Curse of the Fountain -8- by Melanie Brown

Melanie Brown

Copyright © 2024

Part 8

“Where’s Aunt Bea?” exclaimed Riley when she bounded through the door.

Looking up from the pot I was stirring, I said calmly, “She had to return to the bowels of Hell.” I went back to stirring. Mom is insisting I help with dinner.

As Billy shut the door behind them he said, “Awww. And I was so looking forward to having dinner with Beatrice.”

Mom picked up her cell phone. “I can call her back.”

Dad kissed Mom on the cheek. “That’s okay. I’ll suffer. You guys missed a good movie, by the way.”

“Fantastic Mars.” Dad said as he sniffed the pot I was stirring.

I turned away from the pot and exclaimed, “I wanted to see that.”

Mom took the pot from the stove and set it aside. “Maybe that boy you like will take you to see it.”

Feeling confused, I asked, “What boy is that, Mom? Why do you keep saying that?” Mom giggled.

It was mostly quiet until we all sat down to dinner. Mom had made stew. And it’s totally awesome. I’m serious.

After swallowing, Dad asked, “So what did the old battleaxe want this time?”

Mom frowned. “That’s my mother, you know!”

Looking sheepish, Dad said, “Sorry, dear. It just slipped out.”

I looked over at Dad after taking a bite of stew. Innocently I asked, “Dad, what’s a douche-nozzle?”

Dad scowled at me. “Now just you nevermind!” I grinned.

Riley laughed. “Douche-nozzle!”

Mom frowned at Dad. “Now look what you’ve done!”

Dad dropped his spoon into his bowl. “What the hell did I do?”

Mom leaned towards Riley. “Honey, we don’t say that word.”

Riley laughed. “But it’s funny!” Noticing Mom’s expression, Riley sighed. “Okay, okay. May I be excused?”

Mom said, “You may. And Nell, go with her.”

I gave Mom a questioning look. “For starters, I’m not finished. And secondly, I really need to be part of this conversation.”

Mom shook her head. “Your father and I need to have a discussion. Now scoot.”

Riley was sitting on the floor with several colorful bottles piled in front of her. “Come on Nellie! Let’s do our nails!”

Frowning at Mom, I walked over to where Riley was sitting. Riley shouted, “Do me first!”

I sat down next to her, and she handed me the color she wanted. I’ve never “done” anybody’s nails, but it didn’t look hard.

As I opened the bottle, I asked, “How was the movie?”

Riley giggled. “It made me wish I had a tail!”

                   *

Mom caught me as I came out of the bathroom after brushing my teeth. Insanely, it was after my new bedtime. I was sure I was about to be chewed out for that. Riley was already zonked out in her bed.

“Hey, Nell. I need to talk to you for a second,” said Mom as she tapped my arm.

“About what?” I was already in my Hello Kitty jammies and moisturized my face and hands as she had instructed.

Mom grinned as she picked up one of my hands. “For starters, thanks for distracting Riley. I needed to bring your father up to date on what your Aunt Bea was proposing. Nice color by the way.”

I took my hand back and looked at my nails. “Thanks. But she’s not my aunt. She’s my sister.”

Mom shook her head. “Not anymore, honey. She’s your aunt now.”

I nodded. “Okay. So, what did you and the douche-nozzle decide?”

Mom frowned deeply. “Will you stop saying that?”

Shrugging, I said, “Sorry. It’s just one of the few things Bea and I agree on.”

Mom sighed. “He’s your father, and you need to respect that. Anyway, that said, your father agrees that we need to keep the fountain out of Bea’s hands. He sees nothing good coming from her trying to build a resort there.”

Nodding, I said, “It would create a zoo there. You’d have no way to control the crowds. Everyone in the world would try to get there. Most would drink too deeply from the fountain. It’d be a huge mess.”

“Your father even made a clever observation. He asked why is a fountain of everlasting life, located in a dead city?”

I sighed. “The damned thing’s cursed.”

Mom smiled. “You need to get to bed. You have school tomorrow, young lady.”

“Are you seriously going to make me do that?” I groaned.

“Yes. Your legal team insisted. Besides, it will help you learn how to be a teen girl. You don’t want to be a grumpy sixty-eight-year-old teen, do you?” Mom folded her arms. “Now get to bed.”

                    *

I awoke to a severe shaking of my shoulders. “Time to wake up, goofball!” exclaimed Riley. “I can’t be late. I have a test in first period!”

Mom said, “Come on, honey. You need to get in the shower. Don’t get your hair wet By the way, I think your curls came out really nice. I’ll have your clothes laid out for you.”

I sat up on my bed, rubbing my eyes. “Is it always such a zoo in the morning around here?”

Riley hit my shoulder. “It is when you oversleep.”

As I walked to the shower, I saw Mom and Dad in the hall. Dad kissed Mom and said, “I got to get to work. Everything under control here?” She noticed me and sternly pointed towards the shower.

I turned on the water and got out of my PJs. I know they’re not my real parents, but it still bothered me to see them kiss. Dad expects me to kiss him on the cheek. So far I haven’t mustered enough nerve to do so.

I scampered… yes, scampered, from the shower back to my bedroom to get dressed. As promised, Mom had my clothes laid out. Apparently, time was of the essence this morning, so I didn’t delay in getting dressed. If I made Riley late for her test, I’d never hear the end of it.

While I was trying to figure out how to put my bra on, Mom came into the room. “Do you need me to help you with your make-up, honey?”

I looked over at her. “Who? Me? I’m not doing that, Mom.”

Mom gave me a funny look. “Are you sure?” I nodded. She continued, “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

                    *

Mom found a spot to park at the school. Riley gave her a quick hug before running off towards the school. Sitting in the back seat, I leaned back, crossed my arms and pouted. I did not want to get out of the car and go to school. I’ve been to school.

Mom scowled at me. “Is this going to be a problem every morning? Because it needs to end right now.”

I leaned forward and sighed. “I just don’t see the point! I’ve been through all this. And you know what? I never used algebra once, nor did anyone put a gun to my head and ask me to point at Croatia on a map. Or recite a passage from Shakespeare.”

Mom paused a few moments, looking out the car window. She turned towards me and sighed. “You’re right. When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it’s a wonder I can think at all. But that’s not the point. Uncle Neil, you’ve been given a gift. A wonderful gift.  You get to start all over from scratch. Albeit as a girl this time. But you’re starting with a clean slate. You can avoid your previous pitfalls. Mom told me how both you and she felt obligated to live up to what your parents wanted. Not what you wanted. She said you both had unhappy childhoods.”

I scowled at Mom. “And one of those things I didn’t like was going to school. So how is this different?”

Mom glared at me a moment. “Come on Nellie. I have to take you to the office first.” She got out of her car and closed the door. I sat in the back seat and thought if I really wanted to piss off the person feeding me. I shook my head and got out of the car.

Mom held out her hand, expecting me to take it. As I did, she said, “Come along, Nellie. I have to sign you in and you need to pick up your class schedule.”

“You know, I’m not really comfortable about wearing a skirt,” I said looking down at my bare legs.

Mm sighed. “You’ll get used to them.”

By this time, school had actually started, and the grounds outside were empty except for the few who were arriving late. Once inside, the halls were quickly clearing as well. The office was next to the school entrance, and we went right in.

A pleasant elderly woman with blue-white hair and her glasses hanging around her neck stood behind a counter and smiled at us as we approached. “Good morning, ladies. How can I help you?” A boy sitting outside the principal’s office grinned at me. Great.

Mom smiled and said, pointing at me, “She needs to start school. I already have her registered.”

The woman nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Name of the child?”

I frowned. That really toasted my bagels. She didn’t ask me for my name, and she called me a child!

Mom continued to smile. She said, “Her name is Nell Fenwick.”

The woman entered something into her computer. “Ah yes. Here she is. Just a moment while I print your schedule.” She tapped another key and a printer spat out a page. She handed it to me. And then another page.

“Here is your class schedule along with a map of the school. There’s also the words to the school’s alma mater and the fight song.”

I smiled slightly as I took the papers. “I’m sure that will come in handy.” Mom shot me a disapproving glance.

The blue-haired lady looked over at a boy, an obvious office runner, and said, “Joey. Please show Ms Fenwick where her locker is and then take her on a tour of the school. When you’re done, take her to her third-period class, as it should be almost third period when you’re done.”

Joey walked over to Mom and me. “Yes, Ms Baumgartner. Just follow me, Nell.”

Mom gave me a hug. “Your lunches are already paid for. Sorry. But you’ll have a half-hour wait for me to get off work to pick you up after school.”

“Hopefully, I’ll survive. Bye, Mom.”

Mom flashed me a smile, then walked away, leaving me alone in an alien setting. High school.

Joey gave me a toothy grin.

                    *

End of Part 8