Travels of Jack Pynesapp
Book 2: Red and Jimmy
Chapter 5;
So here's Grandma. But that still doesn't answer the question as to why they are here (either here in this story or here in L.A.)"Grandma, what's going on?" Red asked, as Grandpa got up out of his chair.
"I'm sorry kids but I need to talk to Grandpa for a second, privately. Please, just a second."
She grabbed Jack's arm and lead him past the next table, leaving Jimmy and Red standing together and watching them go.
Jack and Marge were scanning the room and whispering back and forth excitedly. They were both frowning and they looked very concerned.
Jimmy had returned to his breakfast when the grandparents returned to the table. Before Red could say a word, Marge said; "Red, James, something very important has come up that Grandpa and I have to deal with immediately."
"What?" Protested Red.
"There's no time to explain right now," Grandpa said; "Marge and I have to run. Can you get me the box, Red?"
Jimmy pulled the suitcase from under the table and handed it to Red.
Grandma handed Jimmy two little boxes. "Here," she said, "these are a couple ports for you and Red. These are what they use to communicate here -- kind of like cell phones."
Jimmy opened one of the boxes and took out a small pendant and a pair of pea-sized things.
Red handed the box to Grandpa and closed the suit case. She then opened her little box.
"You hang the pendant around your neck and put the ear plugs in you ears." Grandma explained. "
They're made to allow all sounds to pass through so they don't effect your hearing. They little 'handles' allow you to pull then out anytime you like. "
Red and Jimmy examined the plugs and Grandma said; "Please put them on now. We need to activate them quickly."
Grandpa looked around and then tucked the box into his backpack while Red and Jimmy hung the pendants and put the plugs into their ears. "Now what?" Red asked.
"Just listen." Grandpa said.
Red 'heard' a voice say; "Please say your name."
She said; "Red Vanderbilt."
Jimmy said; "James Vanderbilt." at the same time. They looked at each other."
Red 'heard'; "Hello Red Vanderbilt. Is this your port?"
Red and Jimmy both looked at Grandpa and he said; "Say 'yes'."
They both said; "Yes"
Then Grandma said; "You both want to be a member of a 'node' called Pynesapp 485."
Both Red and Jimmy seemed to answer Grandma, but really they were answering the questions by their nodes. "Yes." They said. And then; "Pynesapp 485."
The nodes said thank you and that they were now registered and ready to begin. "I am at your service." They said.
"You can introduce your ports to other names that you answer to. It will learn other things about you as well while you learn about it." Grandma said.
Grandpa added; "Right now it will answer only to the names it knows."
"So now if you want to talk to me or Grandpa, just say our names and, if we're available, it will connect us and we can just begin talking."
"Pretty slick." Grandpa said.
"Grandpa."; Red said and then paused, waiting for the port.
"You have to say 'Jack Pynesapp'." Grandpa explained. "But trust me for now that it works."
Grandma interrupted; "Now we have to leave." She took a box out of her purse -- similar to the one Grandpa put in his backpack -- and handed it to Red. "Here dear, take this back to your Dad for us."
"What's in it?" Jimmy asked.
"Money." Grandma whispered. "Money for this side. So keep it hidden and keep it safe."
"You can use some it if you need it while you're here, but don't use more than you absolutely need."
"Now we absolutely have to go." Grandma said as she hugged Red and Jimmy. "We probably won't be back before your train leaves."
"We can skip this one and take a later train." Red offered.
"No! No don't do that!" Grandpa insisted as he gave Red a long hug. "James, please don't let her talk you into that. No matter what happens it's imperative that you are on the next train back home."
He hugged Jimmy and looked over his shoulder at Red; "Promise me, Red."
"I promise, Grandpa. If it's that important."
"Please trust us, it is." Grandma said as she took Jack's hand and pulled him away.
"Introduce yourselves to your ports and ask them whatever you want to know." Grandpa said.
"And call us." Grandma said over her shoulder. "We love you and be very careful"
And they disappeared out the door leaving Red and Jimmy standing over their unfinished breakfasts.
No comments:
Post a Comment