Chapter twenty Four: Eliška
Lincoln walked along the sidewalk with Kate.
"What do you want to do? Something that's in your interest?" Kate asked.
"No. Something that's your interest. What is your interest?" Lincoln asked.
"I like animals. I often am in the park and watch ducks."
"Are you sometimes at the zoo?"
"Yes. But there I mostly like the fishes."
"Why do you mostly like the fishes?"
"Did you ever see a fish swimming? Like a pike or a perch? It looks so beautiful."
"You are right. I remember that it looks kinda magical."
"Wanna visit the aquarium?"
"Sure." Lincoln said.
The two went to the Municipal Vivarium. The fish were beautiful. The butterfly cichlid particularly caught Lincoln's eye. A beautiful freshwater fish that was very small and colorful. The two watched the cichlids chasing each other around the aquarium, looking playful. In the next aquarium there were puffer fish. They didn't stay there that long because there were jellyfish in the aquarium next to them. Lincoln and Kate watched the jellyfish slowly drifting through the water.
"They look beautiful." Lincoln said.
"Yes. And the fact that they can't sting us makes them more beautiful." Kate said.
Lincoln saw a tiny jellyfish.
"That one is very cute."
"This is just a baby." Kate said.
"That makes it cute."
The two went to the nearest aquarium, where there was an octopus that was changing its color to black and brown. The octopod moved around cautiously. A closed jar was put in the aquarium, and sunk down. The octopus went to the jar, grabbed it with its tentacles, and opened it in twenty seconds. Lincoln was impressed.
"They're really smart." Lincoln said.
"They surely are. They can by the way squeeze themselves through every hole they want."
The octopus started eating. You see the part of her body that looks like her head?" Kate asked.
"Yeah."
"That's her belly."
"Really?" Lincoln asked surprised.
"Yes. And they have three hearts."
Then they watched the octopus eat its food. But then there wasn't much to see anymore. Lincoln and Kate walked out of the zoo.
"Are you into comics?" Lincoln asked.
"Kinda. Why?" Kate asked.
"Wanna go to the store?"
"Why not?"
The two went to the mall.
Rita was in the garage. Amira had something important to say to her.
"So, what is it?" Rita asked.
"So, I applied for a job in the IT field I was educated in." Amira said.
"Okay. And that means..."
"They wanna know me."
"Wonderful." Rita said happily.
"Yes. But if I get this job, I have to move to Great Lake City."
"Oh. Well I hope the best for you."
"Thanks. So, I will go to Great Lake city today, and come back tomorrow."
"Where do you sleep?" Rita asked.
"In a hotel."
"Okay. And when do you go?"
"In one hour."
"Okay. But when you come back and say that you have the job, you have to tell Lincoln. I think he needs that."
"I will."
"Okay. See you tomorrow then."
Rita left the garage.
Amira began to pack her bag. When she had folded the clothes and put them in the bag, she found the two photos of herself and Lincoln that they had taken in the photo booth.
"What a great memory."
Amira put the photos in her wallet, put on her shoes, and made her way to the main train station. Lincoln and Kate searched the comic book store.
"Oh nice. There's ace savvy." Lincoln said, and looked at the comic.
"Where's Donald Duck?" Kate asked.
"Somewhere in the third line." Kate went into the third line.
"Well there's this old duck. What a great character."
Lincoln found the magazine he was looking for and went to the checkout followed by Kate. Lincoln paid for the magazine and they both left the store.
"So. Anything else you wanna do?" Kate asked.
"If I'm honest… no." Lincoln said.
"So, do you want to have time with your comic?"
"Yes. Is that okay for you?"
"Sure. Maybe we meet again."
"Okay. Bye I guess."
"Bye Lincoln."
Both went on their own ways. Lincoln went home. He entered the house, took of his shoes and went to Leni who was in her room.
"Leni. I have great news." Lincoln said.
"What news?" Leni asked.
"The day was great with Kate."
"That's wonderful to hear."
"But I still don't know which girl could be the right one."
"Remember every girl we met and think wich one had the best character for you."
Lincoln considered hard. Eliška was a child. Sarah didn't really show interest in Lincoln. He thought about every single girl he met. But Eliška kept in his thoughts. She showed interest. She was child. It's here.
"Eliška...Eliška is the right one." Lincoln said.
"Lincoln, you know what you should do?" Leni asked.
"No."
"Ask her if you can meet her tomorrow."
"Okay."
Lincoln took his phone. He felt really nervous as he pressed the green phone button on Eliška's contact. Twenty seconds after he had started the call, Eliška responded.
"Ahoj? Kdo je tam?" Eliška said.
"Hi Eliška. Lincoln here." Lincoln said nervously.
"Oh...hi Lincoln."
"Hi. Hey… I don't want to bother you, but do you have any interest in meeting tomorrow?"
Lincoln heard a high pitched scream from Eliška. Immediately he got an answer.
"Yes! Where?"
"Okay...see you tomorrow."
"Bye Lincoln." Eliška said with a soft Voice. Lincoln hung up.
"I meet her tomorrow Leni."
"Great!"
Leni said happily. Rita called something from the kitchen. Lincoln and Leni went downstairs.
Amira's tram stopped in front of Great Lake City in the middle of the route. The announcement jingle rang from the speakers.
"Dear Passengers, the continue of our journey will be delayed for several minutes. Reason for this is the waiting for another train. We apologize for this delay."
Amira rolled her eyes.
"Of course I always get a delay." Amira said frustrated.
She looked out of the window. Another tram passed by, driving in the opposite direction. Her tram started moving again. "Finally." The tram drove through the suburbs of Great Lake City, and entered the subway tunnels. Again an announcement was made.
"Next stop: Great Lake City Main Station. Final destination. The RWR train crew wishes you a good day."
The tram stopped on platform 23. The subway tracks. The doors opened and Amira got out. She went up the escalator, left the station and went to the bus that was at the bus station, which had the number 339 on the destination display. Amira got in and drove for five minutes. Then she got out in front of a massive hotel. She entered. Amira went to the reception.
"Hello. I'm Amira Schroeder-Smith. I booked a room for one night."
"Okay. Let me see." The woman said and looked at her computer.
"Already paid… looks okay. Room 117."
The woman gave Amira a key.
Amira went to the elevator and went to the third floor. She entered room 117. It had a nice bed, a small kitchen, and a door to a bathroom. Amira closed the door and sat on the bed. She opened the bag and found the photos of her and Lincoln again.
"I don't know if I can do this. But I have to say goodbye." Amira started feeling sad.
"I'm so sorry. What I did to you was so wrong."
Lincoln just brushed his teeth and walked to his room, wearing his pajamas. Before he entered his bedroom, he turned around and went to Leni in her room.
"Leni?"
"Yes Lincoln?"
"Thanks for your support."
"I would do it again." Leni said.
Lincoln went to Leni and hugged her waist.
"Thank you Leni. Your heart is made of gold."
"I didn't know that hearts can be made of gold. But your heart is made of gold too." Leni said and hugged him back.
Lincoln left the room and walked to his room. Lynn junior looked out of her room.
"Goodnight Stinkoln."
"Shut up!" Lincoln said angrily.
"Wow calm down Stinkoln." Lynn said surprised.
Lynn closed her door.
"Lynn is so annoying." Lincoln said.
Lincoln went into his room, turned off the lights and went to sleep in his bed. In the morning, Lincoln woke up and left his room. Lynn went out of her room.
"Hi. Did you sleep well?" Lynn asked.
"Yeah. Why do you ask?" Lincoln asked.
"Fangs chased the mosquitoes all night long. And he wasn't quiet."
"I know. Fangs once made really loud noise in the attic."
Lincoln went into the bathroom, washed his face and went to the toilet. Afterwards he washed his hands and went to Leni who was in her room.
"Hey. I go meet Eliška in one hour." Lincoln said.
"Does she know where and when?" Leni asked.
"No. I write her a WhatsApp."
Lincoln wrote a massage.
"Hey. Do you have time to meet in one hour."
Almost immediately, Eliška answered.
"Sure. I prepare and we meet."
"Okay. We meet in one hour." Lincoln said.
"Wonderful. Shall I accompany you to the park?" Leni asked.
"No thanks. I manage that by myself." Lincoln said.
"Oh man..." Leni said sadly.
"Don't be sad. I'll tell you what happens. Okay?"
"Okay." Leni said.
"I will go now. I'll wait in the park."
"Good luck Lincy."
Lincoln walked down the stairs, put on his shoes and headed to the park. He sat down on a park bench. Lincoln waited. After half an hour, he heard someone behind him.
"Hi Lincoln."
Lincoln twitched and got started. Lincoln turned around. Eliška smiled at him.
"Hi Eliška." Eliška sat down next to Lincoln.
"Hey, Eliška, you remember the moment in the cinema?"
"Yes..."
Eliška said and blushed.
"I thought about you. And I want to know you better. I kinda like you."
"I like you too..."
Lincoln also blushed. They both moved their hands towards each other. They started holding hands. Eliška whispered something.
"Snil jsem o tobě od té doby, co jsem tě poznal." Lincoln was confused.
"What?" Lincoln asked.
"Oh... nothing..."
Rita went to Alison's house.
"Okay. I screwed up. I have to fix the friendship with Alison."
Rita rang the doorbell. Alison opened the door half a minute later. She looked at Rita annoyed.
"Just hear me out there please." Rita said.
"Just say it and go away."
"I'm sorry for spying on you."
"Okay. Bye."
Alison wanted to close the door.
"Listen to Rita." Constance said from somewhere in the house.
"I know it was wrong to spy on you. But I know now that you are a loving person to kids. And I was wrong that I thought you were suspicious. You have the right to be mad at me. And I deserve it."
"Okay. I accept that. But I want some more time for me."
Alison closed the door. Rita walked away with her head bowed. Alison went into the living room to her mother.
"You are still mad at her?" Constance asked.
"Yes. I don't want to see her the next few days. Is this crazy?"
"No. a healthy friendship needs such times."
Alison nodded and went to her room. Lincoln and Eliška were sitting under a tree in the park holding hands. The two looked into each other's eyes.
"What do you wanna do Lincoln?" Eliška asked.
"I don't know. I just enjoy it here with you."
"Me too. But let's do something."
"My father has a restaurant. Wanna eat something?"
"Sure."
Both stood up and left the park. Half an Hour later, Both sat on a Table at Lynn's Table, with a Burger and Fries on their Plate.
"It was a good idea to come here." Eliška said.
"Yes. My father can cook good, right?"
"Indeed. But I'm not a fan of American food."
Lincoln felt surprised.
"Okay. But why?"
"It's fatty, it tastes bad, and makes me feel sick. And your coke tastes like Chemicals."
"That hurts. And I don't understand why you say this."
"It's really simple. We have strict laws in Europe. The food, no matter if McDonalds or coke or anything else, it is healthier because it is regulated better. And it tastes better."
"You know stuff I never thought I would think about that."
"You know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I know both sides."
Both ate on. Eventually, they left the Restaurant.
"I have to thank you for the lunch." Eliška said.
"Even it was American food? You said you don't like it." Lincoln said.
"It was okay."
"I have to go. Bye Lincoln."
"Bye Eliška."
Eliška and Lincoln moved both closer to each other. Both closed their eyes and tipped their lips. Lincoln expected something different than he got. Eliška kissed him on his cheek. Lincoln opened his eyes, and saw Eliška waving at him, while walking away.
"God I love this girl." Lincoln said to himself.
End of Chapter