I Wish I Were The Moon Tonight

"My dear, you are in for quite the learning experience,” Greta laughed turning the television on to CNN. She even made a bowl of hot buttered popcorn for the show.

“I am?” Valia asked.

“Yes, now pay attention while I tell you what is about to take place.” Greta continued. She could not stop laughing. “You have been on the You Tube yah? Well, silly and serious humans from around this country video taped questions and submitted them to be asked of the Republican Presidential Candidates, those are the guys, and I do mean guys only, who all hope to be the next President of this here United States.”

“They all look so sad.” Valia said.

“Sad, now you could not have chosen a better word.”

“There are more than twelve definitions for the word,” Valia said.

“Yes, and they all apply here in one way or another, you will see, Greta grinned.

“The popcorn is good,” Valia said reaching for more from the bowl. “The earliest recovered evidence of corn being popped was found in New Mexico and was popped over four thousand years ago.”

Greta gave Valia a serious look but could not hold it for long as she burst into laughter. “I love having a sister who is a walking encyclopedia.”

“And I love having a sister that can make such delicious popcorn,” Valia laughed.

The show began with the usual introductions. “Oh my, this is a bit scary as well as being sad,” Greta said.

The twins had returned their hair color to its original golden glow. It attracted a larger audience viewing their images online, and a larger audience is exactly what they wanted for the work they had planned in Cyprus with two photographers.

One by one the candidates listened to people singing, acting or literally shooting their questions on specific issues at them, most of which had to deal with dramatic problems created by Twine and his band of political barbarians. Valia said most of their words were lies. When one candidate was asked a question about what Jesus would do about the death penalty, Valia began a commentary on the dangers of religion, citing a seemingly endless list of the worst atrocities mankind had ever lived through created by one religion or another. “To accept someone who is deeply rooted in religion, or can convince the majority of the masses that they are, in a country as powerful as yours, would lead to the worst holocaust your world has ever seen.” Valia said. “On my world the word for what Jesus was is Uppesti. It means One Who Enlightens, and is in no way unique to your world,” Valia continued. “Nearly all species in the universe have experienced their own version of Uppesti in early critical stages of their evolution.”

“Nearly all?” Greta asked.

“There are countless forms of life in the universe that have no concept of good or bad, they simply exist.”

“Ah, but you mentioned the ‘E’ word,” Greta laughed. “Most of these boys at least claim they do not believe in evolution.”

“They are lying for votes, all but one who at this very moment is asking forgiveness from Jesus in case he answered the question on the death penalty wrong,” Valia smiled. “Have you seen enough?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for the popcorn,” Valia said. “Now I have something to show you.”

Valia touched Greta’s hand and in an instant they were in her studio. She turned on her Studio Macbook as she called it, and started a video that showed a young woman with long silky black hair pulled back into a ponytail moving around a large room with computer screens scattered about on counters and tables, along with an abundance of lab equipment. “Meet Olga Koladaitis,” Valia said.

“She’s kind of cute,” Greta said before looking at Valia and bursting into laughter. “Does she know who and where we are yet?”

“She is very good at what she does,” Valia replied. “She did but that has been altered.”

“I see,” Greta smiled.

“I have actually been aiding her in her work.”

“Have you been to Cyprus without me?” Greta cried, acting out the part of a disturbed weeping jealous lover. “You’ve been to Cyprus without me, boo hoo.”

“Are you going to be asked to cry in Teddy’s movie?” Valia asked.

“Guess there’s no fooling you?” Greta replied. “Ok, I give up, how did you acquire this video?”

“Watch it again,” Valia replied.

Greta watched the video again, this time noticing a bird sitting on a perch overlooking one of the main tables. “Well she has to have more than one if that one is in the shot?”

“They are Nyasa Lovebirds, she has a pair of them.”

“Now they are beautiful,” Greta said.

The phone in their upstairs apartment started ringing. “A call, so late in the day, who could it be?” Greta asked holding her hands together looking up at the ceiling.

Valia willed her Studio Macbook off and in a blink they were both back up in their apartment. “Hello?” Greta asked. Standing behind her, Valia put hands on Greta’s shoulders already knowing what the call was about.

“Greta, it’s Abi in Carbondale,” Abigail said. “I don’t know how else to say this, but Jamina is in Rush Hospital in Chicago, her mother called here because Jamina gave her your number as a friend emergency contact, I never had it changed.”

Tears began forming in Greta’s eyes, as she knew what Abigail was about to tell her before she even spoke. “Evidently she was found on a street somewhere on the west side of the city.” “There was a witness, but the police are doubtful as to the accuracy of his account because he is homeless and an alcoholic.”

“Rush is a large place, did you get detailed information as to where she is?” Greta asked.

Abigail gave her all the information she had received from Jamina’s mother.

“I am sorry that I had to hear your marvelous voice under such horrible circumstance,” Greta said. “I will see what I can find out and let you know ok?”

“Please do Greta, Jamina is one of the nicest human beings I know,” Abigail said, obviously crying now.

“I will, now don’t you worry, take care of yourself and give our best to Mya,” Greta said before hanging up.

Valia had already gone to the bedroom laying out what they would wear for the trip. “The weather shall be quite wintry,” she said, noticing the rage welling up inside of Greta.

“I think you had better drive.” Greta said.

They did not even remove the Pontiac from the garage as it vanished in a whisper reappearing on Paulina Street heading south, a few blocks from the hospital parking garage. Greta insisted on paying to park before they disappeared from the car and were standing in a dimly lit hospital room.

Jamina lay on the hospital bed in traction. Her right leg and left arm were elevated, she looked like she was covered in bandages from head to toe, her left eye and mouth the only features visible through the bandages on her face. Greta’s tears soon turned to rage, “I swear if it is the last thing I do, I will find who did this to her,” she sniffed. “Valia can we do anything?” she asked starting to cry again.

Valia did not answer immediately as she quietly scanned Jamina’s body, her eyes closed as she did.

“Her injuries are severe, life threatening and beyond my power to heal at this time, but we may be able to help her,” Valia replied. “I am going to need you to focus on me and nothing else. Do not open your eyes until I tell you that it is safe.”

“Ok.”

Wrap your arms around me and do not fear what you are about to feel, Valia thought as she and Greta wrapped their arms around each other. In a few moments Valia held her hands open behind Greta’s back, a glowing sphere appearing in each hand 1.3 inches in diameter. The spheres left her hands at the speed of light, careening around the room forming geometrical shapes around the twins and Jamina, until they themselves were engulfed within a sphere of light that began spinning around them filling them with the sensation of being electrocuted. When Valia told Greta it was safe for her to open her eyes, they were in the same hospital room, but the bed was now empty. “Come,” Valia said.

She took Greta by the hand and in an instant, they were standing on a street as Jamina came walking out the door of a bar with two friends to whom she bid a good night before walking alone to get to her car. “There,” Valia said, pointing to a rusty white van parked in the middle of the block with its motor running. She smiled at Greta, “It most definitely will not be the last thing you do, but here you are, the men who did this to her.” The twins arrived inside the van undetected to the sound of male laughter.

“Here comes one, tall and alone,” the man in the passenger seat said.

“I hope she has some cash, credit cards are a fucking hassle,” the driver groaned. “Get ready, she is a few cars away.”

Before Jamina reached the car behind the parked van, she was stopped dead in her tracks by the sound of loud screams emanating from the van. The sound was deafening and blood curdling, of someone in extreme pain. She ran to the other side of the street, then to her car and sped off into the night.

In the van, the two men were suspended in mid air, each experiencing the pain and humiliation they inflicted on Jamina before their arrival at that precise point in time. The twins JTIKED the two of them to remember the pain they would be made to suffer again and again, if they ever thought of attacking another human being.

A moment later, they were back in the hospital room, Greta staring at a man in the bed. Again she followed Valia’s instructions as the glowing spheres shot around the room forming another spinning glowing sphere, the same feeling of being electrocuted surrounding them. “Open your eyes,” Valia said after what seemed like a few seconds.

When she did, there was a woman in the hospital bed recovering from having her appendix removed. I am speechless. Greta thought as they vanished from the room and appeared in the Pontiac parked in the hospital garage.

“You, speechless, I don’t think so.” Valia laughed.

“Well, aren’t we the comedian?” Greta laughed. “You are going to have to explain what just happened someday when I am not so distraught.”

“Yes.” Valia smiled.

“I’d go look in on mommy, but it is so late,” Greta said.

“Let’s go home, I’m kind of tired.”

“Let’s,” Greta said, “I’ll drive.

Greta took control of the vehicle driving through Greenwich Village. “It is a beautiful night, but it’s going to get colder, that’s for sure,” Greta said knowing that Chicago’s weather usually got to the east coast a day later. “How about a nice hot cup of tea?”

“Tea would be nice,” Valia replied.

When they returned to the apartment, Greta asked if Valia could travel back in time to change the fate of her and her ship.

“No.” was the only answer she gave.

She took Valia by the hand to a hot bath she had already drawn as soon as she’d heard her say she was tired. They slipped into the large custom tub Greta had installed to accommodate their long bodies. She watched Valia with a smile on her face relaxing in the soothing water, eyes closed and humming a tune Greta had never heard before. “You really did get tired, I can tell,” Greta said.

“For a member of my species to do what we did is somewhat draining, the equivalent of a member of your world running a marathon.”

“Well you relax darling, I am going to fix us some tea and crumpets,” Greta smiled, “well, tea and cookies anyway.” She began quietly singing as she reached for a towel to dry off, “Misty world you’re calling, Misty world so pure, You approach me naked, How can I refuse, Misty world you’re in me, Misty world adored, I surrender to your gentle touch, I am yours.” Valia’s eyes were now open as she watched Greta leave the room.

“The song you were singing while in the bathroom, it sounded magnificent being sung by you,” Valia said taking a sip of her tea, “full of passion and depth. I am impressed you remembered the melody from that day in Denver.”

“What a nice thing to say my dear, thank you,” Greta said.

“Let’s record it, and get it out for the world to enjoy,” Valia smiled. “We can make our own video for it.”

“You’re wish is my command my Misty Mergina,” Greta laughed. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I am feeling quite rejuvenated.”

“Good, because I was hoping you would have enough energy to, ahem, you know,” Greta said, her eyes moving up and down Valia’s naked body.

“So nice of you not to take advantage of me in my earlier weakened state,” Valia giggled as she pulled Greta on top of her. The lights dimmed, the plants provided the music as they always did, and the twins made love before passing out in each other’s arms.

Greta was awakened to the sound of the phone ringing, Valia still lying beside her under the covers. “Hello,” she answered.

“Gretanotchka, I have just signed for a package addressed to Valia,” Krystyna said.

“I will be right down for it my dear, thank you.”

Greta looked over at Valia just beginning to stir. “You sure weren’t kidding when you said that takes it out of you,” she smiled. “I will be right back, something has arrived for you.”

When Greta returned, she was carrying a rather large box with a handle at the top in one hand, and a large plate of homemade pierogi’s in the other, a gift from Krystyna.

“Did you buy me a hat, aw, you shouldn’t have,” Greta said to a refreshed but sleepy looking Valia.

“I didn’t, but I can take you shopping for hats today if you like,” Valia said holding her arms out as she sat down on the couch. Greta placed the box on the floor in front of her, looking at Valia wide eyed, who just returned the glance and laughed. “Is there coffee?”

“There will be shortly,” Greta replied. She placed the dish of pierogi’s in the fridge and put a pot of coffee on before returning to the living room. “Ok, I am ready to watch you open your package of mystery and surprise me.” “What are their names going to be?”

“No pulling the wool over your eyes,” Valia laughed, “did I get that right?”

“Dah!”

“This is Eza and Zofia, and they are going to be an invaluable addition to the string section,” Valia said.

“Hello ladies,” Greta smiled, “a better home you could not find.”

So we’ve heard, thank you Greta, the matching plants replied.

“How about that coffee?” Greta asked. “Would you like some breakfast?”

“Just coffee, thank you.”

Greta returned with coffee and toast. “Will they get very large?” she asked.

“Oh my no, only about 37.63 inches in length,” Valia replied.

Just then Greta’s cel rang, a huge smile appearing on her face as she looked at the caller i.d. “Hello and welcome to My Misty World, how can I be of assistance?” she answered.

“Can you please tell Greta Garbova that Jamina called, thanks, bye,” Jamina replied.

“W w wait, Jamina, it’s me, don’t hang up,” Greta shouted. She could hear giggling on the other end. “Oh you.”

“Greta, you just get sexier and more beautiful each time I hear you,” Jamina said. “How are you, how is dear Valia?”

“We’re ok, how are you, where are you?” Greta replied.

“I am in Philadelphia for a few days, and we were thinking of shooting over to New York to do some Christmas shopping, hence this call to see if you are going to be around, I would love to see the two of you again.”

“I will make arrangements for a room for you at the Chelsea my treat,” Greta said, “stay overnight at least, enjoy the Chelsea experience, ok?”

“Ok, will call you tomorrow when we hit town,” Jamina replied.

“Fabulous, can’t tell you just how good it is to hear your voice,” Greta said, “see you tomorrow.”

When she hung the phone up Greta walked over to Valia and bent over the couch to kiss her. “Thank you again for the phone call I just took,” she said.

“Take the coffees and come with me,” Valia said as a thick bathrobe came floating out of the bedroom landing on her shoulders. She picked up the box and led the way down to her studio where she introduced the new members of her family to all the others in the room. “Before we do anything else today, I would love to record the song you wrote that I heard you singing last night,” Valia said. “Is this a good time?”

“Yes, now would be a good time,” Greta replied, the familiar sounds of an orchestra tuning up beginning to softly fill the room. She gave Valia two takes to work on in private with her babies. When she played back what she’d recorded, Greta seemed doubly shocked that she sounded so good, and that she thought it did not sound like her at all.

“How do people get used to hearing themselves when they’ve been recorded?” Greta asked.

“I could JTIK you,” Valia grinned.

“Oh no, that’s ok, I’ll get used to it,” Greta grinned back. “I’ll be upstairs if you need me.”

“I am coming up too, I will do some mixing later.”

The phone rang as Greta entered the kitchen. “Hello,” Valia answered.

“Hello, Valia this is Nastya, good afternoon,” Nastya replied.

“Hello and good afternoon to you,” Valia replied knowing that where she was it was well into the evening.

“I am in Cyprus, I came here to scout locations for a shoot with Greta and yourself,” Nastya said. “I ran into a young woman who I believe owns half the island, and she showed me so many fabulous possibilities.”

“Great, it should be a fun time when we begin our work there,” Valia grinned, catching Greta smiling at her from the kitchen.

“It is, when Olga and I started talking about my work, she asked me to photograph her in one of her favorite places along the coast, I’ll show you the shots when I get back to New York, I am flying back tomorrow.”

“Give us a call the day after if you would not mind, we are having friends in for the day tomorrow and I promised to take Greta shopping for hats,” Valia said.

“Ok I will, take care,” Nastya said before hanging up.

“What a coincidence, one of our photographers actually meeting Olga and then doing a shoot with her,” Greta grinned.

“It truly is since I had absolutely nothing to do with it,” Valia grinned back. “Would you like to take a drive with me?”

“I guess, where are we going?” Greta asked.

“I need to go to Houston,” Valia replied, “I know you do not like Texas.”

“Oh no, is it really necessary?” Greta groaned.

“I am afraid so,” Valia replied.

“Well I am driving there and you are running in for the lattes, deal?” Greta smiled.

“Deal.”

After a quick stop at Starbucks, the Pontiac vanished from the island of Manhattan. Valia had programmed the Pontiac to emit a JTIK to all around the vehicle to FORGET when it went into VIZU. It reappeared in Armand Bayou Park, rolling to a stop under some trees near the waters edge, remaining in a stealth mode to avoid detection. The twins walked into a clearing in the trees where six women from the Kickapoo tribe stood and sat on colorful blankets.

“Ho ooaa niinesani ihkweea,” one of the women standing said. The twins returned the greeting as they became acquainted. Greta discovered that the Kickapoo were an offshoot of the Shawnee tribe. They were happy to help Valia with the task at hand that they traveled to Texas for. Valia instilled in each of them the power to execute a series of JTIKS that they would use on the vast number of oil executives in this, the Oil Capital of America. She explained how these oilmen were meeting even as they did, to discuss ways to stifle new discoveries that could make powering the planet practically free of polluting byproducts and inexpensive to produce. “Greed is their god,” she explained.

The next hour was spent doing what girls do when they get together, girl talk. One of the women had an especially riotous sense of humor that the twins found refreshing. They asked Valia to share her techniques for bringing a human female to maximum orgasmic delight, which she joyfully offered to them. When the time came for them to part company, they gave the blanket to the twins before vanishing like the wind.

The twins folded the blanket, placing it in the back seat, before they left the Pontiac still in stealth mode arriving at the NASA Johnson Space Center. “It is time your species got out of the space crib and started to walk,” Valia grinned.

“One usually has to walk before they learn how to fly,” Greta said.

They JTIKED themselves to appear different in appearance to any person or recording device that viewed them, as they made their way to the cafeteria. Once there, Valia grabbed a handful of napkins and asked if she and Greta could sit at the table where a woman was having a meal.

Janet Norad looked around at a half empty cafeteria and answered, “No, not at all.” Janet was nothing short of a genius in her field, obsessed with quantum mechanics.

“Is the food here any good?” Greta asked as Valia wrote on a napkin.

“Sometimes,” Janet replied as Valia handed her the first of twelve napkins, each one solving existing theories that when pieced together, would allow mankind to finally be able to explore space in manned self propelled vehicles.

Janet pushed her meal aside after viewing the first napkin. “I don’t suppose you can tell me how you came by this information?” she asked.

“It is unimportant,” Valia replied, “and after today you will never see us again.” The final napkin she handed Janet had the names and contact information of Olga and Alan at Princeton. “There are forces at work in the universe that mankind has not yet dreamed of.”

“I’ve always scribbled some of my best thoughts on a napkin,” Janet laughed.

“What you have just received is a gift, to be guarded and kept from those that would exploit it,” Valia said. “Release it as you see fit, when you feel that it is safe to do so, but do not delay, time is running out.”

The twins stood up and shook Janet’s hand. “Goodbye Miss Norad,” Greta said. Valia JTIKED Janet to remember what was written on the napkins in the event something happened to them.

“See you around the Galaxy?” Janet smiled.

Valia just smiled back at her as they left the cafeteria, disappearing from the Center and reappearing in the Pontiac with Valia in the driver’s seat.

“Can we please get out of this state now?” Greta moaned.

“Yes,” Valia laughed as the Pontiac took them back home, reappearing parked in their garage. “I am a little hungry.”

“Come darling, I have pierogi’s for you Valianotchka.”

“Mmm, pierogi’s.”

As Greta stood above the stove heating up dinner, she could not help but wonder, in amazement, at what had transpired in just the past twenty four hours, let alone since Valia had come into her life. The world was, and would be a far better place since her arrival, but she was filled with a sense of being helpless, of wishing she had the power to change more and immediately.

“But you do have that power,” Valia spoke softly standing beside her holding her Macbook. She held the screen up for Greta to see that the Saudi rape victim had been pardoned, and that the system that condemned her would be subject to review and change.

Valia wiped a few tears of joy from Greta’s cheek as she read the short article.

“Pierogi’s,” Greta laughed, sniffing as she did.

“Everything that we do happens because of you, remember that,” Valia smiled.

“Applesauce or sour cream?” Greta asked.

“How about both?”

“My thought exactly,” Greta grinned.

After dinner Greta sat in with Valia during her editing session of My Misty World. She asked Greta’s advice during the session, which simply made her laugh. “You are the maestro,” she said, “I am the cook, we cannot exist without one another, I cannot cook without music, and you cannot make music unless you eat, you know cause otherwise you would wither away and well, you know.”

“I’ll need your help with the video,” Valia said as she explained how she had been compiling visual data from plants and birds around the world, which would be superimposed under the slow moving detailed images of Greta and herself nude. After a few hours, and one trip back upstairs for a few snacks, Greta was blown away with what Valia called ‘The Misty Mix’. She even liked the way she sounded singing on the completed version.

“Bring a copy upstairs so we can listen to it while we, ahem, shoot some video,” Greta smiled.

“Misty implies wetness no?” Greta asked as she headed to the bathroom and filled the large tub. A number of candles around the tub and the rest of the room supplied the ambient light. Valia JTIKED a pair of video cameras to hover above them in the tub, responding to their wishes to pan in or out. When the recorded version of ‘The Misty Mix’ was over, the plants about the room provided an instrumental version of the tune, as the twins gathered enough footage of themselves for the video. When they were satisfied they had enough to work with, the cameras turned off, the twins got out of the tub and dried each other off before making their way to the living room floor to finish what they had started in the tub.

Valia woke to a wide-eyed image of herself as Greta spoke staring at her, “I had a dream about the first time we kissed in the bathroom on the train.”

“It was an enjoyable memory for you?” Valia asked.

“Of course it was, but after I kissed you back you said, ‘We’d better stop, this could be detrimental to both of us’, and I was wondering what you meant by that?”

“I knew that as crazy as it seemed to you at the time, we were falling in love,” Valia replied. “What I meant by that statement was that our love would make it unlikely that I would ever see my homeworld again, and although you would probably never leave your world, your life would never be the same as it was before we met.”

“If what happened to me is detrimental, I welcome it,” Greta said. “I am sorry that you may never see your home again.”

“When I am with you I simply do not care,” Valia smiled.

With a wave of her hand Greta removed their nearly invisible pubic hair permanently, then watched as their fingernails changed to a deep chocolate brown and the hair on their heads grew six inches longer. “The day I looked in the mirror and saw your image staring back at me was the happiest day of my life,” Greta said. “When I am with you I simply do not care.”

“Chocolate brown, a good choice for shopping,” Valia giggled.

“So I don’t forget to bring home some Godiva, I know how much you and Krystyna love those truffles,” Greta grinned.

“Cho-o-o-colate,” Valia laughed.

“How did you ever exist on your world without coffee and chocolate?” Greta asked.

“I couldn’t, that’s why I came here.”

“And I thought you came here for me, sniff,” Greta cried.

“Are you expecting a call from Teddy?” Valia laughed.

“Yes, as a matter of fact I am.”

Greta’s phone rang, it was Teddy, “Good morning Mr. Allen,” Greta answered.

“What, how, I mean how did you know it was me calling?” Teddy asked.

“Caller i.d.?” Greta asked.

“But I am calling from a pay phone,” Teddy replied.

“Precisely, you are the only person I know who still calls from a pay phone,” Greta giggled. “Valia says hello.”

“Yes, well at least pay phones do not give you brain cancer like those little phones you all carry,” Teddy laughed. “Girls, the storyline has changed and we will be shooting portions of the movie in various places in Europe, is that ok with you, I mean, you are going to need passports.”

“Where do you plan on taking us Teddy, and what do you plan on doing with us?” Valia asked.

“Amazing, that is actually one of your lines in the script, well if you drop my name it is,” Teddy replied. “About six countries, I think, let me see here,” he continued, the sound of him leafing through and dropping what was undoubtedly the script, “no more than eight.”

“Teddy don’t worry, we already have our passports ordered since we have a photo shoot planned over there,” Greta said.

“Photos, yes a photoshoot, yes well that is good news for the planet I can tell you,” Teddy snickered.

“Don’t you like our photos Teddy?” Valia asked.

“I, I love your photos, don’t be silly, I, girls I am happy to hear you are ok with traveling across Europe, I will be in touch.”

“Thanks Teddy, goodbye,” the twins chimed as Greta hung up the phone.

“Mirrors,” Greta said.

“Mirrors?” Valia asked.

“I think I want to do a shoot outdoors with mirrors, you know I have never loved mirrors as much I do since that fab day in Philadelphia when I saw your image gazing back at me.” Greta replied. “Yes mirrors, no one round mirror that we can play with, is that ok with you?”

“I will dream of the possibilities,” Valia replied kissing Greta tenderly on the lips.

When Jamina called to say they were on their way, Greta asked her to stop at the Best Western and see the man at the front desk for a package coming to her. She then told them to take their time, do some shopping alone if they like, and to meet them in front of Macy’s at three p.m. “That gives us a few hours, what would you like to do?” Greta asked.

“I’d like to drop off a copy of My Misty World at David’s before shopping, and I would like to build a snowwoman on Sunday in the park.” Valia replied. “How about you, what would you like to do?”

“Drop off My Misty World, buy a new hat, stop world hunger, create worldwide peace, see our planet from the moon, and help you build a snowwoman on Sunday.”

“She is going to have to be tall.” Valia laughed.

“With killer curves,” Greta laughed. “Wanna watch me tinkle?”

“Love to,” Valia replied following Greta into the bathroom.

The twins freshened up and got dressed before heading down for a quick stop in the studio where Valia made a copy of My Misty World. Once outside, Greta hailed a taxi, their first stop Starbucks. They then made a quick stop at David’s to drop off the cd. “Eighteenth and Eight Avenue,” Valia told the driver getting back into the taxi after leaving the cd in the mailbox.

“So close to home?” Greta asked.

“Dah!”

The taxi pulled up down the block from Ellen Christine’s Millinery shop. “Come,” Valia spoke in a perfect imitation of Garbo.

“Be gentle,” Greta sighed.

Valia took her hand and led her into the boutique, where they were greeted by the owner/designer. The brightly lit room was awash with gorgeous hats, a hat lover’s paradise, especially a woman’s hat lover.

“Hello ladies, let me know if I can be of any assistance,” Ellen said.

“Garbo, we love Garbo,” Valia said, continuing her perfect imitation of the divine Ms. Garbo.

“She was quite the hat lover, I have one that I have titled ‘The Garbo Fedora, inspired by the hat she was wearing in the classic photo of her sitting on a trunk.”

“Marvelous, may we see one,” Valia smiled.

“But of course, it is right over here.”

“In each color available please,” Valia said, “for each of us.”

“Do you already know your hat size, we custom make them to your own size,” Ellen said.

“You can measure us?” Valia asked. “I think my sister has a larger head.”

Greta slapped Valia gently on the arm. “Well, since she is paying, can we have one of those for each of us as well,” Greta said pointing to another marvelous hat, and that one and, uhm, that one?”

Ellen was not quite sure if they were kidding but she began measuring them for their hats starting with Greta. When she finished Greta noticed Garbo standing in the corner looking at a different hat. Tell her to modify it to be a bit stiffer with a slightly larger brim, Garbo smiled.

But of course, do you like my other choices? Greta thought.

I do, Garbo laughed before vanishing from sight.

“Your measurements are precisely the same,” Ellen said, “Seven and a quarter for future reference.”

“Could you fashion them with a material that is a bit stiffer with a slightly larger brim?” Valia asked, smiling up at Greta.

“But of course,” Ellen replied.

Valia paid for the order and told her where to deliver them when ready. “May we have at least one each of the fedora within the next week,” she asked, “we will be traveling to Europe sometime in the near future?”

“But of course, every hat you chose is the perfect hat for the shape of your faces.”

“Thank you,” Greta smiled as they left the shop and stepped back out into the crisp cold November air.

“Thanks for waiting driver,” Greta said, looking at Valia’s fingernails as she closed the door. “Thirty Rockefeller Plaza, do you know the Godiva Boutique?”

“Yes m’am, Thirty Rock it is,” the driver replied.

As they stepped out of the taxi, the breeze felt colder than it did back at the hat store as the sky started to become overcast. Greta found herself wishing she already had her hat. The twins ran into the Godiva Boutique and left with three shopping bags full of chocolates. “You are good for your economy,” Valia giggled.

“Thank you sis, you’re so generous,” Greta grinned as she reached for her cel phone.

“Hello luv, we are just about finished, how are you doing?” Jamina asked.

“We have filled a taxi with stuff and need to head back home, why don’t you take your time, go check into the Chelsea, the room is in your name by the way, then come to our place when you are ready,” Greta replied.

“It sounds like a plan, sometimes holiday shopping is more than I can bear,” Jamina laughed. “I will call when we are on our way over to your place.”

Greta instructed the driver to take them back to their apartment. They stopped a Krystyna’s apartment and dropped off the first shopping bag of chocolate. “For all you do for us, enjoy,” Valia said.

“Dziekuje,” Krystyna said. “You know I have a weakness for chocolate.”

“And well you should, it is a bit of an aphrodisiac,” Greta winked.

They headed up to their apartment where Greta plopped on the couch without removing her coat. “Twoje oczy sa jak dwa ksiezyce,” Greta said.

“The moon, really?” Valia smiled, putting the chocolate in the refrigerator. “Mam chlopaka,” she said quietly.

“Waaaaah,” Greta cried, “I knew it, is it Teddy, Henri, the taxi driver?”

“Bardzo mi sie podobasz,” Valia purred.

“I am confident I would be able to make you forget any boyfriend that came into your life,” Greta smiled. “And if I couldn’t I wound render him impotent,” she laughed. “Thank you for the compliment by the way.”

“I am sure you could,” Valia said. “I will be in my studio if you need me darling sister.”

“Yes, I know.”

Greta spent nearly an hour picking up around the apartment and answering emails. She then made reservations at Sardis, wanting to actually eat the spaghetti this time. When Jamina called she told her to come right over, and to take a taxi because parking was hard to find everywhere in Manhattan on a Friday night.

Jamina is on her way over, are you too busy to get the door when she arrives? Greta thought.

She did not get a reply.

Are you with your boyfriend again? Greta giggled in thought.

There was still no reply.

In a blink she appeared in the studio where she found Valia’s studio Macbook closed. “Where is Valia?” she asked.

She had to leave, said not to worry, and that she was really getting hungry, a chorus of plants replied.

“Did she say where she was going?”

No, but she was in a hurry.

“Don’t do this to me.”

Greta’s world seemed as though the bottom dropped out of it. She pleaded with Valia’s plants to do all they could to try and locate her. “We’ve never been separated,” she said before she began to cry, returning to the upstairs apartment. She was about to lose it at the thought of not being able to locate her, at the thought of never seeing her again when the doorbell rang.

She is in the Pocono Mountains, Greta’s favorite plant Myra reported. She said she is sorry she did not let you know where she went, it was an emergency, she was needed to help, and that she would meet you at Sardis.

Greta started shedding tears of joy. “Ask her if she is going to want a salad or just a lot of pasta?” Greta smiled. “And tell her I am going to kick her,” she stopped before finishing as the doorbell rang again. “Jamina,” she said running down the stairs to let her in.

“I hope we are not interrupting anything,” Jamina smiled reaching to give Greta a hug and a kiss.

“I, uh, no, as a matter of fact Valia is not here at the moment, she had to run out and help a friend with something,” Greta smiled.

“Greta this is Tammy, Tammy my dear friend Greta.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Tammy said. “Jamina just adores you, and that automatically makes you a friend of mine.”

“What a sweet thing to say, thank you,” Greta said. “Come on girls, it is the top floor,” she said letting them lead the way so she could secure the door behind them.

Once they made it upstairs, Greta took their coats and proceeded to open the package Jamina brought from the hotel for her to reveal a round mirror.

“I’ve seen that before,” Jamina said.

“Yes, there is probably one in most of the rooms at that hotel, I wanted this one for sentimental reasons.” Greta smiled, staring at her reflection in the mirror. As she did she could not help but wonder if Valia was safe. Somehow she felt that she was.

“I hope you are hungry, because it is dinner at Sardis tonight, my treat for being so kind to bring this up for me.” Greta said.

They sat down and did what good friends do when they have not seen each other for a while. Greta could not help but think of Valia every second they were together, especially each time she looked at a very healthy and happy Jamina.

Out in the Poconos, Valia had just assisted in the birth of twin Trokasian females. Just as she had arrived in her studio, they contacted her asking for assistance. From their ship on the far side of the moon, they transported her to the site of one of their crashed shuttlecraft. The crash sent one of the crewmembers into a life threatening premature labor due to the injuries she sustained. When an alert member of the crew ran a scan of the area and saw that a member of Valia’s species was on the planet, they immediately asked for her assistance knowing the healing powers of her species. Valia was not able to save the crews equivalent of a surgeon who was killed in the crash, but she was able to free the female and deliver her twins. Once she knew that all were stable, the Trokasians transported their surgeon, the mother and her twins back to their ship. Valia activated the self-destruct on the shuttle per their instructions and was transported back to her studio before the shuttle vanished in a bright flash of light.

I will pass on the salad, just a lot of pasta, Valia thought.

Traveling to Sardis in a taxi, Greta shrieked when she heard Valia’s thought. I should order you a steak, rare for scaring the crap out of me, she thought.

You would not like me as a carnivore, Valia giggled. I am so sorry, but I did not have time to explain.

So, you will just have a lot of explaining to do later, Greta grinned. Please don’t waste time taking a taxi, we are a few blocks away and I can’t wait to give you a swift kick in the, she stopped being asked a question by Jamina.

“You must let me pay for this taxi,” Jamina said.

“Don’t be absurd my dear friend, this evening is entirely on me.” Greta said slapping her on the hand.

The taxi pulled up at the restaurant, Greta gave the driver a hefty tip, and they went inside.

“Ms. Garbova,” the hostess said, “it is so good to see you and your sister again.”

A huge smile appeared on Greta’s face as she sensed Valia’s presence behind her just as the hostess spoke.

“Yes, it is going to be good to actually eat the pasta this time, don’t you agree sis?” Greta said.

“Yes,” Valia replied.

“Valia, what perfect timing,” Jamina said turning to give her a big hug and a kiss before introducing Tammy.

As they settled into dinner, Valia explained in thought what she did and whom she did it for between the table conversations they continued to have with their friends.

Greta was so happy they were back together Valia could have been telling her anything in any language.

After dinner, Jamina and Tammy said they were going to call it a night. “We are staying until Sunday morning, so after a good night’s rest we will step out to see some sights tomorrow,” Jamina said.

Greta could not have been happier to hear her say that. They dropped them off at the Chelsea. “Say hello to William Burroughs if you are lucky enough to see him,” Greta smiled.

“You can be sure I will if I see him,” Jamina laughed.

After telling the driver where to drop them off, Greta sat in the back seat in silence, for about 12.796 seconds before she jumped at Valia kissing her madly. Promise me, no matter how much of an emergency it is, you will never leave me not knowing where you are again, she thought.

I promise, Valia replied.

When they exited the taxi after paying, Valia just stood on the sidewalk looking up at the moon, the left half of it glowing brightly in a last quarter phase. “It is beautiful is it not?” Greta asked.

“Yes,” Valia replied wrapping her arms around her. “Close your eyes, and don’t be afraid.”

When she did, the twins were transported to the Trokasian ship on the far side of the moon. “You can open them now,” Valia said.

“I could only offer you four out of six of your suggestions for what to do this weekend,” Valia said softly as Greta found herself standing at a large window gazing back at Planet Earth from the moon. “Come, let me introduce you to the twins,” Valia smiled. Greta followed her through a few doors that seemed to evaporate to let them through and reappear behind them.

“Can we get doors like that?” she giggled.

“My world gave them the technology,” Valia replied. When the final door seemed to vanish before their eyes, the small crew of the ship was gathered with the new mother and her twins. Their skin was a light orange in color, with very large eyes, tiny noses and mouths. They wore clothing, but it was nearly impossible for Greta to tell the males and females apart.

My first Close Encounter with beings from another world that really look like they are from another world, Greta thought. Will they understand me?

Yes, Valia replied as the crewmembers thanked her one after another.

“What you are becoming is one of the greatest species in the galaxy,” the mother said. Her large eyes seemed to communicate how happy she was that she and her twins survived the ordeal.

“I know,” Greta smiled.

After one more look at the planet from the moon, Valia kissed Greta deeply and wrapped her arms around her. In an instant they were transported back to the sidewalk they were standing on earlier.

“I think I am going to have pleasant dreams tonight,” Greta said as they walked up the stairs to their apartment.

“Oh, you are not going to sleep yet,” Valia grinned, her eyebrow turned up as their clothes found themselves laying in a pile at the foot of their bed.

No, not yet, Greta thought as they melted into their love for each other.

The plants in the room started into an instrumental version of one of Greta’s favorite Neko Case songs, requested by Myra. By the end of the song the twins singing could be heard from the darkened bedroom, “How will you know if you found me at last, Cause I’ll be the one be the one be the one, With my heart in my lap, I’m so tired I’m so tired, I wish I was the moon tonight.”

Chapter 33

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29