“It will be entirely your decision whether to meet with him or not.”
Greta watched with excitement as Valia put another small piece of food into her mouth. Her phone started ringing in the other room. “Excuse me Ms. Garbova,” Greta giggled walking over to see who was calling.
“Oh, take your time, more for me,” Valia laughed.
“Doz brusznik vokitas,” Greta answered.
“Greta, it’s Clarissa, how are you?”
“No fooling you I see,” Greta laughed. “I am fine, Valia is better I see, as she slips another piece of my award winning lasagna into her gorgeous mouth.” “How are you, where are you?”
“I’m in Chicago with Robyn, but I am flying to New York early in the morning for a modeling gig,” Clarissa replied. Only staying the one day than back here and back to school.”
“Allright then, it’s your choice, stay with us or stay at the Chelsea?” Greta asked.
“I’d rather not stay alone if I don’t have to,” Clarissa replied.
“When you get to the city come straight here and drop your stuff off and we will get you to where you have to be for your shoot.”
“I will, give Valia my love, see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, I had better get in there before she puts on a few pounds and we no longer match, Greta laughed. “I will save you a piece of lasagna.”
“Love you, bye,”
“Wonderful, a new unbiased opinion of my music,” Valia said looking up at Greta returning to the table, her plate empty.
“Yes, I love it when dear friends visit.” You finished everything on your plate which means you do not have to help clean up,” Greta said.
“Thank you,” Valia smiled, retired to the other room and turned on the television. Greta joined her when she was finished cleaning up in the kitchen. “Clarissa is a fan of Bowie, so I have decided to call him.”
“If that is your decision, fine,” Greta said in a deep voice staring at Valia with a serious look on her face.
“Are you jealous?” Valia asked.
“I was practicing acting, pretty good huh?” Greta laughed.
“Yes you had me going there for .7699969 seconds.”
Valia had moved three plants to the coffee table before Greta came into the room. Greta watched as she conversed with them on the very short piece they were to perform. “You may dial his number now and put us on speaker please.” Valia smiled. Greta dialed the number given in the Green note, that when answered went to the voice mail. At the tone Valia, accompanied by her three plants, left a short dreamy instrumental sounding message, and then hung up. Greta and the other plants in the room applauded.
“Maestro,” Greta smiled. “Amazing.”
“Thank you, I want to thank my plants, and my sister, and most importantly,” Valia said before being interrupted by the phone ringing.
“It’s him,” Greta said throwing the phone on the couch acting jealous again.
“You are getting better at your acting,” Valia laughed before answering the phone.
“Hello.”
“Hello, I am calling for Mr. Bowie,” a soft female voice spoke. “He is out presently, but played your message and asked that I call you to try and set up a time and place when you both could meet.”
“Tomorrow at four p.m. at this address,” Valia replied giving their address.
“I will give him the message, thank you and goodnight,” the woman said before hanging up.
“It was his wife, she is a beautiful woman, a model.” Greta said.
Valia threw the phone back on the couch near Greta, giving her an angry jealous look.
“That’s very good, you are so multi-talented,” Greta giggled. “You had me going for 1.96 seconds.”
Valia stood on the coffee table and leaped towards Greta sitting on the couch, moving in slow motion as the room filled with the sounds of a symphony orchestra tuning up prior to performing a piece. Greta began stretching out on the couch to receive her lover in her arms as their clothes seemed to remove themselves from their bodies, landing on the floor just as Valia softly landed on top of Greta. The moment their bodies touched, the room filled with the ambient music the room full of plants felt was needed for the twins love making through the night.
Greta woke to the smell of cooking. Valia’s face appeared above her peering over the top of the couch. “I cooked you breakfast,” Valia said, “then we have to go meet the press.”
“Meet the press?” Greta asked.
“Yes, we have about one hour to eat and be there.”
“Where is there?”
“D.C.”
“French toast, yummy,” Greta said. “I hope we will have time to stop at Starbucks.”
“We always have time to stop at Starbucks.” Valia said.
In just over fifteen minutes they finished eating and dressed in the jeans and sweaters Valia already had laid out. “What’s the weather going to be like today?” Greta asked.
“We will wear our overcoats and hats,” Valia replied.
“Oooh, I just love cashmere,” Greta moaned.
They made their way down to the Pontiac. “Is this going to be a short visit?” Greta asked.
“Relatively.”
Valia drove to the Starbucks at 15th & 9th and waited in the car while Greta ran in to get their usual, lattes with extra shots. When she returned Valia headed for the Holland Tunnel, and between two double-parked trucks making deliveries, the Pontiac disappeared from the island of Manhattan, reappearing in the visitor parking lot at George Washington University. “We still have some time,” Valia grinned, “let’s enjoy our lattes.”
“Do you have any idea what time Clarissa will be done with her shoot?” Greta asked.
“Not yet,” Valia smiled. “Is there anything you would like to have the press and your president discuss before the inhabitants of your world?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact there is.”
The twins held hands and were instantly soaring high above D.C. “While high above the White House, Greta sent a healing love vibe to Steven who would be getting out of the hospital soon. An instant later, they were standing along a wall with the usual gathering of celebrity journalists and newscasters when Gregory Twine came out to stand at the podium. One after another, the questions were choreographed by Valia or Greta, as well as the answers from Twine. The topics remained focused on the environment, and emission standards, fuel economy, the war, human rights, and the extremely painful topics of the treatment of women in the Arab World, and the genital mutilation of woman mainly in Africa.
When the president was just about to leave the podium, Greta could not resist having him say, “Just love them Starbucks lattes,” at the end of his final answer to one of his least favorite journalists.
Come, we must get back and prepare for the coming of Bowie, Valia thought.
Yes, the coming of Bowie, Greta thought. Should I cook?
Yes.
In less than an hour, after returning to the Pontiac, stopping for a second Starbucks, and taking a short leisurely drive through the Nation’s Capital, the twins were back in Manhattan heading to the Farmer’s Market. They purchased what they needed for Greta to cook a complete pasta dinner. She decided on spaghetti and meatless meatballs, the recipe for which she acquired from Sloan Mitchell with a little help from Valia’s plants.
When they arrived back at their apartments, Greta started to unpack the groceries when she heard the front door open. I am going to let Clarissa in, Valia thought. She let the doorbell ring and waited a few moments before greeting Clarissa, motioning the taxi driver to leave. “Clarissa, you look so fabulous, I love your hair,” Valia said.
“Oh, yes I am growing it out, thanks Valia.”
Valia helped her with her bags leading her back up to the apartment where Greta was waiting with open arms. “Darling, you look absolutely fabulous, I am so happy to see you.”
“Same here my dear friend, it is so good to see the both of you
again.”
“How much time do we have to get you to your shoot?” Greta asked.
“Here is the address, how far is it, I have to be there at noon.” Clarissa replied.
“Oh, I know where this is, we should leave in a few minutes, traffic will be heavy this time of day.”
Clarissa gave the twins a brief account of how she met the photographer and what sort of shoot was planned. “She is an admirer of Henri and his work, it should be fun.”
“Valia, want to come along?” Greta asked.
“If it does not seem rude, I would love to do some work in the studio.” Valia replied.
“Rude, oh Valia, don’t be absurd,” Clarissa smiled.
“Ok, I will be back shortly, have fun.” Greta said. “C’mon kiddo, go on ahead I will meet you in front.”
Clarissa walked down the long flight of stairs and opened the front door, stopping to admire the stained glass trim on the door, holding it wide open so that the noon day sun made it glow. About a minute later Greta appeared on the porch. “So, tell me what else you have been up to these past months?” Greta asked as she led Clarissa round the corner to the garage.
Greta could see that Clarissa was very impressed with New York. “What an amazing place, I was here once with my parents when I was small, but being here now, I can understand why the two of you decided to stay.”
“I love it.” Greta smiled. They shared what they had been up to as the Pontiac slowly moved through the heavy traffic.
Back at the apartment, Valia had made her way down to her studio carrying a large plant, pausing for a moment as she put the plant down on the floor next to some palm trees. “Alone finally,” Valia said walking over to close the door before heading to a recording table.
We are not alone, a few of the plants said. There is a male of your species here with us now.
Valia moved about the room looking like she was at work. Show yourself, she thought. There was no reply. Whoever was in the room was invisible to her and was being shielded from her power to JTIK. Darlings, could you help me locate this intruder?
Greta had just dropped off Clarissa and was thinking of bringing back a few flowers when she sensed what was going on back in Valia’s studio. She immediately sent out a strong JTIK to everyone around her not to remember what they’d seen, as the Pontiac disappeared from the busy Manhattan street and reappeared in their garage. She paused for a moment before rushing in like a swat team. Darlings, could you help me locate this intruder? she heard Valia think.
He is directly in front of Jika, a few plants chimed in.
Greta knew that Jika was Valia’s large Japanese Wisteria plant, so large in fact that she wondered if they would have to cut a hole in the ceiling to keep it there. Knowing now where the intruder was, expecting to be visible the moment she was in the room, she arrived with a devastating fury, landing directly on the man knocking him to the floor unconscious, a thick glowing black helmet rolling across the floor as she did.
The twins were both expecting to see Alan from Princeton when the intruder became visible, but it was not he. This was a shorter male, with dark hair and a mustache. They removed the suit and helmet he was wearing, securing it in another part of the house. When the man regained consciousness, he found himself suspended in midair, unable to move. They could now read his thoughts and knew that he was not working alone. “Who are you?” Valia JTIKED him to confess, “And why are you here?”
“I am Byron Trofeld, and I came to observe you in the flesh.” He replied.
“Why us, how did you find us?”
“We have been tracking anomalies occurring across the country for months, that led us to Alan and to you.” Byron replied.
“We, how many more of you are there?” Greta asked.
“One other.”
“Where can we find this person?” Valia asked.
“I am uncertain, but she lives on the island of Cyprus.”
“What is her name?” Greta asked. Does she know who we are?”
“Olga Kolaiditis,” Byron replied, “and no, she cannot possibly know who you are, but I am sure she knows who Alan is and where to find him easily, you see Olga and I are Alan’s rivals.”
They JTIKED Byron to forget how he traced the anomalies to their door, but only after calling Olga and informing her that his search led to a dead end. They then took him out to the Pontiac and dropped him off in front of the Empire State Building, thinking he was a tourist, having no recollection of the day’s events or meeting the twins.
“We should do something very special for your babies, they take such good care of you,” Greta said, still seeming a bit shaken by the experience.
“We must put some safeguards into place, at least until we meet this Olga,” Valia said.
“It is disturbing to think we had someone in our midst that we were unable to detect,” Greta moaned.
“Not unable to detect little sister, that I was able to do,” Valia said. “Unable to see and JTIK, that I agree, was disturbing. I think I will be very busy around the house while you cook dinner.”
“I bet you will be,” Greta said pulling Valia’s head to hers and kissing her deeply until they were disturbed by the sound of a driver behind them honking their horn because the light had turned green.
“The light is green,” Valia said, “I think I shall make that the title of my greeting.”
“The sauce is red,” Greta laughed. “I think I shall make that the title of my dinner.”
And the sauce is what Greta started with. It had to simmer for exactly 74.68 minutes before it sat with the heat off for a minimum of 120.7996 minutes to set before serving.
Valia inspected the equipment Byron had been wearing. The technology, to her species, was less than the equivalent of a grade school science project to humans, but part of its composition was traceable, so she opened the window and watched as it floated out before exploding into a countless number of particles that continued to dissipate until they no longer were detectable to even her. She then tried to research Olga online. With the help of her own customized search engine, she was able to find out that Olga had inherited a Real Estate and Hotel Dynasty from her parents that died in a plane crash. She was only nineteen years of age. A prodigy, Valia thought.
I know I am, Greta replied in thought from the kitchen upstairs.
Valia simply laughed and went to work with her plants recording the greeting they had created for Bowie. When she was satisfied with the track, she JTIKED Bowie to call before Clarissa arrived, and to change any existing plans he might have that could interfere with his visit while Clarissa was in town.
The rest of the afternoon went by with the twins discussing what to do about Olga. “It says here that Cyprus is the island of Aphrodite,” Greta smiled. “Look how beautiful, look how photogenic.”
“Henri,” the twins said at the same time. “Yes, but for now, a quiet dinner with friends,” Greta said.
Greta received a call from Clarissa who was getting a ride to their apartment, so she put the final touches on dinner. Just then the phone rang in the other room. “Hello I believe is the customary greeting,” Valia answered.
The voice of a man with a British accent replied. “I am not sure who I am to ask for, Green perhaps.”
“Mr. Bowie, Green is fine, but I much prefer Valia. We were just sitting down to dinner, are you hungry?”
“No my dear, I have already eaten.”
“If you can take time out of your busy schedule, we would very much like for you to pay us a visit this evening.”
Valia went on to set the time for them to meet, after they were through with dinner and they had finished cleaning up after their meal.
“M-m-m-m-my meatballs,” Greta sang as Valia entered the kitchen. “Turn and face the sauce, M-m-meatballs, Don’t want to meet a richer man, M-m-m-m-my meatballs, Turn and face the sauce, M-m-meatballs, Just gonna have to be my woman.”
“Mmmm, meatballs, but they have no meat in them?”
Valia laughed.
“They are a meatball oddity that’s for sure,” Greta laughed.
Clarissa arrived just as Valia helped untie Greta’s apron. “I will let her in,” Valia said.
Valia opened the door to see Clarissa standing in front of the door with a woman. “Valia, meet Nastya Roshenko, Nastya this is Valia,” Clarissa said.
“It is a pleasure to meet you Valia, Clarissa warned me about your beauty and charm,” Nastya said.
“What a nice thing to say, are you hungry, Greta has cooked enough to feed a large family?” Valia asked.
“Come on Nastya, I bet you won’t find this good a meal in a restaurant,” Clarissa smiled.
“Ok, I will join you, thank you for your offer,” Nastya said, motioning to her driver. “I will be staying here for dinner, please go get yourself something to eat, and save your receipt.”
Clarissa led the way up the stairs to the top floor. Valia followed behind them after locking the front door. The door opened and Clarissa moaned with delight, “Smells fabulous,” she said going into the kitchen. Greta turned to see Nastya standing next to Valia. “We have another guest for dinner, Nastya meet my sister Greta, Greta this is Clarissa’s photographer friend Nastya,” Valia grinned.
“Amazing, Clarissa how can you tell them apart, they are two of the most identical twins I have ever seen?” Nastya asked.
“I hope you like pasta?” Greta said.
“If it smells this good I am sure I will love it,” Nastya replied.
Valia and Nastya went to sit down in the living room while Clarissa helped Greta finish setting the table and pouring the wine. “She is quite taken by the two of you which should not come as a surprise,” Clarissa said. “Don’t be surprised if she offers you some work, she is a delight to work with.”
Greta gave Clarissa a big hug. “It really is good to see you again and have you here, and you must rate my vegetarian meatballs, but don’t tell Nastya they are meatless, see if she can tell the difference.”
They all sat down to a fabulous meal. Nastya could not believe how beautiful and identical the twins were, nor could she tell that the meatballs were meatless. “Tell me about your shoot today,” Greta said.
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