The Fantastic adventures of prince Jeremie

II THE INVITATION-1

II THE INVITATIONThe next morning, Jeremie still felt a strong pressure in his arm followed by a solid slap on his buttocks.

“It’s time lazy boy !”

“Chelsea?! You are crazy!? I hate you!”

She went out with a laugh and he woke up, really surprised. He was in his bed! And he didn’t remember having gone to bed… So he had not dreamt! But who put him to bed?! The crazy old man? If he had fought against him all night long, this must have produced such a hullabaloo.

“Chelsea ?”

“Yes ?”

The little girl was curling her hair.

“Did you hear some noise from the attic last night?”

She got annoyed.

“No, I didn’t and you are going to be late!”

Jeremie jumped out of bed and got dressed. It was all unbelievable! He was sure that he had fought against the crazy old man all night long. But he did not feel tired. This was absolutely incredible. However, Jeremie decided that for the time being, he would not try to understand anything. He put on his old knee-ripped jeans, the one which madehim look an adventurer. He found it timely because he knew that a mysterious adventure was looming ahead…

During the breakast, Jeremie kept silent. He was in deep meditation. From time to time, Chelsea fixed him with mocking eyes. But he couldn’t, and he wouldn’t say anything to anyone. And who knows? May be the old man would harshly punish and Jeremie was well aware how powerful the man was. He knew he couldn’t make a show of his importance before such a chap. The man could have killed him… He shuddered at these thoughts. Yet the secret was weighing too heavy. He wished he could share it with someone. But with who? Definitely not Chelsea neither to his uncle. He couldn’t possible confide in the governess. She would believe it, best to report to his uncle and the latter would do the same to his daughter. Jeremie was well aware how his uncle cherished his daughter…

Uncle Hollbrook noticed his silence and smiled:

“You’re so silent this morning. Tomorrow night will be Halloween… Your costumes are ready.”

“Super! I want to invite Alex”, Chelsea said.

“And I’ll invite Etiennne”, Jeremie added.

“He will protect you from ghosts!”

“How stupid of you!”

“You’ll invite whoever you want. I’ve decided to sell the small piano upstairs. It will be replaced by a grand one and it will be placed in the lounge…”

“Daddy!” (She rushed to her father and hugged him).

“You’ll learn how to play a musical instrument that suits you. Mrs M… will teach you. She’s an old expert concertist.”

The governess raised up her arms.

Jeremie broke the general enthusiasm and asked his uncle:

“Where will we celebrate Halloween?”

“Here!” Chelsea shouted with authority.

“You’re right, dear.”

The governess cleared her voice gently.

“You’ve surely forgotten that it can’t be held here, Sir.”

The uncle blushed and changed his mind.

“Well my lovely chicken! It won’t be possible…”

“Father? How dare you say no?”

She was not used to wipe up a denial.

“You will go to Alex’s, his Mother Valerie is organizing a party from 7 pm.”

“Great! That’s at my friends’s!” she said and she kissed her father.

“Mrs Malaimmer will leave for a few days, uncle Hollbrook continued, and I will spend tomorrow in Paris. I will come back and fetch you at Valerie’s.”

“Dad, there won’t be anyone at home and it would be a chance for us to be on our own…”

“It’s not possible! Adults also need to be present. “

Jeremie did not care at all about where they could celebrate Halloween. Celebrating it with Alex did not please him. However he was angry with his uncle. He always wanted to make her daughter happy, the sweetheart, the beautiful angel, the adored doll. She prevailed above all: the piano, the Halloween party, the Christmas’s ski in the station of her choice and also her father’s car mark! What next?! This seemed too much for him. He thundered against it.

“I am not going”, he suddenly shouted.

“Why is that?”

“I hate Alex and no one asked for my point of view!”

“Who cares about your point of view, what you think counts for nothing!”

Chelsea knew when and where it hurted. She struck. Now that he had an adopted son, how was his uncle was going to react, would he defend him? He remained so silent, letting cowardly his daughter to triumph. Jeremie burst out before such injustice:

“I hate you, you crane! I hate all of you!”

“Watch your language Jeremie”, the housekeeper ordered.

The uncle gave an embarrassed smile.

“Come on children, it’s Alex’s mum who wanted to invite this year, there’s nothing strange in it.”

Jeremie yearned after his mother so much…a muted anguish suddenly compressed his chest. He felt breathless. He avidly inspired while his heart ached.

Oh!Something really important is going to happen during this Halloween night…

Chelsea was slumped on the Skoda’s leather seat. She stiffled her anger. Alex’s father, that idiot, picked them up very late. It seemed that their journey was so long. Fifteen kilometers of country roads, muddy and rainy roads, via Ermenonville. The moon was shining and, it curiously reassured Jeremie though he was continuing to chew over dark thoughts. About a quarter of an hour after, they stopped in front of a large, all lit up house. Alex’s mother was a tall and distinguished beautiful woman. She had brown hair and was wearing black rimmed glasses. She was waiting for them on the landing.

“Ouf! We were waiting for you. Please come in.”

The party really took off. Chelsea was already looking for Alexandre. They put off their coats, a giant buffet awaiting them. The room was decorated with giant spider webs and brooms were suspended everywhere, even on the ceilings. A magical and mysterious clarty prevaded in the living room and the dining room due to the amounts of pumpkins. Several mothers seemed busy. About fifteen children were dancing and having fun. Princesses, Barbies and witches were in couple with Peter Pan, pirates and Draculas. The subdued lighting printed shadows on the walls and ceilings, making mysterious silhouettes alive.

Chelsea was dressed like a “Pretty woman” and had effect on boys. It was not an Halloween costume but she had decided that tonight will be the night of her declaration of love to her darling and she had to add everything on it: red skirt, white boots, black tights, white handbag, mid-length black gloves… Her clothes contrasted sharply with those of the other girls and that was she wanted. Her braids were well arranged and her make-up perfect. A real display doll. Alex was astounded…

Jeremie was dressed up as Harry potter and he realized that he was not the only one. Alex that simpleton had had the same idea. His little round glasses gave him an intello air that somehow did not fit him. Observing Alex, you could already imagine him getting old, 40 years, with a belly, bald in a business suit in a restaurant, surrounded by pretty girls, smoking a cigar while his driver was waiting outside in a sumptuous black sedan!

“Eh! You had the same idea than me!”

“You stupid, Jeremie retorted. He had sensed the attack. It‘s you who had the same idea than me!”

Alex became livid. He did not expect a reply.

“I would not respond an orphan… and it’s my mum who invited you, not me!”

He was about to add: “Now you can’t reply”. But Jeremie cut down with “leave me alone, Alex, will you!”

Jeremie proceeded to the buffet line where lots of boys he did not recognize were talking. Some were in his class, but most were from Alex and Chelsea’s.

“What would you like to drink, my dear?” Alex’s grandmother inquired. She was a very distinguished lady with white hair and sunglasses.

“Euh, Champomy, please” Jeremie hesitated, wondering why she was still wearing black glasses in such a dark room.…

“Do you drink?”

He cringed.

“Look Harry?! What do you think about that?”

Jeremie’s face illuminated. He recognized Etienne in his high-pitched voice.

“Whoa”! He shouted out of a spontaneous and sincere admiration.

Etienne was in fact disguised as a Rahan. He was wearing white shorts and the two skins of beasts his elder sister made for him. His father lent him his Corsican knife in a dark blue leather case.He was proudly wearing it around his waist. His thighs and his legs were painted in yellow and the other in red.

His face, from his forehead to his nose was coloured with a carmine make-up, the rest of his face was bright yellow. He outlined his eyes in black. He scanned you in an intimidating manner. He was wearing an indian wig with braids and nibs.

“You are a funny Rahan!” Jeremie laughed.

Etienne jumped cheers and hugs from the Sioux. They were served Champomy and they drank. The bell rung at the front door. A few children could hear it despite the noise and they told Valerie.

“I don’t expect anyone else…” Alex‘s mother was surprised.

She made her way through the crowd. It was like an apparition. A sublimely beautiful childstood at the doorframe. He was dressed in a shiny white costume and wearing red boots with a thousand lights and ermine’s gloves embroidered the gold wire. But his face capted the attention: perfection and grace. Her mid-long golden hair protected her miraculous face. It worked like a box. Could it be a girl or a boy? No one could say. A closer look at the traits, really radiant showed their delicacy, the purity of a little girl but also the virile severity and tenderness of a boy. His white skin contrasted deliciously with his pinkish-red mouth. His eyes were beaming like two emerald. Several girls stamped there feet: “How beautiful the child is!!” Many of them took their masks off to admire him.

Alexandre’s mother, recovered his spirits, after some time.

“My little angel (that’s true), come in, will you! You must be cold.”

“It may be a girl!” a Peter Pan said.

“Oh no! It’s a boy, a princess Aurore answered, and I shall marry him!”

The child was holding a beautiful flower bouquet which aroused everyone’s interest.

“These flowers are so beautiful, my dear! It’s too much. Will you thank your mother for me?” Valerie complimented.

“How extravagant she is”, Etienne’s mother was amazed.

Valerie asked the child: “will you give it to me?” in a tender voice.

The child hesitated then gave it to her. Surprise! The moment she took it, the bouquet turned flame red in her hand. She screamed and dropped it.

“Ouh!? I burned myself! Shame on you!”

The child picked up the bouquet and held it out. Everyone moved back.

“This bouquet is for Hogmanay”, he asserted very seriously.

The girls expressed their disappointment. Valerie burst out laughing.

“You should have said it’s for your fiancé!? That’s cute! How sweet! How sweet!”

“Damned too sweet!” Chelsea echoed ironically.

Everyone looked for a little Hogmanay. There was none that named, of course. Jeremie’s heart beat madly… He approached, with Etienne and Alex.

“Hey baby! Look here at theman! Rahan shouted to her and swelled out his chest.”

“What’s your name, sweetie? Do I know your parents?” Valerie questioned her.

“Who drive you here? Your mum? Is anyone waiting for you out here?” Etienne’s mother inquired.

“That is so strange”, Valerie added.

Suddenly the angel’s face lit up… he saw Jeremie!

The children uttered exclamations. All were amazed.

“Hogmanay! You fought my grandfather for a whole night…”

Everyone was amazed .Some held back their laugh. Jeremie uttered a long sigh and stifled a tear.

He knew from the start the bouquet was for him. Now the spell was cast. The angel made his way through the group of boys.

“She’s going to offer the bouquet to her lover. Quick! My camera!” Valerie commented and rushed to her bedroom.

“Hey, you fought with her grandfather a whole night, didn’t you? Damned you!” Etienne murmured to Jeremie.

Then he went on giggling.

“Listen! We’re not on a game” Jeremie stamped his feet.”

The seven boys laughed not longer. The angel was standing in front of them. He knelt and offered Jeremie the bouquet.

“Hogmanay…”

“Why does she call him Hogmanay?!” Etienne wondered.

Jeremie took the bouquet and it blazed. The children were bewildered. They cried out and clapped their hands. Valerie took shot after shot.

“Is she your girlfriend?! Does she call you Hogmanay?” Chelsea asked.

“Stop! I’m lost here!” the boy protested.

Valerie and her mother soothed everyone.

“Come on, kids that was an excellent magic trick. Let’s put the bouquet in the water now.” Alex’s mother concluded.

She grabbed the bouquet and it turned into a bouquet of thorns and nettles! The old lady dropped it, with horror. Everyone was amazed. This time, some fear took hold of them.

“Don’t touch it any more, Jeremie ordered, only me can take it…”

All shared fear and marvel. They waited Jeremie touched the thorns and nettles and the bouquet became the most splendid bouquet ever seen again. Everyone was delighted and full of enthusiasm. Someone brought a vase and Jeremie put the red and golden bouquet in it. All this was incredible. All this crowd around Jeremie. How wonderful! Valerie kissed him on his two cheeks. Jeremie couldn’t say a word. He felt so weary…