Lolly was a tiny bit worried. He never liked the resetting of the date to Day One and all those fresh and zero hours at the beginning of yet another year. It always seemed to him a very unlucky combination, like a bomb had exploded and the world he knew was being swept away in a cloud of dust. But lately he had gotten into the idea of “The Journey."
After all, the Ancient Egyptians had to have come from somewhere. Maybe the Aliens brought them to Earth from another planet. Like those scientists said.
Aliens aside, Lolly had experienced a transcendential moment when he saw a vision of Christ in the Longmont Museum. September’s exposition had featured Gator Matcha’s prints in the temporary exhibition space and been sponsored by Buck Rogers. Lolly bought six of the set of eighteen prints. If he had been wise, he would have stopped at two, but the collecting bug got ahold of him and he broke into his emergency Apocalypse funds to purchase half a dozen of the “Superior Man” theme prints.
He hung them in his climate controlled home in Loveland. He rarely went to the house but when he did visit the property he really liked that his own values, reflected in the “Superior Man” series, warmly welcomed him back home.
When Lolly walked into the two bedroom house in Loveland earlier that day after driving downhill from his unknown cabin location in the woods, he was holding his groceries from King Scoopers in his arms. He set the two paper bags down on the counter top and took the time to engage his eyes and mind in the message of one of the prints on the wall.
“Beautiful and clear within, gentle and devoted without,” Lolly murmured. He had had well enough time that afternoon to make it to church for the special early Men’s Fellowship. It had been a while since he had been able to attend the devotional sessions. He had even bought a tray of 2-Bite Mini Minecraft Cupcakes at King Scoopers to bring to the meeting. El-Don, as usual, had taken more than his share.
Lolly walked back out the kitchen door leading to his garage. He took off the silky cover to the Chevy truck. It was a beauty. A 1955 Cameo Chevy. Fully restored, the Chevy truck sure attracted a lot of attention. Especially out on the lonely back roads. It had taken Lolly a hell of a time trying to lose the spaceship one night.
He decided to drive the Chevy out to the Rimbaud Ranch. Buck Rogers had invited him to dinner in the “Shadowless Room” and promised that Lolly would meet the artist Gator Matcha at his shindig, a New Year’s Eve event. Secretly, Lolly was actually looking forward to the dinner in the "Shadowless Room" and wanted to make an impression upon Buck's guests.
Taylor looked around proudly. He was showing Quincy his room in his house on 1046 Grant Street. They were already becoming best friends in kindergarten. Because Carmen strategically, of course, brought her son along when she went to pick up Blessing. After Carmen and Julie had their little chat, the boys were promised a play date, and with Julie somewhat reassured, Blessing was finally allowed to pack her overnight bag
“Ï don’t want to be driving tonight,” Carmen said to Julie as she waited for Blessing. “Too many crazies out.”
Blessing climbed into the car with Carmen and asked whether they were picking up Emery.
“That girl does whatever she pleases,” Carmen said. “”Ï don’t know how or when she will come, if she will come.”
Blessing thought about the matter. Emery had a way of charming people with her innocence, Blessing got the idea that Carmen didn't trust Emery.
After Mila greeted Blessing and introduced her to the other guests, Blessing pulled Mila aside.
“Is Emery coming?”
“She said that her Aunt Candace would drop her off.”
“Is Emery staying overnight, too?”
“That’s the plan. Her aunt is providing her with a cover story.”
“How does she get away with these things?
“The same way she rakes in the cash.”
“And?”
“She’s smoking hot and unavailable.”
“Really?”
“Come on, Blessing. Don’t you see that everyone is trying to get a piece of her action?”
Emery arrived wearing a white starched shirt and beige dress trousers, cinched with a brown belt. She didn’t look much like fifteen, more like eighteen. Emery was on the tall side and was beginning to get better coordinated. A lot had happened since the beginning of high school.
“I thought she was supposed to wear skirts,” Blessing said to Mila.
“I think she’s got the dude Mormon vibe going these days,” Mila said dryly. “But don’t worry, she’s still not drinking any coffee.”
“Not yet,” Blessing said.
“Yeah, but that’s her plan. She’s all righteous about coffee and meanwhile she’s doing her own thing.”
Blessing felt a twinge of sadness overcome her nerves. She hoped they could still all be friends.
F.Scott Fitzgerald was sitting in El-Don and Teary Filisteinsdatter Mast’s living room. They certainly didn’t notice him as he drunkenly sat on their couch. Fitzgerald came most univited and was on the look out in case Zelda appeared. Instead he was watching El-Don Mast fall asleep.
Disappointing.
As Teary slipped out the door, El-Don fell out his chair and slumped in a heap on the floor. F.Scott Fitzgerald stepped right in behind Teary. No use spending any more time with El-Don. F. Scott Fitzgerald just had to find out what Zelda had written. Maybe if he found her manuscript he could use parts of it. He might even find a cache of ideas.
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