“An angel,” Billy replied as his mother smiled and drove off.
“Hey angel, let’s go see what’s for dinner, I am getting kinda hungry,” Greta giggled.
Pizza? Valia laughed.
“Nope, today I don’t think so,” Greta laughed as they drove out of the parking lot.
A few blocks from the hotel they saw Jamina walking back from the hospital her friend was at. As Greta honked the horn Valia let go with a wolf whistle, “Hey baby, need a ride?”
“I don’t get many wolf whistles, that one was perfect,” Jamina said. “Hungry, it’s my treat?”
“No pizza please,” Greta offered. Jamina knew of her fondness for pizza.
“There is a fab cafeteria style deli close to here with everything from sandwiches to a full meal.” Jamina offered.
“Then the deli it is my dear, hop in.”
“How far is the hospital?” Greta asked looking over the restaurant menu.
“It is only about six blocks from here,” Jamina replied. “They gave me first rate treatment.”
Greta started humming Peekaboo by Siouxsie and the Banshees to herself quietly while continuing to look at the menu.
“I love that song,” Jamina said.
“Yeah, I’ve had it on my mind all afternoon,” Greta replied. “Usually it’s a song you get stuck in your head that you want out of there,” she laughed.
“I know what you mean,” Jamina laughed.
“Geepers, Creepers, Where did you get those eyes.” Greta sang.
“So, what did you learn today?” Jamina asked.
“You know, today I learned that children are smarter than ever,” Greta replied. “We, I mean I saw the most gorgeous kids all over the place, but in the Children’s Zoo I saw some that make me believe we are about to enter a new era in our evolution as a species.”
“And what are the facts that have drawn you to this conclusion,” Jamina smiled.
“Oh, an angel told me so,” Greta smiled back and winked.
Jamina just laughed. “You are so easy to love,” she said.
That is so true, Valia agreed.
Greta smiled and went back to looking over the menu quietly singing, “Oooh peekaboo, Oooh peekaboo, Oooh peekaboo, Where did you get those eyes?”
Chapter 12
Down By The Seaside
In the middle of a deep sleep, Greta was awakened by the sound of a close lightning strike. She looked towards the window where Valia stood with the drapes pulled wide open, watching the passing thunderstorm. “You’re not afraid of lightning are you?” she asked.
“Oh no, quite the contrary,” Valia replied. “I find it fascinating.”
Greta slid out of bed and walked to the window. She paused at her phone charging on the dresser and saw that she had missed a few calls and text messages while she was sleeping.
“Hi teach,” she said, the weather lighting up the room in a dazzling flickering light show as she wrapped her arms around Valia and kissed her. “I can’t tell you how many times in my short life I have wound up without clothes on during a thunderstorm,” she giggled, “but never like this.”
“You’re phone has been attempting to communicate with you while you slept,” Valia said.
Greta pushed a large chair in front of the window, and pulled Valia down onto it. “No reason we shouldn’t get comfy for the show,” she smiled. “You know, I remember studying lighting in high school.” “To this day, there is no definitive explanation for it, just theories.”
Valia crossed her leg over Greta’s and giggled. “Would you like to know how lightning of this type is formed in fact?” she asked.
“Some things are best kept a continuing mystery for now,” Greta replied as she flipped open her phone to check her messages. “Besides, one of our new infant breed of humans just may figure it out,” she smiled.
“They will,” Valia replied.
The first she listened to was from Marlene. “Greta, I transferred a little more into your account so you do not get caught short of funds, Have a fun trip, Love you.”
“Love you mommy,” she said kissing her phone. She saved it, as she often saved messages from special people in her life.
The next was from Abigail, “I don’t know how I will ever be able to thank you for getting me up to Chicago where I met Mya, but I will find a way. Hope you are having a great trip, Love you, Bye.”
Greta then went on to answer a few text messages from friends who had decided to head east for the weekend. “Hmm, no messages from Rose,” she said. “Now that is a first, a day without a message for the first time since I met her.”
Back in Carbondale, Rose was wrapped in a new nude beginning with Emily, a girl from one of her past psych classes who had a major crush on her.
‘Rose has found another pair of arms to hold her,” Valia said.
“Really, and how do you know this, the birds?” Greta asked.
Valia just smiled and took her by the hand back to bed. The passing light show from the storm was dissipating, but the room still filled with flickering light as they experimented with new methods of carnal bliss.
After the storm and their passion waned, Greta turned on the television for Valia, then turned on the Macbook she brought with to get the weather forecast for the area. “Weather is going to clear up,” she said, “gonna be in the mid 80’s.” She then started looking for a suitable beach to visit that would not be overly crowded at the nearby Jersey Shore. “Hmm, this one sounds inviting, Loveladies Beach.”
Valia giggled.
Greta Google mapped driving directions. “It is only little over an hours drive, want to see the sun rise with me?”
“Yes.”
Greta did not have a printer, so she asked Valia to use her photographic memory to remember driving directions. “Let’s do it.”
In short order, Greta was washed and dressed for the beach. “Valia am I going to need a sunscreen if I am wearing you?” she asked.
“No.”
“Will we make footprints in the sand when I am wearing you?”
“Not unless we want to.”
Greta marveled briefly at how that could even be possible. She put a few items she thought might be needed in a bag, kissed Valia and removed her to the carrier between her thighs. She was out the door, and in minutes was being directed by Valia to the Jersey Shore.
She did not think that she would find a Starbucks open at three a.m., so Greta took a complimentary coffee and pastry offered by the hotel for the ride.
“I like the way cities look at night,” Greta said.
You must merge onto the Ben Franklin Bridge, Valia said, and continue following US 30-East.
“Greta drove on, once again the route being flawlessly choreographed by Valia. “You know, not only are many of the beaches where we are going private, the ones that aren’t do not open til 10 a.m. and you have to pay, if you can be seen that is,” Greta said.
Exit onto Route 72-East, Valia replied. One of the major problems with your planet is money.
“You can say that again,” Greta said.
One of the major, Valia started to repeat before she was cut short by Greta giggling.
“It is one of those silly expressions passed down to us from generation to generation that we use without thinking at times,” Greta explained.
They parked on Long Beach Boulevard with the top up on the car. There was absolutely no one around when, after slipping Valia around her neck and Greta was about to open the car door, she was stopped by Valia pointing up to one of many surveillance cameras that were part of the Coastal Monitoring Service.
Valia told her to wrap her arms around her, and picture being on the strip of beach she pointed to. Once again the tingling sensation of warm air flowing over them, and when she opened her eyes, they were standing on the beach. It was still dark, just a hint of pale color on the horizon.
“Can you tell me what twinkle you came from,” Greta asked looking up at the star filled sky.
�
��Not from this side of your world,” Valia replied.
“That is Venus seducing us,” Greta smiled. “The name is Roman, she is one of their goddesses associated with love and beauty and fertility.”
“Every culture at some point shares a belief in something larger than life, something in control,” Valia replied.
“Your presence here with me is proof of that,” Greta said before kissing her softly.
There was now a visible shade of pale orange on the horizon as the surf rolled in gently. Obviously the storms that passed through Philadelphia were not heading in this direction.
“How do you avoid running into them, there’s so many,” Greta asked looking up at the sky overhead that was still full of stars.
Valia was clearly amused. “Once you are in space and traveling, they are all a great distance from each other,” she replied. “From here they look close together but they are not. Some of the twinkles as you put it, are not stars at all, but galaxies containing millions, even billions of stars. Some of them no longer exist and what you are seeing is the light they emitted billions of years ago.”
“Oh look,” Greta said pointing east. The bright glowing top of the sun peeked up over the horizon. It continued to climb revealing some whispy clouds going by, now showing the same color as the sunrise itself. Above them, the sky was now a pale blue slowly getting brighter as the stars seemed to disappear.
“Like us, they’re really there, but cannot be seen,” Greta said.
When the day finally broke, they made love on the beach. Behind them the residents began to stir to start their day. The usual life one sees while at the beach was present. Valia taught her how to refine communicating with the seagull hanging out next to them. She got good enough in short order, to find out what was happening on the coasts of France and yes, even the beach in Chicago where she found out it was certain to rain.
“Can you swim?” Greta asked. “I learned how to swim in high school and I am a pretty good swimmer.”
“I can propel myself through water, yes,” Valia replied.
“The sun is warming things up pretty quickly, would you like to take a dip?”
“If it pleases you.”
They walked into the gently rolling surf hand in hand. The water was a bit cool but refreshing. Greta started out floating and doing the breaststroke to move through the water. She noticed Valia right next to her the entire time, but it did not look like she was exerting herself at all. “Show off,” Greta laughed.
“Let me show off then,” Valia giggled. She wrapped her arms around Greta from behind and told her not to be frightened. Greta felt warmer in the cool ocean water when she did. Valia had surrounded them in an invisible force field before they effortlessly started moving first through the water, then under it.
“My first dive, how romantic,” Greta smiled, “but how can I breathe, did you just give me gills?”
Valia smiled as she treated Greta to an underwater tour. The ease and speed at which they moved astonished her. From being propelled through the water at speeds faster than a speedboat, then being able to stop on a dime to say hello to a lobster or starfish, Greta marveled at all that she saw.
“Whatever you do, I don’t think I want to know how to communicate with lobsters,” Greta said. “I could not live with the anguish of what they must be screaming when lobster lovers boil them alive.”
“The horror,” Greta heard from a host of lobster voices in her head.
Valia took her past a shipwreck and found out from a Great White Shark that her community would still love to have Stephen Spielberg for a meal because of all the slaughter and bad press they still receive to this day from his movie Jaws.
Greta could not tell where they had been, or how far they traveled in the time spent underwater, and when they finally surfaced she could see that they were right back where they watched the sunrise on the beach, but they were no longer alone. There was a group of lifeguards for that strip of the beach having a meeting.
“Wow, almost ten a.m.,” Greta marveled. “You know time sure flies when you’re having fun, but I have a feeling this place is going to get very crowded very quickly as hot as it is supposed to get today.”
“It would be advisable to leave,” Valia said.
“Do we have to walk?” Greta asked.
Valia shook her head and laughed. She wrapped her arms around Greta and in an instant, Greta felt her hot car seat against the back of her leg and shrieked. She opened her eyes to see Valia laughing.
“So, you do have a sense of humor,” she laughed. “Do you know how to get us to Atlantic City?” Greta asked.
Valia nodded, yes.
“Make it so,” Greta smiled before slumping in her seat unconscious.
“Valia,” came a familiar sounding voice from the back seat, “I have come for you.”
“Gyba,” Valia replied as she materialized in the back seat. “It is good to see and hear you my dear friend.”
“It would have been easier for us if you had remained at the crash site,” Gyba said. The retriever device she wore made it possible for her to see Valia.
“Gyba, I cannot return with you, not yet,” Valia said.
“Valia, you are fortunate that we were near enough to this sector of space to get to you this soon,” Gyba said. “If we leave without you, it will be a long time before someone can return to retrieve you.”
“I am aware of that,” Valia replied turning her loving gaze to Greta, “but I cannot leave now.”
Gyba took a close look at Greta, “She is an infant,” Gyba said, “but I know that look on your face all too well.”
“Gyba, you could retrieve me, and I would be powerless in this form to stop you, but I ask you to return with a message from me instead,” Valia smiled.
“I know you all to well,” Gyba said slowly nodding her head, “she must be worth it.” She handed Valia a device that would record her message in her current state visually. When she was finished she returned it to Gyba. “Does she know what she will become?” Gyba asked.
“Thank you my dear friend,” Valia said softly.
“We will return, when the time is right for you,” Gyba said giving her a hug before disappearing.
“Ok, let me see, I put the key in here,” Greta laughed, “and I turn it like this, then I move this to put it in gear, then I step on the gas and we start moving, but which way do I go?”
Valia let out a hearty laugh.
I understand, Gyba communicated to Valia in a way that Greta could not detect. Goodbye my dear friend.
Maruk posh va, Valia replied.
“Where is it you wanted to go again?” Valia asked.
“To your planet actually, can we leave now?” Greta replied.
“Continue down this road until I tell you to turn right,” Valia smiled.
Greta removed Valia and returned her to the pouch on her thigh.
“This one is from a time when I was just a glimmer in my pappy’s eye,” Greta giggled. “Under the Boardwalk, down by the sea, On a blanket with my baby, is where I’ll be.”
Turn right here at 72-West, Valia said.
“Under the Boardwalk, Out of the sun, Under the Boardwalk, We’ll be having some fun, Under the Boardwalk, People walking above, Under the Boardwalk, We’ll be falling in love under the Boardwalk, Boardwalk,” Greta continued to sing.
She parked the car on Pennsylvania Avenue. It was a short stroll to the Boardwalk where she hoped to find a Starbucks.
“I pray all the decadence, greed and sadness emanating from these casinos does not ruin your day,” Greta said. “Ah, there it is,” she smiled pointing to the Starbucks.
She strolled down the Boardwalk, taking in the glittering sites. “This place is like a moving, interactive museum exhibit,” she said.
May we go inside? Valia asked.
“Really?” Greta asked. “Sure, but remember I warned you.”
They walked into The Resorts Casino. Perhaps you would like to take
in a show with tall, gorgeous showgirls, she thought.
That would only make me want to be alone with you, Valia replied.
Greta played a few slot machines, winning at each one she played. Am I just lucky, or, ahem? she asked.
Valia giggled.
Just let me know when you have seen enough, Greta said. I feel myself being sucked into the addiction of gambling even as I speak.
They walked out of the casino and back to the Boardwalk. It had cooled slightly, and the wind was picking up. Looking back over the casino towards the west she saw dark gray clouds approaching. “It’s going to pour,” she said. Greta made her way onto the beach and slipped unnoticed under the Boardwalk where she placed Valia around her neck. She was standing above Greta with her arm out.
“Come, it will be ok,” she smiled.
They walked hand in hand to an empty place on the beach. Greta wrapped her arms around Valia after sitting down. She watched the raindrops begin landing on the sand, darkening it where they landed. She could not feel the raindrops on her body. They gazed out over the ocean as the passing storm took full shape. She could smell the rain, feel the wind that was whipping the downpour around, but she remained dry. When it passed the sun above them returned. Out over the ocean the sky was black, an occasional lighting strike visible before a massive rainbow appeared.
“Make a wish,” Greta said.
“A gorgeous phenomenon,” Valia smiled.
“I’ve always loved rainbows,” Greta said.
Greta stood up and noticed that the ground under them was wet when Valia followed her. “Shouldn’t that be a dry spot,” she smiled.
Slipping back under the boardwalk Greta returned Valia between her thighs and made her way back to the Starbucks. “One for the road,” she said.
When they arrived back at the car Greta asked Valia if she wanted to drive. Make a left at the corner, she laughed. Greta turned on the c.d. player and started singing along to the Neko Case song playing. “Driving home I see those flooded fields, How can people not know what beauty that is, I’ve taken it for granted my whole life, Since the day I was born, Ooh Ooooh.”
The drive back to Philadelphia was just a fun ride. For part of the trip, Valia positioned herself on Greta’s lap and drove. At one point when passing a family in a mini-van, Greta rested her head against the back of her seat and appeared to be sleeping at the wheel shocking them into blowing their horn to try and wake her up.
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