Finally something for this chapter. Have to start cranking on my stories before school starts and things get hectic with a capital "HECK". Oh, keep on forgetting to say this: I finally drew Amelia! You can see it and my other fan works on my deviantART site (see my profile page). I'd give the URL right here, but it tends to malfunction.
About ten hours after their arrival at the hotel, everyone felt awake and that they needed to head out the door. They fell asleep at nine in the evening and woke up at what felt like eleven the next morning.
Eyeing the small round clock on the wooden bedside table, Jeffrey cocked an eyebrow. He then looked at the stylish watch still on his left wrist from yesterday and pulled the slightly prominent knob out of its socket and twisted the short hand down from "11" to "6".
The young Brit sat up, stretching his arms before leaning on them. Man, did it ever feel awkward sleeping in everyday clothes. A mental alarm rang off in his mind. "It's my birthday today. I'm twenty-six. If things turn out in the right direction, I'll receive my Ph.D.!" On the thoughts of his upcoming degree, he remembered his father's words several years ago when he was a boy:
"Jeffrey, like China is well known for its exports of rice and tea, we Hawkinsons have been well known for several years as performing artists—acting, dancing, singing, dramatics—throughout Hertfordshire and even abroad. We may not be up there with Elizabeth Taylor or Ed Wynn, but in some way or another, my boy, we're always looked up to for that."
Ever since he first heard that, he supposed it purposed to be passed down to the next generation to his children like "just like how my father told it to me, how his father told it to him,…(you get the idea)" Even if science still was more of his forte rather than dance, he was too close for turn-backs. He was quite awake, so he dressed himself in cleaner and less wrinkled clothes similar to yesterday's outfit and combed his messy hair back into the suave style he admired.
About two hours later, the Campbells, Hawkinson, and Boyer enjoyed a light yet scrumptious breakfast at a café only a couple blocks away from the hotel. After the short stroll back, Mrs. Campbell and Grandmum Boyer returned to their room for a bit of relaxation and rest. The three left ventured throughout the little town lined with bits of flora and fauna, historical landmarks, and quaint little shops.
"Okay, you two," Mr. Campbell called to attention. "We can travel around for the next two hours and can start wherever you like. But-"
"Herb?" A male voice called. "Criminelly, love a duck! Is it you?"
Mr. Campbell turned around to shake the hand of and hug a client from his business-man days. "Yep, it's me alright."
"And that's gotta be the little lady." He nodded his head towards Charlotte and waved.
"Hi!" Charlotte replied, waving her hand back excitedly. Jeffrey couldn't help but notice she wasn't as shy around here.
"Good to be back, eh, sister?" The man, Mr. Bright, asked.
"Sure thing!"
The two middle-aged old friends tied into a seemingly impenetrable conversation about back-in-the-day days and how events like the Depression and World War II affected business.
"Well," Charlotte shrugged defeatedly. "I guess we're on our home."
"And you're sure your father won't mind?"
"Nah. I know him. Plus, nothing seemed to really change a lot since I left."
"Charlotte?" A voice called. In surprise, Charlotte turned around.
"Gabby?" Charlotte gawked, and towards her and Jeffrey ran a short stocky girl with auburn wavy hair. The two ladies hugged each other tightly.
"Golly, Charlotte! Six years on the other side of the Atlantic and you didn't get an accent? That's incredible!"
"Gabs, it's so good to see you again." Charlotte looked a few feet away from her and remembered the Brit. "Oh, Gabby; I'd like you to meet someone." She cleared her throat. "Gabby, this is Jeffrey, Jeffrey Hawkinson; we went to college together. Jeffrey, this Gabby, Gabby Denny; we went to school together since we were eight."
"Hi," Gabby greeted, giving his hand a firm shake. "Nice to meet ya. Welcome to our neck of the woods."
"My pleasure." He replied, a bit unsure.
"Even though Charlotte's graduated, are you still going to school?"
"Yes, I'm receiving my Ph.D. next summer. In dance."
"Dance? That's swell!" Jeffrey smiled. "Ooh! Which reminds me…" The American put her fingers in her mouth to let out a shrill whistle. "Jenny! Maureen! Guess who I found!" A tall slim blonde and a brown-haired girl wearing a work uniform galloped out of an ice cream parlor.
"Oh my gosh! You're back! You're here!" The two other girls squealed, squeezing their friend in a tight homecoming hug.
"And it looks like you brought a chum with you, eh?" Jenny asked.
"Sure did, darn right about it." Gabby assured.
"Awesome!" Maureen lightly clapped her hands together. "I'm still working right now, but five servings of ice cream? On me! C'mon!"
After one dish of ice cream each and chatter for about an hour, Jeffrey and Charlotte went on their way. Apparently, Mr. Campbell was still engaged in his conversations, so accidently-on purpose deliberately, the two explored Charlotte's childhood world.
"That's where I used to live." She pointed at a one-story house painted light yellow with dark green trim. "We moved in there when I was five. I barely remember that."
"Look." Jeffrey pointed at a sign. "It's for sale."
"And it looks like today's the day people can go take a look." She added. "And it looks like who ever lived there moved their stuff out. You wanna take a look?"
"Why not?"
After a courteous greeting to a standing-by realtor and getting permission, they stepped into the foyer which turned into the parlor. In Charlotte's mind, what was lost in each room was found and in their place. Her dad's high-back chair, smelling of pipe smoke, and her mum's rocking chair, scented with vanilla, sat by the fireplace, a round red-and-blue rug lying in between them near the hearth. An utterly annoying yet classic cuckoo clock hung next to the cabinet. A dining table covered with a fine tablecloth and cushioned chairs for four, later on three, sat divided from the kitchen by a half wall.
They returned into the parlor where the "guide" led her "tourist" down the hallway. The first room on the left was Joseph's room. The past came to life again in her mind when a twin bed hidden under a thick quilt stood against the wall decorated with posters of war planes and pictures and pennants of favorite baseball teams and players. In front of a window standing alone was a slightly cluttered wooden desk. Two medium-sized shelves lined with books hung above.
In her room on the second right door up til the time she was eighteen, a twin bed with a plush white headboard sat in the middle of the room, an also white feminine somewhat old-fashioned small round table serving as a nightstand. A two-column, three-row wooden dresser topped with a music box and twenty Nancy Drew books stood on the right wall while a cushy blue backless chair sat next to a window.
After the tour of the empty Campbell mansion, as he would put it sometimes, Mr. Campbell relieved himself and his friends from their long discussions and found his daughter and her friend. At a nice dinner with some potato soup and rosemary, Charlotte and her family surprised Jeffrey with a chocolate cake for his birthday and gave him two newly released science books as a gift.
The following days, even the first, in America around Pennsylvania, New York, and surrounding states were proven to be quite an experience for each and every one of the six voyagers, whether they returned home or not.
This next chapter is gonna be quite interesting. You'll just have to wait and see, my pretties…(evil smile)