Theodore

by Marcus LaGrone

  “Into town! Food!” finished Marcel. “I need a beer,” he got out roughly in the Old Tongue to the amusement of all.

  Theodore grinned broadly as they sat and ate in the posh dining room attached to the Ashwood's pub. He'd eaten in the pub before, many times. But the last time he'd been in the private dining room was when Emily had married in, fourteen years ago! It was a decorative and elegant affair. With no small amount of pride, he pointed out to the twins that the two murals at each end of the room had been painted by his mothers. They had been paid well for those two paintings. Now days their skill would have commanded an even greater price. The marketing of Fiona’s and Charlotte's talents had been one of Emily's first pet projects. That and teaching Theodore the common trade tongue! He smiled as he watched and listened to Rose talking with the twins in the trade languages; she was quite good for her age and upbringing. It's not like they traveled!

  “Are you two going to marry into one family?” asked Rose to the twins.

  Theodore laughed as for the first time ever, the d'Elevston twins seemed without a witty reply. “Well?” grinned Theodore.

  “Her grammar and vocabulary are spot on,” began Maurice.

  “But we're not sure what she means,” finished Marcel.

  Rose laughed, “They are alternating like real twins!”

  “As opposed to fake twins?” asked Anna, confused as well.

  Emily grinned, “It is not uncommon for twin girls to speak as a block, alternating back and forth who is talking or talking in near unison.” She laughed, “Twin girls... First off you have to understand male twins are unheard of in the Highlands. And almost all twins are identical, or mirrored identical. But to address what little Rose was asking, we'll need a quick lecture on Highland culture.”

  “We're all ears, ma'am,” grinned the twins in unison.

  “As you have no doubt heard from Theodore, and now witnessed firsthand, a household is made up of several mothers and one father.”

  “Four to one,”

  “Girls to boys,”

  “That is what Theodore said,” the twins replied.

  “Correct!” grinned Emily. “Thus three to five mothers in a house is normal. The order at which they enter has some social precedence. First Mothers are head of the house and run the family business while Third and later mothers support the business. Second Mothers primary concern is raising and educating the children. Twins are often viewed as good luck, and one of the humorous side effects of that is twins quite often marry into a family at the same time and take the same number. Thus, one might have two First Mothers, if they are twins.”

  “Ah,” observed Marcel. “So, Rose was curious if we would both marry the same woman.”

  The twins glanced at each other and quickly answered, “No!”

  Rose just giggled at the reply and how it was delivered.

  “If you don't mind my curiosity, ma'am, how did you come to speak so many languages?” asked Maurice.

  Emily grinned, “My family ran a full service book shop. We arranged for printing down in the Lowlands, repaired books and sold books both wholesale and retail. Between having books of all languages around and my Third Mother coordinating purchases and printings in the lowlands, I picked up a few languages pretty quickly. Theodore learned Gamehra just by proxy from me, but we had to work right quick on the human trade tongue for his trip to the university.”

  “And quite well you did!” remarked Marcel with honest admiration.

  “Though some classes are actually in Gamehra as well,” replied Theodore. “If you want impressive, you should ask how long Anna had being studying the Old Tongue before she arrived here.”

  “Six weeks,” blushed Anna to the question hanging in the air. “It helped that my mother knew it pretty well and she worked with me a lot!”

  “Pretty well? No, your mother speaks the language flawlessly,” corrected Emily with a grin. “She lacks the flair of the local dialect, but so did you... for all of three days!” She laughed and smiled at Anna, “You have a very sharp ear!”

  Anna blushed a little harder only to have Theodore lean over and kiss her sending her into a laughing fit. He grinned at Meagan and shifted languages, “Sorry if we've been leaving you out of the conversation, so how would you like one, too?” He didn't wait for her response; he reached over and kissed Meagan as well leaving both of them giddy as school girls.

  Rose's eyes went wide with realization as she shifted to the Old Tongue, “Sorry, First Momma! I forgot...”

  Fiona just laughed as she reached across the table and beeped Rose on the nose. “It's okay dear! We're just tickled pink watching you practice your language skills!”

  “And the food is excellent!” grinned Charlotte.

  “And I don't have to help clean!” added Aidden.

  30

  “Get a new letter from your parents?” asked Emily as she watched Anna intently reading on the living room couch.

  Anna flashed Emily and Theodore both a grin as she looked up, “Well, my mother at least. Apparently Dad is still mad!” Anna giggled, “But at least he's back in the house. Just being all mopey.”

  “Ah! Teenagers' revenge,” grinned Theodore.

  “Yeah, but when I was all mopey around the house, I didn't have an audience.”

  “I'm just glad your mother and father are back together again,” replied Emily honestly.

  Anna blew a raspberry. “He ought to be glad that my mom let him back home!” She laughed hard.

  Theodore smiled; it was good that Anna was rolling so well with an obviously tense situation.

  “Mom wants to know what is normal and appropriate for wedding gifts: dishes, housewares, furniture or what.”

  “We're going to need a new roof almost immediately,” observed Theodore.

  Ah, Emily's turn with the raspberry! “Oh heavens, you want something nice around the house from your parents, not something as impersonal as a new roof! Furniture, dishes, rugs or carpets, any of those things! She does know that Meagan is marrying in at the same time, yes?”

  Anna smiled and nodded, “Yes! The trick with my mother is not having her come up with two sets of things for each of us gals, but rather make sure she doesn't come up with a dozen things!”

  “You're her only child, let her splurge!” grinned Emily.

  Anna grinned, “It won't make the Rose family uncomfortable if my mom gets silly?”

  “Quite honestly, we won't be able to do as much as we'd like, so by all means, if you can fill the house, do so! The Roses are fairly well to do also; I think that Meagan is their first daughter to be married. Their boy, Ross, married, oh! three years ago I believe. Now if you want something painted...” grinned Emily.

  Anna's eyes went wide, “Oh, would I! The attic is fantastic!”

  “Something in frames this time, that way you can take it with you if you move to a larger house later,” smiled Emily happy that the ladies talents were so well appreciated. “Hopefully, we'll be able to provide a little better when it is little Rose and Abby's turn,” she offered apologetically.

  “Mom, you are doing wonderfully for us! Don't worry!” offered Theodore. Emily seemed unconsoled so he moved over and kissed her on the cheek. That did better!

  “Speaking of the little ones, is Charlotte's morning sickness doing better?” asked Anna.

  Emily grinned as she thought of the new child coming into the house, “One moves out just as the next comes in...” she laughed before replying. “Actually she has not really had morning sickness, more of just very early morning munchies... a lot!”

  “Weird question,” asked Anna suddenly. “Are the Roses originally from a different region? Their family name is different in structure compared to most.”

  “Yes, well I guess Rosefield or Silverrose would be more common around here. Actually the family line is from offworld. Their First Mother married into the Highlands.”

  “Her name had been Sylva, she was adopted into a new family right befor
e she married,” added Theodore. “First and Second Mother both are from offworld.”

  Emily just grinned at him, “I did not know that!”

  They were interrupted by a knock at the door. They turned to find Chief Constable Sean Coldwell at the door.

  “Is there a problem?” asked Emily suddenly concerned.

  “Not at all,” he grinned. “May I?”

  “Oh yes! Please come in!”

  Sean smiled as he entered and turned to Theodore, “Two pieces of business for you. The Trakvell government sent this by courier and I was supposed to hand deliver it to you.” He handed Theodore a official looking envelope before continuing, “And, by way of the Altshea government, I'm supposed to give you this!” He grinned broadly as he handed Theodore a heavy satchel that jingled brightly as he passed it over.

  Theodore looked in the satchel first and his eyes went wide, “I don't think I've ever seen that much money in one place before...”

  “Would have been a wee bit more if you hadn't put an arrow through that guy’s pistol. But I am not complaining!” laughed Sean.

  “And that is how you pay for your new roof,” grinned Anna. “But what of the letter?”

  Theodore nodded as he opened the letter with some trepidation. “It's from Agent Telmark!” he grinned. “On behalf of the Provincial and Federal Police as well as the President of the Phillips-Grauer University, I am encouraged to return for the next academic term!”

  “Finally!” beamed Anna.

  “Finally, indeed!” grinned Emily.

  Theodore's eyes went wide as he sat with Anna and counted the money from the satchel on the kitchen table. “Wow! With the first bag added to this we have almost thirteen thousand. Um... and that is after taking two thousand out for old lady Deidre's place.”

  Anna smiled but there was something odd in her expression.

  “What's wrong Anna?”

  “Um... This money came to us under desperate situations...”

  “At my expense! So much the more reason to make good of it.” Her face still seemed pained. “Okay girl, what is it?”

  Anna frowned, “I don't know what to say. I'm kinda embarrassed...”

  “Usually when you are embarrassed you blush. What is it?”

  “Um, I have money at home. Savings for a car and other things...”

  “Very practical of you. What's the problem then?”

  “After the exchange rate it boils down to almost twelve-thousand.”

  Theodore laughed, “What's wrong with that?”

  “Well. It just doesn't seem right. I mean you were worried about getting two thousand together and I could have covered it no problem but I didn't say anything. It's just that... well... I mean, I just didn't want to embarrass you...”

  “You wouldn't have embarrassed me,” laughed Theodore. “I think I see your problem. If I understand the 'world view' that you grew up with, the traditional role model for the male is 'the provider.' Is that correct?”

  Anna laughed, “Yeah. And hey, you used my two least favorite words without making me flinch.”

  “'World view?'” grinned Theodore.

  “That's the two!” laughed Anna.

  “What planet are we on?”

  “Um, Afon...”

  “Where on Afon?”

  “The Highlands!” laughed Anna slightly confused.

  “And who is head of the household?”

  “Um, Fiona.”

  Theodore laughed, “No, in general terms.”

  “The First Mother,” grinned Anna.

  “Last time we talked about it, Meagan was coming in as Second Mother. That means you are coming in...”

  “As First Mother!” laughed Anna. “Okay, I get your point. Rather than be embarrassed for you I should be proud for what I can bring to the family.”

  “Exactly!” grinned Theodore as he reached across the table and kissed Anna.

  Anna savored the mood before launching into a giggling fit. “I'm not used to being the responsible one...”

  “I think the phrase is, 'welcome to adulthood.'”

  Anna grinned, “Something like that. Okay, after paying Deidre, we, we, will have around twenty-five thousand. We know we'll need to reroof, replace windows and things. What else will need to be done?”

  “I don't know. How about we go over and visit her and check out the place?”

  Anna laughed, “There you go being practical! Is it okay?”

  “Why wouldn't it be?”

  “She's deaf... Is that going to be a problem with visiting her?”

  “She can lip read so-so, and when she goes to market she carries a slate and chalk. She's fairly practical about her situation”

  “Then let's!”

  Anna's eyes went wide as they threaded through the woods and finally came to the clearing that was Deidre's abode: it was gorgeous! A proud and stately house with timberframe upper floors and elegant stonework for the ground floor. The path to the house was pea sized river gravel with larger stone edging which was then flanked by long rows of flowers. The proud old lady was visible as they approached as she worked diligently in her herb garden on the side of the house.

  “It's darling!” grinned Anna. “And... it's huge!”

  “Nah, my parent's place is just tiny. My dad estimated it's about four thousand square feet.”

  “What's that in square meters,” asked Anna somewhat embarrassed.

  “About 370 or so.”

  “My parent's place is 250 square meters...” she laughed.

  “Yeah, but they had all sorts of amenities.”

  “Heat and running water--that's all we need! Glad to lose the phone and computers and it's not like we need a car!” beamed Anna.

  “Remember, we are starting off with three people in the house. Average is four mothers and six kids. That is eleven people under one roof. Ten years from now you may find the place a little small...”

  “But in the meantime it is palatial!” laughed Anna.

  Deidre caught sight of the couple approaching and waved as she set down her herb basket and tools. She grinned broadly and was soon on top of them. She moved pretty fast for her age! Her ears may not serve her well, but her knees were good! “Hello, dears!” she beamed as she hugged them both. “Come to see the house, I take it!”

  “If it is not an imposition, ma'am,” grinned Anna.

  “Only caught part of that, deary,” Deidre laughed. “Let's just try a 'yes' or 'no.'”

  “Yes! Please!”

  Deidre grinned broadly, “That's better. Just help yourselves and go on in. Look anywhere you want; I'm going to try and finish my gardening. Oh, the door in front of the stairs is stiff, you may have to put your shoulder into it. You'll want to open some windows upstairs, it's all closed up and stuffy. I've just been living on the ground floor. Go on! Go! Have a good look-see!”

  Anna laughed and hugged Deidre. That was well received and the friendly old lady just laughed, “Oh, you two are so precious. Next time you come, you bring darling Meagan, too!”

  “Yes, ma'am!” beamed Anna.

  “Shoo! Go explore! I've got plants calling to me.”

  The pair both giggled as they explored the ground floor; it was an elegant house but showing some minor signs of its age. A few windowsills showed a bit of water damage and the walls could use fresh paint, but it was a solid house that had, like its present owner, aged gracefully.

  “Very large kitchen. Um, no dining room?”

  “There is a dining room,” grinned Theodore. “It's just that the lady of the house is currently using it for a bedroom.”

  Anna laughed at the realization. “Well, practical if living alone. Whoa! The pantry is almost big enough for a bedroom!”

  “Root cellar,” observed Theodore as he pointed to a trap door in the floor. They quickly looked down into the space below and Anna broke out laughing.

  “Um, no. It isn't a root cellar. It's a wine cellar!”

  “I hear you complaining, t
oo!” grinned Theodore.

  They quickly started to explore the upstairs as well. The door that the kind lady had warned them about, was stiff, not quite stuck. Nothing three drops of oil couldn't fix. The air upstairs was stale, as she had warned, so they quickly opened a series of windows to air the place out.

  “Master bedroom and bath, library, sitting room and what I'm guessing is the nursery. Furniture goes with her, of course,” observed Theodore. “You know what Meagan's first question is going to be?” he grinned.

  Anna just grinned as she shook her head.

  “'Where are we going to put a piano?'” he grinned.

  Anna laughed, “Not upstairs! Oh, their whole family oozes music.”

  “Heck, their cousins and in-laws do, too!” grinned Theodore.

  “Did you see the rugs in the master bedroom? Oh, wow! Umm... Your father wasn't kidding when he said we'd want to replace them even if they stay.”

  “Hideous, weren't they?” grinned Theodore. “I'm sure we can find a home for them somewhere. Or have them shredded and turned into felt.”

  The third floor provided four more bedrooms and two more baths. A few more windows with minor damage but ultimately a very stout house indeed!

  “How much is this house actually worth?” whispered Anna as the realization of what a wedding gift they were being given for only few thousand talirs. “I mean, there are like five windows that need repairs and it needs a new roof. Honestly I was expecting a little cottage in the woods. This is massive!”

  Theodore swished his whiskers and thought a bit, “I'd have guessed over a hundred thousand, even with the repairs. Oops, going to have to replace a few faucets!” he observed as he played with the sink. It gurgled a bit and took a moment for the water to run clean, but the pressure was good and the hot water ran just the same. If only they didn't leak...

  “Five bedrooms plus nursery, three baths...” began Anna.

  “Four and a half baths: there was one and a half baths on the ground floor,” corrected Theodore.

  Anna suddenly seemed distant, “You'll be nineteen, Meagan and I will be eighteen. I'll still be training with the Firemeadows and we are being given a five bedroom, gorgeous house to start our new lives off with.” Anna sat on the stairs and started crying.