Akito and Estelle at the Plaza

chapter 16

Maggie was now bringing the horse-carriage back to the hotel.

"Too bad Emi isn't here." Akito frowned.

The others frowned to poor Akito, knowing that he would want to ask her to the ball.

Eloise took a look at the time. "Ooh, it's about time to meet Mr. Nye in the lobby!"

Maggie dropped them off with a smile, allowing them to go back into the hotel.

"Who is this 'Mr. Nye' anyway, Eloise?" Ditto asked his new owner.

"Mr. Nye hates to wait," Eloise explained on the way inside. "He's worked for my mother for as long as I can remember and has already had the whooping cough and the measles. Sometimes I give him rubber candy. He's absolutely so dumb, he eats it. Sometimes he brings me presents, whether I deserve it or not. I usually do."

"Cool." Ditto smiled.

Eloise glanced to one table where a man in a suit was sitting, then skipped along to it. "Hello, Mr. Nye." she greeted as she climbed over the small ledge by the table rather than walking around it to get to her chair.

"You're late, Eloise." the man scolded.

"I'm sorry." Eloise replied as she planted her bottom down in the chair as Mr. Nye came behind her and pushed her in the table gently like a gentleman would for his lady friend.

"I wonder what the present's going to be." Ditto smiled.

"Now, we have to have a very serious discussion, okay?" Mr. Nye tried to be patient with the little girl which was not an easy task for many.

"Did you bring the present from my mother?" Eloise asked eagerly. "Or is it maybe from my daddy?"

"Actually I brought two things." Mr. Nye replied as he bent down to pick them out.

"Are they both from Paris or Atlantica?" Eloise asked hopefully.

"Well, one is from Paris," Mr. Nye replied. "The other one is a tad more local, though I never heard of such a place called 'Atlantica'."

"It's an underwater city where mermaids and mermen live," Eloise explained like it was normal. "That's where my daddy lives."

"Right.... So, anyway, you do have gifts from both your parents, even though I've never met your father..." Mr. Nye tried to explain.

"So they are from them?" Eloise asked, totally excited.

"Not done yet..." Mr. Nye said sharply as he placed a small pile of paper in front of her. "We have to talk about your hotel charges, Eloise, it's irresponsible to spend this amount of money."

"I'm six." Eloise pouted.

"I know." Mr. Nye replied.

Akito, Estelle, Felicity, Larvitar, Teddy, Vulpix, and Misdreavus decided to stick around and listen in a little more, fearing Eloise might be in trouble.

"I hope she's not in trouble." Teddy said.

"She sounds like she is..." Estelle said as she held her Teddiursa close in her arms.

"Eloise, I've spoken to your mother..." Mr. Nye started.

"Is she having an absolutely wonderful time?" Eloise asked as her eyes lit up to hear more about her wonderful mother who was always away from her only child.

"Yes, but... You have to cut back." Mr. Nye replied strictly, but not as strict as Phillip.

"Uh-Oh, sounds like she really is in trouble." Larvitar said.