Depression by cmsix

Chapter 43

George was fairly calm and collected now, sipping his coffee and munching a tiny pastry or two. He smiled widely and howdied Jaycee, Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle when they came in, but that was about it for George and calm. As Fawne, Abella, Babette, Nanine, Giselle, Kamille, Silana, and Trinette followed pretty much single file, George's eyes got bigger and bigger.

He was silent as Cécile began the introductions and his mouth was back to hanging open. He finally snapped it shut when Meka started giggling at him, and then pointing. He couldn't decide which one of them to look at, but finally he got out a question more or less aimed at Babette.

"Just how did you meet John?"

"The night after John used his beheading machine on our husbands," Babette said, starting her explanation and including Abella with a casual wave of her hand, "we were moved from our homes into John's fabulous new one during our sleep. We met him at breakfast the next morning. Fawne was kind enough to introduce us."

I could tell that George was still stuck somewhere around the beheading machine and was probably wishing he hadn't asked a damned thing. The others could tell it too, and a couple of them didn't ease up on him at all.

"Yes, it was quite a surprise when we woke in a different house, and what a house too. I've not seen one that is five stories tall, even in Paris," Abella said.

"Oh, and when we moved to his bed that night I was amazed at the size of it. It is the biggest bed I've ever seen by far," Silana said.

Before they could get George completely bumfuzzled his cell phone rang. I had no doubt that it was Ethel.

"Hello."

"We're having a cup of coffee and a few pastries."

"Well Ethel, you might think you have things ready for breakfast, but I have a little surprise for you. In fact I have eight surprises for you."

"Well I would tell you what I meant if you'd give me five seconds to get it out. John has picked up eight more lady friends while he was visiting France and so you'd better find a few more leaves for the table."

"I know that, so I guess you'd better scout up a bigger one."

"I will, and if you need more time just call back," George said, before hanging up.

"Problems George?" I asked.

"Not really. Ethel has her panties in a wad wanting to get on with breakfast. She wants to hurry things where she can see Meka and asks you questions faster. Don't you dare tell her about the decapitator unless I'm right there to see it," George said.

"Oh we'll make sure you're there. If she doesn't have enough room for us we can eat here and then come down. I've got plenty of room now. Maybe you should call all them down here for breakfast," I said.

"Not on your life. If you want to invite us down for a meal I'm all for it, but I ain't lettin' Ethel off that easy this morning. She done it to herself after all," he said, and then laughed.

"Granny Ethel scalp you if she hear," Meka said, grinning.

"Don't I know it? You wouldn't tell on Grampa would ya?"

"I no tell, but she get you anyway. For something," Meka said, grinning again and even wider this time.

"You're gettin' too smart for my good," George said.

"She is that," I said.

"Ya know, these new folks are a real welcome surprise, but they might put a kink in some of Ethel's plans for ya," George said.

"How's that?"

"She's done called that Janice again and hired her to move here. I think she was trying to stock your bedroom for ya," he said, and then blushed.

"We need her, whoever she may be. John showed us that he is too much for all of us," Babette said, lying too - I hadn't touched a one of the daughters, yet.

That was it for George, he didn't say another word while we were having coffee, but about fifteen minutes later he said Ethel probably had breakfast ready by now.

I'd been sitting on my big ass, all fat and happy and had forgotten to get something to take us up to George's house in. I let Meka and Jaycee lead the girls to the front door while I went to get the limo. I hoped it had room for all of us.

I needn't have worried. It was longer when I got to it and there was plenty of room now if there hadn't been before. Of course the new arrivals were speechless when I drove up and parked. Jaycee and Meka herded them into it without much trouble though and soon enough we made it to Ethel's back door.

"This is wonderful," Abella said as we pulled up to George's back door, "no gates or walls to bother with. It makes everything seem so much more friendly."

"In a way I guess it is. At least we don't have any men riding around on horses with spears and arrows," Jaycee told her.

Ethel was out of the house before any of us could get out of the limo and George had to hurry out of his pickup to keep from missing the revelation. I just know that Jaycee put them up to it, but all the newbies got out of the Limo first. Eight women and girls got out, one at a time, before anyone that Ethel even knew made an appearance. She was flabbergasted, and for once, speechless.

I thought that Meka was probably feeling sorry for poor Ethel for a second, because she and Tutsie bailed out next and she ran to Ethel to be picked up. Then I learned the truth.

"Granny, look how many new mommies Daddy got for me. You should see how big the bed we sleep in is now," Meka said, and butter wouldn't have melted in her mouth.

For a second there I thought Ethel was going to faint, but she stiffened up and let Meka introduce them to her. Meka was just finishing up with Fawne when Jaycee, Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine got out. Yes, I dragged up at the last, but I needn't have worried. Meka had Ethel firmly under control by then.

We all trooped into the house and headed for the kitchen. I don't know where she got the table from but there was one in place now that could seat us all, including George's ranch hands. After a minute I figured that it must have been just another table butted up against the original one, because there were tablecloths in place now and we usually didn't have them for breakfast.

I felt sorry for Ethel, Geneva, and Carolyn at first, it was a lot of people to serve, but Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine didn't even sit, they decided that since they were old hands here they'd help out. Jaycee tried to but they wouldn't let her.

"You worked very hard killing those knights and archers Jaycee, and we will not forget it. Next time we come we will bring several of the maids with us. There is plenty of room for them in the long carriage," Delphine said.

"Maids?" Ethel asked, and her voice nearly trembled.

"Yes, John brought back the dozen maids from his new castle and six cooks and a few helpers too. He will have to invite you down to show them off right away," Fawne said, and it was a good thing she spoke up, cause I didn't have any idea how many maids, cooks, and helpers had made the trip.

"Harriette was very surprised that the new kitchen was so much like the last one in France, but so much nicer too. She and Francine are very happy," Adèle said, piling on in my estimation, but it was fun.

"Francine? Harriette?" Ethel asked, looking dazed.

"Yes. Francine is the mistress of the maids and Harriette is the head cook. They were surprised this morning but they recovered and got to work much faster than the two grooms and their families. They were shocked to have such wonderful new houses. Alas their wives were confused with their kitchens so Harriette sent one of the cooks to each of the houses to show the poor women how things worked," Fawne said.

"Grooms?" Ethel asked, and I decided enough was enough in the shock department.

"Yes dear. I brought two war horse stallions and eight very large mares back with me, and I had to bring a couple of the grooms and their families so that someone familiar with them would be there for their care.

"You didn't tell me about war horses?" George said.

"Well, things have been hectic this morning. I believe they are Percherons. The stallions are really the only ones used for fighting. I just brought the biggest and best mare I had to start a little breeding here," I said.

"You mean you had more, why didn't you just bring them all?" Bob asked, and I could have kissed him.

"Well, I'm not sure exactly how many I actually do have, but it must be nearly two thousand, and I thought that many would cause talk," I said, and Bob spit out the food he'd just put in his mouth.

"My God Bob! People will think I've let the good raising Ethel gave you go completely to hell. You'd better hope Chuck and Dave don't start pulling stunts like that," Wanda said, and it was plain that she was a little pissed about it.

"I'm sorry honey, it just surprised me so?" he said, and he did look sheepish.

"I don't know what is so surprising Dad, back where they must have been horses were the only way to get around. I've been studying it in history. Man, I'd have loved to see real knights and archers and everything," Dave said.

"Have head cutting machine too." Meka said, "Daddy cut men heads off. Hard to scalp after head is loose."

"Wow!" Chuck and Dave said, almost in unison.

"Now, Meka honey. You shouldn't tease them like that. I know it must be fun, but don't tell them fibs," Ethel said.

"Meka no fib. I show them scalps. Have hundreds now," she said, and smiled so wide I was afraid she'd hurt her jaw.

"Was it a guillotine John?" Doctor Jorge asked.

"Yes, and I know it was a hundred or so years early, but our friend thought it was very funny. I believe we were there just before spring in the year the Mayflower is to sail. I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be going back sometime before it does," I said.

"Oh my," Jorge said.

"Oh my is right. I was encouraged to have a firm chat with Armand Jean du Plessis and persuade him that exploration of the Americas would not be in the best interest of France," I said.

"Cardinal Richelieu?" he asked.

"Not yet, but soon to be if I don't have to go back and shorten him," I said.

"But what of the young king?" he asked.

"A demonstration was arranged for the young king. A few hundred of the deceased members of the small force he sent against me dropped in on him while he was having breakfast in one of his gardens. There were so many they had to be scalped more or less mechanically by our friends," I said.

"It seems there might be a completely different history for me to study soon," Jorge said.

"I've been assured it isn't in this dimension, exactly," I said.

"Oh. I had better bear down on my diet then," Jorge said, but I noticed that he looked like he had lost five pound since I saw him a day or so ago in this when.

"I think you're coming along fine, Doctor, just fine. I'm sure you'll be shanghaied for the next voyage," I said.

"Oh, I hope so."

"Ethel, do you think you could take these girls shopping today? The sweat pants and T-shirts they're wearing are the extent of their modern wardrobe. I'm afraid you'll need Wanda's help too," I said.

"Of course we can take them. The poor dears, it must be awful to make such a trip and not have anything to wear when you arrive," Ethel said, and just then I got a small announcement from Big Boy, directly into my head.

"I must apologize John. I didn't mention that you have been provided a credit card for your use here. It is in your wallet and it isn't equipped with a limit," Big Boy told me.

I eased out my billfold and sure enough, right up front was a new Visa, in fact there were three just alike. I passed one to Ethel and asked her to take care of the girls' things with it.

"Oh. Ok, but how much should I spend?" she asked, and it was a valid question, or it would have been if my banker hadn't been Big Boy.

"As much as you have the strength for, but remember, if you buy them all cars you'll have to hire drivers, they wouldn't have a clue about them," I said, and she was shocked again.

I know I was showing off at the last but I also knew that Big Boy wouldn't have said no limit if he hadn't meant it. It reminded me that I should probably take a look in the garage when we went back to the house. I'd noticed on my way through that it was twice as large now too. I hadn't seen any extra vehicles while I was in there to get the limo, but I didn't look closely either.

The breakfast was delicious and I was glad to have grits again. Since Ethel was probably going to be gone most of the day, outfitting the girls, I invited everyone to my place for lunch. They agreed to come down and Ethel even promised they would all come back to eat if they possibly had the time. Of course I knew they wouldn't be able to tear themselves away.

There was also no way for them to travel except in the limo, nothing else could even nearly carry them all. Jake was elected for driving and the look on George's face after that spelled relief even plainer than R O L A I D S.

"Did you at least get us a few pictures while you were gone?" Ethel asked, now that she had her shopping trip organized.

"Better than that even, our friends provided video and there is plenty of it. If you want some prints I'm sure there's a way to get them out of the moving stuff, and the camera angles are a lot better than I could have managed," I said.

"I wonder if we can transfer them up here to one of our computers too?" Bob asked.

"It is possible, but there are thirty-six terabytes of data," Big Boy let me know.

"I have it on good authority that they can be transferred here Bob. They must take up a lot of space though, something about thirty-six terabytes or something like that," I said, not having the first damned clue what that meant.

"Oh, we'll just have to watch them down there," he said, looking very surprised while he was at it.

"You can see them a lot better in our theater anyway. I don't know how you'd ever get them down small enough to show on a flat panel," Jaycee told him.

"Oh."

"We got quite a few improvements on the old home place while we were gone," she said.

"It sounds like it. Maybe me and Ethel ought to see if we can hitch a ride sometime," George said.

"It is acceptable now, if you request it," Big Boy let me know.

"I don't see why you can't. You won't be gone but overnight after all," I said.

This might have been a mistake though, because it set Chuck and Dave off begging to go along too. Hell, I didn't care if they came but I knew good and well that they were going to lose a lot of their interest in the guillotine after they got a looks at my new maids during lunch.

"Be sure and let everybody know that lunch is gonna be down at John's house George," Ethel said.

"Will you need us to come down there and help?" Geneva asked, nodding her head to show she meant she and Carolyn.

"We'll need you to help us eat up all the food Harriette is sure to fix. She's got plenty of help with everything else though," I said.