My Name

Chapter 17 Always time for Celebrations?

The next day, another simple day. It seems all the action has been done and dusted and now we're just back to our regular old days.

Me: (Mary still seems upset at me, Her duties must mean a lot to her. Man I feel bad. I wish she'd just yell at me or something and just get it out of her system. Instead she has chosen the pacifist path of aggressively cleaning all our rooms. She's been cleaning my room for the past hour........)

Me: Hey Mary, you know room service cleans our rooms daily right. You don't need to cle-

Mary shoots me with an angry scowl on her face.

She lets out a quick sigh and continues cleaning.

Mary: Well we have a higher standard to maintain. It is imperative that everything is in order for the Doctor to work properly.

Me:  But the Dr Herbert barely stays here, he's gone all day and only comes here to sleep. I mean even yesterday night I don't think he even noticed that his food was from the hotel and not made by you... and why are you cleaning my room, I'm fine regar-

Mary looks furious.

Me: (Ok, that's my cue to keep my mouth shut.....maybe its best I leave Mary alone for a bit.)

I slowly move to the door.

Me: Hey I'm headed out for a bit.

I quickly shut the door behind me and head out.

Mary: Don't get lost!

 I hear Mary shout behind me. 

I walk out into the town. The atmosphere is relaxed and briming with excitement at the same time. The end of the Harvest Festival is tomorrow night, and you can tell. the entire town is busy in preparation. Every shop seems to be having massive offers, especially restaurants, seem extra busy preparing food for tomorrow.

Ronald: The town is in full swing for tomorrow.

Me: Ronald! Good to see you.

Ronald: So how are you doing, has my treatments worked?

Me: They've done wonder's on me. Thank you, again.

Ronald: Ah, don't mention it. So where is Mary?

Me: She's just back at the hotel, I came out on my own just for a walk.

Ronald: Well, there a big event tomorrow, the last day of the harvest festival. 

Me: Oh I already know, a lady at the Tavern told me.

Ronald: A lady huh? you talking about Scarlett?

Me: Yeah, you know her?

Ronald: Who doesn't, look even you who has only been here a few days know her.

Me: She's popular huh?

Ronald: Very popular.

Ronald winks at me.

Ronald: What were you doing at the Tavern?

Me: Ohh it's a long story, I got lost and ended up there

Ronald: How did you get lost with Mary around, she seems smart.

Me: I was by myself.

Ronald: So you just happened to end up in the tavern all by yourself and meet Scarlett. Hmmmmm.

Ronald furrows his eyebrows and looks at me as if to imply I were lying.

Ronald: Say, are you two-timing Mary and seeing Scarlett behind her back?!

Me: WHAT??! No No. Its not lik-

Ronald: Aha! I've caught you red handed. You sly fox. 

Me: RONALD! Listen to me, It's nothing like that.

Ronald:  Calm down, I'm only messing with you.

Ronald starts to laugh to himself.

Ronald: You know, your cheeks are awfully red for someone who isn't lying.

Me: (Damn it! why am I blushing. STOP STOP STOP. I can feel my face burning up even more as I try to make myself unblush.) 

Ronald: Alright, I'll stop, don't look so down.

The conversation dies down and the two of us walk silently besides each other, my eyes wandering and exploring the details of the town.

Ronald: I...

Ronald breaks the silence and starts to speak, his voice no longer cheerful and lighthearted. I look his way.

Ronald: I thought about what you said the other day...about Jack.

Me: Hey, I'm really sorry if that was a bit too personal, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable with my questions. 

Ronald: No, its fine. Actually its good that you brought it up. I'm 43 and Jacks already 13, in a few more years he'll start working on his own and then......then it'll be too late for him to have a childhood, too late to have a family, you know. I mean who knows where he might go or what kind of jobs he might do....I think I was afraid...well, I still am afraid, that I wont be a good enough of a father for him, but at the same time I don't want to wait too long and then regret it. I I love him like my son and I think its time he too knows about it. I think.......that once all this is over, I am going to take him in as my son!

Ronald's face looks fierce, but not in an intimidating or angry kind of way, but in a calm and gentle sense, as if he has made up his mind and nothing in the world is going to change it.

Me: Ronald, I am so happy to hear that! and I am sure Jack would be more than happy to have you as his father!

I smile at Ronald and I can see his face lighten up. His lips part into a smile but his eyes still seem heavy with thoughts.

Ronald: Well I don't wanna be too serious now, Come on! Lets go EAT!

Ronald seems to back to his cheerful self. We go and eat, talk a bit more about the town and then part ways. I head back to my hotel and rest for tomorrow. 

Me: (Tomorrow's the festival at the tavern, I'm gonna see Scarlett again tomorrow. I wonder if Mary would be interested in coming. I'll ask her tomorrow.....)

I drift into a peaceful slumber excited for tomorrow.