| PART SIX Posted by Cat on 4/7/2001, 2:53 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Are you out of your mind" Richard fairly shouted. He stood in the middle of my living room, mouth open, staring at Jean-Claude and myself as if waiting for the punch line. I couldn't quite bring myself to call him and tell him about the show over the phone. Jean-Claude may not know what Jerry Springer was all about, but Richard was a high school teacher. Jerry Springerisms abound in the halls where he works. Now, I wasn't sure telling him in person had been a great plan, either. I decided to let Jean-Claude handle this one. After all, he was the one who thought is would be a great publicity stunt. And hey, I was counting on Richard to wimp out of the deal. I raised my hands, mutely and went to sit next to Jean-Claude on the couch. Jean-Claude raised an elegant eyebrow in my direction as if surprised at my show of unity. It wasn't what he was thinking. It was more an act of self-preservation. I knew Richard was going to pitch a fit over this. In a way, it made it easier for me, but when tempers flared the flow of power in this room was going to get pretty thick. Richard stood waiting for an explanation. An artery in his neck seemed to be throbbing from the effort he was making to contain his anger. He'd been working out with heavier weights lately and it certainly showed. I couldn't help but admire the way the muscles in his upper arms flexed as he held them defensively crossed before his chest. I could feel the power of his beast vibrating just below the skin and briefly saw something slide behind his now amber eyes. He had it in perfect control. Jean-Claude laughed, one of those warm, sex in audio sounds that he is so good at making. I turned to look at him. Off my look he said, "Ma petite, he could be such a magnificent monster, if he could just lose some of his more Puritan attitudes, nes pas? "I think you are deliberately provoking him." My turn to arch an eyebrow. "But of course." He replied, smoothly, making unnecessary adjustments to the white lace sleeves that flowed from his black velvet jacket. His cobalt blue eyes gleamed with a secret amusement. I was beginning to suspect that he was in on Nathaniel's little trick from the start. "Have you ever seen Jerry Springer, Jean-Claude?" Richard asked glaring, running his fingers through his hair, distractedly. "No, I have not, but Jason assured me it was quite entertaining." Jean-Claude replied, "Perhaps, I should do as ma petite suggested and see it for myself." Richard responded with a low growl, "Let's just. If you still want to be on this show after you see the kind of tripe they talk about, well we'll see". Suddenly all his anger seemed to seep away. How does he do that? Richard reached for the remote and clicked on the television. He expertly flicked it to the right channel. I wondered how he knew where the show aired without even checking the TV Guide. Surely he wasn't a closet Jerry Springer fan. No way. The announcer could be heard saying, "Today on Jerry Springer, Mothers Who Sleep With Their Sons and the Girlfriends Who Let Them." Jean-Claude looked momentarily startled. Then he became instantly still. A perfect mask of white marble hiding any thoughts he didn't wish to share. Can't have us thinking after all these years that anything could shock him, can he? Richard gave him a knowing look and leaned back to watch the show. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART SEVEN |