Home » The Archives » Chapter 12 » Playing with Fire
| Re: Playing with Fire [message #449 is a reply to message #448] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 20:59   |
artisticrainey
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Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
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Field Commander
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Friday, October 12, 2068, around 7 p.m., Tracy Island
Finishing up the dishes, Cassie set the towel down on the counter. She had just washed all her baking things that she had unpacked. She'd let them air dry and then find places for them in the cupboards.
Heading toward the living area, she moved both boxes onto her newly-bought throw rug, which sat between the couch and the entertainment system. Opening the one with the CD's in it, she pulled one out, not caring what it was and put it in the player. Soon, some familiar country music filled the air.
Settling herself on the floor, Cassie pulled the box from her mother toward her. I wonder what Mom sent me, she mused as she used the steak knife she had brought from the kitchen to open the box. Cassie smiled as she saw that all the contents had been neatly wrapped and packed. On the top was an envelope. Picking it up, she removed the single piece of blue stationary with a bonsai tree on the top.
Dear Cassie,
As I'm writing this, you're still here in New York with me but I know I'll be seeing you off soon. As much as it pains me to see you leaving, I know this is something that you need to do. Though I haven't said much, I've seen the pain and sadness that has been hovering around you these last few months. You haven't smiled as much as you used to and I miss your smile. Hopefully, this move will let you find your way through that and you'll find happiness once again, though I know that will take time. Still, I cling to the hope that the next time I see you, my smiling, carefree daughter will have returned.
I do hope that you're happy out in Kansas and that you're settling in to your new job. You said you found a place outside of the city. Are you enjoying the silence? I know I often long for the silence that I enjoyed growing up in Japan as I hear the busy city going on around me.
I thought about sending these items with you, but then decided to mail it. I thought receiving some mail from home would be a nice surprise. Hope you enjoy what I sent you.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Love,
Mom
Blinking away the few tears that had formed upon reading the letter, Cassie folded it back up and put it in the envelope. Setting it aside, she picked up one of the wrapped items. A smile immediately came to her face as she unwrapped a FDNY coffee mug. She continued pulling things out. Her mom had sent some baking ingredients along, as well as a couple tins of Cassie's favorite teas. She unwrapped several new towels and wash cloths. The last package though held the best surprise for her.
Cassie found a plastic container sitting at the bottom of the box. Opening it up, she found metal cookie cutters. As she looked through them she realized they were in Halloween shapes. There was a pumpkin, flying bat, a witch on a broom, a witches hat, a cat with the tail sticking up in the air, coffin, tombstone, and a ghost.
These will be perfect for making cookies for the party, Cassie thought as she stood up to take the container into the kitchen. She placed in on the counter, so she could put it away with the other things.
Returning to the living room, she went back to her previous task of unpacking and putting things away. While unpacking the rest of her CD's she had found the ziplock bag with the screws and brackets for the vanity. She tossed the bag onto one of the end tables and went back to unpacking the box. She was in the midst of putting away her vid discs when she heard the door chime. It's probably Gordon, Cassie thought as she got to her feet and headed for the door.
Sure enough, as the door opened, it revealed Gordon standing there. "Handyman calling," he replied with a grin.
"Hi, Gordon. Come on in. I appreciate you helping me out," Cassie said stepping aside to let him in. "Hey, Cherie," she said, when she noticed the girl standing behind her brother.
"Hi," Cherie replied.
"Not a problem. Hope you don't mind that Cherie tagged along. She was looking for a reason to get out of the house."
"Don't mind at all. You'll have to forgive the mess. I invited Tin-Tin over for tea tomorrow and wanted to at least get the things out here put away."
"Not a problem. Did you find those brackets and screws?"
"Right here," she answered, walking over to the end table and picking up the bag.
"Then why don't we get that mirror attached so you can get back to your work," Gordon suggested.
The three of them headed for the bedroom. Cherie sat down on Cassie's bed so she wouldn't be in the way. She looked around the half painted room as Gordon and Cassie started getting the circular mirror out of the box it had been shipped in.
"I think the room is going to look pretty once its finished," Cherie remarked as she took in the reddish brown walls that had paint on them and tried to picture the room complete with the midnight blue curtains, which she had helped Cassie pick out.
"I'm liking the color myself," Cassie replied as she helped Gordon lift the mirror into place. "I'm just not sure what to do about that wall," she remarked nodding toward the wall next to the door leading from the living area of the apartment. "You got it?" Cassie asked Gordon as they got the mirror lined up.
"Yeah. Go ahead and screw in the brackets," Gordon told her.
Cassie let go of the mirror and reached for the first bracket and the power screw driver which was sitting on the dresser. "I need something on it, because without any furniture over there I've just got a big empty wall," Cassie said continuing the conversation with Cherie as she started securing the mirror to the vanity. "I was thinking some kind of artwork. Have you ever done a mural, Cherie?"
"No. I usually stick to smaller things."
"Interested in giving it a try?" Cassie asked, as she got another bracket from the dresser top.
"You mean on the wall?" Cherie asked, considering the idea. It would be a challenge but it could be fun. I could always ask Virgil for advice. "What if it doesn't turn out right?"
"Almost anything would be preferable to that blank wall," Cassie told her. "I'll pay for any supplies you need to do it."
Cherie thought it over a few more minutes. "What did you have in mind?"
"Not sure yet. I was thinking something that would remind me of home."
"Well, that would be easy then. Cherie could paint a huge fire on the wall," Gordon quipped.
"You're lucky that you are holding up that mirror or I'd hit you," Cassie told him, trying to suppress the urge to smile.
Gordon just grinned.
Cherie meanwhile had been looking at the wall again. "What about famous buildings or sites from New York City, like the Statue of Liberty and things like that? I could probably paint things like that if we found pictures I could go off of."
As she finished securing the mirror, Cassie thought over the suggestion. It didn't take her long to start liking the idea. It would be relaxing to see the familiar sites she had grown up with. "Not a bad idea. Does that mean you're interested in giving it a try? I'd pay you for it somehow. Either I could buy you something you've been wanting or we could just decide on a fair price."
Cherie looked from Cassie and back at the blank wall, still thinking the idea over. "Okay, I'll give it a try," she said slowly. "I'll try to talk to Virgil before he leaves for Paris about it so he can give me an idea on how to start," Cherie said, looking forward to the challenge that had been presented to her.
Posted by starrynebula on February 29, 2008
  
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