“I am Edward,” he said looking up from his paperwork, spilling it off the desk and onto the floor. “Hello,” he stuttered.
“Hello Edward, this is my sister Valia, she is going to be staying with me,” Greta said before taking time to pay for a week in advance on her room.
“It is a pleasure to meet you Valia,” Edward replied.
“Will you be needing a different room or a second bed?”
Greta and Valia looked at each other and kissed on the lips. “No,” Valia replied.
On the way to the elevator they did not see any familiar faces. They went up to six, threw their bags in a corner and were immediately stretched out on the bed.
“You know honey, this place is fine for visits, but I think perhaps an apartment, with a kitchen and a fridge and a washer and dryer might be nice,” Greta smiled.
“With high ceilings and a place to stand outside?” Valia asked.
Greta started up her Macbook to catch up on emails. Valia just lay next to her studying her every move. “Am I that interesting?” Greta laughed.
“By studying you I know how better to fit into your world,” Valia replied.
“That’s scary, two of me,” Greta laughed.
She opened an email from Clarissa, and saw that she was online, so she instant messaged her.
“So I see you made it back ok?”
“Hello Greta, yes I am back to the scholastic grind, where are you?”
“Back in Manhattan, what is your mailing address honey, I want to send you a postcard.”
Clarissa sent the address, they wished each other well, and said they would be in touch before logging off.
“Want to go out and play or are you a bit worn out from the drive?” Greta asked.
“I would love to go out.”
They freshened up and headed out the door and down the elevator. A group of young musicians were checking in and stood staring at them as they walked out of the hotel. Greta hailed a taxi and they both hopped in back. “To the Apple Store on Prince Street,” Greta said, “and step on it.” The driver just laughed since it was obvious they were not going anywhere in a hurry with all the traffic. “I always wanted to say that, you can take your time,” she laughed.
The taxi pulled up in front, she paid the driver and they stopped for a moment for Greta to answer her phone. “Hello, Ghostbusters, whattaya want?”
“Greta is that you?” Abigail asked.
“Abigail, darling, what’s up, everything ok?”
“Just wondering where you were, when you’re coming back, how are you?”
“I am in New York, and I may be spending a little more time here, so I am just dropping out of the summer term sorry to say, and you?” Greta asked.
“I am doing great, Mya is great, it is all great. If you’re not coming back I think I will go clean out your fridge so nothing spoils and secure the place for you.”
“Abigail, I have a better idea,” Greta replied. “Move in, take the apartment, it is paid for including utilities so there will be no extra cost to you, and I am sure you and Mya would love to have a place to get away from that pinball machine and your roommates.”
“Oh Greta, I couldn’t.”
“Oh Abigail, you can and will, I insist, just move my stuff to storage if it is in your way.”
“Greta I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You already have my dear, you already have, now keep in touch ok?”
“You too, love you.” Abigail said before hanging up.
As was the case wherever they seemed to go, Greta and Valia walked into the Apple store with all eyes on them. The young woman who waited on them was very helpful. “I want your very best Macbook Pro sent to this address overnight,” Greta said.
“You are lucky, we always have them all in stock. Would you like a gift card to fill out?”
“Sure,” Greta replied. As she filled out the card a woman approached her. Valia was over by the Internet bar doing something that was making her smile.
“Excuse me, but were you in D.C. over the weekend?” the woman asked.
“Why yes, how did you know that?”
“Well, you and your twin sister are a hard pair to miss or forget,” she replied. “I am Constance Miller, an agent for Nicole Bonman.”
“Greta, and that is my sister Valia over there, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Do you live here or just visiting?” Constance asked.
“We are staying at the Chelsea, but we seem to have fallen in love with the place and have decided to stay for a while.”
“New York has a way of romancing you, that’s for sure.” Constance smiled. “You’re not to first to arrive for a weekend and still be here years later. Do you plan on staying at the Chelsea the entire time you are here, that could get rather expensive?”
“Funny you should ask, because I was just discussing the possibility of getting an apartment with my sister.”
“I have an apartment I would love to rent on East 17th St., “it’s very near here.”
“It sounds expensive.”
“I could negotiate a price that would be appealing, it is doing no one any good empty,” Constance said. She pulled out a card and wrote the address on it. “Here you are, if you get a chance check it out, you’ll love the neighborhood, and if you are interested, call me.”
“I will Constance, thank you very much.” Greta smiled. “But Wednesday is the Fourth of July and you will be gone for the weekend?”
“I have time to show it to you now if you like.”
“Sure, let me get Valia and I will meet you right out front.”
“You really seem to be enjoying yourself,” Greta said. “This is the longest we have been separated since we met.”
“Your internet truly is a fascinating place,” Valia smiled.
“Do you want your own computer?”
“Could I?” Valia asked all bright eyed.
“Go wait outside with that lady, her name is Constance and she is going to show us an apartment, I’ll be right out.” Greta found her salesgirl and purchased matching Macbook pros for her and Valia.
When she came walking out, Constance remarked at how there would be absolutely no way she could tell Valia and her apart. She hailed a taxi and they drove the few blocks to East 17th and Irving.
“This is it my dear,” Constance said pointing to a vine covered brownstone on a tree lined street that actually had parking available. “It is the top unit, so there would be more stairs to climb, but you would have access to the roof.”
“It’s a beautiful building, almost reminds me of home don’t you think Valia?” Greta smiled. Mommy, she thought.
Constance led them up the three flights of stairs to the top floor. “I had the place completely rehabbed and your apartment was changed from four bedrooms to two large bedrooms with two baths.” When they entered the apartment Greta and Valia fell in love with it immediately. It was a dream apartment, high ceilings, a fabulous view, wood floors, kitchen appliances already in place for them to use, including a washer and dryer.
“Oh my this has got to expensive,” Valia said. She was learning to act so human.
“Well let’s see, you will be paying at least one to two hundred dollars per day at the Chelsea, that comes out to roughly $3000.00 per month and up,” Constance replied. “Girls if you want to take the place, I will let you have it for $2000.00 per month, and you would pay the utilities, or $3000.00 per month and all utilities would be included.”
“When is it available?” Greta asked.
“Now.”
“We’ll take it,” Greta and Valia chimed at the same time.
“I am so happy you want it, I am not going to require a lease from you because I get a good vibe from the both of you, pets are ok, but no pit bulls, those dogs freak me out.”
Greta and Valia took turns hugging and thanking Constance. “Valia, we have a little shopping to do.” Greta laughed.
“Lot’s of Fourth
of July sales on right now,” Constance laughed. “If there is anything you need from me just call, you have my card.” She handed them the keys and told them that the rent was not due until August 1st. “You have a lot to do to get settled, so enjoy and thank you.”
They shared a taxi with Constance who dropped them off at the Chelsea before heading to her home near Central Park. When they entered the hotel Greta noticed William sitting back in the lobby. So, where have you been hiding out? Greta thought as she and Valia sat next to him.
“The band that checked in earlier had a beautiful young boy who is the drummer, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him in the shower.” William spoke softly. “I can see by the news today you had fun in D.C.”
“I wouldn’t know, I have not watched the news all day,” Greta replied. “We are taking an apartment very near here, but I will be back from time to time to say hello.”
“I’d like that,” William answered.
“Would you like me to make sure he only puts gorgeous young boys in our room?”
“I wouldn’t object to that,” William laughed. “Do you believe in magic?” he asked Valia.
“Absolutely,” Valia replied.
Greta kissed her fingers and touched them to his cheek before they headed up to their room.
“Lets see if we can’t work a little magic and get that apartment furnished quickly,” Greta smiled.
“But first, a different kind of magic,” Valia replied kissing Greta as the elevator door closed.
Chapter 20
You Oughta Be In Pictures
For most of the month of July, Greta and Valia settled into their new apartment. It was sparsely furnished, “With just enough furniture to be comfortable, leaving lots of room to frolic.” When friends came to New York to visit, they would put them up at the Chelsea, “for the unique experience.”
The rooftop was fast becoming a beautiful garden. Being able to communicate with plants certainly made it easier for them to discover that they were quite the gardeners.
Valia however, did not only have a green thumb. She created a way to send a JTIK online through email attachments, usually directed at specific people. Their website saveourworld.com was capable of sending a JTIK by clicking on specific links. They discovered what the busiest sites online were, and would attach a specific JTIK to them bringing a daily awareness of the crisis facing the planet to all that clicked on those links.
In the weeks since their presence in D.C., President Twine had shocked the world, in essence becoming the complete opposite of the corporate owned lackey he had been for seven years, ordering a blitzkrieg approach to ending the war, with troops already drawing down and returning home. His environmental policies that were non-existent prior to his change were now fast becoming a model for the world to follow, in hopes of doing all possible to reverse the harm being done to the planet. People were shocked, and his approval rating had climbed only slightly, because after seven years of terror and the pain and suffering of a war escalating out of control, he was still the most unpopular and despised president of all time.
They had just taken Marlene to the airport the day prior, en route to a vacation in Europe, their treat. Having her as a guest for two days prior to heading to Europe was a rewarding experience for both Greta and Valia. “It’s like I am meeting you both for the first time,” Marlene had said when they picked her up at the airport, but a few refined JTIKS and they were her beautiful generous babies.
A week earlier, while they were strolling through the park finding out from birds how friends of their’s were doing in other parts of the country, a photographer approached them and offered a substantial sum of money if they would ever be interested in posing nude for his website. He was not from America, and wanted to take them to an exotic location for the shoot, all expenses paid. The girls immediately agreed, having absolutely no problem being nude in front of anyone, but only if they could do the shoot on the rooftop of their apartment. They had too much to do in New York and could not spend the time traveling to a distant place just to be photographed. After seeing the location, Henri agreed and they set the date for the shoot, which was to be the following day. Valia saw this as yet another opportunity to spread awareness for change by JTIKING their images, which viewers would find irresistible once viewed, spreading the JTIK to millions.
“What else do you think we need, a fountain perhaps,” Greta giggled.
“How about a child’s swimming pool, surrounded by all the gorgeous plant life?” Valia laughed.
“Wet in the sunshine would indeed be nice,” Greta said. They discovered that when they were in the sun, their bodies would tan far slower than a human body, yet their birth marks had darkened to the point of looking like dark brown tattoos, identical on both of their bodies. It had been a hot summer in the city, so they shortened their hair everywhere but the hair on top, looking like pixie boy cuts, and because of all the sun they had been getting, it had lightened to a solid glowing bleached blonde color.
“I think one last trip to the Farmer’s Market is needed before tomorrow,” Greta said.
“I think you’re right,” Valia laughed.
They slipped into some clothes and made their way to the Union Square Farmers Market. In front of their apartment, they ran into one of their neighbors, a middle-aged woman from Poland who was hosing down the sidewalk and watering the bushes around the building. “Good morning Krystyna,” they said seeing her.
“Good morning girls,” Krystyna replied. “It is a beautiful day.”
“We are going to the Farmers Market, can we get you anything?” Greta asked.
“Yes, some nectarines and cherries,” Krystyna replied, reaching into her pocket for a change purse.
“Put that away my dear, it will be my treat.” Greta smiled.
“Dziejuje Greta,” Krystyna said.
It was a short walk to the market that always attracted a crowd. On the way there, they passed a film crew still setting up for a days shooting. Movies were being shot daily in New York, and their neighborhood seemed to attract them as a good location.
This movie was being shot by one of America’s top directors. Teddy Allen was a short balding man with a comical look. His movies usually dealt with the bizarreness of life and relationships. The young woman who he was speaking to, arms flying about as he did, interrupted him to point out Greta and Valia walking on the opposite side of the street. “Oh my, Amelia, they’re perfect, come on, follow me.” Teddy shouted. They ran across the street appearing in front of the twins from behind one of the movie vans.
“Girls, good morning, I mean hello, excuse me for being so forward,” Teddy said, “but I am shooting this movie and, you would be perfect for a part in it.”
“Hello,” the twins chimed. “Who are you speaking to, I or my sister?” Greta smiled.
“Oh, well, the both of you,” Teddy replied. He went on to describe the scene they would be in that would be shot the next day.
“I am sorry, but tomorrow is out, we have a photo shoot scheduled for tomorrow that has been planned for weeks.” Valia replied. “Thanks anyway.” They moved around Teddy and Amelia continuing towards the market.
“Well than how about today, we can shoot the scene today,” Teddy replied following behind them.
A JTIK in a hit movie would be good, Greta thought, let’s do it.
“Ok, but only if it can wait until we visit the Farmers Market.” Valia replied. Valia needed her plants.
“Amelia, have someone follow them to make sure they do not get lost, I mean we’re in the middle of a critical shoot and they are going to be just perfect,” Teddy said nervously.
“Honey, we’ve got company,” Greta giggled, moving an eyebrow to the young female assistant Amelia had ordered to follow them and get them back to the shoot as soon as possible without offending them.
“What’s your name honey?” Valia asked.
“Tammy,” she replied, “you must have made quite an impression on Teddy fo
r him to get so worked up.”
“He said we’d be perfect for the small part.”
“Well you probably would, I must say. Love your tattoos,” Tammy said. “How did they ever get them to match so perfectly?”
“They’re birthmarks,” Greta replied. “We’re twins.”
“Duh, there’s something about you that is so hypnotic, totally alien. Are you from Eastern Europe?”
“We’re from France,” Greta and Valia chimed in reply doing an impersonation of a Conehead.
“Ha, that was pretty good.”
Valia found a nice small palm tree just like she wanted, and Greta settled for a beautiful large fern. They purchased the plants and double the amount of nectarines and cherries they would split with Krystyna.
“Here, let me help you carry something,” Tammy offered. They handed her the fruit and strolled back past the movie location.
“We’ll just be a few more minutes Teddy,” the twins purred as they headed back to their apartment to drop off the plants and to give Krystyna her fruit.
“Ok honey, we are Teddy’s,” they laughed.
“Come on girls, our neurotic creative genius of a director awaits.”
In the time they were gone, Teddy Allen rewrote the part for them in the movie beyond a talking walk-on. “They will be an overnight sensation,” he told Amelia. She printed the revision to the script and answered the knock on the trailer door.
“Come in please, have a seat.” Amelia said. ‘Thank you so much Tammy, take five.”
Greta and Valia sat down on a brown sofa. There were piles of books and magazines stacked everywhere one looked. “Can I get you something to drink?” Amelia asked.
“Some Fiji water would be nice,” Greta replied.
Teddy came walking out of the back bathroom drying his hands. “Girls, if you are willing, I have written a small part into the movie for the both of you, it will require that you memorize your lines in the script before shooting,” he said. Amelia handed the script to the twins as Teddy explained the importance of their part. Greta and Valia took a brief look at the script and laid it down on the coffee table. “Is there a problem with the script?” Teddy asked seeing this.
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