Cha'Nara's Gift

Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Wonder of the Ages

The place was it's usual busy self, loud, raucous, just the way I liked it, we were seated in a dimly lit booth Cha'Nara sat on the very inside, the gloom hiding her face, after we sat down , the waitress came by and took our drink orders, "Just bring us a pitcher of beer, make it Coors light," said Deak. The waitress started eyeballing Cha'Nara and Ben, when both Deak and I spoke out, "They're OK, we'll vouch for them." The waitress studied them for a few seconds more then left. Annie said, "Why didn't she want to serve Cha'Nara and Ben?" I smiled and replied, "Because they don't look over twenty-one, gotta be twenty-one to drink in Colorado, most other states as well." Annie looked at me in amazement and just shrugged. Ben then spoke, "What is pizza?" Deak chuckled, "Son, it's one of the national foods, hamburgers and hot dogs being the others don't worry, you'll be sampling them as well." The waitress returned with the beer and four glasses, "Give us another minute or so," I said, we haven't decided as yet." The waitress nodded and left. Deak and I decided on a small veggie deluxe for Cha'Nara, a large supreme for the rest of us with a traditional crust, once the waitress left with our order, I poured myself a beer, held it up and said, "Jakka!" Cha'Nara giggled and poured herself a glass as well, Deak poured beer for Ben and Annie, as I leaned back and said to no one in particular, "My friends threw a party for me here the night before I shipped out for Paris Island." "What's Paris Island?" asked Annie,

"Paris Island is in South Carolina, I took Marine Corps Basic training there, and yes, nowadays women can and do join the military, I got out as a Lance Corporal, no telling what grade I would have made if I hadn't been "sweet talked" by Mr. smooth talker over there." By now the pizza's had come, "Better bring another pitcher, this one seems to have sprung a leak, said Deak, the "leak" was named Cha'Nara, I looked over at her and said, "Cha'Nara? If you can put away this much beer, how much of this "Jakka" stuff can you drink?" Cha'Nara just laughed, "As much as I want." I shuddered at the ramifications of that.

Annie and Ben just seemed to pick at their pizza, while Cha'Nara gobbled hers down. I noticed that they seemed pre-occupied with watching other people in the restaurant, even to the point of studying them.

I noticed this behavior with Rachel as well, she explained it to me this way; "It's one thing to look at a car or electric light, or even a TV set, those are inanimate objects, however to see actual people, people dressed strangely, talking in a different manor, even looking differently, that's something else altogether.

You see, I think of myself as a being from the 19th century, that's my time, the time God, chose for me to live in. I'm here in the 21st century only temporarily. I feel akin to God looking at faces that are not due on this earth for another century or more, God has already created these people, and I am bearing witness to his handiwork Emily. I am seeing what no other human being was meant to see, this troubles me deeply." I thought about her words for a long time, people in the 19th century tended to think in more religious terms, but I could see her point. "Is that what Ben and Annie were thinking?" very eerie. "I take it you two don't really care much for pizza?" Annie realized I was watching her, "Oh it's very nice, it tastes like nothing I've ever eaten before, it's hard to eat with a fork, though I see that it's supposed to be eaten with the hands, very unusual." I thought a moment then said, "People of your day and time were used to eating more basic foods, beef chicken, potatoes, plain vegetables, although not tomatoes green peppers, or mushrooms, although sausage should be familiar." "I suppose if I were here longer I should acquire a taste for this…Pizza."

Emily Continues

While Annie continued to work on her pizza, I began to observe Ben. He and Cha'Nara were sitting tight against each other, he was paying more attention to her than his food, I also noticed that he was putting away the beer, I don't know if he thought he could drink her under the table or what, if that was the case he was finished before even starting. Cha'Nara was being her playful self, tickling him, trying to get his attention (never a problem there) just general fooling around. I suddenly realized something, I was just like that before the Marine Corps and war changed me. In watching these two, a thought popped into my mind, no, it wasn't the fact that they were having s*x, Deak and I knew that (plus reports from my "girls") no, it had to do more with Ben than anything else, Cha'Nara might be drawing him into something he might be totally unawares of, guess it was time for a little sit down with our little "space girl" and find out if my suspicions are correct. On the way home from the pub, Annie and Ben were amazed and commented a great deal on the lights, lit signs, even a few Christmas light die-hards.

"This is amazing," said Annie, "Ever thing is so colorful and Bright, you say this electricity makes this all happen?" "Yes it does" said Deak, Electricity is generated from a power plant' or dam, sent to business's or private residences where it powers lights appliances power tools, you name it pretty much everything. All these colorful lights you see are just advances in design from the simple electric light bulb invented by Thomas Edison in 1878 and got it patented in 1879; do those years ring a bell with you two? So you see Annie, the technical revolution has already begun." Once we arrived home, I showed Annie how to use the shower, soap, shampoo and hair dryer, making sure she didn't get the hair dryer near water of any kind. Ben began to ask my father all sorts of questions about farming and ranching, dad told him there wasn't much to see now being that it was the dead of winter, but he kept asking him all sorts of questions just the same.

Annie took a shower and washed her hair drying her hair with a hair dryer,

"I don't understand how any of this works, but I sure like the results" she cheerfully exclaimed. "That's why they're called labor saving devices" I said. "Well I know a good thing when I see it, all these new-fangled devices you're showing us that save an awful lot of time, Miss…Emily. I used to dream about things that would come along and make this or that job easier, now it appears my dreams have been answered. Like I said, I can't even begin to understand how all this works, but I can't help thinking you people of the future have figured how to take the hard work out of living, so show me more if you please."

I couldn't believe I was hearing this come out of someone from the 19th century, but if Annie felt she was ready for "the future" we'd see to it she got it, on the other hand, I warned her, "We have a saying here in the future Annie, Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."

She just looked at me and smiled, "I'm ready."

About the time we were getting ready for bed Cha'Nara came to me and asked if Annie could sleep in the bed Ben was supposed to get, "Ben and I want to sleep in the same bed, Emily, why is this not possible?"

I was rather shocked that Cha'Nara would ask this of me, she's never behaved this way before. "Well for one, Cha'Nara you two aren't married, and this is my parents house, they would be rather offended if two unmarried underage, as far as they're concerned kids were sleeping in the same bed. I don't know how they do things on Vaga IV, and frankly I don't care, you and Annie will share a bed, Ben sleeps ALONE in the old sewing room, is that clear?" Cha'Nara gave me a look I've never seen on her before, actually a rather nasty look. "Oh, that reminds me, I've been meaning to have a little chat with you, young lady, as a matter of fact, right now just might be the time for it, let's go to my bedroom," "NO! I will not, I want to sleep in Bed with Ben!" I had never seen her like this before, and I had to be very careful how I handled it, no telling what a "pissed off" Cha"Nara was capable of. I left her in a pout and went and found Deak, "Our bedroom, right now!" Poor Deak thought I was probably still pissed from his "Hollywood Marine comments earlier this evening, but once we went to our bedroom, I closed the door.

Before Deak could say anything, I began, "We've got a problem with Cha'Nara, she's demanding that she and Ben share a bedroom, and that Annie sleep in the old sewing room." Deak started laughing, "That's odd, Pip getting defiant. Did you explain that this is your parents house, we go by their rules," "I explained the whole thing to her, right now, she's throwing a tantrum." "This is totally out of character, for her, let me speak to Ben, I'll be back in a bit."

Deak Takes Up the Story

This kind of behavior was completely out of character for Pip I'd talk to Ben; see if he knows anything, he was upstairs in his little Room getting ready for bed. "Ben, need to talk to you a minute there guy."

"Sure, what about?" "Ben, Cha'Nara has been displaying some unusual behavior lately; she's demanding that you and she be allowed to share a bedroom." Bens face suddenly turned beet red, "Oh, this will not do, we are not married believe me Deak, I am not putting her up to anything, I am perfectly fine right here, please, you must believe me I would not be comfortable with an arrangement like that." "I know you two sleep together, the walls have ears Ben, don't try and deny it son." Ben lowered his eyes, a look of shame on his face, "Cha'Nara tempts me, I-I-I don't know, she has this way about her, I…" "Look Ben, Emily and I feel responsible for her safety while she's here on earth, regardless of the century, she's told us an awful lot about her culture, apparently her promiscuity is considered perfectly acceptable on her home world, that's kind of why Emily and I tend to turn a "blind eye" to some of the things you two engage in, but this is a different matter, this is somebody else's house, and we are guests here. We show proper respect by living by their rules, case closed end of argument. I want you to talk to Cha'Nara try and make her see reason, just try and keep those raging hormones on ice while we're here OK?" Ben looked at me with a puzzled expression, "What are hormones, what is "On Ice" mean?" I shook my head, "Son, have a seat."

Emily Picks Up the Story

Apparently Deak got Ben to make Cha'Nara see reason, however Annie later told me Cha'Nara was rather "bitchy" acting and deliberately kept trying to hog the sheets, but Annie doesn't put up with crap for long, she pushed Cha'Nara right out of bed, wrapped the blankets completely around herself, and wouldn't let Cha'Nara back in until she apologized, but not before Annie chewed her out. As a sort of "punishment" Cha'Nara was forced to stay home by herself, Ben and Deak went out with my father. Annie and I headed back to Limon, first stop, the hair dressers, and beauty shop, then to select some modern clothes for Annie to wear, I would also be looking for stuff for Ben as well. Driving into town the next morning, Annie told me about Cha'Nara's behavior, I told her to just "roll" with it, Cha'Nara was throwing a tantrum, because we wouldn't let her and Ben share a bedroom, "We've heard them going at it back at the saloon, but this is your parents house, doesn't she understand she can't do that sort of thing here?" said Annie.

"Apparently since she can get away with this sort of behavior in Deakstown, and on her home world, she can get away with this sort of thing here, well it's not going to happen, so feel free to do whatever you have to make her realize this type of behavior won't get her anywhere." I turned on the radio, Kelly Clarkston was singing "Dark side" one of my favorite songs, I turned the radio up louder and started belting out the song, right along with Kelly getting odd looks from Annie, like I was crazy.

I pulled across the street from the "Kut Hut" and both of us walked across the street, Annie still wide-eyed like a blind person seeing the world for the first time. One of the girls working here I knew from high school, "Marla, Annie here needs something short and cute plus getting her face fixed up in that special way you girls do it here," Marla had Annie get in her chair and started studying her hair. "Annie's new in town, she works for me and I promised her we'd fix her up with a new "look"

"I think we can do that OK" smiled Marla. While Marla worked on Annie, I brought her up to speed on what I'd been doing since high school.