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A Pleasant Story - Chapter Thirty - Expensive Peace
Back to: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Twenty Nine - The Rose Whispers of Passion Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Thirty One - Investigating Cows - Part One



A Pleasant Story

Chapter Thirty

Expensive Peace


The Goth household was holding a vigil. Dina had not returned. Cassandra called Nina, who came over to sit with them. They felt helpless and angry. It was almost worse than a death. When someone dies, there are procedures to follow and arrangements to make. An alien abduction had no such closure. It was just a lot of waiting. Mortimer shifted between anger and sadness and despair.





The doorbell rang at 6:30 that evening and Alexander went to answer it.





He returned to the living room accompanied by Stella Terrano, who said, "Salutations to all occupants of the dwelling of Mortimer Goth. My designation is Stella Terrano and I am gratified to be summoned for the consumption of sustenance."






Mortimer jumped up to greet her. "I am so sorry, Stella; I completely forgot you were coming. We've had a bit of an emergency here. My wife . . . my Dina . . . "





Mortimer sat down heavily. He couldn't continue.

Cassandra stood and introduced herself to Stella, then explained, "Stella, my stepmother was using the telescope last night and was abducted by . . . well . . . aliens. She hasn't come back. I'm sorry we all forgot you were coming, but we have been so worried about her."

Stella stood silent for a moment, as though processing the information.





"Theft of human Dina occurred in the previous evening?" Stella queried. Cassandra nodded.

Stella continued, "Most regrettable situation has transpired. I offer reparations by removal of self from dwelling."

Stella moved as though to leave, but Cassandra interrupted her. "Oh no, won't you please sit with us? There's nothing we can do but wait."






Stella sat on the couch next to Mortimer and looked pleasantly around at the others, then spoke.

"Confusion occurs with me. Why is despondency the prevailing affectation? Alien invitations are temporary occurrences, are they not?"








Mortimer looked at her sadly. "Not in this house, it appears. This is our second abduction. The other was many years ago. My wife Bella . . . "

Cassandra took over speaking. "My mother was abducted many years ago, and never returned. And now Dina is gone also. We don't know why they haven't been returned."






"Bewilderment is essential impression. My participation is that seizing is transitory. Permanence indicates unusual glitch." Stella paused again, then continued. "Similarities between the particular theft victims would indicate solution. Were affinities shared between Dina and Bella?"





Everyone spoke at once, saying things like "they weren't at all alike except they were both kind" and "They were very different," and then Alexander's voice cut through and said loudly, "My mother was nothing like HER!"





Mortimer didn't seem to notice, but Cassandra looked at him in surprise as Alexander ran from the room. She'd thought Alexander liked Dina. Maybe he was just sad about all the trauma he'd experienced.

Stella stood and said, "Departure is required. Investigation of accomplices must commence. A narrative will be delivered upon completion of interrogation."





Mortimer said, "Let me walk you to the door. I'm sorry our dinner didn't work out. Maybe another time."

Stella turned to him brightly and said, "Agreeable conviviality at a forthcoming time would be enjoyable. Being in Mortimer's presence is gratifying. Good night."





Mortimer was startled as Stella leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then he waved goodbye as she left.





When he returned to the living room, Cassandra was paying close attention to Nina saying, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounded like Stella intends to talk to the aliens who abducted my sister. Is that what you guys heard her say?"

They all nodded slowly.






The next evening, Cassandra accepted an invitation to go out to dinner with Darren. She didn't want to leave her father alone, but he urged her to go. "I'll just do some reading and painting. It's okay. I want you to go. Take the car. It will be good for you to get out."

He tossed her the keys to Dina's sports car, and pushed her out the door. "Have fun," he said.

Cassandra picked up Darren and they drove to Londoste downtown. When they arrived, Cassandra took a few minutes to tell Darren about all the recent events, including what they thought Stella was going to try.

"So you think she's going to visit the aliens who took Dina?" he clarified.

Cassandra shrugged. "I'm not positive, but that's what it sounded like."






"Wow," Darren said, as they were seated. "I guess she'd know how to find them, if anyone would. But I just thought of something . . . "

Darren stopped speaking as the server approached and they gave their orders.





As she left, Cassandra asked Darren, "What was it you were going to say about Stella?"

"Oh!" said Darren. "We don't know what happens when someone is abducted, right? They are usually gone for a few hours and men sometimes come back pregnant, but the abductees have no memory of what happened."

Cassandra nodded. "That's what I've heard."





Darren continued, "My son's old girlfriend, Lilith, told him about her experience. She remembered being taken away, and remembered returning, but didn't have any recollection of what had occurred while she was gone, or how long she was gone. But your Mom was . . . "

Darren stopped at the look of sadness on Cassandra's face. "I'm sorry, we don't have to talk about your Mom."

Cassandra smiled at him. "It's okay. It just makes me sad to think about her."

Darren said, "My idea is . . . as far as we know, Dina and your Mom are the only two who haven't been returned right away. Why might that be? What do they have in common?"






Cassandra shook her head, "I don't know. Stella asked the same thing yesterday. They were very different people."

Darren went on, "I'm not sure what it could mean, but if we can find out why those two weren't returned, maybe we could figure out a way to get them back."

Cassandra looked startled. "BOTH of them? Including my Mom? I can't imagine . . . I don't know what that would do to my Dad."

"I'm just babbling," Darren said. "I don't know if it's possible to get them back. I hope Stella will bring you some good news." He reached out his hand to caress Cassandra’s but she pulled it away.





“I’m sorry Darren. I just don’t feel like . . .” Cassandra faltered.

“It’s okay!” Darren said overenthusiastically as he dug into his plate to cover his embarrassment.






They finished their meals and paid for them, and Darren admired Cassandra and said, "I know you don't want to be away from your Dad too long, but I wish you would come back to my place," he said to her.

Cassandra looked at him and then shook her head. "I don’t think that’s a good idea," she told him, "I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do.”





"I understand," Darren said.

“In fact,” Cassandra continued, “I think it would be better if we just think of ourselves as friends. Things are so confusing I . . .”

She felt bad at the look of hurt that appeared on Darren’s face, but didn’t want to continue to lead him on. She’d fallen for him in the wake of Don’s betrayal, and she just wasn’t feeling the same way anymore.




Cassandra drove Darren home, and they said farewell at his house. Their goodbye was a bit wistful on his part, as he'd been hoping his relationship with Cassandra could move to the next level, but he'd take what he could get. He was happy that she seemed to trust him and appreciate his support.





Cassandra continued driving home and suddenly noticed Alexander walking down the street. She pulled over and directed him to get in the car.

"Where are you going?" she asked him.






Alexander shrugged. "I dunno. Just walking. Dad's driving me nuts. I just wanted to get out of there."

"What do you mean?" Cassandra asked, "What is he doing?"

"Talking crazy. He's babbling about Dina and Mom and aliens. I just got tired of it."

Cassandra said, "I'd better get home and check on him. Do you want to come with me?"





"Nah," Alexander said as he climbed out of the car. "I think I'll walk over to Dirk's and hang out for a while."

"All right," Cassandra said, "But don't be out too late, okay?"

"Yeah," Alexander said as he walked away slowly.

Cassandra wanted to talk to her brother more, but she was worried about her Dad and didn't want him to be alone if he was upset.

As she pulled into the driveway and got out, she saw her Dad come running out of the house, yelling.





"What are you doing with her car?" he said angrily, "This is Dina's car and . . . "

Cassandra began to interrupt to remind him he'd told her to take it, but then he continued, "I don't think you should be driving it, Bella!"

Cassandra looked at him in horror and said, "Dad, it's me, Cassandra. Bella's gone and . . . "

"None of your excuses!" Mortimer shouted. "You shouldn't be driving Dina's car!"






"Dad," Cassandra said gently, "It's me. I'm Cassandra. Dina and Bella are gone."

Mortimer suddenly started and opened his eyes wide. Then he looked at Cassandra and actually saw her for herself.






"Oh, I'm so sorry honey. I guess I was just upset."

“It's okay Dad," she said as she gave him a hug. "It will be okay. Why don't you go up to bed now? It's late."





Mortimer nodded and moved into the house and up the stairs. Cassandra sat down heavily in a living room chair.

Mortimer began to go into his bedroom, but then turned and continued up the stairs to the roof. He looked through the lens of the telescope hopefully, and began to quietly call out, "Bella? Dina? Are you out there?"





Cassandra waited downstairs until Alexander came home and tried to talk with him, but he said he was tired and just wanted to go to bed. She kissed him goodnight and headed up the stairs to check on her father. When she found his bedroom empty, she continued up to the roof, where she figured he'd be.

He turned away from the telescope as she approached and looked off into the distance.

"I was just hoping," he said. "Maybe I'd see them."





"I know, Dad, it's okay. Come down to bed now." Cassandra took his arm and guided him down to his bedroom. He seemed confused, but followed her directions and climbed into bed.

Cassandra went downstairs to make a call.

"Information? I'd like the number for a therapist."






The next morning, Cassandra drove Mortimer to the therapist's office. Mortimer was thinking of only one thing.





They sat in the waiting area until a red-headed woman came out and greeted them. "Mr. Goth? I'm Doctor Abbadon. Lamashtu Abbadon. Would you like to come in?"





Mortimer stretched out and Dr. Abbadon sat next to him.

"So what should I say?" he asked.

"You say whatever you want. Or nothing," she replied. "This isn't like a regular doctor's office where you are being examined. I will tell you that your daughter was concerned that you've experienced some recent trauma, so if you'd like to talk about that, that's what I'm here for."





Mortimer liked her; her voice was calm and soothing.

He said, "I've lost two wives to alien abduction. I don't know where they are--they could be living on alien planets somewhere."

"How does that make you feel?" Dr. Abbadon asked. "That your wives were abducted to alien planets?"






"Well, like crap, obviously," Mortimer replied. "I missed my first wife Bella, for years, and it took me a long time to love again. Then I loved my second wife Dina just as much, and right after we got married, she was taken."

"And what do you think about that?" Dr. Abbadon asked.

Mortimer looked at her. Was she kidding?

"I think it's unfair, of course," Mortimer told her, “Losing someone to aliens is horrible and I’ve lost two.”






"It does seem so," she replied. "Tell me about your second wife. What was she like?"

Mortimer sighed as he thought of her. "Dina was very beautiful. I mean, movie-star beautiful. Everyone thought so. I couldn't believe she was even interested in me. At first I just thought she was after my money, but after I got to know her I realized that wasn't true. She even signed a pre-nuptial agreement so that I would know she didn't care about my money."

"To be clear that I understand whether or not your beliefs were realistic or fantasy, how many simoleons did you have that you'd believe Dina was a gold-digger?" Lamashtu asked.






"My family is very old and established; I have over 500,000 simoleons, plus the mansion,” Mortimer explained. “But Dina didn't want any of it. She didn't even ask me to buy her things."






"How very interesting," Dr. Abbadon said as she stood and moved behind Mortimer. "Why don't you tell me more about her. I just need to stretch a little."

As Mortimer began to speak about Dina and his love for her, Dr. Abbadon removed a voodoo doll from her inventory behind Mortimer's back and began to cast a spell.






Mortimer felt a slight tingle as the spell took effect, but not enough to feel alarmed.





He closed his eyes as Lamashtu watched with satisfaction.





She sat back down and said quietly, "Now why don't you tell me about all the things you'd like to buy? If you simply think of them, they will appear. Then you could pick them up and have them with you. I think you would like to buy many expensive things."

Mortimer answered in a wooden, almost robotic, voice. "Yes. I would like to buy things. I will buy many expensive things. It would be good to have many expensive things. Like a fish."





“No, not like a fish. Expensive things like statues, and vases. You just need to say the names.”

Mortimer began to list the most expensive items he could think of from the Pleasantview shops, and they began to appear in Dr. Abbadon's office. Periodically he stopped listing things, and she would remind him to put them in his inventory, then encouraged him to continue buying.






He bought hundreds of items until finally they heard the "ding" that meant he did not have any simoleons left to purchase more.

"Well then," said Dr. Abbadon. "That's some good work there, Mr. Goth! I think now you should stand and put all those items into a gift box for me."

"Yes," said Mortimer, in that same wooden voice, "I think I should stand and put those things into a gift box for you."






"Very good, Mr. Goth," she said, as Mortimer handed her a collection worth more than 500,000 simoleons. "Very good indeed. I think now you will forget that we've had this discussion and you will feel refreshed and much more at peace."





"Yes," he said, "I feel at peace."

"You would like to go home now and be at peace."

Yes," he repeated, "I am at peace."






Lamashtu waved at Mortimer as he exited the office, then dialed her phone.

"Hey," she said when it was answered, "You'll never believe what I got."





In the waiting room, Cassandra stood and asked her father how the therapy session had gone.

"It was good," Mortimer said, "I feel at peace."

Click Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Thirty One - Investigating Cows - Part One to continue...

 
Back to: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Twenty Nine - The Rose Whispers of Passion Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Thirty One - Investigating Cows - Part One
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