| Home | |
Previous chapters of the River Road story:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!
Last time, after a very long day, the group concluded that they needed to get some rest. They all went back to their homes and slept soundly, preparing their bodies for another day of sleuthing. The next morning, after walking the dogs, Eben chatted with Mrs. Conn while she made breakfast before he went into the living room to examine some of Mrs. Conn’s antiques. On his way, he ran into his father. The two men and Eben’s dog, Sheridan, settled down to wait for breakfast when they were interrupted by Mia Duomo who had come by hoping to join the day’s investigations. She asked Mr. DeLorca if she could come along. What did Mr. DeLorca say? Here’s what you decided.
Chapter 26:
Peli-can’t
“Hello, Miss Duomo. What a nice surprise.” Eben smiled patiently.
“I’m sure it is. I thought I’d come out here to have breakfast with you and join all of you on your little investigation. Since my good, beautiful and perfect name has been dirtied with false accusations, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind having me along.” Mia explained. “Besides, I’ll add an element of the truly elegant to the party.”
“My wife is the most truly elegant creature I’ve ever met,” Mr. DeLorca said. “Followed by my dear, tiny, enormous, sweet smelling, fowl—that darling of the pelican world, Shakuntala.”
“I see.” Mia sighed. “Well, I do hope I’m welcome to join you.”
“I say, what a kerfuffle. It’s not really up to me. We’re a team, these people and my family. We’ll have to take a vote with the whole group. We’ll have to decide together and all that. Seems the fairest thing to do, you know.” Mr. DeLorca explained.
“I understand.” Miss Duomo said calmly. She sniffed the air, “I may be mistaken, which would be extremely rare, but I think something smells as wonderful as I do.”
“That’s breakfast.” Eben smiled. “After we eat, we’ll be meeting the others at the Trotter Mansion.”
“We’ll take a vote at that time.” Mr. DeLorca said. “That way everyone can be a part of it. Yes, yes, due process and all that.”
Mia began, “I seriously doubt that Violet Trotter will want me along. You know, really, I don’t think she likes me though I can’t imagine why. I’m loved the world over. Once, you won’t remember, when you said modeling, mine was the name you’d think of. A face, like…”
“I’m sure that’s very true.” Mr. DeLorca interrupted.
“Which part? The part about me being loved by millions or the part about Violet Trotter not liking me?” Mia asked.
“Both and such.” Mr. DeLorca smiled.
“Really, I think poor Violet Trotter is just jealous because I’m so young and beautiful.” Mia shook her hair.
“You’re not so very young.” Mr. DeLorca settled into a comfortable chair. “I mean, let’s be jolly fair, here. You’re about my age, I think. You’ve got a daughter my son’s age.”
“I…” Mia began.
“There now, just being honest and all that. No shame in getting older. Quite beautiful that. With age comes wisdom.” Mr. DeLorca nodded.
“So, you think I’m smart and pretty. How nice.” Miss Duomo sat on the couch.
Mr. DeLorca looked at Eben and shrugged. “Who can say? What I can say…yes, yes, I can say this quite comfortably. I am hungry. Surely breakfast is nigh.”
“Nigh, indeed, Father.” Eben nodded.
“What’s this? What are you saying? Is this the way you people talk wherever it is that you’re from?” Mia Duomo giggled.
“We’re from Londonderry.” Eben nodded. “And, I was just saying to my father that we’ll be eating breakfast soon.”
“I modeled in Londonderry once.” Mia smiled proudly.
“We’re not from that Londonderry.” Mr. DeLorca frowned.
“There’s another?” Mia asked.
“Many.” Mr. DeLorca nodded. “And all that.”
“Which one are you from?” Mia asked.
“Don’t you know? I say, some people…” Mr. DeLorca grumbled. “Well, if you don’t know, I can’t explain it. It’s too complicated. Our Londonderry is everywhere and nowhere. It’s a place like no other. Lots of berries and cows. It’s also the pie crust center of the world. Ever model any pie crusts?”
“No.” Mia shook her head.
“Well, then, I can’t tell you any more.” Mr. DeLorca frowned. “It wouldn’t be right.”
Mia shifted in her seat on the couch uncomfortably. “Well, I hope, at least I can stay for breakfast. I don’t eat much. I mean, really, how could I? Look how thin I am.”
“Better healthy than thin, I say. Are you healthy?” Mr. DeLorca asked.
“Of course. I’m the picture of perfect health. I’m the picture of everything. I’m…” Mia started.
“So, you eat healthful meals? Balanced nutrition? Food pyramid and all that. No pie group, sadly. But, still, for you, jolly good. Take care of yourself. You are what you eat and all that.” He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, “Now, then, let me ask you a question. Do you like sardine pie?” Mr. DeLorca asked.
“Oh my, no.” Mia shuddered.
“Stuffed tomatoes?” Mr. DeLorca asked.
“Stuffed with what?” Mia asked.
“Does it matter?” Mr. DeLorca raised an eyebrow.
Mia answered. “Well, no. I’m not a fan of stuffed tomatoes.”
Mr. DeLorca considered this carefully. “You don’t say?” He scratched his chin. “Well if that doesn’t work out nicely, then, I’m an overripe melon. Fine, you’re welcome to stay for breakfast unless Mrs. Conn has any objections.”
“Oh, how delightful! I’m sure Mrs. Conn will be thrilled to have me here. I do bring so much to the table. If you’ll pardon the pun…”
“I won’t.” Mr. DeLorca shrugged again.
“What’s going on in here.” Mrs. DeLorca said brightly as she entered the living room.
Sheridan wagged his tail and barked happily.
“Good morning, Sheridan.” Mrs. DeLorca smiled at the dog. “And, a good morning to you, my dears,” she greeted her husband and son. Smiling at the former model, she said, “Hello, Miss Duomo.”
“Mrs. DeLorca, what a beautiful cape. I must have modeled something like it once.” Mia said eagerly.
“Of course you did. We weren’t expecting you, today, Miss Duomo.” Mrs. DeLorca said.
“I’m everywhere. I’m just like the sun—only I don’t hurt your eyes. Well, some have said that my beauty is stinging. I received fan letters by the dozens, I mean, thousands. People would ask for locks of my hair! You see, I was just telling your charming family that I was the greatest star of all.” Mia chirped.
“I have no doubt.” Mrs. DeLorca sat down in the chair next to her husband.
“That I was the greatest star?” Mia smiled.
“That you were telling them.” Mrs. DeLorca answered.
“I’m staying for breakfast.” Mia continued talking.
“Wonderful.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded.
“Then, we’re all going to the Trotter Mansion and we’re going to vote to see if I may join you on your adventure today. You know, once, I was voted most incredible woman in the world? What am I saying? That happened more than once.” Miss Duomo sighed happily.
“How nice.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded again.
“Mrs. DeLorca…oh, that sounds so formal. May I call you Joan? I call everyone by the first names. That’s just the way things are in my fascinating world. So, may I call you Joan?” Mia began.
“We’ll see.” Mrs. DeLorca smiled.
Suddenly, Shakuntala flew into the room.
Mia shrieked.
“What is it, Miss Duomo? You seem startled.” Eben asked.
“Oh, it’s just that bird. I’m not…” Mia thought for a moment. “I’m not used to such large birds.”
Shakuntala perched on the back of the couch very close to Mia Duomo’s head and stared at Miss Duomo’s ear, her pelican beak, brushing against Mia’s shoulder.
“She likes you.” Mr. DeLorca grinned. “I say, but that’s interesting and all that. Yes, yes, but she likes you a lot.”
“She’s staring at me.” Mia shivered.
“It’s an honor.” Mr. DeLorca grinned.
Mia was beginning to feel very uncomfortable. She knew that the DeLorcas, and, frankly, everyone else in town, wasn’t sure if she was a decent person or not. She wanted so much to be liked and accepted. So, she hesitated to say anything about how unnerved she felt by the pelican staring directly into her ear. Part of her wanted to scream and run out of the room. But, she knew that would offend the DeLorcas, and, that was the last thing she wanted to do, especially since she wanted so badly to be included in the day’s investigation.
What should Mia Duomo do?
Go to next chapter!
Voting results for how the story continues:
| Vote! | ||||||||||
|
42.3%
30.8%
26.9%
