Hi!
This is number 3 from Stacy!
-- Suze
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DISCLAIMER: The Quest Team belongs to Hanna-Barbera, Inc. and Turner
Entertainment. I have NO permission to use these characters and therefore
am making NO profit from their use -- just having a little fun.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place about three weeks after "To Tell You
The Truth." You don't have to read it or "Why Did It Have To Be This Way" to
understand this particular story, but if you haven't read them yet, I'd still
recommend it. ^_^ The quote which opens the story inspired me (the writer)
to write it, so it's only fitting that I present it to you (the reader) as a
thought to ponder while you're reading the story. So sit back, relax and
enjoy!
Feedback is always welcome. E-mail me at moon_princess@hotmail.com.
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"Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles, with sniffles predominating."
-- O. Henry
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OBSCURE THOUGHTS
By Stacy Burger
Hadji sat meditating in the rear compartment of the Dragonfly. He
had spent more time in Bangalore than he had anticipated. There was much
unrest
throughout the country of India and it only fueled the fires burning within
his own tiny nation. The arguments and judiciary problems weren't a problem
for his mother and Pasha, but the riots were another story. People began
getting injured, some were killed. Hadji then knew it was time to step in.
He had spent nearly a month trying to solve the problems that overran
Bangalore. Finally, things had settled down enough and he felt comfortable
leaving his mother and Pasha. It felt good to be heading home to Rockport,
Maine. He missed his friends, his family. Though he kept in touch with them
through e-mail, it never seemed like enough. His thoughts quickly turned
away from the problems of his homeland and focused upon his second family.
Dr. Quest had insisted that Hadji return to Bangalore. He knew
that his
adopted son was very worried about the troubles plaguing the small nation.
He was its rightful ruler, after all. But Hadji was reluctant to leave. He
wanted to help Dr. Quest test his new invention, which was scheduled to be
presented at a conference in Berne in several weeks. He had put a lot of
thought and energy into the project and wanted to see it through.
"I don't want to leave it unfinished," Hadji told Dr. Quest.
"There will be plenty of time to finish it before the conference,"
Dr. Quest replied, placing a supportive hand on Hadji's shoulder. "But
your country
needs you. Your mother needs you."
Dr. Quest had been very convincing. After an hour of discussion and
argument, Hadji had decided to return to Bangalore. Now he had to break
the>news to his friends.
Jonny, Hadji's brother and best friend, had been having a rough
time sorting out his feelings. Jonny wouldn't offer any details, but he
had asked Hadji's opinion on a few things -- often creating scenarios and
"what if" situations. Hadji always listened intently, and tried to offer
the best advice.
"I don't know what to do, Hadj," Jonny told him. "I'm at a loss here.
See, there's this girl -- a very pretty girl -- that I'd like to go out with.
But I'm not sure how to ask her. . .or even IF I should ask her." Jonny
paused. "See, she's also a friend, and I don't want to ruin our friendship
over a silly crush."
Hadji nodded at his friend. "I would suggest finding out how she feels
about you. Then you will know for certain."
Hadji could tell Jonny was pondering the idea.
"I'll see what I can do. Thanks, Hadj."
The next day, Jessie Bannon found Hadji alone in the Lighthouse,
working on a new Questworld program.
"Mind if we talk?" Jessie asked.
"You know you can talk to me, Jessie. What's wrong?"
Jessie began explaining the situation to Hadji. There was a boy
she was
discovering she really liked. She wanted to ask him out but wasn't sure
how. She didn't want to hurt the guy's feelings, or ruin their friendship.
She
didn't offer any details beyond that. Hadji listened intently, as usual,
when something odd occurred to him.
Could Jonny and Jessie be talking about each other?
Hadji offered her the same advice he gave to Jonny. Jessie thanked
him and left him alone with the new program.
Only Hadji was no longer interested in working on the program.
More than once in the past few months, Hadji caught himself
thinking about Jessie in a "more-than-friends" type of way. He had tossed
the thoughts
aside in his mind, though they never really left. But after his
conversations with both Jonny and Jessie, the thoughts about Jessie troubled
his mind even more, gnawing at him like a cat clawing its way up a curtain.
Was he jealous?
The day he left for Bangalore, Jonny and Jessie both stood on the
runway, waving frantically at the Dragonfly as it took off. Hadji waved
back through the small window in the cockpit, Race Bannon sitting beside
him and waving from the pilot's chair. Hadji was able to push his thoughts
of Jonny and
Jessie to the back of his mind and concentrate on the problems awaiting him
in his homeland.
Now that the problems had been solved, at least temporarily, Hadji
allowed his mind to conjure up the images of Jessie he had pushed to the
back of his memory. She was intelligent, brave, cunning and extremely
beautiful. They
held the same interest in science and technology. and shared the same passion
for classical music. Hadji could spend hours writing a list of things he
liked about Jessie.
So why hadn't HE asked her out, yet?
Hadji's eyes snapped open from his meditation. He heaved a sigh.
That was not a question he had been prepared to ask himself. He certainly
didn't have a ready answer.
After a few moments, Hadji closed his eyes again. Relaxing into his
meditative state, Hadji's thoughts turned inward in search of an answer. He
should have seen it coming. Jonny and Jessie were the best of friends, even
if they were complete opposites. How many arguments of theirs had he broken
up? How many times had Jonny saved Jessie's life and vice versa? They spent
so much time together -- did so much together -- while Hadji sat watching
from the sidelines. He knew his friends cared for him. He wouldn't deny
them their feelings for each other.
But he couldn't deny his feelings for Jessie either.
*Maybe I'm reading too much into this,* Hadji thought. *Perhaps
they were not talking about each other at all!*
Hadji's eyes opened again at the sound of the intercom.
"Hadji," Race Bannon called from the cockpit. "We're preparing for our
descent. Come on up and strap in."
Hadji sat a moment longer in his yoga meditation position, then
stood up and walked toward the cockpit. He took his seat next to Race and
strapped in as
he was told.
Race looked at Hadji. "Still worried about your mother and Pasha?"
Hadji smiled. "I always worry, Race. But I know they will be fine."
Race nodded and returned to his flying. He flipped several
switches as he prepared for their descent toward the compound. The plane
began to drop
through the thick clouds hovering over the Maine skyline.
Hadji immediately saw the lighthouse on the cliff, overlooking the
ocean. The light was on, signaling off-shore boats they were near the
rocks. The fog was headed out to sea however, and the coastline was clear
and beautiful. As the Dragonfly descended lower, he could see two small
figures running from the lighthouse towards the hangar.
Jonny and Jessie.
Hadji smiled to himself as the plane touched down and slowed to a
stop. As expected, Jonny and Jessie were standing at the hangar opening.
Hadji smiled
at his friends as he exited the Dragonfly. They were standing side by side,
smiling. Hadji noticed, with a touch of sadness, that Jonny and Jessie were
holding hands.
"Welcome back, Hadji!" Jessie said. She left Jonny's side long
enough to give her friend a hug.
"Welcome home, buddy!" Jonny said with a bright smile. He clasped
hands with Hadji before pulling him into a friendly hug. "Things are
better in
Bangalore?"
Hadji smiled. "Much. But I am still worried. Pasha said he would
call if there is any more trouble."
"Well, I hope we don't hear from Pasha for a long time -- no
offense to him of course," Jessie said with a smile.
"Why don't you kids help me unload this shipment I picked up so
Hadji can get some rest," Race suggested.
"I'll help, Race," Jonny said enthusiastically.
"I'll help Hadji with his things. That is if you don't mind,
Hadj," Jessie said.
"Not at all," Hadji said. *This could be the opportunity I've been
waiting for. Don't blow it.*
Jessie smiled and picked up a small duffel bag. Hadji and Jessie began
gabbing as soon as they left the hangar. Hadji smiled and nodded at most of
Jessie's comments as he followed her into the main house. When they reached
his room, he dropped his suitcases in the doorway. Jessie placed his
duffel bag on his bed. There was a moment of awkward silence until Hadji
finally
spoke.
"So Jess, have you worked things out with your friend?"
Jessie smiled brightly. "Actually, yes. With a little help from
you and Rachel."
Hadji looked at her oddly. "Rachel?"
Jessie giggled to herself. "Jonny's mother. I needed to talk to
someone. You weren't here. My dad was preoccupied with my feelings about
the divorce, and I couldn't talk to anyone else, so I talked to her
painting in the family room."
"And?"
"She listened. And you were right. All I had to do was figure out
how he felt about me."
Hadji turned away for a moment, busying himself with his luggage so he
didn't feel conspicuous. After a moment of repose, he looked up at Jessie
with a smile.
"I'm glad I could help. But, do you mind if I ask who the lucky
man is?"
Jessie's smile died a little bit. Hadji had only turned away for a
moment, but his smile looked forced, and she could have sworn that the
whites of his eyes were redder, as if he'd been crying.
"It's Jonny."
Hadji made an incomprehensible sound. He excused himself quickly
and left the room.
Jessie stood silent for a moment before heading back out to the
hangar to help her father. Before leaving the main house she looked back
up the stairs
and said loudly:
"I'm sorry."
After dinner, Hadji found himself alone with Jonny in the
lighthouse, busily working on a new upgrade to Questworld. They had barely
spoken to each other since they began the upgrade. Hadji had barely said a
word to anyone since he had arrived from Bangalore. Jonny thought it
strange and tried to get him to open up. But every time he said something,
Hadji would change the subject or quote some proverb.
Finally after too long a silence, Hadji asked, "Did you solve your
problem with your friend?"
Jonny looked up from the screen he was working on. Hadji was still
typing frantically on the keyboard. He didn't look up at Jonny as he spoke.
*At least he spoke to me,* Jonny thought. Aloud he said, "Yeah, with a
little help from you and my mom."
BOOM!
"Hadj!" Jonny yelled. He hurried over to the station where his
friend was working. Hadji's terminal was smoking, sparks flying left and
right.
Hadji's arms still covered his face. "Hey you all right? That was some
overload."
Hadji didn't say anything. He leaned forward, his hand covering
his face.
"Did the sparks get you?" Jonny asked, now deeply concerned. "I
can go get Dad and the med kit and--"
"That won't be necessary, my friend," Hadji said, his voice barely a
whisper. He uncovered his face, revealing a few welt marks on his cheeks
from the initial overload explosion. His eyes were red and swollen, a few
tears rolled down his cheek. "It just caught me off guard. I will be fine."
Jonny had seen Hadji after an overload before, and this wasn't like
him. He was too upset, too shaken.
"Hadj, why didn't you tell me you liked Jessie?"
Hadji was surprised by Jonny's question.
"What makes you think that I --"
"Jess told me what happened earlier, after you arrived."
Silence.
"Hadj, if I'd known --"
"I know. But you would only be as upset as me." Hadji looked up
at Jonny with a brief smile. "No, my friend, I still think she would have
chosen
you."
"But, Hadj--"
"You and Jessie are my friends, and my only wish for both of you is
to be happy. If being together is what makes the two of you happiest, then
I am
happy, too."
Silence.
Jonny felt ready to cry. Why didn't Hadji tell him he liked
Jessie? He
wouldn't have asked her out, and he wouldn't have said yes if she'd asked
him.
Hadji smiled at Jonny. "I know you wouldn't have done anything to
interfere my friend, and I will not interfere now."
Silence.
"Now how about we get this mess cleaned up before Dr. Quest comes
home from Berne?" Hadji asked.
"You got it, buddy," Jonny replied.
After two hours of cleaning, Jonny decided to take a walk to work
off some extra energy. Hadji told Jonny he could always use his energy to
study, but Jonny didn't feel like concentrating on Hemingway at the moment.
He watched
Hadji enter the main house before walking around to the cliff. Jessie was
sitting on the rocks below the cliff, as she had every other night since
their discussion in the family room.
"Hey," she said, as he sat next to her.
"Hey, yourself," Jonny said.
"So, what happened?"
"A terminal blew in Hadji's face, but he's okay. We finished about 30
percent of the program."
"So Hadji finally talked to you?"
"We had a lot to talk about."
Silence. Jessie reached over and hugged Jonny.
"If I'd known. . ." Jessie said, letting her voice trail off with
the sound of the waves.
"He knows, Jess," Jonny said, hugging her to his side. "He knows."
Meanwhile Hadji sat meditating in his room. He could feel his friends'
spirits, soaring together along the plain. His heart cried out in sorrow
andin joy. A brief smile crossed his lips as a tear rolled down his cheek.
END
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