Indiana Jones and the Lost Painting

Chapter 5

As he pulled into his driveway, Indy noticed that his neighbor was continuing to do work behind his house, probably still trying to deal with the wasps. Figuring that would keep him busy for a few moments, he walked to Fred's mailbox and started sifting through its contents. At the bottom, Indy found one that was rerouted from their old address.

"Can I help you with something?" a man asked sternly.

Indy slipped the letter into his pocket. "No. I'm sorry. Is something wrong?"

"You're going through my father's mail?" Indy then recognized Fred's son, Chris. He stood a bit too close, jaw jutting out, in order to intimidate the intruder.

"Chris, right. Oh, is this your mailbox? I was on a walk and figured I would check my mail. I must have mixed them up. All the mailboxes in this development look the same." Indy looked at his mailbox, which was clearly blue as opposed to his neighbor's, which was green. "You'll know when you get to be my age, but sometimes it's easy to mix these things up."

Chris's demeanor softened, his shoulders relaxing. "I'm sorry. I can just get protective of the old man. You know how it is."

"You're a good son. I can tell. I was actually hoping to speak with your father too. Do you mind?"

"Sure. He's doing work in the back. I'm sure you can find your way. I have to help my mother with unpacking. It never ends."

Indy found Fred behind his house with a shovel, several divots opened up in the ground before him. "These damn things have to be somewhere," he said presumably to Indy, but still staring at his work tearing up holes in his yard.

"Still searching for the wasps?" Indy asked.

"They're a nuisance. And if there's one thing I cannot abide, it's a nuisance. They will persist until I've rooted them out."

"You could call a pest company."

"I like to do it myself. And now I'm committed. It's me versus the wasps. Besides, at our age, I like to keep active. You know how it is. You look fit."

"Thanks. I like to bike when I have the opportunity. It gives me as much exercise as running, but it's a little easier on the knees."

"That's good advice. I need a glass of water. Please, come with me." The two entered the house to find Chris and his mother still unpacking. "Would you like some tea or coffee? A beer? Maybe some whisky? I think I saw a bottle we got from our trip to Kentucky last year."

"Just water's fine for now." Indy looked around to see if paintings were up on the wall yet, but he hadn't much of a view of the rest of the house from the kitchen table.

"I came over because I wanted to see how you're settling in."

"Good. Good. Everything is finding its right place."

"That's great to hear. I know it can be tough getting your house in order after the ordeal of transporting everything. Where are you coming from, by the way? I don't think I caught where you lived before moving here?"

"We're coming down from Vermont. The Burlington region. We like our cozy New England towns. There's a real sense of tradition in these places. Some of these towns, it seems like they haven't changed for over a century."

"It's wonderful up there. Did you spend your winters skiing? You know, take advantage of the slopes."

"We did for many years. But you know how it is."