Wedding of the Year, Part 2

Cheesie seems to have really taken to Satis. Right after the wedding she was the first person he talked to.

Meanwhile, I took out my guitar for the first time since the last major wedding in our family and entertained guests with my rendition of my dad’s special wedding composition. I’d played it once before, at Noah’s wedding, and we know what happened there.

Midway through the song, I noticed Neil going through one of his patented freak-outs. My mother just kind of stared at him, but HIS mother had her back turned. Good thing Bassy was there, he took Neil into the bathroom and calmed him down. Poor Neil, I feel sorry for him sometimes.

When I finished the song everyone had gone to eat the feast Halima prepared -- except for one person.

“Savannah Rachel,” my mother began in a hushed, halting voice, tears streaming down her face. “My Savannah Rachel – I never believed this day would come.”

“What day?”

“The day you’d wed. At one point I thought you’d never marry.”

“What made you think that?”

“Seriously, Savannah, you weren’t exactly rushing to the altar.”

“Neither did you. It took forever for you and Dad to tie the knot.”

“Well that was because of him, not me. The moment you were born I wanted to marry him but I was willing to wait until he was ready to commit.”

“To be frank, I’m not sure I would have waited as long as you did.”

Mom managed a chuckle. “Okay, Savannah, you got me there.”

She decided to change the subject. “You know, Savannah, that’s an – interesting – choice of attire for a wedding.”

“We are not going to go through this right now, not on my wedding night and CERTAINLY not in front of my daughter.” When I said that, I’d just realized Satis was standing right beside me. And it felt damn good referring to her as “my daughter.”

““If I’m not mistaken, it’s MY wedding, and I have the prerogative to do as I please, and that includes my clothing.”

“Don’t you think you’ve taken this Egypt obsession a little too far, Savannah?” she asked me. “Most people go on foreign trips, they come back with memories of that trip and that’s pretty much it. Not you – nooooo. You wrote a book about it, your room at home is full of Egyptian decor, you chose Egyptian music for this wedding, you even adopted two Egyptian kids and hired an Egyptian nanny.”

“Mother, I can take grief about my own personal choices, but you can be damn sure that I am not going to allow you to disparage my daughter’s homeland in front of her!” I told Satis to join her brother at the reception but she wouldn’t leave my side.

I took a deep breath. “You have to understand, mother, that the moment my feet touched the ground there I became a completely different person. That trip changed my entire life, in so many ways. You know if it were up to me I’d actually still be living there.”

My mother, try as she may, is not going to change who I am. She didn’t succeed when I was growing up and she is not going to now. “That’s what inspired me to write “Interview with a Mummy.” I was so overcome by the mystery and intrigue of the land. I spent four days alone in an Egyptian pyramid. When you spend four days alone anywhere, you do a lot of thinking.”

“You know, Savannah, I re-read the book with a different frame of mind, and I actually did like it. There were just certain passages in it that, well, hit a little too close to home for me. I figured out right away that you were writing something like an autobiography. Like your description of Saundra Burroughs as a washed-up actress who struggled to understand her daughter. There were a couple of occasions where I wanted to kill Saundra for not seeing things that were so obvious. Savannah, I have to admit – I struggled with you too. There are times when I look at you and it’s like looking in a mirror, because you’re just like me. Savannah, you ARE me, except blond, and prettier, and stronger, and smarter, and that’s what scares me.”

“You wanted to be blond?”

“Growing up, more than anything. My mother was blond and she hated me because I wasn’t. I pretty much look exactly like my father. She spent the whole time making me feel very, very small, like I was less than anyone. So I was determined to prove to her that I could succeed despite not being blond. My mother would have LOVED you.”

“After you grew up, if you wanted to be blond so badly, why didn’t you just dye your hair?”

Mom shook her head. “I wanted to get as far away from my mother’s influence as I could. So I kept myself as a brunette. Then I met your father --”

After mom left to join the reception, I thought about just how truly sad the whole story sounded. Hating your kid just because they have the wrong hair color. It’s a pity that my mother seemed never to be truly happy, despite her success, until she finally convinced my father to marry her.

Just then Satis came to chat about the wedding. “I’m happy you got married, mommy.”

Just hearing that word “mommy” out of her mouth made me realize just how much about my life was different now. I glanced over at Satis, so fragile and malleable at her age, and even though she is not biologically my daughter, the moment I met her I felt an unshakable bond towards her and a desire to protect her from everyone and everything. I hope in my heart of hearts not to make the mistakes that 2 generations of Bellingham women have made with their children.

Random post

My babies are coming home with me after all. That pic was taken in Egypt, believe it or not.

I am going to love them and care for them and protect them like they need to be protected and loved and cared for.

The next step is to arrange the trip to bring them home for good.

It's times like these when I realize Neil is definitely a Plumb.

Just this morning I caught him with his hand in the cookie jar, quite literally. Noah taught him well on that point, I guess. Can't believe his birthday is in a few simdays. Incredible.

The day after

The morning after was like any other at Casa Plumb. Except I slept in.

Meanwhile, downstairs Bassy and Neil were putting their finishing touches on their homework. I can't believe both of them will be graduating soon. Wow.

Time really does fly.

The other thing that's happened is that Dad finally went back to work on his memoir, Confessions of a Farm Boy. I'm not entirely sure what prompted him to do it, but I'm guessing Noah's birthday party had a little something to do with it. I haven't read everything that's in it, and I know -- even from the revelation about Billy -- that he's kept back quite a few things.

Neil rode home with quite possibly the one girl that's more screwed up than he is. I think she's Debbie Thornberry and her parents do some kind of wildlife nature show. That girl has a MAJOR chip on her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Bassy's been spending his spare time in the recording studio and strumming a few bars in the park in front of disbelieving audiences. I'm having a hard time believing that his album is about to come out. When I was his age I was spending my time in the back seat of cop cars, without a clue what I wanted out of life, so he's ahead of me there.

Thing is, though he loves music, he's not obsessed with it 24-7 like dad is. He likes computer games, too, and cartoons, and comic books. Oh, and girls. I know of at least four different girls that he talks to on a regular basis.

Surprise phone call

Dad slept with Neil that night, because he rolled out of Neil's bed the next morning. I asked him about it, and he said Neil had a nightmare. I have no idea what that kid saw next door, but it can't be too good.

Meanwhile, I was chillin' out with Survivor Twikkii Island. I'm totally convinced Jessica Knight is going to win. To be totally honest, I'd cream all those girls. But I don't need to prove my survivalist bonafides on a TV show.

They were in the middle of eliminating Jeffrey when the phone rang. Apparently Billy Tripp wanted to see me.

You're not familiar with Billy Tripp, are you? Neither am I, really. We know about each other. But I can't say we have a relationship. I'm not sure why he's wanting to talk to me, though. I guess I get to find out.

Back from France

I drove back from Champs Les Sims in the dead of night, in a rented Jeep.

After I got back, I put together our new nectar cellar. I figured the nectar maker and the nectar bottles are going to be handy when we put together our next party, we'll have that to serve. Both mom and I know how to make nectar, and I'm going to teach Neil and Bassy how to do it too.

After I got back, I decided to pay a visit to Ari, who now wants to be called by her given name, Arielle. Ari, as usual, was teed off. I tried to talk about my trip and she's all, "I'm sick and tired of seeing my best friend on the cover of some trashy gossip rag."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm browsing through some stuff at the bookstore, and here you are on the cover of this gossip rag, suckin' face with some guy! What's that about?"

"None of your business!"

"Who is he, Savannah? I wanna know. Besides -- he's kinda cute. Geeky -- but cute."

I was reluctant. "His name is Gustave Delven."

"Oooh, Gustave!" she teased, "sounds veddy French."

"We met the first time I went to France, when my parents got married." I told her about the nectar history project we ended up working on.

"Uh-huh, and then you ended up sleeping at his house -- better be careful, Vanna, that's how these start!"

"There's one problem -- the bitch he lives with, Jolene. He says she's his roommate, but the way she's acting it seems like there's much more going on than that."

"Ah, so you're the other woman!"

"You watch entirely too much TV, Ari," I teased.

Ari and I decided to go over to Hogan's to get a bite to eat.

"You have to think about what you're getting into," Ari cautioned over her blaring Llama Mouth band while we were making the drive. "Jolene not only doesn't sound like a savory character, but it doesn't sound like Gustave has been entirely truthful to you, either."

"What do you mean? He doesn't seem like he has a lie inside of him."

"That's just it," Ari said. "It's pretty clear there's something going on between him and Jolene, but to keep from hurting you, he won't tell you about it. Seriously, why would they move in together?"

Being a Friday night, the place was PACKED! It was even more packed than usual because Hogan's was running an all-you-can-eat special. We had fried hot chicken wings and onion rings -- exactly the greasy fattening food I'd sworn off.

Just before I left, I saw Bassy and Neil pull up in Bassy's car. I know they had been over at the spa because Bassy got a job there -- no doubt to try to get at girls -- and then they came over to the diner to try their hands and stomachs at the greasy stuff.

Bassy's musical dreams

Now that all the sentimentality is out of the way....

Bassy appears to be dead serious about cutting a CD.

He and Neil have suddenly got it in their heads that they're going to form a band and become famous rock stars. Actually, I think Bassy is the main culprit, he's just taking Neil along for the ride.

Just the other day at dinner I heard him broach the subject to dad. "Boys," dad said, "you know how much work goes into releasing a CD?"

"Duh," Bassy retorted, rolling his eyes, "I've only heard this story from you, like, a hundred million times." He was half grinning as he said it though.

"Here's what we're gonna do," I heard Bassy say in Dad's study, with Neil hanging on his every word. "We're gonna go over to the theater and check out the equipment..."

So, the next morning, I confronted Bassy about it. "You sure you want to do this?"
"I've never been so sure about anything in my life."
"What's going to be on the CD? Can't have a CD without anything on it. Are you going to write songs or do covers of others?"
"Well," he told me, "I've got one song written and Dad has given me permission to do modern-rock covers of three of his --"
I let out a deep breath. His mind was already made up. Come hell or high water, even if he falls flat on his face, he's going to do it, no matter what anyone says. Hmm, sounds damn familiar doesn't it?

I am in no way saying that he will fall flat on his face, heck, he has more musical talent in his pinky than I have in my body. There's no way he can. I mean, the girls fall all over him and they haven't heard him play a note yet.

Surprise!

My dad threw a surprise birthday party for somebody. I went to my favorite boutique and decided on this little number.

When I told Neil he had to wear a suit, he complied -- reluctantly -- although he had to get a suit out of my dad's closet as he didn't have one.

I still don't understand who keeps inviting Cheesemouth to these shindigs, but I could feel his eyes boring into me. "Savannah," he called to anyone who would listen.

Finally it was time for the honoree to blow out his candles. You see, Dad threw a surprise party -- for Noah. He turned elder.
It's a measure of how crazy my family is that I have two half-brothers who are elders and my one full brother is still a teen.

Yep, that's Noah. The only way I can tell him and Dad apart now is, well, by a nose. His nose, I mean.

Neil and Bassy

I'm headed back to Egypt in a few days. As soon as I'm done with my next book. You see, I'm under contract with my publisher for 3 novels. Since Interview with a Mummy is flying off the shelves, I decided on another Egyptian-themed novel. I don't have a title yet, but it's kinda, sorta, a sequel to "Interview."

I’ve also been poring over legal documents on the internet, trying to study international adoption law.  The process is so agonizingly slow, I wonder if the children will be grown before a decision is made on the case. 

 

 
You know, while I was working on my book, I heard the strangest thing. 

Neil's laughter.

Seriously, it's the first time since he got here that he actually allowed himself to laugh out loud. He's always been so withdrawn, quiet and keeping mostly to himself. It's good to see the two of them, Neil and Bassy, hanging out together. You'd never guess, though, that Neil is the one who is 4 days older than Bassy is.

 

 

 

Bassy appears to be the tonic that Neil needs. I've seen how he hangs onto every word Bassy says.
But given who Bassy’s father is.... I really don't think it's a good idea having him as a 'role model.'  I mean, all Bas has to do is just flash that killer smile of his, and girls swoon and bat their eyelids. Although I've noticed how Neil still stays in the background, hanging back and letting Bassy steal the limelight.

 

I am apprehensive though, when those two are together. They could get themselves into all kinds of mischief. Although I did tell Noah that Neil never once broke curfew, he and Bassy DID sneak off to the theatre one time. But hell, boys will be boys. They need to let their hair down at some point.

I was a teenager once.  Hell, I did worse things than those boys. I practically lived in the back seat of a cop car.   Mom and I were at each other’s throats almost every day. 

 

It's something we always seem to neglect.... feeding the fish.  But Neil took it upon himself to maintain the aquarium, diligently feeding the fish, cleaning the tank.  Even the maids conveniently ‘forget’ to do that, even though we pay them $125/day to do it. 

 

Let’s not go there about the boys’ appetites.  

Mom fixed a pipin' hot plate of burgers last evening, the boys ate them all by themselves.  Nobody else had any, not even dad. Then again, they are teenage boys, they’re supposed to eat to ballast those growing bodies (and out of control hormones). 

It was good to see Neil eating too.... he was so thin, his skin was in poor condition from snacking on junk food, and now it has a healthy glow.  At first he was merely picking at his food, staring at it as if it was some alien thing from another planet, then we realized why..... he’d been living on bread and jam and ice cream, and the only time he'd get 'decent' food, was at school, or the leftovers from a meal that Sadie would bring home, after she'd finished work. 

I thought dad was off his rocker, agreeing to take in Neil, but now, I see that he did the right thing. My nephew is flourishing. He's growing up so fast.

Dad was right.  Again.
One thing about my father that folks just don't seem to understand, is he may seem like he's 'out there' or his head is in the clouds. But he has his finger on the pulse of situations like no one I've ever known.

Now I understand why he's been so supportive of the adoption. Not once has he ever disagreed with my decisions but simply nodded his head..... he knew.... he's always known...but that's just dad… That’s just who he is. 

Me and Noah

Noah was walking up the hallway while I was in the kitchen. This is all the time with us, we’re always on the defensive with each other in a constant war of attrition. "Are you happy now?” he began. “You've successfully torn apart this family."

I decided I had enough. "You, Noah, lecturing me about family values. Boy, that's rich. Because, as far as I've gathered, Neil has never really had a 'family.'"
"And just what do you mean by that?"
"Can't you see how badly neglected he is? And the reason why he's acting out the way he is? You and Sadie are too damn busy to take any notice of that kid."
"You've got some nerve, Savannah. Look at you, gallivanting all over the world. Some fine example you're providing for your kids -- should you have any."
"Noah, I'm not going there."
"That's right, run away from the truth the way you've always done."
"No, I'm not running away from anything. I just don't want to deal with all this bickering, it's the last thing Neil needs to see right now."
"What do you care about what Neil needs?"

"Obviously a whole hell of a lot more than you do. I mean, he's happier here and it's beginning to show, so I don't want to hear it. Do you know he has not broken curfew once since he's been here? Not once. Not only that, but he goes to school, he comes home, he does his homework, and Bassy's just thrilled to bits that he's here. All the poor kid wants is for someone to show him that they give a damn.”

Noah rose his arms up in the air. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again "You know, you're right, Vanna, I -- I just want to thank you for taking him in like this. I -- I realize now that Sadie and I weren't really -- you know, cut out -- for this."

"Cut out for what?"

"Being -- being parents. And it's reflected on Neil. We've never -- never really -- been there for him, you know?"

"No need to thank me. It's Bassy you need to thank. And dad. They're the ones you need to talk to."