Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Alan and Brad are at Helena’s new apartment.

Alan: See, I told you Helena wouldn’t mind.

Brad: I know. A bungalow, and a new apartment. She is getting a personal home every year.

Alan: Well, she is beautiful and the only child.

Brad: Yah, I wish I was an old child.

Alan: Ya me too bud. And which is why I asked Amber to come here

Brad: Amber? Why?

Alan: Well, she wanted some time with me since our time at you know where?

Brad: Wow what did you do actually?

Alan: As I said, many things bud.

Brad: Will you tell me what happened Alan?

Amber arrives with Jane.

Alan: Ok Amber I thought you were to come alone?

Jane: What now you are Badd?

Brad: Hey it’s Brad Penn.

Jane: Ya I wish you weren’t a Penn.

Alan: Ya it’s like hens…..(laughing)

Amber: Ok Alan did you bring those mint ones?

Alan: Ya, like a packet. Mr. Burko gave us a 100 after the safari.

Brad: Wow why?

Alan: Well, actually Violet won’t be here for some weeks. He asked me to take care of the panther. He said the panther loves me.

Brad: Wow…………….wait Violet won’t be here for weeks.

Amber: well, I am here.

Brad: Well, you ain’t Violet. I wish Eva was here though,

Amber: Well, she has gone for a long ride to Tacoma.

Alan: Tacoma Wow?

Helena enters.

Alan: Babe, you are here.

Brad: It’s her home, idiot.

Alan: You are talking like Dorothy.

Brad: Wow, still Tacoma is like 12 miles from Seattle's main town. I heard her new boyfriend John had a car.

Amber: Ya, he has. It speeds at 150 mph.

Alan: Wow, 150.

Amber: Well, I heard Violet’s dad has a car that goes to 200.

Brad: Ya, and that was gifted to her.

Alan: Really?

Brad: Ya like the panther.

Alan: Wow, and I rode only the panther.

Brad: Don’t worry bud. This time we will ride that.

Alan: And look, Helena has got female guards this time.

Helena: Ya, sweety. My dad got me in the chains yet again. I asked him for an apartment to get out of that military bungalow but look what I got,3 female wrestlers and bodyguards. They can kill like five men in a few minutes. They know jujitsu, taekwondo, and martial arts.

Alan: Oh god, I hope they don’t beat me if I kiss you.

Helena: Well, we will do that in a private space……………………..My room

Alan( ecstatic): Wow………………….

Helena: But I know Jane. But who is that?

Alan: That’s Amber.

Helena: As in Violet’s friend.

Alan: Well, she is Jane’s close friend.

Helena: Good to meet you, Amber.

Amber: Same here Helena.

Helena: So, what’re new guys?

Alan: Nothing quite.

Helena: It does look like you are hiding something.

Brad: Well, he wants to smoke.

Helena: Smoke? Not good behavior Alan and you too Brad?

Brad: Well, they are mint ones, Helena.

Helena: Ok maybe I’ll give it a try. But I don’t want to affect my lungs.

Amber: Well, you shouldn’t then.

Jane: Well, the smoke can wait. Helena, you got some water or juice?

Helena: Oh I am so sorry Jane. Of course, there is a coke bottle in the freeze. Alan, can you get that? I will bring some chips for you, Jane.

Jane: See that is hospitality badd...

Brad: Ya, I saw you do that at home. Dorothy’s mom almost vomited eating your omelet.

Alan(laughs): Did Dorothy too? I would love to see that.

Jane: Hey, I cook better than you.,

Brad: Well, prove it now.

Jane: I will. You got eggs, Helena.

Brad: Ok I won’t eat that and neither will Helena.

Alan: Ya, and you are asking me and Amber to eat hers.

Jane: Hey

Helena: Ya, Alan that is not polite. You can at least taste it and then do whatever you like. Tell you what Jane maybe I” ll learn from you today. Well, we have like, some 7 here in the freeze.

Jane: Well, Brad Penn. You owe me 50 if it tastes good.

Brad: Well, if it doesn’t. I’ll throw your omelet at you.

Alan: Ok guys, let’s make omelets. Maybe I will help Jane.

Helena: Ya, Alan can cook great omelet and coffee. He made me last month.

Amber: Wow, you make coffee.

Alan(nervous): Well, sometimes.

Helena: Ok. guys in the kitchen and Amber and Brad you two stay here.

Brad: Ya, maybe we will smoke.

Amber: Why? I want to see how Alan makes coffee.

Brad(whispering): Another time Ams. We need to smoke. Let’s go there to the store.

Amber: Ok.

Brad: So, what did Alan and you do at the shower.

Amber: Well…………………wait I am not gonna tell you that. I heard you can’t keep a secret Brad.

Brad: Wohhh…………..so you too did that?

Amber: Did what?

Brad: Like what I did with Eva and do with Violet now?

Amber ( taking a puff): Well, what are you talking about?

Brad: Common Ams. Tell me I can blackmail Alan from that. I won’t tell anyone though.

(A loud thud at the store door)

Alan: Guys, what ya all doing? How about giving me a puff too?

Brad: Sorry Bud. You are assigned to make a coffee.

Alan: What are you now, a delta force guy now?

Brad: Nope, but we will drink your coffee and smoke again.

Alan: Well, let Amber come to the kitchen at least.

Brad: well, she is smoking and is smoking another one.

Alan: Ok, I’ll make coffee.

A few minutes later, Amber and Brad enter the kitchen.

Helena: Hey, guys would you go back? You guys are stinking.

Alan: Hey, did you finish all of that.

Amber: Well, maybe four.

Alan: What? And you even didn’t let me in.

Jane: Ya, What’s with the stink? And you are making Amber smoke too, Badd?

Brad: Ya it’s cool Jaaaaaaneeee.

Jane: Would you stop that.

Helena: Ya, and look at the shape of the omelet is like a love sign.

Alan sees Helena and looks at Amber back again. Brad sees Alan’s gesture as he takes him to the store.

Alan: What? Now you are giving me a cigarette?

Brad: Looks like you need one more than me?

Alan: Why?

Brad: Remember Jade and Hank

Alan: Ya so?

Brad: And Eva and Violet and Jill?

Alan: Ya, so?................................................O god is it then?

Brad: Welcome to the big league, Alan. You are in two minds or let's say …………two thoughts after all.