Thursday, February 1, 2018

The Travels of Jack Pynesapp - Book 2 Chapter 9: Red and Jimmy

This is 42 in a series of blogs chronicling an expedition into 'space' with Jack Pynesapp and his granddaughter Red. To read the entire story (with notes) please see the JackPynesapp web site: [ click here ]

Travels of Jack Pynesapp



Book 2: Red and Jimmy



Chapter 9

"I can't believe you agree to take him back with us?" Jimmy demanded when they got back to their seats.  Jimmy was trying to whisper but he could hardly contain his anger and dismay. 

"Shh, he'll hear you." Red whispered quietly; grasping Jimmy's hand and giving him a 'calm down' look.  "I kinda like Arthur. And I believe he's sincere." 

"He's playing us. You know that, don't you?" Jimmy whispered (softly this time.)

"Maybe. But I don't think so. I have a feeling about him." 

"You and your 'feelings'." Jimmy squeezed her hand and then pulled his hand away. 

"They've never been wrong." Red said smugly. 

"Not yet ..." Jimmy said as he pulled out his ear buds and settled back in his seat.

Red leaned over close to Jimmy's ear and said, "Besides, you want to know more about this world don't you? And this gravity drive..."

Jimmy nodded.

"Well, what better way than to buddy up with its' inventor?"

"If he was the inventor." Jimmy said under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing." He put in his ear buds and pressed 'play'.

Red put her feet up and closed her eyes. The train fell quietly through the night. She didn't sleep. She kept re-living the last minutes of their meeting with her grand-parents. She saw, in her mind, as they walked -- no, almost ran --  out of the restaurant. Why did her grandparents have to leave so quickly?  Where were they going? Why did they insist that She and Jimmy be on the next train out? What was so important? Her Grandma had said; "Remember, we love you and be careful." And she said; "Call us." But we've tried, she thought, we've tried over and over but no one answers. That's the part that bothers her the most. And the port; that's the most worthless thing yet.  Grandma had said; "Introduce yourselves to your ports and ask them whatever you want to know." But it won't tell me anything I want to know.

No, Red didn't sleep. She looked over at Jimmy and he was fast asleep. She unplugged his earbuds and lay back and closed her eyes again.



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