Thanks to all who favorited this story and a big thank you to all my reviewers - you guys rock!