Did anyone else think that Lorelai was way too preoccupied in this episode with having Rory wait at home for Dean to arrive (who isn't even supposed to be in town for another 3 hours) and way too suspicious of Rory going to the festival and wearing the dress? Whatever happened to her encouraging her daughter to get out and live life without waiting around for a guy? Besides, doesn't Lorelai also want to check out the festival? It's the first annual after all. And the dress! Lorelai routinely dresses in impractical ways. Why would she care if Rory wants to wear a pretty little dress on a summer's day?
Lorelai was so judgemental of Jess in this episode. When she sees him kissing Shane she immediately assumes that, even if Rory had left Dean for Jess, that he'd still end up kissing someone else by now. She's never seen him with a girl before, therefore no precedents have ever been set for Jess being the "love 'em and leave 'em" type. For all she knows, he really loves Shane. How does she know he will leave Shane for Rory? How does she know, once he's with Rory, that he will leave her?
Of course, as it will turn out, Lorelai is basically correct in her assumptions. But she makes these assumptions without knowing all the facts, without giving Jess the benefit of the doubt, and without any historical evidence. She makes me mad sometimes.
Sorry for that. I seem to be in rant-mode lately. Now, on with the story.
301c The Festival of Summer's Fine Madness
At last, docked the plane at Hartford's fine gate!
And, inside, her mother did Rory await!
So, while Paris argued with fool in next seat,
Then Rory deplaned for her mother to greet!
The two were excited, delightfully stirred.
They fell in a tumble, right there, undeterred.
They had many plans lined up in a queue
With much catching up that they'd have to do!
Arrival at home held quite an appeal
And Rory attacked it with greatest of zeal
As being, so long, had really been rough
Away from her mom, her books and her stuff.
Her mother suggested she rest for a spell
And thoughts of outdoors she tried to dispel.
Her mother did seem absurdly possessed
With keeping her home, inside of the nest.
But Rory refused, on such a fine day,
To, in darkened hallways, be forced to make stay.
Out there, in the town, a boy she might find
And that little thought took over her mind.
And really she didn't see why her mom fussed.
In reasons for outing, her mother should trust!
Of September festivals this was their first.
So, into the sunshine, should both of them burst!
Yet still Lorelai did outing beat down
As though Rory's motives for heading to town
Were plainly apparent to all who could see.
Yet Rory was sure that they couldn't be.
The Gilmores did always take part in a party
When staged by the town in manner so hearty!
And even if Rory did not a boy seek,
She owed, to this party, at least a quick peek!
So festive were they, these Gilmores in town.
The Hollow delighted to have them around.
At length, Rory's words did win a small battle
And ceased the output of her mother's weird prattle.
Then, quickly, did Rory find dress that she sought.
For days just like this one, the dress had been bought.
She wanted to look her best for her town,
Especially the people who might be around.
Her Dean was away and this was her chance
To catch Jess alone and, maybe, perchance
To learn how he felt by reading his eyes
And, once and for all, to decision devise!
And she had a feeling that, if he give cues,
Then she would this Jess summarily choose.
Since, of the two boys, to certain degree,
'Twas Jess that good Rory would most rather see.
She smiled at her dress, picturing eyes
That, to her, in dress, would certainly rise.
And there did her mother find more ammunition.
Impeding the dress became her new mission.
But Rory was quick to dodge her mom's shots.
She put on the dress, with stomach in knots,
And uttered a squeak as light as a mouse,
And dragged her killjoy outside of their house.
The square was alive with festivities
And happy townspeople swarmed 'round it like bees.
Food vendors and games met everyone's glance.
A chorus accompanied jaunty tap dance.
The colours were bright. Decorations were estival.
A banner was hung, proclaiming this festival
Honoured the end of their hot Summer Madness.
And, not yet, could changing of seasons bring sadness.
And Rory did, craftily, keep her eyes peeled
So, at his first sighting, would Jess be revealed,
While she and her mother made loop of the square
Deciding which foods to sample from where.
Though Rory took pains to be surreptitious,
Her mother, it seemed, was way too suspicious
Of Rory's each action. Her every glance
Was met with a look so stern and askance.
To spend time with Jess, had Rory 'til six.
To make that work out, she'd need some new tricks.
She'd need a distraction to catch her mom's eye.
Then luckily, Taylor, her mother did spy.
And, then, while her mother with Taylor was busy
Discussing the singers and making him dizzy,
She took opportunity, fatefully turned,
And that's when a vision good Rory's eyes burned.
Plastered against a mighty green oak
Did Jess, with his hands, a blonde bimbo stroke!
And, though Rory tried, her eyes couldn't miss
How thoroughly Jess, this blonde, did now kiss!
A burrowing pain drove into her stomach
And all of her innards then started to plummet.
And Rory's arms clutched the shape of her sides
While cheek-heat flowed in, like rush of the tides.
By that time her mother'd become Taylor's peeve.
So, after she'd spoken, took Taylor his leave
And Lorelai turned to witness her daughter
Who looked, by that time, under six feet of water.
"Hey Rory, what is it?" she suddenly worried.
Her heart's lazy beat then suddenly hurried.
And Rory's blue eyes, to sight, deftly guided,
Where Lorelai's tongue a judgement provided.
So cattily Lorelai voiced her critique
Implying that Jess did only flesh seek.
Implying also that, when he was done,
He'd soon ditch the blonde in search of new fun.
When, deep down inside, good Lorelai knew
That such a pronouncement was not Jess's due.
While, true, they were kissing in public obscenely,
She hadn't, that action, seen from him routinely.
Except for this moment, she'd never seen Jess
With anyone else, a girlfriend much less.
In truth, she'd not seen, nor heard, any hype
To prove him the love 'em and then leave 'em type.
Her problems with Jess were all of her own
A memory kept, although she had grown.
'Twas some other boy from Lorelai's past
That once broke her heart when things didn't last.
Yet still her heart screamed that Jess was a threat
With morals as low as any could get!
To save her from heartache, would Lorelai try
To keep her dear daughter away from that guy!
Beyond that main fear, was one other thing,
A niggling thought that tart tears could bring:
That Jess could disrupt their home's happy twosome,
Inspiring fights heartbreaking and gruesome.
But, now, seemed the blonde, come hell or high water,
Could take his attention away from her daughter!
And that little fact she saw as a boon
And Lorelai, for it, was over the moon!
So Lorelai smiled and then she projected
Her own fears on Rory and called her protected
And said she was lucky. A bullet she'd dodged!
(Yet Rory, that bullet, could feel in heart lodged.)
"Oh God!" Rory cried, as the sight grew more gross,
And Jess pulled this girl yet even more close
And let his cool fingers delve deep into pockets
While arrogant mouths behaved just like sockets.
Then Lorelai gaped. At once, she detected
How this little scene her daughter affected.
Confused suddenly, she kind of backtracked
To see what to make of her daughter's new act.
A new touch of sympathy Rory received.
But Rory, so happened, still wasn't relieved.
Condoled Lorelai, "I know of your crush.
But I thought those feelings you'd chosen to hush.
"You two haven't spoken since middle of May."
Then Rory pinpointed the actual day.
And, while putting forward a hesitant vibe,
A clandestine moment she set to describe.
"He'd just come back home. He came to see me
And I thought that, maybe, he kind of liked me..."
And there her voice faded but hinted at more.
So more information did elder call for.
So, finally, sprang from lips of the youth
The substance that made up the angering truth:
That Rory and Jess had shared in a kiss.
And, worse, Rory took the blame for all this!
A fury, unleashed, rolled off her mom's tongue
With no disappointment left 'tween them unsung
Regarding how she'd been, to Dean, so unfair.
And Lorelai's lecture was not ended there.
She went on to say with urgent inflection
That Rory should choose whom to give her affection.
Just one, and one only, must dare she adore
Be that one her boyfriend or her paramour!
When, then, did appear none other than Dean,
Then Lorelai did, ere fleeing the scene,
Make pointed appraisal that they two should talk.
Then, leaving them to it, away did she stalk.
With Dean unaware of what had been said,
But words flowing still within Rory's head,
She turned to her boyfriend and offered a greeting
And feigned an excitement at such early meeting.
The kiss that they shared did Rory keep chaste
As, with disappointment, her lips had been laced.
She gave him a hug and nestled in crook
But couldn't deny herself one long last look.
As, then, she and Dean did stroll through the square,
Did Dean, of his summer, description prepare.
She tried to pretend she gave it her mind,
That interest in it she'd managed to find.
And it was so easy for her to pretend.
(It seemed she'd been doing just that with no end!)
The Fates, up above, then uttered a "Whew!"
Although, of her progress, was stagnate in lieu.
She deftly avoided the scene in the square
Of Jess with that blonde. Though she was aware
Exactly the spot the two had been placed.
Exactly that spot, her blinders erased.
Seemed Taylor was right and really did know
How, unto a party, the best name bestow.
Since Rory'd become enrobed in a sadness,
This day marked the end to the summer's fine madness.
Thank you for reading this story. That, in itself, means a lot to me. But what would excite me even more is receiving a review of this story from you. Please drop me a line to let me know what you think.