Chapter 345: Jacquelyn VII—A Visit
Subj: Things Keep Moving
Date: 1/4/--
Sent From the Internet: (Details)
Hello My Love!
And so interesting things happen, and I shall keep them moving. Would you like to hear about them? But of course you would because I would like to hear about everything you’ve been doing. Nothing hockey related though, because I am thoroughly sick of hockey. Let’s not speak of hockey unless it concerns your teammates off the ice and the plans that you have for them, yes?
So who do I receive a call from? Now this really was entirely unexpected because, well, being the snake I am I do not expect to get many nibbles from a mouse. Dan Hinote gave me a call yesterday afternoon and that I have to say was quite a surprise don’t you think? I didn’t think he even had my number, but apparently he had it written down under your name, easy enough I suppose.
“Why would you want to call me?” I asked.
“I would really like to talk to you if it’s okay, either now or in person.” He said. Just briefly I entertained the idea of putting on something lacy and silky and going over to his apartment and seeing if I can make any progress where Mimi never did. But I don’t think the boy is that easy a nut to crack, if he was, well then the story would be finished by now and I would have no part in it.
“We can talk,” I said cheerily, “Is there something on your mind then?”
“Well yeah, it’s kind of embarrassing,” Dan replied.
“Tell me what it is, darling, and I can try to help, and of course you can count on my secrecy, I wouldn’t tell anyone, so you need not worry, yes?”
Dan cleared his throat and I heard a long pause over the phone, and I thought maybe he would be frightened and just hang up and I would lose the only interesting incident of the week. Even Patrick has abandoned me Pascal, can you believe this? He’s with his insipid Smittens now for game day luck and has tossed me aside. I am so infuriated! He told me his back has been bad and he can’t over exert it. Dammit what else is he good for then?
But I stray off the subject.
“Well I made a promise to two girls…” Dan began and I couldn’t help but laugh. He sounded so sincere and earnest and well I could hear him suppress a nervous burp as he said that. A promise to two girls! “Seriously! I mean, well only I don’t know how I can fulfill it but I think it’s something I can’t screw up on you know?”
“Of course,” I replied. “What’s this promise then, and why did you choose me for the honor of helping you with it?”
“Well now,” he said. “I figured, well you approached me before about Mimi and it seems like I can trust you then, and I don’t really know any of the other wives or girlfriends that well enough to know that they wouldn’t tell Cecile.”
So he picks me because he assumes that I am no longer in contact with any of the wives or girlfriends and therefore away from his Cecile.
“Already you are keeping secrets from you fiancée?” I tut.
“Not a big one and anyway the second girl is her, but she doesn’t know it yet!” Dan exclaimed in a hurt and scared voice. Ah yes, he feels guilty! “It’s just, well I wanted to impress Cecile with something nice and Mimi suggested that I write a poem for her, a love poem and I couldn’t say no to Mimi because she was real excited that I would do it for Cecile, and now I don’t know what to do because I can’t write poetry at all!”
Ah yes, he picked me then because I am French Pascal, and he assumes I will have the natural touch for poetry. So he asked me if I could help him with his little project and I laughed and called him silly and told him that poetry was quite easy to write. I called him silly for being so scared and of course I could help him with it.
“You know,” Dan said after thanking me. “I remember what you told me, that Mimi was in love with me. Remember that?”
“Of course,” I reply, “and she is!”
“But she can’t be, Mrs. Trepanier, because, well because what women would tell a man to write a poem for another girl if she was in love with that man?”
Oh fuck it! Pascal that women doesn’t know what I am up to and she still finds a way to foil my plans! How can I ruin her if Dan does not fall completely in love with her? Difficult bitch!
“Well that is a good point,” I said weakly, and I couldn’t think of anything else to tell him there. I am going to have to think this over carefully. “She hides it well, Dan.”
“Um I guess,” Dan said in a very unconvinced voice.
“Well then let us see about your poem,” I said rather peevishly and Dan seemed happy to get to that subject.
“Oh yes!” He said. “How do you begin a poem?”
And I know you know all about poetry and do not need to hear the details of it. But I helped Dan along as far as I could telling him to get his pretty little notepad and pencil out and to write down his Beloved’s name and list everything he loves about her and every word that comes to mind associated with her. It was quite basic, and Dan seemed to catch onto it quite quickly and eagerly. He thanked me profusely for my help and note this, Pascal, he told me how happy Mimi would be to see it. Did he let that slip? Did he mean to say Cecile? Or was he mainly concerned with showing that poem to her? Interesting, yes?
“And another thing,” Dan said after he thanked me again.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Mimi told me to kinda stay away from her; you know, not show up as often and stuff. I mean that’s another proof that she doesn’t love me because she doesn’t want me too close!”
My heart lightened, Pascal. Was that her game now? Pushing him away to coax him to come closer? “My dear, Daniel,” I said. “You do not know a thing do you?”
“I guess I don’t.” Dan said honestly. “But I like learning.”
“Oh I’m sure you’ll have learned a lot by the time all these things are said and done…..”