Me and Daisy sittin' in a tree....

Yo, Bas here. Vanna's in China. The woman does not keep still.

Ain't seen Ernie since that day I was at his house. But I rode home with Daisy on the bus. She was kinda shifty, but then I asked her if she hooked up with him before I got there that day.
"U think I was with him?" she asked me.
"Sure looked like that 2 me," I told her.
"Bas, c'mon! Ernie & I, we homies! You know I wouldn't do nothin' like dat 2 ya."





Daisy & I ran off the bus and towards her living room. She said she had somethin' 2 show me.



"Bas, I saw this yesterday at the bookstore."
My mouth fell 2 the floor. It was my sister on the cover of a magazine. When did she even have time 2 do this spread?
I'm used 2 seein' mom and dad on these, but my sister too???
"I knew she was your sister so I bought it and I looked at the pix. Most of 'em are in Egypt. Is she some kind of adventurer or something?"
"That's exactly what she is," I told her. "She says she's studying ancient history, but she's doin' more than that."




I realized I was alone...with Daisy. Her 'rents weren't home. I had a few butterflies in my stomach, 4 sure. I needed 2 know da truth.
"Did u hook up with Ernie be4 I got there?"
"Bas, you know that ain't true. Ernie jus' pullin' yo' chain."
"So u think Ernie's lyin' 2 me."
"He got 2 be. I ain't nevah touched him!"
I wasn't sure whether 2 believe her or not. Should I? More later, got 2 do my homework, Bas

Back to China

The next morning I got up to get ready to go to China. Of course, that didn't go too well. I fell on my tush trying to get Aunt Margaret's dresser open. Note to self -- get a new dresser.
Of course, I had a lot to think about when I arrived there, and all of a sudden finding Qin Shan Hu's writings were further down the list. I don't like being distracted like this. I like having a clear mind.
Damn Andrew Cheesman! Damn Noah Plumb!
Just my luck, then, that just as I'm leaving for China, the publisher calls saying they want more revisions to "Interview with a Mummy."
Great.

Dreams of My Father

After finally getting to bed, I had a really weird dream. I was walking through a tomb...in Egypt...with my dad.

It was just him and me -- no one else was there.

"Dad," I called, holding his hand. "Dad, it's okay, I wouldn't show you this place if it weren't safe. It's the first tomb I completed here in Egypt.

Dad hesitated for a moment and then followed me through a door. "Princess, I don't know how you do this, hours alone beneath the surface, all the time."

"I wouldn't do this if I didn't positively love this work. I'm learning so much!"

We were tired walking so we decided to sit at this Egyptian table. There were two chairs. We sat there, looking at each other. Sometimes I think my father and I have an unspoken understanding, a secret language that only we share.

"Savannah," he'd told me, "I'm an old man now, and you know that fairly soon I'll be going on to the afterlife. I'm at peace with it, and know that I've lived a full and rich life. The thing I want most now is for my children to be content and happy. However, princess, even though you've been successful in your adventures and you're about to encounter fame the likes of which you've never imagined, you do need some interpersonal balance. And I believe that Andrew is that person who will provide that balance in your life that you need."

A Midnight Workout

Ok, so I told you that dad is as fanatical about fitness as he is about music, and it all started with a fitness program he designed himself when he was in his teens. As a result, for his age he is in fabulous shape. His idea of cheering me up is dragging me to the weight room and 'training' me -- basically yelling while I lift weights.

"Harder! Harder! You can do it!"

"I'm trying, dad, but really, I'm exhausted, I've had a long day."

Of course, it's usually about more than pumping iron and cardio with him. It's usually that he wants to tell me something.

So we stopped.

"You know, dear, I've been thinking -- about Andrew."

I shrugged. Cheesebreath was the last thing I wanted to hear about. "What about him?"

"Well remember that night he brought you home while you were in high school?"

"How can I forget it? He caught me while I was on my way to the cemetery, but of course I didn't tell him that. I was so pissed off at him for wanting to play the police."

"That's the first time I realized he cared."

I shook my head. "He thinks he can 'rescue' me. He wants to play that 'knight in shining armor,' rescuing the princess. And there's Noah behind the scenes, egging him on!"

"You know, I'm not so sure Noah did anything."

"Dad, you didn't hear how he and Andy were standing there, plotting, like two criminals planning a heist! I'm telling you, they're thick as thieves."
"He's knocking at the door of your heart, Savannah," dad said, "and you won't let him in."

"Dad -- has it occurred to you or Noah that maybe, just maybe, I don't feel that way about him?"

"You're not so sure how you feel, are you?"

"I'm not even sure WHAT to feel at this point. Disgust at Noah for trying to run my life, anger at Andrew for listening to him, and surprise at you for taking THEIR side --"

"Savannah." Dad let out a heaving sigh.

"Has it occurred to you that maybe getting married is not at the top of my priority list right now? I mean, I'm trying to find that last relic and then I was sent to China --"

"Savannah, have you thought about why you want to find these relics? Perhaps it's not really these relics you're looking for -- it's something else. Something far less tangible than a couple of pieces of sculpture older than all of us put together."

Revelations and Sleepless Nights

I wasn't sure how to react to Andy's stunning revelation at the diner. I couldn't sleep. I paced around the room all night. I even resorted to pilfering Bassy's new video game and started playing it.

When Dad came into the room, I tore his head off. "I just know Noah put him up to this," I complained bitterly.
"Put who up to what?" Dad asked, looking confused.

"If my brother thinks he can run my life, he is sadly mistaken."

I ended up telling him everything.

"Savannah, you know, dear, maybe he does love you. Whether or not Noah had anything to do with what he said is beside the point. Love works in mysterious ways. If I knew, I'd be a very wise man."

"Dad, you're not listening, really."

"I don't have to, Savannah," he said with his lopsided grin. "You do exactly as you please anyway."

The Return of Cheesebutt

Ok, remember I told you Cheesebutt decided to crash our Christmas party??

Well, I ran into him again -- this time after work. I have a part-time gig at the cemetery, for when I'm home.

I was playing guitar outside my dad's theater (yes it is my dad's, it is named after him) and I look over and see someone standing there, and sure enough, it's him.

"I didn't know you play guitar," he said. I told him it's just a hobby, I don't do it for a living like my parents do.

So we got to talking, and the next thing I know, I'm in his minivan, riding to the diner for a 'midnight snack.' I know, I know. You have my permission to shoot me.

"It's a beautiful night," he said as he drove. HE DROVE! Of course he had to drive, I didn't even take my car to work.

The dinner was nice, we had burgers and fries and all the greasy-spoon food I'd been denied in Egypt.

"So this is the rust-bucket you drive now, eh?" I asked him as I eyed his forest-green minivan.

"Hey, it gets me from point A to B. All I need, really."

"Savannah!" he called from the back of the diner, as I turned to leave.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"Savannah, will you listen to me for just one second?"

"Look, it's late," I told him. "I have to catch a flight to China in the morning."

"That's your problem, you're always rushing," he said. "If you'd just let life come to you --"

"Oh, come on, Cheesebreath! You know I'm not that kind of person."
"You know, I'm kind of old to be called by those kinds of names." Thing is, he was kind of laughing as he said it, so it was hard to take seriously. "Look, I know things have changed --"

"You're damn right things have changed! I'm a doctor now."

"Not a medical doctor."

"Well, no. I'm a doctor of archaeology. My specialty is ancient Egypt and the relics left behind."

"Savannah Plumb, of all the things I imagined you doing, raiding ancient tombs is not one of them."

"Well then," I told him, "I guess you don't know me very well."

"I guess I don't."

We stood there for a few moments in complete silence. Then I turned to him and told him, "You know what, Cheesecake, the next time you and my brother get together to plan MY life, I wish you'd let me in on it."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know damned well what I'm talking about! You were at the party the other night talking to him and I overheard some of what you were telling him."
"I was only telling him that we went to school together."

I shook my head. I could tell he was lying.

"I love you, Savannah."
I cupped my ears to go closer so I could hear. "What did you say?"

"I love you, Savannah Rachel Plumb." He even pronounced my middle name right, which was a shock. Usually he butchers it. "I've always loved you. I've loved you from the moment I first saw you."

"Sure didn't act like it," I muttered bitterly to no one in particular, wasn't sure if he'd heard. But he did, apparently.

"I was a teenage boy, I was young and foolish. I should never have let you go."

"Andrew!" It just slipped out, his given name. Not sure what made me say it.

"My mother was right. The day you came by, right after you left, she turned to me and said, 'Andy, you better hold on to that girl, 'cause she's going places.' She was right. I should've never let you out of my sight. I realized the whole time the news reports were coming in from Egypt that you were missing -- that I was in love with you. I wasn't sure if I was going to ever get the chance to tell you."

My awesome verbal faculties had suddenly left me. I couldn't say anything. He had said it all. But he wasn't done, either.

"Savannah, I realize your family is wealthy but it's never been about the money. I'm in love with you, not your fortune. I'm in love with your spunk, your spirit, your courage and your smarts. I'm in love with your green eyes and your smile, when you choose to show it. We can spend the rest of our lives fishing and gardening, and you can paint and write and play your guitar as much as you want. We can even do some traveling -- maybe get that vacation home in Egypt you want --"

"Why are you telling me this now?" I asked him. "Couldn't you have done this earlier?"

"There was never a good time, and there's never a better time than the present. Besides, every time I tried to tell you, you always brushed this kind of stuff aside."

I couldn't exactly put my trip to China on hold; after all, I was being summoned there to search for the ancient writings of Qin Shan Hu (my best guess at pronunciation is KEEN SHAWN HUGH). And I still have to find the final relic in Egypt and write about that. I cannot give up my job, as I need it like I need air to breathe. But I was tired, not only physically, but emotionally as well. I needed to get home and get to bed. I had a lot to think about.

Neil

The next afternoon my nephew Neil (son of Noah and Sadie) came off the school bus with Sebastian. I have to say, the boy is quite an interesting little character. He's inherited his mom's neurotic trait and his dad's good trait, which ought to be intriguing in his own right.

"Hey, last one to the house is a rotten egg," Neil called playfully. And though Neil is the couch potato, it was Bassy who was struggling to keep up. Not to mention, even though Bassy is Neil's uncle, Neil is actually 4 simdays older than he is. That's one measure of how crazy this family is.

Finally I saw them both walk to the house.

Before going off to my part-time job at the cemetery, I overheard Bassy and Neil talking about this movie that's playing at the multiplex. Boys will be boys, I guess.

Including, well, older boys. When I got back from the cemetery, dad had joined them downstairs. Neil seemed to instantly recognize he was in his grandfather's presence for the first time in his life. "I knew grandpa was famous," I heard him later tell Bassy, "but, man, he's grandpa, ya know?"

So there they were sitting on the couch, Neil, Bassy, and dad, Bassy asking dad if he changed the batteries on the smoke detector and Neil kinda sitting there soaking everything in. It was weird having Neil there, honestly, a stark reminder that time marches on.