part 11 of the China Pearl Inn

[DarkWarrioress]

"Of course. I will leave you to it. I just finished writing for JH. I think I'm going to wander off and get some cleaning up done with the Halloween decorations. Have a good day."

 

[Tio_Narratore]

"And you as well, Cait."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

This time, she simply pushed open the door and wandered in, seeking out a comfy chair by the fire. On this dreary day, the fire was more lively than ever. Glancing around, she wondered where CG was and JH. She softly chuckled. JH was always busy around the Inn doing something or another. At the moment, she saw neither.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Tio was there, though, sitting in the high back Queen Anne chair that he had turned to face the window so as to have a respite of sight to interrupt his writing now and then. He looked up as he heard the door swing open and saw Cait's reflection in the window. He remained silent, leaving Cait undisturbed to settle in by the fire.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Writing finished, well, almost; one response to go, and it's back to the Pearl for another coffee. The Inn is quiet; no one stirs. I presume Poo Ming is taking a nap in the kitchen; I'll not disturb him. I see the Samovar is still hot, and I fill a cup, strong and black. A dash f the Irish later, perhaps.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

So much to do and so little time available. Ah well, she'd make due, as always. For now, a cup milk tea and catching up on some writing. She winked into the Pearl, straight behind the bar to make her milk tea. Glance around showed Tio seemed to be the only one around. He had made himself something to drink. She would not disturb him for now. She had a list of things to do. Taking her steaming cup, she found a place in the Pearl to set up her writing tools and opened her laptop to read and respond.

 

[JackHemingway]

Jack got out of his booth, where he had a laptop and typewriter set up along with several books, empty coffee cups, and a few dishes that used to contain pie. He got a tub for dirty dishes, collected it all, put it away, cleaned the table, and plugged in his laptop. Then, heading behind the bar, he turned on the grill and began cracking eggs and tossing on slices of bacon. As the food cooked, he looked at the coffee situation and ensured plenty of fresh java was available. Then Jack glances around the room and smiles before returning to his cooking.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

It's quiet for Tio; he's caught up on all his posts. He keeps quiet, hidden in the Queen Anne facing the window, wondering what responses his posts will engender.

 

[JackHemingway]

After toasting a few slices of rye, Jack returns to his booth with his bacon, eggs, and toast. Before he starts, though, he gets a fresh cup of coffee and a tall glass of ice water, sits down, eats his food, and looks down at his journal. He sighs, nods, and looks over at Cait. What a long, painful learning trip this has been.

 

[JackHemingway]

Jack sets up a crockpot on the bar, plugs it in, and starts cooking his kielbasa soup with potatoes.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She sits by the fire, staring at her laptop screen. Finally, she thinks she has it. A way to bring Jackson and Sara together.... she hopes. Suddenly she is sprinboarded out of her thoughts by the smell of cooking that seems to fill the bottom floor of the Pearl. Glancing up, she spies JH cooking again. Whatever it is, it smells delicious. Scolding herself, she returns her attention to the computer screen and begins typing.

 

[JackHemingway]

Many hours later, Jack fills a large bowl with soup, places it on a dish with a large napkin and spoon, walks it over by Cait, and places it on a table beside her with tall ice water.

 

[JackHemingway]

Tired but satisfied from the ups and downs of the day, the week, and his life, Jack sets himself up with a large glass of ice water and a large bowl of soup—two very different chapters in the mail for local distribution and the competition of another writing exercise. None of it will make a significant difference on the road of life, but it's about moving down the path and enjoying it along the way. Jack settles down on one of the couches, food on the coffee table. Maybe he'll get a room at the Inn to sleep overnight.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Many hours later, Jack fills a large bowl with soup, places it on a dish with a large napkin and spoon, walks it over by Cait, and places it on a table beside her with tall ice water.

Blinking her eyes, she startles out of a deep contemplation and looks up as a bowl of soup and a glass of water are set beside her. She smiles.

"Thank you, JH. It smells wonderful."

Closing her laptop she scoots the bowl in front of her and begins to dig in.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

"It does have an enticing aroma," Tio says as he enters the Inn. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Jack," he says, turning to the fabricator of the feast, My name's Tio. Is there enough of your tempting treat for a third serving?"

 

[JackHemingway]

Blinking her eyes, she startles out of a deep contemplation and looks up as a bowl of soup and a glass of water are set beside her. She smiles.

"Thank you, JH. It smells wonderful."

Closing her laptop she scoots the bowl in front of her and begins to dig in.

"You're very welcome, and I hope you like the next chapter as well."

 

[JackHemingway]

"It does have an enticing aroma," Tio says as he enters the Inn. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Jack," he says, turning to the fabricator of the feast, My name's Tio. Is there enough of your tempting treat for a third serving?"

Jack puts together another large bowl of soup and sets it on the bar. "Oh yes, please enjoy. Need something to drink?"

 

[Tio_Narratore]

"Thank you, Jack; you're truly a gentleman as well as a pornographer." Tio takes a seat at the bar. "A cold porter would be good," he responds, and then begins to hum Anything Goes as he realizes he's inadvertently made a bad pun.

"And hello to you, Cait; it's certainly a pleasure to see you again."

 

[JackHemingway]

Jack fills a pint glass with a dark porter and places it on a coaster by the new arrival.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

"Thanks, Jack," Tio declares as he raises his glass to his host.

 

[JackHemingway]

Jack nods and drinks some water before refilling his soup bowl. "You're welcome, sir. Enjoy."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Thank you, Jack; you're truly a gentleman as well as a pornographer." Tio takes a seat at the bar. "A cold porter would be good," he responds, and then begins to hum Anything Goes as he realizes he's inadvertently made a bad pun.

"And hello to you, Cait; it's certainly a pleasure to see you again."

Greetings, Tio. Thank you and it's very nice to see you as well.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"You're very welcome, and I hope you like the next chapter as well."

I'm sure I shall.

 

[JackHemingway]

He goes for another bowl of soup but gets some fresh bread and a cocktail, and Jack sits in a booth.

It seems with everything being a struggle, writing is not.

 

[JackHemingway]

Jack finishes his bowl of cereal and puts it into the sink, grabs his large whiskey, walks to the pool table, and works his way around it after breaking.

Life is an exciting path and hardly a straight forward one.