Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 11:55:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: Corrinne S <quasito_cat@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Graschels of Guenther Street - Chapter 11

The Graschels of Guenther Street

M.C. Gordon

Pertinent information is posted at the beginning of
this series.  Comments welcome to
quasito_cat@hotmail.com or quasito_cat@yahoo.com


Chapter Eleven

     The rest of the week went by in a blur.  Deet
took Eric and Jane to a local tree lot and purchased
two Christmas trees.  The largest, a ten foot blue
spruce, was going to be used as the formal tree for
the Christmas tour.  Deet had moved into a second
floor bedroom and the tree was set up in the parlor.
Jane and Eric became frustrated when they were helping
put on the decorations because Deet suddenly became a
perfectionist.  The lights looked like candles and had
to be placed in perfect symmetry.  The ornaments were
delicate glass, etched or hand painted, and almost a
hundred years old.  Deidre made popcorn for Eric and
Jane to string together, alternating the fully popped
kernels with cranberries.

     Jane grumbled about wanting to help more with the
tree until Deet finally said, "This is a very formal
tree, Jane.  It has to be done to match the era of
this house.  Watch how I fix it this year and then
next year you and Eric can help more."

     The children decided to forgive Deet when he
moved the other tree, a six foot Douglas fir to the
second floor and put it in front of the window at the
end of the hallway -- just outside the three occupied
bedrooms.

     "This is our family tree," Deet told them.  "You
may decorate it however you wish.  Our presents will
go here until Christmas Eve.  Then you may take them
down to the other tree if you wish.  Or, we can all
just sit on the floor here and open the gifts.  The
decision is yours."

     Deet lost his balance and ended up on the floor
with the impact of two young bodies embracing him at
the same time.

 . . .

     The Graschel house was one of the favorites on
the tour and Deet received many compliments and
whispers of gratitude for opening the house again.
Benji was permanently banned from the parlor and
confined to the family floor during the hours the
house was viewed.  Eric and Jane joined Deet in
greeting the visitors.  Deet was bursting with pride
at the two who, with a few quick lessons from Deidre,
comported themselves as if they were entertaining
heads of state.

     Deet planned a small party for the evening of the
twenty-third.  The guest list included Angela and Tom
Solari, Herbert and Betty Milhauser, the Fuentes
family, Ramon Martinez and Rick Jordan, and Dr. Tran.

     Deet and Deidre spent the day preparing a buffet
meal with several different types of meat, assorted
vegetables, a variety of potato dishes with suitable
sauces, and plenty of desserts.  Eric, because he was
the oldest of the children, was put in charge of the
cookies.  He measured the ingredients from the recipes
and helped Jane mix them.  Jane put them on the baking
stone and Eric took them out of the oven.  Before they
were finished they had worked out a perfect rhythm and
announced they would do the Christmas cookies every
year.

     As the guests arrived they were given tours of
the entire house.  Jorge and Connie, who seemed to
spend as much time in the King William District as
they did the Dominion, asked if they could show their
parents and sisters through the upstairs rooms.

Jane insisted that she be allowed to do the honors for
Judge Solari and her husband.  Angelina Solari had to
hold back tears at the joy and pride she saw in this
little girl.

     "And this is Miracle," Jane said when she opened
her bedroom door and was greeted by a mewling kitten.
"Her momma's dead and Daddy said I could keep her if I
took real good care of her.  I feed her a bottle and
everything.  She eats a little canned cat food now so
I only give her a bottle at night.  She sleeps in a
box but Eric helped me pick a real nice little house
that's gonna be her Christmas present.  And I got her
some toys for when she's big enough to play."

     The judge was quick to notice that Jane Doe was
now referring to her foster parent as her daddy.

     "My turn!" Eric exclaimed when Herbert and his
wife arrived.  "This place is totally rad!," he said
in his excitement.  "My room is huge.  Dad gave me one
of the bookcases and let me bring all the books down
from his old room.  I've got a brand new computer with
lots of games and Mr. Musselman, that's our tutor,
linked me to some websites I can use for school.  Dad
said he'd get me new furniture if I wanted but I kind
of like this old stuff."

     Herbert thought his wife would go into shock when
she saw the furniture.  "There's more in the attic if
you'd like to see it sometime," Deet told her when
Eric escorted them back to the parlor.  "I don't think
any of my family could ever bear to part with anything
and there are generations of stuff up there.  Herbert
told me you have an antique store.  Jane and Eric get
first choice at anything they like but I'm open to
discussion if you find pieces you'd like."  They
drifted to the living room discussing antiques when
several other items caught her attention.

     "These crystal angels are absolutely beautiful!"
Betty exclaimed.  "Where did you get them?"

     "Those are my contribution," Deidre said.  "I
purchased them in Europe several years ago."

     The two women drifted into talk of European
crystal work as opposed to American and Deet went to
answer the doorbell.

     "I hope I'm not late," Dr. Tran said when Deet
opened the door.  "I had a hard time finding a place
to park.  I think everyone on Guenther Street is
entertaining tonight and it's like a mall parking lot
out there."

     "Oh no, you're not late at all," Deet replied.
"We're still waiting for another couple.  Please, come
in.  Eric and Jane were hoping you'd come."

     "Dr. Tran!" Eric exclaimed, "me and Jane ... oops,
that's Jane and I, decided we want to show you the
house together.  You know, `cause you're our doctor.
Well, one of our doctors."

     "One of them?" the psychiatrist asked.

     "Yeah," Jane said grasping one of his hands.
"We've got a bunch.  Dad took us to a dentist.  I have
to go back `cause he says I've got some bad teeth.
And we went to see a patrician.  He's ok but he gave
us shots."

     "He's a pediatrician, Jane," Eric corrected.

     "Whatever, he still made us get shots.  And I
already know my alphabet.  And I get to have dance
lessons, and riding lessons."

     "Riding lessons?" Dr. Tran asked.

     "Yeah," Eric said.  "Dad bought us horses.  Well,
Jane's is still a pony but big enough for her to ride.
 But Dad says you have to learn to ride a horse just
like a bicycle only it's a little harder `cause you
have to let the horse know what you want it to do."

     The man listened as the children gave him their
private tour of the house, including their bedrooms.
He noticed two things he hadn't noticed before during
their sessions with him.  Jane's vocabulary and
grammar were improving ... and Eric no longer referred
to Deet as Daddy.  They were both beginning to
approach their normal age levels.

     The doorbell rang again and Deet opened the door.

     "It's about time you two got here," he said as
Ramon and Rick greeted him.  "The food's getting cold
and I'm starving."

     "You said eight," Rick told him.

     "And it's eight-thirty," Deet responded.

     "I'm an artist, love.  I'm always fashionably
late."

     "You're a pain in the ass, Rick," Deet laughed,
"and I don't know why Ramon puts up with you."

     "For that very reason," Rick whispered.

     With all the guests present, the buffet was
opened and dinner began.  Conversation was light and
easy with discussions of the Riverwalk, museum
exhibits, whether there would be snow for Christmas.

     "It never snows here at Christmas," Manuel said.
"Never has, never will."

     "Well I wish it would just once," Jorge replied.
"I don't know why we can't have a white Christmas."

     "Because we're too far south and the weather
systems never make it down this far," Ramon answered.

     "Well, we watched an old movie the other night
about these guys who thought they'd have snow.  Only
it didn't snow and they decided to put on a musical
and then it snowed," Hope Fuentes said.

     Rick put down his glass of wine and stared at her
before he started to laugh.  "I don't think I've ever
heard `White Christmas' described quite like that
before," he said.  "Do you think that if we all stood
on the front porch and sang `I'm dreaming of a white
Christmas' that we'd get snow?"

     "Don't even suggest it," Consuela said.  "You've
never heard Manuel try to sing.  He'd probably scare
the snow away forever."

     "Well, I don't know about the rest of you but I
feel a little dancing is in order to work down that
meal and make room for some of those delicious looking
pies and cookies," Rick said as he pushed back from
the table.  "Have you finished, Jane?"

     "Uh-huh," she replied.

     "Then take your plate to the kitchen, rinse it
and put it in the dishwasher.  I'd like to talk to you
while everyone else finishes making pigs of
themselves."

     Jane excused herself as Deidre had taught her and
obediently rinsed her plate and utensils.

     "Now, Jane," Rick said when she joined him in the
parlor, "I was thinking about some things I'd like for
you to practice.  Take your shoes off, honey."

     Jane removed her shoes and put them out of the
way.  "What now?" she asked.

     "I want you to stand on your tip-toes, stretch up
as far as you can, and lean backward.  I'll support
your back so you don't fall.  Good, now raise your
arms up over your head and arch backward."

     Jane did as requested and Rick supported her as
he'd promised.

     "I want you to practice that with your dad or
Deidre to help you.  It's going to strengthen the
muscles in your back until you're able to balance by
yourself.  Now, I have a tape of some of the music
they use for the Spurs Dancers and we'll practice
until everyone else is finished eating.  We'll do it
slowly because we just ate ourselves and I don't want
you to get sick.  Okay?"

     Jane agreed and was caught up in the simple steps
Rick was teaching her so she didn't notice when
everyone else entered the room and watched.  She was
surprised when they finished and were greeted with a
round of applause.

     "You really are good," Rick said when Jane
blushed at the attention.

     "Well," Deet said, "unless you kids are in the
mood for some old folks dancing, you can go upstairs
and do your own thing.  Us grownups will probably
spend the rest of the evening being choreographed by
Rick."

     Only two people caught the subtle bitterness of
Deet's words.

     "Why do you dislike me so intensely?" Rick asked
Deet later as they stepped to the back patio for a
little cool air.

     "Because you knew how much I loved Ramon and you
didn't care.  You wanted him and took him away from
me."

     "Did you ever once tell Ramon how you felt?  No,
you didn't, because you were terrified of the world
learning you were gay.  Ramon wasn't willing to hide
in dark corners with secret kisses.  I've never been
afraid for the world to know who I am, Deet.  You know
that.  So did he.  I offered Ramon something you
wouldn't.  That's years behind us and time for you to
get over it.  There's a man sitting in your parlor
who's tearing himself apart because he wants to tell
you that he loves you and can't.  And don't try to
tell me that you haven't noticed.  Hell, everyone here
can see it except you.  You've got a chance, man, a
real chance, with someone who makes me want to cry
when I see how much he loves you.  Put all the correct
bullshit aside and go back in there and ask him if
he'd like to dance.  And use his name, not that doctor
shit.  Look, if you really want to help Eric and Jane
get past whatever happened to them you've got to open
yourself up to love and show them that it doesn't have
to hurt."

     "If Jane didn't think you walk on water I'd ..."

     "Kiss me?  I appreciate your gratitude but Jane's
got a natural gift," Rick suddenly said as he noticed
Jane and Eric coming toward them.  "Ask Eric what he
thinks, about everything," he added as he turned Deet
toward the children.